Sunday, January 27, 2013

Montgomerie fighting for Masters spot

Updated: March 24, 2005, 1:41 PM ET

Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Colin Montgomerie, needing a victory to assure himself a spot in the Masters, was five strokes off the lead after shooting a 3-under-par 67 Thursday in the first round of the Indonesia Open.

India's Arjun Atwal and Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey shared the top spot with 62s on a day when play was delayed two hours because of a lightning storm. South Africa's Chris Williams and England's Matthew Cort were at 63.

Montgomerie had a frustrating day on the greens, bogeying two par-3s and missing several birdie chances. The Scotsman has not missed a Masters since his Augusta National debut in 1992. Montgomerie, a European Ryder Cup star and seven-time No. 1 player in Europe, is ranked 54th in the world.

Finchem also looking into appearance fees

Updated: March 28, 2005, 3:32 PM ET

Associated Press

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Tiger Woods might get his wish on a shorter season, although the PGA Tour is still months away from deciding how much it will change its schedule, if at all.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Wednesday that moving the Tour Championship to September was under consideration as a way to make the end of the year more compelling.

But he cautioned that it was too early to speculate, adding that an earlier end to the official season was one of seven models the tour is studying before it begins negotiating a new television contract later in the year.

"We may forward a schedule at the end of the year that looks very similar to what we currently do," Finchem said. "We may forward a schedule that looks significantly different. It may be somewhere in between."

His comments came one day after the annual players' meeting at The Players Championship, where the commissioner tried to shed some insight on where the tour was headed under a new TV contract.

On another topic, Finchem said he was working on additional guidelines that would clear up any perception of appearance money on the PGA Tour.

He said those guidelines would not have a "chilling effect" on corporate sponsors trying to put on Monday outings or on players trying to make extra money.

Prize money has risen dramatically from the last two contracts, from $96 million in 1998 to an estimated $252 million this year. Both four-year deals were negotiated at a time when Woods brought attention to the sport by winning the Masters by 12 shots in 1997, and becoming the first player to four win straight professional majors in 2001.

But the networks have said they are losing money from the last contract, estimated at about $950 million, and much of the focus has fallen on tournaments in September and October, which compete against football and get low television ratings.

Finchem is intrigued by what NASCAR did last year with its "Chase to the Championship," in which the top 10 drivers advanced to what amounts to a 10-race showdown at the end of the year.

The Tour Championship is played at East Lake in Atlanta the first week of November.

"There's a consideration that we might want to play the Tour Championship earlier," Finchem said. "But I have about seven different models that involve how we handle the end of the season and different aspects of the season."

Woods and Phil Mickelson have argued in recent weeks that the season is too long, starting in Hawaii the first week of January and ending just a few weeks before Thanksgiving.

"For the future and growth and health of our tour, we're too strung out," Woods said Wednesday. "What other sport plays 10 months? And that includes some weeks with two tournaments."

Left unclear is what would happen with the rest of the PGA Tour events.

Among the possibilities is starting a new season in the previous calendar year, which is what the European PGA Tour has done since joint-sanctioning events in Asia and Australia. The first event of the 2005 season in Europe was the Volvo China Open the last week in November.

Ending the season early also might give the tour an opportunity to co-sanction tournaments overseas. Woods said events in South Africa, Asia and Australia were under consideration.

In an interview with The Associated Press last month in California, Finchem said he was looking at aligning the PGA Tour with other tours "in terms of joint-sanctioned events."

"We'll probably do more joint-sanctioned events in the future," he said at the Match Play Championship. "We'd like to play some more golf in Asia. We'd like to get down south a little bit. I don't know how it plays out."

Appearance money is not allowed on the PGA Tour, although it became an issue last month when the Ford Championship at Doral paid $600,000 for the foursome of Goosen, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington and Vijay Singh to take part in a corporate outing with Ford dealers the Monday of the tournament.

Then, Golf World magazine obtained a proposal from IMG in which it offered a price list for top players to go to such outings, with a pledge they would look favorably upon playing in the tournament.

He was vague about any changes to the regulation.

"We have regulations that relate to appearance money, and those are fine," he said. "In addition to that, we probably need some guidelines that relate to situations that create the perception of appearance money.

"They will be guidelines that will give us an assurance ... that we're not gravitating toward appearance money in our sport, and I think when you see them, that will come through."

Mark Steinberg, head of the North American golf division for IMG, said the agency would continue working with PGA Tour sponsors looking for "entertainment options."

"But we have also, because of the controversy, mutually decided to put on hold the execution of these events until further clarification," Steinberg said. "We have no intention of violating regulations or policies, nor do we think we've done that."

Players is all about what's next

Updated: March 23, 2005, 3:04 PM ET

By Jason Sobel | ESPN.com

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – In these days of March Madness and the Big Dance, it would be only natural to compare golf's biggest event of the month with the NCAA Tournament.

Instead, The Players Championship more closely resembles college basketball's conference tournaments; it's a whirling dervish of a week, when anything can – and often does – happen.

The Players is 'a bunch of fun for all of us,' says Tiger.

Is it important? Sure, but more as a preview to something bigger than for the event itself.

Stick with us on the analogy: In those conference tournaments, teams compete for a chance to earn a better seed in the main event. With a championship comes greater anticipation for the following week.

Take Syracuse, for example. It won the Big East tournament, only to have the value of that title diminished six days later by a first-round loss to Vermont in the NCAA Tournament.

Such is also the case at The Players Championship, where a high finish only increases the expectations placed upon a golfer at The Masters. The year's first major begins a mere 11 days after the final putt drops at Sawgrass. And while looking ahead is often discouraged by coaches in team sports, it looms ominously throughout this week, as players try to deflect attention from Augusta National-related questions.

"I'm not looking forward to The Masters right now; I'm looking forward to tomorrow's event here," top-ranked Vijay Singh said Wednesday. "This is where the biggest gathering of players are, and it'll be one of the biggest achievements of my career if I can win this thing. So my focus right now is to go out there and play as good as I can and see if I can win it."

Perhaps having such pressure-packed events within two weeks of each other might explain why only one player – Tiger Woods in 2001 – has won both The Players and The Masters in the same year.

Or maybe we need only look at the stiff competition.

"It's still a great tournament, probably one of the strongest fields we'll have all year," Woods said. "You play against the best players on this golf course under these type of conditions. This is one heck of a test, so it's a bunch of fun for all of us."

The fact that a former champion like Woods has to sing the praises of The Players – such speech is eminently unnecessary at The Masters – speaks volumes about where it ranks on golf's food chain. But that's not to say it doesn't have some prestige of its own. Called golf's "fifth major," the event began with a Jack Nicklausvictory in 1974 and has grown in popularity ever since. Whereas Augusta National runs The Masters, the USGA has the U.S. Open, Britain's R&A takes care of the British Open and the PGA of America owns the PGA Championship, this week is all about the PGA Tour.

And it means a lot to the players.

"The history of the place, and the drama that's gone on here, and the strength of the field, the golf course – everything about this makes this tournament stand out," defending champion Adam Scott said. "And I think all the players know that.

"It's a big deal to all of us."

With the world's top golfers reaching the apex of their games – Singh, Woods,Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson have combined for seven international victories so far this season – this year's version of The Players Championship holds the most potential of any in quite a long time.

This week's winner will overcome a terrific field and hold aloft the crystal trophy given to the champion, golf's version of cutting down the nets. And, inevitably, he'll hear the same question posed to every champion at Sawgrass: "So, what are your chances at The Masters?"

Jason Sobel is ESPN.com's golf editor. He can be reached at Jason.Sobel@espn3.com

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Norman's options: Surgery or retirement

Updated: March 22, 2005, 1:39 PM ET

Associated Press

JUPITER, Fla. -- Fearing he might have to retire from golf, two-time British Open champion Greg Norman had back surgery Tuesday and hopes to resume playing within three months.

Norman has cut back on his golf the last two years because of recurring back pain. He played seven times on the PGA Tour last year, but never broke par and made only one cut.

He had to withdraw earlier this month from the Dubai Desert Classic.

"I had a simple choice," Norman said. "Either retire from the game of golf or seek any and all available means to help relieve the pain that has kept me from performing at a level that suits my standards, and at the same time improves my quality of life."

Norman had the 90-minute operation at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Joseph Maroon, the neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1977, said Norman is expected to make a full recovery.

Norman turned 50 in February and was expected to play in the Senior PGA Championship in late May at Laurel Valley.

"My desire remains the same, and that is to return to competition as soon as possible," Norman said.

Norman's options: Surgery or retirement

Updated: March 22, 2005, 1:39 PM ET

Associated Press

JUPITER, Fla. -- Fearing he might have to retire from golf, two-time British Open champion Greg Norman had back surgery Tuesday and hopes to resume playing within three months.

Norman has cut back on his golf the last two years because of recurring back pain. He played seven times on the PGA Tour last year, but never broke par and made only one cut.

He had to withdraw earlier this month from the Dubai Desert Classic.

Norman turned 50 in February and was expected to play in the Senior PGA Championship in late May at Laurel Valley.

"My desire remains the same, and that is to return to competition as soon as possible," Norman said.

Fact or Fiction: Pondering the Players

Originally Published: March 23, 2005

ESPN.com/Golf Digest

FACT: The Players Championship is referred to as the "fifth major," and ranks as the most prestigious event on the PGA Tour so far this season.

FICTION: The Players Championship is, in fact, the fifth major, on par with the likes of the Masters and U.S. Open.

OK, let's not go too far, but this week's event at TPC-Sawgrass is the most prestigious on the tour schedule this season. Herewith, some of the biggest issues surrounding the tournament.

• TPC-Sawgrass' 17th hole is the most exciting par-3 in golf.

Brian Wacker, assistant editor, GolfDigest.com: FICTION. It's not even the most exciting par-3 among TPCs. That honor goes to the 16th at TPC-Scottsdale, which is also the loudest par-3 in golf. When Tiger Woods holed out there in 1997, the place exploded like maybe like no other hole in golf before or since. But there are also several par-3s that are just better: No. 12 at Augusta, Nos. 7 and 17 at Pebble Beach, to name a few. Take nothing away from what Pete Dye did 25 years ago, but the novelty has worn off when other courses start duplicating your idea. Imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, but that doesn't necessarily make for the most exciting hole in golf.

Bob Harig, contributor, ESPN.com: FACT. There is no drama anywhere quite like at this island green hole that ordinarily presents what appears to be a relatively easy shot, but has tour pros nervous before they even get to the tee. Winds can sometimes make it trickier, but it's mostly mental as a huge crowd of fans, who can see the hole from many vantage points, waits in anticipation for disaster. It is quite the scene.

Ron Sirak, executive editor, Golf World magazine: FICTION. No. 12 at Augusta National is the most exciting par-3 in golf. It comes in the middle of Amen Corner on the best back nine in golf and has the extra added attraction – and pressure – of being in The Masters. The island green is a gimmick. No. 12 at Augusta, with its tee shielded by trees from the wind, is a brilliant hole.

Jason Sobel, golf editor, ESPN.com: FICTION. Let's defer to Tiger Woods on this one. Earlier this week, he said, "It's all right. It's just more of a TV hole, more for you [media] guys than it is for us." Thanks, but we're not all that enamored with it, Tiger. The hole plays 137 yards to the middle of the green; if players are too intimidated by water to hit a simple wedge shot, well, that's not too exciting, either.

• The Players Championship should be moved to May.

Sobel: FACT. This should be an absolute slam dunk, no-brainer. It wouldn't even have any competition for the month – there's no other big golf tournament; baseball is settling into its second month; the NFL draft is over; the NBA is a long way from its finals; and the NHL is, um, whatever happened to the NHL? Pessimists say the course will be in worse shape in May, but realists know the TV ratings will be better.

Harig: FACT. The so-called "fifth major" gets lost in NCAA Tournament hoopla and the lead-up to The Masters, which is just two weeks away. The tournament would do better to separate itself some from the other majors, and May offers enough of a cushion between The Masters and the U.S. Open to achieve this goal. There are concerns about the TPC-Sawgrass' difficulty at that time of year, but so what? There is a void of big tournaments in May and this would give golf a top-notch event in five consecutive months.

Sirak: FACT. If the Players is moved to May, then the schedule would have The Masters in April, the Players in May, The U.S. Open in June, the British Open in July, the PGA Championship in August and either the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup in September. For six months we would be constantly building toward the next major or major-like event.

Wacker: FACT. The only thing spicy about the tour schedule in May is the barbecue in Texas. Sure, Colonial and the Byron Nelson are nice events, but they are book-ended by the three-year-old Wachovia and the bland FedEx. Moving the Players to May would also give us a (near) major every month from April through August with The Masters in April, Players in May, U.S. Open in June, British Open in July and the PGA in August.

• The Players Championship should be made into a fifth major.

Harig: FICTION. There is no such thing. You don't touch five bases when you hit a Grand Slam home run, hence there should not be five major championships as part of golf's Grand Slam. The Players Championships has positioned itself quite nicely as the next-best tournament in golf, and that should be fine.

Sobel: FICTION. In the name of Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan and all that is good and right with professional golf, let's hope this never happens. This would be the equivalent of a baseball team building a new stadium just to increase revenue for a season. Sure, it would bring more attention to the event, but it would also water down the importance of the four current majors.

Wacker: FICTION. Four majors is plenty. In fact, it's perfect. Four is a nice round number, it's always been four in golf and tennis (except for the five-major Champions Tour, which tells you all you need to know). Not to mention if golf went ahead and declared the Players a fifth major, it really would have to change some of the eligibility requirements for its field. To allow the top 125 players from the previous year's money list just isn't a strict enough standard for a major championship event.

Sirak: FICTION. Why? We have four majors. If they add a fifth major, then the discussion would begin about what the sixth major should be, and the seventh and the eighth. I can see the ad campaigns now: "Come to the B.C. Open – Golf's 36th Major." More is not always better. We have four majors. Let's just say the Players is the best of the non-majors and leave it at that.