The Hollywood Foreign Press announced their nominations for the Golden Globe Awards this week and the Academy of Arts and Sciences will be doing the same in a month or so. And while December is a hot month for movies, it is a decidedly slow one for golf. That being said it’s a great opportunity to run through the players who shone brightest in 2009 and who were consequently recognized by the major tours for their efforts. We begin, as we always seem to do when it’s awards time, Tiger Woods.

PGA Tour Player of the Year – Tiger Woods – For the 10th time in 13 years Tiger Woods has claimed the mantle of the best player on the PGA Tour, and even in light of his off-course media attention of late, few would be brave enough to suggest he didn’t earn it once again in 2009. Despite not winning a major this year (the one thing Tiger measures his success by), Tiger went ahead and dominated all comers in 2009, winning the Fed-Ex Cup, the money title and recording the lowest scoring average on tour for the 9th time in his career. His money total of $10. 5M was $4M ahead of second place finisher Steve Stricker and his six wins was more than double any other player on tour.

Yes, he did struggle in the majors by his standards, recording 6th place finishes at the Masters and U.S Open, a missed cut at the Open Championship and finishing 2nd behind the improbable Y.E Yang at the U.S PGA. Despite all this 2009 was a year where things must be kept in perspective. Woods returned from major knee surgery at the beginning of the year, an injury that has taken Ernie Els the better part of three or four years to recover from, and stepped straight back into the role of the game’s most dominate player. With an indefinite hiatus ahead for Woods, 2010 is going to begin the same way 2009 did – amidst uncertainty. But if nothing else, Tiger is still Tiger and 2010 is sure to prove to be a defining year in the great man’s career.

European Tour Player of the Year – Lee Westwood – Ten years ago Lee Westwood was on top of the European golfing mountain. He was the Order of Merit winner, a Ryder Cup star and had climbed to No. 3 in the world rankings. By 2002 Westwood was languishing outside the top 250 in the world. He was frustrated and discouraged with his golf game. In his own words he was lost. This year Westwood showed just what hard work, patience and a strength of will can do. Trailing 20-year old Irish supernova Rory McIlroy into the last tournament of the season at the Dubai World Championship, Westwood went ahead and played the tournament of his life, shooting an absolutely flawless eight-under, 64 in the final round to claim a six-shot win in the event and leap-frog McIlroy to win the inaugural Race to Dubai. For a player who as been close in multiple majors the past two seasons, the win reaffirmed many pundit’s beliefs that Westwood is a player on the cusp of greatness.

LPGA Tour Player of the Year – Lorena Ochoa – She may not have done it in the same dominating fashion as in recent years, and she may have found a new challenger to her crown as the best female player I the game, but Lorena Ochoa is still had the LPGA Tour player by which all others are measured. Although she finished 4th on the final money list, $400,000 behind rising star Jiyai Shin of South Korea, Ochoa’s three wins and Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average were enough to give her the nod for the fourth consecutive year in the POTY points-based system . It took a final hole birdie from Ochoa at the Tour Championship to hold off tour freshman Shin in what may have been the best and most under-appreciated finish in a non-major event in golf in 2009.

LET Player of the Year – Catriona Matthew – While many women are still on maternity leave less than three months after giving birth, Scot Catriona Matthew was back at work and on her way to winning her first major championship, the Ricoh Women‘s British Open. Punctuated by a five-under, 67 in the second round, the 15-year veteran was the only player to finish under par at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. She finished the tournament at three-under, three shots clear of runner-up Karrie Webb. Matthews is the first Scottish player to win the LET POTY and just the fourth Brit in the 30-year history of the award.

PGA Tour Rookie of the Year – Marc Leishman – The Aussie became the first player since Charles Howell III in 2001 to win ROTY honors without winning a tournament. “Leish” finished 20th on the final Fed-Ex Cup points list and 47th on the final Money List, rubbing shoulders with the game‘s best throughout the playoffs.

European Tour Rookie of the Year – Chris Wood – After bursting onto the scene and contending late on Sunday at the 2008 Open Championship, Wood went ahead and did the exact same thing in 2009 at Turnbury. He eventually finished T3 and also made the exclusive field for the Dubai World Championship at the end of the year.

LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year – Jiyai Shin – Few rookies have dominated golf in recent years like Shin did in ‘09. After winning 10 of 19 events on the 2007 Korean Tour and the 2008 Women‘s British Open, Shin transplanted herself to the LPGA Tour in 2009 and continued her rise to greatness, winning three times, more than any other player on tour and leading the tour in money earned.

LET Rookie of the Year – Anna Nordqvist – After a stellar amateur career in both Europe and the on the American collegiate circuit Nordqvist made a massive impression on the world of golf in 2009, winning the LPGA Championship, a major, in just her fifth start on tour. She would cap off the year by winning the Tour Championship and representing Europe in the Solheim Cup. It was a resume that would have put Nordqvist in contention for the POTY award most other seasons, but behind Ochoa’s consistency and Shin’s year-long hot streak, she had to settle for third-best on the LPGA Tour. The LET ROTY award was her consolation for a strong first-year campaign.

The Solheim Cup was more than a victory for the United States over Europe. It also proved that women’s golf was worth watching.

Golf watchers from both sides of the Atlantic hailed the event as it provided riveting theatre, drama and great shots from both sides.

