Greg And Chrissy Ramp Up Pre-Masters Publicity Tour By Insisting It Was All Laura's Fault

Gosh, this is going to be so fun. Golf.com's Michael Walker reports on the dream couples' Australian TV show interview.

The real "Wow!" moment of the interview came when Norman described what it's like to write a check for $100 million, the amount of Andrassy's divorce settlement. "It's good to know you have it," Norman said. "It's the price you pay for freedom."

Evert strikes back too, saying that Andrassy's accusations are untrue and "come from a place of pain." She then suggests that Andrassy "get a job."

Chrissy is such a sweetheart!

Chris Wightman, We Hardly Knew Ye

Is it too late to bring Marty back? And Golf Journal? Sorry, dreaming again...

USGA MUSEUM DIRECTOR RAND JERRIS EXPANDS RESPONSIBILITIES

Far Hills, N.J. (March 4) – The United States Golf Association announced today that as part of an organizational consolidation, USGA Museum Director Rand Jerris’ responsibilities have been expanded to include leadership of its Communications Department, reporting to USGA Chief Business Officer Peter Bevacqua.

“This is a natural extension of Rand’s abilities and leadership skills,” said Bevacqua. “With 21 years of experience within the Association, he is intimately familiar with the core functions of the USGA. We are pleased to be able to rely on his expertise to guide our communications efforts.”

Jerris joined the USGA part-time in 1988, became the Association’s first Librarian/Historian in 1999 and was appointed Museum Director in 2002. He recently oversaw the development of the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, which opened in June 2008.

Jerris completed his doctorate in art and archaeology at Princeton University and received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Williams College.

As a result of this consolidation, Managing Director of Communications Chris Wightman will be leaving the Association to pursue other interests.

Here was the glowing, and I mean glowing release with quotes praising the hire in December, 2007.

Jerris knows golf and does not speak in MBAisms, so this would seem to be an indication--in spite of what the original press release says--that David Fay is taking back the reins of the organization after the Walter Driver years left him with less influence.

Phil And Bubba In The Onion

Somehow I don't think that Phil Mickelson will want to take this idea to Golf Digest for an instructional piece. And frankly, us readers would agree.

"Your central nervous system enjoys change"

David Dusek talks to Geoff Ogilvy about changing putters, just as Bobby Jones suggests in today's quote (above...until I take it down). And you thought some of us Geoff's who would like to see a minor distance rollback aren't also passionate advocates of consumerism?

"Your central nervous system enjoys change," he told me. "The new putter theory is not BS, that's a fact and it works for everyone. So sometimes if my putting feels a bit flat, I'll change putters, but it's not like I'm completely changing putters. I just want to look at something new, something fresh. People might think you are just trying to escape all the bad karma in your other putter, but your brain likes change and it gets you excited about putting again." 

"Membership Without Privileges"

Thanks to reader Scott for catching Dave Andrews' nice bit of reporting on some Duramed Futures Tour players having almost no LPGA Tour status, despite tour press releases to the contrary.

"Modern equipment has played a large part in this rush of young blood."

While Ron Sirak attributes the emergence of teens Rory, Ryo and Danny to Tiger, John Huggan says their success at a young age may be thanks to equipment changes.

Such a phenomenon is relatively new in men's professional golf, certainly in terms of so many new and unshaven faces arriving at once. Where the women's game has long seen wee lassies in their mid-to-late teens capable of contending in the biggest events, it has traditionally taken longer for physically less mature laddies to achieve similar heights.

And...

So it is that, where the separation between good and great used to have much to do with the aesthetically pleasing art form that was shot-making, today the game is more about raw power. Very early – much earlier than before – young players armed with the requisite talent and nerve to survive with the very best begin playing basically the same muscle-bound game favoured by their supposed superiors. Accompanied by squeals of anger and disappointment from purists everywhere, draw, fade and feather have been replaced by crash, bang and wallop.

Which is not to say that there is not a lot of fun to be had from watching this new generation of stars in action. 

True, but will the quality of play ultimately be impacted the way a rush of youth in the NBA has affected play, or is this just a natural progression of the sport?

“Evidence is also mounting that the assets of the estate will be only a fraction of the amount needed to satisfy the anticipated claims against the estate"

Not a huge shock here, but it looks like Stanford Financial has few assets to pay off investors or "Eagles for St. Jude."

Speaking of that program, it appears that primary sponsor Stanford has been erased from the program website already, even though it had been announced at one time. At least, I can't find their logo anywhere. Not counting Vijay's shirt (left).

"Arguments for a 36-hole final dry up pretty quickly -- especially when this option offers the potential of more compelling, star-studded action deeper into the week."

John Maginnes weighs the pros and cons of the WGC match play's 36-hole final and can't find any good reasons to keep playing two rounds for the finale.

His piece appears on the Mothership's own website, so maybe this idea is gaining momentum? (Or, for conspiracy theorists, the decision has been made and the idea was merely started in Ponte Vedra and NBC...either way, Sunday semi's followed by an 18-hole final match would be a wise switch for everyone involved.)