When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
This should start your week off on the right foot...assuming you're excited for The Masters.
Ian Poulter went straight from his Houston Open win to hitching a ride with Henrik Stenson.
Beau Hossler stayed around after a tough playoff loss to sign for the kids.
Even though he fell short, Beau still had time for the kids. 👏👏
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Look at the lag from Luke Parsons, Boys 7-9 division:
Impressive golf on display during the @drivechipandputt National Finals.
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The Masters has flirted with not finishing in daylight Sunday nights--hint, hint say multiple sources with knowledge of the Golf Gods and their thinking in making everyone come back Monday. (The Masters at least moves to the 10th tee for its second playoff hole.)
But as Beth Ann Baldry explains for Golfweek that if nothing else, the Inbee Park-Pernilla Lindberg ANA Inspiration playoff moves to the 10th tee for its 8 am re-boot, ending the insanity of playing a par-5 over and over again.
“I’m just happy that we got rid of that 18th hole,” said Park, who will square off against Lindberg at 11 a.m. Eastern on the par-4 10th hole. Park birdied the 10th hole twice this week; Lindberg birdied it once.
Josh Pettit's 13th Hole Plan
Golf Channel Producer Dominic Dastoli and many talented camera and sound engineers have put together a piece on the 13th hole, with yours truly narrating and gently steering the conversation toward a question on many minds: is it time to lengthen the epic 13th at Augusta National?
We enlisted golf architect and historian Josh Pettit of Pacific Golf Design to put together plans of the hole.
In this case, Josh took 1938 and modern day aerials, added color, yardages and contour lines to create a really beautiful piece of work. (Josh also found the never-built MacKenzie short course plans for Augusta.)
We took these plans to Nick Faldo and Ben Crenshaw for their insights. The combination of visuals, historic footage and their insights hopefully provide a compelling look at what has made this the best par-5 on the planet, the most fascinating hole most years at The Masters and what it'll take to maintain the risk and reward.
The feature is scheduled to air tonight on Live From The Masters, 8-10 pm ET on Golf Channel.
New space, new lighting and probably a wainscoting shortage after all of the new construction here, yet the merchandising team seems to have only improved the already stellar offerings. A few more niche brands and approaches have snuck in again this year, to compliment the basics that every Masters-logo loving fan will scoop up.
So with that, just some of the best merchandise items I found, though I've already heard rumors of something wonderfully bizarre that I missed! I will investigate and report back.
Also, the new building, with images and some scenes from the renovated and enhanced entryway, is reported on here by The Forecaddie.
Another year, another beautiful Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National. The names are different, but the stories, skill and class has been a consistent trait of all five years.
We learned once again that golf can be cool when played with nice manners, amazing etiquette and a little gentility. Sure it helps that they're amazing kids who are way better at golf than they know.
But those who say new and younger audiences are only attracted to boorishness, could learn a thing or two from the participants here, as Nick Faldo put it in an interview under the Big Oak with Steve Sands.
Fine as this event is as a stand alone, it does seem odd that by now the professionals have not been tempted to have a big boys or girls Drive, Chip and Putt. Check out Steve DiMeglio’s survey of PGA Tour players asking who they think would win such a competition. It sure would be fun to watch, particularly with some clever chip and putting scenarios.
The Drive, Chip and Putt would not be improved by seeing the pros playing that way. Instead, it’s the pros who could learn a thing or two from the joys of this event and in showcasing their talents in ways beyond 72-holes of stroke play.
Final results here from Golfweek.
A Jimmy Roberts narrated highlight package.
Jeff Babineau with a roundup of highlights for DriveChipAndPutt.com.
An image gallery from another beautiful day.
Check out Conrad Chisman’s Daly-esque action:
Grip It and Rip It, right @PGA_JohnDaly? #DriveChipandPutt pic.twitter.com/jfeW1yVQcY
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 1, 2018
The 7-9 Girls winner Ella June Hannant took Low Cuteness honors.
Congratulations Ella June Hannant -- our Girls 7-9 Champion!🏆 pic.twitter.com/HZjFkb1ovx
— Drive, Chip & Putt (@DriveChipPutt) April 1, 2018
Her interview with Charlie Rymer is very special (thanks reader Z for sending), including a mention of her instructor, former PGA Tour player Clarence Rose.
The winners:
Your 2018 #DriveChipandPutt Champions!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Drive, Chip & Putt (@DriveChipPutt) April 1, 2018
🏆Ella June Hannant
🏆Taighan Chea
🏆Vanessa Borovilos
🏆Tip Price
🏆Sara Im
🏆PJ Maybank III
🏆Katherine Schuster
🏆Brendan Valdes pic.twitter.com/7C8UWohree
Rex Tillerson, the former Secretary of State and Augusta National member who has not been seen publicly since his firing last month by President Donald Trump, will resurface at this week’s Masters in a "working" capacity.
According to four sources privy to conversations between Tillerson and new Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley, the former Secretary volunteered for "just about" any committee role. Tillerson has told friends “that any job would be better” than the one he just held for a year, including working on the media committee.
“Tilly offered to do anything, even give tours of the members’ wine cellar,” said one club source. “But that’s a job for new members like Finchem. Chairman Ridley thought Rex needed to get acclimated with every day working folks again and assigned him to work as a Berckmans greeter for a few hours Monday morning.”
Berckmans Place is the club’s $6000 a ticket, all-you-can-imbibe luxury pavilion opened in 2012 and spearheaded by Chairman Billy Payne as another patron experience opportunity. Tillerson will share meet-and-greet duties with another former Secretary of State and member, Condoleeza Rice. Current USC Athletic Director Lynn Swann is also a regular Berckmans presence.
“Having Rexy join Condi down there allows Berckmans patrons to ask probing questions about our most hostile foreign powers," said another member. "How cool is that?"
Another club source said part Tillerson's transition to non-government life, which has included getting re-acclimated with flying on Gulfstream V's and VI's, will be a special gesture from Chairman Ridley. While it's not normal practice, the Chairman is allowing the former Secretary to leave two patron badges for Jared and Ivanka Trump at Will Call. The badges have been deactivated and anyone trying to use them would be subject to arrest by the Sheriff.
"Rex is pretty beaten down, but the Chairman thinks it might even lift his spirits to passive-aggressively leave badges for 'Jarvanka.' It's a key component of Rex's Acceptance and Commitment Therapy program."
Lydia Ko has a grander goal in mind than returning to No. 1 in women's golf: establishing herself as a reality television star.
Barring a setback like winning a major or a Race For The CME Globe, the former World No. 1 expects to channel her passion for hiring and firing into a business.
“We’ve got a great plan going forward,” Ko said when contacted about a pitch document leaked on a Reddit community forum. “It really just allows me to monetize what I do best: firing caddies and coaches."
Ko admitted that her virtually annual process of changing caddies and coaches has been cumbersome and at select times, stressful. Ko says she was inspired to pitch Golf Channel on her idea thanks to Donald Trump's rise from reality show host of The Apprentice to the presidency.
Ko has penciled in the fourth quarter of 2018 to film the first pilot for "The Caddy Apprentice," where the golfer will conduct a contest to be her next looper as cameras record the interview and audition process. Former instructor David Leadbetter is expected to replace current instructor Ted Oh by then and will serve as a sidekick, though Ko said that could change three or four more times.
Ko admitted to being oddly comfortable at the thought of replacing current caddie Jonny Scott with cameras rolling.
“I can better deal with all the whimpering and whining by monetizing my love of replacing team members. I mean, like, who wouldn't want to say, ‘Bones Mackay, YOU’RE FIRED!'”
