Azinger Won't Be Captain Again

ESPN.com/GolfWorld

Paul Azinger has been hailed far and wide for being a key cog (if not the main reason) the Americans earned a victory at the 37th Ryder Cup. So should he get a second shot in the captain's chair, assuming he even wants the job?
History tells us no one in nearly 60 years has had a repeat performance as captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, but the PGA of America drastically changed its system for Azinger, so breaking precedent isn't out of the question.
Our experts ponder Azinger's future as they share their opinions in this week's edition of Fact or Fiction.

FACT OR FICTION?
Paul Azinger should be named the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the 2010 matches.

Bob Harig, golf writer, ESPN.com: FACT.
Why not? The PGA of America adjusted its thinking when it first approached Paul Azinger two years ago, granting his wish for a new selection process and more captain's selections. For the first time in nine years, the United State was victorious. Why not stick with a winning formula?

Azinger brought a nice energy to the captaincy, and he had an interesting plan, one that grouped his players in three separate foursomes from which he determined he would not deviate. Those groups of players practiced together, and were never going to be broken up. The plan worked, and it might work again in Wales in 2010.

There are roadblocks to this, of course. Azinger simply might want to get on with his life. The PGA of America has not had a player captain the team a second time since Jack Nicklaus in 1987, and back then, he did not do it twice in a row. And there are other deserving candidates, including players such as Corey Pavin and Davis Love III who have been mentioned for future captaincy positions.

Still, if Azinger wants to try again, why not?

Jason Sobel, golf writer, ESPN.com: FICTION.
Azinger did a masterful job as the captain of this year's U.S. Ryder Cup team. Every move he made -- from the restructured points system to Valhalla's course setup to his four captain's picks to his three team-within-a-team foursomes -- worked to perfection, as the guys in red, white and blue took home their first victory since 1999.
And that's exactly why he should quit while he's ahead.

When asked about such a prospect just hours after his team clinched Sunday, Azinger rolled his eyes while players such as Phil Mickelson and Justin Leonard led an abbreviated chant of, "Zinger in '10! 'Zinger in '10!" But the captain knows that's not how these things work. No U.S. skipper has gone back-to-back since Ben Hogan in 1947-49 -- and the job didn't entail nearly as much back then.

But this isn't just about history. It's about starting anew, letting another underdog have his day, building on the victory but not trying to recreate it. There's a reason why presidents are limited to two terms and it's the same concept for Ryder Cup captains. Unlimited absolute power can be a dangerous thing.

Besides, look at it from Azinger's point of view: He's a conquering hero, the first winning captain since Ben Crenshaw. Why mess with success? Even if the PGA of America knocks twice, he should turn 'em down, continuing to bask in the glory of this one while providing insight for Corey Pavin or Mark O'Meara or Davis Love III or whomever does take over in 2010.
John Antonini, senior editor, Golf World: FACT.

There are two questions that need to be answered here. The first -- should Paul Azinger return to the U.S. captaincy in 2010 -- must be met with a resounding affirmative vote. Not only did Azinger lead the U.S. team to victory at Valhalla, he spent the last two years tweaking the selection system, thus making sure his players would be the ones the most well-prepared for the event.

Azinger also saw to it that he would get the most of those players once the tournament began by virtue of his much-discussed pod system. It's hard to argue that he wasn't the best U.S. captain of the last generation and should he want the job, he should be given the opportunity to come back.

The second question, however, is more important. Does Azinger want to come back? I think it's too early for him to answer this question, but remember that he spent the better part of the last two years working on his captaincy, making more trips to Kentucky than Kenny Perry.

The next Ryder Cup is in Wales. As the road team, he wouldn't be required to spend as much time at that site as he did in the build-up to Valhalla, but the travel burden on the U.S. captain has increased dramatically in the last several years and you have to wonder if Azinger wants to go through that again.

Yes, he should return as captain, but let Azinger make the decision.

Ron Sirak, executive editor, Golf World: FACT.
Not only did Zinger win for the first time since 1999, he brought energy to the American side -- something that has been missing for a lot longer than that. Paul seems to have a real feel for his players and he seemed to be able to convey to them that one of the reasons the Europeans have done so well in the Ryder Cup is because they embrace the atmosphere instead of wasting energy complaining about it.

But here is my condition: Bring back both Azinger and Faldo as captains. Part of what made Valhalla an unqualified success is the fact there is real chemistry -- and competition -- between those two guys.

The fact the U.S. team will being going to Wales in 2010 in possession of the Cup will make the atmosphere intense. But to be able to bill it as a rematch between Paul the Yank and Our Nick would really amp up the atmosphere. Adding to the intensity will be how much it will tick off the British media to invite Faldo back. That's worth the price of admission alone.

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US Hammer Faldo's Euros

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As darkness descended upon Valhalla Golf Club, the smell of victory still hung in the air. Hours earlier, the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup team celebrated in earnest, a champagne shower dousing the putting green and leaving an aroma that was hard to miss.
Fifteen years ago, just months after his greatest triumph in the game, Paul Azinger would have had difficulty noticing. Cancer treatments robbed him of his senses, and the last thing he'd want is to have much to do with alcohol, anyway.
It sure was a different scene Sunday as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain led the cheers. He managed to push all the right buttons, make all the right moves, do all the right things to assure an American victory for the first time in nine years.
Golf is an individual game, but it is hard to think of an American player or captain who embraced the concept of team golf and the Ryder Cup more than Azinger.
"He put a lot into this, his heart and soul," said Azinger's wife, Toni amid the celebrating Americans. "It is something that he really thought about and worked on. If you ask me, it's his biggest accomplishment."
That's saying something given Azinger's unlikely rise through the game, from a skinny junior college golfer who had difficulty breaking 80 on consecutive days to making the PGA Tour, winning four times in 1987 and then capping his career with a 1993 playoff victory over Greg Norman at the PGA Championship.

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger celebrated the American's victory by spraying anyone in sight with champagne.
Azinger, 48, was just 33 at the time of his major victory, with seemingly more wins to come. But an aching shoulder led to tests and a cancer diagnosis. Azinger lost all his hair via chemotherapy, and although he did return to win one more time and make one more Ryder Cup team (his fourth overall as a player,) his game was never the same.
Perhaps that is why this Ryder Cup meant so much to him. It didn't hurt to have England's Nick Faldo, who denied Azinger the 1987 British Open and would be a Ryder Cup foil several times, as the opposing captain. And it certainly didn't hurt that Azinger is a competitive cuss who doesn't like to lose, is fiercely loyal to his country and wanted America to claim the Ryder Cup again.
"This is bigger to me than anything I've ever been a part of," Azinger said. "I just can't tell you ... it was the plan coming together and the guys embracing it."
There is a fine line between winning and losing the Ryder Cup, and Sunday's 16½-11½ outcome is not nearly as lopsided as the five-point victory would suggest. A few putts here or there, and the final matches that were rendered meaningless when Jim Furyk clinched the Cup with his victory over Miguel Angel Jimenez might have made things really interesting.
These biennial matches are always about the players and how they perform, as Faldo would surely attest. He got exactly zero victories out of his most-heralded players -- Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood.
But captains face criticism when they lose so Azinger should be applauded for some for some of the changes he brought to the 37th Ryder Cup. Much was made of the new selection process (shortened mostly to one year), and getting himself four at-large selections instead of the traditional two to allow him more flexibility.
Then there was the flip-flopping of formats, switching to alternate shot on Friday morning instead of best-ball, the latter of which had seen the U.S. fall behind in each of the last three defeats.
"It looks like a good move now, doesn't it," Azinger said after winning the morning session on Friday for the first time since 1991. "It wasn't so much that we play better one way or the other. It was just change for the sake of change."
Perhaps the biggest idea Azinger brought to the team was something he had been pondering for years, a theory he had told his assistant captains about more than a year ago, before they were even named to their posts.
He had this plan to divide the team into three groups of four players and have them bond. He put Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan, Justin Leonard and Phil Mickelson in one group. Then he had Kenny Perry, Boo Weekley, J.B. Holmes and Furyk in another. And finally Stewart Cink, Steve Stricker, Ben Curtis and Chad Campbell in the third.
Those foursomes practiced and played together throughout the week. And it's no coincidence that they went off in that order during Sunday singles.
"We just decided to come together in small groups; that was it," Azinger said. "They were never going to come out of that little group."
Three of Azinger's captain picks -- Holmes, Mahan, Campbell -- won two matches each and suffered just one loss among them. The six rookies combined to go 9-4-8. Azinger found excellent pairings in Mickelson-Kim (1-1-1), Mahan-Leonard (2-0-1) and Weekley-Holmes (1-0-1).
The result? The U.S. has just its second victory in the Ryder Cup since 1993.
Maybe Azinger ought to consider doing this again two years from now in Wales. It is unlikely, given the PGA of America's penchant for moving the position around. The last captain to do the job two separate times was Jack Nicklaus in 1987. And the last time a U.S. captain held the post for back to back Ryder Cups was Ben Hogan in 1947 and 1949.
Still, it's an intriguing idea, especially given all the new ones brought to this U.S. Ryder Cup effort. When asked about it late Sunday night, several of his players chanted "Zinger in '10, Zinger in '10."
And for the first time all week, Azinger was nearly speechless.
"I'm not going to think about it," he said. "I'm just going to stay up all night and party with my boys."
One more time, Azinger had the right answer.
Bob Harig covers golf for ESPN.com. He can be reached at BobHarig@gmail.com.

US Captures Cup

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- U.S. captain Paul Azinger sprinted up the stairs to the clubhouse balcony and grabbed the biggest bottle of champagne he could find to join an American celebration he felt was a long time coming in the Ryder Cup.
They didn't need a miracle putt or an amazing comeback like their last victory in 1999.
They didn't even need Tiger Woods.
Strong as a team and equally mighty on their own, the Americans rode the emotion of a flag-waving crowd and their Kentucky heroes on Sunday to take back the Ryder Cup with a 16½-11½ victory over Europe.

Kenny Perry, a native Kentuckian, said winning the Ryder Cup in his home state made his career.
Kenny Perry, the 48-year-old native son who dreamed of playing a Ryder Cup before a Bluegrass crowd, delivered a 3-and-2 victory that was part of an early push that swung momentum toward the U.S. team.
"I figured this was going to define my career," he said. "But you know what? It made my career."
J.B. Holmes, legendary in these parts for making his high school team in tiny Campbellsville as a third-grader, showed off his awesome power with two final birdies that set up the Americans for victory.
The clinching point, appropriately, came from Jim Furyk.
He felt hollow six years ago at The Belfry as Paul McGinley made a par putt that clinched victory for Europe, the first of three straight victories that extended its domination of a passionate event that Americans once owned.
For all the birdies and spectacular shots over three inspirational days at Valhalla, the Ryder Cup ended with a handshake.
Miguel Angel Jimenez conceded a short par putt, giving Furyk a 2-and-1 victory and the Americans the 14½ points they needed to show they can win on golf's biggest stage -- and without Tiger Woods, out for the year with a knee surgery but staying involved by text messaging Azinger throughout the final day.
This truly was a team effort.
"They just took an everything-to-gain attitude into this competition," Azinger said. "And I couldn't be happier."

Anthony Kim, walking to the first tee Sunday, routed Sergio Garcia 5 and 4 as the Americans tried to finish off the Europeans.
Anthony Kim set the tone by handing Sergio Garcia his worst loss ever in the Ryder Cup and keeping him winless at Valhalla. Boo Weekley galloped off the first tee using his driver as a toy horse, drawing laughter for his antics and cheers for his birdies.
Hunter Mahan, who criticized the Ryder Cup earlier this year as a money-making machine, was the only player to go all five matches without losing at Valhalla. His match was the only one to reach the 18th green, all because of a 60-foot birdie putt from Mahan that slammed into the back of the cup on the 17th hole.
He wound up with a halve against Paul Casey, and a new appreciation for this event.
"It's an incredible, incredible experience," said Mahan, who went 2-0-3 and tied a U.S. record for most points as a captain's pick. "I wish every golfer could experience this, because it's amazing."
Ben Curtis and Chad Campbell, the final player picked for this U.S. team, won the final two matches against Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington for a lopsided score that for the last three years had been posted in European blue.
It was the largest margin of victory for the Americans since 1981.
Despite his misfit collection of stars -- from the backwoods Weekley to the street-smart Kim -- perhaps no one made a greater impact on the U.S. victory than Azinger.
It was his idea to overhaul the qualifying system, which he felt was keeping the Americans from fielding their best team. He also doubled his captain's picks, and those four players produced one-third of the points.
"I poured my heart and soul into this for two years," U.S. captain Paul Azinger said, his voice cracking. "The players poured their heart and soul into this for one week. They deserved it. I couldn't be happier."
European captain Nick Faldo won't get off that easy.
The British press blistered him for benching Garcia and Westwood -- the most successful European tandem -- on Saturday, the first time either of them had ever missed a match in the Ryder Cup. Even more peculiar was putting three of his strongest players at the bottom of the lineup -- Ian Poulter, Westwood and Harrington.
The Ryder Cup was decided as their matches were in progress. Their points never had a chance to matter.
"It always hurts," Faldo said.
Faldo at least was validated by taking Poulter, who had only two top 10s all year. The brash Englishman was the only European to play all five matches and went 4-1, tying the record for most points by a European captain's pick set last time by Westwood.
Even so, there was something missing from this European team.
For years, the team built its reputation by having the most laughs, making the most putts and learning to play together for points. This time, that defined the Americans.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Europe's best players.
Garcia and Westwood failed to win a match for the first time in the Ryder Cup. Harrington, coming off a summer in which he won the British Open and PGA Championship, now has gone nine consecutive matches without winning. He is 0-7-2 the last two times.
Phil Mickelson had another losing record in the Ryder Cup, winning only one hole in his 3-and-2 loss to Justin Rose. But he spent the first two days showing the ropes to Kim, the youngest player on the U.S. team at 23.
Kim took it from there.
He birdied three of his first four holes and annoyed Garcia -- another turnaround -- by refusing to concede even 2-foot putts and challenging a ruling on the sixth hole. He went 3 up through seven holes, and the scoreboard was filled with red scores belonging to the Americans, who led in eight matches early on the final day.
Europe chipped away, however, until it was clear the Ryder Cup could come down to a big-hitting rookie.
Holmes was all square with Soren Hansen after they traded birdies through the 15th hole and tension began to build. Holmes tugged on his black glove, waggled his driver and hammered a tee shot on the 511-yard 16th that set up a birdie and a 1-up lead.
On the next hole, he sent another powerful drive well to the left, but it bounced up a slope, through the gallery, over a cart path, and kept right on rolling back into the short grass. His wedge spun back to 3 feet to set up the victory.
Azinger, riding around Valhalla in his cart to applaud the crowd and pump them up, jumped off the grassy slope with a look on his face that suggested he had never seen anything like this.
It had been eight long years since the Americans could celebrate like this, and they get two years to enjoy it.

Meeting of the Minds: Faldo, Azinger face the media

They've had some two years to think about their respective strategies for the 37th Ryder Cup, and now only days remain before Nick Faldo and Paul Azinger let everyone know what's been on their minds. The captains of Team USA and Team Europe finally have their 12-man teams in Louisville, but before they turned them loose on Valhalla Golf Club, Faldo and Azinger met with the media on Monday to talk about everything from anticipation to hopes.
JULIUS MASON: Good late afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and thanks for joining us at the Kentucky Exposition Center for this Ryder Cup Captain's news conference. Nick, I would like to welcome you to Louisville, Kentucky, and thank you for joining us today.

Also joining us United States Ryder Cup Captain, Mr. Paul Azinger. I'll turn it over to United States Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger for some opening comments.

CAPTAIN PAUL AZINGER: Thank you, Julius, I appreciate it. I want to thank you all for being here. Want to welcome you. I was worried you might get some turbulence from Hurricane Ike but I guess your pilot avoided that, which is good.

You brought a great team over here again. I've been kind of marveling at how well all of you guys have been playing. I know we'll be a little bit of the underdogs going into these matches this week, but hopefully we can rise to the occasion and put on a good show, and I just wanted to say welcome. We've been waiting for this for two years, or more, and I'll turn it over to you.

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: Thanks, Paul, it's great to be here. It's finally here. This day, I've been captain for I think nearly four years or something, 3 1/2 years, and obviously we've been official captains for the last two years, and finally this day has come. A little surreal, when you've been thinking about this day since I guess April, starting to plan for this day and finally it all happens and here we are.

Anyway, we were looking forward to getting settled in and be out on the golf course tomorrow.

