Wild driver, putter steer Woods to early exit

A much-hoped-for showdown between golf's No. 1- and No. 2-ranked players in the Quail Hollow Championship was derailed in dramatic fashion today when Tiger Woods matched the worst nine-hole score of his PGA Tour career on his way to a 7-over-par 79.

Woods, who shot what he termed a "terrible" 74 in the first round, missed a cut for only the sixth time in his 14-year career. His 79 included double bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes and six bogeys.

"It is what it is," Woods said on the Golf Channel. "Whatever it was, wasn't good enough."

Woods, the world's No. 1-ranked golfer, had three-putt bogeys on consecutive holes on the back nine on his way to a 43. He hit rock bottom on the 15th hole when he four-putted for double bogey from just more than 30 feet. The performance is surprising in as much as Woods was coming off a tie for fourth at the Masters three weeks ago.

In his first appearance at a regular PGA Tour event since admitting marital infidelity five months ago, Woods was done in by his wild driving. After hitting just four of 14 fairways with his tee shots on Thursday, he hit just two fairways today in earning an early exit from an event in which he had three top-five finishes in his four previous appearances, winning in 2007 and finishing fourth last year.

On the 17th hole, a fan was escorted off the course for heckling Woods, shouting "No red shirt for you on Sunday, Tiger," a reference to Woods' usual final-round wardrobe choice. After his round when asked what he would do during a rare weekend off, Woods quipped: "I'll get to watch how it's done. I'll get to see how real golfers do it."

The only other times Woods has missed the cut were at the 1997 Canadian Open, the 2005 Byron Nelson Championship, the 2005 Funai Championship, the 2006 U.S. Open and the 2009 British Open. He holds the record of 142 consecutive cuts made from 1998 through 2005.

Meanwhile, Mickelson, the world's No. 2-ranked golfer, shot a 68 and is two shots back of 36-hole leader Billy Mayfair. A Mickelson victory Sunday would go a long way in loosening Woods' grip on the No. 1 ranking he's held for the last 255 weeks and for a total of 597 during his career.

Mickelson needs to win approximately 110 more points than Woods over the next couple of weeks to take over the World No. 1 spot. The Quail Hollow Championship offers 64 points for the winner and The Players Championship winner picks up a guaranteed 80 points.

The other players who have had official World No. 1 status in the 24-year history of the rankings are Bernhard Langer (3 weeks), Seve Ballesteros (61 weeks), Greg Norman (331 weeks), Nick Faldo (97 weeks), Ian Woosnam (50 weeks), Fred Couples (16 weeks), Nick Price (44 weeks), Tom Lehman (1 week), Ernie Els (9 weeks), David Duval (15 weeks) and Vijay Singh (32 weeks).

Information from ESPN.com, Bloomberg.com and officialworldgolfranking.com contributed to this post.

Big two theory faces test at Quail Hollow

A theory offered up in some golf writing circles of late that Phil Mickelson has raised the level of his game to that of Tiger Woods will be put to the test today with the start of the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, N.C.

A strong field that includes defending champion Sean O'Hair, Anthony Kim, Jim Furyk and Camilo Villegas could make golf's No. 1- and No. 2-ranked players also-rans on a course (Quail Hollow Club) that would be a perfect U.S. Open venue because of its length (7,442 yards), tight tree-lined fairways, 3-inch deep rough and fast undulating greens. But the fact that Woods (2007 champion) and Mickelson (four career top 10s) have played well at Quail Hollow in the past has many golf fans expecting a shootout between the two.

Mickelson, who had been ill in his hotel room Tuesday night, withdrew from yesterday's pro-am after six holes and was treated for dehydration. But he is expected to compete today, according to his spokesman T.R. Reinman. It will be Mickelson's first tournament since winning his third green jacket. He took the two weeks after the Masters off and only got back into vigorous practicing the last few days.

"I see the improvement each day, and I feel like it's back to a level close to where it was at Augusta," Mickelson said, "so I certainly have high expectations this week and next."

Woods, who has said it usually takes him two or three tournaments to get into a good flow for the season, will be competing before a regular general public audience for the first time since his sex scandal began making headlines. His fourth-place finish at the Masters, however, is reason for optimism.

"Just trying to get more fine-tuned, and I guess into the rhythm of just playing and competing," Woods said. "That takes a little bit of time."

It will be interesting to see if the time he's taken off since the Masters has improved his ability to control his temper. He received a lot of well-deserved criticism for his several outbursts in frustration during play at Augusta National and will no doubt continue to be under heavy scrutiny.

One of the keys to mastering Quail Hollow is playing well on the final three holes, and this could make for some interesting television on the final day. A year ago, the final three holes were the toughest three-hole finishing stretch on tour. So players would be wise to hitch up their britches before coming down the stretch. The 16th hole is a 480-yard par 4 that played to a 4.210 average, making it the 120th toughest hole on tour. The 217-yard 17th hole was the 44th hardest at 3.285. Since 2003, players have hit 248 tee shots into the lake guarding No. 17. Finally, the 478-yard, par-4 18th hole was the 12th hardest with a 4.374 average, making it the second-most-difficult finishing hole on the tour. It should be fun to watch on the Golf Channel (Today-Friday, 2-6 p.m.) and CBS (Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m.).

Information from PGATOUR.com, GolfObserver.com contributed to this post.

Let's put a lid on Mr. Three-putt

After suffering through a round at East Golf Club last week in which I three-putted three times, I started looking for some answers on YouTube. I had been lag putting fairly well this year until the aforementioned round and then all of sudden I began having to make a lot of 4- and 5-foot come-backers because of overly aggressive first putts. I came across a couple videos last weekend that offered several things worth considering. Hope it helps.

Strong finish ends dry spell for Bohn

Jason Bohn, coming back from a variety of injuries and back surgery, birdied three of his last four holes yesterday on his way to a two-shot victory over Jeff Overton in the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La.

Oldgolfdawg was more interested in the NBA Playoffs, particularly the Cavaliers' Game 4 against the Bulls, and didn't watch Bohn earn his second PGA Tour title. Bohn, whose previous victory came in the 2005 B.C. Open, shot a final-round 67 and finished his wire-to-wire victory at 18-under 270. Overton closed with a 66.

Bohn, 37, was teary-eyed as he made a birdie putt on the 18th green. He led since his 65 in the opening round, but admitted he felt the pressure as several players mounted challenges. Twenty-four-year-old rookie Troy Merritt shot a 67 and finished third at 14 under. Two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen managed a 69 and came in fourth at 13 under.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Mark O'Meara and Nick Price teamed to beat former Ohio State teammates Joey Sindelar and John Cook on the second hole of a playoff in the better-ball Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf tournament in Savannah, Ga.

Price made a 7-foot putt for par on the second playoff hole to earn the victory. Cook missed a 4-foot putt that would have won it on the final hole of regulation.

With the win, O'Meara notched his first official victory on the Champions Tour after 57 winless starts. Ken Green, making his first start after his auto accident 10 months ago, finished tied for 26th with Mike Reid.

