China Drought Blamed On Golf Courses That Technically Do Not Exist

Carolynne Wheeler on the increasing animosity from state-run media directed at Chinese golf courses using ground water supplies even though a 2004 edict banned the building of new courses, meaning only 10 of the 600 or so technically exist.

“Given the fact that 400 of the more than 600 cities in China are suffering from water shortages, the rapid depleting of underground water to keep the hundreds of golf courses green will likely prove to have severe consequences for many cities in the near future,” read an editorial in the English-language China Daily newspaper, which accused Beijing’s golf courses of using nearly 40 million tons of underground water annually, equal to the amount consumed by 1 million residents a year, despite the city’s water shortages.

Still, this latest round of ranting is likely to pass without much dampening of enthusiasm for the sport.

The go-to guy on all things China and golf, Dan Washburn, is quoted in the story but shares his entire Q&A with the story author on his own site. It makes for an interesting read about the wildly complex golf industry in China.

Stephen Ames: Tiger's Swing "10 Times Better Than It Was Before"

Ten? Wasn't that part of the final score of his match after he once suggested he welcomed a matchup against Tiger? Oh right, 9&8. My bad!

John Down reports that Ames dared to talk Tiger today, but he's changed his tune even with Tiger hitting it all over the planet with the most user-friendly clubs the game has ever allowed. Ames' newfound Tiger-humility reminds me of poor old Harry Whittingham, the geezer Dick Cheney shot by on a hunting trip who later apologized for getting in the VP's way!

Thanks to reader Rob for this.

“He’s going through all those different scenarios from the last year and half and I don’t think he’s settled upstairs right now. I think it’d be tough on anybody to go through what he’s gone through and still be able to play golf.

“It’s quite incredible to be honest if you ask me because I wouldn’t be back out there after what he went through with the media, losing his wife. It’s tough. It’s just going to take him awhile to get back.”

That wretched media! It cost him his wife.

One thing Woods did was switch swing coaches from Hank Haney to Sean Foley, who also just happens to be Ames’ swing coach.

“Swing-wise it looks 10 times better than it was before,” said Ames. “Sean’s done a wonderful job and, as Sean has mentioned before, he’s not clear upstairs right now. I think it’s going to be awhile before he gets there.”

"There in the back of the fridge lies the US PGA Championship, pumped full of water and vitamins and preservatives, but still rotting away."

Mark Reason helps set up what will be the second post PGA question with this lethal look at what the PGA Championship has morphed into: "a competition to find 'the world's khakiest man.'"

And that is true on so many levels. But before we pick apart the PGA, here's Reason's take on what could replace the PGA ala the Evian Masters buying a place in the LPGA major rota. Though I'm not sure about the use of Oriental Open...

If a combination of Asian TV networks and corporate interests like HSBC and Sony could come up with enough dosh, surely a new Oriental Open could replace the moribund US PGA.

America's influence is waning on and off the course as Tiger and Wall Street crash together.

Yes, Asia would be buying a major, but that is the way of professional sport. It is how the US PGA started and the Ryder Cup and many of golf's premier events.

And as Asia is already joined with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in the President's Cup, maybe the fourth major could also come to these shores every now and again.

It is anachronistic for America still to stage three of the game's majors. We could build a statue to the 'unknown golfer' and place it in a square in Middle America to commemorate the passing of the US PGA and American heroes like David.

Toms, Larry Nelson and Keegan Bradley, khaki Confederates who all won glory's last shot in Atlanta.

This year's US PGA was the first major to be won by a belly putter. Uggh.

It's time to move on. It's time to make golf the global game it pretends to be.

"As soon as I woke up and looked at the trophy I started laughing."

Very nice work by Helen Ross detailing "the day after" for PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley.

Bradley seemed amazed, as well as personally gratified, by all the attention he has received. "Crazy stuff," he called it. The 25-year-old has gone from about 3,000 Twitter followers to 10 times as many, and he's had more than 1,000 friend requests on Facebook. He estimated he's gotten between 250-300 text messages, only about a third of which he's been able to read so far.

Phil Mickelson, Bradley's frequent practice round and toughen-up partner, said "some very nice things" in his text while Lefty's caddy Bones Mackay left a more traditional voice mail. The text Bradley received from his good buddy Chris Kirk "probably meant the most of anybody," he said, adding "It's amazing to have people so genuinely happy for you."