PGA Golf Talk

The PGA will be enforcing stringent measures on the golfers who are tested positive for drug use during the Ryder Cup golfing championship. The players tested positive will not only have to save their face from the public but will also have to forgo the points that they have won in the Ryder Cup which might even tilt the match in favor of their opponent team. The PGA of America will be in charge of drug testing as they are the hosts of the tournament and the tests will be conducted by Drug Free Sport, an administration of PGA tour’s program.

American golfer Michelle Wie is set to wow the crowd at the German Open in Munich this week after she accepted a sponsor’s invitation to graze the event with her presence and to try her hand at winning a trophy. The 18 year old avid golfer suffered from a hurt wrist in March, rendering her unable to perform her best at any tournament. Her studies in Stanford University also hindered her golf and as a result she merely attended two Ladies European Tour tournaments this year. However, she is glad to be back on track and vows to do her best.

 Nick Faldo, Europe’s Ryder Cup captain hopes that Colin Montgomerie will get into the team this year also. He has been in the Ryder Cup team for the past eight years and has never lost any match. But he has gone down in his ranking and is without any win for the past 10 months. Montgomerie couldn’t qualify for PGA championships like, The Players Championship and the Masters. The Ryder Cup is scheduled for September 19-21^st at Valhalla in Louisville. Faldo said that the entry of Monty in the team will depend on factors like his performance he showcases before the Ryder Cup and the team structure.

Annika Sorenstam, a 37 year old LPGA golfer, has officially announced that she will be retiring from professional golf at the end of this season. A winner of 72 LPGA career titles in her 15 year professional career Sorenstam announced her retirement calling for a press conference at the Sybase Classic media center on May 13^th. The world golf hall of fame member said that she was retiring from the game on her own terms and felt it important to announce to her fans and supporters of the same, and hence she had called for the press conference. She said that she had seven months left this season and will be playing her heart out to win some tournaments and majors.

Tiger Woods who left the golf course after the Masters, finishing three shots behind Trevor Immelman is hoping to return to the game in the Memorial that will start on May 29th and is hosted by Nicklaus. Woods has already won three times in this course. Woods is returning after a surgery to remove cartilages from his leg. At present Woods is able only to chip and putt and over 30 yards is a difficult task for him. He hopes that he will be able to play full shots within a week. If he is unable to organize his play by the time the Memorial starts, he will definitely return in the U.S Open which starts on June 12th at the Torrey Pines. 

Jack Nicklaus a true ambassador of golf was rightly presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the PGA tour last Wednesday night for his contributions to golf both on and off the field. PGA tour commissioner Tim Finchem showered praises of Nicklaus accomplishments, sportsmanship, leadership qualities and playing caliber. Nicklaus in his acceptance talk jokingly said the lifetime achievement award is given to someone who becomes old. He said that anyone who wants to be the best in golf will become one only if he plays against the best in the business. Nicklaus who became the 8th recipient of this award was given a silver cup and a portrait which will be hung in the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse.

David Love III has been trying all his best to regain lost form after recovering from an ankle surgery last September. The 44 year old Love who has 19 PGA Tour titles to his credit has made only one top 25 finish in the 9 tournaments he has participated since recovering from the surgery. Love was gearing up to participate at the golf’s signature tournament this week when he suddenly noticed on Sunday a pain in his middle finger on the left hand and an increase in size of the finger.

Love visited a local doctor on Monday morning to set things right and the doctor cut open the splinter on the finger to let go off all the leftovers. Love said that he feels much better and could bend his finger even though it hurts. He said that he does not mind the pain as long as he can bend it and get a firm grip on the club. Love is very much determined to fight it out against all the pains.

Fans who heard about Tiger Woods’ bad knee were worried that he might be forced to skip some tournaments while his knee recuperates, but Woods himself has come forward and clarified that he will make a full recovery in order to participate in the US Open slated to be held in June. On April 15, Woods checked into a hospital to undergo arthroscopic surgery to correct his knee. After the follow up checkup, Woods told the concerned public that come June 12, he will be making an appearance at Torrey Pines, San Diego to score some wins at the US Open. He is following doctor’s orders to rest and keep a positive mindset to aid recovery.

Adam Scott had to fight it the hard way with Ryan Moore in the final round of the tournament after carrying a three stroke into the final round. After blowing the early advantage in the opening of the final round, Scott completed a 9 foot birdie to force a playoff battle on No 18. He won the EDS Byron Nelson PGA Tour Golf Championship after making a 48-footer in the third playoff and thus achieved his 6^th PGA tour win of his career.

Scott said that he was extremely happy to win the title, but did not think that he played at his best on the final round. He acknowledged the fact that he somehow managed to hang in there shot to shot with Ryan. The playoff was the icing in the cake as both the players were pitting it out in the middle on Sunday and the talk of a game full of thrills and spills were witnessed in the final round.