Besides Mackay, Ko hopes to lure caddies Fluff Cowan, Steve Williams and a hologram of Herman Mitchell for season one, though she hasn't worked out how Mitchell would actually carry her bag. Ko already has written a pitch for The Swing Instructor Apprentice.
"Eventually there will be two shows running concurrently if all goes well and we can consolidate the production. There are so many people to fire. This is so much more fun than playing!"
Ko denied any plans to fire equipment supplier PXG and its founder Bob Parsons.
"Not yet, but the tax implications of all his free gifts have started to become a pain."
Following backlash for covering over golf’s most historic storefront in the name of selling Open merchandise, the R&A and St. Andrews Links Trust have quietly squelched ambitious gift shop expansion plans.
For now.
Sources close to R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers and Links Trust CEO Euon Loudon say the leaders were caught off guard by outrage surrounding their decision to smother the historic Tom Morris storefront signage with The Open’s logo. The same storefront that Bobby Jones sought refuge in after winning The Open, and where golf architects like C.B. Macdonald, A.W. Tillinghast and Donald Ross were inspired.
"We're just trying to grow the game and slow down the damn ball!" Slumbers could be heard yelling to Loudon as they bemoaned golf tourists during a meeting at a St. Andrews coffee shop. Out of their get together came a top secret agreement to put Open merchandise satellite shops on hold, including Slumbers' ambitious plans to erect one on the 18th fairway.
"Slumbers took inspiration from Peter Dawson and thought they could slow down drives on 18 by making it blind, ala the Road hole," said an R&A staffer. "Then he figured, 'while we're at it, why not sell some nice Open chotskies too.'"
Images obtained for the planned Swilken Bridge satellite shop suggest the additional retail location would have been hawking Open-branded trinkets, caps and other gear as golfers cross the centuries-old landmark while blocking clubhouse views.
Multiple sources confirmed other planned locations for conversion into Open merchandise shops included the lighthouse at Turnberry, a turf island on Muirfield’s 18th greenside bunker and the Cavern Club in Liverpool. The R&A refused comment on those plans but did issue a statement denying rumors of a merchandise shop floating through Carnoustie's Barry Burn during this year's Open.
Ian Poulter's Masters hopes depend on a win at Houston this week and after an opening 73, his chances seemed bleak. But a pair of 65s has him tied for the lead going into Sunday's finale. With nearly all of the top 10 having not earned an invitation and several who have never won a PGA Tour event, the Masters field is looking likely to expand by one Sunday. (Oh and valuable FedExCup points will be earned!)
From Jonathan Wall's PGATour.com report on where Poulter's turnaround ranks historically should he win.
Should he go on to win, he would become the first player in the last 35 years to win a TOUR event after being tied for 123rd or worse after the first round.
There's also a TOUR title and a Masters invite on the line. But Poulter isn't worried about any of that — at least not yet.
"I'm in a funny position, right? I said to you guys I've got no expectations going out on the golf course," Poulter said. "I didn't have any expectations, I just went out to play golf. I'm going to do exactly the same tomorrow regardless."
The round highlights from PGA Tour Entertainment:
SUBSCRIBE to PGA TOUR now: http://pgat.us/vBxcZSh In the third round of the 2018 Houston Open, Ian Poulter climbed up the leaderboard in his bogey-free round, but Beau Hossler maintained composure heading into the final round. The Houston Open is contested at the Golf Club of Houston, near Humble, Texas.
Augusta Chronicle Sports Editor John Boyette gets an exclusive sitdown with new Masters Chairman Fred Ridley.
The discussion sticks to golf stories from Ridley's days as a three-time participant in The Masters. Naturally, his best tale involves a Clifford Roberts encounter the week before playing his first Masters. Ridley was visiting the club and practicing. And of course, he just turned and there was co-founder.
“I don’t remember what I was doing, but I was standing by myself, probably just soaking it all in,” Ridley recalled. “And I turned around and there was Clifford Roberts. I thought I’ve done something wrong, I was ready to be lectured. But we had the nicest conversation, and I remember he was very polite, very kind.
“As we were finishing up, he said, ‘Son,’ and he pointed over to the Par-3 Course, ‘You’re going to play over there next Wednesday. I want you to get a few rounds in before the Par-3 Contest.’ That didn’t have a lot of meaning to me at the time, but I now know that that was a really special place for him. He loved the Par-3. I do have that recollection, which is pretty special.”
Well, the Par-3 Course was certainly was a place of interest to Mr. Roberts.
ShackHouse listeners know we've been looking for signs from Jordan Spieth to be rounding into Masters shape, and at least according to Jordan Spieth, the sign arrived Friday.
He's four back heading into Sunday's Houston Open finale but for the prognosticators out there looking for Masters signs, Jordan Spieth said after his second round 67
From Will Gray's report for GolfChannel.com:
“From where I was three days ago, goal accomplished for the week already. And it’s Friday,” Spieth said. “So at this point anything else is icing on the cake. It’s kind of weird to say that, but just trying to take a step forward every single day. I thought today was a step forward from yesterday.”
I've gotten some nice messages the last few days from folks wanting suggestions for their first Masters trip. I'm almost as excited for you as I am to again have the privilege of covering the tournament.
Luke Kerr-Dineen tackled this topic for GolfDigest.com and includes very smart tips, including how to minimize your Washington Road time. (Long-winded BTW here: don't fret if you get stuck in traffic, the Sheriff moves things along well enough even at the peak arrival times. Plus, the views of T-Bone's and ticket scalpers make the drive all worth it. If you're really clever, you've also downloaded Dave Loggins' Masters theme to your phone, which you'll soon be saying goodbye too.)
Some tips:
Sunday To Wednesday Bring A Camera - No cell phones in case you had not heard, and since most of us only use them these days for picture-taking, dust off your point and shoot, charge that battery, make sure the memory card is inserted and bring it along. Otherwise, you won’t be able to capture a few memories. Disposables work too.
No Camera, Line Up For A Founders Circle Photo - The line can be long but it's worth it. With three club photographers and easy online retrieval, what's not to love? Ryan Herrington explained in this piece how it all works.
Timing - Practice round days, early arrivals are recommended as the traffic gets tough due to huge crowd sizes (larger than tournament days, some believe). Plus most players seem to arrive early and it allows you to do shopping. On the four tournament days, particularly Thursday and Friday, a later arrival and staying later affords some tremendous viewing. I’m amazed how early patrons leave on the weekdays. Though this is all with a caveat: an early arrival Thursday means being there for the Honorary Starts at around 8:15 am.
Two Ideal Meeting Spots - The main scoreboard just off the first fairway will always be the easiest designated meeting spot for most and is a must for a photo during practice days. Another great spot is the concession/restroom/phone booth local behind the 8th tee and near the 17th. This is more convenient if you’re meeting someone who has been out spectating. The 8th tee is centrally located and no more than 10 minutes from any point on the course.
Take A Stroll In The Park - For those wanting to just do a "lay of the land" walk, I have a weekend routine of scouting almost all of the hole locations early that helps you see almost every part of the property. Starting at the clubhouse, walk up the right of 1 fairway, down the right side of 2, then cut over, check out 3 and 4, before heading to the 3rd hole crossing for a look at greens 6 and 16. From there circle around 16 toward 15, then take the path through the trees to 13 green and the rest of Amen Corner. From there walk up hill to see the amazing 10th, 14th, 17th green and 7th greens, then head back up 18 to the clubhouse. It can all be done in about 45 minutes and you see every hole but the fifth.
Favorite Viewing Spots - Skip the 11th fairway where the pine tree planting has ruined any viewing of this fairway, once a really underrated spot for watching. Head to the 12th tee where you can see the putting and 12th tee shots. The 13th fairway landing area is also a good spot if you are mobile. The 2nd hole landing area, 3rd green and 4th tee area is another mobile locale that allows fun viewing. For all day sitting, there is no beating any grandstand at Amen Corner and at 15/16.
