Mickelson Feels The Love At Augusta

Phil Mickelson says he always feels relaxed at Augusta National because of the way the golf course sets up for his explosive game.

But he feels even better at the Masters this week because his wife, Amy, and their three kids are in town.

Mickelson used an eagle-birdie-birdie stretch starting at the 13th hole to ignite his 5-under par 67 that gave him a share of the first-round lead with Tom Watson, Lee Westwood and Y.E. Yang.

Mickelson said it's the first PGA Tour event his family has been with him since The Players Championship last May, shortly before his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Amy was in the team hotel with Mickelson at the Presidents Cup last fall but did not go to the golf course. She did not come to the course Thursday as she continues to battle the side effects from her breast cancer treatments.

"It would be cool but tough," Mickelson said. "Just that she and the kids are here is cool."

Though Mickelson hasn't played particularly well this year, he said before the tournament that Augusta National helps him find his comfort zone. He drove it well Thursday and putted extremely well, holing a 30-foot eagle putt at No. 13 and a 40-footer for birdie at No. 14.

"It's a good start," Mickelson said. "My expectations are high. It's just one of four (rounds)."

Woods Makes His Return Look Routine

With a crowd sometimes 10 deep straining to see him, Tiger Woods made his return to competitive golf seem familiar Thursday at Augusta National.

After a five-month layoff, Woods ripped his nationally televised opening tee shot down the middle of the first fairway after being greeted with loud applause upon walking onto the tee.

As Woods walked with playing partners K.J. Choi and Matt Kuchar down the hill in front of the first tee, the applause returned as they made their way toward their second shots on the par-4 hole.

Photographers were perched near the tee and on a hillside, capturing image of the great anticpated event.

Woods, wearing black pants and a gray striped shirt, fired his approach shot 12 feet left of the hole and narrowlyl missed a birdie putt as he began his quest for his fifth Masters title and 15th major championship victory.

While Woods was making his debut, a small airplane flew near Augusta National pulling a banner that read, 'Tiger Did You Mean Bootyism?'

By the time Woods began play, he was four shots behind early first-round leader Tom Watson, who shot 68.

Waiting For Tiger, Toms, Watson Share Lead

As Tiger Woods' tee time approached, David Toms had already grabbed the early first-round lead at the Masters and Tom Watson is acting like it's the British Open again.

On a cloudy, breezy morning, the 60-year old Watson was 3-under par through 15 holes, tied with Toms who had already posted an opening round 3-under par 69. Steve Marino was also 3-under through 15 holes in what felt like the opening act to the big show that arrives with Tiger's presence on the course.

Defending champion Angel Cabrera was 3-under through 10 holes, showing no sign of easily surrendering his claim as champion.

Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson played his first nine holes in 1-under par, keeping him close to the lead. Ernie Els was also at 1-under par.

Charlotte Father And Son Get Lasting Memory

Chip Hunter and his nine-year old son, Jake, left Charlotte at 3:40 a.m. Thursday to make sure they were in Augusta in plenty of time to have a good viewing spot when Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus hit the ceremonial opening tee shots at 7:40 a.m.

They made it in plenty of time and were in the front row of patrons behind the first tee, giving them a perfect view. Jake wore his blue Arnold Palmer Invitational cap he bought off e-Bay, a testament to his admiration for Palmer. He even wrote a third-grade book report about Palmer.

The Hunters left with more than a father-son memory Thursday. Jake went home with the tee Nicklaus used to hit his first ceremonial drive, a gift from a caddie.

Old Is New Again Early At The Masters

They love to keep the old new at the Masters and there's some of that early on the first-day leaderboard.

It has a distinct '80s feel with Bernhard Langer playing his first seven holes 3-under par and the seemingly ageless Tom Watson making birdies on two of his first three holes.

It's early -- Phil Mickelson is just going on the course and Tiger Woods is still three hours away from his tee time -- but it's a nice jolt of nostalgia with Langer and Watson off to good starts.

The conditions are nice so far though the breeze has begun to kick up, throwing a little uncertainty into play. The chance of thunderstorms looms this afternoon though it's too early to know if they'll disrupt play.

By the time they do, one of the old guys may be sitting in the clubhouse with a big smile on his face.

Jack And Arnie: A Very Cool Start

It was crisp and clear Thursday morning at 7:40 when Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus met on the first tee at Augusta National.

And it was very cool.

As the ceremonial golfer he vowed years ago he would never become, Nicklaus joined Palmer for the first time as an honorary starter at the Masters. Hundreds of patrons gathered around the first tee and on the gentle hillside nearby to get a glimpse of Nicklaus and Palmer together.

After being introduced by club chairman Billy Payne, Palmer -- wearing blue pants and a pink shirt -- teed up his golf ball then glanced at the crowd and jokingly said, "Put your earmuffs on."

Palmer then made his familiar lash at the ball, sending his tee shot down the right side of the first fairway where it eventually rolled into the rough. It didn't matter where it stopped. It was the cheers that mattered.

When it was Nicklaus's turn to hit, he looked at Palmer and asked, "How'd you do that?"

Palmer answered, "Keep your eye on the ball."

Nicklaus smiled then smacked his own tee shot into the distance. Like Palmer, his ball settled in the right rough. A security guard then hustled out and kicked one of the balls about 15 yards further down the fairway.

"I hit a rookie tee shot," Nicklaus remarked afterward. "As long as we didn't hear it land, that was okay."

Nicklaus estimated he and Palmer have played at least 500 rounds of golf together. While they have been great rivals on the course and in business, they have been friends for decades, often flying together to play exhibitions and teaming to win a number of two-man events.

"We've played at least a year together," Nicklaus said.

This was different.

Having played 45 Masters, winning a record six, Nicklaus moved into a new role as an honorary starter. With his granddaughter, Christie, serving as caddie, Nicklaus seemed to embrace the role despite his 7:40 tee time.

"I've never been up this early at Augusta," Nicklaus said

Having attended the champions' dinner Tuesday night, played the par-3 event with Palmer and Gary Player on Wednesday and helping start the Masters this morning, Nicklaus planned to be far away by Friday.

He'll be fishing in the Bahamas, he said. The boat has a television and in the evening, Nicklaus said he might check to see what''s happening at the Masters.

It got off to a very good start.

Miller On Tiger: Needs 72 Or Better Thursday

Johnny Miller thinks Tiger Woods would have done himself a favor had he played one tournament -- the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago -- before he tees it up Thursday in the Masters.

Miller, who made three birdies playing in the Masters par-3 tournament, thinks Woods' first week back will be determined by what happens immediately.

“He’s going to be nervous. He’s going to want to post a number to show he’s not disjointed, physically and mentally that he’s got things sorted out,” Miller said.

“In the back of his mind, he’s probably thinking he’s got a chance to win. In the other part of his mind, he’s probably thinking I sure hope I don’t shoot 76 or 78 the first round. That’s going to be the most nervous round he’s played since he was an amateur.

“To win that green jacket he’s going to have to shoot par or better in that first round.”

Augusta chairman: Tiger disappointed all of us

Augusta National chairman Billy Payne left no doubt this afternoon that he expects more from Tiger Woods than words, birdies and bogeys.

In his annual pre-tournament news conference, Payne said Woods will be judged in the future by his actions rather than his golf scores.

In his initial comments, Payne recognized Woods' great achievements as a golfer before turning to his personal conduct.

"But as he now says himself, he forgot in the process to remember that with fame and fortune comes responsibility, not invisibility. It is not simply the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here. It is the fact that he disappointed all of us, and more importantly, our kids and our grandkids. Our hero did not live up to the expectations of the role model we saw for our children.

"Is there a way forward? I hope yes. I think yes. But certainly his future will never again be measured only by his performance against par; but measured by the sincerity of his efforts to change. I hope he now realizes that every kid he passes on the course wants his swing but would settle for his smile.

"I hope he can come to understand that life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who bring joy to the lives of other people. We at Augusta hope and pray that our great champion will begin his new life here tomorrow in a positive, hopeful and constructive manner, but this time with a significant difference from the past. This year, it will not be just for him, but for all of us, who believe in second chances."

Payne didn't offer much more about Woods other than to say the tournament has taken what it feels are adequate security measures to account for his presence and that Woods attended the annual champions dinner Tuesday night at the club.

Tiger At Quail A Good Possibilty But Not For Sure

There's still no answer as to whether Tiger Woods will play in the Quail Hollow Championship three weeks from now but it remains a good possibility.

What happens at the Masters may determine whether Woods makes Charlotte his first appearance in a regular PGA Tour event since the scandal around his personal life erupted last November. He has not made a final decision about playing Charlotte, I've been told.

A handful of factors will likely play into Woods' decision about Quail Hollow:

How he plays this weekend, how the crowd reacts to him and what else he may have going on in his life.

The crowd reaction at Augusta has been extremely positive and there's no reason to expect that will change. How Woods plays is a bigger question. No one's quite sure what to expect from him when he tees it up on Thursday. Despite his calm demeanor, he's going to feel more nerves than usual on the first tee.

If Woods does play at Quail Hollow, I expect he'll announce it earlier than in the past. Woods has traditionally waited until the last day before entries close to officially commit to tournaments. In Woods' new world, I think we'll see him adjust his commitment schedule, a nice gesture on his part.

