Well That Was Quick: Westwood Dumps Stockton Approach
/It seems the Lee Westwood's work with Dave Stockton was short-lived and instead, on his putting death bed, he's received total unconsciousness from Bob Rotella. John Huggan reports:
Read MoreWhen 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
Two PGA Greens Slightly Damaged By "Rise In Dew Point"
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Seth Jones, on the ground for Golfdom magazine, reports on the freak mishap Wednesday night on the eve of the PGA.Stevie Bends The Ear Of Phil Mickelson (AKA The Prick)
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Featured on Golf Channel's excellent PGA Pre-game show: Stevie (You like, you really, really like me) Williams yammering away to Phil Mickelson, who was merely trying to get in a little pre-PGA practice and to ponder the suggestions of his new mental coach (Tim Rosaforte reports), only to have the mad Kiwi bagman blabbering on about Lord knows what.For Your Cleansing Consideration: 2011 Women's Amateur At Rhode Island CC
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If the that whole virtual reality looking thing in Atlanta is too EA Sports for you, don't forget they've reached match play at the U.S. Women's Amateur at Donald Ross's ultra cool Rhode Island Country Club. Besides being one of the really neat places in the game with a pure golf spirit, great USGA championship history and beautiful setting, it provides a welcome contrast to Atlanta Athletic Club.AAC's Long Par-3's Drawing...Reviews
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Jim McCabe talks to several players about the soulless par-3s at Atlanta Athletic Club and they try as nicely as they can to point out why the lack of character makes for a less interesting test.State Of PGA Presser Draws A Whopping Two Questions
/Of course, you cynics are thinking that this speaks to the irrelevance of an organization that overpays its leadership and former leadership (ex-CEO at $300k four years after stepping down!), stuffs millions away in its coffers and takes the fourth of four majors to miserable climates.
Or it could have been the numbing opening remarks from PGA of America president Allen Wronowski. Wow, even Tim Finchem doesn't rally kill that hard.
Tiger Looking For A "W," His "Feels" Are Coming, "Reps" Taking Hold, Still Texts With "Fed"
/With live cameras running TW seemed less clippy for today's presser with Fergie, Ronnie, Solty, Rosie and the other heathens.
Read MoreBones: I Have No Wins As Phil's Baggage Handler!
/Mickelson looper Jim "Bones" Mackay sidestepped several landmines during an interesting 10-minute interview with Dan Patrick today. He also said he expects to be fired some day and that if he didn't caddy for Phil Mickelson, he absolutely would love to work for Tiger Woods.
Read MoreAAC Flashback: Remember When 500-Yard Par-4s Were Embarrassing
/Reading Brad Klein's raters notebook review of Atlanta Athletic Club's oft-renovated Highland Course, I was reminded of this from the last time the PGA was played there:
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"Just seems like you take a little bit of the skill out of it when it's that long a hole."
/Players were asked the long par-3 15th, which can stretch to at least 260 yards and the answers were eloquent. So much so I can see some superintendents and architects clipping these comments for the Green Committee.
Read MorePat Perez Locates Rejected Waterboy; Video Of Incident Remains Removed By PGA Tour
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Now here's a story where Pat Perez acted like a "dick head" (his words, probably causing another fine), then, using Twitter, not only apologized but made the fine gesture to track down the young man and his father to apologize and send a little thank you.Glory's Last Shot (Again) For Jerry Pate
/Doug Ferguson makes a strong case that the PGA of America has hit a new low with its mysterious exemption for Jerry Pate, who is making his “farewell to golf” this week...again.
This is ceremonial golf at its worst. The 57-year-old Pate confirmed as much Sunday when he finished the 3M Championship in Minnesota on the Champions Tour, where he tied for 73rd.
“I’m not going there with high expectations about my golf game as far as being competitive in the field,” Pate said. “But I’m going there for the enjoyment of just seeing old friends and playing the golf course.”
Paul Goydos, who shot 59 on the PGA Tour last year, is the first alternate. A little bit farther down the list is Chad Campbell, who tied for fifth last month in the British Open at Royal St. George’s.
But think of the gate, Doug!
What seems out of place with this invitation is that the PGA already gave one to Pate the last time it was in Atlanta.
That was 10 years ago.
“There are a few times in the history of the championship that we’ve looked at players who have won majors connected with a certain venue,” said PGA chief executive Joe Steranka.
But a former U.S. Open champion who already was given a chance to soak up the memories 10 years ago? For a major that promotes the strongest field in golf, that was a weak decision.
