Foley Says Kostis Mangled Tiger Swing Analysis

Pete McDaniel talks to instructor Sean Foley, who explains how CBS on-course reporter Peter Kostis got it wrong in breaking down Tiger's swing last weekend when he described Tiger's clubface as being "toed-in'' when it really was the opposite.

Foley went on to explain that the shot was actually executed with an open clubface. Through body rotation Tiger imparted right-to-left spin on the ball and that's what made it curve.

"His clubface was open say three degrees and his body rotation amounted to four degrees. That's what produced the draw.''

Flashback: Will The PGA Move Up Tee Times To Prevent A Repeat Of Baltusrol in 2005?

You have to go back seven years in the GeoffShackelford.com archives to relive the boondoggle that was the 2005 PGA Championship and the PGA of America's decision to not budge on Sunday tee times despite an expected afternoon thunderstorm.

And since I just read Richard Sandomir's review of the dismal Sunday situation and the even worse Monday CBS coverage--noting the (then) disjointed telecast caused by too many commercials, which has gotten worse since then--one wonders if tee time stance will be the same if the forecast holds.

Here's the part about the decision not to move up tee times, which CBS said was all on the PGA of America:

As for the notion that CBS was somehow at fault for the fourth round not being completed on Sunday, Correa said the network did not demand a 3 p.m. tee time for the final pairing or stand in the way of starting the round an hour earlier.

"The P.G.A. of America is responsible for the scheduling of the tournament," he said. "It's up to them."

He said CBS would not have objected to an earlier start "if the weather reports were that severe."

The delay was long enough to cause a major to spill into Monday, but 60 Minutes did get that all-important strong lead-in.

Will the PGA hold their ground again in 2012 if a similar situation arises? Let's hope we don't have to find out.

Scotland Upping Size Of Wind Turbines Off Donald's Coast!

Frank Urquhart reports that Swedish electricity giant Vattenfall, has submitted proposals to raise the maximum height of the turbines and the radius of the blades of the wind turbines off the coast from Trump International Golf Links.

Needless to say, The Donald is not pleased.

He said: “My project is a far greater development in terms of jobs, pounds spent and potential revenues to the area than the ugly, inefficient turbines contemplated in the Vattenfall proposal.

“Alex Salmond must have a death wish. Other countries throughout the world are abandoning wind turbine projects and not building previously approved structures because the economics just don’t work. Without subsidies from England, Scotland would not be able to sustain his folly.”

Hank On Tiger Catching Jack: Odds "Probably" Not Favoring Woods

Robert Lusetich on Tiger's presser today and his former coach's assessment of catching or surpassing Jack Nicklaus' 18 major wins.

“Remember, Jack won only four majors after the age of 36,” Haney says.

“The last one at 46 — the 1986 Masters — was a miracle even to Jack, so it seems like giving Tiger 40 more chances is generous.

“You also have to assume that Tiger is able to stay healthy and avoid any other kind of personal turmoil that could derail his pursuit of Jack's record.”

Ryan Lavner with the highlights from Tiger's press conference Tuesday at Kiawah, including compliments for Pete Dye and this about joining Phil Mickelson as a pro sports team owner:

• On whether he would consider becoming a co-owner of his favorite sports team in the future: “Absolutely. I just need a lot more money. My teams are the Lakers, Dodgers and Raiders, so I’ve got to play really well.”

The video:

PGA Contestants Share Favorite Shots Of Tuesday Deluge

What else to do if you are at Kiawah and waiting out today's downpour at the PGA Championship? Tweet photos!

Aaron Baddeley:

Bubba Watson:

Lee Westwood:

Monty Now Openly Campaigning For 2014 Ryder Cup Captaincy!

The winning 2010 European captain has always said it's not for him to nominate himself for the 2014 gig at Gleneagles near his home, and he said he would "not be promoting myself in that way."

But as Jim Black reports, Colin Montgomerie is promoting himself in that way...

“I was on the last one, so I know how it works. About 15 to 20 players, including a few ex-captains and potential captains, decide and their recommendation goes before George O’Grady, the chief executive of the European Tour, for approval. He has never opposed their recommendation in the past, as far as I am aware.

“This year was as easy as it could possibly be. Jose Maria Olazabal is two years younger than me and the transition was seamless. 2014 is more of an issue and there are a number of candidates – Clarke, Bjorn and McGinley, three of my vice-captains for a start, and then me.

Oh and then you? It used to be just the first three. Nice to see you've come around to the merits of your candidacy!

Please, go on...

“If you go back to the days of Jacklin and Gallacher – and I don’t believe the rules have changed – yes, there is an opportunity to do it again and I know for a fact that Ian Woosnam’s name was mentioned for Wales.

“So there is a possibility that might happen, but I won’t be putting my name forward. It is up to someone on the committee to say and I’ll leave the room again, as I did last time.

Oh Monty, you are such the gentleman!

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.