Andrew's World, Vol. III

Well the Florida Swing is over and what a exciting four weeks it has been! First Ernie Els returns to the winner circle, then Sean O'Hair triumphs, and Eldrick drills a 24 footer on the 72 hole to win Bay Hill. Then we get to see Geoff Ogilvy win at Doral holding off Vijay, Furyk, Goose, and King Tiger, and add a second World Golf Championship trophy to his mantle.

The Tavistock Cup has really become a big deal to the PGA Tour. The Golf Channel televises the interclub 4-ball matches between Isleworth and Lake Nona. The roster of players participating in this event is impressive. Some of the best European touring pros and of course Mr. Woods.

I would like to share a story with you I recently read in the magazine section of the New York Times about two African American sisters from Bradenton, Florida. Ginger and Robbi Howard are 13 and 12 respectively, and are considered two of the best junior prospects in the United States. Ginger has won a astounding 83 tournaments and Robbi who plays left handed, has 62 trophies in her collection. Their father sacrifices all of his time and money in the pursuit of his daughter's dream of playing on the LPGA Tour. You can check out these very talented prodigies at gingerandrobbi.com.

The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) celebrates its 30 anniversary in 2008, as the premiere junior golf circuit in the country. The inaugural event, called the Rolex Tournaments of Champions, was held at Inverrary Country Club in Lauderhill Florida. The roster of players who competed included future touring pros: Mark Brooks, Andrew Magee, Jim Gallagher Jr, Mark Calcavecchia, and Jodie Mudd. The final round featured the same exact pin positions of the Jackie Gleason, held earlier at Inverrary that year and won by Jack Nicklaus who closed with 5 birdies. Willie Wood took the AJGA title shooting an impressive 69, good for a four shot victory.

The following players scare me when they take their hats off, Stewart Cink, Brendan Pappas, Steve Flesch and Jonathon Byrd. Not to be too critical but a sunburned face and a ghostly white chrome dome really is very disturbing. I wonder if those guys wear their hats when they are at home?

In a 360 degree turn lets discuss the hirsute members of the tour, who sadly only count one pro amongst their ranks, Charley Hoffman. Remember days of yester-year when a few touring pros favored the look of long hair? Here is my top 5 all time list of the longest hair to grace our beloved Tour: Emlyn Aubrey, Bill Glasson, Nolan Henke, Pat Bates, and David Peoples.

Question: Are they actually going to play the Skins Game this year and will you watch? I will not because the concept is tired,un-inspiring, and just plain tedious. Last years snorefest featured bland Brett Wetterich, snide Stephen Ames, Milquetoast Zach Johnson, and Fred Couples who never seems to have another commitment around Thanksgiving. The novelty of the skins game lays in the promise of making upwards of a years salary in a two day event. Now that our heroes are making millons and are flying around the world in private jets, the charm of the Skins Game is long gone. If the tour is interested in reviving this format, they need to create some controversy. Remember when Tom Watson accused Gary Player of cheating and they had a vicious argument? I want to see hostile pairings featuring guys who do not like each other. Bring back Tiger but pit him against Rory Sabbatini, Ian Poulter, and Greg Norman. I want to see Tiger play against guys who do not like him and are jealous of his success!

Do you read the money list like a broker would the stock market? I do and here is the list of 3 pros who led the bottom of tour money for 2007: Jerry Smith, Jim Rutledge, and Jacob Van Zyl. Smith played in 19 events and made $63,335 in official money for the year. To put this in perspective, 58 year old Tom Watson played in only 2 events last year and made 64,350. So Jerry, I hope you have a better year in '08.

Well golf fans it has been fun and hope you have learned a few more useless facts ,and enjoy the Zurich Classic this week!

Andrew's World, Volume II

Retief Goosen is singing the blues. The Goose has fallen to 31st in the World Rankings and is rolling the ball like he is using a broom as a flatstick. Davis Love is another decorated veteran who is determined to improve his status on Tour. DL3 has competed in 70 straight majors and is currently on the bubble for Augusta. I am rooting for Love and Colin Montgomerie (also on the outside looking in) on their quest for Augusta.

