Category: Tap-Ins

Steranka Named New PGA of America CEO

The PGA of America names Joe Steranka as the successor to Jim Awtrey as chief executive officer.

PGA of AmericaThe PGA of America announced Joe Steranka as chief executive officer Wednesday. Steranka, 47, will become only the second CEO to serve The PGA of America following the retirement of Jim Awtrey. Awtrey, the longest tenured CEO among America’s leading golf associations, served the PGA 19 years. Steranka joined the PGA of America in 1988 as as Director of Communications and Broadcasting and has served as Managing Director of Communication and Broadcasting since 2003.

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Our Last ‘Wie’s Bad Drop’ Post

Bamberger, he of Michelle Wie ‘bad drop’ fame, submits himself to a Question and Answer session.

michelle_wie_disqualified.jpgMichael Bamberger, the Sports Illustrated reporter who questioned Michelle Wie’s “bad drop” on the 7th hole in the third round of the Samsung World Championship, was interviewed by his own magazine. I encourage you to read his Q&A and decide for yourself if you still hate the guy. On that, a comment posted to Geoff Shackelford’s blog:

Here’s the thing that bothers me about the excessive Bamberger criticism: Michelle Wie is the one who actually broke the rules, not Bamberger. In fact, it was Wie’s hastiness and immaturity on the course which forced Bamberger (a, you know, grown-up) into an ethical quandry. After the improper drop he was thrust into an extrordinary situation which, I think, he handled with honesty. He has also appeared to be very straight-forward with all questioners of his actions thus far, even readily admitting that he could have made better decisions in the whirlwind aftermath.

Michelle Wie is not a victim here. She broke the rules and nearly got away with it. While it remains true that she could have simply been penalized two strokes had her card not been turned in, she did, again, break the rules.

Photo Credit: © AP Photo/Reed Saxon.

Wie Earns Goose Egg

Michelle Wie stood to bring home a better-than-average allowance until disqualified a day after her round.

Michelle WieSports Illustrated journalist Michael Bamberger had a twinge of conscience the day after Michelle Wie took a drop after declaring an unplayable lie. Bamberger felt that Wie had dropped the ball closer to the hole than her original position. Further inspection and discussion with rules officials seemed to confirm that she had taken a drop approximately one foot past the original lie. Had Bamberger brought up the infraction immediately Wie would have brought home a paycheck instead of a goose-egg.

There are two relevant issues here. The first thing to consider is that Bamberger clearly should have brought up the discrepancy immediately. If he felt that she had taken an illegal drop he should have gone to a rules official on the spot and cleared his aching conscience then. Withholding this information for a day cost Wie a paycheck and caused her unnecessary embarrassment. Correcting her mistake was impossible as she had already signed her card. Had the issue been brought to light at the moment, she could have corrected her mistake.

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Tiger Woods Wins Over Yacht Maker

In a not-so-subtle twist of irony Tiger Woods’ luxury yacht “Privacy” is in the news again.

tiger_woods_yacht.jpgChristensen Shipyards have been ordered to cease using Tiger Woods’ name and photograph in connection with their luxury yachts. The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge William Zloch, upholds the original terms of sale.

The suit claims $75,000 in initial damages. The lawsuit claims that Woods’ star status could bring damages to a mind boggling $50 million according to the terms of the lawsuit. Christensen Shipyards stood to gain financially using Woods’ name and chose to use Woods as advertising leverage against the explicit language of the contract.

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Toms Taken to Hospital

David Toms was taken to the hospital and listed in critical condition after his heart rate rose dramatically while playing in the 84 Lumber Classic.

David TomsFor the second time this week another professional golfer has been admitted to the hospital with a rapid rising heart rate. Meg Mallon had just enjoyed the closing ceremonies of the Solheim Cup in Carmel, Indiana when her rate climbed upwards to 290 beats per minute. To put that into perspective, cyclist Lance Armstrong during crucial stages of the Tour de France will rarely exceed 220 bpm. Yesterday after making the turn at the 84 Lumber Classic, PGA TOUR veteran David Toms was seen clutching his chest and taking a knee due to his escalated heart rate then being rushed to a hospital via helicopter where he is now in stable condition.

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Titleist Debuts Revamped News Site with RSS

Titleist today introduces a brand new “News” section of their site with several RSS feeds to keep users apprised of the latest.

TitleistTitleist today unveiled a new, content-rich news site and several (and we do mean several) RSS feeds to deliver information directly and immediately to customers (and without worry of spam, updating email accounts, etc.).

The new Titleist News site contains feeds for equipment categories and company news as well as other features like Ernie Els’ “On the Road with Ernie,” “Lessons from the Pros,” and “A Quick 9.”

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Woods and Others Withdraw from Rich World Match Play

Big names withdraw from $1.78 million World Match Play Championship making the tournament a snoozer.

Tiger and PhilIt has been confirmed on the HSBC World Match Play Championship web site that the top three ranked players in the world – Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson – will not be in the field. The tournament, which boasts a $1.78 million purse to the winner, will be played on September 15-18 at the West Course at Wentworth in England. The highest prize in golf was not even enough for Ernie Els to jump out of bed and forget about recovering from a recent knee surgery.

One would think that the tournament could not get any worse without Woods, Singh, Mickelson, and Els absent, but it does. With the exception of Chris DiMarco and Fred Couples, Sergio Garcia and Davis Love III have decided to stay home and watch Geraldo Rivera wade around New Orleans on FOX News. Vijay Singh will be defending his title against Mickelson, Couples and DiMarco at the 84 Lumber Classic in western Pennsylvania. There is not one American player in the field.

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On the Ball with Common Sense

The distance debate rages on, but at least one voice of common sense has poked their head through the clouds.

GolfObserver has an article worth reading:

It’s not just about the ball. It’s about players who have pushed themselves farther than technology has taken equipment. It’s about the endless hours in the weight room, long runs and stretching. About balance in your diet. About a new generation of focus that’s often hard to fathom.

Right on.

Morgan Pressel Victorious at 105th U.S. Women’s Amateur

Morgan Pressel wins her first U.S. Women’s Amateur title. Annika Sorenstam claims victory at a self-sponsored tournament in her native Sweden.

morgan_pressel_amateur.jpgMorgan Pressel played two grueling rounds of golf today to win her first U.S. Women’s Amateur title. The first round was played under gloomy skies and over soggy fairways. The afternoon was even worse as storms threatened and rain soaked the golfers. It didn’t even faze Morgan Pressel.

Completely dominating the other 155 golfers during the Amateur, Morgan showed that she was second best to no one this time and was considered to be the favorite at this event. In June, Pressel came in runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Open after being tied for the lead when Birdie Kim sunk an unbelievable bunker shot. Probably a more hurtful defeat occured at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur last month when her opponent chipped in to win from about 40 feet.

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