PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jack Nicklaus is going to appear at next month's Masters. He thinks Tiger Woods will as well.
Nicklaus said Wednesday that "it would surprise me" if Woods did not return to competitive golf in time for the Masters, a tournament the embattled world No. 1 has won four times in his career.
"I suspect he'll play something before Augusta," Nicklaus said behind the 18th green at PGA National, where the Honda Classic opens on Thursday. "Your guess is as good as mine. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't play something before Augusta."
Nicklaus has been reluctant to comment much about Woods since the saga involving revelations of infidelity began late last year, saying more than once that someone else's private life isn't any of his business. He reiterated that belief again Wednesday after finishing his Pro-Am round at the South Florida course he redesigned.
A person with knowledge of Woods' schedule told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Woods returned to his home near Orlando, Fla. over the weekend after a week of family counseling and resumed practicing for the first time in nearly four months.
Like many, Nicklaus seemed to take that as a sign that Woods could be back sooner than later. The Masters begins April 8.
"It would surprise me if he didn't," Nicklaus said. "I can't imagine in 100 years he's going to miss this. None of you guys do either. But I don't know. I don't know. I've been very noncommittal about anything because it's not my business. But as it relates to him playing golf, my guess is as a golfer he's going to want to try to play Augusta if he's got his other things in order."
Read more: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1969583,00.html?cid=feed-tours_news-20100303-1969583#ixzz0hAiAXVfa
Nicklaus thinks Woods will play Masters
JACKSONVILLE (AP) — John Daly (FSY) was so irritated that a Florida newspaper wrote about his PGA Tour disciplinary file that he referred to the writer as a "jerk" on Twitter and posted the writer's cellphone number for his followers to call.
The Florida Times-Union reported Tuesday that the file is now public record through Daly's unsuccessful libel lawsuit against the newspaper. The file is 456 pages and notes that Daly has been suspended five times and cited 21 times for not giving his best effort.
"here's the JERK who writes NON-NEWS article on debut of my show — CALL & FLOOD his line & let's tell him how WE feel," Daly said on Twitter, adding the cellphone number of golf writer Garry Smits.
The story appeared the day Daly's reality show made its debut on Golf Channel.
Smits, the golf writer for the Times-Union, said he received about 30 calls after a series of three tweets late Tuesday night, and nearly 100 calls by early Wednesday afternoon. Smits said most of the callers hang up, and about 30 left messages.
"His fans are very unhappy," Smits said...
John Daly calls reporter 'jerk' on Twitter
The Florida Times-Union reported Tuesday that the file is now public record through Daly's unsuccessful libel lawsuit against the newspaper. The file is 456 pages and notes that Daly has been suspended five times and cited 21 times for not giving his best effort.
"here's the JERK who writes NON-NEWS article on debut of my show — CALL & FLOOD his line & let's tell him how WE feel," Daly said on Twitter, adding the cellphone number of golf writer Garry Smits.
The story appeared the day Daly's reality show made its debut on Golf Channel.
Smits, the golf writer for the Times-Union, said he received about 30 calls after a series of three tweets late Tuesday night, and nearly 100 calls by early Wednesday afternoon. Smits said most of the callers hang up, and about 30 left messages.
"His fans are very unhappy," Smits said...
John Daly calls reporter 'jerk' on Twitter
LONDON (AP) — Nike is happy for Tiger Woods (FSY) to stay away from golf for as long as he needs to sort out his private life.
The U.S. sports outfitter's $650 million golf sector has been one of the hardest-hit segments of its business but brand president Charlie Denson said on Thursday he does not want to see Woods back in action until he's ready.
Nike, Inc., based in Beaverton, Oregon is a long-term sponsor of Woods and is standing by the top-ranked golfer despite the damage done to his image by the infidelities he publicly apologized for last week.
"We've been very supportive of Tiger since the story broke and we continue to be supportive," Denson told The Associated Press. "He's got issues he needs to deal with and he's dealing with them. We are looking forward to him getting back on the golf course.
