Hat tip to those on Twitter who sent me the link to the above video of the shot where Carl Pettersson, hitting out of a lateral hazard, grazed a leaf on his backswing and received a two-shot penalty on the first hole (and big thanks to Yahoo’s Jay Busbee for posting it).

I watched the replay rather closely — more than once — and I didn’t see The Leaf in question when Pettersson hit the shot. It was only when it was shown in super slo-mo and zoomed in that I could see the club cause a small flyaway object to change position (and I had to really squint to catch The Leaf). (continue reading…)

Rory in red...

Rory McIlroy is starting to pull away from the field. He opened with birdies on two of his first three holes. Another birdie on the par-5 7th got him to 10-under. With 11 to play, he has a four-shot lead. And I’m about to head out to walk with him on the back nine. If you’d like coverage to supplement the telecast, then best way is to follow me on Twitter (sorry I’ve mentioned that in, like, the last 6 posts, but it’s because I haven’t had time to blog in this space).

A quick update first. (continue reading…)

Ominous...

As you know, play was suspended on Saturday afternoon due to a dangerous weather situation with 26 players still on the course. Naturally, it happened just when things were starting to get interesting, but it was probably for the best since Tiger Woods was ready to implode after making three bogeys in four holes (and was just about to miss another putt for par).

While he began to slide down the leaderboard, Rory McIlroy had started his charge, rolling off five birdies in the first eight holes before the only blemish on his scorecard on the first nine — a bogey on the 9th.

The delay looked like it would be most beneficial to Tiger and a (potential) momentum-killer for Vijay Singh, Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy.

I thought the best way to tell the story of what transpired on Saturday and Sunday morning was through pictures…and I love clouds, which anyone following me on Twitter and/or Instagram (see icons at the top of the site to follow along for inside the ropes coverage) have probably noticed. Oh, this is also pretty cool, in my opinion, at least. (continue reading…)

Another crown for King Louis. Hugs!

I’ve noticed the “girl in the green dress” has caused quite a bit of interest in the comments section in yesterday’s post. Not that I should be surprised — I mean, sex sells! I’m pretty sure that one picture linked in the thread was the most forwarded text message on the PGA Tour earlier this week. With the way it’s been making the rounds, your best friend’s brother’s grandmother will soon receive it.

Welcome to sundress season on tour! (continue reading…)

NOM NOM NOM! DJ is eating up Kapalua

Friday at the Tournament of Champions(!) has turned out to be something of a birdie-fest. Ernie Els– reasonably fresh off a win at the South African Open, let’s not forget– has made it to the sixteenth tee with eight birdies and no dropped shots to his name. He’s nine-under for the tournament and currently sitting in second place alongside Dustin Johnson, who’s making predictable mincemeat of Kapalua’s generous landing areas.  (continue reading…)

Two years ago, Carl Pettersson picked up his third career PGA Tour win and finished 21st on the money list. Motivated to build on his great year, the portly Pettersson decided he should follow golf’s fitness craze, losing 30 pounds in the offseason.

Pettersson missed 14 cuts and had just one top 10 in 2009, dropping to 136th on the money list. So the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Swede ditched his diet.

(continue reading…)

Ah, the disappointment of becoming the 15th 23rd player to shoot 60 on the PGA Tour instead of just the fifth to fire a 59.

Carl Pettersson made the cut at the Canadian Open on the number, and opened 1-over through four holes in his third round. But an eagle-birdie-eagle stretch turned his fortunes around, and by the 18th green, he was remarkably hunting a 59.

(continue reading…)