Click here to listen. Similarities between Lorena Ochoa and Tiger Woods have become all too evident this year. Both are certainly not showing their stripes as best golfer of the LPGA and PGA Tour although each have done justice to their own careers with several minor wins this season. Ochoa has two victories (and possibly three if she can hang on at the CN Canadian Women’s Open). Woods has five events under his belt but both have missed opportunities to shine at the majors, allowing those with less experience to take the trophy. But it is surely improbable that any golfer should be ...

Click here to listen. Despite the fact that Tiger Woods missed his final putt at the 18th hole of the Barclays, he still made watching the event a nail-biting experience. Instead of fans cheering Woods to victory, however, this time his legion of die-hard followers were holding their breath as easy two-footers became part of his dilemma. “Man,” Woods said, “to miss as many putts as I did this week, to still have a chance on the last green with a putt, it goes to show you how good I am at hitting it.” Yes, Tiger is one of the greatest ball ...

Click here to listen. Michelle Wie really wanted all of the “judges” who convinced themselves that she isn’t all that great a golfer to see her in all of her glory at the Solheim Cup, and with three and a half out of a possible four points to her credit. She really shut down the naysayers! Is the “confidence boost” that Michelle Wie used to define her week in biennial match play against Team Europe at the Solheim Cup enough to change her psyche from just another player to winner? Can she finally become the female golfer that the LPGA Tour ...

Click here to listen. A word within almost every sports column in the United States is that Tiger Woods ‘choked’ and gave up a 54-hole lead at the PGA Championship to the golfer who stood in 110th position before the Sunday start, Y.E. Yang. Did Tiger choke or only prove that he is human after all? ‘Choke’ is a strong word to associate with Tiger Woods and it is not supposed to happen to the one golfer that everyone believed to be made of steel, an alien from another planet to many fans. Some may say that he brought his “B” ...

Click here to listen. Does Tiger Woods’ victory at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational portend another major failure this week at the PGA Championship? Although Woods put on a clinic this week, he may just as easily fail in his bid to win a single major tournament this season. Reuters mentioned that Tiger “sent out an ominous warning to his rivals” for the upcoming major event, but, as we have seen from Tiger this year, he has not been able to close the deal on one major title this season. Perhaps Tiger should be content realizing that there are plenty of PGA Tour events ...

Click here to listen. Michelle Wie has overcome yet another obstacle on the yellow-brick-road to greatness with her selection onto the Solheim Cup team. The question is, will she assist her fellow teammates or will heatstroke prevail, forcing Beth Daniel to place her on the sidelines? Wie has been given exemptions and handouts by the powers-that-be for so long that many people are wondering whether or not she deserves this honor and if she will make the most of it come “crunch time". The choice of using Michelle Wie happens to be the right one for a number of reasons. The most ...

Click here to listen. Michelle Wie is being “considered” as a possible U.S. Solheim Cup golfer but is it in the team’s best interest to have her on their side? After a disappointing bid to gain points at the Evian Masters where she could only muster a tie for 23rd place, Wie appears to be slipping into LPGA mediocrity. It is true that Michelle currently has a decent rookie year under her belt with five top-ten finishes in twelve starts, but she isn’t a steady player. Wie is also behind in the total number of points needed for a top ...

Click here to listen. When asked about Tom Watson’s chances of raising the Claret Jug at the 2009 British Open, Jack Nicklaus replied, “It is going to take constant concentration and discipline.” The Golden Bear asserted, “whether or not Tom plays well tomorrow, whether or not he wins, it doesn’t make a difference.” After watching Watson’s head held high in spite of the occasional tear being wiped away by the fifty-nine year old legend, one can truly say that Nicklaus could not be further from the truth. With an invitation to play St. Andrews in 2010, Tom will be sixty. This was ...

Click here to listen. After LPGA golfers signed a petition rallying for the resignation of Carolyn Bivens with a show of “no confidence", the Tour is now searching for a permanent replacement. Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis and Morgan Pressel were among fifteen golfers concerned about issues facing the LPGA including a loss of seven events since 2007. The latest bailout of the Kapalua Classic was probably the nail in the coffin for Bivens. Morgan Pressel was the winner of the inaugural event and she happens to be the Tour Pro there as well. What a blow for Carolyn Bivens, ...

Click here to listen. Tiger Woods has made it a habit to win two weeks before a major tournament this season. He won Palmer’s, Nicklaus’ and his own event in this fashion and, because of this, fans are waiting to see if this streak will cause him to falter during the third major of the year. Is it possible that Tiger Woods could fall prey to the “middle of the pack” at the British Open? Prior to the 2009 Masters, Angel Cabrera’s best finish this year was a tie for thirteenth at the Northern Trust Open. He was cut from the ...

Click here to listen. Tiger Woods was defeated at Bethpage Black not once but twice in one month! The first loss came at the 2009 U.S. Open where Woods’ putter let him down. Lucas Glover, a relative “apprentice” on the PGA Tour, defeated the top brass there and Tiger probably needed to convince himself that it was the man, not the course, that kicked his butt. Seeking out a “rematch” of sorts, Woods took on SNL comedian Jimmy Fallon where it seemed certain that Tiger would triumph and gain bragging rights on the ‘Black’. But this match did not ‘officially’ take ...

Click here to listen. After watching the struggles of both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson (among the other great golfers) at the 109th US Open, it can be said that this was the year of the initiate, not the veteran. Lucas Glover, who had only won once in his career on the PGA Tour astounded and amazed the crowd with his steely gaze, focus and lack of emotion while both Woods and Mickelson fell short of the basic skills needed to get the job done. One can almost compare Glover to the lovely Natalie Gulbis who has also had a single ...

Click here to listen. What do Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Angel Cabrera all have in common? Aside from major victories in 2008, all three will be grouped together during the first two rounds of the 109th U.S. Open. This was a smart pairing by tournament officials as each has a story to tell. Tiger Woods is not only the defending champion (holding off Rocco Mediate and a bum knee) but also held on to victory (and a score of par) in 2002 at Bethpage with Phil Mickelson on his tail. With fourteen majors under his belt, a fresh win at the ...

Click here to listen. John Daly says that he is finally done with the “drama” in his life, has signed an endorsement deal with both an energy drink company and Loudmouth Clothes and is returning to the PGA Tour at the St. Jude Championship next week courtesy of a sponsor’s exemption. He will also attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open. Another major win? Daly maintains that his confidence, his fighting spirit and his “feel for the game” will direct him in a positive direction. John has played solidly in Europe, honing his skills with the assistance of golf instructor Rick ...

Click here to listen. The public usually sees LPGA and PGA Tour golfers as an illustrious and highly regarded group, quotable and predictable in their demeanor. You rarely hear about an offensive or derogatory slur and, if you do, it is quietly handled by the powers-that-be (unless John Daly is involved and then it becomes fodder). Michelle Wie, for example, is becoming one of the more quotable golfers on the LPGA Tour. She is highly visible to the media and her public image is full of aplomb. Her most recent stylized excerpt? “You know, like I always say, dream high and stuff, ...

Click here to listen. With the excitement surrounding “the new and improved” John Daly’s return to the PGA Tour and the buzz encircling 2008 Rolex Rookie of the Year Yani Tseng’s win at the Corning Classic with an upcoming second major try at the McDonalds LPGA Championship, golfers are getting out onto the course in droves attempting to mimic the shots of the professionals. More often than not, amateurs are stepping to the back tees and seeing more of the golf course than need be, and this usually refers to the men! Does this sound like you, Mr. Macho? Whereas women, ...

Click here to listen. Another Sunday another myriad of mishaps, this time at the Sybase Classic. Just chalk it up to more experience for Michelle Wie. With the press and fans clamoring for a win, all MW can do at this point is to offer up hope that, one day, things will be different, that one day she will break through barriers and the world will rejoice. “I’m trying my hardest out there. Most importantly, I’m having fun,” claimed Wie, knowing that she once again had to defend her fragile ego as computer keyboards eagerly clicked out another story ...

Click here to listen. PGA Tour title sponsor negotiations are in high gear as a number of agreements will expire in 2010. With a current bailout of six mainstays and a weakened economy looming, options are dwindling despite the aggressive efforts of Tim Finchem. Crowne Plaza is the most recent sponsor to jump ship two years before its scheduled exit date and takes along with it seven million dollars in endorsement and media commitments. FBR and Ginn are two additional casualties leaving Tim Finchem to bemoan, “We’ve obviously had, and are having, some bumps in the road.” Temporary declines in attendance ...

Click here to listen. “It’s difficult to think of you as a loser, but hey, you’re a loser.” sniggled David Feherty, as he interviewed Tiger Woods after a mediocre performance at Quail Hollow. You can lose but that certainly doesn’t make you a loser… Of course the above was said jokingly as Woods could never never be a loser. Aside from his recent victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Tiger has a total of sixty-six career PGA Tour wins under his belt with some events (like the Buick Invitational) being won six times by Woods! But did pre-surgery Tiger have better survival instincts? ...

During the 2008 Sybase Classic, Annika Sorenstam mentioned that she would be “stepping away” from competitive golf, careful not to use the “r” word. Carolyn Bivens, worried that fans might lose interest in the LPGA, also made it perfectly clear that Annika did not say the word “retirement” but confirmed that “She plans to end her competitive career". One translation? Annika slipped into second place in the money rankings just below Ochoa and could not seem to climb back into contention. Not to take anything away from a golfer who had seventy-two career wins but Sorenstam was busy building outside interests ...