Q. Could you gauge for us the mood on the plane on the flight over here, and on a transatlantic flight like that on Ryder Cup week, have you had time to consider your pairings on the plane?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: I've already done that. I spoke to the guys the last two weeks, and I said I've had a couple of weeks now and spoke to a few players, sowed a few seeds, some ideas I've been having, and we talked. Haven't talked pairings, but been working on little scenarios already.

But I'm looking forward to my first team meeting tonight, the first time I've actually got the team all in one place this evening.

The guys are resting. Our Open Champion is a fine sleeper. He had four sleeps, as I would call it. The guys are resting hard. The back of the plane may have been enjoying things a little bit, I'm not too sure, I didn't go down there much. Everybody was in very good spirits.

Q. What were your impressions of the course, I know you got to ride around it today and there's a lot of damage in the area but the course looked pretty good, didn't it?

CAPTAIN PAUL AZINGER: They did a great job cleaning up everything. There was still a lot of evidence of what was going on out there yesterday, 75 mile an hour hurricane wind force, broken limbs and trees, and we had a TV tower go down on the 12th green and they repaired that already. Mark Wilson, the superintendent, knows what he's doing and they have a tremendous crew. They worked really hard. I guess they started last night and they of course knew what they had in store for them this morning. By the time I got out there, the majority of the mess had been cleaned up. So I think the course will be perfect for the tournament.

Q. Curious for both captains, the arrival day, how different is it as a captain and as a player?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: I guess very different. As a player, you make the team, all you've got to do is pack your golf clubs. As a captain, your golf clubs are in your mind this week. Just a lot of thinking. Got to prepare yourselves for team meetings and all sorts of strategy and all sorts of different things, and our daily routine, you have to go through all of that, double check everything.

So yeah, there's a lot going on in your mind. With the players here, they have a very simple goal. They are itching to get out on the golf course and get out and play. That's how I was in my day.

CAPTAIN PAUL AZINGER: Actually I was more nervous as a player coming in trying to figure out the golf course and who I would be playing with and stuff like that I guess.

As a captain, I feel like I've got the lion's share of my work behind me. I don't feel a lot of stress or pressure. I was talking even on the way to the airport, the difference in the butterflies that the players feel versus as a captain, I really don't feel any butterflies. I for the most part know where I'm going, and I've been here a day or two already, so my walk-throughs are over, and I think we're going to be ready.

Q. There was a story in the Chicago Tribune last week that you were thinking about having Lou Holtz talk to your team; is that, in fact, true, and if so, what are you looking for?

CAPTAIN PAUL AZINGER: I'm not really looking for anything. Coach called me up a couple of weeks ago and he loves golf. He's just totally addicted to golf and said he would love to come in and hang out with us one day. He may be hanging with us tomorrow on the course a little bit.

We talked on the phone for a little while, so I think he's a great motivational speaker, but he's also a huge fan of golf. So he's just going to come hang out with us. There's no special speech set aside for Lou Holtz.

Q. You've both played home and away matches; are they different challenges, and is one easier than the other?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: I think they are very similar now. I think back 20 odd years ago when we first came to Muirfield Village, the golf course in that era was very different to what we played in Europe because more players of The European Team played in Europe and now they are international players. It was very much getting used to the conditioning of different style golf courses. The most obvious thing is the crowd support will be a bigger percentage, 25 percent Europeans here to 75 percent I assume will be American fans.

So outside of those two differences, not a great deal of difference.

CAPTAIN PAUL AZINGER: I agree. The European players are very comfortable over here.

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: Better water pressure, as well, is probably the biggest difference. (Laughter).

Q. And did you find one easier than the other, being at home or playing in front of your home crowd?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: No, I don't think so. No, I'm casting my mind back to the '87 one at Muirfield Village when we had 2,000 fans and America had 20,000, and our 2,000 out-sang them and that was an amazing atmosphere. That was the start of the great crowd participation.

Q. By your own admission, you've taken a bit of a bashing from the Irish media recently; but can you give us your thoughts on the two Irish golfers you've got on your team and whether you fancy playing them together? And to Paul, how pleased were you to see Darren Clarke not in Nick's lineup?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: Blimey.

CAPTAIN PAUL AZINGER: All I'll say is that I didn't want to justify why I didn't pick anybody but I would be glad to justify why I picked the guys I did.

So I'm not going to try to justify why Nick didn't pick Darren Clarke. He just brought over 12 I think pretty darned good players, and he had a couple more that he could have chosen. If it was 14 players, I'm pretty sure I know who the other two would be, but it's only 12.

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: The Irish boys are playing well. From two years ago, we have a three-time major winner, who is pretty impressive. And whoever I put the two Irish boys together, it's Monday afternoon, I just walked off a plane.

Q. How important is it for you to sort of generate an awful lot of excitement along the local fans here in the days leading up?

CAPTAIN PAUL AZINGER: I think the local fans are already motivated and we'll do everything we can to get those fans ready. I think those fans, they have been waiting for two years for this, so I think they have embraced The Ryder Cup. I feel like they have made me one of their own here and I'm real happy to be here and I couldn't think of a better place for us to play the 37th Ryder Cup than Louisville, Kentucky. If I could hand-pick any place in the country, this would probably be the spot. I think they will be behind us. The message to the crowd is be enthusiastic, raucous, crazy if you like, but keep it all within the realm of good sportsmanship.

Q. The Open Champion, would you be slightly worried about what you've seen in the last few weeks, that perhaps fatigue might be setting in, and is it that you think the adrenaline rush of The Ryder Cup can overcome that?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: No, he's rested. I spoke to him. I'm very pleased. We're very pleased, the way guys that played last week in Germany, obviously Robert Karlsson won, and the rest of the guys played very well.

Outside of that, the rest of the team is rested, and Padraig is one of them. He's had the weeks off. I chatted with him and he knew what he was doing with his schedule, so the guys have been practicing and kept themselves all light and well oiled, that was kind of one of my requests. No, the team is raring to go.

Q. I've heard enough from Paul on this but not really your thoughts; on the absence of Tiger, what effect does that have do you think on the U.S. Team in?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: I think because they have had so much time, I think if it happened the week before, maybe that could make a difference. But the fact that it happened in June, what's that, a good three months ago, three or four months ago, I feel the American Team at times have recognized that and set their game plan, and I don't feel it's ... I can see the positives and the negative.

I think the positive might be the American Team might want to show the rest of the golfing world, the rest of America and maybe Tiger, that they can play and they can perform better and they can win without him.

On my side, I reckon this is the one that Tiger was going to play a blind eye and win every match. I think they have lost out on a few points.

Q. Just wanted to know your thoughts on Captain's Assistants, you seemed to have a change of heart and you've added some more people this week?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: I've got a couple of ideas up my sleeve, yeah, which will be revealed.

Q. And do you plan to play every one of the players before the singles?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: I'm going to play them all the first day, yeah, I'm going to get 12 out against his eight. I thought that would be good tactics (shaking head).

There will be goals we want and whether we can achieve them, yeah, my No. 1 goal will be that I'll be scratching my head ... well, I won't have to scratch my head maybe Thursday afternoon when I put the team; I have 12 guys playing so well. We shall see. We shall see where we get to in the next three days' practice.

Q. By saying, therefore, that you will have something sorted out on that count, do you now expect, therefore, that it's not possible to captain aside to the proper extent of The Ryder Cup with just two of you?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: No, I'm not saying that. Tony Jacklin did all right. How many did Tony have?

Q. Two people.

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: Did he.

Q. Fewer people at the matches; it's easier.

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: I have a game plan. I know how I can hop around. I know how I can get my information. I'm more than happy with what I've got and the way I'm doing it and what I've got up my sleeve.

Q. Can I just go back on the previous answer about, is it your intention or your hope to play all 12 on the first day?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: Do you want it in stone?

Q. What is your hope?

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: What is my hope? I think if things were going very well, I'd have all 12 out day one.

Q. There's been a lot of talk about the Kentucky boys, pairing them together; that could be the crowd, a way to get them involved, especially in the first match maybe, and they have said they played quite a bit together as well.

CAPTAIN PAUL AZINGER: Yeah, they do. I might put them out first day, first match, get everybody going, we'll see. (Laughter).

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: Where's my pen? (Looking around and under table).

CAPTAIN PAUL AZINGER: Haven't decided. I'll let you know, though. (Laughter).

