Woods Tied to Drug Doctor

The news keeps getting worse for Tiger Woods. Just a hours after he announced that his taking an indefinite leave from playing golf to work on his marriage, the New York Times reported that a Canadian doctor who treated Woods after his knee injury last year is suspected of providing performance enhancing drugs to professional athletes. Dr. Anthony Galea, who was arrested in October in Toronto, had human growth hormone and another drug in his possession at the U.S.-Canadian border in September. The FBI is investigating Galea after medical records found on his computer included the names of several athletes, Woods among them. Galea reportedly developed a blood-spinning technique called “platelet-rich plasma therapy” used to help athletes recover from surgery. Galea reportedly visited Woods in Florida four times last year to give him the therapy when he was recovering from his June 2008 knee surgery. The PGA Tour implemented a drug testing program earlier this year and has already suspended journeyman Doug Barron.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Billy Maxwell.

Hayes Leads Q-School

The golf gods are smiling on J.P. Hayes. The 44-year-old Wisconsin native who has won two tournaments and more than $7 million on the PGA Tour, is tied for the lead at the halfway point of the annual Q-School. You may recall that last year’s Q-School, Hayes DQ’d himself when he realized that he had used a ball not on the USGA approved list. The mistake cost him full playing privileges but earned him plaudits for his honesty. He got into 15 tournaments and won $300,000 but not enough to earn exempt status. After shooting a 63 in the third round Friday, Hayes is in excellent position to regain his tour card if he finishes n the top 25 in the event which ends Monday. Here’s hoping he not only makes it but wins the event.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bob Burns.

Woods Admits Affair

WOW! Tiger Woods posted this statement on his web site today essentially admitting his infidelity, which may help explain the events of last week. The photo is of Jaimee Grubbs, the Los Angeles cocktail waitress and VH1 “Tool Academy” reality star, who claimed she had a 31-month affair with Woods. Here is Tiger’s statement:

“I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.

“Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.

“But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don't share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions.
“Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it's difficult.

“I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.”

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to D.A. Points.

Happy Birthday Lee Trevino

The Merry Mex turns 70 today!

Tiger WDs Own Tournament

Tiger Woods, citing injuries he sustained in his traffic accident early Friday morning, announced that he will not play in his own golf tournament later this week. Woods said that headaches and soreness will prevent him from traveling to southern California for the Chevron World Challenge, a limited field event that raises money for his foundation. Of course, he also will miss a previously schedule news conference and will avoid all those pesky reporters who want to know what really happened when his Cadillac Escalade hit a fire hydrant and a tree at 2:30 a.m. But skipping the tournament will only delay the inevitable. Sooner or later, he will play in a tournament and will appear in a press room and reporters will be asking him questions. Spectators who purchased tickets to the event will be entitled to refunds and those who choose to attend anyway will receive a 20 percent discount on the purchase of tickets for next year’s tournament. Meanwhile, Nike, Gillette and Gatorade issued statements in support of Woods.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Brandt Jobe.

Tiger Explains, Sort Of

Tiger Woods explained that he alone caused the one-car accident he was involved in early Fridayt morning and said he wants the incident to remain private. "This situation is my fault, and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me," Woods said in a statement posted on his web site. "I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again."
Woods said it was a private matter, and he wanted to keep it that way. "Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible," he said. “The only person responsible for the accident is me. My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false."

Expect Woods to face much more scrutiny from the media and the tabloids in the months ahead and it will be interesting to see how he deals with it.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Mike Springer.

Tiger Rumors Abound

The internet is ripe with rumors about an alleged affair between Tiger Woods and a 34-year-old New York woman whose financee died in the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center. The rumors have led to unfounded speculation that his one-car accident at 2:30 a.m. on Friday was the result of a domestic dispute and that his injuries were actually caused when his wife, Elin, hit him in the face with a golf club. My friend JY said she used a mashie. Stay tuned.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Peter Lonard.

Tiger Injured in Car Accident

At least he didn’t hit a bus. Tiger Woods sustained minor injuries early Friday morning in a one-car accident near his home in Florida. He was treated and released from an Orlando-area hospital after the Cadillac SUV he was driving hit a fire hydrant and a tree about 2:30 a.m. Police said his wife, Elin, smashed out the rear window of the car to help get him out. Windermere police chief Daniel Saylor told The Associated Press that officers found the 33-year-old PGA star laying in the street with his wife, Elin, hovering over him. A statement posted on his website (http://www.tigerwoods.com/), acknowledged the accident and said the world’s number one golf was “admitted, treated and released today in good condition. We appreciate very much everyone’s thoughts and well wishes.” News of the accident didn’t hit the wires and the airways until early afternoon. First reports, using information from the Florida Highway Patrol accident report, indicated Woods suffered serious injuries, including lacerations to his face. The report said alcohol was not suspected in the crash. The real question is where was he going at 2 a.m. and why. The National Enquirer reportedly has been tailing a 34-year-old woman whom they claim is having an affair with Woods and was in his hotel when he played in Australia earlier this month. Woods is due to host the Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., which starts Thursday.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Nolan Henke.

Big Names Miss Top 125

Some big names and former tournament winners finished outside the top 125 money winners on the PGA Tour and will either end up in Q-School or find themselves begging for sponsors exemptions to play next year. Those who finished between 125 and 150 will have limited opportunities to play and could get into 12-20 tournaments. Jimmy Walker finished at no. 125 with $662,683. The casualties included: Todd Hamilton, Jeff Maggert, Tim Herron, Chris Riley, Joe Ogilvie, Chris DeMarco, Stuart Appleby, Tom Lehman, Tommy Armour III, Rocco Mediate, and Corey Pavin.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Tom Byrum.