"Under the circumstances, the more he deals with the issues and the better he deals with them, the better off he'll be when he does return."
AT&T Inc. and Accenture dropped Woods completely in the weeks following the lurid revelations and accusations. Others, such as Procter & Gamble Co.'s Gillette and Swiss watch maker Tag Heuer, de-emphasized him in their marketing.
Woods spoke publicly last week to apologize but has not set a date for his return. He said on Friday he'd been in treatment for 45 days and was returning for more therapy to resolve personal problems.
"We've been in touch with his camp," Denson said. "We're very comfortable with where he's at, how he's dealing with it and we're looking forward to his return."
Nike: OK for Tiger Woods to take a break from golf
The U.S. sports outfitter's $650 million golf sector has been one of the hardest-hit segments of its business but brand president Charlie Denson said on Thursday he does not want to see Woods back in action until he's ready.
Nike, Inc., based in Beaverton, Oregon is a long-term sponsor of Woods and is standing by the top-ranked golfer despite the damage done to his image by the infidelities he publicly apologized for last week.
"We've been very supportive of Tiger since the story broke and we continue to be supportive," Denson told The Associated Press. "He's got issues he needs to deal with and he's dealing with them. We are looking forward to him getting back on the golf course.
"Under the circumstances, the more he deals with the issues and the better he deals with them, the better off he'll be when he does return."
AT&T Inc. and Accenture dropped Woods completely in the weeks following the lurid revelations and accusations. Others, such as Procter & Gamble Co.'s Gillette and Swiss watch maker Tag Heuer, de-emphasized him in their marketing.
Woods spoke publicly last week to apologize but has not set a date for his return. He said on Friday he'd been in treatment for 45 days and was returning for more therapy to resolve personal problems.
"We've been in touch with his camp," Denson said. "We're very comfortable with where he's at, how he's dealing with it and we're looking forward to his return."
Nike: OK for Tiger Woods to take a break from golf
MARANA, Ariz. — Being the flamboyant fashion plate Ian Poulter is — he once wore an eye-opening pair of Union Jack trousers — it came as no surprise that he donned an all-pink outfit for Sunday's final in the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.
Then he went out and fashioned a pretty good stretch of golf, putting up a bunch of red numbers to take control and eventually win an All-England final against Paul Casey. Under mostly cloudy skies at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in the desert hills north of Tucson, Poulter made or was conceded eight birdies in a 4-and-2 win.
Ian Poulter stops Paul Casey for Match Play Championship
Then he went out and fashioned a pretty good stretch of golf, putting up a bunch of red numbers to take control and eventually win an All-England final against Paul Casey. Under mostly cloudy skies at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in the desert hills north of Tucson, Poulter made or was conceded eight birdies in a 4-and-2 win.
Ian Poulter stops Paul Casey for Match Play Championship
BOCA RATON, Florida (AP) — Bernhard Langer's bunker shot was plugged about 45 feet from the hole in a playoff at the Allianz Championship.
Turns out, the German star had John Cook just where he wanted him.
Langer holed the difficult shot for an eagle to edge Cook on the first extra hole, to the delight of his many fans in his adopted hometown.
"It doesn't get any better than that, to play near where you live is fantastic," said Langer, who dropped his club and jumped for joy after winning for the ninth time in 48 career Champions Tour starts.
"To finish it off the way I did today with an unbelievable shot, that only happens every so often, and makes it that much more thrilling. I'm still flabbergasted. ... You could put me in there 50 times and I probably wouldn't hole again."
Cook missed a 30-foot eagle putt on the playoff hole.
"Hall of Famers do stuff like that," Cook said about Langer. "I felt, for sure, if I hit a good putt here, I have a good chance to win the golf tournament."
Langer and Cook closed with 5-under 67s to finish at 17-under 199 on The Old Course at Broken Sound Club. Langer earned $255,000.
