Tees2Greens on Golf

July 2008 - Posts

• If Michelle Wie Would Only Listen To Me

  By now you already know what Michelle Wie shot in the first round of the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, or perhaps you don’t care, and I’m not sure I blame you. In a story that has gone from a feel good teenage phenomenon, to a Shakespearean tragedy, to down right Jerry Springer, Michelle Wie, or whoever is pulling the strings, continues to make one poor decision after another. That Michelle needs to keep her mouth shut and wear beige until she wins something is obvious to everyone except Michelle and her handlers. However, what is becoming more and more obvious is that playing on the PGA Tour is all about money for Michelle… not the money she hopes to win, cause that’s not about to happen, but the money she has already collected and the money she hopes to collect as a dancing bear. The ten or twelve million bucks that Nike and others gladly handed the teenager a couple of years ago, now looks like a mistake, and if there is going to be a second and third check Michelle needs to stay in the spotlight. But when the dancing bear ceases to be cute and can’t learn any new dance steps, people stop buying tickets and writing checks. At sixteen Michelle was a teenage phenomenon with a long fluid swing that reminded everyone of Tiger Woods. At 18 she is just another young lady trying to make it. You will notice that I didn’t say trying to play golf for a living, because I don’t think that’s what she is doing. Whether it’s greed, or stupidity, this terrific young athlete has gone from cute to pathetic, and is looking a lot more like Paris Hilton than Lorena Ochoa. David Duval, a guy who knows a bit about the ups and downs of a career, said Michelle needs to focus on the Futures Tour, not the LPGA or the PGA. Jay Williamson called it a joke when he heard Wie would play in the Reno tournament. But, Michelle doesn't care that some people think it's a bad idea, especially if the somebody is Jay Williams, about whom she said, "I don't know who he is.” That’s cold. In an odd mixture of innocence and logic, Michelle also said "I wish I had no critics, but I'm realistic. People will write negative things about me. The only thing I can control is myself. A good score will resolve everything." Tiger, now that you have a lot of time on your hands, perhaps you could give Michelle and her handlers a call. Talk about the fact that even you didn’t go pro at sixteen. Remind them that you also went to Stanford, however you played for the Cardinal. You could spend a little time talking about your U.S. Amateur Championships and how playing in PGA Tour events as an amateur gave you the experience without the pressure to win. Remind them how Phil Michelson won a PGA Tour event as an amateur and still didn’t turn pro until he finished school, and how when you turned pro you won a tournament before the ink was dry… Wait a minute. Here’s something hot off the press from Forbes.com. “Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Hawaii's golf superstar Michelle Wie has been named one of the highest-paid female athletes by Forbes Magazine. Wie, 18, took the fifth spot on the list with her $12 million in earnings from endorsements, according to the magazine. She has endorsement deals with Nike and Sony, among others. Wie was previously named to the magazine's 20 Under 25 list of Top-Earning Young Superstars.” On second thought, what the hell do I know? Michelle, you look kind of cute as a dancing bear. Posted Jul 31 2008, 08:17 AM by Sam 'Bogey' Johnson with no comments Filed under: Sam Johnson, Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie, PGA Tour, Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, David Duval