Duval Loses Card

David Duval, ranked No. 1 in the world just a few years ago, lost his PGA Tour card when he missed the cut at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Disney World this weekend. Duval entered the season ending event at No. 125 on the money list, the last spot to earn fully exempt status next year. But his failure to qualify for the weekend means he will have to rely on sponsors exemptions and his status as a past champion to get into events in 2010 unless he regains his card at the tour’s qualifying school. He was unable to capitalize on his second place finish in this year’s U.S. Open and he used his one-time exemption as a top 50 career money winner to enter tournaments this year.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Tim Herron.

Wie Wins First LPGA Title

Michelle Wie, the former teen age sensation who made a name for herself competing against men on the PGA Tour, won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico to record her first LPGA victory. Wie, now 20 years old, won the tournament by two strokes over Paula Creamer. Until Sunday, Wie never fulfilled the promise she first showed by winning the USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links championship in 2003 after qualifying for the Women’s U.S. Amateur at age 10. She turned professional in 2005 just a week before her 15th birthday and reportedly signed endorsement contracts worth $10 million a year with Sony and Nike. Bothered by a wrist injury in 2007, Wie endured a long slump but turned her game around this summer and went undefeated in her four matches at the Solheim Cup. She has changed caddies and agents and perhaps has limited the influence of her overbearing father.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Jill McGill.

Barron Sues PGA Tour

Doug Barron, the first player suspended for violating the PGA Tour’s drug policy, filed a lawsuit against the tour yesterday seeking monetary damages and a temporary restraining order to allow him to play in the second stage of Q-school. The suit, filed in Memphis, revealed that Barron tested positive for: testosterone and beta-blockers. "This was never a case of a guy in a back room taking creams or using needles," said Barron’s agent Art Horne. "This was a guy taking what was prescribed to him by medical doctors for conditions that others have been given exemptions for. We feel Doug has been treated unfairly." Barron said he suffers from anxiety attacks and has been taking beta blockers since 1987. He also was diagnosed with abnormally low testosterone and took a testosterone shot in June.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Duffy Waldorf.

Mickelson Wins in China

Phil Mickelson can’t wait for the start of the 2010 PGA Tour. Mickelson, whose 2009 season was limited by wife Amy’s breast cancer (as well as his mother’s), finished the year with a victory at the WGC-HSBC Championship in China. The win, over the likes of Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, followed a victory at the Tour Championship and an undefeated performance in the Presidents Cup. Mickelson credits a late season putting lesson from former PGA champion Dave Stockton for the turnaround in his game. Woods, meanwhile, suffered a final round collapse in Shanghai where once again he was whining about cameras going off during his swing. It sets up what could be an interesting renewal of the rivalry between the top two players in the world.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Tray Tyner.
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Barron Booted for Drugs

Doug Barron became the first PGA Tour professional to be suspended for violating the ban on performance enhancing drugs. Barron, a journeyman whose best career finish was T-3 in the 2005 EDS Byron Nelson Championship, was suspended effective immediately on Monday. The substance he tested positive for was not identified. "I would like to apologize for any negative perception of the Tour or its players resulting from my suspension," Barron said in a statement. "I want my fellow Tour members and the fans to know that I did not intend to gain an unfair competitive advantage or enhance my performance while on Tour." Barron, 40, played part time on the Nationwide Tour this year. The PGA Tour instituted its formal drug testing policy at the first of the year.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Terry Mauney.

Nicklaus To Be Honorary Starter at Masters

Guess who is going to join Arnold Palmer as an honorary starter at The Masters? None other than six-time champion Jack Nicklaus. Officials at Augusta National announced Monday that Nicklaus accepted their invitation to join Palmer in hitting a ceremonial first drive at the 2001 Masters. "I have always had great respect for Arnold and his legacy at the Masters, and I did not, in any way, want to infringe on the opportunity for Arnold to have and enjoy this Masters tradition for himself," Nicklaus said in a statement released Monday by Augusta National Golf Club. "He is so deserving of this honor, and thus I felt it was his time, not mine. Recently, I was invited by both Augusta National and Arnold to join him on the first tee, and because he enthusiastically supported the invitation, it became an easy decision for me." Nicklaus, who won the 1986 Masters at the age of 46, last competed in the tournament in 2005.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Wally Armstrong.

Wie Impressive at Solheim Cup

Mr. Fairway has not been Michelle Wie’s biggest fan, mostly because she hasn’t won anything and, in his opinion, had become a caricature of herself by playing in men’s PGA Tour events, firing agents and caddies, and being controlled by her sponsors and domineering parents. But after watching her gutsy performance in the Solheim Cup, he was impressed by her game, her attitude and her presence on the course. Wie, a captain’s pick by Beth Daniel, has the best record for the victorious U.S. team at 3-0-1. She hit booming drives and actually made some key putts. It will be interesting to see if her performance helps her win her first LPGA event in the near future. Speaking of the Solheim Cup, Christina Kim needs to put a cork in her mouth. Although she was 3-1-0, Kim, more than any other American, was the most obnoxious player leading cheers and trying to get the galleries fired up. She hit some great shots but she also hit a bunch of stinkers that left Mr. Fairway underwhelmed. Tone it down next time around, Christina, or you won’t be taken seriously.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Sally Little.

