OK, So Maybe Not Every Move Chubby Makes Is So Hot

Simon Goodley of The Observer reveals that the agent for the last three major winners--the Animal Killer, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke--may have been shedding more than tears of joy after their wins. Thanks to reader Stuart and others for sending this story on Chubby Chandler's costly move in July, 2010.

Companies House documents reveal that on 14 July 2010 Chandler sold most of ISM Group – the holding company of ISM. Just one day later, Louis Oosthuizen strode out for the Open at St Andrews and teed off an incredible run for Chubby's boys: within 72 holes the South African had become the first player in ISM's stable to win a major in 20 years of trying, just as Chandler had relinquished control of 75% of a business that was about to see its prospects transformed.

Chandler admitted: "I don't live my life [regretting things]. I'm not a person that looks backwards. Maybe this run started because of that [deal]. If I lived my life wondering what would have happened and about 'what ifs' then I wouldn't get very far. The life I lead is very much a precarious one. There's nothing to say that five of these guys won't lose form. You tend to look forward not back. I'm not very grown up about a lot of things, but I'm very grown up about that."

According to Oliver Hunt, a partner at sports law firm Onside Law, ISM's run of winners could have been worth at least an extra £1.4m to ISM.

2011 WGC Bridgestone Final Round Open Comment Thread

I'm going to miss this one, which based on the leaderboard with Scott ahead of Day and Ryo by one, looks like it could be a good one in spite of the back-and-forth fairways, bunkers surrounded by rough and inevitable mentions of a "classic" test. 

7,400 Yard Firestone: Nine Drive And Pitch Holes!

Nick Faldo Tweeted about his letter to the IGF Saturday but I found this much more revealing about what he's seeing this week at Firestone. Love the hashtag:

"Something about too many cooks in the kitchen comes to mind."

Steve Elling with excerpts of Nick Faldo's letter to the International Golf Federation pitching a mass collaboration of some of the biggest do-nothings on the planet: player-architects.

Though short on specifics as to how this boondoggle would work (since many of these people couldn't find one of their projects with a GPS device), it sounds as if Sir Nick is suggesting the Olympic course design consist of a collaboration of many appearance fee specialists.

"What a tremendous, ongoing, global and historic story we could write for our sport as a truly international team of men's and women's champions create the venue for golf's return to the Olympics in 2016. Certainly some of the most-respected course designers in the world come from a global pool of the most-recognized champions.

"It is understood that the complexity of the site and the demands of the Olympic event would necessitate a unified and experienced process architecturally; as they say, egos should be checked at the door, but please imagine the worldwide interest and appeal this Olympic course as the truest collaboration of men's and women's champions -- from every continent.

As long as we can see a reality show out of it, I'm in!

"Consider for yourself, the major-champion designers from the continents of Africa, Australia, Europe, North America, South America and Asia.

Oh let's not.

The announcement of this collaboration alone would generate true and positive worldwide interest and press in a truly Olympic story."

Until you actually all try to coordinate your site visits, assuming some of the lugs (Faldo not included) even know what a site visit entails!

Old White TPC In Line To Be Rewarded For Painfully Awkward Name Change?

It sure sounds like the Greenbrier's chances of landing a future Presidents Cup have improved with their home-run of an operation and the obvious need for some kind of reward for becoming the Old White Guys TPC. Sean Martin, writing about why players enjoy the Greenbrier week so much, slips this in toward the end of his column:

He has big plans for his resort, hopeful that it can host the 2017 Presidents Cup. (The Tour declined comment.) You have to like his chances. Pazder said Justice has been a perfect partner with the Tour; his club joined the TPC network this year. Crowds for practice days were larger than some tournaments on Sundays. Volunteers welcomed guests with a smile and a greeting.
Tom Watson, the club’s pro emeritus, first saw the resort at the 1979 Ryder Cup. He left before the competition began for the birth of his daughter, Meg, but had fond memories.
“I just liked the way people treated you here,” he said.

And that’s the main reason the prognosis for this PGA Tour event is a strong one.

Idiocracy Files: Even More Reasons To Walk Instead Of Ride

Thanks to Jeff Ritter at golf.com for finding this compilation video of golf cart accidents and other assorted unsafe user error. I must say as a blogger one of the great shocks is the monthly story about a golf cart death, but after watching this I have a better idea how these things happen.

Sporadic Posting For Next Few Days

Under doctor's orders, the one-two punch of Firestone and Atlanta Athletic Club forces me to travel internationally the next few days, so posting will be at oddball hours and fairly light. Mostly, I just want to recharge the batteries for next week's Glory's Last Chance To Promote The Fall CBS Schedule.