Tiger Says Little Has Changed As A Short Hitting Old Guy

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There was some interesting stuff in today's transcript at the Deutsche Bank Championship, where Tiger Woods talked about changes in the game and what it means for him as part of the second-tier players distance-wise. You can watch the video of the presser here.

TIGER WOODS:  Well, probably mid 2000s I wasn't the longest one out here.  I mean, the game has certainly changed.  When I came our here in '96 and '97 I was long, and I averaged 296.  I think there's like 30‑some‑odd guys who are averaging over 300.  So it's a totally different game now.

You know, the bigger hitters can hit the ball 320 in the air.  I don't really have that.  I can carry it 300, but that's a different gear.  They're taller, they're bigger, and most of the longer guys are 6'3".  When I was coming out here, if you were six foot you were pretty much average height, big height.  Look at Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Watson, they're all short compared to the big guys now, and they were long hitters at the time for their era.  But these guys are just bigger.

I certainly can't carry the ball that far, but I'm still one of the longer ones but not the longest by any stretch of the imagination.

And...

Q.  Following up on the length, when was it that you realized I'm not the longest guy out here anymore?  Was there a specific moment?

TIGER WOODS:  Even when I was long on TOUR, Daly was still longer.  Daly was the longest.  I believe he's the first guy to average over 300 yards.  But now that's kind of average now.  Most of the guys can hit the ball 300 yards.  Granted, we've changed equipment.  It was balata balls, 43?‑inch steel‑shafted drivers.  Now the standard driver is 45, graphite.  You're taking 60 grams out of a shaft, and the balls are much harder than they ever used to be.  You add that and the guys are bigger and stronger and faster, it's a significant jump.

From a design point of view, this is fascinating and hopefully shows how difficult it is to design strategically interesting holes for today's game.

Q.  Given that, how much have you had to maybe reinvent yourself, and how much has that gone on this year, and how gratified are you to see their results now with the wins that you've had?

TIGER WOODS:  Well, I can still get to the par‑5s.  The longer par‑4s now are, instead of being 460, now they're 520 and 540.  Those are the stout par‑4s now.  So that's changed.

What has changed, I think, quite a bit is the carry, the cover number over corners or over bunkers.  They used to be staggered at probably about 260, maybe 280 at the tops.  Now they're 300 to 320.  Those are our carry numbers on most of the holes that have been lengthened or bunkers repositioned.  So that part has changed.

But I really haven't had to reinvent how I played because I've always been one of the longer hitters on TOUR, just had to be efficient at what I do.  Having this‑‑ hitting the ball far‑‑ I hit the ball far enough to where I can get to the par‑5s, and if you take care of the par‑5s and you take care of a few more along the way, you're going to have a pretty good tournament.

Phil Not Quite Yet Part Of Padres Ownership Group

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From an unbylined FoxSports.com story on the new Padres ownership group's first press conference Wednesday that did not include Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson was prominently absent on the list of investors revealed Wednesday upon the close of the sale by former owner John Moores. Instead, it was San Diego businessman Ron Fowler and four grandsons of longtime Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers patriarch Walter O'Malley — Kevin O'Malley, Brian O'Malley, Peter Seidler and Tom Seidler — who were presented to the media.

Those new owners pooh-poohed Mickelson's absence.

"We have a spot in our group for Phil and only Phil,” Peter Seidler said, according to UTSanDiego.com. “We expect that to be finalized in two weeks."

First Look At TPC Boston's New 18th Green

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Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner and Brad Faxon along with TPC Boston superintendent Tom Brodeur will be unveiling their latest change to the host site for the Deutsche Bank Championship. It's a long overdue renovation of the 18th green, a remnant of the mostly-abandoned Arnold Palmer design and modified to match the other greens on the course that have been rebuilt (but there's still a ways to go to do all 18).

Brad Klein describes the changes to the green.

