Lee Westwood Growing Understandably Weary Of Inane Rory v. Luke Questions

Kevin Garside (he's back!) on about the only real interesting thing to come out of the pre-BMW Championship press conferences...a feisty Lee Westwood growing bored with inane "who's better" questions about the revolving World No.  1's.

The third party in all of this, Lee Westwood, got out of bed on the wrong side. "Oh, I don't know. Everybody's got their strengths and weaknesses," Westwood said, hardly disguising diminishing patience with the question. "Luke is probably the best in the world from 80 yards in. I like the effortless power of Rory."

And what do like about yourself, Lee? "I like all of it."

That was the signal to move on. Like the boxer in the hours before the opening bell, Westwood was best left to his own company before the BMW PGA Championship starts here today.

The BMW airtimes on Golf Channel:

Airtimes: Thursday 9 a.m.-Noon (Live) / 1:30-3:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 9 a.m.-Noon (Live) / 1:30-3:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live) / 3-6 p.m., 8:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live) / 3-6 p.m., 8:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. (Replay)

Pepper On Slow Play: "I think the PGA Tour is burying their head in the sand."

Steve DiMeglio files a lengthy and excellent USA Today story on slow play and does a nice job pointing out the biggest flaw in Tim Finchem's flacid argument against doing something by linking tepid pacing with the struggles of the everyday game.

And it's all best summed up by this from Dottie Pepper, who says the problem has become "terrible" and has written something in an upcoming SI Golf Plus about the topic.:

"I think the PGA Tour is burying their head in the sand," she told USA TODAY Sports. "The PGA Tour has more potential to change the pace of play because they have more eyeballs on them day in, day out than any of the other organizations, and they are the ones that can take the lead on this.

"Nobody wins when play is slow."

Meanwhile Rex Hoggard has talked to sources who say the PGA ShotLink program has detailed stats on pace of play.

According to multiple Tour players the circuit tracks with surprising detail each player’s pace of play on every shot, even sending out periodic individual updates that list that player’s time per shot compared to the Tour average but not the times of other players.

In the most-recent update, for example, the Tour average for all shots is 38 seconds, while the circuit’s fastest player averages 24 seconds per shot and the slowest 53 seconds.

For some background on this, Doug Ferguson's 2010 story explains how it works and there was also my Golf World column proposing that the tour monetize these stats by getting a sponsor to put up money for a bonus pool to reward the top 10 fastest players each year.

"There are Nationwide Tour guys who can't do that with two good legs and plus-handicap."

David Uchiyama with the story of Jordan Thomas, one amazing sounding person who also happens to be a golfer. He lost the lower half of his legs in a boating accident.

Thomas used a driver, then a 7-iron and two-putted for par on the hole, which plays 495 yards from those tees.

Only about 5 percent -- maybe less -- of the golfers in this country could accomplish that feat with those clubs. Even fewer could do it with Thomas' handicap. He lost his legs below the knees in a boating accident almost seven years ago.

"It's amazing, really," said Bear Trace assistant professional Heath Pendergraft. "I can't imagine having prosthetics and being able to transfer weight and being able to move the right side through the ball.

"There are Nationwide Tour guys who can't do that with two good legs and plus-handicap."

Thomas has aspirations of making the 2016 Paralympics Games in Rio.

Assuming he can find time for golf this summer while doing work for his foundation.

"I'm going on a road trip to California; then I'm going to Costa Rica for three weeks for an international business school trip. I'm going to Iceland to see a friend, then Germany to see a friend," Thomas said. "Then I'm off to Nepal to hopefully open up a prosthetics lab in Katmandu."

Update on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 10:00 PM by Geoff

**Jordan was nominated for CNN's Heroes:

Think You're Having A Bad Day Think Again Files: Motorcyclist Hit In Mouth By An Errant Ball

Thanks to reader Jim for Brian Haas gory story of a woman motorcyclist getting hit in the mouth by an errant golf ball.

An officer scoured the area for the offending golf ball and found multiple potential culprits, but, alas, he wrote, “none of which had blood on them.”

