He's Back!

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Bruce Fleisher.

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

Hitting range balls while wonder whatever happened to Caesar Sanudo.

Golf Channel Disciplines Magee

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Ronnie Black.

It's a Boy for Tiger

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Scott Dunlap.

Phil in Fighting Shape?

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Lindy Miller.

Monty Named Ryder Cup Captain

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Gene Sauers.

John Updike, Golf Writer

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Dick Hart.