Masters hangover

I’m just about recovered from my Masters hangover… Regularly scheduled HOG content to resume today or tomorrow!

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Masters hangover

Fred Couples and his skateboard shoes lead the Masters

While watching the Tuesday practice round at the Masters this week we followed Fred Couples around on hole #9 and hole #10. We noticed the Ecco shoes and that he had no spikes. In fact my dad popped some pictures of the shoes (left). He does this to help reduce the impact of walking on

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Fred Couples and his skateboard shoes lead the Masters

Fred Couples and his skateboard shoes lead the Masters

While watching the Tuesday practice round at the Masters this week we followed Fred Couples around on hole #9 and hole #10. We noticed the Ecco shoes and that he had no spikes. In fact my dad popped some pictures of the shoes (left). He does this to help reduce the impact of walking on

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Fred Couples and his skateboard shoes lead the Masters

Tiger’s Look at Augusta: Striped and Serious

The folks at Nike Golf have released the “script” of what Tiger Woods and other Nike-sponsored players will wear at the Masters tournament April 8-11. There are no big surprises. Woods is wearing a typical (for him) sequence of striped shirts with solid-colored trousers, finishing with the expected reddish shirt, with a complicated crisscross overstripe, on Sunday. If you look at what other Nike pros are wearing — including Stewart Cink, Trevor Immelman, and Anthony Kim - you can spot a few clear differences or contrasts. All the other guys wear white on at least one day and have a softer palette in general. Woods does not wear white. In fact, he will wear black trousers and black cap on three out of four days. It's a bit of a “bad” look for golf's most famous (and notorious) athlete. But let's not read much into it. According to the company, the clothes were decided upon months ago (the graphic images are dated 9-10-09) — well before the golfer's infidelity scandals were revealed. Never a fashion plate by any means, Woods has always tended toward the serious, athletic look. He looks to be all-business next week at Augusta National. ( Provided by Nike Golf. )

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Tigers Look at Augusta: Striped and Serious

2010 Fantasy Golf – Weeks 4-7 Results

My fantasy team has been slacking bad as well as my fantasy updates because of my schedule. It has been a busy time for the last month or so with trips such as the Puerto Rico Open and such. So my apologies for not updating the standings for a bit. FANTASY

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2010 Fantasy Golf Weeks 4-7 Results

Furyk ends drought, wins Transitions Championship

PALM HARBOR, Fla. A PGA Tour winner again after 32 long months, Jim Furyk walked into an interview room at Innisbrook with a three-page transcript that had been folded in half.

It wasnt a statement or a speech. They werent even his words.

As Furyk was finishing off a messy 18th hole that wrapped up a most beautiful victory at the Transitions Championship, ESPN and the Golf Channel broadcast the first interviews of Tiger Woods since his Nov. 27 accident, which set off a shocking sex scandal that has dominated sports news the last four months.

Furyk, one of the closest players to Woods on tour, feigned disappointed and joked, No one was watching me, then.

Considering how long it had been since his last tour victory 58 tournaments over 32 months dating to the 2007 Canadian Open he didnt seem terribly bothered.

You know what? Tomorrow, the paper is going to read that I won the golf tournament, and I dont really care if its a three-page spread or a little blurb in the corner of the paper because the article is about him, Furyk said.

I won the damn thing, and it really doesnt matter to me.

The timing was coincidental in at least one respect.

While it only counted in the world ranking, Furyk won the Chevron World Challenge against a world-class field of 18 players in December, a tournament hosted by Woods when this sordid saga was just beginning to unfold.

This was more about Furyk, and a badly needed victory.

He almost wanted it too badly.

The facts no matter how much space or attention they receive will show that Furyk closed with a 2-under 69 for a one-shot victory over K.J. Choi, and that he earned $972,000 for his 14th career victory.

It was a final round that was at times brilliant, at times sloppy, and uncertain to the very end, which includes weather delays of nearly six hours that left in doubt whether the tournament would end on Sunday.

Whenever he felt the most pressure, Furyk answered with crisp iron shots and clutch putts. No sooner had he built a cushion, Furyk managed to keep it interesting with bogeys, including a trio of three-putt bogeys on the par 3s.

He simply couldnt get out of his way.

I made it difficult, theres no doubt, said Furyk, who finished at 13-under 271. It seemed like every time K.J. got close I was able to bounce right back and hit some really good shots, make a bunch of birdies and get some more distance. And then as soon as I got the distance, I went back to making that same mistake again, or he played well.

It worked out in the end, but getting there was quite the ride.