Appealing Web site for figure filberts

Stumbled across an interesting Web site the other day that I thought golfers with a more analytical bent might enjoy, especially if they like breaking down statistics. The site is called mygolfgameplan.com. Here's the link:
https://www.mygolfgameplan.com/

The site allows you to input four rounds a month to study for free. It even shows you what you must do in order to reach your desired goal. If you want to input more than four rounds, there is a fee. It's up to you to decide if you think a more detailed analysis of your game will produce better results. The Web site is pretty cool whether you decide to use it or not.

Ochoa ready for new challenges

Lorena Ochoa filled in the details of her announced retirement from competitive golf yesterday during an emotion-filled news conference in Mexico City. Her voice breaking and her eyes watering at times, she bid her official farewell after a career in which she reigned as No. 1 for three years, won two majors and 27 tour victories, and was honored for four straight years as the LPGA Tour's player of the year.

The world's top-ranked women's golfer will step away as an active player at age 28 after the Tres Marias Championship next week in Morelia, Mexico, to raise her family and run her charity foundation. She left open the possibility of playing in a few more tournaments, including her Lorena Ochoa Invitational each November in her hometown of Guadalajara, but an all-out return seems unlikely.

Her decision to retire is remarkable when you consider that since 2006 Ochoa had just one fewer victory on the LPGA Tour than Tiger Woods did on the PGA Tour.

"We all know that Lorena's golf has spoken for itself," LPGA Tour vice president Jane Geddes said, sitting alongside Ochoa. "But what has always been the most impressive to the players is the way in which Lorena was able to balance her rise to greatness with such humility."

Ochoa said she had planned to play the entire 2010 season, but two tournaments in Asia earlier this season changed her mind.

"I realized maybe I didn't have the necessary motivation and that I wanted to start a new life and come to Mexico and do different things with the foundation," she said. "I have achieved all I needed to achieve in sports. Now is time to change; I'm going to keep working very hard, but at home."

The LPGA Tour, down to 14 events because of a lack of sponsors, has to be hoping that a new star will come forth in the coming days and, for its sake, the sooner the better. Encouraging in that regard is the fact that 12 of the top 20 players in the current world rankings are 23 years old or younger. Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer, two of the four from the U.S. ranked in the top 20, are the Americans mostly likely to vie for the top spot in the rankings.

Korean Jiyai Shin and Yani Tseng of China are ranked second and third in the world, respectively, and will be competing for the top spot in the rankings in the weeks to come. But if the LPGA Tour is going to gain more sponsors in America, it would help if an American golfer could at least challenge. Wie is currently ranked No. 9 and Creamer is No. 11.

Information from ESPN.com, Golf.com and the Associated Press contributed to this post.




For a look back at Ochoa's career, check out this link:
http://www.golf.com/golf/gallery/article/0,28242,1811453,00.html

Zurich Classic could use more spice

Sergio Garcia will be the highest-ranked player in the field when play begins today in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which lost some of its flavor yesterday with the withdrawals of Steve Stricker and Ian Poulter.

Stricker, ranked No. 3 in the world, withdrew because of an injured clavicle. Poulter, No. 6 in the world, withdrew because of a sore left knee. That leaves Garcia, No. 23 in the world, to headline an event that might not have the right ingredients to cook up a lot of excitement.

Garcia, who held the No. 2 spot in the world rankings as recently as March 2009, is making his first appearance in New Orleans. Last week at the Verizon Heritage he missed the cut for the first time in seven PGA Tour starts this season after following up an opening-round 67 with a 77. He is currently struggling with his game and hasn't had much success this season. His best finish is a fourth in the Match Play Championships. He hasn't finished better than 37th in the other appearances, including a lackluster tie for 45th at the Masters.

When asked last week what the problem is, Garcia stated, "Well, we're working on it, but it's taking time. ... Whenever I figure it out, I'll let you know."

Still, Garcia is a five-time member of the European Ryder Cup team and has won 15 events worldwide while splitting time on the PGA and European PGA tours each year. His last victory in the U.S. came in The Players Championship in 2008. Maybe he's due to break out of his slump.

Defending his Zurich title will be Jerry Kelly, who won in 2009 when he followed an opening-round 71 with scores of 69, 66 and 68. His score of 14-under-par 274 was good for a one-shot victory over Rory Sabbatini, Charles Howell III and Charlie Wi. They all will be back competing for the winner's share of $1.152 million from the $6.4 million purse.

In the past month, Kelly has tied for 12th at the Honda Classic, tied for 13th at the Transitions Championship and tied for 12th at the Masters.

Other top players in the field include K.J. Choi, David Toms, Justin Rose, Mark Calcavecchia, Rocco Mediate, Mike Weir, David Duval, Andres Romero, Stuart Appleby, Ben Crane, Bryce Molder, Scott Verplank, Lee Janzen, and fan favorites John Daly and Boo Weekley.

Information from ESPN.com, PGATOUR.com and Golf.com contributed to this post.

Ochoa decision another blow for LPGA

After dropping hints for two years that there were things she was interested in doing with her life besides winning golf tournaments, Lorena Ochoa announced yesterday that she was stepping away from competitive golf.

The decision by the LPGA's top-ranked player was delivered by way of a short press release. A news conference has been scheduled for Friday in Mexico City. There is speculation that Ochoa will enjoy a farewell appearance at next week's LPGA event in Morelia, Mexico.

Ochoa's list of accomplishments at age 28 includes 27 career victories, two major championship triumphs and the last four LPGA player of the year awards.

“I don’t think anybody close to her or close to the tour is surprised,” LPGA touring pro Morgan Pressel said. “She’s always talked about how she wasn’t going to play forever and about wanting a family. At the same time, you hear it, and the reaction is, `Wow, is this really happening?’”

Ochoa's decision comes two years after former No. 1-ranked player Annika Sorenstam stepped away from competitive golf at age 37, leaving the LPGA without two of its biggest draws.

Ochoa will give her reasons at Friday's news conference. But the decision, though earlier perhaps than most expected, isn't that hard to understand. When Ochoa married AeroMexico executive Andres Conesa late last year and moved from her home in Guadalajara to Mexico City she became an instant mom to three children. She is building a new life with her husband, a 14-year-old son and 12- and 7-year-old daughters.

She also pours herself into a Mexican-based foundation that funds a school of underprivileged children and a new American-based foundation committed to taking the benefits of golf to Latino and others under-represented in the game.

"It doesn't surprise me that Lorena's retiring, but the timing is quick," says Hall of Famer Amy Alcott. "I consider Lorena a friend, and the thing I've always liked about her is that she is more than a golfer. She has a country behind her, and that's a lot of pressure, just as Annika had. They're really icons. It reminds me of the great Will Rogers quote: 'It's great to be great, but it's greater to be human.'"

Information from ESPN.com, Golf.com and GolfChannel.com contributed to this post.

Don't get bogged down in those bunkers

Ever notice how high handicappers dread hitting into bunkers while pros would rather land in the friendly confines of a sand pit than in snarly rough close to a green?

The pros like hitting from sand because they know how the ball will release from it and they understand the techniques involved in escaping its grip depending on the lie. High handicappers act as if they are walking into quicksand when entering a bunker and their fear of not escaping its grip often results in multiple flailing-away efforts with no success.

Here's a video that can help anyone better understand what technique should be applied depending on the lie of the ball. Hope it helps.

