Goosen, Singh Join Forces To Trademark “Big Five”

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Early 2000’s golf stars Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh have joined forces to trademark “Big Five” in case golf’s youth movement expands to a quintet of talent. Singh has previously trademarked “Big Four” and is preparing to sue over its unauthorized usage.

“I was in the Big Four and then it became the Big Five briefly when Retief almost won at Southern Hills,”  Singh said in a statement. “We’re just concerned that our legacy will be tarnished if Rickie Fowler wins a major and creates unanimous Big Four status, or if another player comes in and forces a Big Five situation. Or something like that.”

Goosen, speaking from attorney Donny Brook's office, says he was thrilled that Vijay remembered the brief “Big Five” days. Though he said he would like to see the “Big Five” trademark fight joined by Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods to ensure that “our generation” can “cover all our bets” should someone like Chris Kirk finally realize his gifts.

“He reminds me a lot of myself,” says Goosen. “That win in the ’14 Nelson was something to behold.”

Kirk’s Georgia teammate Brendon Todd won the 2014 Nelson.

A registered trademark would require the (®) symbol on all future uses of the term if registered with the national trademark office.  Any usage on printed materials would force the payment of royalties if used in a commercial setting.

Singh says he plans to sue the PGA Tour and other media outlets if they continue to use “Big Four” without paying royalties.

“My case will become very clear if Rickie finally wins a major. And if Justin Thomas wins, then we have the Big Five trademark covered too.”

Lee Westwood Officially Pinpoints 2020 For Ryder Cup Captaincy

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I'm not sure if this should make me feel old, but when World No. 66 Lee Westwood is throwing his PING cap into the ring for the 2020 Ryder Cup post, something feels slightly surreal. Or maybe it's that the Euros feel the need to start staking claims to their cashing out opportunity so far out? Either way, we have our speed in the race, who's going to try to catch Westwood from far back? Padraig?

Ewan Murray of The Guardian talks to Westwood about taking a big break heading into a busy stretch, with sights set on trying to navigate Whistling Straits in a buggy

Westwood can do little about that. Now 42 and based back in the United Kingdom – linked to the break-up of his marriage – he can map out a positive future. “I would like to go on a little bit longer,” Westwood says. “Two or three years, then think about the Ryder Cup captaincy. If I put my name in for the captaincy in four years’ time then I can think about the seniors after that.”

Adam Scott Not Opposed To Bifurcating Equipment Rules

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We'll put him down for reducing the driver head size. Since the scientists can only make a ball longer and not shorter, this may be an option.

From a very enjoyable Q&A with Brian Wacker at PGATour.com:

BW: If you were equipment czar of the game for a day, running the USGA and R&A, what would you change?
 
AS: I think it's possible that you could make an argument for having different equipment rules for us than the amateurs. I think that's almost logical to do that. I’d re-implement anchored putting because until I'm given facts that it actually is a game-improver, performance-enhancer, then I'm going to have to say I'd put it back in. Maybe driver head size is something I'd look at. That’s a massive difference now. When I was a kid, pulling the driver out of the bag was a concern, like you're going to have to make a great swing to hit a good drive. Now it's the go-to club. It's the most forgiving club we have. That's a huge difference in how you get off the tee to start a hole of golf.

And in the one-course-you-could-play-for-the-rest-of-your-life division, Adam picks...

 AS: I guess I'm torn. I could play Kingston Heath every day for the rest of my life in Australia, and the upside of that is in it's Australia and it's an amazing golf course. But I love Cypress Point. It's my favorite course in the world. I just love playing socially on those golf courses that are so much shorter and just less demanding length-wise for me, and then the people I play with can enjoy it. It's very hard to enjoy a round of golf when I play 90 yards from them. It's like we're on different courses. So those two, if I’m allowed to say two.

Video: Another 6-Year-Old With A Picture Perfect Swing

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Gavin Sanchez is 6 and loves to play golf.

With a swing like this, who can blame him. A future DCP and PGA Tour star in the making...


Another keeper with his little brother, stay with it to the end...


And this comes a month after seeing Godiva Kim's amazing swing. How do they do it!

 

Poll: Should Adam Stick With Stevie?

