Founders Cup Roundup, Japan Wins And The LPGA Still Needs To Play For Real Money

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Randall Mell wraps up the charitable contributions of the top 10 finishers in the Founders Cup and with several players adding Japan relief funds as a nice touch, it's hard to knock the event. Then again, something about it still just lacked the legitimacy that this week's KIA Classic will carry with a real purse and a great field.
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Wagering On Golf Up; Suckers Still Liking Tiger At 7-1

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Did I say suckers? I meant the wise American public.

John Strege says the Las Vegas Hilton folks expect to surpass last year's Masters wagering, even with Tiger and Phil struggling. Or maybe because of Tiger and Phil are struggling says the Hilton's Jeff Sherman.

"Tiger's right up there with most tickets written compared with other players. But we had most of our money taken [when he was] at 4 or 5 to 1. At the same time, with his odds being higher, Nick Watney at 15 to 1, Dustin Johnson at 20 to 1, all these guys in the 15 to 20 to 1 range, a lot of people are taking a lot of chances on these guys.

"The most popular golfers right now, ticket-wise, are Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar. There are a lot of golfers with a lot of tickets on them. [Tiger's slump] has really spread it out."

What happens should Woods handily win the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week? Or should he miss the cut?

"Based on that scenario [winning handily], I could see him going down to 9 to 2," Sherman said. "If he misses the cut, the odds could hit 10 to 1."

Why haven't the odds moved to 10-1 already?

Tour Considering Dreadful Q-School Change And Other Assorted Iffy Ideas To Help Find A Sponsor For The Nationwide Tour

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Details are sketchy in a short item filed by Doug Ferguson, so I'll leave my wreckless early speculation to the headline. But these ideas smack of desperation in trying to find a sponsor for the about-to-become sponsorless minor leagues of golf (Nationwide deal expires after 2012), and not born out of a sound thinking:
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Tucson Getting At Least One More Match Play

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For Some's Immediate Displeasure...

World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship will return to Tucson area in 2012

Gerald Goodman named executive director of event at The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain

 MARANA, Ariz. – The PGA TOUR, on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, and Accenture have announced that the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship will again be played at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz., in 2012.  The event, which is the first of four World Golf Championships of the season, has been played in the Tucson area since 2007 and at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain since 2009. The 2012 Accenture Match Play Championship is scheduled for February 20-26.

“We’re pleased to announce the extension of our partnership with The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain for the 2012 Accenture Match Play Championship,” said David Pillsbury, Executive Vice President, Championship Management.  “The community of Tucson has supported professional golf for decades, and we’ve enjoyed five years of exciting, match-play golf since the Accenture Match Play Championship moved to Marana in 2007.  I’d like to thank Accenture for its continued support as title sponsor of the event and as Umbrella Sponsor of the World Golf Championships.  I’d also like to recognize and thank David Mehl, owner and developer of The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, for his partnership.  We look forward to another successful Accenture Match Play Championship in 2012 when Luke Donald returns to defend his title.”

“Accenture is pleased to return to Marana, Arizona and The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club with the Accenture Match Play Championship in 2012,” said Roxanne Taylor, Accenture Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. “We look forward to again working with The Ritz-Carlton, the Tucson Conquistadores, the International Federation of PGA Tours and the hundreds of event volunteers to make the 2012 tournament the best yet for the thousands of spectators who attend the tournament and for those who watch it on television broadcasts around the world.”

Enough 2012 references for you?

A one-year extension suggests there is still a desire to go elsewhere when the new television contract begins. But where?

"17 was a 5-iron. I think we had 220 hole"

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America was treated to yet another self-indulgent American youngster, this time the tedious Webb Simpson contending at the Transitions Championship before eventually...really, eventually...losing by one to Gary Woodland. I've seen Simpson's slow play schtick before so it came as no surprise watching him take his sweet old time around Innisbrook, but it was still fun to read the Twittersphere erupting over his antics. Unfortunately he was not asked about his rudeness after the round.
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"A notice in Monday’s sports section would do more to speed up the circuit’s habitual snails than a private fine, and it would show the Tour is dedicated to stopping slow play."

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Although Tim Finchem made a decent case for why the PGA Tour doesn't need the penalty/fine/suspension transparency found in other sports, Rex Hoggard points out the most glaring weakness of the Commissioner's argument.

That other sports embrace transparency over secrecy seems of little interest to Finchem.

“We are in a little different situation; that if a fight breaks out in the NBA between a couple of players and some fans, the commissioner pretty much needs to say, this is what I did to protect that from not happening again.”

But then if the Tour’s rules, like all laws, are aimed at prevention, then what harm would come from, say, publishing the complete list of “slow play” fines? A notice in Monday’s sports section would do more to speed up the circuit’s habitual snails than a private fine, and it would show the Tour is dedicated to stopping slow play.

"A 'dog sandwich.' Only in the British Isles."

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Great blog item by Alistair Tait on yet another major divide between golf in the U.K. and the bastardized version we play here: hounds.

The Sunningdale Foursomes is a unique event in British golf since it features tour pros, club pros, elite amateurs and ordinary club amateurs with a handicap of three or better. Men and women can compete.

Dogs, too, are welcome at Sunningdale, even encouraged. My dog Izzy felt very welcome during her visit to this year’s Sunningdale Foursomes, but then my dog feels welcome at many British golf courses.

Dogs are almost de rigueur at traditional clubs like Sunningdale, The Berkshire, Swinley Forest and many others. Ryder Cup player Paul McGinley felt slightly disconcerted during qualifying for the Open Championship at Sunningdale a few years ago. McGinley is a member of the club and felt out of sync because he had to play the 36 holes without his dog. The Irishman couldn’t remember the last time he’d played Sunningdale without his faithful hound in tow.

That's McGinley and his friend pictured above.