Golf's #1 Player Still has Heroes

Tiger Wood's autograph is arguably a highly sought-after item. Those of us who have seen him at tournaments knows that he doesn't sign much.

Woods has a deal with Upper Deck to ensure the authenticity of items he does choose to sign. So, if you are Tiger Woods, do you place any value in anyone else's autograph? The answer is yes.

Woods asked an Upper Deck official if he ever ran into Sandy Koufax, the baseball Hall-of-Famer, who pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers, would he get Tiger an autograph. Upper Deck delivered a baseball with a personalized inscription.

It actually was Woods' second autograph he coveted. The first was Muhammed Ali. 12 years ago, Woods asked Ali himself for an autograph. Ali gave him a pair of signed boxing trunks. A similar pair sell on ebay for $1,500.

Merry First Christmas, Sam Woods!!

Merry Christmas to Sam Woods!!

Merry Christmas to all golf fans!

Trevor Immelman Undergoes Surgery

The 2006 PGA Rookie of the Year, Trevor Immelman, underwent surgery in his native country, South Africa, in order to correct a nagging rib problem.

In 2006, Immelman set a record for rookie earnings with $3.8 million.

In April, 2007, Immelman contracted a stomach ailment and lost 30 pounds.

Immelman was scheduled to have a bone spur removed from the rib cage. It will require muscle to be moved to access the rib. The issue was so problematic that he withdrew from the South African Airways tournament. He had won the event twice before. According to published reports, he was having extreme pain when swinging and pain when breathing.

He plans to strengthen in time to play in the Buick Invitational in San Diego in late January.

Immelman celebrated his 28th birthday on December 16.

Kapalua Without Three Big Names

For the third consecutive year, Tiger Woods is skipping the winners-only Mercedes Benz Championship at Kapalua.

Phil Mickelson has not played the event since 2001 and is not expected to play in 2008 either. The British Open Campion, Padriag Harrington, will also skip the event. Abu Dhabi will Harrington's first event in the new year.

The Mercedes Benz Championship is the first event of the PGA Tour season for 2008. Only champions from the 2007 season are invited to play. The event will be broadcast on The Golf Channel from Thursday, Jan. 3 thru Sunday, Jan. 6.

Win a Coaching Session with Tiger Woods' Coach

Do you think your game would improve if you had an opportunity to train with Hank Haney, a champion golf coach, who is probably best known as Tiger Wood's coach.

Gillette is giving away some great prizes. Instant prizes also include Nike Golf Balls, a Nike Golf Club set signed by Tiger Woods. Visit http://www.gillettechampions.com/ before February 29, 2008 to enter. You must be a resident of the United States.

Sabbatini vs. Tiger conflict makes return at Target

It's been a long year of bickering between Tiger Woods and Rory Sabbatini. Interestingly, it seems Rory is one of the only men to get Tiger to really come out of his shell, despite years of coaching for Tiger to become a marketing gold mine.

Of course, Rory doesn't have much to lose in attacking Tiger in any way he can. Sabbatini, a young South African who has found moderate success on Tour after several seasons, told golf fans early this season that he, "Likes the new Tiger." Rory, who has not always used his best judgment (he once walked off the course playing alone because of Ben Crane's slow golf), has called out Tiger on numerous occasions, including signing up to play with Tiger on a Wednesday practice round at the US Open at Oakmont Country Club.

In the latest saga, Rory entered Sunday in dead last place in the 30 man Target Word Challenge field. The event, which is hosted by Tiger Woods each year in California, bring together some of the world's most talented and popular golfers. However, Rory chose not to appear on Sunday, which many believe to be a shot at Tiger himself.

According to ESPN.com, "A locker-room attendant, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release information, said Sabbatini cleaned out his locker Saturday afternoon and gave away sweaters and shoes. He told them he was headed to Maui, where he spends his Christmas vacation."

Sabbatini still took home his $170,000 check for playing, but has lost his dignity in the eyes of many PGA Tour players. As Fred Couples said, "He's messing with the wrong guy."

Choke Alert: Els blows up on 18th at Dunhill Championship

This week was meant to be a confidence boost for the world's fifth best player: a weak field in his home country. However, South African golfer Ernie Els has anything but confidence after coasting into the final hole of the Dunhill Championship with an almost guaranteed victory, but walking off the hole with an 8.

Yes, in true Jean van de Velde fashion, Els approach to the green found water twice leading to major frustration by the three time Dunhill champion. After the lousy finishing hole, Els was left one stroke behind John Bickerton of England and Els' fourth title in the event.

Bickerton, who fired an astounding Sunday 68, was extremely surprised to find out he had won the event. According to ESPN, Bickerton was no longer watching the tournament as Els limped his way to the green, and was even hoping to finish in second place. "I'm in shock. I was just around the corner talking to a cameraman and I thought I might have a chance of finishing second."

Poor Big Easy.

The Big Break's Tommy Gainey heads for the PGA Tour

A champion of The Golf Channel's The Big Break, Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey will be heading to the PGA Tour in 2008. Gainey, who gained notoriety for always playing golf wearing gloves on both his left and right hands, finished the PGA Tour's Qualifying School in the top 25 to gain guaranteed access to the PGA Tour in 2008.

Gainey, who started his 6th round well in the lead of the cut line, limped out of qualifying school with a scary 77 on the final day of play. However, Gainey, who won the Big Break all star series, would still have qualified with a 78.

Par 3 Contest at the Masters to be televised in 2008

Sure, some aspects of the Masters, golf's first major tournament of the PGA Tour season, will always elude the general public. The azaleas may be died, logic behind calling gallery members "patrons"may be confusing, but one more secret kept from the public will surface.

This week, ESPN announced that the sports media giant will televise the 9 hole Par 3 tournament, which occurs annually on Wednesday before the Masters. The event, played on a 9 hole course on the Augusta National grounds, features a crowd friendly atmosphere with many of golf's greats participating in this fun event.

Of course, the Par 3 Contest has never made it to television before, overshadowed by the hoopla of golf's great event. According to ESPN President George Bodenheimer, "ESPN looks forward to bringing the Par 3 Contest to a national television audience for the first time. Fans will now be able to watch many of the greatest names in golf, past and present, as they enjoy a fun day of golf with friends and family."

The contest will air on ESPN during 3-5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on April 9th, 2008.

Tiger's wife, Elin Nordgren, gets justice

During the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club in Ireland, controversial nude photos appeared in The Dubliner of Tiger's wife, Elin Nordgren. The former model, who had participated in bikini shots before becoming a nanny for a PGA Tour star, was deeply offended by the fake naked pictures.

However, the Irish tabloid paid Nordgren substantial damages as a result of the libel charge in an Irish court. The official figure has not been released, but witnesses in the court room say the tabloid will pay $182,000 over two years.

Of course, being that Nordgren is currently enjoying a happy marriage with sport's richest man, she decided to use the money for a charitable cause. In memory of European Tour star Darren Clarke's wife, who died in 2006 from breast cancer, Nordegren will donate the damages in her honor.