Furyk victory has anti-climatic ending

Jim Furyk's playoff victory over Brian Davis in the Verizon Heritage lost some of its luster yesterday when it was decided by a rules violation. On an entertainment scale of 1 to 5, Oldgolfdawg would throw it 3 1/2 dog biscuits.

Davis called a two-stroke penalty on himself while playing out of the a greenside hazard on the par-4 18th on the only playoff hole after touching a loose impediment during his backswing (Rule 13-4). Furyk (69) and Davis (68) finished regulation at 13-under 271. Furyk parred the first extra hole to record his 15th victory on the PGA Tour. Davis was trying to post his first PGA Tour victory.

Down by a shot playing the final hole of regulation, Davis took dead aim at a precariously placed flag and nearly hit it before watching his ball stop about 20 feet from the hole. He made the ensuing birdie putt to force the playoff. On the extra hole, Davis attempted to hit the same shot into the green that he hit on the 72nd hole, but he pulled it left into the hazard that separates Harbour Town from the adjacent Calibogue Sound.

After watching Furyk putt to about 4 feet with his third shot on the playoff hole, Davis decided to play his ball from the packed sand, pitching over rocks onto the front part of the green. But shortly after doing so he motioned for rules official Slugger White and informed him that he feared he might have clipped a loose impediment on his backswing. It was ruled that he did and as a result he was hit with a 2-stroke penalty. After missing a 40-foot long bogey putt, Davis conceded victory to Furyk, who was told to putt out just the same.

"To have the tournament come down that way is definitely not the way I wanted to win," Furyk said. "It's obviously a tough loss for him and I respect and admire what he did."

The victory is the second of the season for Furyk, who won the Transitions Championship during the Florida swing. Furyk moves to No. 2 in the FedEx Cup standings, 175 points behind leader Ernie Els, the only other two-time winner on the tour this season.

Davis, who climbed to No. 37 in the FedEx Cup standings, equaled his career-best PGA Tour result, having also posted runner-up finishes in the 2007 St. Jude Championship, 2008 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open and 2009 Byron Nelson Championship.

The playoff, the 10th in Heritage history, was the first since Stewart Cink outlasted Ted Purdy in 2004. Furyk improved to 3-7 in playoffs while Davis lost in his first attempt.

Information from ESPN.com, PGATOUR.com and the Associated Press contributed to this post.

Don't fall in love with Dr. Longball

One of the most frustrating aspects about golf is that lessons learned one day in what seem like epiphanies often are lost after a few rounds and must be re-learned. It is easy to get off track of something that is working because we are always attracted to the idea of hitting the ball farther.

Playing Thursday at East Golf Club, Oldgolfdawg ran into a former City of Columbus firefighter who currently works for the Transportation Security Authority at Port Columbus Airport. Turns out, Gary used to work for the bomb squad as a fireman and he has the words "Bomb Squad" embroidered on his golf bag. After seeing him hit a few drives, I came to realize the words did more than explain his occupational training. They also described his golf swing.

Gary, a solidly built fellow in his late 50s, was routinely hitting drives well over 300 yards. He told me his club-head speed had been measured at 110 mph. So after being out-driven by 60 or 70 yards a couple of times, Oldgolfdawg started trying to put a little more mustard on his own drives in an effort to keep up with Mr. Bomb Squad. Well, it didn't work. In fact, it had the opposite effect. The more mustard I tried applying to my swing, the wilder the shots became and the less distance they seemed to travel. I had learned from experience that the pursuit of Dr. Longball was never going to be the cure I needed to lower my scores. But here I was whaling away in an effort to keep up.

Eventually, reason prevailed and I dialed down the swing to about 85% and I was suddenly hitting the ball back in the fairway in reasonable position to pursue par. You would think an Oldgolfdawg like myself wouldn't need to re-learn this lesson so often. But I'm guessing it's something a lot of golfers have a problem with. Here's a video explaining why the pursuit of Dr. Longball is filled with drawbacks:




There are times, however, when hitting a drive 10 or 15 yards farther then normal can really make a difference, especially on holes requiring carry or avoidance of a sand trap. Here's a video that might help you next time you feel the urge to add a Monica Seles grunt to your swing:

Power Driving -- powered by GolfLink

Just a couple of course advisories

Played a round of golf this morning with old friends Jeremy Lynch and Scott Minister at Blacklick Woods and had a great time. We beat an advancing cold front and didn't get hit with one drop of rain, although the wind at times was challenging.

The course was in great shape, the fairways, sand traps, even the rough. But the greens had recently been aerated and were slow and bumpy. I would advise faithful followers of Chase The Pea to avoid Blacklick Woods for about a week to let the greens heal. When I played the course two weeks ago, the greens were in great shape and I'm sure they will return to that condition in time.

In another advisory, Dispatch high school sports writer extraordinaire Steve Blackledge played Raymond Memorial on Thursday with my old next-door neighbor, Pipe-fitting Pat Ferry, and said the city course was in good shape for this time of the year.

Anyone wishing to advise Chase The Pea followers about their recent experiences, good or bad, at different courses is encouraged to do so. Any and all such insights would be welcomed and reported.

Down the road from Augusta, the show goes on

The Verizon Heritage, formerly the MCI Classic and the Heritage Classic, has been played the week after the Masters since 1983, so it is used to playing in the shadow of the year's first major championship. This year that act -- Phil Mickelson's heartwarming victory at Augusta National Golf Club -- is an even tougher one to follow.

But defending champion Brian Gay and a talented-if-not-high-powered field will tee off just the same today at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C., in pursuit of their share of the $5.7 million purse and more FedEx Cup points. The field won't include Mickelson. For the eighth time in the last nine years the Masters champion won't compete in an event that could use some support. But Mickelson and Tiger Woods aren't the only ones refusing to cooperate. In fact, just six of last week’s top 23 at Augusta National -- K.J. Choi, Ricky Barnes, Jerry Kelly, Trevor Immelman, Heath Slocum and Scott Verplank -- plan to tee it up today.

It's sad in a way because this is the last year that Verizon will sponsor the event and so far no one has offered to do so in the future. It would be a shame to see the Heritage become a casualty of our recent recession.

Harbour Town Golf Links is a Pete Dye designed course that favors ball placement over power. Interestingly, Jack Nicklaus got his start in golf course architecture when he assisted Dye on the design and building of Harbour Town. Its greens are some of the smallest on the PGA Tour and its fairways are lined with mature trees. Over the last eight years, only the U.S. Open's greens rank harder to hit than the greens at Harbour Town, making the ability to scramble a very important element in one's chances to win. Last year Gay was first in that category, getting it up and down 22 of 24 tries on his way to setting a tournament record for low score of 20-under 264.

Though many of golf's bigger names haven't taken part in the tournament in recent years, the Heritage has produced a lot of dramatic finishes, with the exception of last year when Gay won by 10 shots. Eight of the last 11 Heritages have been close, four decided in playoffs, three by one shot and one by two. In 2007 Boo Weekley edged Ernie Els by a shot by chipping in on Nos. 17 and 18.

For a closer look at Harbour Town Golf Links, check out this link:
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r012/course.html

Information from GolfObserver.com contributed to this post.

