Rascal Flatts to Host Academy of Country Music Celebrity Golf Tournament

The Fifth Annual Academy of Country Music Celebrity Golf Tournament will be held on May 17th at the Tournament Players Club in Las Vegas. The Hosts of this year's event will be Rascal Flatts.

100 golfers will participate in the sold-out event.
Founded in 1964, the Acadeny of Country Music is an artist and industry-driven organization, that provides the financial resources to ensure the on-going philanthropic work of its Charitable Fund. The Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund promotes and supports music education and humanitarian programs that transform the human spirit. Through its charitable donations, the ACMCF works towards promoting Learning Through Music and Healing Through Music. The Academy is comprised of more than 4,500 professional members and more than 40,000 associate members and is headquartered in Encino, Calif.

Joe Don Rooney, a guitarist and vocalist with the band Rascal Flatts, is ranked #10 in the Golf Digest list of the top musicians who play golf.

Parallel? New England's Loss and Golf's Grand Slam

While the sports of golf and football seem to have little in common outside of wide fan bases and their athletes' deep pockets, there could be some similarity. Last night, the New England Patriots, of course, fell to the New York Giants on arguably sport's grandest stage: the Super Bowl.

Relevance? For those of you who do not follow the National Football League (ZealousGolfer.com has a surprisngly large non-American audience), the Patriots were pursuing a perfect season: 16-0 in the regular season, a flawless postseason. However, the Giants were able to spoil the Patriots spot in the record books by winning a hard fought battle in Phoenix, Arizona (which, by the way, attracted massive crowds yet again when hosting the PGA Tour's FBR Open).

Interestingly enough, golf's greatest champion, Tiger Woods, has set a similar goal for himself during the 2008 season: complete golf's first professional grand slam. To do so, Tiger would have to fend off four great fields, dominate four tough courses, and continue to play at his best through this entire season.

As the Patriots illustrated, winning against the best for that long isn't easy. Of course, Tiger did not enter this season with three consecutive Associated Press Athlete of the Year titles for nothing.

This Week on ZealousGolfer.com: Super Bowl Sunday

This week, appearing on ZealousGolfer.com:

* Brand new product reviews of:

-SeeMore's mSeries Putter

-Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 for Nintendo Wii

-The Putting Arc

*Coverage

-AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

And more...

Tiger Woods Secures 72nd Win

Despite starting the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic four strokes behind the leader, Tiger Woods proved why he's ranked #1 in the world. His fourth round was a 7-under 65.

His game was helped when Ernie Els, the leader after round 3, put his ball in the water on the 18th hole.

The win was Tiger's 5th consecutive win and his sixth win in 8 starts. He earned more than $400,000 for the victory.

Ernie Els Surges to Take Lead in Dubai

South African Ernie Els (ranked #5 in the world) had five birdies and an eagle to move up from 5th place after round two to first place after round three at the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates. His round was electric with a 7-under 65.

Els actually set the course record with an 11-under 61 in 1994. He has won this even three times. Els opened "THE ELS CLUB" this week in Dubai. Located in Dubai Sports City, the Ernie Els designed golf course is 7,538 yards. It is the fifth course Els designed and the first in the Middle East.

Defending champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden is one stroke behind the leader.

Tiger Woods had a more challenging day and is now four strokes out of the lead and in a 6 way tie. Among the five are Sergio Garcia and Damien McGrane of Ireland. The cameras have been a consistent issue. On the 8th hole, Woods yelled at a professional photographer who took a shot during a backswing. Marshalls ejected a few fans for inappropriately taking photographs.

Damian McGrane, #319, to play with Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods shot a one under 71 in the second round to maintain the lead at the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates.

Conditions were extremely difficult. Winds blew in excess of 30 MPH and constantly pelted golfers and fans with sand in the face, eyes and mouth. More frustrating, perhaps, was the insistent click of cameras despite rules barring photographing the players during play.

Amid all of this, Damian McGrane, ranked #319 in the world, shot a 69 in the second round and now finds himself in second place securing a round with the greatest golfer in the world. McGrane placed third in 2006' KLM Open and in the French Open last year. At one point during the second round, McGrane actually led Tiger. However Woods fired back with a birdie to take the lead. In post-game interviews, McGrane said essentially that it doesn't really matter who he is paired up. Ultimately, whether he does well or not rests solely on McGrane's shoulders.