Who woulda thunk it? Bubba Watson, 2012 Master’s Champion. Not many I’m sure but Bubba winning the Master’s is also going to be great for the game of golf. Here’s why.

What’s really refreshing is that Bubba won it with his very own lop-sided, hack-kneed golf swing. It’s a homemade version that Bubba has “refined” since turning professional in 2003.

It’s almost like golf is saying, “Enough of these cookie-cutter golf swings and golf robots. Let’s get some fun, spice and personality back into this great game. Let’s shake things up a bit.” Golf, to my mind, HAS become way too boring and predictable.

The path to PGA success is this: Start the kids playing practicing at 4-6 years old, have a couple of wealthy parents who can shlep them across the country to every major junior tournament that means anything, send him/her to a world class golf school (a la Hank Haney, David Leadbetter, etc.), refine their swing so it looks (and works machine-like), rinse, repeat – you get the idea.

Whatever happened to the great Ben Hogan’s working philosophy, “digging it out in the dirt”? What about some of the older guys swing mechanics? people like Lee Trevino or Ray Floyd or Arnold. They all had unique swings that worked for them, that they could repeat under pressure.

It’s really quite amazing Bubba has never had a golf teacher or even a singular darn golf lesson. The guys above figured it out themselves. Just them, a golf ball and a place to hit. Seems to me they turned out pretty well.

If you corral a bunch of these old-timers, put them in a room and get them chatting about Bubba’s win and I’ll bet they’ll all have wry little smiles on their faces. They know that most of what it takes to be a champion is probably a bunch of bunk. They would probably ask “Where the hell were you when I was practicing in the dirt in some Mexican field while my hands were bleeding?”

It’s not all about mechanics and appearances and fancy equipment. It’s about something bigger. Something deeper. It’s about determination, persistence and heart. Ask any of the old-timers, they’ll tell you the real dope. Of what it takes to win on tour.

I’m not saying that’s all it takes. Bubba has God-given talent to hit the ball incredibly long and also to shape shots in ways some find m ind boggling but as I mentioned, and as we saw in the moments after the winning put dropped and in his ensuing press conference, the guy has a huge heart. He’s not afraid to show his emotions – to show his vulnerability.

Sure, watching some of his YouTube videos you could believe the guy is a bit goofy and unpredictable at times – but so what?! Isn’t it nice to have breath of fresh air blow through the too-often stale PGA Tour?

Gee, I was thinking on my drive to work this morning that its just so nice that golf has been opened a bit. That there’s hope for kids who want to play this great game but come from limited means or have heart, raw natural talent and a desire to succeed. That’s the bottom line, right?!

So maybe the African-American guy or gal in the Bronx could win the Masters or maybe some 250 pound Eskimo from Alaska or maybe some tiny Asian player who can crush the ball over 300 yards could become a Masters champion. Maybe even some tall, lanky kid nicknamed Bubba from the Florida Panhandle.

Related posts:

1. The Masters In HDTV
2. 2011 Masters Aftermath
3. Masters Chess Match

I’m not talking play. It’s only Thursday night and too early for that. This is about the issue of Augusta’s membership rules that has been simmering for more than a decade. It ebbs and flows and yesterday at the press conference with Billy Payne, Augusta’s Chairman, it caught fire again. Today even President Obama and Mitt Romney weighed in. Seems everyone’s talking except the one guy who should be, Tim Finchem, the PGA Tour Chairman.

The issue is that Augusta does not allow women to be members and the PGA is not supposed to hold tournaments at clubs that have discriminatory membership practices. You see, it’s in their mandate.

Augusta National is a private club and I believe it’s their right to set whatever membership rules they like. When asked about letting women join, Billy Payne gave the standard Augusta answer; the members won’t have it. Mr. Payne was only doing his job by telling us what his members want.