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Following his second win in two weeks and his obvious role as Masters favorite headed to the year's first major a month from now, Adam Scott reiterated that he will stick with Stevie Williams on his bag.

This, after two wins with caddie Dave Clark, who NBC's stellar sound team picked up a few times Sunday playing the role of forceful but comforting bagman. (Martin Kaufmann notes the great sound work but embarrassingly suggests this was a new thing for NBC. Let it go Marty!)

Jim McCabe at Golfweek.com even highlights Clark's pep-talk role early in round four of the 2016 WGC Cadillac at Doral.

Ben Everill reports on Scott putting to rest any doubts about who his Augusta bagman will be.

Englishman Clark took the job and despite helping Scott back into a rich vein of form, his time at the majors will have to wait.

"The plan is set. David is doing an amazing job and we are working very well together but you could offer Steve the job to any player in the world for Augusta and they are going to want to take him," Scott told AAP.

"His experience is amazing and we work very well together. Loot at our record the last few years."

No one can blame Scott for wanting the same looper that helped him win the 2014 Masters, but it's also hard to fathom how his game, his confidence and his comfort level on the course could be any better than it is right now. And Clark certainly has played a role in that fine form.

So who should Adam Scott have on the bag as he goes for his second Masters?

Who should caddie for Adam Scott at The Masters?
 
pollcode.com free polls

This PGA Tour Entertainment clip cuts out Clark's commentary prior to the shot:


And the full round highlights:

Steph: Legend-In-The-Making To Talk Golf On Morning Drive

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In case you haven't been paying attention, there is something magical taking place with the Golden State Warriors run through the 2015-16 season, highlighted by Saturday night's epic overtime win against the Oklahoma City Thunder that left even the most jaded fans speechless. (The almost-half-court game winning jump shot is worth your time.)

Even more satisfying about the run is how likable the team is, with diverse interests and easy going demeanors coming through in various appearances as they peel off wins.

Just a few examples include Andrew Bogut joining Bill Simmons' podcast last week and Klay Thompson stopping by Morning Drive on Friday. And in a two-part interview, Steph Curry and teammate Andre Iguodala meet Gary Williams for a chat recorded Friday, so expect talk of their round at Augusta National and Curry's love for golf.
 
Here's a preview:

Rickie & Rory To Be Joined By Marky & JT?

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Brad Galli of WXYZ Detroit says the Rickie Fowler vs. Rory McIlroy (under the lights) exhibition will be rounded out by A-listers Mark Wahlberg and Justin Timberlake.

Doug Ferguson first reported the made-for-TV event that is expected the week prior to this summer's U.S. Open.

Of course unbeknownst to fans at this week's Northern Trust Open, Wahlberg played the Wednesday pro-am today. I only found out because a friend of Wahlberg's mentioned it. Because, you know, people in LA wouldn't want that promoted. The NoTrust Twitter account shared the news when it was a little too late for Wahlberg's fans to make it out.

 

21st Century Plus-Fours Or Trying Too Hard?

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I'm all for exposing the athleticism of today's players and seeing where designers golf fashion to new places if it'll help non-golfers better appreciate our athletes. Or make us more comfortable when we swing a club.

But tights?

Nike's making the push with "tights", as Jessica Marksbury notes for Golf.com. I'll be on the lookout in round one of the NoTrust Open but something tells me these are still in the developmental stages. Assuming they aren't just considered shorts over your Sunday best yoga pants.

A lad with a tour card named Scott Pinckney was kind enough to be the guinea pig, though 20 years from now he could also really regret this page when it appears in the slideshow, "So, Looks That Almost Like, Really Killed."

"I love how they're raising the athletic bar in the sport of golf," Pinckney said. "I think everyone in the [NBA] All-Star game wore tights, besides maybe two or three different players. And there's a reason why they wear them. I love the look, but I mostly love the feel when I'm playing in them. And I feel refreshed when I'm done."

Tony Finau, another Nike pro, is also a believer in the tights.

"I've already practiced in them, and I feel amazing, not only during, but after [play]," Finau said. "There's just something about having [that compression] on a part of your body that you're using that helps you recover and gives you energy. People will be surprised. Even if they don't like the look, they're going to feel great wearing them. I can see myself wearing them [in tournaments]."

Why see when you can do?