As a small consolation prize, being the runner-up meant Choi goes from No. 75 to No. 47 in the world ranking, and he only needs to stay in the top 50 after the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill this week to secure an invitation to the Masters.

Upon hearing this news, Choi raised his arms in strongman style with a wide grin.

Its actually better than what I thought I would be at this point, Choi said. So definitely Ive exceeded my expectations. All I can say is I will try my best next week to maintain or better that position.

Equally surprising is that he had a chance several of them as did Bubba Watson, who shot 68 and finished third.

Furyk had a three-shot lead, which was erased by Chois four birdies through six holes. The turning point for Furyk came at the par-3 eighth, when he rolled in a birdie and Choi missed the green and made bogey, a two-shot swing that Choi never made up.

Furyk knocked in a 35-foot birdie putt on the 12th as Watson was starting to make a move, and after Furyk three-putted the 13th, he answered with another splendid shot, a knockdown 8-iron from 136 yards into the breeze to 3 feet for birdie on the par-5 14th.

And then came another three-putt bogey.

Furyk failed to hit the green in regulation on the final two holes, but he escaped with pars on the first two a lag from 80 feet off the green on the 16th to tap-in range, and a superb bunker shot from sand that had been washed out by the earlier rain to 8 feet on the 17th.

More negative thinking crept into his head. Furyk had hit the ball beautifully on the 18th all week, but knowing that a tee shot left could lead to a big number, he hit right into the trees. Trying to advance the ball close to the green, he hit what Furyk called a half-shank that nearly took out NBC Sports reporter Roger Maltbie.

I have a habit of making it tough on myself, Furyk said. Just nerves got me, to be honest with you.

From a good lie in the rough, Furyk kept his shot pin-high and removed all drama by lagging that par putt to an inch, assured victory when Choi failed to chip in for birdie from just short of the green.

And thats when the Woods interview began, although it was only about five minutes.

Pretty much the same stuff that we already knew, said Furyk, who managed to scan one page of the transcript. But I think its good for him to get his face out there and have people see him. They are going to make their judgments, but I think it allows him to kind of move on and get focused for the next thing.

The good news for Furyk? He no longer has to focus on the past.

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Furyk ends drought, wins Transitions Championship

Acushnet to sell Cobra brand to Puma – WOW

Wow this is big. Acushnet (parent company to Titleist, FootJoy, Cobra and Pinnacle) has agreed to sell the Cobra brand and all intellectual property to Puma. This is a big wow.

Press release below:

Acushnet Company Announces Agreement To Sell Cobra Golf To Puma
Fairhaven, MA (March 10, 2010) Acushnet Company, the golf business of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), announced today that it has signed an agreement for the sale of Cobra Golf to PUMA AG. The sale includes the Cobra brand, as well as related inventory, intellectual property and endorsement contracts, and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Acushnet also announced plans to continue to provide services for an agreed upon period of time beyond the closing of the sale to facilitate a seamless transition. Services such as production, distribution, field sales and customer service will ensure that Acushnet Companys Cobra trade accounts and golfers continue to receive industry-leading service during this transition period.

With the sale of Cobra, we have the opportunity to devote all of our resources to the global growth of our industry-leading Titleist and FootJoy brands, said Wally Uihlein, Chairman and CEO of Acushnet Company. At the same time, Cobra is a strong brand with a heritage of innovation, and we wish the quality associates guiding the brand future success. Golfers and our valued partners will remain the key focus throughout the impending sale and we are confident that our customers will continue to be serviced to our high standards.

Pending regulatory approval, the effective date of the sale of Cobra Golf to PUMA is expected to be early in the second quarter, and all business will continue to be conducted by Acushnet Company until that time. All Acushnet Company associates dedicated to the Cobra business are expected to become employees of PUMA. Financial terms of the pending transaction were not disclosed.

Titleist and FootJoy are powerful golf brands that are poised for long-term growth, continued Uihlein. This laser focus and our longstanding commitment to deliver superior performance and quality will strengthen golfers trust in the Titleist and FootJoy brands in all global markets.

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Acushnet to sell Cobra brand to Puma WOW

Bunker Shots: Home of a Monster and Trump’s playground

Blasting into the week ahead, from the home of a Monster to Trump’s playground . . .

WGC-CA Championship

Feverish, shaky and drenched in cold sweat . . .

No, that isnt how PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has been waking mornings since Tiger Woods drove into a neighbors fire hydrant three months ago. Its how Phil Mickelson felt sleeping on the 54-hole lead the last time the WGC-CA Championship was staged at Doral.

