Safeway Pulls Out of Popular Phoenix LPGA Event

Bill Huffman reports that one of the tour's more popular events is about to lose its sponsor, and includes some interesting numbers in the story.

Maletis said it takes about $5 million “on the average” to run an LPGA event.

“But that also depends a little bit on the level of participation by the sponsor, so we wouldn’t necessarily need a $5 million commitment in order for a sponsor to get involved with our tournament,” he said.

Last year, a record 151,000-plus fans turned out to watch Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, win the Safeway International. The tournament also raised $1 million for charity with an economic impact on the East Valley estimated at over $21 million.

Bay Hill Photo Caption Fun, Arnold Palmer Sockless Edition

Uh, Marty Hackel, can you send The King some socks? David Walberg took this shot that's up on golf.com. What's Arnold thinking?

 

oobgolf.com Interview

Andrew Brown of the intriguing golf site Oobgolf.com asked me a few questions. And I answered them.

"Our brand equity has solid footing."

Michael Garten is out as the executive director of the WGC Match Play and Greg Hansen explains the factors that led to a change.

A tepid Southern Arizona economy took a bite out of Match Play's second season. Ticket sales were off by about 8,000 from the 2007 inaugural event. That's roughly $1 million in revenue shortfall. In addition, corporate sales didn't match '07 totals. That should have been predictable and unavoidable.

Moreover, the novelty had faded. Many potential ticket buyers were scared off by reports that The Gallery Golf Club's hilly South Course was decidedly not friendly to spectators. Unlike 2007, this year's tournament was not a five-day sellout.

Some first-year sponsors, such as now-defunct First Magnus, which spent about $100,000 as a Match Play booster, didn't return. The six-figure financial involvement of home-building giant KB Home also diminished greatly. And so on.

The irony is that interest in the WGC event has skyrocketed since it moved from La Costa, Calif., where it was staged for seven years, some of them with fewer than 3,000 fans on the course. This year's TV ratings established records for the Golf Channel (the Tiger Woods factor).

"The event really found a new life in the Southern Arizona market," said Garten. "Our brand equity has solid footing. The future is promising."

I'm wondering, who actually decides when you have brand equity? Is it the brand equity fairy? The Grand Master of brand equity?

Maybe He Picked The Wrong Week To Give Up Playing Golf: Feherty Recuperating From Serious Bike Accident

Doug Ferguson reports on David Feherty's most severe biking accident yet, which includes a punctured lung and three broken ribs. Thankfully, he's in good spirits and is planning to return in time for the Masters.

In case you missed it, Feherty has given up drinking and golf for his new passion of cycling. He talks about the drinking part here in this Connell Barrett piece, recently chatted with Jeff Rude about the tendency of motorists to hit cyclists, and was featured in this Cam Cole story talking about his beloved bike.

Now, I don't care if you never pray. This is the time to get down on your knees. Send every good thought you can David's way. He must enjoy a speedy recover in time for the Masters.

Why, you say?

I have two words: Bobby Clampett. 

TPC Las Colinas, Err...Four Seasons Set To Go

After rumors that it would not be ready after lousy weather hampered their turf grow-in, it seems the course formerly known as the TPC Las Colinas is not only ready to host the Byron Nelson, it's been rebranded! 

2008 EDS BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE PLAYED ON REDESIGNED TPC FOUR SEASONS

Irving, TX – The completely redesigned TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas will host the 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship, April 23-27, according to officials from the PGA TOUR, Four Seasons Resort and Club and the Salesmanship Club Charitable Golf of Dallas, the Championship’s sponsor.

After a thorough review of all aspects of the golf course by PGA TOUR, BentleyForbes, Four Seasons, and Salesmanship Club of Dallas, the PGA TOUR is pleased to announce the TPC Four Seasons will host the 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship.

"So many parties have pulled together under challenging weather conditions to get the course ready and make this announcement possible,” said Henry Hughes, Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations for the PGA TOUR. “D.A. Weibring has been the driving force with tremendous support from both BentleyForbes and Four Seasons.  The Salesmanship Club will undoubtedly continue to produce record charity dollars to benefit the less fortunate in Dallas. The PGA TOUR is proud to congratulate all involved in this huge accomplishment."

Immediately following the 2007 EDS Byron Nelson Championship, D.A. Weibring/Golf Resources Group embarked on an $8 million redesign of the TPC Four Seasons.

“In redesigning the course, our goal was to honor the legacy of Byron Nelson,” said Weibring.  “To that end, we created a cleaner, more defined course that incorporates traditional tee, bunker and green elements
throughout.”

Cleaner, more defined. Translation: ugly.

“PGA TOUR players will be faced with more shot options from tee to green, creating additional drama for spectators and TV viewers.  At the same time, for resort guests and Sports Club members, we created a very playable layout for all skill levels,” he said.