Tiger's 8-Iron Magic

Tiger Woods once again proved he is no mortal and that his challengers are. After Woods, tailing Padraig Harrington by a shot at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, hit a 182-yard 8-iron to six inches on the 16th hole, the defending PGA champion hit a lob wedge into the greenside pond and made a triple bogey. Tournament over. Who hits 182-yard 8-irons? Woods cruised home to victory, his fourth of the year, second in a row, and 70th of all time, leaving behind only Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus. The win also was his seventh victory in the WGC tournament played at the Firestone Country Club, the most any PGA pro has won at one venue. Coincidentally, the win comes a week before the last major championship of the year and presents Woods with his last chance to cap off another stunning season.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Phil Tataurangi.

Watson Sunk by Cink

Steady Stewart Cink made a clutch birdie on the 72nd hole of the Open Championship and then benefited from Tom Watson’s troubles in the four-hold playoff to win the claret jug. Watson’s potential Cinderella story ended twice – first when he bogeyed the final hole in regulation play by missing an eight-foot putt that put him in a tie with Cink and then when he double bogeyed the third playoff hole after he hit his drive left into the alfalfa and was unable to chop it out to fairway. But it was a heroic effort by Watson, who was seeking his sixth British Open victory and ninth major title overall. Meanwhile, Royal and Ancient officials were keeping sharp objects away from Lee Westwood, who three-putted the final hole to miss joining Cink and Watson in the playoff by one shot.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Ray Barr Jr.

Watson Storms Scotland

What is it about the Open Championship that brings out the best in the graybeards? Last year, former champion Greg Norman, then 53, held the third round lead. This year, five-time champion Tom Watson, 59, finds himself at the top of the leader board after three rounds at Turnberry. If that isn’t enough to stir memories, Turnberry was the site of Watson’s victory over Jack Nicklaus in the famous “Duel in the Sun” in 1977. Wow. If Watson can somehow manage to hold off the kids, he would become the oldest major champion since Julius Boros, who was 48 when he won the 1968 PGA Championship. Here’s hoping that Watson can bring home another claret jug.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Phil Rodgers.

Ji Wins; Bivens Ousted

This was not a good week for LPGA. First, the players staged a palace coup and ousted Commissioner Carolyn Bivens. Second, a Korean, Eun Hee Ji, won the U.S. Women’s Open. The two events may not be related but they underscored what is wrong with women’s golf. During her tenure as LPGA Commissioner, Bivens saw the tour lose a number of events and sponsors. The future of the LPGA is shaky at best and the new commissioner will have a very tough go of it. Bivens recognized that one problem the tour faces is the predominance of Korean players on the leaderboard week after week. Her solution was to require all players to learn English, an idea designed in theory to help the fans connect with the heavily foreign contingent on the tour. But it was viewed as heavy handed and backfired. As for the U.S. Women’s Open, all credit goes to Ji who holed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win the tournament. American Christie Kerr collapsed in the final round punctuated by a horrible three-putt. Trust me, none of Mr. Fairway’s male friends are going to tune into see a bunch of Korean automatons win LPGA tournaments.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Nancy Scranton.

More From the AT&T

I love to watch Jim Furyk with his funky swing. He certainly is one of the best players on the PGA Tour. But watching him putt is unbearable. At last week’s AT&T National, I saw Furyk on several greens and to say he is methodical is an understatement. He has this routine where, after looking at the line and making some practice strokes, he addresses the putt and just when you think he is ready to go, he backs away and lines everything up all over again. Godalmighty, Jim, step up and hit it. No wonder the pros get hammered for slow play.

The best shot I saw last week came on the 10th hole, a 210-yard par three over water. With the pin cut on the right rear of a very undulating green, Anthony Kim hit his ball about pin high, a good 50 feet left of the hole. From where he was, Kim would have had to putt up a hill very close to the edge of the green to get the ball close to the hole. So Kim took out either his sand wedge or lob wedge and hit a little pitch shot off the green, over the mound near the fringe and down to the hole where it checked and stopped a foot away. Tap in par. My buddy and I looked at each and agreed the kid can play.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Scott Simpson.

Tiger Wins Again

Tiger Woods won his tournament Sunday, outlasting Hunter Mahan and defending champion Anthony Kim who faltered down the stretch. (Mrs. Fairway thought Tiger winning his own event was a conflict of interest.) Tiger’s victory at the AT&T National Presented by Tiger Woods (as the CBS promos said), makes it a hat trick this year for victories in tournaments hosted by golf greats. Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and The Memorial, hosted by Jack Nicklaus. Woods made crucial putts when he need them and watched as Kim, his fellow competitor in the final group, missed twice from inside 10 feet. No question that Woods will be the favorite heading into the British Open at Turnberry in two weeks. Mr. Fairway had the pleasure of attending the Thursday round and saw Tiger hole a 50-foot putt for birdie on the second hole. Stay tuned for more tournament notes.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bob Lohr.

Play Faster Or I'll Shoot

This not how to handle slow play. A 73-year-old Austin, Texas man complaining about how slowly the group in from of him was playing at the Lions Municipal Golf Course on Monday pointed a loaded pistol at the offenders in the parking lot after the round. Police said Edwin Dailey was charge with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he was arrested a few blocks from the golf course. A University of Texas student assistant football coach said Dailey complained on the ninth hole that he and his two friends were playing too slowly. They argued back and forth over the next four holes and on the 13th hole, Dailey said that he would get his gun and "make them both equal." When they were in the parking lot, Dailey pulled a .25-caliber Browning handgun loaded with hollow-point bullets and pointed it one of the men. The threesome took cover and called 911. Police arrested Dailey and found another gun, a .38-caliber Beretta pistol, in his cooler.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Rodger Tambellini.

Glover Wins U.S. Open

Lucas Glover rallied with a birdie on No. 16 Monday to win the U.S. Open, withstanding late charges by Phil Mickelson and David Duval. Mickelson saw his chances disappear after he missed two short putts (where have we seen that before?) on the back nine. Duval, who was once the number one player in the world and is now ranked No. 882, lipped out a short par putt on the par three 17th hole.

Here are a few observations about the championship:

The USGA created a wave a criticism when it bungled questions about giving rain checks to fans who had tickets for the Thursday round, most of which was washed out. While their explanation was sound for a no rain check policy, they waited too long to explain it and then had to go into scramble mode to let fans know they could use those tickets for Monday.

The USGA made a mistake by starting the fourth round Sunday evening. The leaders only played one hole. Why not end the day for everyone and come back first thing in the morning for a full 18 holes? They certainly started early enough that they still could have had an 18-hole playoff and finish by dark if necessary.

Tiger Woods will be kicking himself over his play at Bethpage. Coming off a sterling performance at The Memorial, Woods never was able to drive the ball consistently and he didn’t make enough crucial putts.

Mickelson, who now has five second place finishes in the U.S. Open, played some heroic golf, especially with the weight of his wife Amy’s upcoming treatment for breast cancer on his mind. But as I’ve been saying for years, he misses more critical putts in the 4-foot to 8-foot range than any other great player.

One reason I love the U.S. Open is that you can always count on some obscure players showing up on the leader board. This year it was Ricky Barnes (done in by a final round 76) and Ross Fisher.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to David Gossett.

Another Tiger Miracle

As he watched the final round of the Memorial Tournament on Sunday, Mr. Fairway was kicking himself for a bet he didn’t make. After Tiger Woods shot a 74 on Friday, one of Mr. Fairway’s buddies suggested he was out of the tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus. Mr. Fairway almost made the bet that Tiger would be even money to win. Well, on Sunday, Woods came from four strokes back take the title making Tigeresque shots along the way. First there was the improbable eagle from the rough on No. 11 and the birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 – from 13 inches – to seal a 65. When Jonathan Byrd missed a short birdie putt on the 17th, woods claimed his fourth Memorial title. Jim Furyk’s birdie on the 18th game him second place alone. By winning, Woods erased any doubts that he is the prohibitive favorite to repeat his 2002 U.S. Open championship at Bethpage in New York in two weeks. An ominous sign for the Open field is that Tiger only missed five fairways off the tee all week and none in the final round. Mr. Fairway will take that bet that Tiger is better than even money to notch another U.S. Open win.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bruce Devlin.

Mickelson To Play Memphis, U.S. Open

Good news for Phil Mickelson fans and the golf world. Mickelson, who suspended his PGA Tour schedule two weeks ago after his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer, will play in the St. Jude Championship in Memphis next week as well as the U.S. Open at Bethpage, N.Y. the following week. Mickelson said doctors believe they detected Amy’s cancer early and that he will be back on the golf course. Mickelson finished second to Tiger Woods in the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. The other good news is that Mickelson’s return will overshadow the return of John Daly, who also is playing in Memphis.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Brett Upper.

Sergio's Love Lost

Love hurts. Sergio Garica attributes his recent poor play to his breakup with Greg Norman’s daughter, Morgan. Garcia, 29, said he and Ms. Norman ended their relationship earlier this year. Perhaps that also explains his poor performance at the Masters and his critical comments about Augusta National, which he apologized for later. In seven PGA Tour events this year, Garcia has yet to finish in the top 10. But that might have more to do with his troublesome putter than his love life. Garcia ranks 114th in putting average and 167th in putts per round.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Steve Opperman.

Stricker Gives Back

Here’s an example why Steve Stricker is considered one of the nicest guys on the PGA Tour. Stricker recently returned to his hometown of Edgerton, Wis. (population 5,183) to help raise funds for the Towne Country Club where he learned to play golf and other local charities. Gary D’Amato, the fine golf writer of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, reported that 500 people turned to watch Stricker present a golf clinic and then play 18 holes with people who won an auction for the right to play a hole with him. One resident paid $5,000 to play all 18 holes with Stricker, who was skeptical that anyone would pay to play with him. D’Amato reported the event raised $20,000 for the golf course, local food banks, and a kids program run by the police department.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Scott Gutschewski.

Daly to Play in Memphis

John Daly and his clown pants will be back on the PGA Tour this summer. Daly, golf’s perennial bad-boy slash train wreck, said his six-month suspension is over and that he plans to play the St. Jude Championship in Memphis in three weeks on a sponsor’s exemption. He also will attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open. Daly said he also has an exemption to the Buick Open in July. PGA Tour Commissioner suspended Daly for six months after a series of on-course and off-course incidents. Daly has been playing on the European tour with modest success.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Robin Freeman.

Amy Mickelson Diagnosed With Cancer

Phil Mickelson announced today that his wife, Amy, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Mickelson said she will start treatment, including surgery, within the next two weeks. Mickelson also said he will leave the PGA Tour immediately. He was entered in the Byron Nelson Championship in Dallas this week and is the defending champion for the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in Fort Worth next week. The Mickelsons, who were married in 1996, have three children.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Sheri Steinhauer.

R.I.P. Bob Rosburg

Bob Rosburg, the former PGA champion who was the first network on-course golf announcer, died Thursday in California. Rosburg, 82, suffered a head injury in a fall and had been diagnosed with cancer. In addition to winning the 1959 PGA, Rosburg won six times on the PGA Tour. After retiring from the tour, Roone Arledge of ABC-TV hired him to rove the course during tournaments inspecting players’ lies and reporting, “He has no chance, no chance to get this ball close” in response to the usual question, “What’s he got, Rossie?” Rosburg grew up in San Francisco and as a 12-year-old, won the Olympic Club men’s championship be defeating baseball legend Ty Cobb.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Steve Melnyk.

