The year was 1985 – perhaps the most uninspiring US Open of our generation. An unknown Taiwanese named T.C.Chen had dominated the leader board at Oakland Hills for three days and had a five shot lead four holes into Sunday. Then disaster struck. Deep in greenside rough at the fifth, Chen double-hit his wedge for a two-stroke penalty and an eight. Chen collapsed...
Early yesterday afternoon, I conversed with Tim McD and publisher Robert Lewis about the strong feelings I’ve been having that Travel Golf’s role in my career had run it’s course and that I’d like to part ways and move to my new golf writing team while it was still on a high note. While it is obvious from posts from Tim and Robert (and that...
Yesterday I told the Travel Golf team thanks so much for all their input and support but I was moving on to a different site and magazine with other, full fledged golf writers. Actually it’s TWO new sites with golf writers and sportswriters you all know and like. The detailed announcement is coming soon, so you’ll have two new sites to read...
I have made some changes I like to two pieces. First, the first part of the Brian Silva interview is here. I love it. I got to use the word “pterodactyl” in a sentence – that was fun. Let’s see you do that. And I dont mean something flippant like “so and so is a smelly old pterodactyl.” Next, I revamped part one of my Bandon Dunes...
Share the joy with me! I just found out I will get my first gold record. It’s Bowling For Soup. www.bowlingforsoup.com
Jay and the plaque from his desk in the media tent, Jen Maples and Darren from Ohio, 2005 U.S. Open, Pinehurst No. 2.
The post round interview with Retief that was broadcast on GolfChannel features three of my questions. Here are my snippets: JF: retief with all the chipping areas and collection areas and the variety of chip shots you have to hit around the greens and with the three excellent days you had previously, do you think you laid good groundwork for the British Open coning...
JF: Do you think that with all the varied recovery shots you have to play here – bump and run here, pitch and check there, putt from off the green somewhere else – that Pinehurst has helped you when it comes time for St. Andrew’s? FF: Yeah. It sure doesn’t hurt. Absolutely with the tight lies and the kind of shots you have to hit with the...
My interview with Lee, where he discusses both Pinehurst and Baltusrol, site of his 1993 U.S. Open victory and site of this year’s PGA is below. JF: Lee, the PGA returns to baltusrol, sight of your 1993 Open victory. What can you tell us about the architectural design features that make baltusrol great? LJ: Baltusrol has terrific greens with alot of breaks. The...
As I pulled into the parking lot today, the license plate of the car in front of me read “ALL PARZ.” That is the order of the day. Damage control. Grinding. A great golf course is really a puzzle. The key is to figure out a game plan and execute it. One of the greatest blights ever imposed upon the game is that it became “normal” to dumb down...
While covering the 2005 U.S. Open for Travel Golf Magazine, I kept an open mind all week as the world debate raged on whether $375 is too much for a round of golf at Pinehurst No. 2, or whether $240 is too much for Nos. 4, 7, and 8. I listened to the good points raised on either side – and there are plenty to go around. Even I struggled with the analysis...
As we walked in the gate, everyone received a brass pin with the outlined image of Payne in his now famous victory pose. Look for them on the broadcast. One other note. Pardon me while I dislocate my own shoulder patting myself on the back, but in the last year I have been to Pebble, Pinehurst, Bandon and Pacific Dunes, Sawgrass and Bethpage. I also played, among...
Retief Goosen has shared or held the lead after the third round three times previously and walked away with two majors. He led the 2001 and 2004 US Open after three rounds and won both. He was tied with Eldrick T. Woods after three rounds of the 2002 Masters, but lost to Woods. In other notes, Vijay Singh failed to card a birdie in a PGA tour round of golf for the...
The caddies are concerned about the devilish pin placements for Sunday. “They are evil” one remarked. “Most are four or five paces from the fringe. They are not the most accessible.” When asked if players, when faced with difficult chips might play to a point five or six feet from the hole he replied “That’s the game plan. You saw...