Utilizing input from dozens of PGA TOUR players, Weibring and his partner, Steve Wolfard, redesigned every hole on the 76-acre course, including all tees, fairways, and green complexes.  The course is now distinguished by traditional square tee boxes, softer mounding, better sight lines and dramatic white faced bunkers framing the fairway and green complexes. PGA TOUR professionals Harrison Frazar and J.J. Henry served as player consultants on the project.

Bring your sunglasses boys!

“The changes didn’t require us to dramatically lengthen the course.  We added just 200 yards overall,” Weibring said. “Instead, PGA TOUR players will see the biggest impact in the realignment of tee shots and better contouring of bunkers and greens.”

The changes start at a redesigned 20,000 square foot putting and chipping green, designed to meet the exacting standards of PGA TOUR professionals. The course culminates on the beautiful and dramatic 18th hole, highlighted by a series of four lakes with cascading waterfalls and a challenging risk/reward decision by the player.

Not three lakes, but four lakes. Nothing but the best for Las Col...Four Seasons. 

"After I went par, birdie, birdie, I sacked him."

Little-known Tony Carolan leads the Euro Tour's Ballantine's Championship in South Korea after an interesting first day. Trent Baker reports, but here's Carolan's press conference:

Q. Glad to get in?

TONY CAROLAN: Very happy, yeah. Put a new driver and 3-wood in the bag this week, and I was quite happy with my 3-wood. There's a lot of holes out here where I can hit my 3-wood 250 and leave myself a solid 8- or 9-iron to the green.

Got to have to a good start and made a good 2-putt par on the first and hit it close off the two, made a nice birdie from three feet. And the next, I hole it from about ten feet. Didn't birdie the next but three in a row, the first four holes.

Then I got a new caddie. He was jiggling clubs while putting; moving; he had soft spikes on, so he wasn't allowed on the greens. I just told him to go.

After I went par, birdie, birdie, I sacked him. He was just terrible. I'm paying him a USD$160, and he couldn't walk on the greens. I said man, you've got to stay off the greens. The other caddies were doing too much work.

Q. First time you've ever sacked a caddie on the course?

TONY CAROLAN: No. I think it's the second time. The other guy raked a bunker while I was in there after I told him not to. Actually I didn't sack him then, I sacked him the next day.

Q. So you've never sacked someone during a round?

TONY CAROLAN: I don't think so but I think I've been sacked by a caddie, though!

Hmmmm....

Q. What's your background?

Translation: who the hell are you?

TONY CAROLAN: Played in the mid 90s early onwards on the Asian Tour, and then I went to Canada and played on and off there for six years, one year where I played Challenge Tour, had conditional status in 2000. Then had some injuries, and in 2004, I got a full exempt card on the Nationwide Tour and was exempt and played the whole year with a torn cartilage. The physios out there had no clue, they just kept saying, you've got to stretch more, you've got to stretch more. I'm driving 20 hours in a car week-to-week; do you think I'm just getting out of the car and going to bed, of course I'm in the stretching after long drives. So I had pretty much 2005 off. I didn't do much, played some Pro-Ams.
End of 2005 I went to Asian Q-School, so I had the whole year off and went to Q-School, got my card. That was when the caddie raked the bunker. I got a two-stroke penalty and went from 13th to 31st at the Q-School, cost me a category and stats in all the big events. So I had to really work to get exempt and finished 34th last year.

This year, I think I'm about 20th an the Asian Tour Money List. I've played every week, first week at Emaar, withdrew after 15 holes, sick as a dog, and then I think I was 19th at Jakarta and then 14th at the SAIL Open, so I was a little disappointed with that. I went into Johnnie Walker and finished 17th, and last week I shot 3-under and missed the cut by a shot. 12 birdies, 3-under to miss the cut, I just made too many mistakes. Today I made the 6-footers.

And fired a caddy. All in all, just another ho-hum day on the European Tour. 

Azinger Begins His Quest To Drive PGA of America Batty

Serves me right for not paying attention to Steve Elling's piece on Paul Azinger and his sit down with the scribblers last week. Seems the Ryder Cup captain is open to the idea of picking the hottest players, no matter what tour they are playing on.

His approach gave Jim Achenbach and Rex Hoggard something to debate. Achenbach got a good chuckle out of Azinger's remarks while Hoggard likes the Captain's open mind.

The Latest Labbance Books

I just caught a glimpse of Bob Labbance's new books and both look excellent. The impressive biography and history of architect Wayne Stiles' career is now available through the Stiles Society, while his look at Harry Vardon's historic 1900 tour of America has been published by Ann Arbor Media Group and is available through Amazon.com.

Now We Know Why The USGA Is Accumulating A War Chest...

Golf World's dynamic duo of Mike Stachura and E. Michael Johnson reveal that the USGA has notified manufacturers of a new random driver testing program.

