Rough Going
GRAND BLANC - There's something new - and growing - at the Buick Open this year. Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club's course has rough. "I think what stood out the most (Tuesday) was the rough," said Brian Bateman, the defending champion who played a practice round. "There's more rough and I think the rough will make it more difficult. The golf course is nowhere near as fast as it was last year. It's a little bit softer and the greens are a little bit softer. Hopefully, it will firm up but that will depend on the weather." With lots of rain in the forecast, there's not much chance the course will get firmer or faster. And the rough will grow faster and higher.
Tiger Woods is out for the season
Tiger Woods' problems are worse than most anyone knew. In addition to his knee problem, he has been playing with two stress fractures. Read the announcement and Tiger's prognosis on his Web site.
What do you think? Will he come back as strong as ever? Click "comment" above and let us know.
Hicks puts his name in headlines at the U.S Open
Justin Hicks knows exactly what's in store for him at the U.S. Open. Hicks, who grabbed the early first-round lead at Torrey Pines with a 3-under-par 68, isn't getting too far ahead of himself and he's capitalizing on the unpredictable nature of a major championship. "I have seen so many ups and downs this year with golf that for some reason or another, playing out here and in an event like this, I think I was kind of able to say, 'Well, it's the U.S. Open and some crazy stuff is going to happen,'" he said. "You just have to keep plugging along." Hicks, 33, is a Wyandotte native who grew up on Grosse Ile and went to the University of Michigan.
Here's Justin
Justin Hicks is here.
So is Justin Hicks.
Allow me to explain.
Justin Hicks is a Nationwide Tour player originally from Grosse Ile (University of Michigan) who has qualified for the U.S. Open. The other Justin Hicks is a southern California golf instructor who qualified to play in the Buick Invitational earlier this year. In January, when I was here for the Invitational, I went looking for Justin Hicks, thinking he was the guy from Grosse Ile, only to find out that this was the other Justin Hicks.
Our Justin Hicks is in the field at the Open and the other Justin Hicks is here as a spectator. Michigan Justin is a native of Wyandotte who now lives and plays out of Royal Palm Beach, Florida. He's got a 7:11 a.m. tee time Thursday and is paired with amateur Derek Fathauer and Scott Piercy. Hicks, 33, also qualified for the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock. He is a student of Tom Tontapanish of the Kendall Academy.
Local Man Wins World Series of Golf & $250K
Andrew Johnson, a car salesman from Davison, won the second annual World Series of Golf Thursday in Las Vegas and the $250,000 top prize. Johnson, 36, sealed his victory on the 163-yard par 3 hole at Paiute Golf Resort. The World Series of Golf combines elements of golf and Texas Hold 'Em poker. Johnson outlasted a field of 80 amateur golfers and knocked out professional poker players Allen Cunningham, Erick Lindgren and Dee Tiller. Lindgren finished second and won $60,000. The World Series of Golf is scheduled to be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports, June 28 and 29. Johnson is a former baseball player at Michigan State.
Who would YOU rather play with - Tiger or Phil?
Sports Illustrated's 7th annual PGA Tour Player Survey asks the question: Would you rather be paired with Tiger or Phil? Any guesses on the results? I'll give you a hint. It was overwhelming.
The vote totals: Woods 87 percent, Mickelson 13 percent. I'll leave it to you to reach your own conclusions why the golfers feel that way.
Masters weather update
All we kept hearing is that some unpleasant weather was moving in for Sunday's final round, bringing with it high winds. Well, I'm not sure what weather map the meteorologists were looking at but it is positively delightful here this morning. It sun is shining brilliantly. Not a cloud in the sky. The temperature is expected to be in the 60s. Nothing wrong with bad. So unless the wind does blow some, the conditions will be perfect. The cool and dampness in the air from Friday and Saturday will keep the greens softer than you might normally expect for a final round. I repeat, at the moment, everything looks just peachy keen in the Peach State, weather-wise.
Bring an umbrella
There has been a dramatic change in the weather forecast in Augusta. They're now talking about scattered showers Saturday and much cooler temperatures and breezes Sunday.
The temps are supposed to be in the 80s Friday and in the low 60s Sunday. The temperature won't bother the golfers but if the wind gets serious, that will profoundly impact the scores.
What happened to those perfect spring days that used to be featured at Augusta National during Masters week? Global warming?
Masters is keeping early round form
The first round of the Masters was true to form. A lot of very good golfers are near the lead. As the tournament progresses, a few more of the big names will appear on the leaderboard and a few of them now up there will falter. It happens every year. Despite the changes at Augusta National Golf Club, it's still absolutely true that the green jacket will be won - or lost - on the back nine Sunday afternoon. The difference today on the new, lengthened, toughened Augusta National is that pars and birdies have replaced birdies as eagles.
Ian Poulter opened with 70 and said three more 70s - a 280 total, 8-under-par - would be plenty to win. I agree with him entirely. My target score for the winner going into the tournament was 284, or 4-under.
Padraig Harrington is carrying Ireland's banner
Padraig Harrington tees off at 10:34 a.m. Thursday for the first round of the Masters. He knows he will be introduced as the British Open champion. "I can't wait to hear the starter call my name," the Irishman said. "I'm very excited to be here."
The Masters is special in Ireland, too. "In Ireland, where the weather is cold and wet, the Masters was really the start of the golf season," he said. "After the Masters was on TV, everybody went out and started playing golf. Even though we've been playing golf for four months, this is the start of the season back home."
