How would you feel if you were beaten by a 9-year-old?

How would you feel if you were a 34-year old, 10-handicap, father of 3 arriving to play in an officially sponsored "men's" tournament to learn that you would be playing against a 4' 11", 9-year old boy. Ha...you'd probably think it was a joke! Well, the last laugh would be on you!

Richard Martin, owner of a signwriting company, is going down in history as the first adult to lose against, youngster, Marco Penge in matchplay.

But he shouldn't feel too bad (someday he might be famous for exactly this reason). Marco, a 15-handicapper, is a golfing prodigy in the UK who started playing when he was 5.

Another Tiger Woods? Well, we'll have to see, but he's been described as "a nice young lad...very calm, very focused and mature for a nine-year-old." (focused and mature - that's Tiger-like). But what I love...he's still a kid too. In one club match, partnering with his father, his competitors found him climbing a tree.

I hope he stays a "nice young lad" for a long time and enjoys childhood.

My experience with young "super talented" golfers in Canada has not been very positive unfortunately (the untalented ones are great :)). I've played a few times with low handicap younsters whose parents think they are the next Tiger Woods/Lorena Ochoa. And frankly, they are spoiled rotten brats. I won't play with them anymore. You can tell who they are...they are the ones whose parents don't play with them - they just caddie for them and pamper them hole after hole after hole.

Perhaps it's unfair of me to say that, but it's not just in golf. I taught figure skating for many years and the same thing happened there. The kids were great, until the parents started to believe they were going to be Olympic champions. Once the parents started to live vicariously through their kids, the kids started to demonstrate arrogance instead of confidence, on and off the ice. I quit teaching because I just couldn't stand the parents and what they created (or should I say...destroyed in their kids).

Anyway, enough ranting. I'm going to keep an eye on Marco and see how he turns out. He's just too cute for words. I hope he stays that way.

Golfgal

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How would you feel if youwere beaten by a 9-year- old?
By Peter Higgs
The Mail on Sunday Section 1
17 Feb 2008

THINK how Richard Martin felt when he turned up for his crucial singles match in a major golf competition to be told that he was playing against a nine- year- old. Then imagine his demeanour a few hours later when he walked off the Sussex course having... read more...

Tech Tags: The Mail on Sunday Section 1 newspaper Sports

Pink Panther Paula's Prowl has Started!

I wrote a post on Golf For Women last week about Paula Creamer dreaming of being #1 in the world and looking to next year to make that possible. Many would scoff at such audacity, but I am cheering her on and am thrilled to see her capture her 5th LPGA title this weekend.

Even battling flu-like symptoms this week, The Pink Panther shot a winning 66 Saturday at the Fields Open in Kapolei, Hawaii, taking down Jeong Jang with her impressive 4 birdies in the last 5 holes.

I watched the final 6 holes of yesterday's round and was impressed by Paula's fight to the finish. She never gave up, even when she was 2 down in the final holes.

“We had to do it,” said Creamer.“I knew that coming down the stretch, just that pressure and knowing if you want to win this golf tournament you have to make this putt. That kind of took that momentum into 17 and made that one, and then into 18.”

I was suprised to hear Paula ask her caddie in a somewhat meek voice on the 18th, while staring at a 165 hard shot over water, "Do think 6?" She seemed so unsure of herself. Then she said, "I feel pumped up." and promptly picked her 6 iron out of her bag. From there it was all confidence as she nailed her 2nd shot landing it within 5 feet from the hole.


What a great way to finish!

Annika Sorenstam ended in 4th place, 4 strokes back. She was impressive however. After a double bogey on 10, Annika rallied back with birdies on 11, 12 and 13. I love it when a player can put the past behind them and not let it ruin their game. That's something I definitely need to practice! It certainly doesn't come naturally.

Michelle Wie started off well this week and made the cut at 2-under, but Saturday was a huge struggle for her with a final round of 78. It's too bad; she started the day on a roll with a birdie on the first hole, but then she had 4 bogey's, a double bogey and a triple on the 18th.

More Hawaii Golf?

Now, did you know that there's a Wendy's Champions Skins Game going on in Kaanapali? I had no idea and I consider myself quite "up" on what's happening in golf.

Defending champions Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson won eight skins ($270,000) in alternate-shot yesterday.

They're up against 3 other 2-man teams made up of: Arnold Palmer & Jay Haas, Fuzzy Zoeller & Peter Jacobsen and Gary Player & Loren Roberts.

The last nine holes are being played today. I wish I could watch. Perhaps they'll broadcast it on a less busy golf weekend. I love those guys!

