Not since man first came up with the idea to hit a ball with a stick until it’s in a hole has the golf world had a bigger, more important day than yesterday. Yes, on one epic Sunday, both Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie won professional golf tournaments. Wild-haired conspiracy theorists had long foretold of the day this cosmic event would occur, but they were roundly ignored and pelted with trash. Thus, sent to the corners of the Internet like the many that believe 2012 will bring with it an apocalypse or two. But now - Vindication! After winning the LPGA’s Ochoa ...

Since President Barack Obama was announced as the Nobel Peace Prize winner, I - unlike every other human on the planet - did not form an immediate opinion. There must be something to this that we’re missing, thought I. And then it came to me - Tiger Woods. Yes, my friends, forces throughout the world came together to ensure that Obama would receive the award - and $1.4 million prize. They did this for Tiger. I’m sure of it. Woods, you see, is not a billionaire. I know, I know, it seems ludicrous that he isn’t. But he’s not. And Obama can ...

Now listen, I understand that much of the audience for this blog will scream blasphemy and that it’s been a brilliant year for the PGA Tour. And I’m with you on that, but this is about entrenched golf fans. This is about the middle-of-the-road sports fan that needs a reason to watch golf. And while the FedEx Cup may have become the most important golf event playoff thingy on the planet this year, it certainly isn’t bringing in the casual fans. There was an actual headline last weekend “Woods makes cut.” Oh yeah, that’ll get the youth audience. Generation Tiger, ...

The world of golf has spent the past month or so talking about Yang. And Tiger. It’s also spent the past several weeks not talking much about Stewart Cink winning the British Open. But if there’s one golf subject out there not getting enough media play, it’s the Solheim Cup. Starting today, the 11th Solheim Cup, the LPGA’s answer to the Ryder Cup, starts today with morning four-ball matches at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. Today’s matches in the battle between Europe and the U.S.: – Paula Creamer & Cristie Kerr vs. Suzann Pettersen & Sophie Gustafson – Angela Stanford & ...

For the past decade or so, South Korean golfers have been a dominant presence on the LPGA Tour. With roughly three dozen South Korean women in the LPGA, tournaments can often become a battle solely between S. Korean ladies. Carolyn Bivens believed that the South Korean domination of the LPGA Tour was bad for the game, and went as far as suggesting that all South Korean women learn and speak English so they could draw more fans and sponsors. Bivens, of course, was fired not long after. Now, however, the South Korean men have decided to show up. With Y.E. Yang’s historic ...

Folks, I’m well aware I’ve spent the year predicting the collapse of Tiger Woods’ amazing career. There are two main reasons for this. First, I am an admittedly horrible prognosticator. And second, I feel confident Tiger never reads my blog. With that in mind, however, I present my only fool-proof prediction of the year - Tiger Woods is going to win this PGA Championship. Possibly by a lot. Don’t get me wrong, Woods has some serious competition chasing him. Vijhay Singh, Padraig Harrington, Geoff Oglivy, et al. But I believe we’ve seen this film before. So enjoy the show, because Tiger Woods ...

A short while back, Lebron James found himself in a mini-controversy when it was learned that he had asked Nike to disappear a video tape of James being dunked on. While the incident certainly isn’t world-shaking by any means, it was a chance to see inside the massive ego of one of this era’s great athletes. Of course, it’s not like James was the first superstar athlete to hide his flaws. About 100 years ago, Babe Ruth would eat 20 hot dogs, drink 30 beers, sleep with 28 prostitutes and then go 2-for-4 with a dinger. And the press would dutifully ...

There is an eternal debate amongst sports fans when it comes to their favorite sports - which generation is better? It’s always an enjoyable debate, but usually one that can never be answered with any true authority. Luckily for us golf fans, that question has been partially answered by one Tom Watson. At 59, Watson summoned all his skill and intelligence to put on what was possibly the greatest performance ever at the British Open. More than that, Watson proved that this generation of PGA Tour players suck. Yes, Stewart Cink is the British Open champion - because Watson missed a putt. And ...

I’m sure Tom Watson is still dealing with the harsh feelings of not being able to close the show and become the oldest major champion and becoming only the second man to win six Claret Jugs. He’s an athlete and competitor, so of course it hurts. But his mindset will change soon enough, and when it does, I believe we all owe Watson a debt of gratitude. Because while Tiger Woods missed the cut, the Open was all set to become a Saturday and Sunday full of Tiger Woods. Why did he miss the cup? How is his knee? Oh God, ...