Tiger "Lefty" Woods

Did you happen to catch Tiger Woods hitting this shot left-handed at the Players Championship during Saturday's round? Woods hooked his drive into some pine trees on the 11th hole and his ball came to rest near a dead tree, which blocked him from taking his normal stance. So, he flipped his wedge upside down and swung at it left-handed. He had to get the ball up and carry a bunker 45 yards away. He hit the ball more than 110 hards -- left-handed with an upside down PW. Simply amazing.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Paul Hahn.

Daly's Clown Pants

I guess it's approriate that John Daly is dressing like the clown that he has become. Check out these duds that he is sporting on the European Tour while he waits out the suspension imposed by PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem. I imagine he is getting paid to wear those pants and if so, it's an indication of how desperate he is for cash. Daly's personal life is a wreck and his golf game is wreck. he recently underwent a stomach lap-ban procedure and has lost an estimated 50 pounds. But judging from the recent photos, he still looks like a cross between the Michelin Man and the Pillsbury Doughboy.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Robert Damron.

Dan Jenkins at The Majors

I am in the tank for Dan Jenkins. For my money, there is no better golf writer today than the former Texas sportswriter who wrote about golf and football for Sports Illustrated (and still pounds out columns for Golf Digest). His first golf novel, “Dead Solid Perfect,” is typical Jenkins – funny, irreverent, and full of great lines. His other golf yarns, “The Money Whipped Steer-Job Three-Jack Give-Up Artist” and “The Franchise Babe,” are equally fun. But Jenkins also is a great reporter who had the good fortune of starting his journalism career by covering Ben Hogan in his hometown of Fort Worth. Jenkins has covered virtually every major championship for the past 60 years and now has published those stories in a collection called “Jenkins at the Majors.” Want to read about Hogan’s U.S. Open win at Oakland Hills in 1951? It’s in the book. Tiger’s first Masters win? In the book. I enjoyed revisiting the historic tournaments such as Arnold Palmer’s come from behind victory in the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills in 1960 and the King’s colossal collapse in the same event in 1966 at Olympic in San Francisco. Jenkins chronicled the arrival of John Daly at Crooked Stick and recounted Ben Crenshaw’s emotional Masters victory in 1995 after the death of his mentor Harvey Penick. Jenkins, who always loved lists, includes his All-Star Golf Team for every club in the bag and features a top 10 leader board for every major included in the collection. This is a great read for golf fans.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to George Cadle.

Watching the Masters in Style

If you are lucky enough to be a DirecTV subscriber, you're getting bonus coverage of the Masters. The satellite network has three other channels besides the CBS feed. I spent most of Saturday watching virtually nonstop coverage of Amen Corner -- holes 11, 12 and 13 -- and coverage of holes 15, a reachable par five, and No. 16, the picturesque par three with a large pond that runs down the left side. The benefit was that I got to see a lot shots from my man Steve Stricker, who shot 68 and is at -7 for the tournament, when CBS was showing the leaders. If heard correctly, the special channels will start broadcasting at 12:45 p.m. tomorrow. Check it out.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Chip Beck.

Tiger Wins

I guess Tiger Woods is fully recovered from knee surgery. Woods, who made clutch putts all weekend, rammed home a 15-footer on the 72nd hole Sunday to win his second consecutive Arnold Palmer Invitational title and his first tournament since last summer's U.S. Open. Woods started the day five shots behind Sean O'Hair, who looked totally lost on his way to a final round 73. Give Woods his due. He made great shots down the stretch and his putter bailed him out again and again. The victory assures that he will be the odds on favorite for the Masters in two week. On the down side, I'm getting a bit tired of his fist pumping histrionics. To use the old school adage about not showboating in the end zone, act like you've been there before. Yes, it was an emotional win but it's not like he did the impossible. The field wasn't really that strong and everyone on the planet knew Tiger would win again. Tiger's club slamming is getting old, too. Yes, it's bad luck to have two balls plug under the lip of the bunker, but there's no reason to be flipping clubs or slamming them down in disgust. Time for Tiger to show a bit more maturity.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Chuck Courtney.

Daly Loses Defamation Suit

A Florida judge threw out John Daly’s defamation lawsuit against Mike Freeman of the Florida Times-Union for a column that equated the bad boy golfer’s off-course adventures to the “thug life.” Freeman’s 2005 column contrasted David Duval and Daly, asking, “How does Daly not fail the scoundrel sniff test with fans despite possessing Thug Like qualifications. Look at the Daly blog. Domestic violence accusations? Yup. Three different kids from three different moms, making him the Shawn Kemp of golf? Yes. A former wife indicted for laundering illegal drug profits? Roger that.”
Daly sued for defamation of character, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent hiring and supervision. After Daly’s attorneys acknowledged the characterizations of Daly were true, the judge granted Freeman and the newspaper a summary judgment dismissing the suit. The judge said Daly failed to prove that any of the underlying facts were false and said the columnist was protected by the First Amendment. Daly, who is serving an undetermined suspension from the PGA Tour, is playing in Europe.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Chris Couch.