Memorial To Have 9 Of World Top Ten

Only Lee Westwood is passing on next week's PGA Tour stop at Muirfield Village, reports Bob Baptist.

Michael Phelps Wants To Have A Life...And Play Lots Of Golf

Rick Reilly files a super story on swimmer Michael Phelps' eagerness to have a life out of the pool, including a desire to attend the Masters and for a quest to play the Top 100. Now all he needs is a Golf Digest America's Best Peg Board and some invites.

 "I want to play all the great (golf) courses," says the 26-year-old Phelps, who is even taking lessons from Hank Haney. "(Bowman) gave me a poster with the 100 greatest courses in the world on it, and every time I play one, I put a little pin in it."

How many pins so far?

"Zero."

He wants to travel. He wants to stay out late and not worry about 5:30 a.m. endurance drills. He wants to see more of the world than the bottom of its pools.

"People say to me, 'You're so lucky. You get to see the world.' But I don't. I go to the hotel and to the pools and back again. That's it."

By the looks of the photo with the story, he has a pretty solid impact position. Wipey, but solid. You know how it is for those Haney students.

Na To Unveil New Pre-Shot Routine At Colonial Minus The Whiffs, False Starts, Hitches And Self-Punishment

Todd Lewis with the exclusive from the Mastercard Colonial. Na's quote: "I got rid of my waggle."

And if you stay tuned to the Golf Channel report long enough, you'll get to see Charlie Rymer give him a round of applause. No tears. Yet.

American Turnout For Wentworth, Or Lack Thereof

From Doug Ferguson's notes column as the BMW Championship prepares to get underway at Wentworth. The World Top 50 plus past major winners are exempt. Only Shaun Micheel, Rich Beem and Ben Curtis are representing the Stars and Stripes.

Luke Donald wishes it would attract more Americans, though he understands the reasons not to play.

"You don't have to travel far to play in a $6 million event at a great course at Colonial," Donald said at Sawgrass. "But I've always been a proponent of to get the most out of your game, it's important to travel and to experience new places. I think at least go try it once, and if you don't like it, fair enough. But it's a big event on our tour. It's considered our Players Championship of the European Tour. And I would have thought that would incite some interest in some of the big Americans that would be exempt for it."

"That the LPGA stuck to its business on golf's most difficult-to-enforce issue should be applauded."

I've been a little surprised that a sport which is so quick to pat itself on the back for having athletes who call penalties on themselves is so upset by the LPGA enforcing rules on Sunday at the Sybase Match Play, including Stina Sternberg who argued that "common sense should be applied before penalties are assessed."

Thankfully, there's plenty of healthy cynicism in other winds of the press tent.

Ron Sirak writes:

The business of golf got personal between Pressel and Munoz. But as Hyman Roth said to Michael Corleone, "This is the business we've chosen." That the LPGA stuck to its business on golf's most difficult-to-enforce issue should be applauded. It should also make the PGA Tour take note.

Bob Harig, writing for ESPN.com:

Perhaps such a penalty is unjustified when it is in a match and nearly nobody else is on the course, but there has to be some equity to the other competitors and to spectators. The rules are there, and they were enforced.

Lava Man: "It's like having Arnold Palmer as your caddie."

With Belmont selling out for the June 9th Stakes and the excitement building for I'll Have Another's bid at the Triple Crown, one of the great under-reported stories is that of Lava Man.  He is I'll Have Another's escort pony, who as a $50,000 claim won 17 races and $5.2 million in a career that included Grade 1 wins on grass, dirt and synthetic, making him the only North American horse to accomplish the feat.

Debbie Arrington reported trainer Doug O'Neill's appropriate golf analogy for Lava Man the escort, mentor and sidekick to the Derby and Preakness winner.

"If horses talk, and we think they do, then there couldn't be anyone better to lead him out," trainer Doug O'Neill said.

"It's like having Arnold Palmer as your caddie."

In January I had the fortune of visiting O'Neill's barn to watch Lava Man do his job and shot some video of his fantastic post-caddying work routine.

