Na Resists Urge To Whiff, Still Wins

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I have to say, listening to Kevin Na berate a security guard on Wednesday at Las Vegas did not have me running to the Caesar's sportsbook to plunk down $20 on the slowpoke to win. But clearly the incident didn't hurt the turtle from overcoming himself or his desire to take his sweet time, as he prevailed in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital For Children.
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Deep Meaning Quiz: 2015 U.S. Open Logo Unveiled

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Todd Miles reports on the unveiling of the 2015 U.S. Open logo for Chambers Bay and I can't say it has me reaching for my wallet hoping to buy some '15 swag.

In this case, the 2015 U.S. Open logo is very similar to the original Chambers Bay emblem, designed by Tacoma freelance graphic artist Scott Bailey in 2005.

The defining image of Bailey’s design is two sails.

“We ended up with the sails because the course is right next to (Puget Sound),” Bailey said. “It seemed like the most obvious symbol that represents the Northwest in feel but that did not identify something specific.”

I'm not sure sails would have been in my top ten things those two lines represented. In fact, I made a list before reading the story and came up with the following:

- It's two bent legs representing the ideal shape necessary to navigate the Chambers Bay "dunes"

- It's a Machu Picchu symbol for "Be Careful, Robert Trent Jones Jr. Wasn't Thinking Of A U.S. Open When He Built This Place"

- Logo finalist for Phillip Morris rebranding with innocuous new corporate name that I can't recall.

- An homage to the memory wellness ad appearing next to the U.S. Open logo story (see image)

Of course, I'd love to know what you see in this logo...

When's A Whiff A Whiff?

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Check out the YouTube video while you can because I'm sure the men with the little red phones in Ponte Vedra are working to get it taken down.

Ryan Ballengee explains what happened Saturday with Kevin Na in Las Vegas:

On the 15th tee Saturday at TPC Summerlin, Kevin Na was in the middle of his downswing when he decided not to hit the golf ball. He pulled up his swing and finished it by missing over the top of the ball. It seemed Na had whiffed but he didn’t, according to PGA Tour officials.

Na told officials and reporters he felt his weight transfer was amiss and would lead to a hooked tee shot, so he missed.

“I’ll take it back; it feels decent, and my transition is what I’m always working on,” Na said. “It’s always my bad habit is I get quick. And on the way down my transition doesn’t feel right, and I try to stop, and obviously it’s impossible for me to stop. The only way for me to stop is I have to come up and go over the ball.”

I think I'll remember this next time I whiff one! Thanks Kevin!

I believe Woodward and Bernstein would call this a non-whiff whiff.

"Muscle memory for golf isn't lost in Alzheimer's patients"

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Lisa M. Krieger files a story both uplifting (Alheimer patients enjoying golf) and depressing (dementia won't help you get rid of you deadly in-up-and-over move). Besides reporting on what researchers have found, she tells the story of Deep Cliff pro Gerry Benton who works with elders suffering from the various cruel diseases.
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Brace For Slew Of Glowing Northern Irish Golf Stories

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I'm not sure if the Belfast Telegraph should be, gulp, telegraphing the pending wave of rave reviews we'll be reading about all things Irish golf. But that's what they in revealing that "sixteen golf writers" (are there even that many left?) "have been in Northern Ireland this week to enjoy the fairways on which our trio of Major champions perfected their game."
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Pro-Bono Classic Returns To LPGA, No Word On Purse

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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."