Under The Tree Is The Place To Be

One of the best places at Augusta National is not in the clubhouse but right behind it.

Under a giant oak tree that shades an enormous patch of property is the favorite gathering spot for those fortunate enough to have access to the area.

It's where meetings are set.

"I'll meet you under the tree at noon" or "Meet me under the tree when you're finished," are among the most common things you hear.

Standing under the tree today you could see the rich, the famous and powerful. And some sports writers.

There was Tom Fazio, the course designer, talking to friends. John Solheim, the man who runs Ping golf and made the gracious and wise decision to resolve the illegal grooves issue that surfaced earlier this year, was under the tree.

Tiger Woods, having just finished a nine-hole practice round, was escorted through the area into the clubhouse but he reached out to shake hands with a friend as he passed.

Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, was there, making small talk with people between meetings.

Around lunch time, there were plenty of green-jacketed members under the tree. Nearby, a couple dozen outdoor tables were filled with guests having lunch under umbrellas.

Occasionally, golfers would pass through under the tree. Some stopped to chat with friends. Others were headed to the practice green.

Outside the ropes, spectators watched what was happening under the tree, snapping photos and pointing.

It's a cool place to be.

At Augusta, Things Keep Getting Better

Part of the magic of Augusta National is how things can change yet seem as if they've been there forever.

That's the way it is with the new practice facility and a collection of buildings that have been built nearby. The practice facility is spectacular, as you would expect, with essentially everything a player could need to work on his game.

Nearby, there are several new buildings used for guests during tournament week, built since last spring. They're white and if you could find a subdivision that looks like these buildings, you'd line up to buy one.

I've been told that they're painted with white paint that's made to look slightly weathered when it's applied so the buildings won't look brand new. I'm not sure if it's true but at Augusta National, it sounds plausible, given the club's attention to detail and quality.

Even the new entrance for patrons is impressive. It's not just a place to get your badge checked. It looks like Augusta National, not just an entryway.

Some things, however, don't get touched and for good reason. Who'd want to mess with the pimento cheese sandwiches?

Maybe Mickelson Finds What's Missing This Week

Given the indifferent start to his season -- one top-10 finish in seven starts -- Phil Mickelson hasn't given much reason to be considered one of the favorites to win the Masters.

Except that he's Phil Mickelson.

The Masters makes him a contender.

Mickelson loves the big moment and there are no bigger golf moments than the Masters. Coming to Augusta National, feeling the spirit, can make the difference for a player like Mickelson.

Emotion is a part of his game, just like it's a part of the Masters.

Mickelson explained his season in two parts: He didn't putt well early and, once he got that figured out, he hasn't hit the ball as consistently as he wanted. Penalty strokes have been a problem for Mickelson in recent weeks but they become a smaller factor at Augusta National which gives players more room to roam than some other courses.

Butch Harmon is on site, working with Mickelson to iron out the wrinkles in his swing. And, if everything goes right, Mickelson's wife, Amy, and their kids will fly into town and be with him this week.

Mickelson has tried to downplay it but he's been wrestling with Amy's struggles with her treatment for breast cancer. The long-range prognosis is very good but the short-term effects from her treatments have taken their toll.

It's been four years since Mickelson last won a major, the 2006 Masters. That's a surprisingly long time.

Maybe all that's been missing this year is inspiration. Maybe he finds it this week.

Mickelson on Quail Hollow: "Definitely"

Phil Mickelson said this afternoon "I will definitely be there" when asked if he intends to play the Quail Hollow Championship in three weeks.

Mickelson has until 5 p.m. April 23 to officially commit to the Charlotte event. He has been a regular at Quail Hollow, playing the past six years.

Mickelson continues to split his time between the tour and being at home in San Diego with his wife, Amy, as she deals with difficult side effects from her treatment for breast cancer. He said he is hopeful Amy and his children will be in Augusta on Wednesday when he plays the par-3 tournament.

Tiger Paired With Kuchar, Choi In Afternoon

The answer is Matt Kuchar and K.J. Choi at 1:42 p.m. Thursday.

That's who Tiger Woods will play with in the first two rounds of the Masters, ending the speculation about who he would be paired with in his return to competitive golf.

After all the guesswork about whether he'd be with friends or perhaps an old-timer, Woods will be in the second-to-last pairing in the first round with two solid players, though neither is considered a star.

The tee time works well for television. ESPN's first-round broadcast begins at 4 p.m., allowing the network to show Woods playing the back nine. It will also be allowed to cut into its regular programming to show his opening tee shot.

Woods, Choi and Kuchar will play at 10:35 a.m. on Friday.

Other high-profile pairings include Ernie Els, Anthony Kim and Ryo Ishikawa at 10:13 a.m.; Phil Mickelson, Robert Allenby and Yong-Eun Yang at 10:35 a.m.; Camilo Villegas, Kenny Perry and Rory McIlroy at 12:36 p.m.; and, Fred Couples, Sergio Garcia and Shingo Katayama at 12:58 p.m.

Here's the full list of pairings.

Back To Normal At The Masters

It's Tuesday morning at the Masters and it already feels different.

Tiger's on the course, playing a practice round with Mark O'Meara and much of the edge is gone. We saw Tiger yesterday, he answered questions, he defused the tension. Today feels closer to normal.

Phil's here after flying from Houston Sunday back home to San Diego for a night with Amy and the family before coming to Augusta. Though he hasn't said much about it, you get the sense Phil is wrestling with Amy's struggles related to her treatment for breast cancer.

Defending champion Angel Cabrera teed off early today, no doubt to have time to prepare for hosting the champion's dinner tonight. Cabrera will serve an Argentinian barbecue to his green-jacketed guests.

The pairings will be released later this morning and we can all see who drew the two slots in Tiger's group. Judging from what most of the players are saying, it sounds like most of them would like to play with him.

It feels like the Masters today.

It's Time To Move On To Golf Now

There will never be official closure to the Tiger Woods' mess but Monday at the Masters came close to it.

Woods used his charm in his morning practice round and during his 35-minute question-and-answer session with the media to defuse much of the expected tension surrounding his return to professional golf.

Facing a significant challenge, Woods delivered.

He seemed relaxed on the golf course and comfortable in the media room. He didn't answer every question or provide all the details some want but it was a success on every front for Woods. It won't change the way some people think of Woods -- the impact of his actions was enormous -- but it started winning people back.

He'll still hear some comments from the gallery, though probably very few here at the Masters. But, as he often does, Geoff Ogilvy got it right when he said it seemed the fans were excited just to see Tiger playing golf again.

We all have a good idea of what happened in his life and the story has grown tiresome. Until he had a day like Monday, though, it was difficult to move forward.

Now Tiger can move forward and so can the rest of us. It doesn't mean the mess is forgotten but it can go back to being about golf for Tiger now.

Golf, Tiger said Monday, feels fun again.

Monday had something to do with that.

Tiger: "I Made Incredibly Bad Decisions"

In 35 surprisingly relaxed minutes Monday afternoon, Tiger Woods talked about how far out of control his life had gotten, how he played golf last year with a partially torn Achilles tendon and how he missed his son's first birthday because he was in therapy.

Giving his first group interview since his life began coming part last Thanksgiving, Woods called his first day back in front of golf galleries at the Masters "a great day" and said golf is fun again to him.

Though Woods has been criticized for his unwillingness to talk to the media, other than a public statement in February and two five-minute interviews two weeks ago, his question-and-answer session was not contentious.

Woods was asked about his relationship with Dr. Anthony Galea, who is under investigation for his use of human growth hormone and talked about the events that eventually led him to spend 45 days in therapy, though he declined to specify what he was in treatment for. Woods also declined to offer any more details on the auto accident on Thanksgiving weekend.

"I made incredibly bad decisions," Woods said.

Among the highlights:

-- Woods said the toughest parts of his ordeal were "having to look at myself in a light I never intended to look at myself...and how far I had gotten from the core morals my mom and dad had taught me" and "the constant harassment of my wife and family."

--He said "the fact I won golf tournaments was irrelevant" compared to the damage he did to himself and his family;

-- He acknowledged having Galea perform a platement enrichment procedure to help his recovery from knee surgery in 2008 but denied using human growth hormone or any performance-enhancing drugs. "I've never taken an illegal drug in my life," he said.

Woods said he suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in December, 2008 while rehabbing his knee. He said he has volunteered to cooperate with federal authorities if they want to interview him.

-- Asked why he waited until after the events of Thanksgiving weekend and the days after to begin changing his behavior and enter therapy, Woods said, "I hadn't hit far enough on the bottom to make myself look at what I'd done and engaged in. That's when I went to rehab."

-- Woods said he spent Christmas with his family then left for rehab, causing him to miss his son Charlie's first birthday.

"That hurt a lot," Woods said. "I vowed never to miss another one. I can't go back to where I was. It's something I regret and probably will the rest of my life."

Furyk On Tiger's Gallery: "Extremely Positive."

Tiger Woods hit some good shots, he hit some scratchy shots, he smiled, he chatted with the gallery and he seemed to have fun playing a Monday practice round at the Masters with Fred Couples and, later, Jim Furyk.