The US won the tournament 16-12 for their third straight victory but the Europeans gave them a major fright and, at one time, appeared to be the dominant side.

The clamour was most evident at the golf course itself – Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois.

From the practice rounds to the tournament proper, the crowds were there yelling, supporting and sharing in the excitement. One would have thought Tiger Woods was playing.

US veteran Juli Inkster said she hopes the tournament would help boost the popularity of the LPGA Tour. She said:

“I just think if more people could come out and actually watch us play – I’ve been out here, as you guys (the media) know, a long time, and I’ve never seen the golf that these women play now. We have a great product, and the more people see that and write about it, it’ll be great for us.”

One of the most positive things to come out of the tournament, from a US point of view, was Michelle Wie’s performance.

The 19-year-old former child star, who has been under tremendous pressure since she showed phenomenal talent at 13, led the way, collecting a 3-0-1 record.

Also performing well were Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel, both under 25 years old, giving the LPGA Tour young talent who have the ability to shine for a long time.

Going into Sunday’s singles, the score was 8-8. Even during the early exchanges of the singles, it appeared that the Europeans had the advantage.

The Americans fought back, though. Pressel eventually sealed the winning 14th point for the US when she beat Anna Nordqvist, of Sweden, three and two to ensure they maintained their unbeaten home record.

The US were captained by Beth Daniel while Alison Nicholas led the Europeans.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, Ryan Moore won his first US PGA Tour title when he defeated Kevin Stadler in a play-off to capture the Wyndham Championship.

After firing five consecutive birdies on the back nine, Moore closed with five-under 65 for a total of 264 for the tournament to force a play-off with Jason Bohn and Kevin Stadler.

Bohn was the star of the round after his final round of 62 but he was first to go in the play-offs when he found the greenside bunker on the first extra hole.

Two holes later, Stadler’s approach trailed off the green and Moore sunk a par putt to claim victory.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who was also in the mix to win, finished one stroke behind the leaders after his 70 while Kevin Sutherland, Fred Couples, Michael Allen, Brandt Snedeker and Justin Rose were tied for fifth on 266.

On the European Tour, it was déjà vu for England’s Simon Dyson as he won the KLM Open in Holland.

It was a similar victory to his 2006 triumph, both times sinking an 18-foot birdie putt on the first hole of sudden death to win.

This time, however, he needed to beat two rivals – Peter Lawrie and Sweden’s Peter Hedblom.

Before that, Dyson equaled the course record with a seven-under-par 63 to finish at 15-under-par 265 to force the play-off.

Tiger Woods has just about done it all in the game of golf: 14 major championships, 69 career wins on tour, a record stay at world number one, NCAA, U.S Amateur and Junior titles, Fed-Ex, Ryder, and Presidents Cups. There’s not much else to conquer really. Over the weekend at the Buick Open Sir Nick Faldo noted that one day Tiger is going to save the world a lot of paper because when he gets done with his career the record books are just going to read “Tiger” and nothing else. But there is one thing Tiger’s good buddy Roger Federer still has a lot over him- a gold medal.

That all might change on August 13 when the International Olympic Executive Committee meets to announce the results of its vote on the inclusion of golf into the Olympic rotation for 2016. On that day the IOC will announce which two of the seven sports under consideration to be considered for final admition into the 2016 summer games. The other six other sports under consideration for the bid are baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby, softball and squash. The two sports nominated will then be discussed before the entire International Olympic Committee at a panel in Copenhagen, Denmark and the announcement with come on October 9, the same day as the announcement of the 2016 host city.

Golf has been a conspicuous absentee from the Olympic rotation since 1912 and its nomination for the 2016 games has divided the world golfing community.

The main argument against golf being included in the Olympics is that golf is already a global game, one too entrenched in the professional side of the sport to do the Olympic experience justice. With major world tours, on both the men’s and women’s side, ranging from the powerful PGA and LPGA tours of America and Europe to tours in Japan, Korea, Australasia, South America and South Africa to name but a few, the sport already has a wide global reach, touching down on almost every part of every continent on the planet.

Add to that international competitions like the Ryder Cup (now considered only behind the soccer World Cup and Summer Olympics in terms of popularity), Presidents’, Walker, Solheim and Curtis cups, WGC championships and the four major championships, it remains to be seen how an Olympic gold medal could top any of that.

The only other sport that has been in a similar situation recently to golf is tennis, which was re-introduced to the Olympic rotation at the 1988 Olympics Games in Seoul after a 62 year absence. It was in Seoul that Steffi Graff famously won the “Golden Slam”, all four majors plus the Olympic gold in one calendar year (she is still the only person to do this). Since ’88 many of the games’ top players have skipped the Olympics, deciding instead to concentrate on a hefty summer schedule of major championships. Many fear that golf will follow the same trend. Many of the top-ranked players, including Tiger Woods, have, so far, shown a luke-warm support for golf in the Olympics.

“It would be great to have an Olympic gold medal,” Woods recently said, “but if you asked any player, ‘Would you rather have an Olympic gold medal or green jacket or Claret Jug?’ more players would say the majors.”

It’s pretty clear which one he would rather win.

Woods’ comments about the validity of golf as an Olympic competition appears to be one of the major arguments against the inclusion of golf in any future Olympics, just like there is currently in tennis. Even if you are a follower of tennis, it is much easier to name the winners of each of the years’ majors than it is to note who won Olympic gold, even though it only happens once every four years. Experts and former tour players alike believe the same thing is sure to happen with golf should it make it to 2016.

“Who wants to run the 100-meter dash, and not have the world’s fastest runner show up?” said Olin Browne, a tour player and member of the PGA Tour’s Policy Board. “What’s the point?”

Former tour player and Australasian PGA Tour board member Mike Clayton agrees.

“One wonders why there is this seemingly never-ending quest to include golf in the Olympics,” Clayton said last year. “Presumably it would qualify the game for extra government funding but . . . an Olympic tournament could never approach the importance of the game’s grand slam championships.”

One man who knows an awful lot about both the running both professional golf event and the Olympics is current Augusta National chairman Billy Payne. Payne served as the CEO of the Atlanta Olympic Committee and is considered the driving force in Atlanta’s surprise winning bid for the 1996 games. Since then Payne has taken over the reigns at Augusta National from Hootie Johnson and run the Masters tournament. While many have speculated that some of the world’s top players will be absent from the Olympic experience should golf be included in 2016, Payne has a different opinion entirely.

“Once players are asked to represent their country, they will play,” he says. “You’d be surprised by the power of the Olympics to move people.”

Indeed, international stars like Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lorena Ochoa and Suzanne Petterson have all expressed interest in playing for their respective countries in 2016.

Another who has ties to both parties and is a strong advocate of golf in the Olympics is former LPGA Commissioner and current Executive Director of the International Golf Federation’s Olympic Committee, Ty Votaw. Votaw points to the growth of other Olympic sports as the main arguement for golf becoming an Olympic sport.

“There are 300 million people now playing basketball in China,” Votaw said. “There wasn’t anywhere near that number before the (U.S.) Dream Team played in Barcelona (in 1992). I’ll take 10 percent of that. The estimated number of golfers in the world is around 60 million, so if we get another 30 million then we’ve grown the game by 50 percent. Even if it’s 1 percent, 3 million, then we’ve still grown the game.”

Even though Votaw has neglected to take into account the fact that Chinese and NBA superstar Yao Ming has accounted for a great deal of the recent basketball growth in China (not to mention a relaxing of communism in the country in general), Votaw still has a point. He goes so far as to sight tennis as a perfect example of how the game can be advanced in counties just based on the far-reaching influence of the Olympic experience.

“Look at how women’s tennis in Russia has grown since tennis became an Olympic sport,” Votaw said. “I don’t think there would be so many world-class Russian tennis players if tennis didn’t have Olympic status.”

Again Ty, the end of the Cold War around that time may have had a lot to do with the growth of sports in general in that area of the world.

Greg Norman, a long-time proponent of spreading golf as a global game, sides with Votaw and Payne as well.

“Golf is one of the most global games out there, among the top five in the world,” Norman said. “So why not include it?”

Why not indeed?

Many aspects of Olympic golf have yet to be determined, and one of the main focal points is the inclusion of professionals, as well as the actual format for the event. In 1992 the IOC allowed professional basketball players to represent their country for the first time in Olympic history, and out of that decision sprang the aforementioned “Dream Team” which went onto win the gold medal by an average of over 40 points a game. Heck, head coach Chuck Daly didn’t call a single time out the entire tournament. Opposing teams were seen asking members of “The Dream Team” to pose for photos and autographs before they played.

Since 1992 however, the rest of the world has caught up with USA basketball, and subsequent team USA’s have not always taken the gold. In fact, in 2004 in Athens Team USA failed to even make the gold medal match. An argument could be made that the rest of the world has caught up to the Americans because of The Dream Team and the way they spread the popularity of the game globaly. Their popularity spawned a world-wide basketball epidemic and today more players from overseas play in the NBA than at any other time in its history.

Olympic golf has the potential to do the same thing that professional basketballers in the 1992 Olympics did. Imagine a player from a lesser known golf nation, one with a huge population such as India or China, playing along side the likes of Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson. This would be the dream scenario for the IOC and the main reason behind the Olympic golf push. The potential for growth in countries like China in this scenario could be exponential. However the chances that something like this would occur all depends on the format that the IOC decides on (should golf make the cut).

Many are calling for the absence of professionals should golf be awarded a spot on the roster for the 2016 Olympics. One proposal suggests a format that would essentially be a re-hashing of the Eisenhower Trophy, the event currently known as the World Amateur Championship. It is currently contested by 3 players from the participating countries in a stroke play format. Some are calling for a similar event where 2 professionals from each country, based on world rankings, would compete in a four round event to decide the medal winners (WGC World Cup anyone?).

In a discussion appearing on The Golf Channel recently, world no. 3 Paul Casey of England favoured a format along the lines of the Alfred Dunhill Cup which was contested by 3 players from each country in a combined stroke play and match-play format. That event was discontinued in 2000.

Clearly much as still to be discussed, including of course, if golf deserves to bask in the Olympic flame.

Regardless of the outcome of the IOC meeting later this month, golf will continue to come up on the Olympic radar and be a hot-button talking point in the future. Whether, in 20 or 50 years’ time an Olympic Gold medal becomes as prestigious as a major trophy or a Ryder Cup is unsure, but Ty Votaw makes a good point about golf and its history.

“If Jack Nicklaus had won three Olympic gold medals, then you can bet Tiger Woods would have had that target on his chart on his bedroom wall when he was a kid.”

