Tigers Knee Update
By Brian Hewitt The Golf Channel.com
Wachovia Championship tournament director Kym Hougham said Wednesday he is saddened by the news on Tiger Woods’ knee. But, he added when asked about the financial impact of Woods absence, his event is “insulated” in the sense that its corporate buys and ticket sales have been sold out for two months.
This was in response to the announcement Tuesday that Woods underwent arthroscopic on his left knee and will miss six to eight weeks of tournament golf.
Hougham also said he detected Woods struggling to get in and out of bunkers at the Masters last week and didn't think about it until Tiger's agent, Mark Steinberg, called him Tuesday night to tell him Woods wouldn't be defending at Wachovia.
Yes, Steinberg told Hougham when Hougham said he had noticed Tiger's discomfort at Augusta, that was what was going on.
Meanwhile, Woods swing coach Hank Haney informed GOLF CHANNEL late Tuesday that caddie Steve Williams had told him it was the best ball-striking Masters he had seen by Woods in his 10 years on Tiger's bag.
The big question now will be Tiger's fitness for The Memorial in six weeks. Haney said Tiger's availability for the U.S. Open in two months should be “no problem.”
THE LORENA SLAM:
It turns out Lorena Ochoa’s people have a definitive game plan in place starting with the next women’s major—the McDonald’s LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock in early June. And, it turns out, Bulle Rock could be the most difficult of the Slam events for Ochoa who won the year’s first major two weeks ago at the Kraft Nabisco.
For starters, Ochoa has never won the LPGA. And, her caddie, Dave Brooker, says, the golf course, in his opinion, lends itself to a “free for all.”
“In my eyes,” Brooker added, “Bulle Rock does not have the look of a major that this year’s other venues do. It’s more forgiving and gives more players a chance to win.”
Those other venues are Interlachen, near Minneapolis--for the U.S. Women’s Open later in June--and Sunningdale for the Women’s British in early August. Brooker caddied at Interlachen for the 2002 Solheim Cup matches and says course knowledge there won’t be a problem. “Interlachen will be a lot like Pine Needles (site of last year U.S. Women’s Open where Ochoa finished tied for second),” he said. “You have to hit it long and straight and the greens will be fast.”
Sunningdale opens with two par-5s which will play right into Ochoa’s length advantage. As of now, no early scouting missions are planned. Ochoa and Brooker will arrive Monday at all three tournament sites and begin their homework at that point. “We’re pretty smart people,” Brooker said.
Smart enough last year at the Old Course to figure out all the humps and bumps and hollows without the help of a local caddie. In winning her first major, Ochoa finished clear of runner-up Maria Hjorth by four shots at St. Andrews.
Wachovia Championship tournament director Kym Hougham said Wednesday he is saddened by the news on Tiger Woods’ knee. But, he added when asked about the financial impact of Woods absence, his event is “insulated” in the sense that its corporate buys and ticket sales have been sold out for two months.
This was in response to the announcement Tuesday that Woods underwent arthroscopic on his left knee and will miss six to eight weeks of tournament golf.
Hougham also said he detected Woods struggling to get in and out of bunkers at the Masters last week and didn't think about it until Tiger's agent, Mark Steinberg, called him Tuesday night to tell him Woods wouldn't be defending at Wachovia.
Yes, Steinberg told Hougham when Hougham said he had noticed Tiger's discomfort at Augusta, that was what was going on.
Meanwhile, Woods swing coach Hank Haney informed GOLF CHANNEL late Tuesday that caddie Steve Williams had told him it was the best ball-striking Masters he had seen by Woods in his 10 years on Tiger's bag.
The big question now will be Tiger's fitness for The Memorial in six weeks. Haney said Tiger's availability for the U.S. Open in two months should be “no problem.”
THE LORENA SLAM:
It turns out Lorena Ochoa’s people have a definitive game plan in place starting with the next women’s major—the McDonald’s LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock in early June. And, it turns out, Bulle Rock could be the most difficult of the Slam events for Ochoa who won the year’s first major two weeks ago at the Kraft Nabisco.
For starters, Ochoa has never won the LPGA. And, her caddie, Dave Brooker, says, the golf course, in his opinion, lends itself to a “free for all.”
“In my eyes,” Brooker added, “Bulle Rock does not have the look of a major that this year’s other venues do. It’s more forgiving and gives more players a chance to win.”
Those other venues are Interlachen, near Minneapolis--for the U.S. Women’s Open later in June--and Sunningdale for the Women’s British in early August. Brooker caddied at Interlachen for the 2002 Solheim Cup matches and says course knowledge there won’t be a problem. “Interlachen will be a lot like Pine Needles (site of last year U.S. Women’s Open where Ochoa finished tied for second),” he said. “You have to hit it long and straight and the greens will be fast.”
Sunningdale opens with two par-5s which will play right into Ochoa’s length advantage. As of now, no early scouting missions are planned. Ochoa and Brooker will arrive Monday at all three tournament sites and begin their homework at that point. “We’re pretty smart people,” Brooker said.
Smart enough last year at the Old Course to figure out all the humps and bumps and hollows without the help of a local caddie. In winning her first major, Ochoa finished clear of runner-up Maria Hjorth by four shots at St. Andrews.
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