If they lose sanctioning, Augusta could still hold any tournament it pleased. Then it would be the players turn to move their Chess pieces. If it didn’t count towards professional rankings, points and money, would they go? Would their wives, daughters and girlfriends let them play? Would they be sleeping on the couch for a month if they did? The press would have a field day if that ever comes to pass.

Let me say again, I have no problem with Augusta or Billy Payne. It was their turn to move a piece and they’ve said no women. So far so good, that’s the way it is in America. We have rules and laws that let us make choices knowing what the consequences will be. Choose A and get this or choose B and get that.

Now it’s the PGA’s turn to move a chess piece. Their response should be (and should have been long ago) that to keep the Masters a sanctioned event, Augusta will have to allow women to join. It’s what they’re mandate requires and makes a whole lot of sense for an organization that is trying to get more women to play golf.

Once Tim Finchem gives Augusta it’s options, Billy Payne can go back to his membership, give them the news and let them decide to admit women or lose PGA sanctioning. This actually happened in 1990 when Cypress Point dropped out of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am rather than admit blacks as members.

So what’s the problem?  Let’s see. We have clear rules, options and free choice. Just what we like in this country. EXCEPT that Augusta hosts THE MASTERS, one of 4 golf Majors in addition to probably having the most powerful and monied membership of any private organization in the country. Getting a membership at Augusta is America’s equivalent of being anointed royalty. And Tim Finchem is scared to death to tell them the rules are the rules (just like in golf) and say you have to follow them or we don’t sanction your tournament.

These are the kinds of things leaders get paid the big bucks for – the hard stuff. This is where you show your mettle and leadership. This is where principal trumps friendship and power. This is where girls and women, who are still underdogs in our society, see that there are leaders who are willing to fight for them even if it costs them personally. Tim Finchem – your move.

Related posts:

1. Masters TV Coverage Is Broken!
2. Open Si, Masters No!
3. The Masters In HDTV

It seems like a lifetime ago that Sergio and Tiger were dueling in the 1999 PGA championship where he hit one of the most famous shots of his golfing career. You remember that, right?!

The ball was up against a tree and Sergio swung hard, with eyes closed and hit a low curve ball that scampered up on the green and we watched the young Sergio sprint and hop like a doe to see where his ball ended up. That day he forged his mark on the PGA Tour.

But a whole lot has happened since that 19 year old kid jumped for joy and had a spectacular PGA Championship tournament (He eventually came in second).

Sergio Garcia is now at the ripe “old” age of 32 and has 7 PGA wins to his credit and 10 European Tour wins. He has amassed over 28 million dollars. Not bad for the kid from Spain (and he’s only 32!)

I really love this guy. He is so good for the often melba-toast PGA Tour (Sorry, Bill Haas, but can a player be any more of a bore-a-thon than that guy) He injects life and spirit and joy into the game when he is playing well. There is nobody quite like “El Nino”

Garcia’s well-documented disappointment at the Majors will, unfortunately, not cease until he does break out. He has had so many close calls. I’m not going to document these but they’re in the books and are now yesterday’s news.

I really have absolutely nothing to base this on but I really feel this might be Sergio’s year. He has had so many close calls, has questioned his swing, his fortitude and even left the game for a short period after a severe slump in 2009-2010.

Oddly enough, he has always been one of the most solid ball strikers on the Tour. Who wouldn’t want to have that powerful, piercing Sergio Golf swing? His only nemesis has been the flat stick and it looks like he is finally get semi-comfortable with that club.

In 2011 he produced back-to-back wins in his home country of Spain with wins at the Castello Masters (winning by an astounding 11 strokes) and then inked another win at the Andalucía Masters (and played on one of the toughest courses in Europe – Valderrama)

I really think the Golf Gods owe Sergio. He has paid his dues and then some. I really can feel a huge year for Sergio coming on. Winning golf tourneys is all about timing and, of course, some lady luck.

There is something about him now that looks “solid” to me. Maybe getting older, more-seasoned, more wise – not sure. He looks like a player now – not a little giddy-kid.

