Stevie Williams vs. Tiger Woods: Advantage Williams

((ht: cbssports.com))

Who would have thought that the winner of a PGA Tour golf tournament would get overshadowed by his caddie. And yet that is exactly what happened today at the Bridgestone Invitational at the Firestone Country Club.

Adam Scott won the tournament, but was a secondary story.

That's because his caddie, Steve Williams, up until two weeks ago, was Tiger Woods caddie. There's apparently a conflict of stories as to how those two parted ways, but in a bit of a karmic confluence, Williams new boss won the tourney, his old boss was a non-factor.

And in lieu of all that, our pals at CBS Sports interviewed Mr. Williams, who used the medium to take a few not-so-veiled shots at his former employer. He told the world, "It's the greatest week of my life caddying and I sincerely mean that."

Read the story from CBSSports RIGHT HERE

We really aren't sure who root for in this drama. Both Tiger and Williams kind of come off as a pair of douchebags in our opinion. Yes, we laugh a bit at the Karma of Williams being on the winning bag and we get that he was hurt by his former friend dumping him hard. But dude, be a professional. Let it go.

There's no reason to take a public shot.

Nobody that we are aware of has gotten a comment from Woods and we would be mildly surprised if he was willing to give one. And we can respect him because of that. But it also reeks of him being a "High Priced" prima donna. We can't blame Williams for wanting more work to keep getting paid.

But we kind of equate this to piling on. Everyone is dumping on Woods and we feel sorry for him for that. But if he was as shitty to Williams and Williams says than yeah, it really was karma running full circle.

The interview from CBSSports.com:

Rumors of Tiger Woods press conference: True or False?--Updated

Tiger Woods

Updated from the Golf Channel website at 9:54 a.m--Agent Mark Steinberg will sit down and talk to Kelly Tilgham at 11 a.m, not Tiger as was reported in USA Today, Yahoo and other assorted legitimate media outlets. No Tiger, no interest.

All we can do is laugh. In the quest to have a "Tiger" story, they either made something up or read something the wrong way. That folks, is why we raised the question.

Original Story----------

This has been an interesting story to watch develop over the course of Monday morning. Multiple outlets are reporting that Tiger Woods is either "Having an 11 a.m Press Conference" or "Doing an 11 a.m Live Interview" with the Golf Channel's Kelly Tilgham.

Everyone from USA Today to YahooSports is saying this is going to happen.

However....

Tiger's agent Mark Steinberg told Sports Illustrated and the Associated Press this morning "There's an erroneous report that he's making an announcement, but he's not".


If you go to the Golf Channel website. Nothing. No mention of this what so ever.

So the questions here are this. One, why is this being reported? And what actually is going on?

Woods has already said he's not playing in this week's British Open. There are tons of rumors he may sit out the rest of the season to have surgery and get healthy. No big revelation there. The season is almost over, why drag it out?

Yes, his name has been brought up in the court case against steroid doctor Anthony Galea. No real news there, we knew that. Tiger has  denied doing anything wrong and the feds haven't indicated anything of the sort

Nobody seems to know where the "Press Conference" rumor started. Maybe he will be on Golf Central with Tilgham this morning. But if you look at their programming guide, it says they'll be running video of the weekends Champions Tour event at 11 a.m.

We'll keep an eye out in case Steinberg is lying (which is possible), but we think it is very odd that so many legitimate outlets would be reporting on this if there wasn't something to it.

Take That Golf Boys...

If Falco tried to do the recently released "Golf Boys" tune, this is what it would sound like...

Just ask Ladies European Tour members Sophie Giquel, Cassandra Kirkland, Sophie Sandolo and Jade Schaeffer what can be done...
((HT: WeiUnderPar))

Rory McIroy runs away and hides from field: Your U.S Open Champ

McIlroy drinks from Cup/Courtesy: rorymcilroy-twitter

((ht: Washington Post))

Rory McIroy didn't waste a lot of time exercising the demons from his final round 80 at the Masters by pretty much obliterating the entire field at this weekends U.S Open golf tournament at the Congressional Country Club in suburban Washington D.C

McIlroy, shot a 4 round total of 16 Under Par, taking 268 strokes to walk away with an 8 stroke victory in the tournament one which he was neither pressured or challenged in. He also re-affirmed to those who started questioning, he's possibly the best current golfer in the world.

The U.S Open Trophy/Courtesy: rory mcilroy-twitter

We'll spare you the wrap up details, you've probably read them already. But we will share that the 22-year old McIlroy is also one of the rising pantheon of Social Media savvy golfers. He posted quite a few updates since Sunday evenings win, taking photos of his celebration and posting them on Twitter, along with acknowledging the thousands of congratulatory messages he received.

Cindy Boren of the Washington Post, gives you a snapshot of those posts RIGHT HERE

We hope that McIlroy's win begins to usher in a new reign in Professional Golf. While the "Tiger" (yes, him) era fueled the huge growth curve for golf on pretty much all levels, his days as "King of the Hill" are pretty much over.

McIlroy is part of the next wave, the European invasion, if you will, that will be driving forces in golf for the next several years. The U.S, while hoping for another breakout star, hasn't had one in several years. When the debate is over "Who's the best U.S golfer, Matt Kuchar or Steve Stricker?", then you've got problems. And that is not meant to disparage either golfer, but they aren't going to move the Nielsen needle...at all.

So to you, Mr. U.S Golfing fan, we say, "Get used to it" because McIlroy, Luke Donald and other who are currently dominating Pro Golf leader boards aren't going away any time soon.

Your final round U.S Open Highlights, courtesy: SI.com

How NOT To Move A Golf Cart Out Of The Way And How To Get A New Car Out Of The Deal... Separately...

((HT: Ladies' European Tour via Break.com/youtube))

The HQ has seen this before... just not by a rules official or some equivalent...

Decision's made, golfer needs to play her shot, golf cart moves...
Just not like this...


The golfer, Anja Monke's, look is priceless... she shot an opening round even par-72 at the Deloitte Dutch Ladies Open...

BUT...

Nontaya Srisawang gets to leave the tourney with a new car worth 102,500Euros on the street for this shot at last week's Slovak Open...
((HT: LadiesEuropeanTour))


Not bad from 225 on a par-3...
Anyone ever heard of a Skoda Yeti...???

Cinderella Story Out Of Nowhere Wins At Pebble Beach, And D.A. Points

D.A. Points received a thrill of a lifetime winning his first tournament on the PGA Tour by capturing the AT&T Pro-Am title at Pebble Beach. Points takes home a sizable check of $1.134 million, not bad.

This is a Pro-Am and Points' partner was actor/comedian Bill Murray. 30 years ago he portrayed Carl Spackler, the greens keeper at Bushwood Country Club, in the movie Caddyshack. A favorite scene for those of us in the OSG HQ was this one, it's a classic. (Thanks IvestingWithDave/Youtube.com)



Well Sunday life imitated art as Murray became that "Cinderella Story" winning the AT&T Pro-Am with his partner D.A. Points.

Here's Peter Kostis' interview with the winners. (Thanks CBS Sports.com)



By the way, Murray gives a tip of the hat to Vijay Singh,

"I've won all kind of things, nothing that I could cash in at a pawn shop but I've won a couple of Pro-Am kind of things." Murray said in a post tournament press conference. "We were the low girls at the Boys & Girls Club tournament on Monday. I got pro shop credit, you know what I'm saying. I'll get a vest that's marked down or something."

"And in the course of the round Monday, I played a few good holes early, and then really lost my swing and it was ugly. Big, flying mud and everything, it was terrible. And he thought I would go back and start hitting some balls and there was Vijay Singh on the range. I've known Vijay a long time and I'm friendly with him. And I would never go like, "Hey, you big Fijian, help me out here."

