I love match play golf. If I had it my way, stroke play would be a thing of the past. Nevertheless, I have realized that my dream is not going to become a reality. At least the USGA gets it right with many of its championships.
The 62nd US Junior Amateur Championship is down to the top two players. The final round is taking place today, and you may have already started following it with coverage by the
Golf Channel.
Jordan Spieth of Dallas, Texas and Jay Hwang of San Diego, California are battling it out for the nation's most prestigious junior title.
On the first 18, there were four lead changes. Naturally, it looks like this is going to end up being a close one. Spieth held onto the lead for the longest stretch - he led for seven holes. More updates to come.
Over the years, the PGA Tour has certainly not been immune from racial controversy. However, it was nice to see the Tour enter the 21st century with a fresher perspective on society.
However, golf dominated sports media over the past several weeks due to the comments of Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman. Considering Tilghman usually plays the role of the light analyst on TGC, she slipped big time during a telecast when fellow anchor, Nick Faldo, asked what a young player would have to do to catch Tiger.
Tilghman's response: "Lynch him in a back alley."
In La Jolla, California, Tilghman told the world during the Buick Championship telecast, "In a recent live broadcast, I used an inappropriate word that was offensive to many. Over the last two weeks I've taken the time to reflect and truly understand the impact of what I said. While I did not intend to offend anyone, I understand why those words were hurtful. I am terribly sorry for any hurt that I have caused. I would like to express my deepest apologies."
While it seems as though the issue involving Tilghman may have been put to rest (Tiger Woods and his representatives, IMG, did not attack Tilghman), the issue is far more complex. In fact, the issue received massive publicity when Golfweek published a cover with a noose, which ultimately led to the firing of editor Dave Seanor.
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.
One Golf Channel show which has caught my attention over the past few weeks is "Fore Inventors Only", which gives inventors a chance to sell their product in Golfsmith stores. For the first three episodes, all appearing on Tuesday nights at 10 P.M. EST, the three-man panel would vote for whether or not each product would move on to the "Field Test" portion of the competition.
The panel, which functioned much like American Idol's, consisted of Stina Sternberg, Billy Harmon, and Fulton Allem. With three days of judging down, the show will move to the "Field Test" segment tonight.
However, a slight twist in the show will put the inventions of hopefuls in the hands of former members of the Big Break.
So far, the show has included several cool products, such as the Z Factor Perfect Putting Machine and the Hill Shot.
While the first three episodes were interesting and funny, especially when bizarre/radical inventions were unveiled, I'm interested in seeing how the Field Test ends up going. Check it out at 10 EST on TGC.
Tonight at 10:00 P.M. EST, the Big Break VII will narrow its field down to two competitors. With three players currently left, two men, one woman, the competition is sure to be intense, as some of the all-star favorites from past seasons battle it out for a spot on the Nationwide Tour or LPGA Tour, based on gender.
I would recommend watching this episode as well as the finale for all golf fans. In case you are not familiar with The Golf Channel's most popular reality show, it is the Survivor of the golf world. While the show's alumni generally do not make the cut on their pro debuts, the quality of golf is still very high, and it's an interesting take on high pressure golf, outside of playing an actual round.
With so many juniors taking up the game at an early age, competition is needed to match these interests. The Golf Channel is continuing its highly successful Drive, Chip, and Putt skills contest sponsored by the Mutual of Omaha.
There is no cost to compete. Children compete in four age groups. The tour travels to 85 cities in the USA and Canada. Participants at the local level may qualify for a regional qualifier in their age group, and may possibly qualify for the national championship.
The event starts in March in Houston, Texas and finishes in Florida in September.
To sign up for an event near you, check out GolfChannel.com.
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