Volume X, Issue 14

When I was 25, it was a very good year...
Even though he has a famous aunt – LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley – you’d have been hard-pressed to pick Keegan Bradley out of a lineup before this year. He had toiled on golf’s mini tours and on the Nationwide Tour, making it to the PGA Tour in 2011 as a rookie. Then he won the HP Byron Nelson Championship in a playoff. Still, did you know who he was entering the PGA Championship?
Bradley was ranked 329th in the world when the year began and still outside of the top 100 at 108 heading into the PGA, despite a solid year with several top 10s. Then he wins the tournament in a playoff over Jason Dufner, making two birdies over the final three holes to help close a five-stroke deficit after he had made a triple-bogey at the 15th hole at Atlanta Athletic Club. Bradley moved into the top 30 in the world after his victory and now has a very real chance of a PGA Tour first – player of the year and rookie of the year in the same season.

Yeah mom, erase the TiVo...
Jason Dufner seemingly had the tournament won. He had a five-shot lead with four holes to play at the PGA Championship. Then he hit a ball in the water at the 15th hole, but miraculously made a bogey. Even after Keegan Bradley birdied the 16th hole ahead of him, Dufner had a three-shot advantage. But he made bogeys at the 16th and 17th, Bradley added a birdie at the 17th and they were tied. In three holes, his five-shot advantage was gone. Dufner eventually lost in a play off.

Keeping score, World Golf Rankings...
Week ending 28 August 2011
# 1. Luke Donald, England
# 2. Lee Westwood, England
# 3. Steve Stricker, USA
# 4. Dustin Johnson, USA
# 5. Martin Kaymer, Germany
# 6. Rory Mcllory, N. Ireland
# 7. Matt Kuchnar, USA
# 8. Adam Scott, Australia
# 9. Phill Mickelson, USA
# 10. Jason Day, Australia
# 39. Tiger Woods, USA

It's official, "forever" does not include 2011...
U.S. Presidents Cup Team Captain Fred Couples was asked last week about including Tiger Woods as a wildcard selection and responded, "I've told him that he's going to be on the team. There is no reason for me to wait till September 26 to pick Tiger. He's the best player in the world forever."

There's still the rest of the season ....
In the next five weeks the Player of the Year race will be decided, and the final 11 spots on the U.S. Presidents Cup team will be finalized (at this point only Tiger Woods is assured a spot at Royal Melbourne).

Ya dem Svedes, de be show offs......
What were they thinking? The men's golf team at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas (a small Lutheran College founded by Swedish immigrants in the 1880's) posed naked for an unofficial team photo. They then posted the photo on Facebook. Sure, their head covers protected their "equipment" but school officials were not happy. The team's was suspended for three tournaments, later reduced to one. For the curious, click here for the team photo.

There's still the rest of the season ....
In somewhat of a surprise announcement, Officials of the Fry's.com Open announced that Tiger woods has committed to the 2011 Frys.com Open, scheduled to be played at CordeValle Golf Club, San,Marin, CA from October 5-9.

She got by with a little help from Irene...
Singing in the rain Sunday at the Canadian Women's Open, Brittany Lincicome, saved par on the 18th hole for a 2-under 70 to edge defending champion Michelle Wie and Stacy Lewis by a stroke at Hillsdale Golf & Country Club. Lincicome finished at 13 under earning $337,500 in the process.

Rules rules and more rules...

Q. Larry's golf ball was lying in the rough, behind an immovable object, within a foot of the fairway. Larry declared that he was allowed to, and would, take relief from the immovable object. He picked up his ball, extended his arm and dropped the ball within one-club length of the nearest point of relief, but not nearer the hole. However, of the several areas of the arc he could have chosen, Larry picked an area that insured his ball would land in the fairway. Larry has been known to test the limits, and on occasion the spirit of the rules of golf. Scott thought this might be such an occasion and said, "Larry,no problem with taking relief, but you are in the rough and must stay in the rough. Relief from an obstruction does not mean you can also improve your lie."

