Forget The Tiger-Visiting-Lindsey-Vonn-In-Salzburg-Business, What's With The Yankees Cap?

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If you are really bored you can translate this Salzburger Nachrichten story (with photos) of Tiger Woods arriving in Salzburg Sunday to (A) visit Mozart's birthplace (B) continue his ongoing tour to visit all of the filming locations for The Sound of Music or (C) visit the sister of his kids' ski instructor and Olympic skiier, Lindsey Vonn.

All of the explanations work for me. I guess you could throw in the beautiful weather this time of year, too.

What doesn't work, as a Dodgers fan who was under the impression that Tiger was a devoted Dodgerphile, is the Yankees cap.

EA's Absurdly Cool "Masters Historic Edition"

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Electronic Arts announced a special edition of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 and for those of us fascinated by Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones' original Augusta National design, the attention to detail looks amazing.

For Immediate Release:

Electronic Arts Inc., announced today that fans will be able to step back in time with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition. For the first time ever, users will experience Augusta National Golf Club as it was when the course played host to the very first Masters Tournament - what was known in 1934 as the Inaugural Augusta National Invitation Tournament.

The development of this exclusive feature was researched with meticulous detail in an effort to re-create the original 1931 design of world-renowned golf course architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie and legendary golfer Bobby Jones.

"From the very beginning, our relationship with the Masters Tournament has been built around our ability to bring a unique and authentic experience to a new and younger demographic of potential golfers," Mike Taramykin, Vice President of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR said. "From unprecedented access to the Augusta National archives, to in-depth discussions with golf historians - and even our own internal research into the sport in the 1930s - The Masters Historic Edition is the next step in bringing gamers an exciting and distinctive glimpse into the game of golf."

Game play will place players in a 1934 environment, which takes into account everything from the clothing to the equipment. On the golf course, users will discover a new way to enjoy the timeless layout, and as it would have played when the first Tournament field competed in the Club's inaugural invitational. This includes everything from the golf course's nines being reversed to its original green contours and speeds.

In addition to this unique feature, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition will also include:

    •    A complete copy of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14
    •    A walk through of the original 1934 layout of Augusta National
    •    The present-day Augusta National Golf Club course
    •    Augusta National's world-class Tournament Practice Facility
    •    Augusta National's Par 3 course
    •    Green Jacket ceremony
    •    Augusta, the Song, as heard during the Masters Tournament television broadcast

In total, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition will include all 20 courses available in the standard edition and the four additional championship courses: Royal County Down, Royal Melbourne, Sheshan and TPC Blue Monster at Doral.

The preview video:

Health Matters Shocker: Finchem Expresses Controversial Opinion!

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So as with last year, the Clinton Foundation's "Health Matters" conference at La Quinta Resort was filled with lots of interesting and inspirational messages about health and fitness. This year's edition seemed a bit wonkier and probably played that way on the live stream if you were so bold as to watch. The crowd seemed less eclectic and a tad more corporate. Several panels seemed aimed a bit more at the corporate and community sector just as Clinton had suggested he was hoping would happen after everyone took their marching orders in 2012.

Golf was well represented again even though Annika Sorenstam and Notah Begay were quite inspirational last year. However, with one Humana Challenge (aka the Bob Hope Classic) under their belts, Clinton and Commissioner Tim Finchem seemed more at ease in discussing the tournament's role in elevation discussion of health matters. Gary Player was a tremendous natural fit for the Clinton message of preventative behavior to help improve American health and reduce health care costs. Still, it would be nice to see one or two active players make the effort to appear.

However, the stunning takeaway of the day came during the panel session including Commissioner Finchem. After his introductory remarks spiced up with all the usual jargon (activate definitely word du jour), the Commish had nothing to say until the topic of taxing certain bad behavior-related products was mentioned by panel moderator Chelsea Clinton.

As I Tweeted once I'd gotten up from my seat and cleaned up the mess of papers that went flying after I fell over, Commissioner Controversy not only said he would support "heavy taxation" on tobacco products, but that he'd support an "all out ban."

Yes, the same man who resisted drug testing on the PGA Tour, would ban smoking in the United States if he had his druthers!  Of course, he'll be tickled pink to know I wholeheartedly support his stance. Call any time Tim. Don't be a stranger. I'm here for you, brother.

Rory & Tiger Show; Abu Dhabi TV Times

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Hey, I just copy and paste this stuff from Golf Channel, but here are their times for the HSBC from Abu Dhabi where Tiger, Rory and many other big names kick off their 2013 season. Another great night to live on the west coast!