• Forget Tiger Television Ratings, We Got Dancing With The Pros

  As you and I try to adjust to golf without Tiger Woods, I wonder if PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem is doing the same.  In all likelihood he’s staying up nights trying to figure out how to hold on to his Tigerless TV audience.  One idea would be to have Jack Nicklaus pull a Greg Norman at the FedEx Cup, but that would require some sort of preemptive sponsor exemption, not to mention another hip replacement for old Jack. Imagine how humble old Jack would be if he were leading the FedEx Cup on the final Saturday. Since the Commissioner fancies himself as a bit of a promotional gunslinger he might be thinking about Dancing with the Pros to snag a few more television viewers.  I may not know much about dancing, but I’m thinking Ian Poulter has to be better than Jerry Springer.  So what if all the girls are taller than Mike Weir, I’d pay money to see Woody Austin dancing with Edyta… actually I’d pay money to see Edyta without Woody, but that’s a different story. Maybe a reality show would work better, something like, The PGA Bachelor.  The idea is that a gaggle of groupies try to get Adam Scott to marry one of them.  Each week’s winner gets to caddie and is judged on having the correct yardage and reading greens. In the last episode Adam pulls off his mask to reveal that he is actually Rocco Mediate… what a surprise ending. The ratings will go crazy. I also like the idea of full contact golf.  I can see it now; each green is inside the cage guarded by an Extreme Fighter.  It’s a no holds barred, putt to the finish.  Sure the fighters may be big and mean, but they have never gone up against Vijay Singh’s long putter, or Trevor Immelman’s Nike spikes. So much for your rear naked choke, give Davis Love III a swing with a sand wedge and look out. Forget Kimbo Slice we got Bubba Watson and Shigeki Maruyama. Too violent? Then how about Project Fairway where each golfer is forced to wear an haute couture ensemble designed especially for him by a spiked hair, body pierced, chartreuse wearing partner (and I don’t mean Ian Poulter). Granted, there are a few guys like Ian Poulter that will be the odds on favorite every week, so we’ll need to determine some sort of handicap system, but this is all out war. Never mind that those taffeta pants make a funny noise when they swing, bring on your plaids and argyles. Mix those animal prints with Spandex; let’s face it, there is nothing a golfer won’t wear… well, maybe not those thin shirts that show your boobs, but everything else. How about turning the entire PGA Tour into Big Break 2008. Quick, somebody call the Golf Channel. I’ve heard it, and so have you; people saying that the Tour was more exciting without Tiger.  Bite your tongue. We’re getting to see a lot of new faces and all that crap. Let me repeat what I have said in the past about the Big Break… Guys who can play don’t need a Big Break and guys who need a Big Break can’t play. Okay, I’m bored without Tiger. Posted Jul 24 2008, 08:01 AM by Sam 'Bogey' Johnson with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Sam Johnson, Tiger Woods, FedEx Cup, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Adam Scott, Trevor Immelman, Vijay Singh, Shigeki Maruyama, Tim Finchem, Woody Austin, Bubba Watson, Mike Weir, Ian Poulter

