A First: Pinehurst Launches Restoration-Centric Website
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For immediate release...
PINEHURST LAUNCHES DEDICATED WEBSITE TO SHOWCASE PINEHURST NO. 2 RESTORATION
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
"Admire the monster-vexing skills of professional golfers with today's Groupon"
/I haven't found Groupon to be the next Twitter, but people swear by the daily deal that arrives in their email box. Google is trying to copy the concept and I have to say, I'm encouraged to see the folks running the fan-starved Northern Trust Open for using such a hip method to get more warm bodies out to the tournament.
Read MoreCharity Isn't Always The Heart Of The PGA Tour
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The leaders have a few holes left Monday and no one cares about the Waste Management Open's outcome other than immediate family, friends and some folks who were going to play a Monday pro-am at TPC Scottsdale."A group of Holocaust survivors, mostly in their 80s, are planning to picket the Allianz golf tournament at Broken Sound Monday morning."
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Thanks to Pete Finch for catching and Tweeting this Lona O'Connor story from the Palm Beach Post about Monday's planned picket of the Champions Tour's Allianz event by a group of Holocaust survivors"I don't know why Christina Kim's word was taken more than mine.''
/Martin Blake on Karie Webb's spat with officials Down Under over marking her ball with a tee, something common on the LPGA Tour (apparently) but unbeknownst to Golf Australia's officials who bickered with Webb.
Read More2011 Waste Management Sunday Play Open Thread
/It's the third round, maybe some fourth round and if we're lucky the last day of play. But the way the week has gone and as cold as it is outside, I wouldn't count on a Sunday finish. Even if they do, most of you will be watching the glory that is the Super Bowl. But if you feel compelled to comment on the golf...
2011 USGA Annual Meeting Report
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The dandruff encrusted bluecoat and grey slacks crowd gathered at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort for their annual meeting just miles and seemingly world's away from the roudy Waste Management Open in Scottsdale. The recent scorecard DQ's spiced up the cocktail reception banter, and based on the guarded remarks from the the rules experts, on a practical level it's going to be incredibly fun watching the USGA, R&A and pro tours try to come to a resolution in time for the looming 2012 rule book finalization."Phoenix Open will have odd Monday finish"
/Jim Moriarty explains why the Waste Management Open will play during the Super Bowl and finish with just a few holes left for the leaders on Monday morning. Because the forecast for Monday is good, tour regulations stipulate that shortening to 54 holes, with a traditional Sunday ending prior to the big game, is not an option..
"In a perfect world, we'll probably finish Monday, four or five holes," said Slugger White, the Tour's vice-president of Rules and Competitions and the on-site tournament director. "It's unbelievable how frozen these greens get and they just don't thaw out."
When asked why they wouldn't just conclude the third round Sunday and then play the entire fourth round Monday, White said, "I think everybody would kind of like to get out of here. That's what we're trying to do. Guys trying to get to Pebble or trying to get everywhere. I wouldn't want to burn two hours of daylight or whatever."
You can read all of Slugger's comments here. Note that he mentions having put the 54-hole option on the table before having to obey tour regulations.
Paul Mahoney notes the irony of Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey taking the lead.
I won't go on again as I did last year when I covered this event, but walking around today was just another reminder of what an incredible operation and tournament the Waste Management Open is. Massive crowds despite the cold, and all having so much fun. Sure there are a few drunks, but for the most part the loud-types are out enjoying the golf, placing some fun $1 side wagers and there to be part of what is ultimately a social event. The Waste Management Open really should be the model for all PGA Tour events in terms of energy, volunteer efficiency and fan experience.
Update on 2011-02-05 05:57 by Geoff
Q. So you're not going to make up a lot of money on Monday?
MIKE McQUAID: No, we don't anticipate it. It would be our gift back to the great community and the fans that we have. It's going to be a beautiful weekend, but certainly the week started off frustrating. It would be a free gift from the Thunderbirds and Waste Management to come out and watch the end of the final round.
Q. It's just going to be too cold Sunday morning to get going after 36 possibly?
MIKE McQUAID: Well, I think the issue is it's not so much Sunday morning. We probably may have a frost delay on Sunday morning. It's more tomorrow morning. You would have to really be able to tee off and get the players out first thing tomorrow morning, 7:30-ish, and there's going to be another frost delay, freeze tomorrow, probably an hour or two, so we just can't get enough golf in on Saturday really.
Q. I'm sorry if you already answered this, but was 54 holes an option, shortening the event?
MIKE McQUAID: That was discussed. That's a TOUR decision, and that was discussed, but my understanding is they'd prefer to play 72 holes, let the players, I guess, crown a champion based on 72 holes, which is the right thing to do. Certainly we have heard that they don't do 54-hole tournaments unless they see some type of weather pattern coming in Monday and Tuesday that would hinder the ability to play on Monday or Tuesday.
Golf World Redesign Chatter
/Golf World's Geoff Russell responds to reader complaints about eliminating the scores and stats for more New Yorker style commentary from hacks like me. Any subscribers here care to weigh in?
Forbes: Tiger's Mexico Project Moving Ahead
/Forbes.com's Kurt Badenhausen reports that Tiger's Mexico project is very much on track to start soon and that in a novel concept proving some developers have learned from the economic crisis, it's going to be about the golf first and eventually, the real estate.
Read More"Such heightened sensitivity naturally shows up in the elite player’s toolbox."
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For all of the talk about the average golfer aspirational golfer wanting to play the same equipment as the professional, we always assume the pros are getting stuff that's fine tuned compared to what's on the shelves of Roger Dunn. As Michael Bamberger demonstrates in this look at feel players, with a focus on Bubba Watson, it's not just the manufacturers who can refine equipment to the tightest specs. Elite players demand differently than most of us. Flogton And Saving Golf Through Non-Conforming Equipment
/t's a Friday, there's little news and I'm headed to the USGA Annual Meeting to hear how the bluecoats are progressing on year eight of the ball study. Since I couldn't find any interesting news to post, my time was spent giving the Flogton website a look. These are the Northern California dudes who have enlisted former Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy to promote their concept to make golf more accessible, more fun and younger.
Read MoreIt Must Be The Donald: "Golf Channel Celebrates Best January Ever"
/For Immediate Job-Saving Support In The Wake Of A Corporate Merger...
Golf Channel Celebrates Best January Ever
Randy Wilson: "It's 2011"
/All this serious talk about the state of the game deserves a satirical treatment. Cue, Turfnet's Randy Wilson and friends!
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