Tag: LPGA Tour

  • 2016 Year in Review

    Arnold Palmer2016 was an interesting year in golf. As it does almost every year, the golf world started the year with great optimism and enthusiasm at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. However, it wasn’t all good news for the game of golf in 2016. Let’s take a look back at the highs and lows of the year in golf.

    Major Pro Tours

    Henrik Stenson and Dustin Johnson finally broke through and won majors, Jason Day had another great season and finished the year at #1 in the world, and Justin Rose won the first Olympic gold medal in golf since 1904.

    The LPGA Tour continued to be dominated by countries other than the USA, with players from Asian countries winning 19/35 events, and other winners coming from New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Canada, Spain and Germany. Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn won 5 times, including a major and captured the money list, CME Globe and Player of the Year honors. South Korea’s Inbee Park won the gold medal for her country at the Olympics.

    As far as records go, it’ll be hard to top Jim Furyk’s 58 he shot in the final round of the Travelers Championship, beating his record tying 59 from 2013 by a shot. He hit all 18 greens on his way to the lowest round in PGA Tour history, made all the more amazing considering he shot a very sloppy 74 the day before, hitting only 5 fairways.

    Oh yeah, and some guy named Tiger showed up at a tournament in the Bahamas…

    Golf Business

    While some great new products hit the market in 2016, the biggest business story of the year was the uncertainty and failure of a couple of big names. After many years with un-Nike-like market share and quirky club design ideas, Nike decided to pull the plug on their golf equipment division, meaning (among other things) Nike staffers like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy & Michelle Wie will be highly sought after for equipment deals. Nike continues to be a major player in golf apparel and footwear however, recently signing Jason Day away to a multi year deal.

    Well known golf & tennis retailer Golfsmith went into bankruptcy and was subsequently purchased by Dick’s Sporting Goods. Most Golfsmith stores will close, with only the most profitable locations staying open or being rebranded under the Golf Galaxy brand. Sports industry giant adidas has not-so-quietly been trying to sell off the Taylor-Made/Adams Golf brand, with no takers in sight. Cleveland Golf has been reduced to basically just a wedge company since parent company SRI Sports has focused on building their Srixon brand in the US market.

    Golf Equipment & Accessories

    Due to the limits the USGA has imposed on performance of golf clubs and balls, we probably won’t see many significant advances in club technology in the coming years, but some great new products surprised me nevertheless.

    While not new in 2016, alternative golf transport like the Golf Skate Caddy and the Golfboard started to hit the mainstream. After one round I was hooked and made several trips to golf courses strictly because they had Golfboards.

    Putter designer Guerin Rife has been quiet for a few years since his ugly separation from the company that bore his name – Rife Golf. He’s was back in 2016 with Evnroll, a new putter design that is among the best ever tested according to the folks at mygolfspy.com. While we haven’t tried them yet on the golf course (only indoors), I’m very eager to report on their effectiveness in the real world as well.

    Perhaps the most impactful driver of 2016 was Knuth Golf’s High Heat driver. You may not have heard of it because they don’t have commercials on TV or PGA Tour pros playing with it, but that’s because it wasn’t designed for PGA Tour pros. It was designed to perform best for average amateur golfers, and that is one promise it lives up to.

    The biggest “oopsie” of the year goes to Wilson Golf, who invested heavily in a reality show competition on the Golf Channel that pitted teams of designers against each other to come up with the company’s latest driver. Eventually a winner was chosen and the club was marketed as the Wilson Staff Triton and hit the market immediately after the final TV episode. Unfortunately, the USGA had not approved it yet. While the issue appears to have been related to the timing of the show and the desire to keep the results secret until the final episode, it was pie in the face for Wilson Golf and spoiled their product launch to a degree.

    The King

    Probably the biggest story in golf this past year was the passing of Arnold Palmer. There’s no need to go into all the reasons why he was so important to the game, because I could fill a page with that alone. The King seemed to touch everyone who plays the game in different ways, and other than maybe Jack Nicklaus, there isn’t anyone in golf that is more universally loved and respected than Arnold Palmer was. His memory and his legacy will live on forever,

    Looking Forward

    As always, we look ahead into 2017 with hope and optimism. I for one enter 2017 with renewed passion and commitment for the game, as I’ve joined a golf club for the first time ever. I intend to use the membership not only to enjoy the game I love more often, but to take advantage of the club’s unrestricted walking policy (Not an easy thing to find in Florida these days) to lose weight. Walking 9 holes early in the morning certainly beats marching on a treadmill!

    The PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando is just around the corner, and I look forward to catching up with my industry friends again. What started as an annual display of all the cool new stuff has now become a yearly social gathering for me. I’m less excited about new products as I am about old friends.

    Having taken part in the WAGC’s World Finals in Turkey in 2015, I joined the WAGT in the US and look forward to the challenge of qualifying for Team USA once again, this time in Malaysia!

  • Cure Putters 2016 Lineup

    Cure RX3Cure Putters was born in 2013 in Flagler Beach, Florida – Just up the road from where I live. The concept was simple. Make a putter that has high MOI, is adjustable for weight, lie angle and also has interchangeable shafts. Once designers Steve Davis and Jeff Ryan showed their putter to former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman, he liked it so much he wanted to be a part of the company. Since their official introduction at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando the response has been overwhelming.

    If professional tour usage is a measure of success for a club, the Cure Putter is doing very well indeed. Since its introduction a few years ago Cure Putters have gained a strong following on the PGA Tour Champions, LPGA Tour and PGA Tour.

    Whats the Deal with MOI?

    MOI stands for Moment of Inertia. MOI is a term used in physics to describe an object’s resistance to twisting. In this case the object in question is a putter. The higher the MOI, the less the putter will twist on off-center hits. Simply speaking, the higher the MOI, the more stable and forgiving a club will be. With putters that means a poorly struck putt will stay on line better with a high MOI putter.

    Most blade style putters like the Ping Anser and Scotty Cameron Newport have an MOI of around 4000. One of the most popular high MOI putters on the market, the Taylor Made Daddy Long Legs mallet, has an MOI rating of about 8000. By comparison, the 2016 Cure RX5 has an MOI that can be adjusted (via interchangeable weights) from 8500 up to 18,000! Cure is the highest MOI putter on the market, and it’s not even close.

    Cure Putter Goes in the Bag

    Last summer I got the 2015 RX3f model putter and it rolled the ball so well that I put it in play just a few weeks before the WAGT National Championship in Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania. Despite not making as many putts as I wanted, I rolled the ball beautifully all week. In fact, one of my competitors I played with on all 4 days of the tournament remarked after the final round that most putts I rolled that week had perfect speed and most of them had a chance to go in. That was my “A-HA!” moment with the Cure Putter. As a player all you can really ask for is for your putts that don’t go in to finish close to the hole, and it’s exactly what Cure is promising – More consistent speed and line on all your putts, even if it doesn’t go in. That’s what high MOI will do for your putting.

    Low Loft, High CG

    Most putters come standard with 3 or 4 degrees of loft these days. Cure’s RX series have half that with 1.5 degrees of loft. The reason it works is because Cure Putters have a high center of gravity (CG) and a deeper face than traditional putters. The deep face and high CG combine to impact the ball closer to the equator which eliminates backspin and produces a more consistent roll.

    2016 RX Series

    Cure RX6For 2016 the RX Series get some updates. The shapes have been streamlined, three of the four models have a flange and the silver alignment disks that a few models had in 2015 are gone. The RX1 and RX2 models are also gone. The RX3 is a more compact size, with a face that is 5.25″ wide. The RX4 model is slightly bigger with a 5.5″ face, and the RX5 and flange-less RX6 model have a 6″ face for the greatest forgiveness and MOI. All models have adjustable weighting and a full adjustable hosel to custom fit the lie angle. Interchangeable shafts allow golfers to switch between straight and offset shafts. Every RX Series putter is adjustable for lie angle from 62 to 80 degrees (most upright allowed by the rules of golf) and has 1.5 degrees of loft.

    RX3 – The adjustable weighting system may be the feature that sets the Cure Putters apart from the competition. The RX3 is adjustable from 332 grams up to 586 grams. At over 500 grams this putter can be a sledge hammer, but you can hit it anywhere on the face and still make putts. The RX3 is the smallest putter in the RX series.

    RX4 – The RX4 is the middle child in the RX series. The 5.5″ face is a little bigger than the RX3 but still looks more compact compared to the RX5 and RX6. The RX4 is adjustable for weight between 349 grams and 603 grams for an MOI range of 6900 to 14600.

    RX5 – The Cure RX5 is the biggest putter Cure makes with a flange. With a full 6″ wide face and adjustable weights from 361 grams to 615 grams with the extended weight kit, this putter is also the most resistant to twisting model Cure makes. At a weight of 615 grams, the MOI rating is 18000, which is the highest in golf.

    RX6 – The Cure RX6 is similar to the other models in being adjustable for lie and weight, plus having the ability to change shafts. Unlike the other models however, the RX6 has zero degrees of loft, no flange and is available in 5 different colors.

    2016 CX Series

    Cure CX1Known as the Classic Series, the CX1 and CX2 putters from Cure have more traditional shapes while still offering high MOI and weight adjustability. The CX Series measure 5″ wide and have 2.5 degrees of loft. Weights range from 334 to 376 grams for the CX1 and 342 to 384 grams for the CX2. Both models have a spiral milled face and a 70° lie angle.

    If the RX Series are too big or look too unconventional for you, but you still want high MOI with the design advantages of a Cure Putter, then the Classic Series may be the best option for you.

    Availability & Pricing

    Cure Putters are available at all major golf retailers and online directly from www.cureputters.com. Prices range from $229 for the RX6, $259 for the RX3,4 & 5 and $299 for the Classic Series putters.

     

  • A Tricky Rules Situation at Bahamas LPGA Event

    A Tricky Rules Situation at Bahamas LPGA Event

    Jessica Korda - Bahamas LPGAIf you watch enough golf on TV you will eventually see a rules situation come up that you have never witnessed before. For most golf fans that was the case on Sunday on the final hole of the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic. Even the LPGA rules official who was involved in the situation called it “a tricky one.” One of the veteran broadcasters for Golf Channel said on air that he had never seen it before.

    “Tricky” Rules Situation

    The situation involved Jessica Korda, the eventual winner of the tournament, on her next-to-last shot from just off the 18th green. Her approach shot to the hole had run past the green and nestled among some TV cables close to the wall of a spectator viewing stand. She was far enough away from the wall so that she could putt the ball onto the green, but five TV cables surrounded her ball.

    At first Korda, her caddie, and LPGA Rules official Dan Maselli tried to pick up the cables and move them out of the way. That’s usually what is done in that situation. But in this case there wasn’t enough slack in the cables to move them far enough away, so Maselli and one of the Golf Channel broadcasters held up the cables. Korda then putted her ball under the cable “bridge.”  It was a very good shot and got her close enough to the cup to make her next putt which turned out to be the winning shot of the event and gave her the championship.

    Some people have raised questions about the way the situation was resolved and how it is addressed in the official Rules of Golf. One veteran pro caddie wondered, for example, who would be allowed to lift the cables out of the way. He said he has been told by tour officials in past tournaments that a player’s caddie or marshalls can’t hold a gallery rope out of the way of a player’s swing or intended ball flight. His understanding was that the rope and posts must be taken down and placed on the ground.

    Jessica Korda - Bahamas LPGADan Maselli, the official who made the decision in Sunday’s situation, said anyone, including the player’s own caddie, can hold a cable or rope out of the way without incurring a penalty. But Maselli also says he understands why there might be some confusion… “This is a tricky one because you won’t find anything in the Rules that specifically allows it, nor will you find anything that specifically precludes it.”

    Maselli went on to explain… “A player is not allowed to accept assistance in playing a shot but that refers to protection from the elements or using devices to help with a swing. This, in my opinion, falls under Rule 1-4, Points not covered by Rules. A player is allowed relief from obstructions, movable and immovable. To me, the obstruction was movable but would not stay out of the way of the player’s stance, lie of ball or area of intended swing. Because the cables are not normally there, just there for the tournament, I felt that holding them up to allow the player to hit her desired shot, in equity, was ok. I know it’s been done before and so I decided to proceed that way. That in a nutshell is and was my thinking.”

    Jessica Korda certainly was not given any advantage in the way she was allowed to play her shot. In fact, she may have been a little distracted having to putt under the cable “bridge.” The “spirit of the game” seems to have been well protected by the way the situation was handled.

    Still, to the average golf fan it is more proof that the Rules of Golf are not as clear and as easily understood as they might be. Even the experts realize there can be some “tricky ones.”

    Dave Andrews, Author of Pops and SunshineAbout the Author: Dave Andrews is a Harvard-educated former television news reporter. Dave is an avid golfer who has become a fan of the LPGA and the Symetra Tour. He  is the author of Pops and Sunshine, a novel and screenplay about life on the women’s tour. The screenplay has been optioned by a production company in Hollywood. 

  • Talent Level was Marginal at LPGA Q School

    LPGA Qualifying School in Daytona Beach, FLLet’s face it, there were many players at the final stage of LPGA Q School in Daytona Beach this past week who should have saved the $2,500 it cost to play in the event and spent the money on more lessons. Several of the young women pros, as laudable as their ambition and determination might be, did not have a ghost of a chance to earn their LPGA cards for the 2012 season.

    When half the field was cut following the fourth round of the grueling 5-day event, the players who were eliminated had shot at least 12 over par over the first four days. Some players had shot 20-25-30-35 over par and even worse in four days. That is the equivalent of averaging 77 to 79 or higher for each of the four 18-hole rounds. Yes, the wind was fairly strong for some of the rounds, but it was no excuse for some of the ballooning scores, especially for women who believe they have the potential to play on the LPGA. Players will never make a living in pro golf averaging in the high 70’s in events.

    Any player can have a bad week, and there were some veteran players with past LPGA experience who did not make the cut and earn their way back onto the tour. However, most of those veterans have had very little success when they did earn their LPGA status in past years. That is why they found themselves back at Q School in the first place. There were also a large number of players with many years of experience on the LPGA Futures (now Symetra) Tour who did not make the cut. A lot of those players are now in their late 20’s and early 30’s. They are very good golfers, but their track record over several years in “the minors” would suggest that they will not improve their games to the level of LPGA players.

    Every year it seems that the women’s pro game is becoming younger and younger. Three of the players who finished in the top 20 at Q School and earned their full status LPGA cards were teenagers (Victoria Tanco-17, Hannah Yun-19, Rebecca Lee-Bentham-19), and don’t forget about 16 year old Lexi Thompson. She would have been at the final stage and was expected to be the medallist in the event, but she earned her way onto the tour next year with her victory in September in the Navistar LPGA Classic.

    The dream of making it to the LPGA is very powerful for most of the women who compete in Q School year after year. That is why many of them spend many years trying to improve their games so they can reach that goal. It is hard to give up on a dream that has been held so close for so long, but reality can be harsh. More aspiring LPGA players discovered that once again this year in Daytona Beach.

    Dave Andrews, Author of Pops and SunshineAbout the Author: Dave Andrews is a Harvard-educated former television news reporter. Dave is an avid golfer who has become a fan of the Duramed Futures Tour and is the author of Pops and Sunshine, a novel and screenplay about life on tour. His home course in New Hampshire is annually the site of one of the tour’s events.

  • 19 year old Hannah Yun prepares for rookie year on LPGA Tour

    LPGA Rookie Hannah YunI’ll always remember the first time I met Hannah Yun. It was in the summer of 2008 at a Duramed Futures Tour event in Bloomfield, Ct. On the patio outside the clubhouse at the course I happened to strike up a casual conversation with a man who turned out to be Hannah’s father. She was out on the putting green practicing.

    He told me his daughter was 16 years old and she was playing on the tour that summer as an amateur. She had just finished her freshman year at the University of Florida where she had been the team’s MVP as a 15 year old. Needless to say I found that very impressive. Imagine a 15 year old as the star player on a big college golf team.

    Out on the putting green she was working with Glen Kirk, the YES putter representative, who was giving her some advice on her putting stroke. I had known Glen for a couple of years and Glen told me Hannah was one of the most impressive young golfers he had ever seen. I said hi to Hannah and wished her well in the event. The next day I followed Hannah for a few holes and it took only a few minutes to realize she had a tremendous golf swing and was one of the most powerful ball strikers on the tour, despite her young age and 5’3″ frame.

    I saw Hannah and her parents again a couple months later at the final Futures Tour event of the season in Albany, New York. I was caddying for another player on the tour and only got to talk with them around the putting green. I told her father I would follow Hannah’s progress at the University of Florida and we exchanged contact info.

    As it turned out, Hannah’s father wrote a couple months later to tell me that Hannah decided to withdraw from the University of Florida that fall, early in her sophomore year. She had her sights set on a career on the LPGA and felt she was not progressing well enough in the school’s golf program. The following spring she began playing fulltime on the Futures Tour and I saw her several times that year. She always had power and a great technique but she was not scoring as well as planned. She finished the season in the top 50 on the money list with a stroke average of 73.4. Her best finish was a tie for 4th place. She finished the season at 50th on the tour’s money list. So, despite her talent there was still a long way to go before she could consider herself ready for the LPGA.

    The following season (2010) was similar. She improved her stroke average to 72.9 but had trouble putting three good rounds together in events. She tried a couple of different caddies and her father also caddied for her, but the results were always similar. Her best finish was 15th place and she ended the season at 63rd on the money list. She shot several rounds in the mid and high 60’s, but she allso shot many in the mid 70’s. In professional golf you are not going to go far by shooting 75’s and 76’s. Hannah tried several different coaches and instructors but the results did not seem to change very much.

    This year (2011) she continued to struggle and even left the tour in the summer to go back to training and practice and to work more on her game. She played in only 10 events, instead of the usual 15 or 16. She actually improved her stroke average to 72.6, but was not happy with the way she was progressing. She finished the season at 50th on the money list. Whenever I talked with Hannah or her father it was clear they were a little frustrated with the way things were going.

    Hannah Yun and Caddie Dave Andrews at LPGA Q School in Daytona Beach, FLIn September of this year, after a lot of work with her coaches, Hannah went to the second stage of LPGA Q School in Venice, Florida and had an impressive performance. She shot 5 under par for the event (68-71-71-73-283), finished in a tie for 8th place, and earned her way to the final stage of LPGA Q School in Daytona Beach, Florida. The event concluded this past Sunday. (Dec. 4th).

    The week before Q School, Hannah played in a Suncoast Tour event at the Q School site at the LPGA International complex. She shot a very impressive 9 under par score (69-69-69-207) in the three-day tune up event for Q School. All appeared to be coming into place nicely. I watched her play several holes in that event and walked the course with her father as we followed her in action. She and the other players were playing out of golf carts in that event, so her father was not caddying for her as he had been during the year on the Futures Tour.

    The first round of the big 5-day Q School tournament was played last Wednesday (Nov. 30th). I was following Hannah and several other players I know who were competing in the event. At the end of the day I was sitting in the coffee shop at the course when Hannah and her father walked in after finishing their round. Both were very dejected. Hannah had shot a 4 over par 76 and was not in good position after the first round. Hannah walked out of the coffee shop and her father sat down with me and told me that it was not working out well with him on Hannah’s bag. The father/daughter relationship on the golf course can often be a precarious situation.

    He then surprised me when he asked me if I would consider caddying for Hannah for the four final rounds of the event. I told him that I would be happy to help if that was what he and she really wanted (I am not a professional caddie, but I have caddied for several players and generally know how to do the fundamental things that are required). He was hoping that if I could just keep her relaxed and comfortable out on the course that she would play much better golf. He went outside and Hannah came in a few minutes later and asked if I would cary her bag. I told her it would be my pleasure.

    So, I caddied for Hannah the last four rounds. I did my best to keep her smiling and keep her clubs clean and my advice to myself. Apparently it all worked out. Hannah went on to shoot 74-71-72-71 and finished in a tie for 15th place in the tournament, earning her full status card on the LPGA tour for next year.

    I was thrilled for her and happy to have helped in a small way. Trust me, however, Hannah didn’t need my help. She is as good a player as most of the players currently on the LPGA tour. She is going to do very well in her rookie season on the tour, and at the young age of 19 has a brilliant career to look forward to. She is also one of the nicest, most humble and modest young women I have ever had the chance to meet.

    If you follow the LPGA, keep your eye on Hannah Yun in 2012. I think you will be seeing her name high up on the leaderboards in events and I hope you will be seeing a lot of her in action on Sundays when the LPGA events are on TV.

    Dave Andrews, Author of Pops and SunshineAbout the Author: Dave Andrews is a Harvard-educated former television news reporter. Dave is an avid golfer who has become a fan of the Duramed Futures Tour and is the author of Pops and Sunshine, a novel and screenplay about life on tour. His home course in New Hampshire is annually the site of one of the tour’s events.

  • Handicapping the Field for LPGA Qualifying School

    Photo by Dave Andrews

    The final stage of the LPGA Q School is one month away (Nov. 30-Dec.4). 144 players will compete for 20 “full status” LPGA cards for the 2012 season. The 20 top finishers will be assured of getting into all of the “full field” events on the LPGA schedule (there were 11 this year). Finishing in the top 20 opens the door for those players hoping to make a career on the LPGA, but it is then up to each player to perform well enough to keep her card.

    The five-day tournament at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida is often called the most pressure-packed event that any aspiring LPGA professional ever plays in. Last year it took a 5-day total score of 2 over par to finish in the all-important top 20. Another 20 or so of the top finishers earn “limited” LPGA status, but that will only get them into 2 or 3 LPGA events next year, making it very hard for them to earn enough money to keep their LPGA status for the following season.

    88 players advanced to the final stage of Q School by finishing high in the second stage of qualifying. The second stage event was held in September in Venice, Florida. Another 17 players qualified for the final stage by finishing high on the LPGA Futures Tour’s money list this year. Another 40 players currently hold low-level LPGA status based on their earnings this year, but they have been forced to return to Q School to maintain their “full status” for next season. No LPGA player ever wants to have to return to Q School to maintain her status, but that is the hard reality in professional golf. If you don’t make enough money one year, you run the risk of not being able to play on tour the following year.

    Unlike some previous years, there is no clear “sure thing” this year – that is – a player considered likely to win Q School. 16 year old Lexi Thompson could well have have been that player this year, but she will not have to compete in Q School because of her big win on the tour in September and the tour’s decision to waive the 18 year old age requirement and grant her LPGA membership for next season. I’ve had the chance to attend the last three Q Schools in Daytona (I caddied in one a couple years ago). I’ll be heading there again this year to take in the action and the final day drama. There will be a lot of smiles and a lot of tears among the players that day, on one of the most important days of the professional careers.

    I’ve gotten to know several of the players that will be competing this year and I’ll be rooting for them to earn their cards. Below is a list of the 40 players I think have the best chance of finishing in the top 20. I’ll be curious to see how my picks hold up. There are always surprises at Q School… favored players who don’t play well that week and players that come out of nowhere to earn their cards. It is five days of golf where every shot seems to count so much.

    Here is my list (in alphabetical order) of 40 players, out of the 144 in the field, that I think have the best chance of finishing in the top 20. I’ll be curious to see how my predictions hold up. Don’t be surprised if I’m way off because anything can happen in golf… Here is the full list of players that will be competing in the final stage of LPGA Q School: http://www.lpga.com/content/QUALIFYINGTOURNAMENTSTAGE3FIELDLIST.pdf

    My Predictions

    (* player has current LPGA status)
    (# qualified via LPGA Futures Tour money list)
    Jackie Barenborg#
    Mallory Blackwelder#
    Minea Blomqvist*
    Sara Brown*
    Sarah Brown*
    Misun Cho*
    Cydney Clanton
    Jacqui Concolino
    Stephanie Connelly
    Valentine Derrey#
    Jodi Ewart*
    Allison Fouch Duncan*
    Jennifer Gleason*
    Junthima Gulyanamitta
    Ginger Howard
    Jimin Jeong*
    Brittany Johnston#
    Hannah Jun*
    Ayaka Kaneko#
    Danielle Kang
    Mitsuki Katahira
    Kimberly Kim*
    Stephanie Kono
    Laura Kueny
    Jennie Lee*
    Tzu-Chi Lin
    Paola Moreno*
    Junko Nakada*
    Jean Reynolds*
    Samantha Richdale*
    Lizette Salas
    Elisa Serramia
    Natalie Sheary
    Jessica Shepley*
    Sophia Sheridan#
    Kristie Smith
    Jenny Suh*
    Mariajo Uribe*
    Leah Wigger#
    Hannah Yun

    About the Author: Dave Andrews is a Harvard-educated former television news reporter. Dave is an avid golfer who has become a fan of the Duramed Futures Tour and is the author of Pops and Sunshine, a novel and screenplay about life on tour. His home course in New Hampshire is annually the site of one of the tour’s events.