Shop Early And Ship - A massive new three story merchandise center opens this year near the first fairway, joining a newer facility near the Gate 6 entrance by the fifth green. Most days the merchandise shop is best the earlier you go, though weekend days you can shop relatively traffic free as play commences. But you’re there to watch The Masters, not shop. Right? Either way, just remember shipping is your friend. The UPS rates are fair and the operation is a scene to behold, with remarkable efficiency that gives you little excuse but to ship your purchases home. Fragile items are packed in a healthy wrapping of bubble wrap and if there is any question about the fragility of an item, the staff errs on the side of caution.
Buy The Timeless Stuff**** - Grabbing merchandise like hats and t-shirts with this year’s tournament year seems like a wise choice at the time, especially if you want people to ask about your trip to the Masters or it’s the anniversary of a previous trip. But I’ve found most tend to regret the date stamping preferring to have Masters-logoed stuff with a little more permanence. ****However, if this year's tournament is another 1986 Masters, you’re going to be wanting something with the date. Speaking of which, some retro gear emblazoned with 1986 Masters would be pretty sweet, wouldn't it?
Have A Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwich - Essential, essential, essential! As are all of the sandwiches and chips thanks to cost and flavor. Regarding food lines, the concessions at Amen Corner and by 15 green/16 tee seem to be better designed for more patrons than some areas on the front nine and tend to have shorter lines. You rarely find lines at The Masters and most of those were for entering the shop, something that will likely be minimized with a new facility.
Don't Yell ShackHouse If You See Me - that behavior is strongly encouraged and greatly appreciated at all other golf tournaments. Just not this one.
Always one of the best days of the year, the Drive, Chip and Putt national finals arrive Sunday at 8 am ET on Golf Channel. The USGA, PGA of America and Augusta National Golf Club team up to carry out the final stage after kids from all over the country competed in three previous stags for the opportunity to reach Sunday's finale. Tune in, the kids are amazing!
Bill Fields with a preview and some color from Saturday's practice festivities.
Sergio Garcia will send them home with a signed flag, not a bad memento:
The 2018 national finalists in the Drive, Chip and Putt:
The Masters is long overdue for an explosion of color. This teaser suggests we may have some blooming azaleas this year...
The 12th hole at Pine Valley has seen tree clearing and what appears to be Tom Fazio's homage to Tobacco Road? Let's hope with some weather and time it looks more like Pine Valley.
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Another day, another ace at the ANA Inspiration that means two first class tickets. This time it's Sydnee Michaels.
Check out this awesome ace by @syd_michaels during Round 2 of the #anainspiration!
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A sweet Jones bag paying homage to the colors of the Masters.
Normandy from above, with golf.
Normandy from above 📷 via @dennisschmelz #france #europe #travel
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This guy is 19 months!
As he sits in a Florida minimum-security prison, sports gambler and businessman Billy Walters awaits an appeals court ruling and stews about the role Phil Mickelson played in his conviction, reports ESPN.com's Mike Fish.
Over several interviews recounted in a compelling piece by Fish, Walters is mostly still unhappy with his former golf buddy Mickelson.
"Here is a guy that all he had to do was come forward and tell the truth," Walters said in October, as he leaned forward in a chair behind his nearly 10-foot-wide office desk, its marble top home to three computer monitors. "That was all he had to do. The guy wouldn't do that because he was concerned about his image. He was concerned about his endorsements.
"My God, in the meantime a man's life is on the line. He's going to go to prison. And you got prosecutors up there during the entire trial, the entire month -- all they talked about over and over was me giving my friends insider information. That is all they talked about. And they knew those jurors were all up on the internet reading that stuff about Phil [profiting from the Dean Foods stock purchase]."
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
