Welcome to the Tour Blog, where Golfweek’s reporters deliver the latest inside news and happenings on the PGA Tour, LPGA and European Tour.
Editor's note: This is the archived
material from the 2008 Women's British Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
In a scene that had a “Bizarro World” quality to it, Tour officials
dialed back the rough this week at Firestone’s South Course. That’s
right, the toughest non-major layout on Tour last year, played just a
shade over par (70.55 average) to match the lowest winning total since
2001.
Officials topped off the rough at 2 1/2 inches last Sunday to see how
it would impact scoring, an option pulled directly from the new U.S.
Golf Association play book.
“(The USGA) used to be over the top,” Stewart Cink said. “Now, the USGA is setting the trend for what needs to happen.”
What’s next? Dogs and cats living together and conceded 5 footers at next month’s Ryder Cup?
– Rex Hoggard
Posted Aug. 4
SUNNINGDALE, England – Yani Tseng came up to me in the media room after
finishing second at the Ricoh Women’s British Open with a big smile on
her face.
“Did you know that Annika told the BBC I’d be No. 1 in the world in four years?” Tseng said. “That makes me happy.”
She knows it doesn’t get much better than that.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted Aug. 3
SUNNINGDALE,
England – They ran out of fish ’n’ chips at the men’s British Open but
aren’t even selling England’s favorite dish here at Sunningdale. They
do, however, have a little taste of home for the Americans on site –
Subway. And who was in line behind me this afternoon when I ordered my
tuna sub? Cristie Kerr.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted Aug. 3
SUNNINGDALE,
England – If you’re going to make a Sunday charge, better do it early.
The toughest three holes at Sunningdale Golf Club in Round 3 were Nos.
15 (ranked 2nd), 17 (1st) and 18 (3rd).
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted Aug. 3
SUNNINGDALE,
England – Of the 12 players who are tied for 10th or better at the
year’s final major, six will likely use a translator in the interview
room (maybe more). That probably says it all in terms of Sunday’s
potential excitement level for American viewers if Inkster, Ochoa, Kerr
and Gulbis don’t stay in the mix.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted Aug. 2
SUNNINGDALE,
England – Juli Inkster is good for a least one chuckle every time she
enters the media room. Writers are naturally comparing her run this
week to Greg Norman’s at Royal Birkdale.
“Yeah, he was
fabulously good,” Inkster said. “He seems in a good place and he’s
happy and enjoying what he’s doing. He has a brand new wife,” Inkster
said. “I have the same husband (laughter), but I feel like I’m in a
pretty good position, too.”
Inkster and her husband Brian recently celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted Aug. 2
SUNNINGDALE,
England – Ai Miyazato is easily one of the friendliest players on the
LPGA. She has the most engaging eyes and easy smile.
So when
her mental coach, Lynn Marriott, was standing in the rough chanting
“Ai, Ai, samurai,” it seemed catchy enough, but didn’t exactly match up
with her personality. Or so it seemed.
“When I look at myself in
third person I’m very quiet, but inside it’s very intense, fiery,” said
Miyazato through a translator. “It’s kind of a samurai’s spirit, calm
on the outside.”
Miyazato began working with Marriott and Pia
Nilsson, masters of Vision54, at last year’s British Open. A couple
months ago, Marriott asked Miyazato to look at footage of her winning
tournaments in Japan. Miyazato has won 13 JLPGA events but has yet to
break through on the LPGA.
The result of that exercise was the
“Ai, Ai, samurai” mantra. So far the mindset seems to be working as
she’s only two strokes behind compatriot Yuri Fudoh.
Tonight
she’ll go back to the house she’s renting near Wentworth and dine on
mom’s cooking. Saturday’s special is Niku-Jaga, Miyazato’s favorite
meat and potato dish.
After all, a warrior needs her strength.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted Aug. 2
SUNNINGDALE,
England – The Women’s British Open has many winners in the field, but
one of the most prolific isn’t actually playing. He’s caddying.
