In The Rough

Delio advances at Cal Amateur

2009-06-25T22:27:34Z

Nick Delio of Valencia advanced to the quarterfinals of the California State Amateur today at Lake Merced.
Delio, who plays for Cal State Northridge, is the defending champion of the event, which he won last year at Lakeside Golf Club. Delio, the No. 2 seed, won his match against Micah Burke of Los Angeles, 4 and 3. Semi-finals and finals are on Saturday.

Lucas Glover...U.S. Open champion

2009-06-22T17:23:24Z

Lucas Glover, who has just one PGA Tour win under his belt, is now the U.S. Open champion. He holed out a shot to win the FUNAI Class in 2005. But at Bethpage, Glover had two cracks at a four-foot putt on 18 to win. He just needed one putt to win it.

Caddie gift bags at the U.S. Open

2009-06-19T04:50:06Z

Caddie Charlene Alfonso (Agoura High, UCLA) had a chuckle when she received her U.S. Open gift bag. She's one of few female caddies. Like the male caddies, Alfonso received men's cologne, deodorant and mustache-trimming scissors.
Alfonso is caddying for Mike Miles, who plays out of Virginia Country Club in Long Beach. On Tuesday, he played a practice round with John Merrick, John Mallinger and Peter Tomasulo, who are all on the PGA Tour and play out of Virginia as well. Miles was originally scheduled to play a practice round with Tiger Woods on Wednesday, but that didn't pan out.

Bethpage Black under rain

2009-06-19T04:46:09Z

The first round of the U.S. Open was cut short by rain. Workers were out on the greens to squeegee the water off but it got to be too much where they couldn't keep up. The round was played for just three hours before it was suspended. It's not likely the first and second rounds will be finished tomorrow.

Emotional Phil returns to tour

2009-06-10T21:22:36Z

Phil Mickelson returns to the PGA Tour this week, and it's been an emotional stretch in dealing with his wife, Amy's, diagnosis of breast cancer. He's preparing to play in the U.S. Open. Here's an article on Mickelson first chat with reporters since learning of Amy's diagnosis.

Charlie Wi qualifies for U.S. Open

2009-06-09T23:59:00Z

Charlie Wi (Westlake High) qualified for the U.S. Open on Monday out of the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier out of Saticoy Country Club. Wi has never played in the U.S. Open. The only other major he's played in was last year's PGA Championship, where he tied for ninth.

In the words of Tiger Woods

2009-06-02T17:38:53Z

Here is Tiger Woods' monthly newsletter. There's a lot to catch up on, including his thoughts on playing at Bethpage Black again, his tournament at Congressional, Lakers or Magic and much more:

]]>

NEWSLETTER

June 2, 2009

By Tiger Woods

I'm looking forward to competing again at the Memorial Tournament. I've been working hard on my game since The Players Championship, although we've had a lot of rain recently in the Orlando area. It rained six inches one day at Isleworth Country Club.

In six starts this year, I've won once and had five Top 10 finishes, which isn't too bad considering how long I was away from the game after my knee surgery. It's just frustrating when you're in position to win and don't get it done. I just need more repetitions.

I recently hosted Tiger Jam XII presented by AT&T in Las Vegas. No Doubt kicked off their first tour in five years - it was an incredible concert, and we were able to raise more than $1 million for my Foundation. I'm very grateful to the donors, sponsors and fans who helped us. Special thanks to Ben Roethlisberger for lending his support as well. I made a purchase during the silent auction: a one-of-a-kind guitar autographed by Bruce Springsteen. I'm a huge fan and saw him play in Australia. I also got to spend some time with three students from our programs - Alma, David and Ramses. They were phenomenal and their stories really helped the crowd get into the spirit of the night.

On a more somber note, Elin and I were saddened to hear that Amy Mickelson has breast cancer. She's such a great person and it's a shame she and her family have to deal with this. Hopefully, the prognosis is good and she can make a fast and full recovery. I called Phil to offer our support. This is a tough time for the Mickelson family and we're all thinking about them.

I was also sorry to hear about the death of former ABC fairway reporter Bob Rosburg. Like me, he attended Stanford University and won a PGA Championship. I just remember him always saying you had no shot. Rossie was very good at his job and in tune with all the players.

