Nike Platinum: The Ad

The new Nike ONE Platinum ad is out. What will you see?

Nike PlatinumThe new Nike ad is spreading in the airwaves, through your cable, and on the Internet (though it’s not yet on NikeGolf.com).

The commercial begins with a black screen. White text appears that says “We gave you a wedge with more feel. You showed us what it could do.”

Video of Tiger hitting his chip on the 16th at Augusta appears.

The black screen reappears along with the text “We gave you a ball with more control.”

The video shows Tiger’s ball rolling down the hill, crawling towards the hole, pausing, and then rolling gently, flashing the Nike logo for all to see.

The black screen and text reappear, saying “And you didn’t center the logo?”

BMW Asian Open

Miguel Angel Jimenez looks to defend his title at the BMW Asian Open.

jimenez_mullet.jpgThe European Tour heads to Shanghai this week for the BMW Asian Open at the Tomson Pudong Golf Club. Last year, Miguel Angel Jimenez claimed his third victory of the year at this event. Jimenez is joined by World Number Three Ernie Els and other members of last year’s victorious European Ryder cup squad.

At this event last year, The European Tour made its first visit to China. Since then, the Tour has sanctioned other events there and the BMW Asian Open is the fourth tournament in China this year.

Zurich Classic of New Orleans Preview

Vijay will once again be looking to defend his title this weekend at the TPC of Louisiana.

zurich_classic_logo.gifVijay Singh is definitely getting comfortable with this defending champion stuff. Singh successfully defended his Houston Open title this past Sunday by edging out John Daly on the first playoff hole, and he will be looking to do the same this weekend in New Orleans. Last year at this venue, Vijay shot an awesome 63 in the final round to win by one stroke over Phil Mickelson and Joe Ogilvie. He will be looking to do the same this week because he is once again closing in on the world number one ranking. Vijay used a mistake-free (and nearly birdie-free) round of 70 to hold off Daly in Houston this past weekend, but he will need many more birdies than that this week to come out on top.

Franklin Templeton Mortgage Championship Preview

Defending champion, Lorena Ochoa, sets out to conquer the field at the Franklin Templeton Mortgage Championship live from Tennessee.

LPGAThe ladies of the LPGA will return to the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin Tennessee for a charitable tournament to benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The Ironhorse, a par-72, 6,450 yard challenge, is one of two courses located at the club and the choice for this year’s event. Lorena Ochoa is once again attempting to conquer a field of the best LPGA players in the world, including Wendy Ward, who lost by one stroke to Ochoa at last year’s championship.

The Big Four Should Be Big Five

Everyone talks about the “Big Four”, but one day everyone will be looking up at Retief Goosen.

Thrash TalkRetief Goosen is just another solid golfer from South Africa, right? That statement is the opinion of some, but it couldn’t be farther from the truth. The 36-year-old Goosen turned pro way back in 1990, but it wasn’t until 2001 that he joined the PGA Tour. That is also the year he began to make his mark in a big way! When the 2001 U.S. Open came to Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, OK (my home state by the way), it was almost certain nobody picked Retief Goosen to win that week. He had a two-footer on the 72nd hole to seal the deal, but he missed the putt and had to make one equally as long to get into a playoff with Mark Brooks. He made that putt and defeated Brooks in an 18-hole playoff the next day to earn the first of his two U.S. Open titles.

Elin is a Twin

Elin Nordegren is one of a pair of identical twins. Yes, you read that correctly.

For those who do not know, yes, Elin Nordegren-Woods, wife of the best golfer in the world (at least currently), is one of a pair of twins. I’ll wait while you think about that…

Elin and hew twin sister Josephin (or Josefin) Nordegren grew up in Waxholm (a coastal town outside Stockholm). Tiger met Elin while both were serving as nannies for Swedish golf pro Jesper Parnevik.

And yes, they’re identical twins. I’ll wait again while you think about that some more.

To further help you comprehend what we’re sure could be a mind-blowing revelation, we here at The Sand Trap have taken the time to construct a little guide.

Volume Six

We explore life after 40, the Big Break III, Nike, and ponder if there’s a drug problem on the PGA Tour.

At least where I’m at spring is here (pretty much), and I’ve begun my training for the world’s longest driver of the golfball (pound for pound that is). I was watching one of those Pinnacle Long Drive Championships and thought that a better judge of distance was yard per pound. I did some quick calculations with my average distance and weight and have put them below.

Titleist (Acushnet) Going Strong

Titleist, FootJoy, and Cobra continue the upward climb in a downward-falling golf economy.

TitleistWhile many golf manufacturers are stuck in decline, The Acushnet Company – parent to Titleist, FootJoy, Cobra, and Pinnacle – is going strong. The company started this year with net sales of $342.6 million, an increase of $3.7 milllion from a year ago. The golf divsion reported operating income of $56.7 million, a jump of $6.7 million from last year. The numbers indicate that Acushnet is doing quite well in the slightly downturned golf economy, not only boosting its bottom line but improving its efficiency.

The company’s first quarter is exciting, particularly when the company had trouble getting new Titleist equipment (905 drivers, 904 fairway woods, new putters, new spin-milled wedges, new balls) out the door before the end of the quarter.

Singh Takes his Second over Daly

John Daly rallied Sunday and tied defending champ Vijay Singh with a birdie on the 72nd hole, but he dunked one in the playoff and lost.

Vijay SinghJohn Daly surged up the leaderboard Sunday with a stunning 67, but he dunked his ball when it mattered, and Vijay Singh walked easily to victory for his second straight Shell Houston Open victory and his third in four years.

Daly birdied the final two holes for his 67 to match Singh at -13 (275). His drive – with a fairway metal no less – dove left, bounced hard, and trickled into the water ont he first playoff hole. After blasting his third shot over the green, Daly had a 10-footer left for bogey when Singh tapped in for his par and the tournament victory.