It's been a while since Ernie Els found the winner's circle but pgatour.com provided some cool stats due to his win at the WGC CA.

Els moved back into the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking with his victory today at the CA Championship. He was last in the top 10 after a T6 at the Mercedes-Benz Championship. Els holds the Ranking record for the number of weeks in the top 10 (758 weeks). Last week marked Els' 900th successive week in the world top 50 last week (entered the top 50 on December 6, 1992), which is second only to Vijay Singh who entered the top 50 on March 1, 1992, and is currently on 942 successive weeks.

Els has won 11 of 16 times he has held or shared the 54-hole lead on the PGA TOUR, with an active streak of seven consecutive wins with the third-round lead.

Rick Arnett

The Wall Street Journal reports some enterprising MIT stat wonks have designed a better way to measure putting on Tour. They have derived a metric it calls "putts gained per round" that corrects for current deficiencies and provides a more accurate picture of every Tour player's true putting prowess.

The best putter in 2009 by this measure was Luke Donald, who gained an average of 0.905 strokes on the field by virtue of his putting skill alone. Mr. Stricker, who finished No. 1 in putting average last year largely because of his proficiency with approach shots, ranked a surprising 69th in putts gained per round. (Deeper analysis by MIT showed that Steve Stricker's ranking was also negatively affected because he happened to play on the "easiest" greens of all 166 players sampled.)

Interesting read and blows up the bogus average putts in GIR and total putts (chipping close and one-putting for par).

Rick Arnett

After all the Chicken Little cries that the new groove rule would hurt play--especially out of rough-- GeoffShackelford.com gets a letter saying the opposite has occured. Guess these guys are good after all...

From 125-150 yards the average is 2 feet 4 inches CLOSER this year. From 50 - 125 yards the average is a tiny 7 inches closer this year,  meaningless but perhaps not so given the USGA prediction that it was supposed to go the other way quite a bit. Finally, there is "scrambling", the percentage of times tour players get down in two from 90 feet to 150 feet. Tour members predicted that this is where the change in grooves would make a difference. There is indeed a difference but it's the wrong way.  They are "scrambling" 3.7% more effectively this year.

Happy 35th to Eva Longoria-Parker. 33-23-33. Desperate Housewives. Born in Corpus Christi, Texas to Mexican-American parents. Wife of Spurs' point guard Tony Parker. Is the only one among her parents' children to have dark skin, dark eyes, and dark hair. Her three sisters all have fair hair, blue eyes, and Caucasian skin color. Eva thought for a long time that she was adopted because of her features.

I love being a woman. I love the sexiness we get to exude. But the best thing about being a woman is the power we have over men. Yeah, we know...

Golfchannel reports players are not looking forward to pairing with Woods and the circus bound to occur.

“I anticipate a zoo,” 13-time PGA Tour winner Jim Furyk said of the atmosphere that will accompany Woods’ return. “It’s going to be an absolute circus,” four-time European Tour winner Graeme McDowell said. “Most players won’t mind if they’re left out of that,” said two-time PGA Tour winner Henrik Stenson.

The Mercury News says Tiger should skip the Masters and concentrate on the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, thinking Woods needs to respect Augusta by deploying this strange scenario.

On Monday morning at another Augusta course, he would participate in a fan-friendly event, maybe a youth clinic or a cookout for charity. On Tuesday morning, Woods would hold a media session in the press room. Any question would be welcome, but the questioners would be the traditional journalists who cover golf and are always credentialed at the Masters, which means no tabloid television shows. On Tuesday night, Woods would attend the yearly Champions Dinner. There, he would quietly make peace with the other former Masters winners, the top-echelon pros with whom he most especially must make amends for causing such tumult on tour. On Wednesday, as a nod to fans, Woods would play in the annual Masters par-3 tournament. A lucky teenager from the

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The SI boys muse about Ernie Els surprising win, Brad Faxon's NBC debut and of course, Woods...sorry but I didn't watch a shot. Too busy enjoying the great weather yesterday.

Van Sickle: Ernie looks like he's for real. Of course, winners always do. Best part was he didn't gaffe any short ones Sunday and look like he's got the 40-year-old yips. Ernie's run looks legit. Let's hope it is. He's popular with the public, the media and the fans. When Ernie wins, we all win. He's just what golf needs.