Tiger and Rory are paired together as well, going early/late.

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
Dates: Jan. 16-20
Venue: Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
                
Airtimes (Eastern):   
Wednesday     10:30 p.m.-8 a.m. (Live)
Thursday         10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. / 11 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Round One Replay)
Friday              2:30-8 a.m. (Live) / 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. / 1:30-4 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday          4-8 a.m. (Live) / 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. / 1:30-4 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday            4- 8 a.m. (Live) / 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. / 1:30-4 a.m. (Replay)
                                                                                             
Tournament Field Notes:

- Woods and McIlroy Make 2013 Debuts – The world’s number one and two players, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, begin their 2013 season at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

- Headlining the Field – The field also includes Ernie Els, Martin Kaymer, Jason Dufner, Justin Rose, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Branden Grace, Thomas Bjorn, Francesco Molinari, Peter Hanson, Edoardo Molinari, Colin Montgomerie, Matteo Manassero, Henrik Stenson, Alexander Noren, Paul Casey, Robert Rock and Todd Hamilton.

Twitter, Silence Drove McGinley's Selection

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Jason Sobel says Twitter and specifically, player tweets, led to Paul McGinley's appointment as 2014 European Ryder Cup Captain.

In the 48 hours prior to the announcement, three members of Europe’s team – the three most vital members of the team, it could be argued – publicly voiced their support for McGinley through social media.

Will Gray compiles (overjoyed its not Monty) player Tweets in reaction to the announcement.

Ewan Murray says McGinley's quiet approach to the politicking got him the job.

"It is amazing how much you learn when you listen and don't talk," he said. "I knew I had the support of the players and I knew my hand was strong. I felt the more I said, my chances would lessen."

And John Huggan says that after all the campaigning the decision was reached pretty easily and quickly.

Five men were considered: Sandy Lyle, Colin Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Paul Lawrie and McGinley.

"But we are 100 percent behind this captain," said Thomas Bjorn, chairman of the 15-strong committee. "It was obvious very early that a consensus was forming. We had all listened to the players on tour and it was obvious who they wanted to represent them. In the end, it was a unanimous decision and we are all 100 percent behind him."

"A gathering that will be a bit like 12 Angry Men but with three more bodies and couple of dodgy sweaters"

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That's Nick Rodgers' description of the European Tour tournament committee meeting that will decide the 2014 Ryder Cup captain Tuesday night.

Ewan Murray sums up the last minute tweeting by players on Paul McGinley's behalf and tells us when to start watching for gray smoke from the meeting room.

Derek Lawrenson says it would be a ludicrous over-reaction to the Tom Watson selection to go with Monty over McGinley.

I'll be in the Clinton Foundation "Health Matters" conference sessions all day, but I will be keeping an eye on the proceedings from Abu Dhabi!

Alert: Watching Clinton Health Matters Stream (RSVP Link)

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I'll be attending the Clinton Foundation's Health Matters conference Tuesday as part of the Humana Challenge. The lineup is interesting once again. It appears you can watch the stream of the various events. The standouts for golfers are copied below.

Just go to this link and "RSVP" with an email address so you can watch.

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Access to Healthy Lifestyles

Speakers
Framing Speaker: Dr. Deepak Chopra, Founder, The Chopra Foundation
Featured Pledge: Barbra Streisand, Philanthropist and Actress

Panel
Moderator: Chelsea Clinton, Board Member, William J. Clinton Foundation
Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR Commissioner
Dr. C. Noel Bairey Merz, Director, Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center
Dr. Dean Ornish, Founder and President, Preventive Medicine Research Institute
Dr. David Satcher, Director, Satcher Health Leadership Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine; 16th Surgeon General of the United States
Ryan Sistare, Renaissance Hotel Complex General Manager, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Andrea Thomas, Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Walmart

3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Living Healthy

Speakers
Framing Speaker: Haile Thomas, Youth Advisory Board, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Featured Pledge: Casey Wasserman, Chairman and CEO, Wasserman Media Group
Jen Kessy, U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist, Beach Volleyball
April Ross, Professional American Beach Volleyball
Rebecca Soni, Professional American Beach Volleyball

Panel
Moderator: Jillian Michaels, Fitness Expert and Wellness Coach
Dan Buettner, Founder, Blue Zones
Gary Player, International Ambassador of Golf
Mike Roberts, CEO, LYFE Kitchen Restaurants
Kristin Armstrong Savola, 2x Olympic Gold Medal Cyclist
Haile Thomas, Youth Advisory Board, Alliance for a Healthier Generation

5:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Closing Remarks by President Bill Clinton