Mike-El, I'm so thrilled that someone else is as obsessed with this game as I am. Do you think Tiger will skip the Open if the Blessed One's arrival coincides with it?

Anyway, one of the golf publications just did a survey of the on- and off-course income of golfers. Baby Woods is gonna have a slammin' game room! .For a true disparity between both incomes, check out numbers three, five and six on the list.

http://www.golfdigest.com/features/index.s...702top50_4.html

I like Michelle Wie (I cannot dislike anyone who is or will be a Cardinal), but I am distressed that she makes more than Nicklaus. I guess that cash helps insulate her from the criticism of armchair golfers like me.

And look at old Arnie's stat!

I think Tiger is looking back with some regret at time missed with his father, so I have no doubt that he would skip the Open if that's when the baby is due. What I'm more worried about (and looking at that list you posted drives it home) is the possibility of Tiger and Phil thumbing their noses at the FedEx Cup and doing their customary late-season sitting out. FedEx can't afford the bonus money it would take to get the attention of those two.

But, to the good stuff, the game itself...As corny as it may sound, I thought Veej really looked like he had that eye of the tiger back at Kapalua. Last year, he looked at times (especially late in the schedule) like he'd rather be anywhere than on the golf course. He looked hungry this past weekend.

I heard we're going to see about 30 pounds less of Phil in a couple of weeks at Pebble. He's dropped a bunch of weight before and put it back on as the season progressed...but he's supposedly got a hardcore training regimen going now.

Andrew Both, an Ozzie journalist, used to contribute to an old golf board (long gone in the dust of the dot.com bust) I frequented. He said that Phil annually held the title for the most milkshakes consumed at Castle Rock -- one time drinking more than ten in a few days. And last year Golf World did a feature where some writers accompanied Phil to In-n-Out where he proceeded to order several Triple-Triples (protein-style, since he was watching his diet). So I'm eager to see the newly svelte Phil that you've described, and am curious about his program.

I could have gotten Vijay cheaply for my fantasy golf team. Missed opportunity, there. But he did look reinvigorated in the few highlights I saw.

You know how I said FedEx couldn't come up with the money to get Tiger's attention? Strike that. I had a revelation this morning. Here's how you get Tiger fired up for the FedEx Cup:

- Keep the bonus money amount whatever it is.

- Just throw in a t-shirt that has "WORLD'S BEST GOLFER" on it in big letters.

I'm not even kidding. Sorta.

Mike, have you read Feinstein's "A Good Walk Spoiled"? If so, you'll understand why I was so happy to see Goydos win last weekend. Between his victory and the Saints' win, my (couch) sports weekend was one of the best in a while.

Yeah...I loved the Feinstein book and I've been rooting for Goydos ever since. That's one of my favorite things about The Tour...several times over the course of a season, somebody's going to come out of nowhere, play the best four rounds of their career, and change their life forever.

And with the purses today, one win will do it. You can win one tournament, not even a major, and be set for life.

So, Mike, did you catch the svelter version of Phil last weekend? I'm thinking he's still enjoying those In-n-Out triple-triples:



Actually, he looks much better than he did at the end of HIS (not the tour's) season last year. I remember seeing a shot of him from behind at one tournament and briefly thinking that the silhouette was Daly's. At least he's out of the zone where his appearance brings JD to mind.

Holy crap, Mike. Have you checked out the Buick leaderboard? Some dude named Brandt Snedeker shot 9 under through 9 holes and is now 11 under through 12. I know the rule against uttering "no-hitter" but does the same jinx apply to "possible 59"? This guy's performance proves your point above about someone coming out of nowhere and playing the round(s) of his (or her) life.

I saw Snedeker when the Nationwide Tour came through town last year. Great ball striker but, like so many Nationwide guys, an iffy putter. We'll see if he's just a first-day phenom...

Phil's hair is in that "too short to be long/too long to be short" no-man's land. Not a good look right now.

Mike, I'm planning to go to the practice round at Pebble Beach tomorrow. I have to shake this stomach bug first, because I do not want my intended stalking of Tom Brady to be interrupted. If I make it, I'll post some pictures.