Hack: I think the biggest factor in Ernie's malaise was the scar tissue from those runner-up finishes to Tiger at the turn of the century. But the biggest blow was Lefty's birdie at 18 at the '04 Masters. Ernie was lost for a long time after that defeat. He looked and sounded a lot like Sergio does now.

Gorant: I thought Faxon was a little shaky, shouting for putts to go in and talking over other people on a lot of putts. Most can be chocked up to rookie mistakes. Sure he'll get better.

Shipnuck: No question Fax is an upgrade. Love his insidery knowledge. Now all he needs is a voice coach to lose that nasally accent.

Shipnuck: His (Woods') people have so bungled the public aspects of this scandal I don't think it's a bad move to get more advice. But Ari's handling of McGwire doesn't inspire confidence.

Lipsey: Get advice, but why do you have to pay for it? He's got a mom, friends, a wife (well, maybe she's AWOL for advice), etc.
 

Congrats to Harry Booth of Richardson, Texas--our latest winner of the CG 15 Cleveland wedge.

All who register on our site are qualified for the weekly drawing.

On Saturday's show we delve into Tiger's peekaboo with the media, a weird rules debate and Craig and I go over a survey of AJGA golfers (Craig is very involved) and their responses to golf and life. So why not tune into the Teebox this Saturday morning from 8-10am. Those of you outside Dallas can hear it on the web here.

Rick Arnett

Heidi Montag. 40-22-34. The Hills. Heidi has had several cosmetic procedures. In 2008, she said the new breasts were 'revenge' for having been teased while growing up. She also had a nose job, to make her nose thinner and straighter and had her chin reduced. In the September 2009 issue of Playboy, Heidi said, I plan to get a few more upgrades...I'm sure as I get older I'll need some touch-ups. People reports she recently dumped her husband for a psychic. 

"Having an intuitive psychic leading my team gives me an edge no one else has."  Sounds pretty grounded to us...

So, which is it? Guess we'll find out next Friday.

It got comical yesterday as a flurry of reports "guaranteed" when Woods would return to play. Some said the Palmer Invitational. Others cited the Masters. I've thought all along that commencing with the Masters was golf suicide---no way Tiger would be ready to compete, much less win the major. A delicious possible sideshow is Woods doesn't have to declare to enter the Masters. He can merely show up on Thursday and saunter up in the last group. No way that happens, but...wouldn't it be a hoot?

More importantly, I have a bet with Publisher Robert Rodriguez. He thinks the Masters marks his return. Point of contention: Does the bogus Tavistock Cup count as an event? I say yes. He's still facing the public (sort of) and is hitting competitive shots (sort of). Robert says no. Vote for me.

--Garry Smits believes the Woods camp is playing hide and seek with the media.
The back-and-forth we had Thursday might just be Tiger and his IMG camp sending out head fakes as to where he will come out of the woodwork.

--The Daily Mall reports Elin's twin sister Josefin Lonnborg, is handling the rumored $150,000,000 Tiger gave Elin regardless if they ultimately divorce or not.

Lonnborg is conducting a tender with wealth management specialists at a number of top banks on behalf of her sister. The financial giants being considered are believed to include

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The NY Post is reporting that the Woods camp has hired Ari Fleischer, former press secretary to ex-President George W. Bush to plot the strategy for Tiger to play at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Two unnamed sources confirmed the story. By the way, the deadline for Woods to enter at Bay Hill is next Friday 5p EST.

“They were in his living room this week going over a strategy for how to handle Bay Hill in two weeks,” one source told The Post. "The other source told The Post, “I would be shocked if he didn’t play the Arnold Palmer.”

Robert Wilonsky over at The Observer reports that Leonard Jones, former pro at Cedar Crest and LB Houston, is finally getting his day in court after over two years of being ousted by the city.

Wilonsky tells the story much more eloquently - click on this link

Craig

Happy 27th yesterday to Carrie Underwood. 33-23-33. Easily the most successful of American Idol winners (2005). Graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern State University with a degree in journalism on May 6, 2006. Was voted "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" in 2005 by animal-rights organization PETA. Once Tony Romo's ex, is engaged to Ottawa Senator Hockey Player, Mike Fisher [December 21, 2009].

I had my first date in 1999 when I was 16 years old. I was so excited! I walked into the living room to watch out the window for him and my dad was cleaning his shotguns!!!! My mom yelled at him for a while and, uh, the guy never asked me out again...

