Mr. Fairway's Golf Blog

Ben Crane's Golf Workout

2011-01-09T10:39:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year! What better way to get ready for 2011 than to watch the Ben Crane workout video, which is really a spoof on all those exercise routines that promise longer drives and lower scores.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bruce Leitzke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_KHh_c6Ha4

Check Out Caddie Book

2010-05-16T14:30:00.002-04:00

Mr. Fairway announces that a new golf book to which he is a contributor was published this spring and is available in book stores and online. “Think Like A Caddie, Play Like A Pro,” is a compendium of tips and pointers from members of the Professional Caddies Association. Mr. Fairway a.k.a. Mark Nelson got involved in the project after seeing a post on the Golf Writers Association of America web site looking for authors. Dennis Cone, who founded the Professional Caddies Association, came up with the idea last year. Six of us, including lead author Jim Bartlett, worked on the project. Mr. Fairway’s his favorite subject was Carl Jackson, who served as Ben Crenshaw’s caddie at The Masters. Carl Jackson gets a lot of credit for Crenshaw winning the 1995 Masters and it was fun to hear him recount how he helped him fix his swing. Mr. Fairway wrote the opening section of the book about Jackson and Crenshaw as well as a sidebar article about Jackson, who is a member of the PCA Hall of Fame. Crenshaw wrote the preface and Arnold Palmer wrote the forward to the book. The book includes a wealth of information that golfers can use to improve their game and lower their scores. It include sections warming up, how to play in bad weather, how to make a yardage book and other useful information. The book, which lists for $24.95, also includes a section on the PCA Hall of Fame and lots of color photos of pros and caddies. The book is available in local bookstores as well as from online sellers including Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Steve Pate.

Nike's Tiger Ad

2010-04-07T21:13:00.001-04:00

I don’t know if saw Nike’s new commercial welcoming Tiger Woods back to competitive golf, but it’s kind of creepy, not to mention inappropriate. The commercial shows a somber Tiger listening the voice of his late father, Earl, asking him “I want to find out what you’re thinking was, I want to find out what your feelings are, and did you learn anything,” statements that originally must have been related to an experience on the golf course. But in the context of Tiger’s admitted infidelity, they take on a much different meaning. Equally troubling is that Nike would use the old man whose had left his wife and children to marry Tiger’s mother. At least Nike didn’t close the commercial with their famous tag line, “Just Do It.”

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bobby Wadkins.

Tiger Speaks, Sort Of

2010-03-21T19:58:00.002-04:00

I hope Tom Rinaldi and ESPN don’t break their arms patting themselves on their backs for the exclusive “interview” with Tiger Woods tonight. That wasn’t much of an interview – five minutes – and you almost could hear the clock ticking. The “interview” was so brief that the participants did it standing up. It was nicely staged by Tiger’s public relations consultant Ari Fleischer who was President George W. Bush’s spinmeister in the White House. (Woods later said he not long employs Fleischer.) Rinaldi’s questions were lame but not as lame as Tiger’s answers. He was nicely rehearsed, falling back on family privilege, getting treatment, losing his core values, blah, blah, blah. The only good line was when he noted that “everything came to a head.” Gee, that really was the heart of the problem. Who knew the world’s best golfer was a sex addict? So Tiger will stroll among the friendly confines of Augusta National in a couple weeks, but he’s kidding himself if he thinks the questions will stop. Golf fans can move on from the sordid details of his extramarital affairs. Now it’s time to judge his conduct, which has been unbecoming, on the golf course.

Woods also gave a brief interview to Kelly Tilghman of the Golf Channel, who was suspended when she suggested that other players might want to lynch Woods because he was winning too many tournaments. Let bygones be bygones, I guess, at least when it comes to manipulating the media. Woods came off a bit more human in Golf Channel interview saying his actions were "horrific" and that he was disgusted with himself.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Tom Wargo.

Tiger Apologizes

2010-02-20T14:14:00.002-05:00

So Tiger Woods finally appeared and public and apologized for his behavior that may cost him his marriage and caused several sponsors to rethink their use of him as pitchman for his products. "I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated," Woods said in a carefully controlled appearance at the PGA Tour’s clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.. PGA Tour Commission Tim Finchem was in the audience along with several dozen friends and supporters. Elin Nordegren, Tiger’s wife, was not at the event. "What I did was not acceptable." Woods said he plans to return to golf. "I just don't know when that day will be,” he said. “I don't rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game." Woods allowed only a handful of reporters to attend and did not take questions. Kudos to my brethren in the Golf Writers Association of America for boycotting the non-news news conference. They understood that their presence would be to serve as props for Woods. He reportedly returned to an unnamed clinic where he is being treated for an addiction to sex. Forget about the sex and the bimbos. The real test to see if Tiger has learned anything and changed as a result of all this will be how he behaves when he does return to golf. Will he be humbled? Will he be kinder to the fans? Will the swearing and club throwing stop? Will he rein in his renegade caddie Stevie Williams? That’s the change I will be looking for.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Tommy Tolles.

Goydos Gags at Pebble Beach

2010-02-14T20:22:00.002-05:00

Tour pros hate the word “choke” because it conveys weakness. But if the word fits, use it. I’m talking about Paul Goydos who threw away a chance to win the AT&T National Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Sunday. (Perhaps it's time to undo the top button on your golf shirt, Paul.) Goydos had a one shot lead over eventual winner Dustin Johnson as they stood in the 14th fairway and watched Bryce Molder make a quadruple bogey nine up on the green. Goydos told Johnson that Molder had put his third shot in the worst place to be on the hole, short and left of the green. Guess where Goydos his ball? Bingo. His fourth shot wedge rolled off the back of the green. Just like Molder before him, his next shot failed to make it on and rolled back to his feet. He hit the next one and three-putted for his nine. He finished with a 78, four shots behind Johnson and a T-5 finish. Just last week, Ryder Cup captain Cory Pavin selected Goydos to one of his assistants for the matches this fall. Wonder if he will be giving mental advice.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Wayne Levi.

