Kraft Nabisco Thru 36: Another Anchorer Contends In A Major

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John Strege tells us about England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff, a belly putter since November, 2011 who doesn't seem too concerned about a possible ban on anchoring.

"If they do decide to ban it, it wouldn't be a huge issue for me," she said, following a round of even-par 72 on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club. "I'd have to spend a couple months really working out with a short putter, but it wouldn't be a huge deal.

"Honestly, I've said this a lot of times, but all you have to do is look at my putting stats to know it's not a huge advantage."

Ewart is three back of Inbee Park who leads at -7.

Bubba Viral Video Week Continues, Dubsdread Crash Visit Edition

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Thanks to reader Scott for vetting and approving what could be a disaster but turns out to be great fun: ESPN.com's Michael Collins and Bubba Watson make a surprise visit to Orlando's Dubsdread. Bubba is using a pull cart for the first time, playing lefty with right handed clubs, showa up on the first tee with Collins and an entourage of carts along with men carrying large HD video cameras.

Great to see Bubba in an old Travis Matthew shirt too. Oh wait, isn't he with…

Nantz's Crazy Busy Season Is Here...

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Ed Sherman talks about Jim Nantz's one-two punch of working the NCAA Final Four and the Masters.

Though he doesn't reveal how he gets to Augusta so quickly after the national title game, we're going to assume NetJets is in the Hello Friends Hall of Fame.

Nantz operates at a frenetic pace as he tries to talk to as many players as he can. The biggest obstacle, he says, will be the players wanting to talk to him about the NCAA tournament instead of chatting about themselves.

“I’m not going there to observe the birds and check out the flora,” Nantz said. “I’m looking for fresh information. I’m running the whole time. I don’t sit down for a meal that week.”

Bubba Wants To Bring The Hovercraft To Isleworth

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I was hoping the defending champion would threaten to drive the Oakley-created golf course hovercraft down Magnolia Lane, but he has more reasonable aspirations for the landspeeder.

Brian Wacker reports.

“I’ll have to see if it’s practical to have at the house,” Watson said. “And if they’ll let me bring it on the golf course (at Isleworth).”

Merion Has An Infestation Problem!

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You might recall that the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners is not too thrilled with the USGA for using out-of-state workers to erect the 2013 U.S. Open corporate chalets and the Trophy Wives Club.

Now it seems the Brotherhood has taken their protest up a notch, setting up this inflatable rat along Haverford Road at the entrance to the Haverford College entrance. Reader AF drove by today and snapped these photos.


Mary Lou, any chance we could get a smaller version of these in the merchandise tent? Maybe wearing a Merion-logoed sweater vest? You know, for the kids. Just typing out loud here...

"The 12th Condition of Competition could be golf’s great compromise."

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PGA of America President Ted Bishop expands on the "12th Condition of Competition" idea he talked about on last week's State of the Game podcast where the USGA and R&A would adopt this to allow for anchoring say, on the Champions Tour. Or in the Former Yippers Open.

He says the idea came from current USGA President Glen Nager during a buddies bonding trip at Augusta. Warms your heart, I know!

If the USGA would drop the proposed Rule 14-1b and instead, make the ban on anchoring a Condition of Competition in the Rule Book, all entities in golf could handle it the way they want. Rule 33-1 provides, “The Committee must establish conditions under which a competition is to be played.”

Currently, there are eleven (11) Conditions of Competition in the Rules of Golf. These conditions include matters which are not appropriate to deal with in the rules of the game. They include such matters as Specification of Clubs and the Ball; Caddies; Pace of Play and Suspension of Play; Practice, Advice, Anti-Doping, etc. These Conditions of Competition are options available to any entity who is conducting an event.

And why is the idea, a seemingly good one in many respects, dead on arrival?

Is a 12th Condition of Competition a perfect solution? Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Tim Clark, Adam Scott and Carl Petterson will say no. At least, they would get to anchor their long putters in all but maybe three events each year- the U.S. Open, the British Open and maybe The Masters.

That's the killer. If onef ot eh four majors already telegraphs that they wouldn't be on board, it's impossible for the governing bodies go through with this, no?

Bubba Mum On Masters Menu: "There's gonna be food"

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Ashley Mayo reports that details are sketchy, but at least one diner will go home happy.

"There's gonna be food," he said, tight-lipped. He admitted that it took him "about 30 seconds" to come up with the menu. "I went with what I wanted. I couldn't care less about the other people."

Punters take note: Bubba's timeless and very green-jacket friendly all-white outfit from last year is not part of his scripted attire for 2013.

The USGA Is Hiring!

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This probably also means some people were fired, and some retired.

No shortage of jobs to pick from if you are looking to work For the good of the game(R):

Assistant Director/Director, Broadcasting
Executive Assistant to the Executive Director
Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant to Sr. Managing Directors
Director, Regional Affairs - Northeast Region
Director, Regional Affairs - West Region
Director, Regional Affairs - Great Lakes Region
Jr. Research Engineer
Director, Strategic Projects
Customer Service Representative, Merchandising & Licensing
Manager, Employment/Recruiting, Human Resources

Think we need to fill that one first!

Manager, Membership Data Warehouse & Analytics
Assistant Manager, Membership Data Warehouse & Digital Marketing Support
Manager, Partnerships
Senior Application/Web Developer, Information Technologies