A breezy day in Newport, R.I., saw Annika Sorenstam among the leaders of the U.S. Women’s Open after she shot a 2-under 69 … A day that saw her score two birdies, a bogey and 15 pars showed that Michelle Wie can play U.S. Open golf, as she sits one shot behind the leaders after the first round … Some interesting U.S. Women’s Open facts from Sports Illustrated. Notably: two amateurs are among the nine players to break par for Round One …

The start of the U.S. Women’s Open was delayed by fog. Play will start on Friday, and the players will play a 36-hole finale on Sunday … Will Michelle Wie’s long-hitting abilities help her in wet conditions at the U.S. Women’s Open ? … Eight years since Pak Se-ri won the U.S. Women’s Open as the only South Korean golfer in the field, there will be 18 South Koreans in this year’s 156-woman field …

Michelle Wie is having her say, but others are as well. And a lot of the Wie talk heading into the U.S. Women’s Open is regarding her putter … Fred Couples birdied the final hole to continue his strong 2006 campaign by winning the ING Par-3 Shootout on Tuesday. Couples takes home $300,000 from the two-day event … Tiger Woods announced he will defend the Dunlop Phoenix title in Japan in November …

The PGA has announced its plan for a 2007 four-event playoff that will see the winner get a serious payoff - $10 million to be exact … It’s possible that the Ryder Cup could be inconvenienced, as greenkeepers at its venue – Ireland’s K Club – could strike just days before the match due to a pay dispute … Golf teacher Don Law gives golf tips to readers of the Boca Raton News …

Here’s some non-controversial news from Iran: They plan to build the biggest golf course in the Middle East … In Hilton Head, the Sea Marsh Course at Sea Pines is looking to start a major reconstruction plan, but is running into trouble from those wanting to save endangered trees … Oh yeah, did we forget to mention? Ben Curtis finally won the Booz Allen Classic …

The PGA’s new playoff tournament got a boost when it signed automotive giant BMW as a sponsor … Sports Illustrated has put together some interesting facts for the U.S. Women’s Open, including the fact that Meg Mallon’s 2004 Open win was the last LPGA major won by an American … Golfers in San Diego will be paying higher green fees after a vote by the San Diego city council …

Ben Curtis has waited to win a golf tournament since the 2003 British Open. He’ll have to wait a little more as a rain delay has forced Curtis to take his eight-shot lead into Monday … With the LPGA’s U.S. Open coming to their neck of the woods, the Boston Herald has an in-depth look at Michelle Wie. In Pittsford, N.Y., Jeong Jang’s got her first victory since last year’s Women’s British Open by winning the Wegmans LPGA, holding off Paraguay’s Julieta Granada …

Colin Montgomerie is showing that his effort at the U.S. Open was no fluke and that his game really is baqck in form, as he leads the Johnnie Walker Championship after two rounds … Ben Curtis is leading the Booz Allen Classic after two rounds. Curtis is looking for his first victory since the 2003 British Open … Shi Hyun Ahn is another golfer looking for her first victory since 2003. Still just 21, Ahn is leading Wegman’s LPGA in Rochester, N.Y. heading into the weekend …

In Canada, golf is growing like a wildfire, with a 20 percent increase in players from 2001 to 2005 … Chris Tugwell is a Scotsman who got his first hole-in-one at Bruntsfield Golf Course near Edinburgh recently. Then, five holes later, he got his second ace …. Need golf tips? At WLTX in South Carolina, they do their best to be helpful. Here are a couple simple putting tips to get you ready for your weekend game ..

Geoff Ogilvy may be taking some time off golf with a baby on its way in October … Colin Montgomerie says his recent divorce may have helped him on the golf course even though it really hurt his bank book … In Florida, they’re saddened by the loss of Don Beattie, the director of golf at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens, who died recently. Beattie was 51 …

Shoppers and investors are starting to take a closer look at Golf Galaxy, which is moving golf merchandise at a brisk pace … Lorena Ochoa has been one of the LPGA’s top players all year, now she’s looking at being ranked No. 1 … The Wedgewood Golf Course in Wilson, N.C., hosts about 45,000 rounds of golf a year. So it deserves a little time off to recover …

Steve Stricker’s U.S. Open was a dream come true. Entering the year without his Tour card, Stricker qualified for the U.S. Open, finished sixth and now has his card for next year … Gaelle Truet, a 27-year-old golfer on the Duramed Futures Tour, died recently in a car accident. Truet was a two-time NCAA Academic All-American First Team selection while playing at Arizona State. Her best finish on the Duramed Futures Tour came this year when she tied for sixth at the IOS Futures Golf Classic in El Paso, Texas … The Florida Sun-Sentinal has a nice article on health problems golfers ...

Salmon fishing in Canada, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus learned about Phil Mickelson’s U.S. Open collapse from reporters. The pair were shocked, and Nicklaus gave some examples of how he learned not to cough up big tournaments … Geoff Ogilvy is enjoying his U.S. Open victory, which is detailed nicely in the Houston Chronicle … For his part, Lefty was obviously devastated by his loss to Ogilvy at the U.S. Open. Here’s what Mickelson had to say after the event …

There’s a new U.S. Open champion and he’s from Australia. Geoff Ogilvy adds to a great year for the Aussies by hanging on to win at Winged Foot … Phil Mickelson had his third straight major in his sights. But an ugly double bogey on the tournament’s final hole ended the dream for Lefty … Despite struggling this year on the European Tour, Colin Montgomerie made a charge at his first major, but again came up short …

Tiger Woods wasn’t the only big name to miss the cut at the U.S. Open. Retief Goosen, Michael Campbell and Davis Love III are among others who will sit out the weekend … Former University of Illinois star Steve Stricker is leading the U.S. Open, yet he isn’t even a regular on the PGA Tour this year … Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington have both put themselves in contention to be the first European in 35 years to win the U.S. Open …

He might not be a woman trying to play in a men’s tournament or a 15-year old wonder kid, but veteran Colin Montgomerie is the only player under par after the first round of the U.S. Open at Winged Foot … Aussie, Geoff Ogilvy, compares the surface of the Winged Foot greens with that of the moon … Meanwhile, at the Knoxville Open in Tennessee, Matt Hendrix and Tim Wilkinson both shot a 7-under 65 to share the lead after day one …

Coming back after his long layoff, it’s been a disaster for Tiger Woods, who was 6-over after the first round at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot … It’s been a tough season for Colin Montgomerie in Europe, but he went into the clubhouse at the U.S. Open as the leader … Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk shot par for the opening round, which kept them in the hunt, while Retief Goosen was struggling early …

Tadd Fujikawa has been fighting his whole life. First it was for life itself. Then he started Judo at the age of four and now this 15-year-old wonder kid is preparing for battle with the big boys at the U.S. Open. He says he is ready … After dominating the European Order of Merit, David Howell believes he has what it takes to win a major. Maybe the U.S. Open will be his first … Defending U.S. Open champion, Michael Campbell is a 100/1 long-shot of winning this years event but he is happy with that. In similar circumstances to 2005, attention ...

At WorldGolf.com, they’re making it easier for you to keep track of the U.S. Open champions throughout history … Speaking of the U.S. Open, the entire field seems to expect to see Tiger Woods come out roaring despite his lengthy layoff … One more time at Winged Foot: Australian players are looking to end an 11-year majors drought with a win at the U.S. Open …

The developers of a high profile Pebble Beach golfing resort, backed by Clint Eastwood, have withdrawn their proposal just days before the California Coastal Commission were scheduled to vote on it. Wanting to address environmental issues, the company will re-submit the revised proposal at a later date … NBC announced the signing of commentator Johnny Miller’s new contract which ups his tournament calls to 14 … LPGA staff are dropping like flies with a total of seven employees who have left since Carolyn Bivens took over as commissioner in September …

The big news in golf today is happening at WorldGolf.com, where readers are getting more, improved ways to help other readers. In the WorldGolf.com Course Guide area, take a look at the new “Now you Rate It” rankings system that will help give readers an idea of how the thousands of WorldGolf.com courses listed rank with other golfers. To take it even further, now on the WorldGolf.com Course Review section there are now Exit Polls at the bottom of each, so that a reader can quickly and easily share his opinion on any of the numerous courses that WorldGolf.com golf writers have ...

