NEWS

After round-one of Asia's richest golf tournament, the HSBC Champions, the leader board was scattered with well-known international names. Woods, who also had three bogeys, finished the day one shot behind Nick Dougherty of England and Peter O'Malley of Australia.

Both golfers turned in flawless rounds, Dougherty eagling out on the 18th and O'Malley ending the day with one of eight birdie putts. Dougherty, just 23, said that playing alongside Woods on Sunday would be a "dream scenario." "I love to play well when Tiger is playing," he told reporters. "I haven't had many chances." Vijay Singh, the 2nd-ranked golfer in the world, is positioned closely behind at 5-under-par going into Friday's round.

The HSBC drew 73 players to China this year, just a week after the PGA Tour Championship. The tournament has no cut, guaranteeing prize money for every golfer.

Tournaments like this have put the PGA Tour in an interesting position. The Tour Championship is meant to be the culminating event in a long golfing season. In reality, marquee players like Woods take the "offseason" to develop their games abroad, playing for large purses in a variety of countries. Extra incentive is provided by way of appearance fees, drawing players like Woods further from local tournaments like the one in Milwaukee this week.

Overall, it is seen as benefiting the game of golf. It's become a worldwide phenomenon, and prognosticators predict that China and Japan will be the next great hotbeds for the game. The HSBC Champions Tournament is the official start for the European PGA Tour, and its hefty purse has drawn many of Europe's best golfers.

In the next few months, Woods is scheduled to play a tournament in Dubai and a Deutsche Bank tournament in Germany. He has become an ambassador for the game, and PGA America should be willing to accept the big picture, even if the smaller one suffers for the time being.

Dennis Quaid, a 1.1 handicap with the USGA, is ranked first in a recent Golf Digest poll of the top-100 celebrity golfers. The list includes some of Hollywood 's biggest stars, including Michael Douglas, Samuel L. Jackson, Luke Wilson, and Hugh Grant.
Elite country-clubs are a notorious getaway for celebrities, so it is only natural that golf is the perfect way for stars to get away from the limelight. “It's a great way to get away from the world," Quaid explained. "No matter what you do, whether it's show business or any kind of job, there are pressures in life, so it's good to get away from yourself."
He humorously explained how fame can benefit prospective golfers. In the special edition of Golf Digest, Quaid says, "There are three things that being a celebrity is good for: raising money for charity, dinner reservations, and tee times.'
Tea Leoni, ranked 34 th , is the highest-ranking female on the list. Making a cameo at #100 is Tom Cruise, known more for his generous tips at the prestigious Beverly Hills Country Club than his skills on the course.
The special edition issue was compiled in preparation for the first annual Golf Digest Celebrity Invitational, featuring Ray Romano, Dennis Hopper, and Cheryl Ladd.

11/03/2005
PGA Channel in the offing?
By Ryan Looney

In a press conference last Wednesday, PGA commissioner Tim Finchem announced significant changes to the tour schedule beginning in 2007. The news somewhat overshadowed the Tour Championship, but it brought much-needed attention to the golfing world from the American public.

With the implementation of a year-long points chase sponsored by FedEx that will lead to a late August/ early September playoff structure, the PGA boldly moved into the 21st Century. A few years late, perhaps, but not bad for golf.

And now, with increased media exposure (as Tim Finchem takes on a David Stern-like role), the PGA is hinting at establishing its own TV network. "Every other sport has their channel," he said Sunday, "That's not lost on us."

With its own production department already in place, it would not take much for the PGA to launch its own channel. The problem, if there is one, would be filling the lineup.

The 2007 schedule involves a lengthy off-season following the Tour Championship, which will be moved up to September in order to compete for better ratings. From September until the new season, the PGA will feature six or more events for players competing to keep their cards.

These would be featured on a golf channel, along with classic footage, and more of its own programming. If Finchem and the PGA are serious about this, there is nothing stopping a golf channel from being in place before 2007. Just in time for an enormous new TV contract, increased media exposure, and a year-long points chase that will keep the big guns competing at a top level all year long.

The future is bright. Stay tuned…



10/18/2005
Associate Club Net Amateur Championship Poppy Hills GC October 17-18

PEBBLE BEACH--After 36-holes of stroke play competition, three winners emerged at the NCGA Associate Club Net Amateur. Bill Horg of Christian GC took the President's flight (handicaps 9.7 and below) on the strength of an opening-round 64. Horg finished with a 6-under-par, 138 total. Twelve shots back stood three competitors and after a scorecard playoff, Mark Berger of the Pro Business GC was second. In the Director's flight (for indexes 9.8-16.2), Steve Oase of Gen Construction took the title with a 8-under-par 136 total (67-69). Oase was closely followed by Bill Mosley of Tres. Montes who was one stroke back and Jim Espinoza of Chip Masters who was five strokes back. The Secretary's flight (for indexes 16.3 and above) was captured by Tim Witherow of Valley Baggers GC whose wild variance in scoring (80-61-141) produced a three-stroke win. Dwight Anderson of Bogeys Limited was second and Paul Schwartz of UCSF was third.



2/14/2005


On Sunday afternoon, Chris DeMarco's birdie putt clinched the Presidents Cup for the American team for the first time in five years.

Colin Montgomery led the Britain-Ireland team to an easy victory in this weekend's Seve Cup.

John Daly and Fred Couples have been added to Tiger's field in the year-ending Target Challenge

In LPGA news, Michelle Wie looks to turn professional on the eve of her 16th birthday.



2/14/2005 - NGF: Golf Rounds Played Were Up in 2004

Rounds played finished in positive territory in 2004 for the first time in three years, as reported by the National Golf Foundation and the National Golf Course Owners Association. While the gains were slight (0.7% nationally), they represent a welcome relief to the declines of the prior two years.
“As usual, results vary remarkably by region,” says Joe Beditz, president and CEO of NGF,” with some areas experiencing a five percent decline and others increasing by as much as nine percent. Variations across regions, due in large part to weather patterns, show a continuing tendency to balance themselves out.”

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