Another Tiger Event

Hello. The PGA Tour announced a tournament will be coming to the Washington DC area during the 4th of July weekend. It will be run by the Tiger Woods Foundation. The major sponsor has not been announced yet. This tournament replaces The International on the PGA map. It guarantees Tiger will come, although this year may not be the case because of his first child's planned arrival.
Kudos to the PGA Tour for getting a tournament arranged on very short notice. However, I'm sure a few people are perturbed by this announcement.
Start with The International's Mr. Vickers, who blames Tiger's absence as one of the reasons his event folded. To be replaced by a Tiger tournament must be gut-wrenching.
Then there's Booz Allen, who were told to either become part of the no-more-headliners fall portion, and decided to get out. Had they had first opportunity at this time slot, I'm sure they would've stayed.
And finally, our national treasure, the Canadian Open, who still doesn't have a title sponsor. They offered to move their event to this open, more desirable time slot, and were rejected. What a slap in the face they must feel.
Is the best option for all PGA Tour events who haven't done so to get a Tiger partnership? Maybe.

Regards,
Steve

Stenson, Ogilvy, Immelman Looking Good

Hello. It's not too long ago that if you asked who the best male Swedish, Australian and South African players were, the answer would be Parnevik, Scott and Els. Or Parnevik, Elkington and Goosen. Now I'd have to say it's Stenson, Ogilvy and Immelman.
Stenson has looked great this past 6 months. A Ryder Cup win, a Dubai win over Woods and Els, and now the WGC Match Play. Great accomplishments. And since he can hit the ball a mile, and is great on the greens, he looks like he's going to keep going.
All Ogilvy has done in the past year is win the Match Play, finish as a runner-up and win the US Open. Now that he's got his first child routine down and the post-major celebration period over with, look out!
And Immelman, the last man to beat Tiger on US soil in a stroke play event, seems to be ready as well to carry the South African flag into battle. He looks very consistent, the kind of US Open game that can win consistently.
Will these guys finally go where Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia and Charles Howell (among others) have not been able to go because of bad putters and/or being intimidated by Tiger? Time will tell, but it could very well happen. Now.

Regards,
Steve

Scott Class of Scotties Field

Hello. Congrats to Kelly Scott for defending the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Scott played very well on Saturday against Manitoba and Sunday against Saskatchewan, getting 4-0 leads after 2 ends in both games. She then held off all challenges with machine-like precision.
These 3 teams were the class of the field during round robin, and then in the playoffs. However, Scott, Schraeder, Carter and Simmons were that much better, and it showed.
The question now becomes, where do these teams go from here?
Scott is headed to Japan for the Worlds in March. It will be very difficult for her, as the two teams that finished ahead of her, McCormack of the US and Norberg of Sweden, are also returning. However, Scott has been quoted as saying the international game was new to them, even though the Worlds were in Alberta last year. I'm thinking they may have improved enough to make the jump from their bronze medal finish, although Norberg in particular will be tough.
For Betker, yesterday must've been tough. At 46, she has to decide whether to carry on. It wouldn't surprise me either way. Like many teams, she may want to hang in until 2010. Then again, she may want to retire with all the glory she deserves.
For Jennifer Jones, what now? Do you get yet another lead, as Arnott is 50? Or another vice? Or run for Parliament? Very tough to decide, but something has to be done, because the Scott team is that much better now.
Congrats again Scott team! All the best in Japan!

Regards,
Steve

Top 3 Disance Themselves From Scotties Pack

Hello. After Thrusday morning's action, here are The Good, The Bad and The Ugly:

The Good
1. Manitoba - 9 in a row after a 1st draw loss. Remarkable
2. Canada - Can you say repeat?
3. Saskatchewan - May have trouble with first 2, but very solid

The Bad
4. BC - Went from secure to needing help
5. Newfoundland - Sinks in the draw game
6. Alberta - Tough road ahead. Bad start will probably kill them
7. PEI - A little comeback won't be enough
8. Quebec - Had a chance to control their destiny
9. Ontario - Could be 8-2 or 2-8. Very erratic

The Ugly
10. Territories - Thought they could be .500
11. Nova Scotia - Team of the future
12. New Brunswick - What happened?

Good luck the rest of the way teams!

