The Golfchick

That chick blabbing about anything golf related.

Category: Pro Golf And Golfer Commentary (page 1 of 7)

2015 US Open. Spiethtacular!

June 22, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Wow, what a US Open Sunday! To celebrate this Major Sunday, we played golf early to beat the heat, but it was still 106 by the time we finished at 10:30. Then we watched 7+ hours of the final round. Think I’m feeling a bit of a US Open hangover now. A little battered.

The golf was so fun to watch despite the atrocious coverage by Fox. There was a lot of criticism of the course set up and the greens, but Chambers Bay is definitely on my must play list. It was brutal how Dustin Johnson three putted that last hole to lose, but they say the last three holes make your score what it was supposed to be. Guessing his “hangover” hurts slightly more than mine.

So happy for Jordan Spieth. I picked him to win and rooted for him the whole way. What an amazing player and all around “kid.” Whatever his secret formula is for majors, I hope it keeps working!

He and other young, exciting players are probably bringing in new fans to watch – and play. I’m wondering if someone had just tuned into this US Open and saw their first golf event – was Fox as disturbingly bad to them? Or do they not know any better – that they should be seeing live golf shots instead of produced segments or scenery footage, then replays of shots. That the announcers were laughably bad and had no golf knowledge, just talking points. That they should focus on the golf and the players more than themselves. They even talked over Jordan when he was accepting his trophy. So unprofessional.  I mean, in my opinion, it was just terrible! What did you think?

Super Excited for the Fedex Cup. Wait…

September 18, 2012 / / 1 Comment

I had that entirely wrong. I’m not at all excited for the Fedex Cup. Here’s why…

The final event, The TOUR Championship is being played this week, and will determine the winner of the Cup. If one of the top 5 guys wins, he wins the cup. Beyond that,  I need someone else to run the numbers for me and provide scenarios. What’s the fun in that? Do you think the players just trust the experts to know where they stand? It must be even more frustrating for them. For example, here is the scenario required for Luke Donald to win (produced by the PGA Tour and published in the Fedex Cup breakdown over at golfweek.com):

Now, just to make things even MORE confusing, take a look at the asterisks. Does that mean if those things happen, Luke will be in a tie for the Fedex Cup, and if so, with whom? Or, does that mean the results of the Fedex Cup have to be in before we can determine if he wins the Fedex Cup? My head hurts.

I’ve said Fedex Cup too many Fedexing times.

Remember, all these complicated calculations that we leave in the hands of the experts (and the seemingly arbitrary amount of points they earned in each event that put them in their current rank were determined by the same people) also decide the top 125 players to get their Tour Cards for 2013. Seems to me the Authority have a little too much power in this process. Sure hope they don’t have favorites!

In the spirit of offering solutions rather than just complaints, here’s my own stupid idea I proposed back in 2007.

What do you think of the whole Fedex Cup thing?

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Potential LPGA / PGA Partnership – About More than Combined Tourney

March 16, 2011 / / 5 Comments

A few months ago, I posted a sort-of teaser about more to come regarding Tour players’ thoughts on having a combined PGA/LPGA event. Those conversations I mentioned did not happen. Players clammed up after there seemed to be some backlash against those in favor of the idea.

However, now it seems there may be more going on behind the scenes. Not just a combo tournament, it seems some higher-ups are tossing around plans/ideas that involve the PGA assuming responsibility for the LPGA Tour in at least some capacity. And now that someone with some serious clout is writing about it (see Ron Sirak’s Golf Digest article here), maybe players will be more likely to speak up as well. We shall see. What do you think of the idea(s)?

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Michelle Wie Kia Commercial

December 21, 2010 / / 6 Comments

I’m pretty sure the casual viewer doesn’t put nearly this much thought into it and maybe at the most decide whether they prefer this commercial or the one with the hamsters. (I love the drummer hamster!)

And here’s the link to it on YouTube in case the embed code fails (as I know they do on here from time to time).

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Interesting Idea for Golf Tours to Collaborate

December 14, 2010 / / 4 Comments

Iain Carter, BBC 5 Live’s golf correspondent, posted some interesting thoughts yesterday on his blog on how the men’s and women’s golf tours could work together. Pro golfer (former Women’s British Open Champion) Karen Stupples shared her thoughts with him via twitter and I thought it was an intriguing idea:

“45 men 45 women. Alternating groups of men and women. Men’s yardage, women’s yardage. No cut, place according to score all one division not separate.”

