The Kitty and the Big Snake

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"Hmmmmmmmmm,wondering if I'd hit that"

We had to know something was wrong when Cobra announced that they were "exiting the market for Tour level equipment" - as I wrote here when that was announced, something just did not smell right. Well, today the other shoe fell. Many reports had surfaced over the last several months that Puma was trying hard to get into the equipment business...and those reports have at last come true.

Puma announced today that it had reached agreement with Acushnet (parent company of Titleist, FootJoy, and Cobra) to acquire Cobra Golf. Acushnet bought Cobra for $700 MM in 1995, and Cobra reported sales of $200 MM in 2008. Using some middle of the road multiples on the deal, it's not likely that Acushnet made any real profit (especially considering they held onto it for 15 years...)

This deal raises some interesting questions relative to the players...

• Cobra has a very respectable stable of young guns (Villegas,Poulter, and JB Holmes) ...I can't imagine that Titleist is anxious to lose their connection with them, as all of them have won within the last year.
• Meanwhile, Puma's "face" on the Tour (Rickie Fowler) is a die hard Titleist loyalist from a hardware perspective (Driver,Irons,Wedges,Putter,Ball, Glove, etc). I will be curious to see if they apply any pressure to switch
• Finally, Puma's previous "face" on Tour, Geoff Ogilvy, has just switched from Cobra to Titleist this year...and I can't help but think there are some bruised feelings somewhere in there.
• Rumor has it that the Olsen twins somehow play into an outing with the next Cobra staff player to win. Somewhere, Camilo is smiling...

Anyway, I hope the deal is good for all involved. It's great to see an international brand like Puma enter the golf equipment business, as they will surely need deep pockets to play in that arena.

Sunday Doral Observations - Phil TCB

A few random observations for those of you who could not catch the final round of the WGC at Doral

- Tiger Woods (once again) displays amazing patience: Jimmy Roberts, immediately following Tiger's round asks him "how high is this on the frustration meter" ? Tiger. always cool, handles the question with class. (FWIW, the dude shot 7 under - not the winning score, but clearly a strong showing for his second event back)
- Jeev Singh is pretty much unflappable. He had a lot of chances to get really frustrated and he never seemed to bat an eyelash.
- Jim Furyk is ON FIRE on the last 6 holes...I am gonna attribute that to his change to a more stylish color palette this year (no more beige, thank God)
- Phil and Nick Watney are trading punches like two heavyweight boxers - it's really great entertainment. They are both playing some balls out golf...and looking a little worn out on the last few holes after a slugfest in the middle of the round.
- Watney has hit some magical shots today - ones which TW would envy...but he has also hit some I haven't seen since....I played Friday afternoon - some real stinkers for sure...
- Those are some REALLY FUNKY looking bunkers....and they are eating Watney up. Seriously, for a PGA player, his bunker shots are weak.
- Phil has a pretty good RIGHT handed swing - better than most you see in your weekend foursome.
- The NBC crew is pimping "Celebrity Apprentice" hard, and nary a mention of Natalie Gulbis being on the show...huh ???
- I get it that Rory is the next Sergio(or Tiger,Jack, Ben,Arnold, etc.), but damn he hit some ugly shots this week. The rough around the greens seemed to especially confuse him.
- Hard to figure the greens in South Fla not being in better condition than they are this week - lots of brown spots for a marquee track.
- For the ladies, Camilo is rockin' a RED belt today - matching his red shirt - Tigeresque, no ?
- To the dude who yelled "Go in the water" when Phil hit his tee shot on #18 - you suck - I hope you are making some new friends in the county jail tonight...
- #18, Phil leads by one - both he and Watney split the fairway with their tee shots. Both safely on (the fringe)....and PHIL WINS !!!!

The Official PGA "Talent Rankings" - according to Laci Underall

As many of you know, although I am the primary editor of Bushwood CC, I also have a guest editor - none other than the lovely and uber-talented Laci Underall. Laci is not only smoking hot, she is also a great golfer who can hold her own for 18 holes, and then hang with the best of us at the 19th hole - in other words, she is the PERFECT WOMAN. Since Bushwood is a great place for golfers of both sexes, I decided to turn the reins over to Laci for a post - on whatever topic she chose.

Being the kind of woman we all love, Laci has chosen to "rank the talent pool" on the PGA tour - from a uniquely female perspective.... So for all you female readers out there, here is the OFFICIAL PGA HOTTIE LIST, replete with specific "attributes" that Laci finds appealing (and for the guys, sit tight - Ty Webb and I are working on the LPGA list....ladies first, y'know. So, withou further adieu, I give you Laci Underall....

