Forecasters Think UK May Get Warm, Dry(ish) July

Encouraging news for the Scottish Open and Open Championship this year via The Guardian.

Also, defending Open champion Ernie Els has added next week's Scottish Open to his schedule, according to this Sky Sports report.

Links Trust Still Cracking Down On Local St. Andrews Businesses

Alistair Tait files an extensive look at the St. Andrews Links Trust's trademarking efforts and their continued demands of payment from local St. Andrews businesses that have been using the town name on their town businesses for years.

Also noteworthy in the story was the annual report revelation of $27.9 million in 2012 revenues, including $16.7 million from golf operations on operating expenses of $24.3 million.

Jargon-Cutting Through The PGA Tour's Anchoring Ban Support

Doug Ferguson's game story on the Monday news dump reminds us that Commissioner Tim Finchem said in February the tour was opposed to the new rule because there was no "overriding reason to go down that road."

And now we've gone down that road with his blessing! 

Though judging by the intial poll results, not many of you buy into the idea of extending the use of anchored putters for the amateur game, as the tour suggested.

Jason Sobel feels the PGA Tour's announcement pointed to political maneuvering, but what that is remains murky.

What can’t be argued is that there was indeed a political agenda at play here. Finchem is well versed in the strategies involved in such issues. He’s implemented them in the past with similar success and this matter was no different, as he planned three, four, five steps ahead at every checkpoint throughout the process.

It may not explain everything about this decision, but it does serve to explain how an organization that outwardly opposed an anchoring ban just a few months ago is voting in support of it this week.

Scott Michaux had less trouble interpreting the decision, saying "the tour couldn’t stop itself from sticking its nose in where it doesn’t belong and sounding pompous in the process."

It's a transparent attempt to strong-arm influence any future policy regarding equipment.

The tour clearly believes that the game and its millions of golfers around the world revolve around its hundreds of tour professionals.

I've pondered the press release for a few hours now and would conclude that Michaux has it right, with the caveat that there was also an element of face-saving in this awkward language that followed the policy board decision.

Finchem knew all along from the person he has on the USGA Rules committee that the proposed ban was going to happen, yet seems to behave as if he was surprised, prompting this absurd statement in the press release:

“It is not inconceivable that there may come a time in the future when the Policy Board determines that a rule adopted by the USGA, including in the area of equipment, may not be in the best interests of the PGA TOUR and that a local rule eliminating or modifying such a USGA rule may be appropriate."

Translation: we know from our representative on the ball and implement committee that you have a ball spec and overall distance standard rollback in mind and we can't make up our mind if we like that or not, so we'll mention something about the everyday game to show we care and to appease our friends at the PGA Of America who are opposed to any kind of distance regulation.

Which then makes this largely a blatant attempt to confuse those who are not aware of the amount of access the PGA Tour has to USGA/R&A deliberations...

“Having said that, we have been assured by the USGA that as we move forward we will have an open and effective communication process on a number of levels with the decision makers at the USGA,” Finchem added. “Importantly, this will include a direct communication between the Commissioner’s Office of the PGA TOUR and the USGA Executive Committee. Such a process will ensure that our position is fully and carefully considered and addressed in future rule making.”

Apparently the Commissioner's interactions with the USGA and R&A at the USGA Annual Meeting, PGA Show, Masters, International Golf Federation conference calls, World Golf Foundation/Hall of Fame/Players Championship meetings, Golf 20/20 meetings, First Tee gatherings, U.S. Open, Open Championship, PGA Championship and assorted other points during the first nine months of the year are not enough?

Good grief.

The USGA was asked for a comment on the PGA Tour press release and declined. Frankly, who can blame them?

Update on 2013-07-02 15:57 by Geoff

**Gary Van Sickle kicks off his always fun mailbag by taking issue with Tim Finchem's actions, writing that "Finchem and the Tour aren't there for the players. The players are there for Finchem and the Tour."

He played both sides of the fence. Like lawyers often do. Using words is just a game. You know, like the whole famous routine about the definition of the word, "is."