Tiger Woods winning Olympic gold? That would certainly be one for the record books.　

Mutinies are historically associated with pirates and sea-faring ships. They are not, usually, associated with putters and professional sports. However, that’s exactly what has transpired this week as a number of LPGA players have called for, and possibly received, the resignation of LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens.

In the same week as the biggest event event on the women’s golf calender, the U.S Women’s Open, several of the game’s biggest names, led by Suzanne Pettersen, have gone out of their way to call for Biven’s resignation, sending an open letter to the LPGA board asking for a change in personnel at the very top of their organization. It was reported earlier in the week by Golfweek that a meeting of several high profile players, including world number one Lorena Ochoa, Natalie Gulbis, Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr met for dinner earlier in the week to discuss the current state of the tour. Out of that dinner came the letter signed by 13 players asking for Biven’s resignation. Creamer is so far the only other to admit signing the letter.

“All we are doing is standing up for our tour,” Pettersen said July 7 from Saucon Valley Country Club, site of the 2009 U.S Women’s Open. “Now it’s up to our leadership and our board to find a solution.”

Bivens, and the tour board itself, have been under fire in recent months, as the tour struggles to secure sponsorship and events for 2010. At the present time the LPGA Tour has only ten events on its schedule for next season. Since 2007 the tour has lost seven events, three of which were held at the beginning of the season in Hawaii. Six other events are currently without a sponsor including one of the tour’s biggest events in China.

Bivens, who took over as LPGA Tour commissioner in 2005, now has her future as head of the tour in question, and it is still unclear as to her fate. Yesterday Golfweek reported that sources close to the Tour have confirmed that Bivens will not have her contract honoured for her final two years in office. The article went onto report that the LPGA board of directors has been meeting “behind closed doors” all week to discuss the future of the Tour and the (reportedly) vacant commissioner position. Bivens has not commented on the alleged ousting and the Tour itself has been reluctant to comment as well. No official announcement has been made and Bivens herself has yet to comment.

“Carolyn has not resigned,’’ David Higdon, the LPGA’s chief of communications said in a short email to Golfweek earlier in the week.

However, Sporting Business Daily, working with anonymous sources, has learned that Bivens has agreed to a buyout on her contract to the tune of $500,000 per year for the two years she has left on her contract. The article went onto say that the board as already organized a golf industry insider to interview potential replacements for Bivens.

“(Bivens) stepped on some toes and hurt some feelings…there were a lot of things for her to overcome.” Golf Channel’s Charlie Rymer said yesterday in a report on Bivens.  ”The LPGA needs to get on the same page because being fractured in today’s business society is too much of a challenge. Whoever comes into this position, they have to get moving and get things done quickly.”

While the biggest event of the year continues today in Pennsylvania, the headlines continue to be dominated by the fate of the Tour’s leadership.

“Patience is the No. 1 thing you have to have this week,” Ochoa said of the U.S Women’s Open. She could just have easily been talking about the Tour itself.

When you’re a mid-size college golf program making the NCAA Championship is a big deal. When your team is less than two seasons old and comprised entirely of freshmen and sophomores, that achievement becomes a whole lot more impressive.

Two seasons ago Colette Murray was named head coach of the University of Tennessee Chattanooga women’s golf program, a program that was discontinued in the mid-1980′s due to a lack of funding and support. Starting from scratch with Murray at the helm the program has grown in leaps and bounds in its first two seasons, faster than even those close to the program could imagine. In 2007/8 the Lady Mocs left Chattanooga in a team van to travel to Jacksonville State University in Alabama (Murray’s Alma Mata) to play their first tournament in close to 20 years. The five first-year players promptly went out and won the Chris Bannister Gamecock Classic hosted by Jacksonville State by 27 shots. As if that result wasn’t impressive enough, it was quickly overshadowed by the next two results, both wins at Elon and Iowa St.  Before the season was over Murray’s squad of freshmen had won four times and barely missed out on post-season play, a late-season slump costing them a spot at the 2008 East Regional Championship.

The Lady Mocs were rewarded for their astounding first season with invitations to some of the top tournaments in the country this season. A stronger schedule has led to less wins (only two on the season), however playing the best teams in college golf week after week has allowed Chattanooga to feel comfortable at the top, and an extra year of experience has proven invaluable to the players themselves.

In their first trip to the East Regional two weeks ago the UTC shot a final round 320, edging out Georgia State and Washington to secure the 8th and final spot in the NCAA Championship Tournament. It was an accomplishment even the Lady Moc’s coach could not fathom fully.
 

“Our schedule this year was designed to prepare us for nationals. It will not be an easy task, but we will compete and see what happens.” Murray said last week following her team’s qualification. “We were not just happy to qualify I assure you. Getting to Regional was a great first step, but we were not satisfied just to get that far. I am so proud of the effort we displayed in Columbus. It is a bit of a whirlwind.”

Australian native Emma de Groot has been the Lady Mocs’ go-to player in their first two seasons. de Groot has posted some impressive numbers both as a freshman and a sophomore in college golf. In 23 career tournaments she has posted 13 top 10 finishes and 16 in the top 20. This season her good play was rewarded when she was named in the All-Southern Conference team for the second time, posting a 75.87 career scoring average to go along with her four career individual titles. Last season she competed at the East Regionals as an individual, earning an impressive T17 .

