Watson reduces captain's picks so players can earn more spots

Watson reduces captain's picks so players can earn more spots









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Tom Watson is seeking his own balance between his picks and players who play their way onto the team.(Getty Images)

PGA.COM April 22, 2013 8:23 AM
It's a philosophical difference, and rational arguments can be made on both sides. On Wednesday morning, 2014 Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson announced that he was revising the team selection process by reducing his captain's picks from four to three. That means that nine players will qualify and Watson will pick three in September of 2014, a few weeks prior to the event. Under the system that was in place since 2008, eight players qualified and four were selected by the captain. "Giving our players one more opportunity to earn a spot on merit, I believe, is the right thing to do," said Watson. "I will use all possible resources in choosing these three captain's choices to complete the best possible team in order to win the Cup back for the United States." This seems quite rational and logical. But so did the system that Paul Azinger instituted in 2008. Zinger lobbied for the captaincy at Valhalla, because he wanted to institute his now-famous pod system, breaking the 12-man team into three four-man pods and having those pods bond over the course of the week, a concept he learned by studying Navy SEAL training. Davis Love III used a modified version of that same strategy in 2012, when he kept the same twosomes together from the moment the team landed in Chicago until the singles matches on Sunday. But equally important to Zinger's strategy was changing the qualification process, taking the captain's picks from two to four - which Watson has now changed to three - and revamping the way players earned points, which Watson has left unchanged. Players will continue to earn Ryder Cup points only during the major championships in non-Ryder Cup years. Points increase and encompass all tournaments during Ryder Cup years, with additional weight given to the majors. That change from a system where players earned points for top-10 finishes and wins was a compromise hashed out at the PGA of America offices in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Zinger originally wanted to eliminate off-year qualification altogether, but he received pushback from PGA officials on that point. "I was challenging orthodoxy," Zinger said. "The only way to change outcomes is to change events. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. We had been doing things one way for years and we'd been losing. If we were using a two-year qualification system 'because that's how it's always been done,' then we needed to try something different, because what we'd done hadn't worked too well." The compromise worked in 2008 and no one thinks that U.S. fielded a weak team in 2010 or 2012, either. Now, the only difference is that nine players will earn their way onto the roster instead of eight, with Watson filling out the rest. On the whole it's a minor tweak, one that will give the players more control over their own destiny without inhibiting the captain's ability to fill out his team with the hottest players prior to the matches. And if Watson chooses to break the team into four-man groups as Azinger did, he still has the opportunity to put one of his picks in each pod. "Tom is committed to do everything in his power to win the Ryder Cup," PGA of America President Ted Bishop said. "His evaluation and research of the U.S. qualifying system is just another example of his dedication to identify the best players for the 2014 United States Ryder Cup Team."
By: Steve Eubanks, PGA.com
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A Lesson Learned: When laying up is your best option

A Lesson Learned: When laying up is your best option











Josh Nichols April 22, 2013 9:08 AM


What a great honor it was to welcome the golf world to TPC Sugarloaf -- where I've been privileged to serve as PGA Head Professional since 2011. It was the inaugural year for the Greater Gwinnett Championship and we couldn't be happier with how the week unfolded. So many people deserve recognition and credit for the magical week, I'll try to include them all with a collective "Thank You!" -- and they all know who they are.

There were two lessons to be learned this week. One wasn't instructional, but it was very educational. As golf professionals, we are all charged with growing the game. Have you taken your young golfer out to watch a Champions Tour event?

As I watched the faces of the youngsters as they followed, talked to, received autographs from or simply received a smile or wave from the legends of the game, I could see the proverbial light flip on. Tom Watson, Jay Haas, Bernhard Langer -- the kids out here this week watched more than golf, they watched golf history. And they left here with a better understanding and spirit of the game. It was a great sight to see and quite a lesson for me to learn.

But back to golf instruction.

This course is not new to hosting championships at the highest level. As the host of the PGA Tour's AT&T Classic from 1997-2008, TPC Sugarloaf was specifically designed to host events with up to 30,000 fans. Those fans come for many reasons -- most of all a dramatic finish. TPC Sugarloaf's 548-yard par-5 18th hole provides just that. It's one of the best finishing holes in golf. And that provides the perfect setting for this week's, "A Lesson Learned."

Our new champion, Bernhard Langer, aptly provided the tutorial. As Langer stood on 18th tee box with a 3-shot lead on Sunday, Tom Pernice Jr. was ahead of him on the green with a 20-foot eagle putt that would pull him within one shot.

Langer's drive sailed right of the fairway finishing in the rough. However, he saw up ahead that Pernice had missed his bid for eagle. Even with Pernice's tap-in birdie, Langer knew that a bogey would still win him the championship.

The second shot on this classic par 5 plays dramatically downhill, with many players able to give the green a go in two. Langer now faced a decision. With only 215 yards to cover the lake fronting the green, it was time to evaluate not only the shot, but also the circumstances that surrounded it.


Situations like this face every golfer, of every skill level at one point or another. At 215 yards, depending on wind, it was no more than a 3-hybrid and no less than a 5 iron. A lay up would require a shot no more than 120 yards... 120 yards! Nobody -- even the best players in the world, like to lay up with a wedge.

But here's the lesson, this is what the separates great players from really good players -- the ability to think rationally under even the most intense circumstances. Langer kept the BIG picture in mind, laid up with a wedge, and then wedged it to three feet. Yes, he still made birdie to win by three.

Sure, you may not be playing for a $278k winners check in your Saturday Nassau with the boys, but you can benefit from this lesson. When faced with a difficult decision during a round, remember to ask yourself three questions:

1. Will this guarantee me the result at the end of the round that I want?

2. Have I pulled this shot off before during competition (not just on the practice tee)?

3. Can I live with the worst case scenario?

If the answer to all three is "yes" then go for it! If even one is a "no" then choose the safe option.

Thinking your way around the golf course, while not as sexy as adding 30 yards to your tee ball, will save you more shots. At the end of the day anyone who has ever touched a golf club will admit: lower scores are more fun than a miracle shot.

Josh Nichols is the PGA Head Professional at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Ga.

Atricles Course: http://golfatn.blogspot.com/

LPGA: Park extends No. 1 ranking over Lewis

LPGA: Park extends No. 1 ranking over Lewis










The Sports Xchange April 22, 2013 4:00 PMThe SportsXchange



Korea's Inbee Park stretched out her cushion a bit in retaining the No. 1 spot in the LPGA Rolex Rankings and now holds a 0.34-point lead over American Stacy Lewis.

Park finished fourth in the Lotte tournament in Hawaii, which concluded Saturday, while Lewis tied for ninth.

Korea's Na Yeon Choi moved into the third spot with a tie for sixth, while former world No. 1 Yani Tseng continued her slide, falling into fourth after finishing in a tie for 38th in Hawaii.

Norway's Suzann Pettersen, who won the event, moved up one spot to No. 5 in the world.

Korea's So Yeon Ryu and Jiyai Shin, China's Shanshan Feng, Japan's Ai Miyazato and Australia's Karrie Webb round out the top 10.

American Paula Creamer remained at No. 11.




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Two marshals come to Tiger's defense

Two marshals come to Tiger's defense










The Sports Xchange May 15, 2013 12:50 PMThe SportsXchange



A day after two marshals disputed Tiger Woods' version of events from a controversy with Sergio Garcia at the Players Championship, two others came to the defense of the world's No. 1-ranked golfer.

The issue stems from the second hole Saturday, with Garcia claiming Woods created a distraction by removing a club from his bag during Garcia's second shot, resulting in a poor shot that ultimately led to a bogey. Woods asserted he had been given the go-ahead that Garcia had already played his shot, but two marshals told Sports Illustrated on Monday that nothing had been said to Woods.

On Tuesday, two other marshals said there had indeed been communication.

"It is not true and definitely unfair to Tiger," marshal Brian Nedrich told the Florida Times-Union. "That's because I was the one Tiger heard say that Sergio had hit."

According to Nedrich, he could barely see Garcia but saw a glimpse of him swinging followed by the ball in the air. Fellow marshal Lance Paczkowski couldn't see Garcia and told fans he had yet to hit. Nedrich said Woods had already taken his club out of his bag, but that the marshals did indeed tell him Garcia had played his shot.

It's yet another version of the sequence of events, with Woods saying he was told Garcia had played his shot and then removed his club.

"There was a lot going on, as usual, when Tiger plays," Nedrich told the paper. "Then, he's trying to have the concentration he needs to win a tournament. It's easy to get small details out of whack when things happen so fast. It was an unfortunate incident, and I don't think either player is to blame."

"Tiger Woods did not lie," Paczkowski told the Times-Union. "Was there a small mistake in what he remembered? Yes. But I don't think it rises to the level of lying."

The drama began when Woods pulled a 5-wood from his bag, iliciting applause from the crowd - and Garcia said the commotion resulted in his poor shot. SI.com reported that Garcia turned and glared in Woods' direction, and he later told NBC, "It's very simple. You have to pay attention to what's going on because the other guy is hitting. You do something when you're in the crowd, and the crowd is going to respond."

On Monday, John North, the chief marshal for the first three holes, told SI.com: "Nothing was said to us, and we certainly said nothing to him. I was disappointed to hear him make those remarks. We're there to help the players and enhance the experience of the fans. He was saying what was good for him. It lacked character."

Countered Nedrich: "It's disingenuous to suggest that Tiger is a liar because he got a minor detail wrong."

"The comments from the marshals in today's (Times-Union) story definitively show that Tiger was telling the truth about being told Sergio had hit," said Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent, in a statement. "I hope this demonstrates to some reporters the importance of accuracy and not jumping to misplace conclusions."

Atricles Course: http://golfatn.blogspot.com/

Kuchar could get major breakthrough at US Open

Kuchar could get major breakthrough at US Open










Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange May 15, 2013 1:50 PMThe SportsXchange


In 2011, Keegan Bradley ended an American drought of six majors without a victory by winning the PGA Championship.

Last year, Bubba Watson captured the Masters and Webb Simpson claimed the U.S. Open title, and for each of the three, it was the first majors championship of his career.

It might be Matt Kuchar's turn, perhaps as soon as next month in the U.S. Open at Merion.

"I think the more comfortable you get winning tournaments -- I've now got five wins, and I'd like to continue that going," said the 34-year-old Kuchar, who is playing this week in the HP Byron Nelson Championship after a disappointing tie for 48th in his title defense at the Players Championship. "Majors are certainly on my radar. I think all of us try to peak for major championships. Everybody wants to get their game in the best shape possible for majors. ...

"I would like to kind of be 'on' with regularity and play well week in and week out, and I felt like that was the best preparation and just continue playing well and let that carry into major championships and just keep the good play going."

The upward turn of Kuchar's career since 2009 reads like a roadmap heading toward a major championship.

Kuchar ended a seven-year, non-winning streak by capturing the 2009 Turning Stone Resort Championship during the Fall Series, and things took off from there.

The following year, he captured the Barclays to open the PGA Tour playoffs for the FedEx Cup. He added a victory last year in the Players Championship and earlier this season in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, where he beat defending champion Hunter Mahan in the final.

Not only has he shown he can win the big tournaments, but he also leads the PGA Tour with 33 top-10 finishes in the past three-plus seasons.


"I've always thought you were supposed to take the appropriate steps to get to the next level," said Kuchar, whose brilliant amateur career included a victory in the 1997 United States Amateur. "I've always thought that like in school, you kind of graduate elementary school, get to middle school, you graduate middle school and get to high school and then college, and those are the steps you take. You don't jump straight into college, and you don't jump straight into advanced-placement courses. You kind of take these little steps to get there.

"I thought the same was applicable with golf. I felt like you kind of start playing well, you start top-10ing, you start having a lot of chances, and then you win a tournament. Then you start doing the same in bigger tournaments. You start having better and better results, and you take those steps and feel more and more comfortable in the big tournaments, majors included, and I feel like I've made the right progressions.

"I've been pleased at kind of the trajectory of my career the last couple years."

That Kuchar, who has been in or near the top 10 in the World Golf Rankings the last few years, has become a major player is no surprise to anyone who saw him play during a brilliant amateur career.

After claiming the U.S. Amateur title at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club outside of Chicago, he earned the 1998 Haskins Award as college player of the year as a sophomore at Georgia Tech and finished as low amateur in the Masters and the U.S. Open that year.

Kuchar earned six titles for the Yellow Jackets before his graduation in 2000 in business management, before he briefly took a job in finance to have something to fall back on, just in case.

All it did was help him know what to do with his money once he turned pro.

In 2001, he earned his PGA Tour card without going to qualifying school by making $572,669 in six tournaments, including a tie for second in the Texas Open at La Cantera and a tie for third in the Air Canada Championship.

Kuchar broke through for his first victory on the circuit in the 2002 Honda Classic, and then ... almost nothing, for nearly seven years.

"Golf is a difficult and humbling game," the 6-foot-4 Kuchar said of how it brought even a big man like him to his knees. "I think it's gotten the best of everybody at times. So it was at times very frustrating. I think it's one of those things, even when you're playing great, the game of golf can still bring you right back down and humble you pretty quickly. ...

"Yeah, there were times I felt like I was going to have a hard time fighting my way back, and fortunately with my work with (instructor) Chris O'Connell, it's really been this upward climb where I feel like there's still a lot of improvements we can make. I feel like we've made a great deal of improvements, and I feel like there's still a lot of room to get better."

Kuchar turned to O'Connell in 2006, when he also went back to what was then the Nationwide Tour (now the Web.com Tour) and relearned what it was like to compete and win. He captured the Henrio County Open and finished second in the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open and the Nationwide Tour Championship.

It restored the upward momentum of his career, and he has reached new heights by finishing in the top 10 in majors five times in the past four seasons, including ties for third and eighth the past two years in the Masters.

"I'm certainly looking forward to contending more in majors and hopefully getting my chance to win a couple," Kuchar said.

Once he breaks through, it might be as simple as one-two-three.




Atricles Course: http://golfatn.blogspot.com/

Tiger Woods’ Greatness Exemplified by Marshal’s Comments

Tiger Woods’ Greatness Exemplified by Marshal’s Comments
Marshal: He Lacked Character, but I was Still Rooting for Him











Chris Chaney May 15, 2013 4:25 PM




COMMENTARY | Did Tiger Woods lie at the Players Championship?

No, not about his drop on the 14th hole during the final round; that's a different argument for a different day.

This is about "The Incident."

Let's set the scene: It's the third round of the Players Championship. Woods and his playing partner, Sergio Garcia, have 37 holes and one shot under their belts so far. Woods, who has been working the ball beautifully all week, misses one left into the gallery amongst the trees. Garcia does not. He's positioned beautifully on the right side of the fairway on the par-5 second hole at TPC Sawgrass, away by a yard, according to the PGA Tour's Shot Tracker, and therefore, the first to play.

As Garcia prepares himself, Woods is languishing in a sea of spectators, clearing room for his next shot. Once a human V is made around Woods and his preferred line, he assesses his options. He sees an opening and believes that he can hit a 5-wood up near the green. He pulls his club, almost out of habit as he continues to plot his upcoming shot in his head, mumbling yardage numbers and wind direction and ball flight when sporadic cheering comes from the spectators surrounding him.

Momentarily knocked out of his supreme focus, Woods realizes the applause is for his club choice -- one that indicates to the crowd he is going for the par-5 green in two. Woods, now aware of his misstep, attempts to quiet the crowd by putting a finger to his lips and pointing toward his playing partner who, unbeknownst to Woods, has just struck his second shot. Woods refocuses himself and goes back to crunching numbers.

Meanwhile, Garcia's second shot is right going righter. He looks in Woods' direction -- still holding his follow-through -- with an expression somewhere between disbelief and disgust.

The two continue playing under ominous skies until play is called due to weather five holes later. During the nearly two-hour rain delay, Garcia makes his gripe with Woods known, insinuating in a Golf Channel interview that Woods pulled his club as an act of gamesmanship to mess with the Spaniard.

Asked about Garcia's comments following the round, Woods said he was aware of what was said and noted that a marshal told him that Garcia had already played his shot.

The duo's past and disdain for one another made news as the incident on the second hole played the role of reignitor of the imbroglio.

The next layer of the story came out Monday, long after Woods had already raised the crystal trophy above his head. SI.com's Michael Bamberger talked to a pair of marshals who were working the second hole Saturday when "The Incident" took place.

The chief of marshals for the first three holes, John North, stood over Woods' ball after it came to rest off the tee to protect it from the stampede of fans hoping to get within an arm's reach of Woods.


Questioned about the truth of Woods' assertion that marshals had told him Garcia had played his shot prior to Woods pulling a club, North said, "Nothing was said to us and we certainly said nothing to him.

"I was disappointed to hear him make those remarks. We're there to help the players and enhance the experience of the fans. He was saying what was good for him. It lacked character."

(North's comments have since been refuted by another marshal who admitted to telling Woods that Garcia had hit, although Woods had already pulled his club.)

Later, on Sunday afternoon, North, a graduate of the Naval Academy and Vietnam War veteran, sat watching the television broadcast from a military appreciation tent. With Woods and Garcia coming down the stretch, North said of Woods, "I hate to say it, but I was rooting for him. It tears me apart. But when he's winning ..."



But when he's winning. When he's winning, we set aside our personal grievances or feelings toward Woods the man and embrace the greatness that is Woods the golfer.

Perhaps it's part of the American psyche to place athletes up on pedestals, hoping and wishing for them to be something better than themselves, more than mortal. We want to be a part of history; it's exhilarating and memorable. We want to say, "I was there when…"

That's how North felt watching the greatest golfer of this generation Sunday afternoon, not yet 24 hours since Woods, in North's opinion, lied for his own personal gain, and in essence, threw North and his marshals under the bus.

But that's what greatness does to people in the moment. It encapsulates us; that as by a matter of proximity, we were a part of something great as well.

And sure, after the trophy's been given out and Woods has flown his private jet back to his mansion on the water in his gated community you might feel a little dirty, a little let down or disappointed in yourself for casting aside your morals to embrace something bigger than yourself.

After all, it's just sports. It's just a man hitting a ball, right?

Yes, that's true, but you know, next week, next month or next year, you're going to be rooting for Tiger Woods to do something great again just so you can say, "I was there when…"

Chris Chaney is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based sportswriter. He has written for multiple outlets including WrongFairway.com, Hoopville.com, The Cincinnati (OH) Enquirer and The Clermont (OH) Sun.



Follow him on Twitter @Wrong_Fairway.

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Sergio Garcia Playing Impressive Golf Despite Off-Course Drama

Sergio Garcia Playing Impressive Golf Despite Off-Course Drama











Adam Fonseca May 23, 2013 10:57 PM




COMMENTARY | Regardless of your opinion on Sergio Garcia the person these days, Sergio Garcia the professional golfer is playing at an incredibly high level.

Garcia managed an even par 72 in the opening round of this week's 2013 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the European Tour's flagship event. While not overly impressive at the surface, Garcia's round was impressive considering the pressure he has experienced due to his recent, well, extracurricular activities.

Garcia's play throughout the season has been even more impressive. He
is currently ranked in the top 15 on the Official World Golf Ranking; his highest ranking in years. As a member of both the PGA and European Tours, Garcia's statistics and performance place him squarely in the upper echelon of all players on either side of the pond.



On the PGA Tour side, for example, Garcia is ranked no. 39 on the FedEx Cup points list and no. 22 on the tour's money list. According to the Tour's website, he has made the cut in each of the eight events he has played and has finished in the top 25 seven times. He has managed four top 10 finishes during that stretch, including a third place finish at the WGC - Cadillac Championship. Thanks to a scoring average of 70.26, Garcia has already pocketed more than $1.3 million in tournament winnings on tour.

The story remains the same when looking at Garcia's performance on the European Tour this year. Garcia is currently ranked third in the Race to Dubai rankings, having earned more than 770,000 euros. He has played six tournaments on that tour - which includes the WGC - Cadillac Championship, WGC - Accenture Match Play and The Masters - and has not placed lower than seventeenth in any appearance. His scoring average on the Euro Tour (69.65) is almost a full shot better than his PGA Tour average.

The trend continues when you look at Garcia's performance stats. His driving distance average is over 287 yards on both the PGA and Euro Tours (287.7 yards and 292.44 yards, respectively). His driving accuracy is right around 60 percent on both tours (60.43 percent and 59.82 percent) while his Greens in Regulation percentage remain above average (67.90 percent and 77.08 percent).

What is Garcia's most impressive individual statistic this season? He boasts an astonishing .989 strokes gained while putting ratio on the PGA Tour, which is second only to his friend Tiger Woods.

All things considered, Sergio Garcia is having one hell of a season on the golf course. While he finds himself in the middle of the pack after his first round at this week's BMW PGA Championship - and six shots behind leader James Kingston at 6-under par - he is very much on pace to make the tournament cut and play on the weekend.

For Garcia's sake, it may be best to keep his nose to the grind for the time being and focus on playing some of the best golf of his career. He may also want to steer clear of any press conferences or microphones for a bit, as well.



Adam Fonseca has been writing about golf since 2005. His work can be found on numerous digital outlets including the Back9Network and SB Nation. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife. Follow Adam on Twitter @chicagoduffer.

Atricles Course: http://golfatn.blogspot.com/

2013 Has Been a Roller Coaster Year for Luke Donald

2013 Has Been a Roller Coaster Year for Luke Donald











Adam Fonseca May 24, 2013 1:29 PM

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View gallery
Luke Donald remains optimistic about his game.




COMMENTARY | Luke Donald will miss the tournament cut at the 2013 BMA PGA Championship following a two-round total of 150 (6-over par) at Wentworth. In doing so, the former World Number One wrote another chapter in what has become a rollercoaster career.

In May 2011, PGA Tour and European Tour journeyman Luke Donald became the world's highest-ranked golfer after winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. He held
on to that top spot for 40 weeks, the longest span by any golfer not named Tiger Woods in the last 15 years, before Rory McIlroy took his place atop the throne in March 2012.



Donald would regain his crown exactly one year later after successfully defending his title at the 2012 BMW PGA Championship. He held that ranking for an additional 10 weeks before once again bumped by McIlroy. Donald has yet to rebound.

Currently ranked No. 6 in the Official World Golf Rankings, Donald's performance has been inconsistent since his BMW victory in May 2012.

That is not to suggest Donald hasn't played well over the past year. On the European Tour, Donald has since managed third place finishes at the 2012 BMW Masters and 2012 DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. On the PGA Tour schedule, Donald again earned top-3 finishes at the 2012 Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the FedEx Cup TOUR Championship last September. He even scraped together a quiet tie for fourth place at the 2012 British Open.

His performance in 2013 shows similar results. Prior to the 2013 RBC Heritage in April - where he recorded yet another third place finish - Donald's finishes ranged everywhere from a tie for fourth place at the 2013 Tampa Bay Championship to a missed cut at the Euro Tour's Maybank Malaysian Open in March. This week's missed cut at Wentworth will be his second of the year overall.