Daly Unretires

2010-02-14T12:20:00.002-05:00

John Daly's retirement lasted about as long as one of Mickey Rooney's marriages. But after posting rounds of 69-73-72 for a totalof 214 to miss the cut by three shots at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, perhaps Daly should retire again. He is quickly becoming the Brett Favre of professional golf.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Carlos Franco.

Stricker New No. 2

2010-02-08T18:06:00.001-05:00

Congrats to fellow cheesehead Steve Stricker on his victory at the Northern Trust Open. It was nice redemption from last year when he had the tournament in his grasp down the stretch but couldn’t close the deal. The win propels him to No. 2 in the World Golf Rankings and he remains the No. 1 PGA Tour Nice Guy. He’s off to another great season.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Tom Scherrer.

Mickelson Feels Slandered

2010-01-31T09:28:00.002-05:00

Poor Phil Mickelson. Now he’s complaining about being “publicly slandered” by fellow pros who called him a “cheater” for using an approved, but nonconforming 20-year-old Ping Eye 2 wedge with square grooves. Hello, Phil. You could have avoided the whole mess by not playing with the club. Some people thing Phil is just making a point to poke his finger in the eyes of the PGA Tour and the USGA because a newly designed Callaway wedge was ruled nonconforming. Whatever. The only thing Phil has gotten right in this whole controversy is the need for PGA Tour Commission Tim Finchem to sort it out, which he may do when he meets with players in Los Angeles next week. Let’s see if Mickelson, the face of the PGA Tour now that tiger Woods is in self-imposed exile, has the guts to sue McCarron, a member of the Tour’s Players Advisory Council. By the way, wasn’t that nice of CBS broadcasters Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo to take Phil’s side and criticize Scott McCarron for being “over the top” on his comments about Mickelson? Wonder why they might be in the tank for the PGA Tour?

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Paul Stankowski.

Phil: I'm Not Cheating

2010-01-30T10:51:00.002-05:00

Things are heating in the PGA Tour locker rooms. Scott McCarron accused Phil Mickelson of cheating because the left-handed fan darling is using an ancient Ping Eye 2 wedge with square grooves that has been grandfathered in for use in tour events. Mickelson isn’t the first player to find a loophole in the PGA and USGA rules that ban square grooves in tournament play but he’s the most prominent. McCarron called him out at his hometown tournament. “It’s cheating, and I’m appalled Phil has put it into play,” McCarron said. “All of these guys should be ashamed of themselves for doing that.” Good for McCarron. The Ping wedges, which are no longer in production, were given a pass as the result of a lawsuit by the manufacturer against the PGA Tour and the USGA in the early 1990s. Reports indicated that as many as eight players in the field at San Diego were using the old Ping wedges, apparently scrounging them from their garages or off E-Bay. They contend that rules allow the use of the wedges and while they are technically correct, McCarron and other critics contend using the wedges violates the spirit of the game. “I understand that guys are upset about the rule,” Mickelson said. “I’m upset about this rule. I think we need to take it out on the governing bodies, the ones who are making these rules or carrying out these rules. That’s where we need to focus our discontent. To call out a player, I don’t think is correct; we’re just abiding by the rules.” C’mon Phil, do the right thing and put the wedges back in the garage. Unless he does, any victory will be tainted.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Brad Elder.

Adios John Daly

2010-01-30T10:36:00.002-05:00

John Daly might be thinking of that old country-western song “You’re Gonna to Miss Me When I’m Gone” when he announce he is “retiring” after missing the cut in San Diego. Message to Big John: Not so much. Daly, the PGA Tour’s perpetual train wreck, said he is done with golf after shooting rounds of 79-71 to miss the cut by eight shots. While it’s commendable that Daly underwent lap band surgery and lost a stunning 115 pounds, he started the 2010 season complaining that he didn’t receive a sponsor’s exemption from the Bop Hope Classic. This from the guy who was suspended by commissioner Tim Finchem for a variety of antics not to mention his habit of WD’ing after bad rounds. As far as I’m concerned, he can take his clown pants and go back to Arkansas and sign autographs at the local Hooters. The Golf Channel deserves blame for being a JD enabler by launching a new reality show “Being John Daly.” You can stick a fork in Daly because he’s done. He hasn’t won a tournament since 2004 and hasn’t finished higher than 188 on the official money list. His official World Golf ranking is No. 416. It’s time for the golf world to forget about John Daly.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bob Verwey.

Stories to Watch in 2010

2010-01-01T11:01:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! Here are the stories that Mr. Fairway will be watching in 2010.

1. How will Tiger’s off-course adventures affect his golf game? He’s already taken a severe personal hit and lost a number of sponsors. It will be interesting to see if he can put those distractions aside when he returns from his self-imposed hiatus from the game.

2. Players on the professional tours will be using clubs with the new USGA-mandated grooves. Most experts believe the new grooves will impart less spin, especially on wedges and especially on shots from the rough.

3. How will the LPGA fare with a new commissioner, lost sponsors and fewer tournaments? One thing the ladies have going for them is Michelle Wie’s late season victory. If she can sustain a high level of play, golf fans may actually pay attention.