There were some horrifying comments left by readers that illustrate how sexism is alive and well – not just in golf. This is an issue that never fails to ruffle my feathers, to say the least. I will be posting more about this after I talk to Ms. Stupples when she gets back in the states and perhaps some other pro golfers as well. I’d love to get some of your thoughts if you care to share them. Opinions are welcome – yes, even if they’re contrary to my own – but please keep it classy.

Meanwhile, here is a post of mine from awhile back with some of my thoughts on sexism in golf.

You can also follow Karen Stupples on twitter @KStupples , Iain Carter @IainCarterGolf , and me @TheGolfChick

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Nike Makes Bad Call on Tiger Commercial

April 8, 2010 / / 11 Comments

Yes, Nike’s foible spurred me to write before Tiger’s did. I’m more forgiving of human flaws and mistakes than corporations trying to make a buck off them. Of course this wouldn’t have been possible without Tiger’s reprehensible behavior, and if he had anything to do with this ad other than that, I blame him for it as well. Either way, I’m in no way expressing sympathy for Tiger because of this ad.

I’ve been quiet on everything lately. Even the Tiger “scandal” couldn’t draw me out to discuss my thoughts, of which I have plenty, I assure you. Then, just as I’m getting ready to share my thoughts on that as well as the Masters and everything else, out pops Nike’s controversial Tiger advertisement that seems to depict Earl Woods, Tiger’s deceased father, asking his son questions about Tiger’s intentions and moral charactertiger woods nike ad that, of course, Tiger never answers because they were completely out of context. Distasteful? Opportunistic? I think so. And if Tiger actually posed for this current ad wearing his Nike garb rather than Nike taking it upon themselves to use past images, that’s disgusting as well. (Not that Tiger doesn’t have disgusting in him.) Throughout Tiger’s troubles, Nike was one sponsor that stuck by him. Now Nike is trying to rebuild their Tiger-related image after all they already have, and plan to continue to, invest in him – I get that.

The Honest Review I Hate to Give

Truth be told, I’m actually a pretty big fan of Nike Golf products. For a long time I have enjoyed their golf balls. Plus, awhile back, they were kind enough to send me their VR STR8-FIT Tour Driver to review it against the TaylorMade competitor and simply asked for an honest review. It was still on my list of things to do because not only do I owe them some feedback (which would have been positive for them) but I felt compelled to give them any mention at all in this blog for the beneficial impact it had on my game. Here you go, Nike: you replaced TaylorMade in my bag in the driver section. Club vs. club, you win. The review would have been much longer and much more glowing had you not blown it with this Tiger thing (or had I done it sooner – but then I surely would have referenced back on it in this post). Here’s your bone – if I had a better driver, I’d gladly use. Sadly, I’m wont for better gear even though it pains me to say so. I truly wish I didn’t like it as much as I did. My TaylorMade driver practically screams to me to get back in my bag and the way I’m playing I’m tempted to listen especially since my game and swing suck so much lately it really doesn’t matter what club(s) I use.

Now What?

Now that Nike put such a sour taste in my mouth with this Tiger thing, I really wish everyone would stop buying Nike products, no matter how much you like them. At least until they do something to redeem themselves after “THE TIGER AD.” Strong stance, I know, especially from someone who has been dormant for so long and benefited from Nike’s generosity. Tell you what: if I don’t see some redemptive ad in the next few days (they’re bound to have follow-ups during the Masters this week and I’ll let you know how I feel), my old driver is going back in my bag.

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The Commish that Saved the LPGA

July 12, 2009 / / 12 Comments

Twenty years ago, the LPGA looked a lot like it does today. Sponsors and tournaments were dropping off like flies. The Commissioner was being removed from duty. Players were unhappy. Then the organization made a winning move by replacing Bill Blue with Charles Mechem. He developed a good relationship with the players and the media, conciliated the sponsors, grew the tour with more events and ultimately got the LPGA back on track and thriving. We need a Charlie Mechem for 2009. Charlie’s still involved in the golf world to a fashion, though I doubt he could be lured back to his old post at this point.