• Open A Bottle Of Scotch And Watch The Open

  Perhaps it is sound of Peter Thomson’s voice, or the crazy weather, or the course conditions, or links golf, or the snooty traditions, or as I suspect, all of the aforementioned combined that makes the Open (in China they call it food, and in Britain it’s the Open) so special. In any case it is a pleasant change to watch some of the world’s most pampered athletes trek through the pastures of Scotland with the wind rolling their socks down at every turn. There is also a Wimbledon vs. Forest Hills aspect to it; the clean fast track versus torn up grass. Imagine a U.S. Open venue looking like St. Andrews? It’s enough to give Tim Fenchem a heart attack and leave Johnny Miller at a loss for words. Golf is a gentle sport in the U.S. A., and a gentleman’s sport in Scotland… and there is a difference. I love the open, and if we can hold it together a couple more years, maybe the folks at Tees2Greens will put together an outing. It would be a hell of a lot of fun. They say that there are 18 holes because that’s how many shots are in a bottle of Scotch Whisky, but there is nothing in golf history to confirm that lovely story. However, golf history does testify that more than 400 years after golf first appeared on Scotland's Tayside coast, Royal Birkdale will host the 2009 Open, which is nothing new since it also hosted the Open in 1954, 1961, 1965, 1971, 1976, 1983, 1991, 1998, 2008. Located in Southport, Merseyside, England, Royal Birkdale is the golfing jewel of a stretch of beautiful links-land which runs almost uninterrupted for 20 miles north of Liverpool. The course was first established in 1889, but was extensively redesigned in 1922 by Fred Hawtree and J. H. Taylor to create the current layout, which is characterized by its picturesque, snaking course through the sand dunes, which tower over each of the fairways. The Open was originally due to visit Royal Birkdale in 1940, but the advent of war delayed this until 1954; since then, however, the course has been (alongside Royal Lytham) the most regular venue for the Championship other than Saint Andrews. The 2008 Open marks the ninth visit of the event to the Merseyside links. Course length for the Open is 7,173 yards, par 71. And, if you’re looking for that memorable moment it would be when the 19-year-old Severiano Ballesteros stunned the golfing world with his dazzling debut in 1976. He led by two going into the final round, but fell away and finished second. Three years later he would finally cash in at 1979 Royal Lytham. Royal Birkdale was also the first Open championships for Peter Thomson. He returned to the same course in 1965 to add his fifth and final title. Arnold Palmer's victory in 1961 is recognised as the turning point in the fortunes of The Open, giving new life and international impact to the championship. Since 1971, American players have dominated Birkdale’s Opens, with only Australian Ian Baker-Finch in 1991 breaking the run of successes achieved by Lee Trevino (1971), Johnny Miller (1976), Tom Watson (1983) and Mark O'Meara (1998). A Few Open Championship Records Oldest Winner Old Tom Morris, 1867, 46 years 99 days Youngest Winner Young Tom Morris, 1868, 17 years 5 months 8 days Champions in Three Decades Harry Vardon, 1896, 1903, 1911 Victories by Amateurs 3, Bobby Jones 1926-27-30 Most Victories 6, Harry Vardon, 1896, 98, 99, 1903, 11, 14 Most Times Runner-Up 7, Jack Nicklaus, 1964, 67, 68, 72, 76, 77, 79 Lowest Winning Aggregates 267 (66, 68, 69, 64) Greg Norman Lowest Individual Round 63 - Mark Hayes, 2nd round Turnberry Most of Rounds Under 70 33, Jack Nicklaus Most Appearances 46, Gary Player Most Appearances Before Win 16, Nick Price And here is a list of every winner all the way back too 1860. You’ll notice that World War One and Two interrupted the Open back in the teens and forties, then everyone seemed to over sleep in 1871 creating a hole in the record books, but otherwise they have been teeing it up for 148 years. Is that cool, or what? The Open Champions 1860 -2007 2007 - Padraig Harrington, Carnoustie 2006 - Tiger Woods Royal Liverpool 2005 - Tiger Woods St. Andrews 2004 - Todd Hamilton Royal Troon 2003 - Ben Curtis Royal St. George's 2002 - Ernie Els Muirfield 2001 - David Duval Royal Lytham 2000 - Tiger Woods St. Andrews 1999 - Paul Lawrie Carnoustie 1998 - Mark O'Meara Royal Birkdale 1997 - Justin Leonard Royal Troon 1996 - Tom Lehman Royal Lytham 1995 - John