Murray’s other sophomore, Austrian Christine Wolf shot the low round of the day for her team in the 3rd round at the East Regionals, showing patience and poise in the gusty conditions, she ground out a 78 and tie with teammate de Groot for 40th place. Wolf posted a 77.55 scoring average in her second season and despite her youth is one of the more experienced players on the team.

The rest of the Lady Mocs NCAA Championship squad is comprised of freshmen with extensive international playing resumes. In fact, noted online publication Golfweek recently produced an article on Murray’s team of foreign stars. The article went so far as to call Chattanooga’s meteoric rise, “an incredibly impressive feat at an unheralded school like Chattanooga.” It went onto praise Murray’s recruiting process and her ability to “harvest diamonds” from foreign soil.

Moa Duf is first year player who arrived in Chattanooga in January 2009 and wasted no time making an impact on the Lady Moc roster. Duf comes direct from the Swedish national program that has produced the likes of Annkia Sorenstam. She posted a 78.53 scoring average in her half-season with a best finish of 5th at the JMU/Eagle Landing Invitational. The final two members of Murray’s squad are her South American connection. Maria Juliana Loza comes from Columbia has been a solid performer her first season, posting a 77.71 scoring average with a best finish of T6, one shot behind teammate Duf at the JMU/Eagle Landing Invitational. Southern Conference Freshman of the Year Maria Salinas from Peru rounds out the side. Salinas put up the second-best scoring average on the team, a 76.13 stoke average that included five rounds of par or better, including a team-low 72 at the East Regional. She produced a team-high 5 top 10s and was named to the All-Conference and All-Freshman teams.

Despite the rise and rise of the UTC program, youth and inexperience are a fact of life as Chattanooga trys to continue their fairytale post-season run at the NCAA Championships at Caves Valley Golf in Owings Mills, Maryland this week. So far this season’s East Regional is the only event outside the regular season the team has competed in as a whole. But Chattanooga has done nothing if not surprised a lot of people in their first two years on the scene. Golfweek, in an NCAA Championship preview gave UTC the “Congrats on making it” award. Quietly, Murray believes her team may be doing more than just “showing up” at Caves Valley.

“We played a (strong) schedule like we did so we could be prepared for this level.” she said. “We have 5 good players and you never know what can happen when a group like ours comes together.”

Murray and Chattanooga seem to be building a reputation on understatement. Count on them making some noise in the very near future.

Follow Chattanooga and all the scores from the 2009 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships at  http://www.golfstatresults.com/home.cfm

A couple of years ago we figured she was a super hero. Now we know she’s human after all.

Annika Sorenstam, former World No. 1 and the most dominate female golfer of the past generation announced Thursday that she and husband Mike McGee, are expecting their first child. The announcement came on her website after weeks of speculation throughout the golfing world.

“We have had a lot of exciting changes in the past few months, and adding a new addition to our family later this fall will certainly be at the top of that list,”

Sorenstam wrote.

“We are absolutely thrilled and look forward to this new chapter of our lives! We appreciate the love and support that we have received from our family, friends, and of course my fans.”

The Swede, who will be 39 in October, married McGee, son of former PGA and Champions Tour player Jerry McGee, on January 10, 2009. He is currently the Managing Director of the ANNIKA brand.

The author of 72 LPGA tournament wins, 91 wins worldwide and 10 major championships announced last year that she would be “stepping away” from professional golf at the end of 2008 to pursue her off course interest which include course design, her clothing line and golf academy, as well as her family, which now appears to be well on the way.

There is something magical about the circus coming to town!

No I’m not talking about the Big Top and CoCo The Clown, but instead the LPGA, Ladies European Tour and The Ladies Golf Union.

Whilst 27 Open Championships have be held at St Andrews, this will be the very first time a Women’s British Open has been held on the most famous of links. It truly is an exciting time for all the players as they dream of winning a Major at “The Home of Golf”.

Ron Sirak, golf writer for Golf World writes a great piece on how one of the 150 starters will take a slice of history at this year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open.

I for one know I will be fortunate to be one of the spectators taking in the action as play starts at 06:30 tomorrow. Do I follow Paula Creamer off at 06:52, Lorena Ochoa at 07:03, Cristie Kerr and Natalie Gulbis at 07:14, or Michelle Wie ? Tough decision – answers on a postcard!

This short 47 second video was taken today (1st August) during practice at the 2007 Ricoh Women’s British Open and shows the 1st and 18th fairways, The R&A building, “The Links” road running parallel to the 18th, Hamilton Hall on “Golf Place” road behind the grandstand, the West Sands in the distance and the tented village beside the 1st fairway.

There is a tremendous youth movement right now on the LPGA Tour, which depending on point of view, could be a good or bad thing for the game. On one hand, this influx of young talent is bringing the LPGA Tour to unprecedented heights. Never before, in the history of the women’s game, has it been so marketable. In fact, in just her second year on board, Commissioner Carol Bivens has raised the ante on sponsoring a Tour Event, and has major corporations, who’ve never aligned themselves with women’s golf before, standing in line to host a golf tournament. But on the other hand, with many of their marquee players under the age of 21, the LPGA Tour may soon find themselves in a position much like professional tennis in the 1980′s — ruled by egotistical brats. And of course, if that does come to fruition; it wouldn’t take long before the LPGA Tour, like women’s tennis in the mid 80′s, started to lose popularity. Lets look at the pros and cons of this debate and see if there is a logical answer.