What has been the cause of this uncharacteristic trend of inconsistency for the Englishman? According to Donald's remarks following Friday's second round, his golf game has become somewhat unreliable.

"When I missed fairways, I missed the green and then I wasn't getting up and down," he explained. "My problems were just kind of compounding."

"Not one part of my game is really firing at the moment," Donald admitted.

His playing statistics on either tour confirm that assessment. While his scoring average on the PGA Tour is still under par (70.006), his average on the Euro Tour has grown to 72.6, or no. 172 overall. In terms of driving accuracy, Donald hits only 52 percent of fairways on the Euro Tour (no. 198) and 63 percent in the States (no. 55). Greens in Regulation percentage is another weakness for Donald this season, hitting only 67 percent (no. 121) on the Euro Tour and 61 percent (no. 170) on the PGA Tour.

Still, Donald believes his game is salvageable.

"It's not like I am a million miles away," Donald said. "It's about doing the things Luke Donald usually does well: being tidy around the greens and making the putts when I need to.

"I've got to start there and work my way back. Sometimes it's just a little something small from my coach that will get me back on track. I'm not too worried."Adam Fonseca has covered professional golf since 2005. His work can be found on numerous digital outlets including the Back9Network and SB Nation. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife. Follow Adam on Twitter @chicagoduffer.

Atricles Course: http://golfatn.blogspot.com/

Course Source: Snow Mountain at Las Vegas Paiute Resort

Course Source: Snow Mountain at Las Vegas Paiute Resort










Derek Harper, The Sports Xchange May 24, 2013 2:40 PMThe SportsXchange


COURSE SOURCE

IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Paiute Golf Resort - Snow Mountain Course; Las Vegas, Nev.

THE LAYOUT: The Pete Dye-designed Snow Mountain Course was opened in 1995 as the first of three tracks at the sprawling Paiute complex 25 miles northwest of the Las Vegas Strip. The Paiute Tribe owns and operates the resort - recognized as the first master-planned, multi-course facility built on Native American land.

What is unmistakable upon arriving at the complex is that it is a local favorite. The staff knows many of the golfers by first name, and the driving range is chock full of regulars swinging away while sharing stories.

Each of the three courses has its own distinct flavor, and Snow Mountain is generally considered the most playable for all levels of golfers. However, it also offers four sets of tee boxes that can stretch the experience out to a long as 7,146 yards from the tips with a 73.0 rating and 126 slope.

Some of the features of the par-72 Snow Mountain course are wide fairways with no holes that run parallel, although water comes into play on seven holes and there is a slew of risk-reward opportunities peppered throughout.

The course plays a fairly benign 6,035 yards (68.8/111) from the whites, but the "championship" tees provide a solid test at 6,645 yards with a 70.9 rating and 118 slope.

The rye grass fairways were in excellent shape during the spring and make excellent use of the natural rolling terrain. The greens feature plenty of slope that require good distance control, although they don't roll anywhere near as fast as some of the treacherous greens you can find around Vegas.

GENERAL MANAGER: Chad Gunier


LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: The first tip is to travel wisely. The Paiute Resort is roughly a $90 cab ride from the Strip - in each direction. Barring access to a car, the day gets pricey in a hurry unless you have a full foursome to split the bill. Once you arrive at the complex, however, it's well worth the effort.

A large clubhouse housing the pro shop, restaurant and other amenities is elevated and looks out across the vast property and the three courses.

If you're playing Snow Mountain, step back at least to the championship tees to bring in all the splendid design elements Dye incorporated.

From the opening drive off the 347-yard par-4 first hole, it's clear that while the course isn't particularly long, there is risk-reward almost everywhere. Play it safe and you'll have far longer approach shots into most every hole. Take the more aggressive lines that Dye taunts you with, and you better be able to carry bunkers and wasteland or shape your ball with control.

The first hole doglegs to the left and takes you away from the clubhouse. With no parallel fairways, you immediately get lost in the tranquility of the Paiute property.

How well you play the first time around the Snow Mountain course can directly hinge on how much wind is sweeping across the desert, as there is plenty of water, sand and wasteland to balloon a scorecard.

The par-5 third hole is a prime example. At 539 yards from the championship tees, it's two massive pokes - including a significant carry over water that runs up to the front right of the green. While downhill, a smarter approach is to lay up along the left side for a full wedge into the green. It's a beautifully designed hole that teases to the remainder of the course.

No. 7 is a drivable par-4. While it's 309 yards, you can slice off significant yardage with a decent hit over the dogleg right. Clear the bunkers and the slope runs downhill to the putting surface.

Water comes back into play with a pond protecting the green on the 399-yard par-4 ninth hole heading back to the clubhouse.

The Snow Mountain experience really gets going on the 10th tee box, where you look out to a large pond that runs along the left side of the 10th hole and provides your first look at the demanding 18th hole running back along the same water feature.

Dye presents golfers with yet another risk-reward on the 381-yard 10th. A solid strike out over the water and over the bunker requires a carry of about 220 yards - but anything left is in the hazard. Safer drives to the right leave a higher probability of an uneven lie and a dicey longer approach into a green that has very little room to go deep.

Where Snow Mountain understandably earns most of its acclaim is with a trio of picturesque closing holes.

My personal favorite is the par-3 16th looking out to Castle Rock and Gass Peak. At 182 yards slightly downhill, it requires a full carry over water, with little bailout room.

The 17th is a solid 509-yard par-5 that begins your trek back to the clubhouse.

No. 18 is one of the better finishing holes in Vegas. It runs 425 yards from the championship tees, with water all down the left-hand side and the green turning around the corner a bit at the end.

A well-placed drive down the right that avoids two nastily-placed bunkers still leaves a mid-iron approach shot for most, with a massive slope on the right and water on the left protecting the green. Anything left requires a carry to the putting surface. A closing par is an excellent score on the course's No. 2 handicap hole.

OTHER COURSES IN THE AREA: There are dozens of quality golf courses in the Vegas area, but Paiute is tucked away in the northwest section and we recommend playing two of its courses if you're looking to squeeze in 36 holes for the day.

We were paired with a Vegas local who plays the Paiute tracks regularly. A 12-handicap, he likes Snow Maintain because "Wolf eats me up." Opened in 2001, Wolf is one of the longest courses in Vegas at a total of 7,604 yards. Regularly the top-ranked of the three courses, Wolf features an island green on No. 15.

WHERE TO STAY: Paiute doesn't feature lodging, so the vast majority of out of town visitors are making their way up from the Strip.

On the web: http://www.lvpaiutegolf.com/

Atricles Course: http://golfatn.blogspot.com/

Golf glance

Golf glance










The Sports Xchange June 10, 2013 2:00 AMThe SportsXchange



COMING UP

PGA TOUR: The 133rd United States Open on the East Course at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., Thursday through Sunday.

TV: Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. EDT on ESPN, 3-5 p.m. EDT on NBC and 5-7 p.m. EDT on ESPN; Saturday and Sunday, 1-7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC.

LAST YEAR: Webb Simpson shot 68-68 on the weekend, making a clutch up-and-down from the fringe on the 72nd hole, to claim his first major championship by one stroke over 2010 champion Graeme McDowell and Michael Thompson at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. McDowell, who closed with a 73 after sharing the 54-hole lead with Jim Furyk, had his chances to force a playoff but missed a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole and 25-foot birdie putt on the last. Furyk held the lead on the 16th tee but hooked his drive into the trees en route to the first of his two bogeys on the last three holes to close with a 74. He tied for fourth. Thompson posted a 3-under-par 67, best score of the final day, and waited two hours to find out that it was not quite enough. Simpson carded four birdies in a span of five holes through No. 10 and was steady down the stretch with eight consecutive pars as Furyk and McDowell fell back.



CHAMPIONS TOUR: Encompass Championship at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill., June 21-23.

