News

Tiger Woods announces he will not play in the 2017 Masters

Published

1 year ago

Mar 31, 2017

Tiger Woods released a statement on his website on Friday night confirming that he will not play in the 2017 Masters, because he’s not “tournament ready.” It’s the second year in a row that the four-time Green Jacket winner will not tee it up at Augusta National for The Masters, and it’s been 20 years since his 12-stroke victory in 1997.

Here’s his statement in its entirety:

Unfortunately, I won’t be competing in this year’s Masters. I did about everything I could to play, but my back rehabilitation didn’t allow me the time to get tournament ready. I’m especially upset because it’s a special anniversary for me that’s filled with a lot of great memories. I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since I won my first green jacket.

I have no timetable for my return, but I will continue my diligent effort to recover, and want to get back out there as soon as possible.

I’d like to pass along my regrets to Billy Payne, the Augusta National membership, staff, volunteers and patrons, that I won’t be there. I will be at the Champions Dinner and I look forward to seeing a lot of old friends.

Augusta National has been a very important place to me and my family for over 20 years, and while I’m disappointed, it will be good to be back there Tuesday.

The last we saw of Woods in competition was at the 2017 Omega Dubai Desert Classic, where he withdrew after 18 holes due to spasms in his lower back — a location that’s been surgically operated on three times.

Woods says he has “no timetable” for his return to competitive golf.

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36 Comments

Jim H

Apr 4, 2017 at 11:46 am

Such a “surprise” announcement

Reply Report comment
Dave R

Apr 3, 2017 at 9:42 pm

OMG who cares. REALLY !!

Reply Report comment
Tom54

Apr 3, 2017 at 7:48 pm

I understand he say he is not tournament ready but I don’t know why he doesn’t go have some fun, play the best he can and give fans who still love him the opportunity to watch him. If he would open up and be honest and not really care about what he shoots he would gain a lot of credibility and humility. We all know how great he was no denying that. But I agree that the secrecy around him and his injuries is a bit troubling

Reply Report comment
ButchT

Apr 3, 2017 at 6:46 pm

I think his withdrawing is comical.

Reply Report comment
Pilko

Apr 3, 2017 at 2:05 pm

Personally I think it’s the correct decision for Tiger and for golf, as much as I like the phenomena of Tiger playing and even better at the Masters. It’s beneficial to golf that the week isn’t centred around another ‘Tiger Return’ and instead we can see other stories break through. Added to this I don’t feel like we are getting the whole story about Tiger and something is being hidden about his condition.

Reply Report comment
JR

Apr 2, 2017 at 9:06 am

who really gives a chit about tiger anymore?? He is toast, done, kaput!!

Reply Report comment
ND Hickman

Apr 2, 2017 at 5:09 am

Seriously, can we please do away with the SHANK and LOL prefix on article pictures. It’s petty and simply plays up to the Tiger-basher crowd.

Reply Report comment
- BB
  
  Apr 2, 2017 at 11:49 am
  
  Are you seriously triggered by a Tiger Woods article being shanked? SMH
  
  Reply Report comment
  - ND Hickman
    
    Apr 3, 2017 at 8:49 am
    
    Nope, I’ve said it was a silly addition since day one. It literally serves no purpose other than trolling.
    
    Reply Report comment
Lc

Apr 1, 2017 at 7:48 pm

Just don’t understand people guy was dominate and great to watch just as any athlete that’s purely competitive and not for the money. He had no other impact on my life nor any of the others that try to bash him.

Reply Report comment
Lc

Apr 1, 2017 at 7:44 pm

Ball licker…lol…I get it…lol… funny…read article about a guy and that’s what comes to ur mind. Lol….

Reply Report comment
KJ

Apr 1, 2017 at 1:40 pm

Sad to see such a great player have the game taken away from him b/c of injuries. He should start to think about taking an extended leave of absence and just rest his back for another year. Let it heal as much as possible. Give it one more go and if it doesn’t work out, retire.

Reply Report comment
Tom

Apr 1, 2017 at 12:04 pm

Jack’s record is safe.