First, the reasons why teenagers should be allowed access to play. Some think the LPGA should allow anyone good enough to play on the Tour unfettered access. It shouldn’t matter if they are 15 or 45. If they have the skills to compete – they should be allowed to play. After all, this access has brought the tour some much-needed excitement over the last few years, with players such as Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and Natalie Gulbis. And this young trend is continuing internationally as well, with Europe, South Korea and Australia starting to produce some world-class teenagers. In fact, it was just announced last week, that 18-year-old South African, Ashleigh Simon, would make her LPGA debut this week at the Jamie Farr Classic. So why shouldn’t these young girls play? They bring a fresh approach to the game, as well as a new fan base. This is what the sponsors are looking for. This is why they invite Michelle Wie to their events. They understand no matter what drama may ensue from Michelle being there — they will sell more tickets and hence get more exposure for their brand.

Now, let’s talk about a few reasons why teenagers should wait to play the LPGA Tour. These young girls, no matter their level of golf game, do not have the maturity to deal with all that has been thrust upon them. Do we really think Michelle Wie would behave at age 21 — the way she has the last six month? Is it possible that Natalie Gulbis would have won by now if she had finished college and not spent ages 18-22 posing for calendars? Who knows for sure – but I will say this. I was standing on the putting green at the U.S. Open a couple weeks ago when Patty Sheehan walked over to talk with one of the caddies. Now, Patty Sheehan is a legend. Owner of one of the best golf swings in the history of golf and one of the reason why girls like Michelle Wie get to play for so much money and attention. But while I was there, which was for at least 30 minutes, no current player went over to say hello. In fact, my guess is, very few of the 30 or so girls practicing on the Pine Needles putting green, even knew who Patty Sheehan was. To me, this is where the “disconnect” begins. There are the old school LPGA Tour players and there are the new age girls. There is no connection or sense of history between them.

So, is this a problem or just evolution? I cannot say for sure — but I see potential problems on the horizon for the LPGA Tour, and only for that one reason. The rest of the brand is incredible — pretty girls playing wonderful golf — plus a smart businesswoman leading the way. I think the only thing that can stop them is the “Diva” factor. And for the first time, since I’ve been following and traveling with the LPGA Tour, I’m starting to worry about the attitudes of the girls who are supposed to be the “future.” To me, it only makes sense, as it is almost impossible to grow up under so much scrutiny. I have watched my four sisters handle puberty and have coached a number of top level teenage girls — so I’m speaking from a little experience. That is a tough time in a young woman’s life, as they struggle to find an identity and a place in the world. I’ve witnessed teenage girls on top of the world one-minute and completely depressed the next — only because someone commented on their sweater and how it made them look. So you can imagine how difficult it must be for Michelle Wie, who never had bad press in her life, all of a sudden criticized at every turn. During your high school years, imagine everyone in school talking about you and all the things you were doing wrong. Not exactly confidence instilling, is it? Michelle is going through that now, except she gets to read about it in every national newspaper. I know, I know — she has millions. It’s the price you pay. But millions of dollars doesn’t make a teenage mind mature any quicker. She is still just a high school recent high school graduate. Remember how mature you were at that age? Thankfully, I’ve repressed all my teenage memories.

I think to stave off this potential problem, the LPGA Tour should implement a rule. A teenager should only be allowed 3 exemptions into LPGA Events until they’re 18. If they qualify for a tournament (such as the U.S. Open) — they can play — but no Tour membership and no unlimited exemptions. From ages 18-21, they can receive 5 exemptions per year and qualify for others if so desired. This number of events would be a perfect summer schedule for a top college player. Then, at age 21, all girls would be eligible for full membership on Tour with access to an unlimited number of tournaments. The only exception I would make is — if during her teenage years, a girl actually wins a tournament — she could petition for early membership. But that’s it! No more kids acting like adults. If they don’t want to go to school — that’s okay — they can go play the Futures Tour. They can spend a couple years learning how to travel and how to manage their time. This would also make them much more appreciative of the luxuries they take for granted on the LPGA Tour.

I don’t want to give you the wrong impression — I am a huge fan of the LPGA Tour. And I’m a huge fan of all these incredibly talented young women. Because of that, I want to put them in the best position to succeed. I want the LPGA Tour to succeed. I don’t want their success to follow a bell curve, which I think it’s doing now. They are on the way up — but destined for a fall in about 5-10 years. I would rather they have consistent growth with classy young women — who make solid role models for all juniors that idolize them.

So, what do you think? Is the LPGA Tour getting too young? Or do you like what you’re seeing now?

Oh, and we may have to have this conversation about the PGA Tour soon as well. 16 year old Tad Fujikawa just announced he is going pro. Stay tuned.

Teenager Michelle Wie, who has been out of the spotlight with a wrist injury, created a stir this week by once again accepting a sponsor invitation to the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic. The announcement comes on the heels of negative feedback from LPGA players, who disagreed with her inclusion into the lucrative Samsung World Championship at season’s end.

The argument from most critics: Michelle Wie should prove herself on the LPGA Tour before getting the benefits of super-stardom.