4. Which of the young guns will emerge as the next threat? Irishman Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler may be poised to have big years. Will Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas regain their 2008 form?

5. Can Phil Mickelson, who finished the 2009 season with a flurry, step into the void left by Tiger? Mickelson, who played a limited number of tournaments last year because of his wife’s breast cancer, appears to have recharged his putter and could be poised a huge year.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Dewitt Weaver.

Woods Tied to Drug Doctor

2009-12-15T10:09:00.001-05:00

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

2009-12-05T08:24:00.001-05:00

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

2009-12-02T10:40:00.002-05:00

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

2009-12-01T16:10:00.003-05:00

The Merry Mex turns 70 today!

Tiger WDs Own Tournament

2009-11-30T20:12:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-29T17:59:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-28T10:21:00.003-05:00

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

2009-11-27T19:39:00.001-05:00

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

2009-11-16T20:45:00.001-05:00

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

2009-11-16T15:34:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-15T20:26:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-13T09:25:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-10T10:41:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-03T14:39:00.001-05:00

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

2009-08-31T12:54:00.003-04:00

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

2009-08-25T10:30:00.001-04:00

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

2009-08-09T18:48:00.006-04:00

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

2009-07-19T15:43:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-18T20:38:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-13T11:19:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-07T14:39:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-05T20:32:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-25T15:43:00.001-04:00

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

2009-06-22T14:55:00.001-04:00

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

2009-06-07T19:47:00.002-04:00

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

2009-06-02T09:16:00.001-04:00

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

2009-05-27T16:44:00.001-04:00

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

2009-05-26T09:46:00.001-04:00

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

2009-05-26T09:37:00.002-04:00

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

2009-05-20T19:45:00.003-04:00

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

2009-05-15T09:43:00.002-04:00

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

2009-05-10T14:14:00.003-04:00

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

2009-05-08T09:14:00.002-04:00

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

2009-05-07T10:30:00.001-04:00

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

2009-04-11T18:12:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-30T09:31:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-24T15:29:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-09T20:05:00.000-04:00

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

2009-03-04T12:24:00.002-05:00

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

2009-02-27T09:17:00.001-05:00

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

2009-02-26T06:56:00.001-05:00

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

2009-02-24T09:39:00.001-05:00

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!

2009-02-19T17:29:00.002-05:00

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.

2009-02-13T20:19:00.002-05:00

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

2009-02-10T11:22:00.002-05:00

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

2009-02-09T09:06:00.002-05:00

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?

2009-02-05T14:52:00.003-05:00

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

2009-01-28T10:19:00.002-05:00

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

2009-01-28T07:33:00.003-05:00

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

2009-01-25T07:11:00.003-05:00

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

2009-01-24T15:21:00.001-05:00

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

2009-01-24T15:18:00.002-05:00

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

2009-01-17T17:38:00.002-05:00

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

2009-01-09T10:35:00.001-05:00

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

2009-01-06T10:26:00.003-05:00

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

2009-01-01T12:48:00.002-05:00

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.

PGA Tour Suspends Daly

2008-12-31T14:21:00.001-05:00

John Daly finally got his comeuppance from the PGA Tour which suspended him for six months for bad conduct. Daly himself announced the suspension just weeks after he spent the night in jail after being found drunk on a Winston-Salem sidewalk. The suspension is just another blemish on a career that also includes two major championships. In recent years, Daly has become a caricature of himself – hard drinking, gambling, fights with his wife, missed cuts, DQs, WDs, and on and on. Daly plans to play in Europe because his five-year exemption as a past PGA Tour champion expires this year. Daly said he wasn’t sure when the suspension started and the PGA Tour does not comment on disciplinary actions. This is not Daly’s first strike. The tour suspended him in 1993 for quitting in the middle of a round in an unofficial tournament at Kapalua and he sat out the last five months the next year after getting into a fight a spectator in Akron, Ohio.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Kent Jones.

Obama Hits the Links

2008-12-22T16:47:00.002-05:00

President-elect Obama relaxed in Hawaii today by playing a round of golf. He looked pretty sporty in a white golf shirt, khaki shorts, a Secret Service cap and shades. My deputy managing editor was critical of the cargo shorts but I think he needed the big pockets to store extra balls because he acknowledged to reporters that “I’m not that good.” He did adopt the look of fellow southpaw Phil Mickelson by wearing his watch while playing, something Mr. Fairway never does. I also liked part of his snack at the turn – hot dogs, orange soda, Coke and Powerade. But he also purchased something called a “Spam musabi,” described as a local specialty that features the aforementioned mystery meat and a fried egg on a bed of rice and held together with a seaweed wrap. Yuck. No word what Obama shot on the par 72 Olomana Golf Links, a public course which is only 6,326 yards from the championship tees.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Ken Still.

Harrington Wins Player of the Year Honors

2008-12-16T21:13:00.003-05:00

Padraig Harrington, who won the British Open and the PGA Championship, was named the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year for 2008. Earlier this week, Harrington won the same honor from the Golf Writers Association of America. Harrington beat Tiger Woods who won four of the six tournaments he entered, including the U.S. Open, before being sidelined with a knee injury. Vijay Singh, Camilo Villegas and Kenny Perry also were on the ballot for player of the year. In a vote by tour players, Andres Romero of Argentina won the rookie of the year award and Dudley Hart won comeback player of the year.Bernhard Langer was Champions Tour player of the year and Brendan de Jonge winning the Nationwide Tour award. The golf writers name Jay Haas as the Champions Tour player of the year and Lorena Ochoa as the LPGA Tour player of the year.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Jim Colbert.

