Greg Norman is the first to wake up and smell the (7-11 brand) Coffee...

If you are like a lot of folks, you are just glad to have a steady source of income - and would not be totally pi$ed if your boss said, "we need you to take a pay cut in order to guarantee that you and ALL of your co-workers get to keep their jobs". Meanwhile, we read everyday that pro athletes are making ever increasing demands for even more millions of dollars (can you hear me 'Quan ? Manny ? ) - seemingly TOTALLY unaware of a worldwide recession that scares the hell out of most normal folks.

Well - SOMEONE in the pro athlete ranks has finally woken up to reality. Who is that someone ? None other than the Shark - Greg Norman.... According to a report out of Brisbane (that's in Australia, ya'll...), The Great White One states ``Prize money's being scaled back in Europe, I wouldn't be surprised if prize money's scaled back in the U.S. just out of respect to every citizen and taxpayer over there who's suffering dramatically,'' the two-time British Open champion was quoted as saying Wednesday on the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Website. ``It seems like on the PGA Tour the players are still playing for a million dollars first week, like they're recession-proof." He further states ``I think there's got to be a lot of sensitivity shown. If I was PGA Commissioner that's what I would be recommending.''

Hats off to Greg Norman for recognizing that we are now living in a VERY different world than even a year ago. As far as the rest of the pro athletes who have not figured this out yet - well, ya better look around dude. Remember, it all starts with the CONSUMER who creates DEMAND for your product or service.

Hmmm - maybe that 7-11 coffee doesn't taste so bad after all....

P.S. - Mr. Tim - are you listening ????

Night Putting with Laci Underall - The Cindy Morgan Interview

The title sounds like a cryptic line from "Wall Street" (think "Blue Horseshoe loves Anacot Steel) - but it's true... Cindy Morgan, the real Laci Underall of Caddyshack fame has recently been bitten by the Golf bug. For more insights into "Laci", what she has been up to, and her fond memories of making Caddyshack, keep reading, because Cindy was kind enough to sit down with us this week for a chat.

Believe me fellas, you will want to hear what she has to say-you may still have a shot...

THE INTERVIEW

Judge Smails: Welcome (back) to Bushwood, Laci - it's been a long time since we have seen you around here.

Cindy: Uh, my name is Cindy Morgan - Laci Underall was a CHARACTER that I played in the movie - by the way, why are your eyes glazed over ?

Judge Smails / Me: (coming to my senses) -uh, oh, of course....sorry. Cindy, thanks for taking time to talk to us here at Bushwood CC. Let's get started - sorry for that momentary lapse....

1. How did you get the role of Laci Underall ? Well, I am a Chicago girl, and prior to working in film I was an on-air radio personality at a Chicagoland station. After a while, I decided to try acting, so I moved to Los Angeles, hired an agent, and started looking for work. Believe it or not, I scored the Caddyshack role within my first 8 months in the business.
2. Who else was a candidate for the role ? As I understand it, there was one other strong candidate who had actually been promised the role - Sarah Holcomb (girlfriend of Brian Doyle Murray, and ultimately Danny Noonan's on-screen love interest Maggie). I did not find out about that until the last audition, and by then I had completely decided that I had to take an "all or nothing " approach to getting the role.
3. What is one thing that you have in common with Laci ? Hmmmm, that's a good one. Well, I went to Catholic School for 12 years, so I cannot say that I had a lot of "real life" experiences that would have rivaled Laci's. However, we all have a "fantasy side", and that's what I drew on to create Laci. Laci likes to have fun with people, and always keep them wondering what she will do next - she enjoys life to it's fullest. I am fortunate that people found me believable portraying that in the role.
4. Your character Laci personified "SEXY" for an entire generation of (us) men - how did that effect your personal life going forward ? Quite a lot,actually. I did not work for over a year after Caddyshack - and there is an interesting story behind that. When I took the role, I was also working as the "Irish Spring" girl in their commercials - so my image was very important. I was aware that the script has a nude scene in it - which I was ok with, because I knew that still photos could not be captured from the film(at that time), and that was all I was concerned about. Imagine my surprise when I heard that a Playboy photographer was going to be on set when we were filming the scene. The short version is that I put my foot down, and said that only the camera guy, the director, and the two people in the scene were going to be on set - or I would walk. I eventually won the argument - but it cost me. Any mention of "Laci" or Cindy Morgan was removed from the promotional materials, and I was sort of "black balled" in the business for a while, but I still know that I did the right thing.
5. When you are out in public, do people ever call you "Laci", or shout out old Caddyshack lines ? At the market - no, but at public appearances, people often call me "Laci". The Caddyshack references don't start until we get to the "back 9" in Charity events and the guys playing have had a couple (dozen) beers... it gets a little rowdy then !
6. Is Chevy Chase really that funny ? Absolutely - he is hilarious. I was very lucky to have most of my scenes with Chevy - he is a really smart guy and his wit as sharp on and off camera.
7. Do you play golf ? I JUST started 2 years ago. My putting and chipping are good, and I am working on hitting my tee shots better now...but I really enjoy playing.
8. Tell us something about filming Caddyshack that will surprise us : Caddyshack was filmed shortly after "Animal House" was released, and you probably noticed that there were a few folks in Caddyshack who were also in Animal House (trivia item - Dean Wormer's promiscuous daughter was none other than Sara Holcomb - aka Maggie, the Irish lass of Danny's affection). Filming Caddyshack was a bit like Animal House on the golf course - no one had ANY idea that the movie would be a hit, but we were all having a REALLY good time.
9. Men all over the world want to know what kind of guy snagged Laci Underall - tell us about him: I am still looking for Mr. Perfect - I've had a number of special people in my life - but have not found the right guy yet. (ed. note - she is still HOT !)
10. We all know that much of the script was improvised - tell us the funniest moment that you remember: Watching Ted Knight and Rodney Dangerfield work together was unbelievably funny. It was Rodney's first movie, and he was sweating every scene - nervous as could be. Ted was really getting into the whole "Judge Smails" thing (ed. note - I know, so was I). Probably the funniest thing was watching how Rodney (who was only originally supposed to have a cameo role) eventually stole the whole show, while Ted sort of smoldered - I think some of the frustration you saw the Judge express toward Al/Rodney was real !
11. You spent much of the movie in a very memorable outfit - a rather formfitting "tennis outfit" that made many a teenage boy feel....well, never mind, tell us about the outfit. SLOWLY : Ha Ha - you got a little nervous there yourself,Cash. Remember this was 1979, and women all over America were "braless and proud" - so my wardrobe was nothing that was uncommon at the time, it just seems to have "stuck" in the memory of a lot of people (ed. note - no shizz - more like BRANDED )
12. Two activities that Laci enjoyed - skinny skiing and attending bull fights on acid - which one is your favorite ? Ha - well, in real life I've done neither - but I am SURE that Laci was quite experienced at both of them...
13. Are you still a blonde ? Absolutely....
14. Who was your favorite cast member ? I really enjoyed working with a lot of them, but if I had to pick one, it would be Bill Murray. Watching him become "Carl" was simply hilarious.
15. Swimming pool scene - you wore a one- piece. Why wasn't was a bikini ever considered ? If you really think about Laci, she sort of took the "classic Country Club look" and then pushed the flirty side at every turn. The one- piece fit her personality - a bikini would have been too "obvious" for Laci. Plus, it's what the wardrobe folks wanted to use...(ed. note DAMN them!)

Cindy - Thanks for taking time to speak with us today. It has been a huge pleasure spending time with you. Check out more on Cindy here.

Mickelson takes fashion advice, torches Riviera

Earlier this week, Philly Mick broke out the WIDE white belt with his all black ensemble (perhaps to emphasize his new found "svelteness"???) - much to the chagrin of many people. He was taken to task for his attempt at fashion forwardness - after all, we expect Phil to remain the traditionalist. What's next, DL III in a visor and gel-spiked highlights ala Poulter ?

