Battle Of The Blonds: Poulter In New War With Johnny

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Two of the world's great fake blonds have issues again. As Ian Poulter rushed to play 17 and 18 today as any sane golfer would do to grab another few hours of sleep, NBC's Johnny Miller and Gary Koch both expressed mild disdain for Poulter's antics.

Alex Myers has the full report here.

When Poulter later found out that Johnny was questioning his move, the Brit took to Twitter to fire back at Johnny!

Zing!

You may recall these two went at it over Poulter's ball striking and Johnny's putting last year.

TPC Sawgrass Functions To Perfection

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Apparently Players tournament director Mark Russell equated the sand-capped fairways to a screen door during a television appearance and after walking around this afternoon I can say the place drained to perfection. The TPC Sawgrass was reopened in 2007 after a $60 milion renovation that included a new clubhouse, new irrigation system and fairways capped with six inches of sand.
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Turtle Pike Dive, 2011 Players!

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Rory McIlroy Tweeted the NBC turtle dive video from today's Players, hopefully we'll get higher quality version from the PGA Tour. Besides being great fun to watch, it's a nice reminder of what an amazing wildlife course this is. Even with the blue dye in the ponds, it's generally a sign of a healthy golf course and sensitive maintenance practices when you have so many birds, reptiles and other critters around.

Seve's Brother Makes Plea For Spain To Get '18 Ryder Cup

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The Telegraph's Ian Chadband reports that the Ballesteros family would like the European Ryder Cup committee to select Madrid next Tuesday when they announce the winner of the 2018 Ryder Cup bidding.

The golfer’s brothers Manuel, Vicente and Baldomero and sons, Javier and Miguel, want the European Tour’s Ryder Cup committee to choose Spain’s capital city over rival bids from France, Germany, Portugal and Holland when they meet at Wentworth on Tuesday.

A tearful Baldomero invoked the legend of El Cid, the 11th century nobleman who, having been strapped to his warhorse following his death in battle and placed at the front of his troops, was supposed to have inspired them to one final victory.

He said: “I wish that, like El Cid, Seve wins the last battle after his death. It would be the greatest tribute to him.

“I appeal to the sensitivity of the Ryder Cup Committee of the European Tour to agree the greatest honour that could be bestowed on Seve is to award the competition to Spain. I appeal on behalf of the family.

"The bottom line is that we don't really know what is going on with Woods."

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Mike Bianchi's piece on Tiger's WD and leg issues got a lot of attention Friday for suggesting that Tiger's body is breaking down due to no longer having access to Dr. Spaceman. It's a fair question to ask but barring Dr. Spacemen announcing that he used HGH on Tiger, one that we'll never know the answer to.

A better analysis of the situation came from Ron Sirak in a follow up to yesterday's reporting.

The latest injury was announced April 26 in a statement on TigerWoods.com that said he was withdrawing from the Wells Fargo Championship because of a "Grade 1 mild medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain to his left knee and a mild strain to his left Achilles tendon," which Woods said happened hitting a shot out from under the Eisenhower tree during the third round of the Masters.

"There is no minor injury in a 35-year-old person who has already had four operations," said Dr. Ronald Grelsamer, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital. "A highly trained and toned athlete doesn't suffer a debilitating MCL strain and an Achilles strain playing golf. No other golfer in memory has suffered so many lower extremity injuries while golfing."

After Woods withdrew Thursday, many were wondering why he even tried to play if his knee was bothering him that much. He says it's because the Players is an important tournament and because he is trying to prepare for the event he really cares about -- the U.S. Open. There is certainly disagreement among those who follow the game for a living on whether Woods' poor play has more to do with swing issues, knee issues or desire issues. Strong arguments can be made for all three.

L.A. Open Presented By Northern Trust To Continue Through 2016

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Nothing says big news like a Friday afternoon For Immediate Release...

Northern Trust extends sponsorship of Northern Trust Open 
New agreement carries Northern Trust Open through 2016

CHICAGO and PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR and Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) today announced a four-year sponsorship extension for the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles through 2016. Northern Trust’s original five-year agreement expires after the 2012 tournament.