The 11-year-old is turned loose for a few minutes to rule the barn and help himself to brunch. (And please don't ask about the moment when one of O'Neill's trainers pointed at a horse and said "this is our Derby horse." I took it about as seriously as a parent predicting their kid will win the Masters some day. Oops! He's one win from the Crown!)

Anyway, the great Lava Man at play:

Leonard's Update On Torrey Pines North...

Tod Leonard talks to City Golf Manager Mark Marney about the state of San Diego's muni's and finds things are going better than in most areas, with some interesting problems facing the city that others would love to have (steady play!).

And there is the topic of Phil Mickelson's proposed redo of the North Course in the wake of the Rees Jones South Course renovation.

Mickelson expressed a strong interest in January to do the redesign work, but Marney said he has yet to see a plan from Mickelson’s design team. Any changes to the North would have to undergo public review and be approved by the City Council.

Marney reinterated that he wants to maintain the number of rounds on the North, keep it playable for the public and not increase expenses to maintain it.

“When the South Course was done, it was done with good intentions,” Marney said. “Everybody wanted the right thing out of it. But the general public felt like they lost something there. They lost their golf course, or a piece of their golf course.

“We recognize in the North Course that the level of scrutiny is going to be that much tighter because we had an experience that folks weren’t comfortable with. So we’re going to make sure that we’re not only doing what we have to do, but there are going to be more eyes on this, and more scrutiny, and more skeptics than we would if this was a standalone project.”

Another Break-In At Somerset Hills; USGA Theft Remains Unsolved

An unbylined report in the Bernardsville News says Somerset Hills has been burglarized again, following the unsolved USGA break in.

On Tuesday, May 22, Bernardsville Police Chief Kevin Valentine said police were investigating a second break-in at Somerset Hills. Police responded to an alarm at 3:30 a.m. May 22. Valentine said police were "still waiting for a list of property from the cluntry club management as to what was stolen.''

He said the incident was being investigated by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, which was expected to issue a press release on the incident later in the day. Valentine said he could not release additional details at this time.

The county club was also hit on May 11, when a break-in was reported between 3 and 5 a.m. Police said that eight club trophies, including bowls and award trays, were stolen in that incident.

The theft at the USGA museum at 77 Liberty Corner Road occurred in the early morning hours on May 16, only five days after golf trophies were stolen from the Somerset Hills Country Club.

“Law enforcement authorities are looking into whether or not the burglaries and thefts were committed by the same individual,” said Jack Bennett, a spokesman for the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

The reward remains $5000 in the USGA case, where a suspect was caught on camera. Sort of.

A security video camera showed a suspect, a tall, thin man wearing blue jeans, a dark jacket and white sneakers. He “might have been wearing a mask,” Soriano said.

Jeans? Well, that rules out anyone on the Executive Committee at least.

Ernie: Stop Complaining About My Redesign That We Have To Keep Redesigning!

Spring to me means the scent of fresh cut grass, wildflowers, the Derby and the drama of players returning yet again to Wentworth to see what web Ernie Els has spun for them now. You can relive bitching from previous years dating to 2006. Here's a Greatest Hits package: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

First the 2012 tweaks to fix previous changes, as reported by the European Tour:

The 12th hole has been changed back to a par five this year, measuring 531 yards, a bank on the approach to the 15th has been flattened, a fringe grown on the right of the 17th to slow any errant shots down as they fall down the slope, and changes to the 18th include removable of the big tree and the bunker on the right along with the raising of the fairway in the landing area.

And with good weather forecast for the week, Els is confident players will take advantage of more scoring opportunities and last year's winning score of six under will certainly be beaten.

“The scoring is going to be better,” he said. “I think 14, 16 under is going to be the winning score again. Hopefully we will have more smiling faces from the players this year.”

On the 12th hole, Els said: “The green was designed for a par five. It’s quite a severe green.”

He felt the bank on the 15th just as you approach the green over a bunker was “unfair” for players going in with a long iron and required a flatter area so the ball could pitch and stay on the green.

And the 18th, which now also features a collar of rough around the green to make it less likely that a ball will spin into the water as happened in the play-off last year, he said: “I think the guys can really drive the ball down the right side and come in with almost a middle iron now. It’s going to play a lot easier. There’s a lot more room for you to shape the ball right to left into the green. That’s going to play almost like a long par four now.”