I love watching Golf Channel presentations of classic tournaments of days gone by. Jack wins his third and last British Open in 1978 at the birthplace of golf, St. Andrews. I really dig the fashion of those days: tri-colored golf shoes and argyle sweaters. There was an impressive list of players the Golden Bear vanquished on his way to the claret jug in '78: Seve, Johnny Miller, Hale Irwin, Lanny Wadkins, Isao Aoki and ultimately Simon Owen all fell as King Jack reigns supreme and captures his 15 major championship. The Nationwide Tour, formerly know as the Hogan Circuit, celebrates its 19th year in existence. The inaugural class graduated 5 players to the big show. Those golfers are Mike Springer, Jim McGovern, Dick Mast, Ed Humenik and the still active Jeff Maggert. Speaking of Maggert, remember when he hit himself attempting a sand shot at Troon in 04? Equally unexplainable, how did Todd Hamilton beat Ernie, Steve Elkington, and Frenchmen Thomas Levet in a 4 hole playoff? If I remember correctly, Els had a relatively easy putt to win and missed, resulting in his demise.

Remember the old CBS bit profiling young up and coming players called The New Breed? I would like to nominate Aussies Jason Day, Nick Flanagan and the slightly older John Mallinger and Steve Marino as the young guns on the Tour. I guess you could make arguments for Kevin Na, Anthony Kim and the photogenic Camilo Villegas for inclusion into this club also. Villegas is featured in a commercial for a device which is supposed to increase swing speed by utilizing a weighted stick as a training aid. The infomercial claims that this apparatus will allow its user to swing the club with the same swing speed that the Colombian generates, allowing you to strike the ball a country mile! But they never mention that Camilio has like a 31 inch waist and biceps the size of baseballs and no matter how many times I swing this heavy pole, I will never hit the ball like Villegas! All of the commercials I see always claim their product or device will grant you the ability to play the long ball. But isn’t the old cliché "drive for show, putt for dough" usually true? I would rather putt like Ben Crenshaw or even Loren Roberts, than drive the ball long distances. But Roberts missed the most important putt in his life at Oakmont in '94 at the 72 hole, a fairly easy 4 footer and the glory of being U.S. Open Champion. Well… I guess it's never easy to make a putt of any length to capture a major championship; Doug Sanders, Ed Sneed, and Scott Hoch all missed short putts to lose the biggest title they almost won. Ironically the men who benefited from their misses were Jack Nicklaus, Fuzzy Zoeller, and Nick Faldo, all of whom went on to win more majors.

Ever notice that one brother is always a much better player than their siblings? Tommy and John Jacobs, Dave and Mike Hill, Lanny and Bobby Wadkins, Curtis and Allen Strange, David and Danny Edwards, Tom and Curt Byrum, Jim and Jeff Gallagher and Kevin and David Sutherland. Sometimes the universe rights a wrong and the roles reverse on the Senior Circuit; at least they have in the case of John Jacobs, Mike Hill, and Bobby Wadkins. Does anybody know how many hours we have left until Augusta?
-Andrew

Honda Classic Day Two

Brian Davis continued his solid play, getting around P.G.A. National in 67 strokes. Brian, a little known Englishmen, arrived in South Florida playing very poorly. His best finish this year was 26th at the Bob Hope Desert Classic. Matt Jones, also relatively unknown, was a graduate of the Nationwide Tour last year and turned in a 3-under 67.

Dudley Hart who is back on Tour after sitting out last year on a medical exemption, fired a 66 to continue his solid play this year. Hart, a college teammate of Chris DiMarco and Pat Bates, has all ready banked $323,000 this year, good for 49th on the money list. Ben Crane, also on a medical exemption this year, is tied with promising Californian John Mallinger.

Ernie Els is in search of his first win in the states in a long time. The Big Easy posted 3-under, tied with several players: Robert Allenby, Joe Durant and Argentinen Jose Coceres. Jose who lost in the playoff last year, won twice in 2001 but hasn’t hoisted up a trophy since then.

First round leader Luke Donald returned to Earth and could only muster 4-over, sliding all the way to 12th place. First round contenders Tim Wilkinson and Jimmy Walker had rounds over par and barely made the cut as also did the reclusive Davis Love III. Rich Beem, David Duval, Fred Funk and defending champion Mark Wilson all have the weekend off. Having spent several years wintering in West Palm...okay I was caddying for hackers to pay the rent... I would recommend hanging out at the Breakers and enjoy the beach!