Woods Accident Report Released
/You think the jokes about driving were bad, wait until they get ahold of the police diagram released along with police photos.
Read MoreIn golf construction art and utility meet; both are absolutely vital; one is utterly ruined without the other. GEORGE THOMAS
It’s back!
Twenty years later Tatra Press has kindly allowed me to bring back Grounds For Golf now that golf architecture is of more interest to the masses. A new Introduction looks at what’s driven the interest growth and two new chapters I had a blast adding (plus a few edits to keep things up-to-date).
The Amazon purchase page for the book arriving June 15, 2026.
"Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means."
/A new statement from Tiger:
I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.
So Windy You Can Hit It Backwards!
/If there's any consolation Tiger, you aren't at New South Wales for the Australian Open this week playing in this wind! From the Australian Golfer blog:
Read MoreThe Tiger Voice Mail Released...
/Gawker reports US Weekly paid $150,000 for it. For the amount of damage this will do to Tiger's image, it does make you wonder if he turned down the opportunity to pay for this himself?
From USWeekly.com:
China Planning "Major Crackdown" On Illegal Course Construction
/Trent Baker reports for the Scotsman:
Construction of new courses has been so rapid, widespread and unregulated that Beijing officials can only estimate how many have been built. One guess, appearing in the China Daily newspaper yesterday, put the number at 2,700 by 2015 – up from none before 1984 and more than 500 today.
Stewart Cink Puts Duct Tape On His Wedges!
/In his weekly notes column, Doug Ferguson leads with Stewart Cink offering compelling evidence that he has too much free time on his hands, putting duct tape on his wedges to see how little fun golf can be to see what it's like to play with no spin.
Read MoreQ-School Storylines Aplenty
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Seems like there more great Q-School finals storylines than normal? John Strege lays out his favorite stories and Sean Martin singles out several to follow.
"10 Tips Obama Can Take From Tiger"
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From Golf Digest:
In the upcoming January issue of Golf Digest, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde is going straight to the top in the name of improving golf’s image in Washington D.C. That’s why President Obama, along with Tiger Woods, is on the cover:
The message to Congress and the Obama administration? The golf industry accounts for 2 million jobs with a total economic impact of $195 billion annually.
In addition to the cover, the feature article focuses on 10 things Obama could learn from Tiger—and vice versa. Providing the tips is a group of influential writers and players, including Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Brokaw, Mark Whitaker, Don Van Natta Jr. and Steve Rushin. The piece is attached below:
Additional highlights include:
· Golf Digest Survey – “What’s a Reasonable Amount of Golf for President Obama?”: 45.9% of readers said “As much as he can without affecting his work,” compared to only 7.8% who said “Never”
· Fun Fact: Using Golf Digest’s Presidential Rankings, we compared the Dow Jones Industrial Average on both the inauguration and final day in office of our best golfing Presidents. Nine out of the top 10 saw increases in the Dow during their terms.
Chinese Reenactment Of Woods Accident
/Thanks to reader Kyle H for this:
Latest Tiger Clippings, Barkley: "I think he is making a serious mistake."**
/Emily Smith of the New York Post scores an exclusive interview with Rachel Uchitel about the National Equirer story linking her to Tiger Woods in which Uchitel denies the facts as presented in the story. Based on the comments and no mention of Gloria Allred's name, it sounds as if she is not representing Uchitel (I've emailed Allred for comment):
Read MoreFHP Charges Tiger With Careless Driving; Case Closed?
/One thing really leaps out from today's Florida Highway Patrol announcement of Tiger's $164 fine and four point addition to his drivers license record.
Read More"Because of Florida's domestic-violence laws, admitting to the police that Nordegren in any way harmed him would virtually guarantee that the glamorous Elin would be led out of their mansion in handcuffs, even if he protested it."
/Since the first AP alert on Tiger's accident, I've subscribed to the theory that he needs to just say what happened, maybe crack a joke or shed a tear, and move on ala Letterman or Kobe.
However, evidence is mounting that Tiger has been correct in remaining silent, though not for the reason these two more columnists noted today (here and here, thanks reader Tom).
FHP Schedules Press Conference: 3 p.m. EST
/Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Time 3 p.m.
Location Florida Highway Patrol Station, 133 South Semoran Blvd. Orlando, Fl. 32807
SUBJECT: Updated information in the Tiger Woods single vehicle car crash.
Tiger Woods Accident Clippings, Vol. 4
/The good news for Tiger? Most of the written conjecture has shifted from the particulars of the accident to a focus on his handling of the crisis.
The bad news? Most experts and non-experts alike think silence is not the way to go about putting this to rest.
