Tiger's ability to focus

Tiger Woods returns to golf this week after a few weeks off and a night at a Nickelback concert. He's playing at the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte.

This cartoon comes from Daryl Cagle's blog. Dazza tried to submitted a whole load of these as an iPhone app but was rejected on grounds that it "ridicules public figures". In truth, Tiger's doing his best on his own.  

Head on over to the website if you want to see more. 

Tip o' the visor to Jay Busbee at Devil Ball Golf for this one.

The world's most famous par-4 just got longer

When you're on to a good thing, stick to it. 

Don't change a winning team. 

Don't spoil the ship for a ha'pworth of tar. 

Don't change the Road Hole at St.Andrews, 'tis great as it is.

The last phrase I made up but one wonders whether the R&A had ever heard of the other ones.

You see they've gone and changed the 17th hole at St.Andrews Old Course. Lovingly known as the Road Hole, the R&A officially unveiled their changes yesterday.

This hole has seen some of the most memorable moments in Open Championship history and is instantly recognisable in real life, on TV or playing Tiger Woods '07. The green, road and stone wall have been preserved but the hole has been lengthened by 25 yards taking it out to 490 yards.

There has been some serious controversy surrounding the change with very few people supporting the move. The R&A got off to a bad start but justifying the change based on the increase in driving distances and a quote by Sir Henry Cotton who mentioned the hole should be lengthened in 1964.

Many writers including Geoff Shackleford have pointed out both aren't completely true. Driving distances have actually flattened out over the past 5 years and Cotton was referring to the hole when it used to be a par-5!

The latest reports suggests the R&A are considering making the hole a call-up hole for approach shots to the green. I'll refrain from expressing my views on that once again.

Lawrence Donegan suggests in his piece in The Guardian that the R&A are scrambling to make St.Andrew's relevant in the era of modern golf. They have made serious blunders over the past decade by not restricting changes to the golf ball and are committing acts of "officially-sanctioned vandalism" on the world's most famous golf course.

The future of golf bags?

Golf bags really haven't changed a lot over the years. You could argue they have become a lot more durable and lighter but the basic design has stayed the same. Those old vinyl ones didn't look very cool either.

MyGolfSpy released some prototype images of a new look for the golf bag and I've included one of them below. 

Personally I'd just love a bag where my clubs don't rattle around.

What do you think? 

Two Aussie journeymen grab big victories

The ANZAC spirit was flowing strong as two journeymen of Australian golf scored some career changing victories on the weekend (see videos above and below).

Marcus Fraser made a mockery of Aussie Golfer's 2010 European Tour predictions by wrapping up the Ballentine's Championship in South Korea. He led from start to finish at the European Tour event to beat big names such as Ernie Els, Y.E. Yang and Anthony Kim to take home AU$540,000.

Fraser has been close to winning year after year in many tournaments including the Australian Masters in 2008, eventually won by Rod Pampling in a play-off. This was his first victory in seven years.

Like many, Fraser thrives on confidence and maybe he can go on and firmly ditch the "journeyman" status. He joins Gary Busey Andrew Dodt as the only other Australian to win on the 2010 European Tour.

Ewan Porter showed us you don't need to practice to win on the Nationwide Tour.He won for the second time at the South Georgia Classic after flying in the night before round one and having not made a cut this year. Porter is one of the larrikin's of Australian golf and rounded out his victory with some refreshingly honest comments;

"I have to be honest, I hit the ball ten times better last week," he said. "My putting was absolutely amazing. Last week I putted like Stevie Wonder and this week I putted like Brad Faxon."

"I'm glad we're not playing another hole. My heart rate's about 200 and I'm about to spew my guts up."

There are now three Australians in the Nationwide Tour Top 25 players. All top 25 players at the end of the year graduate to the PGA Tour.

Luxury golf cart

No prizes for guessing which country this photo was taken in.

Thanks to Stu Rich for the image.

Rules of Golf: Playing from a hazard

The rules of golf can be confusing.

A few months ago, The Golf Show on FoxSports aired this little snippet looking at playing a shot from a hazard and what exactly you can touch with you club. Take a look.

Fine. Got it?

I thought so too until I saw the footage of Brian Davis playing from a hazard in a playoff against Jim Furyk in last week's Verizon Heritage tournament. He knocked a reed on his back swing while making the stroke and immediately called the rules official for a ruling.

Rule 13-2 states that a player may move, bend or break anything growing or fixed in making a stroke or in the backward movement of his club for a stroke and the stroke is made. But Davis had made contact with a "loose impediment" on his backswing. A "dead palm frond" was the culprit.

The video shows the situation in more detail but in summary. You can brush or bend anything in a hazard that is growing but do not brush or bend anything that isn't!

Thanks to the great Barry Rhodes at Rules of Golf for clarification.

Lorena Ochoa retires at 28

The world's number one female golfer, Lorena Ochoa has announced her retirement from the game. The Mexican will give reasons for her decision in a press conference from Mexico City on Friday.

It is the second time in three years the one of the LPGA's biggest stars has retired from the game. Annika Sorenstam decided to concentrate on other parts of her life including her charity work and having a family.

Ochoa became the first Mexican to be the number one golfer (male or female) and has been winning tournaments since she was seven years old and may be the most popular non-footballing athlete in Mexico. It serves a huge blow to the LPGA Tour which has downsized the number of tournaments since the decline of the economy.

Check Lorena Ochoa's official website for more news and information

Photo: Action Images Source

Jack Nicklaus press conference

Are you a golf fanatic?
Do you love the history of the game and the stories of old tournaments and golfers?
Do you still think Jack Nicklaus is the greatest golfer to walk the planet?
Do you have a spare 40 minutes to watch one of the best golf interviews for a long time?

If you answered yes to these questions, you really need to click the image below and check out the interview with Jack Nicklaus from the US Masters a few weeks ago.

It makes fascinating viewing. He talks about his battles with Seve Ballesteros and playing with Ben Hogan as well as a full range of other golf topics.

We can all learn from this - not just Tiger. Agreed?

Thanks to Stephanie Wei at Wei Under Par for brining this to my attention.

Photos of Lost Farm

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Related article: Lost Farm - believe the hype
Lost Farm website

Aussie Golfer is excited to share some photos of Lost Farm, a new golf course set to open in Tasmania in October 2010. Lost Farm golf course is described as the sister course to Barnbougle Dunes and by all reports will be even better.

Most Australian golfers have now heard of Barnbougle Dunes in Bridport, Tasmania. It was rated by Australian Golf Digest as Australia's 4th best golf course this year, despite only opening in 2005 and is becoming a golfing pilgrimage for many golfers across the country.

It is a magnificent golf course unlike anything else in Australia and it is only a matter of time before the rest of the world recognise it in the same way. Travellers to the north-east of Tasmania will soon have a second incredible golf course to play.

Opening nearby is Lost Farm (photos). Word is that this course will surpass Barnbougle Dunes and firmly entrench itself in the world's top 50 golf courses. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, they have had a lot to live up to after the success of the Barnbougle Dunes (designed by Tom Doak and Mike Clayton) but the hype has been huge.

It is not hard to see why when you look at the early photos which were kindly made available to display on Aussie Golfer by Keith Rhebb. You can see a whole lot more of Lost Farm on his Flikr page.

Garcia, Villegas for Australian Masters - Woods may follow

Sergio Garcia and Camilo Villegas have confirmed as starters for the 2010 Australian Masters to be held at Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne (November 11 - 14) and word on the street is that Tiger Woods may be joining them.

After the success in luring Tiger Woods to the event last year the tournament sponsors, JBWere have gone to great lengths to secure some more big international golf names.

Along with Geoff Ogilvy's confirmed appearance the tournament is already starting to take shape and building upon the momentum of last year.

According to Peter Stone in the SMH, JBWere are not going to fork out for an appearance fee for Tiger Woods this year but the Victorian government and IMG Management are doing their best to lure him back. Reportedly, Woods and his management are close to making a decision.

Golf video: Playing over the trees

Courtesy of www.tightlies.tv

Other golf videos
Playing from the ladies tees
Golf on the moon
Amazing hole-in-one
Ina Baker-Finch: The videos

Who's got a brand new handicap then?!

The first instalment of the overhaul to Australian golf handicapping has come and gone, and appeared to be implemented without too many problems.

By all reports, golfers accepted the change readily enough despite many not being aware the change was imminent. The Golflink website stood up fairly well under the circumstances and the round history and handicap calculation is easy and transparent.