Keeping an eye out for the good stuff

As a writer, Oldgolfdawg is more of a blacksmith than an artisan, more of a stagehand than a playwright. Good writing is a God-given talent that enables one to communicate a viewpoint or story with clarity and precision. The words just seem to flow like good jazz music and in time the writer's personality reveals itself to readers. In Oldgolfdawg's case, the music often sounds more like something from an ump-bah band providing entertainment during an October-fest celebration.

That's why he spent most of his 30 years in sports journalism as a rim rat laying out pages or editing copy under deadline pressure. As time went by and technology and the internet changed our world, it dawned on Oldgolfdawg that he spent a lot of his time keeping things out of the newspaper that he was interested in to serve the deemed needs of the many. In doing so, he spent a lot of time perusing the news wires in an effort to find the most interesting news items of the day that there wasn't any room for and to boil them down into a few graphs of copy.

Blogging doesn't have the same limitations in terms of space. In the world of blogging, space is unlimited. But that can make finding the nuggets worthy of consideration that are available through the internet harder to find. Oldgolfdawg hopes he can help in this regard and will begin offering up links to articles or commentaries he thinks golf enthusiasts will enjoy under a Suggested reading tag on the right side of Chase The Pea, just below the Search This Blog tag.

From time to time, friends of Chase The Pea have e-mailed articles to Oldgolfdawg they found interesting and wanted to share. When this happens in the future and I can establish a link to the e-mailed article, I will gladly include it under the Suggested reading tag if deemed appropriate.

Oldgolfdawg's first two offerings under the Suggested reading tag deal with Tiger Woods' return to competition at the Masters. One is insightful and the other is hard hitting in nature. Oldgolfdawg hopes you enjoy them and other future links.

Woods needs to work on more than golf swing

Tiger Woods didn't reveal his plans after finishing tied for fourth in the Masters, but he acted like someone who should go on a long vacation. His failure to win a fifth green jacket was understandable considering he was coming off a five-month self-imposed leave of absence to deal with the fallout of his sexual escapades. But his failure to control his temper during play after he vowed he would try to do so defies logic.

In his first public apology after the scandal broke, Woods acknowledged that he had failed and hurt a lot of people who looked up to him as a role model. So you would think he would be thankful for being warmly received by galleries at Augusta National. He said their acceptance of him upon his return meant a lot to him after the first round. But as the tournament progressed and Woods started fighting with an out-of-sync swing, he fell into his old habit of swearing and cursing in fits of frustration.

You would think someone who said he was going to return to the Buddhist teachings of his youth would understand that this is bad karma. If karma is the totality of a person's actions in any one of successive states of that person's existence, and is thought of as determining the fate of the next stage, then it shouldn't be too hard for Woods to understand why Phil Mickelson prevailed Sunday.

Woods, because he can't or won't change his boorish behavior, has become a villain in the eyes of many. This was pointed out to Oldgolfdawg in Facebook feedback that he received from old friend Dennis Fiely, a top-notch film critic during his career with The Columbus Dispatch.

Fiely commented: "Same old Tiger, swearing on the course, testy with the media and instead of thanking golf fans and the Masters for graciously welcoming him back, he whines about finishing fourth. Doesn't sound like rehab -- which is all about humility -- is working. What a contrast to Phil and his family!"

It struck Oldgolfdawg that Woods' reaction to losing to Mickelson by five shots was egocentric to a fault. The fact that he didn't offer congratulations to a worthy champion dealing with family issues of his own was petty. Woods had always displayed a measure of grace in losing before, but it was lacking when he walked off the 18th green Sunday and showed during an interview with Peter Kostis. Woods was too self-absorbed about his failure to tip his cap to Mickelson or to be grateful for just being back in his element -- tournament golf.

Tiger defenders will say it's his drive and determination that has made him the world's No. 1-ranked golfer. But it's going to be pretty lonely up there for Tiger if he doesn't learn to find a better balance in his life and accept the fact that he can't always have things go his way. It's obvious he hasn't come to grips with his emotional outbursts yet and gets defensive when asked about it. Yes, Tiger was seen signing more autographs for kids and he did appear to interact with the galleries more in an effort to show his appreciation for their support. But his emotional outbursts after hitting bad shots remain an issue.

It would be refreshing if Woods were fined for his temper tantrums on the course. Asking PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem to reprimand its biggest meal ticket is asking a lot, but the fines could go toward any worthy charity, except the Tiger Woods foundation, and would serve as a reminder to everyone that no one is entitled to boorish behavior, not even Mr. Woods.

For an interesting take on the Woods-Mickelson rivalry, check out this link:
http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1981176,00.html

Mickelson earns heartwarming victory

There's always a danger in labeling the latest thing the greatest thing, but Phil Mickelson's three-shot victory over Lee Westwood yesterday in the Masters has to rank high on the tournament's most memorable list. The fact that Mickelson saw his wife waiting for him behind the 18th green with tears streaming down her face made it perhaps the most heartwarming of them all.

Amy Mickelson had not been at a tournament since she was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 months ago, but she wanted to be there to see her husband win his third green jacket. When he completed his victory with a birdie on the final hole the conclusion became even more emotional when he realized that Amy was there to share the moment.

"I wasn't sure if she was going to be there," Mickelson explained.

Mickelson shared a long embrace with Amy behind the 18th green. Standing behind them was Mary Mickelson, his mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in July. As Mickelson walked to the scoring trailer after the long embrace, a tear trickled down his cheek.

"We've been through a lot this year. It means a lot to share some joy together," Mickelson said at the green jacket ceremony, his voice cracking. "It's been such an incredible week, an emotional week. And to cap it off with a victory is something I can't put into words. It's something we'll share for the rest of our lives."

Mickelson spiced his final-round 5-under-par 67 with some wild drives on Nos. 9, 10, 11 and 13, adding more drama than his fans probably wanted to suffer through, but each time he escaped like Houdini in becoming the only player on the day to record a bogey-free round. Determined to win one for his family, Mickelson made two remarkable par saves from the trees, seized control with a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 12 and then made a bold shot with a 6-iron off the pine straw and over Rae's Creek on the par-5 13th to set up a birdie. It was a daring gamble, the kind that has brought him criticism for taking on too much. But he would not be denied.

His finished the back nine with a 32 that left the rest of the field in his rearview mirror. His winning total of 16-under 272 was the fourth best in tournament history and the lowest by a Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2001.

The final-round fireworks weren't as pronounced as those produced in the third round, during which Mickelson also shot a 67 in making the biggest move on moving day. But the end result was more satisfying for Mickelson, who had entered the Masters without a victory this season for the first time since 2003.

On an entertainment scale of 1 to 5, Oldgolfdawg would toss this year's Masters 5 dog biscuits. The strong leader board, great storylines, numerous eagles and thunderous roars made for great viewing each day of the tournament.

Westwood, a gritty Brit seeking his first major championship after several close calls, played admirably in shooting a 71, but he couldn't prevent Mickelson from winning his fourth major championship.

"Phil being the champion he is hit some great shots coming down the stretch," Westwood said. "He's been through hard times recently, and he deserves a break or two."