Click here to listen. Soon after Tiger Woods sat in on a news conference to promote his third year as host of the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club, he shuttled off to the White House to take a tour hosted by President Barack Obama. Light witticisms were bandied about at Congressional with Tiger answering questions about his knowledge of the Swedish language which all boiled down to sayings every man should know like, “clean the house” and “wash dishes": every man that is, except for the billion-dollar variety like Woods! But what could the President want to know from Tiger ...

Click here to listen. For the average golfer who dreams of one day getting a big break and playing on tour, consider the “fantasy tour” instead unless you come equipped with a low handicap, solid-looking swing and a glowing camera presence. The golfers from season-one of the Big Break (2003) were chosen by open audition with the main prerequisities being “scratch” handicap and demonstrative proficiency with various types of shots. Personality, of course, also had to be “engaging” to the viewer as Jay Kossoff, Senior Producer of the Golf Channel, once said, “positively or negatively". Eleven seasons later, the Big Break: Prince ...

Click here to listen. “You’ve got to focus through the ficus” and “concentrate on being great!” Although these “Woods of Wisdom” are rhythmically repeated during the new Tiger Gatorade Focus commercial, it didn’t seem as if TW took the advice as he could barely control his “band-aid swing” for much of the Sunday Masters rally against Phil Mickelson. Still, the finale averaged a 6.9 rating/12 share with CBS thanking it’s lucky stars that Phil and Tiger tied in the third round and that Masters officials were smart enough to realize that the pairing would exude fireworks. Eight years later and ...

Click here to listen. Will Tiger Woods have any identifiable adversaries at this years Masters Tournament? Gazing into the PGA Tour crystal ball and deciding which golfers could make a move against Woods lead one to believe that Tiger is on par to win his fifth green jacket at Augusta! In all fairness, any one golfer could disrupt Tiger’s equilibrium long enough to gain ground. In 2007 relative unknown Zach Johnson “just tried to maintain my focus, maintain my game plan” in order to effectively tame Tiger at the Masters. Trevor Immelman emerged victorious in 2008, leaving Tiger in a second place ...

One possible way for Phil Mickelson to become the number one PGA Tour golfer in the world, toppling Tiger Woods, is closely tied in to his finish at this weekend’s Shell Houston Open. In order to turn his dreams into reality, Mickelson is going to have to sharpen his putting skills. According to his website, Mickelson has improved in all areas of his game except in putts per round. Out of six events, Phil now has two 2009 victories so it appears that the only way Mickelson can lose is if his mental game shatters, which it has been prone to ...

Click here to listen. Branding a product is supposed to personify the qualities inherent in the celebrity whose name is on the package. Tiger Woods’ name, for example, has been chosen not only because he is a champion but because he is credible, likeable and probably the most visible person on the planet. Woods basically embodies all of the most sincere qualities of golf while, at the same time, adding a youthful “hip-ness” to any product he endorses. Annika Sorenstam, although presently retired from golf and expecting a child, has decided to remain in the public eye by ‘capturing her ...

Click here to listen. Michelle Wie reportedly received $700,000 in appearance fees to attend the Asian Tour’s 2006 SK Telecom Open. Tiger Woods’ bonus for showing up at the Australian Masters will top the $3 million mark with the state government footing half of the bill! Are appearance fees a good idea and can they help fuel a weakened economy? Crowds no doubt swarm to an event where Tiger Woods is in the mix. A report from Ernst and Young stated that an estimated “10-20,000 overseas and interstate visitors would travel to the southern city to see Woods.” That translates into ...

Click here to listen. Step right up! The circus is in town and is performing at a golf course near you! Watch as Henrik Stenson performs his schluoss to the delight of sighing maidens. Be mystified as IMG jumps through hoops to insure maximum visibility for Michelle Wie! Delight as unimaginable trick shots made by Phil Mickelson inspire awe! For the piece de resistance, you might even catch Tiger Woods juggling golf balls just before the Masters Tournament! Ringling Brothers Circus claims to be “The Greatest Show on Earth” but both the PGA and LPGA Tour players are stepping ...

Swedish statesman and UN official Dag Hammarskjold once said, “There is a point at which everything becomes simple and there is no longer any question of choice, because all you have staked will be lost if you look back.” One could maintain that the choice to strip to his “Bjorn Borg’s” was a no-brainer for Henrik Stenson after his golf ball got stuck in the mud at Doral during the WGC-CA Championship. Earlier in the season, at the Dubai Desert Classic, Stenson was in a similar predicament but remained clothed and wound up covered in mud for the rest of the ...

