Woods Has Problems; Sorenstam's Team Wins

In my last blog I really thought that Tiger Woods could take the trophy at the Target World Challenge. First off it's his tournament and second he's won it six times. You would think this tournament would be just another walk along the fairway. But as I've stated on many occasions, the best golfers have the hottest putters. Tiger's putter went cold on him and, in spite of his tremendous drives, he went without a victory.

European tour players took his place at the top of the leaderboard. I'm still busy watching so your guess is as good as mine as to who will finally emerge victorious. Hey, I'm just a blogger, not a news writer, so you'll have to find out for yourselves about this tourney.

On the LPGA Tour, Annika Sorenstam's International team took top honors at the inaugural Lexus Cup from Singapore. Was there ever any doubt that the number-one in the world paired with Paula Creamer would shake up the Asian team? It was pretty funny how Sorenstam got beaten by Grace Park, team captain for the Asians. Even with her injuries, Grace dominated in their singles match. In the end, Annika's team rallied helped by rookie Erica Blasberg (who would have believed that she had it in her?).

Speaking of Blasberg, she won non-exempt status at Q-School which means she's going to have to prequalify for 2006 events. Let's hope she does better next year than in her rookie season where she barely made it into the top-100 on the ADT Official Money List.

Natalie Gulbis didn't make any waves at the Lexus Cup. I was looking forward to hearing that she dominated the girls on Team Asia but instead Gulbis didn't make a charge. I sincerely wish that Natalie makes her move into the winner's circle next year on the LPGA Tour. And for those in the blogoshpere that don't like Natalie or her father or her television show, I think it's just a case of sour grapes. Gulbis has it all. She's got game, a new 2006 calendar and a great business profile that will take her beyond golf and give her a very comfortable future. Hats off to Natalie!

Well, I'm a little under the weather today so there is no driving range practice. Instead I'm going to finish watching the Target World Challenge and root for Padraig Harrington to kick some butt!

Tiger Woods Steals the Show Again

Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam are separated by continents this week but will probably wind up the winners in their respective tournaments. I get to stay home and watch only one of the two greatest golfers in the world on television.

While my sister and her husband enjoy a week's vacation in the Bahamas I sit here in the icy cold weather wondering when the snow will thaw. You see Barry and I have never played golf in the snow. It is much too difficult to try and find the golf ball (even if it IS my favorite color of yellow!)

So instead I am relegated to watching professional golf on television. The only problem is that the LPGA Lexus Cup, an inaugural event held in Singapore, is not televised.

Another week without Annika Sorenstam and yet another week of Tiger Woods.

It's not that I don't like watching the greatest golfer at the world in what is arguably his tournament to win, namely the Target World Challenge, it's just that I think I'm getting tired of the lack of challengers when Tiger is in the field.

I'm probably just suffering from golf withdrawal. I am unable to both watch as many tournaments as I can and go to the driving range. I made it a rule never to hit golf balls when temperatures drop below 32 degres fahrenheit. My hands freeze and when your hands get too cold they make your whole body tighten. Definitely not good for your golf swing!

I'm a bit disappointed that the LPGA doesn't put themselves out there as much as they should. Just last week when Ai Miyazato had her incredible win at LPGA Q-School there was no coverage and that was played in the USA!

At least the Lexus Cup is taking place out in Singapore. But tell me, don't they have satellites in Asia? I know I've watched the European tour regularly each week without a blip but when it comes to the LPGA either no one wants to sponsor the event or the LPGA is just too darn lazy to find a TV station willing to air an event.

I think Singapore is also to blame. The Singapore Council stated that they now have the ability to hold such an event but when push comes to shove they didn't make any efforts to get cameras out to Americans overseas. A typical case of poor planning overall both between the Asian community overseas and the LPGA or LET, whichever was involved.

So it's up to Tiger Woods to entertain me and I hope he's up to the task. He's been winning post season ( most recently at the Grand Slam of Golf) and even grabbed yet another Player of the Year award (was there any doubt?) I almost wonder what he will do for an encore! With Tiger running the show, you never know!

Photo Credit: © emol.com.