"But he saw me, sort of struggling and he came over and he said one thing, and I did it, and then about three minutes later he says another thing, and I did it and then about four minutes later, he said another thing and I did it, and I never hit the ball that well in my entire life. And I just thought, holy cow, I don't know how you can play this long and get something that late that can work. That's basically why I'm up here today drinking wine and looking for another glass."

So I guess "The Big Fijian" will be cast in Murray's next movie. He owes Singh.

Photo Courtesy: AP

Fore!!!, Maybe I Should Have Yelled "Fire"

Talk about your golf game being on fire, a golfer who played a round at Shady Canyon Golf Course in Irvine, California Tuesday was literally on fire.

A golfer whose name is being withheld chipped a rock while trying to hit the ball out of the rough. When his club struck the rock it caused a spark that ignited the rough and quickly spread.

150 Orange County, California firefighters responded to fight the blaze that burned 12 acres.
No charges were filed on the golfer who started the fire but rumor has it he had to take a 2-stroke penalty. I would hate to be on the tee box following this group and hitting my shot into the building blaze. You know the rule of golf, play it were it lies.

Those of us in the OGS HQ have a reputation when we play a round of golf to destroy some turf but we haven't actually set the course on fire literally or figuratively,

I remember taking golf lessons many years ago and my teacher, 1955 U.S. Open Champion Jack Fleck, telling me to "burn the grass". I never took it that far.

Photo Courtesy: Zach Bates

BREAKING: Appleby's 59 Takes Greenbrier From Overton

Stuart Appleby has become the fifth player in PGA Tour history to shoot a 59. He pulled it off by going eleven-under in the final round of The Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia.

Jeff Overton had a chance to tie at 22-under on the par-five 17th, but his birdie out from three feet ran over a spike mark and lipped out.

Overton's tee shot on the par-three 18th came up a half-club short leaving him a testy birdie putt to send the tourney into a playoff. His birdie putt, over a ridge in the middle of the green, ended up a foot short. Overton tapped in for his par to shoot a final-round 67 and a 21-under par total.

It is Appleby's 9th PGA career win...
Maybe this kind of stuff is preordained to a certain degree...
Appleby had the Shot of the Day from Round 1
FOSG Brian Katrek has the call...
((HT: pgatour))


More when we know more...

Deere John, Goydos Shoots A 59...

Paul Goydos became the fourth player in PGA Tour history to shoot a 59, putting up a 12-under score in the opening round of the John Deere Classic.

He ties the lowest competitive round in PGA Tour history and is the first to ever do it in the first round of a tournament.

Goydos had 12 birdies and six pars. Eight of the birdies came on the final nine holes of the par-71 TPC Deere Run course in Silvis, Illinois.

David Duval at the 1999 Bob Hope Classic, Chip Beck at the 1991 Las Vegas Invitational, and Al Geiberger at the 1977 Memphis Classic also have shot 59 in a PGA Tour event.

Until our friends at WQAD-TV in the Quad Cities have proof, we're just going to have to go on their word in this...

In the interim, here's a PTI segment with him where he spent five good minutes with Wilbon and Tony...
((HT: ESPN/RiceSportManagement))


The HQ approves of his Dirtbags lid... if his name is a little familiar to you, it comes from his run at the 2008 Players, where he lost in a playoff to Sergio Garcia.

A story John Feinstein did for Golf Digest as a backgrounder, is mandatory reading.

But John Buccigross did catch up with Goydos after his round...
((HT: ESPN))

Michael Vick can play golf?????

((ht: ajc.com))

Who knew? Either Michael Vick is a golfer or he's just going to sit in the clubhouse and watch other people play. He apparently is having a "Charity" golf tournament in the area of his misspent early career, Atlanta on Sunday.

More from AJC.com RIGHT HERE

((Vick//Courtesy: Reuters/CBC.com))

In case you didn't click on their story, check out the embedded link in there for the golf tournament information RIGHT HERE.

No, we aren't encouraging anyone to play, but we find a couple of things in the story...well....interesting.

One, it is apparently a "Birthday celebration" for Mr. Vick, though the site is more concerned with saying that the funds raised are tax deductible than that they are supposed to go to charity.

Two, we find it very odd, that this is now being publicized in the Atlanta area, where it is a pretty safe bet the local media will be...shall we say "All over it".

This all comes on the heels of the Virginia Beach "Birthday Party" incident where former dog fighting co-hort Quantis Phillips apparently found himself the recipient of a gunshot outside the "Fine" establishment hosting the event.

That incident has led to some speculation that the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to make Mike go away, though they have denied it. The Jolly Roger (Goodell) also has his NFL Security minions looking into things.

We aren't trying to hate or slam Vick, if indeed he truly wants to help and make funds by having a golf tournament in Tucker, then more power to him. However, because we never were aware that he was such the golfer, we don't totally trust or believe his or anyone associated with him's intentions on the upcoming event.

Your US Golf Championship Flashback

The HQ isn't sure we can mention the tournament, starting today at Pebble Beach, by name without drawing the ire of the USGA...

So, in that vein, here's a flashback from two years ago on the coolest tourney in recent memory. The one that took 91 holes to complete with Rocco Mediate and some guy named Tiger...

First, the comeback in Round Three...
((HT: NBC/USGA/Monty8))


Then, the playoff in the playoff...
((HT: NBC/USGA/A-Channel/tightlaces))

One For The Little Guy: Augusta State National Champs

Augusta State University captured their first-ever National Championship in any sport when the Jaguars beat Oklahoma State 3-1-1 in the championship match of the 112th NCAA Championships at The Honors Course just outside Chattanooga.

With the victory, ASU defeated the No. 3 seed (Georgia Tech), the No. 2 seed (Florida State) and the No. 1 seed (Oklahoma State).

“It means everything. It is a dream come true,” said Jaguars head coach Josh Gregory. “It has validated the success of the coaches (that came) before me and the players before them. I can promise you that there is no university or golf program that will appreciate a national championship as much as Augusta State. College golf means something to Augusta, Ga.”

Katie Beasley and Kevin Faigle have your team coverage...
((HT: WRDW-TV Augusta))

The Nationwide: The BMW

Honestly, this is the tournament on the Nationwide that has the vibe of the Bob Hope or the Bing Crosby ((and, yes, I just dated myself by using those terms)) if it was crammed into a subdivision space.

You wanna talk lucky to get a parking space...
The HQ was lucky to get the last one in the lot, and we're not complaining...

It's where you can see Puddy ((actor Patrick Warburton)) slice a ball into the woods without having to paint his chest, and where you can see Kurt Russell actually birdie a hole- for real- not with the handicap stuff...

The host course is Thornblade in the north Greenville suburbs ((pictured, thanks to me)). There are two other courses involved: The Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg and Bright's Creek just north of the Carolina border. But Thornblade is a course carved in amongst a boatload of trees and homes to match. If you screw up, there is very little room for error.

Example: The 18th is a par-4 with the standard amount of hospitality suites surrounding the green. Home town golfer Kyle Thompson hit a shot left of the green with his standard, bright yellow golf ball. It proceeded to carom off the guardrail of the suites and work itself to 15-feet left of the hole.

Par... the easy way...

And instead of the normal quiet signs, because of the sponsor, it's "Ruhe! Bitte!"

Which reminds the HQ of this particular thought...
((HT: Warner Brothers Pictures))


Best cabaret singer ever...

The weekend was another chance for Jerry Rice to add to his desires to work onto the Nationwide Tour. The next sentence has a big "but" attached...

After a first-round 92, a second round 82, and a caddie using a range finder instead of a yardage book, Rice was DQ'ed from the weekend- and he promptly retired from the under-50 set of golf... for now...

Our friends at WSPA-TV caught up with Star 80 before the week started...