Tempest in a C Cup

2008-12-15T20:22:00.001-05:00

Steve Williams, the bad boy caddie for Tiger Woods who smashes cameras of unruly photographers, gave an interview to The Guardian in which he calls out Phil Mickelson. Williams, at home in New Zealand, said he wouldn’t call Mickelson a great player because “I hate the prick." Nice. With a touch of no class, he followed that comment with a story about fan at this summer’s U.S. Open at Torrey Pines where Woods and Mickelson were paired together in the first two rounds. According to Williams, as Woods and Mickelson were walking down the 17th fairway, someone in the gallery shouted, "Phil," in Mickelson's direction. Mickelson did not respond. But when the fan called out, “Hey, Mr Mickelson." Phil turned and waved. Williams said the fan yelled out, "Nice tits." Naturally, the gallery got a huge chuckle out of that. In an interview the next day with New Zealand-based Star Times, Williams also said, "I don't particularly like the guy. He pays me no respect at all and hence I don't pay him any respect. It's no secret we don't get along either." Mickelson took the high road. "After seeing Steve Williams' comments all I could think of was how lucky I am to have a class act like Bones (MacKay) on my bag and representing me." Shame on Williams for mouthing off. Tiger also issued a statement on Monday. "I was disappointed to read the comments attributed to Steve Williams about Phil Mickelson, a player that I respect," he said. "It was inappropriate. The matter has been discussed and dealt with." Hope Tiger told Stevie to shut his pie hole. It will be interesting to hear what Tiger says at his news conference on Wednesday in advance of his annual Chevron World Challenge event in California.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to J.C. Snead.

Daly Smashes Fan's Camera

2008-12-11T15:52:00.001-05:00

Bad boy John Daly did his best Stevie Williams impression in Sydney, Australia Thursday when he smashed a spectator’s camera into a tree. Daley, en route to a 6 over par 78 in the Australian Open, was on the ninth hole – his last of the day – when he pushed a tee shot off the fairway. He stomped into a clump of trees where a spectator tried to take a picture of Daly at close range. Daly snatched the camera and smashed it against the nearest tree, telling the man, "You want it back, I'll buy you a new one." He later released a statement via tournament organizers saying the spectator put his camera within six inches of his face. “My eyes are still burning from the flash of the camera,” Daly said. “I feel it was very rude to put a camera that close to somebody's face in any situation. The guy that had the camera had already taken a dozen shots at close range." Daly took a penalty drop, finished the hole with a bogey and stormed off the course immediately after signing his card. Australian PGA officials are reviewing the incident and could impose a fine or other sanctions against Daly.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Greg Powers.

Azinger Out; Pavin To Leader Ryder Cup Team

2008-12-09T09:54:00.001-05:00

Paul Azinger will not return as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain in 2010, opening the door for Corey Pavin to lead the Americans when they challenge the Europeans in Wales. The official announcement will be made by the PGA of America on Thursday in New York. Azinger was praised for breaking the Europeans’ stranglehold on the cup, which they won three straight times. He did it without the services of injured Tiger Woods. Although it was apparent that Azinger wanted to be asked to captain the U.S. team, the feeling here is that he had nothing to gain and everything to lose by taking on the captain’s role again. Pavin, known as the “Gritty Little Bruin” for his determined style of play, had a record of 8-5-0 in three Ryder Cups, two of which were American wins.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bob Menne.

Q-School Hits, Misses

2008-12-09T09:40:00.003-05:00

The PGA Tour Q-School ended Monday with the usual ups and downs that will help determine the futures of 163 professional golfers. Harrison Frazar won the event, helped by a 59. Others who will return to the big money next year include: Notah Begay, Chris Riley, Jay Williamson, John Huston, Glen Day and Mathias Gronberg.

Those not so lucky (hint: it might be time to find a new line of work) included Mark Brooks, Frank Lickliter, Neal Lancaster, Jason Day, Jason Gore, Olin Browne, Chris Smith, Tommy Gainey, Robert Damron, Willie Wood, Bubba Dickerson, Guy Boros, Brad Elder, Carlos Franco, Robert Gamez, Bob May and Kevin Stadler. They will be relegated to the Nationwide Tour.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Brian Watts.

Wie Will Get Card

2008-12-06T15:45:00.003-05:00

Barring a final round blow-up (hey, anything can happen!), Michelle Wie will get her LPGA Tour card tomorrow. She shot a 68 on Saturday for a four round total of -14, good enough for second place behind Stacy Lewis and nine shots clear of the top 20 cutoff.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bruce Zabriski.

Q-School Time

2008-12-03T17:21:00.002-05:00

Yes, it's time for Q-School, those stressful rounds in early December that determine whether touring golf professionals will have a job next year. The PGA Tour wannabes will play six rounds with only the top 25 earning cards. The rest of the 163 players in the field will have status of some sort on the Nationwide Tour. Last year, Frank Lickliter finished first at -29. Alas, he only won $548,113 which put him 149th on the money list and he is back at school again. One former major winner, Mark Brooks, is in this week's field.

On the LPGA Tour, entrants will play five rounds. The field will be cut to the low 70 and ties after 72 holes and the top 20 finishers will earn their cards. Michelle Wie is in the field and was T-6 after the first round at -3.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Mike Nicolette.