Anthony Kim closed with a 65, tying the best score of the tournament, and finished alone in third at 276. He played a stretch of four holes on the back nine in 5 under. Tiger Woods had his second straight wildly up-and-down day, shooting a 69 despite five bogeys, and tied for fourth with K.J. Choi at 277. Fred Couples was next at 279 and Nick Watney shot a 65 for 280.

Woods bogeyed three of his first fives holes, and despite an eagle 2 on the seventh hole, never seriously threatened. All hope of a late charge ended when he three-putted from 6 feet on the 14th hole for a bogey.

“As the week went on I played worse,” Woods said.

He also continued to break his vow to control his temper while out on the course. After hitting a poor 3-wood off the tee at No. 13, he swore loudly and admonished himself in a fit of frustration.

After his round, Woods was interviewed by CBS analyst Peter Kostis. Though not asked directly about the temper outburst on No. 13, Woods was asked about his dour mood as his game got away from him. He responded by saying, "People are making way too much of a deal on this."

Information from ESPN.com, Golf.com and the Associated Press contributed to this post.

Westwood weathers noise, keeps lead

Just when it looked like Lee Westwood was ready to turn the Masters into a one-man show all hell broke loose yesterday and Augusta National Golf Club sounded more like a Sunday than a Saturday.

As Westwood was coming off No. 10 with a birdie after making the turn with a front-nine 33, Phil Mickelson made an eagle putt on the par-5 13th to start a cascade of thundering cheers on Augusta's back nine. Mickelson holed a 139-yard shot on No. 14 to score back-to-back eagles and nearly holed his third shot on the par-5 15th hole to set up a birdie. In three holes, Mickelson made up five shots and took the lead from Westwood.

Cheers also flowed when Fred Couples chipped in for eagle ahead of Mickelson, Ricky Barnes chipped in for a birdie at No. 13 and then sank a 60-foot birdie putt on the 14th green and Tiger Woods got into the act with three straight birdies to keep his name high on the star-studded leader board.

"You couldn't figure out who was doing what because there were roars happening simultaneously throughout the course," Mickelson said. "I thought that it was really fun day to see the leader board change."

But by day's end Westwood was back on top of the leader board where he started, only this time he held the lead alone after shooting a steady 4-under-par 68 to get to 12 under. Mickelson, who bogeyed No. 17 coming in, made the biggest move on moving day with a 67 and is a shot back at 11 under, followed by Woods (70) and K.J. Choi (70) at 8 under. Standing five shots off the pace is Fred Couples, who bounced back from a second-round 75 with a 68.

Ian Poulter, tied for the 36-hole lead with Westwood, shot a 74 and fell six shots behind with Barnes (72) and Hunter Mahan (68). That would seem to be too far behind at any other major, but maybe not at Augusta National.

"We have seen some strange things happen over the years," Mickelson said. "I think tomorrow is going to be another exciting day."

The Masters hasn't had a leader board this strong for the final round since Woods and Mickelson -- Nos. 1 and 2 in the world -- were in the final group in 2001. Mickelson came to Augusta this year without a victory for the first time since 2003. He'll be gunning for his third green jacket today while playing in the final group at a major for the first time since his meltdown at Winged Foot in the 2006 U.S. Open.

Westwood threatened to pull away from the field by birdieing Nos. 1, 4, 8 and 10 before the cheers broke out and chaos reigned. Couples was walking off the 14th tee when he motioned at Mickelson across the 13th fairway to get it going. Mickelson did by hitting a 7-iron to 8 feet, followed by his eagle from the 14th fairway that produced such volume that Westwood backed off his putt on the 11th. Mickelson joined Dan Pohl (1982) and Dustin Johnson (2009) as the only players to make consecutive eagles at the Masters.

Still, Westwood, seeking is first major championship, remained calm after bogeying No. 12 to lose his lead temporarily. He added to his birdie total with another one on No. 15 and saved par with a good up and down on No. 18 to keep a one-shot lead over Mickelson heading into today's final round.

"I think I'm ready," Westwood said. "The only thing I can control is what I do, where I hit it. The guys up on the leader board there are great players. They are going to do something. You have to expect the unexpected at times."

It was a tough day at the office for Woods, who shot a 70 despite three-putting twice. After getting off to good start with birdies on No. 1 and No. 3, he was only one shot out of the lead. Then he self-destructed with a bad swing on No. 6 and an outburst: "Tiger Woods, you suck. ... Gawd dammit."

Coming from a guy trying to rebuild his reputation and who pledged to keep his temper in check, it signaled the start of a tumble. From the bottom shelf of the green at No. 6, Woods ran his putt 15 feet by the hole and missed that for his first three-putt of the Masters. He missed a 5-foot par on the seventh hole and three-putted on the 10th from about 18 feet. At that point, Woods was seven shots out of the lead.

But he refused to fold. He two-putted the 13th for a birdie, hit his approach to 3 feet on the 14th for a birdie and then made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 15th. He was so wild with his tee shot on No. 17 that he had to play it from the 15th fairway and almost got away with it until he missed a 6-footer for par. He hit a fantastic second shot into the 18th green that resulted in a 4-foot birdie that put him in a good frame of mind entering the final round.

"After struggling just to fight back ... the guys were running away from me there," Woods said. "At one point, I was seven back. So to kind of claw my way back in there where I'm only four back right now, I'm in good shape."

Asked about his outburst on the sixth hole, Woods said he wasn't aware: "If I did, then I'm sorry."

Well there's no question the outburst occurred, causing broadcaster Verne Lundquist to remark: "He's apparently not to happy with that shot." Anyone listening to the national telecast had to hear it, too. CBS announcer Jim Nantz and color analyst Nick Faldo brought up the incident during a discussion in the Butler Cabin.

Perhaps in a damage-control effort, Woods was seen signing autographs for kids after returning from a post-round session at the driving range.

Information from ESPN.com and the Associated Press contributed to this post.

Westwood, Poulter enjoying the view

An already compelling Masters grew even more so yesterday when Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter grabbed a share of the halfway lead at 8 under. The two Brits, who shot rounds of 69 and 68, respectively, hold a two-shot lead over Tiger Woods (70), Phil Mickelson (71), K.J. Choi (71), Anthony Kim (70) and Ricky Barnes (70) on the most impressive leader board at Augusta National after 36 holes in recent memory.

Of the 11 top guys, five of them have won a total of 26 major championships. Defending champion Angel Cabrera made a birdie on his final hole to make the cut at 3 over par as 48 players will tee it up over the weekend. The final two rounds figure to produce an exciting showdown among a bevy of players with impressive resumes. Anyone of the 20 players currently in red numbers realistically has a shot at winning if they make a move in today's third round.

Y.E. Yang, who rallied to beat Woods at the PGA Championship eight months ago, is 5 under. First-round leader Fred Couples made five bogeys in his last 10 holes to shoot 75 and get in the clubhouse at 3 under, tied with Tom Watson, who shot a 74, and Soren Kjeldsen (70-71). Hunter Mahan, Bill Haas and 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelmann are 2 under, and six players, former Masters champion Mike Weir, Robert Karlsson, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Sean O'Hair and Kenny Perry, are 1 under.

The fact that Woods holds the most impressive resume with his 14 major championships and four green jackets should be cause for concern to Westwood and Poulter, who are currently ranked No. 4 and No. 7 in the world but are still seeking to win their first major title. But Westwood, who bounced back from a double-bogey 6 on the 14th hole after leading the tournament at 10 under at one point in the second round, didn't seem the least bit concerned that Woods is in his rearview mirror. The fact that Westwood came within one putt of getting into a playoff in the U.S. Open in 2008 and the British Open last year has bolstered his confidence.

"It makes me sort of feel that I can contend in these big events now that my game is up to this level," Westwood said. "All in all, I'm delighted the way things are going."

Poulter, who won the Match Play Championship earlier this season for his first victory in the United States, seems to be enjoying the pressure that comes with leading a major, something he and Westwood are doing now for the first times in their careers.

"There was a lot of talk before this tournament that the English guys are in good form, and they certainly are and we are sitting at the top of the leader board now," Poulter said.

As for that boast about joining Woods atop the world ranking ranking one day?

"If I win this week, I'll probably go to No. 2, which would be lovely," Poulter said. "So I guess it's a work in progress. I'm working towards that. So we'll see."

ESPN analyst and two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange said the final two rounds will come down to "patience and experience," and in that regard he favored the chances of Woods or Mickelson prevailing. Strange also cautioned Kim, who is coming off a victory last week in Houston, that overly aggressive play can come back to "bite you in the butt."

Oldgolfdawg has a feeling one of the Brits will prevail, but he wouldn't bet the ranch on it. Kim, a sassy 24-year-old too young to be afraid of anything, is explosive and could make a move today. Last year in shooting a 62 at Augusta he recorded 11 birdies. Mickelson, meanwhile, is overdue to snap out of his current slump, Choi and Yang aren't likely to fold and then there's always Tiger, who has won the Masters all three times when going into the weekend in a tie for third or better. It should be fun to watch. All the ingredients are there for a memorable finish.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5071997&categoryid=2630020

Information from ESPN.com, PGATOUR.com and the Associated Press contributed to this post.

Time away hasn't changed Woods

What 20-week self-imposed leave of absence from competition to deal with the fallout of his sex scandal? When viewers tuned into the first round of the Masters yesterday if was as if the aforementioned leave of absence never occurred. Tiger Woods eagled the eighth hole as ESPN's coverage began. One hole later in gusting winds, he hit an incredible second shot that hooked its way onto the ninth green and led to a birdie. It was as if he had never left.

Woods made the turn with a career-best 33 at Augusta National on his way to a 4-under-par 68, two shots back of first-round leader Fred Couples. It marked the first time in Woods' career that he posted a first-round score at the Masters in the 60s. As the action unfolded, ESPN commentator Curtis Strange used the phrase "business as usual" several times when offering his thoughts on Woods' play. This should be very disconcerting to the rest of the field.

Fears that Woods might face some heckling from the gallery were misplaced. Woods gambled correctly that patrons of the Masters would not engage in that kind of behavior. He was warmly welcomed and embraced with the respect one would expect is due a four-time Masters champion. He did seem to make a conscious effort to acknowledge the support he was receiving from the gallery. He smiled and tipped his cap more often. Only time will tell if it was just obligatory in nature or coming from the heart.

It would appear that Tiger hasn't changed his stripes much in terms of being able to play the game or controlling his emotions. He twirled his club after a good drive, slammed it after a few bad ones. He pumped his fist after making the first of two eagles and sunk to his knees when he missed a birdie putt on the 16th that slowed his climb up the leader board.

There also was a moment on the 14th hole when Woods yanked his second shot left of the green, leading to a bogey. His immediate reaction was similar to those in the past when he didn't like the result of one of his shots. He dropped a G-bomb in a fit of anger before catching himself in just the kind of behavior he vowed he was going to try to clean up. The television announcing team seemed oblivious to the misdeed and acted as if it never happened. ESPN's Mike Tirico had the chance to call Tiger out on the matter in an interview from the Butler Cabin after the round but didn't pull the trigger.

Instead we heard Tiger, who missed short birdie putts on Nos. 12 and 18, complaining about not making enough putts, a familiar theme from the past.

"Otherwise, it could have been a very special round," Woods said.

Yet it was special for reasons not involving Woods. Couples, 50, sauntered along in skateboarder shoes and no socks and shot his best score ever at the Masters in becoming the oldest player to be the outright leader for any round. Tom Watson, at 60 the oldest player in the field, picked up from his amazing near-miss at last year's British Open with a bogey-free round of 67 that left him tied with Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson, PGA champion Y.E. Yang and K.J. Choi.

The leader board promises to produce an exciting second round with numerous attractive storylines. It should be fun watching them unfold.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5068762&categoryid=2630020


Information from the Associated Press contributed to this post.

Masters deserves its special status

CBS play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz will sound like he is describing a church service Saturday and Sunday when the best golfers in the world complete their four-round examination at Augusta National Golf Club to determine who will walk away with a coveted green jacket and a permanent place in history.

Nantz's reverent tone would seem out of place at any other venue, but Augusta National isn't just any sanctimonious gathering place. It is a grand cathedral of golf that from its very inception was designed to produce a unique experience called the Masters. The effort to achieve such an experience originated with golf legend Bobby Jones, and since 1934, when Horton Smith won the inaugural tournament, dedicated work toward that end has produced a tradition-rich event that has become a rite of spring.

Each year the Masters captures the imagination of golf fans everywhere who appreciate high drama on a grand stage. This year's event promises to raise that bar because it also marks the return to competition of Tiger Woods, who is making a comeback from an extended leave to deal with personal issues stemming from admitted infidelities.

Watching it unfold is something golf fans eagerly await each year because the Masters is special, or as Nantz likes to always tell us: "a tradition unlike any other." The pristine beauty of Augusta National tells us Jones' dream lives on and playing the season's first major championship each year at the same venue makes watching the Masters seem like a chance to catch up with an old friend though most of us viewing will never step foot on its hallowed grounds.

Woods drew a late tee time for tomorrow's opening day of the Masters, which means ESPN will be able to televise most of his round, probably all of his back nine. He'll start at 1:42 p.m. with K.J. Choi and Matt Kuchar. ESPN's live coverage will be from 4-7 p.m., which means Woods should be about at the turn when the telecast comes on.

To follow the action on the internet, check out:
http://www.masters.com/en_US/index.html

Here's a link to an overview of some of Augusta National's best holes:
http://www.golf.com/golf/gallery/article/0,28242,1977643,00.html?xid=forecast040510_wip2

It's back to business for Woods

There was no Jimmy Swaggart moment during Tiger Woods’ 34-minute press conference yesterday in the Augusta National press room, his first before more than 200 members of the media since revelations of his sex scandal emerged. People hoping for an emotional “I have sinned” spectacle were probably disappointed.

Woods calmly answered any and all questions thrown at him and appeared to be a peace with himself. He kept private what he wanted to and made no excuses. He blamed no one but himself. You can believe he was sincere and accept his answers or dismiss them as just his latest attempt to rebuild a tarnished image.

It appears to Oldgolfdawg that the most successful athlete of our time is ready to move on and get back to the business of winning golf tournaments. It’s probably a long shot that he’ll win this week and add a fifth green jacket to his collection, but something Woods said during the press conference struck a chord with Oldgolfdawg when he was asked how he expects to feel when he goes to the first tee on Thursday.