Another celeb, "Army Wives" Catherine Bell, came out and played the first three rounds- six months pregnant. Since most golfers are creatures of habit, they may look at Bell's approach and take off from there...

She played shots barefoot... if a guy does it- the approach might be what was referred to as a "sartorial faux pas." When Bell does it, it's Catherine Bell.

The HQ asked when that idea started...

"Actually, a few days ago," she admitted. "My feet started hurting while I was playing. I'm pregnant, so I just went barefoot. Turns out, I play better golf without shoes..."

She signed every autograph request and stayed for every picture...
Class act...

TOUR UPDATE: Geoff Sisk is grinding right now...

He was five-under heading into the last nine on Saturday trying to make the cut. He shot two-over and missed out again... the HQ jinx is still in tact...

"I just have to stick to it," he said after the round. "Maybe I have to stick to it a little more often. I hit it solid out there, but there are times when I hit it 'too solid' and hit it too much. It's only four tournaments. It's not a whole season. I still feel I can play out here. I just don't have an answer right now."

Sisk thinks the solution is just to "keep plugging" as he says... and the Game 7 loss of his Bruins didn't sit well, either...

Tommy Gainey was having a good weekend in front of the home folks... and there was some serious detente going on with the crowd. He actually gave a soda to a Clemson fan. For a South Carolina guy to do that is huge...

He was paired with George Rogers... yes, that George Rogers...

"My game ain't worth nothin'," Rogers said. "But it's okay when your pro is playing good."

"'1980 Heisman Winner' says enough for me," Gainey admitted. "He did a lot of good for USC, and I'm a big fan of the university. It's a daydream playing with a legend like him."

Gainey shot a three-under 68 to be in a street-fight for 7th. His putter let him down on the last five or six holes, including a short birdie putt on 18, and that needs to wake up for a higher place.

Big mover on the day was Fabian Gomez with another 64- this time at Bright's Creek... Bigger mover on the day was Tommy Biershenk- a 10-under 62 in Spartanburg- good enough from 88th at the beginning of the day to 17th...

And did the HQ mention there were a lot of German SUV's in the parking lot this weekend...???

Winners tomorrow...

Tuesday Erica Blasberg Update

The agent for LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg says she had her bags packed for a tournament in Alabama when she was found dead at her home in Henderson, Nevada.

Chase Callahan said Tuesday the 25-year-old Blasberg was scheduled to fly Sunday to Mobile, Alabama, for the qualifying rounds at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic.

The Henderson police and the Clark County ((NV)) coroner say it could be four to six weeks before their investigation is complete. Callahan also says police in Henderson aren't giving him or Blasberg's parents any indication how Erica Blasberg died.

There will be a memorial service May 19 at the Eagle Glen Golf Club in Corona, California for Blasberg.

Here's coverage of the Blasberg death, thanks to our friends at KTNV-TV in Las Vegas

LPGA's Erica Blasberg Found Dead

((HT: KVOA-TV Tucson))

The body of 25-year-old Erica Blasberg was found Sunday afternoon at her home in Henderson, Nevada, according to a police spokesman. No cause of death was disclosed because of the current police investigation.

Blasberg tied for 44th two weeks ago at the Tres Marias Championship in Morelia, Mexico- her only LPGA appearance this year to date.

Greg Allen, the former coach at the University of Arizona, remembers Blasberg by her nickname- "Skip."

When Blasberg showed up to her first workout as a freshman in 2002, the trainer asked the team to warm up by skipping around the track. Blasberg didn't know how.

"Every kid in America knows how to skip," Allen said, laughing. "We stuck that name on her."

She won six tournaments in her two years at Arizona. She was named Golfweek's 2003 Player of the Year after finishing the season No. 1 in the rankings. She also was '03 NGCA Freshman of the Year, Pac-10 Player of the Year and competed on the victorious 2004 Curtis Cup team.

