Scottish Gov Rep Reiterates Call On End To Male-Only Clubs

They've said it before and post-Augusta, they've made the call again, this time from Shona Robison, the Minister for Sport. From an unbylined Star story:

"The First Minister is on record in saying that all clubs should be open to women members but then there is nothing we can do to force them," said Robison.

"However the direction of travel now is clearly to admit both men and women members and hopefully we will see an end to not allowing women to become members."

Golf Digest's 50 Most Fun Courses

I don't usually get too excited about a new list but Golf Digest's 50 Most Fun is one that could actually have a positive impact on the game. It never hurts given I've only been associated with two courses that were created and built from scratch working with Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, to see Rustic Canyon (#30) and The Horse Course at Prairie Club (#10!) making the 50 Most Fun publics.

Peter Finch explains the thought process for the 50 Most Fun in the September Golf Digest, and there is a slideshow of the diverse group of courses selected. (As an aside for architecture geeks, there is also a recent Joann Dost aerial shot of Cypress Point showing the restored fairway bunkers on the 17th hole.)

The 50 Most Fun Privates, the 50 Most Fun Publics, and the most fun of Great Britain and Ireland.

Captain Olazabal: Padraig Needs "At least" A Win

From a European Tour story, European Captain Jose Maria Olazabal reacting to Padraig Harrington's opening 64 at The Barclays.

Olazábal was reminded that two weeks ago he said Harrington needed to do something extraordinary to make the side.

So what now constitutes extraordinary? "At least a win," Olazábal replied with a smile.

Considering the chemistry these two have, Americans should be pulling for Padraig to win this week!

The Reset Cup Has Arrived!

Sadly, I'm almost sure Tiger Woods meant his FedExCup comments Wednesday as a subtle insult, yet I'm guessing a few Ponte Vedra algorithm programmers cancelled their Cialis refills after reading this today.

Ryan Lavner posts the quote on GolfChannel.com:

“Right now, we’re all playing for position going into the reset at the Tour Championship,” Woods told reporters in his pre-tournament news conference Wednesday at The Barclays. “Before it was just trying to accumulate whatever you can and keep it rolling. Now, you’re playing for a reset, and then anything can happen.”

Playing for a reset. Goosebumps!

“To hold otherwise would be to turn federal judges into referees for a game in which they have no place, and about which they know little.”

Thanks to reader Jim for noticing Judge Sam Sparks' ruling in the Lance Armstrong case, as quoted in Juliet Macur's story.

USGA legal might want to take note of this:

Judge Sam Sparks of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, in Austin, who acknowledged that the case had “troubling aspects,” said that the United States courts should not be involved because the antidoping agency’s arbitration rules were robust enough to deal with the matter. He also said Armstrong had agreed to be governed by those rules when he signed for his cycling license.

“Federal courts should not interfere with an amateur sports organization’s disciplinary procedures unless the organization shows wanton disregard for its rules, to the immediate and irreparable harm of a plaintiff, where the plaintiff has no other available remedy,” Sparks said in his ruling. “To hold otherwise would be to turn federal judges into referees for a game in which they have no place, and about which they know little.”

A PDF of the entire ruling is here.

Lawyers and those who think they are, thoughts?

Sergio On Padraig: "He wouldn’t be a sure pick for me!”

Brian Keogh with a terrifically entertaining look at the bad blood between European Captain Jose Maria Olazabal that appears to pale compared to the general dislike Sergio Garcia has for the Irishman dating to the '07 Open and '08 PGA losses. Padraig Harrington shares the feeling.

Though Sergio at least is honest in his assessment of Harrington's chances to make the Ryder Cup team as a Captain's pick.

“I don’t think he’s a sure pick personally. He wouldn’t be a sure pick for me!”

Keegan And Sneaking On The Black

From Keegan Bradley, talking about playing Bethpage Black in his college days, courtesy of Mark Herrmann in Newsday:

This week, he will take major delight in the site. He knows where the superintendent's office is near the third tee because that is where the St. John's players used to park, far from the clubhouse so as not to attract attention while the course was closed to the public. "I get in trouble for saying that. My coach called me and said to stop talking about that," Bradley said, sheepishly, at a tournament recently. "But it was awesome."

So you didn't hear it from him. And it is confidential when he admits, "We played inside the road, which is 3 through 14." Credit the resourcefulness of St. John's coach Frank Darby, the former head pro at Nissequogue Golf Club, for finding the best spots.