"Ridiculous"

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I'm still trying to understand Paul Lawrie's eight-putt and whether it was induced by a faulty hole location at Celtic Manor (thanks reader Brian for this).

A sixth birdie of the day was his hope at that point, but after splashing out 20 yards past the flag his first putt rolled off into a hollow.

He needed three attempts to get back up, then from 20 feet beyond the cup he putted back down the slope and took three more from there.

"Ridiculous," he said after signing for a 74 and making plans to fly home to Aberdeen. Asked if the blame lay with him or the pin placing the 41-year-old replied: "Bit of both.

"I hit the first putt about a foot out. When you do that from 60 feet and you end up where I was then that's a bit silly."

John Wooden, R.I.P.

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He didn't play much golf later in his life, but as we learned last year Coach Wooden accomplished an incredibly rare feat during his Indiana golfing days.

Cliff Schrock interviewed the Coach for the April, 2010 Golf Digest. And I can attest to his fascination with the game, as he always asked about my game and I know from one chat that he was particularly fascinated by Tiger Woods.

The lengthy L.A. Times obituary by Bill Dwyre and David Wharton is here.**

**This was the only way to read the remarkable piece of work by Dwyre and Wharton for many LA Times subscribers since Wooden passed away at 6:30 p.m., past the printing deadline for the Times, which has to make room on its own presses for the Saturday Wall Street Journal printing.

"He knew when to quit."

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I'm not really sure where to begin with the goldmine of material Brett Avery has pieced together for a Jack Nicklaus oral history in this week's Golf World, but I have to say that the below quote caught my eye. It may provide us with a little bit of context in better understanding why Nicklaus may be sincere in his stance of not returning to St. Andrews for this year's Champions exhibition.
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It was time to bring some life and fun back into golf."

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WSJ's Suzanne Vranica reports on EA's new "lighthearted" Tiger Woods ad.

"It was time to bring some life and fun back into golf," says Peter Moore, president of EA Sports. "It's been a tough six months in the business of golf and with what went on with Tiger...it is time to lighten up."

Mr. Woods hasn't had much to smile about of late. In May, he withdrew from the Players Championship in the final round because of a neck injury. He is expected to return to competition at the Memorial Tournament, which starts Thursday.

The EA ads were shot on May 11 in Orlando, Fla., marking Mr. Woods's second campaign since his image and golf career were upended by marital infidelities.

May 11th eh? Two days after the Players WD? Wasn't the facet joint still inflamed?



Monty: Enter The Tournament I'm Chair Of, Assuming You Want To Be A Captain's Pick

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Derek Lawrenson on Monty telling Europe's leading players that if they skip final qualifying spot at Gleneagles in August--which conflicts with the first FedEx Cup playoff event--they risk missing out on the Ryder Cup should they not make the team on points.

‘I’ll be very surprised if I pick any player on the border of the team whom I ask to play at Gleneagles and they don’t show up,’ he said. ‘I expect there will be about eight
 candidates for my three wild cards and it should be a given that they turn up at the final event.’

A fascinating battle of wills, therefore, between the captain and some of those who have served Europe so well at past Ryder Cups. It will be interesting to see who blinks first.

Garcia, for example, was shocked when he learned of the clash between the FedEx Cup and the last qualifying event, the Johnnie Walker Championship.

‘Why have they done that?’ asked the Spaniard, who didn’t even turn up at the European Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth last month. ‘The Ryder Cup is very important but you can’t change your whole schedule for it.’

There's just one glaring conflict of interest issue here and I know you'll be shocked....shocked, to learn that it involves Captain Monty!

Monty, who also happens to be tournament host at that event at Gleneagles, was furious when Nick Faldo, captain last time, picked two wild cards who took up the FedEx Cup option: Casey and Ian Poulter.

And the reactions? Alistair Tait in Golfweek:

The man gives the impression that he is in complete control. Yet underneath, it’s hard not to leave one of his news conferences with the impression he’s making things up as he goes along.

Peter Dixon says Monty tried to backtrack, but not really.

When pushed, however, Montgomerie was forced to backtrack. “OK, no, it’s not cast in stone. I cannot tell people to be playing in particular tournaments,” he said. “I can only ask. But I would be very surprised if I ask those particular players that are on the border [and] they are not there.”

And it seems that this will be the case, at least for Sergio. Mark Reason writes:

“I, you, the audience can’t envisage a Ryder Cup without Sergio. He’s a different case. I will be asking him to participate at Gleneagles to make the effort that’s required to be on the team.

“He’s the one guy that’s brought passion to the Ryder Cup after Seve. Seve’s the most passionate player I’ve seen play golf. Sergio is of that ilk. He’s been a great asset to any team I’ve been on with him.”

To call Garcia a different case is asking for trouble. Monty might think in private that Garcia is a different case and there are many who would agree with Europe’s Ryder Cup captain. But it is ill-advised to say so in public.