"This way they can rub elbows with a lot of different players, hear them tell stories and get to see them under different circumstances."

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Stan Awtrey says the Tour considered moving the Super Bowl to TPC Sugarloaf, but decided to stay at East Lake and it's dead greens.

Tour player Robert Allenby was not sympathetic to the club's troubles. "They've had all year to prepare and to say it's not ready is pretty disappointing, especially for a major event. We've come down to the final event and it's a non-event. It could be Mickey Mouse. Who knows what the greens are going to be like?"

Wow, can't imagine why his caddy quit on him.

And this from the Tour's Henry Hughes: 

With no competition permitted, the pro-am format has been altered. All 30 players — including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson — will be required to take part in at least one portion of what's being called an "Ultimate Tour Clinic."

"In a typical pro-am, you spend the day with one guy," Hughes said. "This way they can rub elbows with a lot of different players, hear them tell stories and get to see them under different circumstances."

Yes, circumstances where they are dreading the day even more than a typical pro-am. 

Tiger Is One Last Good Week From Adding More Deferred Compensation He Does Not Need

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fedexcuplogo.jpgBob Harig says it's good for the FedEx Cup that Tiger Woods is leading, and while I understand the logic ratings-wise, is anyone else finding it hard to get excited about the prospect of Tiger or Phil adding a droplet of cash to their swollen portfolios? At least with Steve Stricker you have someone who $10 million will mean something too.

To put it another way, would the FedEx Cup be more interesting if the format allowed more players, including some underdogs, to have a chance of winning it all this week? 

"I've never seen such naked courage on a golf course before."

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golf.jpgMike Aitken reports on the thrilling U.S. Walker Cup win at Royal County Down.
If GB&I couldn't, in the end, overcome the handicap of enduring a 4-0 whitewash in the morning foursomes, it hardly seemed fair to summarise their 5-2 fightback in the singles as heroic failure. The determined and sure-footed quality of the home side's golf at the end perhaps deserved better than losing 12-11. As Peter McEvoy, the former captain of GB&I, observed: "I've never seen such naked courage on a golf course before."
Oh I don't know, have you seen those streakers at the Open Championship?

There is also this Craig Smith story on the USGA's official site, these notes and John Mummert's images from the day.

"One torture is substituted for another."

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Reader Jack Sprat correctly notes that with the greens demise at East Lake comes the Tour's makeshift clinic/pro-am, where "one torture is substituted for another."

Sounds like a great chance for the boys to interract with MBA types...

Wednesday pro-am
Despite the cancellation, tournament officials have scheduled activities for Wednesday to bring a unique and worthwhile experience to pro-am participants.  All 30 players in THE TOUR Championship field will honor their commitment to the pro-am by participating in a Q&A session in the morning, followed by the “Ultimate TOUR Clinic,” in which amateurs will cycle through three stations with PGA TOUR professionals for tips and instruction in driving, chipping and putting.  The day will conclude for amateurs at a luncheon and additional Q&A session with the TOUR players.

And just in case you boys thought you might fly back to Atlanta on Wednesday...think again, that's a morning clinic!

On a serious note, if the concept of playoff pro-am's was in fact one of Phil's beefs, this will not exactly make him more agreeable, will it?

Wait, no, Phil loves corporate America and interacting with pro-am types. I don't know what got into me.

"Now there's room for everybody else to pile on. The timing could not have been worse."

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Steve Elling looks at the odd manner in which the PGA Tour notified players about the East Lake greens and has this from Jim Furyk:
 "My thoughts?" veteran Jim Furyk said Sunday morning, weighing his words carefully as he looked at the player advisory posted on the Cog Hill locker room bulletin board. "It's very poor timing. There's already a lot of rumblings and negativity about how things have been working out already.

"Now there's room for everybody else to pile on. The timing could not have been worse. Those are my thoughts."

"Another innovation is the fact that the old Western Open has a new set of wheels."

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If the Chicagoans weren't fired up, this John Maginnes piece from PGATour.com ("Playoff format overcoming criticism") ought to get Western Open fans riled up:

But the old Western Open changed its stripes this year. The inaugural BMW Championship brings a new name, as well as a new face to this historic event. From the stark white trimming of the corporate tents and grandstands to the expo village filled with vintage cars, this tournament has a new look. In typical BMW fashion, the tournament has taken on a sleeker, more modern, tone while keeping its traditions and history close. Another innovation is the fact that the old Western Open has a new set of wheels.

On Sunday, it will fill up the tank and head south where it will set up shop in St. Louis. On the even-numbered years the BMW Championship will alternate between the city with the arch and Indianapolis, returning to Chicago in between.

See that change stuff is progress.

Issue Of FedEx Cup Scheduling Intensity Resolved!

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Well, this year anyway.

Does anyone remember something like this happening before? It is hard to imagine that keeping thirty players and a pro-am off the East Lake greens could make that big of a difference, but it's admirable of the Tour for trying everything it can to ensure good uh, Super Bowl conditions. A ban on spikes would have been nice too.

