Phil: "We've outlawed the paddle grip for crying out loud, I don't know why; that was legal for three decades."

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Alex Myers focused on Phil's comments today on not ruling out the belly putter, but I of course was jumping for joy when he noted that the USGA did outlaw the dreaded, horrible, blatantly criminal paddle grip, which was nothing more than a slight indentation at the top of the grip, and all because putting geniuses Stockton, Archer and Crenshaw used one. (Actually that's not entirely true, but I just wanted to get a nasty email from Frank Hannigan at some point today.)
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Robert Allenby Does The Humane Thing And Fires His Caddies

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Ben Everill reports that the Aussie has dropped his "shared-duty" caddies (one can only take so many weeks in a row with the man?) and has replaced them wtih Robert Floyd, son of Ray, who is very open about his recent troubles with alcohol and year of court-ordered house arrest that has him lugging not only Allenby's baggage...err...bag, but an ankle bracelet too.
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Plainfield's Risky Finish

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Larry Dorman examines the big twist at Donald Ross' Plainfield for The Barclays: the driveable 18th. Always the weak link in an otherwise fantastic design, Dorman tells the backstory of the decision to move it up as made by Gil Hanse with the PGA Tour's Steve Wenzloff doing all of the explaining at headquarters for the skeptical Oxford shirt set.
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Two-And-A-Half Minutes Of Your Life You Won't Get Back: Dustin Johnson Dresses Up In A FedEx Uniform

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This is painfully awkward on so many levels.

Warning, this is only for terminally ill readers seeking ways to prolong their lives.

"Ogilvie also understands that it's time for him to be more candid about his future interests in a job currently held by Tim Finchem."

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Joe Ogilvie tells Jeffri Chadiha that the players "have a perfectly great commissioner right now in Tim" but "eventually Tim is going to retire." And with that, he officially lets it be known he would be interested in the job.
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Long Putter Shows Up In Obama's Vineyard Four-Ball!

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The Note reports that some of the White House press corps on Martha's Vineyard felt the earthquake, but as usual the lede was buried. Check out that putter being used by the Presidential playing partner. I can't tell if he's bracing, but the Obama look of disdain says all I need to know about his stance on long putters. Thanks to reader Rob for this.
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Someone's Watching Over The Commissioner's Parking Space

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I know Tim Finchem's probably in the city today hammering out the TV deal, but imagine the surprise if his motorcade of matching 7-Series rolled into the Plainfield CC parking lot and found this American-made truck to drive in his spot? Or is the Commish trying to make a statement to his red-state players by ditching the sedan for a little slice of Americana?
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