I'm not surprised. I know one thing about the PGA Tour: It talks a big game about how much it has raised for charity; its tournaments are a tremendous vehicle for community fundraising and, yes, they're working on their second billion. That is amazing. One of its old slogans was, "Anything's possible." There were dozens of feel-good commercials.

And then, when a player came along with a disability -- a withered leg, say -- and made it to the Tour, the Tour responded by trying to sue him into oblivion instead of making him the poster boy of hope and "Anything's Possible." Casey Martin needed a cart to play golf. He was a true underdog, a true feel-good story, and the courts upheld his right to use a cart in competition under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

So the PGA Tour didn't back up Martin, either. It talked the talk but didn't walk the walk. It fought him every step of the way and did everything it could to stop Martin. Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer and others who should be embarrassed filmed depositions speaking out against Martin. Finally, against the advice of the Tour's legal experts, Finchem appealed the case to the Supreme Court. The justices sided with Martin, proving the Tour's lawyers finally got something right.

Finchem and the Tour aren't there for the players. The players are there for Finchem and the Tour.

Update on 2013-07-02 15:59 by Geoff

**Mike Stachura explains why there is almost zero chance of a ban extension for amateurs.

Update on 2013-07-02 18:58 by Geoff

**Garry Smits has the Florida Times-Union take including this reminder:

With the Tour accepting the ban on anchoring, a number of its stars will have 30 months to find another method of putting. The list includes Masters champion Adam Scott, current British Open champion Ernie Els, 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson, 2011 PGA champion Keegan Bradley and 2010 Players champion Tim Clark.

San Diego CC Lands '17 Women's Amateur

Riviera and Bel-Air host the U.S. Amateur that year and Los Angeles Country Club the Walker Cup in 17, so why not come to southern California for the U.S. Women's Amateur.

Tod Leonard with the report and backstory of how Dean Knuth for the ball rolling.

Update On Muirfield Conditions Heading Into The Open

3rd hole fairway view in 2012 (click image to enlarge)John Huggan played Muirfield recently, says the rough is not quite as horrid as rumored, but confirms the R&A's "Treatment" has included a beefing up of the 377-yard third hole to ensure that strategy is non-existent.

Traditionally, this semi-blind par-4 has required the tee-shot to be placed at least left-of-center to allow a look at the flag. Unfortunately, the ideal spot -- one your correspondent has been aiming at for the last four decades or so -- is suddenly covered in thick rough that reduced this mere mortal to a mindless hack back into play. By my estimation, around seven or eight yards of fairway have been eliminated, on both sides, left and right.

These Guys Are Not The Brightest Files: Kris Blanks Brings Gun And Ammo To TSA Edition

Thanks to WeiUnderPar for spotting Chris Alcantara's account of PGA Tour player Kris Blanks forgetting the loaded gun in his backpack as he went through security at Palm Beach International.

Just after 6 a.m. Sunday, Kristoffer Blanks, was on his way to catch a plane headed to Charlotte, N.C., when he entered an airport security checkpoint and placed his black backpack onto an X-ray conveyor belt.

As the bag went through screening, a Transportation Safety Administration officer found a .40-caliber Glock 27 with eight rounds in the magazine, a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report said.

Deputies responded to the airport, took Blanks’ bag and arrested him on charges of carrying a concealed weapon.

During an interview with deputies, Blanks said he forgot to take his gun out of the bag after he returned home from a road trip the week before, the report said. He added he did not have a concealed weapons permit.

But other than that, everything was kosher!

Kris hasn't mentioned the incident on his Twitter account...yet.

Instant Poll: Should Governing Bodies Adopt PGA Tour's Advice And Extend Anchoring Ban For Amateurs To 2024?

In light of the PGA Tour's intriguing press release buried lede about taking a page from the groove rule change and adopting the anchored putting ban in 2024 for amateur play, what do you think?

Should the USGA/R&A extend the anchored putting ban to 2024 for amateur golfers?
	Yes
	No
	Unsure
pollcode.com free polls

PGA Tour Going Along With Anchoring Ban in 2016, Wants Extension For Amateurs

For Immediate Release and on a Monday too!

PGA TOUR Policy Board Allows USGA’s Ban on Anchored Strokes

Rule 14-1b will go into effect in PGA TOUR competition beginning January 1, 2016

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL (July 1, 2013) – The PGA TOUR Policy Board today acknowledged that the USGA’s ban on anchored strokes, known as Rule 14-1b, will apply to PGA TOUR competitions beginning on January 1, 2016. In making this acknowledgement, the Policy Board also passed a resolution strongly recommending, along with the PGA of America, that the USGA consider extending the time period in which amateurs would be permitted to utilize anchored strokes beyond January 1, 2016.

PGA TOUR competitions are conducted in accordance with the USGA Rules of Golf. However, the Policy Board reserves the right to make modifications for PGA TOUR competitions if it deems it appropriate.

“In making its decision, the Policy Board recognized that there are still varying opinions among our membership, but ultimately concluded that while it is an important issue, a ban on anchored strokes would not fundamentally affect a strong presentation of our competitions or the overall success of the PGA TOUR,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said.

"Would not affect a strong presentation of our competitions?" Nothing like a little authentic frontier gibberish!

“The Board also was of the opinion that having a single set of rules on acceptable strokes applicable to all professional competitions worldwide was desirable and would avoid confusion.”

The USGA and R&A jointly announced the proposed ban on anchored strokes in November 2012; then, following a “comment period,” the governing bodies announced on May 21, 2013 that the ban would go into effect on January 1, 2016.

With respect to golf at the recreational level, the Policy Board noted that the USGA followed a similar course with respect to groove configurations on golf clubs in 2008 where the new groove configurations rule became applicable for elite play in 2010, while the rule does not apply to recreational play until 2024.

“The Policy Board continues to believe that extending the time period the ban would go into effect for amateurs would be beneficial for golf participation and the overall health of the game,” Finchem added.

So nice they are concerned for the amateur game!

“Although the Board has elected to follow the USGA in this case at the elite level, it continues to be mindful of its responsibility to review future rule changes that might be adopted by the USGA in order to determine whether they should apply to PGA TOUR competitions,” Finchem said. “It is not inconceivable that there may come a time in the future when the Policy Board determines that a rule adopted by the USGA, including in the area of equipment, may not be in the best interests of the PGA TOUR and that a local rule eliminating or modifying such a USGA rule may be appropriate.

“Having said that, we have been assured by the USGA that as we move forward we will have an open and effective communication process on a number of levels with the decision makers at the USGA,” Finchem added. “Importantly, this will include a direct communication between the Commissioner’s Office of the PGA TOUR and the USGA Executive Committee. Such a process will ensure that our position is fully and carefully considered and addressed in future rule making.”

Trainwreck? Architects Selecting Their World Top 100

Golf Course Architecture magazine has surveyed 240 golf architects from 28 countries to select their World Top 100 courses and the first signs of a trouble came with the release of courses 92-100.

The amazing Fishers Island, which the Golf Digest panel puts in the top 10 American courses, is lumped in with design-light places like Shadow Creek, Torrey Pines (South) and Peachtree.

The final 10 will be released by July 12th.

Inbee On Way To Grand Slam...Or Something Amazingly Historic

Randall Mell with some great behind-the-scenes stuff from Inbee Park as the seemingly cool cat was just like all of the perpetual worriers who've won majors, fretting away her Saturday night away en route to a positively stunning third-straight major win in the U.S. Women's Open.

Unable to sleep, Park opened the door of her bedroom and waved for her mother to come inside for a talk. Park confessed she was feeling nervous trying to become the first player since Babe Zaharias in 1950 to win the first three majors in a season. She confessed that she was worried about letting down friends and fellow South Koreans. She confessed she was worried about disappointing her family.

LPGA has designated the Evian Championship in September a major.

