"Arnold Palmer wrestled with Cherry Hills for three rounds and then strangled it"

/

Bill Fields files a must read feature on the late great Bob Drum for Golf World's Backspin issue. Naturally, I loved this story of a lede gone lost, all in the name of front page conformity:

Motivated to prove Drum wrong, Palmer drove the 346-yard par-4 first hole that had flummoxed him for three rounds and two-putted for an easy birdie. He birdied six of the first seven holes and shot 65 to emerge the winner.

"Drum came up with a real snappy lead, something like 'Arnold Palmer wrestled with Cherry Hills for three rounds and then strangled it,' " remembers Giffin, forced to tinker with the beginning of Drum's story after an editor decided it needed a few more facts if it was going to run on the paper's front page. Moreover, on the biggest story Drum would ever write about Palmer, his byline was inadvertently left off.

DENVER, June 18 --Arnold Palmer, who had wrestled with the Cherry Hills golf course for three rounds, caught it in a stranglehold on the final 18 today and pulled off one of the most unbelievable victories in National Open history.

Drum soon made an important point.

The sensational victory moved him over the second hurdle in his bid for present-day golf's Grand Slam.

There's also a nice web exclusive video worth watching...

 

 

IM'ing With The Commissioners, 2010 Edition

/

(click on image to enlarge)When Carolyn Bivens stepped down as LPGA Commish, many of you so kindly lamented the demise of this site's IM'ing With The Commissioners, gulp, franchise.

But I'm happy to report that my NSA sources have been able to share this exchange between the PGA Tour's commissioners, Tim Finchem and Tiger Woods. Click on the image to enlarge.

“All (the changes) are for the better.”

/
In my limited viewing of round one from Bay Hill, I have to say the course looks way better, What a joy it is not to see the crop of rough that Arnie annually harvested. And even better, replaced by short grass and firm greens. Maybe he got the message after Mickelson sat it out the last few years (that's his compliment above), or when players like Ogilvy and Poulter (an Orlando resident!) are sitting this one out.
Read More

"Quite frankly, one of the things I think we learned in 2008 and ’09 is to really respect that.”

/

Beth Ann Baldry reports on Mike Whan's first LPGA player meeting. It sounds like the Commish has learned that Plan 2010, or whatever it was the Brand Lady tried to shove down sponsor throats, is best kept on the shelf until times are better.

When Whan was asked how he’d describe the tour these days, he said “re-emerging.” They’re in the business of renewals, and he’s reaching out to all the partners who parted ways in the past several years.

“We’re tied to the business partners we’re with,” he said. “If they’re hurting, we’re hurting. Quite frankly, one of the things I think we learned in 2008 and ’09 is to really respect that.”