Reply Report comment
Reebs

Apr 1, 2017 at 12:00 pm

Aprils fool?

Reply Report comment
BC

Apr 1, 2017 at 11:23 am

He knew he wouldn’t be playing. He has been history for a long time now.

Reply Report comment
Shallowface

Apr 1, 2017 at 11:04 am

There are things that cannot be bought, even if one has a billion dollars.

Reply Report comment
Rich Douglas

Apr 1, 2017 at 10:42 am

Of COURSE he isn’t playing. Neither am I. And both had the same probability: zero.

Reply Report comment
ooffa

Apr 1, 2017 at 6:54 am

BTW he’s not playing in The Players Championship, The British Open, The PGA or the US Open.
I hope I didn’t scoop your news team with these revelations.

Reply Report comment
Fat Perez

Apr 1, 2017 at 6:52 am

Shocker!!! Lol!

Reply Report comment
The dude

Apr 1, 2017 at 6:01 am

The real question….when will he retire…this year or next.

Reply Report comment
- Shallowface
  
  Apr 1, 2017 at 11:06 am
  
  Never. It’s irrelevant.
  
  Reply Report comment
The dude

Apr 1, 2017 at 5:59 am

But …that Bridgestone ball..and TM protos…

Reply Report comment
TONEY P

Apr 1, 2017 at 5:42 am

Wasn’t something we didn’t know. Tiger will be missed. Maybe some others should get out too.

Reply Report comment
Mark

Apr 1, 2017 at 5:03 am

And tomorrow is Sunday. Yawn.

Reply Report comment
Mr Muira

Apr 1, 2017 at 4:57 am

At least Elvis Presley has the decency to rock up.

Reply Report comment
Johnnylongballz

Apr 1, 2017 at 3:46 am

No announcement was necessary.

Reply Report comment
Wedge Chunk

Apr 1, 2017 at 12:47 am

Arnold Palmer wont be there either.

Reply Report comment
- clowone
  
  Apr 1, 2017 at 4:07 am
  
  Too soon man, too soon
  
  Reply Report comment
- Bert
  
  Apr 1, 2017 at 8:46 am
  
  Callous comparison.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Looper
  
  Apr 1, 2017 at 2:44 pm
  
  Out of bounds man!!!
  
  Reply Report comment
Big Mike

Mar 31, 2017 at 11:51 pm

He is done. Great memories of the Tiger of old but today’s Tiger has been tamed by mother nature and physical limitations. Thank you Tiger for the memories and all you have done for the game. Wishing you the best

Reply Report comment
Moonman

Mar 31, 2017 at 11:19 pm

I heard Tiger is going to play next year at the Masters. Cant wait!!!!!!

Reply Report comment
Jason

Mar 31, 2017 at 10:26 pm

Maybe he could just be an Honorary Starter.

Reply Report comment
Dat

Mar 31, 2017 at 10:08 pm

close the comments, this is gonna get ugly.

Reply Report comment
ooffa

Mar 31, 2017 at 8:52 pm

Of course he’s not. No one thought he would.

Reply Report comment
- JR
  
  Apr 1, 2017 at 12:00 am
  
  except tiger ball lickers
  
  Reply Report comment

News

GolfWRX Morning 9: Mickelson’s mea culpa | Pros slay USGA | RIP to a pair of HOFers

Published

49 mins ago

Jun 21, 2018

Ben Alberstadt

Good morning, GolfWRX members. As most of you are signed up for our newsletters, you likely already know that I’ve been sending this little Morning 9 roundup of nine items of note.

In case you’ve missed it, or you prefer to read on site rather than in your email, we’re including it here. Check out today’s Morning 9 below.

If you’re not signed up for our newsletters, you can subscribe here.

By Ben Alberstadt (ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com)

June 21, 2018

Good Thurday morning, golf fans. Four days after the end of the U.S. Open, the items dominating the news wire all pertain to negative elements of the national championship. Injecting this for balance: Brooks Koepka played really well!

