Virginia Tech Victory

VA Tech student, Drew Weaver, won the British Amateur Open on Saturday and dedicated his victory to the victims of the campus massacre. On a recent post, I talked about those who play to victory after suffering the loss of a loved one. Tiger did it at the Open last year. This year, Scott Verplank won at Byron Nelson's tournament.

Weaver described hiding in the library for three hours as the lock down of the campus occurred on that horrible day in April. Think it's hard to sink a 3 footer for victory at a golf tournament? After going through what he did, I believe there is an ability to put a golf tournament in proper perspective and not let it get to one's nerves.

Congrats to Drew and hope it brings some joy to the students and their families of VA Tech!

On a lighter note, the Women's US Open starts tomorrow. Let's see if Annika can defend her title!

Wie Withdraws On Time, This Time

Michelle Wie decided to opt out of playing at the John Deere Classic. Good for her and her team! She is wanting to rest her wrist longer before she plays in the U.S. Women's Open next week.

I'm pleased to see that she has her priorities right this time, and I hope she does well at the U.S. Women's Open.

Congrats, Tiger and Elin!

Tiger won a title much more important than that as winner of US Open yesterday...Tiger is officially now a Father. Elin gave birth to their daughter, Sam Alexis Wood on early Monday morning.

Look out LPGA Tour and players at the Open! Tiger will likely be playing!

Furyk-elson and Tiger Defeated in US Open

Angel Cabrera had to wait anxiously as Jim Furyk and Tiger played a couple more holes to determine whether he'd be in a playoff.

Unfortunately, Furyk took his driver out to the par-4 17th and hit into the thick rough. Although his par putt lipped out, it seemed like Furyk took a page from Mickelson with high risk, low gain shot. Given that his cousin is a member of Oakmont and they talked about conservative lines to play, it was not necessary to take out driver when he only needed to birdie.

Tiger also needed a birdie on either 16 or 17, but he couldn't get it done. His pure shot-making of yesterday was not as evident today.

Call me patriotic, but with the US Open, I want an American to win. Although a UK-born friend said to me, "What's the difference? The Americans win the British Open?" I said to her that's Colin Montgomerie's and all the other Scottish/European golfers' problem that can't get it done at their Open.

Although Cabrera played well, a cigarette-butt throwing Argentine golfer is not who I wanted to see win.

Third Time is the Charm!

On Thursday, I shot my third hole in one! What made it more exciting was I could see the ball roll into the hole. With the past two, the green was uphill, so I knew it was a good shot, but didn't know if it went in.

I used my 7-iron at our downhill 2nd hole, and I saw the ball bounce onto the green. A friend said that could be a hole in one. I said let's just watch it and then it disappeared.

Screaming started, but I still wasn't sure it went in, and asked, "Did it go in??" They all yelled, "YES!" We screamed again! Apparently, loud enough for many on the course to hear us.

Thank goodness, I have Hole in One insurance. It was Guest Day, so there were more players than usual and everyone was thrilled to have a free drink. Of course, I was more than happy to be the reason for the pouring.

I am also happy to be playing at my club rather than at Oakmont where the US Open is being played. That course is brutal! I thought Medinah's No. 3 was bad when I played it before the PGA Championship with 4-4 1/2" rough. But, Oakmont looks even harder with its rough and those slick greens. Definitely not a day in the park for those members!

Enjoy the US Open this weekend!

Played Pebble Beach on a Beautiful Day!

I had a fabulous day of dining and golf at Pebble Beach on Sunday with Pebble's LPGA Master Professional, Sally Dodge. It was an absolute treat to play the west coast shrine of golf! We had a beautiful day with low winds and hazy sunshine! (If I can, I'll post some pics.)

Unfortunately players aren't allowed to take the carts on the path. That inconvenience cost me a couple of shots on the number 1 rated hole. I also think it slows down play. The balls on the driving range state "4:30" and I had no idea what that meant. So, I asked the staff and they said players should finish the course in four and one-half hours.

Difficult to do with walking back and forth to get your clubs, and taking the time to gawk at the stunning views and magnificent estates along the course.

The greens are small and bumpy like Tiger has always complained about, but I'm used to similar conditions at my course, Mira Vista Golf and Country Club, in El Cerrito, CA, about 2.5 hours north of Pebble. I'll take bumpy greens any day to play Pebble on such a beautiful day.

I'm sure with howling winds and fog hovering over the course, it's a difficult track, but yesterday, it was just a sparkling gem!

Annika v. Michelle (v. Bivens)

Wouldn't this be a great Sunday pairing for a major LPGA tournament? Unfortunately, it hasn't happened yet on the course, but there is a war of words going on between the two most famous female golfers of their time.

Annika, as host of last week's Ginn Tribute tournament, is miffed with Michelle's withdraw on Thursday, especially since Michelle is back at the McDonald's LPGA Championship this week, playing in Monday's pro-am. Annika referred to Michelle's early exit as "lack of respect and class." Ouch!

Michelle is also getting it from Carolyn Bivens, LPGA Commissioner, who said one of Michelle's pro-am playing partners complained about Michelle. No word yet for what Michelle supposedly did and whether the complaint is valid, but a tough few days for the 17-year old.

With controversy abuzz from the powers to be on and off the LPGA course, she's growing up quickly. Yet, it was nice to see a glimpse of a young teenager as she talked about being stressed because of needing to turning in housing applications at Stanford.

I wish her the best as she maneuvers both LPGA and Stanford systems!

Wie Update

I just learned that Michelle may have re-injured her wrist today, which is why she withdrew. There is another reason why she might have withdrawn. If you're an LPGA member and you shoot 88 during a tournament, you are not allowed to play in another LPGA tournament for one year. Although Michelle is not a member of the LPGA yet, I wonder if that was another factor in her withdrawing today?

Watch Coverage of the 12th Hole at The Memorial Online

If you're at work and can't watch The Golf Channel's coverage of The Memorial, check it out online. It's available at www.pgatour.com. It is only of the 12th hole, but you can at least watch some of the tournament and hear what's happening.

Wie Withdraws, Too

In her first tournament, since her wrist injury, Michelle Wie played in the Ginn Tribute, an LPGA tournament. With a score of 14 over par, she quit after 16 holes. She announced to an LPGA Official, "We're not going to play anymore." After shaking hands with her playing partners, she rode off the course with her caddie and her parents.

Unless she was injured or sick, I don't understand why she had to leave after 16 holes. She should have had the grace to finish playing 18 holes and not disrupt her playing partners. I'm sure many of us has felt like leaving in the middle of the round because our game is off, but we don't. Although if she was playing that poorly, it might have helped her playing partners for her to leave.

Nonetheless, the most telling is that her parents were hovering around her during the tournament. I've always questioned Michelle's decisions to play in men's tournaments and wondered who was making those decisions. She has always said it was her, and not her parents or manager. You just have to wonder.

I hope this young lady can survive whatever is going on (mentally, emotionally, and physically) and become a champion on the LPGA Tour. It would be shame to have her end up like Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan because of the pressures of her early financial success and notoriety.

Most of us think Hawaii is paradise, but for Michelle, Stanford may be a refuge from all of the pressure!

Mickelson Disappoints at The Memorial

The showdown between the Harmon protege and the Harmon student won't be occurring at The Memorial this weekend. Phil Mickelson had to withdraw because of a wrist injury after 11 holes. We'll have to wait until the U.S. Open to see the duel between those two.

In the meantime, Sean O'Hair is leading and I hope he continues to do well. He's a young man that you can't help but cheer on given what he has had to overcome with an abusive and clearly not legal savvy father. I'm sure Mr. O'Hair was surprised to learn he couldn't enforce a contract that demands 30% of Sean's winnings on Tour when Sean was only 15 when he entered the contract. Some laws are right on and there need to be laws against fathers like his.

Enjoy The Memorial!

Wie Starting Early

I was reading an article that Michelle Wie has accepted a sponsor exemption to play in the John Deere Classic in July. My first thought was why is she insisting to play against the men on the PGA Tour, especially since returning from her wrist injury.

Then, I read further in the article that she donated $25,000 to a foundation for a local high school student who became paralyzed after a football tackle last year. It's her second charitable act following a $500,000 donation to the U.S. Golf Hurricane Relief Fund for Hurricane Katrina victims.

I don't agree with her choosing to play against the men when she's not proven herself yet against other women, but I respect her early start in philanthropy as a professional golfer.

Tomorrow is the start of Jack Nicklaus's tournament, The Memorial. The big guns will be there...Tiger, Phil, Ernie, Vijay, Zach Johnson, and more. One notably absent player is Rory Sabbatini, who is physically exhausted after his victory at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. It's too bad, since it'll be the first time to see Rory and Tiger playing against one another after Rory's "trash talk" about Tiger, which was so uncharacteristic in the golf world.

Enjoy the Memorial and play well!

Golf Cart Dangers

By now you've heard about the California man who took a 75' plunge off a cliff while driving a golf cart. It's no surprise that he didn't survive unfortunately. We all might want to go while on a pristine green of a beautiful course, but certainly not want it his way.

But, this cart event makes me want to share some other thoughts about carts. I drive a BMW and apparently my passengers don't quite enjoy the ride when I'm driving a cart. One playing partner threatened to get out and walk if I didn't slow down. She said she'd be a cripple if she had to sit with me for 18 holes.

So, I obviously take my speed-style driving onto the course and forget the suspension and handling of a golf cart is nothing like the Ultimate Driving Machine. I probably also take out my frustration with my game and drive aggressively to my ball. Needless to say, I'm more aware of my cart driving.

Another thing to be careful of is yelling while in the cart. I've been a passenger when my cart partner decided to yell something to our playing partners who happen to be on my side of the cart. While I may be a speed demon, at least I don't deafen my cart partner for several holes.

Just some thoughts to make it an enjoyable round for you and your partner. Hope you're enjoying daylight savings time and some beautiful weather on the course!

Hooked on Golf

I'm honored to announce that I'm a columnist on
HookedonGolf.com. Hooked on Golf is a radio and television program co-hosted by Mitch Juricich and John Abendroth. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mitch and John start their Saturday mornings between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. PST on KNBR 680/1050 AM talking about the world of golf. If you're out of signal range, you can listen to them online.

This month's article is for beginners who are confused about buying new equipment. Check out Are You in an Equipment Haze?

Hope you're enjoying your game!

Need Help Getting Out of the Rough?

When I played at Medinah last year, I hit into the PGA tournament-ready rough (4") several times and just used a 7-iron to hit out.

Since then, I've purchased a 4 iron-hybrid, that I just love to hit out of the rough and even off the fairway when I need to lay up. If you are having trouble hitting your long irons, then consider buying a hybrid. You won't be as upset when you hit into the rough if you have a hybrid.

Golf and Providence

Golfers can't deny that golf has an element of luck. It's the hole-in-one shot. Or, sadly a bounce left into the water, rather than the perfect shot.

After Scott Verplank's victory at Byron Nelson's tournament on Sunday, I thought of Tiger at the Open after his father died and Ben Crenshaw after Harvey Penick died. Each of these golfers were mourning the recent passing of a very close friend, mentor, and in Tiger's case, his best friend and father.

I don't know what happens to one's mental state when they are in grief--yet trying to win in a competitive individual sport like golf. Do they become more relaxed and are able to be that hard-to-fine zone easier? Perhaps they carry the burden of sadness, while recalling fond memories of their friend that is no longer.

Or, is it like Ben Crenshaw said after his victory at Augusta in 1995, "It was like he had fifteen clubs in his bag," referring to his friend, Harvey Penick who died days before the Masters began?

Whether its being more relaxed, increased concentration, or providence, it's nice to see men (and women) who are touched by a person's loss persevere and end up victorious. I can only imagine how much sweeter that victory is!

Check Out This Month's Issue of "Golf for Women"

In this month's issue of Golf for Women magazine, look for a tear-out booklet on page 66 from yours truly. The Etiquette of Business Golf is a condensed version of my 72 Secrets for Successful Business Golf.

Don't Let the Wind Stop Your Practice Session

In the last issue of Biz-Golf E-Tips, you read about how discouraged I was about my pitch shots. I'm in South Lake Tahoe and decided I had to have a practice session in nearby Carson City, NV even though wind gusts of 20 - 35 mph were expected.

When I arrived at the course, every flag on the course was horizontal from the winds. Nevertheless, I got a large bucket of balls and, to my surprise, had the best and most fun practice session that I've ever had.

I suspect it was the case for several reasons. First, I swung slower than usual because of the strong winds. Second, I kept my head down longer than usual through the swing. There really wasn't any point in looking at my ball flight when the winds were howling left to right. I knew when I hit a good shot by how it felt on the club. Finally, I had to take more breaks between shots because the winds were so strong that I had to turn my back against it to take a breath and not let the wind affect my backswing.

I didn't let the wind stop me and went to the practice green and practiced my pitch shots to three different pin locations.

If I can incorporate all of what I learned today about my swing and pitch shots on the course, I'll be a much happier golfer! So, don't let wind stop you from a planned practice session. You may have as much fun as I did today!

Congratulations, Zach!

My favorite tournament, the Masters, is over and a first-time Major winner has been crowned. Congratulations to Zach Johnson! Although Augusta played hard the first three days, birdies were to be had today. It made it more fun to watch and see the competition tighten in the closing holes. Tiger, of course, was in contention, but the missed birdie opportunity on 16 made it difficult for Tiger to catch Zach.

As an avid golfer, I have two must-do's that I'm sure I share with many other addicted golfers. The first is to play Pebble Beach. The breath-taking views of that course beckons me. Then, of course, it is to be a patron at the Masters, even if it's for a practice round. The blooming azaleas and the pristine fairways sans rough make it a place I have to at least see once.

Speaking of beauty, one thing I love about golf is the decorum and etiquette that players hold themselves to. Unfortunately, some unpleasant incidents have occurred recently. Sergio's spitting into the hole after missing a putt was unexcusable a couple of weeks ago. And, Tiger's spitting after a shot today was disgusting anywhere and in any sport, but especially at Augusta.

Finally, Tiger, please start a new trend of black handkerchiefs. It won't clash with your Sunday outfit and would probably please your Mother if she saw what we all did today.

Want to Lower Your Score Quickly?

"Drive for show and putt for dough" is a common phrase of golfers. Unfortunately, I'm living proof of it at this time. I am driving the ball longer than I have in years, but my game from 100 yards and in has failed me recently.

I'm planning a practice session in the next few days to work on my short game, especially my pitching and my putting.

With putting nearly fifty percent of one's score, it's the place we all can improve on. So, next time you go practice, work on your short game, and you'll lower your scores!