Save The Heritage Classic

As I was watching the thrilling finish to yesterdays Heritage Golf Tournament I could not understand why this event may not be on the PGA Tour’s schedule in 2012.  It has been a tour stop since 1969 when Arnold Palmer won the inaugural event with what is still the highest total score of 283.  One of five Invitational tournaments on the tour joining the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Crown Plaza Invitational at Colonial, The Memorial and the AT&T National.  This means you must be invited to Hilton Head, South Carolina at The Sea Pines Resort to enjoy this beautiful golf course and well run tournament; it is not an open event.  With the well known Light House in the back drop of the 18th hole, it is just a picturesque place designed by Pete Dye with some help from Jack Nicklaus.  South Carolina has great fans for golf and they desperately want this tournament back in 2012.

The history here speaks for itself.  Winners have combined for a total of 69 majors, including greats such as Palmer, Hale Irwin, Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus,  Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Payne Stewart and Nick Price.  Irwin, Nick Faldo, Boo Weekly and Aaron Baddeley all won for the first time on the PGA Tour here at the Heritage.  Davis Love carved out five victories at Harbour Town like the course was made for him.  The final one coming in 2003 with a chip in on the final hole to force a playoff with Woody Austin, where he eventually took the title.  Just last year Jim Furyk and Brian Davis went to a playoff where Davis infamously called a two shot penalty on himself for moving a loose impediment in the hazard on the first playoff hole giving the victory to Furyk.  Yesterday, we had Brandt Snedeker drop a 12-footer for birdie on 18, shooting a final round 64 to finish -12, then waited for two hours to see if it was good enough. Not only was it good enough, but Luke Donald had to make a great sand save on 18 to force another great playoff.  Playing the famous 18th first, both players stuck it within 15 feet with Donald nailing his putt first then Snedeker quickly canned his for two great birdies.  Donald came up with another great sand save on 17 to match pars and head back to 18 for the third playoff hole.  A guy they call Sneds makes an easy par after Donald plugged his second shot in the greenside bunker and could not get it up and in again, giving Sneds his second win on Tour.  It was great to watch!

It would truly be a shame to see one of the great traditions on tour to just stop because there is no title sponsor. They were able to do it this year, but will not be able to make it happen again more than likely.  It just seems so stupid to me.  The tour players love this tournament, South Carolina loves this tournament and the fans watching love this tournament.  In an age where you can over power golf courses, Harbour Town makes you manage your way around it.  With such great history and played on a course that takes great ball striking and shot making ability to win, The Heritage and its lovely Tartan jacket should be here to stay.  If I had the money I would sponsor it.

A Tradition Unlike any Other . . . Seriously

Father and Daughter share in a moment

It is said to be the most beautiful gem in the whole world.  Azalea bushes surround this course bringing Bobby Jones back to life in what he called his “favorite part of the course, a little getaway.”  The par three contest at Augusta is one of the rare times golf allows the family and friends of PGA tour players to take part in a wonderful tradition.  It started in 1960 and is played the Wednesday of Masters week every year.  It brings the social life of players to the fans in an otherwise very quiet life of a professional golfer.  Allowing the families of the pros who travel 30 – 35 weeks out of the year to spend a day with their fathers, husbands and sons.  Most golfers don’t take it too seriously, allowing their caddies to hit shots and putt for them.  Fuzzy Zoeller even takes people from the crowd to take part in a putt on the last hole.

The youth of America never got to see Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player in their prime.   This little exhibition at least shows them the mutual respect they have for each other and the undying love the crowd has for these three who have combined for thirteen green jackets.  It makes the patrons of Augusta feel like they are part of something bigger than just watching golf.

Players who do take it serious get a great opportunity to work on their short iron play, chipping and putting.  This is not your normal slap it around par three course.  The greens are exactly the same and it will punish any bad shot just like you see on the weekend.  Golf is a superstitious sport and no winner of the Par Three Contest has ever gone on to win the Masters.  Luke Donald will try and change that this year as he shot five under to take the crown.  It should be a wonderful week of golf so make sure you tune in.

Check out www.Masters.com for tournament info.

Tiger Woods Divorce Finalized; Damon and Manny headed in same direction

A day after Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren call it quits in Panama City’s Bay County Circuit Court in Florida, Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez seem to be headed in the same direction with their MLB teams.  The Boston Red Sox have claimed Johnny Damon off of waivers and the Tigers may put something together and get a deal done.  Rumors of the Red Sox trying to block other teams from claiming Damon are said to not be true and that the Red Sox really want him.  Damon wants to stay in Detroit which was clearly evident