On a happier note, it was awesome to hear that Jose Maria Olazabal has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame. I always enjoy playing with Ollie, because I learn so much from how he chips and manages his game. He has a phenomenal understanding of how clubs work around the greens with different lies.

In July, I'll be hosting the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club. We have a great field, headed by defending champ Anthony Kim. Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Danny Lee, Sean O'Hair and Nick Watney have also committed, making this year's field pretty strong. The course is in fantastic shape as well, so I'm really looking forward to playing against those guys and hopefully posting a W.

I recently had a chance to meet with President Obama in the White House. I would love to be able to play golf with him and just talk. Maybe one day we can do that. He's got a lot on his plate, but is a very down-to-earth person, especially for someone who is the leader of the free world.

I got a tour of the White House. What I especially enjoyed was learning about its history and details about all the different rooms. It was pretty neat stepping back in time. I also enjoyed talking with the Secret Service agents.

The U.S. Open will be here soon. I'm definitely going to try to go to Bethpage to play and take a look at the course. They've made a few changes since I won there in 2002 and I want to check them out.

I'm really torn about the NBA finals. I grew up a die-hard Los Angeles Lakers fan, but have season tickets to Orlando Magic games. Hopefully, it will be a great series.

Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you soon.

Tiger

TIGER'S TIP

By Tiger Woods, Golf Digest Playing Editor, Edited By Pete McDaniel and Mark Soltau

What's changed in my swing

More stability means a good move into the ball

My reconstructed left knee enables me to finally make the swing that my instructor, Hank Haney, and I have been working on for years. That's because my legwork is so much better with a knee that doesn't shift all over the place and is pain-free for the first time in 10 years. I'm excited that I can hit shots I couldn't hit before without making compensations in my swing.

This driver sequence, taken the week of my win at Bay Hill, shows my normal setup and backswing as I load up on my right side to the top. On the downswing, my arms are coming down in front of my body; my shoulders are turning forward, and my arms aren't swinging past my turn at all. You can also see that I'm making a lateral move toward the target while transferring my weight to my left leg. This is something I really couldn't do before. I'm able to make this lateral move by shifting my hips forward instead of backing them up through the hit--a habit I'd developed to protect my knee from further injury and, quite frankly, because it hurt like heck sometimes when I didn't. When I would back up, my tendency was to hit the ball to the right. Sometimes I could save the shot with my hands, but it was pretty difficult to do, especially with consistency.

Another difference is, now I can really post up: My left leg stays flexed into impact and straightens in the follow-through. Before, it would straighten well before then. This better leg action allows a natural release and extension down the line.

Click here to see the swing sequence photos of Tiger's Swing

Mickelson to return for U.S. Open

2009-06-02T05:31:45Z

Phil Mickelson, who's on hiatus from the PGA Tour to be with his wife, Amy, who is battling breast cancer, will play in the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, the Associated Press reported. Mickelson will play in the St. Jude Championship in
Memphis, Tenn., this month, then
play the following week in the U.S. Open, according to the report.

Jerry West named exec director of Northern Trust

2009-05-28T18:34:26Z

Jerry West has been named the executive director of the Northern Trust Open. He replaces Tom Pulchinski. We'll see if West can convince Tiger Woods to put Riviera back on his schedule.
Here's the release:

