Kiawah Preview: Shaped By Dye And Hugo

Bill Pennington looks at Kiawah's Ocean Course and focuses on how Pete Dye was able to make the design better thanks to hurricane Hugo moving things around and freeing him from environmental rules.

From the New York Times story:

When the hurricane hit, several people in the Ocean Course work crew were stranded on the island and remained there until access roads were cleared. The day after Hugo headed inland, Dye rented a barge in a nearby town to take him to Kiawah.

He started up the bulldozers.

“Hugo had obliterated the work we had already done on some holes, but it had also knocked down trees and moved around a lot of things that we wouldn’t have been able to move or be allowed to move,” Dye said.

Also, Bradley Klein offers a hole-by-hole look at the course.

Other than pesky ads before each video, Frank Nobilo's video look at key holes (with aerial footage) can be accessed on this page.

Two of particular note, include the par-3 14th (I forgot how severe it is!) and Nobilo's look at the paspalum at Kiawah.

The 14th:



Paspalum:

Is Golf One Of The Sports Keeping Weed On WADA's Banned List?

In light of the judo Olympian expelled after innocently eating a marijuana brownie, Kate Kelland talks to scientists and others wondering why marijuana is banned by the World Anti Doping Agency when it seemingly would not help athletes in most sports.

But archery and golf were cited as reasons why it might be handy. Commissioner Mr. Rogers, of course, never believed in any kind of testing because no golfer would ever cheat. So glad he (was forced) to come around.

While it is generally accepted that cannabis is unlikely to give athletes any advantage in fast-paced sports, some experts say it could prove helpful in sports like shooting or golf where a steady hand is needed.

Under WADA's rules, athletes face a two-year ban if cannabis is found in their system while they are in competition.

But the anti-doping body does not sanction those who test positive for marijuana outside of competition times, while they are in training camps or during rest periods.

Scientists say this smacks of double standards and suggests WADA bans cannabis for political rather than scientific reasons.

"The problem is the elite athletes should be seen as role models for young kids, and so they ban cannabis because they don't want to have the image of gold medallists smoking joints," said one British-based sports scientist who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Monty Blasts Tiger's Austerity Approach

Jim Black reports on Colin Montgomerie's critical account of Tiger's play at Lytham in the wake of Andy Murray's aggressive play in the Olympic tennis.

As usual, Monty almost got it right.

"The Olympic title isn't a grand slam event but, at the same time, for Murray to go back to the court where he lost to Federer a month before and produce such an amazing win took a lot of doing. He tried to attack in their previous match, but Federer forced him on to the defence, while Woods always looked like he was playing for a place in the Open and third is what he got. You've got to bring out the driver and attack at some point, not constantly hit 3-irons and end up two-putting from 40 feet. Using your driver is part of the game, surely.

"I don't think Tiger is confident using his driver, having watched him spend two and a half minutes deciding which club to hit on the 11th tee at Lytham and, when he did make up his mind, he almost lost his ball.

"Murray showed that the way to win is by being aggressive and attacking. He beat the two best players in the world, Federer and Djokovic, to prove that he is as good as anyone in the game."

Now I know you've all committed my Golf World story about Tiger's week at Lytham to memory, but in case you didn't read it yet, I focused on the moment at the 11th tee because I was sitting there listening to the conversation between Tiger and LaCava thanks to intimate spectator roping.

It was a key moment and he did eventually hit driver. Instead of hitting a slight draw, which was necessary to offset the left-to-right wind, Tiger did hit the slight cut he'd been hitting and the wind took it about 30 yards right of the fairway in a mashed down rough area. So Monty got part of it right. 

That said, we will find out this week if it was a confidence situation or simply his strategic approach to Lytham, which, as I wrote in the story, kept him in contention but when the time came to shake the reins and make a move at 13 and 14, he stuck to the plan. At 7,767 yards and soft, Tiger won't have a choice this week.

European Ryder Cup Team Shaping Up Nicely

I had not looked at the standings in a while but GolfChannel.com's Will Gray took the two points lists and merged them into the current European Ryder Cup team's likely ten with a couple of nominations for possible Captain's picks. 

Nice group of names, though Sergio better play well the next few weeks because he's being pursued by up-and-comers Colsaerts and Cabrera-Bello.

Els On Going It Alone, Giving Up Drinking

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!

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.”

Video: U.S. Women's Am Has Started & Includes The 10-Year-Old Who Can't Relate To Old Guy Beiber

Andrew Luria files a nice Tampa ABC affiliate story on Latanna Stone, the 10-year old teeing off in today's U.S. Women's Amateur at Cleveland's The Country Club.

Stone unfortunately opened with an 82. But, uh, she is after all, 10 years old!

Tiger, PGA Tour Commit To Malaysia

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

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!

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!

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.”