Sang-Moon Bae deserves a vacay!

In difficult conditions with gusts up to 40mph, Sang-Moon Bae captured his first PGA Tour victory at the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Bae, who entered the final round on Sunday trailing Keegan Bradley by two strokes, built up a four-shot lead on the front nine, but he squandered it after a double-bogey on no. 9. (continue reading…)

After Deadspin posted this legendary picture of Jason Dufner hanging out with kids at a charity event in Irving, Texas, #Dufnering has become a trending meme on the internets. Here are some of the best from the pros, along with others around the Twittersphere…

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…)

Beware the belly. It can be used as a weapon!

Keegan Bradley, the first to win a major with a belly putter at the 2011 PGA Championship, along with Webb Simpson, who won the U.S. Open earlier this summer with the same type of putter, have unfortunately become targets in the forthcoming anchoring ban–announced by the USGA and R&A earlier this week.

However, the rule will not go into effect until 2016. As of now, it is still legal for players to use belly putters and long putters. This three-year grace period was bound to cause problems. (Shock!) I didn’t anticipate incidents so early, but unfortunately, Keegan was heckled by a fan on the last hole on Saturday at the World Challenge. (continue reading…)

Keegan to USGA: Fine, I'll deal with it.

On the eve of the joint teleconference by the USGA and R&A on Wednesday morning from 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. (EST), it’s widely purported that golf’s governing bodies will announce that the decision has been made to ban “anchoring,” aka the putting method used with belly and broomstick putters. Which allegedly will not go into effect until 2016 (because the USGA reviews the Rules of Golf every four years, don’t ask me why).

The short of it via industry chatter and insiders: Anchoring against the fulcrum (body) will be illegal, but golfers will still be allowed to anchor the putter against the arm — a la Matt Kuchar. You can use a long putter as long as it isn’t propped or wedged against a part of the body. The actual wording of the rule will be interesting because of the gray area that comes up in this game and the potential lawsuits. (continue reading…)

Keegan Bradley: say hello to his longer-than-standard friend. *ahem*

Golfweek’s Alex Miceli, currently in China for the WGC-HSBC Champions, has filed an interesting report on the growing resistance among exponents of anchored putting techniques to the idea of an equipment ban.

Some tour players, sensing their livelihoods at risk, are apparently willing to consider legal action in the event of a rules change. (continue reading…)

Irish people: visibly uncomfortable in direct sunlight and temperatures above 60 degrees.

A four-under-par 67 from overnight leader Padraig Harrington proved enough to see off the challenge of Webb Simpson and clinch the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda yesterday evening.

The result brings to an end the Irishman’s two-year wait for a tournament victory (yes, it’s definitely asterisk-worthy). (continue reading…)

Not jealous. At all.

One wonders quite how far down the list of potential invitees organisers of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, panicked by Ernie Els’ sudden withdrawal, had to travel before happening upon the name of Padraig Harrington.

Major-less since his victory at the 2008 PGA Championship, the 41-year-old was a late and perplexing addition to the four-man field in Bermuda this week, but exhibitied few insecurities en route to carding a five-under-par 66 to lead the event after Tuesday’s opening round. (continue reading…)

I love you, man!

Change has been a major theme all year in one of golf’s most thrilling seasons. So it shouldn’t have been a surprise that the Americans dominated the afternoon four-ball matches on Friday at the Ryder Cup.

The U.S. and Europe split the morning foursomes, earning two points a piece. The Americans were led by the dynamic duo of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, who handed the previously indomitable Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia their first loss in the alternate shot format (going into Friday, Donald-Garcia were a combined 14-0-1 in that format and as partners they were 4-0). (continue reading…)