Woods leads Quail Hollow Championship

In his first event since the Masters, Tiger Woods shot a bogey-free opening round 65 to finish -7 on Thursday and take the first round lead at the Quail Hollow Championship.

Woods' short game, including his inconsistent putting so far this season, was kind to the scorecard today and helped the World's No.1 charge up the leaderboard early on.

While Woods' struggled to get out of the gate at Augusta National, he was solid in nearly every facet of his game Friday, looking as sharp as ever during his still brief return from knee surgery in 2009.

Among those chasing Woods is Phil Mickelson (-5), who played in Tiger's group during the the dramatic final round at the Masters. Retief Goosen is another major contender who played well Thursday, finishing -4 with an opening-round 68.

With other big names like Padraig Harrington and Anthony Kim chasing, the Quail Hollow should anticipate another exciting weekend of action and plenty of drama on Sunday. Having watched Woods' round here and there this afternoon, I can say it was the cleanest I've seen him play this season -- very few mishits and successful play on the par-5's.

I apologize for my lack of coverage recently, as my MacBook crashed yesterday and I have been a bit out of sorts this week.

I will do my best over the weekend to maintain better coverage of the Tour.

Photo Credit/ Fred Vulch/ SI

Obama's week includes visit with Woods, golf

The world's top professional golfer visited the White House and President Barack Obama earlier this week. It turns out it might've even given our 44th Commander in Chief a little inspiration on Sunday.

According to the Associated Press, Obama played his first round of golf since taking oath on Sunday in Washington. Deciding to take advantage of the pleasant weather conditions on the East coast, Obama's first tee time was scheduled on the course at the Andrews Air Force Base, and it wasn't exactly a dream foursome:

"Joining the president were Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and presidential aide Marvin Nicholson."

I can only imagine what topics of conversation would come up in such a star-studded cast of Washington elites. Trash-talking —

likely replaced by economic chatter and discussion on overseas warfare — surely was at a minimum.

Woods was in Washington on Monday for a press conference at the AT&T National, the tournament he hosts annually on the PGA Tour.

Updates to come if I am able to find an official scorecard from Obama's round Sunday.

Back with more early this week leading up to Quail Hollow's opening round.

Photo Credit/(Top) Link and (Bottom Right) Link

Kelly wins Zurich Classic

Charles Howell III collapsed and Jerry Kelly slid past him on the leaderboard, capturing the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and his third career PGA Tour victory Sunday.

After a week that included just two bogeys before Sunday, Kelly overcame a pair of miscues this afternoon to outlast Howell — who sputtered out on the par-3 17th with a remarkably poor three-putt that cost him the shot at a playoff. Kelly's rally included two birdies on the back nine in what amounted to a final-round 71.

Kelly's -14 total of 274 proved one better than contenders Charlie Wi, Rory Sabbatini, and Howell, all of whom finished one shot back at -13.

Locally, fans soaked in the drama of Game 4 of the Bulls-Celtics series, but there was plenty of it to go around during Sunday's back nine down in the Bayou.

Sabbatini and Wi were among those waiting in the clubhouse just one stroke back as Howell and Kelly dueled out the entertaining final stretch on Sunday evening.

Kelly takes home more than $1.1 million for his victory on Sunday and will surely shoot skyward from his previous FedEx Cup points rankings of 97th. The win was his first in seven years on Tour.

What was supposed to be a down week leading into the Quail Hollow Championship — a field that includes Tiger Woods, the first such since the Masters — churned out what was a pretty awesome Sunday of golf.

Photo Credit/Link

New Gillette Commercial — Thoughts?

Charlie Wi leads Zuruch Classic of 'Nawlins

A quick check of the Thursday leaderboard at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans reveals Korean Charlie Wi leading at -6.

Oh, and what's this, a Kenny Perry sighting at -5 thru 14? Looks like his success at the Masters has translated to a hot start down South.

Should be interesting to see if Perry can overcome the major championship meltdown and snag a win his first event back on Tour.

I'll be back this weekend with a more meaningful look at what's been going on around Tour.

Photo Credit/Link

Brian Gay wins Verizon Heritage

Brian Gay won the Verizon Heritage on Sunday with a record score of -20, beating the field by an astronomical 10 shots with his final-round 64.