A Tiger Day

Ever wonder how hard Tiger Woods works to prepare for a golf tournament? If you tuned into the first episode of “The Haney Project,” the Golf Channel’s series on Tiger teacher Hank Haney’s attempt to fix Charles Barkley’s lunge (that really isn’t a swing), you got a hint. As Haney and Barkley talked about the long road ahead of them, Haney asked Barkley if he was ready for “a Tiger day.” According to Haney, here is typical Tiger practice day:

6 a.m. Wakeup
6:30 – 8 Workout/weights
9 – 11 Hit balls on practice tee
11-11:30 Practice putting
11:30-12:30 Play nine holes
12:30-1 Lunch
1-3 Practice tee
3-4 Short game practice
4-5 Play nine holes
5-5:30 Hit more balls
5:30-6 p.m. Practice putting

That might be more practice time than most amateurs put in over the course of a month, or more. Mr. Fairway doubts many of Tiger’s fellow competitors have that kind of a work ethic.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Danny Ellis.

Haney and Charles Barkley

Mr. Fairway checked out “The Haney Project” on the Golf Channel the other night. This is the weekly show about Haney, Tiger’s teacher, trying to fix the golf swing – if you can call it that – of former NBA star Charles Barkley. If you’ve never seen Barkley swing, check out the video clips on You Tube. Barkley’s swing, which he describes as “a speech impediment, a stuttering problem,” looks like he is killing gophers. He dips and pauses before hitting weak shots dead left. “My golf game sucks,” Barkley tells Haney when they meet. “I haven’t gotten a ball above my head in 10 years.” Haney called the challenge of fixing Barkley’s swing “the project of a lifetime.” The initial show was entertaining, with lots of clips of Barkley’s train wreck swing, including an impression by Tiger himself. But Haney puts Barkley through his paces, hitting ball after ball after ball, all teed up on the practice range, and then breaking down the video. To his credit, Barkley appears determined, focused and eager to learn. Looks like an entertaining series.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Charles Courtney.

Down Goes Tiger

Turns out Tiger is not invincible. Tim Clark, ranked 33rd in the world, ended Tiger’s comeback story with a 4 & 2 victory Thursday in the second round of the Accenture World Match Play Championship. Clark played nearly flawless golf building a three-up lead on the back nine. Woods holed a 50-foot bunker shot on to win the 14th hole and cut Clark’s lead to 2-up. But his tee shot on No. 15 hit a cart path and went OB. Clark closed Woods out when he hit his tee shot to four feet on the 16th and Woods failed to chip in for a birdie. So Woods looked human in the match and was simply outplayed by the South African. Mr. Fairway liked Tiger’s response to a report who asked him where he goes from here. “To the airport,” Woods said.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Terry Wilcox.

Tiger on Cruise Control

Any questions? Looked like the same old Tiger Woods on Wednesday who knocked off Brendan Jones 3 & 2 in the first round of the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona. In his first competitive round since recovering from ACL surgery, Woods turned in a solid performance with moments of brilliance. He won the first two holes of the match after hitting irons close to the flag for an easy birdie and conceded eagle (after a 235-yard 4-iron to four feet) respectively. He bogeyed three of his next five holes and watched his lead slip to 1-up but then birdied No. 8 and didn’t allow Jones to get closer. He hit eight of 12 fairways and nine of 16 greens. The Golf Channel did a nice job of dialing up slow motion videos of his swings prior to last summer’s U.S. Open, during the Open at Torrey Pines, and during his Wednesday round. I’m no doctor or swing coach, but Tiger looked better than ever. He had a few misplayed shots along the way but for the most part looked pretty sharp. After the round, Woods told reporters, “It felt like nothing changed. Walking down the fairway, and it felt like business as usual. Go out there, I thought I would be more nervous on that first tee, but when it comes right down to it. … it just came back down to just playing the game again, and that felt good." Woods will play Tim Clark of South Africa on Thursday.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Mark Hensby.

Stricker Gags Again

Don’t get me wrong. Mr. Fairway is in the tank for fellow Wisconsinite Steve Stricker. But his failure to close the deal at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles on Sunday was an out and out choke job. Sure Phil Mickelson was putting up bogeys on the scoreboard and Stricker’s final round 67 was five shots better than Phil’s 72. But when it came to crunch time, just like at the Hope, Stricker couldn’t close the deal. It was deja vu as his driver, long his Achilles heel, failed him again when he pulled his drive on the 18th hole into the left rough and made bogey. At the Hope, he hit two drives OB and one in the water to watch his chances of winning his first tournament since the 2007 Barclays evaporate. A wayward driver is nothing new to Stricker, who is 145th on tour in fairways hit percentage (56.25 percent). A balky driver caused the several year slump before he won consecutive comeback player of the year awards. Stricker, known for his prowess with the flat stick, also missed two makeable putts on the 17th and 18th holes that would have ensured a victory. On 18, Nick Faldo called his miss noting that Stricker very rarely hits his putts firm enough. Faldo also noted that Phil would hit his putt on 18 hard enough and he did. Perhaps Stricker, reputed to be one of the nicest guys on tour, needs get some toughen up pills from Badger football coach Bret Bielema.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Mario Tiziani.

He's Back!

It’s official. Tiger Woods announced today that he will enter next week’s WGC-Accenture Match-Play Championship in Arizona. It will be his first tournament since he won the U.S. Open last June and had surgery to repair a torn ACL. Woods is the defending champion of the event, defeating J.B. Holmes last year. He also won the tournament in 2003 and 2004. Woods, who remains ranked number one in the world, will be the top seed. If no one withdraws, he would face Brendan Jones of Australia in the first round. In a statement posted on his web site, Woods said, “Elin and our new son Charlie are doing great. I’ve enjoyed my time at home with the family and appreciate everyone’s support and kind wishes.” TV execs are praying that he makes it to the weekend to boost ratings.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bruce Fleisher.

