Lorena Coming Out Of Retirement...Kind Of

From an AP story, based on a statement posted on her website. She's playing two fall events, one in France and the other of which is her Invitational in Guadalajara.

"This week marks a change. Appearance money [is being paid in the] U.S. but not in Europe."

Steve Elling looks at the possibility that appearance money is being paid in clever ways at the Greenbrier Classic and at events like the Zurich Classic.

He gets several tournament directors and agents to talk, and they are not pleased to see what's going on.

The tour uses a very narrow, if not convenient, definition of "appearance fee." If a player has deeper business dealings with a corporate entity beyond taking cash to play, then he's generally free to ink a personal-services deal for whatever dollar figure he can command. If this sounds mostly like semantics, well, the line forms here.

As one very high-profile international player put it on Tuesday, "This week marks a change. Appearance money [is being paid in the] U.S. but not in Europe."

After arriving Tuesday, Woods was not specifically asked if he was being compensated by Justice this week, though a local reporter did ask if Justice resorted to “pulling his arm” to get him there.

"What sold it to me was watching it on TV and seeing how players enjoyed it," Woods said unblinkingly.

Um, did he say "sold?"

Mickelson played at Greenbrier last year -- for two days. He missed the cut.

"I know for a fact that Phil got $1 million last year," one top-tier agent insisted, citing a figure that was echoed by two other tour-related sources.

Phil "Crushed" By Diamond's Resignation

Jason Sobel on Phil Mickelson's comments about Barclays CEO Bob Diamond's resignation while Diamond testified before Parliament.

Following the news conference, Mickelson told one Golf Channel insider that he felt Diamond was being made a “scapegoat” for the Libor scandal that surfaced four years ago. He did not disclose whether he has been in touch with Diamond since his resignation.

“Personally I’m crushed because I have really enjoyed my time with Bob,” Mickelson continued in the news conference. “I think the world of him as a person, as a CEO, and I think that these last 5-6 years that I’ve been associated with the bank, the time I’ve spent with him, I’ve really enjoyed and I’ve cherished and it’s been one of the most interesting parts of my career.”

Unfortunately, Diamond put things in writing that may prove problematic.

The good news?

Barclays no longer sponsors next week's Scottish Open. Boy would that have been awkward.

#FirstWorldProblems To The Extreme: Tiger Admits The Constant Questions About Hitting Small White Ball Can Sometimes Be A Little Annoying

David Dusek on Tiger's press conference today at the Greenbrier:

"I have to deal with it in every single press conference," he said. "I have to answer it in post-round interviews—whether it's with your guys or in a live shot [on TV]. You do that for a couple of years, sometimes you guys can be a little annoying."

Meanwhile, Notah says the annoying has been movtivating Tiger. Who to believe?

Steiny: Turkey Still In The Embryonic Stages

Jason Sobel with the confirmation and hedging by Tiger Woods agent Mark Steinberg on this fall's planned event in Turkey opposite the Frys.com Open.

Rumors have also circulated that Turkish Airlines would serve as a sponsor for Woods himself, but Steinberg maintained that is premature.

“That’s in its very embryonic stages right now,” he said. “I think Turkish Airlines is a very substantial event sponsor. Have there been some discussions? Yes, but it’s in the early stages.”

Greenbrier Classic Extended To 2021

For Immediate Release, a pretty amazing commitment from such a new event that had so many question marks going in. And doing it all without a major corporate sponsor.

The Greenbrier Classic Extends PGA TOUR Agreement by Six Years

Added to current contract, third-year tournament now secured through 2021

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR and The Greenbrier announced today that they have signed a six-year extension that carries The Greenbrier Classic agreement through 2021.

By extending the original six-year contract, which runs through 2015, The Greenbrier Classic now becomes the longest tournament commitment on the PGA TOUR. It also extends through the length of the TOUR’s television agreements with CBS, NBC and Golf Channel. The Greenbrier Classic, which begins Thursday at The Greenbrier’s The Old White TPC Course, is televised by Golf Channel through the first two rounds and by CBS during the weekend.

“The first three years of our contract with the PGA TOUR have been a thrilling ride,” said Jim Justice, Chairman and Owner of The Greenbrier. “The TOUR is a fantastic partner and we’re so proud and excited to announce that The Greenbrier Classic will remain a bright light on the landscape of the PGA TOUR and continue to give our fans heart-pounding tournament action for years to come. The entire state of West Virginia and the region as a whole have embraced the tournament from the very beginning. Without the passion and support of our local and regional communities The Greenbrier Classic could not have grown so quickly into one of the premiere events on TOUR.”

A West Virginian who was born and raised near The Greenbrier, Justice wanted to bring a PGA TOUR tournament to The Greenbrier from the time he purchased the resort in May 2009, believing a top-tier tournament would help restore The Greenbrier’s reputation as a five-star resort.

In just its second year, The Greenbrier Classic received several awards from the PGA TOUR at last year’s Annual PGA TOUR Tournament Meeting in December, including the coveted Best in Class among all tournaments.

“Jim Justice has shown genuine passion and commitment to not only host a PGA TOUR event, but to build one into a premier stop on the PGA TOUR,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Through his dedicated efforts, Jim has managed to achieve his goal in just two years, as evidenced by last year’s Best in Class Award. He has turned The Greenbrier Classic into a true celebratory event during Fourth of July week. We’re obviously thrilled that Jim had a desire to move forward and extend beyond his original commitment after just three years.”

Tiger's Taking Great Inspiration From The Media?

Jay Coffin notes an interesting Golf Channel Morning Drive discussion where Tiger bud Notah Begay suggested that based on Sunday's post round comments, Tiger takes great inspiration from proving his media critics wrong.

"Well, a lot of media people didn't think I could win again, and I had to deal with those questions for quite a bit," Woods said Sunday. "It was just a matter of time; I could see the pieces coming together."

Begay was asked if he believes Woods keeps score with the media, if he's aware of everything that's said or written about him.

"He doesn't forget what people write," Begay said. "He probably has a list under his pillow that motivates him at night."

Then shouldn't he actually like what the media is doing for his game? Maybe send down some champagne after a victory? You know, a little something for the effort?