Daly St. Andrews 1994 - Nick Price Turnberry 1993 - Greg Norman Royal St. George's 1992 - Nick Faldo Muirfield, Scotland 1991 - Ian Baker-Finch Royal Birkdale 1990 - Nick Faldo St. Andrews, Scotland 1989 - Mark Calcavecchia Royal Troon 1988 - Seve Ballesteros Royal Lytham 1987 - Nick Faldo Muirfield, Scotland 1986 - Greg Norman Turnberry, Scotland 1985 - Sandy Lyle Royal St. George's 1984 - Seve Ballesteros St. Andrews 1983 - Tom Watson Royal Birkdale 1982 - Tom Watson Royal Troon 1981 - Bill Rogers Royal St. George's 1980 - Tom Watson Muirfield 1979 - Seve Ballesteros Royal Lytham 1978 - Jack Nicklaus St. Andrews 1977 - Tom Watson Turnberry 1976 - Johnny Miller Royal Birkdale 1975 - Tom Watson Carnoustie 1974 - Gary Player Royal Lytham 1973 - Tom Weiskopf Troon 1972 - Lee Trevino Muirfield 1971 - Lee Trevino Royal Birkdale 1970 - Jack Nicklaus St. Andrews 1969 - Tony Jacklin Royal Lytham 1968 - Gary Player Carnoustie 1967 - Roberto de Vicenzo Hoylake 1966 - Jack Nicklaus Muirfield 1965 - Peter Thomson Southport 1964 - Tony Lema St. Andrews 1963 - Bob Charles Royal Lytham 1962 - Arnold Palmer Troon 1961 - Arnold Palmer Royal Birkdale 1960 - Kel Nagle St. Andrews 1959 - Gary Player Muirfield 1958 - Peter Thomson Royal Lytham 1957 - Bobby Locke St. Andrews 1956 - Peter Thomson Hoylake 1955 - Peter Thomson St. Andrews 1954 - Peter Thomson Royal Birkdale 1953 - Ben Hogan Carnoustie 1952 - Bobby Locke Royal Lytham 1951 - Max Faulkner Portrush 1950 - Bobby Locke Troon 1949 - Bobby Locke Royal St. George's 1948 - Henry Cotton Muirfield 1947 - Fred Daly Hoylake 1946 - Sam Snead St. Andrews 1945 - Not played 1944 - Not played 1943 - Not played 1942 - Not played 1941 - Not played 1940 - Not played 1939 - Richard Burton St. Andrews 1938 - R.A. Whitcombe Royal St. George's 1937 - Henry Cotton Carnoustie 1936 - Alfred Padgham Hoylake 1935 - Alfred Perry Muirfield 1934 - Henry Cotton Royal St. George's 1933 - Denny Shute St. Andrews 1932 - Gene Sarazen Prince's 1931 - Tommy Armour Carnoustie 1930 - Robert Jones Jr. Hoylake 1929 - Walter Hagen Muirfield 1928 - Walter Hagen Royal St. George's 1927 - Robert Jones Jr. St. Andrews 1926 - Robert Jones Jr. Royal Lytham 1925 - James Barnes Prestwick 1924 - Walter Hagen Hoylake 1923 - Arthur Havers Troon 1922 - Walter Hagen Royal St. George's 1921 - Jock Hutchison St. Andrews 1920 - George Duncan Deal 1919 - Not played 1918 - Not played 1917 - Not played 1916 - Not played 1915 - Not played 1914 - Harry Vardon Prestwick 1913 - J.H. Taylor Hoylake 1912 - Edward Ray Muirfield 1911 - Harry Vardon Royal St. George's 1910 - James Braid St. Andrews 1909 - J.H. Taylor Deal 1908 - James Braid Prestwick 1907 - Arnaud Massy Hoylake 1906 - James Braid Muirfield 1905 - James Braid St. Andrews 1904 - Jack White Royal St. George's 1903 - Harry Vardon Prestwick 1902 - Alexander Herd Hoylake 1901 - James Braid Muirfield 1900 - J.H. Taylor St. Andrews 1899 - Harry Vardon Royal St. George's 1898 - Harry Vardon Prestwick 1897 - Harold Hilton Hoylake 1896 - Harry Vardon Muirfield 1895 - J.H. Taylor St. Andrews 1894 - J.H. Taylor Royal St. George's 1893 - William Auchterlonie Prestwick 1892 - Harold Hilton Muirfield 1891 - Hugh Kirkaldy St. Andrews 1890 - John Ball Prestwick 1889 - Willie Park Jr. Musselburgh 1888 - Jack Burns St. Andrews 1887 - Willie Park Jr. Prestwick 1886 - David Brown Musselburgh 1885 - Bob Martin St. Andrews 1884 - Jack Simpson Prestwick 1883 - Willie Fernie Musselburgh 1882 - Robert Ferguson St. Andrews 1881 - Robert Ferguson Prestwick 1880 - Robert Ferguson Musselburgh 1879 - Jamie Anderson St. Andrews 1878 - Jamie Anderson Prestwick 1877 - Jamie Anderson Musselburgh 1876 - Robert Martin St. Andrews 1875 - Willie Park Prestwick 1874 - Mungo Park Musselburgh 1873 - Tom Kidd St. Andrews 1872 - Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick 1871 - Not played 1870 - Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick 1869 - Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick 1868 - Tom Morris Jr. Prestwick 1867 - Tom Morris Sr. Prestwick 1866 - Willie Park Prestwick 1865 - Andrew Strath Prestwick 1864 - Tom Morris Sr. Prestwick 1863 - Willie Park Prestwick 1862 - Tom Morris Sr. Prestwick 1861 - Tom Morris Sr. Prestwick 1860 - Willie Park Prestwick Posted Jul 16 2008, 05:07 PM by Sam 'Bogey' Johnson with no comments Filed under: Sam Johnson, 2008, British Open Champions, Peter Thomson, Royal Birkdale, British Open, British Open Championship Records

• The New Face of Golf?

  I met Anthony Kim at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship in the spring. He was with Blake Smith, one of his agents, who happens to be the son of Randy Smith, a former T2G contributor, and one of Golf Digest magazine’s perennial top-ranked instructors. If I recall correctly, it was Tuesday or Wednesday of Tournament week and I was leaving the media room just as Blake and Anthony were arriving to give an interview. Blake, who I’ve known for a couple of years, grabbed my arm and said, “Sam, I want you to meet Anthony Kim.” I remember being surprised, actually startled, when Anthony said, “Nice to meet you” in a voice two octaves lower than the bass singer of the Oak Ridge Boys. I also remember him being taller than I expected. He’s no Nick Faldo, but he’s an honest 5’ 10”. He also had a handshake like a vise, but what struck me the most is that he looked so Asian; not that there is anything wrong with that, except that he didn’t look like Jack, or Phil, or Ernie, or even Tiger. On top of that, he sounded like Toby Keith, no doubt the results of spending too much time in Norman, Oklahoma. It was like the LPGA in drag… and I mean that in a nice way. Obviously, Anthony is not the first player of Asian descent to play on the PGA Tour; as a matter of fact there are seven playing in 2008, but he may be the best. Forget about Shigeki, K. J. and the rest, this guy can really play… and that started me thinking. Is it possible that the PGA is headed down the same path as the LPGA, where at last count had 57 Asians playing, plus Danielle Ammaccapane, Virada Nirapathpongporn and Stacy Prammanasudh, which makes me wonder how they get those names on a golf bag? Granted, Anthony Kim was born in L.A., went to the University of Oklahoma and doesn’t care for Chinese food, but that’s not the point. If you didn’t know by now, golf in the United States is becoming an international game and that’s good news for many reasons. First, we want the PGA to be the best tour in the world. Forget that European Ryder Cup crap, the big dogs eat on the PGA Tour. When it suits us, we’ll travel around the world and kick butt, but most of the time we’ll stay home eating barbeque and drinking Bud; leave your corkscrew at home, this is America. Today’s PGA looks like Tiger Woods, but it also looks like Vijay Singh, Shigeki Maruyama, Charlie Wi, Stuart Appleby, Sergio Garcia, Retife Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Gabriel Hjertsedt, Ruuji Imada, Andres Romero, Justin Rose, Rory Sabbatini and the pride and joy of the good old U.S. of A. Anthony Kim. That’s why the PGA Tour is the best. The reason Anthony Kim is the best is that his scoring average is 70.95; his driving average is 301 yards; he’s hitting the fairway at a 58.70% clip, and greens 67.20% of the time, and averaging 29.14 putts per round. Oh yeah, and he has made $3,256,622 in 14 events in 2008. He may not look like Tom Watson, who looks like Alfred E. Newman, who said "It takes one to know one -- and vice versa!" but he looks as American as Notah Begay III and Tiger Woods, and that’s what I like to think the American apple pie metaphor is all about. Wait a minute; Notah Begay III is a Native American, which trumps everything. Posted Jul 10 2008, 07:21 AM by Sam 'Bogey' Johnson with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Sam Johnson, Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, EDS Byron Nelson Championship, 2008, Anthony Kim, Andres Romero, Randy Smith, Vijay Singh, Retife Goosen, Justin Rose, Shigeki Maruyama, Charlie Wi, Rory Sabbatini, Gabriel Hjertsedt, Ruuji Imada, Stuart Appleby

• The Ryder Cup Without Tiger Woods

  The question being whispered about these days has to do with whether or not the U.S. Ryder Cup team is a better team without Tiger Woods?  How is that possible, you ask?  Frankly, I find it a hard to understand myself, but ever since Tiger Woods became “the superstar” of the game of golf he appears to eclipse the team concept, or at least that’s what many would have you believe. I don’t believe it and neither do the Brits. Without Tiger, who’s our stopper?  Who do we put on their best man and expect to win? Who stands up in the locker room?  Who validates parking?  Is Phil Mickelson the guy, or does that sound as funny to you as it does to me? Does Stewart Cink have the game, or Jim Furyk have the personality?  Can a Munchkin like Justin Leonard garner the respect needed to lead with a 275 yard drive? There must be a leader out there. What about hometown boy Kenny Perry? Will he have too many Kentucky friends and family sleeping on the couch to concentrate? Next in line would be Boo Weekly, but I want you to name a great leader named Boo?  The kid Anthony Kim still calls guys like Phil Mickelson sir, so how can he lead?  Perhaps Brandt Snedeker the guy who cried at the Masters? I guess that question answered itself. We should not give up. Steve Stricker could be the guy but I’m not sure anyone has ever heard him speak.  He may sound like Jessica Simpson and that would never do.  D. J. Trahan the Sports Management major from Clemson University has already made more money in 2008 than in any other year in his short career, so I’m thinking he needs a little time to adjust to the big money.  Which brings us to Hunter Mahan, but not even Hunter listens to Hunter. Step forward someone… anyone! Master Champion Zack Johnson is a possibility but his game is not in top form and hasn’t been for a while.  So, how about Jeff Quinney who is related by marriage to Wayne Gretzky I think, but he still does not have a win. Do you want to bet the ranch on a guy without a win? Perhaps the guy is J. B. Holmes, who has won twice as much money in 2008 as any other year in his career, but I’m thinking the stage is too big, or his goatee too small.  Either way, he’s not the guy. Great needs require great deeds. Perhaps team captain Azinger should consider the sixteenth man on the list of possibilities. The man with the faint hint of Italian sausage on his breath; The guy with the hairiest arms on tour; the man who abandoned the long putter because it made him look short; the one and only, Rocco Mediate.  Let’s hear it: Rocco…Rocco… Rocco.  Can you still hear the cheering? If we can keep Rocco from stopping up the drains with body hair, he could be the ultimate team guy. Big stage experience; check. Humble beyond belief; check.  Tenacious if we don’t have to go into extra innings; check.  And above all, colorful; check, check. Why not Rocco? In the 77 year history of the Ryder Cup there has never been a Rocco. Of course there has never been a Barbara either, but that’s another story. Granted, the name Rocco doesn’t put fear in the hearts of the Europeans, but neither do the names Phil, or Justin, or Steve, or Stewart, or even Uncle Sam. The U.S. hasn’t won the Ryder Cup since 1999, so what do we have to lose? Bring on the Italian Stallion Rocco Mediate. If you want to help, and I know you do, get out your paper and pen and write to Captain Paul Azinger in care of: Ryder Cup Office at Valhalla Golf Club, P.O. Box 43819, Louisville, KY 40253. Tell Captain Azinger that Rocco is the man. Do it because you love the game.  Do it because Rocco is the man.  Do it because you too have a 36” plus spot on your belt. Posted Jul 02 2008, 08:27 AM by Sam 'Bogey' Johnson with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Sam Johnson, Tiger Woods, Zack Johnson, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Anthony Kim, Kenny Perry, Rocco Mediate, D.J. Trahan, Ryder Cup, Boo Weekly, Stewart Cink, J. B. Holmes, Hunter Mahan, Paul Azinger, Valhalla Golf Club