Dittos and What If They Cheat?

In my last posting, I asked the rain to go away for the last tournament. We're asking for the same as the Players Championship has also been rain delayed. At least the ladies are playing in their first major with Annika tied for the lead.

On another note, a professional golfer this week asked the PGA to check Tiger's driver to see if it conformed to the PGA's rules regarding equipment specs. He was watching the Ford Tournament and couldn't believe Tiger could out drive Phil by 20-25 yards. Well, Tiger can and does with his new Nike driver, which is legal according to the PGA.

So, what do you do if you're playing a business golf round and your guest is cheating? First, don't automatically assume that the person is cheating. He or she may simply not know the rules of golf, since we're not required to learn them before we can play like in other countries. Yes, some countries make golfers take playing, rules, and etiquette tests before they can get their "driver's license" to play on the course. The idea is to prevent cheating and five-hour rounds. Doesn't seem like a bad idea for us to have the same! I hate slow play.

But, back to playing with a "cheater." If your guest is a new player, then he's not likely cheating, but just ignorant of the rules. If she is a single digit, has played for 20 years, then you can probably conclude she knows the rules and is cheating for some reason. You should definitely take note! When I'm considering to do business with people, I want to make sure they're not dishonest. In a round of golf, you'll get valuable information about your playing partners. Is this just competitiveness gone too far, and/or a major flaw in her business ethics? If you decide to still do some business with her, then armed with this information, you can be more careful. Thanks to your round of golf together, you'll at least be able to protect yourself better!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

The PGA Tour seems to have had more rain delays as the race for #1 golfer in the world tightens. The Bay Hill Invitational has been delayed with Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen taking aim at Tiger. If you live in a weather delayed area where playing golf hasn't become a thought yet, start preparing your game. Check your equipment. Do you need new grips? New shoe spikes? Practice putting in your living room or office, and start thinking about your game! And, don't miss Michelle Wie and Annika going at each other in the Safeway tournament this weekend!

Even Vijay Misses 3 Foot Putts

Vijay uncharacteristically missed a three-foot putt to continue the playoff against Padraig Harrington in the Honda Classic. If Vijay, who practices hours in a day, and can miss a three footer, then we certainly can't get down on ourselves when we do so. To our relief, our missed putts don't cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I played in a scramble this weekend with my niece, father, and friend and had a great time. You can spot the leaders in foursomes by who takes charge in deciding which drive to use, and other characteristics of players.

If you're new to golf, scrambles are the perfect venue for you as you start playing business golf outings. Let the long-ball hitters hit their drives, and you can help with your short game, which you should practice before you play in the tournament. Just make sure you play with proper etiquette, know the rules, and are a fun playing partner!

A Great Tournament

Sunday's final pairing between Tiger and Phil lived up to what everyone expected. It was the most exciting final round that I've seen in a long time. I can't wait to see another tournament with the top ranked players again.

Tiger vs. Phil!

This is the showdown we've been waiting to see. A chance to beat Tiger versus Tiger's chance to reclaim the #1 ranking in the world. Watch this tournament, so you can stay in the conversation. And, if you didn't see Tiger's shot to the 16th par-4 hole on Saturday, you missed a shot that was as much fun to watch as it was for Tiger to hit. Course management? Not for Tiger!