Click here to listen. Natalie Gulbis seeks stardom but when in the spotlight rarely puts on more than a mediocre performance. Between her lackluster appearance on Celebrity Apprentice and her recent slip in Rolex Rankings, it doesn’t look like Gulbis is more than a passing fancy in the eyes of the camera. In other words, just because you don a superhero costume doesn’t necessarily mean you are imbued with extraordinary abilities! Although Gulbis initially accepted Donald Trump’s challenge, she has stayed incognito, waiting for Joan Rivers to thrust her into the spotlight wearing a superhero costume which Natalie mentioned looked like ...

Click here to listen. Until the recent flood of bank bailouts occurred, I’m not sure that the masses knew, or really cared, what financial institutions did with customer funds, so long as the economy was secure. So, in a sense, good came from this massive overhaul as disclosure helped open the eyes of the world to the vast waste and appetence that banks have kept hidden under their veils of secrecy. TMZ recently educated viewers on one such bank, Northern Trust, which spent millions of dollars on the sponsorship and advertising related to it’s same-named tournament. Extravagant parties were thrown for ...

Click here to listen. To look at the golf swings of both Tiger Woods and Charles Barkley, one would have to admit that they are complete opposites from start to finish. Even with a gimp and a grimace at the 2008 U.S. Open, Woods’ fluidity was still beautiful to watch. Barkley’s movements, on the other hand, have been the fodder for everyone from amateurs on YouTube to Tiger Woods himself, who jokingly attempted to copy the infamous swing which has been compared to “a tornado on acid". Charles Barkley has finally had enough ribbing and will allow himself to be guided ...

Click here to listen. Michelle Wie’s high hopes were dashed once again as she struggled against the wake of the tide which Angela Stanford created as she plowed through on the back nine at the SBS Open. Expectations, as we have seen time-and-time-again, have a way of throwing this game of golf into turmoil instead of doing what Stanford did by “just having so much fun.” Michelle Wie version 2.0 is still very much a work in progress. The battle between the two was exciting and proved that, although Wie has much work to do on her mental game in order ...

Click here to listen. With LPGA Tour card in hand, Michelle Wie is presenting the upgraded version of herself to fans this week at the SBS Open. You might even consider her “M.W. version 2.0″, but don’t expect any surprises as she still remains the same golfer but in a shiny new package. Although her parents have allowed her a bit of wiggle room by allowing Wie to live on campus they still maintain ultimate control, living close by and even following her around in a cart three times a week during practice sessions. She alleges that she’s “to the point ...

Click here to listen. Mickelson’s debut at the FBR Open was more of a fizzle than a roar. Phil not only missed the cut but appeared to be in self-denial as well. “It doesn’t feel as far off as the score indicates,” Mickelson said. “I know the score is ridiculous. But it doesn’t feel bad.” One interpretation of the above statement may be that, although Phil struck the ball well, it did not go where it was intended, which caused him to search through the cacti on more than one occasion. But Mickelson must have been concentrating his thoughts more on the ...

Click here to listen. This year is considered “fifty years of Hope” and over two million dollars were distributed in 2008 to charities through the Classic event, but even so, the top fifteen PGA Tour golfers are MIA, most with no reason as to why this tournament is not worthy of their support. Once distinguished as golf’s best celebrity pro-am event with comedians ranging from Jackie Gleason to Jack Lemmon picking up the sticks for charity, the “Hope” seems to have lost a bit of its glamour and dimension. Utilizing Arnold Palmer as celebrity host (perhaps because he won the inaugural ...

Click here to listen. Although Zach Johnson created excitement at the Sony Open winning by a stroke against Toms and Scott, it was fan favorite Tadd Fujikawa whom the cameras followed with the same fervor as when Michelle Wie played here. And why not? Both Hawaiian teenagers have caused quite a stir with solid length off the tee, hustling to create opportunities to keep them in the game. Wie’s claim to fame to date has been her numerous exemptions with slim success into men’s events while Fujikawa has earned his way in, with congratulations flowing from guys like 2007 Masters ...

Click here to listen. With the feature golf story of 2008 being knee surgery for Tiger Woods, it seems almost ironic that, just after winning the Chevron World Challenge, Vijay Singh would be in a similar predicament. Singh claims that he was hurt during the event but obviously didn’t know the extent of his injury. Waiting for Tiger to arrive at the podium, Vijay cajoled, “Tiger, take your time. Don’t come back too early. In fact, take a year off.” Isn’t Singh aware of the saying, “be careful what you wish for?” It is said that Singh is looking at a recovery ...

Click here to listen. Fear not Bill Gates! Tiger Woods will not topple the richest man in the world off of his pedestal! Tiger would require about $57 billion in order to achieve this goal but he is certainly on his way! It has been reported that Woods, even with a bum knee and attending only six golf tournaments this year has made (both on and off the course) an estimated $117 million, bringing his total earnings to just under $900 million. If Tiger plays equally as well in 2009 as he did last season and picks up another sponsor to ...