And Then There Were Nine…Anchorers Lawyered Up

Emily Kay talks to attorney Harry Manion who represents Tim Clark, Carl Pettersson and seven anonymous PGA Tour players who will consider legal action depending on the PGA Tour's stance on the announced anchoring ban.

“If [Finchem does a 180] and Tim [Clark] tries to continue as a professional and he can’t effectively compete without the stroke he’s used for 18 years, most of his professional career,” hypothesized Manion, who added Pettersson into the scenario, “and they can’t engage in their livelihoods, yeah, I think they have damages to claim.”

Manion, who has been working with Clark, Pettersson, and the others who prefer to remain anonymous, since January, observed that “there are a lot of ‘ifs’ along the way.”

Video: NMA Tackles Anchoring Ban, Fried Chicken

As always, the wild and wacky folks at NMA TV have managed to conjure up some images that will give you nightmares.

In this week's issue they cover both the news on anchored putters and Sergio Garcia's fried chicken remark.

"Quite clearly, George -- and golf --- needs to get out more."

John Huggan tackles the big picture issue in the latest embarrassment from one of golf's leaders and says George O'Grady's "blatant faux pas" speaks "a wider malaise in the game."

Quite simply, today's golf world isn't even a close facsimile of society as a whole, the result, perhaps, of a system that is too often exclusive rather than inclusive. Much work -- still ongoing -- has been done to rectify that situation, but if ever there was an indication of just how far golf has to go, then the extent to which O'Grady is out of touch represents a clear signal.

Brian Keogh anticipates inevitable media bashing by the higher ups in golf suggesting the reaction to the idiotic comments this week has been overblown.

Shooting the messenger will be part of that deal with this story. Yet again, the press - fuelled by the public outcry on social media sites - will be accused of over-reacting and making mountains out of molehills.

As one player put it when avoiding a leading question recently: “You’re just looking for a story.”
Well, quite. If golf wants the big money that power other major sports, it must answer the same awkward questions.

Yet it’s anathema to the culture on tour. You just had to listen to Rory McIlroy this week when talking about the press speculation on his impending management split.

“If you want to be in the circus, you have to put up with the clowns,” McIlroy said when confessing that something was “up” with his management relationship and the distraction it has caused.

Video: The Mood For Merion, 2nd Hole Flyover

The 556-yard par-5 second features arguably the most Tom Meeksian fairway contour of the Mike Davis era. For those that don't recall, Meeks often used straight lines and disregarded bunkering in a quest to force U.S. Open players to hit uncomfortable shots even if the architecture said otherwise. Or he just forced them to make a carry that no everyone could make.

And sadly, the wonderful par-5 has all the Meeks markings.

Note all of the rough between fairway and leftside bunkers, and also the effort to force players to flirt with the out-of-bounds down the right to navigate what is essentially a pretty easy hole and putting surface in the modern game. But, Davis deemed these measures necessary to keep Merion relevant, I just hope they don't sour players on what is otherwise a beautiful hole.

Poll Results: Distance It Is!

Even faced with juicy options like simplifying the rule book or ending the absurdity of caddies lining up players
and overwhelming 49% of you chose distance rollback as the next USGA/R&A project of choice.

And who says golfers are scared to give up a little distance for the good of the game?

ESPN Layoffs, U.S. Open Rights

Tony Manfred looks at ESPN's layoffs and the likelihood that overpaying rights fees may portend strength from its competitors, though as the first link notes, it's also about bringing in younger, cheapter labor.

Still, if Manfred's case is to be believed, this is of note considering that NBC's USGA contract expires in 2014 and the two networks are expected to bid on the next contract.

In the last 24 months, ESPN has agreed to huge rights deals with a bunch of leagues and events. Some of the highlights:

    •    $15.2 billion over 10 years for Monday Night football (73% higher annually than the previous deal).

    •    $7.3 billion over 12 years for the new college football playoff (480% higher annually than what it was previously paying for BCS bowls).

    •    $5.6 billion over 8 years for MLB (100% higher annually than the previous deal).

    •    $825 million over 11 years US Open tennis (400% higher annually than the previous deal).

That doesn't include smaller deals with specific college sports conferences, golf tournaments, and NASCAR.

Good News For George O'Grady: Expert Says "Colored" Used These Days Only By The Old, Ignorant, Lazy & Uneducated

From Ewan Murray's wrap up of the George O'Grady boondoggle and BMW first round.

Paul Kearns, the deputy chief executive of Show Racism the Red Card, said: "Black people prefer to be referred to as black, because historically the term coloured has carried particularly negative connotations. It is certainly something we would like to see disappear – it is old fashioned and lazy, but more importantly it has an offensive undertone.

"I do think that anyone using that term these days does so probably through ignorance or lack of education rather than through malice. But we would actively discourage people from using the word coloured when they mean black."

Derek Lawrenson also reports on the O'Grady comments and even has a comment from Sergio, commenting on O'Grady who was commenting on Sergio.

Regarding O’Grady’s gaffe,  Garcia added: ‘Obviously I was playing so I didn’t hear him say it but I have heard about it, and I think it’s unfortunate.’

As for the tournament itself, South African James Kingston leads after a 66.

None of the 11 Ryder Cup  heroes who starred at Medinah last  year on view managed to break 70 on a difficult day, with world  No 2 Rory McIlroy shooting 74  and defending champion Donald a 78 — his worst ever score at Wentworth.

12-Hole Golf To Get High Profile Debut

The LPGA's Bahamas Classic will open as a 12hole first round due to flooding in the Bahamas, reports Doug Ferguson.

There is a chance, depending on drainage, that the rounds will expand to 18 for Saturday's third round.

Steiny Gives Garcia Clearance To Move Forward With His Life

From Ewan Murray's Guardian game story at the BMW PGA.

Sergio talking after his round about his call with Tiger ten-percenter Mark Steinberg:

"I talked to [Woods's agent] Mark Steinberg and he said to move forward," Garcia said. "But hopefully I will get the chance to talk to Tiger in person and, if not, I hope to see him at the US Open and we can talk face to face there."

Euro Tour Chief: "Most of Sergio’s friends happen to be very, er, are coloured athletes in the United States.”

James Corrigan on the latest embarrassment for golf's leadership, European Tour chief George O'Grady responding to Sky Sports questions about the tour's view of Sergio Garcia's fried chicken remark.

Amazingly, O'Grady used his own blissfully ignorant phrasing straight out of the the middle of last century.

O’Grady said: “We accept all races on the European Tour, we take it very strongly; most of Sergio’s friends happen to be very, er, are coloured athletes in the United States.”

Paul Mahoney Tweeted the apology by O'Grady soon after:

O'Grady: "I deeply regret using an inappropriate word in a live interview for Sky Sports for which I unreservedly apologise."

Video: The Mood For Merion, 1st Hole Flyover

To kick off the countdown to Merion and the 2013 U.S. Open, I'll be posting one flyover a day of the holes and offering some analysis right up to the Sunday prior to tournament week.

The 350-yard par-4 first features the unusual look of a sizeable swath of rough between fairway edge and fairway bunkers, which hasn't been necessary to this extent in previous U.S. Opens at Merion. The contours all hug the bunkers nicely on the last 80 or so yards of this legendary opener that has often listed as one of the game's great opening holes. However, I wonder if that has to do more with the setting, where it'll be as much fun watching to see if anyone pulls out driver as it will be looking to see who gets the coveted patio seats closely abutting the first tee.

In the June, 2013 Golf Digest, Lee Trevino's My Shot features extensive discussion of the infamous first tee snake moment from the 1971 U.S. Open. And thanks to YouTube, we can watch it:

One More Instant Poll: What Should Rulemakers Tackle Next?