Phil was interviewed Friday night, and placed the blame for his fashion faux pas squarely on his wife. According to the Phil "Ame picks out all my clothes - they have these little animals sewed on the inside, and she just matches 'em up". Geez - after seeing her selection of footwear at the Ryder Cup this year, I'm not sure that's such a good idea.

On Saturday, Phil was back to a more traditional look (and a BLACK belt), and put a medieval style beat down on Riviera CC - scorching the field with a 62. In the post round interview, Phil attributed his success to the sage fashion advice he received from noted stylist to the stars, Shane B. Said Phil "I never knew how that WHITE BELT emphasized my, uh, pecs until Shane called me on it. I owe it all to him." When asked about his attire for tomorrow, he grinned slyly and said " Camo, baby, Camo"...

Bushwood CC - "Movin On Up"...

Not unlike George and Weezy Jefferson, we here at Bushwood are "movin on up" with a whole new look . It's not quite a "dee-luxe apartment in the sky", but it's damn close.

Hope you like it, because your dues are going up to cover the cost...

Many thanks to the talented folks at 22 Lilies designs - Jen, you are a sweetheart.

Vijay and Camilo will probably be wearing some different shirts REAL soon...

Stanford Financial, a key partner in the "Eagles for St. Judes" charitable endeavor (and sponsors of Vijay and Camilo) is in DEEP SHIZZLE.

According to the story on MSNBC:

Federal regulators on Tuesday charged Texas financier R. Allen Stanford and three of his firms with a "massive" fraud that centered around high-interest-rate certificates of deposit, and raided some of the companies' offices.

In a complaint filed in federal court in Dallas, the Securities and Exchange Commission alleged Stanford orchestrated a fraudulent investment scheme centered on an $8 billion CD program that promised "improbable and unsubstantiated high interest rates."

Stanford's assets, along with those of the three companies, were frozen. Stanford's firms include Antigua-based Stanford International Bank, broker-dealer Stanford Group Co. and investment adviser Stanford Capital Management, which are both based in Houston.

Read the rest of the story here

Look for more about our changing economy's impact on the PGA in an upcoming post...."the times, they are a changin'"

Old School Tuesday - "The Match" is a GREAT read.....

If you have not read Mark Frost's great book "The Match", I highly recommend you do one of two things immediately:
(1) Click this LINK and order it right now, or
(2) Get up from whatever you are doing, and motor down to the local bookseller and snag a copy.

Whether you are a "golf historian" or just a casual golf fan, this book completely rocks. It's the tale of a match play contest between two teams - Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson - two of golf's greatest players vs. two up and coming amateurs - Kenny Venturi and Harvie Ward. In addition to some very cool background info on the "Crosby Clambake" (now the ATT Pebble Beach Schlepapalooza), the book also includes a hole by hole account of this epic throwdown/showdown.

"The Match" was played at Cypress Point (the uber-exclusive Monterrey Peninsula private club), and really makes you feel like you are there - complete with detailed descriptions of some of the most beautiful and breathtaking holes in all of golf. The backdrop of the entire story,however, is the collision/conflict between the emerging Professional Tour and the whole "gentlemen's amateur" scene - very interesting and enlightening for anyone who cares about golf.

I'm reading the book now for the 3rd time, and it's as good as it was the first time. If you haven't read this one, get busy - you will enjoy the trip.


Sidenote - One of the really interesting things is to compare the REAL celebrities who used to play in the "Clambake" vs. some of the uh, "celebrities" that you saw last weekend. Let's just say that fat dude from "Mall Cop" and "Shankapotamus" Romano would not have been drinking martinis with Bing and his crew...

Michelle Wie melts down....and TGC cannot stop worshipping her

After 10 holes on Saturday, Michelle Wie held a 3 stroke lead in the SBC classic - that score buoyed by playing her 2nd round Friday well before the 40 mph winds and driving rain that confronted most of the field. She seemed headed for her first win since (I cannot believe this as I am typing it) 2003.

