It takes a long time to play 18 holes. Golf has been a slow game for decades — from the amateur game to the pro tours. And it’s no secret that due to the grueling, hardest test of the year, the U.S. Open moves at a sluggish pace. Well, change is coming! (But almost certainly not this week at Merion.)

After its year-long study (slow-playing slow play!), the USGA announced on Wednesday their pace-of-play awareness and public education campaign, which will include a series of new PSAs featuring Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Clint Eastwood, Annika Sorenstam, Paula Creamer and Butch Harmon.  (continue reading…)

Shin back on top

During a week filled with miserable — and almost comical — weather and poor management decisions, Jiyai Shin shined on her way to a record nine-shot win at Royal Liverpool Club in Hoylake, England, to capture her second Women’s British Open title. I’m not sure what’s most mind-blowing and inspiring — the margin of victory; winning the LPGA tourney in a nine-hole playoff against Paula Creamer on the other side of the Atlantic less than a week before; missing two months this summer after enduring hand surgery.

Um, all of the above? (continue reading…)

If you tuned in to watch the never-ending LPGA playoff on Sunday night, then you probably shared my frustration for several reasons, along with my appreciation for the fine play and duel between Jiyai Shin and Paula Creamer at Kingsmill. (continue reading…)

Heart, sweat and tears

Karen Stupples won the 12th match on Sunday to give the Europeans a one-point advantage 9-8 over the Americans. And she didn’t even have to hit a shot. Her slated opponent American Cristie Kerr was forced to withdraw due to a wrist injury and forfeited the match: (continue reading…)

Pressel: YES!

If you knew what was good for you, you would have been watching Solheim Cup matches held at Killeen Castle, where the USA staged an impassioned comeback to win Saturday’s afternoon fourball session 3-1 to tie Europe 8-8 going into Sunday’s singles.

Some highlights and must-read articles from scribes reporting in Ireland: (continue reading…)

Nothing says 'glamour' quite like angry Welsh skies

The Twenty-Ten Course at Celtic Manor was the venue for yesterday’s PowerPlay Golf: Ignition event, the first of several high-profile exhibition tournaments designed to bring the new PowerPlay format to the golfing masses. (continue reading…)

Paula Creamer is happy with the tweaks to the Founders Cup

When the details of the inaugural LPGA Founders Cup were first released, several of the top players raised their concerns with the format. Reigning US Women’s Open champion Paula Creamer didn’t like that the faux purse amounted to more than the sum going to charity. LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan addressed this particular issue last Friday, doubling the money donated to charity to $1 million and decreasing the prize money to the same number.

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Here now, a photo from LPGA tour golfer Paula Creamer’s new calendar. If you’re the kind of person that still buys calendars, we really can’t recommend it enough.

Want more? Well then, it’s your lucky day!

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What an insane week of golf. On Thursday, Paul Goydos of all people caught lightning in a bottle to shoot golf’s magic number: 59. But Goydos only led the John Deere Classic by one stroke, after Steve Stricker shot a 60, the fifth lowest round in PGA Tour history.

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Believe it or not — at the second straight major, an American stood at the top of the leaderboard when the last putt dropped at the US Women’s Open.

After draining a five-footer for par on 18, she dropped her putter and covered her face with her hands. The wait was finally over for Paula Creamer — she is a major champion winner. With a dazzling performance in the final nine holes, Creamer rose to the occasion at Oakmont GC, hitting one remarkable shot after another and draining birdies to pull away from the field with a commanding four-shot victory.

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