LPGA Fields Open/Ap Follow Up

Ferd Lewis paints a not-so-pretty picture of the unfolding PR debacle in Hawaii.

Where Good Tournaments Go To Die?

Rex Hoggard in Golfweek:

Next year, the Match Play is moving to a new course in Tucson, Ariz., that few have ever heard of, in an out-of-the-way part of town. Never been there, but it sounds like the place good tournaments go to die.

But it won't be Tucson that kills the Match Play. That honor belongs to TV. Television execs fear match play's capricious ways like Ames fears bulletin boards.

Tall Rough Holes at Winged Foot

In analyzing Steve Elling's story on the plans for longer anti-birdie rough at Winged Foot, I promised photos.

No. 6 at Winged Foot (click image to enlarge)I'm not sure what exactly to say when looking at these shots of the wonderful par-4 6th and the equally neat par-4 11th. Both have already been stripped of their original strategic charm due to the super-narrow setup leftover from the U.S. Amateur. And this is before the extra tall rough is harvested this spring.

But here's what I'd ask you to consider when looking at these wonderful Tillinghast holes, two of which will not see the new "tiered" rough, but instead, tall stuff designed to reduce red scoring.

Looking at the photos, think of yourself being able to carry the ball 310-340 off the tee in warm weather. Would you try to lay up within these narrow fairways or simply try to drive it as close as possible to the green? 

Drives of that distance will bring you within flip wedge range of the green, if not on the green or in surrounding bunkers.
No. 11 at Winged Foot (click on image to enlarge)

In the photo of No. 6, note all of the rough leading up to the leftside fairway bunker. I'm not positive, but I suspect this was meant as a handy little lay-up area to access hole locations tucked behind the front right bunker. I know, that strategy stuff...back when people were allowed to use their brains in the game.

And the narrow fairway on No. 11 is ironic since some width would expose the wonderful rolls and tilt that would take misfires away from the centerline, and toward areas where approach shots would be blocked out by trees. (Hint USGA, that means likely leading to bogies!)

Where's the Balance?

It's been a while since they posted a unbylined complaint over at Titleist.com, but it's good to know the theme never changes. Yes, that's right, we're back to the golf media's "anti-golf ball technology agenda":

But what is disturbing is when members of the golf media use their position to advance their anti-technology and anti-golf ball technology agenda to golfers without providing their readers the opportunity to learn from an opposing view.

That's right, you cannot pick up a golf magazine without reading that anti-ball technology propaganda. It's stifling, I tell you!

While free speech is a wonderful thing, and the golf media has every right to provide editorial opinions, it is disillusioning to know that the opposing facts are often conveniently overlooked. Where then do the 25 million golfers in the U.S. get exposed to a balanced perspective on the long-standing technology and tradition debate?

I nominate Titleist.com. No agenda there!

And if the PGA Tour is going to measure the perception of the public relative to distance to consider whether additional rule modifications are desirable, and media coverage is imbalanced, then one can hardly expect golfers/fans of the PGA Tour to have an open mind.

It really is all the media's fault. Well, and are they implying that the average golfer is not smart enough to weed through the bias and come to their own conclusions? 

Semantics are another powerful tool used to influence readers' reactions. When referring to the USGA, he uses derogatory terms like "apparently awakened from a Rip Van Winkle-length coma" and a "dawdling organization". He notes that Kenny Perry is feeling "increasingly obsolete" or "something's out of whack when Perry ranked 11th in the world, feels like a Lilliputian." The fact is Kenny Perry will turn 46 this August. In how many professional sports can a 46-year old still remain competitive let alone, be ranked 11th in the world in their chosen sport?

You might want to check out the story that has upset the writer so. Here's what Perry said that Steve Elling characterized as increasingly obsolete: "Skill? That's kind of where the tour has gone. You can hit it 50 yards off-line and hit a wedge out of the rough. They can still fire at the flagstick. That's the way golf has played out the last couple of years."

Those semantics! Not obsolete. He just feels really good about being left behind. 

What is even more alarming is digging behind the scenes to the actual press conference and reading the unequivocally biased "questions" asked of J.B. Holmes:

 Q. John, with the way that you have been piping it out there the last few years, now that you are out here with the big boys, and blowing it past all of them, there has been sort of a negative side to it to, people are saying he hits it too far, they need to rein that in. What's your response to all of that? You can become the poster boy for the USGA making rules changes.

Q. You don't think there has been a lessening of the skill factor because you only have to hit your 3-iron, 4-iron, 5-iron a couple of times per tournament? It's mostly a wedge, 9-iron. These are some of the points that have been raised. You are just overwhelming golf courses.

These aren't questions. They are "leading the witness" statements by a reporter with an agenda.

You know, another S word comes to mind to describe those new Cobra ads where David Feherty, CBS's on-course announcer and member of the Cobra staff, is drooling all over Cobra's J.B. Holmes during the FBR final round and conveniently, his final day raves appear in a new Cobra ad campaign.

Now that's synergy, baby! Of course, you can be the judge by checking the ad out over at Cobra's web site, a company owned by Fortune Brands, the same folks who own Titleist.

After a rant about no one celebrating Arron Oberholser's short driving and great putting en route to victory at Pebble Beach, we get to the heart of the matter:

The game has changed. But that is hardly new as this timeless deep-rooted debate about technological advancement is as old as the game itself. Where is the evidence to support that the game has been harmed?

Uh, how about this: Lousy ratings? Or flat rounds despite equipment that has never made the game easier.

No, I know, the NGF, Nielson, shoot, they're all biased!

The Titleist commentary left out a remark about the enormous financial gains that these anti-technology folks stand to gain from their agendas.

As opposed to the equipment companies, who are in this purely for the love of the game.

The piece also does not explain all these famous golfers like Palmer, Nicklaus, Norman and Woods who are saying something should be done about distance.

I guess they've been bamboozled by the media's anti-technology agenda, too?

A Wie High?

Brian Hewitt looks at the absurdity of Michelle Wie debuting at No. 3 in the new women's world ranking, and the even more ridiculous idea of someone named Yuri Fudoh landing in the No. 4 spot.

Blogging From La Costa

GolfDigest.com debuts a blog from La Costa. John Hawkins weighs in with two promising entries on the state of the event and on his bad choice to win the event.

Verdi: No Cell Phones Please

Bob Verdi says cell phones need to go on the PGA Tour, and he's not talking about spectators. Sadly, he is right to point out the problem. It was embarrassing to see players using their phones last week while spectators were trying to watch them hit balls.

NGF Says Rounds Played Flat In '05

The GCSAA reoprts the details...

The National Golf Foundation says same-facility rounds played in the U.S. were down 8.1 percent in December 2005 compared to December 2004.

As a result, total rounds for 2005 finished the year at -0.1 percent, or flat, compared to 2004. Private clubs were down one percent for the year while public courses broke into positive territory.

December data was reported by 1,573 golf facility operators across the country. (Same-facility rounds means that only facilities reporting rounds for both December 2005 and December 2004 are included in results.)

47 Inches Too Many

Classic moment on No. 1 today of the WGC Match Play.

Vijay Singh is teeing off, trying out a new driver that looks like something Rocky Thompson once used. You may recall that the first hole (old 10th) has water way off the tee that sometimes comes into play for tee shots finishing in the trees.

Here's what the ABC guys said as Vijay's drive took off and headed for the lake.

PAUL AZINGER: Vijay is another player who is experimenting with a 47-inch driver like Phil did yesterday. And hitting it a mile.

NICK FALDO: It's in the water! Well that extra inch was worth it.

PAUL AZINGER: That is Un-be-lievable.

MIKE TIRICO: That's like 320 to where the fairway runs out on 1.

PAUL AZINGER: That's ridiculous. That is not in play. 

MIKE TIRICO: I remember that from last year, it's about 320 to the fairway running out there, maybe 330.

IAN BAKER FINCH: The center of the fairway is 336.

NICK FALDO (laughing): Well, he gotten good news. The 47 inches worked! 

Ames-Tiger History

Lorne Rubenstein had this little backstory in his column previewing yesterday's Tiger bloodgeoning of Stephen Ames:

There's also some history between Ames and Woods. Ames was quoted in the Calgary Herald during the 2000 Masters as saying that Woods thinks he's bigger than the game, doesn't get along well with his fellow players, and doesn't act right on the course. He called Woods "a spoiled 24-year-old."

Ames wasn't playing that Masters, but his comments generated a stir. He said he was misquoted, while the writer maintained that he quoted him accurately.

Bring Back the Stymie, Vol. 5,810

Readers of The Future of Golf know that I have a strange predilection for the stymie, inspired in large part by Bobby Jones' passionate Golf is My Game plea to bring it back.

I believe it would make for must-see viewing at the WGC Match Play (which induced a deep 30-minute nap for me today).

Today's quote of the day from Max Behr was part of a June 1917 Golf Illustrated editorial decrying the Western Golf Association's abolition of the stymie.  Here is a bit more Behr, courtesy of the USGA's new online database search engine.

But if the stymie is to go there is no reason why we should rob the game one iota of the stress it lays upon the character of the golfer. Golf is not only a contest of skill, but a contest of morale as well. The great match players know this and take every opportunity of delivering a blow to the courage of their opponents. Openings of this nature are liable to occur anywhere in a match but the great majority come with the final putt at every hole.  

Of course the stymie debate went on for another oh, 45 years until it was completely gone from the game.

Why not bring it back for just one week? Shoot, Stephen Ames might have only lost 8&7 if he could have stymied one of Tiger's birdie putts. But I bet that would have been the highlight of the match.

The Latest Bivens Era Fiasco

If you wonder why many believe the hiring of LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens is not looking too hot, this story ought to give you some idea where things are headed for a tour that is otherwise on the rise.

Actually, before you read it, keep in mind a little behind the scenes saga that was just averted last week.

It seems that Bivens wanted to give USA Today (where she used to work!) first right to release and print the new Rolex World Ranking. The AP and others questioned the fairness (and logic) behind the move.

Until the last moment, it appeared Bivens was going to follow through with the USA Today fiasco. Someone obviously changed her mind because all news agencies received the rankings at the same time, except weekly magazines that needed them in advance of presstime midday Monday.

So now it seems the LPGA wants control of photographs taken at their events. To receive a credential, reporters and photographers must sign away rights that say the use of any photograph used after the event covered requires LPGA approval. 

This AP story spells out what may become exhibit A in why Bivens may not be the right person for the LPGA job, bypassing her handling of longtime official Barb Trammell, the suspect Annika-Creamer ruling or her first press conference.

The Associated Press was denied credentials to cover the LPGA Fields Open tournament Wednesday in a dispute over new restrictions on use of its stories and photos.

AP reporter Jaymes Song was not allowed on the course during Wednesday's practice rounds or in the media room to cover Michelle Wie's pretournament news conference after refusing to sign the credential form with the new restrictions. Freelance photographer Ronen Zilberman also refused to sign the form and was denied a credential.

It's one thing to ban the photographer from the East Valley Penny Saver, but you don't mess with AP when you are already begging for media coverage in newspapers. 

Update on 2006-02-23 15:17 by Geoff

The Honolulu paper joins AP in not covering the event. I forgot that Michelle Wie is playing in this event. Nice.

9&8

The best thing about K.J. Choi not speaking any English? He can't piss off irritate Tiger.

Doug Ferguson reports on Tiger's 9&8 smothering of Stephen Ames, who made an unwise comment about his chances in light of Tiger's erratic ball striking. Tiger was asked about it after the round:

Q. Were you aware of Stephen's comments yesterday that you weren't striking

TIGER WOODS: Yes.

Q. I assumed you were.

TIGER WOODS: Yes.

Q. What was your reaction when you saw that?

TIGER WOODS: 9 & 8.

Q. Obviously you like challenges, the idea of someone saying you're not driving the ball well. It must have lit a fire under you.

TIGER WOODS: You might say that.

Q. It would be better if you said it.

TIGER WOODS: As I said, 9 & 8.

Later one of the scribblers revealed that he is attempting to become the last golf writer on the planet to write about Tiger entering his 30s.

Q. Even after today, Tiger, you're off to a good start. Do you think you can be as dominant through your 30s as you were through your 20s?

TIGER WOODS: That's ultimately what you want to happen. But you have to work. I've done a lot of things to put that together, but it's very exciting.

"They've Cashed Our Check"

Len Ziehm reports the news I know you've all been anxious to hear, Cog Hill has retained the Open Doctor. This may just be the cure for my acid reflux.

Cog Hill owner Frank Jemsek had been in negotiations with Jones and his staff for nearly a year in Jemsek's efforts to make the Western Open site a suitable U.S. Open venue. Jones associate Greg Muirhead visited Cog Hill last July before Jones toured the course with Jemsek on Oct. 11. Jemsek revealed during last weekend's Chicago Golf Show that negotiations were successful.

"They've cashed our check,'' said Jemsek, who said work will begin on a limited basis after this year's Western, which ends July 9.

Jones was traveling and unavailable for comment Tuesday, but he noted after his original tour of the course that bunkers will get primary attention during the renovation. Many will be moved and some deepened.

The heart of the renovation will be on Dubsdread's last four holes. No. 15, which plays as a short par-5 now, will become a long par-4 with new tees shortening the hole.

You know, I think we should just eliminate par-5s until we get all birdies out of the game! Oh, sorry...

Nos. 16 and 18, both par-4s, will be lengthened with green-side hazards accentuated. And the par-4 17th, deemed much too easy by Jones, will be completely rebuilt with the green reduced and bunkers added.

Torrey Clubhouse Saga, Vol. 59

Craig Gustafson writes about the golfers of San Diego widely rejecting a fee increase to help pay for improvements, including a new clubhouse that would be funded by suckers out of town guests paying exorbitant green fees.