This Week at WorldGolf.com: March 28, 2007

Arnold Palmer is right: With Tiger Woods and company, today's PGA Tour has no personality

I know he wins like it's a bodily function, but when Tiger Woods sinks the final putt on the 72nd hole to win on any given Sunday afternoon, he shows the emotion of someone who had just successfully submitted their federal tax return before April 17.

Meanwhile, flipping over to the Golf Channel, Lorena Ochoa's victory this weekend at the Safeway International caused a bum rush of fans and family, all spraying water and giving hugs to each other. There was even a Spanish chant flowing through the crowd.

As a fan, it's nice to see that these wins actually mean something more than a few bucks and another notch in the history books.

A week ago at Bay Hill, Arnold Palmer mentioned in an interview that one of the things he'd like to see more is player-fan interaction. He couldn't be more right. An unwritten code has been created saying PGA Tour players must act like galleries don't even exist. That wasn't always the case. Golf became mainstream because of Palmer's savvy with his "Army."

In a round of golf, there are a dozen opportunities for an emotional outburst. I confirmed this recently during a round of golf in Myrtle Beach. I heard grown men hooting and hollering on greens left and right (I think one time it was because someone fell into a pond).

Someone needs to tell the Tour guys it's okay to be a goof ball after a good shot here and there. They don't all need to follow Tiger's stone-faced lead, because not everyone has his personality. But they're all trying to be him.

On the other hand, the LPGA can be more fun to watch on TV week in and week out than the PGA - largely because they're much more personable.

Maybe when Tiger has children big enough to run on to the green after he wins, they can smear chocolate on his face or de-pants him or something. I think that's the only hope we have to see his lighter side.

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Puerto Rico golf: Top resorts,
courses and no passport required

Did you know Puerto Rico has more golf courses - 28 and counting - than any other Caribbean island? Celebrity golf course architects like Greg Norman, Gary Player and Robert Trent Jones Sr. have done much to shape Puerto Rico's landscape. It's a golf destination that's closer than you think. Here we give you a peak.

Also: Dorado is still Puerto Rico's golf capital

Myrtle Beach National: Golf
the house that Arnie built

Any fan of golf's "King" will want to make the trip to the house that Arnie built: Myrtle Beach National, home to King's North, Arnold Palmer's signature work on the Grand Strand. All three Myrtle Beach National golf courses were designed by Palmer's firm, led by architect Francis Duane.

Also: Play pure golf on home-free Myrtle Beach tracks

Great golf is an easy
drive from Dublin, Ireland

When you think Ireland golf, you generally think century-old courses and quaint historic towns far out in the countryside. But if you're just connecting overnight at Dublin International Airport, or you're confined in the city center or at an airport hotel for a business conference, rest assured there's good golf nearby.

Podcast: Northern Ireland golf flourishing again