Laci: "Well Cash, I've put a lot of thought into this and as cliched as it may sound, "Hotness is in the eye of the beholder". I spoke to a number of girls who though my choices were "not up to par" ...so to speak... and I spoke to girls who find extreme sexiness in guys who leave me cold. I mean, since when did Heath Slocum ever make a girl's heart race? I don't know, maybe it's his last name...phuleez. So, before I even start I acknowledge that my hottest guys won't be everyone's. However they're boys who turn me on and I'm perfectly willing to tell you why.

The fourth runner up is:

Camillo Villegas - You knew he'd make the list, but you probably thought he'd come in at the top of it. Not in my book. There's no denying that Camillo is ripped, and he dosn't hide the fact .Those lips! Those BROWS! The HAIR. That smoldering latin gaze...This Columbian Casanova had us at "Hola" with his fashion flair. A man that can rock the White Belt gets two thumbs up in my book. He's the Anna Kournikova of Golf. the fact. But I can't help thinking of him as ...I don't know....fragile? To me Camillo is the type of guy you want to protect and that takes away a bit of his appeal. The fact that he still made the list shows that I'm pretty sure he could make up for that lost appeal in other ways.


Stuart Appleby - I like my Aussies and Stuart Appleby is one who's often overlooked where hotness is concerned. Sexy , shaggy, blonde bed head . . .Other Aussies get more buzz, well of course you're going to get buzz when you're a serial movie star dater, but Mr. Appleby is the real deal. A warm, rugged everyman who doesn't over expose his social life.


Stewart Cink - Second runner up is another Stewart with a different spelling and from a different continent. Stewart Cink is an old-fashioned American boy with Southern charm to spare. He's tall (6'4") and handsome and seems a perfect gentleman. But he's definitley got a wild side ... so far he's the only PGA player on Twitter. That's pretty daring if you ask me.


Tiger Woods - You didn't think a hottest golf list would be Tigerless did you? I mean, it's TIGER. Nuff said. No way any list of hot guys in any field could NOT include Eldrick Tiger Woods. The competetive nature, the fist pumps, the perfectly tuned body all of those things = major sexiness, but it's more that that. It's because he's Tiger Woods, and I think that's all I really need to say on the subject. Many will say he belongs at the top and I can sure see their point but when something too obvious, it's probably not going to be what we're ultimately "lusting" for.

And the Hottest?..you're probably wondering, and many will undoubtedly disagree ...strongly...but the winner, in my book is none other than ...


Sergio Garcia. He has a Tom Cruise/ Richard Gere thing happening that is definitely working for the ladies. No, I don't mean the brat who carried on for years when he didn't win I don't mean "el spoiled, sulky niño". The Sergio I'm talking about...the sexy Sergio.... is the grown up who only actually came to the game in '08. He's not afraid to laugh at himself and he's openly appreciative of his fellow players. His once neon colored outfits have been replaced by darker shades - notably signature black on Sundays. Another reason I'm calling this one for Sergio is that I think, despite a lackluster start, '09 is going to be Sergio's year. The year he wins a major. And I think it's going to happen at Augusta National, my that's just my opinion and I'll keep it to myself. I just know what I know and what I know is that el niño has finally become el hombre and in my book, that's Sexy.

A few Honorable Mentions:

• Andres Romero-Does Argentina make anything but super studs?
• Fred Couples-The thinking woman's sex symbol on the green. The bad back makes him fallible, attainable. We want to snuggle . . .
• Adam Scott- Aussie Aussie Aussie!! Smoking hot. Has a Heath Ledger-esque quality, hopefully sans the nasty drug problem. The guy oozes SEX. What's good enough for Kate Hudson is DEFINITELY good enough for us. We likey!
• Greg Norman- The Golden Boy of Golf. Come on.
• Aaron Baddely- A Cougar's delight. This young little bunny is just precious. Just fix that banged up grill and you're in business.
  
• Ian Poulter- The NEW Payne Stewart, Ian is like the Alexander McQueen of Golf--a fashion bad- boy. and we LOVE IT. As if we needed ANOTHER reason to check out his pants . . .
• Luke Donald-the Hugh Grant of Golf. We love his boyish looks and charm. And the painting thing gives him that sensitive -guy thing. Yummy.
• Retief Goosen- Channels Russel Crowe. Rough Rugged South African looks and . . .I just like saying Gooooooooooooosen with a throaty purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Laci: "Well, that's it, Cash - and I all worn out from this"

Cash: " "Ummm, Laci, you are, er, I mean you look sort of worked up ...

Laci: "Yes, and I think I need a smoke, too"!

Cash: "Ok, Laci - Thanks (thinking she should thank ME) I think that wraps us up here...your work is done"

OK GUYS - GET READY FOR THE "HOTTIES OF THE LPGA" COMING SOON - YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED !