"It might well have been the firmest course in championship history, certainly American championship history."
/Tony Dear follows up with Chambers Bay superintendent David Wienecke on the setup and conditions.
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
“In a lot of ways, I think President Obama could help with the perception of golf."
/I kept waiting for the PGA Tour's finest to whiff when answering Bill Pennington's questions about Barack Obama's love of golf. Miraculously, they sounded sincerely happy that the President is an avid golfer.
Read More"We don't seem to be headed the way of men's tennis, as an example, or perhaps the LPGA Tour where, on the leader boards, you are sometimes lacking in American presence."
/John Paul Newport landed a lengthy sit down with Commissioner Tim Finchem and lived to write about it. Considering it was the WSJ, I figured we'd get at least one nice bit of jargon, but instead we just got a nice jab at the LPGA. Or at least, a jab in Finchemspeak, which is merely a long, tortured sentence.
Read MoreSomeone Get Padraig A European Tour Pocket Schedule, Please
/Even though he's only played twice in European Tour sanctioned non-majors this year, and even though he won three majors before deciding his swing needed changing for the worse, Padraig Harrington was selected for the Ryder Cup team over Justin Rose and Paul Casey in part for his devotion to European golf. You can sense it in this quote, after a missed cut at the Deutsche Bank.
Read More"It's starting to be a trend."
/Doug Ferguson on Chad Campbell's DQ for not registering at the Deutsche Bank. I have no real feelings either way about this, unlike his last screw up.
Read MoreNationwide Tour In Search Of A Sponsor...
/They've been the tour's umbrella sponsor since 2003, but as Jason Sobel notes, their move to the Memorial is just one of many dominoes expected to fall.
"I know the Rules of Golf. What [Ahn] did was not right.
/Ryan Ballengee finds the mysteriously missing caddie for Shi Hyan Ahn. Tim Hegna tells a very different story than the one peddled by Ahn's agent and LPGA officials.
Read More“Let’s be honest about this, it’s not like he was flushing it with Hank."
/Robert Lusetich talks to Sean Foley who is less than bashful in sharing his views about Tiger's swing. Sit back and prepare for an entertaining read! My highlights:
“This is nothing against Butch (Harmon, who was Woods’ coach at the time) but trying to go back to that would be a huge mistake,” Foley said.
"Talk about fiddling while Rome burns."
/Thanks to reader Rich for Steve Pike's rebuttal to PGA of America President Jim Remy's rosey take on rounds played.
Read More“Any discussion about cheating in the situation that arose last week with players Shi Hyun Ahn and Il Mi Chung is irresponsible."
/
Beth Ann Baldry follows up with Shi Hyun Ahn's agent and gets a strong statement from the LPGA Tour on accusations of cheating by Ahn and Il Mi Chung. Of course, the identity of Ahn's caddie, who started the speculation, remains a mystery. Which really doesn't help clear this up entirely.
You Know It's Bad In Sea Island When They Can't Pay The Polo Bill
/That's like the water bill to those people!
Yes, the heartbreaking news has arrived that Polo Ralph Lifshitz Lauren isn't getting paid by Sea Island. If ever a place personified The Brand, it's Sea Island.
Not anymore!
Deutsche Bank Extends To 2012, Takes On Presenting Sponsor
/Great news for the Boston event and even better news for the tour to retain a vital sponsor that takes on a presenting sponsor in EMC.
Read MoreUh Oh! Tiger "Understands" Calls For Ball Rollback
/Steve Elling reports on today's comments in Boston:
On Thursday, Woods was asked at the Deutsche Bank Championship about his view on the issue, which is being studied by the USGA. The organization has yet to release any findings from its various studies.
“It's just something, the guys are hitting it a long way,” Woods said. “For instance, last week, No. 8 is a par 3 down the hill, playing 207 the last day, and I hit 7 iron. I don't ever hit 7 iron that far. Then I watched Dustin Johnson hit 9 iron.
“It's just, I can understand them wanting to obviously pull the game back a little bit, because the guys are just becoming more athletic. Here I am 6 foot and I'm considered short. Most of the guys now are 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Just like every other sport, it's evolved, become more athletic.
“The guys have speed, and now we're getting some great athletes playing the game.”
Tiger is in a no-win position if he takes a hard stance on the modern distance chase. Though he has made several statements about not minding a change, he has to be careful not to upset Nike and also to appear to be favoring a possible rule change that benefits his ability, which many believe a "spinnier" ball would.
Now factor in that his distance advantage has been passed by, and he has to be even more careful. Still, I like the comments today.
"I’m pretty sure there’s a promissory note behind the mortgage, and the mortgage is just to secure the note."
/A lot is being made of Tiger's mortgage as reported by Jose Lambiet, but buried in the story is a more reasonable explanation.
Read More"A Plan To Help The Tour Raise 'Rabbits'"
/Now just because my column in the current Golf World is about slow play doesn't mean you have to take a pass. I know it's a tired topic, but I'd like to think I bring a fresh take. I'm monetizing the brand. Delivering value to the ShotLink platform. Hear me out!
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