Tiger’s Trickiest Recovery

IN LIFE, LIKE IN GOLF, sometimes you get a bad lie. And sometimes you hit it in the rough. Tiger is in the rough. He admits it is his own doing. Now he must play it as it lies.

A brief aside: The story of Tiger’s accident and other alleged personal failings is not one I enjoy covering. I’ve always been most interested in covering what happens on the course. Yes, I make my living as a writer. But I’m a golf fan, not a golf journalist. (I don’t aspire to be a golf journalist.) However, I realized on Saturday morning that it would be silly to ignore this story. Tiger Woods is the face of golf for this generation.

Tiger has gotten a lot of unsolicited advice over the years from the media, players, swing gurus, PR types, fans and others about how he should conduct himself on and off the course. It seems that he has largely ignored it. Tiger calls his own shots. That’s who he is. As overwhelming as it may be, I doubt that his current predicament will change that.

So think of this situation as Tiger’s most difficult recovery shot. He’ll check his lie, get a yardage, consider the obstacles, listen to Steve Williams and pull a club. He’ll decide the shot he’s going to play and won’t look back. He’ll take his bogey, double bogey—or worse—and move on.

Tiger is smart. I have a hard time believing he hasn’t considered all his options in his current situation. I also have a hard time believing that those counseling him have been totally clueless as some have suggested. I’m pretty sure they’ve presented all the shots he could play, including the pros and cons. Tiger has made his choice and, I believe, is willing to face the consequences of that choice. Maybe they’ll be disastrous. Maybe not. I think he’s trying to protect his wife and family, which I can understand, but who knows?

I’m not a Tiger apologist. If you think I’m an unabashed Tiger lover, you would be dead wrong. I grew up playing and watching golf in the pre-Tiger era. Although I greatly respect Tiger’s golf prowess—Tiger is on his way to being the best ever—he is not among my favorite players.

Tiger may owe a more detailed explanation about his recent “situation” to his wife, family, friends, IMG, attorney,  sponsors, the Florida Highway Patrol, the PGA Tour and others. But he doesn’t owe me a thing. 

−The Armchair Golfer

(Image: Keith Allison/Flickr)

Tiger Woods Statement: ‘This Situation Is My Fault’

TIGER WOODS RELEASED a statement on Sunday afternoon about his single-car accident on early Friday morning.

Excerpt:

This situation is my fault, and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.

This is a private matter and I want 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.

Read the entire statement at TigerWoods.com 

−The Armchair Golfer

Tiger Woods Accident: Bad Year in Golf Just Got Worse

UPDATE: Tiger Woods released a statement on Sunday afternoon.

IT’S ODD TO THINK that the biggest golf story of the year happened in the early morning hours of November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. But that may be the case. As you’ve probably heard by now, Tiger Woods was involved in a single-car accident outside his home in Isleworth, a gated community in Orlando, Florida.

According to reports, Tiger, driving a Cadillac Escalade, struck a fire hydrant and tree at a fairly low speed. (The airbags didn’t deploy.) His wife, Elin, hearing the accident from inside the couple’s house, came to Tiger’s aid. She broke the back window of the vehicle with a golf club to rescue her husband. Tiger had cuts and blood in his mouth, and was unconscious for several minutes. He was treated at a local hospital and released.

The good news: Tiger is apparently OK. The bad news: the story doesn’t end there.

The accident came just two days after the National Enquirer published a story that Tiger was having an affair with Rachel Uchitel, the Director of VIP Services for Pink Elephant, a company involved in the nightclub scene. Ryan Ballengee of Waggle Room interviewed Uchitel on Friday and published her denial early Saturday morning. (Other outlets have also reported that she denied the affair, including the Associated Press.)

Late on Friday celebrity news site TMZ.com wrote that Tiger’s facial scratches were, instead, the result of a domestic dispute with his wife. TMZ.com also wrote, “… but according to our source, Woods says his wife followed behind with a golf club. As Tiger drove away, she struck the vehicle several times with the club.”

I don’t know what’s fact and what’s fiction. I do know the feeding frenzy has only just begun and that this story must be the worst-possible nightmare for the intensely private world No. 1 golfer. Bad news for Tiger is almost always bad news for golf.

2009 was already set to go into the books as a dismal year in golf. It just got worse. 

−The Armchair Golfer

(Image: Keith Allison/Flickr)

Golf’s Top 10 TV Talkers

Nick Faldo signs an autograph.

GOLFWEEK’S MARTIN KAUFMANN WROTE a column the other day about his favorite golf broadcasters, a top 10 list. It’s a great topic. Everyone who watches golf on a regular basis seems to have a strong opinion about the broadcasters and commentators.

“I’ll limit my list to 10 … ” Kaufmann wrote. “Here’s one man’s very humble opinion.”

(Note: I’ve included a tidbit from Kaufmann’s comments in quotes under each name, followed by my brief comment in parentheses. Please also note that the list is limited to American golf broadcasters.) 

1. Brandel Chamblee, Golf Channel

“Thoughtful, provocative and persuasive.”

(My comment: I like Brandel.) 

2. David Feherty, CBS

“TV’s sharpest on-course reporter.”

(My comment: Funny, but sometimes sounds forced.) 

3. Johnny Miller, NBC

“Makes for must-listening.”

(My comment: I’m in the Miller camp.) 

4. Dottie Pepper, Golf Channel/NBC

“A fiery player who adapts well to broadcasting.”

(My comment: Well prepared and opinionated, a nice combination.) 

5. Paul Azinger, ESPN

“Crisper, more assured commentary following Ryder Cup captaincy.”

(My comment: I like Zinger.) 

6. Curt Byrum, Golf Channel

“Underrated.”

(My comment: Not familiar with his work.) 

7. Nick Faldo, CBS/Golf Channel

“Suffers from erratic performances.”

(My comment: Nondescript.) 

8. Judy Rankin, ESPN

“Hard worker.”

(My comment: Old school, less is more. Like.) 

9. Peter Kostis, CBS

“On-course analysis is spot on.”

(My comment: Comes across as knowledgeable.) 

10. Frank Nobilo, Golf Channel

“Steady.”

(My comment: Maybe not the best, but earnest.)

After watching a few European Tour events, I was reminded that America’s golf talking heads are a noisy bunch. Forgive me for stating the obvious, but TV is a visual medium. Well-chosen words can help frame the action. Words can also detract from telecasts. The European Tour events had fewer words and commercials, a welcome difference for this viewer. 

−The Armchair Golfer

(Image: Chase McAlpine/Flickr)

Lee Trevino Has an Opinion on Everything

Lee Trevino in his heyday.

IT’S NOT OFTEN I read a seven-page article online. But I did read the Lee Trevino interview by Jaime Diaz at GolfDigest.com. It was thoroughly entertaining.

Trevino, who turns 70 on December 1, talks and opines about his roots, the Marines, his playing days, Tiger Woods vs. Jack Nicklaus, yesteryear era vs. today’s era, the golf broadcast booth and more. His breakdown of Tiger (he’s a big Tiger fan) and Jack is on the money.

I stumbled across the interview after seeing a tidbit at Golf.com about Lee’s jab at contemporary PGA Tour player Paul Goydos. Goydos was quoted as saying “There are 10 Lee Trevinos” on tour today. Lee quipped, “ … tell him [Goydos] to send me the list of the 10 guys out there who have won six majors and 29 tournaments.”

Sorry, Paul. I have to side with Lee on this one. 

−The Armchair Golfer

Q&A: Donald Ross Statue at Pinehurst

A FEW WEEKS AGO I was in Pinehurst, North Carolina, for a national amateur event hosted by RSM McGladrey and the PGA of America. I spent some time with Natalie Gulbis, Chris DiMarco and Zach Johnson (story to come).

I also had the opportunity to visit with Donald Ross, the legendary golf course designer who was a mainstay at Pinehurst. Ross designed four Pinehurst courses, as well as Seminole in Florida, Oak Hill in New York, and Oakland Hills in Michigan.

Actually, Ross died in 1948, so I talked to his famous statue, who stands near the entrance of the Walk of Fame at Pinehurst No. 2. I confess that it didn’t go very well. Most of my questions just hung in the air, and the following transcript doesn’t convey the long, uncomfortable pauses between questions. At one point I lost my cool. For that, I apologize. 

Q. Thanks for taking the time. It’s an honor to speak with you.

DONALD ROSS STATUE: (Silence.) 

Q. What do you think about golf returning to the Olympics?

DONALD ROSS STATUE: (Silence.) 

Q. Did you ever think you’d see golf became a worldwide sport?

DONALD ROSS STATUE: (Silence.) 

Q. Do you have any thoughts on the grooves change?

DONALD ROSS STATUE: (Silence.) 

Q. Equipment sure has changed since back in the day (chuckling).

DONALD ROSS STATUE: (Silence.) 

Q. How do you get along with the Payne Stewart statue?

DONALD ROSS STATUE: (Silence.) 

Q. Are there any generational issues, or is your common interest in golf a bonding thing?

DONALD ROSS STATUE: (Silence.) 

Q. Are you on Twitter?

DONALD ROSS STATUE: (Silence.) 

Q: Pete Dye said your mother wore army boots.

DONALD ROSS STATUE: (Silence.) 

Q. Sorry. Actually, Pete didn’t say that at all. That was totally uncalled for.

DONALD ROSS STATUE: (Silence.) 

Q: OK, one final question. Of the 600 golf courses you designed or redesigned, which one do you consider to be your masterpiece?

DONALD ROSS STATUE: Pinehurst No. 2.

(Note: While the answer seemed like it came from the Donald Ross statue, I did hear rustling in the bushes. It could have been a dog—or maybe something larger. A Pinehurst employee?) 

−The Armchair Golfer

(Image: cmiked/Flickr)
(This is an ARMCHAIR GOLF spoof.)

Will Westwood’s Dubai Domination Lead to a Major Victory?

LEE WESTWOOD HAS CONQUERED all challengers in the Race to Dubai. In fact, the Englishman ran roughshod over a very respectable field that included names such as Harrington, Garcia, Fisher, McILroy, Ogilvy, Kaymer, Casey, Poulter and Els.

On Sunday, Westwood capped off a brilliant performance in the Dubai World Championship by carding eight birdies on his way to a 64 and a six-shot margin of victory. His 23-under total—the same total by which he won the Portugal Masters in October—propelled him to the top of the Race to Dubai final ranking. Westwood collected $1.25 million for winning the season-ending event plus a $1.5 million bonus for finishing first on the European Tour money list.

“This is definitely the biggest moment of my career today,” Westwood said. And he shed a few tears to prove it.

BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter tried to put Westwood’s torrid golf into perspective.

“Having covered the Tour for the last seven seasons I am struggling to recall a more dominant performance in such a significant event,” Carter wrote. “You probably have to go back to Nick Faldo’s 1996 demolition of Greg Norman at Augusta before you can identify better golf from an Englishman.”

Then Carter tackled the next logical question on the minds of some golf observers.

“His objective from here has to be to harness that mental approach at the majors. If he does watch out; green jackets, claret jugs and the rest of the most prized trophies in the game could easily be making their way to Westwood Towers.”

Although he has had some dry spells in his career, I’ve always been an admirer of Westwood’s game. He’s a splendid ball striker who has contended at the majors (eight top tens). Although overshadowed by Watson’s tragic ending, Westwood could have won the claret jug this year had he not faltered, bogeying three of the last four holes. He also came up one stroke short at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, which will forever be remembered as the epic duel between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate.

Westwood definitely has the game. Time is of the essence. At 36, he is in his competitive prime and needs to capitalize on his chances before they start to run out. 

−The Armchair Golfer

(Image: Steve Bailey/Flickr)

King of Golf Cartoons: ‘Puke’

Copyright © Jerry King. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

When you play with people who have a bad golf swing, do you watch them or do you look away?

−The Armchair Golfer

Jerry King is an award-winning cartoonist whose credits and clients include Golf Digest, United States Golf Association and Disney. His golf cartoons are a regular feature at ARMCHAIR GOLF.

ARMCHAIR GOLF Briefs

Assorted news items sent to ARMCHAIR GOLF. Endorsement is not implied. No consideration or compensation was received.

Golf Products and Services

• SwingCzar (swingczar.com) is a resource for golfers of all skill levels. Customers can upload their golf swing to the SwingCzar site and have it analyzed by PGA professionals.

• Pink Diva Golf (PinkDivaGolf.com) has just published their first annual “Girl’s Golf” Holiday Shopping Guide.

• The new Golf Privilege Membership, in support of the American Lung Association, is $39.95 and includes over 3,300 courses. More info at alagolfmembership.org.

• The Amphibian Towel ($29.95) is a golf towel that stays both wet and dry simultaneously. The BrushPro ($17.99) is a user-friendly retractable clubface brush with replaceable brush heads and a flip-out groove-scraper for shoes. More info at Frogger.com.

• The Golfing Caddy (TheGolfingCaddy.com) is a multi-compartment tote and beverage holder that easily clips to a golf bag.

• The Antigua Group has added an additional golf apparel delivery for the holiday season featuring its DESERT DRY™, and introducing its new light weight DESERT DRY™ XTRA-LITE (D2XL), moisture management styles.

• Bag Boy® has introduced the Express Auto Three-Wheel Push Cart.

• STUFFITTS SHOE SAVERS (stuffitts.com), which are cedar inserts, allow golf shoes to last longer and remain odor-free.

• Andrew Rice, Director of Instruction at Berkeley Hall in South Carolina, has a new book coming out called It’s All About Impact – The Winners of Over 100 Majors Prove It. More info at ItsAllAboutImpact.com.

Golf Destinations

• Winter golf travelers can experience all Fairmont Mayakoba has to offer with the resort’s Sweet Deal Package with Spa & Golf Bonus.

• Some of the world’s most unique golf courses can be found at Deckchair.com. More info at Deckchair.com/355/.

Golf Events

• The 2009 Handa Cup will be held on Saturday, December 5 through Sunday, December 6, 2009, at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida. The annual match-up will be played on World Golf Village’s Slammer & Squire championship golf course, and will feature top international and United States legends of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) who will compete in a match play competition. The event is open to the public and single-day grounds passes are $10.

• More than 4,400 golf facilities across the country registered to participate in the third annual Patriot Golf Day and $1.9 million was raised to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation.

• Joe Steranka, the PGA of America’s Chief Executive Officer, will be awarded the Sports Leadership Award by the March of Dimes New York Division at its 26th Annual Sports Luncheon on Wednesday, December 2 in New York City.

• The High Meadow Ranch Team from Magnolia, Texas, claimed the 2009 OB Sports National Team Championship presented by GPS Industries in Las Vegas.

Golf Entertainment

• Handicapped: A Documentary About Bad Golf will be released on DVD on November 24. More info at BadGolfMovie.com.

−The Armchair Golfer

Watch United States LPGA Tour Championship Golf online on Your PC

United States LPGA Tour.

The Ladies also play golf, in the (mainly) USA based LPGA.

 

The Houstonian Golf & Country Club

"LPGA Tour Championship"

Match scheduled:

Dated: 19-11-2009;

Time: 21:00 until 23:00(GMT);

LPGA Tour 2009.

Houston, Texas.

LPGA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP, FIRST ROUND 

PLAYER                                SCORE                   HOLE

1     Reilley Rankin                      -4                          12
1     Meg Mallon                          -4                            8
3     Heather Bowie Young           -3                           14
3     Taylor Leon                          -3                          13
3     Jiyai Shin                             -3                           7
3     Na Yeon Choi                       -3                            7
7     Chella Choi                          -2                           14
7     Maria Hjorth                         -2                           11
7     Jimin Kang                           -2                           10
7     Rachel Hetherington              -2                            9
7     Yani Tseng                           -2                            8
12     13 tied at                           -1        
12     Lorena Ochoa                     -1                            8
25     Se Ri Pak                            E                           10       
38     Morgan Pressel                   +1                            9
57     Karrie Webb                       +5                            8