She turned professional in June 2004, posting four top-10s in eight starts on the Duramed Futures Tour, including a victory at the Lacona Savings Bank Futures Golf Classic. She qualified for the LPGA that fall.

Blasberg struggled on the LPGA, never finishing higher than 94th on the money list.

Here's some video of Blasberg from the 2009 PGA Merchandise Golf Show where she went head-to-head with Johnny Damon ((yes, that Johnny Damon)) to demonstrate the effectiveness of Puma clubs...
((HT: Golfviews))

It's a Bulging What...???

((HT: Brooks/Geoff))

No lie...
The HQ was having this discussion between offices Sunday night...
There was a concern with a wayward anchor's brain on the possibility of mislabeling the Tiger Woods injury...

The scenario was perfect... ESPN had Steve Levy and John Anderson anchoring the Sunday night SportsCenter, which reminded the HQ of this...
((HT: Firebird7478))


Anderson did the highlights, so we were denied there...
But the Golf Channel's Win McMurry beat them both to it, anyway...


So, was it the thought that counts...???

Tasered TPC Dude Speaks...

((HT: Firstcoastnews.com))

Remember the story we filed about Travis Parmalee getting Tasered at the TPC during The Players...???

Our friends at ABC25 and WTLV caught up with him...
Here's what Travis said about the experience...


The HQ agrees...
"Unique" should cover it...

Players Championship gets wacky

((ht: florida times-union/espn))

By now, most sports fans know about Taser boy in Philadelphia. Now, add Mr. Taser at the TPC. Apparently a drunk and stupid alleged Golf fan in Jacksonville, one Travis Parmelee got really drunk, really obnoxious and really stupid and as a result...got really tased.

More from Jacksonville.com RIGHT HERE

((Parmelee meets St.Johns County Sheriffs//Courtesy: Bob Self/The Times-Union))

As an added bonus, TPC Sawgrass course superintendent Tom Vlach stumbled onto a car that was parked on the 8th hole. Yes, there were two people in the car though there wasn't much of a description as to what they were doing (use your imagination). Police were called and eventually the situation was resolved with the couple getting a trespass warning.

Oh boy. This just sounds like it has been a bizzaro world down in Jacksonville. It is kind of sad that people feel the need to pull what Mr. Parmelee did. He sounds like he deserved what he got. But don't bet that he learned his lesson.

As for the car that managed to get on the 8th hole, the PGA folks might need to be a little more concerned about that. Someone's security force might be a little lax if things like that are happening.

Ochoa: It Was The Right Time...

Lorena Ochoa is going to play one more tournament before she retires.

The 28-year-old said Friday in Mexico City she will compete in the Tres Marias Championships next week in her home country town of Morelia. She also said she plans to play in the LPGA's Lorena Ochoa Invitational each November in Guadalajara.

Remember, she confirmed on her website Tuesday she is leaving the game. She got married in December and has talked about wanting to start a family. She said while retirement was a difficult decision, she was "full of happiness."

Ochoa's announcement comes three years to the day she achieved the Number 1 ranking in the world, replacing Annika Sorenstam. She currently has 27 tour victories, two of them major titles ((a Dinah Shore and a British)), and nearly $15 million in earnings.

LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan talks about what the tour will be missing as Ochoa retires, thanks to the LPGA their own selves...

The Nationwide: Kinderlou Forest

If you’ve ever been in a situation where you know you’re good, but having to do beyond your best every week may not even be good enough- welcome to the Nationwide Tour. And while the title sponsor may be on your side, you’re on your own out here.

The Valdosta tour stop is the seventh in the 28-stop schedule, and this is the longest course on tour. Kinderlou Forest (( the 18th fairway is pictured, thanks to me)) is just shy of 8,000 yards long.

Think about it.

If 1,700-something yards is a mile, we’re looking at just under five miles of walking every day to shoot as low as you possibly can- and you still may not make the cut.