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  • Kentwool Socks – Wool Is Great For Summer

    Kentwool Tour Profile SockIn the heat of summer, most people play golf in shorts. When wearing shorts and golf shoes, most people also wear short socks, or ankle socks. You know the ones – They just barely rise above the ankle and top of the shoe, and give us those awesome golf tan lines when wearing sandals. I used to buy the thinnest, lightest ankle socks I could find, because I thought these would be cooler for my feet. It wasn’t until I discovered Kentwool socks that I even considered wearing wool to play golf.

    In my early twenties I spent lots of time skiing, camping and backpacking through the Eastern Townships of Quebec and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I loved wool socks for their comfort and warmth. Wool has unique properties that will keep you warm even when wet, which is why wool socks are great in cold weather. What I didn’t realize is that the same properties that make wool great for hiking also makes it great for golf socks. Kentwool has come up with a line of high quality, functional wool blend socks that are gaining a large following on the PGA and LPGA Tours. Using a blend of 61% Wool, 27% Polyester, 10% Nylon and 2% Spandex, Kentwool has managed to make a sock that is durable, comfortable and performs great in all weather.

    Kentwool Low Profile SockI'm making the switch to Kentwool socks from now on. Most of my golf is played with a cart in Florida, but I prefer to walk when possible. Either way, it will be nice to have Kentwool on my feet. They really are the best socks I've worn for golf. Kentwool makes three styles of golf sock for men and three for women: Men get a choice between the Tour Standard, Tour Profile or Low Profile. The Tour standard is a full length sock. The Tour Profile is a shorter length, sitting just above the ankle. The Low Profile is designed for the "no show" look without slipping down. It hugs the foot and helps you get that nice golfer tan line around your ankles. The Women's line has the Tour Profile, Low Profile and Low Profile Skinny. The skinny was designed for women with slender or narrow heels. Why Wear Wool? It's all about the four Ws! Weather - Wool’s ability to absorb moisture from humid environments and redirect it to dryer areas makes it an ideal year-round fiber. Always keeping dry air next to skin, it creates a micro-climate for dry, odor-free feet in the summer and warmth and protection in colder months. Wear - Superfine merino wool is lightweight, durable and requires minimal care while providing maximum comfort. Wool’s molecular makeup is like a spring, allowing it to stretch and snap back into shape far better than other leading materials. Wicking - A natural performance fiber, wool takes up moisture in vapor form and redirects it keeping skin dry to the touch. Wool can absorb up to 30% its weight in moisture without feeling damp or clammy. Wallet - Compared to other materials, the above benefits translate into a longer-lasting, higher-performing sock. By purchasing one pair of Kentwool socks versus multiple pairs from other brands due to lesser quality, you put money back into your pocket. Kentwool Tour Standard SockIf you combine Kentwool golf socks with a super comfortable pair of shoes like those available from Kikkor Golf, you'll be able to walk all day in total comfort!  All socks sell for $19.95/pair except the Tour Standard which sell for $24.95/pair. Go to the Kentwool Online Shop to purchase. Now, if we can just do something about that short game...

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  • Interview With Carling Coffing – Big Break Sandals Resorts Champion

    Carling CoffingThe finale of the Golf Channel’s hit reality show The Big Break is over, and Carling Coffing is the winner. Carling dueled it out with fellow finalist and LPGA Futures Tour player Lili Alvarez over 18 holes, and it came down to a clutch 25 foot birdie putt on 17 to take a one up lead with one to play. With a solid two putt on the final hole, the match was wrapped up and she was declared the champ.

    Born in Middletown Ohio, Carling has had Type I diabetes since the age of 5. Taking your blood sugar and endless insulin shots every day is tough, but her life was made much easier in 2008 when she discovered her Medtronic insulin pump, which she affectionately calls “Hanc the panc”. The two are (literally) connected at the hip. While having diabetes presents a challenge, she doesn’t use it as a crutch and doesn’t make excuses. While competing full time on the LPGA’s developmental tour, she is way ahead of many professional golfers when it comes to understanding her place in the game. She is currently finishing out her season on the LPGA Futures Tour and getting ready for LPGA Qualifying School this December at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, FL. The two exemptions, cash and endorsements she won on the Big Break will be a big help in her road to the LPGA Tour!

    Having witnessed her short game abilities first hand back in February, I knew she would have a chance on the show. She is living proof of something Harvey Penick once said: A good putter is a match for anyone. So, with the Big Break Sandals Resorts all wrapped up we got together and I was able to ask her some questions about her experience as a professional golfer.

    ITG: Did your week at LPGA Q-School differ from your expectations of the event? Carling: Before college I used to get nervous before every tournament that I played. The "shaky hands' Syndrome was always running wild through my veins! But there comes a time in every player's career where that goes away. You find out how to focus those nervous into positive energy, and you learn to play your best under pressure. UNTIL YOU GO TO Q-SCHOOL. I had prepared myself physically, but never expected HOW nervous I would actually be. I remember showing up thinking that all the other players looked six feet tall with a 25 foot flop shot. Those nerves can play tricky, tricky mind games. ITG: How long have you been playing golf, and how did you get your start? Carling: I had been watching golf on TV with my dad since I was six years old. He would tell me "those people have the best job in the whole world!". Early on, I made it clear that I WAS going to be a pro golfer. Unfortunately, it is an expensive game to play--and we could never afford it. When I went into junior high, my dad's Data Warehousing Company (Open Systems Services) had it's best year ever, and we celebrated with a membership to a 9-hole executive golf course. I played every single day with my parents and two older brothers. We always played matches, talked smack, challenged each other, and shook each others hand at the end of every match. ITG: You appeared on the Golf Channel's Big Break series. What can you tell people about the experience that we may not know from watching it on TV? Carling: Ooooo looking for insider details?? I have plenty!

    • It took two weeks to film the whole series, and I started my day every morning at 4:30am. Unlike some my competitors, I chose to get up a half hour early to slip in a workout DVD before we got started (get the blood movin!).
    • We filmed an episode every single day (with two days set aside for commercials/photo shoots).
    • Before challenges we would have 30min-1hour to warm up and practice. Then you would interview, go over the rules, meet with the Golf Channel Lawyer, and sign a contract before every single challenge (no suing because you didn't understand the rules!).
    • If you won the immunity challenge, you could NOT practice while the others were competing because it would give you an unfair advantage. In fact, we did EVERYTHING together! If we were at the range and someone needed to use the bathroom, then we ALL went to the bathroom. It was like kindergarten class where everyone holds hands everywhere you go.
    • Nothing was scripted. The Golf Channel did not tell us to say anything. They might have edited it the way they wanted, but all those funny/crazy lines were all us!
    • I had my issues with a few girls on the show, but I made some friends for a lifetime. Seema Sadekar and Chris Brady helped me after my diabetic roller coaster, and Lili Alvarez gave me some pep talks that I'll never forget. What great girls!
    ITG: Has being on the Big Break changed your career? If so, in what way? Carling: Being on the Big Break has given me so many opportunities that I never thought I would have! Golf is such an unbelievably tough game, and I feel blessed that so many people reached out to support my career. Getting help through sponsors has given me the ability to play more tournaments, and take my game to a whole new level. Plus, making it as far as I did on the show gave me the confidence to believe in myself. Once you know you can do it...you can accomplish anything. ITG: Are you involved in any charities or business ventures off the course? Carling: I am donating a percentage of my earnings this year to the JDRF (The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). I am also working with Medtronic (my insulin pump company). They are sponsoring me this season, matching my JDRF donation, and giving me the opportunity to give speeches motivating other diabetics to reach for the stars. Carling CoffingITG: How difficult is it financially, physically and mentally to play professional golf? Carling: As a new professional golfer, the financial part can almost be the toughest part. Tournaments are $500 a piece, plus travel expenses, equipment, coaching, etc. Medtronic and Sassy Caddy have helped me, but I would never be able to do it without the help of my parents. My dad caddies for me and also keeps up with his full time job just to barely keep us alive. I always order off the Kid's menu at The Outback Steakhouse and always joke that the "normal" size chicken is for the LPGA girls! Traveling eight months out of the year is physically demanding. I just went to ten tournaments in 11 weeks and feel like I'm ready to retire! I make sure to hit the gym 5 times per week to keep my stamina up on and off the course. I'm not the only one either, the new fad on tour is to workout like we're in the NFL, and a lot of women are really stepping it up! Mentally...well...We're all nuts! I try to stay mentally balanced on tour. It's important not to get too high or too low. It's easy to get down on yourself after a few bad rounds, but you have to look at the big picture. Golf is a marathon, not a sprint. Okay...so I've thrown a few clubs in my day...My travel mate Carmen and I have a rule after bad rounds, "It's okay to cry, but have to common decency to wait until you're in the car!" But my Dad always says that you just have to focus on improving every single day, and don't worry... you'll get there. ITG: How much time do you spend practicing and working out in a typical week? Carling: We may have the best job in the whole world, but we put in our eight hours of work just like everyone else. During tournament weeks, I usually practice 5-8 hours a day (mix of playing/range/short game). Monday is ALWAYS an off day (but is also the travel day so you usually spend 3-10 hours driving while attempting to not get a speeding ticket!). I'll work out 4-5 times per week. I did the p90x during the off season, but stick to cardio/abs during tournament weeks. ITG: What do you like to do when you aren't playing golf? Carling: I love sports! My favorite thing to do is to catch a Cincinnati Reds/Bengals game while I'm in town. I used to work for OSU Football at Coachtressel.com, and can't wait for the season to start! I also like to play racquetball with dad, shop with my mom, sew my own cute golf outfits, and practice my birdie dances with my dogs at home 😉 oh man..I just read that over..please don't make fun of me! ITG: Can you tell us something funny and/or interesting about you that most people don't know? Carling: I used to be soooo shy! Until I was about 12 years old, I hid from everyone and never spoke unless spoken to. I'm not kidding when I say that my older brothers used to call me "sally stupid stare!" Lucky for me, my dad is a professional speaker and taught me a lot of great tricks to improve my communications skills. Now I'm striving to be a sports broadcaster one day, and you can't get to me be quiet! ITG: Do you have a website or fan page people can go to follow you? Carling: www.carlingcoffinggolf.com, Carling Coffing on Facebook, The OFFICIAL CARLING COFFING FAN PAGE on Facebook, @CarlingCoffing on Twitter ITG: What advice can you give to young people who want to follow in your footsteps and become a professional golfer? Carling: You have to truly love the game. It may be frustrating at times, but you have to LOVE how difficult it is. Go out there improve your game every single day (because if you aren't, your competition will be!). Don't ever settle on anything. If you think you're the best putter in the world, continue to make it better (you can!). Keep a positive attitude on the golf course and remember that if you're always getting better, then you're THAT much closer to reaching your dreams! ITG: Who or what has been the biggest influence in your golf career? Carling: My parents. They never missed a practice growing up. My dad worked 15 hour days to support my dream. He was an All-American wrestler and taught me to push myself harder than I ever thought I could. My mom can't break a 100, but she has seen my golf swing so many times that she KNOWS when the swing plane is off. We laugh because sometimes it feels like it's us three against the world. Plus, they believe in me...which is the biggest influence anyone can ever give you. Carling CoffingITG: If you could play golf with anyone - past or present - who would be in your foursome? What course would you play? Carling: 1. Walter Hagen--Known for hitting the worst golf shots of all time, but recovering like a legend. Love the way he drove his Limo right up to the first tee. This man KNEW about entertaining golf. 2. Bubba Watson--I want a long drive contest! You have to respect a man that never took a real lesson, but can still hit the ball to the moon! 3. Lee Trevino---Bring on the smack! It's a good thing he can back it up with his unbelievable golf, because I'm not letting him get away with anything! I'd take these guys to the Ohio State Scarlet Golf Course. It's an great track! Plus I've played it so many times maybe I'll have a little bit of an advantage over them. Side bet, anyone? ITG: If you could change any rule in golf, what rule would you change and why? Carling: I can't think of any particular rule that I would change, but I really wish there were more professional matchplay tournaments. I was trained "wrestler style!" and I love and good head-to-head match. I played in the Western Amateur one year and beat a girl 10 and 8 that morning, and won against another girl in 27 holes that afternoon. You never know what you're going to get! ITG: What's the strength of your game? And where do you feel you need to improve? Carling: The strength of my game is chipping. I used to practice flop shots for HOURS. Hey...it's an entertainment business...and there's nothing like a hot flop shot to please the audience. I need to improve my ball-striking. I have a tendency to miss fairways right now, and penalty strokes truly kill any golf round. So I can get up and down for par any day of the week, but I need to keep the ball in play if I want to start firing those 65s. ITG: LPGA Tour players earn far less than PGA Tour players, do you think there should be more equality in prize money between men and women? Carling: The men do make a lot more money than the women golfers, and I'm hoping to change that one day. I want to bring the fun and excitement back into this game, and really show the world what we are made of! Sorenstam has already made huge strides by shooting a 59, Michelle Wie has shown how good our young women players have gotten, and I want to to take the next step by getting the fans excited! Bring on the birdie dances! Bring on the cheers! The LPGA is on the rise right now, and once we start getting bigger crowds and more exposure then the money will starting rolling in. ITG: What's on your iPod right now? Carling: Pop music! What else could those booty shakin' birdie dance moves come from? ITG: When I become a star on the LPGA Tour, I'm going to…. Carling: Start my own charity to find a cure for Diabetes, Start commentating LPGA/PGA tournaments, Stop ordering off the Kid's Menu, Buy my parents a house and Fix the dents in my car (just ignore those for now!) I would like to thank Carling for taking the time to answer my questions, and I look forward to hitting the links with her again for some putting tips! Stay tuned to intothegrain.com, because we'll be interviewing other Big Break stars in the very near future!

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  • Arizona Women’s Open Is Back This Fall

    Wigwam Resorts Red CourseAfter an eight-year absence, the Arizona Women’s Open will be up and running again this October. Sponsors are being rounded up and an attractive purse (details to come) is being put together for professional women golfers in a 54-hole event at Wigwam Resorts Red Course in Litchfield Park, just outside Phoenix. The three-day tournament will be held Tuesday, October 19th to Thursday, the 21st . The event will also be open to amateur players looking to test their games against top professionals.

    The event is being organized by the Cactus Tour, which has several years of experience conducting mini tour events in the Phoenix area for women pros on the LPGA, the Duramed Futures Tour, the Ladies European Tour and other pros gearing up for their upcoming seasons.

    One of the driving forces behind the Arizona Women’s Open is Mike Brown from Tucson. Mike is The Open’s V.P. of Tournament Development and an avid supporter of women’s golf around the country. “Arizona is home to some of the best women pros on the tours and there is no reason that our state should be without an Open of its own,” Brown said from his Tucson home. “The Arizona Women Open will be held during a ‘down’ period for the tours and many players will be in the state preparing for the LPGA and LET Q School finals in December and the Duramed Futures Tour Q School in November.” The event will be limited to 102 players. Several women pros that have appeared on the current and former “Big Break” series on Golf Channel will be competing in the tournament. Players interested in registering for the Arizona Women’s Open should go to its website: http://arizonawomensopen.net They can also find information at the Cactus Tour’s website: http://thecactustour.com For information about the course where the event will be played, here is a link to Wigwam Resorts golf site: http://www.wigwamresort.com/golf.html The Arizona Women’s Open will give professional women golfers another money-making opportunity at a time when professional tours have seen a decrease in the number of their events. Organizers have signed up several sponsors, but are looking for more to help make the Arizona Women’s Open one of the leading state Opens in the country. Interested companies can contact Mike Brown or Bruce Condon through the event’s website. Part of the proceeds from the Arizona Women’s Open will go to help support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

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    Dave Andrews, Author of Pops and SunshineAbout the Author: Dave Andrews is a Harvard-educated former television news reporter. Dave is an avid golfer who has become a fan of the Duramed Futures Tour and is the author of Pops and Sunshine, a novel and screenplay about life on tour. His home course in New Hampshire is annually the site of one of the tour’s events.

  • PGA and LPGA Tour Q-School Preview

    The PGA TOUR's q-school can make you either want to doff your cap in celebration ... or pull it down in disappointment.
    The PGA TOUR's q-school can make you either want to doff your cap in celebration ... or pull it down in disappointment.

    This is my favorite time of year. No, it’s not because of the fall foliage or the first snowfall, but because it’s Q-School season! Every week on the PGA Tour, we watch millionaire superstars play for ridiculous sums of money. Then they fly away on their private jets and repeat. FedEx Cup? Boring. You want real drama, watch the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour Qualifying School Tournaments in December! Rather than playing for millions, the competitors at Q-School are playing for their careers. Some are former PGA and LPGA Stars, looking to return to form. Others are aspiring pros coming up the ranks from the mini tours and collegiate ranks, or driving ranges and pro shops. Many have nothing but a few bucks in their pockets, lots of desire and talent.

    As fans, we love a good story, and the best ones are of the cinderella boy coming from nowhere, or the unfortunate soul who missed a 3 footer on the last hole to miss getting his tour card by a stoke. At Q-School, the emotion is real. The tension and drama are on par with the world’s biggest tournaments. The elation or despair on the players’ faces tells the story every year. You don’t need to watch the leader board, just watch the players and you’ll know where they stand.
    This year at the Q-School finals for the PGA and LPGA Tours, we should have some more good stories to talk about. Here's a quick preview:

    • Amateur star Rickie Fowler, who finished tied for second last week and the Fry's.com open, will have a guaranteed spot in the finals, provided he stays in the top 150 in the money. If he can have another good week and break into the top 125, he'll be able to skip Q-School altogether. In just two PGA Tour starts he's earned almost enough money to secure his tour card for 2010. Not even Tiger Woods did it that fast.
    • David Duval is currently the bubble boy on the PGA Tour, sitting in the 125th spot on the money list as of this week's Viking Classic. Should he have a good week he has a good chance to regain his card for 2010. If not, we'll see him at the Q-School finals as the headliner for sure. Since David and I share the same name, I'll be pulling for him!
    • Among the players who failed to advance past the first stage were Gary Nicklaus, the 40-year-old son of Jack Nicklaus, and Sam Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer. Tadd Fujikawa and Danny Lee, who won a European Tour event in February, also failed to get past stage one. Your humble editor played in a group behind Gary Nicklaus at the Florida State Amateur a few years back after he had regained his amateur status, and let me tell you, he can still hit it.
    • The feel good story of the first stage was Erik Compton's medalist finish to advance to stage two. Compton has been the recipient of two heart transplants. Just being able to play golf after a heart transplant is a miracle, but to be able to compete at this level after two of them is simply astounding.
    • As far as the ladies, several notable players advanced to the LPGA Q-School finals in Daytona. Amateur standouts Amanda Blumenherst and Maria Jose Uribe both advanced. Blumenherst was the 3-time NCAA Player of the Year at Duke and won the 2008 U.S. Women's Amateur. Uribe, from Colombia, was the 2007 U.S. Women's Amateur champion and while still an amateur had some great showings in pro events, including a top ten finish at the US Women's Open.
    • The LPGA Q-School also features several players from The Golf Channel's "Big Break" series. Caroline Larsson, Christina Lecuyer, Gerina Mendoza, Blair O'Neal, Elizabeth Stuart and Bri Vega will all try to earn playing privileges on the LPGA Tour in 2010.
    • Several LPGA Tour veterans are returning to Daytona to recover from lackluster seasons, including Erica Blasberg, Diana D'Alessio, Dorothy Delasin, Julieta Granada, Lorie Kane and Kris Tschetter. For a complete listing of the field at LPGA International in Daytona, click HERE.
    When the final field for the PGA Tour Q-School finals is posted, I'll update this post with the details. Until then, enjoy the best season of the year for golf, and be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed or email updates below!

  • Whats Wrong With The LPGA Tour – Update

    Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press
    Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press

    I just got a tweet from @TweetPGA about the news this morning that several LPGA Tour players have signed a petition calling for Commissioner Carolyn Bivens’ resignation over the tour’s struggles, citing mismanagement in the wake of the failed language issue and twitter fiasco. Some of the names on the petition include Paula Creamer, Lorena Ochoa, Morgan Pressel and Cristie Kerr.

    Read the full article here:

    http://golf.fanhouse.com/2009/07/07/ochoa-creamer-kerr-pressel-all-sign-letter-calling-for-bivens/

  • What’s Wrong With The LPGA Tour? (Part 2)

    Photo Credit: Matt Dunham/AP
    Photo Credit: Matt Dunham/AP

    Back in May I did a piece on what I thought was wrong with the LPGA Tour. I touched on a few issues that, to me, made it tougher for the LPGA Tour to compete with the others for TV viewers. I have observed another issue lately that may be of much greater concern to the Tour, and the steps they have taken to solve that issue. With any luck, we’ll see the LPGA Tour come out of this tough time and continue to grow.

    Last Sunday ESPN chose to rebroadcast the 2008 World Series of Poker rather than air the final round of the Wegmans LPGA. Maybe ESPN thought they would get better ratings by showing tape of a year old show that everyone has already seen, rather than showing live LPGA golf. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can’t watch a sporting event on television when I know what the outcome is going to be. It’s like watching those pathetically scripted reality shows. Sports are the first and only reality shows out there. Millions and millions of fans watch sports because of the simple fact that you don’t know who is going to win, and you never know when the game or match will come down to the last second, the last hole, or the last point. My biggest problem with it is for all the grief I get from football, baseball and hockey fans questioning golf as a sport, ESPN replaces golf with Poker – hardly what I would consider a sport.

    It’s become clear to me that ESPN has a clear agenda to promote the events that it has a vested financial interest in, as Martin Kaufmann also pointed out in Golfweek. This would tend to explain the Poker rerun, just a few days before the 2009 World Series of Poker started. This also explains the ridiculous hype over the X-Games every year. It’s all about the ratings. ESPN also seems to try to influence the viewing public with its virtual monopoly of viewership, powerful opinions and tenancy to beat a story to death. Just watch the lineup on weekdays starting at 4:30 with Around the Horn, followed by PTI and finally Sportcenter. You’ll see the same highlighted story talked about on all three shows, and the general opinion on the subject seems to be the same across the board. ESPN seems to have embraced the FOX News model of “info-tainment”, where they choose a story that has some editorial angle to it and over cover it in an attempt to draw ratings, or come up with a cheesy special feature to plug a sponsor’s products and fill air time. Why else would we need a Brett Favre update every single night or a stupid “Who’s Now” bracket?

    In any case, it seems that the LPGA Tour is finally taking matters into their own hands lately in an attempt to breathe life into its dying franchise. Carolyn Bivens, the LPGA Tour Commissioner, has her work cut out for her in reviving the struggling tour. Several tournaments are without title sponsors in 2010 and are in trouble of folding, and only 10 events on the LPGA calendar for 2010 are in the United States. Hawaii, once host to three LPGA Tournaments, now has lost its final remaining event, with the death of the Kapalua tournament joining the SBS Open and the Fields Open. What can save this tour? Well, the LPGA recently inked a deal with the Golf Channel to become the LPGA Tour’s exclusive cable broadcaster in the US. That’s a good start, but the problem with that is the Golf Channel also broadcasts PGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour events. Will this lead to competition for air time? Will the LPGA Tour be pushed out of prime time in favor of the PGA Tour on tape delay? I fear LPGA fans will have to set their DVR to record tournaments airing at midnight, long after the final results have been posted on the internet or been talked about on Sportscenter. Oh that’s right, Sportscenter doesn’t even cover the LPGA Tour unless Michelle Wie does something. The problem with that is she really hasn’t done anything yet, except cash in on the hype and false promises that ESPN contributed to creating. I have nothing against Michelle Wie. To expect her to fill the shoes of Annika in her rookie year on tour is unrealistic anyway.

    The LPGA has many great personalities and has a lot to offer the fans. If you have a chance to attend an LPGA tournament you can see this.  For more entertainment value you can follow many players on sites like Facebook and Twitter. Just tune into Christina Kim’s twitter feed and you’ll see what I mean. Although there was a bit of a circus following the Commissioner’s mis-communicated suggestion to the players to tweet during play, for the most part it’s an easy way to keep up with your favorite players and get a look at the world behind the ropes. For sheer entertainment value, there no better way to get into the lives of the players than to follow Christina, Morgan Pressel and others on Twitter. On the PGA Tour, Ian Poulter and John Daly are favorites.

    Let’s hope we can get more LPGA golf on the air and the Golf Channel doesn’t butcher the coverage by sticking it on late night or over exposing us to Kelly Tilghman. (Sorry Kelly, but you’re no Jim Nantz.) With any luck, the players that the tour spends much of it’s marketing dollars promoting – Wie, Gulbis, Creamer, Ochoa, etc will start playing better and make more of an impact on Sundays. There has been much critisism about the throngs of Korean girls that seem to have no identity cluttering up the leader boards, but I don’t blame them. They are a product of the worlds best junior golf program for girls, and each one of them have rightfully earned their place on the Tour, it’s just that these girls being in contention have the same depressing effect on television ratings that Tiger does when he doesn’t play…