Gggggggg's Baaaaack!

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kennyG_T1.jpg Kenny G is back at Ontario's Nationwide event to take up a spot that could be used by someone trying to make a living at this nutty game. But as Jill Painter reports, Kenny's got an album to plug.
Kenny G used to own a plus-.6 handicap, but he's played only four or five rounds this year. He has used 2007 to focus on music and will release an album - "Rhythm and Romance" - on Valentine's Day next year. It's his first Latin album.

"I'm super excited," said Kenny G, who's sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. "When I made my first Christmas record, I made it because I couldn't find a Christmas record I liked. It's the same thing with the Latin record. There were a lot that I liked but not a lot I could put on and get into a certain vibe.

"This is very romantic and very rhythmical. It has a lot more tempo than most records I've done."
That's saying a lot.
The tempo of his golf swing isn't Kenny G's only thing this week. He was scheduled to play a charity concert Tuesday night as part of the week's golf activities.

"I'm totally flattered they think I can add some value to the tournament," he said. "My music performance raises money for charity, and I'm good enough (golfer) to not embarrass them by using a sponsor's exemption."
Wow, and you thought the last Monday charity event you played in was a long day. Imagine 6 hours at Empire Lakes followed by a Kenny G concert?

Day Becomes Youngest Winner Of Non-PGA Tour PGA Tour-Sponsored Event

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In all the euphoria over Monty's win last weekend, a reader noted that I failed to highlight the non-history making moment when the PGA Tour noted that Jason Day became the youngest player to win a "Tour-sponsored" event.

Chalk up another victory for an Australian on the Nationwide Tour, with 19-year-old Jason Day making history on Sunday by becoming the youngest player to win a PGA TOUR-sponsored event.

Okay fine...until this...

Day, at 19 years, seven months and 26 days, surpasses the previous youngest players to win on the two Tours -- including Johnny McDermott's (19 years, 10 months) win at the 1911 U.S. Open and James Oh's (21 years, 5 months and 27 days) victory at the 2003 Mark Christopher Charity Classic.

"To win at the age of 19 is a great accomplishment," said Day, who is also the Tour's youngest player. "This goes down in history. It is a great achievement to be the Tour's youngest winner."

Yes, that's right, we're retoractively lumping his win in with a U.S. Open win that wasn't even "Tour-sponsored" with the Nationwide Tour.

The guys are good!

Barona Had Just One Obstacle...

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Five-year-old Barona Creek (No. 78 in Golfweek's Top 100 Modern) has overcome its dated back tee yardage to earn the right to host two Nationwide Tour Championships. Tod Leonard writes:

With a hotel/casino on site and plenty of room for corporate hospitality and the expected 5,000 spectators, Barona's only obstacle to getting a top-level event was its length. At 7,088 yards from the championship tees, it was deemed short for today's big hitters with high-tech clubs. In October's Collegiate Cup, for example, Denver's James Love shot a 10-under-par 62 in the first round and went on to card 15-under in three rounds.

But the club has made extensive renovations this fall, adding 12 new tees to lengthen the course to about 7,500 yards. Several jagged-edged bunkers – among the course's standout design traits – were added. 

Nationwide Distance Watch

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nationwide logo.jpgArchitects mark the "turning point" of a hole during planning and construction to help them get a sense of scale and tee placement. Over the years the typical turning point has gone from 250 yards to 270 to 300 these days. Looks like 320 isn't out of the question if you are designing to host the next generation. Or

Check out these Nationwide Tour distance increases:

  • 2005: 100 players averaging over 290 yards, 43 averaging players over 300 yards
  • 2004:  74 players averaging over 290 yards, 24 players averaging over 300 yards
  • 2002: 63 players averaging over 290 yards, 15 players averaging over 300 yards
  • 1998: 7 players averaging over 290 yards, 2 players averaging over 300 yards

#1 in 2005 is Bubba Watson. He's picked up 13 yards from last year, to average, yes average, 336.4 yards this year. And that's on 78 drives, versus 61 last year.