Ogilvy checks out the 9th green, which is in the roughest condition

Everybody’s talking about the damaged greens at the usually pristine Quail Hollow Club. It’s only Wednesday and the state of the greens is the most popular topic of the tournament. Just walk out to the putting green — quite a few of the players will tell you that it’s the best one on the course. They’re half-joking, but there’s some truth to it. Which is a shame for the well-run tournament that’s a favorite among players, caddies and the media.  (continue reading…)

Team Foley: Tiger Woods and Justin Rose share the same swing coach, Orlando-based Sean Foley

Tiger Woods didn’t have an ideal finish on Friday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, bogeying the last three at Bay Hill. He posted a two-under 70, a respectable score — which included two missed putts from inside three feet — for a 36-hole total of five-under, but he played better than he scored.

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Haas likes Riviera

Defending champion Bill Haas outplayed the rest of the pack, firing an impressive seven-under 64, three shots better than the next lowest round — which is the second-largest margin of the season (Phil Mickelson was four clear of the rest when his putt for 59 lipped out in the first round in Phoenix).

Haas kicked off the day in a ho-hum style, parring the first hole, which is playing the easiest this week, at Riviera. He opened with four straight pars before he appeared to get his rhythm going with birdies on Nos. 5 and 7. But the game-changer was rolling in a tough 30-footer for birdie on No. 9, chipping-in for eagle on No. 10 and getting up-and-down (for birdie) on No. 11, and then he made some good par saves to keep the momentum going. (continue reading…)

Thumbs-up! — Creepy or not?

The Waste Management Phoenix Open is dubbed “The Greatest Show on Grass,” among other things, and it sure lived up to its billing on Saturday. Phil Mickelson put on quite the performance for the 179,022 fans (with at least 50-60% that never saw a golf shot) in attendance for the third round, setting a new all-time single-day record at not only the event, but in professional golf history. That’s what happens when you have Phil the Thrill + booze + sunny and 75 degrees. (continue reading…)

Lots of Lefty Love from fans on 16 on Friday

One thing’s for sure: Phil Mickelson has a flair for drama. He keeps us on the edge of our seats because you never know what Phil might do (or say in rare cases) next. It’s part of his aura and appeal to fans.

Despite a(nother) disappointing — relatively speaking — finish, Phil still leads by four over Bill Haas. A day after his birdie putt on his last hole to shoot 59 did a near 360 before lipping out, Mickelson, who was eight-under going into 18 in the second round, knocked his 3-wood in the water hazard guarding the left side.  (continue reading…)

Moore played his way into the top 30

Advancing to the Tour Championship from the BMW Championship means more than a mathematical chance at winning the $10 million wheelbarrow at the end of the FedExCup PLAYOFFS. Unless you’re one of the top players in the world (I’d usually say 50, but no guarantees even then), meaning your name is Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods, the average player doesn’t have the luxury of picking and choosing their schedules to their exact liking. When you qualify for the Tour Championship, you’re set up for success in the following season and it takes out a lot of unknown variables. (continue reading…)

Tiger fist-pump...for the win?

The last twosome — Graeme McDowell and Adam Scott — has just teed off, but the atmosphere has been buzzing with anticipation here at Royal Lytham &St Annes since early this morning. It’s already been a hectic day with the usual excited nervous energy that comes along with the final round at a major championship. What’s more, look at the names on the leaderboard. We’ve got Adam Scott (and Stevie Williams), Graeme McDowell, Brandt Snedeker, Tiger Woods, Zach Johnson and Ernie Els in the final three groups.

As we’ve seen with all the dramatic finishes this season, NO LEAD IS SAFE.

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Take that, Phil (and Bill)!

First of all, be sure to check out this week’s PGA Tour Confidential over at Golf.com, along with the first-round pairings for the Match Play — which starts on Wednesday. If anyone wants to organize a pool or some type of bracket contest, let me know. Meanwhile, everyone keeps asking me, “Mexico or Match Play?” Neither! — I’m going home. (Woot!) I know I’ve mentioned it twice now, but hey, it’s been a while. Don’t worry, though, I’ll be back at it in time for the Honda Classic the following week. (continue reading…)

BOOM! Bill the Thrill!

First, Phil Mickelson drained a curling 25-footer for birdie on No. 18 in regulation to get himself in a playoff with Bill Haas, who was keeping loose at the range after signing for a two-under 69, seven-under total.

You could hear the roars all the way down Sunset Blvd to Hollywood. Jerry “Mr. Clutch” West threw both arms up in celebration. The CEO of Northern Trust, Rick Waddell, was screaming and jumping like a little kid. (Meanwhile, I’m not sure why some of us looked so shocked — it’s Phil the Thrill, after all.) (continue reading…)

Tiger sizes up an old-fashioned putt at the 2010 US Open

Further to yesterday’s announcement of the USGA and R&A’s decision to reconsider the legality of putting techniques based on “anchoring” (ie. the bracing of the putter grip against the body), 14-time major champion Tiger Woods used his pre-tournament press conference at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am to join the lobby in favour of an outright ban. (continue reading…)