Kobe, Please Stop posted by Daniel Doyle

Drop the act Kobe. I'm not buying it.

First there was Jordan. He coined the tongue out of the mouth. He was Mr. Cool. A smooth pump of his fist when he nailed a game winning jumper was all he needed. There was no question of whether it was a genuine reaction. Jordan was all natural.

Next came Tiger. In a sport where serenity and calmness were of the utmost importance, he let emotion run free. Woods perfected the fist-pump and it became an instinct for him everytime an improbable putt fell in the cup. Tiger is all natural.

Now, in the 2009 playoffs, the cameras seem to always find Kobe's scowl. His baracuda like jaw juts forward and a somewhat awkward and painful expression is created. There is a difference in the intensity of an athlete and an athlete looking mad. Kobe looks mad. Kobe is artificial.

Please tell me I am not the only one who is not buying what Kobe is trying to sell. The difference between Jordan and Woods, and what Kobe is doing now, is the authenticity of it. Cameras simply always found M.J. and T.W., Kobe is seeking the camera out. He holds the grimace as long as possible so that every possible spectator, photographer, and cameraman can admire his tenacity and determination. What a joke.

As good as Kobe Bryant has been in the playoffs, his acting definitely could use some work. The problem Bryant has, is that no matter how talented he is, he will never be Michael Jordan. Even with my belief that Jordan was the better overall talent, it was the aura of Michael that set him apart from every player before or since. Kobe's attempt to create an image for himself is so apparent that no one can endear his or herself to Bryant. Jordan and Woods sucked people in with the ideal they represented. Perhaps its not too late for Kobe. Maybe the original Joker that sits courtside could give him a lesson or two in acting.

Sugarloaf Mountain- A course to remember for more than Swamp Ass posted by Hunter Jones

Florida is a Golfer’s haven and has been one of the top spots to hit the greens. Frankly, I think it’s a bore and the humidity doesn’t support my goal of looking hot on the links. My hair goes flat, make-up runs down my face and I suffer from what the locals refer to as Swamp Ass. You can figure it out. I drunkenly golfed many of Orlando’s renowned courses but none caught my affection more than that of Sugarloaf Mountain.

Hidden back in Orlando’s seemingly out-of-place hills, this course makes the bad traffic, big bugs and eclectic dumping of transient residents all go away. Florida is a pancake that generally leave you wishing for just a small speed bump to hike up but somehow the Big JC managed to grace this particular area of Florida with some breathtaking views from the haphazardly place medium sized mountains. Bill Core and Ben Crenshaw are masters of creating greens that golf aficionados pine for. Since 1986, they’ve built some of the most respected courses all over the world. I have only played Sugarloaf and did so before they even had the paths completed.

It was almost 2 years ago that I got to play in an exclusive invitational for folks in the travel industry. At the time I was on company #3 that I owned and had taken up the game of golf so that I could run with the big boys of business. Little did I know that I’d fall in love with it and play just for myself instead of a business deal. Getting the invite to play at a course that was still in the process of construction seemed like the ultimate VIP line infiltration and I quickly ran out to buy a pair of pink golf shoes to match my clubs.

Angel Cabrera wins Masters posted by Jordan Cunningham

Kenny Perry stood on the right side of the first green at Augusta National Sunday afternoon, leaning on his putter, paying little attention to anything else. Not 15 feet from him, Angel Cabrera stood behind his ball, quickly jerking his putter back and forth. Both players' heads were pointed toward the ground for about 30 seconds until they looked up and caught the other's glance.

It was at that point both realized they were waiting for each other — "Oh, sorry," Perry said, noticing he was away — signaling a conclusion to just one of the waiting games that ended at the 2009 Masters.

On a heavenly Easter Sunday at Augusta National, golf fans stopped waiting for the roars and the fun to return, stopped waiting for the choir to come back to church; Argentina, meanwhile, stopped waiting for the green jacket it first set eyes on 31 years ago, when Roberto De Vicenzo inadvertently signed for a higher score and finished second by a stroke.  "After what happened with Robert (in 1968), golf increased a lot in Argentina," fellow Argentine Andres Romero told Golfweek through a translator, biting his nails while watching his friend survive a sudden-death playoff with Perry and Chad Campbell. "And I can't imagine what will happen now with this victory with golf in Argentina."

Cabrera, the happy-go-lucky 39-year-old from Cordoba, Argentina, will bring the green jacket home soon — along with one crazy tale of just how he brought this one home.

Tiger Woods Returns: Back To Reality For The PGA posted by Chris Giunta

Did anyone else notice the way Tiger looked on Sunday as he finished his round ultimately winning at Bay Hill? Everything in his approach from his stare, the kneel down, and the famous uppercut-fist pump were all vintage Tiger. Often, athletes are weary of the surgically-repaired body parts and do not return to normal until a year after even the rehab. Yet, Tiger looked like for the past year he was sailing the Caribbean, fishing for some Mahi-Mahi, and eating money. He is a once in a lifetime athlete to witness and we should all send thank you letters to his surgeon for saving superman. 

Sidenote: I wish athletes were allowed to trademark moves and celebrations. Some examples- Tiger's fist pump, Jordan's tongue sticking out, or Jeter's backhand in the hole and jump throw. Hey if Pat Riley can trademark Three-Peat, then why not a Tiger fist pump TM? For sure, no one else's is more exciting to root for.

Is Tiger back? posted by Greg Eckenrode

Well, he did again.  Another amazing piece to the puzzle that is Tiger Woods.  The questions I am asked most often is how does he do it?  Can he do it again?  And lastly, why can't anyone else do it.

The answer is yes he can continue to do it.  His approach to the game is different than anyone else on the tour.  For that matter it is different than almost anyone else on the planet.  If corporations were run the way that Tiger manages his golf game, they would have a hard time failing.  It is about process management. He is always trying to improve the process that is his golf game.

The process to improve his golf game is meticulous.  It is what made him a great junior golfer and what will propel him to even more phenominal numbers on the tour.  He will set records that will be hard to break.  His coach is never allowed to be satisfied, because Tiger isn't satisfied.  Even as the games best today, he still wants to get better.  

Tour players work very hard to maintain their game.  Some, like Vijay Singh, work hard to improve their game.  But none have the single mindedness of Tiger and his team.

People hat I have met on the golf course have told me that they would like to it the ball like Tiger.  Taking away any physical limitations, if they put the kind of effort that Tiger does into his game, they could improve.  If they put down the beer and played focused golf, the may improve.  But, since they are years behind Tiger in preparation and his process is well managed, I doubt that they could ever catch him.  But, it sure would be fun to watch. 

golfing bare. Honda Classic, Henrik Stenson posted by catherine thomas

Did everyone see the flasher at the Honda Classic?? Wow, now that one ups Tiger any day. Here is a poll: Should golfers be allowed to strip for reasons of protecting their clothes? Should the PGA supply wading boots? Should he be sanctioned? loose a round? What if you are already loosing? He did look......................good. If a golfer really looks awful, I say the camera protect us all and look away!!Continue reading "golfing bare. Honda Classic, Henrik Stenson"

Big Golfers posted by Apryl DeLancey

No, not just big-name PGA Tour golfers like Tiger Woods or Vijay Singh, but large men that announcers feel the need to point out. As Mark Calcavecchia was walking to his next shot at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, the broadcasters could not help commenting on his physique. This was not only one time either folks – it happened each and every time he was shown making a shot. They simply couldn’t resist and had to mention how heavy he is - cracking jokes about exercise and dietary choices. This phenomenon is not only reserved for Mr. Calcavecchia but haunts every golfer that is not built like Tiger Woods or Zach Johnson. John Daly and Craig “The Walrus” Stadler certainly get their share of ribbing as well.

Alright, I am a staunch advocate for exercise and living healthy but why must these so called professionals continue to taunt “the big guy”? Did these people not get enough grief from the kids in school? What makes the announcers so freaking perfect that they have the right to judge anyone? Let’s not forget, this is a sport that was dominated by drink-swilling white dudes that were a bit out of shape until Tiger Woods came along.

Now that golf is a more mainstream sport, children look up to and aspire to be PGA Tour players. When they watch these events and hear the commentators make “fat comments” they see it as acceptable. Certainly this validates their own actions to make fun of a heavy classmate or taunt that kid down the street with a few extra pounds. Let’s grow up folks!

Rory Sabbatini is Modern Golf's First True Villain posted by Andrew Payne

           Golf finally has its villain: Rory be thy name.

           A sport that has long prided itself on being a game of gentleman who show the utmost respect for their competition seems to have had that tradition undermined by the exploits of South African golfer Rory Sabbatini.

           Sabbatini first alerted the world to his disrespectful attitude at Congressional Country Club in 2006, when he walked off the 17th green because he felt his partner, Ben Crane, was playing too slowly.  This act drew the ire of many in the golf community including ABC analyst Paul Azinger who said that he would like to, “Take Rory out to the wood shed,” as he called the action during the telecast.

           The South African made much larger waves earlier in the 2007 season when he decided to tug on Tiger’s tale saying he was more beatable than ever before the final round of the Wachovia Championship.  And though Tiger easily defeated Sabbatini in that very tournament, the South African stood by his comments a few weeks later at the U.S. Open.

           While these were more likely acts of cockiness rather than true malice, Sabbatini’s behavior at last weekends Target World Challenge rose to the ranks of pure villainy.

Tiger Who? posted by Apryl DeLancey

The Target World Challenge is happening at the Sherwood Country Club this weekend. I had it on while I was doing some work and then it hit me…why are the sports journalists asking these guys the same odd question?

Let’s back up a bit…there are some very excellent golfers in this event. Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, and of course, the ubiquitous Tiger Woods are among those playing. Tiger Woods is obviously the single most important golfer that has ever played the game. His arrival all those years ago shook up the sport and removed the “old white guy” image the game had for so long. He showed us all that golfers are real athletes that are truly dedicated to their craft. Now a more diverse sport welcoming all to its courses, the game is arguably a better one because of him.

Alright, with that said, there are a multitude of other players on the course and in these tournaments. Most of these guys have spent their lives perfecting their game. They devote hours at the driving range and with instructors trying to shave off a stroke or improving their putting ability. When they reach the point that they are at a major PGA Tour event, it is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. These are some really great players, guys that most golfers only wish they could emulate.

So when a guy on the tour is having a great round and has spent his life devoted to his sport, what is it that journalists ask him?

“What is it like to play next to Tiger Woods?”

Sure, it must be awesome to be on the course with a living legend. Heck, I bet it is intimidating, inspiring, and even frustrating to some. But honestly, here’s a guy who is sometimes older than Tiger that has worked just as hard in most cases and you are asking him what it is like to be on the course with another golfer? I can see asking a retired legend what is was like to play with Jack Nicklaus or something to that effect. Why is the entire sport focused on this one guy – even when talking to other participants? Yes, he is remarkable and changed the sport forever. I just think that we need to respect what he has done but honor those that made it to the big events too.

Fed Ex Cup Will Never Determine PGA Tour Player of the Year posted by Andrew Payne

In what is probably the least shocking sports story of 2007, Tiger Woods was named player of the year on Monday for the 9th time in 11 years.

           Woods’ 2007 resume was impeccable.  He began the year by extending his tournament winning streak to a mind-boggling seven-in-a-row, and capped it off by claiming his 13th major and the inaugural Fed Ex Cup.

           While there can be no sound argument for a golfer other than Woods to receive this accolade, the PGA Tour attempted to pry the title of Player of the Year from Woods during the last four weeks of the season.

           Well, not so much the tour itself, but its new system. 

While dealing in hypotheticals does not make for the most compelling argument, an imagined situation should provide a glimpse into just how ludicrous the new PGA Tour Playoffs were this season.

           Imagine for a second that Tiger Woods, burnt out from a few weeks on the road and dominating everybody for another season, decided that he’d rather spend time with his newborn than compete in this made-up season-capping debacle.  So, with the absence of Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker claims the prize of Fed Ex Cup Champion.

           Are we to think Stricker is Player of the Year?  Are we to believe that a player who played well in the last month of the season and collected only one win all year while flaming out like the Hindenburg in the major is somehow better than a guy sitting on his couch alongside his PGA Championship Trophy and hardware from four other tournaments, including two World Golf Championships?

Defending champ Creamer pulls out of Farr

Defending champion Paula Creamer has withdrawn from the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic because of an injured left thumb.Creamer was scheduled to tee off at 9:10 a.m. in Thursday's opening round along with five-time Farr winner Se Ri Pak and In-Kyung Kim. But she notified tournament director Judd Silverman that she was pulling out of the tournament.Creamer also withdrew from last week's LPGA tournament in Pittsford, N.Y., because of the injury. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for Golf

Kaymer opens with 62, atop French Open by 3

Martin Kaymer of Germany overcame a painful blister and a bad start Thursday to fire a 9-under 62 and take the lead in the first round of the French Open.The 2007 Rookie of the Year on the European Tour hit an eagle on the third and eight birdies to recover from an opening bogey and tie the course record set by Eduardo Romero of Argentina in 2005."I had a terrible golf shot," Kaymer said about his opening hole. "That was my first shot. That was quite bad, it went far right. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for Golf

Kim upstages Tiger with opening 62

Anthony Kim upstaged host Tiger Woods Thursday with a course record 62 to lead the AT&T National. Tiger? Hot on his heels with a 64. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for Golf

British Open prize money stays at 2008 level

The prize money at next month's British Open will be exactly the same as last year, organizers said Wednesday.The winner will earn 750,000 pounds, worth $1.23 million at current exchange rates and a fall in dollar terms from last year's prize, then worth nearly $1.5 million.A total purse of 4.2 million pounds will provide the runner-up with 450,000 pounds and 290,000 pounds for third place at the event being held at Turnberry, western Scotland from July 16-19. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for Golf

Focus

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From FOXSports.com News for Golf