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Sybase Match Play Championship

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:00:33 GMT

It was as emotional as it was controversial and possibly tainted but Azahara Munoz will never forget her first LPGA Tour win. The 12th hole changed everything. Pressel won it with a par to seemingly take a 3-up lead. The Controverisy came before Pressel could tee off on No. 13, tour official Doug Brecht informed her that she was being penalized for slow play. She had taken 2:09 to play her three shots, 39 seconds over the 30-second limit per shot. In match play, a time penalty is the loss of the previous hole and that handed the admittedly slow-playing Munoz the hole. She was 1-down and back in the match. In the Finals Munoz beat Candie Kung 2 and 1 on Sunday to win the Sybase Match Play Championship, Munoz played with a heavy heart, losing her grandmother days before, Munoz was very emotional.

Eva Longoria

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:58:00 GMT

Monday's George Lopez Celebrity Golf Classic at Lakeside Golf Club in Toluca Lake, Calif., Longoria proudly showcased a not-too-shabby (in the future, with some help) golf swing. Let's take a look:

Now you're talking. Excellent weight shift, great balance, and that hair looks good enough to frame. You definitely have a future in this game. We found it very exciting when a new Hollywood starlet decides to pick up the game. It helps secure golf's coolness factors among young girls, and encourages more women to follow suit.

Big Break Atlantis Next Monday May 14th

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:52:00 GMT

Monday May 14th on the Golf Channel, Gloriana Soto is one of the 12 contestants, and the first female professional golfer from Costa Rica to compete in the United States, Soto turned professional immediately following graduation from Texas Tech in 2010, and is scheduled to play a full schedule on the Symetra Tour in 2012.

Big Break Atlantis

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:52:00 GMT

Allison Micheletti is the daughter of former professional hockey player and current New York Rangers television analyst Joe Micheletti, Allison is a late bloomer to the game of golf, switching to the game at age 17 following a knee injury that sidelined her basketball career. Currently dating professional golfer Martin Kaymer, Micheletti will compete on the Cactus Tour and select Symetra Tour events in 2012. She played college golf at Furman University, although it was from Arizona State that Allison graduated with a degrees in Business and Journalism. She turned pro in 2011.

Wells Fargo Championship

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:47:06 GMT

Rickie Fowler kept telling anyone who would listen that his first PGA Tour win was coming soon. Rickie Fowler, a 23-year-old from California, lived up his hype in a big way Sunday. Rickie turned pro 2 1/2 years ago, Fowler has scored little more than style points with his mop-top hair, the flat-billed cap he wears backward in interviews, his head-to-toe orange that has become his trademark in the final round and impeccable manners that has made him a favorite among fans and his peers. Quail Hollow is where Anthony Kim, fearless at age 22, won by five shots in 2008 for his first tour victory in 2008. It's where Rory McIlroy, a 20-year-old from Northern Ireland projected for greatness, set the course record with a 62 in the final round two years ago to capture his first U.S. win. With a 133 yards to a pin, the 18th hole had yielded only four birdies all day, Rickie took dead aim with a 51-degree wedge. Rickie, McIIroy, and Points three man playoff which only lasted one hole. Congratulations Rickie on your first of many PGA victories.

Finally....

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:51:21 GMT

Zurich Classic championship

This weekend, Jason Dufner found himself in a playoff once again. And while this wasn't quite the PGA Championship, it was nonetheless an opportunity for Dufner to take down his first PGA Tour win. And who would he be facing but Ernie Els? The Big Easy in the Big Easy? How on earth was that going to go Dufner's way? But at last it did, as you can see here. Shame that Els had to lose again, but congrats to Dufner on the big win.

ESPN and Yahoo Sports Report:

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:45:26 GMT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (AP) Former NFL star Junior Seau was found shot to death at his home Wednesday morning in what police said appeared to be a suicide. He was 43.

Police Chief Frank McCoy said Seau's girlfriend reported finding him unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest and lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful. A gun was found near him, McCoy said.

Seau's mother appeared before reporters, weeping uncontrollably.

''I don't understand ... I'm shocked,'' Luisa Seau cried out.

Her son gave no indication of a problem when she spoke to him by phone earlier this week, she said.

''He's joking to me, he called me a 'homegirl,''' she said.

Seau was a standout linebacker with the University of Southern California before going to the San Diego Chargers - his hometown team - whom he led to the Super Bowl following the 1994 season.

''Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now. We ask everyone to stop what they're doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family,'' the team said in a statement.

Seau's death follows the suicide last year of former Chicago Bears player Dave Duerson, who also shot himself in the chest.

Seau remained with the Chargers until 2003 and went on to play with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots before retiring after the 2009 season.

''Junior was a fierce competitor whose passion and work ethic lifted his teammates to greater heights. His enthusiasm for the game was infectious and he passed that on to everyone who was around him. He loved the game so much, and no one played with more sheer joy,'' Dolphins CEO Mike Dee said in a statement.

''Junior was one-of-a-kind. The league will never see anyone like him again,'' Dee said.

The Patriots also issued a statement expressing grief over Seau's death. ''This is a sad day for the entire Patriots organization, our coaches and his many Patriots teammates,'' the statement said.

In October 2010, Seau survived a 100-foot plunge down a seaside cliff in his SUV, hours after he was arrested for investigation of domestic violence at the Oceanside home he shared with his girlfriend. The woman had told authorities that Seau assaulted her during an argument.

There was no evidence of drugs or alcohol involved in the crash and Seau told authorities he fell asleep while driving. He sustained minor injuries.

Seau spent parts of 20 seasons in the NFL, including his 1990-2002 stint with his hometown Chargers. He helped them to their only Super Bowl appearance, was voted to a team-record 12 straight Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro six times.

He amassed 545 tackles, 56 1/2 sacks and 18 interceptions in his career.

''Twenty years, to be part of this kind of fraternity, to be able to go out and play the game that you love, and all the lessons and the friends and acquaintances which you meet along the way, you can't be in a better arena,'' Seau said last August after the Chargers announced he would be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame.

Seau was the fifth pick overall in the 1990 draft out of Southern California, and stayed with the Charges until being traded to the Dolphins. He came out of retirement a few times to play with the Patriots in search of a Super Bowl ring and was with the team when they lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl following the 2007 season, which ended New England's quest for a perfect season.

More than 100 people gathered outside of Seau's home, only hours after he was found dead. Families showed up with flowers and fans wearing Chargers jerseys waited to get more news.

Seau was beloved in San Diego, where he created a foundation and had a popular restaurant that bore his name.

Louie Lieras, 54, of Oceanside was driving through the area when he saw a number of cars parked outside Seau's house. Once Lieras heard the news about Seau's death, he went home and put on an old Chargers jersey with Seau's name on the back.

''I don't know how you could give this up. This was his backyard. He's never going to see it again,'' said Lieras, gesturing toward the Pacific Ocean just yards from Seau's front door. ''I feel for the family and his children.''

Bubba Watson

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:14:15 GMT

Oosthuizen and Watson, in a sudden-death playoff. Both players got good looks at a birdie on 18 with Watson missing a Masters winning putt. Possibly rattled by that Bubba stuck his tee shot on No. 10 into the deep woods right of the green,but then uncorked a 40 yard hook around the television tower and tree with a wedge that landed within 15 feet for birdie. Oosthusizen missed a par put Bubba only needed two shots to win, Watson put his first putt close then tapped in his second for his first major win. Congratulations on winning a Green Jacket, but I his biggest prize is waiting for him at home, Baby son and wife.

PlayBoy Golf

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:02:53 GMT

PlayBoy Golf Scramble

Kraft Nabisco Championship

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:08:40 GMT

I.K. Kim did everything necessary to win a major, but for 17 holes and four more strokes this would have been Kim's first major victory. Kim cross the bridge to the 18th green two shots from the all-but-certain title. Her first putt went within 1 foot, and she calmly lined up the winner. Unfornately Kim joined Scott Hoch and Doug Sanders in golf infamy, and that’s when Sun Young Yoo seized an improbable second chance. This gave Yoo the LPGA Tour’s first major of the season with an 18-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday, earning her first major title.

