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Post-Round Penalty Changes Outcome of JLPGA TourneyWhen Inbee Park, the 2008 U.S. Women's Open champion, holed out on the final green of the Japan LPGA's Yokohama Tire PRGR Ladies Cup on Sunday, she thought she had a round of 64 and a one-stroke victory.
But shortly thereafter, a ruling - and a resulting penalty - changed Park's 64 to a 66 and moved her from the 1-stroke winner to one stroke behind the winner. The player who benefited, and got the victory, was Yun-jye Wei of Taiwan.
According to a Kyodo News Agency report (HT: The Constructivist), the infraction occurred on the very first green of Park's final round. Wei, playing in the same group as Park, explained it this way:
"What happened on the first green was that a volunteer saw (Park's) ball move and saw her take a putt without replacing it, but (Wei and the thir member of the group) weren't watching.
"Three of us then decided we would talk to a tournament official if we saw one later in the round, but we didn't see any officials and just kept on playing as we were close in title contention."
So Park's ball moved on the first green, and Park either didn't notice or didn't realize it was a penalty. It might be the latter, because a Korea Times article states that Park "didn't think she had started an address." When the wind causes a ball on the putting green to move, a penalty applies only if the player is at address; once at address, the player is deemed to have caused the ball to move. And when the ball moves after address, the ball must be replaced to its original position.
At the end of the round, once the first-hole incident was reported to tournament officials, those officials determined that Park's ball did move, that she was at address, and that she failed to replace the ball. She thus incurred the general penalty for breach of Rule 18, two strokes.
And that 2-stroke penalty knocked Park from winner to runner-up. Post-Round Penalty Changes Outcome of JLPGA Tourney originally appeared on About.com Golf on Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 10:55:13. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
This Week: Transitions ChampionshipThe PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open is finishing up today after weather delays last week, but it's also the start of a new tournament week. The Tour heads to the Tampa, Fla., area this week for the Transitions Championship.
A South African won last week - Ernie Els at the WGC CA Championship - and a South African is the defending champion at the Transitions. That would be Retief Goosen, who in 2009 became the second double-winner at the Transitions.
The strong field includes Luke Donald, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Ryo Ishikawa, Geoff Ogilvy, Ian Poulter, Vijay Singh and Steve Stricker. John Daly and David Duval are also in the field.
Check the Transitions Championship tourney profile for the list of past champions and more tourney info. This Week: Transitions Championship originally appeared on About.com Golf on Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 10:19:33. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
Ernie Els Back Among the WinningErnie Els has won a lot of tournaments, and won them around the world. But he hadn't won anywhere or anything since the 2008 Honda Classic. Until Sunday.
On Sunday, Els took the trophy at the WGC CA Championship, closing with a 66 and beating runner-up Charl Schwartzel by four strokes. Els looked very happy and very relieved after the final putt dropped, and you can bet "the powers that be" in the world of golf are quite happy, too: Tiger Woods isn't playing, Phil Mickelson isn't contending. The PGA Tour has seen some great young golfers in the mix this year, and even winning. But a resurgence by the Big Easy is always going to bring more fans to the game.
But is it a resurgence, or just a blip on the radar screen? Stories have abounded over the past six months of Els' rededication to the game: He's cutting back his travel schedule, he's ramping up his practice schedule. That work has paid off, and here's hoping Els keeps at it.
For Ernie, the CA Championship victory was his second in this event. He's only the second multiple winner, the first being Woods (who has won the tournament six times). It's also career PGA Tour win No. 17 for the Big Easy, tying him with Curtis Strange, Jug McSpaden and Bobby Cruickshank on the list of all-time wins.
Here's a big pat on the back for the Big Easy. Welcome back to the winner's circle, hope to see you there again soon.
Ernie Els Back Among the Winning originally appeared on About.com Golf on Sunday, March 14th, 2010 at 18:35:14. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
Today's Woods Rumor: Ari Fleischer?The New York Post reported today that unnamed sources tell the paper Tiger Woods is going to play the Arnold Palmer Invitational in two weeks. (See update at bottom of post.) In the land of unnamed sources, that rumor is nothing new. The most oft-repeated rumor of Woods' return has pointed to the Tavistock Cup a few days prior to the Palmer. Woods can play the Tavistock, then the Palmer, and satisfy both rumors: Tavistock becomes the site of his return; the Palmer becomes the site of his return to the PGA Tour.
The Palmer tournament is where Woods came back last year following a long layoff after knee surgery.
The Post article does contain something new, however: According to the paper, Woods has hired Ari Fleischer to help with his media and PR strategy. Fleischer is the former press secretary for President George W. Bush. Since leaving the Bush White House, Fleischer has launched a PR firm, and runs Ari Fleischer Sports Communications as, the Post reports, "a joint venture with IMG Sports & Entertainment." Woods is represented by IMG.
According to various reports, Fleischer's shop has worked with baseball commissioner Bud Selig, former baseball slugger Mark McGwire, and the Bowl Championship Series. Hmm. That doesn't exactly give me confidence in Fleischer's abilities to rehabilitate his clients' images. Selig, McGwire and the BCS are just as unpopular today as ever.
But is Woods really unpopular now? No doubt he has fewer fans than before; he's fodder for late-night comedians, and many golf media members feel used now that they know his public persona - which the golf media relentlessly hyped - was a sham. But my sense, based on comments left here on About.com and in emails I've received from readers, along with voting in various polls, is that Tiger's reception from fans upon his return will be much friendlier than many in the media expect.
Tiger might be hugely unpopular with the golf media right now, but most golf fans seem to believe - again, this is just my sense based on feedback of About.com readers - that Woods' transgressions were of a personal, private nature, and have nothing to do with appreciation of his golf talents.
Maybe Fleischer can help Woods strategize about dealing with the media. I don't think Woods will need any help in dealing with golf fans. He won't be as popular as he was before, but he'll be welcomed back by most fans.
Update: The Associated Press now has a couple unnamed sources, too, sources that contradict the Post's sources. The AP says Woods will likely return at The Masters, but will not before that. Today's Woods Rumor: Ari Fleischer? originally appeared on About.com Golf on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 15:40:55. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
Acushnet Sells Cobra Golf to PumaThe Acushnet Company (a subsidiary of Fortune Brands, Inc.) is the owner of the Titleist, Pinnacle and FootJoy brands.
And the Cobra Golf brand. But not for long. Acushnet has agreed to sell Cobra to Puma, whose golf business has heretofore been limited to accessories such as shoes and apparel.
"With the sale of Cobra, we have the opportunity to devote all of our resources to the global growth of our industry-leading Titleist and FootJoy brands," Wally Uihlein, Chairman and CEO of Acushnet Company, says in the company news release announcing the sale.
Assuming regulatory approval, Puma acquires the Cobra brand, along with inventory, intellectual property and endorsement contracts. Camilo Villegas, Ian Poulter and J.B. Holmes are among the tour pros playing Cobra equipment.
Acushnet will continue to provide production and distribution of Cobra Golf equipment, along with customer service, for the time being, in agreement with Puma, until Puma is ready to assume those services itself. That servicing agreement extends beyond the closing of the sale, but the period of time is unspecified in the announcements today by Acushnet and Puma.
History of Cobra Golf
Acushnet Sells Cobra Golf to Puma originally appeared on About.com Golf on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 10:52:02. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
Captain O'Meara Wants Tiger on Tavistock TeamMark O'Meara told the Golf Channel the he won't be suprised if Tiger Woods plays the Tavistock Cup in two weeks. "It might be the right spot or the right fit for him to come back," O'Meara said.
O'Meara and Woods are buddies, although O'Meara hasn't had much contact with Woods during the Tiger scandals, only recently starting to trade text messages. But O'Meara is the captain of the Isleworth team in the Tavistock Cup, which pits teams of pros representing Lake Nona and Isleworth country clubs.
Does O'Meara wants his friend on the Isleworth team? You bet: "Who wouldn't? ... It certainly would help our team quite a bit."
He went on to say that getting back on the golf course might be part of Woods' "healing process":
"It's been a rough road the last three or four months in Tiger's life and his family's life. It's a very difficult situation. Golf is what Tiger does and possibly part of the healing process is to get back at it."
Are the signs pointing to a Tavistock Tiger return? There have been rumors about the Tavistock Cup for more than a month. Returning there would put Woods in front of smaller, invitation-only galleries, and in complete control of how much time he spends in front of media (as opposed to the media obligations that exist in PGA Tour events). He'd also be playing with friends.
The Tavistock Cup takes place March 22-23. O'Meara's comments follow reports from the Golf Channel and Golf Digest that swing coach Hank Haney has joined Woods on the Isleworth driving range.
Meanwhile, PGA Tour tournaments on the near-term schedule have started developing plans for handling the crush of media and fan interest should Woods choose their tournament as his return event. Not because they know anything, tournament directors quickly add, just because it's the prudent thing to do.
On the Web:
(Hat tip: Reuters)Captain O'Meara Wants Tiger on Tavistock Team originally appeared on About.com Golf on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 09:40:13. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
Agreement Closes Ping Eye 2 Loophole for ProsThe controversy early this year on the PGA Tour over the so-called "Ping Eye 2 loophole" to the new groove regulations is near a close. Ping announced today it has reached an agreeement with the PGA Tour and the USGA that allows those organizations to close the loophole in PGA Tour events and in the U.S. Open.
Short version of the loophole: Long-ago legal proceedings between Ping and the PGA Tour and Ping and the USGA resulted in Ping Eye 2s made in the late 1980s remaining "legal" for play despite having grooves that otherwise wouldn't conform to today's rules. (For the long version, see this.)
With new groove rules in place on tour this year, new rules that many pros feared would make their wedges less effective, a handful of touring pros have taken advantage of the loophole by using those old Pings in tournament play. John Daly was one of the first; Phil Mickelson was the highest-profile, and Phil's use of the old Pings at the Farmers Insurance Open led to the word "cheating" getting thrown around.
But today, in a news release, Ping announced:
Ping Chairman and CEO John Solheim announced today that Ping will waive its rights that prevent the PGA Tour from prohibiting the use of pre-April 1990 Ping Eye 2 irons and wedges that do not meet the 2010 Condition of Competition from being played at PGA Tour professional competitions.
The waiver goes into effect March 29 and applies to the PGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. As a result of a request from the USGA, Ping will also apply the waiver to the U.S. Open in June. The PGA Tour will then adopt a Condition of the Competition that does not provide an exception for the pre-April 1990 Ping Eye 2 irons.
The waiver by Ping of the rights brokered under that long-ago legal agreement does not apply to USGA-sanctioned amateur tournaments. If you're an amateur, and you've been taking advantage of the loophole to use old Ping Eye 2 wedges, you can keep right on doing so in any tournaments governed by the USGA Rules of Golf.
On the Web:
Agreement Closes Ping Eye 2 Loophole for Pros originally appeared on About.com Golf on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 13:38:04. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
This Week: WGC CA ChampionshipTiger Woods won't be at the WGC CA Championship this week, and neither will Ryo Ishikawa. Tiger's absence is no suprise at all, but now that he's practicing again we can expect to see stories every Friday afternoon - the deadline to commit to the following week's event - noting when Woods fails to join the field.
But keep in that mind that the CA Championship will be only the third PGA Tour event that Woods has missed during his, ahem, hiatus. To this point in the season, Woods would only have played the Farmers Insurance Open (Torrey Pines) and the WGC Match Play Championship in one of his "normal" years.
Ishikawa has a much better reason than Woods for missing the CA Championship: He's attending his high school graduation. Today, in fact. The 18-year-old is in Tokyo with his fellow students getting his diploma. Good for him.
Anyone think Camilo Villegas isn't the favorite this week? In three tournaments in 2010, he's finished third, eighth and first. The defending champion is Phil Mickelson. Remember him?
Check the WGC CA Championship tournament page for the list of past champions and more tourney info and trivia. This Week: WGC CA Championship originally appeared on About.com Golf on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 11:27:00. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
Sunday Summary: Big Wins for Villegas, CouplesGreat day of golf on Sunday. Here's a summary:
PGA Tour: Camilo Villegas has the looks, the swagger, the charisma, the game, the "Spider-Man pose." Now he has another win. Villegas kept the pedal down all week at the Honda Classic, opening with a pair of 66s, going 67-68 on the weekend.
He led by three at the start of the final round, and by five at the end of it. It's PGA Tour victory No. 3 for Villegas, and his first since the 2008 Tour Championship. Villegas has played three tournaments so far this year, and finished eighth or better in all three. Details (And see also: Camilo Villegas pictures)
Champions Tour: If you thought Villegas was off to a hot start, that's nothing compared to Fred Couples' start on the Champions Tour: second, first, first. Freddy Cool's second Champions Tour victory was by four strokes at the Toshiba Classic. Details
Nationwide Tour: Steve Pate defeated Aaron Watkins in a playoff at the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open in Colombia (Camilo Villegas' brother Manuel finished 15th). Steve Pate ... wasn't he a Ryder Cupper once? Twice, actually, in 1991 and 1999. But this note from the PGA Tour media guide about his 1991 Ryder Cup gives a clue to the nature of Pate's career: "... played in only one match due to bruised hip suffered in traffic accident on way to team banquet."
Pate finished sixth on the PGA Tour money list in 1991, but injuries took a toll. He cracked a wrist in 1996, and broke his right hand and wrist in a car wreck in 1997. In 1999, he was PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year, finishing 13th on the money list. But his game quickly fell off after that. Now he's a couple weeks away from 49. Champions Tour, here he comes! But please be careful in traffic, Steve. Details
European Tour/Asian Tour: 18-year-old Korean Seung-yul Noh, the 2008 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year, beat KJ Choi by one stroke. He did it by chipping from behind a hospitality tent, off the fringe of the practice putting green, to the 18th green, then making the last-hole birdie putt. Details
LET/ALPG: Karrie Webb flirted with a 59 before "settling" for a course-record 61 to win the co-sanctioned ANZ Ladies Masters for a record seventh time. She won by six strokes over Katherine Hull and Bo-Mee Lee. Details
JLPGA: Ai Miyazato's attempt to win three straight weeks ended in Japan at the Daikin Orchid Ladies tournament, where Ai finished tied for seventh. The winner was Korean Sun Ju Ahn, running away from runners-up including Jiyai Shin and Inbee Park. Details
Sunday Summary: Big Wins for Villegas, Couples originally appeared on About.com Golf on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 18:44:30. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
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