Golf Digest Search Results

Don't fear the rain with Gorilla Gold

Derek Evers — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:52:00 GMT

By Jeff Patterson Admittedly, I've gone ape over Gorilla Gold, a $5 towel that adds tackiness to your grips. At the national golf writers' tournament, it poured so hard that by the second tee,...

Five questions with Nike TW '14 designer Tobie Hatfield

Derek Evers — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:58:00 GMT

Including Sunday's win wearing the Nike TW '14, Tiger Woods has won eight times since switching to a sneaker-like golf shoe he designed with Tobie Hatfield, the mind behind the Nike Free running shoes....

Players park drivers at Players

Derek Evers — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:37:00 GMT

By E. Michael Johnson Over the last decade or so professional golf has become a power game with an equipment focus on balls that fly like flubber and drivers the size of saucepans. Less...

Vijay's case against the PGA Tour isn't as ludicrous as you think

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:48:00 GMT

By Brendan Mohler

By now you know that Vijay Singh has filed suit against the PGA Tour. Yes, he's suing the organization that let him off the hook after admittedly using a banned substance, the organization that has made him rich and the same organization that named him Player of the Year in 2004. How could he do such a thing?

Singh greets fans during the practice round at The Players Championship. Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Forget about Singh's past: the cheating allegations, the unfriendly manner with which he's been known to treat playing partners, the often rude avoidance of the media. Is it possible that the tour acted carelessly because Singh's reputation wasn't worth saving? Singh and his lawyers apparently think so, and the case they've leveled has some compelling elements. Despite the public ridicule the lawsuit has created, Singh's lawyers actually make a few strong points.

• Aside from his cantankerous reputation, Vijay is commonly recognized as the hardest working player on tour. As the lawsuit points out, Singh currently holds the record for most wins after the age of 40. Yes, his negative reputation has only been reinforced by the lawsuit, but his reputation as the hardest working range rat on tour has weakened.

• Paragraphs 12 and 13 of the lawsuit explain the tour's willingness to rely on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for proper testing of banned substances, and to impose action based on the results of that testing, without the slightest effort to verify the accuracy of that information. The tour did not hesitate to suspend Singh and thus left him to deal with the wrath of what the lawyer's claim was baseless action by the tour.

• After the Sports Illustrated story (in which Singh admitted to using deer-antler spray) ran, Vijay provided the Tour with a urine sample (that tested negatively) and a supply of deer-antler spray that the Tour could test. After having the spray tested by UCLA, the tour found no evidence that the spray contained enough IGF-1 to warrant its banning. Furthermore, the tour withheld Singh's earnings during the proposed suspension and alerted Singh that the choice to appeal his suspension would require him to forfeit those earnings, even though he was allowed to continue competing during the appeal process.

• The tour received the results of UCLA's testing on February 14 and, on the same day, sent a letter to Singh notifying him of his violation. Five days later, the Tour notified Singh of his suspension. The timeline of the tour's decision-making process is unclear, but by either deciding on a suspension without proper information about the spray, or by leveling the suspension after finding out about the contents of the spray, the tour seems to have acted preemptively.

• The lawsuit includes a section titled "The Truth about IGF-1" which summarizes UCLA's findings and might be the most interesting aspect of the document. Singh's lawyers point out the biological inactivity of IGF-1 in deer-antler spray in an effort to downplay its effectiveness. They also compare the effect of IGF-1 in the spray to the effect of pouring a shot of bourbon into a pool, then taking a shot of the pool water.

The strengths of the lawsuit do not change the fact that, above all else, Singh admitted to taking a substance that was banned by the PGA Tour. The Tour's Anti-Doping program treats admission of use the same as a positive drug test, meaning Singh has a huge hurdle to clear before this case can gain traction. As in most lawsuits, there are significant barriers that the plaintiff must overcome (the tour's bylaws include language that protects against legal action from members on tour decisions), however, Singh and his lawyers have created a compelling case that's worthy of attention and could have a lasting impact on the Tour's drug-testing policy and procedures.

Follow @BrendanMohlerGW

Jeff Maggert's new Players memory

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:12:00 GMT

By Tim Rosaforte

From the May 13 edition of Golf World Monday:

Jeff Maggert has nine-year-old twins at home in Houston and a 70-year-old mother who followed him around the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course over the weekend hoping to see an unlikely victory in the Players. The footnote was that Vicki Benzel, his mom, underwent breast cancer surgery last June. "She's a trouper still," Maggert said.

