New and Improved Golf Courses for 2015

Trump Golf Links Ferry Point, Bronx, NY (photo: courtesy Nicklaus.com)

Do you want to broaden your horizons and tee up at some different courses in 2015?

Of course you do...

In elf-like fashion, the Guru has been working diligently this holiday season to compile a list of new and recently improved and renovated layouts. It's his gift to every travel-loving golfer out there in cyberspace.

So, thoroughly clean out your bag for the New Year, stock up on your ball inventory and prepare yourself to play some of these gems in 2015 and beyond:

Cabot Cliffs (Nova Scotia, Canada)--This magnificent Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw layout on Cape Breton Island will be the most talked about course in 2015. Expected to open in July, Cabot Cliffs will be the sister course to Cabot Links, a phenomenal golf complex developed by Mike Keiser, who brought us Bandon Dunes in Oregon. Cabot Cliffs will be a moveable feast of rolling sand dunes and soaring cliffs. The front nine is routed through low lying dunes around wetlands and back nine features cliffs up to 100 feet high. My nomination for the most dramatic hole is the par 3 16th, which requires a tee shot over ocean to a green rimmed by jagged cliffs.

Cape Wickham (King Island, Australia)--Set on an island off the southern Coast of Australia, Cape Wickham, scheduled to open in 2015, is being designed by American golf architect Mike DeVries, who's known for his work in northern Michigan (Greywalls and Kingsley Club). Predicted to be one of Australia's top ten courses, Cape Wickham will have eight holes framed by ocean as well as five others rimming the tee or green.

Dye's Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida)--Following a 7-month enhancement program in 2014, the course improved its overall playing conditions with a new irrigation system, reconstruction of all green, tee and green-side bunker complexes, replacement of fairway turf and the expansion of the drainage network. Opened in 1987, the course was designed by Pete Dye in collaboration with Bobby Weed and PGA TOUR player Jerry Pate.

El Cardonal (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)--Opened in December (2014), this is a Tiger Woods design at Diamonte, a residential resort. The course is routed on a stunning piece of land with views of the Pacific Ocean and Sierra de la Laguna Mountains in the distance and arroyous, native dunes, cacti and mature vegetation.

Ford Plantation Golf Club (Richmond Hill, Georgia)--Pete Dye and Tim Liddy essentially bulldozed a course Dye designed and built in the mid-1980's to create Ford Plantation Golf Club. The new layout near Savannah has a parkland-like front nine with several dogleg holes, lakes and Spanish moss dripping from trees and a back nine with no trees and a links-style feel.

Full Cry at Keswick Hall (Charlottsville, Virginia)--Iconic course designer Pete Dye, who brought us gems like the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island and the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, recently debuted Full Cry, a new layout at Keswick Hall Golf Club/Resort. Interestingly, the course was routed atop a former Arnold Palmer design. Set on beautiful rolling terrain, the course has creeks, forests and open areas.

Gamble Sands (Brewster, Washington)--Known for his great work at Bandon Dunes in Oregon, architect David McLay Kidd's newest design is Gamble Sands in Brewster, which is about a three hour drive east of Seattle. Built on a giant sand ridge about 1,000 feet high, the course rewards players with spectacular panoramas of the Cascade Mountains and Columbia River. Large, wide fairways and flat greens make the course thoroughly playable for all skill levels. True to its name, though, there's lots of sand to contend with at Gamble Sands. The public-accessible course is slated to open a small lodge by 2016.

Poppy Hills (Pebble Beach, California)--If you love the Monterey Peninsula, you'll be glad to know the Poppy Hills Golf Club, a scenic, affordably priced Robert Trent Jones Jr. design owned by the Northern California Golf Association, recently received an extensive makeover with new greens and other design enhancements.

Quivira Golf Club (Los Cabos, Mexico)--Jack Nicklaus designs have been synonomous with Los Cabos golf. The Golden Bear's latest masterpiece is Quivira Golf Club, a stunner with 350-feet of elevation change in the rolling desert foothills about 10 miles from downtown Cabo San Lucas. Sheer granite cliffs, massive windswept dunes, arroyos and mountains dominate the golf experience. A Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, it has jaw-dropping vistas of the Pacific Ocean.

Rams Hill Golf Club (Borrego Springs, California)--Set in the center of the Anza Borrego State Park, this new Tom Fazio design is sculpted from desert hillside and encircled by mountains. Post card beautiful, the course has numerous elevation changes and all sorts of water features like streams, waterfalls and lakes. Rams Hills is located about a 90-minute drive from San Diego and a 60-minute drive from Palm Desert. The long term plans are to take the club private, so you might want to play this gem sooner rather than later.

TPC Baha Mar (Nassau, Bahamas)--Opening in Spring 2015 at the luxurious, $3.5 billion Baha Mar mega-resort is the TPC Baha Mar, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course design. Stretching 7,189 yards, the TPC at Baha Mar, the first Caribbean golf course in the TPC Network, will feature two very distinct nines. The front offers several high-profile water features and ocean views and the back nine weaves through a lush inland forest. Tree growth on the layout is spectacular with 15 species of native trees, include protected Mahogany, Silk cotton, Caribbean Pine and Buttonwood, as well as Red and Black Mangroves. There are also more than 70 species of birds and other wildlife on the course. 

