September 2008 Archives

Erik Compton, a 28-year-old professional golfer, was given the OK to use a golf cart while going through the PGA Tour's qualifying school. Here's the story from espn.com:

Tiger Woods plans on attending the newly renamed Dec. 18-21 event at Sherwood Country Club, but he won't be competing after undergoing knee surgery this summer.
"I'll just cheer from the cart and get ready for the Senior Tour," Woods joked Monday as he announced the 16-player field for the 10th annual tournament, which formerly was sponsored by Target.
Padraig Harrington, who won the British Open and PGA Championship while Woods was sidelined, might be considered the headliner in the field, which also includes FedEx Cup winner Vijay Singh and Camilo Villegas, who triumphed in the season-ending Tour Championship on Sunday.
The other players are: Stephen Ames, Paul Casey, K.J. Choi, Fred Couples, Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim (Studio City), Justin Leonard, Hunter Mahan, Kenny Perry, Steve Stricker, Boo Weekley and Mike Weir.

Want to play golf and help a good cause? Sign up for the Five Acres Invitational Golf Classic, Oct. 6 at San Gabriel Country Club and help an Altadena-based child and family services agency. For more information, here's the press release:

The underdog Americans won the Ryder Cup, 16 1/2-11 1/2. It's a huge day for golf in this country since the European team won five of the previous six Cups. The Americans did this without Tiger Woods, too. Anthony Kim and Boo Weekley were huge this weekend, not only with their golf games but their infectious spirit. Kim - who grew up in Studio City - dominated Sergio Garcia, 5 &4. Miguel Angel Jimenez conceded a short par putt to Jim Furyk, which clinched the Cup for the U.S.

Anthony Kim and Phil Mickelson seem to be remarkable playing partners in the Ryder Cup, but you can't give the credit to Paul Azinger. Mickelson and Kim were bugging Azinger to be paired with one another, and Azinger relented. Kim and Mickelson were just high-fiving and slapping each other on the back after Mickelson won a hole today. We haven't seen Mickelson like this with another PGA Tour player in a while.

The U.S. is assured of taking the lead after the morning matches in today's Ryder Cup at Valhalla in Kentucky, It's the first time the U.S. has had the lead after the morning matches since 1991. Captain Paul Azinger has paired Anthony Kim - who grew up in Studio City - and Phil Mickelson together. Interesting.

The U.S. is a heavy underdog in this week's Ryder Cup, but NBC analyst Johnn Miller doesn't think so. He recently said he believes the U.S. should win easily, even though the Americans are considered underdogs.
``What I said was I think the U.S. is going to win,'' Miller said in a Tuesday conference call. ``Someone threw easily in there to sell a few magazines. Obviously, no one would say that. Without Tiger there, it surely won't be easy. But if you're a gambler a statistician, could say, `How can Europe keep making all these putts?' It's time, really, for the U.S. If you were just a betting man, the odds are the putting is going to flip flop in the U.S.' direction.''

In his monthly newsletter on his Web site, Tiger Woods said he won't be at the Ryder Cup, but he'll offer his assistance.
``I plan to watch the Ryder Cup this week, but I will not attend,'' Woods wrote. ``U.S. captain Paul Azinger has my cell phone number and he or any US player can call me any time. If I can offer any assistance, I'm happy to help. I doubt I can do much, since I can't play practice rounds and am not privy to their team chemistry. I also don't know who is playing well, who is injured, and have no feel for how the course is playing. But I'll be happy to offer my opinion. I wish the American team well and hope they can bring back the Cup.''
For the rest of the letter, read on:

Here's some information I received in an email on the High Desert Classic pro-am. Contact info is below.

The Associated Press reports that Michelle Wie will try to qualify for the LPGA Tour by attending Q-School. She didn't earn enough money this year to earn her LPGA Tour card.

This is the statement from LPGA commissioner Caroyln Bivens on her decision to back off the policy to require non-English speaking golfers to learn English in two years or face suspension from the tour.
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Statement credited to LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens regarding the LPGA's policy on effective communication in English

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Sept. 5, 2008 -- The LPGA has received valuable feedback from a variety of constituents regarding the recently announced penalties attached to our effective communications policy. We have decided to rescind those penalty provisions.

After hearing the concerns, we believe there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every Tour player. In that spirit, we will continue communicating with our diverse Tour players to develop a better alternative. The LPGA will announce a revised approach, absent playing penalties, by the end of 2008.

During that time we will continue to provide support under the three-year-old Kolon-LPGA Cross Cultural Program. This popular program provides all LPGA members with the best cross-cultural training in the form of tutors, translators, Rosetta Stone®, the official language-learning system of the LPGA, as well as assistance from LPGA staff and consultants.

The LPGA has reversed course on its ludicrous policy that would've made non-English speaking golfers learn English in two years or face suspension from the tour. Here's the Associated Press story. I'll have something more on this soon.

The Sports Business Daily reports that State Farm is encouraging the LPGA to reconsider its new rule (starting next year all Tour players must learn English or face suspension from the Tour) or it ``may reconsider its sponsorship.''
What's ironic is that the LPGA says it's making this rule so that it can help save sponsorship dollars by sending players who can speak English out with corporate sponsors on pro-am outings.

Tiger Woods reported on his Web site today that his wife, Elin, is expecting their second child in late winter.

Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger chose J.B. Holmes, Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan and Chad Campbell as his four captain's picks. What do you think?