When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
"I was busy polishing this."
/I've been trying to not pay attention to Ian Poulter's Twitter debacles of late, but this one is just too good (thanks reader Sean). Ryan Ballengee lays it all out for you. But let's just say, I miss Captain Azinger.
Read MoreGary Koch Doesn't Quite Declare Chambers Bay Better Than Most
/Dan Hicks asked for his assessment during a lull in Friday's U.S. Amateur telecast and the declaration?
"It's a wonderful match play golf course."
Update on 2010-08-27 20:35 by Geoff
**As compelling as Chambers Bay is to watch, we also should see the conclusion of matches, no?
Shane Bacon takes issue with the Golf Channel's scheduling today, which showed up part of matches but not the conclusions. If The Tennis Channel did that, they'd be out of business in no time!
Okay, so the dilemma on Friday is how do you show both things live? Well, the Amateur is in Washington, so why not just have the quarterfinal matches a little later, and show them live? Trust me, people would much rather watch the butt-end of these matches than the start of them. It is pointless to spend hours watching the U.S. Amateur if you don't get to see what happens over the final three holes. On top of that, they are switching to the Barclays where Phil Mickelson has already completed his round and Tiger Woods only has about six holes left.
Were these matches scheduled to be completed by the end of the telecast window?
Chambers Bay Is Too Green On TV?
/Blaine Newnham writes about some of the match play setup touches at Chambers Bay and also notes this about the course we are seeing on television.
Read MoreGolfers Post The Funniest Things...Carol Mann Facebook Edition**
/
Stephanie Wei posts the public Facebook comments of Carol Mann, LPGA great and World Golf Hall of Fame ambassador who may not be voting for any non-Christian hall entrants anytime soon.
Update on 2010-08-27 17:27 by Geoff
** If you took under 12 hours from the time of Wei's post for Mann to take down her thoughts, cash your tickets.
One Down, Two To Go: Atlanta Athletic Gives Up '13 NCAA's
/Some nights blogging is just so difficult, especially when the emotions take over and you have to read the painful news delivered by Sean Martin that Atlanta Athletic's crammed schedule of major professional and amateur events is one lighter after the 2013 NCAA Men's Championship was wisely yanked will be moved.
Read MoreTiger's 65 Puts Him (Still) Within Four Majors Of Tying Jack's Record!
/I couldn't help but laugh and laugh when I read an ESPN.com-edited version of Doug Ferguson's game story on Tiger's opening 65 at Ridgewood. After getting the opening pleasantries in, someone injected talk of Tiger chasing Jack Nicklaus's major record with the next major looming just seven months away!
Read MoreThe Timing Of The Elin-People Story Feels Odd...
/...because it's ingeniously timed for all involved and a brilliant media play.
A few people wrote in wondering why I and others felt the timing was odd. It's very simple. Everything to this point from Tiger's PR perspective has been terribly handled. This is the first exception. The timing was impeccable for both Tiger and Elin, and it led to his first really genuine sounding comments in some time. It also seems to have helped free up his game?
We'll Know Tiger Has Signed Up With Sean Foley When He Hits Balls Barefoot
/I know, this player-coach flirting can be a bit much, but I think we can zero in on when the Foley-Woods coupling becomes official. Robert Lusetich reports after Tiger's opening 66 at Ridgewood:
Read More"I am 180º opposed to Davis' philosophy to setting the course up 'balls to the walls' for stroke play and then ease way up for match play."
/Ron Balicki notes the watering and shortening of Chambers Bay to make it more palatable for day one of U.S. Amateur match play.
Some 700 yards were shaved off for match play, probably making a few players feel they were once again playing “normal” golf.
“And again, how the commissioner let that slide or get through is ridiculous.”
/Jeff Rude says the tour really needs to come up with a better way to deal with players missing their pro-am tee time, especially in a meaningless vital competition such as the FedExCup.
Read More"Obviously from the manufacturer's side, the reason that they pay us to use equipment and have us play their stuff is because the general public can get the same stuff that we play, for the most part."
/Kevin Streelman seems like a nice enough fellow and he's in a no-win situation getting asked about the USGA's ball testing in Canada. Still, this gives you an idea what you're dealing with in trying to educate a golf professional about the situation.
Read More"The timing of the story feels odd."
/I'm with Steve Elling on this one: People Magazine's piece on Elin Nordegren dropping today stinks, but I'm not sure exactly why. Neither is Elling, but he has his suspicions:
Read MoreMonty Calls Captain's Pick Task "Impossible" When You Set Annoying Parameters Like He Has
/Not that anyone expected him to keep his word about players who showed up at this week's Johnnie Walker event at Gleneagles, but it's the sentiment that counts, Monty!
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