"Saltman's explanation of his initial reaction and subsequent retraction, along with evidence from two fellow professionals, will be at the crux of Tuesday's hearing."

While most like John Huggan are looking ahead to Tuesday's announcement of Jose Maria Olazabal as the next Ryder Cup Captain, Lawrence Donegan reports that it's the day of Elliot Saltman's cheating hearing. Sounds like a he said-he-he said situation.

All have been instructed not to discuss the details of the case but the Observer has established that Saltman faces charges of incorrectly replacing his ball at least five times during the first round of the event in Russia – marking the ball in one position (at "eight o'clock" on its circumference) on the green and replacing in another (at "six o'clock"), marginally closer to the hole.

These alleged infringements were drawn to his attention by his playing partners at the end of the round, after which all three met with Gary Butler, the European Tour rules official in charge that week. After that meeting, Saltman was disqualified. The Scot this week denied any wrongdoing, but in an interview with journalists in Spain last month he indicated that, in the immediate aftermath of the events in Russia, he agreed he had broken the rules. "I accepted what was said at the time because I was in shock at the time and I didn't want to be labelled a cheat. I am sorry now that I didn't stand up for myself,'' he said.

"Why is it OK in one instance to sign for an incorrect score and not in another?"

Alistair Tait reminds us of one other "inconsistency" in the rules of golf that he believes should be remedied after the latest DQ for signing an incorrect card, even though the player did not know it was an incorrect card at the time, nor did his playing partner know that. Because it wasn't!
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"I think the good news about golf is that there isn't a lot of data that suggests that somebody's career peaks at 14 to 16."

I know I should care about the Lexi Thompson controversy but I just can't get excited about her plight. Which consists of only getting a limited number of sponsor exemptions because she's under 18. I do like Commissioner Mike Whan's stance, which isn't very consistent with commissioners in other sports who welcome athletes, no matter how young. Steve Elling on Whan's split decision of sorts.
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Tom Kite Owes Camilo An Apology!

At least, that's one takeaway from Frank Hannigan's excellent "Voices" contribution in this week's Golf World (story not posted) addressing the Camilo Villegas DQ following a viewer-reported violation. It seems that after Paul Azinger infamously improved his stance in a Doral water hazard in 1991, former Commissioner Deane Beman "ordained that one of his field staff would go into the TV production truck at the start of every telecast and monitor play from in front of a monitor."
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"It’s more difficult today, Weiskopf believes, for Woods or any skilled player to separate himself."

Randall Mell talks to Tom Weiskopf about "mystique" and the likelihood that Tiger has lost his after the last year's worth of news. But he also makes an interesting point about technology that in some ways speaks to just how dominant Tiger has been and, as some of us believe, how modern equipment has made his competition better.
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"In the age of blogging, Tweeting and podcasts, wearing microphones shouldn't be a big deal. I think it's worth a try."

According to Sal Johnson in this uniquely conveyed disquisition, SI Golf Plus commissioned a counterpoint My Shot to Justin Rose's view that players should not wear wireless microphones. However, Ted Purdy's piece did not make the magazine and was buried at golf.com, but here it is.
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Just When Dana Garmany Thought He Was Out, Troon Board Pulls Him Back In

Jack Crittenden reports that Troon has re-installed Dana Garmany as CEO after his one year of retirement. This is mostly only of interest to those in the golf course industry, but Garmany is one of the rare breed of CEO types who play do the b-speak game but who also has a big picture view with plenty of interesting things to say. Glad he's back in the game!
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