Tiger's Beard, Ryo's "Makiroi" & Golf Guy Grooming

Tiger Woods, photo:Getty Images / / / / / / / / / Ryo Ishikawa, Photo: スポニチ

The Tiger Woods facial hair story is a couple of days old now, and while it's never officially trended on Twitter,  it has generated... and continues to generate... a steady stream of commentary/discussion.

Tiger Woods' Beard even has its own facebook page... and has been described by sports writers in a variety of creative ways, including "some kinda beard thing", "somewhere between a full beard and some chinstraps", and a sexy scruff. 

Golf fans and media types alike have clearly been intrigued and entertained by the recent Tiger transfiguration.  

Affable Andres Gonzales has a prodigious Foo Manchu and hair that flows past his ample shoulders. 
One of the most popular rookies on the PGA tour,  he's known as much for his unconventional grooming as for his unrequited public friendship with the aforementioned Tiger. 

2009 Open Championship winner Stuart Cink spoke about his decision to embrace baldness in a recent video for Dove® Men + Care, a line of grooming products developed specifically for men. It seems his wife Lisa was the one who suggested he take a razor to his remaining locks a few years ago... and he's never looked back.

Then there's  Ryo Ishikawa, the Japanese golf superstar frequently featured in the pages of this blog.  The so called Bashful Prince is anything but bashful when it comes to hairstyle experimentation. He's probably best known for the spiky, Poulter-inspired style that inspired his famous club cover.  I also remember an unusual asymmetrical look.   Then a couple of weeks ago, at the US Open,  Ryo was looking a lot like Rickie Fowler... so much so that fans were doing double takes.

This week the versatile Mr. Ishikawa is in South Korea for the Million Yard Cup, and seems to be stylistically inspired by another R: The teen is currently wearing a playful mop of curls that some in Japan are calling a "Makiroi".  

"Makiroi"... as you may have surmised... actually stands for McIlroy, and who better to be inspired by than the record breaking young US Open winner?  Ryo's spokesman suggested the style was simply created to go with both a visor and a flat biller cap, and indicated that he'd be wearing this style at Royal St. Georges next week for the 2011 Open Championship.

In any case, one thing is clear about Ryo and the other players mentioned here: many fans... and quite a number of sports writers... enjoy their unique looks and stylistic experimentation.

The Ike Championship: Sudden Death at Somerset Hills

via MGAgolfer

A classic playoff battle on an enchanting golden age golf course. It doesn't get much better than that, and so went the MGA's 56th Ike Championship.

The event took place over two days at Somerset Hills Country Club in the pastoral countryside of Northern New Jersey. The course, built on the site of a former racetrack by A.W.Tillinghast in 1917, features a layout that contrasts open expanses with rolling woodlands, and has often been described as charming. As a spectator it's a delightful stroll, but after 41 holes yesterday, nutmegger Tommy McDonagh was clearly glad to see the 493-yard ninth in his rear view mirror. You see, the Norwalk, CT native has been playing an awful lot of golf lately; just prior to his battle at Somerset Hills McDonagh had played in the grueling Connecticut Amateur Championship… and won it!

The Ike Championship had been on my calendar for months, and I'd been looking forward to getting back to Somerset Hills having fallen in love with the place several years ago when I was there for a fund raiser. In the end, life got in the way and I wasn't able to swing it... but fortunately, the Metropolitian Golf Association has a stellar social media team and they did an amazing job with ultra-timely updates on Facebook, and Twitter, daily photos and videos, and even an exciting live chat animated by the with the always engaging Billy Condon. It was the next best thing to being there.

Lacoste Golf: Yani Tseng, Cristie Kerr & The Crocodile

 Lacoste Golf has a Facebook Page

The best women golfers in the world wear Lacoste.

W#1 Yani Tseng, just won a record breaking fourth major yesterday in a Short Sleeve 5 Button Stretch Pique Polo. It was a bright Begonia Pink and,  of course, emblazoned with a tiny green crocodile.

The familiar reptile was also present on Cristie Kerr's polo... a black version of the same classically designed shirt... as the defending champion, and W#2 golfer, Cristie shared in a three way tie for third at Locust Hill Country Club yesterday.

The brand... with its lovable logo... is one of the most recognized in the world and certainly has a historical connection with women's golf that's unique and extraordinary.

While tennis fans and fashion historians are familiar with Rene Lacoste, the tennis champion who invented the polo shirt, attached a crocodile to it and founded La Societe Chemise Lacoste, few people I've spoken to are aware that his wife, Simone Thion de la Chaume, was one of the top golfers in France for most of the 1920s and 30s, winning many national and international championships. Their daughter Catherine became a world class golfer as well, winning the US Women's Open as a 22 year old amateur, playing in just her third professional golf tournament. To date she remains the only amateur to win the US Women's Open. She went on to win the Women's Western Amateur, The US Women's Amateur and the British Ladies Amateur but never turned professional.  These days in addition to her position on the board of the company her father founded Catherine Lacoste Chantaco Golf Club and serves as non-playing captain of the French women's amateur team.

In addition to Yani Tseng and Cristie Kerr, Lacoste works with dozens of other top... and up-and-coming... golfers, both male and female.  The company is also a major sponsor of the awesome Evian Masters tournament which will take place this year from July 21 - 24.

Meanwhile, as the 2011 US Women's Open approaches, Lacoste's brand ambassador athletes are  looking like winners, it's a good bet golf fans will be watching the crocodiles next week in Colorado Springs.

#Winning Golf Tweet of the Week - June 26, 2011

Rickie Fowler, Ben Crane, and Ryan Moore are coming to the Canadian Open in Vancouver. We are one Quiros away from my dream team #getexcitedless than a minute ago via TweetDeck Favorite Retweet ReplyKaylee Price
kayleeprice

Tweeted by: @Kaylee Price

Why it's #winning: 1) Promotes the Canadian Open 2) Demonstrates fan engagement, 3) Displays enthusiasm for professional golfers 4) Effectively uses the hashtag #getexcited.

Look for the Winning Tweet of the Week here every Sunday!

Ryo Ishikawa Poised to Pounce at the Mizuno Open

撮影：岩井康博  / Photo: Yasuhiro Iwa

Upon his return to Japan last week... after a T30 finish at the US Open...  Ryo Ishikawa spoke with characteristic humility, admitting, "I came to painfully realize just how big of a gap there is between me and the rest of the world"

The Japanese golf star... like golfers, golf journalist and golf fans everywhere... was reacting to Rory McIlroy's huge win Congressional Country Club. "He's close to me in age so it's been incredibly motivating, Ishikawa explained, "I hope I can get to that level myself one day." And at nineteen, I think it's safe to say that Ryo Ishikawa has time on his side.

Ryo is the youngest of the what Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee calls the three R's: Ryo, Rory and Rickie, an ultra-hip, uber-talented triad of young gun golf stars with aliterative forenames.

Tomorrow at the Mizuno Open, the young Mr. Ishikawa will be going into the final round, "poised to pounce", after shooting Saturday's lowest round of the day. Two shots behind the South Korean co-leaders, Kim Kyung-Tae and Bae Sang-Moon, Ryo finds himself in a tie for second with yet another South Korean, Cho Min-Gyu.

The DM I received this morning from my Ryo-afcionado friend Noriko, included a link to the photo above. "I think you love this photo" she wrote tweeted, Ryo got two eagles today."

Simply the Best - Rory McIlroy Gets a Donkey Tee

Less than a week ago Rory McIlroy was just another young gun.  An ultra-talented players who might someday win a major... or two.  But that all changed when he won the 2011 US Open... breaking several records and impressing even those who hadn't quite warmed up to him.

And now there's a Donkey Tee in his honor.

Women's Day at the Travelers Championship

Connecticut weather can be capricious.

Today for example, the heavy clouds bought several down-pours, punctuated by periods where the sky seemed to be clearing...only to go dark again and produce yet another deluge.

In the end play was suspended before noon, allowing only six players to complete their rounds.

Meanwhile,  the third annual Travelers Championship Women's Day was sold out, and it went on with little regard to the wet weather, offering a full day of activities including speeches and presentations, networking opportunities,  a golf clinic and a cooking demonstration.

Play is set to resume tomorrow morning at 7:00 and continue until the sun sets... assuming the CT weather stops being a brat.  Happily, the weekend forecast is looking good.

2011 Wegmans LPGA Championship - Cristie Kerr's Pragmatic Optimism

Getty Images via LPGA.com

Pragmatic Optimism.

I know, it sounds like an oxymoron. However, I'd guess it's actually a good way to approach competitive golf. Right? I mean, of course you don't want to let negative thoughts to compromise your confidence, but neither do you want to let overconfidence prevent you from "playing smart".

Cristie Kerr was a picture of that perfect balance yesterday when she sat down for her pre-tournament interview earlier today in Rochester on the eve of the 2011 Wegmans LPGA Championship.

She spoke about what it's like to defend a 12-shot victory stating, “I’m not 12 shots ahead of the field starting out this week". There's your pragmatism. But she also discussed the current state of her game which... on the heels of her third straight runner-up finish... is excellent, she's optimistic that it's her time for a win.

The No.1 U.S. golf also talks about a number of other subjects... including her new irons, her recent round at Augusta National and her meeting with fellow "Major dominator" and Audemars Piguet Golf Ambassador, Rory McIlroy earlier this week in Cape Cod. The video is almost 15 minutes long but it's well worth watching for the unique perspective.

Now... for the GolfWeek Major Challenge! You have only a few more hours to make your picks, so get over to their site and do it.

Travelers Championship = An Awesome Week in CT

The umbrella green at dusk via @TravelersChamp

The 111th US Open is now part of golf history, memorable for the myriad records broken by Rory McIlroy... and for the young Ulsterman's uplifting story. Rory's rapid redemption... after his final round letdown at the Masters... gave hope to golfers everywhere.

Those who participated in the event... particularly those who worked for months (and years) behind the scenes... are probably feeling a sense of relief.  I'd imagine there's also a touch of melancholy...like the one that always follows the holiday season.  For many down at Congressional Country Club, today probably feels kind of like the day you take down the Christmas tree. Here in Connecticut however, our golf event is just getting underway.

The 59th installment of the Travelers Championship began today with the an opening ceremony on the first hole of TPC River Highlands. Later in the day 28 PGA TOUR professionals played with amateurs in the the Aetna Tournament Players Pro-Am.  One of them was Scott Stallings the affable PGA Tour rookie who blogs about his life as a touring pro at Chief Executive Golfer.  I wrote about Scott and his enchanting wife Jennifer (who also blogs!) back when the season was starting.  A couple of hours ago Scott tweeted from the "hardest hole on the @PGATour".  Welcome to CT Scott and Jennifer.


Tomorrow is Farmington Bank Fan & Family Day.  In addition to practice rounds there'll be free lessons, and a day full of clinics, contests, demos and other awesome activities... for golfers of all ages and ability levels.  ~ Below are a few scenes from the 2010 Travelers Championship...

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

...and they're forecasting some beautiful weather for tomorrow, so why not spend the first day of Summer at the Travelers?  Tickets and additional details are available at TravelersChampionship.com. 

Rory McIlroy: The Huge Win & Inevitable Girlfriend Tweets

“@thetylervaughn: currently, second most googled thing is "rory mcilroy girlfriend"...I hope this kid has a good team around him.” #awesomeless than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplySeath Lauer
SeathLauer23

I love that if you search for "Rory McIlroy," Google lists "Rory McIlroy girlfriend" as a related search.less than a minute ago via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet ReplySandra Helsley
wordium

"@PeterBurnsRadio: Smart kid that McIlroy, no girlfriend in sight after the round. Catch & release program for the next few years for him"less than a minute ago via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet ReplyDave
Illegal_Machine

Let's hope for Rory McIlroy's girlfriend that he won't be the next tiger... #usopenless than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet ReplyAdam Jolly
theadamjolly

If Rory MCIlroy doesn't have the hottest girlfriend in Ireland, he will tomorrow.less than a minute ago via TweetDeck Favorite Retweet ReplyJaryd Wilson
JarydWilson

My dad wants to apply to be Rory McIlroy's girlfriend because he will be making about 4 million dollars today! Hahaha #gottalovehimless than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet ReplyMelissa Mohnal
momolissa

Hey there Rory McIlroy, need a girlfriend?less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyMolly Phillips
Molly_Phillips

Rory Mcilroy - Holywood Legend With Major Dreams

Angus Murray via GOLF.com

He hails from Holywood.

Holywood, Northern Ireland, where Rory McIlroy's "legend" status is already sealed... and this weekend it looks like one of his Major dreams may well come true.

2011 US Open - Ryo Ishikawa, Bubblegum Flatbiller

June 14, 2011 - Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images North America

High Heel Golf Blogger Inspires Rickie Fowler's Ace

::

Jennifer Harris w/Rickie Fowler via HighHeelGolfer.com

You've probably seen the video of Rickie Fowler's utterly implausible Red Bull ace... the one he hit blind off an elevated tee at Washington D.C.'s Historic Georgetown Waterfront.   If you haven't, you'll want to have a look.  It's quite impressive. To say the least.

The miraculous hole-in-one was hit as part of  "Red Bull Capital Drive" a multi-channel social media campaign that involved Twitter and Foursquare.  Fans were asked to follow "alerts" to find a special flag somewhere in the city.  If they found it they got a golf ball that Rickie would hit... on 106-yard hole with a narrow fairway, and a makeshift island green in the middle of a fountain.  The winner would be the one whose ball ended up closest to the pin.

Well, you now know the outcome, but you may not know the back story.  It took Rickie 6 shot to make the ace, and the ball he made it with just happend to belong to Jennifer Harris the ultra-engaging voice behind HighHeelGolfer, a great new golf blog that presents a truly fresh look at the game.  And those who play it.

Anyway, Jennifer won two free passes to the US Open (she's taking her Dad for Father's Day!) and the hole-in-one ball, signed by the talented Mr. Fowler.  How totally awesome is that?  I'm looking forward to hearing the High Heel Golfer impressions of the action at Colonial and I have no doubt she'll be pulling for Rickie. 

Breakthrough Weekend for Not-So-Young Guns

Robert Rock, photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images || Harrison Frazar, photo:AP

Robert Rock's first career win was nine years coming, while Harrison Frazar clinched his maiden professional victory after 355 starts.

At 34 and 39 respectively, this weekend's winners... on the European Tour and the US PGA Tour respectively... clearly aren't what we've come to know as "Young Guns".

The word "finally"... followed in at least one case by an exclamation point... figured prominently in coverage of both tours today, and as exciting as it is to watch implausibly young players push boundries and break records, it's another kind of awesome to witness a long awaited breakthrough win.  This week golf got two.

Cristie Kerr Donates & Defends at State Farm Classic

Dr. Tom Robbins, SCI director, Cristie Kerr Sara Howe, breast cancer survivor

Cristie Kerr climbed the leader board at Panther Creek Country Club today with a 67 that put her into a tie for ninth as she enters the weekend looking to defend her title at the LPGA State Farm Classic ...and to secure a win after two runner-up finishes.

In addition to her work on the golf course, the 14 time LPGA Tour winner has been quite busy off the course raising money for her Birdies for Breast Cancer charity.  Several days ago she presented a $5,000 check to the Simmons Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.



The donation was made at a wine-tasting event held at Panther Creek in conjunction with “Curvature” Cristie Kerr’s signature wine label.  It will fund ongoing research to fight breast cancer.

As a charitable partner, SCI will also receive funds from the LPGA... and tomorrow is "Get Your Pink On Day" when spectators who wear pink will get free parking and four breast cancer survivors representing the cancer institute will be walking with the pros. It looks like a rosy weekend ahead in Springfield.

Ishikawa Incident Illustrates Cultural Dichotomy

Photo: AFP/File, Yoshikazu Tsuno

Ryo Ishikawa, one of our favorite golfers, recently had an issue with his driving. It didn't happen on the golf course, and it has nothing to do with distance, in fact, at the 2011 Masters the Japanese superstar was ranked fifth in driving distance.

What happened to Ryo, was the kind of thing that happens to many 19-year-olds: He got into trouble for an infraction that took place behind the wheel.



To many of us... in the US and other western nations... it probably seems rather benign: the golf champion, who'll turn 20 in September, was cited for driving (unknowingly, it turns out) without a valid licence.  It seems the international driving licence Ishikawa recently obtained in the US was not legal in Japan, because the law there says he would have needed to be abroad for at least three full months to make it valid. Apparently the infraction was discovered when Ryo was spotted driving a silver Audi he'd won, to a local tournament. Neither Ryo nor his Dad were aware of the legal nuance.

Now here's where the cultural dichotomy part comes in: this is a big story in Japan. A story that came with a very profuse public apology... from the golfer himself, his father and his sponsors.  Yes, Ryo Ishikawa is a bona fide superstar in Japan, but were this to have happened to a US star... even the biggest, most role model-ish star... it would hardly have made the news. And when it did, the story would likely be told with a sheepish smile and be all about how it was an innocent mistake... not his/her fault.  There most probably wouldn't be an apology because in our culture apologizing equals an admission of guilt or personal responsibility.  In Japan, on the other hand, an apology is seen more as a gesture of humbleness and concern for others, than as an admission of personal wrongdoing. Apologizing, and expressing a commitment to do better, are therefore seen as basic courtesy.  Ryo made no excuses for what had happened, stating at a Narita airport news conference yesterday, “It’s my own carelessness. I’m very sorry for causing a trouble to my sponsors and golf fans with my fault."  There wasn't the slightest inference that the rule was silly... or should be reviewed.  In fact, the repentant golfer finished by saying, "I will devote myself every day to being more self-aware than ever as a professional golfer. I am sorry,"

Seen from this side of the world the reaction seems, to say the least, curious, as we're far more used to seeing our stars... and politicians, and corporate chieftains... evading rather than apologizing. The fact is, here in the US sports agents, reputation management consultants and corporate attorneys would likely discourage even a hint of contrition in public statements.  In Japan, assuming one's personal responsibility, is still highly valued.  This may make life more difficult for superstars, but many feel it helped the nation's population cope with the recent natural disasters.
 
Part of what the world finds so enchanting about Ryo Ishikawa is his soft-spoken, unpretentious reserve, and as he gets ready to compete in the US Open next week we wish him the best. We'll certainly be pulling for him next week at Congressional Country Club.

Spanish Golf Blogger Finds ProAm Partner in Bathtub

Ladies Tenerife Match Play - June 10-12

On a sunny Spanish island several hundred miles off the coast of North Africa the stage is set for Tenerife Ladies Matchplay.

A new format for the Ladies European Tour, the event will be played at the Golf Las Américas course in Tenerife and it'll allow players get some matchplay practice in before the upcoming Solheim Cup. The competition will take place Friday through Sunday and I expect we'll getting some great coverage online, as several of Spain's best golf bloggers will in attendance... as will various social media standouts from the business side of golf.

Photo: c/o Aussie Golfing

The ProAm will take place tomorrow, and that brings me to a funny story from the awesome Ovidiov, a writer/editor at stellar Spanish golf blog Fuera de Límites, who'll actually be playing in the ProAm this year.  Originally his foursome was scheduled to play with Marianne Skarpnord, but the Norwegian was obliged to withdraw due a a back issue, and another LET player  Danielle Montgomery, was assigned to the group.

The Spanish golf scribe... whose coverage is more focused on the men's game... admitted he wasn't exactly sure who Danielle was, so naturally he referred to Google.  Well, the first result that came up was the photo at left. You see Danielle, an LET rookie, posed for the Women Of Professional Golf Calendar a couple of years ago, recreating the famous Jan Stephenson golf-balls-in-the-bathtub pose... and naturally, that's the kind of image that always floats to the top of search results.  Meanwhile, the beautiful Danielle  Montgomery just had her best result ever... a 12th... at the Deloitte Dutch Ladies Open and I have no doubt the team will do well.

In any case well soon find out.   For news of the event on Twitter there's the hashtag #LMTEN  ... you'll also want to follow some of the engaging "tweeps" attending the event, including:  @ovidiov  @mikebelindo @Angelrosaleda  @martasegura  @poodlegolf   @GolfAmericas @TenerifeMag  @SirOldGolfer @fueradelimites @RealTenerife @mattcoopergolf and @Daniellesgolf

Golf Girl Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Makeover

Original album cover illustration by Anne-Marie Anderson

I'd been playing golf for almost a year... and writing about the game here at Golf Girl's Diary for several months... when a fellow golf blogger told me about Golf Girl: the song.

Actually, he sent me a link that led to a grainy YouTube video featuring a live recording of what turned out to be an enchantingly whimsical song by a band called Caravan.  At the time I was unfamiliar with the band... and unaware of the Canterbury Scene an early 70s era progressive rock movement out of Canterbury, England that Caravan was a major part of.

Style-wise the era was characterized by psychedelia, lots of long hair and extreme bell bottoms (you'll see that in the video after the jump) but the thing that really amazed me were the song's silly/sweet lyrics... and the fact that Pat, the Golf Girl who inspired the song, shares my name. 


Of course Golf Girl went to the top of my playlist as soon as I heard it, and has remained there ever since. Then, just a few days ago, I read that Caravan was releasing a special deluxe edition of  In The Land Of Grey And Pink , the album that introduced Golf Girl.  The remastered, remixed three-disc set, coincides with the 40th anniversary of Grey And Pink, and contains numerous bonus tracks. It's available at your local retailer or online at HMV, Amazon and Universal Vinyl. You can also order it via their Facebook page.

Now for that ultra-retro video - Rock on Golf Girl!