The Donald Honored, Not Thrilled With Ranking Debut

He also tells Josh Sens that Pine Hill is better than Pine Valley and that he settled on architect Martin Hawtree because R&A Chief Inspector Peter Dawson ranked him first, second and third when recommending architects.

Hawtree, you may recall, carries out Dawson's Open venue "Treatments" to mask regulatory abstinence.

DT: I got Dr. Martin Hawtree to design it. I went to Peter Dawson of the R&A and I asked him who his top architect choices were. He said his first was Martin Hawtree, and that after that he’d go with Martin Hawtree, and Martin Hawtree. He’s just been incredible. When you see the work he did there, you can’t believe it. It’s set in these giant dunes, but the course is very easy to walk, which is difficult to do in land like this. There are beautiful footpaths that wind through the dunes and they’re surrounded by these incredible high grasses, but you don’t have to go up and down a lot of hills. The purpose of the dunes is to protect you from the weather, so when you’re playing the course, it can feel still even though there are 50 mph winds swirling just above you.

Punters Beware: Plodders May Thrive At Oak Hill

Steve DiMeglio goes out on the course Monday and returns to file a story suggesting the rough will be the story at this week's PGA Championship.

And not just because it's thick and tall. Keegan Bradley warned:

"Look at this. The ball is 6 inches off the ground," Bradley said Monday as he placed his 60-degree wedge near the ball in the thick rough. "You're going to see a lot of whiffs this week. Guys are going to go straight under the ball."

Of course, the ball also could end up all the way at the bottom of the thick grass.

And this from Phil:

"I'm sure they're going to cut some of it, but it was extremely thick, and so therefore the key to that course is going to be two things," Mickelson said "One is the fairway; you've got to hit fairways. You can leave yourself further back, but you've got to hit fairways. And two is Donald Ross courses, the greens tend to be a little bit more severe back to front, and I think you're going to have to leave it underneath the hole. Chipping from behind the greens it's almost impossible to get it close."

Sounds exiting!

Update on 2013-08-06 19:18 by Geoff

**I've just toured six holes, have 12 more to go and while the rough is dense and mean, there is plenty of forgiveness in the greens and landing areas for scoring. More later with some great insights from Tiger and Phil.

Video: Nobilo Explains Oak Hill's Graduated Rough

I'll get a firsthand look Tuesday but based on some of the Tweeted photographs and looking at Frank Nobilo's analysis of the rough and select holes I feel like we're in for a repeat of the high rough, uber-plodding golf we saw the last time the PGA was at Oak Hill.

Bring Back The PGA Championship Long Drive Contest!

While we wait for the onslaught of remembrances celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Shaun Micheel's unforgettable win over Chad Campbell in the 2003 PGA at Oak Hill--goosebumps just typing that--Jason Sobel posts a super piece on Jack Nicklaus's memories of winning 1963 PGA at Oak Hill.

He reminds us that Nicklaus won the pre-event long drive contest that the PGA of America held until some time into the 1980s. And wouldn't that be a fun way to liven up Tuesday of PGA week again? Of course today's Hogan's and Snead's would never do it, but it might still be fun to see some lesser known players and maybe a few club pros have some fun.

There was also this:

He won with a mammoth drive of 341 yards and received a money clip that was engraved, “DRIVING DISTANCE WINNER.”

He remembers this because the money clip has stayed in his pocket every day for the past 50 years.

Think about that for a minute: For all of the accolades and treasures heaped upon Nicklaus during his career, the one which has remained closest to him, joining him on journeys around the world, along for the ride on experiences fit for a king, is a money clip for winning a long-drive contest.

“That drive was 341 yards, 17 inches. I do remember that, too,” he says proudly. “That was an 11‑degree wood driver, 32 ¾‑inch Dynamic Edge shaft. Everybody used the same golf ball, so nobody had a preference on what golf ball was hit.”

Man Escapes Berman: Golf Channel Lands New News Head

Reportedly having served as Chris Berman's writer and producer for many years (Sainthood eligibility...done!), Adam Hertzog has been hired from ESPN by Golf Channel to supervise their news and studio shows.

For Immediate Release:

GOLF CHANNEL HIRES VETERAN ESPN PRODUCER ADAM HERTZOG AS VICE PRESIDENT OF NEWS AND STUDIO PRODUCTIONS
 
With More Than 18 Years of Sports News Production Experience, Hertzog Most Recently was a Coordinating Producer for ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown
 
ORLANDO, Fla. (August 5, 2013) – Golf Channel announced today that Adam Hertzog will  lead the network’s News Department as Vice President of News and Studio Productions and will report to Molly Solomon, Executive Producer for Golf Channel.  Hertzog’s primary responsibilities will include Golf Channel’s daily news programs, including GOLF CENTRAL, MORNING DRIVE and the network’s signature LIVE FROM franchise from golf’s biggest events worldwide, as well as pregame/postgame platforms for Golf Channel and GOLF CHANNEL ON NBC.  Additionally, Hertzog will collaborate with teams responsible for in-studio instructional series and digital media extensions to expand the breadth and depth of Golf Channel’s high-quality content.
 
“Adam has been a driving force behind successful franchises like Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, NBA Countdown and SportsCenter, crafting his skills in producing thought-provoking studio programming,” said Solomon. “His extensive experience and innovative approach to television production, along with a huge passion for golf, will further Golf Channel’s ability to connect the world to golf through the high-quality productions our viewers expect.”
 
