Golfers as AP Athletes of the Year

Golfers got a boost as athletes this week. Tiger was named AP Male Athlete of the Year and Lorena Ochoa was named AP Female Athlete of the Year.

It's been 16 years since both athletes came from the same sport and 61 years since both came from golf. While Tiger captures his fourth award, Ochoa unseeds Annika who has won it for the last three years.

The AP writers pick their selections, male and female, from every sport. They base their choice on the athletes' contributions to the game, their performance within their chosen sport and their off field activities.

Congratulations to Tiger and Lorena!!

Roof Surfing Not Allowed

NASCAR Champ, Jimmie Johnson, decided to be bold and surf on top of his golf cart while playing in a tournament. His cart partner drove over a berm and he was thrown off the roof of the cart several feet and broke his left hand.

While he can drive within an enclosed machine traveling nearly 175 mph, he would be certainly safer inside of a golf cart, even sans roll bar, helmet, and other safety equipment.

Moral of the story: Sit in the golf cart; don't sprawl across the roof of one.

Pace of Play Formula

The USGA has announced a formula for pace of play that works. In the ten national amateur championships it had a major effect in speeding up play. On average, the threesomes sped up by 30 minutes in their stroke-play events.

Here's how it works: Each group has to hit four checkpoints -- the fourth, ninth, thirteenth, and eighteenth holes -- in a certain allotted time, depending on the course, or stay within 14 minutes of the group in front of them once the flagstick is put back into the hole.

The first breach is a warning and then a Rules official will monitor the players in the group to see if the culprit is one player or if the entire group is the problem. If the problem is the group, then the second infraction is a one-stroke penalty for each player.

How I wished this policy was implemented at most courses, or at least during tournaments.

Big Easy Just Isn't So

In a rare moment of losing his composure, Ernie Els threw his club while playing in the Nedbank Challenge in his home country of South Africa. Els was fined the equivalent of $138, which he paid after the tournament.

I was disappointed to see the video. He threw the club end-over-end at least ten feet. And, then grabbed a club out of his tour bag, which was standing nearby, so vigorously that the bag fell to the ground.

I haven't read his comments about the incident, but it's not a good showing of etiquette and sportsmanship. I know he's just human and frustrated as he makes his comeback from his knee injury.

A pro who makes his living with every shot, I am more willing to excuse his club throwing tantrum. But if I was playing with a client who did the same, I'd have to question whether I'd want to continue doing business with this person. How would he or she react if there was a problem in our business together?

Tasty Golf Tees

The love of the game (and the billions of dollars spent in the industry) brings out entrepreneurs with innovative, unique, and different golf inventions.

Typically, the latest golf item to hit the market is related to the golf swing. It's the best swing aid or putt maker.

Now, though, you can lick your tee. Yes, a couple of guys are marketing tees with flavors like mint, cherry, strawberry and grape. The tees are your good old-fashioned wooden tees, but with a coat of your favorite flavor.

The idea is after you've enjoyed your cigar, you can taste your tee to get rid of that cigar taste. Or, if you're hungry, just take a lick.

My only suggestion is you might want to get in your licks before you tee up the ball. I can only imagine that fertilizer and grass don't taste very good. And, another thing, if you're playing business golf with clients or prospects, stick to Tic Tacs or gum for your flavoring. You'll make a much better impression.

Hitting the Course Without Knowing Etiquette

I recently read an article about women learning how to hit the ball and then heading to the links to play, without any etiquette tips. That might be a great way to get women enthusiastic about playing golf in a controlled environment of the class that they were all taking.

But if a woman who read that article thought she should do that, she'd likely have a very unpleasant experience. I strongly believe that whether a person is an enjoyable playing partner isn't determined by the score he or she shot. It's instead whether he knows etiquette and is pleasant to be with for five hours. I'd rather play with a beginner who knows how to play with proper etiquette and a great personality than a single digit that has a similar level of etiquette I.Q. and personality.

If you want to play without knowing your etiquette, play with friends and warn them that you're ignorant of etiquette. If you want to play with them more often, at least ask them to teach you proper etiquette while you're playing. You'll make and keep your golf friends around by doing so.