Golfgal

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Pink Panther pips Jang
Kapolei (Hawaii)
The Straits Times
25 Feb 2008

PAULA Creamer snatched a dramatic win at the Fields Open, overcoming a two-shot deficit with three holes left to beat Korea’s Jang Jeong by a single shot. The 21-year-old, wearing a pink shirt, pink hat and pink diamante skull-and-crossbones belt... read more...

Tech Tags: The Straits Times newspaper Sports

ClamBake Café - a great online space for golfers everywhere

Well, I have to thank Mr. Business Golf for inviting me to his first airing of ClamBake Café on Blog TV. I had a great time and was happy to see so many people watching it (he's said it was a record audience :)).

Golf Girl was there in style. Great questions and lots of banter - I just loved it.

Here's a recording of the last 1/2 hour where we talking about online golf groups and what value (or not) they bring to golfers.



I have to say that for me the time flew by. I had so much more to say...(don't I always? :))

For example, I was doing a little research on "top blogs" on Technorati and did you know there is only 1 blog in that top 100 list that is about sports? Only 1!

The top blogs tend to be about politics, technology, gadgets, music and movies. I was really surprised that sports didn't rank higher. #60 was a general sport blog called deadspin. I'm going to have to check that one out in more detail. I hope he/she blogs about golf.

Anyway, thanks again Scot! I look forward to your next show with Golf Girl.

Golfgal

ps. Note to self...look up...look waaaay up to the camera and not on the nice video on your laptop :)

ClamBake Café Debuts on BlogTV

Hi everyone:

I am so excited to announce that I've been invited to be a guest on ClamBake Café by Mr. Business Golf on Blog TV at 7 PM CST (5 pm PST) on Wednesday, February 21, 2008.


So what's the ClamBake Café?

The ClamBake Café is a gathering place for all golfers who are asking the question, why should I be online? What is the big deal? Where are the best places to play golf? Why should I blog about golf? Where are the safe places to go online to learn about golf? etc...you get the picture.

You should really sign up today for BlogTv so you won't miss the show and you can participate in the discussion with us. We'd love to get your questions and hear your opinions on our topics of the day.

I sure hope you will join Scot and me on BlogTV tomorrow night. It will be great fun!

Golfgal

Come play match play with me on GFW

Are you as excited as I am about the World Match Play Championships? I am posting on Golf For Women each day about my picks and predictions on this great event. I hope you'll join me there and let me know what you think.


Here are my picks for round 1.



Think I'm crazy? Then come visit me on GFW and tell me all about it. You know I always love to hear from you.

Golfgal

Watch out Lorena...She's baaa_aaak!!!

What a great finish to the SBS Open at Turtle Bay to see Annika back in fine form and beat the field by 2 strokes, capturing her 70th career win. Yes, it's true that Lorena Ochoa wasn't there, but almost everyone else was, so this was no cake-walk.

At the 16th tee with a 3-way tie for the lead, I was pretty nervous for Annika. You could see the worry lines above her sun glasses and I feared that she might blow it.

But shame on me for doubting... Annika proved once again that she can win when she's fit and healthy and focused. I guess those were focus lines - not worry lines on her face.

She birdied 16 and 17 and snatched back the lead from Jane Park and rookie, Momoko Udea (who was playing beautifully up until the 17th hole where she blew her 2nd shot and ended up with a bogey).

It's funny what you notice about golfers when you watch them play. Did you see Momok's finger nails? They were most likely false, which is fine, but what made them so noticeable was that they were long and painted beautifully in black and white with glittery stones on them. I wish I could have found a picture of them for you, but this one here shows her nails during the Mizuno championship last fall. I don't know how she plays with them that long - they are gorgeous, but they would split the fingers of my golf glove on the first hole.

And of course the good news story was Russy Gulyanamitta who shot a 68 for a tie for 2nd place. You know she is a true "Cinderella story" by Googling her for images. The only shot I could find was her official LPGA picture. Hey, I have more pics on the web than she does!


She was so cute on the 18th green when she made that 30+ foot putt for birdie. I haven't seen someone that excited in a long time. In her post-round interview with Mike Ritz, she shared that she only decided to play pro golf after she graduated university in Bangkok with an Industrial Engineering degree in 1998. Wow...smart cookie!

And again, another strange thing I noticed..she still wears regular glasses. Don't you find that strange in an athlete? I guess with this win, she can now afford Lasik surgery.

Now the sad story of the day. Poor Angela Park! She was was assessed a two-stroke penalty for slow play on the par-4 10th that cost her about $60,000 and moved her into a tie for 5th overall, instead 2nd on her own.

The officials said she violated the LPGA pace of play rule on her 2nd, 3rd and 4th shots on the 10th hole. I was shocked to hear this because I've watched tons of PGA events where players were "put on the clock", but rarely ever penalized for slow play - especially if they were in contention. I'm not sure how much warning Park got, but I agree with her - it seems a bit unfair (and I'm the first to complain about slow play - I just hate it).

