Tiger Booed - It's a Cal Thing

So Tiger got booed during the past weekend's big Cal-Stanford match - and apparently was caught off-guard. I suppose that's understandable. Everywhere he goes, huge adoring galleries follow. And why not? He's been the world's number one golfer seemingly forever. But what I've learned from my time here in Northern California is that Cal takes precedence over everything. The Bears trump the Tiger. I'll often wear my Cal baseball cap to the golf course and inevitably I hear a chorus of "Go Bears!" from the pro shop to the driving range and around the course.


Thus, when that famous fairway 'furd stood midfield in his Stanford scarlet to be inducted into the Stanford Hall of Fame after earlier having performed the coin toss (on Stanford's home turf, not that it mattered), he was just another Cardinal rattling the bear cage. And so it goes on any given Saturday in Bear Country (or anywhere Bears fans congregate). Was it the classiest move? Definitely not. But I believe that many of these boo-Bears followed Woods recently when he was at San Francisco's Harding Park for the recent President's Cup and showed him the respect and admiration he deserves and has come to expect on the golf course.

On the football field, however, to some fans, he's fair territory in Bear Territory.

Book Review: Tales from Q School: Inside Golf's Fifth Major

John Feinstein's "Tales from Q School: Inside Golf's Fifth Major," isn't a new book; it was published in 2007, but it was my first read - and compelling enough that I would encourage anyone to who hasn't read it to take a look. Feinstein has written a number of golf-related books and he writes like an insider, sharing small but fascinating details that perhaps only a golfer could love.

"Tales from Q School" follows the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament (otherwise known as "Q School," where veterans and hopefuls grapple through six rounds of golf for 30 slots available on the PGA Tour. Upstarts and college stars battle it out with Tour players who have slipped backwards on the money list (the top 125 retain their cards for the following year) and must rely on sponsor exemptions to get a pass to play.

Because the book is a few years old, it's almost more fascinating to read because you know where some of these individuals are today. Steve Stricker did not qualify in 2005, yet today he's number two in the world behind Tiger Woods, who he successfully paired with in the recent President's Cup. Other stars of Q-School that year included Hunter Mahan and the winner, J.B. Holmes, who both are currently solid players on tour.

You could almost picture a movie being made from these player accounts - as for some, their dreams are realized while others are crushed. Nerves take over for many players who appear to have a lock on a spot, balls suddenly spraying into water hazards, traps, etc. There is also interesting commentary from current tour players who now seem light years away from Q-School, and names like Casey Martin, who once dominated the headlines when he challenged the PGA for the right to use a cart due to a degenerative leg condition.

The Golf Channel will cover the 2009 Q-School Finals in just a few weeks (and their coverage irks many players who feel like their golf lives are at stake in this tournament and the coverage isn't welcome). Now that I truly have a good understanding of how Q-School works, how players make it to the PGA and lose their standing on the PGA, sponsor exemptions, the Nationwide Tour, the mini tours, and so many other pieces of information that I've heard tossed around but never fully grasped, I'm really looking forward to watching it.

For a fascinating read about the many players whose names you might not recognize (along with some you definitely will) and their journey to golf's big leagues, pick up a copy of Feinstein's book. You'll be glad you did.

President's Cup Practice Round Post Mortem

You know how it feels when the course is slow and you're standing around waiting for the group in front of you to get moving...and they're waiting for the group in front of them? No way to play through; you're just stuck. You make a lot of practice swings, but still you lose your rhythm and ultimately your game suffers. Wait too long between holes and the rust settles in quickly. I'm finding it's the same when waiting too long between blog posts. It's been a month and that's way too long - so I'm making a resolution to pick up the pace. No excuses (except sometimes life gets in the way), especially when the group in front of me, in this case, is, well...me.


Best of the best from the U.S. and around the world


A U.S. team veteran in Leonard and Kim representing the new guard.

Although I've been away from here, I haven't been away from the game. I recently attended a practice round and opening ceremonies for the President's Cup here in San Francisco, at Harding Park Golf Course. I watched the final day of the World Golf Championships here a few years back (playoff between Tiger and John Daly) and it's a great place to watch and to play. Certainly, they change the degree of difficulty when the pros play, but it's a walkable course and a course you feel like you can shoot a decent score on - assuming you stay on line and out of the storied Monterey Cypress Pines that line the fairways.


Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim on the putting green. Sensational tournament for Lefty, less so for Anthony Kim, although he prevailed in the end -- yet was at the center of a controversy involving Robert Allenby and Kim's so-called "wild ways."


Tiger playing from the trap, resplendent in the U.S. team's argyle. Outstanding play by Woods and partner Steve Stricker all week.

Practice rounds are fun to attend because you really get to see the players up close on the tees and greens as the galleries are so much smaller. Within minutes of arriving, we walked right up to the group with Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim and Justin Leonard heading to the green. The shot making ability of all these guys is incredible. We spent a few minutes watching Anthony Kim and Y.E. Yang on the driving range and even their miscues (if you can call them that) are ridiculous.


Anthony Kim on the driving range. He's not the biggest guy on tour nor the longest hitter, but for the everyman golfer, he's a joy to watch.

Hunter Mahan and Phil Mickelson - again, a representation of the veteran of team play in Mickelson and rising star in Mahan.

I was fortunate to see most of my favorites - Phil Mickelson, who was as personable as he comes across on TV, Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, really everyone, because the best of the best play here (minus the European stars). Great to see the "old timers" too - Greg Norman and Fred Couples, tooling around the course. I'm not sure we learned anything, but nothing like seeing golf played the way it's supposed to be.


Camillo Villegas had a less than stellar week in his first appearance at a President's Cup event.


Phil Mickelson recently retooled his putting stroke and he looks unbeatable at the moment. If he can keep it up, 2010 promises to be an exciting year as the top two players battle it out for supremacy!

As the days go on, my posts have evolved to my golf musings in general - but I'll always try to remember where this blog started - around fairway fashion. And with that said, I give a thumbs up to the U.S. team's sporty, argyle-heavy wear throughout the week. My sister mentioned to me that she'd never seen Tiger in argyle before, and that sounds about right, but I think the world's number one wore it well. Another nice touch on this day? All the caddies were clad in San Francisco Giants jerseys - a nice nod to the host city!


Yours truly enjoying the end of the practice round and looking forward to the next day's tourney start.


Ushering the official start of play, the Opening Ceremonies featured the members of each team, former President George H.W. Bush, players' wives and girlfriends, team captains, Mayor of San Franicsco Gavin Newsom, the Boys and Girls Choir of San Francisco and many more.

Fedex Cup Fete

The top 30 men, from Tiger down, go at it this weekend for the Tour Championship and the Fedex Cup. Who will this final showdown? Hard to bet against Tiger and he stands just a shot back of Sean O'Hair after the first round. Still, with this caliber of player, everyone's still in the game, even Geoff Ogilvy (an Aussie fav) at +5. Phil Mickelson got off to a fast start but a misfire dropped him back to +3. Lefty's always my personal favorite to watch; I love his "walk on the wild side" attitude, even when it doesn't really make sense, and I'd love to see him make a surge tomorrow. Really, you can't go wrong watching this group - everybody's that good.

It's too early for a Superbowl party; still some scrambling taking place in baseball - so how about a Fedex cup fete? Found some fantastic golf tabletop and barware - and I just had to build a story around it. And hey, for those of us who play, golf on television IS exciting!



The 19th Hole Collection from San Francisco's Slant Collections features just about everything you need to kick back and watch the best golfers in the world sweat it out. The collection includes this large serving bowl ($44), serving tray with three small serving bowls ($44), green pilsner glasses ($82 for a set of 4), these fantastic stemless martini glasses ($82 for a set of 4), and ceramic bottle stoppers ($18.) The collection also features coasters, plates, napkins, spreaders, shot glasses, martini shaker and a flask. Can't afford everything all at once? Even one or two pieces from this set is sure to put a smile on any golfer's face.

Big Break Prince Edward Island: Gerina Goes Down

It was down to the final four last night on Big Break: Prince Edward Island and after dueling it out with fellow contestants Brenda McLarnen and Derek Gillespie in a series of two-hole stroke play matches, favorite Gerina Mendoza ended up on the wrong side of the scorecard. The four remaining players have become close and while it is a competition, they all seemed genuinely upset to see Gerina leave last night. One of the contestants along with Gillespie with the most professional experience, Gerina was picked by many to go right to the end. A big driver, she was fun to watch. Now it's down to McLarnen, Gillespie and golfer/model Blair O'Neal.



Gerina Mendoza



Blair O'Neal

O'Neal has come on strong in recent weeks and my instincts are telling me she may just have won this whole thing, which was taped earlier this year. She was interviewed during a break in the action during last weekend's St. Jude's Classic - my first clue. She also competed in a pairing with Michelle Wie for one of the open spots for the 2009 Women's U.S. Open - another clue? As it turns out, both O'Neal and Wie failed to qualify.

Just a few weeks left - we'll see if my hunch plays out!

Hump Day Specials!

So, it's Wednesday and I'm feeling a bit of the mid-week blues. What better way to lift my spirits than to find some amazing golf specials, steals and deals? To that end, welcome to the inaugural Wednesday edition of "Hump Day Specials"! Fair warning: Some of these sales feature limited sizes, colors or quantity. As you know, that's just part of the deal when you peruse the virtual sales racks. Happy shopping!



Green Tee Women's Maverick Swing Tunic - $31.99

This great golf swing tunic from Green Tee features shirring on the sleeves and chest - rendering it feminine while still functional with deep front pockets and sewn-in tee holders. I love this color personally, but it's also available in several shades of blue. From Overstock.com.


Antigua Short Sleeve Windshirt Jacket - $32.99
Okay, I admit it - I'm a sucker for this shade of pale yellow! But I also see the need for a wind shirt with short sleeves - which can seem like an oxymoron to the non-golfer - but it provides great protection from the elements, warms the core and allows you the freedom of movement you need to swing a golf club. This jacket on clearance from ShePlaysGolf.com is a sanded microfiber twill, available in a range of colors and sizes and featuring a neck tab with snap closure and front pockets on the princess seams.







Tommy Bahama 18 Golf Sweater - $29.95
Originally $95, this cute short-sleeve sweater can be found in the "Bargain Barn" at Sierra Trading Post (while they last). It's available in four colors and rates four-and-a-half stars from customers who have purchased it. I like it this way with a tee underneath and I think a polo wold look great as well. I'm on this one!





Adidas Women's Mini-Cap Sleeve Zip Mock - $24.99
I find cap sleeves particularly flattering, so I'm a big fan of this little mock from Adidas. Also love the bright white color and the fact that you can adjust the color with the zipper. Alas, it is not available in my size.






Nike Tech Pique Sleeveless Polo - $19.96
Available from Golfsmith in a wide range of colors, this sleeveless style is perfect for warm weather days and it features Nike's moisture wicking technology.

June is Women's Golf Month!

Whether you're a new golfer or you've been playing the game for years, you can take advantage of the numerous opportunities offered by participating golf courses the entire month of June as part of American Express Women's Golf Month. Now in its fifth year, American Express Women's Golf Month is aimed at increasing the participation of women in golf.

Golf courses across the country are offering women (over the age of 14) free golf lessons and clinics, golf rules and etiquette seminars, on-course lessons and instruction (for a nominal fee), fashion shows, club fittings and more. Don't have your own equipment? No worries - participating locations will also offer complimentary use of golf clubs so you'll also have the opportunity to try out the very best stuff.

If you know someone who has been itching to give golf a try but hasn't taken that first step, now is the time to encourage them to get involved in a fun, encouraging and non-intimidating environment.

Find a golf course in your area that is participating in this year's American Express Women's Golf Month here.