I have heard of a few drastic changes in player handicaps to new golfers with only a few rounds under their belts. A few abnormalities have arisen because of referencing rounds of golf to old course ratings but this will be resolved in the roll out of the new course ratings in the near future.

Anyone unhappy with the new system? Did all go smoothly at your club?

Adam Scott's eagle took 42 seconds

Forget Phil Mickelson's miraculous 6-iron, check out Adam Scott's eagle on the 7th hole from Sunday's final round at the US Masters. From start to finish, the ball took 42 seconds to go in the hole.

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More golf videos

Playing from the ladies tees

Skim it across the water - for a hole-in-one

Golf ball v Race car

Million dollar hole-in-one

John Senden scores albatross

The street shoes of Fred Couples

Fred Couples took to Augusta National on the weekend in his new Ecco golf shoes which have created a stir across the golf world.

Aussie Golfer first reported on Fred Couples' comfy looking shoes after the first of his three 2010 wins on the Champions Tour this year. Couples has had long term back problems and it is no surprise to see him in some comfortable looking golf shoes but these are a different kettle of fish altogether.

They look more like skate or street shoes. Flat soled, spikeless and looking like anything but a golf shoe. It is exactly the sort of golf shoe that many private golf clubs would ban or at least look down upon.

The Ecco "Golf Street Premier" shoes have been released in the US this week (funky advertisement below) and looks like they are colour customisable. No word from Ecco on when they will appear in Australia. I'll let you know when they arrive.

Who wants to be the first to wear them at Huntingdale or Royal Sydney?

Photo: Getty/AP

Hats off to Phil

Phil Mickelson is one of the greatest golfers to ever play the game and he has three green jackets to prove it. His stellar performance included one of the greatest golf shots of all time.

On the par-5 13th, he hooked his ball right, ending up behind a couple of trees in the rough (pine needles). Nursing a two shot lead, one expected the big Philly cheese steak to take his medicine and knock it out on the fairway. He had other ideas.

An unimpeded swing and a gap between the trees was a chance to slip one arm in the green jacket again. He fired a 189metre, 6-iron through the trees and across the water guarding the green. The ball finished a metre from the hole.

Mickelson missed the eagle putt but it was an easy birdie and went on to win the 2010 US Masters by three strokes from Lee Westwood.

A lot of people aren't fans of Phil Mickelson and throwing fans out of tournaments because they sledge doesn't help change their view of him but today's performance was amazing.

That shot on fifteen was as gutsy as you'll get and is now firmly entrenched in golf history.

P.S. Anyone impressed I didn't mention anything about Ten's awful Masters coverage?

Official US Masters website

Image courtesy of Getty Images. Source

Important golf handicapping news!

Important Reminder!!

The new handicapping system has been launched today. All handicaps have been recalculated in accordance with the new rolling handicapping system.

What do I need to do?
Go and check your handicap at Golflink before you play as it may have changed. The new system calculates your handicap in a very different way to the old one.

What else should I do?
Let other golfers know! Not everyone is as informed as you are so spread the word to your fellow golfers. Tell them to check their handicaps before they play.

Is that all?
Yes. All handicaps have been automatically recalculated and for the moment, no matter which course you are playing on, your handicap stays the same.

This is the first launch in a series of packages by Golf Australia to change the way the handicapping and course ratings across Australia are handled.

Click here to sign up to Aussie Golfer with your email address to stay informed on future handicapping changes as well as much more golf news, fun and reviews.

New Nike Tiger Woods commercial

Here's the new Nike Commercial featuring Tiger Woods and the voice of his father, Earl Woods. You have to hand it to Nike, they can add cool spin to anything. I'm not completely sure they have pulled it off this time though given Earl was no angel either.

What do you think?

Australians at the 2010 US Masters

2010 US Masters on TV

Despite what some sources are saying there are only six Australian's bound for the US Masters this week. Michael Sim has withdrawn due to a shoulder injury and as much as we would have like to have claimed Michael Campbell as one of our own a few years ago, we've gone a little cold on the idea just at the moment.

The full field can be accessed at the official US Masters website but let's have a quick look at the Aussies and see if any have a chance of becoming the first to win the green jacket.

