The Golf Watch

Keep Rick Reilly's column away from Tiger

It's rare that we see columns questioning Tiger Woods' place in the history books.  In fact, I'd like to say almost never.   

Well, Rick Reilly has done what some might argue as the unthinkable in writing about Tiger Woods.  He raises the question: Is it possible that Tiger may not end up as the greatest golfer ever?

One thing is certain, the more we as writers have our doubts about Tiger, the more he proves us wrong.

Trevino: Tour players should play them all

Lee Trevino, never one to hide his emotions, made some noteworthy remarks Tuesday at the Toshiba Classic.  Jill Painter quotes Trevino as saying:

Now is the time where you say, 'Hey boys, times are tough.  They're looking for something to do. Some say, 'We've got to get more personable.' Forget that player. He's not going to do anything...

If the commissioner comes out and says once every three years you have to play each tournament - If not, there's a tour in Europe....

You have to make it mandatory to play each and every tournament once every three years.  I don't care who you are. I tried to get that passed in 1970. I supported every tournament.

It's a bold idea, but I don't see Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson showing up to the John Deere Classic once every three years.  Unless Tiger would set that precedent, it is unlikely that this plan would come to fruition.

Mike Wilbon said on PTI that Tiger could be convinced, but only by the right people:

I like Lee Trevino’s position because he’s looking out for the Tour.  Lee Trevino was out there on Tour when every single player out there, they had to make some sacrifices.  They had to sell the game.  They had to sell their Tour.  They had to do things on off-days that players don’t necessarily do now because they are doing things for themselves.  Those guys made it that way.

But I think the powers that be, starting with Finchem, and maybe even including Jack, Trevino and Arnold Palmer—because Tiger Woods respects them like nobody else—they have to quietly go to him, and say ‘Look, here’s what they need for the Tour.’

Rome: Pavin pick is a bad move

I hadn't heard that many mixed reviews over the Corey Pavin selection, until I caught Thursday's edition of Jim Rome is Burning on ESPN.

Rome's major gripe is that the United States team had struggled for so many years before Paul Azinger was captain, that not bringing him back is non-sensical.  Rome said:

Look, I know the powers that be like to spread it around.  They don’t want to have repeat captains.  They must also not like winning because there’s no need to fix something that isn’t broken…Zinger had as much to do with winning, maybe more, than anybody swinging a club.  He took a group of disinterested, flat lining mercenaries, and he turned them into a bunch of crazed dogs…He earned the right to defend that title, he earned the right to stay on as long as he wants.

As for the Pavin selection, Rome indicates that it will be nearly impossible for Pavin to live up to what Azinger did this year:

He’s (Pavin) never been the most dynamic guy on tour if you know what I mean…You never want to be the guy following the guy, and that’s what Pavin is.  It’s a bad move.

ESPN takes over another major championship, Women's British Open

ESPN is continuing to make its mark on major championship coverage of both the PGA and LPGA Tours.  According to a report on ESPN.com, ESPN has penned a deal to televise all four rounds of the Women's British Open beginning in 2010.  The significance of the deal is that ESPN will be bringing the tournament live, rather than taped (ABC will still show taped coverage over the weekend in the afternoon). 

It seems that after next year, there will no longer be golf coverage on TNT.

Kornheiser: The last two years of this have been so bad that this has to be better

On last Wednesday's edition of Pardon the Interruption, hosts Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon discussed the latest tweaks to the FedEx Cup format. I found Kornheiser's comments to be the most revealing:

There are two major championships that are totally flawed—The Chase (Nascar) is totally flawed and the FedEx Cup is totally flawed.  Two years ago, Tiger Woods skipped the tournament and won this thing.  This past year, Vijay Singh had to just walk around 18 in order to win the thing.  You cannot have your last event be meaningless. 

So whatever you have to do, even if its lie cheat or steal, to give people a chance to win, then you have to try and do that, in that sense I’m in favor of this...The last two years of this have been so bad that this has to be better.

As a footnote, I've always appreciated Kornheiser and Wilbon's golf analysis.  Both play and follow the game pretty closely, but are far removed from the inner circle of golf writers.  I guess that might be why their remarks are genuine.  They're not reading Jeff Rude and Ryan Herrington articles each week, rather, they represent the average golf fan.

ESPN showing committment to...the majors

And who can blame them?  With golf television ratings tanking across the board, the one area of growth has been the major championships. 

Think about the television landscape a few years ago.  Early round coverage was conducted by USA, TNT and ESPN.  Now, USA and TNT have been wiped off the map. 

Soon, ESPN will have early round coverage of The Masters, US Open, British Open and Ryder Cup.  How many other tour events do they cover? 

Nada.

ESPN slowly taking over all major championship coverage

More to come on this development over the weekend, but ESPN.com is reporting that the network will host all four rounds of the British Open starting in 2010. 

Wilbon: Lee Westwood should shut up

It looks like an American reporter has jumped on Lee Westwood's post-round comments--Mike Wilbon on ESPN's PTI.  If you need a refresher, Westwood implied that the crowds were abusive and shameful.  Here's Wilbon's response:

I can just say Lee Westwood should shut up.  You talk about a loser, and a loser's mentality...Lee Westwood is just a whiney little baby. 

Wilbon went on to say that Europe's upper echelon players like Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia didn't come to play, and that's why they lost.

Still, Westwood's comments should not be discredited.  As he told Kelly Tilghman of TGC, the crowd said some pretty nasty things to him and were abusive throughout the week.  If this is the case, Westwood's comments should be taken seriously.

"I think this rule is done"

With State Farm's recent skepticism over the LPGA's new language requirement, you have to wonder whether or not the LPGA will reform the policy.  But LPGA Tour Commissioner Carolyn Bivens isn't backing down, and it seems that we could be in the midst of quite the uproar. 

Tony Kornheiser called it ‘blatantly discriminatory’ and Mike Wilbon had this to say on Wednesday's edition of Pardon the Interruption:

I think this rule is done, I think it’s going to go bye-bye now, particularly if the sponsors react more often like State Farm.

He added:

I’m offended when Americans who don’t speak anybody else’s language say, ‘You know, you better speak more English.’ 

Phelps ready to pursue golf

In an interview with Jeremy Schaap of ESPN, Olympic star Michael Phelps said he plans to start playing golf when he moves back to Baltimore...

I'm going to try to golf after this.  I'm just trying new things.  Everyone's talking about it, they are like 'you're going to love it, it's going to be so fun.'  I was like, 'I'm probably going to be just frustrated.'  So we'll see what happens.

With the one and only Baltimore Country Club within several miles of his old neighborhood, I wouldn't be surprised if he seeks out, or the club pursues a membership for the swimming phenom.