Videos: TPC Trying To Get Out From Under Downpours

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Garry Smits calls them a "strange few days" and the videos would seem to confirm freakish weather in advance of The Players where a cool spring had already been causing trouble.

Video of the 18th fairway:



Meanwhile, if the grass growing thing doesn't work out for TPC Sawgrass Agronomy team member Lucas Andrews, he's got the accent and desire to let his hair get messy in high winds to be a CNN hurricane correspondent, as evidenced by the latest post on the TPC Sawgrass Agronomy blog.

“It wasn’t a shining Friday for Fred Ridley and he has at his disposal the best rules officials in golf."

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David Eger's comment in today's Charlotte Observer story by Ron Green Jr. about sums up the sentiment I've heard most from the rules community in the story that won't go away: Tiger's Friday Masters drop.

“It wasn’t a shining Friday for Fred Ridley and he has at his disposal the best rules officials in golf,” Eger said. “I’m sure he had more resources available to him than I had sitting at home with my digital recorder playing it back. For the head guy not to use all the resources available to him is disappointing.”

Meanwhile, thanks to reader Chris for tipping me to the Jerry Tarde's just-posted July Golf Digest column stirring up what seems like a non-issue to many at this point: Tiger's decision to keep playing the 2013 Masters. Tarde goes with the what if angle and it's certainly a provocative take.

The decision to, in effect, disqualify himself would go down as one of the legendary gestures of sportsmanship alongside Nicklaus conceding Tony Jacklin the two-foot putt that would tie the 1969 Ryder Cup and German long-jumper Luz Long advising Jesse Owens to start his long jump short of the foul line to ensure qualifying for the final after fouling in his first two attempts at the 1936 Summer Olympics. (Long would go on to get the silver to Owens' gold.) 

Taylor Made's First Quarter '13: Up 13%

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Some rather huge numbers in a down golf economy.

For Immediate Release:

TAYLORMADE-ADIDAS GOLF REPORTS STRONG Q1 2013

Global Industry Dominance Continues with Strong Metalwood, Iron and Footwear Growth

CARLSBAD, CALIF. (May 3, 2013) – TaylorMade-adidas Golf (TMaG), the largest and most profitable golf equipment, apparel and footwear company in the world, today announced strong Q1 2013 results of $559 million (€423 million), representing  an increase of 13% on a currency-neutral basis. Additionally, TMaG recorded significant currency-neutral, year-over-year growth in nearly every category in Q1, including metalwoods (+8%), irons (+35%), balls (+21%), and footwear (+23%).  Regionally, the U.S., which accounts for approximately half of TMaG’s global sales, enjoyed the strongest market growth with sales up +21% year-over-year.

TMaG’s ongoing success is a direct product of the company’s expanding global dominance in the golf equipment, footwear and apparel industries, as evidenced by numerous recent achievements:
•       The R1 driver holds the No.1 position in U.S. sales.1
•       RocketBladez irons, launched to market last November, is far and away the top-selling iron in the U.S.2
•       RBZ and RBZ Stage 2 fairway woods and Rescue hybrids currently rank No. 1 and No. 2 in U.S. sales.3
•       TaylorMade is the No. 1 driver and fairway wood brand on the world’s six major professional golf tours: PGA, European, Champions, Japan, LPGA and Web.com.
•       adizero footwear, launched in January, is having remarkable success around the world, making it the best-selling golf shoe in company history.

Additionally, TMaG’s acquisition of Adams Golf last year offers a significant opportunity for future growth.  Adams has increased its presence on the PGA TOUR by adding Robert Garrigus and Jeff Overton to a Tour Staff that already includes Aaron Baddeley, Tom Watson, Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry, Yani Tseng and Brittany Lincicome.  Adams is the No. 1 hybrid brand on the PGA, Champions, and Web.com Tours.
 
TMaG’s first quarter success is all the more impressive given that an unusually cold spring in the northern United States has delayed the start of the golf season for hundreds of thousands of golfers, stunting equipment sales significantly.
 
“Last year was our best ever in terms of sales, so to start this year with a 13% increase over last year’s first quarter is very satisfying,” said Mark King, CEO and President.

Bummer: Venturi Not Well Enough To Make HOF Induction

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Ed Sherman talks to Jim Nantz, who will be inducting Ken Venturi into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Monday without his former sidekick able to make the journey due to health issues.

Nantz said the acceptance speech will be “very spare” in the hope that Venturi can return in 2014 and speak on his own behalf.

“We’re going to tell people that we want Ken to be making this talk,” Nantz said. “We were thinking if he didn’t make it to the Hall of Fame, it would crush him. He would have a hard time recovering. But once he hears he has a chance to come back in ’14 and give that speech, he’ll be OK. God willing, he’ll be there.”

Eger: Not Likely To Pick Up The Phone Again

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In case you were still unclear on the completely harmless effort by David Eger to save Tiger from a 2013 Masters DQ for signing an incorrect card and the questionable response to Eger's call from Masters championship chair Fred Ridley in responding to assistance from an outside agency of Eger's stature, check out this Golf Central interview with Eger.

It won't be up long, but the key quotes are:

"I wouldn't have called if I wasn't 100 percent certain."

"First time I've ever called."

"With the outcome, I probably wouldn't call again."

Pac 12 Championship: Cal Men Win 10th Tournament!

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Cal held off UCLA to win the 2013 Pac 12 Championship by nine strokes. The win unofficially ties them with the 1985-86 Oklahoma State squad for most victories in a season by a college golf team, with two events to go.

Cal Senior Max Homa's 9-under 271 held off teammate and U.S. Amateur runner-up Michael Weaver by five strokes. After the round, host club Los Angeles Country Club presented Homa with a framed lithograph that included a plaque commemorating his opening round and course record 61.

A few images from the day:

Players: Quail Hollow Greens Victim Of 24/7 Media

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It's the media conjuring up a story, say a few players quoted by Jason Sobel on the eve of the Wells Fargo Championship opening round.

“You know, in the age that you guys [in the media] have to talk about something 24 hours a day,” Joe Ogilvie explained, “you’ve got to come up with something.”

“Once the tournament starts, I think all of that stuff will stop and it will be about the tournament, about the shots and the scoring,” said Mickelson. “We’ll see what’s made this tournament great in the past and it won’t be an issue. But I think leading up it will be the talk, because we haven’t had the actual action to discuss yet.”

“One thing I’ve realized is that there’s always a new story,” Trevor Immelman added. “There’s a new story every week. Just when you think you’re going to be able to latch onto something and wear it out for a few months, something else happens. It’s amazing to me. I think it’s just one of those things that we work through and next week there will be another story.”

We'll see what the boys say after they've posted their first round scores!

Juding by this image from Jeff Sisner of the Charlotte Observer from his pro-am slideshow, this is more than just a story whipped up by the 24/7 press.