Robert Allenby

Robert Allenby is possibly our best chance this year. He has been very good and can hold his head high but question marks always hang over his putting. If you've ever seen the the line his putter takes from behind the ball, you probably spilt your gin and tonic. He has a horrible Augusta record but his current game IS good enough to win. Besides, a pink shirt in a green jacket would look fantastic!

US Masters appearances - 10

Cuts made - 6

Top 10's - 0

Best finish - T26 (2006)

Geoff Ogilvy

Always plays well here and has been known to come back well from poor first and second rounds. Just needs to string two early rounds together and we can all get on board this train.

Appearances - 4

Cuts made - 4

Top 10's - 0

Best finish - T15 (2009)

Adam Scott

The Australian Open victory has been the lone spike in among some ordinary golf. He really hasn't reignited that form at all this year but a top 20 at the Colonial last weekend offers some hope. I know you're sick of hearing it but he has the potential...

Appearances - 8

Cuts made - 6

Top 10's - 1

Best finish - T9 (2002)

John Senden

If you want to talk form, this guy has it. He's made 6 from 7 cuts this year and had two top 25's - both in his last three events. He's only had the one appearance at the US Masters but is the dark horse among the Aussies.

Appearances - 1

Cuts made - 0

Top 10's - 0

Best finish - n/a

Nathan Green, Marc Leishman

As first timers at the US Masters, how they cope is an unknown. I never know exactly what Nathan Green will do although the length of Augusta may be to his disadvantage. Marc Leishman has the distance and all round game to shake the leaderboard but his accuracy may be an issue and his form this year hasn't been good.

The Sweet Stench of the US Masters

Official US Masters website

The sweet stench of the US Masters

US Masters week brings with it the hope of seeing the first Australian to wear the green jacket and the lure of the lush, sweet fairways of Augusta National.

The whole tournament is coated in a thick layer of honey that is sweeter than a Fred Couples eight iron. Each year I switch on for the first few days and immerse myself in the surrounds of Augusta National only to feel frustration a few hours later as the staid, superficiality sets in.

The coverage is controlled by the Augusta officials who preside over the female-free, conservative, ye-oldie golf world. No one dare say anything wrong as Sergio Garcia found out last year. He hinted he didn't love coming and playing the hallowed grounds. Sergio is known for saying dumb things right after a bad round but this was akin to sacrilege.

Even the galleries are on their best behaviour at Augusta National. No one will call Phil Mickleson his nickname around these fairways, nor will anyone mention anything about Tiger's disappearance from the game. Indeed I assume a few Augusta members may be so far removed from the 21st century that a few will assume his indiscretions refer to a few fluffed chip shots during practice.

If you're up for a drinking game early each morning, have a beer each time you see a member of the gallery wearing khaki shorts, a shot for three or more khaki shorts standing in a row and a double shot each time Jim Nantz says something that makes you want to puke.

2010 US Masters on TV

Augusta National has so much control over the coverage that commentators have been sacked over the years for referring to the greens as "bikini waxed" or describing the galleries as a "mob" rather than patrons. No doubt they're keen to preserve the word "mob" at risk of offending a group of kangaroos.

It is the commentary and coverage each year that sticks a fly in the honey. While we all get a lesson in floriculture and the personal trials professional golfers, anyone more than four shots back are playing shots in front of the khaki short brigade only.

In 2007, Justin Rose made a flying run at the green jacket with some great birdies on the back nine. His approach to 17 was the first we'd seen of him for a few hours and I wondered if he would be made to replay his shots for the highlights DVD if he had ended up winning.

Channel 9 and 10 have done nothing to help matters over the years. Ian Chappell used to re-introduce us to the tournament after each ad break with the charisma of a lob wedge and Tim Webster was only marginally better.

Where is HG & Roy when we need them? To have the option of applying the "mute" button and tuning the radio into a commentary with an ounce of fun and intelligence would be nice. To watch the sugar coated golf without getting our fingers sticky would almost make the Australian heartbreak much more palatable.

Tomorrow: A look at the Australians in the 2010 US Masters field

Official US Masters website

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Tiger Woods' first press conference

Tiger Woods gave his first real media interview in the lead up to the US Masters this week and his return to golf.

Everything was fair game. He got grilled on everything including the rumours which have circulated on the use of performance enhancing drugs in the follow up to his dealings with a doctor on charges of prescribing their use.

In case you didn't get up at 4am this morning to watch it, here's the interview in full.

Welcome to US Masters week 2010

Welcome to another instalment of the US Masters where once again we hope an Australian will erase all those nasty memories and actually be wearing the green jacket come Monday morning.

We've got a look at the Masters and the Australians teeing it up this week to give you an idea of what our chances are.

In addition, Aussie Golfer will let you know where to find the action and latest results and news throughout the week.

The event is purportedly going to be broadcast in 3D in the US, but for those of us left in the 2D world, the US Masters have finally got their act together and produced a half decent official website to get the Augusta juices flowing.

Official US Masters website

2010 US Masters on TV

All the US Masters coverage is on Channel 10, One HD with FoxSports bringing loads of repeat viewings all weekend.

One HD is broadcasting Tiger Woods' first media conference at 4:00am Tuesday if you're that way inclined and they are also showing the US Masters Par 3 Competition for the first time I can recall. It is live but from 5:00am on Thursday morning.

The live action for the US Masters tournament is broadcast at these times below:

Friday, April 9, Round 1

5:45 am - 9:30 am

Saturday, April 10, Round 2

5:45 am - 9:30 am

Sunday, April 11, Round 3

5:15 am - 9:00 am

Monday, April 12, Round 4

3:45 am - 9:00 am

Tiger Woods: Great golfer, bad bloke

The return of Tiger Woods at this year's US Masters has an awkward feeling about it. It is on par with taking your best mate to your favourite golf course only to find two holes are out of play, the greens have been cored and you've left your putter at home.

His comments last week raised some giggles across Australia when he claimed he was "getting back to his roots" which sounded counter-productive given his recent therapy sessions.

Australians are particularly fickle when it comes to choosing sporting heroes and won't go easy on Woods. Any small blemish is fodder for "taking the piss". Anything larger and ridicule is sure to follow.

Richard Hines gave a good example this in his article in the SMH this week:

However, perhaps the more pertinent aspect of the famed golf club's controversial membership policy to Tiger Woods's impending comeback is its failure to embrace a single woman. Thus, on the Sunday before the Masters when Augusta National's gentlemen members tee up alongside practising superstars, the temptation for a recovering sexaholic will be diminished somewhat.

Tiger's controlling interviews should not be sugarcoated. Most Americans seem to love therapy of one kind or another but in the language of those who laughed at Tiger's "roots" - he has been in therapy for being a bad bloke.

It has zero to do with golf, but it surely you do agree it does affect the average golf spectator's ability to "root" for him.

Ernie Els for example, is not a bad bloke. He might even be referred to as a bloody great bloke who would look great in a green jacket.

Sometimes it is not obvious who is and isn't a good bloke. In Tiger's case, despite very few people knowing much about him at all, he seemed like a top bloke. Someone we would like to have had over at a barbie. Now many people would like to see anyone but Woods winning a golf tournament let alone winning a golf tournament.

Yes, the ways of Woods has zero to do with golf but it will change his supporter base. Some people can differentiate between a sportspersons on and off field lives and many will still want Tiger to win. But the majority will not. Not yet anyway.

Sport has a history of fallen bad boys who are despised for most of their career. Eric Cantona, George Best, Mike Tyson and many more were supreme in their chosen sport but scorned for their indiscretions and it pleased many on the few occasions they lost.

Gerard Whateley spoke for many in his fine piece for the ABC:

Of all that can be said of this tawdry affair the thought of attaching the word triumph is most distasteful. Yet if Woods is draped in his fifth green jacket winning at his first tournament since scandal overwhelmed his career such exaltations will doubtless flow.

I fear the context will be misrepresented. There is no redemption to be found on a golf course for Woods. This is not overcoming adversity. Nor fighting back from injustice.Golf was never to blame for this mess. It was the collateral damage.

Watching Woods at the Australian Masters in November reminded me how pure sport can be.

Given the betrayal taking place at that very moment the bitterness is acutely felt.

No matter how hard Tiger's fans try and put the transgressions to one side, the bitterness will still be there. He's now a bad bloke. Categorised and chastised for it.

Come the final round of the US Masters next week, if Tiger is a chance to win another green jacket there will be plenty of fans rooting for him to win but not nearly as many as there were this time last year.

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