Pete
Coleman is carrying for Japan’s Yuri Fodoh this week. The veteran
bagman has 59 career victories. Most of them came through his long
partnership with Bernhard Langer. Coleman partnered with the German for
his two Masters wins (1985 and 1993).
The Englishman has caddied
for anyone who is anyone on the European Tour, including Seve
Ballesteros. He has tasted success at Sunningdale before. Coleman
caddied for Nancy Lopez when she won the 1978 Colgate European Open.
– Alistair Tait
Posted Aug. 2
Good news from the Erik Compton camp. The two-time heart transplant
recipient is reportedly recovering well and in good spirits. Oh yeah,
he’s also preparing for the biggest day of his life, non-operating room
division.
Compton, who underwent his second heart transplant in May, plans to marry longtime girlfriend Barbara Casco this month in Miami.
“I have a great and loving woman by my side, who I want to walk
along with me upon hitting the golf course again,” Compton said.
The couple plan to tie the knot Aug. 10 in a sunset ceremony at Deering Estate in Palmetto Bay.
– Rex Hoggard
Posted Aug. 1
Forget that quintuple bogey-9 at Montreux’s eighth hole. Push aside
that second-round 80 that slipped her from just outside the cut line to
just outside. For 18 holes on Thursday Michelle Wie put on a scrambling
masterpiece, complete with just 24 putts in a round of 1-over 73.
It’s a week any Stanford sophomore should be proud of. Imagine the
damage she could have done if she would have passed on the Reno freebie
and played the Women’s British Open.
– Rex Hoggard
Posted Aug. 1
Michelle Wie made a quintuple bogey and
double bogey on her final six holes Friday, shot 80 and missed the cut
at the Reno-Tahoe Open. She has now missed the cut in all eight of her
PGA Tour starts.
Now 18, Wie has transformed from a wonderful
curiosity at Tour events to predictable failure. The one-time phenom
would be best served to build her confidence back up by competing to
win against women. The LPGA could use her, and she could use the LPGA.
In
case you missed it, the Golf Channel telecast showed interesting
side-by-side shots of her swing at age 13 and her swing now. At 13, she
was at a better position at the top, with her left wrist flat instead
of cupped, and had less lower body movement.
Not only have her scores regressed, apparently so has her swing.
– Jeff Rude
Posted Aug. 1
Vijay
Singh vs. Phil Mickelson at the top together at the WGC-Bridgestone
Invitational after two rounds. That’s juicy, heavyweight stuff that I’m
thinking will entice Mr. Tiger Woods to tune in from the couch.
– Jeff Rude
Posted Aug. 1
SUNNINGDALE, England – Nicole Castrale seemed to get a bit of shock Friday after her level-par 72.
“Look at that crowded putting green,” Castrale said to her caddie and husband, Craig.
I
thought she was going to have trouble practicing with the shortest club
in the bag until I turned around and looked at the green.
It was empty!
Castrale not only has one of the best swings in women’s golf – she also does sarcasm pretty well, too.
–Alistair Tait
Posted Aug. 1
SUNNINGDALE,
England – Who are these women leading the Ricoh Women’s British Open,
one might ask. They haven’t won on the LPGA. No, but Yuri Fudoh and
Ji-Yai Shin have more trophies in their closets than most players in
this field have shirts.
Yuri Fudoh, a staple on the JLPGA
since 1997, has won 44 times in her native country. She’s won three
times already this year. Ji-Yai Shin, the queen of golf in Korea, has
won 15 times on the KLPGA since 2006. She’s also won three titles in
Korea this season.
And then there’s Juli Inkster, who trails
some of Asia’s finest by one stroke. Everyone knows Inkster. She, of
course, has played on the LPGA since 1983, winning 31 titles and seven
major championships. Her first major title came in 1984, four years
before Shin was even born.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted Aug. 1
SUNNINGDALE,
England – Jeong Jang, the 2005 Women’s British Open champion, withdrew
during the second round due to a right wrist injury.
England’s
Samantha Head fell ill with tonsillitis and withdrew at the start of
the event. Her twin sister, Johanna, shot 66-76 to make the cut.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted Aug. 1
SUNNINGDALE,
England – Laura Davies’ week came to a crashing halt on the closing
holes at Sunningdale. Davies got it to 4 under through 14 holes and
then finished bogey/par/triple-bogey/bogey to shoot 75. She’s
currrently at 1 over par and in danger of missing the cut, a shame
considering that she lives a short drive from Sunningdale.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted Aug. 1
AKRON, Ohio – Anthony Kim wishes he could have Monday over. After
shooting a final-round 75 at the RBC Canadian Open to finish seventh,
Kim was clearly tired of playing golf and needed a break. So on Monday
Kim participated in batting practice with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway
Park.
The problem is that Kim didn’t know when to stop. The two-time Tour
winner said he took between 60 and 70 swings in a row before
relinquishing the cage to the waiting Red Sox. The impact on Kim’s body
and golf swing were immediate.
“My whole body is pretty sore, like I hadn’t worked out in eight months
and then hit the gym pretty hard,” Kim said after a 1-over 71 at the
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. “I’m a little disappointed in myself not
to make a better decision not to do batting practice, but it was a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
–Alex Miceli
Posted July 31
AKRON, Ohio – Just watched early leader Retief Goosen chip-in for
birdie from 100 feet at Firestone’s 11th hole with all the buzz of a
beet.
We don’t need fist-pumps and walk-offs, but we’d settle for a pulse, a smile, a blink. Man, we miss Tiger.
–Rex Hoggard
Posted July 31
SUNNINGDALE, England – Maria Jose Uribe
tees off this afternoon at the Ricoh Women’s British Open. Remember
her? She’s the feisty Colombian who stole the show from Lorena Ochoa
and Cristie Kerr during the first two rounds of the U.S. Women’s Open
last month.
Uribe is believed to be the first U.S. Amateur champion to play
in all four LPGA majors. The UCLA sophomore received invites to the big
four after winning the 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Crooked Stick. Her
finishes thus far: Kraft Nabisco Championship (T-58), McDonald’s LPGA
Championship (MC), U.S. Women’s Open (T-10).
Because she decided
to take this week’s exemption, Uribe won’t be there to defend her title
at next week’s U.S. Women’s Amateur in Eugene, Ore. It was a tough
decision, but one she’s quite comfortable with.
Before she left for the U.K, Uribe even received a good-luck phone call from compatriot Camilo Villegas.
“He
was the big superstar when I was just starting to play,” Uribe said.
“I’ve always known him, but he’s only known me for four years.”
This
week marks Uribe’s first trip across the Atlantic. She arrived one week
ago to tour London and get used to the time change. Uribe took in all
the usual London attractions, taking roughly 150 pictures a day.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted July 31
AKRON, Ohio – Glad to see newly crowned Tour winner Chez Reavie is
still on his game. The Canadian Open champion is 2 under midway through
his round and tied for the early lead at the Bridgestone Invitational.
We’re also glad to hear Reavie’s Canadian breakthrough hasn’t changed
one of the circuit’s most unassuming newcomers. A member of Reavie’s
camp said the rookie was checking in for his last-minute flight to
Cleveland – he’d planned to play this week’s Reno-Tahoe Open before
earning a spot at the WGC – when the airline threw a $125 charge at him
to check his golf bag.
Word is that while Reavie gently tried to negotiate the fee, the
airline employee glanced up at an ESPN highlight of his Canadian
victory. The employee quickly connected the celebrity dots and a
slightly embarrassed Reavie quickly paid the $125.
– Rex Hoggard
Posted July 31
SUNNINGDALE, England – Juli Inkster didn’t even want to make the trip
this week. Now she finds herself leading midway through the first round
of the Ricoh Women’s British Open after an opening 7-under 65.
After
missing the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open last month, a frustrated
Inkster took three weeks off. She only came to the Evian Masters last
week because her two daughters so desperately wanted to make the trip
to France.
“I was seriously thinking about not coming,” Inkster said. “I was playing so bad that it wasn’t even fun.”
At
the Evian, Inkster hung on by her “little pinkies” to finish tied for
ninth. She boarded a plane to England with Karrie Webb and asked if she
could borrow her instructor, Ian Triggs, on Monday for a last-minute
lesson.
Triggs’ tips regarding her posture helped Inkster find
the fairway. Should she hold on to win this week, Inkster, 48, would
become the oldest player to win an LPGA event, breaking Beth Daniel’s
record of 46 years, 8 months and 29 days.
Inkster played
alongside Helen Afredsson last week at the Evian and watched the
43-year-old’s march to victory. When asked if she drew inspiriation
from Alfie, Inkster said “Helen never inspires me – you can put that in
bold print.”
And then she smiled.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted July 31
SUNNINGDALE,
England – Hard to tell what was going on out there during Round 1 of
the Ricoh Women’s British Open with no action on the leaderboards until
10:45 a.m.,when Helen Alfredsson’s name starting going up on the 14th.
Got
up early to watch Lorena Ochoa (7:14 a.m.) and Annika Sorenstam (7:25)
in back to back groups. Each had a Japanese superstar in their pairings
– Yuri Fudoh and Momoko Ueda – who stole the show. Since both JLPGA
winners were 6 under on the back nine I figured the tournament leader
had to be in one of these groups.
That is, until I got to the 17th hole and saw I-N-K start to go up. Turns out Juli Inkster, playing two groups ahead, posted 65.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted July 31
And
so the question is: What is the best event on this week’s crowded golf
calendar? There’s the Shark at the U.S. Senior Open, Michelle Wie
mixing it up with the men at the Reno-Tahoe Open and Lorena and Annika
at the blossoming women’s British Open.
The answer would be none of those.
The
little WGC Bridgestone gathering at Firestone (that’s two stones and a
lot of tires) gets the nod because it has 47 of the top 50 players in
the world. There was a day not long ago when a collection of 47 of the
top 50 was called a major.
We’re simply valuing steak over appetizers and dessert.
– Jeff Rude
Posted July 30
SUNNINGDALE,
England – The next stop on the Annika Sorenstam Farewell Tour is a
tournament she hosts, the LET’s Scandinavian TPC. Several months ago
Sorenstam found out the event’s two main sponsors, SAS and Skandia,
were pulling out of the event.
Sorenstam said she was
“extremely” disappointed in the news and wasn’t given an explanation.
Last month Rolex, one of Sorenstam’s longtime sponsors, agreed to step
up its involvment.
“They saved the tournament,” she said.
At the start of the year the Scandinavian TPC was set to offer a purse of 525,000 euros. Now it’s been cut to 200,000.
“In
terms of strength of field, it’s not going to be the best this year,”
said Sorenstam, who has watched several Swedes pull out of the event.
“I understand.”
It’s shame to see this happen during Sorenstam’s
last year of competitive golf. She won’t play in the event next year
(if it’s still around) but is committed to continuing to host if new
sponsors can be found.
SAS, incidentally, is the title sponsor
of a European Tour event (the SAS Masters), which takes place one week
after Annika’s event.
Isn’t Sorenstam the biggest name to ever come out of Swedish golf? Seems strange to drop her first.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted July 30
SUNNINGDALE,
England – Just to clear something up about why Michelle Wie isn’t
playing this week. She signed up through the LGU to play in the Ricoh
Women’s British Open pre-qualifier July 14 at the Berkshire Golf Club
in England. She, of course, withdrew from that qualifier after
accepting sponsor exemptions to the LPGA’s Jamie Farr (July 10-13) and
State Farm Classic (July 17-20).
Because she isn’t a member of
the LPGA, Wie couldn’t play in the qualifier held over Rounds 1 and 2
of the Jamie Farr. And because she didn’t participate in the
pre-qualifier, she couldn’t tee it up here Monday for final qualifying.
So Wie didn’t choose Reno over the Women’s British. She chose two LPGA events over flying across the pond for a pre-qualifier.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted July 30
AKRON, Ohio – With apologies to my fellow notebook-toters, but we were
a little waylaid early Wednesday when we picked up the local paper and
gazed Chris DiMarco’s name among the “top nine contenders” this week at
the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
No offense to DiMarco, who is in the field because of his spot on the
2006 Ryder Cup team, but the feisty Floridian hasn’t finished in the
top 10 since last year’s Bridgestone, has missed more cuts than he’s
made this year and is seven years removed from his last Tour victory.
May we suggest the following correction: Due to an error in judgment,
Chris DiMarco has been removed from the “top nine contenders” list and
replaced by, well, anyone else in the 80-man field.
– Rex Hoggard
Posted July 30
SUNNINGDALE, England – Kelli Kuehne isn’t
the happiest camper here at Sunningdale. She’s been trying to track
down her luggage the last three days. Kuehne arrived in London early
Monday morning with no clubs and no clothes. Luckily for her,
Callaway’s European headquarters is only about 25 minutes from
Sunningdale. Kuehne played Callaway clubs for years but this season
added Adams irons and Titleist wedges to her array.
On Tuesday her clothes finally arrived and Callaway put together a set of emergency clubs.
“You’ve
got to go with what you’ve got,” said Kuehne, looking down at her
tennis shoes. She’s expecting to get a pair of golf shoes tonight.
“I’ve lost my marbles, too.”
As for the clubs, well, the carrier service has no record of them. Suddenly my lost umbrella doesn’t seem so bad.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted July 30
AKRON, Ohio – One of the favorite parts of our week is tagging along
for a practice round with a player/players, and one of our favorite
groups rounded the rolling Firestone layout late Tuesday.
Tour icon Boo Weekley, Brandt Snedeker and Johnson Wagner took a stroll
around the venerable South Course. The golf was decent. The unguarded
dialogue was even better.
“Man, 667 (yards),” Snedeker sighed when he glanced up at the sign above the par-5 16th tee.
“Don’t worry about it,” Weekley offered with a smooth southern smile,
“I like to think of it in meters (610). It’s like nothin’.”
– Rex Hoggard
Posted July 29
AKRON, Ohio – At the risk of talking pennant races in July, an
unforgivable faux pas growing up a Baltimore Oriole fan, we took a peek
at the current FedEx Cup points and . . . well . . . um . . . we were
interested.
With You-Know-Who watching the rest of the game from his Windermere,
Fla., couch, the Tour’s contrived season-long points race is actually a
race. Tiger Woods still holds down the top spot, with just six events
on his 2008 dance card, but Kenny Perry (not sure, but we can only
assume the circuit is doling out triple points for majors missed) is
less than 2,000 points back followed by Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink
and charging Anthony Kim.
“Think about it. Last year you had one guy who could win. Now anybody
can do it,” said Mark Brazil, the tournament director for the Wyndham
Championship. “I mean, you never want to (be without Woods), but it’s
exciting.”
– Rex Hoggard
Posted July 29
SUNNINGDALE, England – Helen Alfredsson didn’t know Michelle Wie
was playing this week in Reno on the PGA Tour, but that doesn’t mean
she was lost for an opinion.
“I think the exhibition time for
her is over,” Alfredsson said. “We have some great, great players on
the LPGA right now ... I think if she wants to be a golfer, she should
really concentrate on being on the women’s tour and dealing with them
and learning to win.”
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted July 29
Seen this show before. Chris Wood, less than five days after looking a
room full of reporters in their blood-shot eyes and declaring he
had no short-term interest in turning pro, is turning pro. Casey
Wittenberg pulled the same trick a few years back.
We have no beef with Wood’s decision, that’s between him and his
management company. But why not avoid any potential misunderstandings
last Sunday at Birkdale and simply say you haven’t made a decision?
– Rex Hoggard
Posted July 27
Because of last week’s Open soiree at Birkdale we missed the painfully
contrived yet somehow entertaining ESPY Awards. But thanks to the
wonders of TiVo we were able to catch every awkward moment.
The most memoable of these was Justin Timberlake’s opening medley about
Tiger Woods. “There’s a major coming up and I’m not even in it,”
Timberlake, the host of the Tour's Las Vegas stop, crooned about the
injured world No. 1. “Perfect chance for a white guy to win it.” The
camera promptly flashed to a surprised Freddie Couples in the crowd.
And they said George Lopez was too edgey to host the old Bob Hope.
– Rex Hoggard
Posted July 27
In a Tiger-less world and packed into a rapid-fire schedule that
features little room for breathers between now and the season-ending
Tour Championship, just-south-of-marquee events like this week’s
Canadian Open need all the help they can get drawing a decent field.
After Mike Weir, Canada’s favorite son, the biggest draw this week at
Glen Abbey is phenom Anthony Kim, a two-time Tour winner in 2008.
Canadian officials landed “AK” thanks to a little insider help. Kim’s
agent with IMG, Chris Armstrong, is from Canada.
“He told me what a wonderful golf tournament it was,” said Kim after
his opening 6-under 65 left him tied with Weir and Eric Axley. “It’s
definitely a good test for me to go the next two weeks after this
tournament.”
– Rex Hoggard
Posted July 25
Karen Stupples withdrew from the Evian
Masters Thursday, suffering from a sore throat and temperature of 102
degrees. Hopefully, she’ll recover in time for next week’s Ricoh
Women’s British Open. The event returns to Sunningdale, where the
England native started the final round in 2001 with an eagle,
double-eagle to win.
– Beth Ann Baldry
Posted July 24
It’s time to close the book on the British Open, but we just recieved
this classic offering from a friend regardiing the resurgance of Greg
Norman that’s worth sharing.
“If marrying a tennis star is the secret to good golf, Hank (Kuehne)
should be Tiger’s next rival,” the funnyman e-mailed early Sunday.
Kuehne, who hasn’t played a Tour event since last year’s St. Jude
Championship, is dating newly crowned Wimbledon champion Venus
Williams. And let’s not forget that Sergio Garcia and Martina Hingis
were romantically linked not too long ago. What’s next, a Camilo
Villegas-Anna Kornikova surprise wedding?
–Rex Hoggard
Posted July 23
SOUTHPORT, England – Daybreak Monday morning on the Lancashire coast,
and Greg Norman will awake shortly with his head swimming from thoughts
of the opportunity he had to seize greatness Sunday at Royal Birkdale.
That's if he slept at all.
Fifty-three
years old, playing great, two-shot lead on Sunday, a full moon – all
the cards seemed aligned for him, but alas, 72 holes proved a few too
many. Nonetheless, here's hoping the Shark leaves town with his head
held high. He was the rock star of this 137th Open Championship,
helping us all forget about you-know-who for at least a couple of days
and one major.
Well done, Shark. Go get 'em at Troon. You can
bet a few of the old boys will have some nice words of encouragement
and 'attaboys' when he arrives in Scotland. Norman's prize for such a
great week? Well, no Claret Jug, but at least we'll see him at Augusta
again. That will be electric. Had he pulled off a victory Sunday, he'd
have been in the field at Augusta through 2013. Wow.
Cheers
from the 137th Open. It's been a blast. Royal Birkdale, can't wait to
see you once again. Thanks for reminding us how good a links you truly
are.
– Jeff Babineau
Posted July 21
Posted: 8/14/2008
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