Category: Swing Thoughts

Men and Women in Modern Times

St Andrews is considering allowing women to play in the 2006 Open. Could this be the beginning of a new era in golf?

Annika and TigerRewriting history is a big step. It appears that golf is trying to adjust to modern times, although still steeped in its old traditions. Gone are the days of plaid pants, wooden drivers and hushed galleries. Today, cheering fans, fist pumps and the interest for women to compete in men’s tournaments have thrown golf into turmoil.

Peter Dawson, secretary of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews is considering rewriting the entry form for the Open Championship starting with the 2006 championship (the 2005 forms have already been printed) to grant women golfers entry to the oldest running golf tournament in the world.

Continue reading “Men and Women in Modern Times”

The PGA Championship: Time to Revert to Match Play

If the PGA Championship were to revert to a matchplay format, it could offer viewers drama and a bit of history all at the same time.

PGAAs the Accenture WGC World Match Play comes to an end, it is natural to ponder the concept of a matchplay format for one of golf’s four major championships. It is an issue that often comes up with the PGA Championship usually labelled as the most likely candidate to make the format switch for several reasons.

For one, it wouldn’t really be anything new for the event as it used a match play format until 1958. For another, the tournament does not seem to be as constrained by tradition as the other majors are. Evidence of this is seen in the PGA’s willingness to host their organization’s championship at courses that are not traditionally thought of as “major-worthy” venues, such as Whistling Straits and Valhalla.

Continue reading “The PGA Championship: Time to Revert to Match Play”

The State of the Tiger is Strong

Tiger Woods has spent the last year assuring us his game was “this close” to the dominant level he demands of himself. Having already doubled his 2004 win total, the outlook for Team Tiger is bright for the rest of 2005.

Tiger WoodsStaring down his biggest rival in a final-round showdown, setting a scoring record, hitting shots no one else can hit, regaining his Number 1 ranking: all in a day’s work for Tiger Woods. Has the greatest player in the game today shaken off the slumpiness of his 2004 season? Is the artist formerly known as Eldrick ready to go on another epic run? Or is he just teasing us while complaining about the length of the PGA Tour season?

Let’s take a quick look at all the Woodsian news that Tiger has dropped on us this week.

Continue reading “The State of the Tiger is Strong”

Drug Testing in the PGA Tour? Not Likely

As performance enhacing drugs garner attention on the diamond, is there a reason for concern on the links as well?

pga_tour_logo.jpgIf you’ve been anywhere within range of televisions, radios, newspapers, or the Internet over the last couple of weeks, you have undoubtedly heard something about the steroid controversy gripping baseball as it heads into spring training. For the first time in its history, baseball will have mandatory testing for performance-enhancing drugs following a precedent set by the NFL and the NBA years ago. And while the controversy has swirled on the diamond, there are those that might wonder, should testing for performance enhancing drugs be done on in professional golf as well?

Continue reading “Drug Testing in the PGA Tour? Not Likely”

Stirring Up the LPGA

Where are the Tigers and Phils of the LPGA? I like golf, but the LPGA is boring.

LPGAThe United States Team turned in a disappointing final round of 80 in the Women’s World Cup this past weekend. Young phenom, 19-year-old Ai Miyazato, shot a 6-under 67 to capture the title. The only other sub-par round on Sunday came from Lorena Ochoa of Mexico.

The US finished 14th, with superstars Meg Mallon and Beth Daniel scoring a 78 and 80 respectively. This particular venue is interesting in that the first round was best ball, the second round was alternate shot, and the final round was stroke play with both women’s scores counting toward the total score. The first round allowed the field the lowest scores with many scores below par 73.

So, why am I feeling disillusioned with the LPGA Tour?

Continue reading “Stirring Up the LPGA”

ESPN: “Screaming, Ignorant Drunks Good for Golf”

Are drunk, vicious, obnoxious galleries good for the game of golf? ESPN doesn’t think so. Instead, they think it’s “great!”

FBR Rowdy CrowdThe FBR Open, formerly the Phoenix Open, has a long history as the rowdiest stop on Tour. We mentioned it in our tournament preview, and ESPN has gone a bit too far in suggesting that “rowdy galleries, like the one at the FBR Open’s 16th hole, are good for the PGA Tour.”

Robert Thompson and Jay Flemma have comment on this already, but I feel strongly enough to add yet another vote in favor of maintaining respect, dignity, and intelligence in professional golf.

Brian Wacker, who should be relieved of his “assistant editor, GolfDigest.com” role goes so far as to suggest that the rowdy, beer-guzzling, insult-yelling crowd (that has thrown oranges at players and toted loaded guns) “…is not only good for the game, it’s great for the game.” He suggests that the energy at places like the FBR 16th creates an energy that “transcends the game and thrusts it into mainstream America.”

Continue reading “ESPN: “Screaming, Ignorant Drunks Good for Golf””

Go Home, David, Please

Go home, David Duval. Get your game in shape or something, but until you do, please – just stay away.

David Duval NikeDavid Duval, at one point in the third round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, triple-bogeyed three straight holes. After three rounds of play on the relatively easy courses of the Bob Hope Chrylser Classic, Duval sits at +30. The leader, Joe Ogilvie, is “comfortably” fifty three strokes ahead. Lanny Wadkins, second-to-last, is 19 strokes clear of Duval. Davis Love III made more birdies on the back nine today than Duval has made in three full rounds of play, and we’re quite confident that were Sam Snead alive today, he too could beat David Duval.

Until last week, I was as big a Duval fan as you’re likely to find these days. I was happy that he finished T13 at last year’s Deutsche Bank Championship. As I said, until last week. Duval withdrew during one of the weather delays and returned to Colorado to get in some snowboarding. This week, he’s +30 after three rounds. This week, right now, I just wish the guy would stop embarrassing himself.

Continue reading “Go Home, David, Please”

The Next Tiger Woods: Michelle Wie?!?!

Wie may have missed the cut at the Sony Open, but in terms of marketability, she’s a cut above the rest.

WieMichelle Wie has missed the cut. She finished at +9 – seven strokes back – six worse than her effort last year relative to the cut. Yet many believe she’s going to be the next Tiger Woods. Not necessarily in the game of golf, but in the business of marketing.

This PGA.com article hints at it, with quotes like this: “Michelle’s creating excitement because she’s breaking down barriers,” said Greg Nichols, general manager at Ko Olina Golf Club and a junior golf coach. “She has created a huge wave for golf.”

Greg Nared, a business affairs manager for Nike, has been scouting Wie for several years. He noted that “she’s good for the game because she could attract younger people and females.” He was also quick to point out that Wie’s South Korean heritage could broaden appeal in the Asian market.

What mega-deal awaits her when she graduates to the ranks of “professional golfer”? “Wie” can only wait and see.

Wie to Play 2005 Sony Open

Michelle Wie will play the 2005 Sony Open, and before everyone starts criticizing everyone and everything, take a look at the other points of view.

Michelle WieMichelle Wie today accepted a Sponsor’s exemption to the 2005 Sony Open, according to ESPN. Wie missed the cut at this year’s Sony Open by one stroke, promptings a barrage of opinion ranging from “good for her” to “this is ridiculous!” The PGA Tour has taken a lot of flak from people who contend that Wie took the spot of an otherwise more deserving (and older, and male) competitor.

One of the other most popular discussions is “will she make the cut?” Many respond to this with “who cares, isn’t the point of the tournament to win?” Yes, for the players, that’s typically the point (though certainly there are other goals).

Let’s take a minute to consider the other points of view.

Continue reading “Wie to Play 2005 Sony Open”