Bernhard Langer wins Allianz Championship in playoff
Turns out, the German star had John Cook just where he wanted him.
Langer holed the difficult shot for an eagle to edge Cook on the first extra hole, to the delight of his many fans in his adopted hometown.
"It doesn't get any better than that, to play near where you live is fantastic," said Langer, who dropped his club and jumped for joy after winning for the ninth time in 48 career Champions Tour starts.
"To finish it off the way I did today with an unbelievable shot, that only happens every so often, and makes it that much more thrilling. I'm still flabbergasted. ... You could put me in there 50 times and I probably wouldn't hole again."
Cook missed a 30-foot eagle putt on the playoff hole.
"Hall of Famers do stuff like that," Cook said about Langer. "I felt, for sure, if I hit a good putt here, I have a good chance to win the golf tournament."
Langer and Cook closed with 5-under 67s to finish at 17-under 199 on The Old Course at Broken Sound Club. Langer earned $255,000.
Bernhard Langer wins Allianz Championship in playoff
Tiger Woods' televised apology was better than that of Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees— but not nearly as convincing as that of Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. 
So says Tonya Reiman, author of The Power of Body Language who watched the speech live Friday.
Woods was robotic during his 13-minute address, Reiman says. He came off more sincere than A-Rod in 2009. But not as emotionally honest as Bryant in 2003.
"Tiger did a much better job than A-Rod. A-Rod made some sarcastic jokes like the Tic-Tac remark. You didn't see anything like that with Tiger," she says. "You saw, 'Please leave my family alone. I'm apologetic and trying to get help.' I do think he was sincere."
Still, the tightly controlled Woods didn't come close to matching Bryant's emotional performance when he turned to apologize directly to wife Vanessa with tears streaming down his cheeks...
Body language expert: Better than A-Rod, worse than Kobe
So says Tonya Reiman, author of The Power of Body Language who watched the speech live Friday.
Woods was robotic during his 13-minute address, Reiman says. He came off more sincere than A-Rod in 2009. But not as emotionally honest as Bryant in 2003.
"Tiger did a much better job than A-Rod. A-Rod made some sarcastic jokes like the Tic-Tac remark. You didn't see anything like that with Tiger," she says. "You saw, 'Please leave my family alone. I'm apologetic and trying to get help.' I do think he was sincere."
Still, the tightly controlled Woods didn't come close to matching Bryant's emotional performance when he turned to apologize directly to wife Vanessa with tears streaming down his cheeks...
Body language expert: Better than A-Rod, worse than Kobe
PATTAYA, Thailand - Christina Kim was shaken but unhurt when the bus she was riding in crashed leaving the course hosting the LPGA Tour's season-opening event.
The accident Friday involved the bus, a truck and a police car.
Kim, returning to her hotel after shooting a 72 in the second round of the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand, gave her version of the accident on Twitter and posted photos that showed minor damage to the three vehicles involved.
Her first tweet read: "OMG the bus I was riding in got into an accident and 3 vehicles (our bus, big rig truck our police escort) were involved, but no one was hurt."
"I still have the jitters 45 min afterwards," she Tweeted later.
Golfer shaken by bus crash
The accident Friday involved the bus, a truck and a police car.
Kim, returning to her hotel after shooting a 72 in the second round of the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand, gave her version of the accident on Twitter and posted photos that showed minor damage to the three vehicles involved.
Her first tweet read: "OMG the bus I was riding in got into an accident and 3 vehicles (our bus, big rig truck our police escort) were involved, but no one was hurt."
"I still have the jitters 45 min afterwards," she Tweeted later.
Golfer shaken by bus crash
Married with children.
That's Lorena Ochoa's status following her December wedding in Guadalajara, Mexico, to AeroMexico CEO Andres Conesa, who has three children from a previous marriage, ages 14, 12 and 7. Ochoa said in a teleconference from Mexico City last week that her new family is the top priority in her life, that she regularly plays golf and tennis with the kids and is as happy with her home life as she can be.