Tiger's agent Mark Steinberg was sighted at the WGC CA this week. Not sure what it means but any appearance by a Woods' insider fuels speculation his return is near. Craig and I debated how much Woods will be heckled during play. These comments might be a good indication...

"It's going to be mixed," said Cliff Mosson, a Woods fan from Cape May, N.J., who was here with his wife, Bonnie. "Some people are going to enjoy that he's still the best golfer to ever play the game and others are going to be put off by what he did in his personal life. But we were fans of his as a golfer. We don't know him as a person."

Bonnie Mosson said: "I think he's going to get heckled a lot. There are a lot of people who weren't Tiger fans in the first place and I think they are going to make themselves heard on the golf course."

Some have already made themselves heard, said Franklin Moss of North Miami. "I've even gotten some remarks here just wearing his hat," said Moss, who was sporting a white cap with a TW logo. "But I've always admired him as a professional golfer and the things he has been doing in his community... When I look at it, morally he was wrong but he's still Tiger Woods and he's good at what he does."

Seve Ballesteros, recovering from brain tumor surgery, has fully recovered after falling from a golf cart. He banged his head from the fall last week in Spain.

Rick Arnett

Tim Clark & Sergio Garcia have the dubious honor of playing 200 PGA Tour events without achieving something. Garcia hasn't won a major (yeah the Tour hosts no major but you get the point) and Clark hasn't hoisted a victory trophy at all.

Rick Arnett

Pretty good field as usual for a guaranteed payday except for Tiger Woods and Ryo Ishikawa--the only two qualifiers who didn't show up. We kinda know Woods' reasons, but Ryo is graduating high school this week. Thinking under his senior picture is "Most likely to succeed."

Woods has 16 WGC titles, Geoff Ogilvy (3), Phil Mickelson and Darren Clarke (2 each) are the only multiple winners. Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Retief Goosen have yet to win one. BTW, Harrington, once #3 in the world has dropped out of the top-10. Mickelson has only one top-10 so far this year in four starts.

Rick Arnett

Another golf company consolidation sign of the times. Titleist parent company Fortune Brands sells the Cobra line to Puma. Pretty soon there will be only a few major companies left; Titliest, Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade and Nike...

Beatriz Recari. Spanish LPGA player. Okay, not officially exempt to play on the Tour, but we'd certainly welcome it.

You can vote for her to play in something called the Mojo 6. Nice video!

Rumors swirl that Woods is finally fed up with chatty caddie Stevie Williams and will let him go. Williams has spoken far more than any of Tiger's inner "circle of trust" giving this leap of faith some validity--but I'd still be surprised to see it. Then again after the last 4 months, nothing should raise an eyebrow anymore.

Meanwhile, Howard Stern is offering the "Mistress Ring" to the lucky winner of Mistress Beauty Pageant. The official Ring is custom designed by Steven Singer Jewelers and features a 3-carat round black diamond in the center with another half carat in diamonds around it + $100,000 cash. Can't wait...

Rick Arnett  

Appears WGC CA Championship sponsor CA (computer softward firm) hasn't given any indication it will continue backing the event after this year. Will be interesting to see if Tour commish Finchem can lure another company to shell out $12 million next year...

The Sports Business Journal thinks the Tour might look to South or Central America to host the event every 3 years. Of the six events whose sponsorship deals expire in 2010, Doral is one of the two highest in profile. The other is the second stop of the FedEx Cup playoffs in Boston, where Deutsche Bank has yet to exercise its two-year option.

Stay tuned. However, Tiger always plays the WGC events so once he's back on track, look for a smitten firm to pony up.

Rick Arnett

Champions Tour player Ronnie Black is confronted with an intriguing situation. One one hand, he didn't solicit advice on the course during play. However, his wife did give him a swing tip while outside the ropes. You be the judge...

Black's wife, Sandra, knows his game and understands his swing. She was in his gallery at Newport Beach (Calif.) CC for the final round and positioned herself so he could see her as he walked toward the par-5 15th hole. "She came up to me and mimicked what the posture is supposed to be," Black said. "She didn't say a word. She just mimicked the posture, gave me the 'Come on dude,' and that's when I made my best two swings of the day, made the eagle. So I got to give her a little kudos there."

"Rule 8-1 prohibits a player from asking for advice from a spectator but does not prohibit a player from receiving unsolicited advice because the player can't control such an act" said John Morrissett, who is director, Rules of Golf, for the USGA.