Of course, I could be talking total crap but I do watch the tour and the players fairly closely. And if he does win a major I predict he will win 2 more majors and really etch his name in the history books as one the greatest players.

I predict lady-luck to be close by Sergio this year. My prediction is a win at the Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Feel free to harp in on your own predictions.

Here’s a fun book on Sergio: Play Like Sergio Garcia: An Analysis of the Swing and Shot-Making Game of Golf’s Young Star

PS: Golf holidays in Costa Del Sol can be one of your many memorable highlights while golfing in Spain.

Related posts:

1. Sergio Garcia Comes Of Age

We still don’t know a lot about the 2012 PGA season as we are only about one quarter of the way in. Guys are just starting to find their games, those that have one. However, if you’re going to be a serious contender in the Majors, it’s about time to step it up. None of the big European guns – Westwood, Donald, Kaymer or McIlroy – have won yet, but they’ve been reasonably competitive.

All but Donald are still alive in this weeks match play tournament. Don’t know what’s ailing Luke, but I suspect winning so much last year has taken some of the wind out of his sails. When you’ve scaled the mountain, it’s hard to get psyched again, but I know he’s still hunting for some Majors.

Guys like Quiros and McDowell seem to be out of sorts so far. One guy hasn’t really proved he’s got game and the other seems to have lost it at least for the time being.

Phil is on fire and I have to admit I didn’t see that coming. I feared that he might not be around much this year for physical reasons, but has he ever proved me wrong. He toasted Tiger on Sunday at Pebble a couple of weeks ago and then nearly won the following week at Riviera.

Tiger seems to play just fine Thursday through Saturday the collapse on Sunday. Tiger seems to have lost what has made Tiger Tiger in the past. More recently his putter, his ‘go to’ club, has a mind of its own. It’s frightening to see him push a 6 foot putt. Don’t give up hope, though, I still think there’s a lot of gas left in his tank. He’ll tame the putter in time to challenge Phil at the Masters.

As far as the rest of the US players, the cream is starting to rise to the top. I’m happy to say that Mr. Stricker is not dead yet – to steal a line from Monty Python. Along with Steve, Wagner, Wilson, Stanley, Mickelson and Haas have all won and are showing some consistency.

Keegan Bradley has nearly won, showing he’s not a one trick (season) pony. Brandt Snedeker has also won, which is a nice surprise. He showed so much promise a few years ago, then almost disappeared. Toward the end of last year he started to regain form and finally got into the winner’s circle this year.

Hopefully this is just the start of his golf career. Besides Tiger, the big question for me is Dustin Johnson, the guy with so much potential you could scream. He’s made the final 16 in Arizona this week at the Match Play tournament. Is he finally going to break out?

I just have to mention Natalie Gulbis. I don’t know what the big fuss is all about regarding her posing in body paint in this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit addition. If this was Europe, a beautiful woman showing a little skin wouldn’t even turn a head.

This is America where we try to make everyone young and attractive a sex symbol, only to get bent out of shape when they act sexy! I thought the Body Paint piece for Natalie was very tasteful.

I’ve seen more skin at the local beach and what’s wrong with a beautiful woman sharing her blessing and building some brand recognition? Plus I can look at her pictures and tell my wife it’s strictly for work!

COMING TOMORROW! You’re in for a treat. Steven Yellin’s second blog on how modern neuroscience discoveries can make us better golfers will be online. I seriously encourage you to check it out.

If you’ve tried changing your swing over the years and are still frustrated, then this is for you (and that’s probably 99% of us). His approach is based on neuroscience and the brain/motor skills connection.

How you go about learning is as important as what you’re trying to learn. Steven’s decades of work is paying off with knowledge that can help you develop the golf swing you dreamed was possible, but couldn’t find.

Related posts:

1. Pro Golf Update
2. Is the Pro Tour Doomed to Mediocrity?
3. Tiger’s Scary Future As A Tour Pro

Sorry Giants fans, this is not about you. As nice as their win over the Patriots was, it looked like a repeat of their regular season game.

Drama, yes, but redemption no. For that you’d have had to have seen the Phoenix Open. Kyle Stanley, of last weeks famous meltdown at Torrey Pines where he squandered a four stroke lead on the last hole, rebounded one week later to come from five strokes back on Sunday to win in Scottsdale. Now that’s redemption.

There’s not a big difference between being a goat or a hero. When the big moment comes, sometimes we succeed and sometimes we don’t. Sports writers are quick to point to the choke factor. I’m not so sure about that. I think there’s a lot more to chance than meets the eye. It’s as if fate owns a big wheel of fortune.

Will you or won’t you make the clutch putt, foul shot or home run? Let’s spin the wheel and see. Blessed is the athlete who gets the good results the first time because it builds a lot of confidence. Cursed is the one who draws the snowman on a par four that will happen once in a thousand chances.

True greatness shows itself when the failed sportsman is willing to get right back on the horse that has thrown them, look fate in the eye and say ‘Spin that wheel again, I’m willing to take my chances’. Kyle Stanley could have spent half a season or more licking his wounds or beating himself up over one hole, one tournament. But he didn’t and how much more confidence does he have now than if he’d won at Torrey Pines? I’d say a lot.

So let that be a lesson for all of us. Sometimes you’re going to make that 4 footer to win and sometimes you’re not. It’s more about the wheel of fortune than your character. Character is when you get right back out there, when you don’t let one instant ruin all the good play.

Wes Welker feels bad about his missed catch in the final minutes of yesterday’s Super Bowl. Wes, all you could do was train, prepare, and give it your all. Fate will always have the right to play the last card!

No related posts.

Francis & Eddie 1913 US Open

Is there anything that can be predicted about a pro golf season with much certainty? Not really, such is the nature of the game. One thing I do feel certain about, Tiger will win at least one major in 2012 – if he’s healthy! After that, how will things pan out?

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rory McIlroy win multiple times. He has the tools to be great, but does he have the intangibles to put him with the golfers who win more than 6 majors in the course of their careers? It takes more than great skill, history has taught us that if nothing else. He’s young at only 22, worth millions with millions more to come and dating famous women. That could distract anyone.

Talking about Irish golfers, how about Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke? Ireland and Northern Ireland have produced some great golf talent, but they tend to be streaky players. Darren is getting a bit long in the tooth, Paddy seems to have played himself out and Graeme? I don’t know. He was terrific at Pebble Beach in 2010. It’s true that many pros drop off after their first major, but he seems to all but have disappeared. He’ll win, but it’s no given that he’ll ever raise another major trophy.

Luke Donald is another story. He was the money winner in both the U.S. and Europe. That’s a feat that even Tiger hasn’t accomplished. He’s not long, but get him in sight of the green and he’s deadly. Apparently he had something to prove to the world in 2011. Does he have the fire to go after a string of majors? If not, then expect him to dial it back a notch and content himself with painting pictures and selling wine.

If you look at the names on the European Money List after Luke and Rory, you’ll find the likes of Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel, Lee Westwood, Alvaro Quiros and, hold your hat, Sergio Garcia in 8th place. Kaymer will continue to win every year. Why, because he’s just like Bernhard Langer. The Germans may not be flashy, but they’re good, consistent and persistent. He will win lots more tournaments and probably a major or two during a career that will probably see him leading the Champions Tour some day.

I haven’t seen much of Charl Schwartzel but I have a feeling this guy is a player. Expect him to keep charging up the rankings. Lee Westwood is a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. He’s very good, but there’s something missing or maybe just out of place. I have a feeling that 2012 will be a make or break year for him. Quiros is like a lot of the young guns on the U.S. tour. He hits the ball a mile. No, make that a mile and a half. But, you need more than distance to win the big ones.

