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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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...

 

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...

 

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...

 

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 PGA's First Tee program could serve as his caddie. The mood of the Par 3 contest is always light but respectful. What a perfect stage for Woods to again interact with the real world. And on Thursday morning, Woods would leave town, so as not to be a distraction during the tournament. He could begin intense work on his game. And it wouldn't be such a huge deal the next time he showed up at any tournament — say, in early June at the Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus, another event known for civil crowds.

 

Kinda a lame try to fill a column 'cause it will never happen. Whether Tiger plays at Augusta or not, it will be huge, huge news at during Masters week regardless. Just brace yourself for it. By the Sunday back-nine it will revolve around the golf anyway.

 

Finally, Johnny Miller openly roots for Woods to return at Bay Hill. Coincidentally, NBC just happens to broadcast the event...

 

"If he wants to win at Augusta, which he does, he's going to have to play Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill tournament. No doubt about that. I really believe he needs to get one tournament under his belt -- get the cobwebs out, get his confidence going. And you can't do that at the Tavistock [Cup]...You've got to play it under competition. Even if you don't play well at Bay Hill, you just have to get things going, get the train going down the tracks. The big thing of Bay Hill is that he's got to go through all the hoopla, not just of the sports coverage, but the entertainment coverage. Get it out of his system. Answer the questions. Get it behind him. Go to Augusta and go ahead and win that green jacket."

 

Rick Arnett

 

 

 

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 PGA's First Tee program could serve as his caddie. The mood of the Par 3 contest is always light but respectful. What a perfect stage for Woods to again interact with the real world. And on Thursday morning, Woods would leave town, so as not to be a distraction during the tournament. He could begin intense work on his game. And it wouldn't be such a huge deal the next time he showed up at any tournament — say, in early June at the Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus, another event known for civil crowds.

 

Kinda a lame try to fill a column 'cause it will never happen. Whether Tiger plays at Augusta or not, it will be huge, huge news at during Masters week regardless. Just brace yourself for it. By the Sunday back-nine it will revolve around the golf anyway.

 

Finally, Johnny Miller openly roots for Woods to return at Bay Hill. Coincidentally, NBC just happens to broadcast the event...

 

"If he wants to win at Augusta, which he does, he's going to have to play Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill tournament. No doubt about that. I really believe he needs to get one tournament under his belt -- get the cobwebs out, get his confidence going. And you can't do that at the Tavistock [Cup]...You've got to play it under competition. Even if you don't play well at Bay Hill, you just have to get things going, get the train going down the tracks. The big thing of Bay Hill is that he's got to go through all the hoopla, not just of the sports coverage, but the entertainment coverage. Get it out of his system. Answer the questions. Get it behind him. Go to Augusta and go ahead and win that green jacket."

 

Rick Arnett

 

 

 

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 PGA's First Tee program could serve as his caddie. The mood of the Par 3 contest is always light but respectful. What a perfect stage for Woods to again interact with the real world. And on Thursday morning, Woods would leave town, so as not to be a distraction during the tournament. He could begin intense work on his game. And it wouldn't be such a huge deal the next time he showed up at any tournament — say, in early June at the Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus, another event known for civil crowds.

 

Kinda a lame try to fill a column 'cause it will never happen. Whether Tiger plays at Augusta or not, it will be huge, huge news at during Masters week regardless. Just brace yourself for it. By the Sunday back-nine it will revolve around the golf anyway.

 

Finally, Johnny Miller openly roots for Woods to return at Bay Hill. Coincidentally, NBC just happens to broadcast the event...

 

"If he wants to win at Augusta, which he does, he's going to have to play Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill tournament. No doubt about that. I really believe he needs to get one tournament under his belt -- get the cobwebs out, get his confidence going. And you can't do that at the Tavistock [Cup]...You've got to play it under competition. Even if you don't play well at Bay Hill, you just have to get things going, get the train going down the tracks. The big thing of Bay Hill is that he's got to go through all the hoopla, not just of the sports coverage, but the entertainment coverage. Get it out of his system. Answer the questions. Get it behind him. Go to Augusta and go ahead and win that green jacket."

 

Rick Arnett

 

 

 

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 PGA's First Tee program could serve as his caddie. The mood of the Par 3 contest is always light but respectful. What a perfect stage for Woods to again interact with the real world. And on Thursday morning, Woods would leave town, so as not to be a distraction during the tournament. He could begin intense work on his game. And it wouldn't be such a huge deal the next time he showed up at any tournament — say, in early June at the Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus, another event known for civil crowds.

 

Kinda a lame try to fill a column 'cause it will never happen. Whether Tiger plays at Augusta or not, it will be huge, huge news at during Masters week regardless. Just brace yourself for it. By the Sunday back-nine it will revolve around the golf anyway.

 

Finally, Johnny Miller openly roots for Woods to return at Bay Hill. Coincidentally, NBC just happens to broadcast the event...

 

"If he wants to win at Augusta, which he does, he's going to have to play Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill tournament. No doubt about that. I really believe he needs to get one tournament under his belt -- get the cobwebs out, get his confidence going. And you can't do that at the Tavistock [Cup]...You've got to play it under competition. Even if you don't play well at Bay Hill, you just have to get things going, get the train going down the tracks. The big thing of Bay Hill is that he's got to go through all the hoopla, not just of the sports coverage, but the entertainment coverage. Get it out of his system. Answer the questions. Get it behind him. Go to Augusta and go ahead and win that green jacket."

 

Rick Arnett

 

 

 

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.
 

 

 

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.
 

 

 

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.
 

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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