OMG: John Daly, no shirt, no shoes, no nothin'

Butch Harmon says, contrary to John Daly's comments, Harmon didn't apologize

It is a very sad fact that 2-time major winner John Daly is now ranked 595th in the world. Even sadder that he says he lost his contracts because of former coach Butch Harmon's public disapproval of his drinking and other shenanigans at the PODS Championship.

The saga isn't over. Apparently, JD said the drinking reports were all lies, and that Butch Harmon apologized to him. Well, today, Harmon says he never apologized and stands by his comments. (More)

I wonder if they'll be making more Winn commercials together?

Annika Sorenstam beats Paula Creamer in a playoff

Lorena Ochoa took a week off. Out emerged former No.1 Annika Sorenstam, who won her 71st victory. Annika won on the 1st playoff hole against Paula Creamer, who took 3 putts from the fringe. It would be nice if Annika can put some heat on Lorena. (more)

Tiger Woods off crutches

Needless to say, I'm a little stir crazy since my knee surgery on April 15. Although I've been through this before and understand the need for patience, I don't enjoy sitting around.

I really don't have a timetable for returning to competition. The doctors have said I should be able to play again in four-to-six weeks, but nothing is certain. I'm just going to do what they tell me to do.

At least I'm done with the crutches. I used them last week at Tiger Jam XI in Las Vegas to get around the hotel. Now, I'm wearing a knee brace and hope to start rehabbing soon.

I knew a couple of months ago I was going to have the surgery. The knee has been bugging me for a while. The only decision was do you miss the Masters or play in the Masters? I decided to play. Even if I had won, I still would have had the surgery.

I've definitely been playing in pain, but that's not why I didn't win at Augusta. I just never got comfortable with my putting stroke. As I said after the tournament, I was dragging the putter coming through which meant I couldn't start the ball on line. That's all it takes on those greens. Obviously, it was frustrating because I hit the ball well enough to win. It was just one of those things.

I called Trevor Immelman a couple days later to congratulate him. He was on the TV circuit, so I didn't actually talk to him, but I left a voice message. Nobody has ever doubted his ability. He has a beautiful golf swing and it was only a matter of time before he put it all together at a major championship.

The course was very difficult. I didn't hear as many roars as I usually hear, especially on the weekend. It did play like a U.S. Open course, which is fine. But I think the galleries are used to seeing birdies and eagles. On Sunday, the way the wind was blowing, it was tough to make pars. I hear the club might be making some changes next year to give us a break. We'll see what happens.

My sincere thanks to all the fans who have emailed their support and best wishes since my surgery. It means a lot to me. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Take care.

Tiger

Rumor mill: Tiger Woods might not play until US Open, skipping Memorial

LA Times has fueled the speculation that Tiger Woods might not play until the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, following his knee surgery. Rain at Muirfield, the site of Jack's tournament, is cited as one negative factor for playing there. (More)

Need your help: what's the ruling

One of our readers wrote in a question:

In a qualifying match, my son hit his golf ball up the hill on the elevated green from 220 yards out into a group of upperclassmen teammates. My son didn't think that he could reach them and apologized to the group of teammates, however it appears in anger that one of them stole his golf ball. What's the ruling? Is there any penalty to the golf ball thief?

Michael Israel paints Tiger WoodsPaula Creamer

Are my eyes deceiving me, or does this painting look more like Tiger Woods than Paula Creamer?

Lorena Ochoa wins 4th in a row

Lorena Ochoa has won the last 10 of 15 tournaments, and 4 in a row. She's hotter than Tiger Woods right now, but gets less than 1 percent of the attention. Go figure.

Minor backlash against Tiger's caddie Steve Williams for violating Augusta's cap requirement

There is some backlash among caddies against Stevie Williams, Tiger's caddie, who violated Augusta's requirement that caddies wear green caps during the tournament. (more)

Tiger Woods has knee surgery again -- possibly out of TPC

It's the same left knee that Tiger Woods has arthroscopic surgery on before in 2002. You know it must have been bothering him if he would do this in the middle of the season. He's going to be out for about 1 month -- meaning he will likely miss the Byron Nelson, Wachovia, Players Championship, Colonial, and even possibly the Memorial. PGA Commish Tim Finchem just saw the TV ratings go down and expressed his "disappointment" that Tiger could not play in these tournaments, but you know, health comes first.

"Tiger has been experiencing pain in his knee since the middle of last year, and when he had it looked at by his doctors, arthroscopic surgery was recommended," said his agent Mark Steinberg, "Tiger has played through the pain in the past, but knew it would be better for him to have the procedure done as early as possible."

(more) and more

Brandt Snedeker breaks down and cries after losing the Masters

Click here if video not working

Green jacket ceremony for Trevor Immelman

Video click here

Not much excitement on Sunday: Immelman wins by 3 strokes

The wind started blowing on Sunday, and so did the players. Trevor Immelman has played steady all day and has a 5-stroke lead. Tiger Woods made one 70-foot bomb, but has not been able to keep any momentum. What a disappointing week for Woods.

I'm impressed with Trevor, but this Sunday has been pretty boring compared to past Masters. The wind really made it difficult for any of the players to make any birdies.

Maybe Augusta has finally Tiger-proofed the course.

Video highlights -- click here

Immelman is the man -- takes 2 stroke lead into final round (-11); Tiger six strokes back

VIdeo highlights click here

TIger's video highlights click here

Tiger interview

Round 2 recap of Masters

Video highlights here

Post-round interview of Tiger Woods (-1)

Trevor Immelman assumes lead at Masters at -8

Andres Romero, the next big thing?

Andres Romero is extremely long (despite his small stature) and he can putt. He almost won the British last year until his club selection got the better of him. In watching him play yesterday at the Masters and then seeing cut away shots to Sergio Garcia struggling to make putts, I was left with two very different feelings. Even though the two are only a year apart in age, I get the feeling that Andres Romero will win a major very soon, but that Sergio Garcia may never. Don't get me wrong, Sergio's a great talent, but to watch him putt these days is unbearable. It's now a mental thing, and, if it becomes too mental, then the Ian Baker-Finch syndrome might eventually creep in.

Day One at the 2008 Masters: can Zach Johnson repeat?

Top 10

-4
Trevor Immelman
Justin Rose

-3
Brian Bateman
Brandt Snedekar
Lee Westwood

-2
Stephen Ames
Zach Johnson
Robert Karlsson
Ian Poulter

Other Notables
-1: Retief Goosen, Phil Mickelson, Mark O'Meara
E: Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Justin Leonard, Andres Romero, Sandy Lyle, Boo Weekley
+2: Ernie Els

Current leaderboard here

Video highlights of Day 1

Arnold Palmer starts the Masters

79 year old Arnold Palmer started off the Masters with the first drive. I really admire Mr. Palmer for all he's done for the game and for being the incredibly warm and gracious person he is. He's still got a swing at 79. Amazing.

Ian Poulter aces 16th on day 1 of Masters

Video link here.

Tiger Woods interview after 1st round

Tiger Woods recovers from +2 after 14 to finish even par

Who is Butch Harmon's No.1 student?

Ernie Els?

Phil Mickelson?

Adam Scott?

It will be interesting to see if several of these guys are in contention on Sunday. Who will Butch spend time with first?

Golf schadenfreude?: Time Magazine delights in Top 10 Masters Meltdowns

This is almost excruciating to read and relive, but Time Magazine recounts the worst Masters collapses starting with Greg Norman.

Rory Sabbatini wins Par-3 contest -- is his week already over?

Rory Sabbatini -- defying the so-called curse of the Par 3 winners who have never gone on to win the Masters -- took the 9-hole Par 3 competition, shooting 5-under. Rory says he doesn't believe in the curse.

I wonder if Tiger does. He's avoided the Par 3 tourney like the plague. BTW, tomorrow Tiger has a 10-something tee teem with Angel Cabrera and Stuart Appleby. We will see how well Augusta has been "Tiger-proofed" this year.

Click on the link for video highlights.

Phil Mickelson looks fantastic!

I just got a glimpse of the par 3 competition at the Masters. It's pretty wild: caddies, wives, and kids get to hit for the players. The grounds crew must love it!

The other thing I noticed: Phil Mickelson is wearing a pretty tight red golf shirt, somewhat reminiscent of Tiger. And, you know what, Phil Mickelson must have lost 15 or 20 pounds. I think it's time to give Phil some credit. He really has changed his fitness routine. He looks great. We'll see if it helps on the course.

ATT Blue Room to webcast Masters Par 3 tourney Wednesday, 3-5

ATT Blue Room says it will be webcasting the Masters Par 3 tourney -- you need to download Microsoft Silverlight apparently to watch the coverage online. More from ATT

John McCain introducer David Bellavia disparages Tiger Woods (and Barack Obama)

It's very unfortunate that Tiger Woods has to face another racially insensitive remark (see Kelly Tilghman's remark for the most recent and then, of course, who can forget Fuzzy Zoeller's outrageous reception for Tiger at the 1997 Masters), this time on the day before the Masters by David Bellavia, a person chosen to introduce John McCain at a war rally.

Referring to Barack Obama, Bellavia said: "You can have your Tiger Woods, we've got Senator McCain....This is the real audacity of hope." It's also unfortunate that John McCain said nothing about this slam on Tiger Woods. Just because Tiger's black, his name is thrown out there as associated with Barack Obama, all in a disparaging way. The race card. Outrageous! Earl Woods, of course, was a Green Beret and Vietnam veteran, so to have his son's name invoked in an insulting fashion at a war rally apparently by another military man is appalling.

Tiger Woods ready for Masters, so are Mickelson + Els

More of Tiger's interview here



Phil Mickelson's full interview



Ernie Els discusses how he's working with Butch Harmon now!

ESPN to air Par 3 Masters tourney Wednesday 3-5

9 holes, all par-3s. It's a tradition at the Masters started in 1960, but it's the first time it will be televised. If I'm not mistaken, no one who has won the par 3 competition has gone on to win the Masters that year. (More)

Let the Masters begin

Zach Johnson talks Tiger, Augusta, + defending Masters

The best tradition of the LPGA?: Lorena Ochoa makes big splash at Kraft Nabisco

I love this video. Karrie Webb's cannonball was killer! But this year's winner of the Kraft Nabisco, Lorena Ochoa, may have pulled off the most spectacular jump, with the help of her family.



It's time for the LPGA to start marketing Lorena Ochoa as the PGA does with Tiger Woods. Annika's reign is officially over.

The Golf Blog interview - Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner, part 2

(all photos NBC Olympics/USOC)

The Golf Blog: What one indulgence (that you have given up during training) do you look forward to enjoying after the Olympics are over?

Jeremy Wariner: To be honest I haven't given up anything. The only thing I guess I'm looking forward to enjoying this off time and not having to train.

The Golf Blog: If you weren't a professional track star, what job do you think you would like to do the most?

Jeremy Wariner: If I didn't run track I would want to play in the NFL. I grew up playing football and decided not to keep playing when I got to college.

The Golf Blog: Maybe a Renaldo Nehemiah?...Maybe there's still time? By the way, are you as fast on the golf course as you are on the track?

Jeremy Wariner: On the course I like to try and take my time because when I try and rush I never hit the ball straight it always hooks on me.

The Golf Blog: Yes, that happens to the best of us. So what is your golf handicap? What would you say are the best and worst parts of your game?

Jeremy Wariner: I usually play at the TPC at Craig Ranch. I don't know my handicap, I usually just play for fun and to relax if that is possible. The best part of my game would have to be how far I can hit the ball, my drives are my best part. As for my worst part it has to be my putting. I can get onto the green easily but getting the ball in the cup that where I have the most trouble.


The Golf Blog: How often do you get to play golf while you're in training for the Olympics?

Jeremy Wariner: When I'm in training for the Olympics it's hard for me to get to the course and play, but once my season is over I'll try to play at least 3 times a month.

The Golf Blog: Who is your favorite PGA golfer and favorite LPGA player?

Jeremy Wariner: My favorite golfer would have to be Tiger Woods
because I like his focus on the course. He reminds me of myself on the track -- he always plays to win and he works hard to stay on top. As for my favorite LPGA golfer I would say Annika Sorenstam because she always wants to play against the best golfers even against the men. That shows me her confidence in her game.

The Golf Blog: Well, thanks again for chatting with us, Jeremy. All of our readers will be rooting for you in Beijing!

"This is my story" video with Jeremy

Caddy for Justin Leonard?

You have until April 8 to make your bid to caddy for Justin Leonard, Boo Weekley, or Woody Austin at the upcoming Verizon Heritage. Visit the Auction for more info.

Caddy for a Cure CEO Russ Holden (Bernhard Langer’s longtime tour caddy) gives away all of the money raised to support a charity of the player’s choice. This truly is an opportunity of a lifetime for a golf fan and we are having difficulty getting the word out effectively. Currently the starting bid for all three bags is 2500 and that includes a gift pack including a trip to Arizona valued at well over $2000!

Bid on Justin Leonard here (current $2,750)

Bid on Boo Weekley ($2,500 - no takers yet!)

Bid on Woody Austin (aka Aquaman) ($2,500 - no takers yet)

Mens Vogue: can beta blockers cure your yips?

Mens Vogue has an interesting article exploring whether beta blockers can calm tension on the golf course.

Nothing scientific, but here's what the author John Cassidy concludes: "Were the beta blockers responsible for my improved shot selection and my dramatic mid-round recovery? Was it a placebo effect? Dumb luck? I have no idea. But the next time my regular four-ball partners start kicking my tail in our weekly three-dollar Nassau, I'm going to try and get hold of some more propranolol. Sure, it might be medically irresponsible and morally questionable, but the ban on beta blockers applies only to the PGA Tour, and I need all the help I can get."

LPGA recaps on YouTube Lorena Ochoa's victory last week

This is a great concept for the LPGA -- use YouTube to generate more interest in the women's game. So I give it kudos for that. I hate to be too critical of a great idea, but the execution with this video is pretty pathetic. All photos, no live footage of the women on the course, what's up with that? Using the Ken Burns moving effect over and over again won't fool viewers into believing that they are watching video footage. And that announcer sounds like he's a game-show host waiting to sell you the next prize.

Dear LPGA: you can do better than that. Frankly, I can put together a better highlight video at home if you let me cut and past the footage together, even though I'm just an amateur. Or you can hire one of the amateurs on YouTube who already string together highlight golf videos mostly of the PGA tour. If the LPGA hired one of those guys, the LPGA would be getting more than the 58 views total for this video.

Natalie Gulbis swing analysis

Tiger Woods admits his goal was to go undefeated in 2008

Overall, I feel very good about the way I'm swinging the club. Although my winning streak ended at Doral, I'm very pleased about the way I have played and hope the positive momentum carries over to Augusta.

Ever since I joined the PGA Tour in 1996, my goal has always been to win every tournament. That's just the way I think. If you don't feel that way, why enter? Although I got off to a great start his year by winning my first four events, including Dubai, I knew it was unlikely I would go undefeated. That didn't stop me from trying.

As I've often said, you need a little luck and a few good breaks to win tournaments. I had my share at the Buick Invitational, WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational, but came up short at Doral. Geoff Ogilvy chipped in at a critical time and that's what you need to win.

Michelle Wie retires from golf due to wrist injury

Wow. Didn't see this coming. I'm still in disbelief. I know many of the Michelle Wie-naysayers who read this blog will be gloating, but you shouldn't. After breaking her wrist over a year ago in bad fall while running, Michelle Wie never could regain her golf form. Last year, she failed to break 80 many times, but this year things started to look different.

Apparently, Michelle re-injured her wrist while hitting balls from the rough at the Stanford driving range (where one ball was embedded) and had to pull out of the Safeway tourney. But after her boyfriend Robin Lopez just announced he's entering the NBA draft, Michelle decided it would be better for her health and her relationship with Lopez for her to retire from golf. "I love Stanford but I just don't love playing golf when my wrist hurts," Michelle said. I wonder what Nike is thinking now. (More)

Video of Michelle Wie's announcement below: