The Ladies Are Back

THE LPGA SEASON GETS underway tomorrow at the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand. Forty-nine of the top 50 on the 2009 LPGA money list will tee it up at Siam Country Club outside of Bangkok, Thailand. World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa is the defending champion.

Although last year was tumultuous for the LPGA Tour, a new season and new commissioner had three of the LPGA’s biggest stars in a sunny mood as they sat for a press conference on Tuesday.

Asked about LPGA commish Michael Whan and new sponsor announcements in recent weeks, Ochoa said, “We are all happy with the new commissioner. We’re going in the right direction.” Paula Creamer said, “His vision for our Tour is where it should be.” Michelle Wie made it unanimous. “I’ve talked to Mike Whan and he’s awesome. He sends e-mails to us and keeps in touch. He wants to know what we’re thinking as players.”

What the players think definitely matters. Just ask ex-LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens. It’s early, but so far Whan’s collaborative style is winning the players and a few new sponsors.

The three players also talked about their prospects as the season begins. Creamer, who suffered last year with a mysterious ailment, said she feels the best she has in a long time. Wie said she and other players are gunning for Ochoa’s top spot. Lorena said she is just trying to concentrate on her own game and not be concerned about all the great talent chasing her, including last year’s rookie of the year, Jiyai Shin.

Whether they’re in for another bumpy season or not, look for the ladies to hang tough. The LPGA has survived since 1950 when a group of 13 women that included Babe Zaharias, Louise Suggs and Betty Jameson founded the ladies tour. They’ll be celebrating their 60th anniversary all year, which will include historic snapshots at LPGA.com.

Borrowing a phrase from Spock, who might be a commissioner candidate if Whan doesn’t work out, may the LPGA live long and prosper.

−The Armchair Golfer

(Images: Lancaster-Jones, Allison /Flickr)

Whiskers Predicts Tiger’s Return

THERE AREN’T MANY Tiger Woods fans who are more devoted than Whiskers. In fact, it’s fair to say that Whiskers is the most extreme case of Tiger worship. It’s a simple explanation. Whiskers always watches golf when Tiger is playing. And, as ARMCHAIR GOLF has learned in prior interviews, Whiskers never watches golf when Tiger isn’t playing. Not even the Ryder Cup.

With the revelations about Tiger and his indefinite leave from the game, it was a long and disturbing off-season for Whiskers. In a recent telephone interview with ARMCHAIR GOLF, Whiskers answered questions about Tiger’s return to the game. Unfortunately, it didn’t end well. 



Q: What did you think about Johnny Miller’s recent comments on Tiger?

WHISKERS: Meow meow meow meow meow. 

Q: Well then, who do you listen to?

WHISKERS: Meow. 

Q: Fair enough. Let me ask you the question that’s on everyone’s mind. When do you think Tiger will return to golf?

WHISKERS: Meow meow meow. 

Q: No, that won’t happen. The Accenture Match Play is this week. Tiger’s not entered, although he did play in it last year. He lost to Tim Clark.

WHISKERS: Meow. 

Q: Phoenix?

WHISKERS: Meow. 

Q: Well, that’s next week, and Tiger hasn’t played there since 2001. Maybe another try?

WHISKERS: Meow meow. 

Q: Um, sorry, Whiskers, but I really don’t think he’ll be at the Honda Classic either.

WHISKERS: Meow meow meow meow, meow meow? 

Q: Yes, you’re absolutely right. I did ask you for your prediction, it’s just …

WHISKERS: Meow meow meow meow. 

Q: The Puerto Rico Open! Are you just reading down the list of tour events? Whiskers? Hello? 

−The Armchair Golfer

(This is an ARMCHAIR GOLF spoof.)

(Image: Lauryn/Flickr)

Tom on Tour: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

The media fly. Tom drives. The media sleep in hotels. Tom sleeps in his car. The media sit in the media center. Tom walks the course. It’s the PGA Tour, seen and written differently. Following is an excerpt from Tom’s e-book on the 2010 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

By Tom Collins
Special to ARMCHAIR GOLF

(Note: Last week at the Northern Trust Open Tom added a “Tim Clark’s Posse” t-shirt to his wardrobe. The following occurred on Sunday at Pebble.)

OUT OF NOWHERE, a girl with blonde hair and sunglasses approached me from the right.
“So you’re a member of Tim Clark’s Posse?”

“Yeah. I was at Riviera last week, and I met this guy Billy—”

“Yeah, Billy! He sent me a picture with his little girl standing next to Tim’s bag. It was so cute. Oh, I’m sorry…I’m Candace, Tim’s wife.”

“Oh, wow. Really nice to meet you. I’m Tom.” We shook hands.

“I love that you’re wearing that shirt. You’re the first person I’ve seen with it on this year. I need to get a picture of us together. Um, excuse me, sir?”

The volunteer in front of us turned, confused.

“Yeah?”

“Could you take a picture of us?”

“Well…I don’t know…I don’t really want that camera taken away from you…or me to be kicked out.”

“Oh, well don’t worry about it. Come on, Tom. Um…oh! I see another member of the posse over there. He won’t care.”

She introduced me to a guy standing near us named Gabe, who also had a PGA Tour lanyard on. After the photo, we walked up to the green together. I gave her my card.

“Hey, do you think you could e-mail me that photo? I promise not to spam you.”

“Oh, no problem.”

“So you’re headed to the Accenture next week?”

“Yep. And depending on how far Tim gets, we may or may not be headed to Phoenix.”

“Anything I should know about Tucson or Phoenix before I go?”

“Um…well, the weather is just like this, but it really does get cold at night, so bring a jacket. And people in Phoenix party hard.”

“Yeah…I promised myself that for just one of the days in Phoenix, I’d park myself in the grandstand on 16 and drink all day.”

“Definitely go for it. You and 50,000 others will be doing the same thing.”

Tom Collins is a former caddie who is following the PGA Tour in 2010. Learn more about his original e-books at TheReluctantJamBoy.com.