Mickelson won at Doral despite suffering from a bout of food poisoning on the eve of last years final round.

Mickelson is back to defend his title at whats now being called the TPC Blue Monster at Doral, and theres something ailing him again. Hes been sluggish, out-of-sorts and just not himself so far this season. This time he appears to be suffering from a bout of ordinary golf, a malady far more difficult to win with than food poisoning.

Longtime fans of Dorals PGA Tour stop are fighting a sickening feel, too. The event begins with CA having yet to announce it will renew title sponsorship after its contract runs out at the end of this week.

Stance: If you stuck a thermometer in Leftys mouth, you might detect some frost. Mickelsons gone cold. In fact, you can argue this is the coldest hes been in a decade upon his arrival for the Florida Swing. Thats more a testament to Mickelsons past success on the West Coast Swing than an indictment of his uninspired form this season. In four starts, Mickelsons logged one top-10 finish. We know Mickelson can get off to slow starts, but this is his slowest since 2000, when he didnt have a top 10 in his first five starts. With Woods on the shelf, Mickelsons failed to capitalize on an opportunity to gain ground on the worlds No. 1. Of course, its all about the majors for Lefty, and hes still got a month to heat up for the Masters.

Takeaway: Hurry up, fellas. It looks like the money grab in World Golf Championship events is winding down with news that Woods is intensifying his work at Isleworth for a possible return. You could argue that Woods skipping the CA Championship is akin to tournament officials announcing theyre adding $1,530,000 to the purse. Thats the first-place check Woods would be eyeing if he were in the field. Woods is far more a sure thing in WGC events than he is in majors. Throw out the two-man team World Cups that were staged as WGC events, and 33 WGC tournaments have been played since they were initiated in 1999. Woods has won more than half of them. Hes won as many WGC titles (17) as Curtis Strange won PGA Tour titles. He has more WGC titles than Tom Weiskopf (16), Ernie Els (16) and Mark OMeara (16) have PGA Tour titles.

Bunker shot: Best player never to win a WGC title? Mickelson took his name out of that mix last year winning the CA Championship and the HSBC Champions. Who does that leave? Sergio Garcia isnt just in the running for best player never to win a major, hes also never won a WGC title. Neither have Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Jim Furyk.

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Bunker Shots: Home of a Monster and Trump’s playground

Jim McLean gives Doral intimidating one-two punch

MIAMI For amateurs and PGA Tour golfers alike, the TPC Blue Monster at Doral is one of South Florida’s most daunting tests. And with the recent opening of the Jim McLean Signature Course at Doral, the resort now boasts the most intimidating one-two punch in the Southeast.

For more golf in South Florida, or to plan your next trip, visit FloridaGolf.com

The 18-hole championship layout, formerly known as the Silver Course, was redesigned by noted golf instructor Jim McLean, who not only has his flagship golf school at Doral but also was lauded for his redesign of the Blue Monster in 1999.

“That worked out very well,” McLean said of his 1999 project. “The top tour players came back to Doral. They loved the changes back to the original Dick Wilson look. Our rounds of golf were taking close to six hours, and that dropped way back to under five hours.”

But while the TPC Blue Monster is most notorious for one hole its water-lined, par-4 finisher the Jim McLean course for which McLean consulted Tom Fazio has three holes in succession that will grab your attention. The trio is aptly dubbed the Bermuda Triangle.

The adventure begins at the par-4 13th, where players must avoid a lake that hugs the right side of the fairway from tee to green. The fairway is broad, but there’s little room for error down the right side of the fairway, which runs to the edge of the water.

No. 14 is considered the signature hole at the Jim McLean course, and for good reason. This island-green par 3 is as diabolical as it is visually stunning. It’s like No. 17 on the Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass, but the green is smaller, and there’s a little more rough around the green. Good luck!

No. 15 is the easiest of the Bermuda Triangle holes, but for the third straight hole, any shot right of the target will meet a watery grave. The elevated, two-tiered green is this hole’s greatest defense. Play a fairway metal or hybrid off the tee, and you’ll have a simple approach shot. Like the other holes in the Bermuda Triangle, par here is a great score.

A tough beginning on the Jim McLean Signature Course at Doral

Don’t get ahead of yourself, though. Before you get to the Bermuda Triangle, you’ll have to navigate your way through a difficult opening stretch.

“The first three holes from the back tees are the toughest starting holes in Florida and likely the U.S.A.,” McLean said.