Regards,
Steve

Let The Tiger Watch Begin

Hello. Tiger heads for win #8 today, facing JJ Henry in the first round of the WGC Match Play tournament.
This may be Woods' toughest tournament to win all year. It's on a new golf course, in a format where being very good may not be good enough, and one very bad round eliminates you. However, like everything else, Woods' pro match play record is as good as anyone's.
One thing Charles Howell's playoff win over Phil Mickelson in LA showed me (as did Mickelson's collapse in the US Open going for 3 majors in a row) is how impressive Woods' streaks have been. To win 7 and 6 tournaments in a row like he's done already in his career, and 4 majors in a row, is really unbelievable when, in Mickelson's case, one bad hole or bad shot can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
To put this 7 win streak in perspective, Jim Furyk has 7 wins in the past 6 years. And he's ranked #2. How many guys win 7 tournaments in their career? You don't need many more wins than 7 to be considered for the World Golf Hall of Fame. John Daly has only won 5 tournaments total.
All the best Tiger. Here's hoping you make it to the weekend.

Regards,
Steve

Big Separation At The Scotties

Hello. The cream has already risen to the top at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. 5 teams have at least a 2 game spread from the remaining 7 teams after only 5 games each. That is almost unbelievable in such a short time. Back by popular demand (alright, no one asked for it) is The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts:

The Good
1. Saskatchewan - 5-0, and I think playing better without Joan McCusker. Her TV analysis playing 2nd may have been holding the team down.
2. Canada - Kelly Scott missed one critical shot last night, otherwise may be 5-0. This team can execute. Wouldn't surprise me if they won again
3. Manitoba - After losing their 1st game, Jen Jones and Co are rolling. Will be tough
4. BC - At 4-1, Kelley Law has shown no signs of rust. Big win against New Brunswick after being down 8-2 may spark them
5. Ontario - Looked brutal against Saskatchewan, then came back to dominate last night to get to 4-1

The Bad
1. Alberta - Cheryl Bernard should be better than 2-3 in her home province. Lost the final in 1996. Wrote a book on champions. Maybe a reread is in order!
2. NWT - Unfair to have them here because of what any Territories team has to do. However, it's 3rd year in a row for this team at Scotties, and 2-3 now seen as disappointing
3. Quebec - Unfortunately this team's showing the lack of depth in province
4. Newfoundland - This team went to a tiebreaker last year. Now missing consistently

The Ugly
1. PEI - Hard to believe I watched Suzanne Gaudet roll through 2003 Kitchener field at 10-1. Some major individual and team adjustments needed to improve on 1-4
2. New Brunswick - Made it to a tiebreakerbefore, and now without a win. Losing to BC really hurt
3. Nova Scotia - Former junior champ looks out of place. I thought the jump would be easier, especially after knocking off top NS teams to get here.

Regards,
Steve

Young American Guns Come Through

Hello. Congrats to Charles Howell III and Paula Creamer for winning in LA and Hawaii respectively. Both took large steps towards fulfilling the lofty expectations they both have.
Creamer burst onto the scene in 2005, winning tournaments and Rookie of the Year honours. "The Pink Panther" was ready to take on Annika and anyone else in her way, and wasn't afraid to tell anyone about it. However, 2006 was almost a disappearing act. No wins, and way down on the money list. While she's still a youngster (around 20), Creamer was one of the first names mentioned when the slide in American golf was mentioned.
Howell was definitely one of the men's named mentioned in the slide topic. After winning in 2002, Howell had some top-10 results, and was never in trouble retaining his card. However, the talk was how someone so good and long off the tee could play so bad. After see Sunday's stats, the word "putting" comes to mind. Howell had never been in the top 100 in putting on the PGA. You don't win with that number. Ask Sergio Garcia.
Now Howell has a win and two 2nds in 2007, and is in the top 40 in putting. And Creamer may be ready to take off. Maybe this could be the year for the young American guns after all.

Regards,
Steve

Howard, Middaugh Class of Field

Hello. The Ontario Men's Curling Championships are happening this week in Sarnia. Glenn Howard currently leads with a perfect 7-0 record. Wayne Middaugh is second at 6-1.
These two teams are the class of the field, so there's no surprise they're at the top. Of course, I'm a little biased, because I went to school with Glenn, and used to golf with Peter Corner, Wayne's 3rd. I've also golfed with Wayne.
The rest of the field this year needs some improvement. John Epping looked like a real strong team. He has Nick Rizzo, a former skip in this event, at 3rd, plus Ken McDermott, another friend of mine (we curl out of the same club, and have golfed together), at lead. Last night I thought they'd give Howard a run, especially after beating Middaugh in the afternoon. However, they got killed, then lost this afternoon to Greg Balsdon of Guelph. They're now 4-3, and will have to win their final games to clinch a playoff berth.
Balsdon may be a surprise this week. After a slow start, they are now 5-2. They're young, so it may be a tough time in the playoffs. Time will tell.
The time is now for Howard. He looks invincible in this event. Middaugh may be the only one who can handle him. If these two teams don't meet in the final, I'll be shocked.
Good luck to all my friends playing this week!