Think Business Golf is Played Only in the US?

Business golf is going to China. According to the Associated Press, a Chinese university is requiring law and business students to take golf lessons to prepare them for a business world where deals are made on the golf course.

Listen to Suzanne's interview on why playing golf with clients is valuable in London's BBC Newshour.

Furyk's Costly Sportsmanship

Jim Furyk may have a swing that would earn it "Most Unlikely to Succeed" in a high school yearbook, but he as a man would earn the "The Honest Guy" of the class.

During today's final round of the American Express World Championship, Ian Poulter inadvertently stepped on Furyk's ball, which was in the deep rough. while searching for Furyk's ball. Furyk was entitled to a free drop, but instead told the Rule Official that he'd take an unplayable lie penalty. He felt since his ball was in such deep rough that he wouldn't have found it but for Poulter stepping on.

Furyk went on to make a bogey rather than having a par. It was a costly display of sportsmanship because he ended up in third place rather than sharing in a three-way tie for second place.

As announcer Nick Faldo said, "At the end of the day, he (Furyk) puts his head on the pillow.

Sleep well, Jim. You earned it! And, to those fortunate to do business with him, he's certainly a man you can trust.

How Is Your Gamesmanship?

Unfortunately the European team beat the US team definitively in the Ryder Cup. But, in a great showing of gamesmanship, Paul McGinley gave a long putt to J.J. Henry to tie their last hole and halve their match. If McGinley had not conceded the putt, the European team would have set their record in beating the U.S.

What's not good gamesmanship? Of course, cheating is an obvious. But it's also the subtle comments made about the water or O.B. before the player is about to hit, or taking a jab at your opponent's political or religious beliefs before you tee off.

If you have to resort to those tactics to "win" in your match, then remember Paul McGinley and how you want to be thought of as a golfer.

Time for Wie to Give It Up

Michelle Wie won't make the cut against the men at the 84 Lumber Classic Tournament. It's time to question whether she needs to give up on trying to be the first woman in 61 years to make the cut in a men's tournament.

I'm not saying she should quit on achieving her goal, but she needs to get her game in better shape before she has a realsitic chance to make the cut. David Leadbetter, her coach, has said he's concerned that her long irons into the green are too low and she can't get the ball to stay on the green. He stated simliar concerns at the Omega tournament as well.

She played the Omega tournament because Omega is one of her sponsors. She is friends with the family-founders of 84 Lumber. Other tournament sponsors like her to play because gate numbers go up.

But at what point does she (or her family) say it's unrealistic for her to continue to try to make the cut? She needs to play on the LPGA tour, win against the other gals, build some confidence, learn some shots, improve her putting, and then go for her other goal of making the cut against the men.

At this point, she's not close, and I don't see how continued attempts will improve her chances. If anything, it's getting embarrassing.

Listening to the PGA Tour on XM

I'm in S. Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where my family has a vacation home. The home has neither television nor telephone. And, my cell phone doesn't work from the home. So, it's a place that I come to when I need an escape and want to take in the view of the beautiful lake.

Unfortunately I can't watch the PGA or LPGA tours when I'm in the house. During the PGA Championship, I had to go to Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course to recall my steps at Medinah.

However I can at least listen to live coverage on a link from www.PGATour.com to XM Satellite radio. Coverage is pretty good and a lot better than nothing. So if you're cut off from t.v., but have Internet access, check it out!

How to Avoid Playing with Cheaters?

In a previous BizGolf E-Tip, I shared with you my experience playing with a woman who played to a higher handicap during match play.

Five weeks after the match, I finally received a ruling from the Golf Committee against my claim because I didn't notify the player that I was making a claim when I learned that she was cheating. I made the claim to the Head Pro instead.

Moral of the story: Don't play with cheaters, who by the way is angry that I made a claim, and check on the posting computer your opponent's handicap before starting your match.

Are You Reading Golf Magazines Too Carefully?

Do you enjoy reading golf magazines and all of the newest swing tips?

I do as well, but be careful. You might get overloaded with new swing thoughts and make a mess of your swing. If you read a tip that really seems to make sense to you, try that one and only tip on the driving range to see if it works for you. Don't try to incorporate more than one or two tips at a time. You'll only get confused and frustrated.

Never Again Another Tiger in Golf

I saw Tiger's interview after he defeated the rest of the field at Medinah Country Club to win his third PGA Championship. The rest were playing their own tournament of who would finish second. Like Mike Weir in 2000, Luke Donald, folded during the final round with Tiger. Is it the "Tiger Mystique" that causes his competitors to play mediocre, if not poorly, when they're in contention against Tiger? Absolutely.

The interview revealed to me how Tiger has developed the Tiger Mystique. First and foremost it's the unique characteristics of his mother and father who raised him with complete unconditional love. His father and best friend, Earl, was 42 when Tiger was born. He already had had three children with his first wife and he probably learned how to be a better father by the time Tiger was raised.

Tiger said he could score 1,000 in a round and his father would not have chided him, be disappointed in him, or love him any less. How many junior athletes now can say that about their father? Unfortunately I think few as the parents of this generation seem to live more through their children's successes on the field, and sadly some want it even more than their children. Most junior athletes today don't have the luxury to try different shots or swings like Tiger did without the fear of disappointing their parent or losing their love.

Earl Woods also was retired military where he likely learned discipline, commitment, and focus, without worrying about having to prove anything because of his race. Who else could have instilled those traits along with Tiger's ferocious work ethic, determination, and maturity? A silly question asked of Tiger was what he could tell his opponents to do when they are paired with him on a Sunday, so they could beat him. Tiger swatted that question away as if it were an annoying gnat by simply replying, with a grin, that he wouldn't say.

Why would he? But, more importantly, how could he? His opponents weren't raised by Earl and Kultida Woods, and later mentored on how to handle success by one of the most successful athletes in the world, Michael Jordan. I believe Tiger credits his mother as much for his success with her spiritual grounding.

Without the fear of looking sentimental, Tiger uses a head cover that his mother gave him. Written in Thai, it says she's always with him. Tiger beams his pearly whites as he describes how he looks at that head cover and feels his mother's presence out on the course. Tiger ever consider wearing a blue shirt on a Sunday of a Major? Never. It would mean the death (of course, figuratively) of Tiger at the hands of his mother. His fondness of red is because it's a power color and blue will never do.

Will Tiger smash Nicklaus's Major records of 18? Barring an injury, or surprising loss of interest by Tiger in golf, definitely. In 10 years, he's already two-thirds of the way there. A golf-focused, healthy Tiger will set new records of golf that won't be broken in my lifetime, if ever.

Simply said, they don't make them like they used to. There won't be another combination of parents that will raise another Tiger.

Golf is a Game of Integrity!

Recently I played in a match play tournament and my opponent played the match to a higher handicap than she actually was. She claims to have told me that she was the lower handicap, but I somehow agreed to "give" her an extra stroke.

Considering the golf slump that I've been in for the last several months, I wouldn't give her or anyone else right now an extra stroke. Instead of disqualifying herself for playing our match with a higher handicap, we're still waiting for a ruling from the tournament committee. Regardless of the ruling, I don't look forward to playing with this woman again (and certainly hope to never have to do business with her).

I'll keep you posted on the ruling about my match!

Playing Out of Your Mind

Today was the last round of my Club's Ladies Championship. I'm not the Champ, but I'm pleased with the way I played.

We started our Championship last Thursday, and I started to feel ill on Wednesday. Sore neck, scratchy throat. The second round on Saturday was worse with feelings of nausea and wanting to throw up. Today, I've practically lost my voice.

I started last week hoping to contend, but realistic since I was sick and in one of the worst golf slumps I've ever been in. Shooting 93 was a small victory for me because I didn't totally embarrass myself and come in dead last.