That Nasdaq symbol helped. Much appreciated, even though we all had it memorized.

"When Northern Trust first came on board as title sponsor in 2008, its executive team clearly was committed to invigorating this historic tournament and reestablishing its profile as a premier event," said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. "Over the past four years, we have seen tremendous strides and a renewed energy surrounding the Northern Trust Open,

Renewed energy!

particularly with the addition and leadership of Jerry West as Executive Director. With today’s announcement of Northern Trust’s four-year extension, the tournament undoubtedly is going to continue to grow and have a positive influence on the Los Angeles area."

While the charitable impact of the 2011 tournament has yet to be announced, last year’s Northern Trust Open generated nearly $1.5 million. Since Northern Trust’s title sponsorship began, the tournament has raised more than $5 million.

"We are proud to renew our commitment to the Northern Trust Open," said Northern Trust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederick H. Waddell. "This is a terrific event that attracts the world’s best professional golfers while supporting our business goals. The Northern Trust Open provides a premiere event for clients, improves brand awareness, and helps the community by generating substantial charitable donations and economic activity."

Yes, for The Golf Channel.

A study commissioned last year by the PGA TOUR with Beacon Economics showed the Northern Trust Open is responsible for an economic impact of more than $21 million on Los Angeles County. The impact includes the equivalent of 201 full-time jobs for a year created by the event, with earnings of approximately $7.4 million and local tax revenues of $350,000.

And now for Jerry West's quote, in the voice of David Pillsbury.

"Northern Trust is an engaged, committed, passionate title sponsor, and the organization’s leadership has helped reestablish the tournament as a major sporting event in Los Angeles," said Jerry West, Northern Trust Open executive director. "Northern Trust's continued commitment will help the tournament continue to grow and make a bigger difference in the lives of our neighbors in need."

"The idea that we would pressure him to play is ludicrous."

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It's not really newsworthy that Tim Finchem went on CNBC this morning to talk business and golf, but that he was asked about the suggestion that the tour encouraged/pressured Tiger to show up. Finchem was apparently not pleased that the insinuation that was made on CNBC sister network Golf Channel Thursday, so miracle of all miracles, the Commissioner was asked about it off the top of the interview:

It's always important for Tiger to be part of the tour, because he's Tiger Woods. But the idea that we would pressure him to play is ludicrous. We don't pressure any player to play the tournament. In this case the suggestion is somehow he was hurt and we got him to play anyway. Tiger doesn't enter a tournament unless he thinks he can win. I was on the range with him tuesday, I watched him hit balls. He practiced that day, he practiced wednesday hard. And he tweaked it yesterday. So, nonissue.

Thanks to reader Jim for the video tip...

The USGA And Polara Backstory

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There is a USGA-Polara history related to the straight-flying ball that the New York Times featured on Page One earlier this week.

John Strege reminds us:

Of course the ball does not conform to USGA rules, which stipulate that "the ball must not be designed, manufactured or intentionally modified to have properties which differ from those of a spherically symmetrical ball." The symmetry rule was added in 1981 in direct response to the original Polara, which was introduced in 1977 and eventually ruled by the USGA to be illegal for tournament play. The company sued the USGA, which eventually agreed to pay a settlement of $1.4 million.

Phil's Least Favorite Architect List: Dye With A Bullet!

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Good news Rees, Phil's over you now that he's seen Pete's 13th green in a new light. Dave Shedloski explains what happened Thursday at The Players and shares this quote from Mickelson after a double bogey derailed a good round.

"I don't know what to say. I don't know if it's the set-up or the design, but I just don't agree with that," Mickelson said after a one-under 71 left him seven behind leader Nick Watney after the first round. "I thought the question was would it stay up on top and be by the hole or was it going to roll down in the low area? I didn't know it could possibly go in the water. I think when I design golf courses, I try not to screw the player like that. I try to keep it a little bit fair. I don't know what I could have done differently."