TV: Friday, 12:30-2:30 p.m. EDT; Saturday, and Sunday, 3-5 p.m. EDT, on the Golf Channel each day.

LAST YEAR: Inaugural event, with the Champions Tour returning to the Chicago area for the first time since 2002, when Bob Gilder captured the SBC Championship at Harborside International Golf Club.



LPGA TOUR: The 68th United States Women's Open at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., June 27-30.

TV: Thursday and Friday, 3-7 p.m. EDT on ESPN2; Saturday and Sunday, 3-6 p.m. EDT on NBC.

LAST YEAR: Na Yeon Choi of South Korea built a six-stroke lead by shooting 7-under-par 65 in the third round and held on for a four-stroke victory over Amy Yang, also from South Korea, despite closing with a 73 at Blackwolf Run Golf Course in Kohler, Wis. The 24-year-old Choi claimed her sixth victory on the LPGA Tour, but her first major title. She was coasting along with a five-stroke lead after nine holes in the final round, but she lost her ball after hooking a drive into the trees en route to a triple-bogey 8, reducing the lead to two shots. However, Choi righted the ship with a birdie on the next hole, and after par saves on the 12th and 13th holes, she locked up the title with birdies on the 15th and 16th. Choi became the fourth South Korean to claim the title in a five-year span, joining Inbee Park (2008), Eun-Hee Ji (2009) and So Yeon Ryu (2011).

Atricles Course: http://golfatn.blogspot.com/

Course Source: Chambers Bay GC, Wawona Hotel GC

Course Source: Chambers Bay GC, Wawona Hotel GC










Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange June 10, 2013 2:00 AMThe SportsXchange


IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash., five miles south of Tacoma and 45 minutes south of Seattle.

THE LAYOUT: Boasting a traditional links layout along the picturesque shores of Puget Sound, Chambers Bay received national acclaim well before its highly anticipated opening late in June 2007.

Already it is making history.

Chambers Bay is the first course opened since 1962 that will hold a U.S. Open, having been selected to host the national championship in 2015, when it will become the first course in the Pacific Northwest to be the site of the event.

Bandon Dunes in Oregon, another unique layout sometimes compared to Pebble Beach, was expected to be the first Pacific Northwest course to play host to the Open, so the selection of Chambers Bay was considered something of an upset.

Chambers Bay, which will join Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y., and Torrey Pines near San Diego as the only municipal courses to host the U.S. Open, received something of a dress rehearsal by hosting the 2010 U.S. Amateur.

Architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. was hired because of his unique vision for the 930-acre park, a sand and gravel quarry bought by Pierce County for $33 million in 1992.

Jones' firm didn't seek to simply copy the successful blueprint laid out by Bandon Dunes (both courses are managed by Kemper Sports). The goal was far loftier -- to provide a unique opportunity to play true Scottish links golf courtesy of the natural elements of the land and maritime weather.

Course developers removed all but one tree, a Douglas fir that stands behind the 15th green and near the 16th tee above the waters of Puget Sound. "The Lone Fir," as the tree has become known, was damaged a few years ago by vandals, but work by agronomists apparently has saved it.

Nearly 1.5 million cubic yards of dirt and sand were removed to create the course, which is located below the snow-capped Olympic Mountains. The end result is a fabulously designed layout that features miles of sandy wastelands, dunes and rolling hills that force golfers to understand the nuances of the course to avoid serious trouble on any given hole.

The wind and rain the Northwest is known for has transformed the property into a links paradise. But there's no question there is plenty of length and difficulty to satisfy USGA standards for the U.S. Open -- 7,585 yards from the back tees with a 76.9 rating and 135 slope.

GENERAL MANAGER: Matt Allen.

HEAD PROFESSIONAL: Nicholas "Nyk" Pike.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: It only takes stepping out of the car to know a serious challenge awaits. The pro shop sits atop a cliff overlooking the 930-acre park, with a shuttle transporting golfers down to the course.

No golf carts. This is designed to be natural Scottish links golf, after all.

But there are plenty of caddies who, for $35, will carry your clubs and offer insight as you walk the approximately 7.5-mile course (one caddy said the standard tip is around 100 percent).

Whether a caddy is worth $70 in addition to the $155 to $205 weekend greens fee for non-residents depends on your pocketbook and patience quota for quality shots that end up in impossible places.

And there is ample opportunity to pull out the wrong club on nearly every hole as the course winds its way up and down the hillside. One of the few holes without a major elevation change is the par-4 opener -- a 465-yard tester for the average golfer and a 498-yard monster for the pros.

A new course with plenty to prove to justify its $20.7 million price tag, the friendly caddies will offer token pre-round advice if you opt to lug your own sticks.

Tip No. 1: Don't mess around in the sandy wastelands. Take your medicine and fight your way back into the fairway at all costs. It only takes one attempt to be a hero out of the heavy, coarse sand to realize you should have heeded the advice.

Tip No. 2: The fescue grass tends to grow toward the sun, and can slightly change direction during the day, so putts don't necessarily roll toward the water.


Tip No. 3: Over-club on No. 7, named "Humpback." No, not after the whale. At 449 yards from the medium "Sand" tees and 508 from the back "Teal" setup, it's a sharp dogleg right uphill around a vast wasteland. A well-struck drive leaves the average golfer 180 yards straight uphill over a massive dune smack in the middle of the fairway. Club up two, because the false front on the green sends shots that come up short straight back down the fairway a good 50 yards.

Should make great television for the U.S. Open.

Signature hole? The shuttle driver claims to have "narrowed it to 12."

For the sake of debate, we'll go with the par-3 15th. It's a rather innocent-looking 127-yard short iron tee shot, but there's nothing innocent about the elevated tee box that looks directly out at the lone tree and dramatic views of the surrounding area.

Three holes later is the excellent par-5 18th, the No. 2 handicap hole, featuring the massive relics of concrete sorting bins from the property's mining days lining the right side. At 514 yards from the Sand tees and 604 from the Teal with an elevated, multiple-tiered green, it's a trying conclusion to a round likely to push the six-hour mark.

OTHERS COURSES IN THE AREA: While the hefty greens fees of Chambers Bay are due to the county's need to log approximately 35,000 annual rounds averaging around $100 per golfer, there are several more outstanding golf courses within a short drive that won't tax the wallet quite so heavily.

A half-hour drive takes you to Trophy Lake in Port Orchard, a favorite among local golfers for its challenging layout and beautiful topography. Another 15 minutes up Highway 16 you reach Bremerton and the doorstep of Gold Mountain, which boasts two 18-hole championship courses. The Olympic course played host to the 2006 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

WHERE TO STAY: If it's an overnight stay for the purpose of playing Chambers Bay, there are numerous hotels and motels in University Place and Tacoma. For those interested in wagering a few dollars and watching live entertainment, the Emerald Queen Hotel & Casino is one mid-level option.

If you're planning to stay for a few days, cross the Narrows Bridge to the quaint town of Gig Harbor. Located along the shores of Puget Sound, Gig Harbor offers good food, great scenery and plenty of lodging options. The Maritime Inn is a boutique hotel downtown, and there are several bed & breakfast options to choose from.

ON THE WEB: www.chambersbaygolf.com

--Chambers Bay course review by Derek Harper, The Sports Xchange



THE LAST RESORT: Wawona Hotel Golf Course in Yosemite National Park, Calif.

THE LAYOUT: Alister MacKenzie, primarily known as the architect Bobby Jones hired to design Augusta National, left quite a legacy in California as well.

Among the masterworks he created are Cypress Point in Pebble Beach, Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz and the Valley Club of Montecito near Santa Barbara.

MacKenzie has been is credited in several places, including California Golf Guide, as the designer of the Wawona Golf Course, the only golf course within the boundaries of a national park in the United States.

However, research has turned up no evidence that MacKenzie ever walked the property in the High Sierra, where the golf course blends seamlessly with the towering pines near the famed Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias, the largest and oldest living things on earth, and Glacier Point.

However, it seems likely that designer Walter Favarque of San Francisco consulted on plans for the layout, which opened in 1918, with MacKenzie and Peter Hay -- whose family was instrumental in the development of Pebble Beach.

The nine-hole Wawona course was intended to expand to a full 18 when it opened in 1918, but the federal bureaucracy, which holds jurisdiction, has made it impossible.

The sporty 3,017-yard layout, which plays to a par of 35, meanders through forest and meadows bisected by several streams, and includes two par-5s, three par-3s and four par-4s.

Two sets of tees allow the golfer to play 18 holes at a length of 6,015 yards and a par of 70, with a USGA rating of 69.1 and a slope of 117.

Wawona is one of the few organic golf courses in the United States, with no pesticides used on the grass, and it is watered strictly with recycled grey water. Also, the course is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.




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GENERAL MANAGER: Alice Harton.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: The strength of Favarque's course is at the start, with a sweeping, uphill dogleg left 464-yard par-5, followed by a challenging 229-yard par-3 from an elevated tee, and a 470-yard par-5 through a chute of trees.

Don't be deceived by the relatively short par-5s because No. 1 plays dramatically uphill on the second and third shots to an elevated green, while No. 3 is extremely narrow off the tee and on the approach.

Best hole on the course and the signature at Wawona is the 420-yard seventh, which plays up and over a ridge on the blind tee shot and then straight downhill to the green through a corridor of sequoia and ponderosa pine trees that have given the hole the name "Cathedral."

A plaque near the green commemorates the first community in Yosemite established by Galen Clark in 1856. The exact spot of the settlement is located about 50 yards into the woods behind the green.

Another unique feature of Wawona is a periscope on the 349-yard fifth tee, required because of another blind tee shot. Be sure to check the periscope to see that the group ahead is out of range before hitting your tee ball.

The 185-yard sixth hole is called "Nursery," with the green located in a peaceful clearing where deer and bear often come out of the woods with their young to seemingly watch the golfers.

After you finish the 371-yard, par-4 ninth hole, check the position of the practice putting green across the road in front of the clubhouse, because that was the original green for No. 9 before two-lane Highway 41 was cut through the property.

The rest of the greens are not original, either, because when the par-3 course at the venerable Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley was shut down in the late 1970s, course superintendent Kim Porter had the classic bent grass greens dug up and moved to Wawona.

OTHER COURSES IN THE AREA: If you are driving from Fresno and looking for a place to play on the way to Yosemite, stop at Brighton Crest Country Club in Friant, which features a course designed by Johnny Millerlocated across the road from Table Mountain Casino.

In the town of Ahwahnee, about 22 miles from the Yosemite, are the 27-hole, semi-private Sierra Meadows Country Club and the well-maintained River Creek Golf Course.

Also on the road to Yosemite is the nine-hole Yosemite Lakes Park Golf Course, designed by noted golf course architect Bob Baldock and opened in 1965.

WHERE TO STAY: Wawona Golf Course is located along the South Fork of the Merced River in a tranquil, pastoral setting across Highway 41 from the rustic Wawona Hotel, a national historical monument that was built in 1856.

The Wawona Hotel is a cluster of eight white wooden New England-style buildings set on a huge lawn of what was the site of Clark's Station. Galen Clark, Yosemite's original superintendent and guardian, chose a spot that the local Miwok Indians called "Pallachun," or "a good place to stop," to build a lodge.

Henry Washburn renamed the site Wawona, which is Miwok for "Big Trees." In 1876, Washburn built Clark Cottage, the oldest structure in the complex, followed by the main hotel building in 1879.

Most of the 104 guestrooms open onto the Wawona's signature verandas and are reminiscent of European-style hotel rooms. The rooms are furnished in period pieces and antiques. There are no telephones or televisions.

Among the other summer activities for hotel guests are tennis, swimming, hiking and fishing. Winter sports include cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing and alpine skiing at nearby Badger Pass Ski Resort.

President Teddy Roosevelt had lunch with at Wawona in 1903 while visiting Yosemite with naturalist John Muir. Other presidents who visited Wawona include Ulysses S. Grant, William Henry Harrison, Rutherford B. Hayesand William Howard Taft. Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson also passed this way.

Famous contemporary guests include Robert Redford and Brad Pitt.

Accommodations in Yosemite Valley, 30 miles to the north, include the historic Ahwahnee Hotel, which opened in 1927, and Yosemite Lodge, which is located at the foot of majestic Yosemite Falls.

Just outside the entrance to Yosemite are the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite in Fish Camp, the Evergreen Lodge in Groveland and the Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn in Oakhurst.




Atricles Course: http://golfatn.blogspot.com/

A Lesson Learned: English Lessons

A Lesson Learned: English Lessons











Brian Stubbs, PGA June 10, 2013 9:52 AM



As President of the Georgia PGA, I'm always going to feel a great sense of pride when a local product does well on the world stage. So it's a real thrill to see Harris English, who's just a good a young man as he is a great golfer get his first win at the FedEx St. Jude this past week.

English is a product of Coach Chris Haack and the University of Georgia. As a die-hard fan of Georgia Tech, it's not easy to heap praise on my friends on the other side of the state - but give credit where credit is due. Bulldogs such as Bubba Watson, Russell Henley, Erik Compton, Chris Kirk and now Harris English are all making their mark out on Tour. Between them and the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech (Kuchar, Cink, Troy Matteson, Roberto Castro, Matt Weibring, Nicholas Thompson, David Duval, Cameron Tringale, Larry Mize, etc.), our great state will be represented at the highest levels of golf for a long time to come.

There were obviously many pivotal moments for Harris as he tried to capture his first PGA Tour win this past week. But most observers would agree that his performance, specifically, his 2nd shot on the 17th hole on Sunday, was the key moment when he knew it was his tournament to win.

English's tee shot went a little left and he had a tough angle, thick rough and a tree to deal with on his second shot. It's a shot you probably see every round in some form. Many people would consider it one of the most difficult shots of their day. But it doesn't have to be.

Follow these quick tips when faced with a similar shot - you'll find you'll save yourself a number of strokes.

1.) Get out of the rough:That sounds so basic but if you happened to watch the end of the LPGA's Championship, you'd have seen that both Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel, on the same hole, tried to punch shots out of the rough and weren't able to. Take a club that gives you enough loft and carry to get out of the thick grass regardless of whether you're able to get it to the green or not. Even if you need to keep the ball low due to a tree limb (such as English), you're better off short of the green in the fairway than back in the rough, a few yards from where you started.
2.) Visualize what you're trying to do:When you're hitting a shot you don't practice much, with trajectory and carry more of an unknown, take a moment to see and feel the shot prior to hitting it. Your body will take cues from your mental picture.
3.) Grip down on the club:I suggest getting your hands down near the steel. This will help keep the clubface stable as it moves through the grass.
4.) Widen your stance a bit:This is a shot to hit with your arms while your body remains still. Strength and balance are key here. A wider stance will help in both.
5.) Abbreviate the follow through: When keeping the shot trajectory lower. Your hands and arms want to finish more waist high rather than the more traditional shoulder heighth.
6.) Practice the swing:Take a couple of practice swings - away from the ball - in similar grass conditions, to get a feel for how your club will react in the rough. A low punch may mean you need a flatter swing or a lower finish. Practice it.

I was so impressed with the way Harris English conducted himself and controlled his golf game down the stretch. His use of 3-wood or 5-wood off the tee, strategically putting himself where he needed to be to not only stay safe but to give himself scoring opportunities, is more the play of a veteran - not a younger player. But anytime you combine smart play, good shots and clutch putting - you're going to like your results.English did that all week and especially on the 17th hole Sunday. I hope these tips reap benefits for your play as well.