156 guys are trying to end up here for the weekend. There are a few names that your golfnik may know of: Remember Tag Ridings, Tommy “Two Glove” Gainey, Casey Wittenberg, Len Mattiace ((yes, the guy who almost won the tournament in Augusta, but lost to Mike Weir and cried in his post-game presser)), Marco Dawson, Dicky Pride, Bob May ((yes, the HQ reminds you it’s that Bob May- the guy who went toe-to-toe with some other golfer with the last name of “Woods” in some major)), Jason Gore, and Bubba Dickerson…???

Yep, they’re here…

And you’ve really got to aim at every flag you see, no matter what the hole is…

When the Top 25 get their tour cards for the next level after surviving an entire season of flooring it, you hope you can rest- even if it’s a little bit… and you can tell which golfers are the ones that you have to gun for every time out. Their caddies wear bibs with numbers ranging from “1” to “25” on their backs. It’s almost like being in some kind of extended spring training. The guys who are making the PGA roster have numbers. Everyone else is trying to keep from wearing a high number.

There are guys out here who are absolute bombers. One in particular, Brice Garnett was taking out his playing partners by thirty yards easily on the par-4's and par 5's. The 18th hole is a 484-yard par four ((and a half)) that Garnett cut into a 330/150 drive and approach.

Something is definitely wrong there... but one of his playing partners is known by the HQ- and not many others outside of New England. Geoffrey Sisk, or "Geoff" as the HQ knew him on the US Pro and New England tours, is still going at it at the age of 45. He made 16 cuts last year on the tour and cleared almost $94,000. But that was only good enough for 66th- or 41 spots south of the PGA Tour.

He had a good front side on Thursday- birdieing the 17th ((his 8th)). The 17 green ((pictured, thanks to me)), literally, has three separate looks to it. Round One's pin was front left. If you overshot, you were on the back terrace and would have to putt downhill to save par. If you were short-right, you had to go over a swale to get to the short-left third- and hope you could get it close.

Geoff was the only one to get it close to go four-under on his front. He gave some back on the last nine he played... actually, he gave them all back... finishing with an even par-72. He's now in a log jam at 53rd...

"I've committed to a swing change," he admitted after the round. "At 45, I'm still flexible, but it's a lot more difficult to do this now. I have been pleasantly surprised." He drove the ball well, but a few shots went wrong. Sisk won't make any excuses, though.

"I love this course," he said, "even if it doesn't suit my game. But there isn't a shot out here that can't prepare you for the PGA Tour. You have to work the ball from right to left. You have to work the ball left to right. It's a great tournament."

But he did go into some detail about what life is like out here. He's got two daughters and a family back home in Massachusetts. He's only on a conditional status these days. As of this round of golf, he doesn't even know if he'll be in the next tourney in Athens.

"It does get lonely sometimes out here," Sisk said. "You're calling home every night seeing how your family is. There is some camaraderie out here with the guys. You try to eat healthy, but after a round ends at... what time is it now, 7:30...? You just want to go back to the hotel."

He does see flashes of brilliances in his game with this new experiment of a shoulder turn with a tighter coil, and that's what he's building on...

Sisk is also a wine guy... I asked him what kind of a wine the Nationwide would be.

"Either a Maiden or an Alta Gracia," he says. "Those are really great wines that are in their second bottling. They're the second growths from their vineyards. They're not as big or bold, but they're just as good."

Not that he doesn't want to eat Prime Rib on the PGA Tour, though.

Galleries are, really, few and far between. The largest gallery ((moving)) was in the neighborhood of sixteen for Valdosta State grad Brent Witcher. He went off in the last group of the day and had plenty of Blazer support with him.

But his day fell apart on the front nine ((his back nine))... four straight bogeys had his finish at a one-over 73.

"It seems to be a continuing number for me," he admitted. "It's not a good number at all, but I felt I played better than that."

Having all the Valdosta State support made him more comfortable playing the course, but like everyone else, you like coming back to a course where you made some noise in college...