Ties were out for Father's Day. At least for golf writers, who never wear ties unless they have to in order to attend a function in hopes of scoring free stuff -- or as they call it in Europe, "press bung."
What was in for Father's Day? Golf balls are always in. I got a few of those this year, along with a surprise gift: a Tiger Woods bobblehead doll. I think it's called the Tiger Woods Tiger Slam doll. Mine says "2001 Masters Tournament" on the green plastic base and "4 of 4" on the back. There's a different model for each of the four consecutive majors that Woods won. This one was purchased at a CVS Pharmacy for $4.99 after it was spotted by my son, Michael. It was the kind of gift that when you buy it, you're a little embarrassed and you want to let the cashier know that you're not buying it for yourself. So when my wife joked that there probably wasn't a big run on the Tiger heads, the female cashier answered, "Maybe if it was a NASCAR driver." Yuck.
MAILBAG
I turn 50 on June 26 and have decided to pursue one of my dreams: to compete in Senior tour Q school. The problem is I can't find any information on the whens, wheres and hows of the event. I have e-mailed the USGA, the PGA and everyone in between, and they all suggested I contact one or the other. So I am wondering if you have any information. —David McKenzie, Enumclaw, Wash.
The Senior PGA Tour's phone number in Florida is 904-285-3700. I'm sure the organization will be happy to grab your hefty entry fee and give you Q school info. Good luck.
To those who believe in the theory that major-championship courses have been set up extra tough since April 1997 to keep Tiger Woods from dominating, it should now be obvious that toughening and lengthening the courses has had the opposite effect. Do you think the USGA, R&A and PGA may decide to make courses just a little shorter and not quite so penal in order to bring more players back into the major-championship fray? I've always believed length should be a big advantage but not a prerequisite. —Kevin Forbes, Newton, Mass.
No, I think the governing bodies are concerned with length and the scores the pros shoot. They're afraid if the winning score is 18 under, they're not identifying the best player. I think they'll continue to make courses as long as possible in order to keep up, or possibly get ahead of, the technology boom in golf.
What's the local skinny on Peter Lonard's rookie year over there? He overcame a horrible triple late on Sunday at the U.S. Open to shoot the low fourth-round score, but we really don't see much pub about him. As a late starter on the PGA Tour after coming through Q school (I think), he doesn't miss cuts and, while not outstanding at any one thing, his all-around ability looks well suited to the tour's demands. What's the U.S. vibe, if any, on him? —James Weston, Melbourne, Australia
Absolutely none. Lonard has a low profile. American fans have no idea who he is, and American media types haven't quite discovered him. He needs to get in contention on a weekend to be spotted, basically, and that hasn't happened yet.
In our weekend game we have come up with some creative names for errant shots. For example, you "T.C. Chen-ed" it if you have a double hit. If you blow a big lead on 18 it's "a Van de Velde." A shot pulled well left is called a "Thurman Munson" (a dead yank). Can you or other readers possibly add to the list? —Mike (Mannix) O'Connor, Coronado, Calif.
I had a Chen just the other day, Mannix, and it was pretty annoying. I haven't heard any others, so unless you want me to make some up, I've got nothing. Any other readers have nominees for this quaint category?
I am trying to get fitted for clubs and I was wondering what flex shaft I should get. Is it solely based on swing speed? I have a swing-speed monitor and was wondering what the ballpark numbers for regular, stiff and extra-stiff irons and woods are? —Mike Spangler, Williamsburg, Va.
Clubhead speed and how far you hit the ball are the keys for clubfitting. For ballpark figures, if your clubhead speed is in the 80 mph range, you're regular; in the 90s, you're stiff; and if you're topping 100, you're moving toward extra stiff. See a PGA pro for an accurate fit.
Nike has its own line of bobblehead Tigers. Last time I checked, you got one free if you ordered a dozen Nike Tour Accuracy golf balls from golfdiscount.com. The cost, including shipping, was $46.50. Last year, Nike offered a dozen golf balls in really cool tins that commemorated each of Tiger's four straight major wins. It couldn't have been a big hit because in short order they were marked down for clearance on several Web sites.