Hertzog’s most recent experience as coordinating producer and writer at ESPN included Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown. Additionally, Hertzog was executive producer and creator for ESPYS Countdown, which debuted in 2010, and was a Coordinating Producer for NBA Countdown on ESPN and ABC, helping launch a new format in 2011. His previous experience also includes work with ESPN Original Entertainment, HBO Sports, VH1, History Channel, after starting his career as a production assistant with ESPN in 1995.

Hertzog is leaving this...maybe Rich Lerner the impressionist will re-create this to spice up a Live From:

Bubba To Chipotle Customers: Dinner's On Me!

Thanks to reader Pete the Luddite for Tristan Thornburgh's item on Bubba Watson picking up the tab for 60 mostly strangers at Chipotle, once again revealing the place you are most likely to see PGA Tour players when they visit your town.

Caddie Paul Tesori Tweeted a photo of the receipt.

@bubbawatson made over 60 people happy they chose #chipotle tonight. pic.twitter.com/a11TuNARET

— Paul Tesori (@PaulTesori) August 2, 2013

Getting In The Mood For Oak Hill: Hole-By-Hole Slideshow

I was hoping for better, but boy did I see a lot of bunkers surrounded by rough and holes in shade. I'm trying to keep an open mind though, with views to come here and Wednesday on Golf Channel's Grey Goose 19th Hole (6 pm ET).

From GolfDigest.com and photographer Stephen Szurlej and Montana Pritchard.

Meanwhile, Donald Ross biographer Bradley Klein does his best to not get bogged down in the details in taking us hole-by-hole but it's pretty clear what he thinks of the Fazio's additions to this Ross original.

Even Insomniacs Won't Rejoice: Four More Years Of Firestone

But hey, it may seem pretty depressing that the WORLD Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational will be locked into Ohio's least interesting famous course for the next four years, but just think, in that time, failing the intervention of a agressive tree trimmer, we may actually get to see the first PGA Tour course where players can't hit greens from the center of the fairways!

For Immediate Release...and do note the goose-bump inducing news that Bridgestone is now the official tire of the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.

Bridgestone Extends Title Sponsorship of World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club

Recommits to Role as Official Tire of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour
 
AKRON, Ohio – PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem, representing the International Federation of PGA Tours; Masaaki Tsuya, Bridgestone Global CEO and Chairman of the Board; and Gary Garfield, CEO and President, Bridgestone Americas, announced today that the International Federation of PGA Tours and Bridgestone have reached an agreement to extend Bridgestone’s title sponsorship of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club through 2018. Finchem, Tsuya and Garfield made the announcement during a press conference prior to the leaders teeing off for the final round of the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational.
 
Bridgestone, a world leader in tire innovation and technology, first began sponsoring the Bridgestone Invitational in 2006, and the current title sponsorship agreement runs through 2014.  The Bridgestone Invitational is played at the famed Firestone Country Club’s South Course in Akron, Ohio.
 
Bridgestone also extended its Official Marketing Partner relationship with the PGA TOUR through 2018 and will remain as the “Official Tire of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour.”  The agreement gives Bridgestone opportunities to introduce a distinguished consumer demographic to high-performance Bridgestone tire technology equal to that which they have come to know from its products on the golf course.

Rusty Miller on Tiger's eighth win in the WGC Bridgestone, which actually included some fun revelations about his children peppering dad with the tougher questions than the media.

As he walked to the scorer's trailer to finalize his score, he scooped up 4-year-old son Charlie, who hugged him tightly as his father strode past the large gallery wildly cheering his landslide victory.

"This is the first win he's ever been at," Woods said. "That's what makes it special for both of us."

Daughter Sam was on hand when Woods, won the U.S. Open in 2008, before his personal life imploded. Now Charlie will have some memories of dad in the winner's circle.

"They always say, `Daddy, when are you going to win the tournament?' It was a few years there, or a couple years, I hadn't won anything," Woods said, smiling. "`Are you leading or not? That's a stock question. `Not leading.' `Well, are you going to start leading?' `Well, I'm trying.'"

As for the PGA, Bob Harig addresses Woods' chances heading into the final major.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "As far as wanting it more than any other, no. It's the same. Those [are] the events that we try and peak for and try and win. There's four of them a year.

"It's important for me to get some rest come Monday and Tuesday and do some light work. Come Thursday, I've got a great pairing with Keegan and Davis [Love]. Basically just try and get a feel for the golf course and how it's playing. Do I want it any more? Each and every major, I always want them. I've been successful 14 times, and, hopefully, next week will be 15."

The highlights:

Time Warner Customers: WGC Bridgestone 3rd Round Highlights

At least, for the residents of New York City, Los Angeles and Dallas where local CBS stations have been blacked out by the cable operator in a pricing spat.

Meanwhile, it may not really matter as Tiger has a seven shot lead and based on what Bob Harig wrote, Tiger got his bad round of the way and still managed to score, a big positive heading into Oak Hill and the PGA.

"I didn't quite have it, but I scored," Woods said. "And that's the name of the game is posting a number, and I did today. Grinding my way around that golf course today. As smooth as yesterday was ... [that's] as difficult as today was. I was just trying to build my lead somehow, and for most of the day I was doing that. Ended up being a dead push for the day, but that's not too bad, either."

From PGA Tour Entertainment: