"The Tour should use golf’s global success to help itself and its events, not stifle growth."

Dottie Pepper says that the PGA Tour needs to rethink their restrictions on foreign players to help struggling events as the television negotiations near.

America’s superstars, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, seem unwilling to add events. Why not make it easier to put on the best show possible? McIlroy, Westwood and Martin Kaymer are eligible for the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions but won’t play. I have seen e-mails indicating that Westwood planned to play the season opener but changed his mind because he felt he needed to save starts for later in the year. A new sponsor on Maui is trying to revive a key event, but it’s handcuffed by an outdated rule. And it’s not just the season opener. Other Tour mainstays are in the same spot: Los Angeles, New Orleans, Phoenix, Greensboro and Tampa will also suffer.  

"Caddies Of Scotland"

There's an interesting looking new film with a few teasers online worth checking out.

After establishing the origin and subsequent history of Caddies of Scotland, the film then takes a spirited romp through the Highlands and Lowlands stopping at many golfing meccas to hear the wit, reverence and irreverence of Scottish Caddies.



Callaway, Ball Speed And A Lamborghini

You know what a sucker I am for entertaining viral product placement videos and this one featuring Stuart Appleby and a Lamborghini is pretty impressive. Of course, I'm more impressed with the car than the golf club, but the branding geniuses don't care about that.

Thanks to reader Kevin who found this over at oobgolf.com.

"I have not given interviews because I've tried to respect the family and their loss."

An unbylined golf.com story reveals many of the more provocative details forthcoming in Alan Shipnuck's story on the untimely passing of Erica Blasberg and the role Dr. Thomas Hess played in her death. 

An aside: it appears the story will not posted online based on the newsstand and iTunes plugs trailing the summary.

**Here is the online link.

The Ramifications of Sunday's Impressive Chevron Rating

The most impressive thing about the Chevron final round 2.7 rating, a smidgen higher than this year's Open Championship: the event was up against the NFL.

The most unfortunate ramification: it underscores the power of Tiger, likely inspiring the PGA Tour to lean on his star power, without digging a little deeper to improve the "product" for the long term benefit of the tour and the game.