Tiger Woods, say cheese! Hey Mickelson, this call is for you!

In this technically advanced world in which we live, although I can understand the PGA Tour enactment of a policy allowing cell phone use on select areas of the golf course, I'm certain there are going to be growing pains.

PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has been chosen as the first golf event which will officially implement the new cell phone policy.  A mobile device has to be set to "silent" mode and text/pictures/calls (no video) can be sent in order to "enhance" the overall fan experience...again, in designated areas only!

Practically speaking, Andy Pazder, PGA Tour Chief of Ops, states that the new policy is meant to allow fans to "stay connected to business and family." With mobile devices like the iPhone and my Droid X, I can now complete most work-related concerns (even post simple blogs) during an event.

The best part of allowing mobile devices at tournaments is that I will also be able to post updates to Twitter and Facebook after coming across Phil Mickelson leaving the practice green! Maybe I can catch a photo of him at the burger stand!


On the flip side, here are a few problems which could occur during a PGA Tour event allowing mobile devices:

1. Forgot to set mobile device to silent. "Oops, sorry," blushes the guy next to the tee box after Tiger Woods swings and hooks his shot into the woods..."Uh Tiger, my friend saw me standing behind you on the tee and wanted me to wish you good luck."

2. Fans bumping into each other. It happens on the streets of New York, it will certainly happen walking from the leaderboard to the clubhouse as people attempt to send the latest golf news to friends confined to their desk during work hours.

3. Social media overload. I get the "Twitter is over capacity" pasted across my screen at least twice a day. Now imagine the inability to get your tweets across...utter panic for the internet saavy. More bandwidth needed!

4. Claim check frenzy. Some fans at Torrey Pines, it was reported, had their phones taken away and were given claim checks. All phones look alike...imagine trying to find one on a Sunday.


5. The "I didn't realize..." a fan favorite excuse!

I'm sure there will be more than a few fans in the crowd who will breach the photo rule. (I've got a Nikon camera with 3x zoom and I'm within picture distance of Tiger. Just one shot...who'll notice?)


 
credit
Tsk, tsk... doesn't that golfer know that texting is not allowed during competition?  ;-)


In order to avoid the "I didn't realize" excuse, here is the the new PGA Tour policy regarding cell phone use.


As the PGA Tour continues to implement the mobile device policy for future events, it will be easier to make revisions and a great aid to the Tour. More security will be needed to enforce the new rules but, if the PGA Tour was looking for a way to spread the word of professional golf through the internet, they have come upon an eventual win-win situation.


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Tiger Woods learns that loose lips incur fines on European Tour

A portion of the $3 million appearance fee Tiger Woods reportedly earned in Dubai will go towards paying off a fine incurred on the 12th hole of Emirates Golf Course.

Announcers were quick to berate him about it.

"Disgusting, what he has just done there," said Sky Sports commentator Ewen Murray. "But there are some parts of him that are just arrogant and petulant. Somebody now has to come behind him and maybe putt over his spit. It does not get much lower than that."

The Huffington Post, in addition to posting a video showing Tiger Woods' spittle on the green, reported a derogatory comment issued by comedian Bill Murray regarding the incident, "one of the ugliest things you will ever see on a golf course."

Tiger Woods spitting incident was indeed ugly (did he realize the cameras were on him?) and I noticed that Woods spat a few times during his round but it did not look intentional. Although I'm not defending his actions, he has done it before without receiving a fine; according to Michael Bamberger, on the 18th tee at the Masters, but, as Bamberger defended, due to allergic reactions to the great outdoors.

In stark contrast was Sergio Garcia's intentional blob of goo directed into the bottom of the cup after missing a putt on the 13th green at the 2007 WGC-CA Championship at Doral GC. (If I remember correctly, Tom Lehman was the next to putt.)

Garcia's response showed a lack of class, "Yes I did it," he admitted. "I'm not going to pretend I didn't. But there was nothing to it. I missed a putt and I was not too happy. Don't worry, it [the spit] did go in the middle. It wasn't going to affect anybody else and if it did I would have wiped it off."