However, Decision 8-1/24 (Advice Given by Team Coach or Captain) is analogous to what happened with Black. There is no penalty when an authorized party gives advice, but "the player should take action to stop this irregular procedure." He would incur a two-stroke penalty in stroke play if he allowed such advice to be given again.

Rick Arnett

Golf writer Garry Smits tells his side of the John Daly plea for his Tweet followers to hammer Smits' voice mail. Smits made public Daly's very large book of PGA Tour sorryness and John was none too happy about it...

Within an hour after John posted my cell number, I received about 30 calls. The next day the total had grown to more than 100. Most were hang-ups, some had a few choice words, and one threatened my family. With the exception of the threatening call, no single response was different from what any sportswriter hears after writing a controversial story or column.

At first I was mostly amused and then a bit annoyed when the call count surpassed my usual golf score. But my main concern was the precedent. Are athletes now going to use social media as a form of retaliation? Daly posted my office cell number — in reality, no big deal. But many athletes have reporters' home numbers. Will that be the next line crossed? I would not have wanted my daughter to hear some of what her father heard. I can take it, but my child or my wife shouldn't have to.

Rick Arnett

Waggleroom.com posts that Tour player JB Holmes will now grip this during play. Good thing he's not a breast man...

Rick Arnett

Happy 40th last Sunday to Rachel Weisz. 34-24-35. Austrian, Italian and Hungarian mix. The Mummy. Oscar winner for role in The Constant Gardener.

''Los Angeles makes you feel ugly. I'm not going to pretend I haven't secretly wanted to be super-skinny, because all girls do.But I have a woman's body, not a boy's body. Most women do and should feel proud of their butts and their breasts and their bellies.''

Ray Ratto (a good Bay area columnist) cries B.S. on caddie Stevie Williams for saying he'd have blown the affair whistle on Tiger if he knew. Amen.

Steve Williams didn't get to where he is by trumpeting his independence. He works for Woods, and what he did or didn't know would have stayed in-house. That is an absolute mortal lock, as verified both by Williams' history with Woods and the bro code that men in an adolescent's world live by.

Second, if he had blown the whistle, it would have been the last thing he ever did for Woods or any other golfer. Employees don't get to rat out employers as a general rule, with all due respect to our shamefully toothless whistle-blower laws, and especially not in a one-on-one relationship like that of golfer-caddie.

So let's say that in this instance, Williams is not convincing. Let's also say that the more he talks about Woods' shame, the more likely it is that Woods will not remember him kindly. Indeed, at the time when Woods wants the lowest possible profile, Williams has tossed him back into the chipper-shredder of chat-show fodder.

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Hooray! The old Ping Eye2 wedges will finally be banned from PGA, Champions and Nationwide Tour play March 29.

"We all believe it is in the best interests of golf," Ping chairman and CEO John Solheim said in a statement. "It levels the playing field on the PGA Tour and resolves a very unfortunate situation that we predicted would happen when the USGA first proposed the new groove rule more than two years ago." (Nice dig there John).

The waiver goes into effect March 29, meaning the old clubs could still technically be used during this week's WGC-CA Championship, the Transitions Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational. Ping will also apply the waiver to the U.S. Open in June (why bother with that tournament?).

"John Solheim and Ping had a terrific opportunity to do something very positive and significant for the game of golf and we very much appreciate his willingness to take this action," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement (good, now we can all sleep better).

Rick Arnett

This year marks the first time since 1993 that Woods or Mickelson didn't win a tournament on the West Coast...Thought the end of the world wasn't scheduled until 2012.

Rick Arnett

Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock. 34-24-34. German-American. Fluent in German. The Blind Side, Speed. Loves horses but is extremely allergic to them.

Movie sex scenes are never romantic, and you're never swept off your feet. It's always very technical....I'm counting the beats: Okay, we're supposed to kiss for two beats, then I say my line, then they want another kiss for four beats. I'm going, One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three and break. It's like choreography. Sometimes you have actors who feel it's their job to get as far down into your throat as possible. You're like, Excuse me, I like you, but not that much.

Played my first round since early January (thanks for nothing weather) yesterday at TPC Craig Ranch with buddy Jeff Reinhard. Very good times. Fun to actually hit golf shots even under a neverending drizzle. Played pretty well too before imploding on the 18th from 100-yards out. Didn't matter (okay, maybe a little). I'm sure all golfers have cabin fever these days and a string of sunny days can't arrive soon enough.

Rick Arnett