Last, but not least, can you believe that Sergio Garcia finished 8th on the 2011 European Money List? I can’t. Here’s a guy who had it all, lost it all and now seems to be on a comeback. Sergio’s reappearance, the original Sergio not the brooding one, would be great for golf. I hope he keeps coming, he’s good for the game.

Besides Tiger, what’s going to happen in the US? I’m afraid that Phil’s best golf may be behind him now. I can’t help but feel that his atypical performance last year had a lot to do with his arthritis. That would be a shame, as he’s brought so much to the pro game. In many ways, he’s been the modern pro player most like Arnold Palmer – great with the fans and never afraid to take a chance. It might not be the way to be the best golfer in the world, but it sure is fun to watch. Here’s hoping that Phil can somehow pull out another Major. If he does, his best bet is the Masters.

It’s hard to make heads or tails out of the rest of the U.S. Pro Tour. Just when you think someone is going to breakout, they fall back, sometimes because of injury, sometimes because of partying and sometimes because golf is an impossible game to be consistently good at. Remember how good Sean O’Hair looked a couple of years ago? Since then, like Anthony Kim, it’s hard to find him on a leaderboard.

And then there are guys you never heard of the previous year who come on like world beaters! The guys that have some momentum from last year are Webb Simpson, Nick Watney, Bill Haas, Keegan Bradley, Dustin Johnson and Matt Kucher. Kuch had a pretty good year in 2011, but nothing like 2010. But, then, how could he? He was driven to show the world that he could be one of the Tour’s best. But I think he’s too nice a guy and too much a family man to drive himself to go further every year. He’ll win, but not as much. I hope he gets a major.

Dustin Johnson is such an athletic talent, but could he be too athletic for golf? I know that’s blasphemy to some, but I do think it’s true. Tiger’s a great athlete, but he’s different in that he was focused on golf from the beginning. I’m not sure that if you play a lot of other sports for a long time that you can dominate golf the way Tiger has. I can’t give you facts to back that up, but there’s something about a purely athletic swing that doesn’t lend itself to the limits that a good golf swing has to have. It does make for some amazing distance. Dustin will win, and he might even get a major but he’s going to have to change something to be the next superstar, but what?

Simpson, Watney, Bradley and Haas, now there’s some real golf talent, but do they have the intangibles to become great – meaning win more than one Major. Simpson and Bradley had such good years in 2011 that they’re the kind you think might become the next Tiger or Phil, but there’s always the possibility they become the next disappearing act. It’s hard to know what separates the two.

And then there’s a whole raft of guys who can play and play well, but maybe not consistently enough to ever dominate. I’m talking about guys like Bubba Watson, Gary Woodland, Justin Rose, and Hunter Mahan. I’d bet that Watson, Rose and Mahan will continue pretty much as they have, with Bubba falling off some. Woodland is another young guy who can hit the ball a mile, which puts him into the thick of things on some courses, but that may mean a career with only a couple of wins in the long run, but enough to make him a multimillionaire anyway.

I’ll wrap up with two comeback cases in the vein of Sergio, namely Jason Day and Brandt Snedeker. Both made considerable progress in rejuvenating their games in 2011. You can only hope it leads to even better things in 2012, but golf is a fickle game. Just ask yourself! Whatever happens, 2012 looks to be one of the most interesting pro golf seasons in quite a while. I wonder if there’s anything in the Mayan Calendar about that?

Related posts:

1. Predictions Based On British Open Interviews
2. How Good Are Today’s PGA Tour Pros?
3. Pro Tour Starts ’09 In Lackluster Fashion

Rehearsing Your golf swing, I believe, is a very valuable practice. It really sets your body physiology in a way that allows you to hit quality golf shots.

So here’s the trick. How do you really know what good positions are if your game is in the dumps? Yeah, maybe you’ve felt it a shot or two throughout your round but how can you “brand” this int your physiology so you can produce it consistently?

I have found one of the best ways to do this is by rehearsing certain key positions in the golf swing.