Regards,
Steve

LPGA Ready To Go

Hello. The LPGA is ready to start this week in Hawaii. Many questions are on people's minds:

1. Is Lorena Ochoa on her way to an even better season? Could be. Ochoa has done everything except win a major. She's a threat to win every week. Her composure is something every player should copy. She seems unfazed by anything, winning or not. She seems to be the real deal to me.
2. Is Annika Sorenstam on her way to an even better season? Could be. Annika had only a good year by her standards. Rumours of her wanting to start a family and being involved in several off-course ventures could be true. Does she have anything left to prove? Will she be considered the best ever if she quit today? I'd be tempted to say so. I don't think she has to beat Kathy Whitworth's career win record for the same reason I don't think Tiger Woods has to beat Sam Snead's career win record - because Whitworth and Snead are not considered the best players ever (Mickey Wright and Jack Nicklaus are of the retired players).
3. Is Karrie Webb on her way to an even better season? Could be. Webb has started off with non-LPGA wins in Australia. She could be more determined to prove last year was not a fluke, or a last hurrah.
4. What of the non-winners with all the potential? Gulbis, Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressel and company will have to go to beat the 3 ladies above. I hope they come close if they don't succeed.

It's shaping up to be a very good year, in some ways much more interesting than the PGA.

Regards,

Steve

Coaching Change Late But Necessary

Hello. Congrats to the San Diego Chargers for finally pulling the plug on their head coach, Marty Schottenheimer. While I have nothing personally against Marty, and I hope his remaining years are productive, it was the right thing to do.
The San Diego Chargers were the best team this year, and didn't win a playoff game. In fact they were one of the best teams last year, and didn't make the playoffs. They had all-pros on all sides of the ball. They had 4 coaches who have now been promoted in other organizations. The only weakness that seemed to be costing them was head coach. Marty has a 5-13 career playoff record. It was time. In fact it was past time.
As Don Banks points out on si.com, the Chargers hurt themselves by not doing this last month. Now a lot of top candidates, including their own coaches, have gone elsewhere. There's not much time for a new man to get up to speed.
So who will take over the reins? I'd love to see it be Mike Singletary. He may bring the Chargers the winning attitude they need to get to the next level. Singletary always impressed me with his business like approach and intensity. The combination he had as a player made him the best. If he can do that as a coach, he's got it made.
Good luck San Diego, and congrats again on doing what you had to do. It's the mark of a championship organization.

Regards,
Steve

Does This Change Everything?

Hello. Congrats to Phil Mickelson for his record tying win at the AT&T Pebble Beach this week. Needless to say, it was an incredible reversal of form. Winged Foot looked like it may have crippled Phil for good, but now things have completely changed.
It wasn't the fact Phil won, but how he did it. On Sunday he only missed one fairway. He had 9 birdies and an unfortunate double bogey on a par 3 after losing his tee shot.
Does this mean Tiger no longer has the ability to just stroll in and win a tournament? Maybe. Woods has always been better than Mickelson head-to-head. Of course, Woods has been better than anyone, so no surprise there. However, Phil is probably the only one you can mention with Tiger in the same breath when talent is discussed.
The bad news for Phil Mickelson is that he isn't Jim Furyk. If he was, Tiger would have more respect for him, and Phil would be more disciplined and professional. The way it stands now, Tiger will be very motivated to beat Phil's brains out. And Phil may not have the patience to prevent it.
If they were both in the last group at Augusta, who would I take, Tiger or Phil? Tiger, because I know he'd want it so much he'd be ready to strangle Phil. But now it's defintely a pairing I'd want to see.

Regards,
Steve

3-hole Playoff Change Long Overdue

Hello. Congrats to the USGA for finally changing the 18-hole Monday playoff format for the US Women's Open. In future, the playoff will be 3 holes, and continue on right after the 72nd hole is completed (weather permitting). If the total 3 hole score of the players is identical, then sudden death is applied.
This makes so much sense on so many levels it's unbelievable it wasn't done years ago, and that it still hasn't been done for the Men's US Open. So why was it done for the Women's US Open this year, and not the Men's? Last year's tournaments are the answer to both questions.
In the 2006 Women's US Open, Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst finished tied after 72 holes, resulting in a Monday playoff. This was such a big media event Johnny Miller didn't stay for the playoff. If Pat Hurst would've been Michelle Wie, everyone would've been dying to see that playoff right away, and may have taken Monday off to watch on TV or in person. But Pat Hurst, a great golfer but not a marketable commodity, just doesn't cut it. People figured on an Annika win, which happened, so they stayed away.
In the 2006 US Open, Geoff Ogilvy held off Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie after both of them double-bogied the 72nd hole. If any of those 3 had tied, I'm sure people would've waited around, but there would've been griping.
Until an 18 hole playoff happens in the US Open, there won't be any pressure to change.

