Els On Going It Alone, Giving Up Drinking

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Good read from Doug Ferguson on Ernie Els after winning the Open and some of the sacrifices/changes he made leading up to the victory that might have made a difference, starting with going solo during Open week.

His family stayed in Skibo Castle during the Scottish Open, and then Els sent them home. He knew deep down he was getting close, especially after his tie for ninth in the U.S. Open. He wanted to treat the British Open like a work week, as it was when he was just starting his career. He went to the golf course and worked. He went to the hotel to sleep. It was all business.

''Tony Jacklin stayed in that hotel when he won in 1969 - I was born in 1969,'' Els said, grinning at the coincidence.

And this about giving up drinking.

One night at dinner about a month before the Open, he decided to stop drinking. Els doesn't remember the night, and when pressed for the motive behind it, he waved his hand and said, ''Accch,'' a guttural sound in Afrikaans to suggest it was no big deal or not worth discussing.

''I just didn't feel like anymore,'' he said. ''I'm probably going to give it another three months now. I feel really into what I'm doing.''

Tiger First Off At Kiawah, And Have You Heard, It's Bloody Hot!

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The Post Courier's Jeff Hartsell is the local man on the spot this week (Twitter link here) and reports that Tiger was first out at Kiawah this morning for the PGA Championship and besides the dying winds today, players are noticing that it's a tad warm.  (At least the T-storm chance drops to 40% starting Thursday.)

But Tiger's "start lines" are good, so we can all relax now.

“I putted well the last two days, which was good,” he said. “I made some putts. And more importantly, I hit the ball on my start lines, and that’s something I did not do the first couple days. I misread a couple, but that’s just the way it goes. But at least every putt was starting on the right line, and that’s something that I’m very excited about going into next week.”

Tiger, PGA Tour Commit To Malaysia

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Tiger has committed to play the CIMB Classic in 2012 (Oct. 25-28), but more intriguing than that news was the confirmation that starting in 2013, the stop will be an official part of the PGA Tour schedule and FedExCup.

CIMB Group also announced that beginning in 2013, the CIMB Classic will be upgraded to an Official Money Event on the PGA TOUR and will be part of the season-long FedExCup competition. The field will also be expanded to include a minimum of 78 players and will carry a total purse of $7 million.

Wow, 78 players for $7 million and FedExCup points? The rich get richer!

"The plan has always been to become a full fledged event of the PGA TOUR, so this is fantastic news for us, for Malaysia and for the region," said Nazir as he announced that CIMB had signed a new five-year deal with PGA TOUR.

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said, "In just two years, the CIMB Classic has become an important part of the PGA TOUR schedule and we are excited that this relationship has been extended for an additional five years. The tournament will continue to grow in stature as it becomes an official event and part of the FedExCup in our 2013-2014 season."

"Congratulations to the nation of Malaysia and the CIMB Group on this important announcement," added Finchem.

Phelps Wants Home & Home With Bubba; Pro-Am Circuit Looms

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John Meheffay reports on Michael Phelps' plans after the American won his 18th and final Olympic gold medal.

It will include a showdown or two at home courses TBD with Bubba Watson and inevitably, any pro-am he wants to play in.

The aftermath for Phelps will start with travelling, some publicity appearances and plenty of rest and relaxation.
Golf with his friend, U.S. Masters champion Bubba Watson is also on the agenda as Phelps confirmed during the week when he said he would not be rescinding his decision to retire.

"Bubba said I'm a good swimmer but still terrible at golf. So maybe I'll challenge him to swimming and we can go on a golf course after that, that will be (all) my competitive swimming after I'm done," he said.

No Respect For 55-1 Defending Champ Keegan!

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I don't know who is behind these odds posted on Golfweek.com before Sunday's WGC win and credited to AP, but I love Matt Kuchar at 35-1.

But I can't believe the defending champion, who was already playing well at Firestone, is at 55-1, has the length likely necessary to contend at Kiawak and has one more major than a lot of people ahead of him.

• Tiger Woods, 7-1
• Luke Donald, 15-1
• Lee Westwood, 15-1
• Rory McIlroy, 20-1
• Phil Mickelson, 20-1
• Adam Scott, 25-1
• Jason Dufner, 30-1
• Dustin Johnson, 30-1
• Graeme McDowell, 30-1
• Matt Kuchar, 35-1
• Hunter Mahan, 35-1
• Webb Simpson, 35-1
• Bubba Watson, 35-1
• Jason Day, 40-1
• Ernie Els, 40-1
• Rickie Fowler, 40-1
• Padraig Harrington, 40-1
• Zach Johnson, 40-1
• Louis Oosthuizen, 40-1
• Justin Rose, 40-1
• Steve Stricker, 45-1
• Jim Furyk, 50-1
• Sergio Garcia, 50-1
• Martin Kaymer, 50-1
• Charl Schwartzel, 50-1
• Keegan Bradley, 55-1
• Brandt Snedeker, 65-1
• Bo Van Pelt, 65-1
• Nick Watney, 65-1
• Francesco Molinari, 75-1
• Ian Poulter, 75-1
• Bill Haas, 80-1
• Peter Hanson, 80-1
• Geoff Ogilvy, 80-1
• Field (All Others), 3-1

NY Post: Tam O'Shanter Club Home To Strippers, Cheap Booze Passed Off As Premium And Oh So Much More!

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Should be a livelier than normal mixed couples Sunday at New York's Tam O'Shanter, as Jamie Schram and Jeane MacIntosh report on shenanigans exposed after a wrongful termination complaint was filed by former bartender Justin Williams.

Regarding the reciprocal guests...

The flesh-fests took place during the country club’s men-only August outings attended by about 100 to 150 members and their guests, said Williams, who this week filed a wrongful termination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The day began with scantily clad local strippers parading around the golf course at each of the tees — and ended with prostitutes having sex with the men in members-only showers and massage rooms, he said.

“The members would play a round of golf, and while they were out there, they would have strippers on the course, and drinks,” said Williams, 33.

The girls came in for cocktail hour but would eventually leave — and “the actual prostitutes would come in,” said Williams.

“There were about 10 prostitutes. I don’t know where they came from.”

During cocktail hour, club general manager Maureen Hollenbach and food manager Carl O’Boyle “would send most of the female staff home. At that point, whoever wanted to solicit would just walk up to the hooker, and things were negotiated during cocktails.”

Reno-Tahoe Combatants Excited About Olympic Golf; Have No Idea How It Will Work

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Granted, most of the people playing the Reno-Tahoe Open this week have little chance of making the 2016 Games in Rio, but it still must be somewhat alarming to the IGF that a pair of former Open Champions--Todd Hamilton and John Daly--have no idea how players will qualify or what the format will be.
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Budding Bromance: Branden Grace Unabashedly Declares For Tiger

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The quote in Randall Mell's item on Grace's third day in a row paired with Tiger reads like Grace is being held at gun point...and no I looked, he's not represented by Steiny. Yet.

“I hadn’t played with him before, but now, to have played with him three days in a row, has been unreal,” Grace said. “I've learned a hell of a lot from playing with him. The way he plays shots, the way he handles himself and things like that, has been great.  He's there because he is the best in the world. I've seen it now, and I think people really criticize him, that is wrong.  He's one hell of a guy, and he's pretty much the nicest guy I've ever played with.”

There is something wrong if Tiger is this agreeable to play with. Mercifully, they are not paired together again tomorrow.