"Treatment for Swing and Short Game Disorders, General Golf Related Ailments and Debilitating Mental Malaise"
The last major of the year, The PGA Championship will be contested this week at the Atlanta Athletic Club. This 7,467- yard par-70 layout should be quite a test for the entire field. Rees Jones just finished a total renovation on all the turf grasses and from all indications the course is in perfect shape.
The heat and humidity in Atlanta in the middle of August will be felt by all the competitors and will be a test of endurance as well as patience.
Tiger will be teeing it up again this week. It will be the first major he's played in without Stevie Williams on his bag since 1999. Woods won 13 of his 14 majors with Williams looping for him. And oh yeah, they made a few bucks along the way.
Adam Scott's great win last week at the Bridgestone WGC in Akron, Ohio with Williams on his bag for only the last 4 tournaments was no doubt a snub to Tiger, if not some vindication for Williams. After the win he was quite vocal and made some comments regarding his unexpected firing from Woods a few weeks back. All this soap opera stuff should make for some great commentary this week and could prove to be quite entertaining as the tournament unfolds.
I'd like Tiger to play well, as it makes for great TV. His shootout with Bob May a few years back was like watching a heavyweight fight. I'm not expecting him to contend, but you never know with that guy. If he can find some fairways off the tee and the putter gets hot,watch out. How about a pairing with Adam Scott on Sunday? Don't bet on it. You would need to hire a referee!
The only predictions I will make is that they will play 18 holes each day and you won't see any of these guys wearing turtlenecks and sweaters.
However, I am going to let Dennis Silvers, the "Golf Guru" give you his picks. The Guru picked Darren Clarke to win the British Open at 75 to 1. I have a feeling he was the only one in the western hemisphere to cash a winning ticket at the sports book. He must either have a crystal ball or have the inside track on some info the rest of us mortals are not privy to.
Although I would have preferred an American to win The Open, it's hard not to like Clarke. He's a journeyman who has been around for quite a while. He had a rough go at it with his wife passing on a few years back and taking on the full-time job of raising two young sons.
Anyway, chalk up another win for Northern Ireland. The whole country has a population smaller than Vegas and they keep winning majors. Must be something in the water.
Being a PGA member, my annual dues help fund our tournament. It also allows me as well as 28,000 fellow PGA Club Professional's to try to qualify and play in this years Championship. I opted out this year as there is a Gilligan's Island marathon on this weekend that I just have to see. My wife figured I'd just be throwing entry fee money away anyhow.
So I'll be home checking out Ginger and Mary Ann!
However, I was recently asked to play as an invited guest in "The Geriatric Open". My wife suggested that I play in that event. She said it would be good for my self esteem. She is confident I can have a top 10 finish, especially given the fact that the field consists of 16 competitors, all with their own defibrillators, the youngest of which is 88.
WHAT A GAL!
Until Next Time,
Fairways & Greens,
Tony
tonylawson@pga.com
(702) 521-6606
