Random Belly Putter Views: Couples, Mickelson, Scott
/At the Northern Trust Open, Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott all weigh in on discussions about long putters and anchoring.
Read MoreIn golf construction art and utility meet; both are absolutely vital; one is utterly ruined without the other. GEORGE THOMAS
It’s back!
Twenty years later Tatra Press has kindly allowed me to bring back Grounds For Golf now that golf architecture is of more interest to the masses. A new Introduction looks at what’s driven the interest growth and two new chapters I had a blast adding (plus a few edits to keep things up-to-date).
The Amazon purchase page for the book arriving June 15, 2026.
Riviera's Amphitheater Then And Now
/Few know it, but the amphitheater was not part of the original design. Instead, it was created at a later date. Originally, the clubhouse was placed atop the hill, with the coastal scrub left intact on the hill behind the famous 18th green.
Golf Channel's Most Watched PGA Tour Round Ever: Sunday At Pebble Beach
/Just think, 2.3 million got all excited only to be interrupted by a 50 minute break, with 20 of those spent watching free throws.
Read MoreButch Shares Some Of Tiger's Best Moves
/Brian Wacker talks about his recent work with Phil Mickelson and about some of those Tiger gamesmanship tactics.
Read More"I bet I'm the only guy that has to work (Wednesday)."
/Jill Painter with a super story on Tom Gardner, an assistant pro at Bel-Air Country Club who got in the Northern Trust Open at the local SCPGA qualifier.
After the 11 a.m. shotgun start at the exclusive country club, he'll race down Sunset Boulevard, about four miles from Riviera Country Club, and get some work in on the driving range and putting greens.
Gardner has his own crucial tournament this week. He qualified as a club pro to play in the Northern Trust Open, which starts Thursday.
"I bet I'm the only guy that has to work (Wednesday)," Gardner said with a laugh.
Gardner, 33, got the rest of the week off to play on the PGA Tour, so he's been the star at Bel-Air, a place filled with stars like Luke Wilson, Jerry West and Pete Sampras.
"Since I've qualified, it's been a fairly big thing at Bel-Air," Gardner said. "They've sent out emails, and the membership has been unbelievable. They're so supportive. They've really made this fun.
"It's been a dream of mine to work at a golf course like this, and there's 300 people congratulating me and telling me how proud of me they are."
Els On Anchoring: "Ban it."
/Ernie Els visited the Northern Trust Open media center today to talk about his foundation and golf at Riviera this week. He opened the door for me to ask a long putter/anchoring question.
Read MorePGA Tour YouTube Exclusive: "Aaron Baddeley Goes to Church"
/Good to see Bubba questioning Aaron about "taking a hit."
Riviera's 6th, 1929 And Today
/I know I do this every year and I promise to do some before/afters of other holes, but I know there are new readers out there who might like to marvel at seeing how a bunker has dimensions, texture and appropriate scaling...and then ends up like the 6th hole today, as shot during Tuesday's practice round.
Read MoreNo Poa There: Tiger Commits To Honda Classic
/For Immediate Release:
Questions Surround Gulbis Decision To Pose With Painted Swimsuit In Swimsuit Issue
/You can feel the tension as golf.com's Jeff Ritter doesn't back down in questioning the decision to use a body painted swimsuit for Natalie Gulbis's SI Swimsuit issue shoot. Uh, so yes, that's paint. How do they do the part where...oh this can't end well. Just check it out. On newstands this week.
Read MoreIt's Northern Trust Open Week!
/I know this week is blocked off on your calendars and your bingo boards are all ready to go, just waiting for Jim Nantz to make his first Bel-Air Hotel reference so you can mark off the upper left corner while hoping they'll show a little tenth hole play before a witty segue into a CSI Los Angeles plug.
Read MoreStars Of 70s Align To Give Tiger Advice, Make Yet Another Career Major Count Prediction
/Johnny Miller has told Golf Magazine in a forthcoming interview that he now thinks Tiger will TIE Jack's mark of 18 majors. In May of last year, Tiger was going to struggle to tie Jack. And this May, well, I'm sure we'll find out Johnny's updated prognostication.
Read MoreHas Tiger Played His Final Round At Pebble Until '19?
/Ron Kroichick's notes column touches on the likelihood that Tiger was paying back former sponsor AT&T with an appearance this year and doesn't seem likely to return until the 2019 U.S. Open.
Read MoreMichigan-Illinois Free-Throwfest Helps CBS Deliver 15-Year Pebble Pro-Am Rating High
/For Immediate Release...
Read MoreState Of The Game, Episode 3: "The game's never been easier and people have never complained more about how hard it is."
/That stellar quote came from Mike Clayton during this week's belly putter-focused show.
You'll hear some sound clips from Tiger Woods and a few I picked up at the USGA Annual Meeting. Panelists Clayton and Huggan are joined by special guest and long putter exponent Craig Spence chat about what figures to be a huge issue over the coming year. Rod Morri hosts, and music is supplied by Lloyd Cole. Give it a listen.
Here's the direct link to the third episode.
Here's a directory with the first three episodes.
And here's the itunes page for the show where you can get all three or subscribe, it's free.
Or finally, you can listen below:
