Today's Tiger Presser Would Have Been More In Depth And Compelling Via Twitter

 A "no doubt," a "Got to take it one match at a time," but no "it's all right in front of you." Frankly, his Twitter Q&A sessions are more revealing.

Hey, I have an idea. He should pull out his phone and scribes could tweet him questions next time!

As for insights, the only one came in a question. It sounds like someone in the room realizes that the days of visits to the remote Tucson backcountry may be numbered.

Q. Would you like to see it stay here in Arizona?

TIGER WOODS: I think it's a great event here. When we moved from the Gallery to here, it's two neat golf courses, two good match play courses. Some drivable par 4s, some par 5s are reachable. The greens are just enough where they are undulating enough where it presents a little bit of a problem. And you know, on calm days generally the scores are pretty low. When the wind blows out here, right around par, couple under par usually gets a match done.

"The nicest thing is just to get up in the morning -- for example here, to get up in the morning 6:30, 7:00, get on the range and see the sunrise, that is the best moment."

Martin Kaymer today in Tucson:

Q. Prior to Abu Dhabi you were talking about the dynamics of you and Lee and Tiger playing. And you reminded me of that today because you were talking about how you didn't want to see anybody do badly. And you talk -- back then you talked about playing with love in your heart. Can you say more about that in terms of how you play the game in joy and love?

MARTIN KAYMER: Well, I think golf, you know, you should play for the right reason. You should not play golf to make dollars. And, for me, the nicest thing is just to get up in the morning -- for example here, to get up in the morning 6:30, 7:00, get on the range and see the sunrise, that is the best moment. Those things, I think, that is life quality. And for me it doesn't really get better. And to play good golf, all those things play a big part of that.

"From The First Tee To The First Family"

Almost straight from The Onion.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Thanks to rare access to one of America's most prominent families, From The First Tee to the First Family presented by The Dow Chemical Company, a half-hour NBC Sports special airing at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 27, takes a closer look at the Bush family's connection to The First Tee.

Wait, the first family is sponsored by the Dow Chemical Company?

Former President George H.W. Bush has served as honorary chair of The First Tee since its inception. On February 18, it was announced that George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States, will succeed his father and become the new honorary chair. President George H. W. will become honorary chair emeritus.

Since 1997, The First Tee has impacted more than 4.7 million young people at 750 golf courses, in 4,000 elementary schools and on 120 military installations. As The First Tee moves forward, continuing to use the game of golf as the platform, the goal is to see that as many youth as possible are exposed to character education and life skills lessons, giving them the opportunity to grow individually and to become productive members of their communities.

Who aren't playing golf.

From The First Tee to the First Family presented by The Dow Chemical Company showcases personal, uplifting stories of young people who have had life-changing experiences thanks to The First Tee. Viewers will get a closer look at the history of The First Tee, its incredible growth around the world and the personal involvement of President George H.W. Bush in the program over the past 14 years. In addition, this special examines the future of The First Tee with a specific focus on the next decade with George W. Bush's involvement.

Does he have any thoughts on maybe growing the game?

The special was produced by PGA TOUR Entertainment. As "The Official Chemistry Company" of the PGA TOUR, Dow provides significant philanthropic support to The First Tee. Together, Dow and The First Tee are furthering education and building career paths and opportunities for deserving and talented young people of all backgrounds across the nation.

Break out the fog filters, blur those edges, cue the schmaltz and write things like this: "rising together theirs is a song for all to sing, an unfinished symphony, different notes creating perhaps the game's greatest masterpiece."



"I can easily picture a teenager in 2050 measuring greatness both in terms of majors won and FedExCup titles."

Whoa Nellie, the FedEx negotiations must have hit a snag!

According to Yahoo's Jay Busbee, PGA Tour VP Ty Votaw felt compelled to rebut a Michael Arkush column blasting the ridiculous early season FedExCup shilling. And Arkush didn't even mention the offensive electronic scoreboard posting of standings that makes catching a leaderboard about as common as a rare white elk sighting!

Ty writes:

Let me say this loud and clear: I LOVE THE FEDEXCUP.

Caps, but no copyright symbol?

There, I've said it. And the PGA TOUR's "partners" (the television networks) updating us more on the standings this early in the season is no different than NFL announcers talking about whether the Pittsburgh Steelers can still make the playoffs after starting 2-4. Doesn't that provide relevance to the Steelers' season and what they have to do to get to the playoffs?  Same goes for the FedExCup.

There is a difference. People actually care about the NFL playoffs. Millions of people, actually.

At this time last year, I don't know if many people were predicting that Jim Furyk would win the FedExCup.

He's right few were predicting it because no one cares enough to get into the FedExCup predicting business.

But two wins in the spring (Transitions and Heritage) positioned him quite nicely when The TOUR Championship came around.

Was that after the first or second point re-shuffle?

I have no problem with the TOUR trying to promote the FedExCup.

You're paid several hundred thousand dollars to think that, it should be noted.

I know how overwhelming it is to have great fields play four weeks in a row. Five years into this experiment, the FedExCup means more to me now than it did when it first started.

See last snarky cut-in.

Seriously. There is no doubt that greatness in golf, and this is part of the sport's beauty, is measured by how players perform in the major championships. That's why great players and FedExCup winners like Tiger Woods (14 majors, 2 FedExCups), Vijay Singh (3 majors, 1 FedExCup) and Jim Furyk (1 major, 1 FedExCup) have made the season-long competition so compelling. Time will tell, but I can easily picture a teenager in 2050 measuring greatness both in terms of majors won and FedExCup titles.

Your imagination is richer than I thought!

My dream is for Michael Arkush to see that the FedExCup was never intended to be more important than the major championships, but rather be an additional achievement in measuring greatness. Maybe after he reads this column, my dream can come true.

Keep dreaming the dream, Ty!

Synergy Has Its Benefits: Golf Central State Of The Game Edition

State of the Pro Game would have been a better title, but I'll still watch just to see Brandel show who is the only one actually paying attention to "issues."

Golf Central Special: State of the Game Live
Host: Dan Hicks
Panelists: Johnny Miller, Nick Faldo, Roger Maltbie, Brandel Chamblee
Airtime: Friday, 8:30-9:30 p.m.
 
Golf Channel will air a first-of-its-kind television event that will include the biggest names that cover the game – Dan Hicks, Johnny Miller, Roger Maltbie, Nick Faldo and Brandel Chamblee – discussing golf’s biggest issues.  State of the Game Live, a Golf Central special, will be a roundtable discussion of relevant events making news at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship; Tiger Woods; the emergence of European stars and what it means for American golf and the PGA TOUR; and rules – are they too complicated and should players understand them better?

New Rule: If Your Caddy Is Plum-bobbing Your Putts, You're On The Wrong Tour

Kevin Na has his caddy line him up on tee and fairway shots. I can deal with that. But the plumb-bob putt reading does not belong on the PGA Tour.

(click to enlarge at your own risk)

These Guys Are (Slightly) Faster!

Five hours and 17 minutes for the Northern Trust Open final round, breaking Saturday's five hour and 20 minute marathon. The people were heard.