Yet, here she is, once again playing with the guys – even after her coach David Leadbetter said she wouldn’t. So, I ask you — should Michelle Wie be allowed to play the PGA Tour, even when her credentials do not merit such an invitation?

First, let me say this about Michelle Wie. I believe she’s a tremendous talent, who over the next few years will bring the LPGA Tour to unprecedented heights.

Michelle Wie reminds me a lot of Bobby Jones, who also played with an effortless style and grace…who also won an important amateur tournament at age 13…who also became an instant celebrity. However, golf fans watched with bated breath as the boy wonder kept finding ways to lose and disappoint. Still, even when losing, Bobby Jones was the biggest draw in golf. He was the golfer fans wanted to most see. Then, at age 21, Bobby Jones won the U.S. Open and didn’t stop winning until he retired at age 28. I see the same type of scenario happening for Michelle Wie. Here is a girl who plays golf like no other female in history. A girl who won the U.S. Women’s Public Links at age 13 – but since has not lived up to extremely high expectations. Yet, she is still the girl everyone talks about. Still the girl everyone wants to watch play. And still the girl who gets special exemptions to men’s events and women’s invitationals. The question is — will her career end up like Bobby Jones? Will she win a bunch of majors and change the way the women’s game is played?

I say yes!

So what’s stopping her?

I think Michelle Wie’s biggest problem thus far has been scheduling. Whoever’s decision it was for her to play 6 straight weeks on three continents last summer should be fired. Not even Tiger Woods — let alone a teenager — should ever attempt a schedule like that. The reason — every time Michelle Wie plays a golf tournament — it’s an event. She is hounded like a rock star. Whether it’s an LPGA event, a Japanese tournament or trying to qualify for the men’s U.S. Open – every tournament has a major championship feel. And no one can handle that much stress that many weeks in a row. And undoubtedly, she lost her confidence. And with that lack of confidence, came a run of bad play, which brought out the naysayers. Critics were saying — “See, she should be playing junior golf and learning how to win.”

I have never heard such ridiculous comments. Any person who believes Michelle Wie would gain more experience playing and winning high school tournaments in Hawaii than she would playing practice rounds with Ernie Els knows nothing about golf. Besides, by then, Pandora’s Box had been open. You can’t close it. You cannot go from almost winning the Women’s U.S. Open to playing junior golf. Just doesn’t work that way.

So, let’s address my initial question. Should Michelle get special invites to the PGA Tour? My simple answer is no. I don’t think she deserves it. That said, if a sponsor, who are in the business of selling tickets, want to use one of their four exemptions on Michelle Wie — it’s their prerogative. And I personally think Michelle would be crazy to turn it down.

One of the hardest things I face as an instructor to aspiring professionals is simulation. You can spend as much time on the range and playing local events as possible, but it will never prepare you for the moment on the first tee of a major tournament. The only thing that will do that is playing in major tournaments. So the more Michelle can play in pressure events, the more comfortable she will get. And when she gets completely comfortable — Tiger comfortable — look out! She will win in bunches. Still, let me reiterate what I said earlier — she has to pay better attention to her schedule. She cannot play too many in a row.

As for the LPGA girls who don’t think she deserves an exemption into the Samsung — I say wake up. Michelle Wie is one of the top 5 women golfers in the world — hands down. She has a number of top 5 finishes in LPGA Majors over the last 3 years and almost always is in contention to win against the girls. She may very well win the Samsung this year if she gets healthy.

I think the wrist injury is the best thing to happen to Michelle. It took her out of the spotlight for a while and allowed her to get her bearings. Like I said, Michelle Wie will eventually change the women’s game. The one thing that might hold her back? She needs to putt a little better.

What do you think? Should Michelle play with the Guys?

With the Women’s British Open being played at St Andrews this year the tournament will, again, garner the sort of headlines that the mainstream media seem loathe to give women’s golf throughout the rest of the year.

Yet it is often widely forgotten that women and golf have been closely connected in Scotland for centuries. 

Scotland’s most famous, most debated and last independent monarch, Mary, Queen of Scots, was widely regarded as the country’s first female golfer. Indeed, she was, arguably, the nation’s first golfing superstar.

Like much of the Mary legend some of the facts about her golfing career are unclear. It seems likely, however, that she first picked up the game in France where she spent her formative years. 

On her return to Scotland she followed the game passionately – and it was a passion that got her into trouble. Mary’s turbulent reign was matched only by her turbulent love life. Her second husband, Lord Darnley, was murdered in February 1567 in Edinburgh.

Within days of Darnley’s death Mary was playing golf at Seton Links in East Lothian (a golf course – Longniddry – remains within walking distance of the original links). A catholic monarch in an increasingly protestant country Mary had few troubles to seek: the apparent slight on her husband’s memory increased the impression – at least in the eyes of her enemies – that ruling the country was an unsuitable job for a woman. 

One thing is clear, however, Mary, Queen of Scots, like so many of her subjects before and since, loved the golf and she did much to popularise the game and contribute to the democratic nature of Scottish golf. This truly was a game for all – man, woman, queen or servant.

And she left one enduring legacy – Mary’s French military attendants “cadets” carried her clubs. As time passed the local Scots turned cadet to caddie and a venerable profession was born.

I can’t believe the great golf events that are happening right under my nose during this upcoming summer. There is the Open at Carnoustie, the Seniors at Muirfield and then at the beginning of August there is the Women’s British Open Championship at the Old Course, St Andrews.