What, is the correct ruling?

A. Scott is correct. Larry can not improve his lie while taking relief. He must re-drop his ball. His ball was laying in the rough and his relief drop must also be in the rough.

B. Larry did nothing wrong. In taking his relief, he was free to drop his ball anywhere within one-club length of the nearest point of relief, just as long as the ball was not dropped closer to the hole than the ball position from which he was taking relief.

And the answer is ... Click here to read the answer

Rules rules and more rules...

Q. Larry took relief from an immovable obstruction. The ball came to rest in a position such that another immovable obstruction interfered with his swing. What should be the procedure from this situation?

A. Larry must play the ball as it lies.

B. Larry must re-drop and try again to take relief from the original immovable obstruction. His must repeat until he has a playable drop from his original point of relief.

C. Larry may take relief from the second obstruction.

And the answer is ... Click here to read the answer

The right tool for the job...

Long viewed as a crutch for players of an older generation – they have been popular for two decades on the Champions Tour – belly putters or broom handle putters are now common among the younger set, too. For three straight weeks, we’ve seen winners using them, starting with Adam Scott (long putter), Keegan Bradley (belly) and Webb Simpson (belly). Even Fred Couples used a belly putter to win on the Champions Tour.

No longer is there as much of a stigma with using such a putter. For many players of older vintage, the long putter was seemingly a last resort. But now we are seeing younger players using them, guys who never had issues. They just like them. They work better. It’s not uncommon to see players on the Nationwide Tour using a version of the long putter. PGA champion Keegan Bradley went to it several years ago – and he’s just 25.

All of this makes the golf purists cringe. While long putters are clearly not the end to putting problems – guys miss plenty with them – they are clearly an advantage. You can anchor the club under your chin, against your chest, in your stomach, which makes it easier to repeat the stroke.

That has long been the knock against them, all the rules makers have skirted the issue. And now it might be too late.

The land down under...

In terms of recent accomplishments, Tiger Woods should not have even be part of the discussion for an at-large selection to the U.S. Presidents Cup team that will take on an international squad in November in Australia. He’s played in just eight qualifying events this year, and is nowhere close to earning his way onto the team by being among the top 10 point earners (presently 39th). He was not even eligible for the first three playoff events in which players can still earn points.

"Tiger’s a guy I want on my team,’’ Couples said. "I can’t imagine not having him on the team. If he has to be picked there will be somebody upset, because they probably had an incredible year. He’ll be great to have on the team.’’

Yep, there’s going to be some folks upset, because Woods has not done it on merit. And why would Couples say "if he has to be picked?’’

Right now, Rickie Fowler and Bo Van Pelt are close to making the team on points. PGA champion Keegan Bradley has two victories this year and wasn’t eligible to earn points in 2010.

Yes, somebody is going to get left out, and it will be awkward. And while Couples has the right to pick whom he chooses – and Woods has certainly shown himself worthy at the last Presidents Cup, where he went 5-0 and at last year’s Ryder Cup where he was 3-1 – charges of manipulation are sure to be prevalent.

Conspiracy theories will abound, such as Couples was under pressure from (pick one) the PGA Tour, Australian interests, the television networks, both at home and abroad. And when you consider that the tournament is being played in November and will be shown on tape delay in the United States, there is even more pressure to have the world’s most recognized golfer be part of the competition.

Volume X, Issue 13

Turn on the spotlights, let the games begin...
Tiger Woods will compete this week at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron. He’s won seven times on the Ohio layout. High school buddy Bryon Bell will be his caddy.

A bright shining star that needs no spotlights...
Taiwanese golfer Yani Tseng won the Women's British Open for the second straight year. At the age of 22, she's the youngest golfer, man or woman, to have won 5 major titles. Yikes!

