3-Year-Old Boy Hones Game for Q-School

WHEN ALEXIS THOMPSON RECENTLY turned professional to play on the LPGA Tour at the age of 15, some questioned whether she was too young for the rigors of tour life and openly wondered about the potentially damaging attention she might receive. But Thompson is a grizzled veteran compared to a 3-year-old Arizona boy who may enter the PGA Tour’s Qualifying School this fall.

The boy’s agent told ARMCHAIR GOLF in an email that his young client got an even earlier start in golf than Tiger Woods and other golf prodigies. The boy began making arm movements in his mother’s womb that simulated a golf swing and has aspired to play on the PGA Tour since he was 1. That was when he watched Woods beat Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open.

“He’s that good,” the agent said, “and he has a great attitude. Nothing keeps him down for very long.”

One large roadblock that stands in the boy’s way is the PGA Tour’s age rule. A player can enter Q-School at any age but isn’t allowed to become a PGA Tour member until his 18th birthday.

“We’re looking at it and talking to Ponte Vedra,” the agent said. “That’s all I can say right now.”

Apparently, business opportunities are also available. Golf-related companies and mega brands are always on the lookout for the game’s newest star players.

“Several potential sponsors are interested in signing him. He’s a great kid. He really is.”

For now, the boy’s parents and agent are guarding the boy’s identity should they decide to enroll him in preschool and forgo the Q-School bid until he’s 4.

−The Armchair Golfer

(This is an ARMCHAIR GOLF spoof.)

(Image: The Geary’s/Flickr)

The Return of Rocco

ROCCO MEDIATE RETURNED to Torrey Pines last week for the first time since his epic duel with Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. Open. Rocco made the cut in the Farmers Insurance Open and finished at 1-under with rounds of 69-71-74-73.

Mediate also made noise, among the handful of Tour pros who openly criticized Phil Mickelson’s choice of wedges in light of the new groove rules. The Roc Man’s words were not as inflammatory as those of Scott McCarron, who essentially called Lefty a cheater, but they still stung.

“I don’t like it at all, not one bit,” Rocco said. “It’s against the spirit of the rule. We have to get rid of those clubs, because they’re square grooves. What else can you say?”

Phil isn’t cheating. Despite their square grooves, the ancient Ping Eye2s he slipped into his bag are legal because the company won a lawsuit against the PGA Tour 20 years ago. No rule broken. Just many restless spirits.

So, maybe Phil is trying to make a point. As World No. 2 and such a widely popular player, he has the clout and fan “capital” to pull it off. But I can’t criticize the players (except McCarron’s poor choice of words) who are hot about it. They’re entitled to question Phil on his choice to play the only club exempted from the new groove edict. He’d be naive not to expect some heat.

Coincidentally, Rocco is now working with Phil’s new putting coach, Dave Stockton.

−The Armchair Golfer

(Image: The Gordons/Flickr)

Days of Christmas Giveaway: Are You Kidding Me? (Rocco’s Book)

IT’S TIME TO CLEAR my shelves of golf books, golf DVDs and a few golf accessories. So welcome to Day 8 of the Days of Christmas Giveaway at ARMCHAIR GOLF.

Today’s giveaway: ARE YOU KIDDING ME? by Rocco Mediate and John Feinstein

Subtitle: The story of Rocco Mediate’s extraordinary battle with Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open.

How to win this giveaway: Send an email to armchairgolfer@gmail.com that includes your name and mailing address. I’ll notify you if you’re the winner and drop your prize in the mail.

Keep coming back for more Days of Christmas giveaways!

−The Armchair Golfer

Day 1: Golf: The Art of the Mental Game: 100 Classic Golf Tips by Dr. Joseph Parent
Day 2: Gorilla Gold Grip Enhancer
Day 3: Jim McLean Golf School DVD
Day 4: CADDIE CONFIDENTIAL: Inside Stories from the Caddies of the PGA Tour by Greg “Piddler” Martin
Day 5: High-quality golf gloves with Virginia Tech logo
Day 6: Golf’s Red Zone Challenge by Charlie King and Rob Akins
Day 7: THE BACK NINE: It’s Time to Take Your Shot (DVD)

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)