Fred Couples was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Monday night and he gave one hell of a speech. The coolest golfer on the planet even got choked up and cried at the end, saying, “Thanks for taking a kid from Seattle and putting him in the Hall of Fame. This is the coolest night of my life.” (continue reading…)

The oldest and youngest participants at this year’s Masters

First of all, my sincere apologies to 14-year-old amateur Tianlang Guan for predicting he wouldn’t break 80 in the first round of The Masters. I am more than happy to be wrong, though. What a performance by the kid, who received an invitation to play at Augusta after winning the Asian Amateur, shooting a one-over 73 in his major debut.

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Hello there! This evening I’m joined by Oliver Horovitz, author of “An American Caddie in St. Andrews.” We talk about the highlights in the first round of this year’s edition of The Masters. If today was a preview of things to come the rest of the week, then we’re in for an epic finish! We have a 14-year-old, 53-year-old and Sergio Garcia, among others as first-round storylines. It doesn’t get much better!

LOLZ

If it involves Colin Montgomerie, chances are there’s drama involved or a row brewing between him and another player or the American fans. Well, Monty, who dominated the European Tour in the ’90s and was one of the most winning players in the Ryder Cup with a record of 20–9–7, will join Fred Couples, Willie Park Jr., Ken Venturi and Ken Schofield, as inductees of the World Golf Hall of Fame’s class of 2013.

The results of the International ballots were revealed on Tuesday morning by the WGHOF. Similar to the U.S. ballot, no player received the minimum 65% of the vote, so the criteria is lowered to 50%.

Montgomerie earned 51% of the vote–the bare minimum–just like Couples on the U.S. ticket. Schofield, the former First Secretary and Executive Director of The European Tour, was selected in the Lifetime Achievement Category. (continue reading…)

Two thumbs-up!

Fred Couples doesn’t consider himself a “great player,” but he called himself a “good player.” He said it several times in his press conference on Wednesday, following the announcement that Couples got the World Golf Hall of Fame nod. Just barely, though.

The ’92 Masters champ received 51% of the vote in the 2013 PGA Tour ballots  (which included 15 names) — the lowest percentage in the WGHOF history — cast by members of the media, historians and other prominent names. The WGHOF requires that a player earn 65% of the vote. When nobody did, the standards are modified, and the player who got the highest percentage of votes, provided that he earned at least 50% of the ballots, clinches a place among the greatest figures in golf. (continue reading…)

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Before the camera clicks on and the light at the top of it comes to life, the co-leader of The Masters has one request: A few more seconds. Please, just a few more seconds. It’s been a long day and a long hour after a five-hour round around these hills and slopes. Having been granted his request, Fred Couples — tucked between a molting pine tree and an empty television interview area — begins to go through his usual pre-everything routine.

First, he groans.

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"F-yeah!"

Who else has a Bay Hill hangover? I do. Combine that with heavy turbulence in the last 30 minutes of a flight from MCO to EWR, along with the crazy cab ride (if you think NYC cabbies are bad, I suggest an experience with one in Newark. Glad I took an extra barf bag with me!/end rant), and you can imagine how I feel. Well, now that I’ve voiced my god-awful complaints because you all asked, I’ll move on to the actual point. Don’t think I can’t hear those massive violins you’re playing softly in the corner.

While Tiger Woods was presented with the trophy for winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational by a commanding five shots and being fitted for his seventh Blue Jacket on the 18th green at Bay Hill, we cornered his veteran and highly-respected caddie, Joe LaCava, in a media scrum next to the scoring trailer. (continue reading…)

Ernie sucked up his pride last year

Since golf’s governing bodies, the USGA and the R&A, announced that they were taking a “fresh look” at implementing a rule to ban belly/long putters or “anchoring,” inquiring minds have asked some of the biggest names in golf for their opinions. Of course, last week at Pebble Beach Tiger Woods shocked us all when he gave his most opinionated answer in years (obviously he is a strong proponent of banning them). Here, at Riviera in the pre-tourney pressers, other esteemed players chimed in. (continue reading…)

Thanks for believing in me! I love you, man!

As 2011 has ended and the 2012 season officially starts tomorrow, we’re (still) taking an obligatory look at the winners and losers of 2011. First, we reviewed the best shots. Then, we cringed through the greatest meltdowns. We also checked out some players who were considered overachievers. Next, we took a gander at those who had the most disappointing seasons, along with the most notable Tiger moments.

To cap off a look back at an incredible 2011, we’ll go through some of the best feel-good stories — which is my personal favorite because believe it or not, I’m a huge sucker for sap (I just don’t like to admit to it usually). Here we go in no particular order… (continue reading…)

A happy Tiger celebrating with Aussie fans

As 2011 has ended and the 2012 season is upon us, we’re (still) taking an obligatory look at the winners and losers of 2011. First, we reviewed the best shots. Then, we cringed through the greatest meltdowns. We also checked out some players who were considered overachievers. Next, we took a gander at those who had the most disappointing seasons. Since Shoshana worships Tiger Woods (borderline obsession!), she picked his top-five moments  of 2011 — a touching tribute to his 36th birthday (Dec 30). (continue reading…)