If Tom Watson manages to win the British Open, everything changes. Markets will open, credit will flow like wine and the ever-growing list of pain-in-the-ass despots around will get together and change their ways, sending the world a one-line note: “Hey everyone, sorry. We’ll cut all that out now.” A Tom Watson victory at the British Open would be like the 1980 U.S. Hockey team plus Michael Phelps plus Susan Butcher winning four Iditarods (that one’s for you, “Real America.") A 59-year-old American cleverly winning the Open would give the U.S. the pride it currently needs. Everything would get better. Don’t ask ...

As Tom Watson finished his first hole of the third round of the British Open at Turnberry, I was struck by how odd it was that the 59-year hall-of-famer was a co-leader. And then I thought about how strange it was that Tiger Woods stumbled about and missed the cut. Then I was puzzled and pleased that former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino was tied with Watson for the lead, obviously trying to score the big win that so long eluded him in the NFL. Really, John Daly’s pants are about the normal thing at this British Open; Should be a fun weekend. –WKW

John Daly made the cut for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in Virginia Water, England. But while his play fell off during the final round, his class was in full effect on Sunday, when he wore pink pants to show his support for Amy Mickelson, who is currently fighting breast cancer. “I had a pair, so I figured I’d do that for her today. I thought it would be a good gesture,” Daly told the Associated Press. “I know Phil very well and I know Amy. I’ve known them for a long time – we’ve played the Tour together. She’s ...

Long-time followers of this blog are well aware that I, William K. Wolfrum, have a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of all things golf. For years, I have taken this incredible knowledge for granted, but now I have decided to do something about it, by creating “Wolfrum Alpha” the newest and most important golf blog research tool in the history of humankind. Wolfram Alpha is the first step in an ambitious, long-term, slightly insane project to make all systematic golf knowledge immediately computable by anyone. All you need to do is input a golf question into the comment field below, and my built-in ...

For many, the controversy over performance-enhancing drugs has already passed. Much like how a great part of the nation has been rendered immune to torture due to years of knowing about it, many sports fans have reached a point where they just don’t care what athletes stick into themselves. As long as they perform, let them do what they want. Still, there are holdovers that take umbrage to their favorite athletes cheating. And there are others who will side with their favorite athletes when they deny using steroids. Remember, we are but a decade removed from fans arguing that man-mountain Mark ...

There has always been a great problem for sportswriters when it comes to Tiger Woods. The “Tiger Conundrum” as we call it, means that Tiger is to be praised effusively when doing good, and praised effusively when he doesn’t do as good. To put it into simple, day-to-day words - Tiger Woods is Barack Obama, with the exception of being able to land a 1-iron on a nickel from 300 yards out. Basically, like Obama, all sins are rendered moot, because for god’s sake, it’s Tiger Woods we’re talking about. But this is why media giants like The New York Times are ...

Oh to be a fly on the wall when Tiger Woods visited President Barack Obama in the White House on Monday. –WKW

We all knew this day would come. We dreaded it, and paced around praying to every God we could think of, pleading for more time. But it had to come - Natalie Gulbis was fired from Celebrity Apprentice. Yes, on Sunday’s episode of Celebrity Apprentice (not just the best TV show of all time, but arguably the best thing on the planet), Gulbis endured an epic round of fail and was summarily fired by host Donald Trump’s hair, thus ending her brilliant run on the show. Gulbis (who apparently has two facial expressions - bemused, and slightly more bemused) failed spectacularly in ...

I’m a pretty new user to Twitter, but luckily I got some helpful hints from WorldGolf.com resident Twitterologist Brandon Tucker. Now if only Phil Mickelson can get some help. Here are Mickelson’s “Tweets” thus far: Hello all! Trying to figure this thing out! @rainn I am following you? @rainnwilson I am following you? @the_real_shaq Now Shaq I am a huge fan! OK have fun with The Masters today! @stewartcink Seems like you know what you’re doing! How do I increase my followers :) ? So while it’s possible this isn’t the real Phil Mickelson (Twitter is rampant with fakes), it’s still pretty funny and, dare I say, cute. So ...

Following Tiger Woods’ tragic and humiliating performance at the Masters (finishing 6th? Meh) many golf experts have made it perfectly clear that his days as golf’s biggest star are over. Which makes Natalie Gulbis the most important golfer on the planet. Yes, on Celebrity Apprentice (tapes of which should be shot into space so other intelligent life can learn just how kick-ass we humans are) Gulbis has taken things to an entirely new level. In this week’s episode, Gulbis was team leader, and deftly stayed out of her teammate’s way as they won the week’s competition. Thus, Gulbis was presented a check ...