]]> erry West named executive director of
>the PGA
>TOUR's Northern Trust Open
>Jerry West named executive director of the
> PGA TOURs Northern Trust Open
> TOURs Championship Management division to partner with
> Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce
>
>PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL May 28, 2009
>
>The PGA TOUR and Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce (LAJCC) today
>announced an agreement whereby the TOURs Championship Management
>division
>and the LAJCC will partner to accelerate the growth of the Northern
>Trust
>Open. As part of this partnership, Los Angeles sports icon Jerry West
>has
>been named executive director of the Northern Trust Open and will
>work to
>raise the profile and charitable impact of one of the most storied
>events
>on the PGA TOUR schedule.
>
>This is the beginning of something very special, for not only me,
>but more
>importantly, for the Northern Trust Open and the community of Los
>Angeles,
>said West. My involvement with the Northern Trust Open is my way of
>giving back to the city that has given me so much. For more than 40
>years,
>I have taken all of the love that Los Angeles has offered me this
>is my
>chance to do something for the community that has been so great to
>me.
>
>The Northern Trust Open is more than a golf tournament. Its an
>opportunity to bring all of LA together to make an impact on this
>great
>city, to grow the programs associated with the event those that
>help
>children across the city and those that are so desperately needed,
>especially in these economic times. Its an honor to become a part of
>the
>Northern Trust Open and work to make this event the absolute best in
>the
>world.
>
>As the face of the Northern Trust Open, West will help to build out
>the
>tournaments L.A. Legends Club, a group of Los Angeles-area leaders
>who
>will serve as ambassadors, helping to educate the community about the
>Northern Trust Open and all that it has done, and will do, for Los
>Angeles.
>West will work to further engage the community through public
>appearances
>and speaking engagements and drive leads, both in sales and in
>support.
>Wests ultimate goal is to raise the profile of the Northern Trust
>Open in
>order to greater impact its charitable beneficiary, the LAJCC Charity
>Foundation.
>
>The Northern Trust Open has a long and storied history in Los
>Angeles, and
>all of the elements for a top-tier event already exist, said PGA
>TOUR
>Commissioner Tim Finchem. Riviera is a great course; the city of
>Los
>Angeles offers one of the most dynamic, diverse communities in the
>world;
>and Northern Trust is an incredible title sponsor. Adding a legend
>like
>Jerry West to the mix someone who brings unlimited enthusiasm and
>love
>for the city of Los Angeles, the game of golf and local charitable
>programs
> will no doubt help us make the Northern Trust Open one of the best
>stops
>on the PGA TOUR, as well as one of the most impactful events on the
>community of Los Angeles.
>
>Jerrys passion for Los Angeles and his drive to give back to the
>community make him an excellent choice to lead the Northern Trust
>Open,
>said Rick Waddell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northern
>Trust.
>We are thrilled to welcome him into the role and look forward to
>working
>together to elevate the economic and charitable impact of this
>historic
>tournament.
>
>One of the best shooting guards in professional basketball history,
>West
>went on to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to basketball dominance during
>the
>last quarter of the 20th century, first as head coach and later as
>general
>manager and executive vice president. After nearly four decades with
>the
>Lakers organization, West stepped down in 2000, but it did not take
>him
>long to get back to work. In October 2002, West was hired as
>president of
>the Memphis Grizzlies, a young organization that had not yet made it
>into
>the playoffs. Nicknamed Mr. Clutch for his reputation for saving
>the game
>with last-minute heroics, West is the model for the silhouetted
>figure who
>is the focal point of the NBA logo.
>
>As a player from 1960 through 1974, West became only the third player
>in
>NBA history to reach the 25,000-point plateau. He still holds the NBA
>record for the most free throws (840 in 1965-66) made in a single
>season.
>Only five years after leaving the game as a player, West was inducted
>into
>the NBA Hall of Fame in 1979. As his biography on the NBAs Web site
>states, West brought to the game a deadly jump shot, tenacious
>defense,
>obsessive perfectionism, unabashed confidence, and an uncompromising
>will
>to win.
>
>The TOURs Championship Management division, which has extensive
>experience
>running tournaments in major markets, assisted the LAJCC with the
>2009
>tournament (Feb. 16-22) at Riviera Country Club. Moving forward,
>Championship Management will fully utilize its assets and management
>expertise to operate the tournament in conjunction with the LAJCC.
>The
>youth-oriented programs that the LAJCC oversees and supports will
>remain
>primary beneficiaries of the tournament.
>
>We have had extensive discussions with the LAJCC regarding its host
>role
>with the Northern Trust Open and its growing desire to concentrate on
>the
>critically important youth-oriented activities with which it is
>involved,
>said David Pillsbury, Executive Vice President of Championship
>Management.
>Given the amount of time and manpower necessary to elevate a
>tournament
>the caliber of the Northern Trust Open, we agreed to assist the LAJCC
>through 2009 and take an even more active role in our partnership
>going
>forward. We have nothing but the highest regard and deepest
>appreciation
>for the many years of dedicated service the LAJCC have provided to
>the
>Northern Trust Open, dating back more than 80 years. Los Angeles
>obviously
>is a tremendous market and we have a great sponsor and certainly, an
>outstanding, historic venue. We look forward to continuing our
>partnership
>with the LAJCC and extremely excited about the future and growth
>potential
>for the Northern Trust Open.
>
>Championship Management currently runs 12 events on the Champions
>Tour and
>PGA TOUR, including THE PLAYERS Championship, two PGA TOUR Playoffs
>for the
>FedExCup events The Barclays in the New York City area and THE TOUR
>Championship presented by Coca-Cola in Atlanta four World Golf
>Championships events and The Presidents Cup, which will be played in
>San
>Francisco later this year.
>
>The LAJCCs will continue to be closely involved with the tournament
>in
>partnership with Championship management on operations, volunteerism
>and
>benefiting from its charitable proceeds, said Robert Yamamoto,
>Executive
>Director of the LAJCC. We are extremely proud of the role we have
>played
>as the host organization for 83 years and growing its relevance in
>the Los
>Angeles community. At the same time, we recognize that partnering
>with the
>PGA TOUR and leveraging its worldwide assets would only positively
>impact
>the tournament. In an effort to maximize the future growth of the
>Northern
>Trust Open and the charitable impact it can have in the greater Los
>Angeles
>area, we are excited to partner with the PGA TOUR and call upon the
>TOURs
>expertise in managing championships in major markets throughout the
>United
>States.
>
>While West will serve as executive director, the TOUR announced that
>Mike
>Bone has been named general manager of the Northern Trust Open and
>will
>oversee strategic planning and day-to-day operations of the event in
>concert with the TOURs Championship Management staff. Bone comes to
>this
>position from his own company, Spectrum Sports Management LLC, which
>he
>started in 2001. At Spectrum, Bone directed the marketing,
>sponsorship and
>advertising for the AT&T Champions Classic, part of the Champions
>Tour
>schedule. Bone also served as the race director for the OC
>Marathon,
>Disneyland Half Marathon, Surf City Run 5K, Redondo Beach Super Bowl
>Run
>10K/5K and multiple smaller runs and charity golf tournaments. Bone
>is a
>graduate of UC Irvine. He has been involved in owning and operating
>sports
>marketing companies in Southern California for 20 years and is an
>acknowledged leader and expert in sponsorship packaging and sales for
>teams, organizations and individual athletes.
>
>Tom Pulchinski will continue to direct the LAJCCs involvement with
>the
>Northern Trust Open.
>
>What started as the Los Angeles Open is one of the longest-running
>tournaments on the PGA TOUR, debuting in 1926 at Los Angeles Country
>Club.
>It had been staged at various courses throughout the Los Angeles area
>before permanently settling at Riviera Country Club in 1973. Outside
>of the
>major championships, the Northern Trust Open is the fourth-oldest
>event on
>TOUR, trailing only the BMW Championship, the Canadian Open and the
>Valero
>Texas Open.

