Quick reset for the week: First, next week I’ll be in the Senate Press Gallery with a true bird’s eye view of Roger Clemens’s latest act of self-immolation. Quite simply, if he can prove his innocence in this whole steroids mess, it will be the GREATEST comeback in sports history. If he can’t, we may be witnessing the greatest fall from grace...
Part one is below this entry. See you from Augusta next year. Friday It was fitting that Woods went off early Thursday because it set the stage for him close the proceedings on Friday with fireworks. Much like a headlining rock band rightfully having the stage for themselves to end the gig and sending everyone home singing and screaming for more – a smattering...
[Author’s Note: the second half of this piece – friday, saturday, sunday – will be posted tonight. Until then, enjoy.] History already recalls the 2007 PGA Championship at Southern Hills as the hottest major championship on record. As much as this reporter has survived walking 36 holes in 100 degree temperatures in the Arizona desert...
TULSA, OK – Last night, Ernie Els said he’d have to shoot one of the rounds of his life to come from behind and overtake Tiger Woods and claim the 89th PGA Championship. After carding six birdies today, he fell just three shots short. Els had a final round 66 charging from six shots back to close the gap, but it wasn’t enough as Tiger Woods grinded...
TULSA, OK – Yeah, uh-huh! Now that’s What I’m talking about. Sure felt good picking Padraig to win the British Open!
TULSA, OK – When they shaved the bank between the green and the edge of the water hazard to bring the hazard into play, little did the powers that be realize how much havoc the hole would wreak on the field. Corey Pavin incurred a rare three-stroke penalty because of the change. Pavin his his tee shot into the greenside bunker. Before he played his shot, his...
TULSA, OK – What is it about major championships in Tulsa that brings out the heavy artillery? Hubert Green was an unlikely leader at the U.S. Open in 1977 after three rounds. The journeyman pro had won several tour events, but had yet to clinch his first major. No one knows for sure whether it was disgruntled gamblers or lawless rakehells, but shortly after he...
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When discussing the Texas-Oklahoma rivalry, prominent golf course architect and native Texan Kelly Blake Moran has a strong opinion. “And I’ll tell you another thing” he roars disapprovingly, “those Oklahoma teams that won those national championships a few years ago? I’ll give you one guess where half their roster is from.” He...
Here’s a list of future PGA Championship venues: 2008 – Oakland Hills Country Club, (South Course), Bloomfield, MI 2009 – Hazeltine National Country Club, Chaska, MN 2010 – Whistling Straits, (Straits Course), Kohler, WI 2011 – Atlanta Athletic Club, (Lake Course), Atlanta, GA 2012 – Kiawah Island (Ocean Course), Kiawah Island...
TULSA, OK – He drinks, he smokes, he gambles, he’s beyond overweight, he has a devil-may-care attitude and yes, once again, John Daly is lurking at the top of the PGA Championship leaderboard after the first round at Southern Hills Country Club. Looking as frumpy as ever, Daly fired a sparkling 3-under 67 over the 7,131 yard par-70 Perry Maxwell layout to...
TULSA, OK – In 1958 Tommy Bolt played 72 holes at Southern Hills in 1-under. IN the 1970 PGA and the 1977 U.S. Open, Dave Stockton and Hubert Green won with – gasp! – 2-under. All seemed well. Until… Ray Floyd stepped to the 6th tee and promptly carded nine 3s in a row on his way to a 63. Floyd held off a dogged Craig Stadler and won with a...
TULSA, OK – One of the greatest things about golf is watching dads and their sons bond, moms and their daughters getting autographs and families attending together. Who do the kids want to win this week? Matt Yeardon – age 12, Minneapolis, MN: “I’m rooting for Zach Johnson. He beat Tiger at the Masters and I thought that was cool. I also want...
TULSA, OK – Mysteriously, the PGA Championship has selected an incongruous, indeed tacky slogan to try to identify its idiom and set its reputation apart from the other major championships. No other major brands itself and “Glory’s Last Shot” doesn’t exactly make golf fans feel all gooey inside (kinda like John Edwards couldn’t...
TULSA, OK – Chris Clouser, author of “The Midwest Associate” may have compiled the most comprehensive synopsis of Perry Maxwell’s body of work as a golf course architect. “Actually, Maxwell is misunderstood by many people” he notes with a hint of regret in his voice. “For example, he wasn’t Mackenzie’s associate...