I’ve attended the Women’s British Open Championship before in England and I must tell you if you have not watched this event yourself it’s a real treat to attend. Scheduled to appear this year at this high profile event are the world’s top women professional golfers including Paula Creamer, Laura Davies, Michelle Wie and Annika Sorenstam.

The Women’s British Open Championship takes place from August 2nd –5th and this year the event is breaking new ground. It will become the first championship for women professionals to be played at the ‘Home of Golf’ although through the years the Old Course has hosted 26 Open Championships and numerous other professional tournaments.

Nobody is more pleased about this landmark event than the Ladies’ Golf Union. They are said to be delighted that the top female golfers are being given the chance to play over the world’s best known course. Alan McGregor, General Manager of St Andrews Links Trust is just as happy about this milestone event and is eager to see the world’s top professional women golfers playing at the ‘Home of Golf’.

Sir Richard George, Chairman and Managing Director of the event’s sponsor Weetabix, was enthusiastic on the announcement of St Andrews and said;

“We are committed to playing the Weetabix Women’s Open on courses that are recognized as being top class layouts while at the same time presenting a stiff but fair test of ability. The Old Course, St Andrews is all of these and in addition has the added kudos of being recognized throughout the world as the ‘Home of Golf. Over the years, St Andrews has produced a list of great champions and I have no doubt that the Weetabix will do the same.”

Tickets for the Weetabix Women’s Open are on sale now here. They cost from £16-£20 per day or £40-£50 for a season ticket for all 5 days (there is a 10% discount for tickets bought online prior to 31st May 2007).

See you there!

America and Thailand have Tiger Woods, now Britain and India hope they have their own mixed-race superstar.

She is Kiran Matharu, the first high-profile British-Asian golfing star who is hoping to supplant Michelle Wie as the next true teenage sensation.

The 17-year-old Curtis Cup player has a string of titles to her name, including the 2006 English Ladies Amateur crown and is the youngest golfer to qualify for the Ladies European Tour. In her first pro event in Wales, she finished 15th.

The sponsorship dollars have also started to roll in after she landed a deal with Puma India to endorse their brand in one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

Matharu has no problems being hailed as the female Tiger Woods, simply because the American star is one of her heroes. She can also count English legend Nick Faldo as a friend and mentor who is helping Matharu reach her career goals.

Matharu was quoted recently as saying in the India’s Financial Express as saying:

“I want to play like him (Tiger Woods) one day. I just want to play golf and that’s it.”

In the same publication, she also talks enthusiastically about her relationship with Faldo.

“I can call him up anytime and clear my doubts. This helps me to improve my game every time I talk to him. Nick’s a great friend.”

The Yorkshire native started playing when she was 11 years old after accompanying her father to golf courses.

Last year, she was denied the chance to qualify for the LPGA Tour because of her apparent lack of success in pro events, although this has not put Matharu off her ambition of one day playing in the United States.

Faldo predicts great things for the teenager, and was quoted in the media as saying:

“Kiran combines a great game with a steady nerve and I’m confident that, with a little more experience, she will be in a position to challenge for the very highest honours that the ladies game has to offer.”

To me, the golf season doesn’t officially start until the year’s first major. And this year, The Kraft Nabisco Championship edges The Masters on the schedule by seven days – thus putting The LPGA front and center this week. So naturally there are some questions – such as, will Annika continue her dominance in 2007? Can she make one more run at the Grand Slam? Is Lorena Ochoa ready to take over as the world’s best player? Is Karrie Webb ready for a repeat? Will Michelle Wie be missed? Are any of the young Americans ready to win a major?

I think Annika will still have a solid year – probably winning 2-4 times – but her days as the dominant player are over. There has to be a peak with all top athletes and I believe Annika’s peak happened a couple years ago. However, her peak was so much better than any other pro – even on the way down – she is still scary good today. But no – I don’t think Annika will be this year’s best player and I don’t believe she will win the Grand Slam.

If not Annika – then who? My simple answer is Lorena Ochoa. She is the best player on tour right now – hands down. She won last week with a flurry of birdies on the final nine holes and brings a tremendous amount of momentum into the week. Will she win? Can’t say for sure if she will win this week – but it wouldn’t surpise me at all if she won 5-8 times this year. She’s that good!

I for one was happy to see Karrie Webb’s comeback last year. She is a classy lady and one of the all-time greats. I think last year was her answer to those who said she was done playing world class golf. Well, as last year showed – she is not even close to being done. She still has a lot of wins left and I’m sure will be a factor all year.

Michelle Wie has a tremendous record in the LPGA Majors the last few years – with tons of top-five finsishes. However, she is away this week with a wrist injury, which begs the question – will she be missed? Absolutely! She is maybe the greatest talent women’s golf has ever seen and once she gets a handle on her schedule – she will be incredible. And eventually take the LPGA to levels it only dreamed of.

Will Natalie Gulbis, Morgan Pressel or Paula Creamer win a Major this year? Well, Natalie and Morgan still need to win their first tournament – let alone major – but they are surely capable. I suspect Natalie and Morgan will both get their first wins this year and Paula will also win 2-3 times. So yes, they could all win a Major event this year, as they all have big time games. Although if Paula wins – I do hope she does it without her pink golf balls.

Read more about the LPGA’s first Major