Golf News

Today's Woods Rumor: Ari Fleischer?

The New York Post <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.newyorkpost.com/p/sports/golf/woods_hires_weeks_bush_aide_to_prep_p7ZMNxmWaTffK5O4nxGEhK">reported today</a> that unnamed sources tell the paper <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/tigerwoods/tp/tiger_woods.htm">Tiger Woods</a> is going to play the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/p/palmer_inv.htm">Arnold Palmer Invitational</a> in two weeks. (See update at bottom of post.) In the land of unnamed sources, that rumor is nothing new. The most oft-repeated rumor of Woods' return has <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/10/captain-omeara-wants-tiger-on-tavistock-team.htm">pointed to the Tavistock Cup</a> a few days prior to the Palmer. Woods can play the Tavistock, then the Palmer, and satisfy both rumors: Tavistock becomes the site of his return; the Palmer becomes the site of his return to the PGA Tour. The Palmer tournament is where Woods came back last year following a long layoff after knee surgery. The Post article does contain something new, however: According to the paper, Woods has hired Ari Fleischer to help with his media and PR strategy. Fleischer is the former press secretary for President George W. Bush. Since leaving the Bush White House, Fleischer has launched a PR firm, and runs Ari Fleischer Sports Communications as, the Post reports, "a joint venture with IMG Sports & Entertainment." Woods is represented by IMG. According to various reports, Fleischer's shop has worked with baseball commissioner Bud Selig, former baseball slugger Mark McGwire, and the Bowl Championship Series. Hmm. That doesn't exactly give me confidence in Fleischer's abilities to rehabilitate his clients' images. Selig, McGwire and the BCS are just as unpopular today as ever. But is Woods really unpopular now? No doubt he has fewer fans than before; he's fodder for late-night comedians, and many golf media members feel used now that they know his public persona - which the golf media relentlessly hyped - was a sham. But my sense, based on comments left here on About.com and in emails I've received from readers, along with voting in various polls, is that Tiger's reception from fans upon his return will be much friendlier than many in the media expect. Tiger might be hugely unpopular with the golf media right now, but most golf fans seem to believe - again, this is just my sense based on feedback of About.com readers - that Woods' transgressions were of a personal, private nature, and have nothing to do with appreciation of his golf talents. Maybe Fleischer can help Woods strategize about dealing with the media. I don't think Woods will need any help in dealing with golf fans. He won't be as popular as he was before, but he'll be welcomed back by most fans. Update: The Associated Press now has a couple unnamed sources, too, sources that contradict the Post's sources. The AP says <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iCO59IPe8XbUkaPJ_XfVJYSYnFbwD9ECNUD80">Woods will likely return at The Masters</a>, but will not before that.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/11/todays-woods-rumor-ari-fleischer.htm">Today's Woods Rumor: Ari Fleischer?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/">About.com Golf</a> on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 15:40:55.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/11/todays-woods-rumor-ari-fleischer.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/11/todays-woods-rumor-ari-fleischer.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://golf.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/11/todays-woods-rumor-ari-fleischer.htm&zItl=Today's Woods Rumor: Ari Fleischer?">Email this</a>

Acushnet Sells Cobra Golf to Puma

The Acushnet Company (a subsidiary of Fortune Brands, Inc.) is the owner of the Titleist, Pinnacle and FootJoy brands. And the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/golfmanufacturers/p/cobragolf.htm">Cobra Golf</a> brand. But not for long. Acushnet has agreed to sell Cobra to Puma, whose golf business has heretofore been limited to accessories such as shoes and apparel. "With the sale of Cobra, we have the opportunity to devote all of our resources to the global growth of our industry-leading Titleist and FootJoy brands," Wally Uihlein, Chairman and CEO of Acushnet Company, says in the company news release announcing the sale. Assuming regulatory approval, Puma acquires the Cobra brand, along with inventory, intellectual property and endorsement contracts. Camilo Villegas, Ian Poulter and J.B. Holmes are among the tour pros playing Cobra equipment. Acushnet will continue to provide production and distribution of Cobra Golf equipment, along with customer service, for the time being, in agreement with Puma, until Puma is ready to assume those services itself. That servicing agreement extends beyond the closing of the sale, but the period of time is unspecified in the announcements today by Acushnet and Puma. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/golfmanufacturers/p/cobragolf.htm">History of Cobra Golf</a> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/10/acushnet-sells-cobra-golf-to-puma.htm">Acushnet Sells Cobra Golf to Puma</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/">About.com Golf</a> on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 10:52:02.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/10/acushnet-sells-cobra-golf-to-puma.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/10/acushnet-sells-cobra-golf-to-puma.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://golf.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/10/acushnet-sells-cobra-golf-to-puma.htm&zItl=Acushnet Sells Cobra Golf to Puma">Email this</a>

Captain O'Meara Wants Tiger on Tavistock Team

Mark O'Meara <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.thegolfchannel.com/golf-videos/omeara-opens-up-on-tiger-and-more-6770/">told the Golf Channel</a> the he won't be suprised if <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/tigerwoods/tp/tiger_woods.htm">Tiger Woods</a> plays the Tavistock Cup in two weeks. "It might be the right spot or the right fit for him to come back," O'Meara said. O'Meara and Woods are buddies, although O'Meara hasn't had much contact with Woods during the Tiger scandals, only recently starting to trade text messages. But O'Meara is the captain of the Isleworth team in the Tavistock Cup, which pits teams of pros representing Lake Nona and Isleworth country clubs. Does O'Meara wants his friend on the Isleworth team? You bet: "Who wouldn't? ... It certainly would help our team quite a bit." He went on to say that getting back on the golf course might be part of Woods' "healing process": <blockquote>"It's been a rough road the last three or four months in Tiger's life and his family's life. It's a very difficult situation. Golf is what Tiger does and possibly part of the healing process is to get back at it."</blockquote> Are the signs pointing to a Tavistock Tiger return? There have been rumors about the Tavistock Cup for <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/02/07/latest-tiger-rumor-hell-return-at-tavistock-cup.htm">more than a month</a>. Returning there would put Woods in front of smaller, invitation-only galleries, and in complete control of how much time he spends in front of media (as opposed to the media obligations that exist in PGA Tour events). He'd also be playing with friends. The Tavistock Cup takes place March 22-23. O'Meara's comments follow reports from the Golf Channel and Golf Digest that swing coach Hank Haney has joined Woods on the Isleworth driving range. Meanwhile, PGA Tour tournaments on the near-term schedule have started <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://stats.cbc.ca/golf/story.asp?tour=PGA&i=20100309193207770000101&ref=hea&tm=&src=">developing plans</a> for handling the crush of media and fan interest should Woods choose their tournament as his return event. Not because they know anything, tournament directors quickly add, just because it's the prudent thing to do. On the Web: <ul><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.thegolfchannel.com/golf-videos/omeara-opens-up-on-tiger-and-more-6770/">Mark O'Meara interview</a></li></ul> (Hat tip: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=aGez.OL_F3Ek">Reuters</a>)<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/10/captain-omeara-wants-tiger-on-tavistock-team.htm">Captain O'Meara Wants Tiger on Tavistock Team</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/">About.com Golf</a> on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 09:40:13.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/10/captain-omeara-wants-tiger-on-tavistock-team.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/10/captain-omeara-wants-tiger-on-tavistock-team.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://golf.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/10/captain-omeara-wants-tiger-on-tavistock-team.htm&zItl=Captain O'Meara Wants Tiger on Tavistock Team">Email this</a>