"Have to enjoy it when you can..."
If Darren Clarke winning the Open Championship was a surprise, then the way he celebrated his unexpected victory certainly was not. Clarke, never shy when it comes to a party, arrived back at Royal St. George’s on the Monday morning following his victory to a media gathering with no sleep following his three-shot win over Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson.
“I’ve not been to bed yet,’’ said Clarke, 42, who was joined by friends and family at a nearby rental home. “There’s no surprise really, is there? It's now 10 past 9:00 (a.m.) and probably won't get any sleep until tomorrow at some stage. Have to enjoy it when you can. I had quite a few pints and quite a few beers and quite a few glasses of red wine, and it all continued until about 30 minutes ago. I did look at my watch before I said that, so it did take a while. But it's been a very good night.’’
A 14-time winner on the European Tour, Clarke was not on high on very many lists of potential winners. He came in ranked 111th in the world, and although he won a European Tour event earlier this year in Spain, it was played the same week as the Players Championship, where nearly all of the top-100 players in the world competed. Now he’s guaranteed himself spots in all four majors for at least the next five years, the Open until age 60. “I think I'm definitely a better player now than I was ten years ago,’’ Clarke said. “And yes, I definitely appreciate an awful lot more what I've achieved now than what I did then.

Hail Northern Ireland...
With three of the last six major championship winners coming from Northern Ireland, the push is again on to bring the British Open back to Royal Portrush, where it was played in 1951, the only time it was held outside of Great Britain. The course, where Open champion Darren Clarke plays, is considered one of the best links in the world.
To be worthy, R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said Portrush would require “the usual mixture of a great course and plenty of infrastructure combined with a prospect of commercial success is what's needed. We've got no doubts about the golf course, although there might be one or two things we would do. The political situation in Northern Ireland – which is clearly a sensitive topic in Ireland and in the United Kingdom – is surely part of the problem, although Dawson downplayed it.
The Open will be played at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s next year, followed by Muirfield in 2013 and Royal Liverpool in 2014. St. Andrews is expected to get the 2015 Open and subsequent years have yet to be announced. Clarke lives in Portrush and is clearly in favor of the course being returned to the rotation, which currently has nine venuesand a new No.1 on top of the rankings list.

Keeping score, World Golf Rankings...
# 1 Luke Donald, England,
# 2 Lee Westwood, England,
# 3 Martin Kaymer, Germany
# 4 Rory McIlroy, N. Ireland
# 5 Steve Stricker, USA
# 6 Phil Mickelson, USA
# 7 Dustin Johnson, USA
# 8 Jason Day, Australia
# 9 Nick Watney, USA
# 10 Charl Schwartze, S. Africa
# 28 Tiger Woods, USA

Free falling without a parachute...
Tiger Woods is now ranked 28th in the world. His drop to 21st last week was the first time he's been out of the top 20 since 1997. Rankings are based on points earned over the previous two years wighted by tournament, position finished and age of points (points for a tournament decrease by a set percentage as they age). Almost 24 months ago, Tiger won twice and finished second in three consecutive events -- the Buick Classic, July 30-2, the Bridgestone, Aug 6-9, and the PGA Championship, Aug 13-16. Those points will expire in quick weekly succession. His last two wins of 2009 -- the BMW Championship in September and Australian Masters in November -- are also about to evaporate from ranking relevance leaving Tiger in a World Rankings accelerating free-fall. He needs to get back in the game, and place well, to stop the free-fall.

Childs play...
Six-year old Reagan Kennedy made an 85-yard hole in one on the third hole at The Links at Ireland Grove, Bloomigton, IL earlier this month.
After acing the hole, she calmly walked back to her cart, she remembered her fathers advice, don't make a lot of noise on the course.
Reagan's ultimate golf goal – beating her father.