It was more than two years ago that golf lost one of its great ambassadors, former President Gerald Ford. Golfers of all political persuasions have a soft spot for Ford, who, aside from occasionally sending a golf ball screaming into the crowd, was truly a positive role model for golf. But now, another Republican is stepping forward to pick up the mantle of golf ambassador - Condoleezza Rice. Yes, Rice was at Augusta this year, where she followed fellow Stanford Alum Tiger Woods. And while Rice was among the Tiger fans disappointed by Woods’ meltdown, she only added to her growing ...

Having watched Phil Mickelson run amok on his first few holes at Augusta and put himself in the running for taking home another Green Jacket, I would just like to make a proclamation: If Mickelson wins, you are never allowed to give him grief for anything again. Not his weight, not his game, not his family. Basically, if Lefty can pull this off, he could go on a career-long Van de Velde, and his reputation will still be golden. Head over to see Kiel Christianson’s epic live-blogging of the 2009 Masters to let your own voice be heard about what could ...

Over on Celebrity Apprentice - the greatest TV show in the history and pre-history of TV Shows (don’t dispute me!) - LPGA star Natalie Gulbis is still alive and well, battling to win the charity of her choice big bucks. But while Gulbis has effectively used her sponsorships to help out her team, one thing cannot be denied - she’s coming off like an overly pampered superstar. On the last episode, with contestants running a hotel and she acting as a room-service maid, Gulbis showcased that out-of-touchness with an obvious eyeroll aimed at some demanding guests. They were not impressed, and ...

So Tiger Woods is back in the winner’s circle following his successful knee surgery. What does this mean as far as golf history? I’ll tell you, it means that noted golf blogger William K. Wolfrum (that would be me) was right. Again. From Feb. 4, in response to this comment from loyal reader Alex: I’d be willing to bet that Tiger will end up in the winner’s circle a couple times this year and close the campaign with a major. Should be interesting. Seriously, it’s just exhausting being correct as often as I am. Have no fears, though. I nap quite a bit, ...

Like many of you golfers out of there, I’ve never had a hole in one. A couple close calls, but still no aces for your ol’ pal Bill. And while I never let that bother me, after reading a story out of Florida, I now feel like a complete an utter failure: If you are a golfer who has played for any length of time, this story may make you want to quit the game. Or throw your morning coffee in disgust. Unni Haskell, a 62-year-old native of Norway who moved to St. Petersburg last year from Stamford, Conn., took two months ...

We’re all aware that Myrtle Beach is the greatest golf destination in the history of the planet. Now that we’ve established that as an unassailable fact, we can move on. Because somehow, golf in Myrtle Beach has recently gotten even better. Because the Grand Strand now has fewer hyenas. Yes, according to WSBTV, Nicolas Petock of Myrtle Beach was recently sited for owning and displaying a wild or exotic animal. Seems he had a pet hyena in the backyard. And while hyenas aren’t exactly big on domestication, Petock was having none of it, and, in fact, named the Hyena - “Bubbles.” So book ...

For those like myself that have long ago given up on such luxuries as thinking, there is Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice.” To say “Celebrity Apprentice” is mindless fun is like saying sleep can be restful. And this season, for golfers that hate the idea of dwelling in thought deeper than a cleat mark, there’s an added bonus - LPGA star Natalie Gulbis is among the contestants. And Gulbis is joined by a plethora of slightly big names. Dennis Rodman, Joan Rivers, Brande Roderick, Herschel Walker, Jesse James, and Scott Hamilton are just a few of the other celebrities working for charity and ...

The long national nightmare is now over for sportswriters. No longer will sports journalists need to toil through muck to come up with interesting golf stories. Tiger Woods is golfing again. And all is right with the world. Tiger’s return is exciting for several reasons. For one, there is his epic pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ 19 total major victories. Then there’s his blossoming personal life, as his beautiful family is now a foursome with the birth of Charlie Axel. But more than anything, there is one huge reason as to why Woods’ return to the PGA Tour is so significant - ...

Ok, so now we officially have evidence that Tiger Woods new child, Charlie Axel, exists (see photo here), in this adorable family photo. Plus, Tiger will supposedly be ready to play any day now. So, friends, I announce that it is now time to begin speaking of Tiger Woods in simply golfing terms. Enough with the knee, enough with the baby. Now it’s time for all Tiger, all the time. So let me begin: Ahem. Tiger Woods will win the Masters. I think that about covers it. And for any of you that will be struggling to go cold turkey on Tiger’s personal ...

I read that Tiger Woods’ son Charlie Axel Woods has accepted an invitation to play in the John Deere Classic. It must be true, being as I believe everything I read. Even if I wrote it. If true, it really makes a mockery of the game. Charlie Axel would be only six months old by the time the John Deere Classic tees off. No way in hell that kid could break 80, let alone make the cut, if you ask me. See for yourself. –WKW

Tiger and Elin Woods became parents to two, welcoming Charlie Axel Woods to the clan today. As Jason Sobel said at ESPN.com: “Let the records show that Woods now trails Jack Nicklaus by four majors and three offspring.” Congrats to Elin, Tiger, Sam Alexis and the newest member of the Woods dynasty. And after Tiger came out on fire following the birth of his daughter, one shouldn’t expect too many “OMG, Tiger’s a father, his golf career is doomed” columns to come. Sure, there will be some, but feel free to ignore them this time around. –WKW

This is a specific warning to all bad golfers out there - golf courses use yardage markers. Should your ball ricochet off one of these markers and, say, blind you, I’d say you aren’t entitled to damages. Of course, that’s for the courts to decide. BRENTWOOD – Paul Sanchez, a 67-year-old “occasional” golfer, sued Candia Woods Golf Links this week over an accident that left him blind in one eye. Sanchez, of 20 Country Club Drive, Manchester, was golfing with two or three friends in September 2006 when a ball he hit bounced off a yardage-marker and “whacked him” in the right eye, ...

Let me start this off with a money-back guarantee - right now there is at least one card-carrying member of the PGA Tour that’s wacky on the goof balls. I guarantee it. I bring this up due to the Michael Phelps fiasco. Phelps, who won 100,000 gold medals in the last Olympics, was recently photographed, bong in hand, admittedly smoking marijuana. And the national media just freakin’ lost it. You’d have thought that Phelps had been photographed committing a random act of genocide, such was the disappointment expressed by many sports writers. And yes, I am, in fact, the same writer who ...

Doing a little poking around the Google, I found that one question dominates the national discourse. And it has nothing to do with the economy, Barack Obama, or even the Super Bowl. No, it has to do with Tiger Woods. Specifically, when will he return from his knee injury and golf again. Well, the answer has not yet been given, but according to his Web site he’s been practicing at Isleworth Country Club and is making progress. In his own words: “So far my knee has held up well, but I don’t know when I’ll be able to return to competition.” We’ll ...

If there is one thing that golfers can agree with, it’s that the government has no business being on golf courses. Unless, of course, you happen to be House Minority Speaker John Boehner. But these days, golfers in California have more on their plate then worrying about politicians playing golf as the world goes to heck in a heckbasket. That’s because Governor Arnold Scwarzenegger (a one-time actor), has decided to fix the economy of the state he has helped destroy financially. Yes, California, with upwards of a $40-billion deficit, has decided to tax golfers. From the Fresno Bee: The extra revenue is needed ...

While somewhat unfortunately named, the Golf Course Builders Association of America’s Stick for Kids Program has steadily grown. Here are some of the good things they’re up to this year: LINCOLN, Neb. (Jan. 20, 2009) - More children than ever are learning the fundamentals of golf through Sticks for Kids. The program, sponsored by the Golf Course Builders Association of America Foundation (GCBAA), has taken a giant leap in programming for 2009, expanding to 407 programs in all 50 states, five military bases and, for the first time, establishing the program in China. In addition, this year Sticks for Kids Program has ...

While Barack Obama’s recent victory as the BadGolfer.com “Bad Golfer of the Decade” shows that the new President should help make it cool to duff, golfers around the globe are still wary about the nation’s first African-American President. Will he support golf, or will he bulldoze golf courses for low-income homes ala Hugo Chavez? It remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure, golfer will have plenty to complain about regardless of how the next four years go. It’s just our way. –WKW

For golfers, one thing stands out about President-Elect Barack Obama - he’s not a very good golfer. For the average golfer, however, this news couldn’t be better. This is why at BadGolfer.com, we decided to honor Obama with the “Bad Golfer of the Decade” award. He’d rather play basketball, he has a handicap in the 20s, and he seems to understand that he’s not very good. That’s change that many bad golfers can believe in. Read the full story here at BadGolfer.com. –WKW