The announcers on TGC were practically wetting their pants with excitement. Every stroke she made was masterful, every decision ingenious, every step an advance for mankind. One of the announcers even rhapsodized about how "beautifully she placed the putter head behind the ball". Fortunately, I had not eaten all day, so there was nothing for me to throw up as I listened to this mass worship of all things Michelle. The on-air talent were practically enshrining her in the hall of fame as she walked off the 10th green.

Let's go to the videotape as the players head to #11:
Michelle: (looking down at her IPhone that is ringing) "Hello"
Voice from Iphone: "Hi Michelle, this is REALITY calling"
Michelle: "Hello Reality, you seem to show up at the worst times"
Reality:" "Yep, I guess I do."

Alas, once again, the gifted (former) child prodigy folded like a cardboard suit in a monsoon. Going into the 16th hole she TRAILED eventual champion Angela Stanford by two strokes - that's right folks...a FIVE STROKE swing in five holes. On 16, she had a 3 footer (yep, that's right, 3 feet) to get to within one stroke, and (you guessed it), she choked it left.

Off the tee at 17, clearly a driver hole, MW yipped a 3 wood into the shizzle - at this point, she is unraveling faster than a ball of yarn in a Kansas twister. A weak approach falls short of the dancefloor, into the bunker. After getting out of the bunker, and missing the par put, she trails by 3 going into 18 - 6 strokes in 7 holes. Nonetheless, the folks at TGC cannot stop yapping about MW - complete with a montage of her previous DQ's ,weak finishes, and withdrawls. After the tee shots at 18, they continued genuflecting at the shrine of MW....all while the WINNER is walking down the 18th fairway. This is f&^%*&# pathetic.

Wait - it gets WORSE. The First interview by TGC (nice work, Steph) is with, NOT THE WIINNER, but with MW. Finally, when we get to Angela's interview, the 2nd question is "what did you think about playing against MW" ? Just SHOOT me...it cannot get any worse than this. I finally just changed the channel (sorry advertisers, blame the IDIOTS at TGC for ignoring the winner,,,)

This complete meltdown possibly surpassed Van de Velde's at the Open Championship. Once again, the exalted one failed to close. I've said it before, and will continue to say it - until she actually WINS something, can the media please shut up and focus on the other players who have MORE talent AND WIN ! I really hate to sound so anti anyone - but there are so many other richly deserving players on the LPGA tour who get no mention whatsoever.

CONGRATS to Angela Stanford who showed skill,guts, and chutzpah in closing out like a CHAMP...

Well, maybe the Spendulus plan has a few coins in there for LPGA marketing for players who have shown the ability to close the deal....

Interesting footnote - winner Angela Stanford wore (almost) the exact same outfit as she did when she won the Ochoa event last year - so expect to see her in a lot of blue shirts on Sunday this year...

Interesting footnote #2: What pro golfer has won three of their last seven starts ? If you guessed Angela Stanford, you win the prize. Gee, doesn't it seem like some major media outlet would be talking about THAT ????

This says something, I'm just not sure what....

VS.

Anyone who watched, reads about, or listens to golf news has heard about the comments made last week by LPGA golfer Anna Rawson. While being interviewed on Australian radio, she made some rather provocative remarks concerning the LPGA, it's makeup (or lack thereof), and the caliber of play taking place on the tour. Her comments were quite direct, and her tone seemed to lack malice - nonetheless, the PC gestapo are on her like a duck on a June bug

There has been plenty written about what she said, and if you believe the press, she should be drawn and quartered....banished completely and forced to write "I will never speak my true opinion again" a thousand times on a chalkboard. Well, now come these results from an online poll (still active) on Fanhouse.

Do you find Anna Rawson's remark offensive?

No	73%
Yes	27%

Total Votes: 39,522

Do you think the LPGA has improved?

