Monty Running Up Tab To Make Celtic Manor Palatable

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From an unbylined AP story:

The alterations, unveiled to the European golfing media on Monday, have been implemented despite the fact that the Celtic Manor course was built and opened for play for $8 million just two years ago.

Ah, another shining example for the game's well-being.

Montgomerie has had many of the course bunkers deepened, had the rough made consistently thicker than its had been for the Wales Open on the European Tour in 2008 and 2009, and has insisted the greens be firmer and less receptive to spin.

“All along, Colin has insisted that he was not interested in gaining a home advantage,” said Jim Mckenzie, Celtic Manor’s director of golf courses.

“If Europe do regain the Ryder Cup he wants it to be because they have played the better golf and not because the course has been tricked up.

“And in all my dealings with Colin since he was appointed Europe’s Ryder Cup captain I have to say he has not been over demanding.”

Not over demanding. Just demanding.

"It'll be fun and we'll have a few things to talk about and discuss. We've always enjoyed each other's company out on the golf course and I don't think there will be any fisticuffs out there or anything like that!"

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That's the big takeaway from Corey Pavin and Colin Montgomerie's effort to promote their appearance in this week's Volvo China Open. There's something else different about the photo of the Captains, but I just can't put my finger on it. Anyone?
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Captain Pavin Taking His Time Getting Around To Talking Ryder Cup Strategy With Captain Azinger

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I went down to Newport Beach for the Toshiba Classic Pro-Am day to interview some geezers outside the coveted demos. Lunching with Ben Crenshaw, we were joined by Paul Azinger and Ron Braund. You may recall it was Braund who helped Azinger develop the pod system that was so influential in the underdog American's triumphant 2008 Ryder Cup win at Valhalla. Azinger and Braund have a book coming out in May that promises to offer some pretty shocking revelations about the system and in particular, how Azinger made his Captain's picks.
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Tiger's Been Spotted Clippings, Vol. 3

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Get past Matthew Futterman and Douglas Blackmon's slightly misleading lede, because it's a fascinating WSJ look back at Tiger and the PGA Tour's relationship. There were several "oh-wow-I-forgot-about-that" anecdotes. My only beef is with the opening assertion that this week at Torrey Pines is a glimpse into the post-Tiger-accident PGA Tour (weren't things a mess there before the accident?):
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"Four of the golf courses bidding to win the 2018 Ryder Cup aren’t built yet."

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I apologize if you've already showered today, but Alistair Tait's look at the potential 2018 Ryder Cup venue--you know, the one that will benefit the children--could be about as tacky and sleazy as it gets.

European Golf Design, a joint venture between the European Tour and IMG, are involved in three of the four courses yet to be completed/constructed. European Tour chief executive George O’Grady has previously said privately he would prefer the match to go to a European Golf Design course. So the three EGD candidates would seem to be in pole position.