Q. Is there more pressure on the Europeans to continue the dominance you've had recently or on the Americans to finally get the Ryder Cup back?

CAPTAIN PAUL AZINGER: You know, there's always pressure at The Ryder Cup, and anybody who says there's not pressure is either out of touch or has never been here. So I feel like that the Americans, we have an opportunity here that I think the Europeans have brought an incredible team over here and we have a great opportunity to change it.

We have I think everything to gain in this situation, not a lot of people expect us to pull this off, minus Tiger Woods, so I feel like our guys are going to ... everybody feels pressure, but hopefully they will be free-wheeling out there. That's my hope.

CAPTAIN NICK FALDO: Yeah, I feel ... well, I've got 12 guys who want to win, simple as that.

And it's going to be an electrifying, spectacular week this week. We shall see.

Q. If you look back over the last 10 years, the U.S. players have had far more different partnerships than Europe; do you think that's a product of Europe winning early and being comfortable with sticking with what they have got, or the U.S. maybe panicking and switching and trying to find a hot hand?

CAPTAIN PAUL AZINGER: I believe the team that loses always makes the necessary adjustments to fix the problem.

So clearly, if you're behind every morning for six straight Ryder Cups, or every day the first day for six straight Ryder Cups, which we have been, that's 12 years of Ryder Cup Matches we've been behind on the first day; then, of course, you're going to make some changes, and if you're the team that's doing all of the getting ahead, then you're going to stick with what's been working.

So it's no different than the NFL teams play each other twice in the season, you lose the first game, the team that wins the game does everything the same and the team that loses makes the necessary adjustments to try to get it right.

I believe a lot of the switching around has been simply the results of being behind early.

JULIUS MASON: Let Ryder Cup week begin, ladies and gentlemen, Captain Faldo, Captain Azinger.

ESPN Hot Seat: Anthony Kim

At the age of 23, Anthony Kim very well may be the future of golf -- except for one small problem. He's already a present-day superstar.
The California Kid has enjoyed a coming-out party in 2008 after victories in the Wachovia Championship and AT&T National while amassing nearly $4.3 million in earnings.

Anthony Kim claimed his first two PGA Tour victories in 2008 at the Wachovia Championship and the AT&T National.
He also punched a ticket to his first Ryder Cup. Before partaking in the competition at Valhalla, Kim sat down on the ESPN.com Hot Seat to discuss his relationship with Sergio Garcia, a potential rivalry with Tiger Woods and how the current year has differed from 2007.
Q: The last time the Ryder Cup was played in the U.S., you were still in college. Two years ago, you didn't even have a PGA Tour card yet. Do you have to pinch yourself sometimes to make sure this is all really happening?
A: Well, it's definitely pretty special to have it happen, but I'm ready for it. I'm ready for the challenge and ready to bring that Cup back home.
Q: How much have you watched of previous Ryder Cups? Been glued to the TV, or busy working on your own game?
A: I haven't really watched too many of the Ryder Cups. I think I watched the one at Brookline [in 1999], because the U.S. was down so much and I wanted to see if they could come back. But other than that, I haven't really watched too many of them.
Q: Be honest with me: I know you're a confident player, but at the beginning of the season, did you see yourself making this team?
A: I did. That was my goal for this year. One of my main goals was to obviously be prepared for every tournament I play, but to make this Ryder Cup team. Now that it's happened, it feels pretty good.
Q: Have you spoken with some of the veteran players about what the week will entail?
A: I have. They've said, "Rest up, get ready for a pretty emotional week and let the golf take care of itself."
Q: What's the single best piece of advice you've been given in advance of the Ryder Cup?
A: Play golf like you know how.
Q: Hunter Mahan, who has made as many previous Ryder Cup appearances (0) as yourself, recently said players are treated like "slaves" during the week. What was your reaction to those comments?
A: Well, I know Hunter didn't mean that. I've known Hunter for a while, so I know that's not what he would say. He obviously made a mistake. I don't think he meant it that way. It just came out the wrong way, and I think he regrets it.
Q: Is there something to that notion that there's a whole lot of pomp and circumstance going on and not as much attention to golf?
A: Well, there's definitely a lot of extracurricular activities that you have to do other than the golf, but that just comes with the territory, and it's an honor to be a part of all that.
Q: On Thursday of Ryder Cup week, captain Paul Azinger hands you a blank lineup card for the week and tells you to fill in the names of your playing partners. Whose name do you write down?
A: Eleven other guys on the team.
Q: C'mon, give me somebody.
A: Well, Phil [Mickelson] and I have talked about playing together, so he's very high on the list. Jim Furyk, a veteran. Boo Weekley and I have become good friends. Really, everybody who has made the team I have become really good friends with before making this team, so it's hard to pick just one.
Q: How about if you could pick your opponents? Any specific European players you'd like to get a chance at playing?
A: You know, I just want to rack up as many points as possible, so whoever's in my way, I'm just going to try to play my best and get the win.
Q: You're being so political. Are you running for office or what?
A: [Laughs] You know what? This is a better way to answer questions!
Q: Earlier this year, there was a report that you hit into Sergio Garcia during a practice round and he wasn't very happy. What's your relationship like with him?
A: Very good. We're good friends. I think some people took it the wrong way, because we were both joking around. We're good friends on and off the course. Obviously, we're going to be on different teams, so we might have to play against each other, but off the course we're good friends.
Q: Some have said you're the next young player -- or maybe the first young player -- who will challenge Tiger Woods for the No. 1 ranking. Is that a premature notion, or do you think you've proven yourself worthy of such praise?
A: It's premature. I mean, I haven't won as many tournaments as I need to win, haven't had as much success as I would have wanted, but at the same time I'm working toward that, and hopefully I can achieve that by the end of the year and keep improving.
Q: With increased expectations, is there increased pressure on you as well?
A: No. I put as much pressure on myself as anyone can put on me. I don't worry about what everyone is saying. If I had, I probably wouldn't have made it out here to begin with.
Q: You talked earlier about the Ryder Cup being a goal. What are some other specific goals you had going into this year as far as win totals, world ranking, things like that?
A: Well, just to be prepared for every event I was playing. I think if I did that, I was going to win a couple of times and if I got a couple of good breaks, win more than multiple times. So I've done that, I've been prepared almost every tournament, and I'm going to try and keep doing that.
Q: You've talked so much about how you have matured as both a player and person in the past year. What was a typical Anthony Kim practice session like in 2007?
A: Lace up the shoes in the locker room and head to the tee. I mean, that's pretty much it. Maybe hit five or 10 putts, but I was on the tee after breakfast.
Q: And how has that changed in 2008?
A: Oh, I'm putting in my time. I've made sure I have a routine. About an hour and a half before, I'm out here stretching and putting and chipping, making sure that I'm ready to go when the ball's in the air.
Q: And you feel like that's been the secret to making you a better player this year?
A: Absolutely.
Q: You've been very candid about wanting to win the FedEx Cup for monetary reasons. I think many of the fans out there already see PGA Tour players as being well-off financially, but $10 million is a lot of money, isn't it?
A: It is. But it's not really just about the money. Tiger is obviously the first one to win the FedEx Cup; I'd like to do something that he's done, because it's nice to follow in the footsteps of greatness. I feel like I'm playing good enough. I have a good opportunity to do so. And, you know, if the money comes, the money comes, and I buy this house that I want.
Q: That can buy a lot of belt buckles, too, huh?
A: Yeah.
Q: Seriously, though: Did you ever think that would be one of the main topics you'd be talking about every week?
A: No, I didn't, because the belt buckle that I had was worth 40 bucks -- and it's not worth that anymore. So that's the last thing I expected.
Q: Let's see … $10 million divided by 40 -- how many can you buy with that?
A: A lot!
Q: Anthony Kim, you are off the ESPN.com Hot Seat.
A: Thank you.

From Prison To Caddie

To be working on the bag of a man many regard as the best young talent on the PGA Tour is the stuff caddies dream about while charting yardage books, cleaning clubs and hustling from one PGA Tour town to the next.

Eric Larson, left, and Anthony Kim, right, started working together this year on a four-week trial basis. Kim earn his first PGA Tour victory in Week 3 of the deal and the two have been together since. In the case of Eric Larson, he did it while sitting in a prison cell as the world of golf passed him by for a decade. And thanks to his good friend Mark Calcavecchia -- who stayed true to the promise of a job upon his release -- Larson today is the envy of many in his field.

Larson, 47, could not be happier working for Anthony Kim, 23. Toting a golf bag between the ropes of the game's richest fairways for a guy half his age will take Larson to Valhalla Golf Club, where Kim will play on his first U.S. Ryder Cup team starting Sept. 19. Coincidence or not, Larson was on the bag for both of Kim's first two PGA Tour victories after hooking up with him on a trial basis this spring.

So far, things are working out quite nicely for both.

"He's going to have a great career, and I'm fortunate to be in this position," Larson said after a recent round. "I'm going to do everything in my power to stay with him."

If he were so inclined, Larson could give Kim more than advice about club selection and the way a green breaks. He could tell him about persimmon woods and balata balls, instruments of the trade that were common back when Larson first caddied on the PGA Tour for the likes of Ken Green and Calcavecchia.

Larson worked for both players in the 1980s and 1990s, but also had a side income that got him into big trouble and eventually led to an 11-year stay in federal prison for selling cocaine.

Although it is a topic he would prefer to keep in the past, Larson has been open and honest about his mistakes and what led to them.

He said he began buying and selling cocaine simply for "monetary purposes. I didn't use it and I never brought it on tour. … That doesn't make it any better. That's just the way it was."

As part owner of a health club, Larson ran into financial difficulty. After Larson was late on some payments after taking out a loan at a high interest rate, his cocaine supplier gave Larson's name to federal authorities, leading to an arrest and conviction on a single felony count of conspiracy to sell, distribute or dispense a controlled substance.

Larson received a sentence of 13½ years in prison, but served 11 with good behavior. Due to federal guidelines, he got the surprisingly long sentence and served his times in four separate federal prisons in three different states.
Calcavecchia visited him at each one.

"He never lost his attitude, even though there were some down times," said the 13-time PGA Tour winner and 26-year veteran. "He had appeals getting denied, and there were some tough months. He's always kept a sense of humor and good attitude. Considering what he's been through, I don't know if there has ever been a prisoner who didn't change. But he stayed the same person, didn't act bitter."

Larson earned a college degree while in prison, and for a time was making about $13 a month doing various tasks. He kept positive, however, knowing that a job awaited him when he got out.

"He gave me hope," Larson said. "As I was doing my time, I was able to do all the right things knowing I was going to come back on the PGA Tour. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be out here and I definitely wouldn't be in the position I'm in right now."

Eric Larson, left, credits PGA Tour pro and his former boss Mark Calcavecchia for giving him hope while he was in prison. Calc promised Larson a job upon his release.

Larson was released to a halfway house in West Palm Beach, Fla., in February 2006, which allowed him to caddie for Calcavecchia that year at the Honda Classic. Due to a ban on travel, Larson didn't go to another tournament until the Western Open that year. He then caddied for Calcavecchia at the PGA Championship and throughout the following spring.
It was when Calcavecchia won the PODS Championship last year -- earning Larson a hefty commission from the $954,000 first prize -- that Larson was able to take big steps in putting his life back together. Caddies typically earn a weekly travel allowance plus 5 percent of a player's earnings, with some players paying a higher percentage for top-10 finishes and victories. Larson owed a $25,000 fine to the federal government, not to mention the expenses associated with starting anew.
"He did very well for me," Larson said. "It was a great year. I also caddied for Steve Marino for seven tournaments and for A.K. for one. I was out here 32 or 33 weeks, and I just wanted to get out, show my face so people would know me again. It worked out for me to be able to branch out a little bit."

That was always part of Calcavecchia's plan. Never one to use a caddie exclusively and for any extended period of time, his hope was to get Larson back on his feet financially and in the presence of other players.
And nearing age 50 with the Champions Tour in sight, Calcavecchia figured it would be best for Larson to hook up with somebody younger.

"He always said, 'Look, I'm going to help you get back on your feet and if an opportunity comes up, you need to take a shot with it.' I think in the back of his mind, he was always hoping he could play well for me and get me back on my feet and then try to hook up with some young guy," Larson said. "And if I ever wanted to work for him occasionally, I could. He told me as long as he was playing golf, if I didn't have another job, I could work for him. Because he wouldn't hire a guy full time."
With Kim, Larson has hit the lottery. Depending on the deal they negotiated, it is no stretch to think that Larson was paid in the $100,000 range for each of Kim's victories at the Wachovia Championship and AT&T National. Both tournament wins earned Kim in excess of $1 million.

"He's been tremendous in my growing as a player and a person," Kim said. "He just brings a new perspective, a great attitude every morning, and I feel if there was something lacking before a round, it was [me] being positive and happy to be there. I feel like with everything Eric has gone through, he feels happy to be out here."

"It's incredible how things have turned out for E," Calcavecchia said. "Three years ago, he was in the slammer and he probably didn't know the difference between Tiger Woods and Anthony Kim. If you ask Eric every day, no matter what happens, life is good."

Or, put another way, Woods had yet to turn pro and Kim was 10 years old when Larson went away to prison.
"Eric is the first person to recognize, 'I broke the law, I deserved to be punished,'" said Kevin Richardson, a friend and attorney who let Larson live with his family for six months in West Palm Beach after his release and helped him get a job at Bear Lakes Country Club in the same town. "I just questioned the [length of] the sentence for what he did. It certainly punished him and had a great role in rehabilitation and hopefully it will serve as a deterrent for others."

Larson worked the bag room for six months at Bear Lakes while having to stay close to home. He then slowly but surely worked his way back to the tour, with the help of Calcavecchia.

Last year, Larson got to know Kim simply by being out on tour. The opportunity to caddie for him came at the Texas Open.
That led to another chance this spring when Kim decided to make a change in caddies. With Calcavecchia's blessing, Larson went on a four-week trial run with Kim -- who won the third week, at Wachovia.

"He's definitely matured," said Larson of Kim, who was known for being on the cocky side during his rookie season. "He's grown up a lot, saying and doing all the right things. I think he expected to come out here and win quick without putting in the hard work. During the offseason, he put in the hard work. It took a little while for it to kick. Now it's kicked in and the confidence is there and everything else has fallen into place.

"I just happened to be there at the right time."

Bob Harig covers golf for ESPN.com. He can be reached at BobHarig@gmail.com.

From Prison To Caddie

To be working on the bag of a man many regard as the best young talent on the PGA Tour is the stuff caddies dream about while charting yardage books, cleaning clubs and hustling from one PGA Tour town to the next.

Eric Larson, left, and Anthony Kim, right, started working together this year on a four-week trial basis. Kim earn his first PGA Tour victory in Week 3 of the deal and the two have been together since. In the case of Eric Larson, he did it while sitting in a prison cell as the world of golf passed him by for a decade. And thanks to his good friend Mark Calcavecchia -- who stayed true to the promise of a job upon his release -- Larson today is the envy of many in his field.

Larson, 47, could not be happier working for Anthony Kim, 23. Toting a golf bag between the ropes of the game's richest fairways for a guy half his age will take Larson to Valhalla Golf Club, where Kim will play on his first U.S. Ryder Cup team starting Sept. 19. Coincidence or not, Larson was on the bag for both of Kim's first two PGA Tour victories after hooking up with him on a trial basis this spring.

So far, things are working out quite nicely for both.

"He's going to have a great career, and I'm fortunate to be in this position," Larson said after a recent round. "I'm going to do everything in my power to stay with him."

If he were so inclined, Larson could give Kim more than advice about club selection and the way a green breaks. He could tell him about persimmon woods and balata balls, instruments of the trade that were common back when Larson first caddied on the PGA Tour for the likes of Ken Green and Calcavecchia.

Larson worked for both players in the 1980s and 1990s, but also had a side income that got him into big trouble and eventually led to an 11-year stay in federal prison for selling cocaine.

Although it is a topic he would prefer to keep in the past, Larson has been open and honest about his mistakes and what led to them.

He said he began buying and selling cocaine simply for "monetary purposes. I didn't use it and I never brought it on tour. … That doesn't make it any better. That's just the way it was."

As part owner of a health club, Larson ran into financial difficulty. After Larson was late on some payments after taking out a loan at a high interest rate, his cocaine supplier gave Larson's name to federal authorities, leading to an arrest and conviction on a single felony count of conspiracy to sell, distribute or dispense a controlled substance.

Larson received a sentence of 13½ years in prison, but served 11 with good behavior. Due to federal guidelines, he got the surprisingly long sentence and served his times in four separate federal prisons in three different states.
Calcavecchia visited him at each one.