Yes	84%
No	16%

That's right, 3 out of every 4 people had NO PROBLEM with what she said, and more than 4 of 5 people feel that the LPGA HAS improved. Admittedly, the viewership of Fanhouse is decidedly male, and men are not the "gender who may have been offended by her remarks". However, those statistics are pretty overwhelming...perhaps the general public really DOES think differently than the mainstream media....hmmmm, imagine that. Can the Apocalypse be far behind ???

Finally.... A Great Move by the LPGA - a Threesome

Carolyn Bivens, LPGA Commissioner, announced today the formation of a three piece band. The band will perform live at LPGA venues each week, and will have the reigning champion of each event as the lead singer for each week's performance. Said Bivens "we feel that this is a unique and effective marketing strategy to promote and grow the LPGA into more than a golf organization - we want to be full service entertainers".

Ok, so I was kidding a little......

In the past, I have demonstrated that I am (a) a big fan of the LPGA, and (b) a frequent critic of LPGA management (hello, Carolyn....) and their seemingly short sighted moves. Well, lock the doors and hide the children, because the times area a changin'! As reported at ESPN earlier today, the LPGA has made a Great Move.

The announcement of a 10 year deal between the LPGA and the Golf Channel will provide a stable home for LPGA tournament broadcasts, as well as a consistent, highly visible canvas upon which they can showcase their talent outside of the events- who knows, maybe they will teach Andy McGee some manners to boot ! Here's a wish for them that this is only the first in a string of smart business moves...I've got my fingers crossed, my mojo in my pocket, and a chicken tied to a stake out back, just in case ...(that's a Santeria riff, if you are wondering)

Bridgestone B330 RX - Product Review

In late 2008, Bridgestone introduced a new ball - the B330RX. According to the media hype, this marks the first attempt by a golf ball manufacturer to create a "Tour" caliber ball that is specifically made for amateur swing speeds (85 - 105 mph). Up to this point, the only way for the average duffer to get the distance, spin, and feel of a "Tour" ball was to play one which was manufactured for swing speeds of 105 mph+ (Pro V1, Pro V1x, TM Red & Black, Callaway Tour, etc)

Bridgestone says the DNA of the B330 Rx has the following genetic traits:

* Driver Distance - LONGEST (6 on a 6 point scale)
* Drive Spin - LOW (1.5 on a 6 point scale)
* Short Iron Spin - HIGH (5 on a 6 point scale)
* Feel - SOFTEST (6 on a 6 point scale)

The 330 RX is a urethane, multilayer ball with a soft gradational core. The softer core is the reason for this ball is better suited to "amateur" swing speeeds - as it allows for the right amount (read "more") compression. This is also engineered to allow for a higher launch AND less spin off the driver. The soft urethane cover provides both the high short iron spin, and (obviously) the soft overall feel of the ball .

Having played the Pro V1x, TM Red and Black, and the Bridgestone B330 S in the recent past, I was quite interested in giving this ball a try. I like Bridgetone products, but always drifted back to the Pro V1x as my preferred ball. All of this sounded too good to be true for me, which is a sure fire way to get me to try it out. Here are the results after playing the ball for the last 3 months:

Off the Tee: I compared the B330 Rx to a Pro V1x, and a Taylor Made Red for 6 rounds of golf - my swing speed fluctuates between 90 and 100 mph, so I figured to be a good test subject. In terms of distance off the tee, the Bridgestone was equal to or slightly longer than the Pro V1x, and generally longer than the TaylorMade Red. The ball flight of the Bridgestone tended to be more penetrating than either the Titleist or TM. The lower driver spin is where the Bridgestone really distinguished itself, as I found the 330 RX to be significantly straighter and less likely go astray than either of the other two balls. Another measure, albeit relatively crude, but nonetheless accurate - the B330 Rx was much harder to lose than either the Titleist or the TM. I play on a tight, tree and woods lined course with plenty of opportunities to hit one 10 feet off the fairway and lose it in the leaves - and I found that the B330 RX was much less likely to offline than either of the other balls. Oddly, I did not initially think to "measure" this - I just noticed repeatedly that I would be on the 15th or 16th hole and still be playing with the same ball that I started with...and it would be in good shape. Overall score off the tee: A +

Mid Iron & Hybrid Play: The B330 RX performed comparably with both the Pro V1x and the TM Red on Mid Iron and Hybrid shots (3H thru 7I). Distance, trajectory, and feel were virtually the same, with the B330 RX feeling a wee bit softer than the Pro V1x. Overall Score on Mid Irons: A

Short Irons ,Wedges, and Spin: The B330 RX performed admirably on Short Irons and Wedbe Shots (8I thru LW). Trajectory seemed a bit flatter than the TaylorMade, and comparable to the Titleist. I was able to spin the B330 RX with all of my scoring irons, and I found the performance to be predictable. On "full" shots with my gap wedge through lob wedge (50 degrees to 58 degrees), the Pro V1x did a spin a wee bit more than the B330 RX - so if you value spin over all other things, the Pro V1x has a slight advantage here - otherwise, the Bridgestone is a great performer. Overall Score on Short Irons : A

Feel off the Putter : The B330 RX was comparable to both the Pro V1x and TM Red on the green, providing a great feel off the putter head. It has a nice alignment "line" , and felt nice on both long and short putts. I did not notice the cover to be susceptible to unusual wear - which is nice for a "Softer" ball. Overall Score on Green Performance : A+

Overall Analysis: I can't be anymore direct than this - I switched to the Bridgestone B330 RX as my preferred ball. I found that I gave up no performance, and gained greater accuracy (and perhaps some distance) off the tee due to lower driver spin. If you are a someone who is willing to pay for a "Tour" caliber ball ($38-$45 per dozen), and have a "normal" swing speed (85-105), I highly recommend these balls. Give 'em a try - I do not think you will be disappointed. Overall Score: A+

For more info on selecting the right ball, check out Bridgestone's online tool here.

Coming Soon - Guest Editor Laci Underalls Ranks the Field....

Our guest editor Laci Underalls (and my niece) is working on a story for next week called "PGA Hotties", in which she examines the Tour talent pool from a uniquely "female" perspective. I've given her free rein to call 'em how she sees 'em - God help us all.

If you want to drop Laci a line, she can be reached at bushwoodcartgirl@gmail.com. Until then, I suggest you purchase the latest issue of Maxim immediately.

P.S. - As a matter of fact, she DID change the spelling of her first name ;-)

Stack & Tilt - Month One

Earlier this month, I wrote that I would be attempting to change to the "Stack and Tilt" swing method in 2009. Although I had read many posts,articles, and comments about the S&T, to my knowledge no one had chronicled their attempts to use this swing "method" to improve their game. I thought this represented a unique opportunity here at Bushwood to share my experiences - so saddle up your ponies folks, the rodeo has begun.

In preparation for this "project", I read and re-read both of the "Stack and Tilt" articles. ordered the DVD set, which I've watched twice (the first DVD,anyway... ).

January Recap
The weather here in Alabama was pretty mild in January, so I was able to get out and play a few times. My general observations after these few rounds:

• Employing ALL of the facets of the S&T swing will take quite a bit of time, effort, practice, and re-reading and re-watching the DVDs.
• Having said that, I found certain elements of it fairly easy to perform and can be readily incorporated into your game.
• One of the key premises of the "method" is to start with 55 percent of your weight on the front foot, and continually increase that throughout the swing - always moving forward. I found this easier to do than it sounds, and it quickly helped my ball striking.
  
• Another central element is a very steep takeaway which is very much "around the body", and abandons the idea of taking the club back along the target line. I also found this quite easy to perform.
  
• Unquestionably, the S&T has resulted in an immediate improvement in my iron shots. My distance improvement was a full club, my trajectory has improved (flatter), and my accuracy is much better.
• Here are some stats: I am a 10 handicapper, and last year averaged 5 GIR per round (yes, I scramble pretty well...). Thus far, using the S&T, I have had 10,6, and 8 GIR in the 3 rounds I played. Using S&T, 90% of the misses are to the left. Definite improvement here.
  