MASTERS WEEK

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:23:24 GMT

Hospitalized

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:22:13 GMT

Arnold Palmer was hospitalized Sunday afternoon because of high blood pressure from new medication, which had Arnie missing the trophy presentation at his tournament when Tiger Woods won for the first time in 30 months on the PGA Tour. His absence was noticeable. One of the biggest thrills at the Arnold Palmer Invitational is to have The King standing behind the 18th green, waiting to congratulate the winner. Tiger Woods won for the seventh time, this time without being able to share a handshake and a hug with Palmer. We here at Insidethecup wish Mr. Palmer a speeding recovery and good health.

Finally

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:16:59 GMT

Tiger Woods looked liked the Tiger of old for most of the day, shaking off an early three-putt bogey before closing out the front nine with four birdies in a seven hole stretch. We wondered if the struggles at Pebble harbinger for Sunday's final round, but Tiger proved that he's about as sure as they come when leading on Sunday. This is his first official win in more than two years, now we can officially stop talking about his final round issues.

PGA Tour to end Q-school?

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:15:56 GMT

When PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour players and raw rookies from American colleges and foreign countries gather at PGA West in La Quinta this winter for the PGA Tour qualifying finals, they will be making a certain kind of history. That's because the PGA Tour and its policy board have decided the 2012 qualifying event, also known as Q-school, will be the last event to award players with exemptions directly to the PGA Tour.

In one of a series of sweeping changes approved by the policy board this week, players virtually will be required to play on the Nationwide Tour in order to reach the PGA Tour. The current Q-school process will continue to exist, but only as a way to gain an exemption to the Nationwide Tour. “We believe strongly this is a very exciting moment for the Nationwide Tour and PGA Tour as well,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in announcing the changes. “I think the decision by the policy board is recognition of the historical impact of the Nationwide Tour.” The new structure basically makes three changes:A three-event series of tournaments will be played in September and October of 2013, featuring the top 75 players from the Nationwide Tour money list and players from 126 to 200th on the PGA Tour's money list. The top 50 players from that series will earn PGA Tour cards for 2014. The Q-school system that exists now will remain in place for players without status on a tour or who have lost their status on a tour. But the reward will be a Nationwide Tour exemption, with no PGA Tour exemptions offered.

By holding the three-event series just after the PGA Tour's Tour Championship, players who earn PGA Tour cards will be able to compete in the events of the Fall Series and Asian swing in October and November. Those events will now offer FedEx Cup points and will serve as the start of the FedEx Cup points races. So the 2014 FedEx Cup chase will actually start in October of 2013. Finchem said that the decision to make the Nationwide Tour the main path to the PGA Tour comes after more than 20 years of statistical analysis that shows players from the Nationwide Tour have a much better record of sticking on the PGA Tour than golfers coming from the Q-school. “(The Nationwide Tour graduate) is a better player, better able to compete and if he is a player with personality and other things to contribute, he's going to have a chance to stay out here for a while,” he said. Finchem admitted that elevating the status of the Nationwide Tour may help as the tour searches for a new umbrella sponsor to replace Nationwide. “I don't think it is the reason we got into it, but it is an advantage,” Finchem said. Qualifying school has been held in the desert 12 times starting in 1984, when Paul Azinger was medalist. Other players who have made the tour by playing in desert Q-schools include Steve Jones, Mike Weir, George McNeill and Harrison Frazar. Names such as Anthony Kim, Y.E. Yang and John Huh qualified as non-medalists. This year's final Q-school will be played Nov. 28-Dec. 3 at the TPC Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament courses at PGA West in La Quinta. Finchem points out those college players will still have a chance to make the tour without even going through the Q-school process by earning enough money as non-members through starts as sponsor's exemptions to equal the 125th money winner from the previous year. Players such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Justin Leonard all skipped Q-school through their play on sponsor's invitations as non-members, with Woods and Mickelson winning events as non-members. Finchem emphasized that while the overall concept of change has been approved, some details of the plans are still to be hammered out. Those details include how the 75 Nationwide Tour and 75 PGA Tour players will be seeded into the three-event qualifying series, or if some top Nationwide Tour players might automatically earn PGA Tour cards but still play in the three-event series to determine their exemption number for the following season. There also has been no decision made on where the three events of the new qualifying process will be played.

