Rees In Response To Player Apathy: "No Comment"

Rex Hoggard tracked down Rees Jones to ask about the latest round of player apathy, this time directed at his Cog Hill renovation.

On Tuesday, GTC gave Jones – whose restoration handiwork includes this year’s PGA Championship venue (Atlanta Athletic Club) and East Lake, site of next week’s Tour Championship – a chance to fire back at the growing criticism of some of his projects but the “Open Doctor” declined to enter the fray.

“I’m not going to address that,” Jones told GTC. “No comment.”

Say It Ain't So: Webb Simpson Retires From Tweeting

It's negativity like that which forced him to retire from the Twittersphere, reports Jason Sobel reports.

If you weren't following Simpson, his page continues on...

Olympic Design Derby Heats Up; Possible Land Dispute ?

In the most recent Golf World, I penned an update and explanation about where the Olympic golf design derby stands after Danny Ocean Nick Faldo proposed his all-star major champions idea.

I also suggest that as with design competitions for museums or stadiums, it would be productive to see who the finalists are and what their vision is for the site.

Now about the site, CNN's Shane O'Donoghue looks at the course architect selection process and suggests a possible ownership dispute surrounding the venue for golf in Rio 2016:

The Walker Cup "Blackout"

In this week's Golf World Monday, I explain who is most to blame for premature sign-offs of the unusual Walker Cup online coverage.

Kapalua Field May Benefit From New Exception?

Robert Collias on changes to the PGA Tour's kickoff event at Kapalua, currently sponsored by Hyundai, says the tour's Championship Management will be taking over the operation (here come the military festivities!) and that scorned Hawaii lover Mark Rolfing is mulling whether he'll pretend to act like he wasn't run out after one year as tournament director.

There is also hope that an expanded exception for non-members might entice more of the previous year's tournament winners (Rory, Darren?) to appear.

Another change that Rolfing had campaigned for is in the works, Pazder said. Nonmembers of the PGA Tour may get to compete in two more tour events, bringing that number to 12. European Tour members, including U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy, often skip Kapalua because of the limit.

"We will be making a proposal to our policy board here in a couple weeks," Pazder said.

Jemsek Defends Rees, Cog Hill Redo

Ed Sherman says this may be the last BMW/Western Open at Cog Hill due to a variety of issues, including the players' dislike for the Rees-tored Dubsdread course. Frank Jemsek, the eminently likeable fellow who runs the place, says conditioning may have played a role in player negativity (likely) and that Rees simply is a step ahead of the modern game with his changes (not likely).

"What Rees is trying to do is keep up with the best players in the world," Mr. Jemsek said. "He's trying to figure out a way to get a step ahead. When somebody gets a step ahead of me, I know I don't like it.

"Rees tried to build three small greens within a large green (creating a variety of pin locations). If you don't hit it close to the pin, you're going to have to putt over a ridge. That's a putt they don't like. Rees put those ridges in there to make it difficult for them."

Despite the criticism, Mr. Jemsek said he has no regrets about Mr. Jones' redesign. "He did what we wanted him to do: make the course more challenging (for the pros)."

2011 Walker Cup Final Day Open Comment Thread

Several milestone moments await during day two of the Walker Cup, where the U.S.A. trails Great Britain/Ireland 7-5...

- Will the ESPN3.com telecast end with four singles matches still on the course, as happened Saturday?

- Which American will be the first to make a well-intentioned but ultimately embarrassing 9-11 reference in summing up where he found the energy to finish off his opponent?

- Will the U.S. team's bond, forged over straight-to-video films and the comfort in knowing John Peterson was not there to help win matches, motivate the Yanks enough to overcome a two point deficit?

It all starts at 9:15 a.m. ET.

"The redo is not conducive to our tournament there."

Len Ziehm, quoting Steve Stricker on the eve of what may be the final BMW/Western Open at Rees-tored Cog Hill.

“I’m excited to go back there,” said Stricker, a Western Open champion on Dubsdread in 1996.

“But I’m disappointed about what transpired there. The redo is not conducive to our tournament there. It was a little severe. It’s playable, but a little tricked up and goofy in spots. I feel real bad for the Jemsek family (owners of the course). They stuck a lot of money into (the renovation), and they’re great people. I liked it before, but the players just don’t like it (now). The redo isn’t good. It’s sad for the Jemsek family.”