An Irish fair weather golfer, how odd......
It should have been no surprise to see Rory McIlroy struggle at Royal St. George’s, eventually finishing in a tie for 25th. It's not like he is going to win every major, and the whirlwind he endured after capturing the U.S. Open was significant. Still, it was somewhat odd to hear him complain about the bad breaks he got with the weather – yes, he was on the wrong side of the draw, which saw him get the worst of the weather on Thursday and Friday.
McIlroy downplayed any issues such conditions presented him saying he would “just wait for a year when the weather is nice. I mean, my game is suited for basically ever golf course and most conditions, but these conditions, I just don’t enjoy playing really. That’s the bottom line. I’d rather play when it’s 80 degrees and sunny and not much wind. . . There’s no point in changing your game for one week a year.’’
If such comments were made by an American player, he could have expected to get hammered by European, especially U.K. media. But McIlroy generally got a pass. At least give him credit for being honest.

O Canada, O Canada...
Sean O'Hair won the RBC Canadian tapping in for bogey on the first playoff hole two Sundays ago, and then watching fellow American Kris Blanks lip out his bogey putt from just over 5 feet. It was O'Hair's fourth PGA TOUR victory, but his first since 2009 and first top-15 during this year even missing 10 of 17 cuts. And then there is John Daly. John got his first top-10 finish since 2005 with a tie for ninth after a 72 at the RBC Canadian.

Can you name this course?
If your bucket list of courses to play includes things like oldest course, longest course, highest course and lowest course, this course is on your list. Opened for play in 1931, the course was renovated in 1997 by Perry Dye. Oh, the reason its on the bucket list, this U. S. course is the world's lowest elevation golf course, at 214 feet below sea level. Can you name the course, or at least my location? I'll give you one more hint. Don't kill yourself thinking about my location. Yes, that's the hint. To see if you are correct, or to just learn the name of this course, please click here. Thank you.

Rules rules and more rules...

Q. Larry was approaching his ball on the green so that he could mark his ball. As he was bending to mark the ball, he accidentally dropped his putter which fell and hit his ball causing it to move. While everyone was trying to figure out the consequences of this accident, Larry the rules czar said, "Hold on guys, Rule 20-1 says there is no penalty if a player accidentally moves his ball in the process of lifting it."

Was Larry correct? What, is the correct ruling?

A. No penalty. Larry was correct in saying that there is no penalty if a player accidentally moves his ball in the process of lifting it, Rule 20-1.

B. One stroke penalty. Larry was correct in saying that there is no penalty if a player accidentally moves his ball in the process of lifting it, Rule 20-1. Unfortunately for Larry, the rule does not apply in this situation. One stroke penalty.

C. Two stroke penalty. Larry was correct in saying that there is no penalty if a player accidentally moves his ball in the process of lifting it, Rule 20-1. Unfortunately for Larry, the rule does not apply in this situation. Two stroke penalty

And the answer is ... Click here to read the answer

Rules rules and more rules...

Q. Larry's ball was in a sand bunker. Scott's ball was on the apron between the green and the bunker. Larry hit his bunker shot lifting with the ball what seemed like more sand than was possible. The sand sprayed and settled around Scott's ball. Scott said he was going to mark and lift his ball so that he could use his had to clean the area of the sand that Larry had deposited with his bunker shot. Larry protested saying Scott was not allowed to improve his lie.Who was right? What is the correct ruling?

A. Larry has to get some of these right. In this case, he was correct. Scott's ball must be played as in lies.

B. Scott is correct. He can improve his lie. Well, in actuality, not improve the lie, but restore it back to its initial at rest status.

And the answer is ... Click here to read the answer

Making a bully the subject of compassion...

It is tough trick making Steve Williams into a sympathetic figure, but Tiger Woods has found a way to do it. The golfer sacked his caddie of 12 years at what appears to be a curious time, when the two have not been together for months due to Woods’ injuries. Turns out Woods didn’t like the idea of Williams caddying for someone else in his absence – even though he originally approved it.
Williams has few fans due to his boorish ways on the golf course serving as Tiger’s enforcer, but few have ever questioned his caddie prowess or his loyalty. He worked for the likes of Raymond Floyd and Greg Norman, and both lauded his abilities. For Woods, he was on the bag for 13 majors and 63 PGA Tour wins and for a guy who seemingly has so many changes in his life, having a constant inside the ropes would seem a good idea when he returns to golf. Instead, he fires one of the few remaining links to his successful past?
Williams seems non too happy with the curt dismissal. Should he write an insiders tell all book, it will be the #1 seller that everyone will deny buying and say, "Oh, it was a gift, I would have never bought it."