The blue blazer and dandruff crowd at the USGA has offered up yet another silly proposal to take the fun out of golf. These guys, who buy their shirts pre-stuffed because it saves time, already have banned U-shaped grooves on wedges and irons starting in 2010 for professionals and amateurs in USGA events. Now, they want to outlaw wedges with more than 60 degrees of loft. Several pros, including Padraig Harrington and Phil Mickelson, have used the high-lofted wedges around the greens. At this point, the USGA honchos are only studying the wedges and their effect on the game. It’s a good thing for golf that these clowns weren’t active when Gene Sarazen invented the first sand wedge in the 1930s.

Hitting range balls while wonder whatever happened to Caesar Sanudo.

Golf Channel Disciplines Magee

The PC police made another arrest. The Golf Channel suspended analyst Andrew Magee for two weeks over a comment he made during coverage of the FBR Open two weeks ago. Magee, who was a roving course reporter, thought he was off air when he told fellow analyst Gary McCord that he had just seen someone wearing a T-shirt that said, “I got kicked out of Boy Scouts because I ate a brownie.” That’s pretty funny. Unfortunately for Magee, his microphone was live and the remark broadcast. McCord did not respond and Magee’s comment was followed by dead air. After the Golf Channel received complaints from views, Magee was disciplined although he appeared on his regular Tuesday night show, “The Approach,” last week. Magee was scheduled to play in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and won’t be on tonight’s show. Mr. Fairway likes Andrew Magee and hopes he does well Magee’s gaffe comes a year after Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilgman uttered a racially insensitive remark about Tiger Woods.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Ronnie Black.

It's a Boy for Tiger

Tiger Woods and his wife, Elin, announced the birth of their son on Sunday. "Elin and I are thrilled to announce the birth of our son, Charlie Axel Woods, who was born on Sunday February 8, 2009," Woods said on his web site. "Both Charlie and Elin are doing great and we want to thank everyone for their sincere best wishes and kind thoughts. Sam is very excited to be a big sister and we feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful family. I also want to thank our doctors, nurses and the hospital staff for their personal and professional care. We look forward to introducing Charlie to you at the appropriate time, and again thanks from all of us for your kindness and support." Charlie joins sister Sam who was born in June 2007. Woods, who is recovering from knee surgery last summer, has not set a date for his return to tournament action, but most observers expect him to play in the Masters this spring.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Scott Dunlap.

Phil in Fighting Shape?

Mr. Fairway’s Laguna Beach correspondent Mike B. went up to Torrey Pines for the Wednesday pro-am at the Buick Invitational and reports that Phil Mickelson is looking good. Mike reports that Mickelson, who shot 76-73 for a +7 missed cut in his 2009 season debut at the FBR in Scottsdale last week, might be down as much as 30 pounds. It will be interesting to see how he fares at a tournament he has won three times (1993, 2000 and 2001) on a course he played a kid growing up in San Diego. If you ever get to Torrey Pines, check out the photos of young Phil (and a young Tiger Woods) in the pro shop.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Lindy Miller.

Monty Named Ryder Cup Captain

Colin Montgomerie, the prickly Scot who has a remarkable record in the Ryder Cup, was selected to lead the European team in the 2010 matches. Montgomerie was chosen over Jose Maria Olazabal, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosman. The matches will played in Wales. Corey Pavin will captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Montgomerie, who has never won a major championship, won 20 Ryder Cup matches with just nine losses and seven halves in eight Ryder Cup appearances. He has been on the winning side five times. His 23 ½ career points trails only Nick Faldo. Despite his success in the Ryder Cup, Montgomerie has not fared well in major championships and his churlish behavior and propensity to have rabbit ears has made him the European player that American fans love to hate. It will be interesting to see if Captain Monty can inspire his team of Europeans to play for him.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Gene Sauers.

John Updike, Golf Writer

Legendary American writer John Updike died yesterday at 76. Although Updike was renowned for his novels about contemporary American life, he also wrote beautifully about golf. An avid, albeit average golfer, Updike published the best of his writings on the sport in a book titled "Golf Dreams." Two of his most memorable short stories with golf themes were "The Pro" and "Farrell's Caddie." Mr. Fairway has misplaced his copy of "Golf Dreams," but he in inspired to read it again. So should you.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Dick Hart.

Haney on Swing Thoughts--Part 3

Haney stressed the importance of taking the club back on the proper plane, not too far outside (upright) or too far inside (flat). And he said to forget about taking the club back along the ground, which forces the club too far inside. “That is a wasted thought,” Haney said. Taking the club back too low and too inside does not create enough wrist hinge. On the backswing, Haney said the upper body coils and the lower body resists. The downswing, he said, starts from the ground up. He noted that Tiger tries to achieve a wider backswing and the hold his body back on the downswing as his arms and hands get moving to the ball. Recently, Tiger has been working on improving his backswing because he was taking the club back too straight.

Haney also scoffed at the notions of keeping your head down and keeping your eyes on the ball. “The ball isn’t going anywhere until you hit it,” he said. Once you hit the ball, Haney said, let your eyes follow the ball “so you can enjoy your good shot or so you can see where the ball lands with a bad shot.” Haney said everyone should have a swing thought. Tiger never hits a ball without thinking about the direction, the trajectory, etc. “His swing thought changes depending on what he’s trying to do,” Haney said. Haney said everyone, including the pros, have negative thoughts enter their head, but that you have to replace those negative thoughts with a positive thought that will allow you to hit a good shot.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Chris Perry.

