Say goodbye to Movember/No Shave November

Yep, in case you haven't heard (and you should have by now), November is coming to a close and December is opening it's door. That means one thing: The moustaches and beards of November will soon be gone. Say goodbye to some of the rugged looks you have been seeing around your town/city, for it is the time of the clean man once again.

Especially say goodbye to the great looks from a few international golfers that we have seen over the past month:

Clearly Geoff Ogilvy had the best 'stache going on during his support for Movember. The Luigi look-a-like sported it well, and he played as good as Luigi would in Mario Golf. Heck, he was probably the MVP for the International Team in the President's Cup while rocking the facial hair.

Heck, Geoff was playing and pulling off the look so well, Charl Schwartzel even gave it a try, as you can see above. The two definitely brought up the Movember movement in the golfing community.

So there you have it. Two of golfs best International stars keeping the Movember spirit alive. Who knows, it may spark some more intrigue next year. Hopefully it will. It's a month where you can see how great (or how horrible) you look when you leave the shaving utencils in the closet. And if you were a part of this No Shave November/Movember month, major props to you, and good luck in your future trimmings.

Photos via golfweek and bleacherreport

2011 Presidents Cup: Sunday Singles

Straight business with the shades 

Well folks the U.S. Team is crowned 2011 Presidents Cup Champions and they did it a fashionably manner. The final score was 19-15, the same as the previous encounter, and shout out to my follow blogger for predicting the final score. This Presidents Cup will certainly be remember in Presidents Cup history. For the fact that there was some interesting results. Hats off to Jim Furyk for going 5-0, he joins a selective group of players that have achieved a undefeated record. This will be a painful lost for the International team since they had the home field advantage and many of members of the team were from Australia.  

Below is a brief recap of Sundays Singles matches: 

Both teams were able to win half of the matches of the day. 

Match 1: K.T. Kim wins 1 up vs Webb Simpson 

Kim prove to the golf world that he is here stay, defeating one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour. (He was also filling in for Anthony Kim hahaha)

Match 2: Charl Schwartzel wins 2&1 vs Dustin Johnson 

Schwartzel continues to excel as a player, becoming one of South Africa’s finest golfers. The match was a close battle, sadly Johnson wasn’t able to catch up. Johnson also did not have a great Presidents Cup, only winning 1 1/2 points for the U.S. 

Match 3: Ryo Ishikawa wins 3&2 vs Bubba Watson 

This was a bit surprising, since Watson seemed to be the favorite. Ishikawa certainly put on a show winning six holes thru out the match, at one point he was 4 up.

Match 4: Geoff Ogilvy wins 2 up vs Bill Haas

Haas has had a great PGA Tour season but it wasn’t enough for the king of match play. Ogilvy also tied for the best record on the International team. 

Match 5: Hunter Mahan wins 5&3 vs Jason Day 

All I can say is someone got handled. 

Match 6: Nick Watney  wins 3&2 vs K.J. Choi

Watney exhibiting his machine like play against the tank. 

Match 7: Adam Scott wins 2&1 vs Phil Mickelson 

Two experienced players always play out for a great duel, but Scott carried the extra weight on his shoulders for his country.  

Match 8: Retief Goosen wins 1 up vs Matt Kuchar

This was an exciting match after Kuchar went from 3 down to AS, making Goosen earn the point.  

Match 9: Jim Furyk wins 4&3 vs Ernie Els 

The MVP of the Presidents Cup lit the candles and blow Els out. 

Match 10: David Toms wins 7&5 vs Robert Allenby 

David Toms showing us he still has the mojo and still has a bright future. Allenby just wasn’t able to match Toms consistency today. 

Match 11: Tiger Woods wins 4&3 vs Aaron Baddeley 

Whoop about time Tigers shines a bit of light on us. Tiger had total control of the match never allowing Badds to obtain any lead. Tiger was only able to cook up 2 points for the U.S. Another disappointing lost for the Aussies. 

