This move comes at a time when several top US players, including Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh are considering European Tour membership. Traditionally, few US players have competed on the European Tour, but Mickelson has played the Scottish Open the last two years and is expected to compete in the French Open next summer. Tiger Woods said recently that he has no plans to seek European Tour membership.

Post from: Green Posse

He may have finished well behind the leaders at the Tour Championship in Atlanta this weekend, but Vijay Singh took home a big paycheck anyway as the winner of the 2008 FedEx Cup. Singh, who won the first two of the four playoff tournaments had such a huge lead going into this weekend’s tournament that his winning was all but guaranteed. Only his being disqualified or dropping out of the tournament would have prevented him from winning the $10 million bonus. Singh, 45, has three PGA tour wins this season and 34 total in his career (the 14th highest of all time).

This is the second year for the FedEx Cup. Tiger Woods won the title in 2007.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

Post from: Green Posse

Vijay Singh’s victory at The Barclay’s last weekend–his fourth at that event–boosted him to the top of the FedexCup list after the first of four playoff tournaments. Below is the complete list as of August 25, 2008:

1. Vijay Singh
2. Sergio Garcia
3. Kevin Sutherland
4. Phil Mickelson
5. Justin Leonard
6. Anthony Kim
7. Kenny Perry
8. Ben Curtis
9. Stewart Cink
10. Jim Furyk

Post from: Green Posse

Beginning the playoffs, the top ten players are:

1. Tiger Woods
2. Kenny Perry
3. Phil Mickelson
4. Padraig Harrington
5. Anthony Kim
6. Stewart Cink
7. Vijay Singh
8. Justin Leonard
9. Ryuji Imada
10. Geoff Ogilvy

Of course, Woods will not be competing in any of the FedExCup events due to his having knee surgery earlier in the season.

For a detailed look at the PGA Playoffs, see this Fedexplanation from the writers at the Golf Channel.

Post from: Green Posse

The pairings for the first two days of play at the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club have been announced and their are several that merit watching. For sheer diversity and entertainment value, my money is on Vijay Singh (last week’s winner at the Bridgestone Invitational) with John Daly and David Toms. Depending on which John Daly shows up, this could be great golf or a disaster.

Other interesting pairings are:

Padraig Harrington, Trevor Immelman, and Angel Cabrera

Adam Scott, Ernie Els, and Fred Couples

Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim, and Camilo Villegas

The complete list can be found on the PGA Championship Web site.

Post from: Green Posse

Michelle Wie with her dad and caddy, B. J. Wie

Colin Montgomerie with his dad, James

Ernie Els with his dad, Neels.


Of course, many pro golfers are dads, too. Here are a couple of father/son photos:

Vijay Singh with his son, Qass

Greg Norman with his son, Gregory


Jack Nicklaus with his son and caddy, Steve

Post from: Green Posse

Vijay Singh, currently ranked #6 in the Fedex Cup standings, was forced to withdraw from the BMW PGA Championship in Surrey, England, before the tournament even started due to a muscle injury. Singh told the Associated Press that he was fine when he arrived in England, but somehow injured a muscle on his left side below the rib.

Singh has returned to his home in Florida and hopes to play the Memorial Tournament in central Ohio, which begins on Monday.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

Post from: Green Posse

As part of the “Eagles for St. Jude” charity program, golf enthusiasts have a chance to bid on the chance to caddie for pro golfers Vijay Singh and Camilio Vilegas at a tour event. The auction, accessible via the St. Jude Hosptial Web site, runs from now until May 28 (2008). There are also six autographed PGA Pro Tour golf bags, signed by Singh, Vilegas and LPGA pro, Morgan Pressel as well as other golf items up for auction. All of the money raised will be donated to St. Jude Charity Hospital.

St. Jude’s, located in Memphis, is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay.

^{(photo credit: Newscom)}

Post from: Green Posse

Most PGA Tour career wins – Sam Snead (82)

Most PGA Tour wins in one year - Byron Nelson (18 in 1945)

Most consecutive years with a PGA Tour win - 17 years – Jack Nicklaus (1962-1978) and Arnold Palmer (1955-1971)

Lowest score for 72 holes in a PGA event – 254 by Tommy Armour III in the Valero Texas Open in 2003

Most Birdies in a 72-hole PGA event – 32 by Mark Calcavecchia in the 2001 Phoenix Open and Paul Gow in the 2001 BC Open

Most wins after 40 – Vijay Singh (17)

Most Major tournament wins – Jack Nicklaus (18); Tiger Woods leads active players with 13

Post from: Green Posse

The check was delivered by Vijay Singh and executives from Stanford Financial Group and FedEx. The donation was bolstered by Stanford’s Eagles for St. Jude program in which $1,000 is donated for every eagle carded on the PGA Tour.

Singh, who is the ambassador of the program made a personal contribution of $50K on Thursday and announced he will contribute $5K for every eagle he makes in 2008.

Source

Post from: Green Posse