"He never lost his attitude, even though there were some down times," said the 13-time PGA Tour winner and 26-year veteran. "He had appeals getting denied, and there were some tough months. He's always kept a sense of humor and good attitude. Considering what he's been through, I don't know if there has ever been a prisoner who didn't change. But he stayed the same person, didn't act bitter."

Larson earned a college degree while in prison, and for a time was making about $13 a month doing various tasks. He kept positive, however, knowing that a job awaited him when he got out.

"He gave me hope," Larson said. "As I was doing my time, I was able to do all the right things knowing I was going to come back on the PGA Tour. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be out here and I definitely wouldn't be in the position I'm in right now."

Eric Larson, left, credits PGA Tour pro and his former boss Mark Calcavecchia for giving him hope while he was in prison. Calc promised Larson a job upon his release.

Larson was released to a halfway house in West Palm Beach, Fla., in February 2006, which allowed him to caddie for Calcavecchia that year at the Honda Classic. Due to a ban on travel, Larson didn't go to another tournament until the Western Open that year. He then caddied for Calcavecchia at the PGA Championship and throughout the following spring.
It was when Calcavecchia won the PODS Championship last year -- earning Larson a hefty commission from the $954,000 first prize -- that Larson was able to take big steps in putting his life back together. Caddies typically earn a weekly travel allowance plus 5 percent of a player's earnings, with some players paying a higher percentage for top-10 finishes and victories. Larson owed a $25,000 fine to the federal government, not to mention the expenses associated with starting anew.
"He did very well for me," Larson said. "It was a great year. I also caddied for Steve Marino for seven tournaments and for A.K. for one. I was out here 32 or 33 weeks, and I just wanted to get out, show my face so people would know me again. It worked out for me to be able to branch out a little bit."

That was always part of Calcavecchia's plan. Never one to use a caddie exclusively and for any extended period of time, his hope was to get Larson back on his feet financially and in the presence of other players.
And nearing age 50 with the Champions Tour in sight, Calcavecchia figured it would be best for Larson to hook up with somebody younger.

"He always said, 'Look, I'm going to help you get back on your feet and if an opportunity comes up, you need to take a shot with it.' I think in the back of his mind, he was always hoping he could play well for me and get me back on my feet and then try to hook up with some young guy," Larson said. "And if I ever wanted to work for him occasionally, I could. He told me as long as he was playing golf, if I didn't have another job, I could work for him. Because he wouldn't hire a guy full time."
With Kim, Larson has hit the lottery. Depending on the deal they negotiated, it is no stretch to think that Larson was paid in the $100,000 range for each of Kim's victories at the Wachovia Championship and AT&T National. Both tournament wins earned Kim in excess of $1 million.

"He's been tremendous in my growing as a player and a person," Kim said. "He just brings a new perspective, a great attitude every morning, and I feel if there was something lacking before a round, it was [me] being positive and happy to be there. I feel like with everything Eric has gone through, he feels happy to be out here."

"It's incredible how things have turned out for E," Calcavecchia said. "Three years ago, he was in the slammer and he probably didn't know the difference between Tiger Woods and Anthony Kim. If you ask Eric every day, no matter what happens, life is good."

Or, put another way, Woods had yet to turn pro and Kim was 10 years old when Larson went away to prison.
"Eric is the first person to recognize, 'I broke the law, I deserved to be punished,'" said Kevin Richardson, a friend and attorney who let Larson live with his family for six months in West Palm Beach after his release and helped him get a job at Bear Lakes Country Club in the same town. "I just questioned the [length of] the sentence for what he did. It certainly punished him and had a great role in rehabilitation and hopefully it will serve as a deterrent for others."

Larson worked the bag room for six months at Bear Lakes while having to stay close to home. He then slowly but surely worked his way back to the tour, with the help of Calcavecchia.

Last year, Larson got to know Kim simply by being out on tour. The opportunity to caddie for him came at the Texas Open.
That led to another chance this spring when Kim decided to make a change in caddies. With Calcavecchia's blessing, Larson went on a four-week trial run with Kim -- who won the third week, at Wachovia.

"He's definitely matured," said Larson of Kim, who was known for being on the cocky side during his rookie season. "He's grown up a lot, saying and doing all the right things. I think he expected to come out here and win quick without putting in the hard work. During the offseason, he put in the hard work. It took a little while for it to kick. Now it's kicked in and the confidence is there and everything else has fallen into place.

"I just happened to be there at the right time."

Bob Harig covers golf for ESPN.com. He can be reached at BobHarig@gmail.com.

Sweet Spot Golf

Sweet Spot Golf engages The Golf Channel’s on air personality, KERI MURPHY

Golf club manufacturer adds television personality Keri Murphy to help launch their line of charity- related Think Pink golf clubs

Los Angeles, Calif. (September 10, 2008) – Keri Murphy, the affable host of The Golf Channel’s hit television show “HIGHWAY 18” has agreed to play with and endorse Sweet Spot Golf’s Think Pink line of custom-crafted golf clubs. The start-up golf club design and manufacturing company’s Think Pink line supports The National Breast Cancer Foundation in finding their pursuit to find a cure for Breast Cancer. “Having Keri to help promote our Think Pink line is a perfect match for us,” says company President and co-founder of Sweet Spot Golf, Brian Allman. “The clubs are about playing with personality and telling the world that you care about finding a cure for Breast Cancer and Keri can carry this message as well as anyone in golf.”

Murphy adds, “These high performance clubs are the most fashion forward in the marketplace; I love them and what they say about me and my golf game.” To kick off this new promotion, Sweet Spot Golf and Keri Murphy will attend this weekend’s National Golf League “Suds on the Green” event at the William Land Golf Course in Sacramento where Murphy will be available for an autograph signing session.

Sweet Spot Golf has designed and engineered a unique, well-crafted and evenly weighted putter. It’s built with precision that allows golfers to find their line and sink putts with style. The new “Think Pink” putter combines design, style and color while delivering uncompromised performance. “Think Pink” putters are available in two different color variations, pink accents on white and pink accents on black.

“Women who have seen and tried the putters have embraced them with enthusiasm. But they also know that this putter is more than a good piece of equipment” explains Allman, “Using the putter also declares, ‘I support finding a cure for Breast Cancer.’ It is the Power of Pink!”

Sweet Spot Golf launched the “Think Pink” Putter on their website www.sweetspotgolf.net and is currently looking for retail outlets to sell their products. Additional items in the Think Pink line up are also available on-line, along with a product line for men.

About Sweet Spot Golf LLC
Sweet Spot Golf is a new golf club manufacturer located in Southern California. Their commitment to building performance-based golf clubs with a unique sense of design and color will be their standard mark in the industry. Current plans include the launch of a new driver and a series of three low degree Hybrids later this year.

Contact information
Brian Allman- ballman@sweetspotgolf.net
310-529-6045

Froghair Long Drivers

All us guys at Froghair like to look stylish on the golf course, but we also get a real kick out of standing on the tee and trying to knock the ball into next week…..

We have teamed up with the European Long Drive Championships, and that’s exactly what we are able to do, and see how we fare against the professional long drivers…. http://www.longdrivers-eu.com/comp_current.php

We have full use of the official grid for a bit of fun, on the actual day of the European Championship Finals, Sunday 14th September 2008 at Whittlebury Park, near Towcester. http://www.whittlebury.com/

10 lucky Froghair punters will have the chance to come along to the Finals, have a go on the grid in the Froghair challenge, and then watch all the action, culminating in the European Champion being crowned…


To win the simply fill in the following 2 answers...

I can whack the ball...? yards!
I deserve to be chosen because...

And e-mail to info@froghair.co.uk to get in with a chance…

The Froghair Challenge will run between 11am – 12pm, and the winner will receive £250 worth of Froghair clothing. The championship finals will commence at 2pm – A fantastic day out for all you big hitting Froghair fans….

Remember to check out the latest threads at www.froghair.co.uk

Spidey Drives Away with BMW

A marketing dream with his model looks and stylish dress, Villegas won for the first time on the PGA TOUR with three big putts on the back nine at Bellerive on Sunday for a wire-to-wire victory in the BMW Championship.

Villegas closed with a 2-under 68 for a two-shot victory over Dudley Hart, who birdied the final two holes to earn a trip to the Masters with his highest finish in two years.

With one Playoff event remaining, the FedExCup essentially is over.