I recently spent a day with Charlie – talking, eating, and of course, playing golf. He is a charming, amiable man with a gracious spirit. When my golf ball rolled off the fairway and wedged into a dicey lie in the plants, he casually kicked it out and humorously issued a “commissioner’s ruling.” I wouldn’t accept that with anyone else, but who am I to argue with the commish? I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t like this man.

I told the story of how he became commissioner and saved the LPGA in this article (starts on page 12) for Jackson Hole Golfer Magazine, an annual publication issued in a beautiful hard cover book as well as a glossy magazine.

charlie mechem article

With Carolyn Bivens on her way out, the LPGA needs to find someone who can pull off what Charlie did, and I suspect it won’t be easy. (Hey Charlie, how about filling in while they conduct their search?)

In his article on what went wrong with Bivens, Alan Shipnuck offers up Judy Rankin as a suggested replacement with the logic that she’s “basically a female Mechem.” Sounds good to me.

Carolyn Bivens

Photo from Golf.com (David Cannon/Getty Images). Perhaps If Ms. Bivens appeased all the sponsors like she must have with this homage to Ronald McDonald, she’d be in less trouble today.

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Can I Get a Ruling?

April 9, 2009 / / 20 Comments

Should Tiger have incurred a two stroke penalty on the 13th hole in the first round at The Masters?

Tiger Woods, Jeev Milkha Singh and Stewart Cink all landed the 13th green in two on day one at Augusta. Tiger and Stewart both missed their eagle putts. Tiger walked up to his ball, marked and lifted it, then looked around for Jeev. After getting Jeev’s attention, Tiger pointed at his own marker as if to ask “is that in your way?” Indeed, he ended up moving his marker off the line and Jeev made his eagle. So the question is:

Did Tiger give advice to Jeev by indicating the line of the putt? The USGA defines advice as: any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke. The penalty for a breach of either rule 8-1 or 8-2 is two strokes.

Any rules wizards out there? I’m not trying to be a narc, I just like to understand the rules as best I can.

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Indio, Shmindio. Try putting on the beach.

April 3, 2009 / / 6 Comments

As the Kraft Nabisco (Dinah Shore) got underway today, the women of the LPGA were making and missing putts on slick, true greens in their first major of the year. The announcers just would not stop talking about the “Indio effect,” which just means the greens tend to break toward the town of Indio even if they don’t look like they will.

Meanwhile, I went out for a local round and encountered the seediest sandiest greens I’ve ever seen. Seriously, it was like putting on a beach. The bunkers there seem to be mostly hard dirt, so maybe they should reconsider how they want to use all that sand. Waaaah. I’m such a whiner. Somehow I managed to squeak in at 90 but still, I think I want my money back. This photo has not been doctored in any way.

Los Robles beach

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LPGA Reminds Wie That She’s a Sideshow

July 21, 2008 / / 8 Comments

After failing to sign her scorecard on Friday, Michelle Wie was disqualified from the State Farm Classic. Only the LPGA failed to tell her about it until she had completed her round the following day.

Michelle WieAfter an imaginary journalist asked her how she felt about being used by the LPGA for the attention she brings to any event and milking another day of play out of her, Michelle Wie responded: “I was playing, like, really good out there, you know? I kind of, like, almost forgot how popular I am.”

At which point her father, B.J. Wie, took control of the “interview” to make some things clear:

“That just wasn’t right, what [the LPGA] did. She played a round she shouldn’t have. No one’s going to make Michelle do that except for me. With the scores she shot and the wave of publicity, now is the perfect time for her to play with the men again. I – I mean she – accepted a sponsor’s exemption to play the Reno-Tahoe Open next week on the PGA Tour. With Tiger out, she’s the biggest news in golf. With such a weak field and if she plays like she did this weekend, she could possibly even make the cut. But even if she fails miserably, her appearance there is good for my business – I mean her game. It’s just a bonus that our – um, her – participation in this relatively unimportant PGA event will steal some attention away from a women’s major since it’s played at the same time as the RICOH Women’s British Open. Sweet revenge. Two can play the media and fan manipulation game. We’re off the record, right?”

Imaginary reporter: “Way off the record. In fact, this conversation never happened.”

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