The Golf Watch

Weekley withdraws on 11 at Sawgrass

Boo Weekley tweaked his shoulder on the 11th hole during the final round of the Players Championship.  He hit a squibbler with his second shot and walked over to Justin Rose and shook his hand, calling it quits for the week. 

Less red, white and blue at Match Play

With so much action around the course, I have always found the first day of the Accenture Match Play to be the most exciting.  My television watching tends to dwindle as the week goes on, but with players like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Boo Weekley making it through to day two, I'm sure the tournament will continue to hold the interest of most Americans. 

Speaking of American flavor (or lack thereof), Cameron Morfit points out that only 17 of the 64 players in this week's field are American.  Any doubts that the game of golf isn't going global?

"I'm looking at the WCWs, the WGWs..."

Vince Cellini and John Hawkins conducted a very interesting interview with none other than Boo Weekley on the 19th Hole.  My two favorite parts of the interview were Weekley talking about his new clothing line and his upcoming plans (or lack there of) as a European Tour member (quote above). 

Watch the video here.

Weekley ready to retire when the money is right

Boo Weekley reaffirmed his desire to retire in the next few years, stating in an interview with Tim Rosaforte that after he averages two million dollars over a seven-year period, he will retire. 

I should have enough money invested, somebody else can fill my shoes.  There's a young kid out there whose trying to work his way up on to the PGA Tour that loves this, that loves it a lot more than I do. He wants it, well here you go son, take it.

Weekley’s candid approach is refreshing and his viewpoint is quite telling of the grind that is the PGA Tour.  Even though Weekley is well on his way to having enough money to call it quits in 3 or 4 years, he isn’t eliminating the possibility of making appearances on television.

Weekley told Rosaforte:

I might come out here and help you do a little interviewing.

Weekley: "I don’t chase nothing that will eat me"

Boo Weekley had another one of his classic interviews with The Golf Channel's Rich Lerner on Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz.  As usual, the topic of hunting came up, and Weekley spoke about cutting up a moose with a chain saw and gutting a deer.  Then came a question from Nick Faldo, who oh so aptly asked if Weekley hunted bears.  Weekley's response:

I don't chasing nothing that will eat me.

He speaks from the heart, doesn't he?

Winning the Ryder Cup--like killing your first deer

I loved Rich Lerner's "in the moment" commentary as the Americans doused themsleves with champagne shorty after the Ryder Cup ended.  He said that Boo Weekley has "cemented his legend in a strange, loveable way among a pantheon of characters."   He added that Weekley told him that he hadn't felt this good since shooting his first deer--when he was 8!

Nevertheless, during his press conference, Weekley admitted:

Q. You said you would rather be hunting than playing golf; would you rather be hunting than doing Ryder Cup golf?

BOO WEEKLEY: No, I don't think so. This is more right up my alley here.

Q. Do you like hunting and fishing better than Ryder Cup?

BOO WEEKLEY: No, not right now. It ain't nothing like shooting a deer.

"I don't know if they are ready for it"

Get ready for some good Boo Weekley one-liners this week.  First up, a quote from an interview with Rich Lerner about whether or not Weekley will consult with Raymond Floyd to improve his mental toughness:

Weekley: I'm not much on asking questions on mental stuff because I have my own mental perspective of everything. 

Lerner: Bringing that to the team room this week?

Weekley: I don't know, I don't know if they are ready for it....

You gotta love the guy.

Is there a better champion than Boo?

Boo Weekley successfully defended his title at the Verizon Heritage last week.  And if I were tournament director Steve Wilmot, I'd be one happy camper.  Besides Tiger and Phil, is there a better champion to have for your PGA Tour event than Boo?

Weekley is endearing, sincere, down to earth, and speaks the truth.  He wears his emotions on his sleeve.  Plain and simple, Boo reminds us that these PGA Tour pros are real people. 

As Jason Sobel of ESPN.com points out...

Weekley runs into trouble at airport

Fan favorite Boo Weekley left from Florida for the Mercedes-Benz Championship with his family on Friday morning, but didn't get to Hawaii until Sunday. According to Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press, airport security found two rifle bullets in Weekley's carry on bag, which he had used during a hunting trip in Illinois.  "They put the red flags on me. I had the cops there. I thought I was going to jail," said Weekley, who hadn't noticed the bullets in the bag when packing for Kapalua.   Weekley was eventually let go, but faced delays and missed a connecting flight in Atlanta.  Nevertheless, he arrived with his family in Hawaii safe and sound.

U.S. can't pull off upset at World Cup, Scots win

Although Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum were underdogs when the week began, the U.S. duo led by one stroke after each of the first three rounds at the World Cup of Golf in China.  But Colin Montgomerie and Charles Warren of Scotland fired a 6-under 66 on Sunday and defeated Weekley and Slocum on the third playoff hole.  The Scots lost last year in a playoff, but redeemed themselves this year.  "It's been a long time for Scotland to win the World Cup, since 1953," said Montgomerie.  "There was pressure to come back after a playoff loss like we did last year..."  The Americans had their opportunities all day, including the first playoff hole where Slocum missed a 7-foot birdie putt that would have won the cup.  Nevertheless, Slocum said, " It was a wonderful experience.  This would have been icing on the cake to top it off with a victory."