Greg Reaches Out to Dustin

Well, he knows how Dustin feels. Greg Norman, the best ball striker in the modern era and holder of the dubious title of Saturday Slam Champion extended a hand to Dustin Johnson this week. Following Dustin's meltdown in the final round of the U.S Open at unplayable Pebble it was a classy thing to do by Greg. Who knows what was said in confidence, but it sure was good of him to show some empathy, even though the mere mention of Bob, Larry, Jack and Nick must be enough for Greg to throw up! Nice going Greg!

Seve announces decision not to play at St. Andrews

As everyone knows, Seve has had a very tough time in the last couple of years with brain cancer. He has now announced his decision NOT to play at St. Andrews in the Wednesday special event prior to The Open Championship. This is under doctors orders and there is no question that it would be a stressful day for him. It sounds like a good decision to me, but the St. Andrews event will miss Seve and so will the British golf public, who LOVE Seve. I have been on the back of the range at hundreds of events and he was one of only a couple players who could stop the range dead with his ability to hit a golf ball. I couldn't resist showing Seve at the 1984 Open - one of the greatest and happiest moments in Open history. On his final putt, the ball seemed to be 6 inches outside the right edge with 3 inches to go and Seve literally willed the ball into the hole - his reaction stills ranks as one of the greatest ever.

A Very Strange Day at Pebble.

I was so looking forward to the last day of the U.S Open. And yet, even after a win by the affable Graeme McDowell I was left unsatisfied. How could all of the challengers fall away without a fight? How could McDowell shoot 74 and still win by playing 18 with a driver, 8 iron and sand wedge. When will Tiger stop blaming everyone but himself? The TV golf pundits will overanalyse as usual, but what's clear is the Pebble Beach course won - the cost was a desperately dull and negative telecast with Johnny Miller clearly mad that no one, save Mr. McDowell, could hit the ball in a straight line. On to The Old Course at St. Andrews in 3 weeks and a real links golf course. Let's hope the drama lives up to the expectations.

Same Old Tiger...only worse

Tiger said he will change. His attitude, his interaction with the crowd, his outlook. And he has changed...he's even worse. More arrogant than ever and he has now taken to criticizing the golf course, the USGA, who knows maybe even the courtesy car driver? His attack on the USGA on Thursday about the greens being "awful" was childish and unnecessary. We didn't hear the moaning in 2000 when he was simply playing better on the same greens. They are still poa annua and on poa the ball bounces more than bent. All the players played the same golf course and the same greens, but only Tiger moaned like a 6 year old. Clearly there has been no change. All he needs to do is play better and quit moaning. No one wants to hear it.

Monday visit to Pebble

I was at Pebble on Monday and the golf course is in magnificent condition. It looks so different from the bumpy wet golf course played in February for the AT&T. The thing with Pebble is there are so many great holes you tend to forget the bland ones. The golf course doesn’t really get going until the 5^th and Nicklaus did a great job with the tough par 3 that hugs the cliff. Through the 10^th it’s exceptional and then the 11^th through the 16^th are just so average, until reaching the 17^th tee. The 14th is one of my least favourite holes in golf, a long, uphill par 5 to a ridiculously small sloping green. Just no fun at all and the players hate it, though they are trained to say nothing. The 18^th looked great, though I miss the 2 big trees on the right side of the hole. Arnold Palmer has added another bunker up the right, but it is more cosmetic than in play. It is going to be a great U.S. Open with the golf course running hard and fast. The greens are tough to hold, so watch out for the players with strong short games. Anyone say Phil?

(the picture is taken from the Beach club looking at the 17^th green and 18^th tee)

Let Battle Commence...2 publishers go after the online weekly audience

There is a newcomer today to the online weekly golf magazines. Global Golf Post has had the Monday morning market to itself for 6 months or so and done a fine job. Today in steps the 600lb gorilla, Conde Nast, with its Golf World Monday. Both feature great writers and it will be fascinating to see where this battle heads in the coming months. The business model for both is free to consumer supported by ads, so you have to figure Golf World has more "value add" opportunities with its pool of advertisers. Watch this space and more importantly sign up - they are both great and free!

Excellent new book - The Shallows

A new book by Nicholas Carr explores the interesting argument that the Web is literally altering our brain waves. With access to high speed internet we have the world at our fingertips and so dip in and out of information without ever really connecting the way we used to in "the good old days", you know with things like books and long form content. Today, we triple task and all of this is effecting learning patterns, especially those of our children, who are learning this from day one - unlike their parents. The challenge is can you can make it through the 276 pages?

Tin Cup on Capital Golf Weekly

Our client, Tin Cup was on last weeks Washington Capital Golf Weekly. You can see it here. Tin Cups are now available in over 50 retail outlets as well as on line at www.tin-cup.com.

Rose wins at Memorial

A terrific win by Justin Rose at Jack's tournament, The Memorial. It's many years since I represented Justin prior to MacDuff, but I couldn't be more proud of his victory at Muirfield Village. Justin is a class act and now that he has broken through with his first US win I hope it is the start of a wave of victories. If should certainly confirm his Ryder Cup spot. Well done Justin!