A Sky Sports story reports that Ernie Els spoke to the press today about the criticism he has not enjoyed.

"The way it was put forward the first year was a little childish (he hated the fact it was played out in the media rather than in private), but hopefully we'll have more smiling faces from the players this year.

"You make changes on a great course like the West Course people are going to not like it.

That's part of what we do as designers, but I think we've passed that bridge.

"It's history and we've patched things up with all the players. You're not going to please everybody, but I don't believe everybody should criticise just because there's changes."

Requesting Swedish Volunteers: R&A To Monitor Rolled Back Ball Tournament

Nice catch by Mike Stachura to Tweet this Swedish golf.se story about the R&A going to Sweden to quietly test (not now!) balls that do not fly as far in case they should ever decide to restore sensibility.

Here's the text as translated by Google.

Want to test the future of golf ball? In early June, played two tournaments on Österåker and Åkersberga where everyone plays on the R & A's prototype that can put a new ball standard. - It has developed a ball that is about eight percent less, said Anders Jonsson, equipment expert in SGF's regulatory committee.

Eight percent? You learn something new everyday. Of course this will be mentioned in the USGA/R&A ball study, if it comes out before next year's 10th anniversary. Did I say 10th? Yes 10th. Go on...

For several years the R & A has worked on developing a framework for a ball to go shorter. Many believe that even the modern courses in the near future be played for short. Work on a new standard ball is in the experimental stage but the ball should have the same flight characteristics, the only difference being that it goes a little shorter.

Where can I buy them?

- You want to see if ever there is a possibility and if it is a viable approach. Then you do as wide a basis as possible and use as many different types of players as we possibly can test the ball, says Jonsson told Swedish Golf.

Test competitions have already been implemented in the UK but now the R & A have a broader investigative material in order to make such a good decision as possible in the future. Therefore, they have been inquiring about Swedish interest.

There are some Americans who'd be happy to test them too!

Work on prototype is relatively secret and few actually know what the type of ball. But according to information, it will be modern and only differ pure length wise.

- I know nothing about the ball more than it is developed together with a renowned manufacturer, said Jonsson.

The Swedish test competitions will be played on Österåker June 2 and Åkersberga June 3. Nikon sponsors the event and representatives from the R & A will be in place.

It is open to all to take this opportunity to become a test pilot.

Do you have to be Swedish? I'm in!

These Guys Really Want To Play The Open Championship

Jeff Rude reporting on the amazing scoring by Harris English (-17, 123!), Greg Owen (afternoon 61) Stephen Ames (another afternoon 61) and other qualifiers in Plano, Texas while battling for eight spots into July's Open Championship.

“I kind of lost track of how many straight birdies I made,” said English, 22, who ranks 77th in Tour earnings and has a best finish of tied for eighth at the RBC Heritage.

The 60 gave him a four-stroke midway lead. It featured an eagle and eight birdies. He eagled his second hole of the day, No. 10, making a 4-footer.

“I was relaxed,” he said. “I had some fun. I was striking the ball really well. In fact, I was doing everything really well.”

So well that he missed only three greens in regulation over 36 holes. “I just never got out of position,” he said.

English, who got on Tour by tying for 13th at last year’s Q-School finals,

Oh...don't say that! Q-School bad, Q-School bad, Q-School bad...

says his bucket list includes skydiving, flying in an F16 and driving a NASCAR vehicle. Soon he can cross the Open off the list.

And I know you'll be shocked to learn that Rory Sabbatini was one of twelve WD's. Shocked!

Contrasted nicely by playoff qualifier Bob Estes:

Estes has played in 10 Opens, with a tie for eighth in 1995 his best finish. The four-time Tour winner long has called the Open his favorite event.

“As far as I’m concerned it’s THE tournament,” said Estes, who grew up in Abilene and starred at Texas. “It’s the one I want to win the most. Guys who don’t get it, I feel sorry for. Most of them are high-ball hitters who didn’t grow up in the wind like me.”