1. Mickelson’s mea culpa

Four days after his inglorious performance on Shinnecock’s 13th green, Phil Mickelson sent a text message to a group of reporters that included the words, “I’m sorry.”

“I know this should’ve come sooner, but it’s taken me a few days to calm down. My anger and frustration got the best of me last weekend. I’m embarrassed and disappointed by my actions. It was clearly not my finest moment and I’m sorry.”

Critics will say the apology is too late in coming and doesn’t go far enough. Supporters, those amused by Mickelson’s antics, will see it as a PR gesture in the face of pressure to atone.

2. “Mike Davis is Dean Wormer”

PGA Tour players are slaying the USGA and its chief Mike Davis

Just look at these quotes from Brian Wacker’s bit for Golf Digest.

“It’s a private fraternity and you abide by their rules,” one multiple major winner said. “[USGA CEO] Mike Davis is Dean Wormer, except the ending is not as good as Animal House.”

James Hahn: “To me, that’s amateur hour...They don’t know how to run a professional event because they don’t run professional events.”

“Not only have we lost trust in the USGA as players, but I’ve lost trust in our national open to be in the hands of an organization like that. For how well other tournaments are run, the U.S. Open has fallen to the worst major that we have.”

“A lot of players are disenchanted with the organization, the tournament and the setup,” said a former winner of the event. “No, I don’t trust them.”

More scathing takes.

3. McIlroy laughed too

The image of 48-year-old Phil Mickelson jogging after his golf ball on the 13th green at Shinnecock, Saturday, was bizarrely comedic. Even if you condemn Mickelson in the strongest of terms, taken on its face, the scene is a silly one.

That said, it’s interesting that two of the biggest names in the game–Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth– had the same response: laughter. Speaking before the Travelers Championship, Rory McIlroy said

“I saw what happened…and honestly, I laughed. I felt there was a massive overreaction to it. Knowing Phil, he knew what he was doing, and as a player who has been in that head space before in a tournament, I can see it happening.”

4. RIP to a pair of greats of the game

News of the passings of Hubert Green and Peter Thomson hit the wires yesterday. Thomson, 88, had been battling Alzheimers, and throat cancer felled Green, 71. (No disrespect intended by not leading with this story; death is, I know, a helluva lot more significant than the USGA or the ramifications of its course setups.)

Golf Digest‘s longtime editor-in-chief, Jerry Tarde filed a thoughtful remembrance of the king of the British Open, which is well worth reading in full.

Hubert Green’s obituary, here.

5. Spieth’s blackout

No, nothing alcohol induced, but rather, Jordan Spieth reflected on his Travelers Championship-winning bunker hole-out and the jubilant celebration (and botched chest bump) that followed.

“Just that celebration in general, I blacked out,” Spieth said. “It drops and you just react. For me, I’ve had a few instances where I’ve been able to celebrate or react on a 72nd, 73rd hole, 74th hole, whatever it may be, and it just shows how much it means to us.”

“There’s been a lot of pretty bad celebrations on the PGA Tour. There’s been a lot of missed high-fives…I’ve been part of plenty of them. Pretty hard to miss when I’m going into Michael for a chest bump.”

6. What is “feel” in putting, really?

PGA Master Professional Rod Lidenberg offers a thorough introduction to the stimpmeter and how determining green speeds is the basis for “feel.”

He writes: “The key to the entire process is allowing yourself to make a subconscious connection between what your eyes have observed and the associated outcome. You must then trust what you have learned at a sub-conscious level. A conscious attempt to produce a given outcome will short-circuit the system. When it comes to judging speed, you must be prepared to surrender your conscious mind to your sub-conscious mind, which is infinitely wiser and more capable of calculating speed.”

Full article.

7. Cool! Coul plans passed

The Coore & Crenshaw project near Royal Dornoch, Coul Links, has gotten the go-ahead.

Here’s something of a pull-back-the-curtain portion on the road to approval from the press release (h/t Geoff Shackelford)

“First, a world class links course near Dornoch would prove economically transformational, perhaps creating the Highlands as the third major golf destination in Scotland.”