Need a golf tournament?

2009-05-27T16:50:15Z

... The California Packing Club will host its annual fundraiser tournament at 1 p.m. June 9 at Industry Hills Golf Club. Cost is $130 per person. Contact Mike at 818-700-1440 or moneil@americancontainers.com

Slow play from the back tees

2009-05-22T20:15:25Z

Tried to get 18 holes in before it got dark the other day. I barely made it, no thanks to a couple of slow groups on the back nine.

What really got me was the foursome I joined on the final hole in a desperate hope to be able to read my line on the 18th green.

They were playing from the blue tees, the longest on the course. One of the guys, a left-hander, warned me to watch out when I pulled my cart up perpendicular to the tee box. He was right ... he nearly hit me.

The guy in the cart with him received an unfortunate lie next to a fairway bunker, his ball just sitting up on the grass outside the bunker, while he had both feet in the sand at address. He proceeded to whiff five times and on his sixth try the ball moved about three inches. He fanned again before finally making contact.

These guys should have been playing from the executive tees, not the blues.

One of the biggest causes of slow play is players using the incorrect tee boxes.

I used to play the back tees ... when I had a handicap bordering on single digits in my early 20s and hit the ball pretty good with my persimmon driver. Unfortunately, improved technology -- both clubs and balls -- makes everyone think they're Phil Mickelson.

I'm in my early 40s and carry a 14 handicap. I look at the scorecard when I get to the course and try to play the tees that are closest to 6,000 yards. Some courses those are the whites and some the blues. But 6,000 yards is my comfort zone, where I feel I have a chance to play my best.

