World Cup Awesomeness: Team Brazil Gets into Golf

Sure golf is my passion, but for the next couple of weeks I'll also be following a somewhat louder, substantially faster game.

The world's biggest sporting event is about to begin and I'm decidedly psyched. ~ I love the World Cup. I love the symbolism and universality. ~ At the international company where I worked for many years, our productivity was markedly lower for a couple of weeks in June '02, and again in June '06 as we obsessed over the fates of our respective teams.

It would be great to see the US do well this year... and they did win a friendly match against Turkey on Saturday... but I'm not getting my hopes up too high. The prospect is exciting however.

Then there's Brazil, the team I usually wind up pulling for as the "group stage" gives way to the "knockout stage".

They're always a good bet, having won more than any other nationality, and I happen to live in a town... Danbury, CT... where over 5% of the population was born in Brazil. The Brazilians do victory parties like no one else, and I'll take one whenever I can get one.

So here's the funny thing: it turns out that while the Brazilian team is in South Africa for the competition, they're staying at a brand new, ultra-luxe golf resort, Fairway Hotel & Spa... and though they were originally scheduled to train at a local school, after seeing the awesome golf course they all decided they're prefer to train there... on the course. And that's what they're doing. Club members are apparently being guided around them.

A massive number of Brazilian journalists and TV crews have moved into the resort as well, following the players where ever they go. It's been reported that after their training sessions several of the footballers have taken to playing golf. Actual golf I mean. Not... um some kind of... um... football/golf hybrid as you might suspect from watching the video below.

Come to CT for Travelers Championship & Tweet-Up

Believe it or not the Travelers Championship is coming up in a less than a month!

As you probably know by now, it's my favorite PGA tournament, and something I look forward to all year. So yes, I'm definitely, thoroughly psyched.

The field is looking quite stellar and there are tons of activities and events being held in conjunction with the tournament. Additionally, I'm working with a couple of other local golf fans to put together a CT Tweet-up. Wouldn't that be awesome?

CT, for those haven't been here or don't come up often, is a great place to visit for a long weekend or a full-on vacay. And what better time to do it than Travelers time. So think about it... OK? Over the next couple of weeks I'll be writing regularly about The Travelers Championship and CT and our prospective Tweet-up. I'll definitely be posting about the venue, TPC River Highlands. I played there a few weeks ago and have some pretty great photos, from the fairways and greens. I'll also be telling you about the Women's Day they have planned, the concerts and the other events. So stay tuned... and start planning your trip to CT! I'm posting last year's slide show again to inspire you.

The Weight Debate - Are Portly Players Bad for Golf?

Golf has its share of image issues... there's no denying that. ~ It's often thought of as elitist and exclusionary, because at one point in history, it clearly was.

In addition, there's the popular perception that it's excruciatingly boring... and for those who haven't played... who don't know a thing about it... I suppose it is quite boring. There are even some who question golf's very status as a sport. ~ And the oversize midsections on a number of today's tour players are often sited as proof... proof that golf is no more than a game, like darts... or maybe Monopoly.

After all, they say, "if golf were a sport, men so out-of-shape as... say Tim Heron, or Guy Boros... or Northern Ireland's Shane Lowery, could never have won a competition... not to mention several.

Passionate golfers naturally don't like the idea of their sport's credibility being questioned and it's sometimes suggested that these hefty hitters are to blame... and that these men would be well advised to lose some poundage for the sake of golf's good name. Either that or they should just bow out... leave the game.

A couple of days ago when PGA Tour champion and British Open winner, Mark Calcavecchia announced that the time had come for him to move on to the Champions Tour, there was a bit of a brouhaha at the popular golf blog, Wei Under Par when enterprising editor Stephanie Wei suggested it was high time the corpulent Mr. Calcavecchia retired and stopped reinforcing golf's reputation as an activity where the elderly and elephantine could excel.

Ms. Wei wrote the post with the same sarcastic wit she's known... and loved... for, but clearly this topic hit a bit too close to home for some readers, and the comments were quite... um, virulent testy.

So the question is definitely an interesting one: Are portly players bad for golf? Do they, as Steph suggests, "give naysayers extra ammo to mock golf as a sport"?

Only Two Things - The Talk Show About Golf & Sex

We've all heard it: "Golf and Sex are the only two things you can enjoy without being good at them."

Hall of Fame golfer Jimmy Demaret said it first, but it rings true for many, and it's become one of the world's most popular golf quotes.

It's also the basis for a new call-in show I'm doing at Sports City Chefs on Blog Talk Radio.

"Only Two Things" will be live on BlogTalkRadio every Wednesday evening. ~ Tonight's show will be a kind of "preview" and it'll air beginning at 8:00PM ET. Starting next Wednesday we'll move to 10:00PM ET.

The format is simple; we'll start with a brief recap of the week's current golf stories... culled from the many unique golf blogs. We'll even pull from Twitter and other social networks. There are so many awesome and entertaining voices out there... and they often tell the stories traditional media is overlooking.

Then we'll move on to a topic du jour. Which can be anything that brings together... the two things: Golf and Sex. Some of the subjects I look forward to discussing are ones I've touched upon here at Golf Girl's Diary, such as:

*Golf groupies and eye candy caddies - entertainment or exploitation?

*Country club dress codes and ultra revealing golf apparel. Where do you stand?

*Early retirement for female pros, is it inevitable?

*Is there discrimination against women on the golf course & in the club house?

*The Tiger Woods aftermath - Are men just wired that way?

And lots of others... I want your ideas too. I'm hoping the discussion will be... um... animated and fun? Listeners are urged to call in and join and voice their opinions. You can also follow along and contribute via the chat room. So join us tonight at 8:00 ET for the preview show.

Only Two Things
Call-in: (917) 889-9592

The Ultra-compelling, Underreported Story of Jason Day

It's been almost two years since I took the photos in this post. ~ It was in Cromwell, CT on a hot, muggy day in late June and the 2008 Travelers Championship was just getting underway.

We were only a couple of days past the most dramatic golf tournament in history and the vibe around the TPC River Highlands practice green was almost as listless and moody as New England's semi-tropical summer weather.

I'd never heard of Jason Day at that point. I had no idea where he was from or what he'd done to put him there with the likes of Justin Rose and Stewart Appleby... Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia, but his hip, young, ethnically-ambiguous look certainly set him apart. I took quite a few photos of the little-known player, mainly because he was so photogenic.

At one point during that sultry day someone... a caddy, a coach, an anonymous player? ... approached the green with the news that Tiger was done for 2008. It had just been announced that he would miss the rest of the season, which included two more major championships and the Ryder Cup.

And that became the golf story. The whole golf story, because in those days Tiger Woods was golf and golf was Tiger Woods. My Jason Day photos were relegated to a big old Lacie storage disc and forgotten.

Actually I didn't forget. I found out more about Jason Day as 2008 became 2009... and both became history. I found out he was from Australia, but that his mother was originally from the Philippines ...and that his beginnings were quite modest. The story of his first club... a three wood retrieved by hid Dad from a garbage dump... is well documented, as is his extraordinary bond with mentor/coach/caddy Colin Swatton. And there's much more that sets Mr. Day apart, if you bother to look.

What surprised me however, was how little interest there was in his breakthrough win at the Byron Nelson. Outside of the "avid golf fan" circle... and even within it... there seemed to be little desire to celebrate this particular "young gun". The excitement was much less than when Rory Mcilroy won his first US championship... albiet in more spectacular style... at Quail Hollow a couple of months ago. ~ And though it was clearly impressive to see sixteen-year-old amateur, Jordan Spieth on the leaderboard, I would venture, that if... instead of Jason Day... Rickie Fowler or Ryo Ishikawa had taken the Byron Nelson trophy there would have been far more excitement... and lots more ink spilled. And I'm not quite sure why that is.

A Monday Morning Date - The Little Blue Monster (updated)

You probably know of the reputedly treacherous Miami golf course they call The Blue Monster. We'll I've got a date with his little brother.

I'm playing in a tournament for Autism Speaks today at Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook NY.

Update: An awesome time was had by all!

A Golf Girl on an Awesome Quest & Oregon Golf

If you haven't yet discovered Kristen Lewis... and her awesome quest... you're missing out on a stellar source of inspiration. Kristen is on a quest to see how good a golfer she can become, and she's aiming for scratch.

The northern California golf girl plans to go from a 15.8 index to... essentially... 0.

As she pursues her quest, those who follow her blog will be kept up to date... with regular dispatches... about the challenges and milestones on the road towards her goal. She also shares links to some of her delightful online golf discoveries like this one to an extraordinary little video by Oregon Golf Aventures. It's just about the awesomest thing I've ever seen.

Oh, and you'll want to follow her on Facebook and Twitter too.

Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel Take "Time to Give"

Top US golfer Cristie Kerr shared a few swing secrets with rap superstar (and golf fan) Jay-Z earlier this week, at "Time to Give", a benefit put on by Audemars Piguet and the Tony Awards to fight AIDS. Fellow LPGA star Morgan Pressel, fresh from her Salonpas Cup win in Japan was also at the glittery event which featured a live auction at New York's Four Seasons Hotel. The auction featured unique Audemars Piguet watches inscribed with the signatures of Broadway stars.

Meryl Streep, Scarlett Johansson, and Hugh Jackman and Catherine Zeta-Jones to name a few... were among the stars who signed personalized watches for charity. ~ As brand ambassadors for Audemars Piaget, Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel represented the Swiss watchmaker's commitment to golf and giving.

Vanessa Williams, a golf enthusiast herself, chatted with the LPGA ladies about some of the charity golf tournaments she's been a part of over the past couple of years and Kelsey Grammers a 2010 Tony nominee for La Cage Aux Folles spoke about his own Toys for Tots Tournament.

The highest bid of the evening went to the auction package of Jay-Z. His autographed Royal Oak Offshore Las Vegas Strip and signed poster from Fela sold for $220,000; the evening's highest price. "Time to Give" raised $816,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

15 of the watches from this collection are still available and can be viewed and bid on by the public through May 24 at charitybuzz

Christina Kim "Swinging from my Heels" in New York

What can I say about Christina Kim that hasn't already been said?

The effervescent adjectives apply: bubbly, spirited, ebullient, exuberant... Christina is all of that, and she definitely brings energy... major energy... where ever she goes. Last night in Manhattan was no exception.

The event was the New York City launch party for her audacious new book, "Swinging from my Heels". ~ It took place at the iconic Chelsea Piers Golf Club on the Hudson River... and the glamorous Ms. Kim effectively lit-up the Ryder Cup Room where guests convened for cocktails. The reserve that sometimes prevails at golf media gatherings was no where to be found as Christina filled the place with her raucous (in a good way) laughter.

She was there with, Alan Shipnuck who collaborated with her on the book. ~ The affable Mr. Shipnuck, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated and a columnist at GOLF.com, is the author of two other golf books. ~ He's got impressive Alvaro Quiros eyebrows and appears to be about eighteen.

Charming, droll, and the perfect yin to his co-author's yang, it's funny to imagine them working together.

But they did, and in Swinging from my Heels they've produced a book that's disarmingly honest and ultra-engaging. Cristina has a rare kind of fearlessness that has allowed her to present both the joys and the frustrations of life on the LPGA tour without censoring the messy parts. ~ And there are a few of those.

She doesn't hold back on controversial "topics du jour" nor does she sanitize the salacious bits... but yet you never get that TMI feeling. She shares without over-sharing. Meanwhile her partner has crafted the multi-layered account into prose that perfectly reflects the golfer's personality, so much so that he reportedly told his wife that in a past life he, "...must have been a young, cool, female, Asian golfer."

The pair clearly has fun... and enjoys working together, and it was awesome to be able to help them celebrate the launch of their new book last night. As I got ready to head back to my sleepy Connecticut suburb, I caught a glimpse of Christina, in her beautiful, body-hugging cocktail dress and fierce six inch heels, setting up her swing and taking dead aim at the Hudson River.



The photo series above is from the video Ashley Mayo made last night.

Christina Kim & Alan Shipnuck Party in New York

Good times... check in later for the story.

Golf Icon Se Ri Pak - Back in the Winner's Circle

A win at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic today, brought Stylish Se Ri Pak back to the once familiar world of winners.

Her victory made me think of a story I wrote several years ago about the Hall-of-Fame golfer, her early years on the LPGA tour and her reaction to comments that were made about her looks. It actually inspired a chapter in my book and though I originally wrote the post in November 2007 it still resonates today.

Women and Beauty and Golf - {Originally posted November 2, 2007}

Just yesterday I posted on the changing image of Natalie Gulbis. That post generated quite a bit of commentary on female golfers using their looks in marketing. Then today I came upon this interesting article about an ultra-elite female golfer and how her looks have affected the way she's perceived, and undoubtedly, her own self-image.

The article, an interview with LPGA Hall of Fame golfer Pak Se-ri, appeared in Korea's The Chosun Ilbo, a couple of weeks ago, just prior to the Samsung World Championship. The talented 29-year-old Korean revealed that when when she started to play in the LPGA a decade ago, people gossiped about her being ugly... and that now they say she looks prettier, and seem to speculate she's had work done "on her jaw, her nose, here and there". She admitted she had had eyelid surgery to correct an eye problem that interfered with her playing, but says that's the extent of it. She laughed off the speculation and said, "I try to remember that all the gossip just means that I've become prettier, and not get offended by it." then added, "And if I really tried to fix my face, I'd make me look much better than I do now!" That's a refreshing attitude, isn't it?

What all of this brings to light however, is that women golfers face an additional pressure, beyond that of playing golf at their highest possible level, and that is; how much attention should I give to my looks, when those looks are going to make such a significant difference in the amount of money I'm able to make in my career? Men face no such decision. There just isn't a high enough value placed and a man's looks to have them make a significant difference in his earning potential.

I agree with some of my readers though; if a man's physical appearance did have the same impact on his earnings as a woman's has on hers, there would be a lot of guys, at all different levels of golf, who would be shamelessly working that angle to the max.

For some interesting stats and facts about Se Ri's career and her latest win check out this Hound Dog LPGA epilogue.

Sex and The City, Golf Guys & Little White Balls

Remember how awesome "Sex and the City" was back when?

I'm talking about the early years, when it was an HBO series and actually somewhat ground breaking.

The time and place were special. It was turn-of-the-century America, circa Y2K, and though women had obviously been having smart, candid conversations about sex since... well, since sex was invented (ie. forever)... those conversations had never been the basis for a television series. ~ So it was quite shocking...but so well written that once the shock wore off, it resonated with almost everyone.

Collectively, the world seemed to realize that, like it or not, women probably do talk... or at least think... that way.

Then there were the clothes... the labels, the luxury. New York in the late nineties was the best of all possible worlds for the young and hedonistic. It was there... at the overinflated apex of the dot.com bubble... that Sex and the City was born, popularizing designer shoes, syrupy pink cocktails, vibrators and the objectification of men. ~ And, at the time it all seemed pretty awesome.

The tag line was "Are you ready for more?" and I think that's where things went wrong. ~ Because before long the Manolos were replicated in plastic and available at WalMart, supersized Cosmos were a menu item at Applebys and frumpy female tourists from around the world were being draped in pink feather boas and ferried around Manhattan in SATC tour buses.

Meanwhile envelopes were pushed ever more aggressively and we entered the era of epic-overshare and full blown TMI. Late night infomercials began to tout vibrating massagers and online booty calls... complete with compelling testimonials. (my current favorite is the one where a girl describes the Trojan Vibrating Touch as being "like a little hummingbird... just loving you.")

OK. um... I think we got our more, and I think it showed us the truth behind that old adage, "more is not always better." ~ But apparently that doesn't matter, because the second SATC feature film is set to come out at the end of the month.

The photo at the top of the page is part of a series of 42 new stills that offer a sneak peek of the film. The creative minds at Hollywood Crush captioned it with a made-up factoid: In this scene, the husbands of "Sex and the City" react to a golf-related joke about "tiny white balls". ~ So the thing is, now I'm dying to know the actual context of that scene, but don't know if I can stand sitting through the rest of the movie.

The creators traded the NYC setting for Abu Dhabi... probably because it was the only place still symbolic of luxury and unbridled excess back a couple of years ago when they wrote it... but even the once resilient desert kingdoms have lost much of their economic luster. And I'm pretty sure golf won't be portrayed in a favorable light either. In fact, I can hear that lilting Carrie voice-over now, "So I wondered: How do you go to bed one night with the elegant, urbane man of your dreams... and wake up the next day with a dumpy, suburban duffer in dockers and an oversize polo shirt."

Nope, that's it. No more sex for me.

Arizona Golf - Planning an Autumnal Adventure

Generally, I don't tend to plan my vacations in advance.

I hate to be locked into exact dates and specific destinations six months out. And who knows? m
y mood might be totally different once the departure date is looming. I'm a big fan of spontaneity too... I like the slight adrenalin rush that accompanies the unknown. And the thing is, I always seem to stumble upon the best places and the nicest people... when I'm winging it.

That said, I've been reading a lot about Arizona golf over the past couple of months and recently decided to diverge from my usual last-minute, anywhere-the-wind-blows style and plan, ... really plan... my late fall golf getaway in AZ. Because, as I understand it Arizona offers myriad... that's myriad with a capital M... textures and flavors of golf, and I want to experience as many of them as possible.

For example in addition to playing golf, on this particularly trip I want to work on my game, and I've heard that in Scottsdale golf instruction is superlative. With several of the world's most reputed academies and instructors withing mere miles of each other.

Because I've never played on a desert course and in the words of one of my readers, Tucson golf equals desert golf. With the added benefit of some awesome spas great southwestern restaurants.

Greece Welcomes Discerning Golfers Despite Debt Crisis

It's been a tumultuous couple of weeks for Greece. ~ The sun-soaked Aegean nation, normally thought of as the ideal destination for a romantic vacation, has quickly become an international symbol of debt and desperation.

The fact is, Greece is having difficulties servicing its sovereign debt, and though most of us don't understand exactly what that means, everyone seems to be talking about it. ~ A few nights ago, Jay Leno even compared it to...gulp... California. ...as in:

Greece is a relatively small country. It would be like a state over here. But it over-spends, it over-borrows, it promises expensive pension plans, it over-taxes, it over-regulates business. ... So, over here it would be the state of California.

The "Greece worries" reached a crescendo last week with angry protests in the streets of Athens. An EU/IMF bailout followed, and the world has been a-buzz over the descending Euro, ever since.

Meanwhile, Troon Golf's Navarino Dunes, an impressive seaside course designed by Hall of Fame golf champion Bernhard Langer, is set to open in two weeks as the first stage in the development of Costa Navarino and will launch Greece as an international golf destination. The Romanos, a Starwoods Luxury Collection Hotel will open at the same time and offer the finest accommodations and the most sumptuous spa.

In light of recent news reports, a Greek golf vacation may at first glance seem implausible to many in the Americas, but on the contrary, the one great upside to the weaker Euro is that European vacations are going to be substantially less expensive this summer. At least 15% - 20% cheaper. ~ WorldGolf's Brandon Tucker wrote about this in regards to Ireland earlier this month... and it certainly applies to Greece.

Meanwhile, tourism... which in Greece accounts for 15% of GDP and employs over 10% of the population... has been identified as one of the key areas for early recovery.

This has prompted an initiative among Greek hotel owners and tour operators to improve their services and offer more value to customers. In addition, Greece is one of the safest destinations in the world and its tourism infrastructure and amenities are have been world class since the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. And they're saying that foreign demand could prove key to hauling the country out of its debt crisis.

Navarino Dunes is located in Messinia in the Southwest Peloponnese on the incredibly clear, amazingly blue Ionian Sea. It's an area untouched until now by mass tourism. In addition to a spectacular costal setting, the area is home to palaces from the Mycenaean era, classical temples, Byzantine churches and medieval castles.

The developers of of Costa Navarino, TEMES, SA, are working in conjunction with a number of environmental organizations to create a true eco-tourism destination, and a catalyst for protection of the pristine environment.

It is inevitable that prospective travelers to Greece worry when they see images of protesters and read articles about disturbances in Athens. However it's important to note that the disruptions are localized in just small section of the center of the city.

I'll be going to Costa Navarino sometime this summer and I look forward to documenting everything. In the meantime, I urge everyone to consider a trip to this spectacular part of the world.

Start by following on Facebook and Twitter.

Erica Blasberg Lived Her Dream, Died Too Young

Erica Blasberg was talented and beautiful.

She'd had a stellar college golf career, and at just twenty-five had been living her childhood dream of playing on the LPGA Tour. Erica was one of the photogenic faces of PUMA Golf and as such always wore awesome golf outfits.

It seems implausible that this girl, with so much going for her, should die so young.

I met Erica just once, briefly, at Cristie Kerr's Birdies for Breast Cancer charity event last summer. It was a hot, humid New York City evening and I was spending a disproportionate amount of time in the ladies room on hair repair. (humidity is my hair's enemy)

When Erica breezed in I recognized her immediately... and I was quite surprised that she recognized me. She told me she read Golf Girl's Diary often, and had seen the post I'd done on the PUMA Open. I asked her about making the PUMA comercial with Johnny Damon. All told, I spent less than five minutes talking to her, but it was memorable, because she was disarmingly nice.

Erica clearly loved golf, but there's little doubt that she struggled... like many do... with the pressures of what is an extraordinarily difficult lifestyle.

Having gotten to know a number of LPGA players, and observed many elements of day-to-day life on tour, I really admire their dedication and talent, and always enjoy watching them play. However, I sometimes find myself "on the fence" about encouraging young girls to strive for a career as a golf touring pro... because the lifestyle is so much more challenging... and in many cases much less lucrative... than it appears on the surface. Some women... champions and journeywomen alike... handle it very well, but many struggle with it, and some are actually damaged by it.

At this point the cause of Erica’s death has not been confirmed. However, it definitely made me reflect, and I hope it will heighten awareness and encourage all fans to be supportive... in any way they can... of the ladies playing professional golf, because with the exception of a select small minority, what these women are doing is a labor of love and requires significant sacrifice.

My deepest sympathies go to Erica's friends and family, she'll be much missed.
golf writer Patricia Hannigan speaks about Erica Blasberg

Tim Clark Turns Tables - Wins Players Championship

A few months ago Tim Clark was roundly castigated, by golf scribblers and message-board minions, when an ill-fated lay up went awry.

It was the par-5 finishing hole at the Bob Hope Classic. Clark had just birdied three of four holes ... including a clutch birdie at the par-3 17th... and found himself in a tie for the lead. Instead of going for the green on his second shot however, he cautiously chose to lay up. The problem came when he missed the eight foot birdie putt needed to force a playoff with Bill Haas, and finished as runner up... for the eighth time in his PGA career.

That's when Mr. Clark was described as "gutless" and "spineless". He was called a "bridesmaid extraordinaire"... and the "lay-up-heard-around-the-golf-blogosphere"? It was labeled the "The Wimpiest Move of All Time".

The 34 year old South African probably didn't lose any sleep over the journalistic reproach, but today, upon lifting the crystal trophy of the Player's Championship, he admitted he was pleased to finally put the Best Without a PGA Tour Win title behind him.

What Mr. Clark probably won't be able to shake however, are the incessant references to his height. I touched on that during the Presidents Cup last November when "Tim-Clark's-height-and-various-ways-to-describe-it" threatened to overshadow his brilliance on the golf course. ~ Well, reading the coverage of Mr. Clark's Players Victory I've encountered, "The Diminutive South African", "Little Tim Clark", "The Little Man", "Tiny Tim Clark" and myriad variations of such... in almost every article I've read. I don't know how tall the writers are or how men generally feel about being called diminutive or little or tiny, but again, I'd guess that Tim Clark probably isn't losing sleep over it. And his win today just reinforces the fact that in golf.. as in life... height is way over-rated.

On a final note, the most coveted aparel item in golf these days might just be the "Tim Clark Posse" shirt. I only person I know who has one is the ultra-awesome Reluctant Jam Boy. I'm sure he's wearing it proudly today.

Italian Golf: Molinari, Manassero and Alberto Binaghi

I've got to admit it, up until recently the only kind of golf I associated with Italy was Beach Golf, a game (event? party?) played on Italian beaches by beautiful people in swimwear.

What's not to like about that concept? ~ Very little, it turns out, except that it's not really golf... not in the classical sense.

No, golf in the classical sense was something I didn't connect with Italy until just last summer. That's when I first noticed the implausibly youthful Matteo Manassero, who would become the youngest ever British Amateur Champion. The precocious 16-year-old went on to compete in the Open Championship where he made the cut and eventually finished tied for 13th place.

Then there were the Molinari brothers. They'd been on the scene for some time... Edoardo had become the first Italian (and the first Continental European) to win the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2005, and Francesco had won the Italian Open in 2006... but 2009 was a transcendent year for both of them, culminating in their win together at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup at the end of November.

So, the fact that this weekend Francesco Molinari is T2 going into the third round of the Player's Championship, while young Matteo Manassero is in the top ten in his first start as a professional at the Italian Open does not come as much of a surprise. What a difference a year makes.

The aforementioned golfers are now stars and, without a doubt, on every avid golf fan's radar, but the man most feel has been the driving force behind Italy's growing golf brilliance, is somewhat less well known.

Alberto Binaghi is a former European Tour player, a member of the Italian Golf Federation coaching staff and coach of the Italian national team. He's also widely credited with overseeing the efforts that took Edoardo and Francesco Molinari into the world's top-50, and saw brothers win the World Cup event.

When for the first time ever, three Italians qualified for the Masters this year, it was undoubtedly a proud moment for Alberto Binaghi. Considering that golf is such a minor sport in Italy... only last year crossing the threshold of 100,000 players... it was an amazing accomplishment. Binaghi was with the players in Augusta, as Manassero's caddie, a roll he's become quite familiar with these last several months.

Though Italians are just now making a mega mark in global golf, they've long been known for their sense of style and design and Mr. Binaghi's website certainly reflects that. It's sexy background music and edgy black & white photos reflect a cosmopolitan elegance that's not often associated with golf. I like like it.

On that note, I'm looking forward to the continued growth of Italian golf, and I don't think I'm the only one.

Sandra Gal's Shorts & The Lady in The Locker Room

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about country club dress codes.
It was inspired by an unfortunate aquatic incident that took place at the Kia Classic, when Michelle Wie lost her balance while trying to hit her ball from a water hazard. Some surmised that her ultra-short skirt... and her concern for keeping it in place... might have distracted her and contributed to the two point penalty she was ultimately given.
In the post I explored skirt and skort length, and the fact that so many LPGA players actually wear their skirts substantially shorter than allowed by the dress codes of the clubs they play at.
It got me wondering if these draconian country club dress codes were ever enforced; would a "normal person" be allowed to play in the tiny garments some of the pros wear, or would the "average Jane" be sent to the pro shop to purchase something more... substantial?
 Well to some extent, that question was answered yesterday by LPGA player Sandra Gal.
The statuesque brunette beauty is known as @TheSandraGal on Twitter and posts there quite regularly about her life on tour. Her Tweets yesterday told an interesting story.

Sandra was in Palm Springs, and the day started out just fine:





 ... but upon arriving at the Country Club, the pretty German golfer encountered the dreaded dress code police:





... in the form of a dour-looking woman lurking the ladies locker room:





It seems the woman noticed Sandra's shorts, gave her a dirty look, and promptly reported her to authorities. The long legged LPGA pro was told to change.





This last tweet effectively answers our question. As long as she was playing in a tournament there was no problem with Sandra wearing the "short shorts", but once she was playing as a "normal person" they were deemed unacceptable and were suddenly in violation of the club's dress-code.

It's probably something us ordinary girls should keep in mind when we find ourselves inspired by those micro-skirts the ladies are wearing on tour. From the response Sandra received on Twitter however, it doesn't seem that too many guys have a problem with short shorts. At least not when they're worn by the spectacular Sandra Gal.















Thank's go to golf twitterer Bill Roberts aka: @balabill, for bringing Sandra's dress-code debacle to my attention.

Cristie Kerr & Kwiat: Beauty, Brilliance & Benevolence

On an crisp Spring evening in midtown Manhattan, a small section of Madison Avenue sparkled.

Last night at 725 Madison Avenue, the flagship boutique of iconic New York jeweler Kwiat ... with its glass storefront and elegant platinum colored cove... hosted a glittering launch event for the amazing (translation: breathtakingly beautiful) jewelry collection born of the collaboration between the renowned jeweler and our country's number one woman golfer, Cristie Kerr.

The bustling event was held to introduce the Birdies for Breast Cancer Collection which features elegant diamond earrings and a matching pendant, all accented with pink sapphires and set in pink gold.

Having worked on a number of projects with Cristie, I know how dedicated she is to her charity, and how passionate she and her husband, Erik Stevens, are about New York... the city, its art and its culture.

Ten percent of every purchase of each item in the collection goes to Birdies for Breast Cancer where it will be put towards breast cancer research and awareness. The collection can be purchased at Kwiat galleries in New York City and Las Vegas.

Vince Spence, One-Eyed Golfer: You'll Sure be Missed

Vince Spence often wrote about golf history.

He presented stories from bygone days where clubs were called mashies, and cleeks and niblicks.

Players with familiar names... but forgotten stories... were resurrected by the affable Baltimore native, and presented to us in frequent posts that were a pleasure to read.

Then there were One-Eyed's stats. He had a bit of an obsession with stats. And I've got so say, sometimes when I saw the rows of numbers spread across his pages, I approached them with trepidation. But I never regretted reading them. Somehow Vinny could make golf statistics downright seductive... and at turns compelling, comedic and captivating.

Everyone I know delighted in One-Eyed's writing, but it was the man himself who made a major impact with his kindness and empathy. In the often acrimonious world of golf blogging and golf bloggers Vince Spence was a generous, uplifting breath of fresh air, and he'll be very much missed.

Ryo Ishikawa is Lovin' it - Golfers & McDonald's Ads

If you're any kind of "online-golf-content-consumer" you've probably seen the Michelle Wie McDonald's Commercial. It's made the rounds... and then some.

Most viewers seem to agree with Shane Bacon, the mild-mannered and mega-talented golf writer behind Dogs That Chase Cars. Shane called it "endearing and kinda cute." And it is.

But what about Ryo? Have you seen Ishikawa Ryo's homage to the golden arches?



Ryo looks fierce in his red Yonex outfit, doesn't he? ~ And the sandwich looks somewhat different from anything at my local Mickey-D's. Lettuce, Egg... mystery meat. Not too different I guess.

I wonder if Ryo had one of those before he scored his 58?

Ryo, Rory & Rickie - Golf's Young Guns Gone Wild

Have you been fretting about the future of professional golf lately? ...Do you live in fear of Tiger throwing in the towel and Lefty just never getting hungry enough? ...Are you clinging to Couples, wedded to Watson and hoping there's another Champions Tour player waiting to be resurrected?

Well stop worrying and make way for the new kids.

What? You heard the talented youngsters were over-hyped, injured, and just not that into golf? Hardly. If this weekend is any indication, they're just getting started.

Take eighteen year-old Ryo Ishikawa; he just carded a final round 58 at the Asia Tour's Crown Championship. He may well score a 57 one of these days (he almost did yesterday) and will undoubtedly win on US soil before he's twenty (my prediction).

Rory McIlroy who'll turn Twenty in a couple of days just won at what some call the PGA Tour's fifth major. He did so looking like Harpo Marx in high humidity (thank you Melanie Hauser, for the descriptive) and it was indeed humid at Quail Hollow today.

OK, and Rickie Fowler. Twenty-one and a few months. Bedecked in head-to-toe Oklahoma-State-orange he finished the day in sole possession of sixth place at Quail. Few can doubt his future as a golf superstar.

These young'uns are exactly what the PGA Tour's dreams are made of, but when none of them managed to make it to the weekend at the Masters the "Are they really the real thing?" rumors began.

Well, those rumors have quieted over these last few days, and signs of renewed hope are everywhere. In these players, and numerous others, like Anthony Kim... who most definitely did spend Master's weekend in Augusta... and Camilo Villegas.

Oh... and BTW... at the Spanish Open today charismatic Alvaro Quiros won his fourth European Tour title... at the ripe old age of 27.

Awesome Alvaro Quiros wins Spanish Open Playoff

Local hero Alvaro Quiros captured the Spanish Open today in a playoff with England's James Morrison.