“Second, Coul Links is an extraordinary site ecologically and our plans will improve it. We will disturb 13.4 hectares of dune habitat, but we will improve 20 hectares and provide a site management plan in perpetuity.

“The people in the community of Embo have spoken confidently with their outstanding support. We are humbled and thankful to be their neighbours and partners.

“Third, after three exhaustive years, virtually everyone in the Highlands wants this project completed. Yes, there are objectors with legitimate concerns, and we respect them but make no doubt the voice of the people has been heard.

8. Phil’s robo froyo

Not an Onion story; real thing that is actually happening here. Phil Mickelson and his manager/business partner, Steve Loy have signed a deal with Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. and its flagship subsidiary, Reis & Irvy’s, to open 30 yogurt locations in San Diego.

We’ll just quote directly from the press release, because, who can paraphrase language like this?

“Reis & Irvy’s-branded signature robot characters of the same name can dispense servings of frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelatos and sorbet topped with a selection of six delicious toppings in under 60 seconds. With self-checkout touch screen ordering and payment options, video animation, music and delicious frozen dessert provided exclusively by Dannon, robot vendors meet consumer demand for convenience, entertainment and a superior quality product.”

9. Place your bets

A quick look at the favorites for the Travelers Championship (via Bovada)

Justin Thomas +1200
Rory McIlroy +1200
Jordan Spieth +1400
Brooks Koepka +1600
Patrick Reed +1600
Jason Day +1600
Paul Casey +2000
Webb Simpson +2000
Marc Leishman +2500
Bryson DeChambeau +2500

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News

Phil Mickelson apologizes for U.S. Open display

Published

20 hours ago

Jun 20, 2018

Ben Alberstadt

Phil Mickelson has apologized for his actions at Shinnecock Hills, Saturday.

In a text sent to a select group of reporters, Mickelson said Wednesday

“I know this should’ve come sooner, but it’s taken me a few days to calm down. My anger and frustration got the best of me last weekend. I’m embarrassed and disappointed by my actions. It was clearly not my finest moment and I’m sorry.”

Mickelson spoke briefly with reporters after exiting the scoring tent, Saturday. To refresh, it was then that he said

“It’s certainly not meant (to show disrespect). It’s meant to take advantage of the rules as best you can. In that situation I was just, I was just going back and forth. I’ll gladly take the two shots over continuing that display,” and “I’ve had multiple times when I’ve wanted to do that, and I finally did.”

The left-hander didn’t speak with the media Sunday, and he hadn’t issued any statements prior to the text.

He was penalized two shots for hitting a ball in motion, but the USGA stopped short of disqualifying Mickelson, believing that his actions didn’t constitute a “serious breach” of the rules. Mickelson spoke with USGA chief Mike Davis at length about the incident, and the governing body remained steadfast in its conclusion.

Responses from the media and his peers ranged from amusement, to support, to outright condemnation. Additionally, just how calculated Mickelson’s actions were was a subject for debate, with some believing Mickelson merely lost his head and the calculated “taking advantage of the rules” explanation was merely a post hoc invention.

The apology, and the timing and method of the apology, will do little to satisfy Mickelson’s critics on the matter. For those, like Jordan Spieth, who believe Mickelson was merely using the rules in his favor, the mea culpa was likely unnecessary.

Surely, the text message will not put the incident to bed.

Mickelson is next expected in the field in two weeks at The Greenbrier.

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News

GolfWRX Morning 9: Mickelson still on pros’ minds | Scotty Cameron speaks

Published

1 day ago

Jun 20, 2018

Ben Alberstadt

Good morning, GolfWRX members. As most of you are signed up for our newsletters, you likely already know that I’ve been sending this little Morning 9 roundup of nine items of note.

In case you’ve missed it, or you prefer to read on site rather than in your email, we’re including it here. Check out today’s Morning 9 below.

If you’re not signed up for our newsletters, you can subscribe here.

