June 2011

Tiger grows a beard

by Derek on June 29, 2011

in Tiger Woods,Video

Tiger Woods Beard

All I have to say is that I really dig Tiger’s new bearded look.  I think he should show up wearing a “Fear the Beard” T-shirt.  Video after the break:

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Review: TRUE Linkswear Stealths

by Derek on June 29, 2011

in Equipment,Reviews

TRUE Linkswear Stealths

The week prior to my trip to Ballyneal, I received a nice present in the mailbox from the folks at TRUE Linkswear: a pair of the new black TRUE Stealths.

After walking in them for 5 rounds at Ballyneal, and several more since getting home, I’ve come to the conclusion that TRUE did what I thought was impossible: improve on the already amazing TRUE Tours.

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Not content to be outdone by “The Golf Boys”, 4 Ladies European Tour (LET) players have recorded a spoof of “Oh Oh Oh”, entitled “Ah Ah Ah”.

Honestly, the funny part about it is that I could actually envision this being played on the radio.   Video after the break:

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Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club

by Derek on June 27, 2011

in Golf Courses

ballyneal 4th tee

The view from the 4th tee box at Ballyneal

I recently had the opportunity to spend a few days at the Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club in the sand hills of northeastern Colorado.

If you’re not familiar with Ballyneal, it’s a 5-year old private course (designed by Tom Doak) that has quickly become one of the premier links courses in the US.  It’s a top 100 Golf Digest course.  Golfweek ranked it at #6 on their top modern courses list (anything built within the last 50 years).  Golf Magazine has it at 83rd in the world and 48th in the US.

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patrick cantlay

If Rory McIlroy is the next Tiger, could Patrick Cantlay be the next Phil Mickelson?  After all, no amateur has won on the PGA Tour since Mickelson in 1991.

Cantlay, who just finished up his freshman year at UCLA and was low amateur at last week’s US Open, appears poised to follow in Phil’s footsteps this weekend.  He fired off a course-record 60 at the TPC River Highlands en-route to taking a 1 shot lead at the Travelers Championship.

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rickie fowler red bull capital drive

As part of the hoopla surrounding the US Open last week, Red Bull created a man made 106-yard golf hole in the middle of the Georgetown Waterfront.

They brought in Red Bull athlete Rickie Fowler to give it a go.  Fowler had to hit a blind shot from an elevated tee box, between buildings, over a fountain, and into an island green placed in another fountain.  It took him a few tries, but on his 3rd attempt, he dunked it.

Video after the break:

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v

“The Americans have Tiger Woods.  We have young Rory.”

Full video after the jump:

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I think Time magazine just jumped the shark.  They decided to pull together a list of the top 10 most evil sports.  I’m still scratching my head about the list in general, but especially about golf being number 6:

The aftermath of the U.S. Open may be all rosy sweet, what with Rory McIlroy’s sensational victory, but don’t get too caught up. Apart from being the sport of choice for scheming politicians and fat-cat businessmen, golf is quite frankly a waste of space. It devours the public commons, swallows up water — the preponderance of golf courses in arid places like the Arabian peninsula borders on the obscene — and indulges middle-class ennui the world over. Stray golf balls take 1,000 years to decompose. And for what? A sport that, more than most, reinforces tiresome social hierarchies through its rarefied traditions and myriad country clubs. A sport in which the only person getting any exercise is the guy who has to carry your clubs for you.

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Tiger saw this coming

by Derek on June 21, 2011

in International Golf,US Open

Over 2 years ago, Tiger told Golf.com that he thought a then 19-year old Rory McIlroy had the tools to become the best player in the world:

“There’s no doubt,” Woods said. “But hopefully it’s not while I’m around,” he added, laughing.

“Certainly he has the talent. We can all see it. The way he hits the ball, the way he putts, the way he can chip, and get up-and-down. He has the composure and all the components to be the best player in the world. It’s just a matter of time and experience and then gaining that experience in big events. That just takes time and, I mean, geez, he’s only 19. Just give him some time and I’m sure he’ll be there.”

I’m not sure if Tiger thought that a mere 2 years later Rory would be turning the US Open into a clinic while he himself would be in the middle of the longest winless streak of his career and would have fallen outside of the top 10 in the world.  But there you have it.

Golf.com (via Dogs That Chase Cars)

[Image Flickr/ltbeyer]

John McIlroy???

by Derek on June 20, 2011

in US Open

john mcilroy daily herald

snapped this pic of today’s paper identifying the winner of the US Open as John McIlroy.

I know that typos happen, but WTF Chicago Daily Herald?  How do you miss this one?