Morrison's watery approach shot at the first playoff hole allowed the swarthy Spaniard to grab the title with a simple par... and produced a Spanish Open home-winner for the first time since Sergio Garcia took the tournament in 2002.

It's a fourth European Tour win for the already-iconic long-hitter who distinguishes himself with exceptional height, awesome eyebrows and stylish sideburns not to mention the Shark-like straw hat he sometimes sports. That's in addition to his 310.9 driving distance average.

For runner-up James Morrison it was disappointing, but not devastating, as he came close to winning back-to-back starts in his first year on the European Tour. Last month Mr. Morrison won the Madeira Islands Open.

The heart-break of the day undoubtedly belonged to Mark Foster who led by three shots going into the final round, but missed the play-off... and a chance at his first European Tour win in seven years... after three-putting the 18th.

五十八: Fifty-eight, Ryo Ishikawa's Brave New Number

We knew he was extraordinary, but this is ridiculous.

Ryo Ishikawa, the delightfully idiosyncratic... multi-chromatic... Japanese golfer broke at least a couple of records yesterday with an exceptional score of 58.

Five. Eight. It's the lowest score ever recorded on a major tour. And with it he won The Crowns event, on the Japan Golf Tour.

"Ishikawa recorded seven birdies over his first nine holes and picked up two more at 10 and 11. He parred his next two, but birdied three in a row from the 14th to reach 12-under par for the round." ... OK and...

"He had a 15-foot birdie chance at the last to shoot the unimaginable 57, but the putt barely missed. Ishikawa tapped in then waited for his seventh Japan Tour title."

Enough said. I ♥ Ryo Ishikawa, because of his magical 58, and because he's not afraid to wear Tickle Me Pink, Gumby Green, Outrageous Orange, Wild Blue Yonder, Unmellow Yellow and myriad other colors some shy away from.

ありがとう and お祝い Ryo Ishikawa.

Darren Clark Turnaround & Other Spanish Open Stories

It's been a little crazy at the Spanish Open these past several days, with a couple of pretty drastic reversals of fortune early on, (Johan Edfors was leading at one point, wasn't he?) and rather circuitous trip to the third round for Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke.

In the final stretch two Englishmen, Mark Foster and James Morrison, are vying for the lead with charismatic, big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, the possibility of a playoff looming, while the idiosyncratic crowd that clamored to catch up throughout much of the day has thinned out somewhat.

Darren Clarke's awesome adventure en route to the weekend will probably the most talked about story of the tournament. Actually, I'm sure it wasn't so awesome for Mr. Clarke.

You see, the Ulsterman was actually under the impression he had missed the cut after the second round, so he took off to get home for the weekend... only once he got back to Surrey, he found out he was still in. So he had to get back to Spain. And getting back to Spain was complicated.

Rush hour traffic, flights missed by minutes, bank holiday, private jets... all came into play, but £10,000, 15 hours of travel and 53 minutes of sleep later, there he was in Malaga for his Spanish Open third round 8:45 tee time. Mr. Clarke, ultimately carded a third round 72, but after a restorative Saturday night manged a final round 69. The resilient player finished the tournament in a tie for 31st, demonstrating that sometimes the adventure can be more memorable (and more costly) than the destination.

Well. it looks like a playoff is in order! It'll be Alvaro Quiros & James Morrisen... and I will update you on the outcome.

Hawaii Golf, Danielle Tucker & A Little Tartan Book

Ever since I first took up golf I've dreamed of playing in Hawaii. ~ In fact, I often fantasize about the breathtaking scenery, unforgettable signature holes and championship courses that play host to the PGA Tour for the SBS Championship and the Sony Open during the depths of our New England winter.

So I was intrigued when I first got to know Danielle Tucker, and started listening to her radio show The Golf Club. Danielle is a true radio professional and a Hawaii native. She's been on the air for a couple of decades and knows all there is to know about Hawaii Golf and the golf lifestyle in Hawaii.

Danielle has great guests too. And she always seems to be able to bring out the best in them. So I was delighted when she suggested I do the show and talk about my Little Tartan Book.

So that's just was we did on Saturday, and we had an awesome time. We talked about how women are so frequently intimidated by the game how to help them... and all beginning golfers... build up the confidence to enjoy the game.

We also touched upon my Hawaiian golf obsession and Danielle was more tha happy to recommend her favorite Hawaii golf courses

living in the northeast, the distance to Danielle's island paradise can be daunting. My limited time... plus a low tolerance for commercial air travel... have thus far prevented me from living my Hawaii fantasy. However, now that I've gotten to know this ultra-nice Hawaii golf expert, I feel like I'm one step closer.

And I know that as soon as I decide to go, Ms Tucker will be ready to book our Hawaii Tee times.