Woods' much anticipated return to golf on the public stage had plenty of respectful applause and no noticeable heckling Monday as the world's No. 1 player went 18 holes, finishing about 90 minutes before his scheduled 2 p.m. press conference.

Woods didn't stop to talk after his practice round but Couples, who played all 18 holes with Woods, and Furyk, who played the last six, both said it felt familiar being with Woods again.

"It was extremely positive. I expected it to be positive. It was probably even better," Furyk said of the gallery reaction.

Patrons were just entering the property when Woods and Couples teed off but as the day went on, their gallery swelled. Being Monday, there weren't many players on the course but it hardly seemed to matter as most of the gallery sought out the Woods group.

Woods hit a variety of shots from different spots around the course, occasionally wrestling with hitting shots to the left.

"I"m sure Tiger was a little on edge for not playing and trying to get his game sharp," Furyk said.

"I treated him like I always treat him. I didn't tease him as much as I would usually so I'll wait for the second time."

Couples was his usual laid-back self, enjoying what had the feel of a casual round of golf among friends.

"He's the best player in the world," Couples said. "He hasn't played any golf in a while but he's still the best player in the world. I love the way he plays. I think he'll do well here at Augusta.

"His intimdation factor is always there but you have to play good golf. He hasn't played much. It would be crazy for me to say he's not going to do well but it would crazy for me to say he's the guy to beat because he hasn't played a round of golf in five or six months."

Geoff Ogilvy played by himself in the group behind Woods, starting nearly 45 minutes later. Ogilvy cruised around Augusta National's first nine, took a 30-minute breakfast then finished his round, watching the large gallery ahead.

"It sounded like they were excited to watch him play golf and I think pretty soon it will be back to normal," Ogilvy said.

Woods Gets Nice But Subdued Reaction

One thing became evident early Monday during Tiger Woods' practice round at the Masters:

The curiousity factor hasn't diminshed.

As Woods and Fred Couples made their way around Augusta National Monday morning, the gallery around them continued to grow. At times, fans were stacked a dozen deep around greens as Woods and Couples played in the warm sunshine.

Woods was greeted warmly but without loud ovations. When he and Couples would approach greens, Couples tended to receive louder ovations than Woods. Anyone who came hoping to hear heckling was sorely disappointed. There was none.

However, Woods seemed noticeably more animinated in dealing with the galleries, chatting occasionally with fans, even shaking hands with a man beside the second tee. Woods looked relaxed, laughing with Couples and their caddies as they walked in the sunshine.

Four security guards walked with Woods and Couples, two walking down each side of the fairway.

Woods' play was spotty. He pulled his opening tee shot far to the left of the first fairway then hit a second ball into play. He made a mess of the par-3 fourth hole and pulled his tee shot left again on the par-5 eighth hole.

Tiger starts his day with a goatee and a smile

Tiger Woods walked into his new public world Monday morning wearing gray slacks, a pink and gray striped shirt, a goatee -- and a smile.

Playing a practice round with Fred Couples at Augusta National, Woods was in the second group on the course -- Soren Hanson beat them out there by a few minutes -- and a gallery was quickly gathering around the world's No. 1 player.

Patrons weren't allowed onto the grounds until 8 a..m., but hundreds were already around the first and second holes as Woods played his first round in front of spectators since his personal life came unraveled on Thanksgiving weekend.

On a cool, soft morning, Woods received a warm welcome. One woman shouted, 'We love you, Tiger,' after he hit his opening tee shot. Walking down the first fairway with Couples, the sound of cameras clicking could be heard. Fans are allowed to bring cameras into the practice rounds and there were plenty of professional photographs along to document the day, as well.

Augusta National chairman Billy Payne was standing in the trees off the right side of the first fairway watching as Woods and Couples walked past.

Woods was smiling and laughing with Couples and seemed to make a point to acknowledge fans watching them play. After hitting his tee shot at the second hole, Woods chatted with a couple of patrons beside the ropes, reaching out to shake hands with a man who offered his hand.

What If Tiger Wins The Masters?

Once we get past Monday at the Masters with Tiger Woods finally coming face to face with fans and the media, we will move on to a different issue:

What if Tiger wins the Masters?

He could, you know.

If you're picking five guys with a chance, you can't leave him off the list. You could but you'd feel antsy about it.

If Tiger wins this Masters, it would be great for television ratings, great for him and great that it would give the world something else to talk about rather than whatever TMZ and the tabloids keep churning out about him.

But would it be great for the PGA Tour?

Of course it would.

There's one school of thought that if Tiger wins at Augusta, it makes everyone else playing the tour look like highly compensated chumps. He sits out nearly six months, gets filleted in public in the most embarrassing way and still comes back to win the year's first major championship.

What does that say about everyone else on tour?

It would say the same thing we've been saying about Tiger for more than a decade -- he's that once in a lifetime talent. That's what tour players have been saying about him every time he steps on their necks in a tournament. They know it better than the rest of us.

To some people, Tiger can't do anything to redeem himself. He's lost them. But I suspect that's a relatively small number of people, though a good many of them seem to be in the media.

The larger group wants to see Tiger do well again. It won't alleviate their disappointment in learning he wasn't all he was projected to be but time and action can soften that. I think the fatigue factor has also set in. Most of us are sick and tired of hearing about Tiger's private life. We get the picture. It isn't flattering but it's time to move on.

The reason we've cared about Tiger is because of the way he plays golf. He has taken the world's toughest game to conquer and come closer than anyone to conquering it.

Can he win this Masters?

What do you think?

Singh, Scott Add Names To Quail Hollow List

Vijay Singh and Adam Scott have added their names to the commitment list for the Quail Hollow Championship later this month.

Singh won the 2006 tournament while Scott has been a regular at Quail Hollow.

They join an already strong list of early commitments that includes Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk, Rory McIlroy, Lucas Glover, Padraig Harrington, defending champion Sean O'Hair,, Rickie Fowler, Kenny Perry, Bill Haas and others.

Phil Mickelson is expected to play though won't make an official commitment until closer to the tournament. Tiger Woods hasn't given an indication if he plans to play at Quail Hollow this year.
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A Masters Monday Like No Other

Aside from a couple of weather-delayed finishes, this will be the most anticipated Monday in Masters history.

Typically, Masters Mondays are soft as players arrive and begin their preparation in earnest. It's easy even with enormous galleries taking advantage of the opportunity to spend a few hours at Augusta National.

This one's different because it's the day Tiger Woods officially returns to golf. He's already been to Augusta National to play practice rounds and he may play there on Sunday.

But Monday will be the first time Woods plays in front of galleries and it's the day he'll face the media in the interview room. Monday will have an uncommon buzz.

Fred Couples has said he's planning to play a practice round with Woods Monday at Augusta and they'll probably be on the course early, given Tiger's 2 p.m. date with the media. It wouldn't be surprising to see Mark O'Meara playing with them.

It will be interesting to see how Woods interacts with the spectators, who won't be allowed on the grounds until 8 a.m. Will he talk more to them? Will he pose for the occasional photo? Or will he stayed tucked beneath the bill of his cap, rarely glancing sideways?

Woods' press conference has drawn so much attention that only a limited number of media members will be admitted to the interview room. There's only so much space in the interview room and it's too small to accommodate everyone who wants to be in there.

I'm guessing Tiger will spend a minimum of 30 minutes, maybe up to an hour, taking questions. Given what he's said in his public statement and the two television interviews he's done, I think we have a good idea of what we'll hear.

He'll answer some things, avoid others. I don't need to hear details from him. He'll be pushed for details on what happened the night of his auto accident, when all of this began unfolding, but it's unlikely he'll offer more than he has.

It will be an uncomfortable time for him but once it's done, he can move on. When asked about his troubles at future events, he can say he said all he's going to say at the Masters. It won't satisfy everyone but he'll understand that going in.

It's important for Woods to do this press conference and get it behind him. It's remarkable the amount of coverage his personal life has received. It says something about our culture that Woods made the front page of the New York Post 20 consecutive days, one day longer than the 9/11 attacks were on the front page in the city where they happened.

Masters week starts Monday. This year, the world will be watching.

Five Masters Favorites -- One Week Out

One week before Masters week begins and the Tiger show commences, it's time to update the five favorites list. I can only hope it looks a little more reasonable than my NCAA tournament bracket.

1. Ernie Els

It would be the every-so-often feel-good story the Masters provides (Ben Crenshaw winning after Harvey Penick's death; Phil Mickelson finally winning in 2004, come immediately to mind) if the Big Easy could finally win a green jacket. He's been solid there and was prepping for a playoff when Mickelson rolled in his life-changing putt six years ago. a serious heartbreak for Els.

2. Retief Goosen

The Goose has quietly built an impressive record at Augusta National with four top-five finishes. He's hanging around the top of leader boards again and seems to have his putting under control. Keep an eye on him.

3. Fred Couples

He's won three times in four starts on the Champions Tour and shot 62 in the final round Sunday on a Jack Nicklaus course in the Dominican Republic. I know it's seniors golf but good golf works on any level and Couples can win at Augusta. He's only missed the cut once there and he has that confident look about him. How cool would a Couples win at the Masters be?

4. Phil Mickleson

I'm holding steadfast to the idea that Phil will find what's been missing by the time he gets to the Masters. He shot 58 in a friendly round in Arizona and had one brief shining moment on Friday at Bay Hill before going 75-77 on the weekend. Maybe Dave Stockton will caddie for him at the Masters.

5. Tiger Woods

Enough said.

Harrington Latest Quail Hollow Commitment

Padraig Harrington has added his name to the commitment list for the Quail Hollow Championship, giving the tournament 11 of the top 25 players in the world rankings one month before the event begins.

Harrington (10th in the rankings) adds his name to a list that includes Lee Westwood (No. 4), Jim Furyk (No. 9), Rory McIlroy (No. 11), Robert Allenby (No. 15), Kenny Perry (No. 16), Sean O'Hair (No. 18), Retief Goosen (No. 19), Stewart Cink (No. 20), Hunter Mahan ( No. 21) and Lucas Glover (No. 25).

Phil Mickelson is expected to play at Quail Hollow though he typically waits until closer to an event to officially commit. Tiger Woods is also expected to wait until closer to the April 23 entry deadline before committing if he chooses to play.

Talking Hoops More Than Talking Tiger

When golf writers covering the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill this week noticed Kym Hougham, executive director of the Quail Hollow Championship, talking with Tiger Woods' agent Mark Steinberg, it didn't take them long to play connect the dots.

It was the second time in recent weeks Hougham and Steinberg have talked at PGA Tour events, raising the speculation that Woods will make the Quail Hollow Championship his second appearance in his comeback to golf tour.

It may happen that way but, at least according to Hougham, that's not what he and Steinberg were talking about this week at Bay Hill.

They were talking about Illinois basketball, a subject near and dear to both of them.

Hougham and his Quail Hollow team are making plans in the event Woods decides to play the Charlotte event, which he has most years. But Hougham was adamant today saying he doesn't know if Woods is coming to Charlotte or not.

"We're in the same position we always are at this time of year -- we don't know," Hougham said.

If a decision has been made about Woods' possible appearance in Charlotte, Hougham said Steinberg did not tip his hand.

At least one national golf publication has already requested three media credentials for the Quail Hollow Championship, two more than usual. That's why alternate plans are being made in the event Woods does play Charlotte.

I still think it's likely Woods will play the Quail Hollow Championship but much may depend on his Augusta experiece in two weeks. That may make the decision for him.

Talking No. 2 With Crenshaw and Coore

I spent two hours Tuesday with Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore at Pinehurst where they're in the process of restoring Pinehurst No. 2 closer to what it was when Donald Ross was still alive and tinkering with what many consider his masterpiece.

Among the things I learned:

-- Crenshaw and Coore were initially reluctant to take on the project because they wanted to be certain they wouldn't mess up No. 2. They understand what No. 2 means to so many people and they gave careful consideration to how they would handle the project if they took it, which they did.

-- They aren't sure whether to call it a restoration, a renovation or something else. What's clear is they are taking great care to do what they -- and others around Pinehurst -- think is the right thing. They have spent hours researching and analyzing the archives, studying overhead photos of the course taken in 1943, in an effort to bring it back to what it was. There's an almost reverence about working on No. 2.

Standing on the par-3 17th tee Tuesday, they had aerial photos from '43 with them. They spend a large amount of time studying lines on each hole, in an effort to bring back the strategic elements Ross built into the layout. This is not a project they will hurry through.

-- Coore and Crenshaw are exactly the right people to do this project. They aren't looking to put their 'brand' on the layout. Their goal is to peel back some of the things that have changed the course over time while largely leaving the greens and green surrounds untouched.

To hear them talk about what they're doing, it's evident Coore and Crenshaw feel honored to have this opportunity.

-- When it's complete, Pinehurst No. 2 will have a sandier, wispier look than it does now. Crenshaw says it will look "scruffier" which is how it was meant to be given its Sandhills location. Already, more than half of the irrigation heads on No. 2 have been cut off, meaning the area that will be watered will be cut by about half.

-- More than three acres of turf (rough) have already been removed from between the 13th and 14th fairways. The turf, by the way, was donated to a local baseball field. The areas off the fairways will be converted to sandy ground dotted with the native wiregrass that will be hand-planted.

Though it will be months before Nos. 13 and 14 will be complete and grown in, it's obvious the look will be dramatically different around the golf course. It will bring back the essence of Pinehurst golf.

They've also expanded some natural areas at Nos. 11 and 12, where the first part of the project is being done. Coore said it's critical that the natural areas look natural, not similiar from one hole to the next.

-- They're doing the project in segments in an effort to minimize the impact on play. In November, the course will close until March so bunker work can be done. While acknowleding some of the greens are now more dome-shaped than when Ross created them, there are no plans to rebuild the greens. There are a handful of spots where small work may be done, perhaps raising or lowering the edge of a bunker or slightly altering the edge of a green.

Tiger Talks: No Revelations But A Sense Of Shame

It wasn't Oprah and it wasn't '60 Minutes' that nabbed the first Tiger Woods' interviews but The Golf Channel and ESPN, which ran concurrent interviews on Sunday evening.

According to reports, each was limited to five minutes but there were no restrictions on the questions asked by The Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman and ESPN's Tom Rinaldi.

The result?

Neither produced any great revelations but they did provide another glimpse of Tiger as he readies himself to return to the public stage at the Masters in three weeks. In both interviews, he put all the blame on himself, admitted his treatment is ongoing and stopped short of explaining what happened on the night of his accident when his world began coming apart.

Even in as controlled a setting as the interviews were, confessing the shame you brought on yourself and your family must be wrenching.

It seems clear that Tiger isn't going to go into the details of his Thanksgiving weekend accident, using police reports to answer the quetions for him. Those, of course, don't answer the personal side of what was happening but Woods is intent on keeping that between himself and his wife.

When he sits down for a mass interview, I expect he'll still get peppered with questions about the accident and he will continue to deflect them. He will only go so far with his answers. It won't be far enough for many.

He admitted, again, that he let his wife, his mother, his family and others, including himself, down. He sounded like a man who understood the consequences of what he has done and understands the difficulty of his road back.

I expect when he submits to other interviews, the answers will be similar to the ones we heard over the weekend. He will avoid details, citing personal privacy but he will accept all the blame anyone wants to heap on him.

Tiger admitted he's nervous about returning at the Masters and I'm guessing he's more nervous than he'll let on. He's said in the past that he's never gotten completely comfortable with people looking at him all the time. Now, they're going to gawking and for different reasons. I'm not sure anyone can be ready for what he'll feel.

The interviews seem like the next step in his gradual return to golf. He is easing back in, trying to say and do the right things. It won't be easy.

Five Masters Favorites: The Early List

It's never too early to start picking favorites for the Masters, which is now less than three weeks away.

This is an early list, written in computer pencil rather than ink, and open to change many times between now and the first Tiger sighting at Augusta National. But we're close enough to the Masters to smell the pimento cheese so here's a first crack at five favorites;

1. Phil Mickelson. I know he hasn't played particularly well so far this year but he'll be ready for Augusta, even if he wears those new orange pants of his. He needs to see some putts falling in and tighten up his long game but he'll be in the mix at the Masters.

2. Tiger Woods. Of course he's on my list. I don't think competitive rust will be a big issue for him. I know it's a different thing but he missed two months before winning the 2008 U.S. Open on a broken leg. Two questions persist: How comfortable will he be getting back into the public eye and can he hole enough putts, something he hasn't done at Augusta in a while.

3. Ernie Els. He seems at peace again and his game is back. He's missed the cut at Augusta the last three years but there seems to be a good vibe around the Big Easy again. It would be a very popular win.

4. Lee Westwood. He doesn't get a lot of attention around here but he's one of the best players in the world and he's been in contention to win some majors recently. The next step is to actually win a major and that's an enormous step.

5. Ian Poulter. I considered Paul Casey and Padraig Harrington but I'm going with Poulter right now if for no other reason to think about what he might wear on Sunday at Augusta if he has a chance to win.

Fire Destroys Kiawah Clubhouse

The clubhouse at Kiawah Island's River Course was completely destroyed by fire on Wednesday.

The River Course is a members-only course at the resort and its 30,000 square-foot clubhouse with a big clock facing the golf course was one of its special features. A spokesman for the Kiawah Development Partners said plans are being made to immediately rebuild the clubhouse.

Because of the scale of the fire, firefighters could not go into the building to put out the fire, a fire deparment spokesman said.

Tiger Makes Right Call About The Masters

Tiger Woods' announcement that he will return to golf at the Masters in three weeks makes sense because it allows him to return in the closest thing to a controlled environment that tournament golf allows.

The media attendance will be limited to the organizations that have already been credentialed meaning it will be essentially the same golf media that's at Augusta every year. Assuming Woods does a pre-tournament press conference, it will be managed by Augusta National and the gossip websites and television programs won't have access. That doesn't mean he won't get tough questions, but the vibe will be different.

It's also a place where the galleries are more likely to be respectful of Woods than at some other venues where the combination of beer, sunshine and boorish behavior could make it uncomfortable for not just Tiger but for some spectators, too.

Woods may hear a few catcalls at Augusta but not like at some other places. He's smart enough to know he's going to hear from the crowd whereever he plays but Augusta is different than every place else. I'm sure the basics of good behavior will be emphasized to everyone entering the gates.

It's great for golf that Woods is returning. Maybe this is the last phase of this long, ugly ordeal. Once Woods gets back on the golf course and his game can become the focus again, the quicker the rest of it will fade as he tries to move on. It will take a while, though. Just by playing again, the water is churned and it won't end with one tournament.

What happens if he plays the Quail Hollow Championship three weeks after the Masters? Or The Players Championship? Or The Memorial?

He could have chosen to play next week in Orlando at the Tavistock Cup and the Arnold Palmer Invitational but choosing the Masters figures to make his transition back into the public eye a little easier. Not easy. Just easier.

As for questions about whether he can win the Masters without having played a tournament since last fall, yes, he can win.

And wouldn't that be a story?

Want To Play East Lake? Sage Valley? Long Cove?

If you're looking to play golf someplace special you might not otherwise have the opportunity to play, here's your chance.

And you can help the turgrass industry in the process.

Rounds4Research, which started in North Carolina last year, will include courses in South Carolina, Texas and Virginia this year, giving golfers the opportunity to participate in an online auction for rounds of golf at more than 500 courses, including some very famous and very private ones.

The money raised will go to benefit turfgrass research at Clemson University and N.C. State.

The online auction will be held April 7-21 and information is available at www.Rounds4Research.com.

Among courses that are offering spots for foursomes are East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta; Harbour Town Golf Links at Hilton Head; Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro; Pinehurst No. 2; Kiawah Island's Ocean Course; Yeaman's Hall near Charleston, S.C.; Sage Valley near Augusta, Ga.; Eagle Point near Wilmington; Love Cove Club at Hilton Head; and, The Homestead's Cascades Course in Virginia.

U.S. Open champion and Clemson alum Lucas Glover has signed on as spokesman for the project, which raised more than $55,000 for trufgrass research last year.

Will Tiger Play Masters Then Quail Hollow?

It’sstill largely guesswork at this point but I think Tiger Woods is going to take a pass on playing the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill next week and make his return to golf at the Masters.

And if he does, it raises the possibility that the Quail Hollow Championship could be the first regular tour event Woods plays.

They’re making contingency plans at Quail Hollow in the event Woods decides to play here and, it’s safe to assume, that Bay Hill is doing the same thing.

Woods and his camp have said nothing publicly about when he will return to golf but it’s obvious he’s preparing to play again. There’s a chance he could play the two-day Tavistock Cup with his buddies at Isleworth next Monday and Tuesday but making the Masters his debut seems more likely.

Initially, the idea that Woods would show up first at Augusta and bring all that comes with him to the Masters seemed unlikely.

The Masters isn’t a place for sideshows and there’s no way Woods can play without bringing a circus to town with him. But it’s going to be that way wherever he plays, at least for a while, and at the Masters, it will be easier to contain the craziness.

Media credentials are limited at the Masters, making it virtually impossible for the TMZs of the world to get access inside the media center.

The tournament also has a different clientele. That doesn’t mean some of the patrons won’t get a little chatty when Tiger walks by but it won’t be like Saturday at Phoenix. The Masters will make sure of it.

The Masters is the closest thing to a controlled environment in tournament golf, which makes it a logical place for Woods to return. Every effort will be made by the tournament to make sure he’s as comfortable as he can be.

It will be a huge moment when Woods returns. CBS president Sean McManus was quoted recently saying it may be the biggest television moment of the past decade aside from the Obama election.

Imagine the ratings if Woods were to return at Augusta and win there.

Woods hasn’t played competitively since last fall but he’s had long layoffs before major championships before. He missed the cut at the U.S. Open after his father’s death in 2006 and he took two months off before returning to win the Open at Torrey Pines on a broken leg nearly two years ago.

If Woods returns at Bay Hill or the Masters, the Quail Hollow Championship -- three weeks after Augusta -- suddenly comes into the picture. He’s made it a regular stop, missing it only because of his father’s death and knee surgery, since he first played here in 2004.

If it’s his first regular tour event, the media storm will be intense. So will the fan interest.

Is Tiger Getting Close To A Return?

Studying the scene at Doral from afar this week, one item is particularly interesting:

Mark Steinberg, Tiger Woods' agent, was on the scene at the WGC-CA Championship, adding to the growing fire of speculation about the possiblity that Woods may return to the PGA Tour sooner rather than later.

Woods, it has been reported, is back at work on his game at Isleworth, taking the counsel of swing coach Hank Haney and apparently gearing up for his eventual return.

Couple that with the Steinberg sighting and it's easy to speculate that Woods may indeed play in the Masters next month. Maybe Steinberg was there onn other business or maybe he was just testing the Tour's temperature regarding his client but it is interesting timing.

After watching Woods' public statement last month, I thought there was very little chance he would play at Augusta. Now, I'm leaning the other way.

It's conceivable Woods may play the private and easy to insulate Tavistock Cup in Orlando the week after next then make his tour return at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. That theory is gaining momentum though it's all guesswork.

By playing Bay Hill, it would allow Woods to get in one tournament before the Masters and go through a week back in the public eye.

Maybe it's all just smoke right now, no real fire. But it's nice that the conversation about Woods these days is more about his golf than the other stuff.

Ping, PGA Tour and USGA Reach Agreement

If you haven't sold your pre-1990 Ping Eye2 wedge yet, the market just crashed on you.

The wedges won't be allowed for use on the PGA Tour or any other professional tour after March 29 following an agreement by Ping to drop its right to exempt those clubs from the new rules related to grooves that went into effect this year.

The agreement closes a loophole in the new rules that all sides were aware existed before several tour players decided to put the old clubs into their bags this year.

“We’re thankful for Commissioner Finchem’s understanding of our position and his role in helping bring about this resolution. We all believe it is in the best interests of golf,” said Ping president John Solheim said in a statement.

“It levels the playing field on the PGA TOUR and resolves a very unfortunate situation that we predicted would happen when the USGA first proposed the new groove rule more than two years ago. It keeps in place all of our other rights established in the 1993 PGA TOUR settlement and the 1990 USGA settlement, including ensuring amateurs will continue to be able to play their pre-April 1990 EYE2s at all amateur events played under the USGA Rules of Golf.”

The agreement has one caveat: Several tour players had Ping Eye2 wedges made recently that meet the grooves regulations that went into effect in 2010. Those clubs are still legal.

As part of the resolution, the USGA announced it will hold an equipment forum later this year in hopes of finding better ways to resolve equipment issues between manufacturers and governing bodies.

Villegas, Fowler And Other Encouraging Signs

So I'm looking at the list of winners on the PGA Tour this season and I'm thinking this isn't bad.

Steve Stricker won and moved into No. 2 in the world rankings, jumping past the slow-starting Phil Mickelson.

Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Ian Poulter and Camilo Villegas have all won, reinforcing the idea that there's an encouraging blend of talent and style in what feels like a new generation.

Bill Haas finally got his breakthrough win and Rickie Fowler has become a star without winning.

And Tiger's hitting golf balls again.

The PGA Tour might just survive after all.

If there's been a benefit to Woods' self-imposed absence, it's been the enhanced focus on other players. With Mickelson not doing much so far, others have seized their moments.

Poulter and Villegas, in particular, have personas as big as their games. It was important for Poulter to win something substantial over here to be known for more than his clothes. Now he's done it and I expect he'll do it some more.

Villegas has played well all year and has the look of a guy in a good place. He's talked about being more relaxed and smiling more and maybe there's something to that. The way Villegas takes a rip at the ball and his Spiderman routine -- even if it's become part gimmick by now -- he's fun to watch. That's what sells the tour.

That's why Fowler is the new rage. With his Lanny Wadkins-like slash at the ball, all wrists and whip, he has that fearless look about him beneath his long hair. He got justifiably chided for his lay-up decision at Phoenix when he had a chance to win but he did what he felt was in his best interests. If he had it to do over, he might do it differently.

This week, the big guys are all together again at Doral for a World Golf Championship event. Maybe it's Phil's time. Wouldn't that be fun with Augusta getting closer by the day.

Pinehurst No. 2 Now In Coore-Crenshaw Hands

Pinehurst has made official the hiring of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to oversee a restoration project to Course No. 2, a project that will be done gradually with a minimal impact on resort play.

The intention is to restore many of the natural aesthetic characteristics of the original Donald Ross design while bringing back many of the strategic elements of the course Ross considered his masterpiece.

That means expanding sandy waste areas off the fairways, restoring the native wiregrass in those areas, some bunker work and widening of some fairways while reducing the amount of manicured rough.

In short, it means bringing No. 2 back to its full and original glory. In Coore and Crenshaw, Pinehurst has found the ideal pair to handle a delicate but necessary project.

The gradual pace of the project is expected to allow the course to remain open until November.
“It is not our intent to radically change this golf course,” Coore said in a press release.

