Desert Duel: Dubai Deals Blow to PGA’s Hope

The European Tour stop makes the once-noteworthy Hope Classic an afterthought.

Thrash TalkIf you needed any more evidence of where the game of pro golf sits in 2011, look no further than this week’s two headlining tournaments.

The PGA Tour returns to the mainland after two ho-hum weeks in Hawaii for the once ballyhooed Bob Hope Classic. It should be a fan favorite, with movie stars, musicians and athletes playing alongside some of the best golfers in the world. A big chunk of the country is buried in snow and craving a golf fix, even if it’s staring at pretty green fairways during the commercials of the NFL playoffs.

So where are four of the top five players in the world teeing it up this week? In the desert of the United Arab Emerites, half a world away, at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Phil Mickelson and Graeme McDowell will be dueling for the $2 million purse, in a field that reads more like a major than a standard stop on the European Tour.

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The Hot List: Hot or Not?

January means Golf Digest’s annual Hot List issue. But is it really a helpful resource, or closer to one large advertisement?

Bag DropWe’ve all been there – it’s time for a new set of irons, or perhaps a new driver. Old reliable really isn’t getting it done anymore, and deep down, though you’d never admit it, you’re jealous of some of your buddies and the shiny new clubs in their bags. So you take to the Internet, in search of a new driver, but after a 5-10 minutes, you’re quickly overwhelmed with options, and totally unsure of what your next move should be. Of course, you could take a trip to your nearest retailer and ask for opinions, but you never really know if they have a hidden agenda going on, like if they sell one more R9, they get a free trip to Sawgrass or something like that. It sure would be nice to go to that store with four or five options in mind and then test them all to see what works best.

Hot List 2011

Then the thought hits you – Golf Digest‘s annual Hot List. Of course! Back in the day, it was a great place to find what’s new, and what’s hot. So you then run out, pick it up, and hurry back home to see what valuable info it holds inside. A short while later, you’re left even more dejected than before. Why? Follow along to find out.

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Volume Two Hundred Sixty Two

DJ denies, Alexis gets rejected, and Brittany misses the cut.

Hittin' the LinksHappy Rev. Martin Luther King Day Sand Trappers and welcome to another edition of Hittin’ the Links. Anyone else wish they were in Hawaii this week? Shorts and short sleeves were the dress code for spectators of the Sony Open. It must be nice.

In this newest volume of HTL we begin with a look at the relationship denials coming from DJ’s camp, then turn our attention to the plight of young Alexis Thompson, and investigate the sale of some Masters Memorabilia. Also, we check out the North Korean Golf Tour, see what happens when aviation and golf mix, and do a wrap-up of the Sony Open. Read on!

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Five Funniest Golf Commercials

In a world where commercials consistently put me to sleep, a select few rise above the rest.

Trap Five LogoGolf is a game that anyone can play, which makes is extremely popular in the 18-35 year-old group that advertisers covet. Because of this golf commercials flood our TVs, airing on all channels and coming from a multitude of companies. It sometimes seems that you are just as likely to see a FedEx golf commercial on HGTV as you are to see a This is SportsCenter commercial with Tiger Woods on ESPN.

Golf commercials are all different. Like most humorous commercials, the funny ones all draw from some sort of irony. For example, this FedEx Commercial is funny because at first you expect the employee riding the golf cart to be Jim, the guy who is “really into golf.” But no, he isn’t Jim. There is actually someone more into golf than the guy who drives a golf cart around the office all day.

Alright, that sounds kind of lame now that I explain it, but how about this one? Throughout the years, Tiger Woods has made tons of commercials for EA Sports and his own Tiger Woods PGA Tour video games. This one wasn’t a commercial per se (more of a promotional video), but when a user of the video game told EA that the game had a glitch (where Tiger can play golf on water), they responded. In this video, Tiger hits a golf ball onto a lily pad, and decides to go in after it. He takes off his socks, tests the water for stability, and strolls over to his golf ball where he proceeds to wedge one in from what appears to be between 50 and 100 yards. The next year, for Tiger ’10, Rocco Mediate tried the same feat. After removing his shoes and socks, he takes a step or two into the water and then sinks, failing mightily. Though different from the much simpler FedEx commercial, these two both get a few laughs because of the contrast between Tiger and Rocco. Without any further ado, here are my five funniest golf commercials.

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Ten Questions for 2011 #5: Will the U.S. Lose the Presidents Cup?

Will the International team win the Presidents Cup for the first time since 1998?

Thrash TalkThe Presidents Cup has and probably always will be overshadowed by the Ryder Cup, but despite the United States dominance in recent memory, the event has still become one to look forward to. It gives golf fans a great opportunity to see guys like Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Camilo Villegas, etc. play in a team competition every other year. Add in the extra day of competition compared to the Ryder Cup, and that’s a double bonus.

Other than the tie at the 2003 Presidents Cup, the United States has won every competition except 1998. That one was played at Royal Melbourne in Australia, and it just so happens the 2011 Presidents Cup will return to the land down under. International Captain Greg Norman will have the task of trying to end the losing streak against the Americans, and it’s fitting the competition will be in his homeland.

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Adams Introduces Speedline F11 Drivers and Fairway Woods

Maybe all of those LDA guys have Adams in the bag for a reason???

Bag DropThough it seems like everyone is starting to realize the benefits of a clubhead that is aerodynamically enhanced, the guys that started it all continue to refine those qualities of their drivers and fairway woods while adding complementary new tech along the way. Adams Golf now brings us the successor to last year’s Speedline FAST 10 with the new Speedline F11 drivers and fairways, promising even more reduction in drag.

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Volume Two Hundred Sixty One

A rule is a rule, regardless of who sees it.

Hittin' the LinksHello golf fans and welcome to the first Hittin’ the Links of 2011! We took a little R&R over the holidays but are back with all that is going on in the world of golf. How about this Camilo Villegas debacle, I cannot believe that Tour players are getting on the guy who turned him in. I really thought golf was a gentleman’s game, this new turn of events saddens me.

In this first edition of the year we begin with a search for Stuart Appleby’s missing putter, then investigate Camilo’s rules gaffe, and then do a workout with Natalie Gulbis. Also on tap, we learn how to hit driver off the deck, check out the 2011 LPGA Tour schedule, and do a wrap-up of the Tournament of Champions. Read on!

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How to Get the Most out of Your Practice

Try these tips to achieve the most efficient practice that will get you better, faster.

Trap Five LogoA little over a month ago, I gave you Five Ways to Play Golf Over The Winter, and one of the options was to go to the driving range. While going to the range is great practice, if you simply hit golf ball after golf ball without a plan for improvement, you won’t be able to make the most of your practice. When I hit the range, I see too many people take a very inefficient approach to hitting golf balls, and this doesn’t allow them to improve quickly. By following these steps, you will find yourself getting better, faster, and more able to go from the driving range to the course.

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Staff Predictions: 2011 Season Preview

High hopes for Tiger Woods, little expected from Mickelson, and the bar is set high for Kaymer. And remember Sergio? You might be hearing from him again this year.

Thrash TalkWith a full offseason to put his off-course woes even further in the rear-view mirror, the golf world is bracing for Tiger Woods, the golfer. Not Tiger the partier, the cheat, or the punchline. Wood finished 2010 winless, and each time he tees it up in 2011, the question will surface: when will the losing streak end? If you believe The Sand Trap staff consensus, Tiger’s slump is all but over. But will he return to dominate, or just look like an ordinary Top Ten player?

As for sleepers, there’s more than a little love for Sergio to surge. As for players of the year, will the Europeans build on their gains of 2010? Or can the Americans find the magic atop to rankings again?

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