Gay, 37, is playing his best golf after his first full decade on Tour and Sunday was a pretty awesome display of someone in complete control of a leaderboard.

For as much as we've seen greats Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, and others waver in the final rounds on the PGA Tour this season, Gay's total dominance was refreshing to watch on Sunday. After the Masters, it was a clean, quick Sunday after a laborious, nail-biting major championship finish that included a dramatic two-hole playoff.

For a good read on all things PGA Tour today, click here. Or maybe even here.

We'll catch up later this week before the Zurich Classic of New Orleans starts Thursday.

Photo Credit/ Darren Carroll/ SI

Mickelson turns down Padres; Mcllroy shuns PGA

Sadly, the rivalry between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will not further translate from the PGA Tour to the race out in the NL West.

Mickelson, a San Diego native, has reportedly turned down an offer to buy an ownership share of the Padres on the basis that he is uninterested in becoming part of any professional sports franchise.

The headline of the story "Mickelson turned down offer to buy San Diego Padres" is also a bit misleading here. Let's make this clear — a share of ownership in a professional baseball team is slightly different than full ownership of one, and this should really, really be clarified. Woods, on the other hand, is friends with Dodgers' owner Frank McCourt (pictured above at 2008 NLCS) and might actually have the cash to buy a major league squad. Or, say, a $20 million yacht.

In other news, it seems that Irish phenom Rory Mcllroy has turned down an offer to become a card-carrying member of the United States PGA Tour. According to SI, Mcllroy was approached with the offer of a "Special Temporary" membership, which is always awarded to players who earn a certain amount of money in a given season.

A small shame in my opinion, but the kid is only 19 years old, after all. There will be plenty of chances for Mcllroy to compete in the U.S. outside of just major championships during his predictably long, fertile career.

Lastly, Brian Gay is currently leading the Verizon Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, making a birdie on his first hole today to take a four-shot lead at -14.

Back with more Monday.

Photo Credit/Link

Golf in the Olympics?

Think golf in the 2016 Olympics is far-fetched?

Think again.

In catching our breath from the Masters' Sunday excitement, it looks like the idea has the support of the World's top players, according to an article on ESPN.com this morning:

"Tiger Woods is one of 18 of the world's leading golfers to back the International Golf Federation's (IGF) bid to have the sport included in the 2016 Olympic Games.

Woods has written personally and sent a 32-page brochure outlining the bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Ireland's Padraig Harrington, winner of two majors last year; Fiji's Vijay Singh; Europe 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie; and Spain's Sergio Garcia also have written to their respective Olympic committee representatives to try and restore golf to the Olympic lineup for the first time in more than 100 years."

I must say that it would be a fascinating trump card to the Ryder Cup, which many golf fans treasure and appreciate for the international competition. Would the Ryder Cup be opposed to such Olympic competition?

Hard to say, but nonetheless, a fascinating piece of news about an event that hasn't happened in the last century. Look forward to following this storyline in the years to come.

Sunday's highlights

Masters reclaims magic on Sunday

All week, television analysts and national writers wondered if the Masters had lost that Sunday magic. They asked if Augusta National was too Tiger-proofed, too long, too challenging for the World's best to created another memorable final round.

Four days of good weather and four hours of remarkable play from the field answered all the questions on Easter Sunday.

Perhaps the best way I saw it written on Monday is that the Masters has reclaimed its title as the globe's most important golf championship. A Sunday that rivaled the drama of Jack Nicklaus' victory in 1986 and few others proved it so.

There was, above all else on Sunday, the pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, a heavyweight fight that stole the show until both tuckered out on the 17th green. Mickelson's record-tying 30 on the front nine and Woods' dramatic birdie at the 16th — his fourth and final of the afternoon — pushed the roars to new heights at Augusta National.

There was the aging Kenny Perry, a 48-year-old journeyman who hadn't played the Masters since 2005 but needed just one par on the final two holes to claim his first Green Jacket. Instead, he bogied both on the way in, fumbling away the lead and forcing a three-way playoff with Chad Campbell and Angel Cabrera.