Vijay Singh, who won the first two events, tied for 44th and earned enough points that all he has to do is complete four rounds at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola in two weeks to collect the $10 million payoff.

Villegas, a 26-year-old Colombian in his third year on TOUR, finished at 15-under 265 and collected $1.26 million.

"It's awesome to be here,'" said Villegas, who wore a solid white outfit accented by a yellow belt and painter's cap. "Hopefully, it's the first of many.''

Villegas had been building toward a moment like this in the last few months. He was near the lead going into the weekend at the British Open, rallied to finish fourth in the PGA Championship, then started the final round last week at the Deutsche Bank Championship one shot behind until faltering.

He had ample opportunity to let this one get away, too.

First came back-to-back bogeys on the front nine, losing the lead to Jim Furyk. But the real test came on the back nine, when Villegas was clinging to a one-shot lead and could not reach the green on the par-4 12th after hitting into a bunker. His third shot came up 12 feet short, but he sank the par putt to keep the lead.

One hole later, he seized control.

Furyk hit his tee shot into a bunker on the par-3 13th and made bogey, while Villegas took yet another aggressive line and holed a 10-foot birdie to build a three-shot lead. Then came a 35-foot birdie putt on the 14th that sent him on his way to victory at Bellerive.

A marketing dream with his model looks and stylish dress, Villegas won for the first time on the PGA TOUR with three big putts on the back nine at Bellerive on Sunday for a wire-to-wire victory in the BMW Championship.

Villegas closed with a 2-under 68 for a two-shot victory over Dudley Hart, who birdied the final two holes to earn a trip to the Masters with his highest finish in two years.

With one Playoff event remaining, the FedExCup essentially is over.

Vijay Singh, who won the first two events, tied for 44th and earned enough points that all he has to do is complete four rounds at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola in two weeks to collect the $10 million payoff.

Villegas, a 26-year-old Colombian in his third year on tour, finished at 15-under 265 and collected $1.26 million.

"It's awesome to be here,'' said Villegas, who wore a solid white outfit accented by a yellow belt and painter's cap. "Hopefully, it's the first of many.''

Villegas had been building toward a moment like this in the last few months. He was near the lead going into the weekend at the British Open, rallied to finish fourth in the PGA Championship, then started the final round last week at the Deutsche Bank Championship one shot behind until faltering.

He had ample opportunity to let this one get away, too.

First came back-to-back bogeys on the front nine, losing the lead to Jim Furyk. But the real test came on the back nine, when Villegas was clinging to a one-shot lead and could not reach the green on the par-4 12th after hitting into a bunker. His third shot came up 12 feet short, but he sank the par putt to keep the lead.

One hole later, he seized control.

Furyk hit his tee shot into a bunker on the par-3 13th and made bogey, while Villegas took yet another aggressive line and holed a 10-foot birdie to build a three-shot lead. Then came a 35-foot birdie putt on the 14th that sent him on his way to victory at Bellerive.

Anthony Kim rallied late to get within two shots, but he sent his approach into the bleachers on the 18th and made bogey for a 67, leaving him a tie for third with Furyk, who shot 70.

Villegas' appeal began two years ago at Doral when he finished in a tie for second behind Tiger Woods before a Miami crowd loaded with Hispanic fans. Then came his "Spider-Man'' style of reading putts, contorting his body into a horizontal position to keep his eyes as close to the ground as possible.

Endorsement deals and photo shoots followed, not to mention a strong following of females in his gallery. All he lacked was a PGA TOUR trophy, which he earned over three days in a weather-plagued event.

Despite a few hiccups -- such as a four-putt double bogey in the second round Saturday and three straight misses from inside 8 feet on Sunday -- he never buckled.

Villegas went over $3 million in earnings for the year and likely will move into the top 20 in the world ranking.

And yes, he still has a mathematical chance for the FedExCup.

He moved up to No. 2 in the standings, but even if he wins THE TOUR Championship and Singh finishes last, Villegas still would finish 101 points behind. His only hope is to win at East Lake and for Singh to withdraw or get disqualified.

The volatile points system introduced his year brought some fresh faces to East Lake for what once was the TOUR's All-Star game for the top 30 players on the money list.

Among those who advanced to the final round of the playoffs were Kevin Sutherland, Ken Duke, Tim Clark, Bubba Watson and Hart, who moved up 53 spots to No. 14 with his runner-up finish.

Hart saw that he was tied for third as he stood in the 18th green. He turned to his caddie and said if one person passed him, he was out of the top 30.

"I basically told him, 'Birdie or bogey.' I said, 'Let's try to give this thing a run,''' Hart said. "It was one of those things where I was going to give it a run and hit the best putt I could. And fortunately, it went in.''

The final spot went to Chad Campbell, who got no points this week after withdrawing Saturday to fly home to Dallas after learning his wife went into labor. Dix Phillip Campbell was born later that evening, wrapping up a whirlwind week that began with Campbell being picked for the Ryder Cup.

LPGA Tour should have seen the fallout coming from English policy

By Ron Sirak
Golf World

In this political season, one of the words that enters the vocabulary of the talking heads on television that we don't otherwise hear is "vet," and we aren't talking about horse doctors here.

The purpose of a vetting process is to make certain there are no time bombs hidden in the background of a candidate that could explode during the campaign. Clearly, no one at the LPGA vetted the impact that suspending players who could not speak English would have on the various constituencies of the tour.

The decision Friday to rescind the penalty was a shockingly swift admission that the original decision was not thoroughly thought out. In a statement issued under the name of Carolyn Bivens, the tour said: "The LPGA has received valuable feedback from a variety of constituents regarding the recently announced penalties attached to our effective communications policy. We have decided to rescind those penalty provisions."

This entire mess, which is embarrassing for the LPGA at best and potentially damaging to its efforts to do business in Asia at worst, could have been avoided if that "valuable feedback" had been sought before the rule was unilaterally imposed at a meeting with the Korean players in Portland, Ore., in late August. The decision to rescind the penalty was the right one, but is it a large enough eraser to eliminate the memory of the original insult?

Shortly after the tour confirmed that players with two years on tour would be required to be proficient in English by the end of the 2009, I received this ominous warning from an extremely well-connected source involved in tournament management: "Keep an eye on the pressure special-interest groups will put on politicians, the LPGA, sponsors, individual players and TV."
That's exactly what happened. A major LPGA sponsor -- State Farm Insurance -- publicly distanced itself from the policy, and an Asian-American state senator in California said the policy might violate state law on discrimination in the workplace and could result in the LPGA's being banned from doing business in California.

And if that was going on in public, you can imagine what was happening behind closed doors. The LPGA is an enormously complex community, one of the most diverse in all of sports. There are 121 international players from 26 nations on the LPGA Tour this year, 45 of those are from South Korea. Not only are the tour's players multinational, but its sponsors are, too. It's a delicate coalition.

Given that all the Europeans on tour speak English, as well as the handful of players from Latin America, the policy clearly was aimed at the Koreans. And to offend the Korean community was not only wrong, it was bad business. The tour's single biggest revenue stream is Korean TV money. What is to be gained by offending that community?

The ultimate silliness about this entire situation is the small number of players it really affected. A well-placed source within the LPGA hierarchy said there were "perhaps a dozen" Korean players on tour who did not possess the English skills the LPGA desired. A caddie who works for a Korean player placed the number at "about five to seven."

Doesn't it seem as if the tour could have dealt with the problem on an individual basis, as it has been trying to do through its Kolon-LPGA Cross-Cultural Program for three years? Among other things, that program provides language training through the Rosetta Stone system.

Does the LPGA have a problem regarding language? No question, although not as great as some think. But I have seen the eyes of reporters glaze over when a player speaks for two minutes in Korean and the translator then leans into the microphone and informs us: "She says she's very happy."

Many good stories about compelling personalities doubtless have been lost behind the language barrier, as much because of the sometimes lazy media and poor translations as because of the player. But to require that all players learn to speak English under penalty of suspension was an attempt to impose marketing skills on players who should be judged only by their skills on the golf course.

Another complicating factor is the American track record on language skills. There is a joke Europeans on the LPGA Tour like to tell.
What do you call someone who speaks three languages?
Trilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
Bilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks one language?
American.