Haney's Swing Concepts--Part 2

Haney preached two concepts: First, the golf swings on an arc and the golf club swings up, then down and then up again. Any swing with too much or too little of one or both of those concepts leads to problems. “Most people swing back to flat and come down too steep,” he said. Second, golfers must swing on the proper plane. Haney said golfers have different planes depending on their height but all good golfers keep the club on the proper plane. He recommended swinging the club with the club head several inches above the ball imitating the motion of opening and closing a door. Squaring the club at impact and closing it down will help eliminate spin and increase distance.

Speaking of distance, Haney said golf is a game of distance and direction. But distance is the most important factor in playing good golf. So how do you get more distance? Haney said the answer is to swing faster. “You can’t swing slower and hit the golf ball longer,” he said. Tiger can swing up to 140 miles per hour and most touring pros swing more than 126 miles per hour, Haney said. An increase on one mile per hour will send a golf ball 2.3 yards farther, Haney said. But he emphasized that swinging faster is not the same as swinging harder, noting that when golfers try to swing harder, they hold the club too tight. “You get speed by relaxing and softening your muscles, which will enable a bigger shoulder turn and more wrist cock. “To make a better swing, make a faster swing,” Haney said.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Brian Claar.

A Lesson from Hank Haney--Part 1

Mr. Fairway is walking on air because he had an hour-long golf lesson today from Hank Haney, personal teacher of one Tiger Woods. OK, in the interest of full disclosure, Haney was addressing about 400 attendees at a golf show in Northern Virginia. But Mr. Fairway had a front row seat. “Yesterday, I was teaching Tiger and today I’m talking to you,” Haney said, looking directly at Mr. Fairway. Here is the first of several posts from that session.

Haney said that all golfers, including Tiger, need a plan to get better and noted that his prize pupil’s attitude is “if you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse.” Haney suggested that golfers who don’t have a plan really have no chance to improve. Any plan starts with a diagnosis, Haney said. He recommended that golfers look at the ball flight of their bad shots hit with a driver to help determine where they need improvement. Golfers can diagnose their faults by looking at their ball flight. If you slice, the odds are you are swinging too upright and hitting the ball on the toe of the club. If you hook, you are swinging too flat and hitting the ball on the heel. “Without a proper diagnosis, you can’t get a good plan to fix it,” Haney said. Noting that 90 percent of all golfers hit a slice in one form or another, Haney said that to improve a golfer must fix his ball flight fault. “If you can get the golf club to do something different, you’re going to hit the ball better,” he said. Golfers cannot lower their handicaps until they fix their critical mistakes.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Woody Blackburn.

Tiger to Speak at Obama Event

Tiger Woods will speak at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday as pat of President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration festivities. Woods issued a statement on his web site on Friday confirming the invitation. “I am honored that I was invited to this historic event and look forward to participating in Sunday’s festivities,” Woods said. The event will feature entertainment by Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, U2, Beyonce, and Garth Brooks as well as appearances by Denzel Washington and Martin Luther King III. Woods, who has shied away from involvement in politics, was criticized for declining to participate in a major league baseball celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. Woods called Obama’s victory in November “absolutely incredible” and told CNBC-TV that Obama “represents America. He’s multiracial. I was hoping it would happen in my lifetime. My father was hoping it would happen in his lifetime, but he didn’t get to see it. I’m lucky enough to have seen a person of color in the White House.”

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to David Peoples.

Now Hear This

Will “WHAT!” replace “FORE” as the traditional warning cry on golf courses around the world? Scientists in Scotland would have you believe that golfers who use titanium drivers risk damaging their hearing because of the sound the high tech clubs make when they strike the golf ball. Some doctor in Edinburgh said his research shows that titanium clubs “may produce sufficient sound to induce temporary or even permanent cochlear damage in susceptible individuals.” The study, which was published in the British Medical Journal, recommends that golfers wear ear plugs to prevent damage and possible deafness. I know that some of the new, hot drivers produce interesting “clanks” and “dings” when they hit the ball, but causing potential hearing loss? That’s whacky. Maybe Tiger can get an endorsement from Miracle Ear.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Des Smith.

Aloha, 2009

The PGA Tour kicks off its 2009 season this week with the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Maui. The tournament is for winners from the previous year only, which means a limited field and a guaranteed pay day. Of course, not everyone will be there. Tiger Woods is still on injured reserve. Phil Mickelson doesn't start his season until the tour goes to California. Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia don't want to make the long trek to Hawaii. As much as I enjoy watching the event (especially after having played the Kapalua Plantation course a few years ago), I have a problem with this event. The money that the plays win -- no cut, remember -- counts as official money in the tour's stats. More importantly, all players earn those really important FedEx Cup points. In my mind, that's an unfair advantage. Should tournament winners be rewarded? Sure but don't over-reward them. Let them go to Hawaii in January, play a beautiful course and earn gobs of money. But call it an extension of the Silly Season and don't count the money as official and don't hand out points for it. In the meantime, take a break from football and enjoy the golf and the scenery, especially those blimp shots of the whales.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Mark Pfeil.

New Year's Golf

Happy New Year, golf fans! Mr. Fairway, who says you can't play golf every day of the year if you don't play on January 1, just returned from the course. Despite a temperature of 31 degrees and 15 mph winds, Mr. Fairway played five holes this morning. Actually, it wasn't too bad out there once he downed a Bloody Mary mixed up by another pitiful soul. He striped his first three drives of the year down the fairway, but couldn't stop the ball on the frozen greens. Four of us played five holes -- #1, #10, #11, #15 and #18 -- before heading for home to warm up and watch some bowl games. (Mr. Fairway played a full 18 holes on Dec. 30.) For the rest of you slackers, make a resolution now to play on New Year's Day, 2010.

Hitting (frozen) range balls while wondering whatever happened to David Frost.