So why make the course so difficult? McLean says it’s all about creating a memorable golf experience.

“Golfers are not traveling to play mediocre golf courses,” he said. “The idea was always to get our guests at Doral to take the shuttle over to the Jim McLean course and also to have golfers traveling to South Florida make this a ‘must-play’ golf course.”

Upgrades at Doral Golf Resort & Spa

If you thought the Jim McLean Signature Course is the only thing Doral has going on, think again. It’s just one item on a $16 million list of upgrades the resort is making. Other projects include a partnership with the PGA Tour’s TPC to rename the Blue Monster, TPC Blue Monster at Doral, as well as the enhancement of The Great White Course and Gold Course with TifEagle greens.

A $5 million renovation of the spa and a new Latin-inspired steakhouse are also among the upgrades, which will be finalized in time for the resort’s 50th anniversary in 2012.

The golf star in Miami shines brighter because of Doral Resort & Spa and the new Jim McLean Signature Course at Doral. But don’t be caught star-gazing or bogey beckons.

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Jim McLean gives Doral intimidating one-two punch

Falcon’s Fire ups Orlando golf ante

KISSIMMEE, Fla. When Falcons Fire Golf Club opened in 1993, the Orlando golf scene looked a lot different than it does today behemoths Reunion Resort, ChampionsGate and Orange County National simply didnt exist yet.

Fast-forward to today and there are about 75 golf courses in Orlando.

For more golf in Orlando, or to plan your next trip, visit OrlandoGolf.com

Recognizing the old adage, if youre standing still youre falling behind, Falcons Fire completed a renovation in Oct. 2009 that included new greens, which were resurfaced with TifEagle turf. Bunkers also were reworked to make the course more visually intimidating. The result is Falcons Fires reemergence as one of Orlandos elite daily-fee golf courses.

Utilize the run-up shot

Designed by Rees Jones, the course features plenty of water particularly on the back nine but most holes dont have any short of the green. This design characteristic gives the course flexibility by allowing the weekend hacker to enjoy the course without losing a million golf balls, while still challenging the better ball-striker by making him or her consider trajectory on approach shots.

About the only holes where the run-up shot cannot be used is on the par-3s, which are diverse in distance but require an aerial attack.

Creating virtual movement

If you look at Falcons Fire on a scorecard it appears as though most holes are straight, but fairway bunkers frame the holes in such a way that careful thought should go into the placement of your tee shot.

No. 2, for example, is a simple short par-4 but a drive down the right side flirts with a bunker, and gives players a tough angle into the green even if he or she is in the fairway. The proper play is a left-to-right shot down the left side of the fairway.

No. 12 has the opposite effect, where tee shots left feed toward a bunker and leave you with a narrow angle into the green.

Nos. 2 and 12 appear straight but require a dogleg-type tee shot. If you miss it on the wrong side of the fairway, be prepared to hit your approach shot into the skinny part of the green.

New greens are faster, more undulating

Just like a steak knife, green contours get duller over time, so the renovation at Falcons Fire included a fresh sharpening. While the increase in undulation isnt drastic from a visual standpoint, when you add fast greens to the mix its a tricky combination.

And while were on the subject of green speed, youll want to pay attention to the new TifEagle surfaces. Speed and smoothness of greens is arguably the most important characteristic in determining the overall quality of a golf course, and the new surfaces at Falcons Fire are some of the purest in town.

With the combination of speed and undulation at Falcons Fire, putts from above the hole require a surgeons touch.

Factor the wind

If youve played golf in Florida you know that the terrain is flat and exposed, and its not uncommon for the wind to blow 20-25 mph on any given day, no matter the season. Falcons Fire is no exception to this rule, and if the greens are running fast the wind can play an even larger role.

The green at No. 13 is particularly tricky because of its tiered design and position along a lake that sits exposed to the elements.

The verdict

With the recent renovation at Falcons Fire you can bet that conditions are some of the best in the area, and its close proximity to Disney (3 miles) means its convenient for the Mickey-goers.

With a rack rate of $129 Falcons Fire is right on par with the areas other high-end daily-fee courses. One aspect that makes it stand out amongst some of the resort courses in its price range is that its a stand-alone golf course with no hotel, so you dont have to book a stay-and-play to get the best rate all golfers are treated equally.

If youre considering a trip to Central Florida for MLB spring training, check out Falcons Fires Hats Off promotion, which offers golfers $30 off green fees between March 4 and April 3, 2010 if you play in your favorite baseball teams hat.

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Falcon’s Fire ups Orlando golf ante

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