Aug
30
2017
LISTEN: From junior golf to life on Tour, Andres Gonzales (Ep. 18)
By Stephanie Wei under Podcast

Embed from Getty Images

PGA Tour pro Andres Gonzales is one of my oldest and dearest friends. I met Andres and Michael Putnam on the same day at the same time because we shared the same swing coach (Joe Thiel) when we were junior golfers.

Andres and I practiced and played a lot together, and he often caddied for me at qualifiers for USGA events, among other tournaments. In fact, having him on my bag was a huge reason why I managed to qualify for the 2000 U.S. Jr. Girls and the 2001 U.S. Women’s Amateur. I mean, he practically hit the shots and stroked the putts. Okay, not really, but I couldn’t (still can’t) read greens to save my life, which he reminds me practically every time we talk.

We reminisced and took a walk down memory lane with funny and random stories from our youth on and off the golf course — mostly about Andres embarrassing me when I used to be super shy. Like when he pulled this stunt:

Leave a Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #
Aug
15
2017
Tiger Woods had pain, anxiety and sleep medication in system during DUI arrest
By Stephanie Wei under Tiger Woods

Embed from Getty Images

I have a lot of mixed feelings about writing this post for a variety of reasons, but since I’ve already been triggered on Twitter, I might as well expand beyond bytes limited to 140 characters.

ESPN is reporting that Tiger Woods had Vicodin, Dilaudid, Xanax, Ambien and THC in his system when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in May.

5 Comments
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #
Aug
14
2017
JUSTIN TIME: Thomas breaks through at season’s last major
By Stephanie Wei under PGA Championship

Embed from Getty Images

The PGA Championship felt like a slog-fest for most of the week (or, dare I say, a poor man’s U.S. Open?) — super slick and firm greens, thunderstorms, weather delays, slow play, ultra long (after more rain Friday and overnight) tough scoring conditions — but then the last groups made the turn at Quail Hollow on Sunday, and suddenly, the fireworks and the drama broke out.

At the end of the day, Justin Thomas separated himself from the pack, hitting some gutsy shots and stroking in key putts, along with a couple of moments that felt like divine intervention or tacit approval from the golf gods.

Leave a Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #
Aug
14
2017
WATCH/LISTEN: Oosthuizen rises to occasion after completing career milestone
By Stephanie Wei under Humor

I love this so much and I can’t stop watching it on loop — it just makes me smile. 2010 Open Champ Louis Oosthuizen completed golf’s ultimate quest: the career runner-up Grand Slam! After finishing T2 at the PGA Championship, Oosthuizen celebrated the feat just as you’d expect — lip-syncing to Andra Day’s hit “Rise Up.”

Leave a Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #
Aug
13
2017
McRib is back: Rory to shut it down for season?
By Stephanie Wei under PGA Championship

Embed from Getty Images

Rory McIlroy might sit out the rest of 2017. And honestly, I hope he does — it’s the “smart” thing to do, but also easier said than done for any competitor.

Following his final round three-under 68 at the PGA Championship, the four-time major champ revealed he hadn’t been completely honest with the extent to which his rib injury was still affecting him. 

2 Comments
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #
Aug
12
2017
2017 PGA Championship: Round 3 preview with Brandel Chamblee (Ep. 17)
By Stephanie Wei under Podcast

PGA-Championship-2017-golfer-Hideki-Matsuyama-840252

I caught up with Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee on Saturday morning ahead of the third round of the PGA Championship. We discussed the changes to Quail Hollow, the impact of the weather on the course conditions and what we’ve seen so far from Kevin Kisner, Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day, and other notables in the field. Brandel gave his expert analysis on the top contenders and big names and what to watch for this afternoon.

Tune in below or via iTunes, etc. Enjoy!

1 Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #
Aug
12
2017
VIDEO: This Rod Pampling tee shot at the PGA Championship is legendary
By Stephanie Wei under PGA Championship

Taking one for the team!

https://twitter.com/PGAChampionship/status/896165413909782528

It’s incredible how fast guys will start playing and moving — especially on a Friday and even more so if the player is not going to make the cut — when they’re running out of daylight. You see, there’s only one clock clock that produces the desired result in combating slow play and that’s Mother Nature and the horn signaling the suspension of play due to darkness. Unlike the horn for inclement weather, which does not give players a choice to finish the hole, this one does — that is, if at least one player in the group has already teed off before the horn blows.

Due to inclement weather, play was suspended for two hours late on Friday. While the rain certainly softened up Quail Hollow and conditions were far more receptive and scoring friendly for the players who teed off in the afternoon wave, it was a far-gone conclusion that second-round play would not be completed on Friday and those still left on the course would have to return early Saturday to finish up.

Leave a Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #
Aug
10
2017
Thursday at the 2017 PGA Championship: The firm, the fast and the (un)predictable
By Stephanie Wei under PGA Championship

rory mcilroy rickie fowler

Maybe it’s the long day, lack of sleep and/or the humidity, but while there are so many things to talk about after the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, I’m a bit uninspired. Yet clearly I am inspired enough to wait for it to kick in at midnight and take the time to write this post when all I want to do is zone out to a new series on Netflix and pass out. But here we are.

The first round of the PGA Championship at the new and — well, um, arguably — “improved” Quail Hollow Club was relatively predictable, though everyone was curious to see how the PGA would set up the course and how it would play (before they spoke out too strongly on the changes and new holes, particularly the green at the par-3 4th). Overall, it was vintage Thursday at the PGA: Predictable.

And if you’ve already listened to the latest episode of the the WUP pod with Coach Mike Small and Kevin Na, then you know exactly what I mean. I’m clearly biased and this is yet another shameless attempt to plug my own “product,” but obviously, I highly recommend you SUBSCRIBE, download it and listen to it, like, ASAP, or now.

Leave a Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #
Aug
9
2017
Tidbits from Wednesday at Quail Hollow and preview of the 2017 PGA Championship
By Stephanie Wei under Podcast

*UPDATED: Thanks to a tech savvy friend — the crappy audio from the pod has been fixed! You can actually hear them talk now! Yay.*

justin bieber bubba watson kevin na wesley bryan

Welcome to the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club! There’s so much to share and discuss, but you’ll have to listen to the podcast to hear about the changes to the golf course, which plays hosts to a regular PGA Tour event, and the overwhelming negative reaction to the tweaks from the players.

I caught up with Mike Small, the head coach of the men’s golf team at the University of Illinois, which has become an NCAA powerhouse under his leadership. He’s also won two Web.com Tour events, played on the PGA Tour, competed in multiple majors, won the PGA Professional Championship three times — just to name a few of his accolades and achievements in the game. Coach Small is obviously a man of many talents and I’m not sure how he manages to do it all, but it’s very impressive.

Leave a Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #
Aug
9
2017
Tuesday afternoon at the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow
By Stephanie Wei under PGA Championship

ernie els phil mickelson 100th major

 

First things first, in the above photo, you can’t see that Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els are both wearing shorts. I’ve seen Els in shorts and I’m OK with it. I think today was the first time seeing Phil in them… and I just…it’s weird.

It was both a quiet and major news day on Tuesday at the PGA Championship. On a personal note (because I’m sure you care), I feel really behind because I was initially supposed to arrive on Sunday afternoon and then I pushed it back to Monday, but then because of inclement weather in the NYC area, flights were all delayed or canceled, so I didn’t get in until Tuesday afternoon (and my luggage didn’t arrive) — yep, off to a blazing good start! But all things considered, I can’t complain.

Leave a Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #