The Golf Watch

DiMarco withdraws from Disney

Chris DiMarco has withdrawn from the Children's Miracle Network Classic due to a shoulder injury.  DiMarco had surgery on the shoulder in early September, and hoped to play this week at the tournament.  However, after hitting balls on Tuesday, he decided to call it quits.  Interestingly, The Golf Channel spotlighted DiMarco in a 2-part series called "The Faces of Chris DiMarco" on Monday and Tuesday's Golf Central.  DiMarco said on the special, "I’m hoping I’m going to play Disney, just because I love the tournament so much.  Other than a major, that’s probably the one that I want to win the most."  He added in the interview that, in terms of health, he was feeling about 85%.

 

DiMarco back in competition, reunites with caddy

"You look at the position he's in, and you listen to him talk, and you realize that he thinks he can with this golf tournament," said Brandel Chamblee about Chris DiMarco earlier tonight on Golf Central.  DiMarco is currently tied for third at 3-under-par overall after shooting a 5-under 66 on Saturday.  The Flordia Gator alum said that he owes much of his recent success to reuniting with former caddie, Pat O'Brien.  According to Golf Magazine Senior Writer Cameron Morfit, DiMarco said, "We were seven years in the top 20 on the money list...And we go out there and we play golf and we're a really good team."  DiMarco and O'Brien parted ways before last year's British Open at Hoylake, but reunited last month at the Buick Open.  DiMarco tees off at 9:10 a.m. ET with Paul McGinley. 

Hawkins: DiMarco in serious danger of not making President's Cup team

Golf World magazine senior writer John Hawkins writes on ESPN.com, "The Presidents Cup is still three months away, so there's no need to hold your breath just yet, but Chris DiMarco, the man perhaps most responsible for the United States' thrilling victory over the Internationals in 2005, is in serious danger of not making this year's squad."  Although DiMarco is currently ranked 33rd in the Presidents Cup standings, Hawkins says DiMarco still has a chance to make the team.  "With two majors and a World Golf Championship still remaining before the 10 automatic qualifiers are finalized following the PGA Championship, DiMarco has opportunities to make up the necessary ground," writes Hawkins. 

DiMarco changes grip, shoots 64

After Chris DiMarco's 6-under-par 64 at the Travelers Championship, he was interviewed by Mike Ritz of The Golf Channel about his first round.  "I did a little change in my putting grip, which I haven’t touched for eleven years," said DiMarco, who noted that he was favoring his right hand before altering the grip this week.  "I putted phenomenal.  I made every putt you’re supposed to make and then threw a couple extra in there like I used to do.  So it was kind of nice out there."  DiMarco has been dealing with a shoulder injury this year, but said that there was no pain during his round. Jason Sobel of ESPN.com writes that DiMarco has received two cortisone shots in the past three months.

DiMarco holds clubhouse lead

Chris DiMarco holds the morning clubhouse lead at the Travelers Championship.  DiMarco, who fired a 6-under-par 64 earlier today, has struggled this year, with no top-10 finishes in 15 events played.  The world's 51st ranked golfer finished out of the top 30 on the money list in 2006 (53rd) for the first time since 1999. 

DiMarco to guest on weekly XM radio show

According to PGATour.com contributor John Maginnes, 3-time PGA Tour winner Chris DiMarco will debut on XM radio.  "Chris, in agreement with XM Satellite Radio, is bringing that personality and prospective to the airwaves with a new weekly show Opinionated with Chris DiMarco, which debuts at 7 a.m ET on Tuesday morning. Chris and his host, Greg Warmouth, will do a 30-minute show each week on the PGA TOUR network XM 146, that will air six different times throughout the week," reports Maginnes.  He adds that the two hosts "plan to discuss everything from how far the new PING driver goes to how long Paris Hilton's sentence ought to be."