The Loop

Golf Digest a 16-time winner in GWAA contest

February 25, 2011

Golf Digest Writer-at-Large Dan Jenkins' ninth-career win highlighted a list of 16 awards for Golf Digest, Golf World, and GolfDigest.com in the Golf Writers Association of America's annual writing contest.

Jenkins' first-place award came for his GolfDigest.com column on the Tiger Woods scandal, "Nice (Not) Knowing You". It was the first time the legendary Jenkins was honored in the Internet category.

Other first-place winners included Senior Writer Jaime Diaz, whose feature story on his visit with Seve Ballesteros in his native Spain won the Non-Daily Feature category; Senior Writer Dave Kindred, who won for his Internet News Story on Phil Mickelson's win at the Masters; and Staff writer Max Adler, whose account of his cross-country trip won in the Internet Special Projects Category.

The complete list of honorees from the Golf Digest Publications is below.

DAILY

DAILY COLUMNS - 1, Ron Green Jr., Charlotte Observer, Mickelson rewrites his place in history; 2, Scott Michaux, Augusta Chronicle, Things to do in St. Andrews; 3, George Willis, New York Post, Mahan's tears prove Americans care.

Honorable mention: Gary D'Amato, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Tiger Woods shows up at the Masters saying and doing all the right things; Dave Hackenberg, Toledo Blade, A year later, LPGA players return to the scene of their tour revolt; Scott Michaux, Augusta Chronicle, Phil and Amy Mickelson's emotional Masters win.

DAILY NEWS - 1, Ron Green Jr., Charlotte Observer, Mickelson wins a Masters played from the heart; 2, Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, Ryder Cup turns into Mardi Gras; 3, Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, The unlikely Louis Oosthuizen wins at St. Andrews.

Honorable mention: Gary D'Amato, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Phil Mickelson wins fourth Masters; Ron Green, Jr., Charlotte Observer, John Daly rekindles his love affair with St. Andrews; Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, Phil Mickelson wins the Masters.

DAILY FEATURES - 1, Scott Michaux,  Augusta Chronicle, Roberto De Vicenzo looks back on his lost Masters; 2, John Boyette, Augusta Chronicle, Why Augusta reversed nines and how it shaped the Masters; 3 (tie), Ron Green Jr, Charlotte Observer, Phil Mickelson, family man; Hank Gola, New York Daily News, Doug Barron fights suspension.

Honorable mention: Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, Erik Compton's long path to Pebble Beach; David Westin, Augusta Chronicle, Ken Green honored by GWAA.

__

INTERNET

__

INTERNET COLUMNS - 1, Dan Jenkins, GolfDigest.com, Ramifications of the Tiger Woods scandal; 2, (tie), Dave Seanor, Examiner.com , Jarrod Lyle, not Vijay Singh, deserved to play in the Open; Ron Sirak, GolfDigest.com, Adventures at the Tavistock Cup.

Honorable mention: Honorable mention: Jeff Babineau, Golfweek.com, Weight of the Ryder Cup delivers great impact to winners and losers;Dave Kindred, GolfDigest.com, Dustin Johnson's costly mistake at the PGA; Adam Schupak, Golfweek.com, Tom Watson merits an encore at Pebble Beach.

INTERNET NEWS - 1, Dave Kindred, GolfDigest.com, Phil Mickelson wins the Masters; 2, Gary Van Sickle, Golf.com, McDowell's U.S. Open win is a survival tale; 3, Dave Kindred, GolfDigest.com, Augusta man holds out against Augusta National.

Honorable mention: Mick Elliott, AOLFanhouse.com, Martin Kaymer wins, Bubba Watson loses PGA; Rex Hoggard, GolfChannel.com, Mickelson wins magical Masters; Randall Mell, GolfChannel.com, Europeans win Ryder Cup.

INTERNET FEATURES - 1, Lisa D. Mickey, DuramedFutures.com, Kristen Ingram worlds away from her start in an Uzbekistan orphanage; 2, Steve Eubanks, Global Golf Post, When Terrorism Met Golf; 3, Randall Mell, GolfChannel.com, Meg Mallon leaves golf to care for dying sister.

Honorable mention: James Achenbach, Golfweek.com, Erica Blasberg service; Tony Dear, Cybergolf.com, Old MacDonald's design and impact; Helen Ross, PGATOUR.com, TOUR wives raise awareness of child sex trafficking; Gary Van Sickle, Golf.com, Power Academy weekend.

Honorable mention: Mercer Baggs, GolfChannel.com , A visit to St. Andrews; Mercer Baggs, Randall Mell, Rex Hoggard, Erik Peterson, GolfChannel.com , Public Access: Three men's major championship venues were all public; Brian Hewitt, Steve Eubanks, Mike Purkey, Lorne Rubenstein, Leonard Shapiro, Art Spander, Vartan Kupelian, Lewine Mair, John Steinbreder, Peter Kessler, Global Golf Post, Masters memories.

NON-DAILY

NON-DAILY COLUMNS - 1, Beth Ann Baldry, Golfweek, Lorena Ochoa retires abruptly to concentrate on family; 2, Jim McCabe, Golfweek, He cried a river of tears: Bubba Watson qualifies for the Ryder Cup; 3, Rich Skyzinski, Golfweek, Bruce Summerhays says goodbye to competitive golf.

Honorable mention: Jeff Rude, Golfweek, Ken Green inspires when returning to golf after losing his leg; Jerry Tarde, Golf Digest, Harrowing tale of a golfer stomped by an elephant; Ron Whitten, Golf Digest, The lack of innovation in golf course design.

NON-DAILY NEWS -1, Alan Shipnuck, Sports Illustrated, The Mystery of Erica Blasberg; 2, Alan Shipnuck, Sports Illustrated, Phil Mickelson wins the Masters; 3, Jaime Diaz, Golf Digest, What led to the Tiger Woods scandal?

Honorable mention: Michael Bamberger, Sports Illustrated Golf Plus, Monty and Pavin at the Ryder Cup; Damon Hack, Sports Illustrated, Sergio Garcia plays soccer at The Players; Jim McCabe, Golfweek, Amy and Phil Mickelson's tear-jerker of a  family portrait as he wins the Masters.

NON-DAILY FEATURES - 1, Jaime Diaz, Golf Digest, Seve Ballesteros at home in Spain as he battles brain cancer; 2, Jaime Diaz, Golf Digest, Profile of Johnny Miller; 3, Jim Moriarty, Golf World, Nick Faldo 20 years after winning the Masters and British Open.

Honorable mention: Bill Fields, Golf World, Profile of the legendary Bob Drum; John Garrity, Golf Magazine, The end of golf course design's gilded age; Adam Schupak, Golfweek, Chris Smith returns to the PGA Tour after his wife's death; Josh Sens, Golf Magazine, Counterfeit golf clubs.

NON-DAILY SPECIAL PROJECTS - 1. Jeff Rude, Golfweek, Channeling Ben Hogan; 2, Beth Ann Baldry, Sean Martin, Golfweek, What is the value of a college degree?; 3 (tie), Dean Knuth, Mike Stachura, Golf Digest, How tough is Augusta National?; Chris Millard, Golf World, Impact of the economy on the future of golf course architecture.

Honorable mention: Matthew Rudy, Golf Digest, Do women putt worse than men?; Adam Schupak, Golfweek, Walking Wounded: The PGA Tour's medical extension.