"It feels fun again,” Woods said. “You know, that's something that's been missing. Have I been winning? Have I been competing? Have I been doing well? Yeah, I have. I've won numerous times the last few years, but I wasn't having anywhere near the amount of fun. Why? Because ... look at what I was engaged in. When you live a life where you're lying all the time, life is not fun. And that's where I was. Now that's been stripped away, and here I am. And it feels fun again."

That should frighten his colleagues on the PGA Tour. It probably won’t be long before Woods is back dominating the game, tarnished image or not.

New comfort zone agrees with Kim

Anthony Kim's playoff victory over Vaughn Taylor in the Shell Houston Open yesterday might have signaled a turning point in his young PGA Tour career.

Despite hitting just 23 fairways through four rounds at Redstone, bogeying the 72nd hole to open the door for a playoff against Taylor and playing with a bum thumb, Kim won a one-hole playoff by staying calm under pressure. On an entertainment scale of 1 to 5, Oldgolfdawg would toss the tournament 3 1/2 dog biscuits.

Standing on the 18th tee on the 72nd hole, Kim had a two-shot lead and appeared to be on the verge of cruising to his third PGA Tour victory. Even after he hit his drive on the par 4 into a bunker, he felt secure because he didn't expect Taylor, playing in the group in front of him, to birdie a final hole that was playing extremely difficult. But that's exactly what Taylor did when he sank a clutch 18-foot putt to pull within one.

Then Kim hit his second shot on the water-lined 18th into a greenside bunker, hit his third shot 6 feet from the cup and missed the putt. So Kim, a 24-year-old with a penchant for big belt buckles, had every reason to be upset as he entered the playoff tied with Taylor at 12-under 276. But he maintained his cool, parred the first playoff hole and prevailed for his first victory since the 2008 AT&T National.

"Two years ago that bag may have been in the water," he said, laughing about his missed par putt on the 72nd hole. "I might not have had clubs to go to the playoff. I feel calm out there. I feel no sense of urgency. It's something that has happened naturally and not something that's been forced.

"So I'm comfortable with how I'm playing and comfortable with who I am out there. I found my identity. I'm an aggressive player. There's no reason to be somebody else and fire at the middle of the green every time. I think I'm starting to learn that."

Only three players have hit fewer fairways since 1983 and won a PGA Tour event -- Tom Sieckmann hit 19 at the 1988 Michelob Championship, Greg Twiggs hit 21 at the 1989 Farmers Insurance and Tiger Woods found just 22 fairways at the 2005 CA Championship. But wild tee shots didn't seem to faze Kim.

"I've put in a lot of hard work, so I feel like when I'm out there, I know I'm going to do well," he said. "Having that confidence really has propelled my game, I feel like, to a different level."

Kim's ability to win with a left thumb that will need surgery following the Masters is just as impressive as his newfound mental toughness. He'll enter next week's Masters riding four straight top-25 finishes. Not bad for someone who finished 39th on the money list in 2009 after reaching No. 6 in 2008.

After winning twice in 2008, he got frustrated in 2009 when a thumb and shoulder injury slowed him and he came up short three times -- a second and two thirds. After the season, he admitted he was complaining about everything. But he played through the thumb injury yesterday and showed a new level of maturity when confronted by adversity.

"I feel like I'm grown up," he said. "I'm trying to enjoy everything. Trying to embrace being a professional golfer and being on the PGA Tour and just getting to live my dream out here, and there's no reason to pout about a bad shot or a three-putt because it's going to happen, especially the way the economy is right now and a lots of people struggling. I don't want to kick sand in their face by having a bad attitude out here."

Taylor, who played the playoff hole the way Kim did the first time around, finished with a 68. He needed a victory to qualify for the Masters next week in his hometown of Augusta, Ga., and couldn't hide his disappointment after the playoff, saying: "It's a tough pill to swallow."

Information from the Associated Press and PGATOUR.com contributed to this post.

Goat-ranch warning needs explanation

Oldgolfdawg's best-places-to-play guide needs a mulligan. Thanks to some feedback on Facebook from old friend Rob Oller, it was pointed out to me that there are two courses off old Rt. 40, and I was directing you to the wrong one. My bad.

National Road, a course in West Jefferson probably better utilized as a goat ranch, belongs in the 1 dog biscuit category, or perhaps more aptly said, "Let's not go there." Oldgolfdawg has never played it, but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's probably a duck.

The course I meant to direct Chase The Pea followers to is National Golf Links, which is farther west off Rt. 40 in South Charleston, a stone's throw from I-70 and about 38 miles from downtown Columbus. Oller, a top-notch sports writer and a faithful follower of the little white pea, considers National Golf Links to be his home course, and that's saying a lot. Robbie knows a good golf course when he sees it. He's covered the Masters for The Dispatch and has gotten to play Augusta National on a Monday following the tournament. When he says National Golf Links has the best overall layout in Clark County, it makes me want to check it out again. The course has some holes running parallel with I-70. Here's a link to the course: http://www.nationalgolflinks.org/

It has been more than 10 years since Oldgolfdawg last played National Golf Links, and it appears it has been his loss for not returning sooner. The last time he played it, it had only recently added nine holes to become an 18-hole course. Since then, Oldgolfdawg has received a lot of positive feedback from folks who have played it and now National Golf Links will be joining his list of want-to-play courses along with Kings Mill and Phoenix.

In the future when he updates his best-places-to-play guide, Oldgolfdawg is going to qualify his biscuit ratings with an asterisk for courses he has not played in more the five years. Some courses you can play just once and know things will never change. But that's not always the case. The whole idea of the best-places-to-play guide was to make it easier for faithful followers of the white pea to decide where to play. That's why I always appreciate feedback of any kind on any course any follower of Chase The Pea has to offer. If I pass it along to other followers of this blog and it helps them have a more enjoyable golf experience, then my mission will be accomplished. We all want to avoid goat ranches whenever possible.

Here is Oldgolfdawg's updated best-places-to-play guide:

5 dog biscuits: Longaberger (the alpha dog)
4 1/2 dog biscuits: East Golf Club (another classic Arthur Hills layout)
4 dog biscuits: Cooks Creek, Cumberland Trail, Eagle Sticks, Deer Ridge, Golf Club of Dublin, The Players Club at Foxfire
3 1/2 dog biscuits: *Apple Valley, Bent Tree, Blacklick Woods, Chapel Hill, Champions, Granville, Indian Springs, New Albany Links, The Links at Echo Springs, Royal American Links
3 dog biscuits: Darby Creek, Glenross, Mentel Memorial, Raymond Memorial, *National Golf Links, Turnberry, Westchester
2 1/2 dog biscuits: Blackhawk, *Licking Springs, Safari Golf Club, *St. Albans, *Table Rock
2 dog biscuits: *Airport, *Mill Creek, *Oakhaven, *Bridgeview, Marysville Golf Club, *Minerva Lake
1 1/2 dog biscuits: *Wilson Road, *Big Walnut (executive courses)
1 dog biscuit: Let's not go there

* Indicates Oldgolfdawg has not played the course in more than five years and needs feedback from others to adjust any ranking.