This isn't going to be cheap:

The protocol has the USGA obtaining eight samples from golf retail shops of its choosing. Those drivers will be measured on the pendulum tester located at the USGA Test Center.

The USGA said all drivers appearing on the USGA's List of Conforming Driver Heads are subject to the check testing program with the frequency of sampling to be determined by the USGA, depending on the results obtained. This could potentially be an arduous, time-consuming and expensive task as that list is currently 380 pages long with an average of about nine driver heads per page -- that's well over 3,000 driver heads.

Yeah and at $3-600 a head...ouch!

And if they find the drivers are exceeding the limit...

it will set off a series of events that includes a notice to the manufacturer. At that point, the manufacturer will have a "reasonable amount of time" to review the findings and discuss them with the USGA. At that point the club will be removed from the conforming list unless the manufacturer "provides information to the USGA which warrants additional consideration by the USGA."

Once a club is placed on the non-conforming list, the manufacturer may submit a conforming version of the club, with some form of permanent identifying markings distinguishing this version from the non-conforming version.

Daly Reacts To DQ, Butch, Gruden

GolfChannel.com has the exclusive and he actually comes off sounding pretty good with his answers.

"As for whether I'll play, it's going to depend on my schedule."

In Thomas Bonk's note on George Lopez getting bumped from the Hope Classic marquee in favor of Arnold Palmer, you have to love the humor-free and decidedly Tiger-like semantics from Lopez:

"My intentions have always been about what's best for the tournament. Arnold Palmer, he's an icon of golf; who doesn't respect him? I wish the tournament all the luck in the world.

"As for whether I'll play, it's going to depend on my schedule."

Ironic that the tournament is bringing in Palmer to liven things up, when it's all of the Palmer-designed courses that have killed the event.

Update on 2008-03-13 16:46 by Geoff

Steve Elling follows up with a quote from longtime Palmer aid Doc Giffen:

"If it happens, it's a one-shot deal," Giffin said of the Hope.

Too bad the same can't be said for The Classic Club! 

"Should the USGA ever consider a limit on lofts..."

In the current Golf World, E. Michael Johnson writes that nearly 80 percent of the field at the Pods Championship carried a 60-degree wedge and that only Mathew Goggin and Rocco Mediate had a 56-degree as their highest-lofted wedge.

And he writes:

Still, though some players on the PGA Tour are using wedges as lofty as 64 degrees (including Peter Lonard and D.J. Trahan at the PODS), not everyone is drawn to higher lofts. On the LPGA Tour, for example, only 36 percent of players at the HSBC Champions had a 60-degree wedge, while 18 percent percent had a 56-degree as their highest-lofted wedge, including Lorena Ochoa and Se Ri Pak.

Should the USGA ever consider a limit on lofts, players such as Ochoa and Pak will have a head start -- and those with 60-degree wedges will have to learn a bunch of new shots.

During my work on a couple of recent stories, several players mentioned the outlawing of the 60 degree wedge. Now, it's one thing to at least argue about grooves and their impact, but how can loft ever be something that is banned?  If someone wants to use a 70 degree wedge or a 5 degree driver, why wouldn't they be allowed to do that?

I don't sense the USGA and R&A are considering it, but just the idea of it always amazes me. Thoughts? 

"East Lake was just slow. These are not just slow."

Considering Tiger's sensitivity to what he deems to be iffy greens (Pebble Beach, Riviera) and their effect on his putting stroke, you can sense his enthusiasm for Bay Hill's diseased putting surfaces:

Q. How was the course out there today?
TIGER WOODS: Well, the fairways and the tee boxes are in great shape.

Q. So talk about the greens.
TIGER WOODS: Well, they are not very good. It's going to be an interesting week on them. You're going to see a lot of guys hit good putts and they are going to go weird ways, unfortunately.

But, hey, we've all got to deal with it, we've all got to putt on them and you just have to accept hitting good putts and they may not go in but hopefully we hit enough good ones where they do go in.

And...

Q. Does this venue present as big a challenge for you as any one you're playing in the next couple of months?
TIGER WOODS: Definitely. Definitely. Especially with what we have to putt on this week. It will be quite a test.

Q. Worse than East Lake?
TIGER WOODS: East Lake was just slow. These are not just slow.

PGA Tour Joins Facebook!

It's great to see the PGA Tour trying to tap a younger audience since they typically resist such pandering (see Ty, I listen!).

Yet the gang in Ponte Vedra couldn't resist opening themselves up to the privacy-violating social network du jour, Facebook. And you can just see the kids swooning with an opening page self-explanation like this:

The mission of the PGA TOUR is to expand domestically and internationally to substantially increase player financial benefits while maintaining its commitment to the integrity of the game. In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, PGA TOUR events also generate revenue for charitable causes in their communities.

That ought to have the friend requests coming in drives.

But you have to love the discreet use of Tiger's image on their homepage: