Woods was given a tour of the presidential mansion by aide, Marvin Nicholson, who used to caddy at the Augusta National course, the site of the recent Masters Tournament.

(photo credit: Newscom)

Post from: Green Posse

For golfers, spring begins with the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Course in Augusta Georgia. The course is already getting ready for the 2009 tournament, to be held April 6-12. To get you in the spirit of the Masters, here are a few facts about the event:

The first event was held in 1934, with Horton Smith winning the tournament.

The Masters was originally called the Augusta National Invitational Tournament.

Horton won $1500; last year’s winner, Zach Johnson took home $1.3 million.

No tournament was held during WWII (1943-1945). Chickens and turkeys were raised on the grounds to support the war effort.

Jack Nicklaus has the most Masters victories (six); Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods both have four.

Jack Nicklaus was the oldest player to win the Masters (his sixth win in 1986); Tiger Woods was the youngest (in 1997).^{(photo © flickr user: pocketwiley/cc license)}

Post from: Green Posse

Tiger Woods continues his comeback after knee surgery next week at the WGC-CA Championship at Miami’s Doral Country Club. Doral is a favorite course of Tiger’s; he’s never finished outside of the top ten at the course.

The WGC-CA tournament begins on Thursday. It will be Woods’ first 72-hole competition since he won the US Open last June at San Diego’s Torrey Pines. Woods debuted following surgery at the WGC-Accenture Match Play competition last week. He was eliminated in the second round.

(photo credit: Newscom)

Post from: Green Posse

Post from: Green Posse

Tiger Woods, the best–and most followed–golfer in the world, is returning to competition after a more than eight month hiatus following arthroscopic knee surgery last summer. Woods will make his season debut at the Accenture Match Play competition in Marana, Arizona this week. He is the defending champion in the 64-player, single-elimination, match play event.

Will his game be up to his high standards? Says Woods, “It’s one thing to (play) in a practice environment against some buddies for a little bit of cash. It’s a different deal in a PGA Tour event against the best players in the world. I’m looking forward to the challenge and experiencing that excitement again.”

We’re looking forward to it too.

(© Newscom)

Post from: Green Posse

“Elin and I are thrilled to announce the birth of our son, Charlie Axel Woods. Both Charlie and Elin are doing great and we want to thank everyone for their sincere best wishes and kind thoughts. Sam is very excited to be a big sister and we feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful family.”

This is the couple’s second child. They have a daughter, Sam Alexis, who was born in June of 2007.

Woods is currently recovering from last year’s knee surgery and is expected to return to competition in mid-season. He has stated previously that when he returns is in large part dependent on when the baby was born.

^{(© Newscom)}

Post from: Green Posse

Tiger Woods and Barack Obama on the links together? In his latest newsletter, Tiger says they are “going to make it happen.” Woods met the new president during the inauguration events when Woods was invited to speak at the ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial on January 18 (pictured above). When he asked Obama whether he’d like to play golf, the leader of the free world said he’d love to; presumably, he’s just another Tiger fan.

Says Woods about Obama, “I think the thing that impressed me the most about him was the way he carries himself. He has great leadership qualities, and his accomplishment truly embodies what’s best about America. He represents what we as Americans have in common, not perceived differences.”

Wouldn’t you love to caddy for that round?

^{(photo © Newscom)}

Post from: Green Posse

Imagine having Tiger Woods accompany you around the links at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Now imagine that he’s carrying your clubs and holding the pin for you. That’s right. The lucky winner of Buick’s “Tee Off with Tiger” contest, 59-year-old John Abel, got to have Woods as his caddy this week.

According to news reports, Tiger walked without a limp and showed no sign of the reconstructive knee surgery he had earlier in the year. As for Mr. Abels, he said that Woods was a friendly, “down to earth” guy. After the round, Tiger treated Abels to a rerun of his US Open-winning putt on the 18th green…and made this one too. He also signed the caddy bid as a souvenir for Abels.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

Post from: Green Posse

He may be sidelined with that knee injury, but that didn’t stop BusinessWeek magazine for honoring Tiger Woods with its top slot in the second annual “Power 100″ list of the Most Powerful People in Sports. In fact, he is the only currently-active athlete in the top 14 and the only golfer on the list. Others in the top spots include NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell; ESPN’s George Bodenheimer; Nike’s Phil Knight; and Dick Ebersol, the Chairman of NBC Sports.

Other athletes on the list include Lance Armstrong (#15), LeBron James (#17), Peyton Manning (#29), and Kobe Bryant (#28). PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Fincham was listed at #27.

The rankings were determined by a panel of 35 athletes, executives, marketers, writers, and academics. Criteria included how each individual rates vs. his or her peers; how much money each controls, generates, or influences; and the breath of power of their impact. “The Power 100″ will be featured in BusinessWeek’s October 13 issue. The complete list is also available on the magazine’s Web site.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

Post from: Green Posse

Tiger Woods had exciting news to share on his Web site Tuesday afternoon. It seems that he and his wife, Elin are expecting their second child in late winter. In his Web site newsletter, Woods said:

“This has been a year of contrasts. I had a solid start to the season, won the US Open in an exciting playoff, and then unfortunately had to shut it down after successful knee surgery.

And now, I have some wonderful news to report.

Sam is going to be a big sister.

Elin and I are proud to announce that we are expecting our second child in late winter.”

The new baby will join the couple’s daugher, Sam Alexis (pictured with her parents above), who was born in June of 2007.

Post from: Green Posse