TPC Cartagena at Karibana (Cartagena, Colombia)--Opened in October 2014, this Nicklaus design is par of the TPC Network of golf courses. The front nine has a natural forest and six lakes and the back nine runs along as magnificent oceanfront.

TPC Scottsdale (Arizona)--Home to the popular and sometimes raucous PGA TOUR's Waste Management Phoenix Open, this high-profile layout reopened in November following an extensive renovation by original architect Tom Weiskopf.

Trump Golf Links Ferry Point (Bronx, New York)--Scheduled to open in 2015, this Jack Nicklaus Signature Design in collaboration with architect John Sanford, will feature stunning views of the Manhattan skyline from most of the 18 holes. Other amenities include a $10 million clubhouse and practice facility with lights for nighttime use. Open to the public, the Irish links-style layout will be nearly treeless with tall native grasses and dunes and tee boxes that rise as high as 55 feet above the fairway.

Trump International Ireland Hotel & Golf Links (Doonbeg, Ireland)--Recently purchased by Donald Trump, this luxury resort (formerly known as The Lodge at Doonbeg) has embarked on an extensive enhancement program. Situated on lush farmland and framed by the Atlantic Ocean, the Greg Norman designed course opened in 2002. Trump has promised to elevate the courses profile and enhance the overall playing experience.

5 Reasons Why The Masters is Bigger Than Tiger Woods

When Tiger announced his bad back would keep him out of the 2014 Masters, you would of thought some media members wanted to cancel the whole thing and just tee it up next year.

Not so fast, my friends. Like most fans, I can't celebrate my spring without a healthy dose of azaleas, Magnolia Lane and the dulcet tones of Jim Nantz waxing poetically about this golf nirvana.

Let's face it, Tiger is a huge draw, but this is the Masters. It's the most important golf tournament on the planet and even Tiger has to take a backseat to this celebration of the game in the Georgia pines.

Here are 5 reasons why the 2014 Masters is bigger than Tiger:

1. The Masters is Never Boring
Whether it's Bubba hitting an impossible hook shot off pine straw in a playoff in 2012 or Phil pulling off some straw magic through the pines on the 13th hole in 2010, the Masters inspires golfers and brings out their best. Oh, Tiger's hit some great shots (the unbelievable chip shot at the 16th in 2005), but just about everybody in the field gets the adrenaline flowing so you never know what miraculous feat you're going to witness. For instance, Louis Oosthuizen's double eagle shot from 260 yards out on hole number two in 2012 is one of my favorites.

2. The Masters Celebrates Golf History and Family
The Masters is timeless and absolutely none of the traditions change without Tiger's presence. They were there before Tiger played his first Masters in 1995 and they'll be there long after he stops playing the PGA Tour. Treasured traditions like the ceremonial honorary starters, the family-oriented par three tournament with the players' small children wearing mini-size caddie outfits and the Champions Dinner on Tuesday of Masters Week are cherished by every golf fan.

3. Lefthanders, Not Tiger, Grab the Spotlight and Have An Advantage
The design of Augusta National favors southpaws, not Tiger. Woods doesn't bomb it off the tee like he used to and the design of some holes call for approach shots more receptive to lefthanders. In fact, in the past 11 years, five of the winners have been lefties-- Phil Mickelson is a three-time Masters champion (2004, 2006, 2010), Bubba Watson (2012) and Mike Weir (2003).

4. The 2014 Masters Has Other Great Story Lines
While Tiger winning the Masters with a creaky back would've have been the ultimate story, this year's Masters has no shortage of interesting story lines. Among the more intriguing are: Craig Stadler and son, Kevin Stadler, as the only father and son to play in the same Masters; Aussie Adam Scott tries to repeat and if he succeeds, he'll ascend to the No. 1 golfer in the world; 23 first-timers in the 2014 Masters; following the ever-confident Patrick Reed, a three-time PGA Tour winner this year, to see if he can capture a major; and watching Rory pursue the Green Jacket.

5. It's the Masters, Enough Said
No corporate signage. No goofballs yelling "in the hole" on the tee boxes at par fives. No rip-off concessions prices. No goofy trophies... The Masters is different and we like it that way. It's the most popular golf tournament in the world. Make no mistake, Tiger has added a lot to Masters lore, but the tournament doesn't need him. He needs the Masters every spring, just like the rest of us.

10 Things You Should Know About U.S. Open 2013 Merion Golf Club

The U.S. Open is going "Old School" in 2013 with Merion Golf Club (East Course), a classic layout in Ardmore, Pennsylvania opened in 1912.  This is not your typical 7,700-yard behemoth course where you "grip it and rip", then grab a wedge on par fours and go eagle and birdie hunting on par fives.

Playing from 6,996 yards (36-34-70), Merion is the first U.S. Open course under 7,000 yards since 2004.

The Merion East Course will quickly identify the contenders and expose the pretenders. Accuracy off the tee, shotmaking, and exceptional putting are necessary ingredients to score well on this layout with its deep rough, slippery smallish greens and difficult bunkers.

Here are 10 things you might not know about Merion:

1. Wicker Baskets-You won't see any flags on pins blowing in the wind. All of the pins are topped with a small wicker basket.

