I told everyone so, but nobody wanted to hear it. And now boy genius Keegan Bradley and his band of overpaid, underprepared American Ryder Cuppers have been treated like Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators: hang, drawn, quartered, and their limbs posted upon spikes atop the ball washers of the Black Course as a warning to all others foolhardy enough to try to...
The one and only Rees Jones, “Open Doctor,” “PGA Physician,” and the man who, along with David Fey, resurrected Bethpage Black from a golf scrapheap to major championship and Ryder Cup glory, joins us for an in-depth look at Bethpage Black for the Ryder Cup. Rees breaks down Bethpage Black like a fraction for us – all 18 holes...
BETHPAGE, NY – The incredible rags to riches story of Bethpage Black continues at light speed. The once shabby, shoddy, ill-kept state-run public links has risen like a vengeful phoenix to become a part of America’s informal major golf championship rotation, if one can be said to exist. First the Black hosted two U.S. Opens, (2002 and 2009, the former won by Tiger...
BETHPAGE, NY – From the home office in lovely Melville, NY, the pearl of the civilized world, it’s… Top 10 Things to do while waiting for this boring nightmare to be over 10. Sit in Long Island Expressway traffic getting to the course 9. Learn how to spell “Janewattananond” 8. Learn to pronounce “Janewattananond.” (HINT:...
BETHPAGE, NY – Like a dragon incinerating Daenarys Targaryen’s enemies, a fire-breathing Brooks Koepka scorched Bethpage Black in round one of the PGA Championship with a 7-under 63 and a one shot lead over New Zealand’s Danny Lee. England’s Tommy Fleetwood is in third place, four shots back at 3-under. The rest of the field needs binoculars...
BETHPAGE, NY – Much has been made of Bethpage’s brute length, elevated greens, and deep, dangerous, whimsically shaped Rees Jones inkblot bunkering. Most players are convinced this PGA Championship will feel much like a U.S. Open in terms of difficulty, partly because the Black Course hosted the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Opens before becoming a PGA of America...
BETHPAGE, NY – The stars are shining brightly on Broadway this week as the reigning Masters champion Tiger Woods, the defending champion Brooks Koepka, and the world’s number player Dustin Johnson all are favorites to win the 101st PGA Championship this week at Bethpage Black. While not as relentless as Winged Foot, as penal as Oakmont, or as windy as...
BETHPAGE, NY – Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter. Joe Namath and Bill Parcells. Mark Messier and Mike Bossy. Willis Reed and Patrick Ewing. The Harlem Globetrotters. Bobby Fischer. John McEnroe. If there were ever a Pantheon of New York Sports Immortals, those are names that would forever be enshrined. But who should represent golf as New York’s hero? Sure, they...