Agreement Closes Ping Eye 2 Loophole for Pros

The controversy early this year on the PGA Tour over the so-called "<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/a/ping-eye-2-grooves.htm">Ping Eye 2 loophole</a>" to the new groove regulations is near a close. Ping announced today it has reached an agreeement with the PGA Tour and the USGA that allows those organizations to close the loophole in PGA Tour events and in the U.S. Open. Short version of the loophole: Long-ago legal proceedings between Ping and the PGA Tour and Ping and the USGA resulted in Ping Eye 2s made in the late 1980s remaining "legal" for play despite having grooves that otherwise wouldn't conform to today's rules. (For the long version, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/a/ping-eye-2-grooves.htm">see this</a>.) With new groove rules in place on tour this year, new rules that many pros feared would make their wedges less effective, a handful of touring pros have taken advantage of the loophole by using those old Pings in tournament play. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/golfersmen/p/john_daly.htm">John Daly</a> was one of the first; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/philmickelson/tp/phil_mickelson.htm">Phil Mickelson</a> was the highest-profile, and Phil's use of the old Pings at the Farmers Insurance Open led to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/01/29/mickelson-ripped-for-using-old-wedge.htm">the word "cheating" getting thrown around</a>. But today, in a news release, Ping announced: <blockquote> Ping Chairman and CEO John Solheim announced today that Ping will waive its rights that prevent the PGA Tour from prohibiting the use of pre-April 1990 Ping Eye 2 irons and wedges that do not meet the 2010 Condition of Competition from being played at PGA Tour professional competitions. The waiver goes into effect March 29 and applies to the PGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. As a result of a request from the USGA, Ping will also apply the waiver to the U.S. Open in June. The PGA Tour will then adopt a Condition of the Competition that does not provide an exception for the pre-April 1990 Ping Eye 2 irons.</blockquote> The waiver by Ping of the rights brokered under that long-ago legal agreement does not apply to USGA-sanctioned amateur tournaments. If you're an amateur, and you've been taking advantage of the loophole to use old Ping Eye 2 wedges, you can keep right on doing so in any tournaments governed by the USGA Rules of Golf. On the Web: <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.pgatour.com/2010/r/03/08/ping_tour/index.html">Ping, PGA Tour reach resolution on club issue</a></li></ul> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/08/agreement-closes-ping-eye-2-loophole-for-pros.htm">Agreement Closes Ping Eye 2 Loophole for Pros</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/">About.com Golf</a> on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 13:38:04.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/08/agreement-closes-ping-eye-2-loophole-for-pros.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/08/agreement-closes-ping-eye-2-loophole-for-pros.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://golf.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/08/agreement-closes-ping-eye-2-loophole-for-pros.htm&zItl=Agreement Closes Ping Eye 2 Loophole for Pros">Email this</a>

This Week: WGC CA Championship

<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/tigerwoods/tp/tiger_woods.htm">Tiger Woods</a> won't be at the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/p/ca_championship.htm">WGC CA Championship</a> this week, and neither will Ryo Ishikawa. Tiger's absence is no suprise at all, but now that he's practicing again we can expect to see stories every Friday afternoon - the deadline to commit to the following week's event - noting when Woods fails to join the field. But keep in that mind that the CA Championship will be only the third <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/tp/pgatour.htm">PGA Tour</a> event that Woods has missed during his, ahem, hiatus. To this point in the season, Woods would only have played the Farmers Insurance Open (Torrey Pines) and the WGC Match Play Championship in one of his "normal" years. Ishikawa has a much better reason than Woods for missing the CA Championship: He's attending his high school graduation. Today, in fact. The 18-year-old is in Tokyo with his fellow students getting his diploma. Good for him. Anyone think Camilo Villegas isn't the favorite this week? In three tournaments in 2010, he's finished third, eighth and first. The defending champion is <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/philmickelson/tp/phil_mickelson.htm">Phil Mickelson</a>. Remember him? Check the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/p/ca_championship.htm">WGC CA Championship</a> tournament page for the list of past champions and more tourney info and trivia.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/08/this-week-wgc-ca-championship-4.htm">This Week: WGC CA Championship</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/">About.com Golf</a> on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 11:27:00.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/08/this-week-wgc-ca-championship-4.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/08/this-week-wgc-ca-championship-4.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://golf.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/08/this-week-wgc-ca-championship-4.htm&zItl=This Week: WGC CA Championship">Email this</a>

Sunday Summary: Big Wins for Villegas, Couples

Great day of golf on Sunday. Here's a summary: PGA Tour: Camilo Villegas has the looks, the swagger, the charisma, the game, the "<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/golfersmen/ss/camilo-villegas-spiderman.htm">Spider-Man pose</a>." Now he has another win. Villegas kept the pedal down all week at the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/p/honda_classic.htm">Honda Classic</a>, opening with a pair of 66s, going 67-68 on the weekend. He led by three at the start of the final round, and by five at the end of it. It's PGA Tour victory No. 3 for Villegas, and his first since the 2008 Tour Championship. Villegas has played three tournaments so far this year, and finished eighth or better in all three. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r010/">Details</a> (And see also: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/golfersmen/tp/Camilo-Villegas-Pictures.htm">Camilo Villegas pictures</a>) Champions Tour: If you thought Villegas was off to a hot start, that's nothing compared to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/golfersmen/p/fred_couples.htm">Fred Couples</a>' start on the Champions Tour: second, first, first. Freddy Cool's second Champions Tour victory was by four strokes at the Toshiba Classic. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s573/">Details</a> Nationwide Tour: Steve Pate defeated Aaron Watkins in a playoff at the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open in Colombia (Camilo Villegas' brother Manuel finished 15th). Steve Pate ... wasn't he a Ryder Cupper once? Twice, actually, in 1991 and 1999. But this note from the PGA Tour media guide about his 1991 <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/rydercup/a/ryder_cup.htm">Ryder Cup</a> gives a clue to the nature of Pate's career: "... played in only one match due to bruised hip suffered in traffic accident on way to team banquet." Pate finished sixth on the PGA Tour money list in 1991, but injuries took a toll. He cracked a wrist in 1996, and broke his right hand and wrist in a car wreck in 1997. In 1999, he was PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year, finishing 13th on the money list. But his game quickly fell off after that. Now he's a couple weeks away from 49. Champions Tour, here he comes! But please be careful in traffic, Steve. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/h104/">Details</a> European Tour/Asian Tour: 18-year-old Korean Seung-yul Noh, the 2008 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year, beat KJ Choi by one stroke. He did it by chipping from behind a hospitality tent, off the fringe of the practice putting green, to the 18th green, then making the last-hole birdie putt. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.europeantour.com/default.sps?pageid=127&pagegid=%7BAEFB93B0%2DEFF5%2D4C05%2DAB0F%2DFD08D947D944%7D&eventid=2010009&infosid=3">Details</a> LET/ALPG: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/golferswomen/p/karrie_webb.htm">Karrie Webb</a> flirted with a 59 before "settling" for a course-record 61 to win the co-sanctioned ANZ Ladies Masters for a record seventh time. She won by six strokes over Katherine Hull and Bo-Mee Lee. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://alpg.com.au/index.php?page_id=311">Details</a> JLPGA: Ai Miyazato's attempt to win three straight weeks ended in Japan at the Daikin Orchid Ladies tournament, where Ai finished tied for seventh. The winner was Korean Sun Ju Ahn, running away from runners-up including Jiyai Shin and Inbee Park. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://mlyhlss.blogspot.com/2010/03/daikin-orchid-ladies-sunday-just-like.html">Details</a> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/07/sunday-summary-big-win-for-villegas.htm">Sunday Summary: Big Wins for Villegas, Couples</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/">About.com Golf</a> on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 18:44:30.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/07/sunday-summary-big-win-for-villegas.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/07/sunday-summary-big-win-for-villegas.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://golf.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/07/sunday-summary-big-win-for-villegas.htm&zItl=Sunday Summary: Big Wins for Villegas, Couples">Email this</a>

Looking Back: British Opens

Here are a couple trivia questions for you today: 1. Which Hall-of-Famer whiffed a putt on the 72nd hole of a British Open to fall out of a playoff? 2. Which Hall-of-Famer, upon visiting St. Andrews for the first time, spotted the Old Course and said, "That looks like an old, abandoned golf course?" For answer No. 1, see the results of the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/majorchampionships/l/bl1933britishopen.htm">1933 British Open</a>. For answer No. 2, see the results of the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/majorchampionships/l/bl1946britishopen.htm">1946 British Open</a>.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/07/looking-back-british-opens.htm">Looking Back: British Opens</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/">About.com Golf</a> on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 08:28:06.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/07/looking-back-british-opens.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/07/looking-back-british-opens.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://golf.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/07/looking-back-british-opens.htm&zItl=Looking Back: British Opens">Email this</a>

Camilo Villegas' Spidey Sense

What would happen if you tried to duplicate Camilo Villegas' so-called "<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/golfersmen/ss/camilo-villegas-spiderman.htm">Spider-Man pose</a>" for reading greens? I could probably get down into the position, but would need the help of three buddies to get back up again. Villegas became a fan favorite early in his PGA Tour career, well before he established himself as a star by winning, in part due to the unique method he employs for reading greens. Villegas gets low. Very low. He strikes the Spider-Man pose. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/golfersmen/ss/camilo-villegas-spiderman.htm">Check out some images</a> of Villegas employing his green-reading technique, and cast your vote in a poll on the last page.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/06/camilo-villegas-spidey-sense.htm">Camilo Villegas' Spidey Sense</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/">About.com Golf</a> on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 21:11:31.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/06/camilo-villegas-spidey-sense.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/06/camilo-villegas-spidey-sense.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://golf.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/06/camilo-villegas-spidey-sense.htm&zItl=Camilo Villegas' Spidey Sense">Email this</a>

Creamer Tweets Injury Update

<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/paulacreamer/p/paula_creamer.htm">Paula Creamer</a> withdrew from the LPGA season opener a couple weeks ago after re-injuring her left thumb. Since then, she's posted a few updates on Twitter, including about the raft of hand specialists she's visited. Creamer has had appointments in Detroit, Cincinnati and Alabama. What are the findings? You only have to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/ThePCreamer">follow Creamer</a> on Twitter to get the news straight from her. Short version: Strained ligament, hyperextended joint, return to LPGA action up in the air. The (only slightly) longer version was posted in four tweets. I've put those tweets together into this statement from Creamer: <blockquote>"Many of you have been wondering what the latest is with my thumb. I have been diagnosed as having a stretched ligament in my left thumb. This leads to hyperextension of my MCP joint. I've learned more in the last 2 weeks about orthopedic sports medicine than I ever thought I would. Anyway, I'm working with an occupational therapist now to determine if I can wear a support brace while playing. It's too early right now to say when I'll be able to return to play. Thanks everyone for your concern, support, and all the get well wishes you have sent."</blockquote> I'm sure I speak for our readers when adding our own get-well wishes. The LPGA needs Creamer's star power. It's three weeks before the LPGA plays again, at the Kia Classic Presented by J Golf, March 25-28. See also: <ul><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/golferswomen/a/creamerpictures.htm">Paula Creamer pictures</a></li></ul><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/05/creamer-tweets-injury-update.htm">Creamer Tweets Injury Update</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/">About.com Golf</a> on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 11:22:05.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/05/creamer-tweets-injury-update.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/05/creamer-tweets-injury-update.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://golf.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/05/creamer-tweets-injury-update.htm&zItl=Creamer Tweets Injury Update">Email this</a>

Tiger Turning Heads on Driving Range

<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/tigerwoods/tp/tiger_woods.htm">Tiger Woods</a> is back practicing at the Isleworth Country Club driving range, and some fellow PGA Tour pros are taking notice. So far, Charles Howell III and J.B. Holmes have both shared the range with Woods, and both came away impressed. Howell <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.cbssports.com/golf/story/12999092/tour-colleague-howell-reports-tiger-looked-good-on-practice-range">told CBSSports.com</a> that he spent an hour with Woods, including watching Tiger hit balls. Did Woods look rusty? No: <blockquote>"... (H)e looked as good as he ever has," Howell said. "Seriously, he seemed like he was hitting it the same as he ever did."</blockquote> Holmes watched Woods from the other end of the Isleworth range, and <a href="http://www.golfweek.com/news/2010/mar/03/holmes-spots-tiger-isleworth-range-too/">told Golfweek</a>: <blockquote>"I watched him hit about five or six drivers, and it looked like they all ended up in a 10-yard area. I said to myself, 'It looks like he's hitting it pretty good.' "</blockquote> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/majorchampionships/a/the_masters.htm">The Masters</a> is one month away. Between then and now, there are two PGA Tour events that Woods plays, the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/p/ca_championship.htm">WGC CA Championship</a> next week and the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/od/progolftours/p/palmer_inv.htm">Arnold Palmer Invitational</a> March 25-28. There's also the Tavistock Cup March 22-23, an event that has been the subject of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/02/07/latest-tiger-rumor-hell-return-at-tavistock-cup.htm">speculation</a> as a potential return target for Tiger. Meanwhile, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.golfweek.com/news/2010/mar/03/nicklaus-cant-imagine-woods-missing-masters/">Jack Nicklaus said</a> of Woods' possible return, "I can't imagine in 100 years he's going to miss Augusta." What do you think? <SCRIPT LANGUAGE= "javaScript" SRC="http://guidepolls.about.com/golf/7727836248/poll.js?linkback="></script> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/04/tiger-turning-heads-on-driving-range.htm">Tiger Turning Heads on Driving Range</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/">About.com Golf</a> on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 13:42:11.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/04/tiger-turning-heads-on-driving-range.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/04/tiger-turning-heads-on-driving-range.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://golf.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://golf.about.com/b/2010/03/04/tiger-turning-heads-on-driving-range.htm&zItl=Tiger Turning Heads on Driving Range">Email this</a>