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Friday, March 7, 2014

Phil Mickelson enjoys working vacation at Greenbrier Classic before tough stretch

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Phil Mickelson skipped the Greenbrier Classic last year, but is thrilled with all the fun his family has been enjoying so far this week.

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John Raby

Associated Press

Series: PGA Tour

Phil Mickelson’s initial impressions of West Virginia’s Greenbrier resort were about all things family.

A relaxed Mickelson was as eager to list the activities for his wife, Amy, and three children, as he was about taking on the retooled Old White TPC at the Greenbrier Classic beginning Thursday.

For starters, there was laser tag, climbing a wooden tower and maneuvering on a giant swing 45 feet in the air. There also were plans to interact with trained falcons and go white-water rafting.

“It’s an amazing place,” Mickelson said. “I can’t get over all the fun things that they have to do. My daughters are excited about the falconry. I don’t know where in the world you can do that. The golf is a bonus.”

Rather than take an extra week off, Mickelson is one of just two golfers among the top 20 in the world entered in the Greenbrier Classic, with Retief Goosen being the other.

It makes for a tough schedule that also will take Mickelson to next week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational five hours to the north in Akron, Ohio, followed by the PGA Championship in Atlanta, then the grueling FedExCup playoffs.

So far, having the loved ones along made the early part of the week seem a bit more like a vacation.

“To have an environment here that’s so family friendly, it makes it easy,” Mickelson said Wednesday.

Coming off a tie for second at the British Open, Mickelson can take over the FedExCup points lead with a win at the Greenbrier Classic. He’s currently fourth. Webb Simpson, at No. 9, is the only other golfer in the top 10 in points entered.

“I had a good tournament there at the British and I felt like I turned the corner,” Mickelson said. “I’m starting to put things together slowly, be a little bit more patient, enjoy my time on the course and be more creative hitting shots again. I’m excited about this next three-week stretch.”

Mickelson’s only impressions of the par-70 Old White before this week were from television, watching Stuart Appleby shoot 59 to win last year’s inaugural tournament at 22 under, a stroke better than Jeff Overton.

Mickelson will be in the same group as Appleby and Greenbrier pro emeritus Tom Watson for the first two rounds and plans to pay particular attention to the defending champion.

“I’ll probably watch a little bit how he plays this course,” Mickelson said.

Mickelson was paired in a pro-am Wednesday with Greenbrier owner Jim Justice, who made it one of his missions to lure Mickelson to this event.

“I like old-style golf courses,” Mickelson said. “I like courses that are fun to play, courses that you can make birdies, you can be aggressive on, you can recover if you make a mistake. And this course seems to suit that.”

It’s just not suitable for 59s anymore. The Old White has undergone significant changes since last year.

Fairways have been narrowed, bunkers have been added and the 97-year-old course has been lengthened more than 200 yards. A lake on No. 16 was expanded. The greens were reseeded with bentgrass and should be firmer and faster.

“It’s got to be, I think, between three and four shots harder than what it was for us Saturday and Sunday last year compared to today,” Appleby said. “You know, anyone shooting in the mid-teens I think would be a very good score.”

Especially for Appleby, who’s in another slump.

He’s missed nine cuts in his last 12 tournaments, was disqualified from the AT&T National for signing an incorrect scorecard and withdrew from the St. Jude Classic after shooting 8 over in the first round. But he entered last year’s Greenbrier Classic in a slide too: he hadn’t won since 2006.

“You know, at this time last year, I was also very frustrated,” Appleby said. “The game works in weird ways.”

Watson missed last year’s tournament in order to compete in the U.S. Senior Open. He’s entered this year and joked that, given the course’s makeover, he’d like to play from the seniors’ tees.

“There’s not going to be any 59s shot,” Watson said. “The greens are a lot firmer. The ball is not going to stop. It’s going to take a lot of skill to get the ball close to the flag positions on these greens. It’s like playing the links greens where they really are hard and they release.”

Notes: The top 50 in the world rankings will earn exemptions into Bridgestone next week. Among those entered in the Greenbrier Classic and fighting for automatic spots are Ryan Palmer, who is 52nd and was the runner-up to Hunter Mahan at Bridgestone last year, and Webb Simpson at No. 53. Jonathan Byrd, at No. 50, also is entered. … Like Appleby last year, the winner of The Greenbrier Classic also will make the Bridgestone field if he hasn’t previously qualified. … The winner of the Greenbrier Classic will receive $1.08 million. It’s the final event for the top 70 on the PGA Tour money list to earn spots in the PGA Championship. The Greenbrier winner also earns an automatic exemption to the PGA Championship if he hasn’t already qualified. Among those still looking to get in are Jimmy Walker at No. 72 and Carl Pettersson at No. 73.

Glover and Clarke share lead after two rounds at Open Championship

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Lucas Glover's even par round was good enough to snag him a share of the lead heading into the weekend.

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Associated Press

Series: News Feature

SANDWICH, England (AP) -- A player from Northern Ireland charged up the leaderboard at the Open Championship.

Just not the one you might expect.

Darren Clarke shot his second straight 2-under 68 on Friday, taking a lead role heading to the weekend and showing his younger countrymen a thing or two at Royal St. George's.

Once the face of Northern Ireland golf, the 42-year-old Clarke became an afterthought when first Graeme McDowell, then Rory McIlroy claimed major championships. Maybe it's time for the old guy to get his title, too.

"It would mean an awful lot," Clarke said. "But obviously, this is only after two rounds. There's an awful long way to go yet."

Clarke rolled in a 90-footer for eagle at the seventh and closed his round with a birdie at the tough 18th, sending him to the clubhouse tied for the top spot with Lucas Glover at 4-under 136.

Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, followed an opening 66 with a solid 70 on a warm, sunny day on the English seaside.

"I didn't hole as many putts as I did yesterday," the bearded Glover said. "But I'm happy to grind out even par."

The U.S. has gone five straight majors without a title -- its longest drought of the modern Grand Slam era. Glover shrugged off the slump; besides, he could be in line to snap another streak.

"They told me no one has won the Open Championship with a beard since the 1890s," he said.

Also in contention from the other side of the Atlantic: Chad Campbell, who shot 68 and was one shot back at 3-under 137; Dustin Johnson (68) and old-timers Davis Love III (68) and Tom Lehman (67), all at 138; and, yes, even Phil Mickelson, who came to England trying to forget his Open record.

Lefty has only one top-10 finish in 17 previous appearances. Despite missing several short putts over the first two days, a 69 made him a factor at 139.

"It's fun to be in contention heading to the weekend of the British Open," he said.

McIlroy won't run away with this championship as he did last month at the U.S. Open, but the 22-year-old wasn't complaining about his position. Playing in the afternoon, after the wind picked up, he shot an impressive 69 and was at 140 overall.

He saved his best for last, pulling out a par after plugging his approach in a pot bunker in front of the green. McIlroy somehow knocked it on the green and sank a 12-foot putt, pumping his fist as he walked toward the cup.

All four current major champions were headed to the weekend, but not the top-ranked player in the world. England's Luke Donald closed with four straight bogeys for a 75.

PGA champion Martin Kaymer (67) was at 137, with Masters winner Charl Schwartzel (68) another stroke back. Defending Open champion Louis Oosthuizen (70) also was safely above the cut line at 142.

The forecast was much worse for the final two rounds, with both wind and rain expected.

Bring it on, said Mickelson.

"One of the things I'm looking forward to is actually the bad weather," he said. "I hope it comes in."

Bjorn, playing in the same group as Dyson, was in danger of falling completely out of the mix when he bogeyed three straight holes at the start of his round. But the 40-year-old Dane pulled himself together, playing 1 under the rest of the way for a 72 that left him one stroke off the lead heading to the weekend.

"It wasn't the prettiest of days golfwise, but I'll take where I stand in the championship," Bjorn said.

So will Miguel Angel Jimenez, also at 137 after shooting 71.

There was plenty of experience on the leaderboard with 40-somethings Clarke, Jimenez, Bjorn and Love, plus the 52-year-old Lehman, who won the Open 15 years ago.

"The round just kind of flowed," Lehman said. "I hit it solidly, made a few nice putts, drove the ball extremely well, so I feel like I wasn't really pressured all day long. It was a good day."

The opening round produced a pair of unlikely leaders. Bjorn had missed the cut in four of five events before he got to Royal St. George's, his game in disarray, his heart heavy after the death of his father, and lugging around plenty of baggage at this place.

Eight years ago, Bjorn squandered a two-stroke lead in the final three holes, allowing Ben Curtis to sneak away with one of golf's most improbable wins.

Getting into the tournament on Monday as an alternate when Vijay Singh dropped out, Bjorn played only one practice round, then went out and shot a 65.

So did 20-year-old Tom Lewis, who became the first amateur to lead the Open since 1968, the first to pace any major since Mike Reid at the 1976 U.S. Open.

But Reid looked more his age in the second round, bogeying the final two holes for a 74 that dropped him three strokes off the pace. At No. 18, Lewis knocked his approach over the green, striking a fence post in front of the grandstands and forcing him to play a chip off a gravel road.

Still, he's made it through to the weekend -- his primary goal.

"If you asked me that two days ago, I would have taken it," Lewis said. "But at this moment, it doesn't feel so good."

At least he had a good view for the shot of the day.

Playing partner Tom Watson, the five-time Open champion Lewis is named after, sent a charge through the place with a hole-in-one at the sixth.

Pulling out a 4-iron, Watson sent the ball soaring to the green, then watched it bounce one time before dropping into the cup. The 61-year-old threw both arms in the air, high-fived Henrik Stenson, shook hands with Lewis, then took a bow toward the grandstand.

"Wish I could have seen it go in," Watson said as he walked toward the hole to retrieve the second hole-in-one at this Open. Johnson aced the 16th during the opening round.

Watson missed some short putts, though, and finished with a 70 for a 142, good enough to send him through to the weekend.

The morning starters definitely caught a break with the weather. Early on, there was barely a cloud in the sky and little wind off the Strait of Dover, the flags hanging limply above the grandstand.

Clarke took advantage, though it had nothing do with being spurred on by the success of his younger countrymen.

"I've been personally delighted for both of them," he said. "We've got back-to-back U.S. Open champions from a small, little country like Northern Ireland. That's a massive achievement."

Clarke will likely be carrying on this weekend without McDowell, who stumbled to a 77 for a 5-over 145.

"It's getting to be a bit of a habit, these type of days," McDowell moaned. "A bad habit to get into, obviously."

Donald's finish epitomized the woes for the English, who had hoped to make a big splash at the club that has hosted more Opens outside Scotland than any other course.

Lee Westwood, No. 2 in the world, shot 73 and was in danger of missing the cut. Ian Poulter headed home after a 78.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Tiger Hints at Career Mortality

By Adam FonsecaDecember 12, 2013 3:07 PM

COMMENTARY | When will Tiger Woods retire from professional golf?

It is a truth many golf fans prefer not to think about. Love him or hate him, the idea that Woods will one day hang up his Nike golf shoes and store away his tiger headcover for good seems foreign or science fiction-like.

But, just as so many sporting legends before him, Tiger will one day retire. Earlier this week, he reminded us all of that fact, albeit in a muted way.

During a press conference on Saturday of his Northwestern Mutual World Challenge, Woods was asked how long he sees himself playing at The Masters tournament, having earned a lifetime exemption to the major.

"Let me put it to you this way," Woods replied. "I'm not going to beat Arnold's record. I'm not playing that long. That's for sure."

The record Woods was referring to is the amazing mark set by Arnold Palmer, in which he made 50 consecutive Masters Tournament starts. It is, in a way, golf's version of Cal Ripken's "Iron Man" record of consecutive games played. It is hard to fathom anyone breaking Palmer's record. Perhaps nobody should.

Still, Woods' reply serves as a painful shot of reality that there will come a time when we can no longer watch who many believe to be the greatest golfer of this generation, if not all-time.

The focus that has motivated Woods throughout his career is clear: He wants to win. As Tiger later mentioned in his press conference, the moment he believes he can no longer win golf tournaments will be the moment he calls it quits.

"You know, for me, I always want to win," Woods continued. "So if I can't win, why tee it up?

"That just my own personal belief. And I know what it takes to prepare to win and what it takes to go out there and get the job done, and there's going to be a time where I just can't do it anymore.

"We all, as athletes, face that moment."

One can assume that Woods' motivating factor -- winning -- is commonly found among his peers on the PGA Tour. It is a fundamental concept that drives any successful professional athlete, regardless of sport. Yet, for some, the true motivation is not just winning, but simply competing.

Michael Jordan is perhaps the only athletic figure in our lifetime that comes close to the level of excellence displayed by Tiger Woods. Jordan's competitive nature is legendary, both on and off the court. Tales of physical confrontations with his teammates during practice (!) are well-documented, as well as his off-the-court struggles with gambling.

When Jordan no longer had the ability -- and I use that opinion loosely -- to compete on an NBA court, he turned his attention to other competitive pursuits, including his growing obsession with golf.

In fact, it is rumored that during a friendly golf match with former President Bill Clinton, Jordan forced his opponent to play from the back tees. "You're going to play from the little girls' tees?" His Airness reportedly asked Clinton.

Similarly, Jordan once pounded on the hotel door of Dream Team head coach Chuck Daly until the latter agreed to play the former in a golf rematch. Apparently, Daly had defeated Jordan the previous day. Daly agreed to the rematch, which Jordan won.

While we have yet to see similar displays of competitive obsession from Woods, it is clear that the current World No. 1 is only concerned with winning. But should we expect anything less from those who we expect to be great?

As with Jordan, our desire to see Woods succeed is just as obsessive. We need to see Tiger play, and weneed to see him win. Frankly, anyone who says anything differently would be lying.

Even the biggest dissenters of Tiger require him to be great and to continue winning. Without either, what would they have to critique? To whom would they direct their scorn and negativity? They would no longer have their villain, and that would be downright boring.

Thankfully, we are still years away from having to cope with the post-Tiger Woods era. At 37 years old, Woods is still 13 years from eligibility on the Champions Tour. He could play competitively for another decade after that, assuming he can still notch a win every so often.

Frankly, who would be dumb enough to bet against him?

Unlike Jordan, Woods has never been afraid to speak about the end of his career. He seems in-tune with his place in history, focusing on strengthening his legacy as opposed to having irrational expectations for a professional now over two decades into his career. In turn, Woods also seems mindful of his image and career mortality, especially over the past few years.

It is not uncommon to see Woods laughing with playing partners during tournaments, sharing moments with his children and new girlfriend, Lindsey Vonn, or simply spending more time with fans at the driving range. It is a maturation we often see with pro athletes in one way or another, which Woods has quickly perfected.

Yes, there will be a time when I will write about Tiger Woods, the golfer in past tense. Until that time, however, I am going to enjoy watching every second of what he's willing to give.

Adam Fonseca has covered professional golf since 2005. His work can also be found on the Back9Network. Follow Adam on Twitter at @chicagoduffer.

Teenage LPGA star Lydia Ko signs with IMG

December 12, 2013 3:37 PMAP - Sports

Lydia Ko of New Zealand plays on the first hole during the third and last round of the Evian Championship women's golf tournament in Evian, eastern France, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Lydia Ko, who earned an exemption to join the LPGA Tour in October as a 16-year-old, has signed with management company IMG.

Born in South Korea and raised in New Zealand, Ko is already No. 4 in the rankings and won the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters last week in Taiwan in her second start as a professional.

She won the Women's Canadian Open at 15 last year to become the youngest winner in tour history and defended the title this year.

Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie are among the golfers represented by IMG.

Guy Kinnings, global head of golf at IMG, says in a statement on Thursday that Ko ''is an incredibly impressive young lady and an astonishing player.''

Cejka shoots 64 to take 1st-round lead in Thailand

December 12, 2013 3:51 PMAP - Sports

Alex Cejka of Germany hits the bunker shot on the 18th hole at the Hong Kong Open golf tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

CHON BURI, Thailand (AP) -- Four-time European Tour champion Alex Cejka of Germany upstaged a star-filled field with an 8-under 64 Thursday to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Thailand Golf Championship.

The 43-year-old Cejka rolled in his eighth birdie of the day on the 17th hole to take the sole lead from Justin Rose, who was already in the clubhouse after a bogey-free round.

With some of golf's biggest names playing in the Asian Tour event this week, few had expected Cejka to be atop the leaderboard. His last European Tour win came in 2002, and he finished 12th in Hong Kong last week.

''I hit the ball very well today,'' Cejka said. ''The greens roll perfect. I took a couple big chances and made birdies. ... I hope my form will continue like this and we will see how it goes in the next three rounds.''

The fourth-ranked Rose was tied for second with Arnond Vongvanij of Thailand after picking up three birdies on the front nine before adding four more on the back at the Amata Spring Country Club.

''I felt like I was reading the green well. My putting felt really sharp,'' Rose said. ''But you have to stay out of the roughs on this course.''

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel was in a tie for sixth with Sergio Garcia and two others after a 68. Third-ranked Henrik Stenson and former Masters champion Bubba Watson both started with a 70 to sit tied for 15th, as did Rickie Fowler.