Green Reading

Golf's Olympic time has come

As I watch ``athletes'' competing in events such as shotgun shooting, synchronized diving and fencing this week in the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, isn't it about time golf becomes an Olympic sport. Golf is not part of this year's games, but many in the industry are taking steps to get it included in eight years.
The International Golf Federation, recognized as the representative body for golf by the International Olympic Committee, has created an Olympic Golf Committee to drive its effort for the sport's inclusion in the 2016 Games. The R&A, PGA European Tour, USGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour, LPGA and Augusta National Golf Club are represented on the committee, which will be headed by appointed executive director Ty Votaw, an executive with the PGA Tour and former LPGA commissioner. Votaw will lead the Olympic effort until October 2009, when the International Olympic Committee votes on which, if any, sports to add.
Golf is one of seven sports under consideration, along with baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash. No more than two sports will be added. Golf is bidding to become an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904, when 74 players from the U.S. and three from Canada contended for individual and team titles. Golf is truly an international game today, as 20 countries are represented among the top 100 male players in the Official World Golf Ranking, and 16 are represented among the top 100 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings.
I'd definitely watch Tiger Woods try to win a gold medal before I watch two guys try to make a dive at the same time. That I promise you.

Your chance to rate courses

Want to be a golf course rater? Zagat Survey is now conducting its online survey of golf courses across the country and avid golfers are encouraged to vote at Zagat's web site to share their thoughts and opinions.

Surveyors are asked to rate and review golf courses based on the course, facilities, service, value and estimated cost. Those who cast their votes before Sept. 29 will receive a complimentary copy of the Zagat's 2009 America's Top Golf Courses when it is published.
Surveying is simple and free. After logging onto the site, golfers can submit feedback at their convenience, save reviews to complete at their leisure and revise votes if opinions change. Golfers can see Zagat's current surveys.

Unlike other guides that rely upon the opinions of a few critics, Zagat says its survey content is based on the collective opinions of more than 300,000 surveyors worldwide.

Drive for show and dough

I've been looking for a reason to not go through the monotony of practicing my putting, and I think I've finally found it. The collected data and findings of a Columbia University professor _ as detailed in a New York Times article _ challenges the ``Drive for Show, Putt for Dough'' mantra.
Professor Mark Broadie, who is a 4 handicap, analyzed more than 43,000 golf shots by amateur golfers that were entered into a computer program. What the research revealed, in Brodie's opinion, is that the long game proves to be the biggest factor when examining the difference in scores between pros and amateurs, and even between low- and high-handicap amateurs.
Broadie suggests that an amateur would benefit more from a PGA Tour player hitting long shots for him leading up to the 100-yard mark rather than shots inside 100 yards.
It is often said that 60 to 65 percent of all shots are struck within 100 yards of the hole. Broadie agreed but noted that if you take out "gimme" putts of 2  feet, the statistic has less meaning. Remove very short putts that are rarely missed, and shots from 100 yards or less account for only 45 to 50 percent of all shots.
So break out the driver on the driving range. Of course it can never hurt to work on the short game, including putting. If you can stand the monotony.

It's a sad day

Wednesday was a sad day for PGA Tour rookie and Myrtle Beach resident Dustin Johnson, a sad day for anyone who ever came into contact with his grandmother, Carole Jones of North Myrtle Beach, and a sad day for anyone who roots for and cares about good people. Jones died Wednesday morning as a result of complications from back surgery, undoubtedly leaving a void in the lives of anyone who knew her. Jones was as pleasant and positive a person as you would ever want to meet.
I last spoke to her after Dustin finished the second round of the Verizon Heritage in Hilton Head Island, and she walked holes alongside Dustin with friends and family. She seemed as vibrant as ever, and of course had a smile on her face despite Dustin's struggles on the course that day. I assume she slept with a smile.
It was a shock to me that she passed considering how energetic she was just a few weeks ago. One of Jones' friends called Wednesday afternoon to relay the news, and said her back surgery two weeks ago in Raleigh, N.C., was elective, there were some sort of complications and she had been in intensive care since.
Jones was proud of her grandson and his accomplishments, as well she should have been, considering she was largely responsible for them. Jones helped fund Dustin's junior and amateur careers, and even traveled with him _ just the two of them _ to some events. Their bond remained strong, as they regularly met for dinner on Wednesdays throughout Johnson's college career. Her support and love were instrumental in guiding Dustin to the career he’s now enjoying.
Dustin is scheduled to play beginning Thursday at the AT&T Classic in Duluth, Ga., in honor of Carole. `I told him she would want him to play, so he's going to give it a try,’’ said Dustin's father and Carole's son, Scott.
Scott said that in keeping with implicit instructions in Carole's will, there not be any services. There will instead be a celebration of her life in the near future. Considering the happiness with which she lived, it should be one heck of a celebration.
Some people are missed more than others because of what they give and mean to the people in their lives, and I can assure you Carole Jones will be missed immeasurably.

Annika out

It's hard to imagine Annika Sorenstam won't cringe next year every time she watches an LPGA Tour event or sees a highlight from one. All the work she put into rehab following her neck injury last year was supposedly to get back to the top of the women's golf world. And last week, when she won by seven shots and went head to head with No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, she certainly looked like someone who was ready to regain the No. 1 ranking.
She's only 37, and it sure didn't look like she has lost any of her competitive desire. You would have to assume that was the driving force behind her rehab work. And for the first time since Karrie Webb was at the top of her game close to a decade ago, Sorenstam has someone to push her in Ochoa, who has won five times this year to Sorenstam's three. The anticipated duel between Sorenstam and Ochoa over the next couple years was going to be the most intriguing story on the LPGA Tour. Stepping away and allowing others to dominate a sport she has ruled for a decade with 72 wins and 10 majors, and could still rule, will have to pull at her on almost a daily basis next year.

Tiger's chasers

Sergio Garcia's seventh win on the PGA Tour _ and his biggest at that with his victory Sunday in The Players Championship _ continues a trend this year that bodes well for the future of the PGA Tour. Garcia is 28, and he's the ninth player in his 20s to win this year, already surpassing the seven who won in 2007.
Other young potential stars who have won in the past month include Adam Scott and Anthony Kim, a couple players who should win several more titles in the coming years. It's highly unlikely that any one player will challenge the dominance of Tiger Woods in the next decade, assuming Woods remains relatively healthy. But as a group, the young rising stars on the tour can do it collectively. They can attempt to challenge Woods by trading off victories.
The game's established stars have had their shot at Woods, and have generally had the will beaten out of them. These players include Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, and the list goes on and on. But some of the young players haven't been beaten enough to cower, yet. As a group they may be able to slow the Tiger Express. At least more than their predecessors have done in the past decade.