2. Only Two Par Fives-Yes, that's right. There are only a couple of par fives (556 yard no. 2 and 628 yard no. 4) on the entire course. In fact, the back nine has no par fives.

3. Long Time, No See--Merion has been out of the rotation for a while and has not hosted a U.S. Open since 1981.

4. The Golf Course Architect--The course was designed by Hugh Wilson, a Scottish immigrant member who had never designed a course.

5. Give Me a Yardage--There are no yardage markers anywhere on the Merion East Course.

6. Walking Only--The Merion East Course is walking only with an exceptional caddie program.

7. No Breakfast Balls--One of the strongly enforced rules for members is "No mulligans on the first tee."

8. Menacing Bunkers--The Scottish style bunkers on Merion East are known as "the white faces of Merion."

9. Hogan Legend--Merion is the site of Ben Hogan's famous 1-iron Shot in the 1950 U.S. Open.

10. Bobby Jones History--In 1930, Bobby Jones achieved the "Grand Slam" at Merion with his U.S. Amateur Victory.

Golf News You Need to Know December 2012

THE GOLF TRAVEL GURU scours the Web to find golf news you can't afford to miss:

The King at PNC Father/Son Tourney

Top 10 Golf Travel Trends 2013

Donald Trump is bullish on golf...

 Tom Watson and Tiger: No Bromance Here

Top 5 PGA Tour Moments of 2012

"It's not easy being Tiger"--Hank Haney talks...

The Ten Best Walks in Golf

Is Cabot Links the new Scotland?

Streamsong Florida Golf Resort--Best Day Play Golf Packages

2013 British Open Golf Packages (5 nights and tickets) to Muirfield

Great Golf of Scotland's Golf Coast 

Top 10: 2012 Shots of the Year

Rory McIlroy buys $10.9 million in Florida

Tom Watson will be U.S. Ryder Cup Captain in 2014

Golf and Gaming in Florida 

Graeme McDowell's Upcoming Nona Blue Tavern 

World's 17 Best Golf Destinations

Thaw Out, Play Golf: Where to Go 

Best Buddies-Trip Destinations

Caddies Fight at Australian Open...

Book Online: St. Andrews Links Trust 

Michael Jordan and Cargo Pants on the Golf Course

5 Most Annoying Golf Resort Practices

Changes to St. Andrews Old Course  

R & A Chief Executive Peter Dawson is positive about Old Course changes...

Process to Old Course changes feels rotten, Bradley Klein writes...

Are you ready for the new John Daly cocktail? Check this out.... 

 Tom Watson Says Golf Has No Place in the Olympics

Top 25 Newsmakers of 2012  

McIlroy Wins PGA Tour Player of the Year 

Could this 9-year old from Northern Ireland be the next Rory?

10 Disturbing Trends in Golf 

5 Simple Ways to Better Corporate Golf Performance

Jack Nicklaus' Plan to Snag the Kids 

Whatever your reason for visiting Florida, there's an Orlando golf resort for you... 

Bye Bye Mickey, Donald and Goofy: Disney No Longer Part of PGA Tour... 

Phil Mickelson tapped to renovate Torrey Pines North

Dinosaurs on the golf course? Check this out... 

Twitter: Top 10 Golfers to Follow

The next best thing to following big name golfers in tournaments is, of course, to, uh, follow them on Twitter, right?

If you want to read and respond to some of the best tweets in the golf kingdom, try some of these:

1. Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter)—Poulter takes great pride in his Twitter banter and you never know what he’ll come up with from day to day. He’s brash and sometimes annoying, but always interesting.

2. Paul Azinger (@PaulAzinger)—The outspoken “Zinger” comments on everything from politics to golf and other sports. He’s never dull.

3. Stewart Cink (@stewartcink)--He has an amazing 1,157,740 followers so he must be saying something interesting on a regular basis.

4. Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory)—The young Irish phenom seems to drone on incessantly about his great girlfriend, tennis star Carol Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki), but also has personal tidbits about his daily life.

5. Bubba Watson (@bubbawatson)—Known for his offbeat tweets like “View of 16^thhole in Bermuda from jet ski”, Watson keeps you posted on his great life.

6. Natalie Gulbis (@natalie_gulbis)—The LPGA’s glamour girl keeps you updated on her life on and off the course and always provides a lot of eye candy with great photos.

7. John Daly (@PGA_JohnDaly)—Nobody lives a wilder life on the PGA tour than J.D. He was made for Twitter because you never know where he’ll be and what he’ll say.

8. Rickie Fowler (@RickieFowlerPGA)—One of Tour’s rising young stars, Fowler’s interests go well beyond golf. He sort of over tweets on the Oklahoma State Cowboys (where he attended college), but he’s still a good one to follow.

9. Brittany Lincicome (@Brittany Lincicome)—Good behind-the-scenes LPGA information available here. Lincicome and LPGA’er Christina Kim (@TheChristinaKim) recently got into a highly entertaining Twitter dust up.

10. Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods)—He has the most followers in the golf industry (2,718,053), but he never seems to say much that’s enlightening or interesting. Here’s a classic mundane tweet by Tiger: “Amazing first visit to Turkey. Thanks Turkish Airlines, event organizers and fans. Very special place and a really fun event.” Yawn.