As a nation, we tend to think the whole world should speak English
Lost in the entire issue has been one that strikes at the heart of the matter, and at the heart of women's golf -- if not at golf itself. The large contingent of Asian players -- primarily Korean -- on the LPGA Tour would be absorbed more easily if the Americans just played better. The language situation was not as much of an issue last year when Americans were winning.
In 2007, nine Americans won LPGA events, and, for the most part, they were the right nine: Morgan Pressel, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, Brittany Lincicome, Stacy Prammanasudh, Meaghan Francella, Nicole Castrale and Sherri Steinhauer.
This year, the only Americans to win are Creamer (twice) and Leta Lindley. The majors were won by Lorena Ochoa (Mexico), Yani Tseng (Taiwan), Inbee Park (Korea) and Ji-Yai Shin (Korea). Of those four, only Shin struggles with English. It is no coincidence, I'm guessing, that this policy was imposed in a down year for American players.

We live in an increasingly small world tied together more closely every day by technology. The marketplace is global now no matter what business you are in. And the LPGA has done a brilliant job of transitioning into a world tour, opening up many new revenue streams. Those sources of revenue remain open only if a high level of cultural respect is maintained.
I have often wondered whether Tiger Woods would be as revered if he had grown up in his mother's homeland, Thailand, instead of his father's, America. What if Tiger spoke Thai and not English? If he were the same remarkable player, would we require him to speak English under penalty of suspension, or would we just marvel at his skills?

"After hearing the concerns, we believe there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities to every Tour player," the LPGA said in its statement, adding that it will have "a revised approach" by the end of the year.

This is a road the LPGA went down at the beginning of the 2006 season when it imposed more restrictive credential language on the media without consulting any of the impacted organizations, resulting in a media boycott at the Fields Open. It may or may not be related, but Fields did not renew its contract with the LPGA when it expired after this year's tournament.

That decision, like the attempt to impose a language requirement on players, failed to look down the road in an attempt to identify and avoid the potential potholes. Clearly, the LPGA did not learn from the credential flap. Perhaps backing off from its ill-thought-out language policy will be a humiliating experience of enough magnitude that, before making future decisions, "valuable feedback" will be sought before policy is established rather than after it is imposed.

This was a black eye that could have been avoided. The LPGA was hit by a sucker punch -- after setting itself up as the sucker.

Bivens' missteps starting to add up

This is a good one from ESPN.com's Eric Adelson....

The discriminatory guideline is gone. Now it's time for Carolyn Bivens' moneygrubbing to follow.

For years now, the LPGA commissioner has come up with all kinds of tone-deaf ways to expand her tour's brand and bring in cash. Asking all players to learn some English is only the latest and greatest example. The goal is understandable -- all businesses have to be aware of the bottom line -- but the execution has been awful. Bivens has angered everyone -- players, sponsors, media, fans and now an entire culture -- and the women's tour has only come closer to ruin.
When Bivens took over in 2005, the LPGA Tour had already accomplished what the NBA and MLB wanted for so long -- to become a global game. The tour had a Swedish superstar in Annika Sorenstam, an athletic and charming rival in Australian Karrie Webb, a philanthropic and funny big-swinger in Lorena Ochoa and a pioneer in Se Ri Pak who changed the face of golf even more than Tiger Woods.

For fans looking for American stars, the tour saw the emergence of some of the brightest young players in its history: Morgan Pressel, Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis. The LPGA even had a ratings magnet in Michelle Wie, who caused tons of headaches -- though she was never a member of the tour -- but also brought enough fans/gawkers/skeptics to sell plenty of TV time.
Of course there were problems, too. Annika was nearing the end of her career. Wie was faltering. Creamer, Pressel and Gulbis didn't win quite enough. And the quiet South Koreans never seemed to stop winning. But Bivens had a core of marketable players who never got into legal trouble and always went the extra mile to promote their tour. All Bivens had to do was let the brand grow.

But she hasn't.

Go all the way back to early 2006. Bivens came up with the idea to own the rights to all the photos and media stories from all LPGA tournaments. The goal, of course, was to create cash flow. This is similar to what the NFL and Big Ten Network have done in building their own TV networks. But the LPGA does not create demand like football, so the Associated Press (among other national outlets) walked out on the Fields Open in Hawaii.

The tournament ended in a fantastic showdown between Wie and Pressel. But the buzz went to Bivens' clumsy move. The Fields Open -- then a brand-new event -- is now gone.

Things got worse from there. Bivens pulled the plug on the ShopRite Classic in Atlantic City and gave that weekend to a new Ginn event in South Carolina. Once again, the goal was money -- Bobby Ginn is loaded. But the ShopRite drew a good field and had a strong tradition. Now there is no ShopRite and there is no Ginn tournament in South Carolina.

The penny-pinching continued. The Tour decided to charge its events a $100,000 staging fee. It stopped paying its half of the fee for electronic scoreboards. And those were just the public head-scratchers. At the U.S. Women's Open in Newport, Bivens wanted top players to sign flags to show appreciation to Rolex, sponsor of the much-criticized world rankings. But she also asked Wie to sign a flag, even though Wie was not a member and sponsored by Omega.

The moves miffed and then infuriated some of the tour's most loyal supporters. A flood of resignations followed -- most notably that of Deb Richard (a Bivens hire), who complained of "losing faith in leadership." On a lower bureaucratic level, Korean-American Kyumin Shim left the staff after years of working to help Korean players with speeches and logistics.
Now comes the most egregious example: asking players to learn English or face a suspension. The move was questionable at best -- will better English really lead to more money? -- but it ended up upsetting everyone from the ACLU to Ochoa. What's lost in all the controversy was the fact that Korean TV contributes millions to the LPGA each year. Bivens bit the hand that feeds her.

Yet perhaps the most troubling aspect of Bivens' tenure is the way she strives to own every aspect of business without owning up to her actions.

She angered the Tournament Owners Association -- chock-full of sponsors including McDonald's and Coca-Cola -- by not showing up for a scheduled speech two years ago.

As the Fields fiasco blew up, Bivens remained in her hotel room, out of sight. When Wie refused to apologize to Sorenstam after pulling out of her South Carolina tournament, media requests for Bivens' comments went unanswered for three full days.
The commissioner reportedly asked for the resignation of much-respected senior vice president Barb Trammell not in person, but over the phone. And last week, when complaints about the English mandate came from everywhere, Bivens sent deputy commissioner Libba Galloway to take the initial public-relations hit. It would have been nice to see an Asian face defend the new regulation, but Bivens only employs one Asian staffer for a Tour with 45 Koreans.

No one thinks a commissioner should refrain from going after money. And no one thinks the LPGA doesn't need more marketing value in an era without Annika. But the tour's best aspect is its players -- women with class, charm, a ton of talent and most importantly, incredible life stories with roots all over the globe.

Bivens should just get out of the way and let those stories unfold. Otherwise, this sad chapter of the LPGA's history should come to an end.

Eric Adelson is the author of an upcoming ESPN book on Michelle Wie. E-mail him at ericadelson@gmail.com.

Tiger and Elin expecting their second child - 09/02/2008

By Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. – Even with his golf done for the year, Tiger Woods found something to celebrate Tuesday: His wife is pregnant with their second child.

Woods said on his Web site that Elin is expecting in late winter without being more specific on a due date.

He has not played since his U.S. Open victory in June, and two weeks later had reconstructive surgery on his left knee that put him out for the year. Woods’ first child, daughter Sam, was born on Monday after the 2007 U.S. Open.

“Elin is feeling great and we are both thrilled,” Woods said. “While my injury has disappointing and frustrating, it has allowed me to spend a lot of time watching Sam grow. I can’t begin to tell you how rewarding it is being a dad and spending time with her and Elin.

“The injury has been a blessing and a disappointment.”

The world No. 1 player has begun rehabilitation and has traveled recently to Dubai and New York for business projects.

Woods had said after he married in 2004 that he wanted more than one child. Woods was an only child, while Elin has a twin sister.

BMW Championship Fantasy Golf Picks

Match 1: Vijay Singh (T44) Vs Sergio Garcia (T20) SINGH WINS

Match 2: Mike Weir (T67) Vs Justin Leonard (T17) LEONARD WINS

Match 3: Jim Furyk (T3) vs Anthony Kim (T3) KIM WINS

Match 4: Phil Mickelson (T17) Vs Kenny Perry (T44) MICKELSON WINS

Match 5: KJ Choi (T5) Vs Steve Stricker (T10) CHOI WINS

Match 6: Stewart Cink (T60) Vs Ernie Els (T17) ELS WINS