The Golf Blog

Michelle Wie withdraws from LPGA Tour Championship with ankle injury

2009-11-19T22:37:00.002-05:00

A week after winning her 1st LPGA tourney, Michelle Wie took one step back. A nagging ankle injury from the Solheim Cup forced Wie to withdraw from the LPGA Tour Championship.

We wish Michelle a speedy recovery! So does the new LPGA Commissioner!

Why Michelle Wie's 1st LPGA victory may be the best thing to happen to the LPGA this year

2009-11-16T22:13:00.005-05:00

The LPGA has lost sponsors, fired its Commissioner Carolyn Bivens, and has not had a good year. Until yesterday. That's when MIchelle Wie won her 1st LPGA tourney at the age of 20. We've seen flashes of brilliance from Michelle at the Solheim Cup, but her play in regular tournaments has been inconsistent at best.

Winning the Lorena Ochoa Invitational should not be mistaken for a major, but it is a giant step forward for Michelle--and the LPGA tour. It's unfair to place the label of "savior" on Michelle Wie, but her success would help the LPGA fill the void left by Annika Sorenstam's retirement.

And we're not the only ones celebrating. The new LPGA Commissioner and his entire staff seem to be, too. They should. To put it simply, no golfer is as crucial to the financial success of the LPGA Tour as Michelle Wie. It's an unfair burden to place on a player, but TV and the media follow superstars--see Tiger Woods.

Michelle Wie wins first LPGA tourney; Tiger Woods wins first Australian tourney

2009-11-15T21:36:00.003-05:00

Wow, what a weekend!

20 year old Michelle Wie, sporting red attire, won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, an LPGA event. That was Michelle Wie's first win of her entire professional career. Alright!

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods, also in his signature red shirt, won the Australian Masters, his first victory ever in Australia. Even though there's no more talk asking whether Michelle Wie is the next Tiger Woods, it is perhaps fitting that Michelle and Tiger won on the same weekend. Congrats to both, but especially to Michelle for getting the monkey off her back. 2010 is shaping up to be the best year for golf ever!

Make the putt bra

2009-11-11T22:36:00.003-05:00

Wow. We thought we heard of everything. But this is new. A Japanese manufacturer has made a bra that transforms into a practice putting green. So do you have to ask your girlfriend to get undressed in order to practice putting? LOL. Take a look!

3 Reasons Why We're Excited for 2010 PGA Tour season

2009-11-11T19:48:00.002-05:00

The Shanghai showdown among Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Tiger Woods gave us a glimpse of something we haven't seen for a long--too long--time. The best 3 golfers of their generation--including arguably the best golfer ever--putting on a dramatic shootout, with Tiger Woods looking the worst of the lot.

We are especially thrilled to see Phil Mickelson beating Tiger Woods two times on Sunday at the end of this 2009 season. That putting lesson with Dick Stockton seems to have transformed Mickelson. And we're also glad to see Ernie Els go back to his old, natural swing and play a lot better. Too bad that Fred Couples and Greg Norman screwed all of us over by not pairing Ernie and Tiger in any match in the 4 days of matches at the President's Cup. Neither Couples nor Norman should be allowed to captain a team ever again, either at the President's or Ryder Cup.

Could 2010 be the year that Mickelson and Els defeat Tiger Woods at the majors? Or will Tiger Woods run the table and tie Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 majors? We love the possibilities that seem so tantalizing.

Disney Classic

2009-11-11T19:43:00.000-05:00

Win McMurry recaps Phil Mickelson's victory over Tiger Woods at HSBC

2009-11-09T21:38:00.001-05:00

Ernie Els is back!

2009-11-08T19:05:00.002-05:00

Final round 63 for Ernie Els, just 1 short of the winner Phil Mickelson, shows that the Big Easy is back. Here's his hole in one in Round 2.

Shootout in Shanghai: Mickelson holds off charging Els, while Tiger Woods falters on Sunday

2009-11-08T15:31:00.004-05:00

Wow! If you stayed up late last night, you got a treat from the China HSBC, World Golf Championship event. Tiger Woods played uncharacteristically poorly on Sunday, going 4 over at one point for the round (he eventually got it back to even for the round, 12-under overall).

Meanwhile, a dramatic charge by Ernie Els put everyone else on notice that he's back in old form. Ernie posted a 63 on Sunday, and he would have won the tournament or at least forced a playoff, had it not been for the steady play of Phil Mickelson, who shot a final round 69 and 17-under for the tourney. Oh, and the untimely ball in the water and bogey on 18 for Ernie didn't help.

This is twice this late golf season that Phil Mickelson has bested Tiger Woods on Sunday--first at the finale of the Fedex Cup, and now at a WGC event. Mickelson's defeat over Ernie Els was reminiscent of Lefty's first Masters victory.

Bravo to the Big Three for putting on a spectacular show in China!

Click here for video highlights

Phil Mickelson takes leads over Tiger Woods @ HSBC in China

2009-11-07T07:12:00.003-05:00

Shooting a 5-under 67 third round, Lefty Phil Mickelson overtook Tiger Woods and Nick Watney for the lead at the HSBC in China, a World Golf Championship event. Mickelson is -14, while Woods and Watney are at -12. Final round finishes today.

Leaderboard

Click here for video highlights

Tiger Woods at China WGC-HSBC (tied for lead)

2009-11-06T06:24:00.001-05:00

Preview:

First round:

EA Tiger Woods PGA tour iPhone app

2009-11-01T10:33:00.003-05:00

We just downloaded this cool iphone app for Tiger Woods PGA tour game. We're glad to see Natalie Gulbis on there! Here's an independent review by someone on YouTube.

Anthony Kim beats Robert Allenby in World Match Play Championship, but continues feud with Allenby

2009-10-31T15:01:00.003-05:00

Anthony Kim beat Robert Allenby in the World Match Play Championship, 5-4. But the real story, according to ESPN, was that Allenby felt Kim was not giving him the customary tap-in short putts that are usually given during match play. If you remember from the President's Cup, Allenby called out AK as the "next John Daly" for partying until 4 a.m. the night before the singles matches. Whether AK was intentionally retaliating or not, the pair apparently had little to say to each the entire match.

Win McMurry previews VIking Classic

2009-10-30T18:57:00.002-05:00

The Golf Blog poll results: Pres. Obama is playing too much golf

2009-10-30T14:20:00.002-05:00

So we asked whether Pres. Obama's 24 rounds of golf in 9 months was too much, too little, or just right? Here are the results:

41.7% said too much
25% said too little
33.3% said just right

Thanks for voting!

Can Michael Whan save the LPGA?

2009-10-28T20:09:00.005-05:00

Here's the press release from the LPGA on the selection of Michael Whan as new Commissioner:

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., October 28, 2009 - Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Board of Directors Chairman Dawn Hudson announced today that the LPGA Board has named Michael Whan the LPGA's new Commissioner. Whan, most recently President and Chief Executive Officer of Mission-Itech Hockey, has a personal and professional background in golf, including serving as Executive Vice President and General Manager (North American Region) for Taylormade-adidas Golf.

The appointment follows an extensive three-month international search led by an LPGA Search Committee comprised of LPGA Board player members Juli Inkster and Helen Alfredsson along with fellow LPGA Board members Bill Morton and Leslie Greis, who chaired the Committee. * * *

Evans will work with Whan during a transition period before he officially assumes the Commissioner helm in January 2010. Both Whan and Evans will attend the LPGA Tour Championship Presented by Rolex the week of November 16 in Houston, where a player meeting will be held and the 2010 LPGA season schedule will be released. * * *

"It is rare to work for an organization that combines all the passions in your life, but with the LPGA, I feel I've been presented with the unique opportunity to do just that," Whan said. "First, this is an association surrounded by passionate, value-driven people. Second, I'm energized by brand building and the work involved in marketing and growing a sport. Third, I simply love the game of golf--both the life lessons it teaches and the friendships it helps create."

Whan, 44, started his business career at the Procter & Gamble Company in 1987, rising within the ranks as a brand assistant, Brand Manager and eventually Director of Marketing, Oral Care, before branching out to follow his passion for sports. In 1994-95, he served as a Vice President and General Manager at the Wilson Sporting Goods Company responsible for all aspects of the golf ball and glove business. He also managed the marketing department, two manufacturing facilities and the Research & Development division.

At the TaylorMade Golf Company, Whan started as Vice President Marketing and over the course of his four-year tenure was promoted to Vice President, Sales and Marketing and eventually EVP/General Manager-North America for Taylormade-adidas Golf. In his role as General Manager, Whan's business unit represented more than 70 percent of the company's worldwide sales and profit. * * *

Whan served as President/Chief Marketing Officer for Britesmile, Inc., from 1999-2002, before returning to sports at Mission Hockey, a hockey equipment company. During his seven-year tenure in the hockey business, he restructured and redefined the company, then acquired Itech Sports to create Mission-Itech Hockey. When Whan finalized the sale of Mission-Itech Hockey late last year, it commanded market share leadership in nine product categories, sales in more than 30 countries and had more than 50 percent of the National Hockey League (NHL) players using the brands.

"We interviewed a number of great candidates, but Mike really stood out as someone with integrity, honesty and a life-long passion for the sport," Alfredsson said. "He will bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the LPGA at a critical time for our association." Added Inkster: "Mike clearly demonstrated a desire to make sure that the LPGA remains the best women's sports organization in the world. He has the whole package of what we were looking for, and he'll do what's needed to make sure that we're successful."

Whan will serve as the LPGA's eighth Commissioner. He and his wife, Meg, and his three children, Austin (15), Wesley (13) and Connor (12), currently live in California and will relocate to Florida, home of the LPGA Headquarters, next year.

The LPGA Board of Directors consists of player members Alfredsson, Inkster, Michelle Ellis, Sherri Steinhauer, Pat Hurst, Christina Kim and Stacy Prammanasudh; Patti Benson, national president of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals; and independent directors Hudson, Greis, Morton, Bill Susetka and Nancy Wiese.

Pres. Obama invites Melody Barnes, 1st woman, to foursome

2009-10-26T21:07:00.000-05:00

Win McMurry recaps Fry's Open

2009-10-26T20:56:00.002-05:00

Is it us or does Win McMurry look different in this video? Whatever, we still love Win McMurry!

The Golf Blog poll: Is Pres. Obama playing too much or too little golf?

2009-10-26T13:51:00.006-05:00

The blogosphere is abuzz with news from CBS reporter Mark Knoller that President Obama has played 24 rounds of golf in 9 months since taking Office. That number is a little bit deceptive, because the winter months in DC probably didn't allow for much, if any, golfing--although the winter trip to Hawaii certainly did, but that probably wasn't included in the tally. By comparison, apparently, George W. Bush didn't reach 24 until 2 years and 10 months.

So is this too much golf for a President, not enough, or just about right? Vote below in The Golf Blog poll (via survey monkey).

Click Here to take survey

Phenom Rory McIlroy won't join PGA Tour in 2010

2009-10-25T11:44:00.002-05:00

20 year old phenom Rory McIlroy of Ireland has announced that he won't join the PGA Tour in 2010, according to Sports Business Daily. He is 2nd on European Tour money list and 17th in the World rankings.

PGA Tour Commish Tim Finchem must be a little disappointed after the Tour offered him a special exemption in 2009, only to be turned down.

Fry's Open Round 1 highlights

2009-10-24T12:47:00.001-05:00

Win McMurry previews Fry's Open

2009-10-22T19:57:00.001-05:00

Tiger Woods wins 10th Player of the Year Award

2009-10-20T22:16:00.002-05:00

Talk about anti-climactic! Tiger Woods won his 10th Player of the Year award. With his dominant play outside of the majors this year, Tiger was a shoe-in.

Congrats Tiger!

Win McMurry recaps Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital tourney

2009-10-19T17:09:00.001-05:00

BBC Peter Alliss interviews Seve Ballesteros about brain cancer

2009-10-19T06:55:00.002-05:00

A year since being diagnosed with brain cancer, and undergoing several surgeries, Seve Ballesteros agreed to his first on-camera interview with BBC reporter Peter Alliss.

It's not clear what Seve's prognosis is, but he looks remarkable in the video. He is strong, in good spirits, and keeps his sense of humor. What an inspiration! Live strong, Seve!

Click here for the video