Bliss was a word that quickly came to mind as you listened to her.
But Ochoa just as quickly emphasized that another matter close to her heart remains a focus in her life — golf. The reigning four-time Player of the Year and world No. 1 is just as geared up for the start of the 2010 season — which begins this week with the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand on Thursday — as she has been for any year since turning pro.
"Andres knows how my life is," said Ochoa, who has 27 career titles, including two major championships. "We've been pretty good about not spending too long or too much time without seeing each other, so he's going to try to travel as much as he can. The practicing is going well. I'm taking the time I need to be 100%.
On the bag: Ochoa brings new focus to LPGA season
That's Lorena Ochoa's status following her December wedding in Guadalajara, Mexico, to AeroMexico CEO Andres Conesa, who has three children from a previous marriage, ages 14, 12 and 7. Ochoa said in a teleconference from Mexico City last week that her new family is the top priority in her life, that she regularly plays golf and tennis with the kids and is as happy with her home life as she can be.
Bliss was a word that quickly came to mind as you listened to her.
But Ochoa just as quickly emphasized that another matter close to her heart remains a focus in her life — golf. The reigning four-time Player of the Year and world No. 1 is just as geared up for the start of the 2010 season — which begins this week with the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand on Thursday — as she has been for any year since turning pro.
"Andres knows how my life is," said Ochoa, who has 27 career titles, including two major championships. "We've been pretty good about not spending too long or too much time without seeing each other, so he's going to try to travel as much as he can. The practicing is going well. I'm taking the time I need to be 100%.
On the bag: Ochoa brings new focus to LPGA season
The granddaddy of all pro-ams and the mother of all things weather — arrives this week to the Monterey Peninsula for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Crooner extraordinaire Bing Crosby brought his Clambake gathering to the USA's windy edge two hours south of San Francisco in 1947. Over the years, Crosby and the tournament lured the giants of Hollywood, from Bob Hope to Jack Lemmon, from Clint Eastwood to Dean Martin.
Golf's greatest stars came in droves, too, and the roster of winners of the tournament is a Who's Who of golf —Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Jimmy Demaret, Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Hale Irwin, Mark O'Meara, Billy Casper, Johnny Miller, Vijay Singh, Payne Stewart, Paul Azinger, Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III.
On the bag: Wind, sea and stars on display at Pebble Beach
Crooner extraordinaire Bing Crosby brought his Clambake gathering to the USA's windy edge two hours south of San Francisco in 1947. Over the years, Crosby and the tournament lured the giants of Hollywood, from Bob Hope to Jack Lemmon, from Clint Eastwood to Dean Martin.
Golf's greatest stars came in droves, too, and the roster of winners of the tournament is a Who's Who of golf —Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Jimmy Demaret, Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Hale Irwin, Mark O'Meara, Billy Casper, Johnny Miller, Vijay Singh, Payne Stewart, Paul Azinger, Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III.
On the bag: Wind, sea and stars on display at Pebble Beach
Hugging a slice of rugged California coastline, Pebble Beach Golf Links tees up stunning vistas, crashing waves, cliffside fairways and an assortment of frolicking sea life, including otters and sea lions.
Players in this week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am will have a probing eye on June, too.
For the sixth time, Pebble Beach will host a PGA Tour event and a major championship in the same season, with the U.S. Open descending on the Monterey Peninsula in four months.
Pebble Beach National Pro-Am a primer for U.S. Open
Players in this week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am will have a probing eye on June, too.
For the sixth time, Pebble Beach will host a PGA Tour event and a major championship in the same season, with the U.S. Open descending on the Monterey Peninsula in four months.
Pebble Beach National Pro-Am a primer for U.S. Open
Los Angeles — In a tournament everyone expected him to win, Steve Stricker (FSY) was trying not to lose.
Instead of firing at flags and trying to make birdies, which allowed him to build a six-shot lead at Riviera, he suddenly found himself playing it safe and trying not to make bogeys. Instead of having a chance to break the 25-year-old tournament scoring record, he feared matching a PGA Tour record for blowing the biggest lead.
The Northern Trust Open ultimately ended Sunday the way everyone thought it would — Stricker in tears after another victory.
"I just knew it was going to be hard," Stricker said after closing with a 1-under 70 for a two-shot victory over Luke Donald (FSY). "You're playing a different game than what you normally play. You played scared — at least I did there for a while."
Back-to-back birdies at the turn settled him down. Another clutch putt for par on the 15th hole essentially clinched it for him.
Stricker won for the fourth time in his last 15 starts, moving up to No. 2 in the world for the second time in his career. It was his eighth career victory, and the eighth time he couldn't make it through his TV interview without wiping tears from his eyes.
This time, all it took was a reminder of where he was four years ago, when he lost his PGA Tour card.
The final round felt as though it lasted just as long.
His lead was cut in half after four holes after Stricker missed a short par putt. It was down to two shots when Donald made a 10-foot birdie on the fifth hole. It might have vanished entirely had Donald not missed birdie putts about the same length on the next two holes.
"If I got really hot with the putter, I could have maybe caught Steve," said Donald, who closed with a 66. "He played nicely coming down the stretch, and I think he was a deserved winner. But at least I gave him a little run for his money."
Stricker finished at 16-under 268 and earned $1.152 million to go over $25 million for his career...
Stricker wins Northern Trust Open, goes to No. 2 in world
Instead of firing at flags and trying to make birdies, which allowed him to build a six-shot lead at Riviera, he suddenly found himself playing it safe and trying not to make bogeys. Instead of having a chance to break the 25-year-old tournament scoring record, he feared matching a PGA Tour record for blowing the biggest lead.
The Northern Trust Open ultimately ended Sunday the way everyone thought it would — Stricker in tears after another victory.
"I just knew it was going to be hard," Stricker said after closing with a 1-under 70 for a two-shot victory over Luke Donald (FSY). "You're playing a different game than what you normally play. You played scared — at least I did there for a while."
Back-to-back birdies at the turn settled him down. Another clutch putt for par on the 15th hole essentially clinched it for him.
Stricker won for the fourth time in his last 15 starts, moving up to No. 2 in the world for the second time in his career. It was his eighth career victory, and the eighth time he couldn't make it through his TV interview without wiping tears from his eyes.
This time, all it took was a reminder of where he was four years ago, when he lost his PGA Tour card.
The final round felt as though it lasted just as long.
His lead was cut in half after four holes after Stricker missed a short par putt. It was down to two shots when Donald made a 10-foot birdie on the fifth hole. It might have vanished entirely had Donald not missed birdie putts about the same length on the next two holes.
"If I got really hot with the putter, I could have maybe caught Steve," said Donald, who closed with a 66. "He played nicely coming down the stretch, and I think he was a deserved winner. But at least I gave him a little run for his money."
Stricker finished at 16-under 268 and earned $1.152 million to go over $25 million for his career...
Stricker wins Northern Trust Open, goes to No. 2 in world
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lee Westwood and Miguel Angel Jimenez each shot 68 Saturday to catch overnight leader Thongchai Jaidee after the third round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
Thongchai shot a 69 to keep a share of the lead, and was also joined by Alvaro Quiros (67) in a quartet with 11-under totals of 205.
Rory McIlroy was two shots back in fifth place after a 69. Tom Watson shot 71 to trail the leaders by nine strokes...
Westwood, Jimenez in share of lead in Dubai Classic
Thongchai shot a 69 to keep a share of the lead, and was also joined by Alvaro Quiros (67) in a quartet with 11-under totals of 205.
Rory McIlroy was two shots back in fifth place after a 69. Tom Watson shot 71 to trail the leaders by nine strokes...
Westwood, Jimenez in share of lead in Dubai Classic
Los Angeles - Phil Mickelson is ready to get back to golf.
Mickelson goes for an unprecedented third straight victory at Riviera when the Northern Trust Open gets under way on Thursday. Of the 14 clubs in his bag, none will be a Ping Eye2 wedge that put him in the spotlight and eventually at the lectern.
"How do you think that went?" Mickelson said during his pro-am round.
He was talking about his interview hours earlier, in which he shifted his angst from Scott McCarron's accusation of "cheating" to the USGA for its "ridiculous" manner of handling the new rule on grooves.
McCarron apologized and Mickelson accepted, although even Lefty is curious whether McCarron will face disciplinary action from the PGA Tour for his choice of words. Even PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said there was "no justification" for such language.
Otherwise, case closed.
"It's not easy to come up and face that person, look them in the eye and apologize, and he did that and was very sincere," Mickelson said. "And I accepted the apology. I appreciate him being a big enough man to do that."
From there, Mickelson took dead aim at the USGA and senior technical director Dick Rugge, although he didn't mention him by name.
He is upset by two things - that the USGA was not more transparent in developing the new rule on grooves, and the USGA and PGA Tour knew there would be issues with 20-year-old Ping wedges and weren't prepared to cope with the consequence.
"This has got to change," Mickelson said. "To come out and change a rule like this that has a loophole ... it's ridiculous. It hurts the game, and you cannot put the players in a position to interpret what the rule has meant. This should have been decided well before this came out. It put me and it put all players in a bad spot. And it needs to be changed."
This is where it gets confusing.
Mickelson said he would not use the Ping Eye2 wedge at the Northern Trust Open because "my point has been made." His hope, however, is that other players will continue to use the wedge and draw more attention to the debate.
"If there's no pressure among these organizations to make changes, I will immediately put the club back in play," he said.
One other point to consider.
Even if the PGA Tour can work out an arrangement with Ping on a local rule that bans the wedge, those wedges will be approved at the U.S. Open, because the USGA is held to a different settlement. Don't be surprised to see Lefty at least put that wedge back in the bag at Pebble Beach in June.
Either way, all Mickelson wants to do is answer questions about his golf.
He has made his public peace with McCarron, and there's not much left to say. It's now up to Finchem to figure out how to make the playing field level for everyone.
The greater concern is Riviera, and the strongest field so far this year on the PGA Tour.
Mickelson is playing with Robert Allenby, one of the hottest players in golf, and Adam Scott, who turned his fortunes around late last year by winning the Australian Open.
Padraig Harrington is making his 2010 debut, while Anthony Kim is playing for the first time on the PGA Tour. Others in the field include Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els and 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa of Japan.
Mickelson ready to get back to golf
Mickelson goes for an unprecedented third straight victory at Riviera when the Northern Trust Open gets under way on Thursday. Of the 14 clubs in his bag, none will be a Ping Eye2 wedge that put him in the spotlight and eventually at the lectern.
"How do you think that went?" Mickelson said during his pro-am round.
He was talking about his interview hours earlier, in which he shifted his angst from Scott McCarron's accusation of "cheating" to the USGA for its "ridiculous" manner of handling the new rule on grooves.
McCarron apologized and Mickelson accepted, although even Lefty is curious whether McCarron will face disciplinary action from the PGA Tour for his choice of words. Even PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said there was "no justification" for such language.
Otherwise, case closed.
"It's not easy to come up and face that person, look them in the eye and apologize, and he did that and was very sincere," Mickelson said. "And I accepted the apology. I appreciate him being a big enough man to do that."
From there, Mickelson took dead aim at the USGA and senior technical director Dick Rugge, although he didn't mention him by name.
He is upset by two things - that the USGA was not more transparent in developing the new rule on grooves, and the USGA and PGA Tour knew there would be issues with 20-year-old Ping wedges and weren't prepared to cope with the consequence.
"This has got to change," Mickelson said. "To come out and change a rule like this that has a loophole ... it's ridiculous. It hurts the game, and you cannot put the players in a position to interpret what the rule has meant. This should have been decided well before this came out. It put me and it put all players in a bad spot. And it needs to be changed."
This is where it gets confusing.
Mickelson said he would not use the Ping Eye2 wedge at the Northern Trust Open because "my point has been made." His hope, however, is that other players will continue to use the wedge and draw more attention to the debate.
"If there's no pressure among these organizations to make changes, I will immediately put the club back in play," he said.
One other point to consider.
Even if the PGA Tour can work out an arrangement with Ping on a local rule that bans the wedge, those wedges will be approved at the U.S. Open, because the USGA is held to a different settlement. Don't be surprised to see Lefty at least put that wedge back in the bag at Pebble Beach in June.
Either way, all Mickelson wants to do is answer questions about his golf.
He has made his public peace with McCarron, and there's not much left to say. It's now up to Finchem to figure out how to make the playing field level for everyone.
The greater concern is Riviera, and the strongest field so far this year on the PGA Tour.
Mickelson is playing with Robert Allenby, one of the hottest players in golf, and Adam Scott, who turned his fortunes around late last year by winning the Australian Open.
Padraig Harrington is making his 2010 debut, while Anthony Kim is playing for the first time on the PGA Tour. Others in the field include Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els and 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa of Japan.
Mickelson ready to get back to golf
Tom Watson says Tiger Woods needs to "show some humility to the public" when he returns to golf after sorting out his personal life.
Watson also said Wednesday that Woods should clean up his on-course behavior in order to be considered among the true greats of the game.
Woods is on an indefinite break since his car crash Nov. 27 that fueled sordid tales of extramarital affairs.
"I'll let the cat out of the bag," Watson said ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic. "Tiger has to take ownership of what he has done. He must get his personal life in order. I think that's what he's trying to do. And when he comes back he has to show some humility to the public.
"I would come out and I would do an interview with somebody and say, 'You know what? I screwed up. And I admit it. I am going to try to change. I am trying to change. I want my wife and family back."
The 60-year-old Watson, one of golf's elder statesmen, also criticized Woods — a 14-time major winner — for bad language and other on-course behavior.
"I feel that he has not carried the same stature that other great players that have come along like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson, the Hogans, in the sense that there was language and club throwing on the golf course," Watson said. "You can grant that of a young person that has not been out here for a while. But I think he needs to clean up his act and show the respect for the game that other people before him have shown."
Despite beginning his year with victories in Hawaii in the Champions Skins and the senior's Mitsubishi Electric Championship, Watson played down his chances of winning the Desert Classic on the European Tour.
After playing in the pro-am, Watson said he was impressed with the condition of the Emirates course but had trouble keeping his drives on the narrow fairways.
"The rough is very tough," he said. "It is very tough to get the ball on the green from the rough. You have probably only got a one-in-seven or one-in-eight chance to get the green if you drive into the rough."
The field also includes England's Lee Westwood and Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who will be among the favorites for Sunday's $416,600 prize.
Tom Watson: Woods needs to show humility upon return
Watson also said Wednesday that Woods should clean up his on-course behavior in order to be considered among the true greats of the game.
Woods is on an indefinite break since his car crash Nov. 27 that fueled sordid tales of extramarital affairs.
"I'll let the cat out of the bag," Watson said ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic. "Tiger has to take ownership of what he has done. He must get his personal life in order. I think that's what he's trying to do. And when he comes back he has to show some humility to the public.
"I would come out and I would do an interview with somebody and say, 'You know what? I screwed up. And I admit it. I am going to try to change. I am trying to change. I want my wife and family back."
The 60-year-old Watson, one of golf's elder statesmen, also criticized Woods — a 14-time major winner — for bad language and other on-course behavior.
"I feel that he has not carried the same stature that other great players that have come along like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson, the Hogans, in the sense that there was language and club throwing on the golf course," Watson said. "You can grant that of a young person that has not been out here for a while. But I think he needs to clean up his act and show the respect for the game that other people before him have shown."
Despite beginning his year with victories in Hawaii in the Champions Skins and the senior's Mitsubishi Electric Championship, Watson played down his chances of winning the Desert Classic on the European Tour.
After playing in the pro-am, Watson said he was impressed with the condition of the Emirates course but had trouble keeping his drives on the narrow fairways.
"The rough is very tough," he said. "It is very tough to get the ball on the green from the rough. You have probably only got a one-in-seven or one-in-eight chance to get the green if you drive into the rough."
The field also includes England's Lee Westwood and Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who will be among the favorites for Sunday's $416,600 prize.
Tom Watson: Woods needs to show humility upon return
Short and sweet — and plenty dangerous.
That would be the 10th hole of the Riviera Country Club near Los Angeles, host to this week's Northern Trust Open. Measuring a mere 315 yards, the hole is both alluring and precarious, a docile birdie hole one minute, a brutish, emerald stretch with bogey — or worse — written all over it the next.
"It's just a great, short, strategic hole," Brandt Snedeker said. "We don't see very many like that anymore. You can see a guy easily walk off with bogey one day and feel like he actually stole one because he should have had double. And you can easily walk off with an eagle one day and say, 'Yeah, that's the way you're supposed to play that hole.' You see very few holes that play that dramatically different over the course of a week."
Jack Nicklaus said the 10th is one of the greatest short par-4s in championship golf, one which allowed him more options than any other short par-4 he knew of.
From an elevated tee, the front edge of the green is but an enticing 285-290 yards away. Bobby Jones tried to drive the green when he played in 1930, and the pros are still trying that 80 years later — many with just a 3-wood in their hands.
Four deep bunkers, however, guard the sliver of a putting surface. That's why the safe play off the tee is to hit an iron or fairway wood toward the left side of a wide fairway. That leaves a wedge the player could hit down the length of the green...
On the bag: 315-yard 10th at Riviera long on excitement
That would be the 10th hole of the Riviera Country Club near Los Angeles, host to this week's Northern Trust Open. Measuring a mere 315 yards, the hole is both alluring and precarious, a docile birdie hole one minute, a brutish, emerald stretch with bogey — or worse — written all over it the next.
"It's just a great, short, strategic hole," Brandt Snedeker said. "We don't see very many like that anymore. You can see a guy easily walk off with bogey one day and feel like he actually stole one because he should have had double. And you can easily walk off with an eagle one day and say, 'Yeah, that's the way you're supposed to play that hole.' You see very few holes that play that dramatically different over the course of a week."
Jack Nicklaus said the 10th is one of the greatest short par-4s in championship golf, one which allowed him more options than any other short par-4 he knew of.
From an elevated tee, the front edge of the green is but an enticing 285-290 yards away. Bobby Jones tried to drive the green when he played in 1930, and the pros are still trying that 80 years later — many with just a 3-wood in their hands.
Four deep bunkers, however, guard the sliver of a putting surface. That's why the safe play off the tee is to hit an iron or fairway wood toward the left side of a wide fairway. That leaves a wedge the player could hit down the length of the green...
On the bag: 315-yard 10th at Riviera long on excitement
Scott McCarron wants to set one thing straight. He never called Phil Mickelson a cheater.
That should help keep the lawyers at bay, as if there was ever going to be any. Mickelson's implied threat of having his legal team deal with the biggest story in wedges since Gene Sarazen invented a club to get out of the sand was almost as laughable as his claims that he was slandered by his fellow golfer.
Besides, McCarron has a valid point. He never called Mickelson a cheater.
Mickelson didn't need to pick wedge fight
Advertisment
Ufc News
Gadget News