Double-dipping doesn't pay at East Golf Club

Oldgolfdawg chased the pea with good friend and former Dispatch colleague Jeremy Lynch (aka the Lynch Mob) yesterday at East Golf Club and developed a new-found appreciation for the fifth hole, a 155-yard par 3 that is taking its rightful place on his Elegant Eighteen list.

A shaky start to Oldgolfdawg's round took on considerable water at No. 5 when he sent two new Bridgestones to watery graves at the bottom of the pond protecting the front of the green. It took a nice downhill 12-foot putt from the fringe to escape with a triple-bogey 6. Oldgolfdawg was thanking the golf gods for having pity on him when that putt dropped.

Playing in our group was Dell, a talkative dentist from Virginia, and his son, Keith, who had no doubt heard all of "Dad's stories" before. Anyway, the best score out of our foursome was a 5, and three out of four of us contributed to Davey Jones' locker. Oldgolfdawg led the field in that regard with his double dip. Arrrrgh!

The bottom line is No. 5 is one bad hombre. From the tee, the player takes aim at a green that is 20 yards deep but is set diagonally so that it requires more carry over the pond the farther right one aims. If the pin is placed on the far right, the hole becomes longer than the 155 yards indicated on the scorecard. If the pin is placed on the far left, it becomes shorter but the angle of the green is such that it leaves you with less margin of error. There is a small bailout area to the left, but it leaves one with a difficult and dangerous chip. Landing anywhere on the green, which is also protected by a backside bunker, is worth celebrating. Hitting to the middle of the green, which is sloped mostly from back to front, is the way to go, and then just take your chances on not three-putting. The first time Oldgolfdawg played the hole he watched a fellow pea-chaser putt one off the green into the pond. Ouch!

Wind from the southwest was in our face when our group played No. 5 yesterday, making things more interesting. Oldgolfdawg doesn't need interesting. He needs pars. And he never really recovered from the shock to the system No. 5 delivered on his way to front-nine 44. The back nine was better, a 41, but by that time the damage already was done. Lynch Mob, a sweet-swinging port-sider who routinely hits drives 300 yards plus, schooled Oldgolfdawg with a solid 41-41 82. Well done, lad.

The season is still early but Oldgolfdawg doesn't like the current trend in his scoring: 81 Wednesday at Golf Club of Dublin, 84 Thursday at Blacklick Woods and 85 yesterday at East Golf Club. That said, there's only one way to fix the problem: Keep chasing the pea.

http://www.eastgolfclub.com/

Let's throw Blacklick another biscuit

Spurred on by the advice of Adam Conn and Dennis Fiely, Oldgolfdawg re-acquainted himself with Blacklick Woods Metro yesterday and came away feeling guilty for awarding it just 2 1/2 dog biscuits in his recently released best-places-to-play list. It had been more than five years since Oldgolfdawg's last lap around the track, and yesterday's round was a real eye-opener.

Blacklick's lush and well-defined fairways were a beautiful sight to behold. The greens were fast and true and the overall condition of the course was fantastic for this time of year. Oldgolfdawg played Golf Club of Dublin, a 4-dog biscuit course, on Wednesday and was more impressed by the condition of Blacklick.

As a result, Oldgolfdawg is offering up an olive branch to Blacklick in the form of an additional dog biscuit in his updated best-places-to-play list as follows:

5 dog biscuits -- Longaberger (affordability is the only drawback)
4 1/2 dog biscuits -- East Golf Club (a classic layout)
4 dog biscuits -- Cooks Creek, Cumberland Trail, Eagle Sticks, Deer Ridge, The Golf Club of Dublin, The Players Club at Foxfire
3 1/2 dog biscuits -- Apple Valley, Bent Tree, Blacklick Woods, Chapel Hill, Champions, Granville, Indian Springs, New Albany Links, The Links at Echo Springs and Royal American Links
3 dog biscuits –- Darby Creek, Glenross, Mentel Memorial, Raymond Memorial, Turnberry, Westchester
2 1/2 dog biscuits -- Blackhawk, Licking Springs, Safari Golf Club, St. Albans, Table Rock
2 dog biscuits -- Airport, Mill Creek, Oakhaven, Bridgeview, Marysville Golf Club, Minerva Lake
1 1/2 dog biscuits -- Wilson Road, Big Walnut (executive courses)
1 dog biscuit -- Let's not go there

The moral of this post is this: The more one listens, the more one learns. That's why Oldgolfdawg's next scouting missions are likely to be Kings Mill, a Jack Kidwell-designed course in the Waldo area, and Phoenix, a links course one can see while driving south to Cincinnati on I-71. Oldgolfdawg appreciates being steered in their direction by former Dispatch colleagues Francis Hinchey and Jim Perine.

Redstone provides perfect tuneup

The Shell Houston Open sets up like an appetizer before next week's main course: The Masters. Even so, there are several interesting story lines to consider as play begins today on the Redstone Golf Club Tournament Course in Humble, Texas.

Ernie Els will be trying to win for the third time in three starts, Fred Couples will carry a three-tournament win streak on the Champions Tour into his third test with the flat-bellies this season and defending champion Paul Casey will be trying to earn his second PGA Tour victory.

Some were wondering if time had passed Els by until he won twice in three weeks on the tour's Florida swing. His victories in the CA Championship at Doral and last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill have put that notion to rest. Just because one turns 40 doesn't mean the victory parades are over. Vijay Singh won 22 of his 34 PGA Tour events after turning 40 and it's possible the same thing will happen with Els.

During a Golf Channel interview earlier this week, Tom Watson said Couples still has enough game to win the Masters. That notion will be put to test at Redstone, where an effort to make course conditions resemble those of August National has resulted in seven of the top 11 players in the world rankings deciding to play this week.

One of those, Phil Mickelson, will be going into the Masters without a win for the first time since 1999 unless he can put four good rounds together. Mickelson shot 75-77 in the closing rounds at Bay Hill last week and might have his mind on more important issues, like his wife, Amy, and mother fighting breast cancer. When asked if that was the case by Jimmy Roberts of NBC last Saturday, Mickelson said he didn't want to go into it.

Mickelson is the last player to have won on the PGA Tour the week before posting a Masters victory. He did it in 2006 when he won the defunct BellSouth Classic before earning his second green jacket.

Playing in four events on the PGA Tour this year, Casey has finished in the top 10 all four times. He is averaging just under 290 yards a drive and ranks third on the tour in greens in regulation (71 percent) and 10th in putts per greens in regulation (1.703). Before Casey won last year while ranking 22nd in greens hit, the previous nine Shell Houston Open winners ranked 10th or better.

Players are effusive in their praise of Redstone. Hunter Mahan has called it the best-conditioned course outside of the majors they play all year. Johnson Wagner, the 2008 Shell Houston Open champion, said Muirfield Village, host of Jack Nicklaus's Memorial Tournament, and Redstone should share that honor. It should be noted that the last two Masters champions -- Trevor Immelman and Angel Cabrera -- played at Redstone the week before.



http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r020/course.html





Information from PGATOUR.com, Golf Channel.com and Golfobserver.com contributed to this post.