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Skins Game? So What

2008-11-28T07:43:00.002-05:00

The annual Skins Game, the first big money silly season event, will be played again this weekend but Mr. Fairway suspects very few golf fans will bother to tune in. Why should they with a field that is low on the excitement scale? Defending champion Stephen Ames, Phil Mickelson, Rocco Mediate and the effervescent K.J. Choi don't excactly make for compelling golf. How did Ames, who is ranked 34th in the world, get into the event in the first place? We like Phil and Rocco, who is living off his dramatic duel with Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open, but will they offer any real excitement? Probably not. In the old days, it was fun to watch Nicklaus and Trevino and Watson compete for gobs of money. Today, these guys can make $250,000 for wearing the patch of a dog food company on the sleeve of their shirt. The format is old and outdated. Perhaps if they were playing for their own money it might be interesting. It's time to pull the plug on this Thanksgiving weekend turkey. Mr. Fairway will be watching football.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Steve Lamontagne.

Buick Bails on Tiger

2008-11-24T13:22:00.004-05:00

General Motors announced today that it will end its estimated $7 million a year endorsement deal with Tiger Woods, who was sponsored by Buick for the past nine years. The news should not come as a surprise given that the auto makers were in Washington, D.C. last week looking for a government bailout. Perhaps GM would have more luck asking the largest revenue producer in sports for financial assistance. Or, as my golfing partner John suggests, a reverse sponsorship in which Tiger pays Buick. At least golf fans won’t be subjected to those cheesy Buick commercials.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Russ Cochran.

J.P. Hayes Calls DQ on Himself

2008-11-19T10:53:00.002-05:00

Here’s another example of what sets golf apart from other sports. During the second stage of the PGA Tour’s qualifying competition, J.P. Hayes disqualified himself for using a golf ball not on the USGA approved list. The move ended his bid to obtain his tour card for next season. Hayes unwittingly used the prototype Titleist ball for two shots on the 12th hole in his second round in McKinney, Texas and reported it to a tour official who assessed a two-stroke penalty. After initially thinking he had violated the tour’s one ball rule that requires a competitor to use the same brand and model of golf ball in competition, Hayes realized that the ball was a prototype that was not on the USGA approved list. To that point, Hayes, who shot rounds of 74 and 71, was in good shape to advance to the Q-School finals. Hayes, a two-time winner, played in 28 events last year winning just $312, 152, ranking him 176th on the money list. His best finish was T-9 at the John Deere Classic. I hope tournament sponsors recognize his honesty and that into cnsideration when awarding exemptions next year.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Taylor Smith.

Q-School Update

2008-11-18T11:40:00.002-05:00

This is the season when the has-beens and wannabes find themselves at the PGA Tour Qualifying School in attempt to win a coveted pass to big money. Although two more second stage qualifying events are being played this week, quite few former players have already learned their fates by missing the cutoff to advance to the six-round final. The most heartbreaking story -- pun intended -- was that of Erik Compton, who is the recipient of two heart transplants. Compton missed going to the finals by one shot after he hit the 16th green in two in his final round and three putting. He mistakenly believed he needed an eage to make the number.

Among those who might consider finding real work were: Grant Waite, Joel Kribel, J.L. Lewis, Clark Dennis, Omar Uresti, Tom Byrum, J.P. Hayes, Dicky Pride, Skip Kendall, Ryan Armour, Bobby Clampett, Nolan Henke, Len Mattiace, Tom Scherrer, Jim McGovern, David Peoples, Danny Briggs, Trevor Dodds, Jim Gallagher Jr., Mike Heinen, Tipp Isenhour and Billy Andrade.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Wes Ellis.

Golf Industry Tries to Grow the Game

2008-11-14T11:36:00.000-05:00

The fact that economy is in the toilet and getting worse with each passing government bailout has not gone unnoticed by those in the golf industry. As a result, a new program was introduced earlier this week with the lofty goal of attracting 700,000 new golfers and enticing them to play 5.7 million rounds in the next five years. The ambitious program is called “Get Ready to Golf” and will enlist nearly 5,000 golf courses across the country that will offer a package of five golf lessons covering basic skills, rules and etiquette for the low price of $99. Cindy Davis, president of Nike Golf, said the program will be rolled out next spring and if successful could generate $700 million for the golf industry. The ambitious program comes at a time when the National Golf Foundation reports that rounds in the United States dropped to 26 million in 2005 compared to 30 million in 2000. The NGF estimates that 3 million people quit playing golf each year and that several hundred of the 3,000 golf courses built between 1990 and 2003 have closed. The core of the “Get Ready to Golf” program is a grass roots effort targeted at getting new golfers out on a golf course and entice them to stay with the game with lessons, golf leagues and family programs.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Tommy Nakajima.

Sergio is No. 2

2008-11-13T09:11:00.001-05:00

In case you missed it, Sergio Garcia moved into the No. 2 spot in the world golf rankings behind Tiger Woods. Garcia’s victory in the HSBC Champions tournament in China was enough to make him No. 2 and drop Phil Mickelson to No. 3. Garcia’s ranking is the highest of his career. The last European to be ranks as high was Colin Montgomerie in 1996. Wood has held the top ranking for 521 weeks. The rest of the top 10 are: Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington, Robert Karlsson, Camilio Villegas, Lee Westwood, Anthony Kim, and Henrik Stenson.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Pierre Faulke.

John Daly Arrested

2008-10-31T07:32:00.003-04:00

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Here is the mug shot after John Daly was arrested for being drunk and uncooperative outside a (surprise) Hooters in Winston-Salem, NC. 'Nuff said.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Randy Glover.

Tiger the Caddie

2008-10-21T10:15:00.001-04:00

How cool would this be? Tiger Woods showed up at Torrey Pines on Monday and caddied the back nine of the South Course for a 59-year-old high handicapper from New Jersey. Woods drove up to the 10th tee in a golf cart and told John Abel, "Hey, I hear you're looking for a caddie. I'm Tiger Woods -- pleased to meet you." Abel won a sweepstakes sponsored by Buick, which also sponsored the Buick Open at Torrey Pines, site of Tiger’s U.S. Open victory in June. Woods offered Abel advice, cleaned his clubs and lined up putts. The pin on 18 Monday was in the same place as it was during the final round of regulation at the U.S. Open -- front right -- when Woods made a 12-foot birdie putt to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate. After the round, Woods dropped a ball in the same spot and let Abel attempt the putt, which he missed.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Rives McBee.

Pray For Seve

2008-10-13T09:29:00.001-04:00

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Seve Ballesteros who confirmed this weekend that he has a brain tumor. He will undergo a biopsy tomorrow to determine a course of treatment. The swashbuckling Spaniard, known for miraculous recovery shots, faces what he called “the hardest challenge” of his life. "Throughout my career I have been among the best at overcoming challenges on the golf course," the five-time major winner said in a statement released by Madrid's La Paz hospital. "Now I want to be the best confronting the hardest challenge of my life, with all my strength, counting on all of you who are sending me encouraging messages." Ballesteros, 51, was admitted to the hospital Monday after briefly losing consciousness. During his career, Ballesteros won 87 titles worldwide, including nine PGA Tour tournaments. He won two Masters (1980 and 1983) and three British Opens (1979, 1984 and 1988). Seve competed in eight Ryder Cups where he had an overall record of 20-12-5 and was captain of the victorious 1997 team.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Doug Weaver.

Hole Outs!

2008-10-11T09:01:00.001-04:00

Mr. Fairway isn’t one to brag about his golf game, inconsistent as it is, but he can’t help mentioning two great shots from the season. Earlier this summer, he holed out a lob wedge from about 60 yards for an eagle three on a short par five. Yesterday, playing a great Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf course at Cacapon State Park in West Virginia, he did it again. After badly hooking his drive on the 408 yard 7th hole, Mr. Fairway safely punched an 8-iron back to the fairway 57 yards from the center of the green (according to the marker on the post that indicates where carts must leave the fairway). He pulled out the trusty lob wedge and knocked it in for a birdie three. Alas, because of the configuration of both holes with the cups cut behind mounds, Mr. Fairway didn’t see either shot actually go into the hole. Nevertheless, nothing is sweeter than walking up to the green a finding your Titleist in the cup.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Gary Groh.

Daly Does Europe

2008-10-03T10:29:00.002-04:00

John Daly reportedly is considering taking his act – drinking, gambling, missed cuts, high scores -- to Europe next year. One has to believe that his interest in the European Tour is directly related to the fact that he no longer is competitive in the U.S. making just five cuts in 16 tournaments this year and winning a meager $56,017. The former PGA and British Open champion, who is now ranked number 737 in the world, is becoming a caricature of himself known more for his off-course antics. Golf fans still turn out to see him perhaps as much to see his prodigious drives, but also to see if he will have a meltdown. Daly has been living off sponsor exemptions but even those started drying up after he spent part of a rain delay at the Pods Championship in the Hooters beer tent and returned on Saturday after missing the cut. Former swing coach Butch Harmon fired him as a student and he lost his invite to Arnold Palmer’s tournament for missing the pro am. He also showed up playing golf with an Arkansas TV reporter wearing blue jeans and no shirt over his humongous gut, which made for an entertaining You Tube video. It will be interesting to see how Daly’s European vacation turns out.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Ed Fiori.

PGA Tour Has Heart

2008-10-01T11:32:00.002-04:00

The PGA Tour has a heart after all. Erik Compton, who received his second heart transplant four months ago, leaned this week that the tour has approved his request to use a cart during his upcoming Q-School rounds. Compton, who has played on the Nationwide Tour, had his first heart transplant when he was 12 years old. Last October, he suffered a heat attack and doctors told him his survival depended on him receiving another heart. He received his second transplant in May and sought permission from the tour to use a cart for this fall’s Q-School. The tour also approved his use of beta blockers, a banned substance, because they are part of his medical prescriptions. The tour’s approval for Compton is a marked change from the stance it took when Casey Martin, whose diseased leg prevented him from walking the course, had to sue sued the PGA Tour under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Martin played on the Nike Tour and won a tournament in 1998. He earned his tour card in 2000 but did not retain it. The Supreme Court ruled in his favor in 2001. Best of luck to Erik Compton.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Ed Furgol.

Tour Championship, Yawn

2008-09-24T19:59:00.002-04:00

The first round of the season-ending Tour Championship tees off tomorrow at East Lake in Atlanta. Tim Finchem and the boys at FedEx who paid big bucks to sponsor the culmination of the PGA Tour's playoffs must be apoplectic. Why? First, the tournament is a big yawn. Vijay Singh only has to show up and breathe on a mirror to collect the $10 million first prize. Even with the changes that Finchem made after last year's predictable finish, Singh has a mortal lock on first place. Second, after watching the Ryder Cup -- only the most exciting and compelling golf event since this year's U.S. Open playoff -- last weekend, who is going to tune in to see the rich get richer, especially when the winner in waiting is badly in need of a personality transplant and the best golfer in the world (remember him?) is still recovering from knee surgery? My guess is that college football and pro football will dominate the TV ratings and that the Tour Championship won't come close to drawing the audience that watched the Ryder Cup. Most of Mr. Fairway's golf buddies didn't even know that the event was being played this week. Time for Finchem and company to go back to the drawing board for another round of changes.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Gibby Gilbert.