Best and Worst PGA Tour Golfers to Watch

Best Player to Watch

There's nothing like the "oh no" moment when the television camera in the tower focuses on a slow and annoying golfer playing in a PGA Tour event.

Watching one of these agonizingly methodical pros work through a seemingly endless pre-shot or putting routine drives me crazy. These guys really know how to ruin good televised golf.

Here's my list of  favorite players to watch and some of the worst culprits of slow, hard-to-watch golf:

BEST-Mark Calcavecchia--The ultimate shotmaker, "Calc" is also a fast player. In 1992 in the final round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, he played a round with John Daly in 2 hours and 3 minutes.

BEST-John Daly--I've followed Daly on the course for years and he never, I mean never, stands over a shot for more than a few seconds. Better still, love him or hate him, he's exciting to watch with his exaggerated driver swing that goes way past parallel and his phenomenal wedge play.

BEST-Rickie Fowler--You gotta love Fowler. Put a stop watch on him and he typically takes less than 15 seconds to hit a fairway shot or a putt. (once he steps over the ball). In a world dominated by technically obsessed pro golfers, Fowler is a feel player brimming with confidence. I find myself wanting him to succeed and rooting strongly against slow players.

WORST-Jim Furyk--I like Furyk. He's one of the classiest guys on Tour. In fact, he generally plays at a steady pace on the fairways, but once Jimbo reaches the green he goes into slow motion. The worst is when he stands over the ball about to pull the trigger only to step away and reevaluate. When Furyk gets to the green, I'm heading to the fridge for a brewski.

One of worst slow play culprits

WORST-Sergio Garcia--Right behind Kevin Na as one of the slowest players on Tour, Garcia has actually improved somewhat over the years. Back in 2002 at the U.S. Open at Bethpage he was heckled unmercifully by the rowdy crowds put off by his endless waggles. He solved that problem but still takes way too much time before hitting a shot or putt.

WORST-J.B. Holmes--You never like to bum kick a guy that's come back from brain surgery, but Holmes is one of the slowest players on Tour. That said, I still like to watch the guy because he's got serious game.

BEST-Dustin Johnson-He's the ultimate lock-and-load guy who plays fast in the fairway and on the green. You've got to follow Johnson in person on the course to get a true appreciation of his athletic ability. He's got tremendous flexibility and it's a joy to watch this guy off the tee.

BEST-Rory McIlroy--Fortunately the World No. 1 is a fast player. To be sure, I never get tired of watching that beautiful, natural swing of McIlroy's. Just think, we've got another good twenty years of watching Rory.

BEST-Phil Mickelson--I enjoy watching Mickelson play because he respects the game on so many levels. He's a relatively fast player on the greens and there's nothing like watching Phil hit a "hero" shot when he's in trouble ala his 6-iron on the 13th hole at the 2010 Masters.

WORST-Kevin Na--You're the champ, big fella. Na has the reputation as the slowest golfer on the PGA Tour. He takes forever on the fairway and the green. You sometimes think he goes through his endless pre-shot routine just to jack with fans. Who can forget Na at this year's Players Championship with his never ending waggles. Five, six, seven waggles.....just hit the freakin' ball will ya. Glaciers move faster than this guy.

WORST-Tiger Woods--You can't argue with success (14 majors and 74 PGA Tour victories), but Woods likes to take his time. While it was tolerable when he was dominating, now it's just annoying. This guy grinds over shots with the best of them. He analyzes every shot like it's his last and while that may be good for his game, it's boring to watch over four days.

10 Reasons The Open Championship is the Best Major

Tiger Woods just called it “my favorite major.” While I don’t condone some of Mr. Woods’, uh, questionable off-the-course activities, I agree with second best golfer never to have won 18 majors.

Here’s why I love the Open Championship:

1. You absolutely have no idea who’s going to win. While so and so might be playing great going into the tournament, it’s the player that adjusts to the conditions and course the best who ultimately wins. It’s not necessarily a big name, either. Ask Todd Hamilton, Paul Lawrie and Ben Curtis.
2. It’s not played on some tricked up U.S. Open course that constantly has announcers saying, “Ya know, par is a great score on this hole.”
3. With ESPN’s early morning coverage (starts at 5 a.m. Thursday and Friday) you get to rise in darkness and relive your old newspaper delivering days.
4. It encourages golfers to hit a variety of shots rather than driver, short iron, over and over again.
5. You receive lots of history from announcers and commentators but not the annoying lovefest you get when they drone on about Augusta National and the Masters.
6. It’s so enjoyable to see how peeved the Brits get when us Yanks refer to their Open Championship as the British Open.
7. Different weather conditions make golfers change strategy on a day-to-day basis.
8. Something about the Claret Jug. Is it me, or is it the best looking  trophy in sports?
9. We get to hear British golf commentators like Peter Alliss use terms like brolly (umbrella), buggy (golf cart) and trolley (pull cart).
10. Watching British Open Courses on television is inspiring and makes me want to practice and play more golf.

