The Loop

Missing Links: Tiger made winning look easy, but it isn't, and Chubby Chandler is back on track

June 04, 2014

Stories of interest you might have missed…

"An ugly finish…has become all too common [on the PGA Tour] this year," Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press writes in the wake of another one at the Memorial. The lesson: It's not easy to win on the PGA Tour, contrary to Tiger Woods making it look that way.

In 2011, Charl Schwartzel (the Masters), Rory McIlroy (U.S. Open) and Darren Clarke (British Open) had colorful agent Chubby Chandler within one victory of a "Chubby Slam." Then McIlroy severed ties with Chandler. Schwartzel recently did, too. Chandler stopped the bleeding this week by adding U.S. Amateur champion Matt Fitzpatrick (shown below) to his stable. Derek Lawrenson has the story in the Daily Mail.

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Phil Mickelson's season has not gone particularly well. "I really need to get in contention [at the FedEx St. Jude Classic]…to give myself a good chance at the U.S. Open," he said in this look by ESPN's Bob Harig at Mickelson's quest to add the final leg of the career grand slam.

"Does the International Crown put the Baltimore area back on the golf map, or just on the spot?" Baltimore Sun columnist Peter Schmuck asks of the new LPGA team event to be held at Caves Valley next month. The Baltimore area, he writes, has "never really established itself as a top-tier golf destination," and the International Crown is "a golden opportunity to upgrade that image."

Pinehurst Resort has added a ninth course with its purchase of the Jack Nicklaus-designed National Golf Club in the area, Golf Course Industry reports. It will be re-named Pinehurst No. 9.