Finally, there was Cabrera, who's second shot on the 73rd hole is already, in my opinion, one of the luckiest in Masters history. Yes, he won the Masters on the second playoff hole with Perry, needing only a tap-in par to win the major championship. But it was merely a foregone conclusion after the magical break he got on the first playoff hole.

With a wayward drive putting Cabrera in the right trees, he smacked a low-iron down through the trees, attempting only to get near the green in distance, not direction. Instead, his ball caromed off a tree and back into the middle of the fairway. His up-and-down to save par would keep him in the hunt for the first Green Jacket for his home country.

From there, it was a total scramble by Augusta. Unlike Perry and Campbell, Cabrera's family members were not shown repeatedly on TV, as there were not there to celebrate. His "translator," a man wearing a Masters shirt and tie in Butler Cabin, seemed to be a makeshift tournament employee who just happened to speak Spanish and could help Cabrera through the interview.

It was one of the only spoiling factors of a terrific weekend of golf, one that made America forget about Easter Sunday major league baseball and the North Carolina's NCAA Championship victory in one fell swoop. The roars were back, and for another day, the nation seemed just fine with that.

Having attended Saturday's third-round, I can say that my own personal highlights included walking all 18 holes in the morning to see the course in full and watching Phil's birdie putt on No. 15 just feet away from his swing coach, Butch Harmon, and Mickelson's father. I had a Pimento Cheese sandwich for $1.50 and a few beers, priced so low — $2.75 — that UI students would find them reasonable downtown Iowa City.

I watched Tiger grind our pars and curse under his breath and just struggle altogether to shoot -2 on Saturday. It is like nothing else to watch a man who has perfected a sport play so many shots he finds to be imperfect. I walked to the 16th green late in the morning and saw the nastiest pin — back and about six feet off the green's right edge — and wondered how anyone would get it close. Later, I watched Chad Campbell hit it in the greenside bunker off the tee before leaving his second shot in the sand. He made double-bogey. An amateur would've made at least a triple.

I walked through Amen Corner when Mickelson teed off on No. 12 and was reminded why the grandstand behind the tee box is one of the best sporting venues on the planet. Mickelson's double-bogey on 12 Sunday showed it can also be the most rewarding and most challenging.

I would say that anyone who enjoys golf — playing, watching, whatever — should go see Augusta National, if only for a practice round. I am absolutely fortunate and owe my father eternally for having been lucky enough to attend the Masters. It would be No. 1 on a logical list of "Sports' Seven Wonders of the World" and can be best appreciated up close.

Later this month, Augusta National will shut down… until October. The hiatus, the people at the Masters explain, "lets the course rest for a few months." I can only assume you will still be able to eat off the lawn when fall comes around, each blade of grass so perfectly kept that it really does look fake on television.

This year, the explanation makes perfect sense. After one of the most dramatic Sundays in Masters history, you can imagine Augusta National is a bit weary from it all.

Photo from Bob Martin/Sports Illustrated

Apology to Readers

Readers, my sincere apologies for the lack of weekend coverage of the Masters.

Because I have to much to explain in one post and have watched Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson falter over the last two holes, I have decided to wait until Monday to write extensively about the Masters. I actually had the good and unexpected fortune to attend the Masters Saturday and can't gather the thoughts right now to write about everything that happened this weekend.

Appreciate the understanding and enjoy the last few holes. I like Kenny Perry to finish strong and get his first Green Jacket.

Tim Clark (-4) — The ultimate Masters oversight

Tim Clark's par-3 victory at Augusta National on Wednesday is supposed to prevent his ultimate success on Sunday, but he is currently the leader in the clubhouse at the Masters as we approach 1 p.m. Central time of opening-round coverage.

Forget what happens on Sunday. I think the better part of all the Clark talk is what nobody is saying yet.

Clark is the only guy who's beaten Tiger Woods in 2009.

Remember the Accenture Match Play World Golf Championships in late February?

Yes. That Tim Clark, who undressed Tiger under the ultimate pressures of playing the World's No. 1 in just the second round of that event.

With so many people picking Tiger to win this week — including Vegas, who has Woods tabbed at 9-5 odds of getting another Green Jacket — there was extreme oversight of his toughest opponent this season.