5 Best U.S. Opens in the Modern Era

1. 1973--I've never seen a more mesmerizing round of golf than Johnny Miller's 63 on the final day. I remember watching the then 26-year old Miller pin-seeking on just about every hole at Oakmont resulting in a phenomenal birdie barrage that left players like Nicklaus and Trevino behind. The U.S.G.A. was so miffed that Miller essentially embarrassed them by soundly defeating its tough set-up that they came back the following year with near shin-high rough at Winged Foot where winner Hale Irwin shot a 7-over par for the victory.


2. 1999--Staged on Pinehurst No.2, this one had spectacular drama. Payne Stewart, with his wind shirt with cut off sleeves, sunk a treacherous 15-foot par putt on the final hole to beat Phil Mickelson. It was the pinnacle of Stewart's career. Sadly, he never got to defend his title. Stewart died tragically in a plane crash four months after he hoisted the U.S. Open trophy.


3. 2008--Tiger Woods won on a bum leg at Torrey Pines. Limping around the course like he'd been floored by a linebacker, Woods amazingly played at a championship level. Woods bested Rocco Mediate on the first hole of a sudden death playoff following an 18-hole playoff. Then came the fire hydrant at Isleworth, a slew of personal and knee problems and Woods hasn't won a major since.


4. 2011--This was the Rory McIlroy coming out party following his flame out at the Masters two months earlier. The 22-year old Irish lad broke the U.S. Open record by 4 shots with his 268 total at Congressional Country Club. He shot an astonishing 16 under par to win by 8 strokes. He also set the record for the 54-hole record at 199, the 36-hole record at 131 and the most under par at any point at 17 under. Here's what's truly amazing: He finished 8 shots ahead of Australian Jason Day, whose score of 8 under 276 would have been good enough to win 26 of the previous 30 U.S. Opens.


5. 2000--Up until Rory in 2011, this was the gold standard in U.S. Open play. Tiger Woods destroyed the best golfers in the world by shooting 12 under 272 and winning by a whopping 15 strokes over Ernie Els at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Is Tiger Woods Finally Back?

All aboard, we're now loading up on the "Tiger is finally back" bandwagon.

Everybody get your red shirts, black pants, TW caps and those goofy looking white athletic golf shoes because Tiger Woods is back.

With the fire hydrant in Isleworth, sex clinic in Mississippi and Perkins Restaurant distant memories, Woods is finally back on his game following victory at Jack's tournament (The Memorial).

Even the most devoted Tiger hater must appreciate the way Woods sealed the victory. Bringing back memories of his phenomenal chip at the 16th hole at the 2005 Masters, Woods executed a similarly memorable shot at The Memorial.


It was the type of timely shot that only Tiger seemed to hit prior to the Escalade escapade.


Is Tiger back?


No, at least not the invincible Tiger.


This 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 or whatever version of Tiger will probably play more at the level of Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Luke Donald.


Woods will be good, even great at times, but not nearly as dominant as his glory years when he was rattling off Major victories.

At age 36, with a slew of knee and personal problems, there is no way Woods will ever get close to his prime.

When you look back at the year 2000 when Woods was 24 years old, he won an amazing 11 events (9 PGA Tour titles, a European Tour event and the PGA Grand Slam) and three majors (Masters, U.S. Open and British Open).

Let's face it, Tiger set the bar so high that any future accomplishments by him and other golfers pale in comparison to that year. 

You hear all the talking heads rattle on about TW being one of the favorites to win next week's U.S. Open, but nobody really knows which Woods is going to show up.

Will we see the struggling, floundering Woods we saw in the Masters (following his Arnold Palmer Invitational win) or the new, improved Tiger that hits fairways, sinks five foot putts consistently and executes miraculous shots?

To be sure, the ratings for the U.S. Open will be off the charts because of Tiger. 

Both the bandwagon types and haters want to see Tiger either win his first major since 2008-- when he won the U.S. Open on a bum leg-- or crash and burn and miss the cut.

I'll be watching intently. 

Admit it, so will you.


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Turn Out the Lights Tigermania

Has the Tigermania train finally pulled into the station?

While most of the media (including me) are still enamored with the power of Tiger, my guess is more and more fans are tiring of all things Tiger.

Let's face it, Woods still moves the needle for television viewers and if you put his name in a headline, you're sure to get lots of clicks on the Web.

You clicked on this column, didn't you?

That said, as a fan I'm weary of seeing Woods as the main storyline before every tournament he's scheduled to play.

The same old scene is getting real tired and played.

Here's how it goes:

Tiger does his obligatory pre-tournament press conference (with the exception, of course, of a couple of weeks ago when he did that silly Internet Q and A with lame, softball questions by fans).

Anyway, the main question is always the same: Tiger, you've been working with Sean Foley for quite some time now, how is your game progressing?

Tiger's pat answer: "Uh, I'm getting close, very close".

Oh really.

Other than that victory earlier this year at Bay Hill, all we get from Tiger is a bunch of excuses about the putts not falling, reverting back to his old swing, blah, blah, blah...

Tiger, why not tell the truth?

Your brain is still scrambled from the Escalade escapade, the ensuing divorce and the huge amounts of energy and angst it took to fight off TMZ, The National Enquirer and other tabloid journalism outlets. Moreover, you still have doubts that come with any swing change and these young bucks are harder than heck to beat.

Even if Tiger returns to form, the twenty somethings like Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson and others like Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan are much more difficult to beat than the opponents he faced during his fabulous run to 14 majors.

The current crop of young contenders aren't shooting 74 in final rounds like Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els to make your victories easier and Phil Mickelson is not the easy mark in majors like he was earlier in his career.

We saw the future of how fascinating and exciting the PGA Tour can be without Woods, who missed the cut, with the playoff between Rory and Rickie (D.A. Points, too) at Quail Hollow. These are two immensely dynamic players who could give us years of great golf.  They're full of energy and flair, especially Fowler with those fluorescent golf shirts, Ringo Starr haircut and wispy, jazz musician mustache. C'mon Rickie, bring out the beret, please.

I want to see more of Rory and Rickie and less of Tiger.

There will never be anything like Tigermania in golf again. It was great to witness Tiger in his prime and winning majors by double digit stroke margins.

Those days are just distant memories now. It's sad, but every train eventually pulls into the station.

Goodbye Tigermania.

Hello Rory and Rickie mania.

THE PLAYERS--The Best PGA Tour Tournament to Watch

The world famous no. 17 island hole at TPC Sawgrass Stadium.

It has the best field in golf. Head to the range before tee times and you'll see Top 50 players lined up like a Who's Who in professional golf reception line.

Taking The Masters and Augusta National out of the conversation, my favorite tournament to watch in person is THE PLAYERS at the TPC Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. This year's event takes place next week May 7-13. Among those in the field are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Webb Simpson....and the list goes on.

Phil Mickelson in celebration mode.

There's some serious money on the line at THE PLAYERS, which has a total purse of $9.5 million and a winner's check for $1,710,000.

While star players are everywhere (except Bubba this year), it's the TPC Stadium course and its unique features that make the tournament a great experience for spectators.

For players, it's the ultimate four hour exam that quickly identifies the contenders from the pretenders. Narrow fairways with tiny target areas, immense strategically placed waste bunkers, railroad tie barriers, grassy mounds and knolls and pool table-fast greens are just some of the elements players must deal with on the Pete Dye designed 7,215-yard, par 72 layout.

For spectators, many fairways are framed by high, banked slopes upon which crowds can sit. There are also bowl-shaped natural grass amphitheaters around many greens where you can watch putts break wildly in either direction.

Where to Sit and Watch

One of the best spots to sit is between the 16th green and 17th tee box. If you're close enough to the ropes you can see the player's facial expressions and anxious body language as they slowly walk the 100 yards to tee up at no. 17 and it's famous island green.

It's called the "Lonliest Walk in Golf".

Here's what Brandt Snedeker has to say about the walk: "I wish it was a lot shorter. It's very nerve-wracking. You're thinking about the shot the whole time. It's a very daunting shot. It looks easy on Tuesday and Wednesday, but it's hard on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There's no way to fake it in there."

If you can't secure a position there, sit on the hill flanking the left side of the lake overlooking the 17th green. It's a great place to watch tee shots to the island green and you can scurry over to the 18th tee box to watch one of the most harrowing and demanding tee shots on the PGA Tour. A lake frames the entire left side from tee to green on the 462-yard par 4. Even if you keep your tee shot right, there's not much space for a safe landing.

Sit on the hill overlooking no. 17 and watch the drama unfold.

What's ironic is most spectators think the tournament is decided on the flashy, in-your-face, no. 17, but no. 18 is often in the mix on deciding the winner.

Before any round, make sure you spend a little time hanging around the range and practice putting greens. The practice facilities at the TPC Sawgrass are among the best in the world and its sheer joy to sit and watch the best players in the world go through their practice routines.

What's New in 2012

--This year, THE PLAYERS Closing Ceremonies will be held on the Lower Clubhouse Lawn, where THE PLAYERS Trophy will be on display all week, allowing fans to encircle the stage and get close to the new champion (and 2011 champion K.J. Choi, who will award the trophy).  The 2012 winner will also sign a limited number of commemorative PLAYERS pin flags to distribute to some of the lucky fans in attendance.

--Better still for moms, the 2012 winner will draw the winning ticket for THE PLAYERS Mother's Day Car Giveaway at the end of Closing Ceremonies. Mothers, 18 and older, can register all week in the Stadium Village (where the Toyota Camry Hybrid will be on display), but they must be present for the drawing during Closing Ceremonies to win.

--Wine & Dine on 9 will offer spectators the chance to enjoy gourmet food and wine, including "small plates" offered by Matthew Medure, one of Northeast Florida's most renowned chefs. Located in a cool, shady area to the left of No. 9 fairway, Wine & Dine on 9 will also feature BERINGER'S expanded portfolio of varietals and will offer tournament-goers the opportunity to watch the action at the par-five 9th in style.

--The Oasis, located between No. 9 and No. 18 tees, will expand on what has been a popular concession area in years past. The Oasis will still feature a concession area, but fans will also find an open-air tent providing a shaded area to cool off. The venue will also include the NOLET'S Silver Lounge, an enclosed, air-conditioned tent open to all fans age 21 and over offering a range of spirits, including Ketel One flavors and NOLET Silver Gin, for purchase.

--The Kid Zone by THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health at Wolfson Children's Hospital will offer parents a family-friendly area to entertain their kids while on-site at the tournament. Activities available at the Kid Zone include a putt-putt course, face painting, temporary tattoos, bag toss games and much more. Located at the end of the Nicklaus Gate walkway behind No. 17 tee, the Kid Zone will also have a misting tent where fans can cool off, as well as a concession area with televisions so adults can still follow the action while their kids play.