Jeff Maggert on the 18th tee during the final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

At 49, Maggert is a trouper as well. He was attempting to nudge Fred Funk aside as oldest winner in Players history. The last of his three PGA Tour wins was in 2006. He is staring the Champions Tour dead in the eye, but is not ready to go there yet.

"I'd like to extend it maybe a year or two," he said when we spoke Sunday night. "But I'd like to get out there with the old boys."

Besides the breast-cancer-awareness Pink Out on Mother's Day at the Players, there was an undercurrent to the Maggert story that was the inspiration for his revival. Coming off the course after the opening round in 2008, he received a dreadful message. His brother had been killed in a single-engine plane in Gilpin County, Colo.

Barry Maggert, who owned an engineering business in Carbondale, Colo., was flying to Boulder to attend the graduation of his son Lee from the University of Colorado. Barry, 47, was an experienced pilot who was an avid golfer and also coached Little League baseball.

Jeff Maggert withdrew from that Players to be with his family, but the memory will last a lifetime and becomes more vivid every time he travels to the tour's home course. One of the notes he received after the 2008 tournament was from playing partner Sergio Garcia, who went on to win the tournament.

"For sure it was kind of a rough time for all of us in the family," said Jeff. "Just coming back it always brings it back to mind. It would be great to pull it off this week to put a good memory in my brain about this tournament instead of thinking about that."

As much as a Mother's Day, this was a Brother's Day for Maggert, whose biggest moment in 23 years as a tour pro was his victory in the 1999 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, where one of his victims was Tiger Woods.

"The details are still kind of sketchy," Maggert said of the crash. "Flying was Barry's hobby. He just loved it. He knew he was taking some risk, but he was a good pilot, very thorough. I can't get angry about the outcome of that, but we miss him."

Maggert nearly pulled it off. He was tied for the lead with Woods, Sergio Garcia and David Lingmerth standing on the 17th tee, but rinsed his tee shot and made double bogey before closing with a birdie to add a T-2 to two third-place finishes in 20 Players appearances.

Vicki was there when her son came off the course, and in a way so was Barry. These made for better memories.

Follow @TimRosaforte

Winner's Bag: What Tiger Woods used to win his second Players Championship

Derek Evers — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:39:00 GMT

By E. Michael Johnson Here's a look at what Tiger Woods played en route to winning his second Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass: Driver: Nike VR Tour (Mitsubishi Diamana White Board 63x), 8.5 degrees 3-Wood:...

The book on Pete Dye

Sun, 12 May 2013 12:45:00 GMT

By Brendan Mohler

Island dreams: Pete Dye at TPC Sawgrass during construction. Photo courtesy Ken. E. May

Famous course architect and World Golf Hall of Fame member Pete Dye has released a new edition of his autobiography, Bury Me In A Pot Bunker. Written with Mark Shaw, it depicts the creation of 25 classic Dye designs, including TPC Sawgrass Stadium, Harbour Town, Whistling Straits and The Ocean Course at Kiawah.

Available on Amazon.com in paperback ($17) or for the Kindle ($9), the book is rich with insight on course design and, with stunning photography, includes a collection of humorous phrases -- or "Dye-isms" -- often spoken by the legendary architect. Although low scores on Dye's layouts are notoriously elusive, Dye isn't shy about sharing his secrets. "If players pay attention," he says, "they can outthink me or any designer who's trying to hoodwink them into attempting the difficult, gambling shot."

Follow @BrendanMohlerGW

Tension and intrigue follow Woods and Garcia on rain-shortened Saturday

Sun, 12 May 2013 01:07:00 GMT

By Ron Sirak

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The suspended third round of the Players was a glimpse at what could have been. Just imagine if Sergio Garcia had held up his end of the bargain and become a real rival for Tiger Woods.

We could have had nearly 15 years of the kind of tension, intrigue and compelling golf we had Saturday. And hopefully, we will get more of it on Sunday. Man, this could have been a "Big Break" episode.

Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods on the 11th tee during the third round three of The Players Championship. Photo: Richard Heathcote

The fact that Woods and Garcia are not the best of friends was clear even to those unfamiliar with the strained relationship between the two that goes back to at least 2000, when Tiger thought Sergio over-celebrated after defeating him in a made-for-TV exhibition match.

And that was part of the reason the atmosphere on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass was electric Saturday, virtually vibrating with buzz from a crowd so large it was announced the night before there were no more parking passes available. Officials said 45,281 were on hand for the third round.

To say there was no chit-chat during their round would be like saying the Hatfields and the McCoys rarely played Words With Friends together. There

hadn't been this much tension at the home course of the PGA Tour since, well Wednesday, when Vijay Singh sued the tour.

While frosty from the beginning, the chemistry between Woods and Garcia took a quick turn toward absolute zero on No. 2 when Garcia hit his second shot just as the crowd erupted in cheers as Woods pulled out a wood to go for the green on the par 5 from off the pine straw.

Sergio missed wide right, looked in Woods' direction in disgust, made bogey on the very birdie-able hole and complained about it later.

"It was my shot to hit," Garcia said on NBC during the weather delay that halted play with the two on the seventh hole. "He moved all the crowd that he needed to move, and I waited for that. I want to say that he didn't see that I was ready. But you do have a feel when the other guy is going to hit. Right as I was on top of the backswing . . . everybody started screaming, so that didn't help very much. It was unfortunate."

After the round was halted a second time, this for darkness, with Woods and Garcia playing the 15th hole, Tiger was asked if he had heard about Sergio's comments and for his version of events.

Related: How Tiger's swing has changed

"Well, the marshals, they told me he already hit, so I pulled a club and was getting ready to play my shot, and then I hear his comments afterwards and [it's] not real surprising that he's complaining about something," Woods said. Asked if they discussed the matter, Woods said: "We didn't do a lot of talking."

And when Garcia heard Woods' reaction he said: "It's fine. At least I'm true to myself."

Holy Snedekers, Bat Man, can't wait until the boys to get back at it at 7:10 a.m. for the completion of round three. What a weird day it was.

On No. 4, Woods asked for -- and received -- a free drop in the rough near a fairway bunker -- perhaps from a sprinkler head -- conjuring up memories of Drop-Gate at the Masters last month. Quick, anyone, get me David Eger's phone number.

On No. 7, after Garcia put his second shot on the green and Woods was preparing to play, the horn sounded at 4:09, driving the players from the course because of dangerous weather conditions.

When played resumed at 5:57, Sergio didn't wait for Tiger to get to the seventh green before he putted, most likely playing his stroke out of turn, which in

stroke play is a courtesy and not a rule. There was little courtesy in this twosome. When they walked off the eighth tee, the two were 20 yards apart.

On No. 8 green, when it was time for Woods to putt, Garcia stood an appropriate distance away, but straight across from Woods where he was likely in Tiger's vision before he looked down to focus on the ball. Seve Ballesteros would have been proud -- and then uncrossed his legs.

When play was finally halted for the day by darkness after the horn sounded at 7:47, David Lingmerth had the lead at 12 under par through 17 holes with Woods and Garcia both at 10 under, tied for second with Henrik Stenson, who had finished 16 holes.

This is the match-up we thought we'd get a lot back in 1999 when the 19-year-old El Nino gave all Tiger could handle on Medinah in the PGA Championship. Who thought then that 14 year later, Garcia would yet to have won a major championship?

For the most part, it has been the putter that has hampered Garcia, who has used the long putter and now employs the modified claw, although some would say the five inches between his ears needs to be anchored better.

Remember, this is the guy who said after the third round of last year's Masters that he didn't have what it takes to win a major, then said that wasn't what he meant.

I think I speak for all of us when I say I'm rooting for the scoreboard to end the third round exactly as it was when play was stopped Saturday night, which would put Woods and Garcia in the same group again for the final round. The rivalry never developed, but at least we can enjoy what might have been for one more day. Bring it on, Tiger and El Nino! Talk to us!

Follow @ronsirak

Video: Lee Westwood whiffs on first hole at Players Championship

Sat, 11 May 2013 18:54:00 GMT

By Derek Evers

Much is being made of Lee Westwood's whiff on the first hole of the third round at TPC Sawgrass today. But as this slowed down video shows, it's actually not as embarrassing as it first appeared. That's right, you can go back to feeling inferior again.

Follow @DerekEvers

Trending: Car drives onto golf course during U.S. Open qualifier

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:42:00 GMT

By Derek Evers

I've actually witnessed something very similar to this when I was a kid. I was playing on a course where one of the cart paths led to a landscaping garage that was adjacent to a parking lot. Sure enough, one day an old lady who thought the path went through came rolling down the 17th fairway. That's what I assume happened to this poor woman at Emerald Hills in Hollywood, Fla. yesterday during a U.S. Open qualifier.

As Deadspin points out, this path isn't anywhere near a driveway or a street or a parking lot, so like my childhood experience, she must've driven quite a ways before realizing her blunder and pulling a u-turn in the 11th hole bunker.

Follow @DerekEvers