On Our Mind Golf Blog

Conscientious golfers will make the necessary adjustments to plan golf vacations around the typical aerification and overseeding schedule of their chosen destination, realizing that these maintenance practices are required to keep a layout in top condition but a nuisance to those unlucky enough to encounter them on the course.

As the end of the summer season approaches in golf travel hotbeds like Florida and South Carolina, courses prepare for another boom in business as sweltering temperatures give way to conditions more favorable for a round of golf. 

We've all cringed at the site of it, Tiger Woods has imitated it and a number of experts have tried in vain to correct it.

Yes, Charles Barkley's golf swing is certainly as deserving of the ugly label as any athletic motion has ever been, but it's also a sad part of a former athlete's life; not being able to play the game he developed such an affinity for years ago. 

After watching the United States Senior Men's Basketball team hand out a beat down worthy of a Toby Keith song this morning, there is a hint of an old but still recognizable smell in the air.

Ahh, yes, it's world domination courtesy of the Red, White and Blue. It smells like a mix of hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, Bruce Springsteen and fireworks on the Fourth of July.  

Padraig Harrington's victory at the 90^th PGA Championship was the least viewed Major Championship Sunday of 2008. The final round at Oakland Hills recorded an overnight rating of 3.0, down a startling 55 percent from last year's final round at Southern Hills - an event won by Tiger Woods.

The numbers aren't good and they surely have television executives peeling away the days on their desk calendars with increasing fervor in anticipation of Tiger's return sometime next spring/summer. But Woods, who certainly had a hand in the ratings drop, isn't entirely to blame for the poor ratings this past weekend. 

Padraig Harrington is awkward. His Irish accent is so authentic perhaps Tom Cruise should visit Harrington for lessons and give "Far and Away" another shot. He didn't turn professional until his mid-20s after a stint as an accountant. Now, the 36-year-old is ready to assume the role that has crushed many under its weight - Challenger to Tiger Woods.

Sure Harrington doesn't have the broad appeal of Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia or the brash, young American Anthony Kim. But what he does have is a claim to three out of the past six professional golf majors. By comparison, Tiger only has two. 

Donald Trump has many things we'd all like to have, millions of dollars and smokin' hot girlfriends half his age, and a few we wouldn't, namely his obnoxious hair. For golfers in particular, Trump is the object of much jealously because he wields a magic wand of sorts. The ultra-rich businessman has the ability to show up at Augusta National and demand a tee time and is wealthy enough to purchase luxury golf courses like you or I would a pair of socks at the local Wal-Mart, well maybe Target if we're lucky.

I was reading over the New York Post today to catch the latest Brett Favre to the Jets news and I came across an article about "The Donald" purchasing the Shadow Isle Golf Club in New Jersey for $28 million. Trump plans on renaming the course, located in Colts Neck, Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck. 

Many of the VIPs, dignitaries, athletes and heads of state have already arrived in Beijing in advance of the Summer Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, the likes of Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk mingle amongst the best professional golfers in the world at Oakland Hills Country Club in suburban Michigan in preparation for the upcoming 90^th PGA Championship. That's where they should be, not in Beijing. 

While nothing really stacks up to a Major Championship weekend on the PGA Tour, this weekend was really good for the game of golf with four tournaments that garnered the public’s attention.

Let’s take a look at the winners and losers from this weekend’s play. 

Rusty Miller of The Associated Press crafted a beautiful lead to this story, writing "After a long and difficult round, Colin Montgomerie was less than thrilled to have to deal with one more cup."

Monty had to provide a "pee sample" after shooting a 72 during the first round of the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational. Taking a shot in the dark here, but I'm guessing it comes back negative. 

Give credit to Legends Reno-Tahoe Open tournament director Michael Stearns and his star attraction, Michelle Wie, for drumming up more attention and hype for an “opposite” PGA Tour event than most thought was humanly possible.

As the tournament quickly approaches its opening tee times, the hate-mongering, backseat parenting and media campaign encouraging the public to go Salem Witch Trial on Wie will soon have a resolution. For those that defended the 18-year-old multi-millionaire, Wie’s survival of the cut line would be sweet retribution. For all those writers out there drinking Haterade Tiger, another failure would provide justification for their ruthless ramblings.