From the PGA Tour:

Practice rounds restricted, pro-am canceled at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola to ensure best possible playing conditions for tournament

Course closed to public until Thursday, tickets to be honored

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2007 – As a result of severe heat and drought in the Atlanta area this summer, the bentgrass putting green conditions at East Lake Golf Club, site of next week’s TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, have suffered.  In order to present the best possible playing conditions for THE TOUR Championship, the final event in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, tournament officials and the PGA TOUR have restricted the players’ practice rounds and canceled Wednesday’s pro-am.

“We are working diligently to improve and present the golf course in the best condition possible for next week’s tournament,” said Henry Hughes, executive vice president and chief operating officer, PGA TOUR.  “While restricting players’ practice rounds and canceling the pro-am is not an ideal scenario, we felt this was the best decision in order to allow us a few more days to prepare the greens for the event.

“The weather has improved this past week, and the forecast is for continued good weather through Wednesday, allowing for additional growth and recovery of the bentgrass.  Despite the challenges, we are confident that THE TOUR
Championship will provide an exciting, dramatic culmination to the FedExCup season.”

Tickets
With the course closed to the public until Thursday, all Tuesday and Wednesday tickets will be honored Thursday through Sunday.  The tournament will staff the general parking lot at Turner Field to exchange spectators’ tickets, as well as add additional volunteers and staff to the admission gate on-site.

All Tuesday and Wednesday tickets that are marked “Clubhouse” or “Delta Crown Room Championship Club” will be honored; however, those will be exchanged for GROUND tickets.  These tickets were only sold on a weekly basis, and therefore, those purchasers will also have a ticket that they can use for Thursday - Sunday.

Restricted practice rounds
Players will not be permitted to practice on the greens at East Lake Golf Club, although they and their caddies can walk the course Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, hit drives on par 4s and par 5s and approach shots on par 5s if they do not reach the greens.  The driving range, putting green and short game practice area at East Lake Golf Club will be available to players all week.

Wednesday pro-am
Despite the cancellation, tournament officials have scheduled activities for Wednesday to bring a unique and worthwhile experience to pro-am participants.  All 30 players in THE TOUR Championship field will honor their commitment to the pro-am by participating in a Q&A session in the morning, followed by the “Ultimate TOUR Clinic,” in which amateurs will
cycle through three stations with PGA TOUR professionals for tips and instruction in driving, chipping and putting.  The day will conclude for amateurs at a luncheon and additional Q&A session with the TOUR players.

East Lake greens, Atlanta weather
The strain of grass at East Lake Golf Club is Crenshaw creeping bentgrass. It was introduced in the Southeast in the 1990s and offers a superb putting surface most of the year, but when temperatures reach the 90s, the greens can be susceptible to more diseases, shorter roots and dry spots.

During the month of August, Atlanta reported record temperatures of 90-plus degrees for 28 days, including 10-straight days with temperatures reaching or exceeding 100 degrees.

The average daily high in Atlanta in August was 96.5 degrees, compared to a normal average of 87.9, and the average daily low was 75.2, compared to a normal average of 69.9.  New high-temperature records in Atlanta were set
on nine days last month.  The area experienced 25 consecutive days without rain, and year-to-date rainfall is at 20.90 inches, a deficit of 17.84 inches compared to average rainfall totals.

Plans for 2008
Although weather patterns may improve in future years, the PGA TOUR has reached an agreement with East Lake Golf Club to replace the bentgrass greens with Bermuda grass before the 2008 TOUR Championship.

Huggan On Clarke

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John Huggan on Darren Clarke's life since losing his wife a little over a year ago:
Another understandable factor in Clarke's on-course woes this year has been dealing with the first anniversary of his wife's passing. He and the boys were back home in Portrush for two weeks' holiday last month, in the middle of which fell the fateful day.

"To be honest, in the build-up to the anniversary I wasn't at the races at all," he says, his eyes suddenly focused on a point far away.

"It was all a bit much for me. But then, when August 13 did come around [one day before his own birthday], it was almost as if a wee bit of weight was lifted off my shoulders. By then I had done every birthday, every anniversary, the first Christmas, so all the bits and pieces had passed. I'd been through everything once.

"We all went up to the grave together. It's not as if I shush anyone when Heather's name comes up. The kids and I talk about her all the time. It would be wrong to exclude her name from conversation. In the car the other day Connor asked if I remembered when mummy was alive and we did this or that. That's the way they talk. Sometimes I get a lump in my throat but I wouldn't have it any other way. I want them to remember their mummy.

"I went up to the grave on my own for quite a bit of time late in the day. There were a lot of flowers, including a lovely big bouquet from Padraig and Caroline Harrington. I'll never forget that gesture, it was just so nice of them to think of Heather."

Walker Cup Web Sites

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CoursephotoZ0900.jpgYes, there are two official sites for this weekend's Walker Cup at the splendid Royal County Down (no, television does not do it justice).

The R&A has their own site while the USGA also features an original site (including John Mummert's image posted to the left).

According to the USGA, the Walker Cup will be televised on ABC from 2-4 EST Sunday. I'd check local listings though just in case.  After all it may be on ESPN on ABC.

"The atmosphere hasn't been quite the same."

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Good news for the Commissioner: fewer people are talking about Phil's defection.

Bad news: because everyone is talking about the lousy attendance and lack of buzz at normally amped up Cog Hill.

Read Four-putt posted a few thoughts on this, while Steve Elling wrote that Chicagoans can be comforted by the fact that 2008 will likely see more star defections at all of the season ending playoff events.

Chicago was a fantastic musical, and the media types have been crowing and dancing in both unison and perfect harmony to express their outrage that a burgh with 10 million folks will be left holding the bag in two of the next three years.

Let's not have a Mrs. O'Leary-sized cow, OK?

As much critical fire as the FedEx Cup plan has drawn from fans and sponsors for failing to deliver on its implied promises to put Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els on the same stage over four consecutive weeks, the real issues are fast becoming apparent.

By next year, the fields from this season's inaugural FedEx run are going to feel like the stars were present in perfect attendance. The potential potholes for 2008 with regard to scheduling, barring an organizational miracle, make this year's foibles seem like minor nuisances.

While the 2008 schedule hasn't been formally released, based on its likely structure, top players will be asked to compete seven times in an eight-week span, culminating with the greatest cauldron of pressure in the game, the Ryder Cup. When it comes to finding excuses not to play next year, gentlemen, start your search engines.

Meanwhile, Tiger was asked about the crowds, after getting some hard hitting questions out of the way...

Q. Did you go home from Boston or did you come straight here?
TIGER WOODS: I came straight here.

Q. Did you wear that shirt last week?
TIGER WOODS: Yeah.

Q. When is the last time you wore a shirt twice?
TIGER WOODS: I wear it all the time, actually. I'm not that way.

Q. I know it sounds really gay, but I recognized it (laughter). It looks good.
TIGER WOODS: Thanks. I love it.

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

Q. How were the crowds today?

TIGER WOODS: There were a few more people. Still, it's not the same as the Western, that's for sure. Granted, the weather was a little sketchy, so maybe they didn't come out because of that.

And I thought this was interesting. It seems Tiger thought so too:

Q. This is a public course, you obviously play really well here, and some of the other public courses you play really well. Is that a coincidence? Do you play well at these types of places? Do you feel at home? It's an odd question, but you grew up and cut your teeth on them.

TIGER WOODS: I certainly did not grow up on a country club, that's for sure. Yeah, public courses is where it was at. I grew up on a par-3 course, just with -- the longest hole was 150 yards I believe it was. Granted, I couldn't get there -- I used to hit driver, 7-iron when I first started playing it. That's what we did. The great thing with playing Southern Cal junior golf is you got a chance to play country clubs every now and then, and it was like the coolest thing in the world. Oh, my God, the greens are great here, that kind of thing.
I don't know, that's a good question.

Q. What was the par-3 course?

TIGER WOODS: Hartwell. It's in Long Beach.

Back to the sensitive subject at hand...

 Q. Do you see any difference in the tournament from last year to this year with the tournament having BMW as a sponsor?

TIGER WOODS: Well, the crowds haven't really come out this year so far. The atmosphere hasn't been quite the same. Granted, we moved the tee times up yesterday and then the bad weather today, so it's been kind of a double dip against the tournament. But hopefully this weekend people will come out and we'll get some great weather, and hopefully we can play some good golf and get everyone fired up.

Norman Begins Brand Rebuiding By Sitting With Chrissy Even Though He Really Doesn't Like Tennis

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1786736.jpgHave you seen those shots of the Shark sitting with Chris Evert at the U.S. Open, looking like he's just been told that video of his hemorroid surgery is going to be posted on YouTube?

Of course, it looks like he's about to write a really big check judging by the smirk on his ex-wife's attorney (left).

From the Palm Beach Post:

As a Stuart judge declared the marriage all but dissolved and gave back Laura Norman her maiden name of Andrassy, the 58-year-old left the courthouse in tears hidden by thick, rhinestoned Chanel sunglasses.

"I don't know how they all sleep at night," she sobbed, referring to Norman and his attorneys. "I just don't know."

Seconds later, it was Norman's turn to leave the courthouse. The Great White Shark smiled.

"I'm happy," he said, impeccable in a dark suit and light-blue tie that matched his eyes. "Justice was served."

The two-time British Open winner, 52, then talked enthusiastically of his future, in which he could see himself settle quickly with another woman and repair the damage that the divorce did to his image.

Norman took umbrage with a recent Page Two report on court documents that showed Laura tried to buy lunch in Manhattan last month - and found her credit cards canceled by Greg's people.

"There were some things said during this process that weren't true," said Norman, who's romantically linked to former tennis superstar Chris Evert. "I never cut off her credit cards. Some damage was done with sensational headlines. I got questions from people. There's always two sides to a story."