Grand Slam for the girls just got harder...

The LPGA Tour sold itself out when it announced that the Evian Masters in France would in 2013 become the tour’s fifth major. The tournament will be renamed The Evian Championship and move to September, joining the Kraft Nabisco Championship, LPGA Championship, U.S. Women’s Open and Women’s British Open as majors. It seems that one more is too many, especially for a tour that has lost so many tournaments. Then again, in these days, sponsors who put up big money get what they want, and Evian wanted the prestige of being called a major championship, history be damned.
Have you ever notice, Evian spelled backwards spells naive?

Volume X, Issue 12

This isn't helping the balance of payments...
For the first time since the Masters began in 1934, Americans have gone five straight majors without winning. The streak began at the 2010 U.S. Open with Graeme McDowell’s victory and continued through this year’s U.S. Open with fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy’s win. In between, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen won the British Open, Germany’s Martin Kaymer won the PGA Championship and South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel won the Masters.
The last time international players won four straight majors was in 1994 when Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal won the Masters followed by South Africa’s Ernie Els at the U.S. Open and South Africa’s Nick Price at the British and PGA.
With the top four players in the Official World Ranking hailing from Europe and Tiger Woods’ drop to 17th, it is a tough time for American golf. U.S. Ryder Cup team captain Davis Love is trying to keep things in perspective. “Everything goes in streaks,’’ he said. “We might be talking about how four Americans win the next four."

Follow the money, urr, I mean follow the caddie...
Eyebrows were raised plenty high when Steve Williams, Tiger Woods’ longtime caddie, was seen at Congressional Country Club with Adam Scott a few days before the start of the tournament. Turns out, Williams had asked his boss of 12 years for permission after being contacted by Scott.
“Steve’s been a good mate of mine for a lot of years out here,’’ said Scott, 30. “He’s been a bit of a confidante in my career. “I thought it would be worth a call seeing as I’m between guys at the moment. I’m really grateful that he hopped on a plane and came over. I’ve got to make the most of it.. . Hopefully I can put him in a position he is accustomed to.’’
That would be contending at a major championship. Williams, who before Woods last caddied for Raymond Floyd, has been a part of 13 of Woods’ 14 major titles. Scott, meanwhile, has rarely contended in a major, although he did in April at the Masters, where along with fellow Aussie Jason Day he tied for second, two strokes behind winner Charl Schwartzel. Woods tied for fourth, but hasn’t completed a tournament since due to the injuries he suffered during the third round of that tournament.
Alas, the move didn’t do much for Scott, who ended up missing the cut.

Keeping score, Men's World Golf Rankings...
# 1 Luke Donald, England
# 2 Lee Westwood, England
# 3 Martin Kaymer, Germany
# 4 Rory Mcllroy, Ireland (#8 last week)
# 5 Steve Stricker, USA (#4 last week)
# 6 Phil Mickelson, USA (#5 last week)
# 7 Matt Kuchar, USA (#6 last week)
# 8 Graeme McDowell, Ireland (#7 last week)
# 9 Jason Day, Australia (#18 last week)
# 10 Charl Schwartzel, South Africa (#11 last week)
# 11 Dustin Johnson, USA (#9 last week)
# 12 Paul Casey, England (#10 last week)
# 13 Bubba Watson, USA (#12 last week)
# 14 Ian Poulter, England (#13 last week)
# 15 Nick Watney, USA (#14 last week)

The Big Easy, isn't finding it to be...
These are tough times for three-time major winner Ernie Els. The Big Easy is finding the game anything but these days, having missed the cut at the U.S. Open at Congressional, where he won the 1997 title. So far this year, Els has yet to finish better than 15th.

