We get a surprising amount of mail that questions Tiger Woods' talent, well-being, schedule, vocabulary and "pampering" by the media. We even get them, like one from reader John D. Riley of St. Augustine, FL, questioning why Tiger's caddy, Steve Williams, is allowed to remove his caddy bib before completion of the 18th hole. We get surprisingly few defending the greatest player ever. Here's one.

Dear Editor,
I know that Mr. Woods hardly needs anyone (else) to speak for him or his golf game, but I feel you gave short shrift to the result of his place in the draw even as you pointed out that only 1 player in that side of the draw was in the top ten after the first 36 holes. In fact, it appears that everyone who finished ahead of Tiger started in the other side of the draw. I would just like to state this fact: Tiger was the only player in the tournament with 3 rounds under par. Luck of the Draw notwithstanding, I believe had he been on the late-early side of the draw, he would have won going away. In no way would I add this performance to "the growing list of majors he let get away". And I certainly wouldn't bet against him in the remaining two majors for 2009.

Respectfully,

Jay Sedrish
Playa del Rey, CA

--Bob Carney

"Some guy hit my fender and I said, 'Be fruitful and multiply,' but not in those words." Woody Allen

In the July issue of Golf Digest columnist David Owen argued that "the occasional unscripted F-Bomb makes golf on TV easier to endure." Not so fast, said one Idaho reader.

Dear Editor,
Regarding the "Fleeting expletives" article by David Owen: To compare dropping four-letter "bombs" to ads for ED or prostate issues in the TV decency debate is like comparing raisins to coconuts. Golf has always been and should always remain a gentleman's game, the last bastion of its kind. That being said, it remains that a gentleman does not need to use 4-letter "bombs". End of debate.

Sharon Hanson
Boise, ID

Thanks, Sharon. Just how we keep golf a "gentleman's (or gentlewoman's) game" is a tough one. At our club, for example, we're currently engaged in a debate about cargo shorts, a piece of apparel that is seen as ungentlemanly by a lot of our members. Not part of the game's great tradition, what? I know that language is very different than this and it's disquieting to hear a professional athlete utter a word you'd prefer your kids not hear and certainly not repeat. And I'm not sure I'd argue that it makes golf on television better, except, as David argues, that it allows us to see more of Tiger, who seems prone to these utterances. There are obscenities I'd attack first, however, the primary one being slow play. I suspect it's the source of more foul language than imperfect shots, and the source of most golf "road rage", as Bill Pennington reported in the Times over the weekend, which results in some very poor language. If the pros all take off their hats and shake hands after the round, that forgives momentary language lapses for. Provided they play at a reasonable #$%^#ing rate of speed.

--Bob Carney

The jury is still out on the golf in the Olympics, with the decision to come within weeks. The PGA Tour, once skeptical, now leads the crusade to have golf added to the games. Our friend from Michigan, Justin Blair, is leaning "no", especially after watching the year's second major.

Dear Editor,
No way should golf be an Olympic sport--and this is coming from a golf fanatic. Four- and-a-half majors; the Ryder Cup, Presidents and FedEx Cups; the WGC events... that's asking too much. Unless, of course, they use amateurs for the Olympic Games... which they won't. The USGA, PGA and R&A are interested in "growth" (or: How To Make More Money In An Already Expensive Sport) so I can understand their need to push so hard. It's too bad that Jack and Annika's integrity look compromised.

Justin Blair
Three Rivers, MI

--Bob Carney

Golf World's news of the 2014 "double major" at Pinehurst, when the USGA will conduct it's men's and women's Opens back-to-back, generated this intriguing idea from a Florida reader:

Dear Editor, To Mr. Ron Sirak and Mr. Ryan Herrington: I have always thought back-to-back (men's and women's) tournaments were a fabulous concept. Better yet would be back-to-back Masters at Augusta. A Masters for men followed by a Masters for women. This, in my view, would be a grand slam for every party involved. The Masters Committee themselves would be congratulated by women golfers and women around the world. It would be a public relations boost and a huge, positive jolt for golf, to say the least. Whatever you could do to present and push this idea would be appreciated. Perhaps you could let me know what you may think. I realize there would be obstacles, but I think the idea remains fabulous.

Jack Ridolph
The Villages, Florida

Very interesting idea, Jack. The obstacles you speak of our huge, however. On the other hand, so were the odds against the USGA conducting its two big events back to back. I remember a conversation with former USGA president Judy Bell, now in the World Golf Hall of Fame, when the idea was discussed at the Executive Committee level back in 1998 at Blackwolf Run. Judy confirmed that the idea of holding Opens simultaneously at contiguous sites had been raised. I said, "So you could use Winged Foot West and Winged Foot East, for example?" And she replied, "Yes, or Pebble and Cypress!" We did not get simultaneous Opens--too impractical--but in 2014 we will get back-to-back Opens, and that's pretty cool. And if that can happen....

--Bob Carney

Contrary to what's occurred with the real championship, rain has delayed zero rounds in the Virtual U.S. Open, conducted by World Golf Tour. As of Friday, Alex Withers, who heads the USGA's digital effort, said there had been 140,000 entries in the cyber event, well beyond WGT's 100,000 goal.

One player has a foot in both worlds: Ryuji Imada, who shot 75 in his opening round, prepped for the real Open using the game. "He came to us and said, 'Can you create a player with my exact specs?'" said Yu Chiang Cheng, WGT's CEO. "He gave us his yardages with every club and we built a player for him. He said it helped him get to know the course even before he'd ever been here. He said it saved him a lot of walking." And how did Imada do virtually? "I don't tell you what he shot the first time out," said Chad Nelson, WGT president. "But he said it was very hard." (As of this morning, he's also in danger of missing the real cut).

The World Golf Tour folks think many players will use games like this one to create game plans for courses they have yet to see, especially if the game is built on photographs--about 100,000 of them in this case--as WGT's Bethpage game is.

Weather forecast for today's virtual Open: Fair and sunny.

--Bob Carney

If it's been a challenge for the Bethpage greenkeepers and the USGA ops folks, it's been just as much of a challenge to the broadcasters trying to make sense of it. Knowledge of this did not prevent Golf World reader Jerry McKenna from commenting on the commentators.

Dear Editor,
It's to bad that ESPN couldn't get Lanny Wadkins in the booth with Curtis Stange and Chris Berman. If they could have pulled that off they would have had the three worst golf announcers in the past 25 years on their broadcast. ESPN can and should do better.

Jerry McKenna
Dublin, Oh

That's very cruel, Jerry, and with Father's Day just around the corner! Actually, I found Berman much toned-down this year, eschewing lame nicknames and trying to be well, like a golf announcer. I also found Curtis' comments yesterday on his consecutive Opens, and the pressure and physical demands of the second pretty interesting. One ought to keep an electronic scrapbook substitute candid quotes 20 years after the events for the empty ones they gave us at the time. But Curtis seemed rusty, I'll give you that. In the end, it was reassuring to hear the commentary of Johnny Miller on the ESPN re-cap show last night. Maltbie, Miller, Hicks...back on solid ground. My one beef is that we never got a graphic on exactly which players had completed exactly which portion of their rounds. It reminded me of the 1997 Ryder Cup, where the time delay coupled with rain delays left a lot of us completly disconnected from the event. I long for this thing to catch up....to the right number of holes and the right team of announcers.

--Bob Carney

Against all odds, we will not be playing the U.S. Open on Tuesday. Against my bets, we also will not have a playoff. But one Golf World reader from North Carolina took the time to voice his opposition to the USGA's 18-hole playoff anyway.

Dear Editor,
What is the difference between 72 holes and sudden death vs. 90 holes and sudden death? NONE...... It is still a major championship determined by sudden death. The most exciting conclusions to major championships have been the sudden death playoffs at the Masters. Those are the one's people remember. The U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA should use sudden death just like the Masters to determine their champion. No one in the world would complain except for the runners-up.

Thomas Ray
Liberty NC

Thomas, we're on the other side of this one. First, it's beyond rare that the 18-hole playoff doesn't settle things. Second, I wish all four majors settled regulation-play ties with an 18-hole playoff, but the other three find it "impractical." I'm happy that the USGA does not find it so and has stuck to its guns. To me the more interesting question is this: If the 18-hole playoff is also tied, as it was in 2008, should co-champions be declared? Certainly, that might not be satisfying to the public, but one could argue that it's the most equitable result. I think the adulation for Rocco Mediate in the past year is a sign that some fans would support it. Won't ever happen, though.

--Bob Carney

When the subject is the Angry Golfer, there is little agreement but plenty of mail. His latest missive on Tiger Woods elicited the usual contradictory reactions. (For all of you who love or hate Mr. Hawkins' angry rants, note that he'll be doing them on video from the US Open at soggy Bethpage. His first report is up now.)

Dear Edtior,
Regarding the Angry Golfer column in Golf World's 6/15/09 issue: I know there's a point in there somewhere, but WHAT is he angry about?

colemantorgan@aol.com

Dear Editor,
Just want to say John Hawkins and Angry Golfer is my favorite article. I turn to it first and always enjoy John's veiwpoint. I agree or disagree which is the nature of opinions. Sometimes informing but always entertaining I look forward to Golf World and the Angry Golfer each week to be kept abreast of the news in golf and the rants of John Hawkins.

Dave Feherty's comments, jokes, adjectives, and clothing keep me in stitches. If only his column were with your publication instead of the ad rag that currently has him. So, tell all those that think they could do better or be better without John and Dave's help to give it a rest.

Thanks for a great read.

Steve Fernando
Bakersfield, CA

--Bob Carney

(Photo: J.D. Cuban)

John Hawkins struck a nerve with his sympathetic story on Jim Furyk, accompanied by that wonderful cover. The Furyk fans came out of the wood work.

Dear Editor,
I have to admit, when I received my June 15th edition of Golf World, I thought the cover (with Jim Furyk in the clown suit) was a joke especially after Tiger's performance at The Memorial. But the article about Furyk was excellent. Jim Furyk has always been one of my favorite players on tour and this article confirmed the reasons why. Well written John Hawkins.

Ch

Dear Editor,
Wow ... really great photo of a great guy....but...Jim Furyk is about the LAST person I would think of as a clown!
I think Adam Scott or Anthony Kim or maybe Aaron Baddeley would be more apt based on their the current state of their games.

Larry Morrison
Arvada, CO

Here's my theory. Any guy who will sit for that kind of photo session and be willing to stick his neck--er, nose--out so that you golf fans can be entertained, can't be all bad. And as Fuzzy Zoeller said the other night, he's also a contender this week, funny swing or no.

--Bob Carney

Dear Editor,
Are you kidding me?
I was amused to hear that John Feinstein and Rocco Mediate are writing a book proudly describing how Rocco lost to Tiger in the US Open playoff. I’m trying to imagine Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Billy Casper, Raymond Floyd, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Tom Weiskopf or Lee Trevino proudly describing how they lost to Jack Nicklaus while he was playing on one leg. Is there any wonder why the current crop of PGA pros in the U.S. play for top tens and never win anything?

Marty Wasser
Assistant Golf Professional
Firethorne Country Club
Marvin, NC

Marty, if you needed evidence for your point of view, this past weekend at the Memorial was it. How can, one might ask, a field four shots up on Tiger, not at least force him into extra holes? How can player after player say, after failing to make critical shots down the stretch, that he was "pretty pleased" with his week? I've talked to Lee Trevino after he lost a tournament that way. He was not pretty pleased, I can tell you that.

We get a lot of letters here taking us and broadcasters to task for "over-covering" Tiger. Are you kidding? Who else would we cover? Twice this year, still re-habbing a knee, he spotted the field four and five shots and won without so much as a playoff hole! And nobody this past weekend, with the exception of Geoff Ogilvy, who was beyond steamed and skipped the press conference, seemed that upset about it. Pretty good week.

It's great for TV ratings. It's great for Tiger fans. But for those of us wanting to see the best challenged by the rest at their best (which Rocco, to his credit gave us last year), to see Tiger feel even the slightest bit of pressure, finishes like Sunday's leave one infuriated. Let's hope it's not what we see next week at Bethpage. I'm with you. Forget the book deal. Let's see someone take him on.

--Bob Carney