Match 12: Steve Stricker  wins 2&1 vs Y.E. Yang 

Stricker’s overall performance at this Presidents Cup hasn’t been up to par but he made up for it on the final day, winning the final match of the day. Not to mention Y.E. Yang has only won 1 point for the Internationals. 

Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

2011 President's Cup: Day 3 Recap and Final Day Preview

Tiger hasn't had the greatest week so far. Can he turn it around on the final day?

As Day 3 of the 2011 President's Cup comes to a close, we are getting ready for the 4th and final day of this battle. Although not a certainty, at this point, it sure does look like the American squad is gonna walk away with a victory here, barring a miracle by the International team. The Americans dominated the first 3 sessions of play. And although the International team made a little run by earning 3 points in the 4th session, it still will require a massive comeback in the final session, which is 12 singles matches and can get crazy.

After Day 3, the Americans lead the Internationals by a score of 13-9.

Here are the results of Day 3, and a preview for Day 4 of this year's President's Cup!!

SATURDAY MORNING: FOURSOMES


Match: Simpson/Watson def. Allenby/Ogilvy, 3&2
Match: Els/Ishikawa def. Haas/Kuchar, 1 up
Match: Mahan/Toms def. Goosen/Schwartel, 5&4
Match: Woods/Johnson def. Scott/Choi, 3&2
Match: Mickelson/Furyk def. Baddeley/Day, 2&1

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: FOURBALLS


Match: Goosen/Schwartzel def. Simpson/Watson, 2&1
Match: Kim/Yang def. Woods/Johnson, 1 up
Match: Ogilvy/Choi def. Stricker/Kuchar, 1 up
Match:: Mahan/Haas def. Baddeley/Day, 2&1
Match: Furyk/Watney def. Scott/Els, 1 up

FINAL DAY: SUNDAY SINGLES PREVIEW


NOTE: Matches begin in USA on Saturday, 6:30pm ET.


Match 1: Webb Simpson vs. K.T. Kim
- Captain Couples has been sending out Webb first everyday, and for the most part, it's worked. Look for Webb to play some more solid golf today; he's been really impressive as a rookie. But don't count out Kim just yet. He's been playing with some confidence lately.

Match 2: Dustin Johnson vs. Charl Schwartzel
- This match has two players on opposite sides of the spectrum. Schwartzel has been posting some points up and has been playing well, while Dustin really hasn't gotten going all week. His putter has let him down greatly.

Match 3: Bubba Watson vs. Ryo Ishikawa
- This will be Bubba's first time  not being in the first group of the day. He's also strongly favored in this match too. Don't sleep on Ryo, though. He isn't a multiple winner on Japan for nothing.

Match 4: Bill Haas vs. Geoff Ogilvy
- Ahhh, now here is the first Australian to join the party. And a good, experienced on at that. They both have had their share of good moments this week, but look for Bill to get tested by this great veteran who has been rocking the 'stache very well.

Match 5: Hunter Mahan vs. Jason Day
- This match could be the best of the day.You have two young stars representing their countries, trying to earn a solid point. If Jason were to win this match, then this could potentially set off some momentum  for an International run,

Match 6: Nick Watney vs. KJ Choi
- Here is another example of a struggling player going against a hot one. Choi has collected 3 points so far, while Watney finally got his first win in the fourball matches on Saturday.


Match 7: Phil Mickelson vs. Adam Scott
- Another match that has potential to be great. You have the best player on the International team going up against arguably the hottest player on the American team right now. Look for some creative shot making to be seen in this match, as these guys light up golf courses when they are in their zones.


Match 8: Matt Kuchar vs. Retief Goosen
- If you think about it, these guys are actually quite similar. They aren't the most flashy players around or win 5 times a year, but they are always in contention with a chance to win when they are playing well. These consistent players might have to be aggressive a few times to win this match.


Match 9: Jim Furyk vs. Ernie Els
- Surprisingly, these two have been playing steadily well this week. This might prove to be a pivotal match as well. A win for Furyk could seal it for the USA at this point. However, if Els wins, madness might ensue. He did say that they'll need a "Brookline-eque" finish to win, so you never know...


Match 10: David Toms vs. Robert Allenby
- Allenby honestly hasn't played very well at all this week. He needs to turn his play around, or else he'll be done quick.

Match 11: Tiger Woods vs. Aaron Baddeley
- Ooooh, here's el tigre! Going up against Badds, and this one should be another entertaining one. At this stage, this match could be quite meaningless to the competition or it could be very critical. Either way, any match with Tiger in it is going to get a LOT of airtime.


Match 12: Steve Stricker vs. Y.E. Yang
- These anchor men have had had mediocre weeks, but a singles win would have them end this tournament with a good taste in their mouths. They are both solid ball-strikers and putters, so we'll see how this one plays out.


So there you have it guys!! Who do you have winning these final matches? Do you see the Americans taking this thing at the end of the day? Let us know in the comments!


Photo via Getty Images

Tiger Woods Finally Earns A Point

Well, there you have it folks. Tiger Woods is now on the scoreboard for this weeks President's Cup. He and Dustin Johnson defeated the partnership of Adam Scott/KJ Choi, who obliterated Tiger and Steve Stricker on Day 1.

Tiger got a bit of revenge today. He finally was able to claim victory over Steve Williams (maybe Steve will call this the worst loss of his life, who knows) since their debacle went down. He was also able to win more than just 1 hole, which is what he did the first 2 days.

It was clear that Tiger is playing better and better as this week continues to go on. He finished the match off with a solid birdie putt, and as long as his game continues to get better on this beast of a course, he could potentially come out of this President's Cup with a winning record, despite starting 0-2-0. Next up for Tiger and DJ is KT Kim and YE Yang in four-balls. Hopefully a lot of pressure is off TW and now he can just go let it fly and gain confidence.

Current Update: Team USA currently leads Team International, 11-6 heading to the 2nd portion of Day 3. This portion is four-balls (aka better ball), and it starts soon. Make sure to catch the action, as it basically is now or never for the International Squad.

Stay tuned for another blog for the recap of Day 3, and a preview of Day 4!!!

Getty Images

2011 President's Cup: Day 2 Recap and Day 3 Preview

photo via Getty Images 

The US team holds off the International team with a final score of 7-5 thru two days of competition. It was another day of surprises, including Tiger Woods coming up short once again for the U.S.. Overall the day was a draw between the two teams, with each team winning 3 of its matches. It will be interesting to see how the next few days will play out. The International team will need a good day of play to overcome the U.S. lead.  

Day 2 Friday Four-Ball results:

Match 1: Watson/Simpson win 3 & 1 vs Els/Ishikawa 

This was certainly the group to watch. You have Webb Simpson who is coming off his best professional season, Ryo Ishikawa, the next big thing to hit Asia, and finally two long hitters. Overall the Americans had the momentum in the match winning 6 holes over the span of 18 holes compared to 3 by the international dual. 

Match 2: Baddeley/Day win 1 up vs Johnson/Woods

This was one of my favorites. Tiger partnered up with Dustin Johnson, now thats a lot meat behind that stick. Compare them to two of Australia’s best golfers, resulting in a must see match. This is evident when you look at the scoring differentiation between the two teams which was close to none. But sadly this was a lost for the U.S. and for the millions of Tiger Fans. 

Match 3: Mickelson/Furyk win 2 & 1 vs Scott/Kim

The veterans showing us hows it done, never allowing Scott/Kim to obtain the lead in the match.

Match 4: Ogilvy/Choi win 1 up vs Hass/Watney 

This result was a bit surprising, for the fact that Hass and Watney seemed to be the favorites coming into this match. But Ogilvy once again showed us, he is a fierce match play competitor, getting the job done. 

Match 5: Kuchar/Stricker win 4 & 3 vs Yang/Allenby 

The Kuchnator took full control of the match by winning 5 holes thru out the match. Robert Alleby is a great match-play player but wasn’t able to find that little spark to get the engines roaring. 

Match 6: Goosen/Schwartzel win 2 & 1 vs Mahan/Toms 

This group was stacked with talent. The result of the match is not surprising, Goosen and Schwartzel both major champs can handle the pressure and from experience know how to deliver a great show. 