Ryder Cup Grades

2008-09-22T09:57:00.003-04:00

Here are Mr. Fairway’s grades for the U.S. Ryder Cup team:

Captain Paul Azinger – A U.S. captain deserves credit for building a solid team, getting them to bond, leading the Thursday night pep rally and sending out a lineup on Sunday designed to putt pressure on the Europeans. Bringing in Payne Stewart’s widow and children was a nice human touch. Is there a precedent for a repeat performance? Yes, actually. Ben Hogan captained the 1947 and 1949 teams.

Anthony Kim – A+ (2-1-1) Not only did he help Mickelson post his only win, he dusted Sergio Garcia in the open match Sunday to set the tone for the victorious U.S. team.

Boo Weekley – A+ (2-0-1) The crowd favorite who impressed with remarkable ball striking and clutch putting, this good ol’ boy can flat play.

Hunter Mahan - A (2-0-3) The brash rookie, a captain’s pick, teamed well with Leonard. He made a huge putt on 17 on Sunday for a 1-up lead and then settled for a halve against Paul Casey when his drive on No. 18 found the water.

J.B. Holmes – A (2-0-1) A controversial captain’s pick, the Kentucky bomber proved up to the task as one of three undefeated Americans.

Jim Furyk – A- ( 2-1-1) Furyk, who never trailed in his singles match against Miguel Angel Jimenez, clinched the U.S. victory.

Justin Leonard – B+ (2-1-1) The U.S. team rode Leonard’s hot putter to first and second day leads. He faltered Sunday against Robert Karlsson.

Kenny Perry – B+ (2-1-1) Built his whole year around qualifying for the team and did not disappoint the home fans. Came up big on Sunday despite taking pain pills for an arm problem.

Chad Campbell – B (2-1-0) Redeemed himself with a singles win over Padraig Harrington on Sunday.

Ben Curtis – C+ (1-1-1) A singles win over Lee Westwood salvaged his Ryder Cup.

Phil Mickelson – C (1-2-2) Poor Phil. He rode Kim to his only victory but couldn’t find another win and lost a singles match on Sunday for an overall record of 2-15. Needs more work with Butch Harmon on the wayward driver.

Stewart Cink – C (1-2-0) Rhymes with stink the first couple days with erratic play and poor putting.

Steve Stricker – C- (0-2-1) His highlight was making a critical putt on No. 18 on Saturday to halve a match for his only half point. Outgunned by Euro star Ian Poulter on Sunday.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Gary Nicklaus.

U.S. Wins Ryder Cup

2008-09-21T18:55:00.002-04:00

The U.S. Ryder Cup team ended nearly a decade of frustration Sunday by defeating Europe 16 ½ to 11 ½ as chants of “USA, USA” reverberated across the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. U.S. Captain Paul Azinger, who persuaded the PGA give him four captains picks and changed the order of play, gets credit for the win while Nick Faldo, his European counterpart, will get roasted in the British press. The U.S. team was led by unlikely heroes Anthony Kim, who dusted Sergio Garcia in the first singles match on Sunday to set the tone for the Americans, and Boo Weekley, the self-proclaimed good ol’ boy who made seven birdies and an eagle on Sunday after galloping down the first fairway using his driver as a make believe horse. Europe saw its hopes evaporate when the triumvirate of Garcia, Lee Westwood and Pardraig Harrington went a combined 0-7-5 for a measly 2 ½ points. Save for Robert Karlsson and Ian Poulter, the controversial captain’s choice, the Europeans played like girly men. The stirring victory by the Americans over the heavily favored European team, the raucous cheers for Kentucky natives Kenny Perry (2-1-1) and J.B. Holmes (2-0-1), the dramatic shots and the wire-to-wire victory will make this Ryder Cup one for the ages.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Harold Henning.

U.S. Will Win Ryder Cup

2008-09-18T15:25:00.004-04:00

Mr. Fairway is going out on a limb and picking the U.S. team to upset Europe in the Ryder Cup. Yes, he knows that Europe is the favorite and has more top-ranked players than the red, white and blue. Yes, he knows that the U.S. hasn't won the Ryder Cup since 1999. Yes, he knows that the best player in the world a.k.a. Tiger Woods is MIA because of knee surgery. But here some other factors to consider. First, the U.S. has home course advantage with the matches being played at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. Two members of the U.S. team, Kenny Perry and J.B. Holmes, are Kentuckians and if Captain Paul Azinger pairs them together, the crowd could be really crazy. Speaking of Azinger, he is going to be a better captain than his counterpart, Nick Faldo, who was never well-like by his fellow pros. Faldo already has drawn criticism for not picking Ryder Cup stalwart Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke, who has won three times this year on the European tour. Azinger has some young guns on his team who know no fear and can play lights out. Mr. Fairway predicts that Anthony Kim will beat Sergio Garcia in singles on Sunday to give the U.S. team a 14 1/2 - 13 1/2 victory.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bob Dickson.

Ryder Cup Records

2008-09-16T15:41:00.002-04:00

Here are the career Ryder Cup records for both teams:

Europe
Paul Casey 3-1-2
Sergio Garcia 14-4-2
Soren Hansen 0-0-0
Padraig Harrington 7-8-2
Miguel Angel Jiminez 1-3-0
Robert Karlsson 0-1-2
Graeme McDowell 0-0-0
Ian Poulter 1-1-0
Justin Rose 0-0-0
Henrik Stenson 1-1-0
Lee Westwood 14-8-3
Oliver Wilson 0-0-0

United States
Chad Campbell 1-3-2
Stewark Cink 3-5-4
Ben Curits 0-0-0
Jim Furyk 6-12-2
J.B. Holmes 0-0-0
Anthony Kim 0-0-0
Justin Leonard 0-3-5
Hunter Mahan 0-0-0
Phil Mickelson 9-12-4
Kenny Perry 0-2-0
Steve Stricker 0-0-0
Boo Weekley 0-0-0

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bobby Gage.