The best way to get something done is to begin......
The 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil are still five years away, but in terms of golf, the clock is ticking. That is because there is no golf course at which to play the Olympic tournament, and not even any plans on the drawing board.
That is because a designer has yet to be selected. Jack Nicklaus, who would collaborate on the new venue with Annika Sorenstam if chosen – and do it for free – said he’s heard nothing lately, even though the International Golf Federation has said it hoped to pick a designer by now.
“They’re trying to make up their mind what they want to do,’’ Nicklaus said. “I know we’re obviously in the mix, but I don’t know whether we’ll get selected.. . . We would love to be involved.’’
Others interested in the project include Greg Norman – who would team with Lorena Ochoa – Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Robert Trent Jones Jr. have also been discussed as possible designers.
“The game of golf hinges on what happens on this project,’’ Nicklaus said, noting that golf is not guaranteed to be part of the Olympics beyond 2016. “They better put their best forward.’’

Hey, there's more than one TOUR...
Rory McIlroy’s dazzling U.S. Open performance was brilliant and has focused attention on this young player, and rightly so. But what if he instead of one major, he already had three and was playing this week for a chance at a fourth? Can you imagine the buzz?
Now may be the time to point out the obvious, LPGA three-time major champ Yani Tseng, only 22 years old, is set to tee it up today in the women’s second major of the season, the LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club, Pittsford, NY click here. Yes, 22 year old Tseng, ranked #1 women in the world, has three majors to her credit? And she’s the same age as Rory Mac.
Yani Tseng owns seven career victories, including four straight wins this season. If you like brillant golf, remember to pay attention to Yani Tseng

Can you name this course?
I opened for play in 1928. I was designed by Allister MacKenzie, the designer of Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach and Augusta National Golf Club, Home of The Masters. I was built in a natural cathedral like setting in the majestic redwoods. I am a public course with $20 green fees. If you would like to experience a MacKenzie course, I may be your ticket, but to take advantage of the opportunity, you will need to know who I am. To see if you are correct, or to just learn the course name and read what people who have played the course say about this course, please click here. Thank you.

Keeping score, Women's World Golf Rankings...
# 1 Yani Tseng, TAIPEI
# 2 Cristie Kerr, USA
# 3 Suzann Pettersen, NORWAY
# 4 Jiyai Shin, KOREA
# 5 Na Yeon Choi, KOREA
# 6 Sun Ju Ahn, KOREA
# 7 I.K. Kim, KOREA
# 8 Ai Miyazato, JAPAN
# 9 Karrie Webb, AUSTRALIA
# 10 Michelle Wie, USA

Rules rules and more rules...

Q. Larry and I were playing golf last week. I had a sleeve of 3 balls in my bag. That should have been more enough. But it is fall, and leaves can hide a golf ball even in the Fairway. I lost a "fairway" ball to the leaves on holes number 4 and 11. I legitimately lost a ball in the creek on 16. At that point, having just lost my last ball, I turned to Larry and asked to borrow a ball to finish the round. Larry said, "sure, but instead of a 3 stroke penalty, one stroke penalty on each hole for using a borrowed ball (hole #s 16, 17, and 18), I will only assess you one stroke for the remaining 3 holes.

What, is the correct ruling?

A. Larry was incorrect; there is a total of a one stroke penalty for not planning adequately and needing to borrow golf balls to finish the round, regardless of the number of holes played.

B. Larry was incorrect; there is a total of a two stroke penalty for not planning adequately and needing to borrow golf balls to finish the round, regardless of the number of holes played.

C. Larry was correct, one stroke penalty per hole, but he was wrong to suggest that he would allow the penalty to be modified.

D. Larry was incorrect; there is no penalty for borrowing a golf ball.

And the answer is ... Click here to read the answer

Rules rules and more rules...

Q. Scott's Ball came to rest against a rake lying next to a bunker. Scott moved the rake in order to hit the ball without also hitting the rake. Scott's movement of the rake caused the ball to also move. Larry said the ball movement by Scott should result in a one stoke penalty.

What are the correct ruling?

A. Two stroke penalty. Scott improved his lie when he moved the rake and moved his ball, two stoke penalty.

B. One stoke penalty. Scott moved his ball, even though inadvertently, one stoke penalty.

C. No penalty, Scott moved the ball inadvertently while moving a movable obstruction, no penalty. Replace the ball and play on.

And the answer is ... Click here to read the answer

The Celtic Tiger...

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is understandably receiving high praise after his eight-shot U.S. Open victory. No doubt, McIlroy sparkled at Congressional, and the accolades he received for dominating the tournament were justified. Yes, he was younger than Jack Nicklaus when he won his first major championship. And he took over an event unlike any player since Tiger Woods at the 2000 U.S. Open. Padraig Harrington even suggested that McIlroy might be the one to look at to match Nicklaus’ 18 major championships.

But the comparisons to the two most prolific major winners are probably premature. McIlroy is an unbelievable talent, and observers such as Harrington and Graeme McDowell have been saying so for years. McDowell, 31, snapped to attention seven years ago when McIlroy, at age 15, shot a course-record 61 at Royal Portrush, a famous links in McDowell’s hometown.

And then there is the golf swing to die for, the languid, flexible motion that propels a ball a long way. McIlroy hits towering irons shots, has a solid short game, and when his putter works, can produce the kind of scores we saw over the weekend. But winning one major does not mean he will be hauling down Nicklaus or Woods. It is almost unfair to make such a leap.

Remember, this was just the third professional victory for McIlroy. He has one regular tour victory in Europe and on the PGA Tour along with the U.S. Open. He’s been in the mix a lot, but his win at Dubai in 2009 came after nearly blowing a six-shot lead on the back nine and his win at Quail Hollow last year came after making the cut on the number, then roaring from behind to shoot62 on the final day.

In McIlroy’s brief PGA Tour career over three seasons, he has missed six cuts – the same number Woods has missed in his career. He will obviously be fascinating to watch. McIlroy has led each of the past four majors at some point and has now led seven of the last eight rounds in majors.

Time to step back and get healthy...

Tiger Woods who withdrew prior to the start of the U.S. Open, has now announcedd that he is skipping the AT&T National tournament that benefits his foundation and now looks questionable for the British Open. At this point, what’s the rush? After injuries to his knees and Achilles suffered at the Masters and an aborted return at the Players Championship, Woods is far better getting healthy and focusing not on the rest of the year, but on the rest of his career.

Flash, breaking news...

Tiger Wood's hastily called press conference held at 11:45 AM EST this morning, Thursday, June 23rd, was jaw dropping in its effect on the almost disbelieving media reporters in attendance.

Tiger began the conference by congratulating Rory on his US Open victory. Tiger then went on to make a major announcement, he said, "In order to fully recovery from my injuries, I have decided to sit out the rest of the 2011 competitive season. I will concentrate my efforts on spending more time with my children, getting healthy for the 2012 season, working on my game, and supporting the PGA Tour."

Tiger went on to say, "It is clear to all of us that there is a new crop of very talented young golfers who have arrived on the scene. I will have my work cut out for me when I return next year, but I believe I can still compete at the highest levels and have my share of victories in the future

Perhaps the most surprising statement was when Mr Wood's said, "As a measure of my respect for Golf, the PGA TOUR, my fellow competitors, and golf fans everywhere, I will make weekend appearances at all remaining PGA Tour events in 2011. I will have a one hour a day autograph table and spend the rest of the time mingling with the gallery and watching the competition. While I would prefer to be playing, being in the gallery and mingling with the fans, and supporting the game I love will be the next best thing to playing."

See, it really isn't that hard to be gracious and be a really nice guy.

OK, OK, stop the presses, this news conference never happened.