Pro-Bono Classic Returns To LPGA, No Word On Purse

Thanks to Steven T. for this unbylined Arizona Republic story on the 2012 return of the LPGA's controversial RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup.

The ladies will have to play an extra round...perhaps this means they'll get paid this year?

The tournament will be held March 13-18 and will expand from 54 holes to 72.

This year's tournament, won by Karrie Webb, was noteworthy in that LPGA players agreed to donate the $1 million purse to charity. There was no immediate word whether that will occur again next year.

"We are delighted to be hosting the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort," said Steve Hart, general manager and area vice president for Marriott. "The event last year was terrific and we look forward to a long relationship with RR Donnelley and the LPGA."

"Rory McIlroy And Caroline Wozniacki Give Themselves An Insufferable Couple Nickname: Wozzilroy"

That's Deadspin's headline. And in return, they have created their own less flattering name for the power couple.

"Wozzilroy," which is what they have decided we will call them. We, obviously, have decided to go with McIliacki, because it sounds gross.

TPC Summerlin's Short Par-4 15th, A Wobbly iPhone Video Analysis

I've always been fascinated by this Bobby Weed-designed short par-4 at the TPC Summerlin and I had a chance to look closely at it while making a visit to the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open (starts Thursday on Golf Channel.)

I Tweeted some videos today with my analysis. The short but sweet conclusion: I need to play this one, but I love the attempt at something different, I just don't know how well the options work in today's game, where so many guys can reach the green with driver. (341 uphill yes, but higher altitude, hot weather means it plays shorter).

Anyway, here are the videos in order...

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5 (don't ask why it's smaller...technology is moody)

Catfight At Killeen Castle?

Lots of fun stuff in the Pond Scrum this week from Huggan and Elling, but no better visual than this:

Huggan: I have no idea what went on in the locker room, but I do have it on good authority that Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr had a bit of a ding-dong verbal joust late on Sunday night.

Creamer apparently felt that the lovely Cristie could have made more of an effort to play her match on Sunday, sore wrist or not.

Huggan: Of course, the way Paula played on Sunday, Cristie could have beaten her playing one-handed considering how Scotland's Catriona Matthew finished Creamer off.

Elling: Gee, you mean Paula wasn't won over by the sling that Kerr had on her arm later Sunday? Was no full-body cast available? Kerr is a princess and has always been. Not especially surprised by her inability or unwillingness to play.

Bill Haas' FedExCup Win Is The Best Thing To Ever Happen To The FedExCup

Think about it: every year the absurdity of the FedExCup has purportedly been "validated" by big name, established winners. Haas, winning his first event of the year and his third on the PGA Tour, ends the run that the Commissioner cited as evidence of the Cup's stature. And that's a good thing if you want to see the "playoffs" reach their potential as the exciting, dramatic competition it could be.

Now, television ratings were barely up this year and that will be cited against the 2011 Tour Championship and FedExCup finale. But a thrilling conclusion was delivered by having the champion of the Tour Championship capturing the Cup (for those who watched). Imagine guaranteeing that kind of finish each year but somehow whittling the field down to an elite number of players by Sunday, heaving the points out the window, and watching the players fight it out for $10 million in an easily explainable weekend of golf (lowest score wins!).

Brandel Chamblee's idea for something along those lines--essentially a variation on the LPGA's ADT Championship--is an interesting one and was put forward in a NY Times piece by Karen Crouse:

Under the current system, points are cumulative and the fields are reduced after each of the three tournaments leading to the 30-man Tour Championship. Chamblee suggested that once the four rounds of playoffs begin, each golfer starts with a blank slate every tournament.

The top 125 in the points standings would compete in the first event, with cuts in subsequent tournaments at 100, 70 and 30. The 72-hole stroke-play event would begin on Wednesday and crown a winner on Saturday. On Sunday, according to Chamblee’s proposal, the top four finishers would compete in an 18-hole playoff to determine the FedEx Cup champion. His idea has the added benefit of preventing players from taking a tournament off.

Thanks to Bill Haas, we no longer have to hear how the current gerrymandering system has rewarded the best player and steadiest of the year.  And thanks to Bill Haas, perhaps a riskier, wackier and more sensational format can now be put on the table for the finale to the FedExCup.