From there, the old green was miles wide, and because Tour-quality players rarely hit short (they just miss it right or left), there was little question they’d get home, Now that more of a question since the new green, 30 percent smaller and perched, brings more trouble into play, including wetlands on the right that had hardly been relevant before.

Tom Layman in the Boston Herald talks about the new green, including the square footage reduction from 6,500 to 4,100 and even talks to a few players about the change.

“It’s interesting, very interesting,” said Jason Day, who has two top-five finishes at the Deutsche Bank the past two seasons and is 88th in the FedEx Cup playoff standings entering the tournament. “I’ve talked to a couple of guys, but there’s obviously mixed thoughts. If I was a new guy and this was my first year on tour and you’ve never played the course before, 18 would just look like a tough second shot hitting into that green.

“Since it’s new, it’s obviously going to play a little harder.”

Of the 918 ranked holes on the PGA Tour last year, only 26 were easier than the 530-yard, par-5 finishing hole at TPC Boston. The scoring average was 4.5 during last year’s tournament, and it has been the lowest-scoring hole on the course ever since the event became part of the FedEx Cup playoffs in 2007.

A New England Sports Network report hosted by Alexandra Grace looks at tournament enhancements, with quite a bit of video footage looking at the new 18th along with an insightful interview of the club GM, Brad Williams.

I had the video embedded, but it automatically played the ad everytime you opened my page. So tacky, especially since the NESN owners don't have to pay Adrian, Carl and Josh's salaries any longer!

For more on the TPC Boston, including before-after shots of other holes and analysis from last year when I was at the event, check out the Topics page for TPC Boston.

Brandel: "Society has changed, and golf has to adapt."

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Bob Young captures the highlights of a Brandel Chamblee ad campaign for Scottsdale Golf. He touches on a variety of topics in his usual way, including Tiger and the state of the game.

"There is a lot wrong with where golf has gone. The game has become too expensive, in my opinion. And golf-course architecture is responsible for a lot of that. Courses are too ornate and difficult.

"People fell in love with golf architecture that makes the game no fun. Courses should be interesting, not hard. They should be for enjoyment and competition.

"We should be building courses with three- to six-hole loops so people can come out and pay to play three holes or six or nine or 12."

"And there needs to be a more aggressive campaign to get more women and juniors involved in golf. I think larger holes cut on the opposite side of the green from the other hole is a way to do that, and building junior tees 150 yards from the green would do that.

Deutsche Bank Extends To 2016

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Another impressive job by the PGA Tour brass to get a prominent (and slightly troubled) sponsor to re-up, this time Deutsche Bank through 2016 for the playoff event where relations have had their ups and downs.

Michael Whitmer says the contracts were signed Wednesday.

For Immediate Release:

NORTON, Mass. – The PGA TOUR and Deutsche Bank today announced that the global banking firm has extended its sponsorship of the Deutsche Bank Championship by four years, through 2016. The announcement comes as the tournament, the second of four FedExCup Playoff events, celebrates its 10th anniversary this week.

Deutsche Bank has been title sponsor since the tournament’s Labor Day Weekend debut at TPC Boston in 2003. EMC Corporation also has renewed as the local presenting sponsor through 2016. 

“We are extremely proud of the success and positive impact the Deutsche Bank Championship has had over these first 10 years,” said Seth Waugh, CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas. “The tournament's growth and ascension to the FedExCup Playoffs is a testament to the great fans of New England and terrific partnership with the PGA TOUR and Tiger Woods Foundation, as well as EMC as the local presenting sponsor. We are delighted to announce the continuation of our title sponsorship through 2016.”

Since its inception, the Deutsche Bank Championship has generated more than $20 million for charity. The Tiger Woods Foundation serves as the tournament’s host organization and primary beneficiary and the event also benefits many charities throughout New England via various events, programs and its Birdies for Charity initiative.  
“Deutsche Bank has been a valuable partner of the PGA TOUR and the Tiger Woods Foundation over the past decade and has helped to generate a significant impact on the region’s economy and charities through its sponsorship of the Deutsche Bank Championship,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “With today’s announcement, the Deutsche Bank Championship will continue its positive influence throughout the region and maintain its important role in the FedExCup Playoffs. We sincerely thank and congratulate Deutsche Bank for this new four-year commitment.”