By Ben Alberstadt (ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com)

June 20 2018

Good Wednesday morning, golf fans. What a golf world we live in. I’ve been getting a few emails from readers saying someone from the USGA mispronounced low amateur Matt Parziale’s last name during the U.S. Open trophy ceremony. I didn’t see it; but if so, good grief.

1. Mickelson on their minds

Perhaps you’re tired of hearing about Phil Mickelson’s actions Saturday at Shinnecock, but players on the PGA Tour aren’t tired of talking about the subject. Additionally, several gentlemen’s early U.S. Open exits means this week at the Travelers is the media’s first chance to catch up with them (Spieth, McIlroy, Day).

…and of course, anonymous takes! (via Brian Wacker) “He should’ve been disqualified,” insisted one former major champion. “Why don’t these governing bodies just enforce the friggin’ rules? It was like Tiger [at the Masters] in 2013. That was a hard one, but this one Phil knew what he did and told everyone what he did, which was worse. It’s like robbing a place, walking out and saying to the cops ‘I did it,’ and the cops go, ‘It’s OK, it’s just you.'”

Brandt Snedeker: “He hit a moving ball and tried to use the rules to his advantage,” said Brandt Snedeker, who was among those who thought Mickelson should not have been DQed. “The USGA had a chance to disqualify him for being egregious and they didn’t, so no. The rules screw us over so many times, so more power to him for using them.”

Jordan Spieth: “I laughed, I thought it was really funny…”Phil knows the rules,” he said. “There was a chance it was going to go back behind the bunker and he’s got to chip back, or he was going to play off the green anyways, so he was potentially saving himself a shot. So if that was the intent, then what’s the harm in that?”

2. Jason Day pulls no punches

Taking one particularly hot take off the plate of responses, Jason Day (who won’t face awkwardness with Mickelson in any Ryder or Presidents Cup locker rooms) was pretty clear in stating Mickelson ought to have been disqualified.

“It’s just unfortunate that it happened at the USGA’s tournament, where they enforce the rules, like the R&A. And I think they may have, they probably should have enforced a different outcome for Phil….But it is what it is. It’s done. It’s just disappointing that that is overshadowing the winner of the whole week. I think if they had it back again, they may have chosen a different outcome.”

The Australian also had some choice words for golf’s governing body regarding course setup.

“…Saturday was a total, it was like two different golf courses, practically, on the greens Saturday versus Sunday,” Day said. “I just wish they would leave it alone and just let it go. Not saying to let the greens go and let them dry out and make it unfair, I’m just saying plan accordingly and hopefully whatever the score finishes, it finishes, whether it’s under par or over par.”

3. The Phil Rule

All of this brings us here: Golf.com’s Dylan Dethier says it’s time for “the Phil Rule” in the wake of Lefty’s creative use of Rule 14-5.

“…giving Mickelson just the two-shot penalty essentially endorsed this hockey-style alley-oop as legitimate strategy. As a result, the USGA (which has not yet responded to GOLF.com’s request for comment) is left with one option: It’s time for the Phil Rule.”

“But the USGA ultimately cited rule 14-5, which covers strokes made at a moving ball and also calls for a two-stroke penalty, but has no clause covering additional punishment. Because of the precedent now set, a new rule should address the simple fact that hitting a moving ball just isn’t a part of golf. The so-called Phil Rule will be simple: anyone who intentionally strikes a moving ball will be disqualified.”

For the full slippery slope scenario, check out the piece.

4. Johnson on Shinnecock

Andy Johnson at the Fried Egg is a Voice (capital V) in golf, and we’re lucky he’s emerged in recent years. His U.S. Open post-mortem is a must read.

A taste…”Many of today’s prototypical Tour pros appeared clueless at Shinnecock thanks to changing winds, uneven lies and vexing green complexes. The idea of flighting a 4-iron into a modest wind from 180 to control the spin as opposed to bashing a 7-iron is a foreign concept. Rather than use the ground around the greens, many immediately grabbed their 60 degree and watched helplessly as chip shots rolled back to their feet. Shinnecock Hills asked a slew of questions to the world’s best players that they had never seen.”

