Video: Micheel Is Hanging On To The Epic 7-iron

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Shaun Micheel visited the media center Tuesday at Oak Hill and talked about his win ten years ago, his struggles with low T and Tiger.

Regarding his famous 7-iron shot, he had this to say:

KELLY ELBIN: Have they seen the shot from 2003? Do they have a sense of that part of history.

SHAUN MICHEEL: I think so. The biggest question that I get from my son is, you know, he's watched the video over and over of me kind of embracing Stephanie, and she was wearing that bright pink blouse and he was kissing her on the belly and the first question from him was, How did I get out of there? He's nine, so I'm not quite ready for that quite yet. He'll figure that out on his own probably.

Just to go back to your question, I do look forward to kind of sharing that with him. Of course, Stephanie was walking the golf course, and of course my father and in laws to get out there and see the place where I hit that shot.

Q. Where is the 7 iron?

SHAUN MICHEEL: I have it in an old just beat up, unassuming box in my golf/guitar room. It's back home. I've been asked for it several times, but if I had done this more than once, you might have been inclined to give it to somebody. But you never know; I'm going to hold on to that one.

Watching the video of the shot (thanks Shane Bacon for posting), I'm struck by how much more shaded the course is and how much the attire has changed in ten years.

The Donald Honored, Not Thrilled With Ranking Debut

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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

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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!

Bring Back The PGA Championship Long Drive Contest!

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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

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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!

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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.