'Bohn'us Baby!

A win for a 37 year old Tour journeyman should be considered more than just a win, it’s a bonus. And for Jason Bohn that’s just what his victory at the 2010 Zurich Classic of New Orleans represents. With his victory comes an automatic entry into the 2011 Masters along with a much-needed two-year PGA Tour exemption. This victory was Bohn’s second PGA win to date, as he won at the BC Open in 2005. Please note, the BC Open was a tournament that ran opposite of The Open Championship, so suffice to say the top players are not on display that week. This win jumps Bohn up to 11th in Fedex Cup points, but may not be the biggest moment of his career.

In 1992 Bohn was attending The University of Alabama and was a member of the Crimson Tide golf team. That year he entered a ‘Hole in One Shootout’ and improbably holed out to win the million-dollar prize. There is amazing footage of the shot that you may have seen if you watch The Golf Channel at any length…and the celebration was outstanding. Anyway, after making that ace, it gave Bohn the financial stability to go and work on his game with no real pressure, and try to become a professional. And that he did.

2009 was not Bohn’s best year on Tour, but he did enough to hang around for another year. His T2 at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, NC was his best finish and damn near was his opening to the 2010 Masters. But he and fellow T2 competitor Kevin Stadler were defeated by Ryan Moore in a three-man playoff. But his week in Greensboro was by far his best achievement in 2009, which did not even include a major championship appearance. He will get his shot, but no guarantee at getting into the field at the US Open and The Open Championship. But following that, this wire to wire victory on the bayou, will guarantee him trips to Whistling Straits for the PGA and Augusta for ‘The Tradition Unlike Any Other.’

Who knows what will happen! We’ve seen stranger Green Jacket wearers right? I guess it’s about as likely as a million dollar hole-in-one…

Humble in Victory, Honorable in Defeat

Golf is more than a game of concentration, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, and muscle memory. It was developed to be played with the principles of honor and integrity. It’s game where you are required to impose self-penalties, even if nobody but yourself witnessed the infraction. On Sunday this part of the game was at the forefront of the PGA Tour at the famed Harbortown Golf Links in Hilton Head, SC in the Verizon Heritage Classic.

Englishman Brian Davis is a long time journeyman on the PGA and European Tours. He has bounced back and forth from Great Britain to the United States over the past decade competing in events as if it was more like a job than a privilege. A few years ago Davis decided he was going to lay it all on the line and move his family from Britain to Orlando Florida in hopes to play exclusively in ‘The Show.’ He had earned his Tour card and ever since has hung in there enough to continue playing on a year to year basis. 2009 was Davis’ most successful season on the PGA Tour and although never in the winner’s circle, he had a run in May of three straight top 5 finishes (The Players, Valero, and The Nelson).

On Sunday in Hilton Head Davis had his chance to sew up the two year Tour exemption and the almost as important slot in the field at Augusta in 2011, that comes with a Tour victory. After 72 competitive holes where a lot of talented players were in serious contention, Davis and now World Number Five and Transitions winner Jim Furyk were tied for the lead; following a 25 foot birdie putt holed on the signature 18th by Davis. Both competitors ripped tee shots onto the tarmac that is the 80-plus yard wide fairway on Harbortown’s home hole to start the sudden death playoff. Both players showed 167 yards out, and long time PGA rules official Slugger White deemed Davis was out – this would not be the last time we hear from Slugger.

Davis tried to take a little off of a six-iron and tugged it left sending it off the rocks and bounding onto the hard sanded beach along Calabogue Sound. Furyk, understanding the door was open took a bit more club and sent a shot to the back fringe of the green leaving him some 50 feet for his birdie effort. In fact, Furyk’s ball was so far away from the pin, that he was actually further away than Davis and had to execute a putt to about 8 feet. Davis then had to decide whether to execute a difficult pitch out of the junk or take a drop and basically put the tournament on the putter of Furyk. He decided to keep it in his own hands and pitched it up onto the green, but as the ball was rolling across the surface of the green he looked up and said, ‘Slugger’ as he motioned toward the rules official.

Re-enter Slugger White. The two discussed a possible violation as upon takeaway, Davis noticed that his club may have clipped a reed, something that only he could’ve detected in live motion. After in depth discussions and handheld communication with officials watching the video, Slugger bent down and pulled the reed out to show that it was a loose impediment as opposed to part of the ground. He notified Davis that because it was a loose impediment in a hazard, the small graze of the reed upon takeaway would be a 2-stroke penalty. This ruling basically gave Furyk the tournament as he smoothly drained the 8-foot par putt amongst the boat horns off of Calabogue Sound to earn the Tartan Jacket and his second victory in 2010.

For Furyk is was a well-earned victory and for Davis it was a crushing defeat. But Davis should have nothing to feel bad about (aside from the possible 400 grrr he left on the table). He may not have punched his Masters ticket or earned that 2-year exemption, but he earned the respect of his peers. In the ‘if your not cheating your not trying’ steroid HGH bribing for TV contracts coach Calipari new world of sports, a story like this is refreshing. He may not have won, but Davis, although probably difficult, did the honorable thing. Just as difficult to watch was Furyk accepting congratulations for his victory, more humble than usual. It certainly now looks like ‘Mr. Consistency is back…as if he went anywhere to begin with.

Master’Phil’

I know, I know I missed an entry where AK assaulted Redstone Golf Club and beat Augusta native Vaughn Taylor in route to his already punched Master’s ticket. And he took full advantage at the 2010 ‘Tradition Unlike Any Other.’ Now lets get to the good stuff.

In a week that was focused almost completely on the return of Tiger Woods to competitive action, he along with the rest of the field lived up to the hype…and then some. All roads led to 2:40PM EST on Thursday April 8th. Tiger teed it up and ripped a drive splitting the fairway on the par 4 first hole reintroducing himself with the serene nervy calmness that is Augusta National. As the sun descended on day one of competition most of the talk and excitement remained with Tiger who fired a round one Masters personal best round four under par 68. But with all that went on this day, he wasn’t getting all the attention.

With a calm and overcast setting for much of the day, along with not as challenging pin positions and tee placements, Augusta National on day one was more of a sleeping beast. The main defense was down just a bit with stickier and slower greens, making life that much more receptive to shots that were not pinpoint in accuracy thus leading to more red numbers. In layman’s terms, the pros were ripping it up! The talk of a dream week started early as 60 year old Tom Watson carded a Turnberry-like 67 to post his name in a tie for second after day one with the likes of fan favorite and two time Green Jacket wearer Phil Mickelson and top British hopeful Lee Westwood. But there was room for two in this Dolorean.

50 year old 1992 Masters Champion Fred Couples turned back the clock a bit himself casually strolling the hills of NE Georgia in tennis shoe-like moccasins on his way to a personal best 6 under-par 66 and the overall outright lead after day one. His recent entry onto the Champions Tour has been a bit of a rebirth for Couples game. He won the first 3 Tour events going away and in 12 competitive rounds he has posted an astonishing 77 under par! That is an average of over 6 under par per round! His hot play along with his veteran knowledge of Augusta National was a recipe of success for this gray-haired former roommate of my brother at the University of Houston.

Although Watson faded as the week went on (still finishing under par), Couples was more than game for sticking around to the finish. On a rousing Saturday: some players rose (Hunter Mahan), some players fell (Ian Poulter) and some players just didn’t do much of anything (Anthony Kim) – but it was arguably the best and loudest Moving Day in recent memory at Augusta. And as anyone who has ever walked the grounds Masters week will attest, the roars at Augusta are unlike anywhere else. The roars were almost personified in a near 30 minute stretch on the back nine on Saturday between 5:05 and 5:40.

