"The year 2010 will not be remembered for any particular playing accomplishment but rather for Dustin Johnson failing to realize he was sharing a bunker with dozens of spectators who had nowhere else to go on a depraved course that led mobs into hazards."

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I suspect that Frank Hannigan would just point us to his timelier-than-ever Golf Digest story after some of the rules-related groveling following Ian Poulter's unfortunate "lucky" coin incident Sunday.
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"The Middle East may have the money to stage golf tournaments right now, but it’s not rich with golf fans."

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Alistair Tait paints a bleak picture of the outside-the-ropes scene at the European Tour's Dubai finale.

Fridays and Saturdays constitute the weekend here in the Middle East, so we can expect more fans for the next two rounds. But I’m guessing not many more.

The land outside the fairway ropes of the Earth Course here at Jumeirah Estates explains why the crowd was so sparse.

The course is situated in the middle of a huge construction site. With one exception – no construction is taking place.

Half-finished villas line most fairways. Ugly, concrete monstrosities with scaffolding, pipe work and steel supports exposed to the world dot the landscape. Players this week use a temporary clubhouse because the one that was half-finished last year is still half-finished.

The place is an eyesore. Very little, if any, construction has taken place since last year’s tournament. Even those villas that are finished are lying empty.

"The PGA Tour needs the players a lot more than the players need the PGA Tour."

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Jason Sobel on the accelerated globilization of golf with this week's news:

It remains to be seen what kind of foresight and creativity can be employed to keep more top players competing in the U.S. more often. One thing is certain: This is a critical juncture for the PGA Tour and without a proper plan in place, its power could be severely weakened by those players who wish to ply their craft elsewhere around the world.