January 2011 Archives

The first Athletes Touch Open is Monday at Mountain Gate Country Club. Registration is 10-11 a.m. with a shotgun start for the scramble at noon. Former Laker Jerry West and ESPN analyst Marcellus Wiley will be guests of honor. To register, go to www.athletestouch.com or call 310-557-1923. The tournament benefits the American Red Cross and Athletes Touch. Registration is $195 for a single entrant or $700 for a foursome.

Asked about the rules infractions that have led to the disqualification of two players recently, Woods said: ``Well, I think it's our reponsibility as players to know the rules ...'' For more, check out this video:

European player Ian Poulter, who's from England, started calling Tiger Woods by his world ranking last December at the Chevron World Challenge. It was No. 2. Now, it's No. 3. Asked if it's all in fun or bothers him a bit, Woods said: ``No, no, no. I mean, granted, obviously, I have a few lines I've jabbed at him, but I won't put that out there like he does with me.'' (he said with a wry smile).

Joseph Bramlett is the recipient of this year's Northern Trust Open exemption. He was the first black golfer to advance through the tour's qualifying school since 1985. He already has his tour card, but with his rookie tour status and most of the world's best golfers usually playing in this event - except Tiger, that is - he would have never gotten in the field. Bramlett is 22 and went to Stanford. Tiger has taken him under his wing. In fact, the two were supposed to play a practice round together today at Torrey Pines, site of this week's Farmer's Insurance Open, but Woods canceled Sunday night.

If you're one of the few golf fans who hasn't seen this incredible shot, watch it now!

Tiger Woods' commitment to the Farmers Insurance Open next week changes everything. Everything is looking up for the event, which didn't have Woods the last two years.
``Everybody seems to think Tiger Woods committing to a PGA Tour event is the biggest thing in the world. And it is,'' tournament director Tom Wilson said with a laugh.

Tiger Woods has officially committed to play in next week's Farmers Insurance Open. He hasn't played there since 2008, when he won the U.S. Open in a playoff over Rocco Mediate. His injured knee was hurting so badly that he hobbled around the course to victory. This is a big day for the Farmers Insurance Open.

Phil Mickelson and Graeme McDowell are two of the big names who have committed to play in the Northern Trust Open next month at Riviera Country Club. Also committed are: Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Scott Verplank, Stuart Appleby, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan and STeve STricker. Stay tuned for more names, including the watch to see if Tiger adds the tournament back on his schedule, which is a rare thing for him to do. A player must commit to the NTO field by Feb. 11. The tournament is Feb. 17-20.

Anthony Kim made headlines for partying in Las Vegas most recently, not his golf. He was all over the map at the Chevron World Challenge, but he hopes to change that this year.

Canoga Park resident Gary Marshall, 69, was born without one arm. But he started playing golf at age 4 and now is the president of the Society of One-Armed Golfers. Here's the story.

ABC News has reported that while on vacation in Hawaii, President Obama and his group played golf for five hours but were unable to finish their round due to darkness. Here's the skinny from ABC:

``The president started his day as he has nearly everyday this vacation with an early morning workout at the Marine Corps Base close to his Kailua rental home.
Afterward the president played another round of golf at Luana Hills country club in Kailua. His golfing companions were friends from Hawaii and Chicago, Bobby Titcomb, Mike Ramos, and Marty Nesbitt.
The president did not get in 18 holes today, due to darkness setting in at sunset, although the group played for over five hours.''