Green Posse » PGA

Tiger Out ’til the US Open

Sandy Mitchell — Mon, 26 May 2008 09:04:39 +0000

Tiger Woods will be sitting out the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Country Club in Dublin, Ohio this week. He is still recovering from his arthroscopic knee surgery on April 15. His next likely appearance will be in the US Open at Torrey Pines, which starts on June 9.

Said Muirfield tournament director, Dan Sullivan, “We were excited to have Tiger play this year, but understand he still has some recuperating to do.”

^{(photo © newscom)}

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Golf on TV this Weekend – 4/19-20

Sandy Mitchell — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:01:21 +0000

A full schedule of golf events are planned for this weekend. Below is the television coverage (all times are ET).

Saturday, April 19l
1pm – 3pm – LPGA – Ginn Open in Reunion, Florida – CBS
3pm – 6pm – PGA – Verizon Heritage Classic in Hilton Head, SC – CBS
4pm – 6pm – Champions Tour – Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am in Tampa Bay, Florida – NBC

Sunday, April 20
930am – 1230pm – European Tour – Volvo China Open in Beijing, China – Golf Channel
1pm – 3pm – LPGA – Ginn Open in Reunion, Florida – CBS

3pm – 6pm – PGA – Verizon Heritage Classic in Hilton Head, SC – CBS

4pm – 6pm – Champions Tour – Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am in Tampa Bay, Florida – NBC
^{(photo © istockphoto)}

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Golf on TV this Weekend – 4/4-6

Sandy Mitchell — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 06:01:10 +0000

A full schedule of golf events are planned for this weekend. Below is the television coverage (all times are ET).

Saturday, April 5
10am – 1pm – European Tour – Estoril Open in Portugal – Golf Channel
1pm – 4pm – Champions Tour – Cap Cana Championship in the Dominican Republic – Golf Channel
3pm – 6pm – PGA – Shell Houston Open – NBC
630pm – 830pm – LPGA – Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage California – ESPN2

Sunday, April 6
10am – 1pm – European Tour – Estoril Open in Portugal – Golf Channel
1pm – 4pm – Champions Tour – Cap Cana Championship in the Dominican Republic – Golf Channel
3pm – 6pm – PGA Shell Houston Open – NBC
3pm – 6pm – LPGA – Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage California – CBS

^{(photo © istockphoto)}

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Charles Sifford: the PGA’s First Black Golfer

Sandy Mitchell — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:11:23 +0000

As February is Black History Month, it’s fitting to talk about Charles Sifford, the first African-American to play on the PGA tour. Sifford was born in rural North Carolina in 1922. He started in golf as a caddie in the 1930s, making 60 cents/day. Of course, caddies get to play in their free time and by age 13, Sifford was frequently shooting par.

Charles Sifford won the National Negro Open five times in a row (1952-1956), while repeatedly being denied a PGA card. He was finally invited to the tour in 1960, when the PGA dropped it’s “Caucasian Only” rule, under pressure from the California attorney general.

Even though he was 39 when he joined the PGA, Sifford won two events–the 1967 Greater Hartford Open and the 1969 Los Angeles Open. He went on the become one of the original members of the Champions Tour in 1975.

Sifford made history again in 2004 when he became the first African-American inductee in the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida.

Two generations of African-American golfers are indebted to Mr. Sifford’s efforts. Tiger Woods was quoted at Mr. Sifford’s induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame as saying, “He has my respect and my gratitude for the sacrifices he made to open the doors to this great game to people of color.”

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Tiger Off to a Powerful Start in 2008

Sandy Mitchell — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:13:03 +0000

After a ten-week hiatus from competition and amidst a flurry of controversy stemming from the Golf Channel’s Kelly Tilghman’s stupid remark, Tiger Woods showed the world at Torrey Pines this week why he’s the best in the game. Woods easily won the Buick Invitational there for the 6th time (and 4th in a row) with a -19, 8 shots better than second place finisher, Ryuji Imada of Japan (who shot a very respectable – 2 on Sunday).

Perhaps the best quote of the weekend came from veteran PGA Tour member, Fred Couples, who (referring to the Tilghman bruhaha) said “Honestly … everyone needs to leave the guy alone. Every time he gets upset, he wins by 15 shots. We have to tout him, tell him how great he is, be enamored.” Freddie has a point.

Rookie Kevin Streelman, who ended the first round in second place, finished the tournament tied for 11th place.

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John Daly: Quit Whining and Play

Sandy Mitchell — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:55:16 +0000

Somehow it seems that everytime I try to watch golf, there’s John Daly on the tube explaining how he was wronged by the golf powers that be. Two weeks ago, he was upset about the PGA’s new cut rule that left him in the money, but off of television for the fourth and fifth rounds of the Sony Open. (Me thinks that Mr. Daly fails to open his mail from the PGA.)

Last week, he was giving a performance on the course worthy of any NBA all-star that’s trying to draw a foul. Reportedly in pain, Daly was treated at length by his therapist while he lay on the course. Eventually, he withdraw from the tournament. Several news sources, including the LA Times, reported his being well enough to enjoy reveling at the post-tournament parties.

This week, the Daly controversy stems from his not getting a sponsor’s exemption for the upcoming FBR Open in Arizona next week. It seems the last spot went to 20-year-old Jason Day.

Is it just me, or are these enough John Daly stories to last the season?

^{(photo credit: McHart/cc license)}

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Bob Hope Chrysler Classic

Sandy Mitchell — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:09:38 +0000

The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic begins today in Palm Springs, one of the few five-round tournaments on the PGA circuit. The tournament, begun in 1960, is played on four courses and pairs celebrity amateurs with the pros for the first four rounds. Hosting duties are now the responsibility of comedian George Lopez.

Among the celebrity players are:

Alice Cooper, rock musician
Taylor Hicks, American Idol winner
Derek Anderson, QB for the Cleveland Browns
Joe Kernen, broadcaster journalist for CNBC
Don Cheadle, actor
Ming Tsai, award-winning chef
Cheech Marin, comedian

The tournament tees off at 830am PST. All five rounds are being broadcast on the Golf Channel. Their programming starts at 3pm EST.

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Ballesteros Calls It a Career

admin — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:41:28 +0000

The Associated Press is reporting that Seve Ballesteros has announced his retirement. His reason? Simple: “I don’t have the desire.”

It’s hard to fault a guy for that. Congratulations to Ballesteros on a fine career, and best of luck in whatever the future may hold for him…

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Tadd Turns Pro

admin — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:37:10 +0000

What were you doing when you were 16 years old? I was mostly acting like an idiot. Tadd Fujikawa, on the other hand, is becoming a pro golfer.

This quote is classic:

My parents aren’t sure this is the right decision, but I’ve told them I really want to do this. I’d give everything up for it. I’m going to do the best I can. … Right now, they just have to trust me.

Man, if I’d told anyone — let alone the media — that my parents “just have to trust me” when I was 16… But enough about me. Here’s wishing Mr. Fujikawa the best of luck in his endeavors.

{democracy:4}

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Bateman Finally Wins

admin — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:36:16 +0000

Six years and 151 events. Call Brian Bateman patient. Call him opportunistic (Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh both missed this year’s Buick Open). But more than anything, call him a winner.

Bateman finished with a birdie on the final hole Sunday at Grand Blanc to take the prize. And what did he have to say afterward?

Every player from Tiger Woods to Brian Bateman has to win their first one.

Here’s the thing. Not everyone has to win their first one. Some guys never do. It’s awesome that Bateman has had the chance to taste victory at the highest level of his profession.

Congrats to Bateman on a job well done. Here’s hoping this is the first of many more bright moments for him.

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