Westy eyes playing more in the States

Given Englishman Lee Westwood’s past comments regarding The Players Championship and his loyalty to the European Tour, I was understandably a little surprised when I received the press release this morning announcing that Westwood plans to split his time between Europe and America after deciding to rejoin the PGA Tour in 2012.

Here’s part of the hilarious statement: (continue reading…)

K.J. is kind

K.J. Choi, who became the first Asian to win The Players, is donating $200,000 of his $1.7 million in winnings to help the victims of the tornado-hit areas in the southeastern United States. Choi said that while capturing The Players title was a defining moment of his career, he knew there were those going through a low point. (continue reading…)

Tiger on one leg

Don’t expect to see Tiger Woods at the Memorial Tournament in two weeks, but he’ll hopefully be healthy for the US Open at Congressional next month. Last Thursday on on his first tee shot at The Players Championship, Woods reinjured his left knee, which led to aggravation of his calf and Achilles tendon, but didn’t cause any new damage. The treatment plan? Rest. (continue reading…)

The bois are back in town: K.J. Choi's biggest fans

It’s not every week six guys wearing matching T-shirts emblazoned with “Choi’s Bois” travel 600 miles to root for K.J. Choi. In fact, it only happens during The Players Championship. Since 2005 Brad Page (age 27), Bo Page (30), Bobby Page (53), David Clayton (30), Alex Kirkland (30) and Curtis Gribble (27) fly from Nashville, TN, to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, just to watch Choi play. (continue reading…)

Despite reports to the contrary, the profanity-laced argument between Sean O’Hair and Rory Sabbatini at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans two weeks ago did not concern slow play.

“I think I wish I would have handled it better,” O’Hair told a group of reporters following the second round of The Players Championship. “I’m not going to go into details, but I was defending myself and it wasn’t about pace of play. We waited on every shot for two days. That was not part of the issue.” (continue reading…)

G-Mac back

During his pre-tournament presser on Wednesday, Graeme McDowell said that after working with his coach, Pete Cowen, he finally felt like he was turning a corner. McDowell, who has struggled so far in ’11, noted he hadn’t done much at this point last year, but it panned out okay.

After posting solid rounds of 67-69, G-Mac finds himself near the top of the leaderboard again — something he hasn’t experienced at the midway mark of an event this season. He’s currently tied for fourth with a 36-hole total of eight-under, trailing leader David Toms by just two strokes. (continue reading…)

Phil soured by second nine

What a difference nine holes can make. Phil Mickelson looked like he was well on his way to posting a low number on Friday after firing a five-under 31 on his first nine (the back). But he struggled coming in and shot a four-over 40 in the second round of The Players Championship. Unlike Thursday when he blasted the 13th green, saying he disagreed with the design, Phil only had himself to blame. (continue reading…)

O'Meara turns back the clock

54-year-old Mark O’Meara fired a six-under 66 at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday. And no, he wasn’t playing in the Senior Players Championship — he’s keeping up with the kids this week. O’Meara credits his incredible round to his fantastic putting. He only needed 24 putts. He’s currently tied for third and two shots behind first-round leader Nick Watney, who fired a blistering 64. Naturally, during O’Meara’s presser, he was asked about his good friend and former-Orlando neighbor Tiger Woods’ withdrawing after nine holes. O’Meara, who says Tiger seems “extremely happy,” was shocked when he heard the news. (continue reading…)

Tiger made a dash for the parking lot

Matt Kuchar and Martin Kaymer started the day playing in a three-ball at TPC Sawgrass, but nine holes into the round, it turned into a two-ball after Tiger Woods withdrew, citing injury. Woods has been recovering from a Grade 1 mild medical collateral ligament sprain to his left knee (the same one that’s endured four surgeries) and a mild strain to his left Achilles tendon. He shot a dreadful six-over 42, which included rolling in a 17-footer for triple-bogey on the fourth hole. Before leaving, he said the pain started on the first tee shot. (continue reading…)

Tiger's start had been nothing short of catastrophic

The first round of the Players is well underway and the big news is that erstwhile Greatest Golfer in the World Tiger Woods has just withdrawn from the tournament. Woods completed the front nine in 42 strokes, a score that included several severely mishit pitch shots, before calling time on the round and shaking hands with his playing partners. He had been favouring his left knee throughout the round. (continue reading…)