Thanks for all of the votes on the two post-anchoring polls (here and here). Both provided telling results, with a slight edge going to the PGA Tour expediting the ban to the start of the 2013-14 season over the 2016 date (42% to 40%).

Even more fascinating was the overwhelming 59% viewing the governing bodies more favorably after the ban, with 36 viewing them in the same or less flattering light.

So with that in mind, one more question in the post-anchoring world...what next?

What should the USGA and R&A tackle next?
	Distance
	Caddies lining up players
	Simplifying the rule book
	All of the above
	Nothing
pollcode.com free polls

"The only thing the Spaniard has achieved in the last 24 hours was to make a sympathetic character out of Woods"

Tom English with a super assessment of the Sergio Garcia mea culpa.

By the time he had finished his mea culpa you almost started to feel some pity for him. Woods is not only trouncing him on the golf course but he’s also trouncing him off it. Woods has the career that Garcia always wanted. At one time, many years ago now, these two looked like they were going to form the rivalry of 
the age but Garcia has been a profound disappointment on that score.

The only thing the Spaniard has achieved in the last 24 hours was to make a sympathetic character out of Woods – a hell of a feat beyond the ken of so many who are paid to do it, but now achieved, ironically, by the man who dislikes him more than most.

John Huggan reminds us that there are others who have made mistaken comments who still populate the airwaves.

An off-the-cuff comment regarding fried chicken -- while brainless almost beyond belief -- wasn't as damaging or hurtful as Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman saying Woods' nearest pursuers should "lynch him in a back alley." And, last time I looked, Ms. Tilghman was still on the air.

While Garcia is clearly guilty of crass stupidity, to condemn and categorize him solely on the basis of a single phrase uttered during an adrenaline-charged interview alongside his 2012 Ryder Cup teammates would be wrong. Just as no sensible assessment of a golfer's worth can be made after only one shot or one round or one tournament, the same criteria must surely apply to any assessment of a man's character.

And the Daily Mail's Derek Lawrenson suggests that Sergio's £5 million-a-year deal with
TaylorMade may be in jeopardy.  Even better is the photo that ran with it of Tim Finchem doing his best somber executive look.

Meanwhile In More Civil Spat News…Rory & GMac Edition

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell have patched things up. I didn't know they were rowing. As the golf world turns.

Martin Dempster with the details of the two Northern Irishman (except in 2016) clearing the air after McDowell confirmed reports Rory was dumping the agent they share.

And Brian Keogh has more on the re-pairing on the eve of their BMW PGA pairing Thursday, with Rory's dad denying speculation to a passerby that he'll become Rory's management. How am I going to sleep tonight wondering if the lad will get proper representation?

Tim Clark Having Sleepless Nights Over Losing Anchor Option

Tim Clark is still trying to suggest his physical condition requires him to anchor, even though he only has to move his putter half an inch away from his torso.

Stephen Hawkins with the increasingly desperate anchorer's complaint in the wake of Tuesday's anchoring ban.

"There's been a lot of sleepless nights," Clark said. "A year ago, my future in the game, I could see it. I planned to play until I physically no longer could play. Now it's a case of I've been told no, hang on, that might change. You're going to change the way you putt here in a few years' time and now my future is uncertain."

Clark contends that his method of putting has been an option since the game was invented and that changing the rule now makes no sense.

For people who talk about anchored putting going against golf tradition, Clark counters, "Well, why aren't we playing hickory shafts and a feathery golf ball and having a goat carry our golf bag. I mean, the game has evolved, every generation of players has involved."

Update on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 03:26 AM by Geoff

**And thanks to reader PG for noting this pathetic analogy from Clark, told to Rex Hoggard.

“A year ago, I thought I’d play well into my 40s,” Clark told the magazine. “You plan on stuff like, ‘Do you buy a house? Do you add an extension to your house?’ Then a year later they’re telling you, ‘No, the way you’re making a living isn’t going to be around.’ It changes your whole future.”

Belmont Goes Bushwood: Tale Of An Overbudget Clubhouse Redo

Thanks to reader Bud for this Callum Borchers story of a Belmont Country Club's members feuding over an $18 million clubhouse redo swelling to over $30 million.

Add this one to the files of, why do people spend millions on a place where they will spend 15 minutes and skimp on the golf course they'll spend 5 hours on, and think it'll turn out well?

Backslapping has been replaced by back stabbing, and successful business people are doing “things that we would never do in our professional lives,” according to one message from the clubhouse building committee.

“Welcome to Belmonts very own - ‘Big Apple Circus’!!!,” Robert A. Schlager, president of Bulfinch Cos., wrote in an e-mail­ to club leaders last year.

Schlager had been asked by a friend on the building committee to offer advice on utility work and concluded that the club had a “team of misfits” handling the project.

Tiger Responds: "It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate..."

Steve DiMeglio with Tiger's Twitter rebuttal to Sergio's fried chicken remark. There's a sentence circa 2005 that would have gotten me sent to the funny farm.

The Tweets:

The comment that was made wasn’t silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate...

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 22, 2013

The Players ended nearly two weeks ago and it’s long past time to move on and talk about golf.

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 22, 2013

Sergio's impromptu press conference, aired on Golf Channel and courtesy of them. Love that he was caught off guard by the question from Steve Sands.

And Taylor Made has distanced itself from Sergio.

“Sergio Garcia’s recent comment was offensive and in no way aligns with TaylorMade-adidas Golf’s values and corporate culture,” the company said in a statement. “We have spoken with Sergio directly and he clearly has regret for his statement and we believe he is sincere. We discussed with Sergio that his comments are clearly out of bounds and we are continuing to review the matter.”

Instant Poll: Do You View The USGA and R&A More Or Less Favorably After The Anchoring Ban?

A simple question, but an important one since opinions have varied so much about their intent in the anchoring ban discussion.

You can only vote once, just in case area residents of surrounding Far Hills townships and greater St. Andrews were contemplating a constant refresh of the site.

Do you view the USGA and R&A more or less favorably after the anchoring ban?
	More favorably
	Less favorably
	About the same
	Don't care
pollcode.com free polls

Tim Clark: "We’re not going to just roll over and accept this.”

Jim McCabe talks to anchorer Tim Clark and he's issued fighting words in response to the announced anchoring ban.

And remember, he did win a Players, which has a first place prize of $8.9 million I think. So he can afford the attorney.

“If there really was a ‘comment period,’ we all know it was all smoke and mirrors," said Clark, standing on the putting green at Colonial Country Club, site of this week's Crowne Plaza Invitational. "Their minds were made up.”

Clark confirmed news that probably won’t come as a surprise to officials at the PGA Tour, U.S. Golf Association and R&A.

“We do have legal counsel,” he said. “We’re going to explore our options. We’re not going to just roll over and accept this.”

Video: Rickie Does Dallas

Under dark and blustery Dallas skies Rickie Fowler and Colt Knost plugged sponsor Red Bull and launched Crowne Plaza Invitational week while attempting to make a hole in one to a Texas-shaped green.

Take that...guys over playing the Open Championship qualifier.

The name of the game was to see who could hit it closest to the pin, while egged on by special guests and former Dallas Stars hockey player Marty Turco and Kip Brennan.  The two contestants strolled out to the sidewalk and warmed up with an 80-yard lob wedge, followed by 115-yard gap wedge from across the street and onto the AT&T Plaza green. Fowler started off slowly in these practice rounds, while Knost consistently landed on the green.

Then the two players jumped into a golf cart and drove around the block to an adjacent 3rd floor parking structure for the main round.  From there, they attempted blind shots from 140+ yards that to had fly over a 6-story building or be sliced left-to-right to land softly on the Victory Plaza green.  With golf balls flying over the heads of hundreds of spectators, Fowler first jumped on the MIC to let the fans know they “should probably duck.”

The video.