Tiger WDs Own Tournament

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Brandt Jobe.

Tiger Explains, Sort Of

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

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Mike Springer.

Tiger Rumors Abound

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Peter Lonard.

Tiger Injured in Car Accident

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Nolan Henke.

Big Names Miss Top 125

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Tom Byrum.

Duval Loses Card

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Tim Herron.

Wie Wins First LPGA Title

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Jill McGill.

Barron Sues PGA Tour

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Duffy Waldorf.

Mickelson Wins in China

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

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

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

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Terry Mauney.