Watch the Faldo video in the right hand column and he’ll give you 2 excellent positions to rehearse. And the key is to really rehearse these – over and over and over again – just like an actor rehearsing their lines.

I wrote about proprioception training in a recent article and you can also check out the Sean Foley video on balance which gives another terrific “rehearsal” drill.

What I have found about these drills is they they are much more difficult than they actually sound (Foley even mentions this in the video above so listen for it) because they really take patience and discipline to do them slowly AND correctly.

We all want to swing out of our shoes for some reason (and I’m including me in this group as well) so it takes tremendous determination to go very slow and really FEEL the correct positions. Notice I said “correct”

You will have to constantly monitor yourself to make sure you are practicing and rehearsing “correct” golf positions. As we know, even pros have to constantly monitor and assess their swings via themselves and their coaches. It’s no different than you other than I assume you probably don’t have a full-time golf coach.

Finally, after researching this topic I found a number of coaches and experts recommending that you also take full practice swings at your regular swing speed every 5-6 “rehearsals”

This is meant to really “ground” your swing in your physiology so you can feel it at it’s proper speed. Then go back to your slow-motion, rehearsals swings and then back to full-swing again.

Now that is is off-season it’s a great time to rehearse correct positions. Keep in mind, they might feel awkward but that doesn’t mean their not correct positions. Again, what may “feel” correct to you can be just the opposite.

Related posts:

1. Perfect Your Swing With Position Practice
2. Hit solid, thud-sounding golf shots with Correct Sight
3. The Golf Swing Is Pretty Simple

(click picture for Huff Post Sports article)

Leave it to the Shark to try and stir up some controversy before the upcoming President’s Cup competition in Australia. He’s made it very public that if he were captain of the US side he wouldn’t have picked Tiger. With one comment he’s verbally face slapped both Freddie Couples and Tiger Woods. (read the full story HERE at Golf.com)

Greg is no dummy, so why would he put that out there? I suspect it’s not Greg the golfer we’re hearing, but rather Greg the businessman. As good as he was as a Tour player, you could make a very strong case that he’s been more successful building a business empire that includes golf equipment/apparel, wine, restaurants, beef, course design, and real estate development to name a few. A savvy entrepreneur knows hype before a big match can do a lot for ratings and get you buckets of free publicity.

Golf has always prided itself on being a gentlemanly game. When speaking about the competition, you don’t hear pros putting one another down or saying how they’re going to kick someone’s behind. Golf is too unforgiving for trash talkers to last very long. There are Golfing Gods out there and they don’t take kindly to fingers in the chest.

Greg should know better than to talk about the other Captain’s picks. Maybe he’s been watching too much NFL, NHL and NBA and has forgotten golf’s unwritten code of conduct. Or, maybe, he’s just trying to stick it in the face of the Golfing Gods that took so many Green Jackets from him!

Related posts:

1. Norman Crashes British Open Party!
2. What’s the Beef, Greg?
3. Cheers for Freddy the Brave!

Who doesn’t like Freddy Couples, really? The pros like him, the spectators like him and the commentators like him.

He doesn’t have to do much but walk down the fairway and you can almost hear the crowd give a sigh of affirmation. I’d say he’s the embodiment of charisma.

Freddy is captain of this year’s President’s Cup team going to Australia. With Freddy at the helm you know the pros on the team are anxious to play because the mood will be laid back and a ‘no worry, mates’ atmosphere will prevail.

There is one problem for Freddy and that’s Mr. Woods. Not only is he a friend of Tiger’s, but he has tremendous respect for what he’s done for golf over a decade. So now that Tiger is only a shadow of his former self, do you bench him or put him on the team only to deprive an upcoming superstar of a spot they deserve based on their play in 2011? Not an easy decision, even for the smooth Mr. Couples.

In case you missed the recent news, Freddy has avoided the problem nicely and thrown the ball directly back into Tiger’s court. Great shot Freddy! He said publicly that he wants Tiger on the team, BUT…..Tiger has to go out and play in more tournaments before the President’s Cup competition. Freddy made it clear that just playing in the Australian Open the week before will not be enough to get him on the team.