This phenomenal video will definitely get you in the mood for this year's THE PLAYERS. Watch it and I guarantee you'll be ready to watch the tournament in person or on television.

Hang around the clubhouse and visit the range.

THE PLAYERS Ticket Information

For ticket information, go to http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r011/tickets.html

Play It 

After the tournament, if you've got the juices flowing and you want to stay and play at TPC Sawgrass, here's a link for golf packages: http://booking.tpc.com/golfpackages-32-71.aspx

Good luck on the course....you'll need it.

5 Reasons I Love to Watch Masters Champion Bubba Watson Play Golf

Bubba Watson, 2012 Masters Champion

1. He's never had a formal golf lesson. He doesn't have a swing guru like just about everybody else on Tour these days. It's a joy to watch Watson practicing on the range as he works the ball 30 or 40 yards in either direction. Better still, there's no swing guru, with arms folded, studying Watson's movements for angles, planes and all the other stuff we hear about ad nauseum when they talk about Tiger, Phil and others.

2. He plays fast. None of this spending endless time analyzing the shot or putt. Watson evaluates the situation, makes a decision and goes for it. A simple strategy that resulted in a Masters green jacket.

3. His stats tell the story. Watson, who's 16th in the world rankings, is number one in Driving Distance (313 yards), Top 10 Finishes (4) and the Money Leader ($3.12 million). My two favorite stats, however, are he's number one in Greens in Regulation From Other Than the Fairway and number one in Average Distance to the Hole after Tee Shot (151.9 yards).

4. He's easy to spot on the golf course. Watson is the only golfer on the PGA Tour playing a pink driver and during Master's week he wore only one style of outfit--all white. I also like the fact he's not a spoiled country club kid. He grew up in the Florida panhandle playing public courses and later started his career at Faulkner State Community College in Alabama before transferring to the University of Georgia.  Even more appealing, he once appeared in a music video with bib overalls and he owns the General Lee, the classic hot rod from the Dukes of Hazzard Show.

5. I love watching anybody-- who during a playoff at Augusta National for a green jacket-- can hit a 52 degree gap wedge through the trees off  pine straw to a slick green more than 150 yards away and land it only 15 yards from the flag.

5 Reasons Why Tiger Woods Will Win the 2012 Masters

1. He's brimming with confidence after winning at Bay Hill in Orlando two weeks ago. Reportedly, Woods was relaxed, smiling and focused during a practice round this Sunday at Augusta National. No doubt, the recent win put him in a good place mentally.

2. He wants to win the Masters and stick it to Hank Haney, whose just released book "The Big Miss" has portrayed Tiger as a self-centered cheapskate who almost destroyed his career by pursuing a fascination with the Navy Seals. Woods probably wants to win a Masters in the face of ex-caddie Steve Williams (who'll be toting the bag for Adam Scott) as well. Remember, he had numerous disparaging things to say about Woods. Last but not least, he'd like to see the look on Masters chairman Billy Payne's face at the green jacket ceremony. Payne publicly admonished Woods in the heat of the scandal.

3. He's overdue. In the last six Masters, Woods has not finished lower than tied for sixth place. He's had a T-2, T-3 and two T-4's. Woods always plays well at Augusta National and this year will be no different.

4. Woods has finally figured out the driver. The wayward drives are no longer part of his repertoire. In fact, he leads the PGA Tour in Total Driving (distance plus accuracy).  He can basically grip it and rip it at Augusta National and almost always have a second shot. Even if he misses a fairway, there's lots of leeway to recover.

5. He ranks first in the PGA Tour's "Par 5 Birdies or Better Leaders".  One of the keys to winning a Masters is making birdies or eagles on the fives and sinking clutch putts on pool table fast greens. If Woods putts like he did at Bay Hill, he'll be wearing another green jacket on Sunday.

Ten Reasons Why I Absolutely Love the Masters

Ten Reasons Why I Absolutely Love the Masters

I can't wait for the Masters to start this year. With Tiger, Rory and Phil playing well, 2013's version should be phenomenal and most likely, as usual, will come down to the back nine on Sunday.

One aspect of the Masters’ appeal is that while many things in America are changing at microwave speed, the tournament and it’s setting remains transfixed in another era. From its Magnolia Lane, a picturesque and darkly shaded boulevard leading up the clubhouse, to the blooming, colorful azaleas, to the green blazer awarded the champion each year, few things seem to change.

To fans, the Masters retains its aura because—except for the first week in April—the public is rarely exposed to the Augusta National golf course. The club has repeatedly refused deals for licensing agreements, and the only place you can get Masters memorabilia such as hats, visors and shirts is at the tournament.

Here are my top 10 reasons why I love the Masters:

Knowledgeable and polite golf fans.

I know it sounds elitist, but keeping drunk, rowdy, golf illiterate fans away from Augusta National is a good thing. I love the fact there are no beered up clowns yelling “In the hole” on par five tee shots or “You da man” to everybody inside the ropes. 

Champions Dinner on Tuesday of Masters Week

What a great tradition? When you win the Masters you become a member of golf’s most exclusive club. One of the perks is the previous year’s winner gets to select the menu (and pick up the tab) for the annual dinner. Some of my favorite selections include Tiger Woods’ cheeseburgers and milkshakes in 1998 when he was 22 years old; Jose Maria Olazabal’s Paella (a Spanish rice dish with seafood) in 1995 and Ben Crenshaw’s Texas barbeque in 1996.

No corporate signage

One of the reasons Augusta National is so pleasing to watch on our television screens is the total lack of corporate signage. It’s one of the few places left in America where you’re not subjected to some sign wanting to sell you something. With pop up ads on the Internet, intrusive advertisements at movie houses and endless signs and corporate tents at your typical PGA Tour event, it’s a welcome reprieve to see Augusta National, a throwback to a simpler time.

Par Three Contest

You can see the joy on the player’s faces as they walk around the course accompanied by their small children, who are wearing mini-sized caddie outfits. The event was first held in 1960. The course designed by George Cobb plays over DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike’s Pond, which is named for President Dwight Eisenhower. One of my favorite bits of Masters trivia is that no winner of the Par 3 Contest has ever gone on to win on the big course. Another great bit of Masters trivia: How many hole-in-ones have been scored on the Par 3 Contest? Give up? 70.

Caddie coveralls

While the green jacket is the most renowned Masters fashion statement, the white coveralls worn by the caddies instantly tell you this tournament is “a tradition like no other” to borrow a Jim Nance phrase. I love watching the golfers walk down the verdant fairways next to their caddies, who wear green caps and the white coveralls with the name of their golfers on the back in green lettering. While PGA Tour caddies have pretty much taken over the caddie duties, the old-time Masters caddies like Stovepipe, Pappy, Iron Man, Cricket and Cemetery will be as much a part of Masters lore as Amen Corner and Magnolia Lane.

Azaleas and magnolias.

I never get tired of seeing the bright azaleas that accent the golf course. Nothing signifies spring better than these brightly colored plants that provide the perfect color contrast for the verdant green surroundings. What I learned recently was that the golf course was built on land that previously served as the first nursery in the South. Through the years, more than 80,000 plants of more than 350 varieties have been added to the grounds.  The 61 magnolia trees that line Magnolia Lane are an awesome sight as well.

Real food and real low prices

Forget about hot dogs and hamburgers at the Masters (the smoke from the grills would presumably damage the garden-like ambiance), the real concession star is the pimento cheese sandwich that sells for $1.50. Yes, $1.50. Masters concession prices are stuck in a time warp. While other major American sports events have introduced price gouging to new levels at their concession stands, the members at Augusta National seem to care less about turning a profit on their concessions. Other $1.50 sandwich selections include egg salad, tuna salad and turkey. Want a brewski? How about two bucks?

Ceremonial honorary starters

I absolutely love the concept of having golf’s great past champions hit the ceremonial first shot. This year Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will share the honor. The ritual started in 1963 and through the year’s greats like Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead have participated. Sadly, between 2002 and 2007 the tournament didn’t have an honorary starter. In 2007, Palmer accepted the invitation after declining it in the previous years. Now, this year with Arnie and Jack it couldn’t be better. They represent everything that is good and wholesome about the game and its great traditions.

No tickets

People adore and want what they can’t have, right. The Masters definitely falls into that category. It’s the toughest ticket in sports. There is a waiting list but it was closed in 1978. Even if you open up the list, thousands of names are already ahead of you and me. You have a better chance of getting tickets to the Super Bowl, World Series, or NBA Championship than to the Masters.

The Green Jacket and other awards

Even the poor slug who can a barely tell the difference between a tennis ball and a golf ball knows about the green jacket awarded to the winner of the Masters. Most people don’t realize there are a host of other prizes at the Masters. For instance, the winner also receives a gold medal; the runner-up receives a silver medal and silver slaver and each day’s low score is awarded a crystal vase.

A Tiger Becomes a Phoenix?

The phoenix is a mythical and sacred firebird. According to mythology, the phoenix builds a nest near the end of its life that eventually ignites and engulfs the phoenix in flames. A new phoenix is reborn from the ashes and the life-cycle continues.

Like a phoenix, Tiger Woods arose from the ashes of his recent past at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge with an emphatic win. We are all too familiar with Tiger's fall from grace starting with that fateful Thanksgiving Day car crash in 2009. It is arguably the biggest downfall in the history of professional sports.

Over that time, Tiger has had to deal with a number of obstacles both on and off the course. Chief among them was the self-inflicted pain and consequences of a sex scandal in the public eye. It ultimately led to an emotionally and financially costly divorce. Physically, Tiger continued to have trouble overcoming nagging knee and Achilles injuries. Hank Haney dropped him as his swing coach and he hired Sean Foley to overhaul his swing. Tiger released his longtime caddy, the fiery Steve Williams, in favor of Fred Couple's former looper, Joe LaCava.

But Tiger finally overcame all of those obstacles with his 72nd win on the PGA Tour. It took 923 days and 27 tour events, a long time to the casual observer. However, it's quite understandable if you consider everything that Tiger has had to overcome. Regardless, Tiger 2.0 is finally here and it will be interesting to see how far he soars.