Brian Stubbs is a proud Georgian (born and bred), the Head Professional at the Country Club of Columbus and currently the President of the Georgia PGA Section.

Atricles Course: http://golfatn.blogspot.com/

Rose wins US Open, edging Mickelson and Day

Rose wins US Open, edging Mickelson and Day












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View gallery


Justin Rose is the first Englishman to win the U.S. Open in 43 years.(Getty Images)

PGA.COM June 16, 2013 8:05 PM


ARDMORE, Pa. -- Fly the Cross of St. George next to those red wicker baskets. The U.S. Open has an English champion for the first time in 43 years.

Justin Rose shot a closing 70 Sunday at Merion Golf Clubfor a 1-over 281 total and his first major championship. He finished two shots ahead of Phil Mickelson and Jason Day.

The 32-year-old Rose overcame his share of misadventures on a course that challenged all comers despite being the shortest at a major in nine years. He took the solo lead for good because of others' mistakes at No. 15: Mickelson and Hunter Mahan, playing in the final group, both lost shots on the hole to fall out of a tie for first.

Rose's last shot was a tap-in for par at the 18th, after his caddie removed the pin with the wicker basket on top, the symbol of Merion that replaces the familiar flag. He had chipped it there from the rough just behind the green, nearly becoming the only player to birdie the finishing hole over the final two rounds of the championship.

It's been a long wait for England since Tony Jacklin won the trophy in 1970. Rose has been in contention before, tying for fifth at Olympia Fields in 2003 and tying for 10th at Oakmont in 2007.

The day appeared to set up well for Mickelson to finally win his first U.S. Open. It was his 43rd birthday, it was Father's Day, and it was the first time he had held a solo 54-hole lead at the event. He made eagle from the rough at the 10th hole to retake the solo lead.

Instead, he's a runner-up for the sixth time, extending a record he already held. He was in a three-way tie with Rose and Mahan when his approach rolled back down the fairway at 15. He chipped well past the hole and 2-putted for bogey.

Mahan was the steadiest player on the course, with 13 pars in his first 14 holes, until his tee shot found the rough at 15. He hit into more rough before 3-putting for double bogey.

Rose joins Olin Dutra, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino and David Graham as U.S. Open champions who conquered the tough little course in the Philadelphia suburbs. His day consisted of five birdies and five bogeys. He missed a 5-footer for par at No. 3, but he sank long birdies on the 6th and 7th, then moved ahead of Mickelson with a 20-footer at No. 13.

It was hard to count out anyone who had a place near the top on the board. Merion turned out to be a place where golfers could post big numbers and live to tell the tale -- or at least tread water with everyone else.

But some fell out of contention quickly. Steve Stricker was just one stroke off the lead at the beginning of the day, but his hopes for a first major took a hit when he put two shots out of bounds at No. 2 and settled for an 8. He shot a 76.


Luke Donald also started the round just one shot to make up, but he hit a volunteer with a tee shot on No. 3 and on No. 4, took off his left shoe and sock to play his ball next to Cobbs Creek. He shot a 75.

Charl Schwartzel went briefly under par, then went the other way with a streak of bogeys that led to a 78.

Mickelson was the overnight leader at 1-under, but Lefty was scrambling from the start. His tee shot at the first landed in the rough, but he nearly birdied the hole when his 30-footer lipped out. He was in the sand at No. 2 yet missed a short putt for birdie. He finally paid the price for his waywardness when he put one in a bunker at the par-3 No. 3 and then 3-putted for a 5 that left no one under par for the tournament.

While the leaders were waiting to tee off, Tiger Woods went through the motions of extending his majors drought into a sixth year. It was an unfamiliar sight to see the world's No. 1 golfer teeing off on a Sunday more than three hours before the top pairing, but he was 10 strokes off the lead after a third-round 76 that matched his worst U.S. Open round as a pro.

Woods wore his usual Sunday red shirt, but it didn't keep him from quickly achieving a dubious double -- out of bounds and a 3-putt on the same hole. That made for a triple-bogey 8 at No. 2. He shot a 74 to finish 13 over par.

Sunday was five years to the day since Woods won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. His running tally of majors wins is stuck on 14, four shy of Jack Nicklaus' record.

"I did a lot of things right," Woods said. "Unfortunately, I did a few things wrong as well."

Hopes for a Grand Slam were also officially dashed. Masters champion Adam Scott shot a 75 to finish 15 over for the tournament.

Meanwhile, Shawn Stefani found a unique way to solve Merion: Hit the ball in the rough and get a hole-in-one. His 4-iron at the 229-yard, par-3 17th landed left of the green, bounced down the slope and meandered its way some 50 feet across the green and into the hole.

Stefani nearly jumped out of his skin. Then he kissed the spot where the ball landed.

"We're in Philly," he said. "There's some great fans up here, and I know they can be tough on you and they can love you forever. So I'm sure they appreciated me going to the ground and kissing it."

Atricles Course: http://golfatn.blogspot.com/

Phil Mickelson Finishes Second in U.S. Open for Disappointing Sixth Time

Phil Mickelson Finishes Second in U.S. Open for Disappointing Sixth Time











Ryan Ballengee June 16, 2013 9:37 PM




COMMENTARY -- Phil Mi


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9;s Day. A tie for second place in the U.S. Open.





The world's No. 1 Dad was No. 2 on the leaderboard at Merion.



The one-liners are easy. Putting a positive spin on a record sixth runner-up finish in the national Open? Almost impossible.



Mickelson was finally supposed to win the Open. This was his. How could it not be? Who was going to beat him? A 46-year-old part-time golfer? The guy who flubbed away the 2010 Ryder Cup? A guy wearing octopus-print pants? The guy who, not too long ago, resorted to putting with his eyes closed?



As it turns out, it was the last guy. It was Justin Rose's time, capturing the U.S. Open at 1-over-par 281. A steely resolve and brimming confidence combined to give Rose just enough fortitude to make a closing par at the 18th hole and force Mickelson to be the player to break an 0-for-145 birdie-less streak at the East Course's daunting finish.



Instead, Mickelson made it 0-for-146 at No. 18 and 0-for-23 in the U.S. Open.



Snakebitten? That was Snead. Maybe for Mickelson the proper term is phrankenfished.



Mickelson's losses in the U.S. Open have come in myriad ways, kind of like the mutant fish combines gnarly aspects of snake and fish. To complete the beast that haunts Mickelson, add in a little the human aspect. Stitched together, it explains the story of the left-hander in this championship.



It began in '99, with Payne Stewart nipping Mickelson with a 20-footer on the final hole at Pinehurst No. 2. Snake.



Three years later, Mickelson was serenaded on his birthday by the Long Island crowd at Bethpage Black...all the way to a solo second-place finish to Tiger Woods, then the greatest hunter in golf. Fish.



A couple of years after that, Retief Goosen putted like God on back nine at Shinnecock Hills to deny Mickelson the U.S. Open yet again. Snake.



In 2006, Mickelson had the U.S. Open in his hands on the 72nd tee at Winged Foot, but with one wild swing of the driver, he dropped it and instead choked himself. Human.



Once again at Bethpage in 2009, Mickelson had his chances in a Monday finish, but was too far behind to catch Lucas Glover, who 6-ironed his way through the last hole to capture his only major. The consolation prize? He owned the record most runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open. Fish, since he ran out of water in which to swim.



So what's this Open?



Snake? No. Asps don't bite players who make eagles.



Fish? Maybe. Phil burnt so many edges on Sunday that it's hard to argue his ball was swimming in a different pond.



Human? Seems so. Phil's big mistakes -- the two double bogeys on Nos. 3 and 5 -- were partially undone by the magic he created at No. 10. But it was a pair of shots from inside 125 yards that did Mickelson in, first at the 13th, then at the 15th. Both brought about bogeys, which was the difference between a playoff and a six-pack of runner-up finishes.



Now, Mickelson is left to wait another year for the Open, only to have to return to where this heartbreaking decade-and-a-half began, at Pinehurst No. 2.



Pinehurst No. 2 has been reborn, redesigned by architects Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. Maybe that's where Mickelson is to finally exorcise all of those shoulder-slumping, head-grabbing moments. Maybe that's where Mickelson will no longer have to be gracious in defeat as someone else celebrates winning a championship they don't desire in nearly the same way he does.



Maybe Mickelson's torment in the U.S. Open doesn't run back to Pinehurst, however. Maybe it goes all the way back to the beginning.



Phil Mickelson was born on this day 43 years ago in 1970. Englishman Tony Jacklin won this championship five days later. How fitting, perhaps then, that an Englishman denied Mickelson.



Father's Day? Birthday? No. It's Groundhog Day.



Ryan Ballengee is a Washington, D.C.-based golf writer. His work has appeared on multiple digital outlets, including NBC Sports and Golf Channel. Follow him on Twitter @RyanBallengee.

Atricles Course: http://golfatn.blogspot.com/

Phil Mickelson a champion despite finishing second, again, at the U.S. Open

Phil Mickelson a champion despite finishing second, again, at the U.S. Open











Eric Adelson June 16, 2013 10:12 PMYahoo Sports




ARDMORE, Pa. – Suddenly, everyone started running.



Hundreds of fans jogged, then sprinted toward the 18th green. They clambered over ropes and trampled manicured fairways. Course officials, there to watch and monitor a normally serene golf crowd, flashed looks of panic in their eyes when they saw the mob.

"MARSHALS!" one yelled. "We need HELP!"

There would not be enough help. There were too many fans, too many people wanting to run at Phil Mickelson, wanting to see him make the chip that would go down in golf history as the shot that forced a playoff and saved his dream of winning the U.S. Open.

Fans slid into bunkers, climbed trees, lost shoes. "This is not a good idea!" said one. "I'll never find my boyfriend!" wailed another.

They ran anyway, kicking up mud and mire behind them like colts in spring. All for a 43-year-old lumbering rock star with a lopsided grin and a history of arthritis.

All those unruly fans, rimming the final hole, finally held perfectly still when Mickelson bent over his shot. So few of them could see the ball around all the heads and shoulders, and nobody cared. They could hear. They could sense. They were there.

Mickelson's chip went up in the air and he ran up the swale after it.





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Phil Mickelson stares at his chip on the 18th hole as a crowd behind him looks on. (USA Today)Then the moment was gone. Mickelson had missed his last chance at a tie for first with Justin Rose, finishing second in America's championship for a record sixth time. The fans turned and slouched away.



Heartbreak. That's the word Mickelson used over and over again to describe what he called "very possibly" his most difficult loss. In U.S. Open history, he's the symbol of the near miss, right down to the way his putts rimmed the cup again and again on Sunday in a final-round 74 to finish two shots back. Mickelson, always in second place.

Yet in golf lore, he's something else completely.

There's no rhyme or reason to how Mickelson lost the U.S. Open – again. It felt all day like greater forces were propelling him to win. On 14, after a drenching rain, the sun came out only moments before Mickelson dropped a beautiful chip within par distance. He made it. On 15, Mickelson heard the whoops and shouts of the gallery on his left as he walked, and a rainbow emerged on his right pointing down toward the 17th green where he hit the shot of his life only a day before.

Destiny seemed to await there. Up on the green, USGA commissioner Mike Davis quickly tiptoed to the edge of the putting surface to remind Mickelson's caddie to pull the flagstick (or standard in this case) to avoid a penalty. He was doing his job as a rules official, making sure the player didn't err.

"Bones!" Davis whispered, hand cupping his mouth, gesturing in the direction of the wicker basket. All this came after the shot of the tournament, on 10, when Mickelson pulled a wedge and lofted his approach onto the green and directly into the cup for an eagle and first place at the time. The distance of the shot was wonderfully perfect for Philadelphia: 76 yards.

All that lined up for Mickelson, and all those fans lined up, and still somehow fate didn't line up. The putts he so beautifully traced all week danced by holes, around holes, and ultimately away from holes. The dagger was on 16, when Mickelson stood up on a plateau where he could see the championship green at 18, and he pushed a par putt ever so slightly out to his left.

"That's it," one official said quietly.

How could he say that? This was supposed to be Mickelson's day, Father's Day, his 43rd birthday. Fans serenaded him on every single hole.

"I think I heard 'Happy Birthday' 18 times today," said playing partner Hunter Mahan. "Hopefully I don't wake up tonight screaming Happy Birthday."

There was still hope, though, even after all those missed putts. Mickelson needed a birdie to tie Rose at either 17 or 18, and damned if those fans weren't ready to burst out from the ropeline, grab Lefty's golf ball and slam it into the hole. Mahan's a popular guy on Tour and with fans, but it was as if he wasn't even there. Tiger Woods has huge crowds and din wherever he goes, but this was a different noise. This was urgent, pleading noise. This was almost alarming.

But Mickelson had no more magic. He missed a long putt on 17, pulled his drive on 18, and couldn't hit the green with his Bubba-Watson-at-the-Masters shot from the trees. All he had left was that impossible chip, made to seem so possible by thousands of friends who had never before been within 100 feet of him.

It wasn't to be.

Moments later, after the mob had thinned and the remaining sunlight had ebbed, Mahan spoke about his friend.

"He's a great leader," he said, "and being in golf you don't hear that word very often as a leader. But he's really a leader in the game and he takes his time out to talk to the young guys … He really relishes that role and enjoys it. He's a great guy to admire."

That, in a way, allows what happened to Mickelson Sunday to make a little bit more cosmic sense. Anyone can show people how to win, but how can someone lead in losing?

After Mahan was finished answering questions, Mickelson approached the microphone with his usual Phil gait and his usual Phil smile. If any golfer ever had an excuse to clam up, it was Mickelson. How many athletes simply vanish without a word?

Yet all the answers spilled forth.





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Phil Mickelson (left) hugs his father after the final round of theU.S. Open. (USA Today)"I should have made bogeys on those holes and I let them become doubles …"



"Thirteen and 15 were the two bad shots of the day that I'll look back on where I let it go …"

"I think this was my best chance …"

"This one's probably the toughest for me, because at 43 and coming so close five times, it would have changed the way I look at this tournament altogether, and the way I would have looked at my record. Except I just keep feeling heartbreak …"

"If I had won today or if I ultimately win, I'll look back at the other Opens and think that it was a positive. If I never get The Open, then I'll look back and I think that, every time I think of the U.S. Open, I'll just think of heartbreak."

So many people around the country wanted Father's Day to be Phil's Day. Yet fatherhood really isn't about winning anything. It's about guiding younger people to be better. It's about acting in a way you would want the next generation to act.

"He plays golf the right way, the right way you want your kids to play," said Mahan, "and that's by having fun and acting right on the golf course."

No one can ever say Phil Mickelson hasn't done that.

After answering all the questions, the second-place finisher walked slowly back to the scorer's trailer. His eldest daughter, Amanda, born the day after his first U.S. Open heartbreak in 1999, wasn't there. She had strep throat. His wife, Amy, who hugged him after his most recent major championship, was home with Amanda and another child who wasn't feeling well.

Mickelson was greeted on his way by Jill McNeil, a woman who lives on the course. Her property was taken over by the USGA starting back in April. McNeil could look out her back window this week and see generators and trucks and enough wires to trip an army.

McNeil walked up to Mickelson, grabbed his hand and said, "I just want to say it's an honor to have you walk on my driveway."

Mickelson looked her straight in the eye and smiled.

"Thanks," he said, "for all you do."

And away went Phil Mickelson – the U.S. Open's all-time runner up, and the sport's truest champion.

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