Mike:

I had a fun day at Pebble Beach yesterday and will post pictures this weekend. Didn't see Tom Brady, but am happy to finally be able to say that a PGAT is "hot" without qualifying that with "for a PGAT player." Camilo Villegas is alot cuter than he appears on camera, even if he has the bad taste of using a Florida Gator as his driver cover.
Bill Murray was his usual entertaining self, while Kevin Costner was simply scary. Oh yeah -- saw some good (and awful golf). Highlight of the day: seeing Kelly Slater. I'll post more details about the golf when I post the pictures.

Hi Again Mike:

Good to see Mickelson's return to form (game-wise, although his physical form is improving as well). If you're interested, I put my pics from Wednesday's practice round here. I of course included doggy pics.

Mike, have you heard about Hank and Venus? I guess three golf-tennis relationships makes a trend? (Sergio Garcia/Martina Hingis, in the past and Greg Norman/Chris Evert, currently).

savannah, those pictures are awesome! And you caught Furyk's swing right at its hinkiest point, his hitch.

I just had a feeling Phil was going to get better in a hurry at Pebble. I still haven't watched my TiVo of the last round.

Did you see any of Dubai last weekend? Henrik Stenson has to be the best player in the world that nobody's heard of.

I did not see any of Dubai. I'm a fan of Stenson's, though, because he is generally an inexpensive but productive pick for my fantasy team when he's playing PGAT-sanctioned events.

And thanks for nice comment re: the pictures. I did not bring my good camera and lenses to the course because of the nasty weather. But I think my cheap little digital did an OK job, considering how dark it was out there.

What do you think of Tiger skipping Riviera?

So Mike, Stenson strikes again. I think he may have broken into the top 5 (or 6) on the OWGR. Did you watch the match between Tiger and Nick O'Hern?

Have you ever heard of a golf blog by the Principal's Nose, who is supposedly some media insider for the European Tour? His latest two entries involve a blind item of sorts about some swinging -- not of the golf variety -- by some players at the Ryder Cup. I can't see anyone on the uptight U.S. team having that much fun.

If Stenson keeps winning these high-profile events, he's going to irreparably harm his "Best Player In The World That Nobody's Ever Heard Of" status. Watch out for him in the majors this year.

It seems like every dominant pitcher in baseball has some journeyman with a .220 career average who consistently lights him up. That's the only analogy that comes to mind in trying to make sense of the Tiger/O'Hern situation.

No idea about the blind item. But, just for the unsettling mental imagery it inspires, let's say it was Chad Campbell and his ridiculously hot wife rocking and rolling with Becks and Posh.

Tiger's grouped with Aaron Baddeley and Paul Casey tomorrow at The Masters. And they're going out pretty late so they'll still be out there with plenty of holes left when the live TV coverage starts at 4:00. I'd give anything to be there and follow Freddie, Ernie, and Ogilvy in the morning and then Tiger's group after lunch.

Looks like Ernie had a rough morning. And who would have thought that the Singh near the top of the leaderboard would not be Vijay? I'd also give anything to be there; a trip to the Masters would be my dream vacation. Really. I'm friends with the former producer of ABC's golf programming, and she has said she can get me tickets to any golf tournament except the Masters. I wonder what the price for the tickets are on the black market.

Are you watching it this weekend?

I plan on doing little else. The only other big-ticket item on my dance card is taking the kids Easter egg hunting.

If it weren't for the azaleas and Amen Corner, I'd think that I was watching the US Open instead of the Masters. While I enjoy watching the guys grind it out, I hope tomorrow offers a few more birdies.

For real. I don't want to watch scrambling at The Masters. I want to see guys torching the course. Water the greens!

So what did you think, Mike? I was a tad underwhelmed -- I really did not want to watch another day of grinding it out. (That's what the US Open is for). But still -- hard to beat a weekend of watching the Masters.

Oh, that was a chore to sit through. Johnson shouldn't even get a jacket...he should get a green sweater vest, maybe. I've actually seen more "tells" in Tiger's body language and more things wrong with his game in boot-balling the last couple of tournaments he's punted than during his two year so-called "slump." And I continue to be bothered that it's never a Mickleson or a Goosen or an Els who takes up the challenge on Sundays when Tiger screws the pooch. Just one Monday, I want the big story to be how somebody faced Tiger down and made him blink...rather than how Tiger let it get away.

Mike, have you seen the latest Tiger Trap? Pretty fun to watch . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubAxWIfcE5I

Loved it. Love Tiger. Love seeing that playful yet competitive side of his personality that so many of his friends talk about. He was so cool and yet just relentlessly trash-talking the whole time.

My favorite part was the woman who won her car asking, "I don't even have to make the putt?"

I agree. My favorite part was when Tiger asked that guy if he'd prefer having Tiger stand in front of him. And Tiger was pretty cute when the woman got it on the green but he didn't.

That was funny! I love Tiger.

Mike, have you've been following the controversy surrounding Michelle Wie's withdrawal yesterday. Geoff Shackelford has been all over it, and he links to an excellent first-hand account of the macinations of Michelle's dad and agent. Geoff also has some questions
for Commissioner Bivens.

John Daly has some new material for his next autobiography: his wife attacked him with a steak knife yesterday.

Yeah, she left the face open and played a nice cut.

Heh. But in all seriousness, I feel so bad for him. His two kids are missing and are with a seemingly unstable woman. I hope all ends well.

Dogs and babies: that's my idea of a happy life. (Even the baby wall border features a dog!)

Mike, did you watch the US Women's Open? I've been a big fan of Cristie Kerr (even though she's purportedly a bitch) ever since she committed herself to her physical transformation. What an inspiration!





And, of course, one of her greatest photo hits, the cource of so many "Caption This!" contests:



But poor Lorena Ochoa. And poor, poor Michelle Wie.

I can not believe that the top photo and the two lower ones are of the same person, but a peek at GIS says it's so. Incredible.

It is incredible, jedzz. And she's kept the weight off for several years now. More "After" pictures (as well as the "Before" one above) are linked.

Boo Weekley is now tied with Furyk for fifth in the Open. Mike, did you ever see him play on the Hooters Tour around Georgia?

p.s. I'm not sure he wanted the readers to get the mental picture of how he got the leg disease that made him wear rain pants.

Did anybody else watch the final round of the Open yesterday? Exciting stuff! (I realize that "exciting" and "golf" seem mutually exclusive -- but it was gripping TV. Really. See, USGA and Augusta, how exciting a major can be when a course is not tricked up just to protect par?).

It was awesome. And for Harrington to come back after Van de Velde-ing eighteen? Pure guts. Something his opponent could sure use some of. Sergio made me sick with his pouting and whining. It's okay...I'm sure he's got some more incredibly smug and obnoxious Michelob commercials lined up.

I have to give a shout-out to ABC, too...Except for the obnoxious Van de Velde interview (where they kept trying to goad him into losing his composure), their coverage was top-notch. They especially did a good job keeping the action flowing despite Harrington and Sergio being a couple of groups apart down the stretch. Faldo and 'Zinger are a great team on the mic.

savannah, I've seen the Nationwide Tour both times they've come through Athens but I didn't get to watch Boo play. I've seen him enough on the tube to know he hits a mean-ass fade, though.

I'd like to add "ridiculous" to your description of those Michelob ads. Sergio as a sexy babe magnet? Really? And Sergio is indeed a whiner extraordinaire. He should take some lessons in the art of losing (not that he's a particularly gracious winner either) from the ever-charming Van de Velde.

I hope Mr. Poulter had the opportunity to wash up before shaking the hands of his playing partners at Carnoustie's 18th. I wonder what kind of grip he's using.

Sad to see his glove is in his pocket.

I wouldn't use the glove either. With that particular shaft, it's all about feel.

Poor, poor Michelle Wie.. She cannot escape the grasp of her overbearing parents at all. Now they've decided to follow her to Stanford.

That poor girl.

More on Michelle Wie's overbearing and possibly soul-sucking and career-destroying parents:

Good on Trevor Immelman.

I've been waiting for this guy to break through for the last couple of years. And I know people will say that he backed in or limped home with that closing-round 75...but he made some stud shots and drained some knee-knocking putts down the stretch. That 75 could've easily ballooned into an 81.

That said...holy cow...he's slow as Christmas. They must've been giving guys a lot of leeway on the clock today. Six hours playing in a twosome is ridiculous.

Brandt Snedeker may not win a major this year...but he wins more than once and ends up in the FedEx Cup mix at the end. I'm calling it right now.

Nice showing by Immelman and I'm pleased with his victory. But I think the Green Jackets have screwed too much with the course. When I want to watch the U.S Open, I'll watch the U.S. Open. The Masters should be about exciting Sunday rounds (a la Nicklaus in 1986), not about grinding it out.

I could not possibly agree more. It's like every time someone makes a high-profile great shot from a difficult lie or location, Billy Payne or somebody writes out a memo: "Stick a tree there for next year."

So, I know there are at least 2 die-hard golf fans here. Did you guys watch the US Open?
I have to say, even as a non golf fan, that was an exciting few days.
And I can't believe I just used the word "exciting" to describe golf.

Poor Rocco missed it by that much!
But what a gracious loser! I think one reason I was pulling for him...other than the obvious Cinderella story thing....was that his attitude was remarkable. He knew he was out of his league and playing the golf of his life and he was going to enjoy the experience no matter the outcome. I hope he gets some endorsements out of this.

And I absolutely loved Tiger's reaction to his lucky bounce shot on Sunday (Saturday?). He always seems so serious, it was nice to see him laughing at his own luck.

Every minute of it. It's interesting that no "elite," top-five player has ever stepped up and pushed Tiger like this. Tiger's sudden-death major wins have come over the likes of Bob May, Chris DiMarco, and, of course, Rocco Mediate. Phil, Ernie, Sergio...somebody...step it up, howzaboutit?

Because of his Regular Joe persona and his incredible chattiness along the rope lines, Rocco has alway been one of the Tour's most beloved journeymen. I love that he's going to get big galleries and hear his name chanted for the rest of his career now.

Tiger won't get the credit he deserves for gutting out this win on a gimpy wheel. The ESPN message boards are already filling up with the inevitable "It took Tiger 91 holes to beat the 146th-ranked player in the world!"-type bullshit posts. Hater culture. Thanks, sports-talk radio...

Sam Alexis Woods is the cutest thing ever. Looks just like her granny on Daddy's side.

My husband and I were at Torrey Pines for the Wednesday practice round and Thursday's opening round. Thursday, we walked the course, while on Friday, we staked out spots in the bleachers at 15 in the AM and on 17 and 14 in the pm. On 15, we saw Sheehan losing his lead (he was at -3 at the time) when he triple-bogeyed after his ball landed in the rough off the green. He hit the ball a few inches, landed in the rough again, whiffed it, and then finally got it on the green) and then Mickelson making a miracle par save after hitting his ball into the same spot and executing an incredible chip shot to get the ball close to the flag. Saw some beautiful play from Appleby and some atrocious play from Harrington and Garcia.

Unfortunately, I missed most of the play-off as I was at work. (I should have stayed home as my productivity was almost nil, because I was checking the USGA and PGAT sites constantly for updates. If anyone can point me to a video of Sam Alexis demanding her daddy's attention, I'd greatly appreciate it).

Regarding the coverage: Just when I think Johnny Miller cannot get any more insufferable, he exceeds my expectations. Guys named Rocco don't get their name on the trophy, Johnny? Rocco looks like Tiger's pool cleaner? And you created in the 70s the warm-up shot routine now used by Tiger? Ack.

I have a few pics from the practice round, including some of Westwood, Garcia, and Singh. Most of my pics are of the course. Here are a few of Els and Appleby and Toms looking like he's checking out Leonard's ass.