They started on the 13th hole as crowd favorite Phil Mickelson rolled in a 20 footer for eagle sending a roar of emotion through the loblolly pines and magnolias. Just moments later on the 15th green Couples had a little magic in his bag chipping in for eagle as patrons rose and exuded their appreciation for the veteran. Only ten minutes later there was a roar of epic proportions. Standing in the par four 14th fairway with a short iron in his hand, Mickelson struck a pure shot that landed on the green and spun down the hill to the right with the contours so perfectly it disappeared into the cup. The roar was so loud it reverberated through the dogwoods all the way to ‘Amen Corner’and noticeably affected the leader Westwood who promptly missed a par putt on the 11th green. Not more than five minutes later Ricky Barnes made on of the most difficult chips in all of golf behind in back of the green at #13 for an exciting birdie. And the clincher was at 5:40 when Phil Mickelson, seeking a record third eagle in a row, nearly holed out a wedge from just under 100 yards out. Between the roaring crowd and excitement of David Feherty’s call on air, the atmosphere was as dramatic as I’ve ever seen a Saturday in Augusta.

The roars themselves were so thrilling and intense that each one had kind of a life of its own. It was one of the most sensational half-hour of golf I have ever been a witness to, and, although on site, Tiger had nothing to do with it. He would reserve his electricity for Sunday….or so we all thought.

The ‘Striped One’ arrived at Augusta clad in Sunday red in a tied for 3rd place just four shots back of leader Westwood and three shots back of Mickelson. He was paired for the fourth straight day with KJ Choi who had mirrored his first three rounds of 68-70-70. And his engine sputtered from the start. A massive hook off the 1st, failing to birdie 2 or 3, and then two straight bogies on #4 & #5 and an ugly par on #6 and it seemed like Tiger’s chances were squelched before he even had the chance to contend. He stood in the first cut on #7 a whopping seven shots back with virtually no chance before his swing, and felt like he was right back in it after. Nick Faldo referred to it as Tiger’s best swing of the week and it showed. As if it was channeling Mickelson’s ball from #14 on Saturday it landed it the perfect place and then spun backwards and to the right perfectly down the slope and falling excitedly in the hole. Tiger got his roar that ignited a run of two more birdies to finish his nine in 35 and at 9-under and only three shots back. But the Jekyll & Hyde ways continued for Tiger and his tournament was basically over with a bogey on #11 and a three putt from 6 feet for a bogey on #14. Not even an eagle on #15 and a mocking birdie on the closing hole could not be savior enough for Eldrick.

Mickelson of the other hand, dazzled the patrons with one of the most memorable Sunday walks on the hallowed grounds. But it started slow. A very un-Phil-like seven straight pars to open the round finally gave way to a scrabbling birdie on #8 and an amazing save on #9, helped Phil turn in one-under 35. Rabbits were pulled out of the hat with two pars after hooked tee shots on #10 and #11. Although hundreds watch on across Rae’s Creek, the 12 green is one of the few serene lonely places at Augusta National to mull over a 25-foot birdie putt. Putting past experiences behind him he rolled in a confident stroke and grabbed his first outright lead of the tournament entering his favorite hole on the course. But the hooks got to him again and his tee shot finished left amongst the pine straw on this breath taking par five. Enter the shot of the tournament.

Mickelson stood set up on the unsteady pine needle with a long iron in his hand poised to hit a shot that wasn’t a lay-up, between two trees in front of him. Crazy would be the word many would use, except it is Phil Mickelson, so the word may just be ordinary. A typical caddie would never even consider letting their player hit this shot between tree and over a creek to a difficult sloping green in the Masters, but make no ‘bones’ about it, Jim Mackay knows and trusts his guy Lefty. When all was said and done and Peter Kostis tried to describe the craziness that was the shot, the ball sat just five feet from the cup and seemed like the clincher. Although Phil actually missed the putt, he still walked off the green with a lead going to a part of the course he could continue his magic.

After a pedestrian par on #14 he bombed a drive on #15 and hit just another ‘run of the mill’ shot over the pond and onto the green for a 25 foot eagle putt. A two putt birdie coupled with a chip and two putt par for Lee Westwood, basically sewed up the tournament for Lefty as he walked off #15 three up with three to play. Although Westwood birdied #17 to make it halfway competitive, Phil outdid the field sticking a shot on #18 and enjoying the stroll up the hill to a massive ovation from the crowd. His closing birdie gave him his third green jacket and his 16 under par 272 was just 2 shots back of the all time low tournament score posted by Tiger in his ‘Win For the Ages’ in 1997.

All and all it was an amazing week with a great Sunday. Although the final hour seemed to be in no doubt at all, the building hours were unbelievable. The only competitor who could muster an semblance of a charge was the youngster Anthony Kim who went low on the back nine to gain control of a solo third finish. Lee Westwood kept his bridesmaid-like play in majors grabbing another Top 5. He seems to be on the cusp of cashing one in soon. No matter how you slice it or if you like it, Tiger is back…enough said. And as for Mickelson, it’s been a tough year with his wife Amy and his Mother both being diagnosed with breast cancer, and this ‘Win For the Family’ affirmed his hard work in a tough time. Unlike most, I’m not the biggest Phil fan, but I gotta tip my cap to him. He was absolutely masterful at Augusta. And now the year long lottery begins for players vying for the 2011 green jacket. Let the battle begin.

***Players who finished in the Top 16 and ties who will be invited back next year: Phil Mickelson (-16), Lee Westwood (-13), Anthony Kim (-12), Tiger Woods, KJ Choi (-11), Fred Couples (-9), Nick Watney (-8), Hunter Mahan, YE Yang (-7), Ricky Barnes, Ian Poulter (-5), Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jerry Kelly (-3), Trevor Immelman, Steve Marino, Ryan Moore & David Toms (-2).

Big Easy Like Monday Morning

Not even a rainy Sunday and a Monday morning finish could detour Ernie Els from cashing in on his second win in a two week stretch at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the famous Bayhill Resort and Lodge in Orlando Florida. No doubt the hottest player on Tour Els has not only grabbed the early lead for comeback player of the year but now is the overall leader in Fedex Cup points.

After storms ravaged the Orlando area on Sunday afternoon dampering the tournaments usual finish, the finial few groups were left to wrap up their back nine. Although it was still anyone’s tournament and had only a one-stroke lead with one to play, Els never really seemed to let go of his stranglehold of the field. He continued his excellent ‘Southern Swing’ play by staying in cruise control on Monday to complete a final round 71 and two shot victory over talented youngsters American Kevin Na and Italian Edoardo Molinari.

But those two were not the only strong contenders this week at Arnie’s Place. Strong Tour vets like Davis Love III, Padraig Harrington, and even Phil Mickelson all were near contention for much of the tournament. Also in contention were unexpected players like Chris Couch and DJ Trahan. But inconsistent play coupled with overly consistent good play from Els really sunk these players from contenders to pretenders. Love III was wildly inconsistent with a variable cornucopia of birdies, bogies, and doubles. Mickelson started strong on Thursday and Friday, but could not get the driver or putter going on the weekend and rapidly dropped down the board. Various struggles could be said for Harrington, Trahan and Couch.

When it was all said and done Els had about as smooth of a week in Orlando as the mechanics of his swing. He once again has found himself poised to be in serious contention at Augusta for the first time since his runner up finish to Phil Mickelson on that magical Easter Sunday in 2004. And when I say serious contention I mean serious contention. He has had nightmares with his close calls at the Masters, and this could be one of his last real chances of rectifying his Green Jacket horrors. And if he plays like his week at Bayhill, his walk up #18 could be as easy as his Monday walk.

Transitioning the Madness

Talk about a difficult sports weekend to contend with for the PGA Tour! As I joined the majority of Americans pitching back 12-ounce goodness and screaming at basketball teams I have no affiliation with aside from picking them to win or lose. And as my brother from another mother watched on and described in great length and emotion in Jacksonville as an Ivy League team did the unthinkable, just down the road in the Tampa area the Tour continued on at the Transitions Championship.

If competing with Northern Iowa’s upset of #1 overall seed Kansas, Cornell’s unbelievable run, continuous last second heroics, and the possibility of Gus Johnson making broadcasting gold wasn’t enough, word came out that Tiger was going to answer questions for the first time since his ‘incidents’ and ‘indiscretions.’ Between the five minutes with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi and The Golf Channel’s Kelly Tilghlman, Tiger faced ten minutes of grilling from the friendly confines of an Isleworth veranda. All the while Tour vet Jim Furyk completed his steady assault on Innisbrook.

Although limping in a bit on the back nine with some late bogies, Furyk’s two under par round of 69 was enough to finish with a one shot victory over Korean KJ Choi, and was his first win since the 2007 Canadian Open. Although there have been a lot of players who have gone this long without a win, the amazing thing about Furyk is that he was able to stay within reach of the Top Ten in the World Golf Rankings during this slump in victories. To me it shows Furyk’s mark of consistency.

Maybe known more for the looping hitch in his swing than anything else, Furyk has been a mainstay on leaderboards over the past decade. Setting his mechanics aside in his career he has cashed in one major (’03 US Open) and has 13 career PGA Tour wins. On top of that he has been widely known as one of the best and most consistent putters on Tour over the past decade in golf. And as we fall inside of a month from the ‘Tradition Unlike Any Other’ this win shows Furyk still has the game to get it done.

And now that the Sweet 16 has been established down the Road to the Final Four and Tiger is out of silence we will move forward to Arnie’s place down the Road to Augusta. With back to back veteran wins from Els and Furyk, we seem to be getting a throwback feel back to the Tour. With Duval back at Augusta and players like Els and Furyk playing well along with the return of Tiger will seem to have a turn of the decade field. But we all know that one of the many youngsters can ruin this veteran party and continue this ‘transition’ from old school to new school. But for right now the old guys are king!

Easy Come, Easy Go, Easy Comeback

It seemed to be an immediate disappearing act for one of the most respected and better players over the past decade. South African great Ernie Els, or The Big Easy as many refer to him, has climbed the top of the mountain in his career, but after a rash of freak and nagging injuries he seemed to have faded away into almost obscurity. But this week at the CA Championship his comeback has seemed to come almost full circle, with a near perfect and dominating performance taming the Blue Monster at Doral.

The CA Championship is one of the premier events behind the majors and the Player’s Championship. It is the second installment of the World Golf Championships and is one of the strongest fields you’re going to find. There were a lot of solid performers in the mix, but as the final round started and Sunday play progressed, it was almost like a two horse South African race. Els was the wily veteran, and Charl Schwartzel was the young up and coming bomber. The two battled it out throughout the front nine, but the veteran made the shots when he needed to, and the youngster was not able to keep up in his first real chance to shine in the US.

Although Els had a victory at the 2008 Honda Classic, this win confirms his comeback on the PGA Tour. It not like he completely disappeared, but his descent into mere mediocrity started after the completion of the 2004 season. In ‘04 he won a personal record three PGA events cashing in at the Sony, the Memorial, and WGC American Express. He also had a personal best season in the majors finishing in the top ten in all four of the season’s majors, although failing to win any. He was heartbroken at the Master’s falling short on Lefty’s magical 72nd hole birdie. He also came up short in a playoff to Todd Hamilton in the Open Championship. On top of even that he had a disastrous final round on Long Island in the US Open going from the final pairing to a 9th place finish behind fellow countryman Reteif Goosen. But in the off-season after the ’04 season Els injured his knee in a freak tubing incident on the Mediterranean derailing his game for a near 4-year stretch.

But this dominating performance at the intimidating Blue Monster may have set the stage for something even more special. In about a month Els will return to Augusta, a place where he has been very close in the past and tee it up again to try and exercise those Master’s demons. To try and repair all of those heartbreaks at a place he has never won. I feel like everything would come full circle for the 40 year old Els in 2010 if he can finally slip on that green jacket and close to within a PGA Championship of a career-slam. I don’t think it is ‘easy,’ but Els makes it seem that way.

Dancing in Athens

Athens, Ohio is not only a mecca for partying and drinking sports; it's now in the field of 65. Yes, this edition of Bobcat Hoops went a modest 17-14 in the regular season, and 7-9 in the MAC conference, but for a 4 games stretch they were more than a #9 seed. They ripped thru the #8, #1, #4 and #3 seeds within one week with the final 3 games in a 3 day period. It was a magical run for my alma mater and hopefully, as my boy Gus Johnson would say, the 'slipper still fits' in the NCAA Tourney.

Gator Bait

After his dominating winning effort at the 2010 Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Camilo Villegas may have successfully renamed the infamous ‘Bear Trap.’ The Jack Nicklaus designed PGA National has been a pain in the side for a lot of players who tee it up for the first event of the Florida swing. Its strategically placed bunkers and water hazards make for a risk reward set up for everyone who takes the challenge. The finishing holes are some of the most nerve-jangling shots this side of Sawgrass, and are the basis for the ‘Bear Trap’ moniker. But the former Florida Gator stand out, turned the notorious ‘Bear Trap’ into Gator Bait.

Villegas got off to a quick start in the first round on Thursday with a four under 66 in the easiest scoring conditions of the week. He followed that stellar round with a matching 66 on Friday and moved to the weekend in prime championship position tied atop the leader board with fellow young super star Anthony Kim. After Villegas fired another excellent round of 67 on Saturday, coupled with Kim’s 73, the Colombian star held an impressive three shot lead going into the final round over Australian Nathan Green and tour veteran Vijay Singh.

By the time Villegas made the turn he was sitting on a five shot lead and ready to coast into the clubhouse. But at PGA National one can never overlook the claws of the ‘Bear Trap’ that always looms ahead…

And it may have been in the back of Camilo’s head when he got a bit loose with bogies on 11 and 12. He added another bogey to his card on the par three 15th, but at this point the lead was pretty much insurmountable. He was able to cash in pars at the dangerous 16th and 17th which set up an easy walk in the park four shot lead on the 18th tee. As he had done 21 other times during the week, he executed to perfection for another birdie and a 5 shot victory over Kim who rallied for solo second. A scorching final round 64 gave charging Justin Rose solo 3rd and match play runner up Paul Casey joined Singh for T4.

This win has been much anticipated for Villegas, who was winless in the 2009 season after taking home the season’s final event in 2008 at the Tour Championship. Camilo’s slump worried many people in the golf world, because with Tiger on the shelf, the Tour is counting on promotable stars like Villegas to step up. 2010 has been able to cash in on wins from these young, established and promotable players like Villegas, Mahan, Poulter and Ogilvy. Getting players like this wins and exposure is great for the PGA Tour during the Tiger sabbatical.

This victory was Villegas’ 3rd career win, but was not a necessity for getting into the Masters, as his 2009 T13 performance at Augusta automatically got him in the field. But Villegas has not been overly successful in the Masters in his 3 career appearances making only the one cut, and missing the weekend in both 2007 and 2008. But he is definitely the type of player who is getting better and growing with the tour every week, making him a factor every time he tees it up. After he gobbled up the ‘Bear Trap’ this week he is more than ready for the Masters, and maybe after he’s done there, they’ll have to rename another vaunted stretch of holes…

How does ‘Camilo’s Corner’ sound?

You Da Ma-ha-n!!!

The annual tournament in the desert put on by the Thunderbirds was yet again another success in 2010. Annually setting attendance records for a single event, the Phoenix Open is known more for its patrons then for the golf itself. This four-day party in Scottsdale is epicentered by cheers, jeers and chants from keg drinking fans planted at the par three 16th hole. This diminutive and relatively straightforward 170-yard par 3 is known for many as the most intimidating hole in golf. This arena-like hole is the setting for 20,000 drunken fans and their ode to fandom. Harsher than the ‘Cameron Crazies’ and gentler than ‘Raider Nation’ these ‘Scottsdale Screamers’ are as big of a part of this tournament as anything.

Many players see this tee shot as the toughest in all of golf, rivaling it with the 17th at Sawgrass, while others thrive on the attention. One thing is for sure, when Hunter Mahan stepped to the 16th tee on Sunday with a one-stroke lead he no doubt thrived on the atmosphere. As the last to hit in his group, the natives were already a bit restless from a great shot by grouping partner Robert Allenby, but Mahan was also able to deliver. As shouts and screams echoed through the desert after his swing, the ball landed just short of the pin and spun sideways to about 14 feet, much to the delight of the rowdy patrons. After his rousing walk down the fairway to the green, he gave the crowd what they wanted by rolling in the putt to a chorus of liquid noise from the patrons.

This birdie was Mahan’s sixth of the day and led to him carding a bogey free 6-under par 65 as an early posting in the clubhouse. He posted it and told the rest of the field to come and get him. Many of the overnight leaders struggled some on Sunday, including the overall three round leader Brant Snedeker, who fell apart early enroute to a 7-over par 78. The only pursuit to Mahan was the more than game 21-year-old rookie and fellow Oklahoma State Cowboy Ricky Fowler. Clad in Cowboy Orange Fowler played a very consistent 18 holes, but was unable to capitalize with birdies on any of the final 4 holes, enroute to his own bogey free round…but it was only a 3-under par round of 68.

Although this final round left Fowler one shot short of Mahan, it was still his best ever finish in his very short PGA Tour career with a solo 2nd. This young up-and-comer has a lot of golf fans excited with his long hitting and edgy play, and he looks like he has the stuff to be a future star on tour. As for Mahan, he is already a pretty successful star on tour. This victory will join his 2007 win in Hartford as his two lone victories. He has also been a winning member of the last two President’s Cup teams and most recent Ryder Cup team. Although before this win he had not gotten off to the greatest start in 2010, Mahan is still currently ranked 22nd in the World and has a lot to build from as we move to the Florida swing.

As for Augusta, there was no doubt Mahan was in the field. He finished the 2009 Masters with a T10 earning him an automatic exemption into the 2010 field with the ‘Top 16 and Ties’ rule. He may not be seen as one of the direct favorites, but he will no doubt be put in the conversation as a guy who can contend and be there on Sunday afternoon. With the game Mahan has, along with his gradual but constant improvement, it’s not out of the question for him to slip on that Green Jacket in April. And if that happens, he would no doubt be ‘The Man.’

LPGA Pro of the Week - Week of 2/22/10

Known as one of the most famous women athletes in Japan, 24 year old Ai Miyazato’s ascent to the LPGA was much anticipated. Miyazato was an extraordinary junior player and was seen as the next big athlete in Japan, even as a teenager. She did not disappoint. She joined the Japanese Tour at age 18 and it did not take long for her to dominate. In her first three years on the JLPGA she gathered 12 wins and is still the youngest player to capture a JLPGA major championship at age 20. She now currently sits on 15 career JPAGA victories.

In 2005 she blew the competition away at the LPGA Q-School to gain her card here in the US on the LPGA. But it all wasn’t just hoorays, candy, and flowers; it was an uphill climb. She tasted small successes in her first 3 seasons, but was not able to cash in a victory. Her best money list finish in those first 3 years was 17th. But things changed in 2009. Miyazato got her first LPGA win in Europe at the Evian Masters, known as one of the biggest tournaments in the world. Her win there help capped her best LPGA season clinching her standing as 3rd in earnings.

Although Miyazato has yet to be victorious in an LPGA major, she has had some pretty good success in her career in the big ones. She has finished in the top 15 of each major at least once and has two T3 finishes (’06 LPGA Championship and ’09 Woman’s British). She is the torchbearer for Japan when it comes to bringing home a major in the LPGA, and I think her time is coming.

The forecast for 2010 is VERY good for Miyazato, considering she has already cashed in her 2nd career LPGA victory in the season opener in Thailand. She is looking to build off of her blistering final round that helped her sneak past tour vet Suzann Pettersen. Miyazato is also hoping she can do something in 2010 she has yet to do as a professional…win on US soil. She will no doubt get her opportunity, and by the way she played week one, she will be a force to be reckoned with as the season continues. This win was no flash in the pan; keep Miyazato on your radar all season long.

They Are and Always Will Be...

It's nothing like the 1980 Miracle on Ice, but on Sunday night the US hockey team defeated Canada on their home ice 5-3 in the Olympic Games. No it's not epic and it's not really that relevant, but to me it's just funny. This is a sport that over the decades has fallen from grace with most of America; a sport where in most of the US markets the teams are barely making money; a sport that is dominated by non-US players; a sport that is NOT the national sport of the US; a sport that IS the national sport of Canada. Yet, on the biggest world stage we once again showed that it doesn't really matter, we will always be the US and they will always have just enough French in them to fold and roll over. It's just another reason they are 'America's Hat.'

English Patience

Aside from my ineptitude of picking the bracket this past week, the big story at the WGC Accenture Match Play was the emergence of dominating young Euros, along with American struggles. Stewart Cink was the lone American in the event’s ‘Elite 8’ and was not able to advance any further. In fact in the ‘Sweet 16’ included only four Americans (Nick Watney, Brian Gay, and Ben Crane along with Cink). This group also included five young and talented Euros (Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald and Oliver Wilson), three South Africans (Reteif Goosen, Tim Clark and Charl Schwartzel), and even three Asian players (Ryo Ishikawa, Thongchai Jaidee and Jeev Milka Singh). Fan favorite and South American Camilo Villegas was the final member of this group.

The tournament started off with a bang as #1 overall seed Steve Stricker was upset by alternate Ross McGowan. In fact, by the end of day two there were no other #1 seeds left and only one #2 seed remained. When the weekend afternoon came around it was almost a European Ryder Cup-esque type ‘Final Four’ with Ian Pouler v. Sergio Garcia and Camilo Villegas v. Paul Casey. On there second 18 of the day on Saturday, the rain and winds picked up really affecting Sergio. Before you could even blink he was 6 down at the turn to Englishman Ian Poulter and his dreams were dashed 7 and 6 only three holes later. Villegas v. Casey, well that was a totally different story.

The two battled back and forth throughout the entire round, and they pushed each other so much they moved on to extra holes as the sun descended upon Tucson, AZ. The first few holes were closely contested and Villegas even pulled a rabbit out of his hat a few times to save himself. And on their 5th extra hole Villegas looked to have the match sewn up. After Casey missed a 12-foot par putt, Villegas had just a two and a half footer to move on to face Poulter. As dusk began to set in, this 23rd hole of the round was the final of the day…but not of the match. Villegas pushed the putt and the hole was halved, and the round had to be spilled over to Sunday early morning. It took only one Villegas hook off the 6th tee for Casey to prevail on the first hole of the day and the 24th of the match. So the stage was set for an all English final.

They teed it up following the one hole playoff, and Poulter, clad from head to toe in faded pink, got off to a great start building a four up lead on the second nine of 36 holes. But after he gave up two coming down the stretch of that nine, his lead was down to just two up after the first 18 holes. After a quick break the two went right back at it for the afternoon 18. Poulter again was hot out of the gates winning the first two holes and building a lead that wouldn’t get any closer than two up. When it was all said and done Poulter birdied the 16th hole to clinch up a 4 and 2 victory and the championship. Villegas took care of Garcia in the consolation match 5 and 4 giving the Colombian 3rd place.

This victory marked the 11th career win for the young brash Englishman, and his first win the US. Going unbeaten in six matches and seven rounds in the matter of five days is an incredible feat of good play and patience. It shows the kind of player he is becoming. Poulter has been close in majors finishing 13th or better in all four majors at one point in time, including a 2nd place finish at the 2008 Open Championship. He will be ready to roll at Augusta in April, and as it looks more and more like Tiger will not be a part of ‘The Tradition Unlike Any Other,’ Poulter is just as much of a favorite as anyone else. Congratulations to Ian Poulter on a big win in the US, and judging by the results of the Accenture Match Play, the US will have their hands full in the Ryder Cup.

PS – Congrats to Cameron Beckman on his 3rd career victory in Mexico at the Mayacoba Classic.

PPS - I know Tiger came out of hiding this week, to piss on Accenture's parade in Tucson. But I just don't have the energy to address this situation at the moment. All's I will say is that the apology seemed semi-heartfelt, and I know he just wants it all to go away.