I guess bobblehead dolls are so old that they're new again, and suddenly back in style. Why? I have no idea. But I'm taking suggestions for what I should do with the Tiger bobblehead or where I should place it.
What I've come up with so far:
Dashboard of my car.
Dashboard of Sergio García's car.
Rear window of my car.
Rear window of my car, next to a bobblehead dog.
Hood of my car.
Swinging upside down from my rearview mirror.
Office desk. (Nah, too boring.)
Dining room table. (Wife says no way, loser.)
Atop the refrigerator. (Too inconspicuous.)
In the refrigerator. (Very cool.)
In the refrigerator next to the Hostess orange cupcakes. (Sort of like standing guard.)
In the guest bathroom. (What, we got guests?)
In the wine cellar. (Like if I had a wine cellar, I'd be writing a Web column once a week for $27? Not hardly, Jocko.)
In the arboretum. (Sorry, I don't even know what that means.)
Bring the Tiger head along and place him in the golf cart when I play. With all the bumps on the course, that would be some serious bobbling.
Well, I can't decide. If you've got any suggestions on where or how to properly display a bobblehead Tiger, in such a way as to impress your friends and enhance your social standing, send in your ideas. If they're stupid enough, I might run some.
But really, a NASCAR driver? Get serious. What's next, bobblehead dolls of Arena Football League coaches?
Upon further review
Here's my low-tech opinion of some of the equipment I've tried out this year.
I love my latest tryout, the Never Compromise TDP putter. It's a center-shafted mallet head that looks and feels great. I'm regaining some confidence in my stroke, although I'm still going with the Claw grip on most short putts inside eight feet. This putter has just the right heft for Claw action, but I like its feel with my conventional grip, too. My Scotty Cameron blade putter has been benched. My new backup is probably the Pixel putter, a heavier blade putter that I really liked before my 15-year-old son swiped it. He's gone on to an Odyssey White Hot blade, bumping the Pixel into my on-deck circle.
I still have hope for the Odyssey 2-Ball Putter. You've probably seen it: It's a large mallet head with two golf-ball-sized white circles on the top of the head. The idea is that it's easier to line up three golf balls in a row. The club definitely helps you with your setup; I love that part of it. The feel of the ball coming off the face is a winner, too. My only criticism is that despite its mass, the head is very light. On long putts, I have trouble with the feel and, therefore, the distance. Of course, I've been putting like crapioca (that's a word I claim to have invented), so who am I to know? I hope a massive lead-taping job will solve that problem.
I've got a blue Adams 4-wood in my bag. I think Adams' new line of fairway woods includes its best clubs yet. I moved it into my bag, replacing an older Adams 5-wood, and this new club is hot. It's easy to hit and it goes a long way.
I'm trying out two new sand wedges by accident. Actually, by stupidity. I left my old Adams Nick Faldo sand wedges on the chipping green at my club recently and they never turned up in lost and found. I've always had my eye on Cleveland Gun Metal sand wedges, but I never had a chance to try them. Instead, I picked up a pair of Never Compromise wedges -- you didn't even know they made anything besides putters, right? Their wedges have a nice look and shape, and when you put them at address, well, they just seem right. I've had good luck with them so far.
I tried out the maroon-colored Butler driver. It has a nice look; I like the color. Its shape reminds me a little of the Ping ISI driver. The ball feels very hard coming off the face of the club on shots, which I'm not crazy about. I tended to lose shots a little to the right, which may have been a result of not having the right shaft, and I hit it a few yards shorter than the driver already in my bag, a TaylorMade 320. So my enthusiasm is slightly lacking for this club. I'll give it a few more tries, however.
Sports Illustrated senior writer Gary Van Sickle writes for the magazine's
Golf Plus section and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Click here to send him a question or comment.