“We’re trying to uncover it, not recover it. We’re trying to take what Ross left and perhaps bring it back to the character and definition of what was once here. In short, we’ll bring the strategy back, and reinstate its character.”

Course No. 2 is scheduled to close Nov. 15 and remain closed until March 2 while significant work is done.

The project does not involve any work on No. 2's greens and there will be no significant lengthening to the course that will host the 2014 men's and women's U.S. Opens. There are plans to build a new tee on the par-4 seventh hole to enhance the dogleg.

“When you see it and feel Pinehurst, you know it’s something different,” said Crenshaw. “In Ross’ mind, it was the best way he believed a course should be played – his masterpiece. His courses are so beautifully balanced, intended to test every part of your game. This piece of ground was special to him. To contribute our ideas here is a high, high honor.”

Watson's Idea: Match Young Against Old

Forever young Tom Watson has a good idea.

During a pre-tournament interview this week in advance of the Toshiba Classic on the Champions Tour, Watson suggested getting the top 30 players from the old guys tour and the top 30 off the the regular tour and having them play a tournament together.

Set the course up at 7,000 yards -- that's not too long for the best Champions Tour players -- and have a go at it.

It would be interesting to see what happens.

There's a bit of crossover at the Masters each year but Augusta National is so long and difficult now, it's not a fair test for the seniors.

But put the best players from both tours on a course that's fair to both groups and we might be surprised by how it turns out. The regular tour players would probably fill the top of the leaderboard but I think the seniors would do surprisingly well.

Watson nearly won the British Open last year. Fred Couples can still play. So can Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman and several others. The courses they play are set up differently than regular tour courses -- they're shorter and pins aren't tucked into invisible corners -- to encourage birdies.

If length isn't an overriding factor, talent becomes an equalizer. There is, however, the matter of old nerves.

Young against old. It would be fun, if nothing else.

John Daly Does It Again...What A Surprise

It's a good thing John Daly has a new reality show on The Golf Channel right now.

That may be the only place he'll be seen for a while.

Angry over a story in the Florida Times-Union newspaper detailing the many details in his PGA Tour disciplinary file -- it's over 450 pages of bad acting and the fallout that comes with it -- Big John decided to get even with the writer, Garry Smits. Daly's file, it should be noted, became public record as part of a lawsuit, allowing a glimpse into otherwise private case.

Daly Tweeted Smits' cell phone number -- two different times on Tuesday -- and suggested his fans pepper Smits with complaints about how their hero was being treated.

Another brilliant move by John Daly.

Though you'd think Daly wouldn't get embarrassed any more, he probably was when word got out he's been suspended six times by the tour and ordered to counseling or rehab seven times. Then there are the 21 incidences of Daly being cited for failing to give his best effort. It's also called quitting.

So Daly, who claims in his TV show that he's trying to rehabilitate his self-inflicted image, tries to rally the troops to make life miserable for the guy who wrote the untold story of his professional life.

The PGA Tour has a policy of not talking about the disciplinary action it takes against players. It may be time to rethink that, especially in Daly's case. His folder is about to get thicker.

Quail Hollow Commitments Starting To Roll In

The Quail Hollow Championship is still two months away but the tournament has already received commitments from eight of the top 25 players in the world golf rankings.

U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover and British Open champion Stewart Cink are on the commitment list along with Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Robert Allenby, Retief Goosen, defending champion Sean O’Hair, Jim Furyk, David Toms, Hunter Mahan, Tim Clark and Bill Haas.

The tournament (www.quailhollowchampionship.com) is scheduled April 26-May 2 at the Quail Hollow Club.

Tiger and PETA, A Bad Combination

A few chip shots while waiting for the mud to dry:


-- According to a report in the Orlando Sentinel, PETA is planning to put up a billboard near Tiger Woods’ home in Windemere, Fla., featuring Woods’ image and the message “Too Much Sex Can Be A Bad Thing…For Little Tigers, Too.”

I couldn’t make this stuff up.

The idea – a really wretched one – is to promote spay and neuter programs for animals, according to a PETA spokesman. That’s why the billboard also says, ‘Help keep your cats (and dogs) out of trouble. Always spay or neuter.”

Woods, of course, has nothing to do with the billboard and PETA is looking for a company to sponsor the billboard, according to the newspaper.

Good luck with that. And the lawsuit that follows.

-- John Daly has an underwear endorsement with a company called Slix. That’s not something I really want to think about.


-- Prepare to be bombarded with talk about the par-3 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale this weekend. It’s where thousands go for a party and a golf tournament breaks out. Sounds like fun if you’re there and, while you wouldn’t want it every week, it works in Phoenix.


-- Three events into the Champions Tour season and the winners have been Tom Watson, Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer. That’s precisely what the Champions Tour needs.


-- Almost a week after Woods’ public statement, the buzz is finally subsiding to a dull roar. He’s still getting blistered by plenty of people, who won’t ever get an apology/admission that will satisfy them. I can’t help but wonder how different things might be – if any – had Tiger made the same statement two months ago instead of waiting as long as he did.


-- I’m still waiting for Phil Mickelson’s big bang season to start. It’s been pretty muffled so far.


-- They’re starting to aerate greens around here which means, despite the weather, that spring can’t be far away.


-- A question of style: Is it too much to have all of your clubs, your golf bag and your cap with the same equipment company logo? If you’re not getting paid to do that, I mean. Just wondering…


-- David Feherty recently became a naturalized citizen of the United States. It’s a better country already.


-- The Masters is six weeks away. I’m thinking Tiger’s return is further away.

Poulter Proves He's More Than A Peacock

Professional golf has always had its peacocks.

Jimmy Demaret had a brash sartorial style and Doug Sanders’ career was painted in pastels as much or more than in championships.

Now we have Ian Poulter, who until his overdue victory in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship Sunday, was known more for his trousers than his trophies.

If his impressive performances in the 2008 British Open and Ryder Cup matches didn’t convince doubters that Poulter is more than just a man with an eye for bold colors and expensive fabrics, his win over Paul Casey and a list of prominent match-play victims beforehand should.

Poulter jumped to fifth in the world rankings with his victory and if that seems high, it isn’t by much. While we’ve been watching his wardrobe, Poulter has been refining his game.

In the Tiger-free world of the PGA Tour, Poulter is exactly what professional golf needs. He stands out, not just because of his clothes, but because he can play.

And I like his clothes. They wouldn’t look good on me – or most of the people I know – but on Poulter, they look right. He has an eye for fashion, something the sartorially bankrupt John Daly is sorely lacking.

If you haven’t heard, by the way, in addition to wearing and endorsing the appropriately named Loudmouth Pants, Daly recently inked a deal to endorse a new brand of underwear. I couldn't make that up.

But back to Poulter. He took some heat last year for saying that when he’s on, he has the game to challenge Tiger. It was a bold statement for a guy who had never won a PGA Tour event and agreed to pose for a magazine cover wearing nothing but a well-placed golf bag in front of him.

Poulter has the edge to be different and in golf, it doesn’t take much to be different. Pink pants and a pink sweater make you different.

So does winning a World Golf Championship event.

Tiger's talk revealing, effective

If we've learned over the past three months about a Tiger Woods we never knew existed, we saw on Friday a Tiger Woods we haven't seen before.

He was shaky, uncomfortable, nervous, angry, emotional, contrite and sorry.

He looked like a man who didn't want to be there but understood why he had to stand before the world and confess his sins and failures. It had to be one of the most uncomfortable moments of his life and there have been plenty of those recently.

There will be more.

For all the discussion about the format - no questions allowed and only a handful of people in the room - Woods took a large and necessary step in his public and private rehabilitation process.

It was revealing and effective.

Was it everything everyone wanted to see and hear? No. But it was a strong start.

Woods talked about feeling entitled to a lifestyle that violated the principles and values on which he was raised. It was a powerful admission, saying he believed he could live by different rules even when it comes to marriage.

Scripted or not, it got to what this is all be about.

He talked about all the people he disappointed and he admitted he needs help. Part of Woods' persona has been built on the image of a man always in control - on the golf course, in the boardroom and in life.

Instead, he showed his vulnerability and admitted to it.

Yes, he was reading off a script but he came across as genuine. Particularly striking was his defense of his wife, Elin, and his children. It was when he was the most forceful and you could sense him feeling the pain he's caused.

Woods defended his right to privacy when it comes to his relationship with his wife and family and he's right. He scolded the media for following his children, a justifiable dig at the tabloid publications that have treated the whole thing as a feeding frenzy.

There will be plenty of complaints about what he did or didn't say and why he wouldn't take questions but the message he delivered Friday gave the world a glimpse into his upside-down world.

The whole thing felt strange but everything about what's unfolded since Thanksgiving weekend has felt strange. There was no way this wasn't going to be uncomfortable.

He has put himself in an impossible situation. He has wrecked his life and his image and the process of rebuilding it doesn't come with a how-to manual. He didn't blame anyone but himself.

When he was finished speaking, Woods walked over and gave his mother a long, close hug. He spoke to a few people then walked away.

Behind a curtain again.

Is Tiger Closer To Returning To The PGA Tour?

Forget for a moment -- if that's possible -- all the allegations, revelations and speculation about what Tiger Woods has or hasn't been doing these past few months.

Put aside the storm of controversy surrounding his method of delivering his message tomorrow.

Consider the golf question:

Will his public statement Friday bring him closer to returning to the PGA Tour?

Is he going to say he's prepared to return to the tour sometime soon?

You have to think so.

Maybe he's ready, or close to ready, to come back to golf. We've seen a recent photograph of him out jogging but not one of him with a golf club in his hand. Maybe that's next, after the flood of images from his public statement on Friday.

For all this runaway story is about, it eventually comes back to golf. That's why we cared about Tiger Woods in the first place. When he comes back, we'll pay attention again.

He's lost some people for good. Others he'll win back. Some can go either way.

There are plenty of flashpoints in this whole tangled story. As for golf, it will be nice to see him back.

Westbrook Headed To CPGA Hall Of Fame

The Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame will get a little richer Sunday night when Jim Westbrook, a fixture at Carmel Country Club, is inducted during a ceremony at Myrtle Beach.

Westbrook exempified what a good professional should be, overseeing a large operation at Carmel while always focusing his attention on the members. Like many others in his business, Westbrook got into golf because he loved to play but as a club pro, his duties and responsibilities kept him around the golf course more than on it.

“I always tried to put the members first,” Westbrook said. “Customer service was paramount to me. When someone pays that kind of money to join a golf club, they want to be treated well.”

Westbrook started in the golf business in Nashville,Tenn., then went to Waynesboro, Va., and Florence, S.C., before coming to Carmel in Oct. 1973. Westbrook spent nearly 29 years as head pro at Carmel before retiring in 2002.

He was instrumental in developing a number of assistant pros who went on to their own head professional jobs at other clubs. Westbrook created a business model with each assistant on his staff having specific duties. As the assistants moved up on the staff, their duties changed. “That way,” Westbrook said, “when they were finished, they understood every aspect of the operation.”

Westbrook also played a big role in the creation of the annual Carmel Pro-Am, the richest two-day pro-am event on the Carolinas PGA schedule.

“It’s very humbling for something like to happen,” Westbrook said. “It’s an honor.”

Golf -- As It Wasn't Meant To Be

If we lived in Cleveland or Milwaukee or one of those places where they spend as much time with a snow shovel as with a sand wedge, this winter thing might not be so bad.

But this is North Carolina, where golf is supposed to be a year-round game. Just not this year.

One day soon, the sun will shine, the thermometer will nudge near 60 and the wind will take a day off. And there won’t be a tee time to be found.

Until then, I’m tired of:

• Checking the seven-day forecast and seeing daily high temperatures that resemble my nine-hole scores;
• Spending time on the computer looking at Scotty Cameron putters instead of using one;
• Looking at brown grass;
• Hitting practice shots off of plastic grass. It’s nice plastic grass but it’s still plastic – and leaves green plastic skid marks on the bottom of your 8-iron;
• Eating soup at lunch in the grill room and wondering if it’s worth putting on four layers of clothes and my old mud-stained golf shoes to play nine holes just because…
• Watching enough golf on television to recognize Alex Prugh;
• And, Troy Merritt.
• Thinking about the stretching exercises I should probably be doing because they’re supposed to be good for me;
• Seeing commercials for ‘Being John Daly;’
• Telling the same golf stories because no one’s had a chance to warrant new ones;
• Waiting for Tiger Woods to return;
• ‘Carts On Path’ signs;
• Wondering whatever happened to my shorts;
• And my tan;
• Practicing my set-up in the garage in front of a mirror. (Okay, I don’t really do that but I’ve heard it helps);
• Feeling guilty about not playing through the casual water and cold weather like some guys I know;
• Washing my golf towel and calling it working on my game;

MIke Strantz, Sterling Sharpe And Lousy Weather

Thinking about golf while wondering if it’s worth playing in the wet, muddy and cold conditions that are in no hurry to leave us:

• With the addition of Monterey Peninsula Country Club to the rotation in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this week, it’s a reminder of talent of the late Mike Strantz.
  

He reworked Monterey Peninsula shortly before his death, adding his artistic touch to a beautiful piece of land.

We’re fortunate around here because so much of his work is nearby. Tobacco Road in Sanford is great fun to play, Tot Hill Farm near Asheboro is unique, Caledonia at Pawley’s Island is outstanding and Bulls Bay near Mt. Pleasant, S.C., may be on my 10 favorites’ list.

Strantz was part cowboy and part artist. He liked to ride the property on horseback and he painted watercolors of the holes he intended to design.

I was fortunate to play golf with him twice on his courses and listening to him explain his designs was enlightening. He believed in visual intimidation but, in reality, his courses give players plenty of room to roam. Sometimes he pushed too far but he saw golf courses as art. He helped us see them that way, too.

• When the eGolf Tour kicks off its 2010 season next week at Hilton Head Island, former NFL star Sterling Sharpe will be in the field for the kickoff event. Sharpe will play as an amateur but he’ll add a bit of star power to the field.

• One good thing about the lousy weather we’ve had the past six weeks – this is the latest I’ve ever been even par for the year.
  

• Are you going to get a pair of those new Ecco golf shoes Fred Couples has been sporting? The ones that look almost like slippers or sneakers? He’s been wearing the dark ones but they make them in white, too, and from what I’ve heard, they’re already backordered.
  

• The latest rumor is that Tiger Woods will make his return to golf next month at the Tavistock Cup in Orlando which matches Isleworth members against Lake Nona members.

Is it likely? Who knows.

It would allow him to slide back into the public arena in a controlled atmosphere. But everything still sounds like guesswork to me.

• There’s a report that Jesper Parnevik’s golf career may be over. He’s dealing with a serious back injury that could require fusion surgery. No one wants to hear that.
  

Raleigh's Hyler Right Man For USGA Leader

PINEHURST – Sitting in the lobby of the Carolina Hotel Saturday afternoon, a few hours before being installed as the new president of the United States Golf Association, Raleigh’s Jim Hyler was already looking ahead.

There was a speech to deliver, a new focus on environmental issues to push ahead, a U.S. Open at Pebble Beach to prepare for and the lingering issue of grooves legislation to button up.

At a time when golf rounds have declined in the United States, Hyler begins his term as the USGA president with the chance to turn challenges into opportunities.

Though he didn’t join the USGA’s Executive Committee until 2004, Hyler’s quick ascension to president speaks to his understanding of the game and its traditions as well as his ability to work cooperatively with others.

In a position that has had its share of strong, divisive personalities, Hyler has a softer, more persuasive style.

“He’s what the USGA needs,” says Mike Davis, the organization’s senior director of competitions and championships. “He’s a big picture type person who understands what a national governing body should be doing and our role in the game.”

Hyler sees that role as being progressive. When he joined Davis on the championship committee in 2006, Hyler agreed with Davis’s notion that the U.S. Open needed a makeover.

The championship has always been designed to be the toughest tournament test in golf. In that pursuit, course set-ups became unforgiving. There was no margin for error and, by becoming so demanding, the U.S. Open became predictable. Miss a fairway, make a bogey. Stretch every yard possible out of the course.

Hyler and Davis introduced graduated rough, giving players a chance to recover if they weren’t far off line. They decided to adjust teeing grounds from round to round. They reintroduced the notion of the short par-4 hole, offering drivable holes at Winged Foot, Oakmont and Torrey Pines.

It was borderline radical.

“It was a significant change in philosophy,” Hyler said, crediting Davis for many of the changes. “Our mantra is hard but fair. We didn’t want to ease up on the hard part but we wanted to make it more fair.

“We wanted to challenge the players’ thinking and the way they approached holes.”

It worked, earning generally positive reviews from players.

“When you chair the (championship) committee, the buck stops with you,” Davis said. “I’d do most of the detail work but if didn’t go well, it was Jim’s neck that was out there.”

A Virginia Tech gradate who plays out of Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, was instrumental in the success of the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Opens at Pinehurst and he was involved in the decision to stage both the men’s and women’s Opens at Pinehurst in 2014.

He assumes his presidency at a time when the game is dealing with changing dynamics. The number of rounds played has declined over the past five years in the United States though they have grown in South America and Asia.

While the PGA of America and other organizations focus more directly on growing the game than the USGA does, the organization has donated more than $65 million over the past 13 years in golf initiatives, Hyler said.

“We’re always concerned about the health of the game,” Hyler said. “We’re not worried about it. We’ll support efforts to defend the game and grow the game as our mission allows us. We think as the economy comes out of this recession that things will come back to what I would term a new normal, which will somewhere between where we are now and where we five or six years ago.”

Hyler said he’s pleased with the rules changes that went into effect Jan. 1 regarding the eventual elimination of u-shaped grooves from competition. He has monitored the controversy that erupted around the use by some PGA Tour players of 20-year old Ping Eye-2 wedges that are still allowed under terms of a legal settlement in the 1990s.

“We knew that this Ping legal settlement was out there. We were a little surprised some of the players elected to use those clubs because that 20-year old clubs – we thought the newer grooves today would still be better than those grooves – but its perfectly legal.

“We’re trying to work through a solution to this.”

In his speech Saturday night, Hyler urged the USGA to take a larger leadership role in environmental issues, particularly regarding water use. Golf courses do not have to be perfectly green to be in good playing condition, Hyler said.