But, Park said she wasn't holding up anyone behind her and I believe her. I can only imagine how upset she was. But boy...did she perform after that! Park birdied three of the next four holes to get back within a stroke of the lead. How she did that, I can't imagine. "I was so mad out there," she said. "I was flying through the course on the back nine. I was so frustrated."

I'm really impressed with Angela - she really held her composure on camera, although I hear she was in tears after the round. I would have been in tears on the 11th hole!

Anyway, an exciting first event of the year! I can't wait to watch the Fields Open in Hawaii next week. We'll miss Lorena, but the field is still extremely strong and I am sure Annika (and the rest) will put on a great show for us addicts once again.

Golfgal

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Thailand’s Russamee stuns LPGA with her second place
AP TIM MAITLAND
Bangkok Post
19 Feb 2008

Hawaii — Thailand’s Russamee Gulyanamitta stunned the world’s leading women’s golf tour by emerging from almost total obscurity to challenge the legendary Annika Sorenstam for the LPGA’s SBS open title on Sunday, before settling for a share of second... read more...

Tech Tags: Bangkok Post newspaper Sports

All I want for Valentine's Day...

is right here!

Learn more out these beautifual Gemspot putters on my Golf For Women Magazine blog - your golfgal will love you for it!

Golfgal

Snip Snip - Will we see a double cut policy soon in the PGA?

I was watching The Golf Channel tonight and saw that 16 members of the Player's Advisory Committee met with PGA commissioner, Tim Finchem, this week to talk about possible revisions to the latest (and hatest - I know that's not a word, but it rhymes :)) cut policy - a policy that created yet another acronym in golf- MDF: “Made the Cut, Did Not Finish.”

I really did feel bad for John Daly and Brandt Snedeker at the Sony Open, who, along with 16 others, were MDF'd in Hawaii last month. So I am glad that although final decisions are pending, it looks like some common sense will prevail and the PGA will revise its policy again with something the pros can live with, AND will still keep play moving along at more than a snail's pace.

A double cut may be in order by the time we reach the POD's Championship. Here's the gist of it....On Friday, they'll do one cut that picks the top 70 and ties. And then after Saturday's round, if there are more than 78 players still in the field, they'll do a second cut.

That seems reasonable to me. But frankly, I don't understand why they don't just follow the European Tour example - 65 and ties and that's it! So simple, but, so "European" - ahhh...maybe that's the rub. ;-)

Golfgal

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Players’ council to review cut policy
By Peter Yoon
Los Angeles Times
12 Feb 2008

The new cut policy on the PGA Tour will be under review today when the Player Advisory Council meets at Riviera Country Club. Several players have voiced complaints about the policy, which limits playing fields on weekends to a maximum of 78 players.... read more...

Tech Tags: Los Angeles Times newspaper Sports

Visit me at Golf For Women!

Hi everyone.

Well, this is an exciting day. Today, Golf for Women magazine launched their new blog site and I was honored to be asked to be part of their blogging team.

I'll be posting 5 days a week on GFW, so bookmark my page and drop by regularly and let me know what you think.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Golfgal

A winner with a 36 handicap!

A few weeks ago I was watching the Golf Channel and Mark Rolfing was talking about D.J. Gregory - an amazing man who is determined to overcome enormous physical challenges to
walk every hole of every PGA tournament this year. Think about it - that’s 72 holes per week for 37 weeks! That's about 750 miles!

So...you might say - what's the big deal? I could walk every PGA tournament if I had the time. Well, could you do it if you had a crippling disease?

D.J., who just turned 30, was born with cerebral palsy and walks slowly, using a cane for balance.

He falls down a lot, but he picks himself up, brushes himself off and keeps on truckin! And what's best is his wonderful attitude. “It’s a little easier when I fall down on the course,” Gregory said with a laugh. “The grass is softer.”

D.J. started the year by following Boo Weekley on The Plantation Course at Kapalua - the toughest walking course on the Tour (I remember - I was upset that I couldn't take my cart on some holes when I played there in October). I don't know how he acccomplished the trek; in fact, I am in awe that he even tried.

This is someone I'm going watch and cheer on as he makes his way to the Fedex Cup. If I ever hear a pro say they are tired after playing 72 holes (and winning hundreds of thousands of dollars), I think I'll scream - and if I could, I would remind them that they should look to D.J. and understand what being tired must really feel like.

Golfgal

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Walking is the golf game this fan looks forward to

San Francisco Chronicle
07 Feb 2008

D.Pebble Beach J. Gregory has a serious handicap. Thirty-six. That’s as high as handicaps go. But that’s when he’s playing golf, which he does one-handed. As a golf spectator, nobody beats D.J. Gregory. This year he’ll walk every hole of every PGA...read more...

Tech Tags: San Francisco Chronicle newspaper Sporting Green

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Falling down is all a part of Gregory’s ‘golf game’

San Francisco Chronicle
07 Feb 2008

behalf. Surgeons cranked up chain saws and went to work on D.J.’s legs, slicing the abductor muscles, sawing the femurs in half, straightening the legs and twisting them a half-turn so his feet would point in the right direction — straight down the...read more...

Tech Tags: San Francisco Chronicle newspaper Sporting Green

Real men can wear pink (or not...)

Thank you Darren for bringing some common sense to this "a lot to do about nothing" golf story.

Is it just me or is the media going out of its way to create friction where none really exists between Tiger and those trying to be #2. Where did Ian Poulter say he was going to beat the world's number 1? I didn't read it anywhere? He said that if his game was where it could be (ie. if he were at the top of his game) he would be there with Tiger - not above him - beside him (i.e. under him - below him - in number 2 spot). Puleese...he never said he could beat him.

Anyway, as with all misquotes, Ian had to clarify what he said, which is a shame, because he didn't say anything wrong. "Can I get to number one in the world? No, I can't really, not while Tiger is playing golf," Ian said. "Can I get to number two, yeah."

And yeah... he is talented enough to be number 2 (not sure how long, but he could). His game is not quite there yet, but he has the potential as much as Justin Rose or Adam Scott.

So let's give him a break. And let's encourage more of his promotion of "pink" golf accessories. But to make sure we treat all things fairly, I think Tiger should do a comparative pose with something "red" :)

Golfgal

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Clarke defends Poulter
Karl MacGinty
Irish Independent
07 Feb 2008

DARREN CLARKE yesterday offered his support to beleaguered Ian Poulter. Poulter is pictured nude on the cover of a current magazine with only a golf bag to preserve his decency but has come under intense fire from fellow pros for remarks attributed to... read more...

Tech Tags: Irish Independent newspaper Sport

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Poulter’s bare-faced cheek is no threat for King Tiger
DEREK LAWRENSON Golf Correspondent reports from Dubai
Daily Mail
31 Jan 2008

WHEN you consider what happened to Colin Montgomerie yesterday, no wonder a recent survey concluded that 44 is the age when people feel most depressed. As you may have noticed, the Scot, who reached that age of apparent dread last June, has been... read more...

Tech Tags: Daily Mail newspaper Golf

Surprises this week - Tiger is "fun" and "bigger is not better"

Well, I've been a bit out of touch the past couple of weeks and couldn't post anything, but I did try and keep up to date on what's new in golf. And of course, on the surface, it appeared that not much was new - Tiger won again - Ernie crashed at the end...ho hum...seemed to be more of the "same old same old"...

But then I ran across this Irish newspaper...

What a pleasant surprise to see someone say how nice Tiger is. What we tend to hear over and over is "Don't piss off Tiger or you'll regret it". Rarely do we hear what a really nice person Tiger can be (except from maybe Mark O'Meara or Charles Howell III who are good buddies of his). I've never heard anyone who didn't really know him well say something truly kind about him as a person - most are too intimidated by his game and focus.

But last weekend, a virtual unknown in golf, Damien McGrane, who got to play with Tiger said, "He is very encouraging and supportive on the course. He is a good guy. Unless you play golf with him you probably wouldn’t realise what a good guy he is." I thought Tiger was too focused on his own game to ever encourage another players - especially one who wasn't his friend yet.



And then Tiger, graciously shared his compassion for Damien when he struggled on the 18th, “I feel bad for him with what happened on the last hole. He fought all day and was grinding. You saw how hard he fought yesterday and to make that mistake at 18 was a shame.”

How nice was all that! Made me smile, given all the crap we usually have to listen to.

Another surprise last weekend was the Dubai trophy. Excuse me....you call that a trophy!? What mantle exists in the world that can hold that monstrosity? I laughed out loud when I saw it and it appeared that Tiger was chuckling himself trying to hold on to it. I guess the folks in Dubai haven't figured out yet that size doesn't matter in golf (and if it did, less would be more, as it is with the score).

Golfgal

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McGrane finds Tiger ‘fun’
Brian Keogh in Dubai
Monday - Sport
04 Feb 2008

Graeme McDowell and Damien McGrane had to bow to the superiority of Tiger Woods in the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic. After outscoring Woods by a stroke (72-73) in Saturday’s third round, McGrane paid the price for that energy-sapping... read more...

Related:
Unknown has his day in the sun with Tiger

Tech Tags: Monday - Sport newspaper Sports News