“The technology effect has been two-fold. It’s made it nearly impossible for the USGA to properly set up a golf course, and it has also robbed the game of skill. Combine the two together, and the line of a good setup and bad setup is razor thin. The vast majority of players lacked the ability to hit the shots that were needed at Shinnecock, and their first reaction was to complain.”

Full piece

5. PGA’s double standard?

Mike Purkey of MorningRead.com takes issue with the PGA of America’s decision not to take action against president Paul Levy following his June 7 DUI…especially in light of the organization’s eagerness to remove Ted Bishop

Purkey writes: “Here are the facts, based on the police report: Levy got behind the wheel impaired and put people and property in danger. The fact that he hit only a traffic sign is a stroke of pure luck. The question must be asked: If Levy had hit a car with people inside, would the PGA leadership look at this incident in a different light?”

“If the answer is “yes,” then the PGA has the obligation to remove Levy from office. Because it doesn’t matter what – or whom – Levy ran his car into if, in fact, he was impaired. He could have injured or killed innocent motorists while on the road in his condition. That’s the disqualifying factor.”

Full article

6. Ted Bishop

Speaking of Ted Bishop, the former PGA of America president spoke at length with our Michael Williams on his 19th Hole podcast.

Here’s a bit of what he had to say about the U.S. Open setup

“You know Michael, I thought the most telling interview that I saw the entire weekend on the course set up was the one that FOX did yesterday with Patrick Reed when his round was finished. And they asked him about the Saturday setup and he said, “You know, I really didn’t have a problem with it.” He said, “There were two pins on 13 and 15 that were maybe two yards out of place and it made a completely different situation on the putting greens.” But he said, “Other than that, I didn’t have any issues with it.” And that’s his personality. He’s the guy that rolls with the flow and doesn’t make any excuses.”

“Now obviously, there were a lot of players that were very critical. I was just reading an article before this phone call. Some quotes from Steve Stricker, for example. And Strick’s usually a guy that doesn’t say anything bad about anything and he was very critical of about the set up. But I think the biggest controversy would be the fact that the players in the morning on Saturday were probably a different golf course than the players in the afternoon were. And that’s just sometimes in golf, the way that it goes.”

Full transcript

7. A raw release

Raw iron sets, at the retail level, are rare, so it’s cool to see WIlson introducing the FG Tour V6 Raw irons.

The new FG Tour V6 Raw irons have an unplated finish, and they’re designed to “develop a unique patina based on age, exposure and use over time,” according to Wilson. This gives each iron a unique look, and one that’s far from the clean cut original FG Tour release that had a chrome finish.

8. Scotty speaks!

Famed putter maker Scotty Cameron spoke with longtime equipment scribe E. Michael Johnson.

A morsel…What’s the coolest item you have in the Gallery right now?

“I made a putter for myself. I think alligator is such a gentlemanly, cool material. So I made myself a Gatorback putter. It’s kind of like an 8802, but with a wide-bodied flange. I can do the wide-body flange because I have an aluminum sole plate. But the back has something that looks like the dashboard from a Bentley. But then that long, round flange in the back is kind of a plain area of blankness.”

“So I milled a little pocket back there that has a rim of stainless steel, then I created a stamp the shape of the mill pocket, cut out the alligator. I used a special glue to inlay the alligator into the back of the putter, so it has a Gatorback Bentley back and bottom. It’s spectacular. And then I matched it with an alligator grip. Then I took the alligator to make headcovers to match the grip and the back. It is expensive and it’s a pain to do, but when I was done with it I went, “Oh my goodness.”

Full interview

9. Shark in the buff

As he said he’d consider doing when asked by Michael Williamson our 19th Hole podcast

, Greg Norman is set to appear in the ESPN “Body Issue.”

The 63-year-old will follows in the footsteps of Gary Player, as well as number of other golfers, including Camilo Villegas, Belen Mozo, Carly Booth, Sandra Gal, Suzann Pettersen, and Christina Kim.

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