Tiger is back but he is still not talking … Coming off his fourth consecutive top five finish, Adam Scott feels he is ready for the U.S. Open and will continue his aggressive approach shots … With the U.S. Golf Association selecting its pairings at Winged Foot, some very interesting choices have been made …

Phil Mickelson is ready for a winning performance at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot … A new home movie featuring Marilyn Monroe golfing is coming to a television or Internet near you … Golf is finding a new audience on satellite radio …

At the extremely windy Barclay’s Classic, Vijay Singh gave notice that his game, and his head, are in the right place to make a valid claim for the U.S. Open title … A recent forced layoff has given Si Ri Pak a chance to re-evaluate her life and golf. The result seems to have been positive as she almost holed out with her second playoff shot against Karrie Webb at the LPGA Championship yesterday … Tiger Woods may be encouragement for African Americans to take up the game of golf, but the rising number of recreational players is not translated into numbers ...

At the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, Michelle Wie showed she’s going to be in contention with a 4-under to move within three shots of the lead when she went into the clubhouse … A new poll shows Tiger Woods has bypassed Michael Jordan as the most popular athlete in the United States … The first round of the Champion’s Tour’s Bank of America Championship was rained out in Concord, Mass. …

The Elk, Steve Elkington is making a stand and says qualifying for the U.S. Open is not equal across the board. After entering a qualifier at the Lakeside Course in Houston, he decided not to play when management told him he couldn’t wear metal spikes. Adam Scott leads another tournament, but can he make the Barclay’s his first win of the season? At the L.P.G.A. Championship 24 players shot in the 60’s with Nicole Castrale coming out on top.

LPGA founder, Marilynn Smith, has been selected in the World Golf Hall of Fame. “I was surprised, humbled, overwhelmed and absolutely thrilled to get the call that I had been selected to receive this great honor from the World Golf Hall of Fame,” Smith said. More than 52% of the pros at the Allianz Championship played the Adams Golf Idea a2 hybrid “The reason our hybrids have remained on top for every tournament this year is because they perform. The pros on tour demand that, and a strong majority of them continue to rely on Adams Golf clubs,” said Max Puglielli, Adams Golf ...

Check out the stats of the PGA’s top-20 golfers. Wow, what about the charge from the men downunder. Another five have qualified for the U.S. Open, making a total now of 13. There must be something in the southern hemisphere water. John Daly has picked up a cool $130,000 in the Exelon Invitational skins game against Sean O’Hair and Adam Scott. Let’s hope it won’t go straight into the gambling account? Host Jim Furyk, pulled out of the event due to a back injury.

So close again, but a valiant Michelle Wie misses out on her goal of a U.S. Open birth. “Obviously, I’m disappointed I didn’t make it,” she said. “I’m satisfied with the way I tried. I played my hardest out there.” What an exciting time for women’s golf. With the approaching LPGA Championship and names like Webb, Ochoa and Wie all playing hot golf, we can expect to see some fantastic battles. Who can rule out Sorenstam too, her game could turn around at any time. It’s good to see that there were some other golfers out there that did qualify for the U.S. ...

Remember all those times you have been fooling around in your golf cart. Maybe next time you will think twice. I don’t know what these two were up to but accidents can happen. Bubba Watson can certainly smack the ball when he wants to. On Saturday at Muirfield, the well known long hitter landed a 352 yard drive onto the green at the 14th. “I was playing real bad, so I hit driver just to do it,” said Watson. “I figured, why not?” This years Memorial champion, Carl Pettersson, say’s his background makes him a mutt. Whatever he is, it looks ...

Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples are buddies again near the top of the leaderboard at the The Memorial … Annika Sorenstam and South Korea’s Grace Park will lead the International and Asian teams in December’s Lexus Cup … The secret is out: Tiger Woods will definitely play in the U.S. Open …

We are used to hearing about the Nicklaus V’s Palmer on course battles. Things have changed recently and the battle is now waged using their two tournaments as reference. Which one is viewd by the pro’s as being better? If Michelle Wie finishes in the top 18 at Canoe Brook Country Club’s North Course she will be the first woman to qualify for the U.S. Open. But is her game up to it? Just like in Ireland, Dublin Ohio is receiving downpours that cause havoc at the Memorial. With all the talk centred around the bunkers, Steve Flesch managed to avoid all ...

Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player bring some star power to the captains’ seats of the 2007 Presidents Cup … Greg Norman is looking ahead and lobbying to be named International captain for the 2011 President’s Cup … Ivan Lendl’s daughter is starting to show her stuff on the golf course in high school …