“We have done a lot of environmental research over the years. It’s our best-kept secret,” Hyler said. “We’ll start talking about sustainability and water and our view of courses.”

Looking around the hotel lobby Saturday, Hyler had the look of man energized by his new role.

“I’m very excited,” he said. “It’s something I never dreamed would happen. I’m very lucky and maybe a little bit nervous.”

The Best In The World Not Named Tiger

Steve Stricker knows he doesn't have to cry every time he wins a golf tournament but he can't help it.

It's a sweet problem to have.

Stricker may be the nicest man in professional golf, with a sense of grace that's impossible to miss. Forget the media training some players get to teach them how to deal with the cameras and the questions.

Just look at how Stricker does it. That's the model.

By winning the Northern Trust Open Sunday -- his fourth win in 15 months -- Stricker jumped past Phil Mickelson and into the No. 2 spot on the world golf rankings. It's a remarkable story considering that five years ago, Stricker had virtually no status in professional golf.

His driver yips had become so severe he seriously considered abandoning the game. Once a star, Stricker had become a casualty of a cruel game.

He stuck with it, often in the cold solitude of Wisconsin where he worked through winters to find what he'd lost. Now he has it back and better than ever.

Stricker has a putting stroke that seems to have come from angels, which is the greatest asset a player can have. Tee to green, he's not spectacular but he gives himself chances and he's learned to seize those opportunities.

He doesn't have the sizzle that Tiger or Mickelson have but he has a quiet dignity. He's easy to pull for -- tears and all.

In Golf, Bigger Isn't Always Better

If you're watching the telecast of the Northern Trust Open this weekend, you'll no doubt hear plenty of chatter about the charms, the merit and the diabolical nature of the 315-yard, par-4 10th hole at Riviera Country Club.

For good reason.

It's one of the great short par-4 holes, not just on the Tour schedule but anywhere. And, to my mind, good short par-4s may be the most fun holes to play in golf.

They equalize the field, for one thing. It's not about how far you hit it but where you hit it. And the really good ones, like the 10th at Riviera which begs you from the tee to take a whack at the green sitting diagonally in the distance, make you consider a variety of options.

It's relatively easy to play long par-4s. You bang it far down the fairway as you can to have the shortest possible club into the green and, from there, you try to avoid whatever trouble is around the green.

Well-designed short par-4s force you to think, which is where a lot of us get into trouble. They'll reward a well-played shot but the risk-reward element comes into play with every swing. That's the thing about the 10th at Riviera. If a player takes a shot at the green off the tee, there's a reasonable chance he's going to find himself with a second shot that may be short but may have compounded the challenge.

Even by taking a more conservative play off the tee, a good short hole still demands a careful approach.

Golf is about options and the more of them a course gives a player, the better it typically is.

That's why the changes to the par-4 seventh at Augusta National were a mistake. Before all the length was added, it was a short hole that required you to keep it between the trees off the tee then prove you were a good wedge player. By making it longer, it has lost some of its magic though it's become more difficult.

At Harbour Town, the 300-yard ninth hole is pencil-thin but bold players can hammer a driver into the greenside bunkers if they feel chesty. It puts them close to the hole off the tee but there's no room to stray right or left. And even if you play safe, hitting an iron off the tee, it better be precise or you're looking through pine trees from 80 yards away. It tempts you but doesn't offer an easy way out despite its short yardage.

As golf as shown us so many times and in so many ways, bigger isn't always better.

Nagy To Tee It Up In Elite Jones Cup

Charlotte 49ers golfer Corey Nagy will tee it up this weekend in the Jones Cup, a 28-player event at Ocean Forest Golf Club at Sea Island, Ga.

It's a testament to Nagy's place among the top amateur players that he earned an invitation to the special event. The 54-hole event has developed an international reputation for the quality of its field and its setting.

Former Clemson golfer Kyle Stanley won the event last year.

"The Jones Cup is among the very best amateur golf tournaments in the country and has once again attracted an elite field for the event," Charlotte golf coach Adam Pry said in a statement. "After taking a short break from competition, this is a great opportunity for Corey to compete on a championship course, against the best amateurs in the world."

Mickelson, McCarron Make Up, Eye-2s Still Okay

As best as I can tell, the most significant things that have happened in the past couple of days related the PGA Tour's sudden firestorm around the use of 20-year old Ping Eye-2 wedges is that Scott McCarron has apologized to Phil Mickelson for saying he's cheating and it's going to be a while -- probably a long while -- before the issue is put to rest one way or the other.

During a media conference today, commissioner Tim Finchem said the PGA Tour didn't anticipate the wedge issue becoming the firestarter that it has. The tour knew the old Eye-2 wedges were legal (by virtue of a legal settlement years ago) but didn't think it would make much difference.

Then again, Finchem didn't expect the tour to be reprimanding McCarron for accusing Mickelson of cheating. Mickelson, according to Finchem, accepted McCarron's apology.

How big an issue is the Eye-2 thing?

Through the first four PGA Tour events this year, Finchem said only five of 218 players have used the club during competition. More, however, may be considering adding one of the wedges to their bag if they aren't in violation of their equipment contracts.

Secondly, how much difference does the old club make?

Finchem said if the wedges that were legal before the rules change went into effect imparted a spin rate of 100 rpm (he's making the numbers easy to understand), a Ping Eye-2 has a spin rate of approximately 60 rpm. Under the new rules, u-grooved wedges impart a spin rate of approximately 50 rpm. That' s a difference of 20 percent between the Eye-2 and the new rules.

So what's next?

Tour players will continue to be allowed to use the Eye-2 wedges if they want.

"There's nothing wrong with that," Finchem said.

However, the issue isn't resolved. Finchem sounded hopeful that weekend comments by John Solheim of Karsten Manufacturing (which makes Ping) left room for a possible settlement that may close what is a legal loophole in golf's rules.

If that doesn't happen -- Finchem said there may be a meeting between Solheim and USGA officials in the next week -- the Tour Policy Board could send the issue to an independent committee for its evaluation. That's where it gets complicated as most committee work is.

For the time being, nothing has changed. And it's probably going to be a while -- if ever -- before it does.

Irish Creek To Host PGA Tour Qualifying Event

It's nice to see that a first stage qualifier for the PGA Tour will be played at The Club at Irish Creek in Kannapolis in October, rekindling the club's long relationship with the Q-school process.

The event will be played Oct. 18-22 at the popular layout redesigned by Davis Love III and his brother, Mark, a couple of years ago.

Long-time PGA Tour rules official Mark Russell, a Kannapolis native, was instrumental in bringing the qualifying event back to the club.

Irish Creek will also host the North Carolina Open June 7-10, one of the top Carolinas PGA events of the year. Additionally, the Irish Creek Collegiate Classic will be played April 2-4 with Davidson, Belmont Abbey and Charlotte hosting the event.

Mickelson Cheating? Uh, Not Exactly

So, all it took to get our minds off Tiger Woods was a 20-year old wedge and Phil Mickelson being accused of cheating.

Normally, talk of golf equipment specifications is better than Nyquil at putting me to sleep but the mini storm that's brewing around the clever loophole found by tour players who are using Ping Eye-2 wedges to circumvent the rules about square groove has produced a few sparks.

You probably know the basics: U-shaped (or square) grooves are no longer allowed on the PGA Tour but, because a long-ago lawsuit Ping filed against the USGA, the Eye-2 wedges are exempt from the legislation. That means play 'em if you've got 'em.

That's what a handful of players have done, rummaging through their garages and attics to pull out the old clubs and put them back into play, figuring they may provide a smidgen of advantage while still meeting the letter of the law.

It wasn't until Scott McCarron said Phil Mickelson and other players were "cheating" by usinan Eye-2 wedges that the story got semi-sexy (in a golf equipment kind of way).

Mickelson said he was slandered and hinted at legal retaliation.

It's hardly on the level of the Woods soap opera but it's interesting.

McCarron went too far when he invoked cheating into the discussion. The clubs are legal under the rules therefore, there' s no cheating.

His point, I think, is that the players are taking advantage of a loophole in the rules that should have been closed, keeping Eye-2 wedges out of play. He's right. Even Mickelson essentially acknowleged as much in discussing his use of the old wedges.

Depending on your level of conspiracy theorist, some suggest Mickelson is using the wedges to make a point that the loophole needs to be closed.

That, of course, involves lawyers and, well, you know what that means.

There's the whole argument about the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law. Then there's the Ping position, having won legal approval 20 years ago for their clubs to remain legal in perpetuity.

There's an easy solution to this -- the PGA Tour should adopt a local rule outlawing Eye-2 wedges -- but it's not easy. This is where the lawyers get involved again.

The Tour uses local rules already, so adding the Eye-2 to its special rules isn't a giant leap. The Tour uses a one-ball rule that isn't standard in the golf rules. It prohibits the use of carts, another local rule.

Do the old wedges make that much difference? If you play golf you know that if your brain thinks it helps, it probably does, at least for a while.

I expect this will get hashed out soon enough and the Eye-2 wedges will end up in the attic again.

Or on e-bay...if you're looking for one.