“We have pretty strong flexibility nationally weather-wise,” Finchem said of the September-October timeframe. “We're not precluded from playing anywhere.”

Courtesy of Larry Bohannan Local Newspaper The Desert Sun

Tavistock Cup Isleworth Team

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:23:14 GMT

Members of the Isleworth Team (l-r) Daniel Chopra of Sweden, Bo Van Pelt of the USA, David Howell III of the USA and Bubba Watson of the USA during the first day, David Feherty of Northern Ireland the television commentator leads

Tavistock Cup Queenwood Team

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:20:17 GMT

Members of the Queenwood Team (kneeling l-r) Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark, Paul McGinley of Ireland, (standing l-r) Thomas Bjorn of Ireland, Tom Lewis of England, David Howell of England, and Adam Scott of Australia during the first day of the 2012 Tavistock Cup at Lake Nona Country Club

TaylorMade reaches agreement to buy Adams Golf

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:09:46 GMT

On Monday 19, 2012. Courtey of Golf Digest

Ever since Adams Golf announced on Jan. 4, 2012 that it was "examining strategic alternatives," there has been speculation about what would happen to the brand. In the interim, rumors that TaylorMade was interested in acquiring Adams circulated. Those rumors became reality Monday morning as TaylorMade announced it had reached an agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Adams Golf for $10.80 per share in cash, or roughly $70 million. According to a statement from TaylorMade, it will maintain Adams' headquarters in Plano, Texas.

"This acquisition reflects our commitment to continued growth in the golf category," said Herbert Hainer, CEO of adidas Group, TaylorMade's parent company. "The proposed combination of Adams Golf and TaylorMade-adidas Golf brings together two highly complementary sets of brands, combining Adams' focus on game-improvement as well as senior and women golfers with TaylorMade-adidas Golf's focus on the younger and the low-to-mid handicap golfer."

The acquisition by TaylorMade caps a whirlwind few weeks for Adams, which posted sales of $96.5 million in 2011. CEO Chip Brewer left Adams for Callaway Golf on Feb. 28 with company founder Barney Adams taking over as interim CEO.

In addition to the stated benefit of adding a brand focused on game-improvement clubs, TaylorMade also acquires some intriguing intellectual property in the area of slots in clubheads and Yes! Golf's C-Groove technology. Further, Adams has often won the hybrid count on the PGA Tour in recent years -- something that did not sit well with TaylorMade. Now the two hybrid leaders are part of the same company.

The adidas Group plans to finance the acquisition with cash on hand or through existing credit lines and the transaction is subject to standard closing conditions and regulatory approvals as well as approval by Adams Golf shareholders. Those are expected to be mere formalities, however, and the transaction is expected to close mid-2012.

-- E. Michael Johnson

LPGA Founders Cup

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 01:29:00 GMT

Yani Tseng won her 14th LPGA Tour title and second in four events this year. With temperatures in the mid-80s Thursday and Friday and high 70s Saturday, it plunged into the low 40s Sunday morning and only got up to the mid-50s. In February, Tseng successfully defended her LPGA Thailand title, and has five victories in her last 11 starts. Yani led the tour last season with seven victories including major victories in the LPGA Championship and Women’s British Open and finished the year with 12 worldwide titles.

Donald is No. 1 in the World again

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:11:00 GMT

It took Luke Donald only two weeks to reclaim his No. 1 ranking, and he did it with fantastic performance on the greens. McIlroy may be the hot name at the moment, but the way Luke Donald's playing, definitely he deserves a look to pick up that first major win at Augusta.

Danielle Montgomery

dtjr06@hotmail.com (Welcome to Insidethecup.com) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:38:27 GMT