We'll see how Clark fares the rest of the weekend. For now, enjoy the internet coverage of Amen Corner and holes No. 15 & 16. ESPN starts to carry the Masters at 3 p.m. Central and will prominently feature Woods, who plays in the second to last group this afternoon.

Lords of the Realm Column

Major League Baseball discovered in 1994 that the only thing worse than having a bad commissioner is having no commissioner at all.

When the professional league needed guidance most, there was no control between owners and players. No love from the U.S. Congress, who's health care and fiscal initiatives prevented baseball's antitrust exemption bill from reaching the floor. No consensus among the commissioner search committee, who cared more about the labor contract than finding a replacement for the ousted Fay Vincent.

The end result -- the strike of '94 -- was simply inevitable. The heavyweight fight between baseball's greedy Lords and its unwavering labor union culminated the only way it could that season -- with black eyes, bruised egos, and no baseball.

No one seemed to care less about baseball's shutdown than the interim commissioner, Bud Selig, who was too busy basking in luxury boxes to look out at the chaos from the center of the baseball world. His transition from owner to temporary king of America's pastime went as smoothly as a call from Single-A ball to the big leagues.

Young players ignored the decades of work put in by former Union head Marvin Miller, arguably the most influential character the players ever had in dealing with the Lords. Time and time again, Miller rallied baseball's actors against the directing owners. In 1994, he might as well have been a dinosaur to the new generation of major league players -- practically extinct.

Most of all, the tension between the owners and players union was simply too great to overcome from the outset in 1994. Without Miller, the players lacked leadership and the necessary guidance to take on the Lords. Without Vincent, the owners squabbled over the salary cap, player contracts, and their interim commissioner's most declared desire -- to leave the position in someone else's hands long-term.

If the commissioner search committee couldn't even settle on Vincent's successor, how could it prevent the inevitable strike of 1994?

The truth is that the wrong people were running baseball at the right time.

Some argue the strike could have been prevented. The circumstances suggest otherwise.

The 1994 work stoppage was the ultimate result of seven deadly decades of sin -- especially greed -- from both sides. The players wanted more guaranteed money. The owners wanted cheaper contracts. They both wanted power over the fields in which they played.

It was especially hard to swallow for a game that had endured such tumultuous history. The players survived collusion. The owners, particularly George Steinbrenner, survived mega-contracts the likes of Reggie Jackson and Will Clark. The entire league had even survived the firing of Vincent, if only for a few months.

But the strike was inevitable. Without a new labor contract, there would be no guidance or urgency towards electing a new commissioner. Without the help of Congress, there would be no outside influence to push baseball's owners past the tipping point of dollars-and-cents. With everyone too busy worrying about money to listen, the fans cries to play the '94 season would fall faint.

The strike of 1994 was the classic case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.

In this case, after decades of printing, the Denver Mint had finally collided with baseball's slowest, most selfish minds.

Baseball, as a result of an inevitable one-year collapse, has never been the same.

Only time will tell…

ESPN.com had some wishful front page thinking on Thursday night.

Sweet dreams, Augusta. Good luck, America.

Could be in for one of the best ever.

Wednesday Goodness at Augusta National

Sergio Garcia was one of few to enjoy the big boy course this morning at Augusta. But if you're like me, you're probably enjoying the annual Par-3 competition at Augusta National on ESPN right now.

Yes, it's unique. Yes, there are miniature caddies in white jumpsuits racing around and carrying their famous fathers' golf bags. Yes, Mike Tirico's voice is so soothing for golf that it could practically be an alarm clock setting like waves crashing on the ocean. Yes, Greg Norman's hole-in-one was awesome.

But let us not forget. The previews are almost over. The movie is starting soon. In about 16 or so hours, according to my calculations with Thursday's initial pairing.

With that in mind, I thought it would be useful to gather one final Wednesday round-up of links leading into the Masters opening round.

• Vijay Singh had a hole-in-one today on No. 16 during his practice round — by skipping it across the pond and into the hole. The annual Wednesday tradition for those who forego the Par-3 event is to try and skip the ball over the water and up onto the green. Singh apparently perfected it on Wednesday.

• Jason Sobel is live blogging today's action over at ESPN.com. Lots of interesting nuggets, including the following about Gary Player, who's playing the par-3 event with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer:

"Player will compete in his 52nd and final Masters this week. That's 52 weeks of his life at Augusta National. Yes, an entire year of playing the Masters."

• SI's Damon Hack is on pace for a half-dozen Pimento Cheese sandwiches this week. He also penned the best preview about Tiger's chances at Augusta in '09.

• Here are the PGATour.com Expert Picks for the week. The envelope is in and let's just say you won't be surprised about who they've tabbed as the favorite.

• Geoff Ogilvy is being overlooked this week and could rise to the Masters major championship occasion this week.

• We could finally get the Tiger-Phil showdown Augusta has been waiting for, writes Gary Van Sickle. The stars have seemingly aligned for this week.

• John Daly, in my opinion, is totally pathetic. I am sick of his act and so are his sponsors and the PGA Tour. That's why I'm not surprised he did this at Augusta this week.

• Padraig Harrington is getting no love this week as he tries for a third major championship victory in a row. His reaction? "I'm not too fussed about it," according to Hack's article. If he plays well Thursday, surely everyone will remember his pursuit of the Paddy Slam.

• Tiger played nine holes with Bubba Watson and Robert Karlsson on Wednesday morning in his final preparations for his first major since June 2008.

• This live report from the PGA Tour features tons of short stories and synopsis from Wednesday's action, including a splash about Ian Poulter's snazzy pants.

• Tiger is turning 15 at Augusta, writes Helen Ross. "Time flies when…" is a pretty accurate statement about the emotion of watching Tiger play.

That's all I've got for now. Enjoy the Par-3 contest and we'll be back tomorrow with Masters updates throughout the opening round. Hope you've enjoyed the bonus coverage this week.

Photo from PGATour.com

Johnson No. 8 on Sobel's annual rankings

ESPN.com writer Jason Sobel released his annual Masters rankings on Wednesday, and 2007 champion Zach Johnson's position might surprise you.

Sobel, who has Tiger Woods topping his 96-man field chart, has let Johnson slip to No. 8 spot with the following explanation of the Cedar Rapids native's positioning.

"Laying up on all four par-5 holes at Augusta National? From here on in, such strategy should be called the Zach Attack. Traditionalists balk at players plotting -- and plodding -- their way around this course without going for any of these four holes in 2, but really it speaks more to the setup than the competitors themselves.

If a guy can play these holes in a combined 11-under-par by hitting a third-shot wedge into each one -- as Johnson did during his victory two years ago -- it's tough to blame 'em. As for the 2007 champ maneuvering away from the Zach Attack, don't count on it. He'll likely stick with the proven strategy."

It seems that Johnson, who won the Sony Open earlier this season, will forever be a "dark horse" to get a second Green Jacket until he plays really well in another major. I think Sobel and many other writers consider Johnson's win a bit of a "fluke" in 2007 and the majority opinion is that this week's leaderboard will be filled with the "big boys" — Tiger, Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy, Padraig Harrington.

We'll have to wait and see.

Photo from AP

Could this be the year?

"It's hard for me to sit here and tell you that [the Grand Slam] can't be done, because I've done it before," said Woods in a press conference on Tuesday. "It's just a matter of winning the right four at the right time. So hopefully it will start this week for me."

And so it was said. And so I must ask…

Could this be the year?

Should Bobby Jones' be gripping the champagne tighter than ever in his grave?

Let's face it. It's be 79 years since the last Grand Slam. The "Tiger Slam" doesn't count in my book and it never will, no matter how dominant Woods was during his stretch of four consecutive major championships.

Yet Tiger is healthy again. He is confident. His putter was flawless at Bay Hill. He is probably pissed off that he hasn't won the Masters since 2005. He is probably pissed off that he hasn't won the Masters every year since 1997.

When he wins, Nike makes commercials about his ball rolling gorgeously through its final revolution and remarkably falling into the cup. When he loses, he says, it's usually because he either drives it well or putts it well and doesn't do both in the same week.

So I ask again. Could this be the year?

Because I will never have the expertise or access of Sports Illustrated's Damon Hack, I'll let you be the judge. Charles Howell III, Tiger's neighbor, says he's driving it better than ever. Rich Beem says Tiger would have to play great off the tee and avoid the nasty rough at Hazeltine during this year's PGA Championship.

I would say that if Tiger were to win the Masters, the toughest challenge at Bethpage Black and the U.S. Open would simply be the crowds. It might be the first event in golf history where the entire gallery followed one group the whole weekend.

Common sense says you can't win the Slam if you don't win the Masters. So first things first.

I was fortunate to attend both the 2001 U.S. Open at Bethpage and the 2005 Masters, the last times that Tiger won at both courses on this year's major championship schedule. I would say they were the two best tournaments I've ever seen in person — probably even sporting events in general. Bethpage, without question, was the best, despite insanely heavy rains in the early rounds that made walking the gallery a complete and total mess.

Tiger thinks the Grand Slam is possible? But plausible? Like the Mythbusters say, it certainly seems plausible this year.

But first things first. There's a reason it hasn't happened in almost eight decades.

Photo from Fred Vulch/SI

Tiger talks; parings released

The pairings for the opening round at Augusta National have been released, and Tiger Woods will play with Stewart Cink and Jeev Milkha Singh on Thursday at 1:52 p.m. Eastern time.

The complete list of pairings can be found here. I am particularly intrigued by the group of youngsters playing together at 2:03 p.m. Eastern time, a pairing that includes both Anthony Kim and Irish teenager Rory Mcllroy.

The Masters Storylines

With the par-3 Tournament looming tomorrow, let's get some of this week's key storylines out of the way this afternoon.

I'll start with PGA Tour correspondent Helen Ross, who addresses the chances of a Paddy Slam and the impacts of a Tiger-proofed Augusta in this notebook.

After all his tragic failures on the world's biggest stage, Greg Norman is taking this week quite seriously after a strong week at the Shell Houston Open, writes Melanie Hauser. His son, Gregory, has the bag duty for Norman at Augusta.

Youth, of all things, has been the talk of Augusta this week, from Irish phenom Rory Mcllroy to 29-year-old defending champion Trevor Immelman. It seems everyone is trying to understand which star youngster will rise to the occasion in 2009.

The PGA Tour has created a "one-stop" source to comprehend all aspects of Tiger Woods' 66 career victories, from photos to a brief synopsis of each individual triumph. Will they add the 67th this week at Augusta on Sunday? Almost everyone over at the Sand Trap thinks so, with only one bold prediction of Stewart Cink in comparison to Woods majority confidence.

Immelman's relative lack of press and attention this week can only happen in "Tiger World," writes Sports Illustrated's Gary Van Sickle. His lead today was honest and accurate:

"This can only happen in Tiger World. Only here, near the epicenter of Tigermania, can a man remain off the radar after winning the Masters, the game's most glorious event."

Colleague Damon Hack leads this PGA Tour Confidential by pondering the following: Phil Mickelson toast this week following a brutal outing at the Shell Houston Open?

"He was my Masters pick, but now I'm worried," writes Hack.

I don't necessarily agree that Lefty's week will be forgettable at best. He traditionally plays pretty solidly at Augusta and some extreme work with Butch Harmon over the weekend should help to clear his mind and build confidence leading into Thursday's opening round. SI wondered Monday whether Mickelson is, in fact, overcoached. Many of the Top 100 teaching professionals in the country had some great insight in response to the magazine's question.

Golfweek.com has a great video feature about how to spend $6 on concessions at Augusta National. A slew of writers picked former Masters champion Zach Johnson in the category of "Ace up my sleeve" for fantasy golf purposes this week. One writer, Jeff Babineau, highlighted Johnson's skill with the flatstick as a reason to like the Cedar Rapids native's chances this week.

Calling the Champion's Dinner the highlight of the week, Immelman's menu included "babotie, a mincemeat dish, with chicken skewers called sosaties, a spinach salad, milk tart for dessert and wines from vineyards near his Cape Town home," according to the Associated Press.

Lastly, a writer from Canada.com says the Masters have lost that Sunday magic, highlighting one of the many predominant thoughts from greats like Gary Player this week.

Enjoy the links and I'll be back with more coverage Wednesday.

Favorite Sports Moment

While this is completely unrelated to the Masters coverage this week, our class today made me recall I column I wrote for The Daily Iowan before Father's Day weekend three years ago about my grandfather and an experience I shared with Earl Woods. I could not find a link on the paper's new archive system so I've simply pasted the text below.

It's hard to believe it was three years ago. It still seems quite vivid.

One Final Sunday

June 16, 2006

Just like any other summer Sunday, the rising sun glared fiercely down the dew-soaked fairway and onto the opening tee box. Three proud generations of my blood stood calmly together, having just watched my ritual pre-round drive soar into the waveless Mississippi. It was all the warm-up I needed for our weekly 7 a.m. start.

Off we went, two of us in a cart, my grandfather now a wise 82 and I a youthful 16.

Playing countless times on the peaceful course, I knew the speed of the greens and could aim with my eyes closed, just as I knew to avoid the daunting oak tree that guards the first pin. In position to make birdie with an easy wedge shot left onto the green, I hung my ball to the right and grimaced as the ruthless obstacle swallowed it up.

"That's just the way life is," he said.

A simple phrase that meant so much, it was always about more than golf with him. I knew him as Grandpa; friends called him Dicky. Lucky to break 100, he didn't care about where he hit it or what the scorecard read. Dicky cared about time spent with friends and absorbing the beauty of the game.

An occasional par would bring a chuckle and an unforgettable grin, as would an old naval war story or spirited political dispute. He spent Saturday evenings at church to spend Sunday mornings with us — Gabe, Fennelly, Skip, Herman, McGowan, Pete — sometimes even Delleman. I always loved that about him.

A slight breeze had picked up by the ninth, a gorgeous flower-laden tee overwhelmed in tranquility. I hit a pitching wedge onto the left side of the green, and there was no doubt in my mind what was coming next. Sure enough, out he trotted from the halfway house, a crisp red apple in his wrinkled palm.

"This is just delightful," he said to us.

I used to tell my dad I hated when Grandpa ate an apple, his thunderous bites and relentless chomping in my left ear. One quick nibble and it was over; that thing would last the entire back nine, if he wanted. As much as it annoyed me, it made me laugh, the old-timer crunching away in my backswing. It's something I'll always remember about those days.

*********

Two weeks after Tiger Woods turned pro, in 1996, he was a virtual lock to win his second PGA Tour event in what would be his last Quad Cities Open. Oakwood Country Club was swarmed with cameras and media personnel, all hoping to catch their first glimpse of future greatness.

That Sunday morning, my father and I rode in a limousine with Earl Woods, Tiger's late father, directly to the clubhouse to watch the final round unfold. Tellingly, the one stop we made along the way was to buy two packs of cigarettes for Earl, who later battled cancer and poor health caused by smoking.

On the back nine of his final 18, Tiger had a firm grasp on victory, needing only a few solid pars to win. I'll never forget the look in Earl's eyes as he watched Tiger collapse, making an unbelievable quadruple-bogey eight on a par 4 to take himself out of contention.

After the round, the two of them met in the clubhouse, Earl consoling and coaching Tiger about what had transpired. The thing is, I didn't see the Tiger who won 10 majors before he turned 30. I didn't see the dominating, fist-pumping Tiger that won the 1997 Masters by an astounding 12 shots. I didn't even see the untouchable superstar with the model wife that has it all.

I saw a father and a son, a coach and a player, two people who loved the game and what it gave them. His dad meant everything to Tiger, whether it was on or off the course.

Father's Day shares the spotlight with the U.S. Open this weekend, and I can't imagine what Tiger will go through in his first event since his father's death. Memories of being together on the golf course will come rushing back, and Tiger may be the only one mentally strong enough to take it. I will be rooting for Tiger, not just to win, but to pull through one of the toughest days of his life.

*********

As we came to the closing hole of our beautiful morning, I didn't know it would be the last Father's Day round I would ever play with my grandfather. He died last year, on June 14, 2005, the same week as my favorite holiday. I had played my final round with one of my best friends.

Needless to say, there was no Sunday round that week, only thoughts and memories of all the delightful times we shared. The stroke that took him happened at the one place he loved being most, on the golf course with his friends.

I only wish I had one more Father's Day and one more round with him.

Practice Round Slideshow

Golf.com has posted a slideshow of today's practice round and driving range action at Augusta National.

Gotta love the traditional all-white jumpsuits and green lids for the caddies. Gotta love Masters week.

If you want more, visit this slideshow on PGATour.com to check out continuous updates throughout the afternoon.

Can you smell the Magnolias yet?

Awesome Masters Videos

Here — get the chills again.



This was cool, too.



Who says the Masters are losing Sunday drama?

Lastly, Nicklaus' putt on No. 17 at the 1986 Masters.

Masters Week

Does this photo even need a caption?

It's Masters week, and that means blowout coverage from The Hunt, including the history, the course knowledge, and the favorite to win on Wednesday.

For now, let's start with the history, brought to you by The New York Times, which details what things make Augusta so great.

My favorite nugget from the piece?

"1970S PRICES Holding down concession prices is an Augusta compulsion. At what other major sporting event can one pay for a sandwich and a soft drink with $5 and still have change for a beer? Here, a sandwich is $1.50, a soda is $1 and a beer is $2."

It's pretty unbelievable. The best part about the sandwiches, including the famous "Pimento Cheese," is that they are packaged in green Saran Wrap so that if a spectator were to dump the garbage on the ground, it would blend in with the grass on television. Simply awesome.

I have been fortunate enough to attend the Masters twice, and it is, without question, the single best sporting event I've ever seen in person. The best day I had there was Saturday of 2005, when Tiger clawed back up the leaderboard during a 36-hole day, as rained had postponed Friday's round.

He eventually caught and defeated Chris DiMarco and it still stands as Tiger's last win at Augusta. The roars, the scenery, and the history really do make the Masters what they are.

Want more? Here's Jason Sobel's Weekly 18 — so packed with Masters and PGA updates that I cannot emphasize enough that you should read it sometime this week.

Also, let's make a note that the defending champion is Trevor Immelman. You will be able to watch exclusive bonus coverage of the Tournament, from Amen Corner to the famed 15th and 16th holes, here. The unique, only-at-the-Masters par-3 contest will be aired on ESPN Wednesday, as well as the first two rounds of the tournament.

CBS, as always, will carry the weekend coverage. Oh, by the way, Padraig Harrington is going for his third major in a row.

Just WATCH this video

That, my friends, is the most amazing golf hole that I have ever seen. As you'll notice, players must take a helicopter to the tee box, after which they hit down to the green. The ball flight, no lie, takes over 30 seconds. It's located at the Legends Golf and Safari Resort in South Africa and plays as the "19th" there. Get a hole-in-one and win a million bucks.

I might pay a million bucks to just play the hole.

Norman inks TaylorMade endorsement

I would not normally post about a sponsorship signing, but when it comes to 54-year-old Greg Norman signing with TaylorMade Golf, I must admit it sparks a special memory trigger for me.

I was interning with the company last summer when Norman first played the TaylorMade Red LDP ball at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, and finished in third place.

When Norman made the switch, he wanted a lower trajectory and ball flight for the windy conditions at Royal Birkdale, so he decided to grab of bag of TaylorMade balls and give them a try at the practice facility. The results, he says in the article above, were staggering, so he switched to the ball permanently for the week.

A year later, he finally has a formal contract with the company, including playing TaylorMade's new R9 driver and wearing the company logo on his hat during play at this weekend's Shell Houston Open and the upcoming Masters.

I remember how energized it felt in the office to learn that Norman — whose charisma made him the No. 1 draw in his prime, comparable perhaps with only a handful of guys including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods — was playing the ball at Royal Birkdale.

It made Sunday's final round all the more compelling with Norman contending again in a major, even nostalgic at times. That Open will always hold an especially memorable place in major championship lore, and it was interesting to hear such news about Norman's relationship with the company Tuesday.

I'm more excited than ever about Masters week and hoping to plan blowout coverage for the blog next week — 2-3 posts a day — including the always-exciting Sunday finish.

Back with more later this week. Special courtesy thanks to flickr user leonharris, whose photos (including Norman) can now be found twice above the fold on The Hunt. Good stuff.