Beth Ann Baldry on the possibility of Park winning the Women's British at St. Andrews (talk about stars aligning...), but not a true "Grand Slam" because the LPGA de$ignated the Evian Championship in September a fifth major.

This year, however, there are five major championships up for grabs, and according to golf historian Martin Davis, that means she needs to win all five to, by definition, win the Grand Slam.

The term "grand slam" originates from bridge, a card game in which players win tricks. When someone clears the table, they earn 13 tricks, or a "grand slam." Bridge was quite popular around the time Bobby Jones won the four biggest tournaments of his era in 1930, prompting The Atlanta Journal's O.B. Keeler to use the bridge term to famously describe Jones’ improbable feat.

“It doesn’t refer to four,” Davis said. “It refers to running the table.”

John Strege looks at the putting mastery that is key to Park's success.

Putting guru Dave Stockton believes that good putting begins with the mind, not the mechanics, and that Park "mentally is in a league of her own out there," he said. "What I love that I see is her total lack of being affected by where she stands. She's very calm, very composed and it serves her well. The rhythm with her stroke and throughout the whole swing, most of the time in a U.S. Open you see others losing that. But she's withstood it really, really well. I think it's because of that demeanor that no shot is more important than the last one or a future one. She doesn't change her routine depending on the pressure."

Inbee will be making the rounds Monday morning with her third major championship trophy of 2013. Courtesy of the LPGA media relations folks:

7:30 a.m. – Golf Channel’s Morning Drive
8:30 a.m. – NBC’s Today Show
9:30 a.m. – ESPN’s Sportscenter

The champion's post-round interview highlights from the USGA:



The USGA's recap helmed by Senior Southampton Correspondent Hunki Yun:

NY Club Calls The Police On Breast-Feeding Mother!

Thanks to Pete Finch for Tweeting this fantastic Kate Briquelet NY Post story on the good folks at Metropolis Country Club throwing such a tizzy over a breast-feeding guest from Belgium that they called the police who evacuated the premises and lost their collective minds over a backpack.

Nice lede from Kate...

What a bunch of boobs!

This is particularly good fun:

When Remans, on the verge of tears, questioned why terrorists would breast-feed at a ritzy club, the cop allegedly replied, “In Sri Lanka, babies are used by terrorists.” 

Minutes later, the Greenburgh Police Department arrived.

Detective Scott Harding allegedly yelled, “Close the doors!” and two other diners were told to leave the terrace.

“He was walking as if he was acting in a Western movie,” Neijens said. “He had one hand on his gun, one hand on his Taser.”

Neijens said the officer warned the couple they were trespassing and said some people at the club thought they were terrorists because of their black backpack.

Punters Beware: Casey Wins Irish Open

Paul Casey's conveniently now at 40-1 and the former strong contender at the 2010 Open Championship ended a two-year drought in winning the Irish Open convincingly over Robert Rock.

Alistair Tait reports on Casey's mental and physical leap that has come after two years of struggle:

“Psychologically this is huge,” Casey said. “It feels like a first win again. I have struggled with the confidence and this is a huge relief knowing I am moving in the right direction.

“I have great golf in me for 10 years plus. This is a massive confidence boost.”

Jessica Korda Dumps Caddie Mid-U.S. Open Round For BF

Randall Mell reports a real oy veyer from the third round of the U.S. Women's Open at Sebonack.

Korda shot a 5-over 40 on the front nine. She shot a 36 on the back nine with her boyfriend on her bag. By day's end, she was tied for sixth.

“The first few holes, I was very shaky, but my boyfriend/caddie kept me very calm out there, and kept it very light,” Korda said. “And it was kind of funny seeing him fumble over yardage. Like I said, it just kept it very light out there.”

Korda said her boyfriend will remain on the bag Sunday, but he won’t continue to caddie longterm.

“I think everybody has problems every week,” Korda said of the disagreements with Gilroyed. “You blame the caddie, the caddie blames you. It's just up in the air.  I just felt like enough was enough today. I just wasn't mentally ready for it.”

Her post round interview: