Professional Golfer to Wed Gorgeous Model - Ahn & Marco

Marco & Ahn Shi-Yeon                   photo via allkpop.com

She made history in 2003 when at 19 years, 1 month and 18 days she became the youngest non-American winner in LPGA tour history.

He's a Korean/Argentine model-turned-actor-turned-pop culture-personality... with a sweet smile and killer abs.

While other lady golfers battle it out in Guadalajara at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational,  Seoul Sister Ahn Shi Hyun will marry her ultra-handsome boyfriend Marco today at a wedding hall in Cheongdam-dong, which I'm told is a trendy, young Rodeo Drive-ish section of the South Korean capital.

The union of these two talented and attractive young people is clearly a marriage made in marketing heaven.  After all, In Korea women's golf is huge. So much so that it just naturally transcends into popular culture, inspiring television dramas like Birdie Buddy... based on a comic book with the same title... and video games such as the ever popular PangYa.  Though Ahn has struggled with back problems in recent years she maintains a busy playing schedule and remains a media darling.

Then there's Marco. Like Cher, Usher and Beyonce he doesn't need a last name. Though born and raised in Argentina, once he got to Korea his rise was meteoric.  He's now attained idol status. 

He was attracted to his bride... according to the PR people... because of their shared interest in sports.  And he happens to look great in argyle.  ~ Sounds like a winning couple on a multitude of levels.  안녕하세요 Congratulations Marco and Ahn.

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Sophie Sandolo Posts Best Golf Job Ever on Facebook

"Looking for a Caddy for the Ladies French Open at Paris International from Thursday thru Sunday... Anyone available? Thanks :)"

When Sophie Sandolo... the gorgeous global golf star known for both her achievements on the Ladies European Tour (including 18 top 10 finishes) and her elegantly erotic calendars... was in suddenly in need of a caddy in Paris for the upcoming Lacoste Ladies French Open, she took a modern, practical approach and updated her facebook status with the above.

Needless to say, the response was enthusiastic and voluminous.  Within the space an hour the job had been filled... and one lucky caddy will be spending a long autumnal weekend on a splendid Jack Nicklaus course just outside of Paris... with one of the sexiest women in golf.

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy reading: 
Enviable Assets - Sophie Sandolo's Golf & Glamour
Sophie Sandolo Speaks Out

A Somewhat Sexier Look at the World Golf Rankings

Last week I lamented the dourness of the OWGR's website and their "just the facts ma'am" style of presenting data.

The subject of who actually is the #1golf in the world is generating quite a lively debate at the moment. One that would/could only be enhanced by some sexy visuals.  So with some help from my friends at IBM and their awesome Many Eyes project I've made a modest start at sexing up the stats.

Now the thing is... much as I love analytics, infographics and such... producing/explaining them is not my forte,  I'm more of a look at the pictures and turn the pages type, as the old song says.  But... someone's got to do it, so I'm making an attempt.

For my first visualization I decided to look at one of the more... um... contentious elements of the current discussion: Increased globalization and the end of U.S. dominance in men's professional golf.  For convenience sake I took an existing visualization made from 2007 data, and built the same one using current data.  This provides something of a baseline comparison.

It's not perfect.  I would like to have adjusted some of the perimeters and functionalities (probably not the right words) but I was working with a preset program and couldn't quite... figure out how to do it.  Check out the interactive diagrams at Many Eyes: the 2007 stats  and the current stats.  I'd be curious as to what you think.

I've got to admit I looked longingly at the big Tiger bubble on the 2007 model.

Sergio Garcia - A Bogey Free Round & A Beautiful New Girlfriend

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Sergio is smiling again  ... and it's the exuberant, unrestrained smile we haven't seen on Señor Garcia for well over a year.

But, it was clearly back today at the The Australian Masters.  So much so that all my Aussie friends were talking about it. ~ They were also talking about his bogey-free round... and his gorgeous new girlfriend.

Round One... it has to be said... wasn't a great one for El Nino.  To the extent that, immediately after it, my friend Imre wrote, "the most excitement Sergio Garcia (+4) generated centered on his girlfriend, who strolled the fairways"

Well yes, as you can imagine, I was extremely mildly curious.   So I started looking around.  Before I got too far however, another friend, David Williams from Willow Golf, sent me some photos he'd taken, including the one at left... which certainly qualifies as cute.

I haven't found any additional details on the beautiful brunette yet, however as soon as I do I'll share them with you, and in the mean time, you can find another photo or two of her, in a more formal setting here.

Meanwhile Sergio's bogey-free 6-under 65... in brutal, ultra-windy conditions... was his lowest score this year and has him in contention as the weekend begins.

It alsp indicates to me that this sexy new "partner" may be just what the struggling Spaniard needed.

Of Princes & Ballgowns & Beautiful Ryder Cup Birdies

Team USA

Team Europe

They wore plumage of fine silk and frothy taffeta... in midnight black, icy white or one of several jewel tones.  

The inelegant acronym that's so often used to describe them was forgotten, at least for this one night. 

There were no WAGs at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for the Ryder Cup's official function opening on Tuesday evening.  The wives and girlfriends were allowed, for this single enchanted soiree,  to simply be glamorous women... to be individuals and wear distinctive gowns of their won choosing.

Also present at the gala get-together was Prince Charles, heir apparent to the thrones of the Commonwealth realms, and an outspoken advocate for architecture (including... one might presume... golf course architecture) and for the conservation of historic buildings.

The golf action gets underway tomorrow, at which point the elegant European and American birdies will presumably fade into the background, dress in identical understatedly practical outfits and yield center stage to their talented husbands.   

However at the festive opening function the women were clearly the stars.

Photos: Getty Images 

Golf Just Got Sexier - Poodle at the Tenerife Ladies Open

There's no shortage of sizzle in Tenerife this weekend.

The ruggedly beautiful Spanish Island... which lies off the coast of Africa... has long been a popular tourist destination for Northern Europeans in search of sunshine, and for the past several days it's played host to the LET's Tenerife Ladies Open.

Buenavista golf course where the tournament is taking place designed by Seve Ballesteros and features amazing Atlantic ocean vistas backed by the dramatic peaks of the Tenos mountains.

The final round is set to begin in just a few hours, with eight-time Solheim Cup player, Trish Johnson leading by three. The thing that I always find amazing when I look at an LET leaderboard is how many different nationalities are represented and this tournament is no exception. I counted 19 different flags on today's board.

Unique golf apparel designer Poodle, is a sponsor at this year's Tenerife Ladies Open and has outfitted several of the players in awesomely eye catching outfits. Frédérique Seeholzer, Nathalie David-Mila and Anastasia Kostina are wearing Poodle's sexy, athletic chic styles.

Poodle, I found out, is as "global" as the Ladies European Tour. Based in Amsterdam, they partner with exciting golf events and initiatives all over Europe, their designs reflect global influences as well. ... and I was amazed to find out that founder Wendy Byrne grew up in New Milford (about 10 minutes from where I live) and often caddied for her dad in tournaments at Candlewood Valley Country Club, where I play all the time.

Below is a short clip featuring Frédérique, Nathalie and Anastasia wearing Poodle in Tenerife. It'll give you an glimpse of how uniquely stylish the Poodle line is. I also put in a photo of American player (and BigBreak Ka'annapali winner) Kim Welsh, who's also playing in the tournament. To find out more about Poodle and see additional styles check out their Website, Facebook and Flickr pages. And... you can follow them on Twitter.

If you like unique globally influenced golf fashion you'll definitely want to keep up with Poodle.

Can Women Golfers be Sexy AND Competitive?

How's that for a pertinent topic?

OK, let me clarify. Because I fully realize "sexy" is different things to different people.

For this discussion I'm using sexy in the formulaic laddy mag sense. I'm referring to a classic dude's definition... a Maxim-ish characterization that brings to mind women like Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson and Kendra Wilkenson ...and pretty much any lady who appears on the pages of Victoria's Secret... girly girls who tend to wear revealing, body hugging outfits. they're Smiley, flirty and shapely. Cute. Anyway, you know what I mean. And by competitive I mean driven... determined. A take-no-prisoners winner.

So the question is: are they mutually exclusive on the golf course? Because that's what I'm talking about. I tend to think they are.

Not that a beautiful, sexy girl can't win at the top levels. Cristie Kerr is the number one woman golfer in the world and off the golf course she is that sexy girl. In designer dresses and Manolo stilettos... or her favorite Hudson jeans... she's a Babe. With a capitol B. But on the golf course... she's all business. Like other players who've held the number one spot over the years, she doesn't bring girly onto the golf course. Those who do, and there are a number of them, generally haven't fared as well in competition.

So that's the debate. Is it possible to bring sexy (girly, smiley, flirty) onto the golf course and win? Or is it just not a winning attitude. That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in, on Air. Use call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.