• The S&T changes will require some modifications to your driver swing, which is where the biggest weight shift typically occurs. I am working through these, and the progress has been quite rapid- so I would not let this discourage you. The biggest challenge with the driver is the pace at which you shift the weight to your front foot - if you are a bit too aggressive in this move, you will pull your tee shots left.

Golf Digest Articles and The DVD Set

As I mentioned, I obtained all information that was available before I undertook this project. The articles are great, and if I had to choose only one between the articles and the DVD, I would pick the articles. The DVDs are full of information - however, it is a little difficult to follow. It's not that Plummer and Bennett are not smart guys - they are; it is that whoever scripted and produced the DVD did a poor job in making it user friendly. Most instructional DVD's come with an intro, walk you thru an outline of what you will cover, and then go chapter by chapter. Not this one - its more like getting you your skateboard and grabbing onto a Porsche. Before you think I am too harsh, let me say this - If you are just curious, read the articles...but if you really want to give S&T a try, buy the instructional DVDs as well. Your likelihood of success will be greatly increased if you have both resources.

Anyway, that's it for the first update, but as Ben Crenshaw once said, "I have a good feeling about tomorrow. That's all I'm gonna say."...

Ping Golf - A Stand Up Group of Folks...

On Sunday, I blasted Mark Calcavecchia for his comments about having to play with "Chops" in the Pro-Ams. I encouraged the members of Bushwood to contact his sponsors and let them know how we felt about his comments.

Being someone who likes to lead by example, I decided to call Ping Golf directly and voice my opinion.

I talked to a couple of folks there, and quickly got a call back from the guy who handles PGA relationships (Chance). He was aware of the comments, but offered no official response. That's totally cool with me - I have no beef with Ping, and no desire to hang this on them. I AM, however, super impressed with the responsiveness of the folks at Ping. To each of the folks I spoke with there, a tip of the hat, and the next cold one is on me.

A picture of one of my favorite Ping players, Hunter Mahan, is shown above....

An Open Letter to Mark Calcavecchia from one of the "Chops"

Dear Mr. Calcavecchia,
I read the following quote that you made about playing with "chops" this week: "Of course, it will be nice to play golf [Thursday] with two other pros for a change. Jesus. Five days in a row of chops. Four days at the Hope--mind you, they were all a bunch of nice guys, but I've seen enough bad shots in the last five rounds I've played to last me all year."

To hear you speak with such distaste and contempt for the very people who made your millionaire lifestyle possible is sickening. Maybe your years of living a lifestyle of excess (as is obvious by your physique) has also made you soft between the ears. It is difficult to imagine a PGA player making such insensitive,crass remarks in the face of the erosion of the gravy train of corporate sponsorships - yet there you are, insulting us all. Perhaps you have forgotten a couple of basic economic concepts -maybe you were not in econ class the day we learned these

(1) Your sponsors (the people who put their name on your hat) make golf equipment - that is called "Supply". The people that buy that equipment...it's us "Chops" who you are so tired of dealing with - that is called "Demand". No demand, no need for supply, no name on your hat, no cash in your pocket. Capische ?
(2) The people who sponsor the events you play in - they sell stuff - cars, banking services, houses, etc. Supply again... Who buys that stuff ? Who creates the demand...Maybe you guessed it by now - it's us Chops again.

So you see, Mark, your livelihood (even though you have already made more money that most of us Chops can imagine) is inextricably linked to us Chops.

Now before I am done with this rant, let's contrast your attitude with that of the LPGA. That's the tour where they play for a lot less money, the players sign autographs with a smile, they are NICE to the fans, and they never complain about playing with us Chops. That's where I will be spending my hard earned cash - where I am appreciated a little.

In closing, I hope that one day, when I am old and gray, I see you face to face...and you say to me, with a smile, "would you like fries with that, sir"...

P.S. - Calcavecchia's sponsors include Ping, Titleist, and Foot Joy. If you are as disgusted by his arrogant and disrespectful comments as I am , please let his sponsors know.