That other slow group during my round was what ended up being a fivesome in front of me (a combination of a couple of groups that had joined together because of the pace of play). They invited me to join them on the 16th hole. I waited until all five had teed off from the blue tees, then walked up to the whites and hit a solid drive. Point is, I don't care what tees you're playing, I'm going to play what's appropriate for me.

I recently played a round with an old friend who just retired. He insisted we play the blue tees, yet he didn't reach a green in regulation until the back nine because the holes were too long for him. He didn't break 100 and even on good days shoots in the mid-90s. Wouldn't he get more enjoyment out of the game if he could reach a few more greens in two and make some pars and maybe even a birdie or two?

The greens fees at that course for a weekend round were about $75. Why torture yourself from the back tees when you're already paying more than $4 per hole. Shouldn't getting your credit-card statement be enough of a hardship? Seems you're paying for a good time, which nobody is going to have when there are hackers playing slowly from the back tees.

Mickelson leaving PGA Tour indefinitely as wife has cancer

2009-05-20T17:13:08Z

Phil Mickelson is leaving the PGA Tour indefinitely to be with his wife, Amy Mickelson, who has breast cancer.

Phil's kiss cam

2009-05-13T23:00:28Z

Quite a funny moment during last night's Lakers-Rockets game. Phil Mickelson and his wife, Amy, were sitting courtside and were spotted on the JumboTron during the kiss cam. However, there was a man standing in front of them, blocking fans' view of the Mickelsons. Fans started booing and it took a while before someone sitting next to them got the man to move out of the way, and the Mickelsons kissed.

National golf today

2009-05-13T22:35:55Z

Today is National Golf Day! And it's a good time for golfers to think about the proposed sales tax on playing golf in California. For more information, check out www.forecalifornia.com.

]]> Today, golf representatives are carrying the message of golf's "positive impacts to lives and livelihoods" on the second annual National Golf Day. Here in California, while many golf courses are struggling in the current economic environment, golf remains a vital contributor through jobs and charitable giving to the Golden State.

WHAT GOLF MEANS TO CALIFORNIA

160,000 jobs, directly in golf and in hospitality, retail and landscape employment
$6.9 billion in revenue, in 2006, to the California economy, contributing substantially to the state through tourism, property taxes, income taxes and taxes on golf merchandise

The biggest current threat to golf is a proposal to expand the sales tax to the playing of golf. Such a tax would negatively impact a golf industry integral to California's tourism and recreational economy at a time when the industry is already reeling from the recession, with fewer rounds being played and more courses closing than opening (see attached document).

In this environment, a proposal to tax golf will be detrimental to "working stiff" golfers who constitute the great majority of those who play and to an industry that provides jobs and dollars for California's economy.

You also may be surprised to learn that a golf tax will harm Californians who never pick up a golf club: Public golf courses provide critically needed financial support to vital city-county pool, playground and park programs enjoyed by kids and adults across the state.

It was reported in the Los Angeles Times that the city's Department of Recreation and Parks receives half of its $30-million revenues from golf fees. A loss of golf rounds from the tax will hurt the bottom line of park programs, which are already facing budget cuts. That means less money for a wide variety of services that, helped by golf, enrich many people's lives--including child care and after school youth programs and senior classes/field trips and meal programs. Said the Los Angeles Times in an article today on efforts to increase appreciation of the benefits that golf provides: "In Los Angeles, for example, a 6% drop in play at the municipal courses is expected to translate into about a $1-million drop in revenue to support recreation programs this year."

Golf's positive impacts in California include innovative industry initiatives on water conservation and recycling. The California Alliance for Golf is working proactively with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to achieve significant water use reductions, both in the current drought and in the longer term to address water stewardship issues.

For more information, please visit www.forecalifornia.com

Spotted: Anthony Kim

2009-05-05T05:32:59Z

Anthony Kim and George Lopez played a round of golf together at Lakeside last week. Lopez, a member at Lakeside, and Kim are friends. From what I've heard, the sight of the popular Kim traveled quickly around the clubhouse and members scurried out and surrounded the first green to watch Kim tee off. Kim promptly hooked his first two tee shots on the first hole into the parking lot. No even the Ryder Cup stars are perfect!