Golf Digest Search Results

The 2012 Trending Awards (aka, the Trendies)

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:50:00 GMT

Some trends are fleeting, like parachute pants and fanny packs, while others go on to become cultural institutions -- like anchored putting (OK, bad example). And with each one, we ride the highs and lows that accompany the graduation of fads, from passing to fixtures. 2012 was no exception. With that in mind, here are the top trends from the world of golf I hope to see stick around for at least one more year.

#5. Crying at majors

While still too early to tell if this will become a regular occurrence, Bubba Watson set the bar high with his post-Masters breakdown. Of course, not every major winner has Tim Tebow's shoulder to cry on, but it's nice to see that someone had the guts to let the waterworks flow outside of a Steve Stricker presser.

#4. Twitter fighting

We expect reality TV stars and celebrity break-ups to be the thing Twitter dreams are made of, but golfers creating controversy? You bet, and there was no shortage of it in 2012. While most of it skewed from the right side of the aisle, there was plenty of blame to go around. Luke Donald and Gil Hanse in a cock fight? Done. Does blasting the President make you a better Ryder Cup captain? Not sure, but threatening people to fights over the social-networking platform definitely won't win you many supporters. And it wasn't just the men. Brittany Lincicome and Christina Kim started a feud that drew in boyfriends and three other LPGA colleagues. Whether for entertainment or debate fodder at the water cooler, we're all a little bit better when the golf world opens up on Twitter.

#3. Tell-all books about Tiger Woods

With three victories, including his first in over two years, 2012 will be remembered as the year Tiger came back. Unfortunately for Hank Haney, it will not be remembered as the year of the Big Miss (there's an overused golf joke in there somewhere). For all the controversy it created at the start of the season -- eventually hitting No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list -- it didn't deliver much in the way of dirt slinging, which is why I want to see more unauthorized biographies on the bookshelves in 2013. Do we really need to wait for the movie version to get the juicy story we all crave? Oh wait, that already happened.

#2. Tour wives/significant others tweeting/Instagramming photos of their husbands/boyfriends

They seem untouchable on the course, so it's refreshing to see tour pros in some awkward moments off of it thanks to the prying camera lenses of their significant others. Whether it's as innocuous as Hunter Mahan strolling through Penn Station with his clubs as caught by wife Kandi, or as scandalous as a topless, sleeping Rory courtesy of Caroline Wozniacki, this is a trend we hope continues well into the two-thousand-and-teens.

#1. Unconventional putting strokes

The days of the long putter being a fad are well behind us, but with the new anchor ban going into effect in a mere half-decade, we can expect to see all sorts of new putting styles come into use in 2013. You thought KJ Choi's half-Sneed or AdamScott's anchor claw was unique, wait til you see the forearm grip. And the new year hasn't even started! Just another reason to hope the Mayans were wrong.

Happy new year!

Follow @DerekEvers

Lincicome, Christina Kim in Twitter feud

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 15:29:00 GMT

By John Strege

No one is immune from the bad day at the office (or several of them), even when the office is a golf course, as two of the more prominent LPGA players demonstrated in a Twitter spat that erupted on Friday.

It began with Brittany Lincicome, who in four previous starts had missed the cut twice, tied for 21st and tied for 60th. On Friday, she took to Twitter to lament her play at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia:

Golf is SOOO dang frustrating :-( Can't wait for the year to be over!!!!!!!!!!!

A few hours later, in the midst of a rain delay, she followed with this:

Rain rain go away!!!!! Actually if it stays around I won't have to play anymore!!!!! :-)

Christina Kim, meanwhile, took exception, alluding to the fact that she failed to qualify for the Sime Darby (and other tournaments) as a result of her performance this year (110th on the LPGA money list) and will go to the LPGA Qualifying Tournament for the first time in her 10-year career .

Following is the exchange between Lincicome and Kim (all posts have since been deleted), with cameo Tweets from Kim's boyfriend, Duncan French (@Teamfrench23), and LPGA players Kristy McPherson, Nicole Hage and Sophie Gustafson:

@TheChristinaKim: "@Brittany1golf Rain rain go away!!!!! Actually if it stays around I won't have to play anymore!!!!! :-)" I'd kill for the chance to play!

@Brittany1golf: @TheChristinaKim come play for me :-). You have time to get here. Haha

@TheChristinaKim: WOW "@Brittany1golf: @TheChristinaKim come play for me :-). You have time to get here. Haha"

@Teamfrench23 [Kim's boyfriend]: @Brittany1golf You no you don't have to play tournaments if you don't want to Britt?? No ones forcing you to be there !!

@Brittany1golf: @Teamfrench23 @TheChristinaKim geez guys calm the hell down!!!! If you don't like what I say STOP following me

@TheChristinaKim: @Brittany1golf whoa, easy with the Tone! I'm just saying there are people that would love to play, and it wouldn't hurt to remember that

@Brittany1golf: @TheChristinaKim great! It's still a free country. I can say whatever I want! I don't comment to most of your post I'm just tired

@Brittany1golf: @TheChristinaKim it's not a good time to be on my case with the news we just got [the passing of LPGA rules offical Doug Brecht. And I'm sick of people lately comment on my post!

@TheChristinaKim: @Brittany1golf of course you can say whatever you want, I never said anything contradicting that fact. I believe in the first amendment too!

@TheChristinaKim: @Brittany1golf I am not getting on your case by any means. Please don't misconstrue my stating the obvious as me bashing your tweet

@TheChristinaKim: Pardon me? I have to think? My efforts to remind people that we are lucky to play golf for a living should be condemned?! @jerrykessler

@TheChristinaKim: Two nights in a row I hit on contentious topics&lose 100 followers, including @Brittany1golf. Sad to see a friend unfollow due to my opinion

@SophieGustafson: @TheChristinaKim Don't worry about it CK! Let your opinions fly cause those who matter won't mind and the once who mind don't matter.

@NicoleHage: @Brittany1golf people would kill to be in Asia right now sitting in that delay waiting 4the chance2play instead were home preparing4Qschool

@NicoleHage: @Brittany1golf leave it at that #classless

@TheChristinaKim: @Brittany1golf I'm sorry if you felt I was on your case or being condescending, there was no malevolence to what I was saying.

@KRISTY2208 [McPherson]: @Brittany1golf @NicoleHage @TheChristinaKim come on kids! It's a tough day on LPGA! Not a time to be at each other's throats! #respect

@TheChristinaKim: @KRISTY2208 @Brittany1golf @nicolehage I am at no one's throat. I made a comment that was simply misconstrued. I'm sad about this, as well.

@Brittany1golf: @KRISTY2208 Trust me I'm not trying to!

@KRISTY2208: @TheChristinaKim I get that. And so does anyone else w any sense

There was vitriol as well in a back-and-forth between Lincicome and Hage, the latter beginning with this:

@Brittany1golf really britt you have to stop complaining - in a nice tone- be grateful for the opp you have of playing week in and week out

@NicoleHage I'm super grateful! Why can't I just have a bad day and NOT have you or Tina jump on my case!!!!!! STOP following me please

@Brittany1golf bc you are ALWAYS complaining! We aren't the only ones who notice everyone that is home does and you are being insensitive

@NicoleHage again STOP following me. Easy as that :-). I can't help that your not in these tournaments. I'm going to leave it at that!

Related: The Reel Deal

Follow @JohnStrege

Trending: Suzann Pettersen has a nice body

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:57:00 GMT

Photo by Jeff Lipsky courtesy ESPN The Magazine

If you haven't been paying attention lately, professional golfers on both sides of the gender aisle are getting hotter, with a big reason being the increased emphasis on fitness. So it doesn't surprise us that ESPN the Magazine selected one of the most physically fit women on the LPGA tour in Suzann Pettersen to appear completely naked in the 2012 installment of their Body Issue.

Ranked No. 6 in the world, and coming off of a top-10 finish at the U.S. Women's Open, the issue is hitting newsstands while the proverbial iron is hot. At 5' 9" and 150 pounds, the Norwegian has a naturally muscular build that lends itself to the notion that golfers are indeed athletes; something ESPN has taken notice of in their annual roster of nude photoshoots.

"A lot of the best athletes in the world have done it, and I thought it was great to be asked." Pettersen admitted to USA Today. "I just had to make sure that I was comfortable in doing it. It's as natural as it gets. It's health at its peak.

"I'm in great company."

Related: Who is the hottest golfer?

Pettersen joins fellow LPGA tour players Belen Mozo, Christina Kim, Sandra Gal and Anna Grzebien who have posed in their birthday suit for the Body Issue. And lest we forget the uncomfortable naked spider-pose Camillo Villegas blessed us with in 2010. Alongside the likes of NBA center Tyson Chandler, NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski, recent Home Run Derby runner-up Jose Bautista, soccer forward Abby Wambach and seven players from the U.S. volleyball team, Pettersen knows she's in good company ... just don't expect it to become a regular thing.

"There's nothing to be ashamed about. I am honored that they asked me to be with world-class athletes. I won't be posing nude again, but I'm glad I did it."

ESPN The Magazine's 2012 Body Issue hits stands this Friday, July 13.

-- Derek Evers
Follow @derekevers

The Crying Game

Alex Myers — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

A look at some of the most memorable displays of emotion on the golf course.

The Style Blog: Q & A

Stina Sternberg — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:05:00 GMT

Golf is a sport that poses some interesting wardrobe dilemmas, and GDW style guru (and Fitness Magazine fashion director) Argy Koutsothanasis is constantly asked questions from readers. Here are some of her answers:Q: I love...

Solheim Cup: Who will take the U.S. wild cards?

Stina Sternberg — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:49:00 GMT

On Sunday night, after a winner is crowned at the Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge GC in North Plains, Ore., captain Rosie Jones will announce the members of the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup team. Ten...

Dream Team

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Points have been added and votes have been made, which means it's time to meet your 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup team.

Rallying against cancer at Sebonack

Ashley Mayo — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:34:00 GMT

The back tee box on Sebonack's 18th hole, a reachable par 5, offers a panoramic view of Long Island's bright blue Great Peconic Bay. Maria Hjorth grabs her driver as she walks to the tee...

Quotes of the week in women's golf

Stina Sternberg — Mon, 02 May 2011 02:51:00 GMT

The week of April 25, 2011, was a busy one on the LPGA Tour. Players had to circumvent deadly tornados to get to the Avnet LPGA Classic in Mobile, Ala., and felt the effects of...

Our Favorite Viral Sensations

Alex Myers and Sam Weinman — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:00:00 GMT

We look back at some of the golf-related photos and videos that have become Internet sensations.