I strongly believe that security urgently needs to be beefed up at top PGA Tour events. I implore the golfing authorities to make all haste in introducing retina scanning, fingerprinting, voice recognition, heck shoe size checks if necessary. For the pla… more »

There's a current of opinion that Geoff Ogilvy's luck cannot last for ever. To quote Fred Albers' colourful analogy on XM radio: "You can only make so many passes at the craps table before you come up snake eyes." Coupled with the fact that Henrik Stenso… more »

That was so inconsiderate of Tiger Woods. There I was licking my lips at the prospect of a semi-final showdown with the rampant Justin Rose when he goes and fluffs that putt to win on the 19th. So instead I have to relish the possibility of an all-Englis… more »

A chance Friday to see just how sweet revenge can be. Shaun Micheel goes up against Paul Casey, who basically thrashed him off the park in last year's HSBC matchplay final, while Tiger Woods gets the opportunity to give Nick O'Hern a good kicking for hav… more »

I've started so I'll finish! After yesterday's total devastation of my picks, you'd think I'd just retire hurt. But I am a glutton for punishment. And no half measures this time. So, for no particular reason other than what else would I do with a lunch b… more »

I could do with some R&R in Mexico after yesterday's matchplay wipeout. I felt like a first world war general watching his troops march to their doom. It's not hard to see why I usually steer clear of the format. But it's an odd week all round, bec… more »

All this talk of Tiger Woods's streak is one big yawn. I couldn't give a million dimpled golf balls whether this is part of a streak or not. So I certainly won't be hanging of the edge of my chair, fingers between teeth, as the Tucson matchplay unfolds.… more »

We are just going to have to learn to love this self-destructive tendency in Phil Mickelson and get on with it, because he's stuck with it. Among all the acres of opinion on Lefty's collapse at the Riviera Sunday there is one word I haven't spotted: hu… more »

I might not know who's going to win this Sunday, but I do know there's enough great talent still in the frame to make layers drown in their saliva. I say I don't know, but I have a pretty unoriginal good idea. Even if Phil Mickelson's aura of infallibi… more »

On the numbers front it's not looking too hot for Padraig Harrington. He's been in the lead at the halfway stage of a PGA event just twice and lost out both times. Third time lucky? Unfortunately he's up against Phil Mickelson, who is 13 from 23 for conv… more »

Ignorance certainly was bliss for Padraig Harrington Thursday as he fired at the Riviera's baking greens to lead the pack by three shots. I suspect he'll be a lot older and wiser Friday after going round in the afternoon. The greens will have baked plent… more »

When is short short? I ask because everyone says the Riviera course is "short and tight". Is 7,279 yards short? It's the fourth longest of the 11 played so far and 400 yards longer than anything encountered at Monterey last week. So medium? Ish? Everyo… more »

Pebble Beach, hole five: Phil Mickelson has lost his ball. Cue double bogey. Aha, you think, here we go again. Only I didn't. In fact I missed the entire episode (don't ask, something to do with food poisoning!), which is probably all to the good, since… more »

There is a simple set of figures to illustate the cruel vagaries of the AT&T. Of those that missed the cut 23 by my count played Pebble Beach at it's easiest on the Friday. Those blown to pieces on Thursday fared far worse, with 35 culled. But the on… more »

Who needs Tiger Woods when you've got a battle as engrossing as Friday's between Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson? For my money Lefty took the honours for the way he frustrated Jim's bid to show the pack a clean pair of heels. It's reassuring to know Ameri… more »