On Saturday, holding my stomach after nearly every shot and shooting 87 was a huge victory. Today, after shooting 10 on a par-4 on the fourth hole, I shot 90. I was so out of it on 4 that I said out loud, "Am I right-handed or left-handed?" as I looked at the ball in the weeds, debating whether to take an unplayable from there or putt the provisional that I hit.

I ended up finishing First Low Net and winning a beautiful silver bangle bracelet. It's not Club Champ, but considering how I was feeling for the entire tournament, I'm pleased that I could pull it together. I also think I didn't try to play well or hit those perfect shots. Instead I was trying to survive out there. I got my mind out of the way of what my body naturally knows what to do.

I hope to take that attitude to the course the next time I play!

Wie Fires Caddie

It comes as no surprise that Michelle Wie has fired her caddie Greg Johnston. The chemistry between the two never looked very good. She was disqualified for an incorrect drop that he thought she did correctly. He also never helped her read putts, which Michelle's father has been rumored to have required. If true, that wouldn't make sense, since Johnston was a veteran caddie. She's young and will eventually find a caddie that fits her style and personality. Until then, we'll wait to see who she picks as her new caddie.

Congratulations, Tiger!

I'm sure Tiger's victory at the Open today is the sweetest of all. The focus, determination, and pressure were all released in the arms of Stevie and his wife.

Death of a parent, I've thankfully not experienced. Tiger and Chris have shown that although their loved one is gone from this life, they continue to inspire and instill in their children the desire to do well and make their parent proud!

Congratulations to Tiger and Chris!!

Played Medinah and Still on a High

On Monday night, I provided a business golf presentation to 60 executive women from the Chicago area at Medinah Country Club. It was a great event with women who've never played becoming enthusiastic to learn golf and experienced golfers ready to hit the links. I told them I felt like a kid in a candy store because I was playing Medinah's Course #3 the next morning with the General Manager and a board member.

With the two caddies and my playing partners, I took the advice that I often give to women business golfers, and decided to hit off the same tees as the gents. It meant playing off of the silver tees, which is 7009 yards and a slope of 147 for men. I have to ask for help to calculate the slope for me, but I have a pretty good idea that it's going to be high. For the ladies off the white tees, it's 6728 and a slope of 146. 149 or 150 for me wouldn't be surprising.

As I walked down the first fairway, I was in awe of the carpet-like fairways. I made the mistake of hitting my second shot in the rough and had to contend with getting out of 4 1/2" rough. Needless to say, I used the 7-iron quiet often during the day to get out of the tall stuff.

I stood by the tree where Sergio hit his famous slice onto the green in the 1999 PGA Championship. I saw the height of the collection area on 12, which is an incredible hole that Rees Jones found nothing to change. I stood at the tip of the 13th hole to take a picture of the 224-yard signature hole across water. When we reached 17, the gents suggested that I hit off of the white tee and I took their advice. I ripped my driver onto the green 8' behind the flagstick into the rough. After a weak putt through the fringe, I sank my par putt and celebrated.

I'll be honest, the course ate me up and I shot 106. My playing partners were kind and said that it was respectable considering my first time, near Major conditions, and playing a set of rental clubs. But, it's one day I didn't really care about my score. I was thrilled to be at the course where Tiger, Sergio, Retief, Ernie, and the golfers of their ilk have played.

Most importantly, my playing partners were gentlemen of the kind that I sadly don't meet often. It will be a day of golf that I'll not forget and I can't wait to watch the Championship in August!

Hindsight Not 20-20 for Mickelson's Caddie

Nicklaus, Watson, and others have all questioned Phil's poor club and shot selection on the 18th hole. Mickelson's caddie, Jim "Bones" Mackay, a single-digit golfer himself, felt compelled to defend his boss today.

He stated that there was never a question about using the driver on 18. They knew how each player ahead of them was scoring. He then says, ""So we knew that 4-over was going to win the tournament, and Phil was not playing for a tie."

And therein lies the problem. Neither Phil nor Bones thought to play for a tie when they're near the corporate tents with trees in front of them. Hence, they played for the most embarassing lost in the U.S. Open thus far.

It's just hard to feel sorry for the guy when he thinks that way.