Photo by Rob Hayashida Sandbox8.com
In an effort to make the World Golf Rankings as relevant and as understandable as the FedEx Cup, the Golf Channel is reporting that Mickelson will lose his #2 spot to Lee Westwood when the new rankings are released on Monday. This is especially entertaining because of all the discussion over the past 2 months about the opportunities for Mickelson to take over the #1 spot from Tiger.
’nuff said.
Immelman's caddy marks the new Nike RZN?
As I was hanging around the practice green today at the Viking Classic doing my best stalker imitation, I happened to see Trevor Immelman walk out with a unlabeled box of golf balls. His caddie pulled them out and began to mark them so I snapped a photo. I can only speculate that these may be the new Nike RZN golf balls that will be announced in just over a month. It would make sense that their top tour players are testing out the ball prior to the retail release in early 2011.
Immelman walks onto the practice green with an unmarked box of balls
Apparently there’s something called the Junior Ryder Cup and the US won it. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! Hopefully it will rub off on Pavin and crew.
The Viking Classic was kind enough to provide media credentials to 72strokes. So I’m driving down to Jackson, MS today. It’s only 700 miles 
I will be posting updates from the tournament through the weekend.
I may try to get in a round of golf myself over at Country Club of Jackson 
Tiger was seen using a mallet putter (presumably a Scotty Cameron Del Mar) during Tuesday’s practice round at Celtic Manor. If he puts the new putter in play this weekend, it would be the 2nd time he’s put a new putter in play in recent months.
Is Sean Foley’s swing instruction influencing Tiger’s putting stroke as well? It certainly takes some stones to swap out a putter that you’ve won 13 majors with, but he could probably use the change.
[update]
The putter appears to be a Nike Method #3, although there are conflicting reports about whether he is actually gaming the putter or simply testing it out around the course. Either way, I’m sure Nike is dying to finally get one of their putters in Tiger’s bag for good.
The rumor mill has it that long-time Titleist golfer, Davis Love III, will be jumping ship to Bridgestone for the 2011 season. If true, this would be a huge signing for Bridgestone, who’s roster of players currently include Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, and Will Mackenzie.
The Fred Couples signing in 2005 put Bridgestone on the map, but it’s the quality of their products that has fueled their success. Their E6 Ball is currently the #4 selling ball in golf and they’re about to release a new and improved B-330 line for 2011 on Nov 1.
It’s not quite as outlandish as Monty soundproofing the Euro locker room at Celtic Manor, but apparently Corey Pavin has ordered a twitter blackout for the US Ryder Cup team. Really? What key info are players going to tweet out to the Euros via Twitter? I don’t think pictures of their monogrammed hotel pillows are going to cost them the Ryder Cup.
Photo by Rob Hayashida Sandbox8.com
In an inspirational moment to over-sleepers everywhere, Jim Furyk has won the FedEx Cup and claimed both the $10m FedEx Cup prize and $1.3m for winning the Tour Championship. Furyk added some dramatic tension over the last few holes, but the best bunker player in the world hit one of the most clutch bunker shots of his career to claim golf’s largest payday.
Maybe Furyk can afford a back-up alarm clock now? Or he could even hire somebody to do this every morning.
