Tuesday, May 11, 2010

“On the bag: New age of golf evolves as technology does” plus 3 more

“On the bag: New age of golf evolves as technology does” plus 3 more

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On the bag: New age of golf evolves as technology does

Posted: 11 May 2010 11:56 AM PDT

All on the same day — May 2.

Just as startling are these numbers — 18, 21 and 24. Those are the ages of Ishikawa, McIlroy and Miyazato, respectively. The cliché would be that this is a new age in golf. The reality is that's exactly what it is.

"I think it's how the game has evolved. With the advent of technology, these kids are able to view their swings via a camera, videotape, and analyze their swings and make improvements so much faster and earlier, and their golf swings are so much better at an earlier age, even from when I grew up," Tiger Woods said last week at The Players Championship. "We had VHS cassettes and they had squiggly lines and you had to use the tracking to try and figure it out to see if you could maybe see your swing, and it looked terrible. Now the guys, they can videotape your swing on a phone."

Top golf instructor David Leadbetter said advancements in technology in golf equipment, including the golf ball and golf clubs, have made it easier for all golfers. And now with the introduction of video cameras the size of cellphones, players of all handicaps can tap into better instruction as they look for any edge to improve their game.

"Ben Hogan famously said he would find the secret to golf in the dirt," Leadbetter said. "He would have found it quicker with video cameras."

The latest such device was unveiled at the Quail Hollow Championship two weeks ago — the Kodak Playsport Video Camera. The pocket-sized HD video camera allows the user to capture full 1080p HD video — even up to 10 feet under water — with the touch of a button.

It features built-in software and USB cable output so users can edit and easily share their videos with family and friends through sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. It also comes with an HDMI cable for easy playback on an HDTV television.

Once you're done on the driving range, you can go home and with the click of a mouse, any swing can automatically be turned into a 9-up video action print showing start-to-finish snapshots that can be used for analysis and comparison. There are a variety of playback speeds, plus frame-by-frame stop action to allow golfers (and their coaches) to analyze every swing movement. Kodak also created a special bundle package of accessories, including a mini-tripod, a remote control device and memory card.

The camera is now available $149.95 at major retailers and at kodak.com. The bundle accessory kit is sold separately at $79.95.

"This is how teaching has evolved over the years," Leadbetter said. "In the last 25 years video equipment has changed by leaps and bounds. The greatest advancement in teaching is to have players see their swings.

"This can help anybody from a pro golfer to a scratch golfer to a player who can't break 100. When you see yourself swing over and over and over again, you can find your flaws so much easier."

Texas three step

The PGA Tour moves to the Lone Star State for the next three weeks, starting with the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio, where Zach Johnson will defend his title at a new venue — the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio designed by Pete Dye and Greg Norman, with Sergio Garcia lending his hand as a player consultant.

The course can be stretched out to 7,522 yards and feature two par-5s of more than 600 yards. The fairways are lined with massive bunkers, limestone walls and tall native grasses. The undulating greens also feature many run-off areas producing a variety of chipping choices.

In addition to Johnson, the field features four players who have won this season —Ryan Palmer, Ben Crane, Cameron Beckman and Ernie Els. In addition to Els, 10 other winners of major championships are in the field, including Vijay Singh, John Daly, Justin Leonard and David Duval.

Garcia also is in San Antonio.

LPGA tour

The Sunday death of Erica Blasberg and the absence of retired Lorena Ochoa have cast a pall over the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in Mobile, Ala., where Angela Stanford will defend her title.

Blasberg, 25, was found dead in her home in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson, Nev., according to police, who are still investigating. It remains unknown if foul play was involved. LPGA spokesman David Higdon called Blasberg's death a "tough hit" for women's golf.

"She was a very popular player and well-liked and we're going to miss her," Higdon said. "This is a very close-knit group of players and tour, and we're saddened by what happened."

Ochoa finished sixth two weeks ago in the Tres Marias Championship in Mexico in her farewell tournament. Ai Miyazato won her third tournament of the season, edging Stacy Lewis by one shot and Michelle Wie by two shots. Miyazato, who rose to No. 3 in the world with the win, and Jiyai Shin, the new No. 1 in women's golf, head the field at the Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Also in the field are Wie, two-time major champion Yani Tseng, Suzann Pettersen, Cristie Kerr, Anna Hall of Famer Karrie Webb and Na Yeon Choi.

Looking for a job?

Adidas Golf is offering a unique opportunity with a rather lengthy, and well-traveled, interview process. On June 27, two applicants will begin travel to nine countries on three continents over 50 days to compete in a series of business-related challenges with the winner being hired to work in the TaylorMade adidas Golf headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif.

The finalists will create content through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other social media channels highlighting their adventures. In addition to golf outings with adidas Golf's PGA, European and Asian tour professionals, the finalists will sightsee and experience various cultures. The candidates also will compete in a series of challenges ranging from problem solving, leadership, marketing and budget management.

The trip, which will include stops in Germany, Norway, Scotland, Dubai, Thailand, South Korea, Tokyo, Canada and Bandon Dunes, Ore., will be chronicled at www.adidasgolf.com/witw.

"Adidas Golf is an authentic performance golf brand, so we wanted to test these finalists with the most authentic challenge that would demonstrate their ability to create great content," said Harry Arnett vice president of brand and marketing for adidas Golf and Ashworth Golf. "Our hope is that through this unique adventure, a talented applicant will emerge who can help oversee our social media activities, an opportunity we have identified as being critical to the long-term growth of our business."

The finalists will be chosen June 4.

To apply, click here. The deadline to apply is May 20.

Stats and quotes

Stat of the week: 1,296. Record number of entries for the 2010 U.S. Women's Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club. The youngest entrant is 10-year-old Karen Kim of Corona, Calif. The oldest is 64-year-old Narelle Kirkland of Bryn Mawr, Pa. Entries were received from 47 states (all except Alaska, Maine and Wyoming) and the District of Columbia. Entries were also accepted from more than 45 countries.

Quote of the week: "What I've done the last five days, go to Five Guys Burgers. That place is so good. I can't stop going there. This will be my sixth day in a row. I grew up on In-N-Out. I thought that was the best burger until I had Five Guys. That is hands down the best burger I've ever had." —- Phil Mickelson, when asked what he was going to do after the third round of The Players Championship.

Quote of the week II: "Yeah, yeah, it's certainly not very good. I'm trying to hit the low ball out there, and I'm actually so steep on it that I'm popping it up. It's a matter of getting wide and shelling it out, and then hitting the low ball properly with loft and then taking off at the end, instead of having no loft coming down and you have no chance." — Tiger Woods, after the third round of The Players and hitting his second pop-up of the week with a 3-wood, the first traveling 190 yards, the second 210 yards.

Quote of the week III: "I mean, a part of me is a bit disappointed because now no one is going to talk about me anymore. At least you had something to write about before. Now I'm just another guy with a win." —Tim Clark, who won The Players Championship in his 206th PGA Tour start.

Chip-ins

Dallas Cowboys legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Emmitt Smith will host the inaugural Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, May 14-15. The event will benefit Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, which raises funds for educational experiences and enrichment opportunities for underserved children. A live auction and a Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament also are part of the event. Joining Smith will be fellow Hall of Fame Class of 2010 inductees Floyd Little, Rickey Jackson and John Randle, in addition to an extensive roster of celebrity attendees including Jerome Bettis, Steve Beuerlein, Derrick Brooks, Tim Brown, Brandi Chastain, Vince Coleman, Roy Green, Michael Irvin, Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, Phil Ivey, Daryl Johnston, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Donna Richardson Joyner, Nancy Lieberman, Terence Newman, Rodney Peete, Steve Slaton, Jason Terry, Winfred Tubbs, Marty Turco, DeMarcus Ware, Spud Webb, Darren Woodson and Rayfield Wright. "Golf is a passion of mine so it will be great to gather with some old teammates and other friends for some friendly competition on the course that will benefit a great cause," said Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher. …

John Daly will play the week of the U.S. Open — in Dardanelle, Ark. Daly accepted a sponsor exemption into the Nationwide Tour's Fort Smith Classic June 17-20 at Hardscrabble Country Club. It will be the first Nationwide event for Daly, a two-time major champion, since the 1991 Yuma Open.

USA TODAY's take on the world of golf appears weekly.

Judge imposes sentences in 'Golf Cart Caper'

Posted: 11 May 2010 12:05 PM PDT

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP)—Two former Oregon State football players and a current team member who took a golf cart on a joyride in March have each pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Former linebacker Keaton Kristick was sentenced Tuesday to 25 hours of community service, while former quarterback Lyle Moevao received 40 hours and defensive tackle Brennan Olander received 65 hours.

Moevao was ordered to pay $750 in restitution, with Kristick and Olander paying their share to him. All three were also put on bench probation.

The three admitted to taking an athletic department golf cart on a joyride in March and flipping it before leaving it parked off-campus.

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Golf-Thompson, 15, to make pro debut next month in LPGA event

Posted: 11 May 2010 07:05 AM PDT

NEW YORK, May 11 (Reuters) - Fifteen-year-old Alexis Thompson will make her professional golf debut at next month's ShopRite LPGA Classic in New Jersey, tournament officials said Tuesday.

Thompson, who as a 12-year-old became the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open, will turn pro right after representing the United States in the Curtis Cup amateur event in Massachusetts against Britain and Ireland.

LPGA tournament executive director Tim Erensen said Thompson would compete in the $1.5 million event on the Bay Course at Seaview starting June 18 by a sponsor's exemption.

"I am looking forward to so many things this coming June," Thompson said in a statement. "I will represent the United States at the Curtis Cup and then have the opportunity to play at the ShopRite Classic the next week.

"I have played in several LPGA Tour events as an amateur and I am looking forward to making my professional debut that week in Atlantic City."

Thompson was recently named Golfweek's 2009 Women's Amateur Player of the Year and the 2009 Junior Girls' Player of the Year.

After her precocious debut at the 2007 U.S. Women's Open, Thompson qualified again the next two years, and was a triple gold medal winner (individual, team, total team) at the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship, matching the success of Paula Creamer (2203) and Lorena Ochoa (2001).

(Reporting by Larry Fine, Editing by Steve Ginsburg; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Your visit to Winged Foot Golf Club

Posted: 11 May 2010 07:40 AM PDT

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By Mike Gilmore, PGA Head Professional at Winged Foot Golf Club
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