Regards,
Steve

Why The Leafs Won't Win The Cup

Hello. Well, the Leafs won their fifth straight game last night. Plan the parade route! They are on their way to winning Lord Stanley!
In fairness to Toronto and any other city, the odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 1 in 30 to start the year. If a team makes the playoffs, it then becomes 1 in 16. Would you bet your house on something that has < 7% chance of happening?
People point to Calgary and Edmonton the last two times the Cup was contested and say anything can happen in the playoffs. And yes, that is true. These teams just barely made it in, and then came one victory away from winning it all. However, the odds against any team, especially one that has to play most of its games on the road, are very high.
Look at how well Detroit has played over the years. And they've won 3 Cups since 1990. Are they a lock this year? No. Could they win? Sure.
Same thing with the Devils. And the Ducks, Sabres and Predators. All of them could either win, or flame out.
Toronto is in the same category. And no matter how they finish, the odds are they won't win the Cup. Count on it.

Regards,
Steve

Super Bowl Thoughts

Hello. Just saw the Super Bowl was the 3rd most watched program ever in numbers, behind the MASH final episode and the 1996 Super Bowl. Very good news for the NFL.
The matchup was a natural for ratings. Chicago hadn't been to the big dance since '86. The Colts hadn't been since '71, when they were based in Baltimore. Needless to say both teams and their fans were very hungry for a victory.
And of course, there were the big 3 (Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy and Bill Polian) trying to get the monkeys off their backs. Manning and Dungy had never been there before. Polian had been Buffalo's GM in their 4 consecutive trips to the Super Bowl. I'm sure all 3 are relieved, because a loss as the favoured team would've brought the media on them until they eventually won.
What now for Chicago in general, and Rex Grossman in particular? Will Rex still be in Chicago next year? Or will Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick (or others) be replacing him?
And is Tony Dungy done now? He has hinted at retirement before. Will Bill Parcells or someone else come?
All very interesting pre and post-game questions which made it a ratings blockbuster. Congrats Indy!

Regards,
Steve

These Guys Are Better

Hello. Congrats to Aaron Baddeley for winning the FBR Open in Phoenix. It's his 2nd win in two years, so Aaron may be on the way to showing the potential he once had in spades, twice winning the Australian Open as a teenager.
The REAL golf tournament this week was in Dubai, however. Ernie Els and Tiger Woods were right there trying to take a title both men won in the past. The winner, however, was Henrik Stenson. Congrats to you Henrik on beating a fine field.
When the US lost yet again to Europe in the Ryder Cup last year, many in the media started to clue in that European Ryder Cup wins were no longer flukes. If there was a Ryder Cup fluke in recent years, it was the historic comeback the Americans made in 1999 to win their only cup in the last 6 Ryder Cup events. The US media started giving the Europeans their due in that event, and I'm sure many will consider the Euros favourites in 2008.
Well, now it's time to start giving the European Tour some credit. It is a better Tour right now than the PGA Tour. Yes, that's right I'm sober.
How do I say this with a straight face, when others (including Brian Hewitt today on thegolfchannel.com) say the PGA is better because "there aren't any fantasy European Tour leagues here"? Two words - Tiger Woods. As we know, Tiger hasn't lost a PGA Tour event since the British Open. Well, he hasn't won a European Tour event since the British Open. Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington and Stenson have all beaten Woods on foreign soil.
Why is the European Tour better? Two words - appearance fees. The PGA Tour had better allow the practice as welll, or the top players will migrate to Europe. It's already happened, and will continue to do so. You heard it here first.

Regards,
Steve

FBR or Dubai?

Hello. The FBR Open is on in Phoenix today. And the Dubai is on in Dubai. Which will get more attention? We are in a Tiger world, so Dubai will probably be the 2nd biggest watched regular European Tour event next to the British Open. His presence makes an event like this more than a footnote the rest of the Euro events will be.
And will the FBR Open be more than a footnote this year? I think these first few events without Tiger are indeed footnotes. Something has to be done - prop up the money, etc, to get these events on the map.
If I'm a Golf Channel executive, I'm enjoying this one big time. I've got Tiger in the morning, which is exposing the European Tour players big time. and the PGA in the afternoon.
And if I'm the Canadian Open committee, who STILL haven't been able to find a main sponsor, I'd store the name of every PGA player who went from San Diego to Dubai, including Tiger, in my memory bank. Then when I go to ask them if they are going to play in the Canadian Open, which is right after the British Open, and I hear the "I've got a headache" response of how the travel is too rushed back to Canada from the British Isles, I'd remind them of how they made a much longer flight to go to Dubai. Then watch the backpeddling to see what the next excuse will be.
The PGA Tour has to realize these "lesser events" are in trouble soon. Otehrwise, they will not be around to debate anymore.

Regards,
Steve