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Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Is change good or bad?
The PGA Tour decided to drastically change their schedule in 2007 in conjunction with the Fedex Cup. Some of the bigger changes are obvious, like the move of the Players Championship to May or the "playoff" tournaments at the end of the year that will give us our first Fedex Cup champion.
Some of the smaller changes, though, may slip by. Changes like in February when Fred Funk won in Mexico. Or changes like the realignment of the southern swing through Florida. Never has it started with the Honda...and even that was moved to a new course last week. These changes are forcing the "established" player to figure out a new course to warm up for the majors. Many would play for two weeks, then take a week off, then appear again at that little tournament in Augusta. Now, however, these players can't rely on going to the same tournament at the same course to get themselves in a groove. Case in point, Phil Mickelson always made a point of playing in the Bellsouth Classic in Georgia the week before the Masters. He even won the tournament the last two years and three of the last seven. Now that tournament (now called the AT&T Classic) won't be played until May. What will Phil and others do to get themselves ready for the first major?
The younger, unproven players have certainly been able to benefit from the changes though. Mark Wilson won the Honda Classic last week. I know that I had no idea who Mark Wilson was...and if you did you watch far too much golf. Apparently three of the four players who got into the playoff were recent Nationwide Tour grads. Wonderful news for the future of the PGA Tour, but a contributing factor was that the "big 5" weren't there. It either didn't fit their schedule or they didn't like the course or any number of other reasons.
Golf is like life in so many ways. Changes come and we all have to adapt to the change and figure out a new course to take. Some pick and choose because they're able, while others take every new opportunity and try to make the most of it.
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Monday, February 12, 2007
Lefty's grand entrance in '07
"PHIL MICKELSON IS BACK!" Everywhere you looked and everything you heard yesterday reflected the same mantra. And yes, Lefty's game seems to be firing on all cylinders. He even looked a few pounds slimmer (note to all those tournaments that give laundry as part of the prize....alterations may be necessary). Based on this week's performance, it looks like Phil is back on the express and headed for his second attempt at winning back-to-back green jackets.
But, and be honest, what is the first thing you think about when someone says Phil Mickelson? There was a time that we thought how much talent he has or what his career would be like. Then he got the BPNTWAM (best player never to win a major) and we tried to figure how long it would be until he finally got his first. Mickelson is now a three-time winner in the majors and it's safe to assume that, since last June, that's not the first thought that comes to mind.
The Mickelson meltdown. Blowing the lead on the 72nd hole of the U.S. Open when only a par is needed from one of the top-ranked golfers is what pops up first. The visual of the body english he tried to put on his drive when, in reality, he didn't need to hit that club. Mickelson will have to live with the "what-ifs" for the rest of his life. He says that the U.S. Open is the one tournament he wants to win more than any other. He's had close finishes in the past (Pinehurst, Bethpage and Shinnecock to name a few), but 2006 was his....and he let it get away.
It's great that Phil is back and his game looks as healthy as ever. He is one of the best golfers of any era. He has won three majors and can win more. He can win the inagural Fedex Cup and be the Player of the Year. But that's not how we'll remember him...at least not until he avenges the Mickelson meltdown at Winged Foot and becomes a U.S. Open champion.
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Monday, February 05, 2007
Tiger's winning streak???
What winning streak! The last time I saw Tiger he was coming in somewhere other than first out in the desert of Dubai. There's been match play events where he was beaten (Shaun Micheel) and other events in countries other than the U.S. I believe that a streak is a streak. You don't qualify it by saying it's a "PGA Tour" streak. Something tells me that Byron Nelson would not have thought of it this way even if he had so many "non-PGA Tour" events in his schedule. To Tiger's credit, he references the defeats at the same time he's discussing his current streak. This streak is about as contrived as the "Tiger-Slam". Don't get me wrong. Tiger's achievements are remarkable and he will go down as one of the greatest to play the game, but let's have Tiger and everyone else live up to the "streaks" and "slams" that have been around for generations before we create any more terms for their accomplishments.
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Saturday, January 27, 2007
Busy days at the PGA show
Being an exhibitor at a trade show can be an interesting experience, and the 2007 PGA show is more interesting than most. Of course some of the biggest club manufacturers are at the show with what they believe is the latest and greatest technology you can get to improve your game. The top names in the golf clothing industry are here to and they'll be happy to tell you why their shirt will keep you drier or what the "IT COLOR" will be on the course this spring. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to talk any of these companies into any free samples (because anyone could use a new driver or a moisture-wicking shirt).
There have also been some golf-celebrity sightings as well. Jim Furyk and Annika Sorenstam were here along with Butch Harmon and Jim McLean. No Tiger sightings, but I think it would have been difficult to get from California to Florida for an appearance, even for him.
But for the most part, these are not the people that make us the vast part of the PGA show. It's the smaller vendor; the company that relies on these shows to get their latest products into the hands of the retailer or PGA pro. From the golf carts to the gloves to the ball retrievers....it's all here and there's a lot of it. By one estimate the exhibition hall reached about 3/4 of a mile end to end.
Now, when you have that many vendors in such a large arena, they'll do just about anything to get you to stop at their booth. Most vendors have some sort of giveaway (candy, pens, etc). Others take it a step further and have flashing lights and searchlights trying to steal the retailer's attention. Then we get to the girls. Whether they are actual employees of the company (most aren't) or paid models, they get the intended result. People tend to maybe linger just a little longer, even if the product does not suit their needs.
The PGA show has been a rousing success for us and we're sure countless other retailers and vendors. Good luck to all in 2007!
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Thursday, January 25, 2007
Notes from the 2007 PGA Show-Day 1
By the looks of it, 2007 is going to be a banner year in the golf industry. The newest clubs, bags, balls and anything else you can imagine is all on display for members of the PGA to check out. You can't help but take a look at some of the hottest stuff (even if some of it might look a little strange). And the best part, it'll all be coming to a pro shop or retailer near you very soon....if it's not there already. Who needs Christmas when you have the PGA show??!
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Monday, January 22, 2007
Welcome to the Revolution!
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It's quite an exciting time at GolfBlueBook.com (GBB)! First, we're revolutionizing the trade-in industry by bringing the concept of competition back to trade-ins. GBB offers a network of some of the largest golf wholesalers all vying for your trade-in. This guarantees you some of the best trade-in values available in the industry.
But it's not only trade-ins. With a few simple clicks you can look at a particular club and see what the auction value is or read some of the golfer reviews and see what others thought. Even better, feel free to join into some of our forums. Trade opinions with other golfers on the hottest topics or ask for opinions before making that new club purchase. We want to provide you with as much information as possible so you can make the best buying decision.
So take a look around and get a feel for the place. We hope you'll want to call GolfBlueBook.com your new online golf home.
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Thursday, January 04, 2007
Advice from Ty Webb
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I'm going to give you a little advice. There's a force in the universe
that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with
it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball.
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