Day 3 Saturday Foursomes 

The International team will have to win a majority of the matches to overcome the U.S. , giving them a bit of breathing room heading into Sunday Single matches. 

Match 1: Watson/Simspon vs. Allenby/Ogilvy 

Match 2: Hass/Kuchar vs Els/Ishikawa

Match 3: Mahan/Toms vs Goosen/Schwartzel

Match 4: Woods/Johnson vs Scott/Choi

Match 5: Mickelson/Furyk vs Baddeley/Day

Followed by Saturday Four-Ball

2011 President's Cup: Day 1 Recap and Day 2 Preview

Whew. What a first day to start off with at this 2011 President's Cup. There was so much drama and so much going on, it was truly must see television. You had a ton of stuff going on all at once. It's too bad Golf Channel couldn't host all 6 matches on different channels; it was really crazy to try to keep up with all of what went down. You had your shocking blowouts, your surprise victories, and your clutch comebacks. It was like the first few days of March Madness out there.

In the end, after Day 1, the USA team leads the International team, 4-2. Now, here's a recap of each match that went on yesterday and a few notes about each. (FYI: A match win earns 1 point for the team, a "half" is a tie which results in 1/2 points for each team)

DAY 1, THURSDAY FOURSOMES RESULTS:


Match 1: Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson def. Ernie Els/Ryo Ishikawa, 4&2

- This match's result was pretty surprising. You have Webb, a rookie, going up against two experienced President's Cup players. Not only that, but they were 2 down thru 4 holes, and simply started playing great golf. By the end it was reported that they were 7 under par thru the 16th hole. They really lit it up.

Match 2: Bill Haas/Nick Watney halved Geoff Ogilvy/Charl Schwartzel

- This match also started off with the American's down early. They were 2 down thru 8 before turning it around on the back 9 and earning a crucial tie and 1/2 point. In fact, they had to win their last 2 holes just to get the tie, so they came up big.

Match 3: Matt Kuchar/Dustin Johnson halved Jason Day/Aaron Baddeley

- This match got crazy at the end. The Aussie duo were in complete control of this match, and were 3 up with 7 to play. It looked virtually over for the Americans. But then, they took the 12th hole, and the chase was on. It seemed like nerves and errant shots got to the young Aussie team, as they let the last 2 holes slip away and eventually tied the Americans for a 1/2 point.

Match 4: Phil Mickelson/Jim Furyk def. Robert Allenby/Retief Goosen, 4&3

- To be honest, I didn't really pay attention to this match much. After an early lead by the International team here, the Americans gained control of this match and never really looked back.

Match 5: Hunter Mahan/David Toms def. K.T. Kim/Y.E. Yang, 6&5

- This was a complete rout. The International partnership only won one hole in the round, and the American duo were just on fire. Watch out for this partnership for the Americans; it seems to be a great success so far.

Match 6: Adam Scott/ K.J. Choi def Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker, 7&6

- This was the match EVERYONE was talking about and wanted to see. And oh boy, was it BAD for the Americans. This loss was so bad that it tied the worst loss margin in history of the President's Cup. And while it's true that Woods and Stricker weren't on their game yesterday, Scott and Choi were just as good. Scott and Choi looked like world beaters that day, and wouldn't let up by finishing off this damaged American side with a birdie. Too add insult to injury, Woods and Stricker couldn't even make a birdie in the match. This was just that forgettable. It was so bad it ended before some of the other matches, and they started last! Luckily for them, it was the only loss the American's suffered all day.

DAY 2 PREVIEW, FRIDAY FOUR-BALL:


Day 2 will be played earlier than expected, as they prepare for inclement weather. Therefore, Golf Channel coverage will begin at 5:30 ET today. Here is the list of projected matches for the Friday Four-Ball(aka, Best Ball format):

Match 1: Bubba Watson/Webb Simspon vs. Ernie Else/Ryo Ishikawa

Match 2: Tiger Woods/Dustin Johnson vs. Jason Day/Aaron Baddeley

Match 3: Phil Mickelson/Jim Furyk vs. Adam Scott/K.T. Kim

Match 4: Bill Haas/Nick Watney vs. Geoff Ogilvy/K.J. Choi

Match 5: Steve Stricker/Matt Kuchar vs. Y.E. Yang/Robert Allenby

Match 6: Hunter Mahan/David Toms vs Charl Schwartzel/Retief Goosen

Make sure to follow us on twitter (@jjsanchez92) or check back on this blog for updates.

Photo via ymig

HTWD Preview: President's Cup

This week in the golfing world we have the 2011 President's Cup, hosted at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia. In this blog we will give insight on our opinions of what we expect of this year's Cup and our prediction of the outcome. 

JJ: Whelp, this week we finally have some interesting golf to talk about!! Woohoo! We've got the biennial President's Cup going on, which puts a 12 man American squad vs. an International team in Australia, starting tonight in the USA (due to the time zones). This President's Cup also has a lot of storylines; most notably the fact that Steve Williams Adam Scott will be competing against Tiger Woods at least once in this Cup. You also have a ton of talent on both teams. You have young but experienced stars like Jason Day, Aaron Baddeley, Adam Scott, Ryo Ishikawa and Rickie Fowler. You also have the veterans who are trying to get their games back up to elite levels, like Phil Mickelson, Robert Allenby, and the aforementioned Tiger Woods. There is gonna be a lot of great ball striking at this event, so, if you're interested in ways to strike the ball better, just sit back and take notes. 

Overall, I am predicting that the USA will prevail over this current International team. The USA team is just too loaded and talented and experienced to lose this President's Cup, regardless if it's not on their home territory. I think the USA will win, 19-15. Now let's see what Bernardo thinks...

(By the way, I'd like to give a happy birthday shout out to my fellow blogger Bernardo, aka the creator of this blog. Share some love for him by leaving a comment or sharing this page to your friends. Happy Birthday dude!! )

Bernardo: The American Squad heads to Australia for a week of competition against the International team for the Presidents Cup. The U.S. comes in as the favorite after defeating the international team 19½ to 14½ at Harding Park GC in 2009. The international team is headed by Greg Norman who is from Australia, giving the team that extra motivation to win in his homeland. In addition the international team has five players that are from Australia, basically this Presidents cup is setting up to be U.S. vs Australia.

Both teams have their share of veterans and rookies. It will be interesting to see how this year’s President’s Cup will play out with so many great players and pride involved, expect to see some rare moments from both sides of the playing field.

As my fellow blogger mentioned, the buzz this week is about the Steve Williams-Tiger Woods commotion. The media will certainly be absorbed with their encounter on the course. We know Tiger Woods will carry himself in a respectable manner, but we would love to see some fist fly. 

Now back to my prediction, I’m going with the  U.S. Team to come out victorious over the international team. Based on both teams line ups, I believe the U.S has the right combination of players to take on their opponent. Finally, I believe the companionship between the members of the U.S team will be an advantage. The U.S. Will win with a score of  19½ to 14½. 

Photo via turramurraskins

Greatness in the Making: Yani Tseng

Yani Tseng 

Tseng continues to dominate the LPGA Tour, filling in the shoes for some giants like  Lorena Ochoa or Annika Sorenstam, She is the youngest player in professional golf to have won five majors at her current age. Not to mention she is Ranked #1 in the Women’s World Golf Rankings and in the Rolex points. Tseng’s lead is tremendous, with her nearest competitors far from close, to overcoming her lead. Tseng was able to achieve this by shooting over 40 rounds in the 60s throughout the season.

Tseng has won 7 times this year, resembling Tiger Wood’s prime years on the PGA Tour. Anytime you can win 7 times including 2 majors in a single year, you know your doing something right. Whatever the case is for Tseng, she certainly is riding this momentum to a level of greatness. 

Tseng is an example of the growth in the game of golf in the United States, with golfers from Asia (Tseng is Taiwanese) making a name for themselves in the American soil. The birth of golf was in Europe but the U.S seems to be the center of attention when it comes to competitive golf. This is evident in the PGA Tour with so maybe great players playing full time that are from over seas. 

The question that comes to mind is will Tseng continue to dominate and one day over come the ladder of legends or will stars like Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer, and Suzann Pettersen finally fill in the gaps that the LPGA Tour depressively  needs. The LPGA Tour concludes this week at the CME Group Titleholders, with a field full of big names anything can happen. But a win for Tseng could really validate her as a great player. 

How Will Tiger Woods Fare This Week?

(That's the burning question that everyone wants to know. Heck, it not only applies to this week at the Australian Open, but it'll apply next week too, for the President's Cup.)

Yes ladies and gentlemen, in case you haven't heard (although you probably have), Mr. Woods is returning back to action this week down under to tune up for the President's Cup next week. And although reports are out that not many Aussies have been out there to watch him practice, it won't mean a thing. I know first hand what Tiger does to people. He brings them to golf tournaments and sells tickets. Good or bad, this polarizing dude attracts haters and fans.

But-- how will he do this week? He came off a mediocre performance last month at the Frys.com Open (it could have been so much better, its crazy) and hasn't played much this year. He also is just coming off another spat with Steve Williams, who threw a racial slur at him a couple of days ago. So, you know, these are those distractions that he is going to have to overcome to compete at a high level this week.

Regardless of all that, I think he'll do well this week. The man keeps saying he's practicing at his old pace, which is a great sign. I don't think he'll win, but I foresee a top 10 finish this week, with at least one low round in there. I think he will open the tournament with a respectable 69 or 70, and steadily improve each day. But that's just me. How do you guys think he'll do this week? Comment below.

Photo via pokerpurist

WGC- HSBC Champions

Martin Kaymer rallies to a impressive win over Fredrik Jacobson after shooting a bogey free final round 63. Not to mention that Kaymer started the final round five shots back from leader. Such a performance brings back memories of Tiger’s ability to catch the leaders on the final day.  There is still more than a year left for the next Ryder Cup but the European Team seems to be building some momentum and four Europeans are within the Top 10 in the official World Golf Rankings. 

Keegan Bradley surprised many with his great start, because a victory for Bradley, could have stopped Luke Donald from winning Player of the Year. Donald was unable to attend the tournament due to his wife’s pregnancy.

Other news floating around was all the talk about Steve William's racist comments, about his previous boss. Just goes to show you some people seem to go backwards instead of progressing. We’ll see if Adam Scott will be able to overlook the unnecessary media attention. 

Final Round coverage:

Steve Williams May Have Just Gone Too Far

This Stevie Williams - Tiger Woods saga just won't end. After their breakup that was well publicized and told with different stories, Williams goes on and takes clear shots at Woods after new employer Adam Scott's victory at the Bridgestone earlier this year. Then, he apologizes for it, saying it was all out of emotion. Which, for the most part, is understandable.


But now he may have gone wayyyyy too far in this mess. Now confirmed by a multitude of sources, Steve Williams took a racial jab at Tiger at the HSBC Champions this week. It was at a pre-tournament ceremony, and he said something along the lines of this, referring to the post-tournament interview at the Bridgestone:


“My aim was to shove it right up that black --------.”


Wow. Just wow. This left everyone at the ceremony in shock. Some people are throwing out rumors that he was really intoxicated during this event, and geeze, for his sake, I kind of hope he was. To say this sober is a terrible, terrible idea. Actually, its just terrible to say it altogether. 


He is holding a serious grudge, that's for sure. And needs to just let it go. Tiger has moved on, and he needed to; except now, it will only arise more questions. Now the media is going to attack Tiger with reaction to what Steve said. That's EXACTLY what he didn't need. Tiger was starting to get rid of all the distractions, and now comes this...


I really don't know why Steve would say this now. Was he bored? Did he want a story for us golf writers to write about since the season is essentially over now? Does he still want to keep taking shots at Tiger as long as he's still a caddy? Whatever it was, it definitely got our attention.


UPDATE: Steve Williams has now apologized for the comments he said earlier this week, on his website.


Photo via Palm Beach Post