Medinah Rounding Into Shape, Slowly

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Sean Jensen visits Medinah for an update where the fairways are finally getting a break from being played "aggressively" by members and guests according to director of golf course operations Curtis Tyrrell.

The PGA's Kerry Haigh recently paid a visit and is only concerned with the fairway conditions, which should thrive with cooler weather and minimal play since the course was closed on August 20th.

The fairways are his only concern because of a combination of wear and tear, as well as weather. Tyrrell said the different types of grass at Medinah ideally grow at a soil temperature of around 50 to 65 degrees. But with a hot June and July — including a stretch of 45 days when the soil temperature was over 80 — the fairways, in particular, took a beating.

‘‘Rain would help and some cooler temperatures, and if we have one of those great Chicago Septembers, we’ll be just fine,’’ said Michael Belot, the director of the 2012 Ryder Cup. ‘‘The course will be in phenomenal shape.’’

Added Tyrrell, ‘‘The fairways are really filled in.’’

A nice video report features Tyrrell talking about tree removal and Rees Jones' renovation of Medinah.

“I’ve got a high school diploma. What else am I going to do?

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Michael Whitmer talks to players about what a change in the rules would mean for those anchoring the putter to their body and gets this nice bit of self-deprecating humor from Carl Pettersson.

Pettersson estimates he’s spent “10,000 hours, 15,000 hours” practicing with a club he’s used for 15 years. If the club is banned, could he adapt?

“Would I adapt? Well, I’d have to,” Pettersson said. “I’ve got a high school diploma. What else am I going to do?

Kasich: "Joe Biden told me that he was a good golfer. And I’ve played golf with Joe Biden, I can tell you that’s not true."

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Arlette Saenz on Ohio Governor John Kasich's jab at Vice President Joe Biden during the GOP convention, which I read about on Twitter and figured was said in classic golfer-to-golfer trash talk after the team of Kasich-Biden reportedly lost to Obama-Boehner. But the video is a bit creepy. He really is angry about Joe's game!

“Folks, let me tell you this – Joe Biden disputes a lot of those facts, but Joe Biden told me that he was a good golfer. And I’ve played golf with Joe Biden, I can tell you that’s not true, as well as all of the other things that he says,” Kasich said Tuesday at the Republican convention.

Rachel Weinter and Paul Kane note that Kasich's remarks also broke the agreed-upon parameters of last summer's golf summit  inspired by Golf Digest and carried out with class by all parties. Until now.

Still, Kasich’s comments appear to have broken the code of last year’s golf summit, for which all sides agreed not to discuss what happened on the course other than to say that the Obama-Biden team won its $2 bet. When Obama gave a joint address to Congress three months later, Boehner and Biden were caught on a live mic before the speech discussing the speaker’s sub-par round of golf during the August recess at a resort course in Nebraska. 

The video:

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

Greg Norman Survives Scary Jet Landing; Vows To Keep Flying Private

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Tim Rosaforte fills us in on the text from Greg Norman after the former Presidents Cup Captain survived a harrowing private jet malfunction en route to Geneva Airport. He was heading there for the Omega European Masters.

Anyway, the Shark is fine, a good time wasn't had by all and he's not about to be seen flying commercial anytime soon.  

Tavistock Cup Angling To Be Even More Obnoxious In '13

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The, eh-em, charity event that is the Tavistock Cup will include two more teams helicoptering in and depriving some PGA Tour event of entrants in 2013, reports Jason Sobel, who is undoubtedly working the phones knowing how badly we are dying to find out which rich guy's club will be supplying tour pros in ugly uniforms.

More importantly, what uniforms will the media wear now that there are more teams?