Now that’s brilliant captaining in my estimation. You’ve stated you’d love to have Tiger, even want him, but that he has to get himself in to playing shape. Not many pros would argue with Freddy’s observation that you eventually have to play lots of tournaments to find your form. Why Tiger hasn’t embraced this is anyone’s guess. Does he still think he can show up just at Majors. With the majority of 2 years forfeited, Tiger has to start playing lots of competitive golf if he wants to get back on top and his friend Freddy is clearly trying to give him a push in the right direction!

More cool Freddy stuff below:

Total ShotmakingThe Golfer’s Guide to Low Scoring by Fred Couples.

Get this hot Freddy item now: Fred Couples Autographed/Hand Signed Golf Ball!

Highly recommended Golf Channel DVD: Playing Lessons From The Pros: Fred Couples.

Related posts:

1. Freddy, Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
2. Tiger’s Path Back To The Top
3. Greg Norman Stirs The Pot

What happened to the vaunted youth movement of Americans who were going to take the PGA Tour by storm? In light of the fact that we haven’t seen hide nor hair of any of them this year I have some theories, none of which are based on fact but then very little that makes the news is these days.

Has Dustin Johnson been pitching side sessions at the Boston Red Sox training facility in Florida? It’s rumored he may pitch a game for the AA Portland Sea Dogs by month end. Some say his go-to fastball has been clocked at over 100 mph.

Someone who looks a lot like Ricky Fowler has been seen training with Shaun White in Chile. Ricky may be gunning to make the 2014 team in the half-pipe. I have it from questionable sources that the US Olympic Team is considering orange jumpsuits for the opening ceremonies in Sochi Russia.

Lucas Glover may not play in the US Open this year as the dates conflict with the conjectured filming of the sequel to Grizzly Adams in New Zealand. If the movie is a hit, Hollywood insiders say he will be a shoe-in for the Chewbacca role in the next 3 episodes of Star Wars.

It’s thought that Anthony Kim may be the buyer who recently snapped up the 10,000 square foot mansion next to Wayne Newton’s home in Las Vegas. Some photos have surfaced on the internet that seem to show Lady Gaga on Anthony’s arm at Kate and Williams wedding. If that turns out to be true then rumors of him headlining at the Bellagio with Mr. Newton in the near future may not be that crazy.

Ryan Moore may own as much as 25% of Ralph Lauren Corporation stock. Speculation is that he could be the heir apparent to the Lauren empire, particularly as Mr. Lauren purportedly doesn’t appear in public anymore without a tie.

Have you noticed that Bill Haas only plays in tournaments when his dad Jay Haas is not playing on the Champions tour? Could they be one and the same person? Is there some new hormone therapy out there we don’t know about?

It’s been rumored that Ricky Barnes has bought a house in London and has applied for English citizenship. He has supposedly become friendly recently with many of the younger European tour players and they might have explained to him that they owe their superior playing to what they put in the water in Europe. If that’s the case, the US might not win another Ryder Cup until Tiger Wood’s kids join the tour in 15 years.

Just to show you how far out of touch you are, I’ll bet your one of the US golf fans who thinks that Tiger isn’t playing because of his left leg. Don’t be fooled by his walking cast. After his indiscretions he’s decided to devote all his energy to doing for his kids what his Dad did for him. I’ve heard from sources I can’t name that you shouldn’t be surprised to see Sam & Charlie take on Ray Romano and Rush Limbaugh in a pay per view best ball match on the Golf Channel in the near future. I don’t want to give anything away, but I wouldn’t bet on Ray and Rush if I were you!

Maybe the Golf Channel should move their European Tour coverage to prime time.

Related posts:

1. Sean O’Hair Is Not Your Typical Young PGA Tour Player
2. Pro Tour Starts ’09 In Lackluster Fashion
3. Tiger Wins On Nationwide Tour!