Tiger Woods has been tight-lipped about his indiscretion up until now but I hope that he will accept his penalty with grace and polish. (see update, below)

The next question is how closely is the code of conduct and etiquette to be followed in golf?

The European Tour, it appears, will outwardly and staunchly hold to the code of golf remaining a "gentleman's game" (in other words, carry a handkerchief) by issuing a fine but I'm interested in seeing whether or not the PGA Tour follows suit in making expectorating without good reason an etiquette violation.

Or, will it be the fans who start calling into the PGA Tour every time a loogie is dropped?

Tiger Woods Update: I mentioned above that I believed Tiger Woods would show grace under fire...and so he has! Woods stated the following on his Twitter account today:

"It was inconsiderate to spit like that and I know better. Just wasn't thinking and want to say I'm sorry."




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Golf fans policing PGA Tour: Good or bad for the game?

Tim Finchem created a buzz in the golf media world with the admission that if fans want to call in a rules infraction, it is their right to do so. This will create thousands of call-ins by armchair golfers who think they see, or possibly do see, something.

 

For the most part, PGA Tour golfers know the rules but, Ian Poulter even reluctantly admitted, "I still dont know all the rules, there's too many."

Although there are Tour golfers who admit they don't know every rule, is "see something, say something" always the best idea?

Why encourage fans to police the PGA Tour?

With social media being an integral part of the world we live in, it is quite easy to reach the PGA Tour via Twitter or Facebook with a comment or an @ statement. Although seemingly harmless, not every fan with a Rules of Golf book should be an armchair referee.

 

"Cutting them (fans) off is not an option at this point"  said Finchem, and he has a point. With the PGA Tour grasping for audience, the Commissioner isn't turning away any viewers but, rather, welcoming them in as pseudo-refs.

 

Telephoning the Tour is an option but would create a glut of calls for every piece of dirt that a fan thought was moved illegally. Perhaps Finchem will set up a special hotline that he could man during each event?

 

One good thing that may come out of all of this is that fans may actually dust off their copies of the Rules of Golf. Golfers may finally READ and understand the rules!

Should the game of golf remain pure or should the new media be welcomed into the sport? Paddy Miller mentioned that the Commissioner has compromised the integrity of the game and is jeopardizing the tradition of golf itself.

Golf has always been a sport of honor in which golfers call an infractions on themselves...if they know that an infraction was created.

If a Tour player, however, didn't realize that he broke a rule, he could go on to win the event which would be unfair to the other golfers. With money and position at stake and knowing that technology now rules the airwaves, it is impossible to keep the tradition of the game completely status quo. Hopefully a resolution that is fair to all will be achieved.

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Kaymer defense of Tiger Woods honor refreshing but ...

Martin Kaymer is standing up for Tiger Woods before their two-day golf pairing at the Dubai Desert Classic this week, defending the now number three's right to sort out his private life for the sake of the game.

"Tiger shouldn't be getting a hard time," number two golfer in the world, Kaymer, told reporters, declaring that the world of golf should be "thankful" for what Woods has done for it.

Lee Westwood, playing in the pairing with Kaymer and Woods at Emirates Golf Club, may not be defending Woods' honor but understands that Woods still adds excitement to the game, "I'm watching how Tiger is playing. I'm seeing if he's playing well."

Speaking of a great honor, golf fans around the world should congratulate Westwood for being awarded lifetime membership on the European Tour.

George O'Grady, Europe's chief executive, said of Lee Westwood, "the fact that only 12 other players have claimed the position of Number One over a 25-year period speaks volumes for the enormity of his achievement. He has done this through the quality of his golf and sheer force of personality – and is undoubtedly one of our greatest champions."

 
Mickelson has a sword in his hands! Is he looking to depose all three of the world's top golfers? ;-)

credit: MyAvidGolfer.com


Although the top two European Tour golfers are concerned with playing their own game, Kaymer's "fan" status has placed him in a precarious position. The "stars" in Martin's eyes for his teen idol could blind him from a Woods thrashing if Tiger's game rebounds in Dubai. Kaymer believes and insists that Tiger is still "the best player in the game."

Here's the part that could hurt Kaymer's mental game. Kaymer said of Woods, "At the moment, Lee and me, we are Numbers One and Two, but in every golfer's mind, he is the best player in the world."

Kaymer's sensitivity to Woods' plight might also take down his guard.

Still, all Martin Kaymer wants is a fair fight, wishing to go one-on-one with Woods in a Sunday duel.  
May the best golfer win.

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More exciting golf hole-16 or 17 at TPC Scottsdale?

Some fans prefer taking a seat at the 16th hole, a.k.a. the "loudest hole in golf" while others who may be part of the "overflow" find themselves at the 17th at TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. Either way, expect to hear a raucus crowd echoing through the hills at the Waste Management Open.

Anthony Kim explained the reason why both golf holes are equally flooded with fans, "The people who can't get into 16 go to 17 and it's a great carry-over effect."

The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is a 162-yard par 3 from the Championship tees. Accuracy is required and a golfer will get booed if their golf shot falls short of perfection! This is also the Kodak Challenge hole selected for the event.


TPC Scottsdale 16th hole: credit

The 17th hole at TPC Scottsdale is a 355 yard drivable par-4 edged with water. Caddybytes.com said that the 17th is, "narrow and protected by mounding and slopes with a very narrow back portion making the player 'challenge' the trouble to make a birdie three."



I personally prefer the risk/reward of 17 over 16 at TPC Scottsdale but, with over 20,000 fans squeezing into the seats at 16, both golf holes are going to be crowded and expecting plenty of action!

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PGA West par-3 17th hole
Torrey Pines-18th hole

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"Fun" Phil or "Safe" Mickelson?

One article on the Phil Mickelson website mentioned that "fun" Phil reappeared at Torrey Pines but will the "let it ride" or "safe" Mickelson attitude win more PGA Tour events this season?

On Sunday, Mickelson's play on the 18th hole at Torrey Pines gave fans mixed signals about what to expect from Lefty's game.

Did Mickelson make a hasty decision by carving a safe shot out of the rough before watching how Bubba Watson played the 18th? Should Phil have gone for the green or lay-up as he ultimately chose to do?

Mickelson's usual risk-taking attitude gave way to a safe out handing Watson his second victory. Although risk could have equaled reward, (an eagle and a playoff), it could have also equated to folly.  Perhaps Phil could have been thinking back to his 2006 US Open disaster in which he double-bogeyed the 18th hole at Winged Foot losing a one-stroke lead and dropping into a tie for second place.

As Phil said,
"I'm not ever going to forget it, that's obvious!"

Throwing around the word "strategy" hasn't come easy for Phil but, knowing the changes that have been made to Torrey Pines has made Mickelson more cautious about how to play the course.

"The biggest thing for me is I'm not taking on anywhere near as much risk," Phil explained Saturday after getting into a tie with Bill Haas. "I'm just playing it much more conservative, because the reward isn't there. This course doesn't reward you for taking on any challenge. And my more conservative approach into the greens, albeit boring, has led me to be on top of the leaderboard."

Although a conservative finish didn't get him the trophy, without the pressure of having to win on 18 Mickelson dazzled fans with a tremendous wedge to within three-feet of a tie. If the ball would have spun a little more, there could have been a playoff.

So, perhaps there is room for both fun Phil and safe Mickelson to co-exist with positive results?

 
Credit: Mickelson in 1980...fun Phil?

Looking ahead to this week's PGA Tour event, the Waste Management Open in Phoenix, Mickelson will be playing golf alongside fellow lefty Bubba Watson.

"I played really good golf and gave myself an opportunity," said Mickelson. "Played well on Sunday and had a good tournament. Hopefully, I'll use this as a springboard for (Phoenix)."  I wonder which Phil will be in attendance?

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