Ryder Cup Formats

2008-09-16T15:06:00.002-04:00

I don’t know about you but every time the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup are played, I get confused about the formats. The Ryder Cup, which starts on Friday, will open with four matches of fourball in the morning followed by four matches of foursomes in the afternoon. On Saturday, the order is reversed with four matches of foursomes in the morning and four matches of fourball in the afternoon. Here’s the difference between the two.

Fourball play is a match in which each member of the two-man team plays his own ball so four balls are in play per hole. Each team counts its best ball against the other team’s best ball. The team with the lowest score wins the hole. If the teams tie their best ball score, the hole is halved.

In foursomes, each two man team play against the other two man team, but each team plays only one ball and they alternate hitting shots with that ball until the hole is completed. Team members alternate hitting tee shots with one player teeing off on the odd numbered holes and the other playing hitting tee shots on the even numbered holes. The team with the better score wins the hole and if the two teams tie, the hole is halved.

The third format is singles in which all 12 members of each team play an 18-hole match against an opponent from the other team. The singles matches will be contested on Sunday.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Brian Barnes.

Wie to Q School

2008-09-11T10:45:00.001-04:00

Michelle Wie finally wised up. After running out of options to play on the LPGA Tour, Wie is entering Q-school in attempt to secure playing privileges on the women’s tour. Unable to earn enough money to obtain her card through sponsor’s exemption, Wie really had not other choice. Her first round of Q-school is next week in Rancho Mirage, California. The top 30 advance to the final stage in Florida in December where the top 20 finishers and ties earn their cards. Wie’s professional career has been rocky to say the least. She abruptly withdrew from Annika Sorenstam’s event, she was DQ’d for failing to sign her scorecard at the State Farm Classic and she had a wrist injury that kept her out of action. She also drew criticism for repeated attempts – unsuccessful – to make the cut in PGA Tour events. Her agent quit and swing coach David Leadbetter criticized her for accepting sponsor’s exemptions to play with the men. Wie turns 19 in early October.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Sandra Post.

Singh Clinches FedEx Cup

2008-09-08T10:18:00.001-04:00

Despite a T-44 finish at the BMW Championship in St. Louis this weekend, Vijay Singh locked up the FedEx Cup $10 million first prize. Singh, who won the first two FedEx Cup playoff tournaments, only has to show up at the Tour Championship in Atlanta in two weeks, play four rounds and sign his scorecard. You’d think that would make the mercurial Singh happy, right? Hard to say because the churlish pro refused to talk to the media after his round Sunday. Mr. Fairway understands that the media can be a pain the rear but Singh should at least have the courtesy to answer a few questions and pretend to be excited about cashing a big check. Perhaps the PGA Tour should institute a rule that players have to meet the media following their rounds. The attitude displayed by Singh is one reason he is not a fan favorite. Not that we would ever wish him bad luck, but how sweet it would be to see him DQ’d and miss out on the big prize.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Steve Reid.

LPGA Reverses Language Rule

2008-09-06T11:09:00.001-04:00

It didn’t take long for the LPGA Tour to reverse course on its plans to suspend players who don’t learn to speak English. LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens, who concocted the policy, will present a revised plan at the end of the year. The new plan will not include suspensions, she said, but may include fines for players who can’t speak English. "We have decided to rescind those penalty provisions," Bivens said in a statement. "After hearing the concerns, we believe there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every tour player." Bivens and the LPGA drew heavy and deserved criticism for the original plan which was viewed as discriminatory against foreign players, especially Asians. The LPGA Tour has more than 120 foreign players representing 26 countries. No major sport has a language requirement in its bylaws. Major league baseball helps foreign players learn English in the minors. She argued that international players who could communicate effectively in English would improve the pro-am experience, sponsor relations and could help land endorsements for the players. However, State Farm, a major sponsor, said it was perplexed by the original policy and the company asked Bivens to review its decision.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Sherri Turner.

Tommy Bolt R.I.P.

2008-09-04T09:15:00.001-04:00

Tommy Bolt, winner of the 1958 U.S. Open, but better known for his legendary temper, died last weekend in his native Oklahoma. He was 92. “Terrible Tommy” won 15 tournaments in his career which was marked by his propensity for throwing and breaking clubs. Bolt suggested his reputation was a bit overblown but acknowledged that sometimes his temper got the best of him. Bolt often told the story about how he was playing the Bing Crosby Pro-Am at Pebble Beach one year when he had 135 yards left to the 16th hole. He turned to his caddie and asked for a 7-iron, and the caddied replied, "It's either a 3-iron or a 3-wood. Those are the only clubs you have left." Bolt also played on two U.S. Ryder Cup teams and for years was co-owner of the tour scoring record, having shot 60 in 1954 at Wethersfield (Conn.) Country Club in the second round of the Insurance City Open.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Tom Siekman.

Tiger's No. 2

2008-09-02T16:09:00.002-04:00

Tiger Woods announced on his web site today that he and his wife, Elin, are expecting their second child. Woods, who is recovering from knee surgery, said the baby will arrive later this winter. Their first child, a daughter named Sam, was born the Monday after the 2007 U.S. Open.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Casey Martin.