Sometimes rejection can be a good thing.  Tiger Woods, who won 13 of his 14 major championships using a Scotty Cameron putter, suddenly ditched his old friend for the British Open.  The result was a disaster.

He didn’t practice much with his Nike prototype and and the results were about what you might expect, especially considering where he stands as a whole right now.

Woods went back to the Cameron putter before the weekend was out and even made a couple of nice putts early Sunday with it, but the damage was done.  Tiger is now winless in his last seven majors but it’s pretty clear that it ain’t the putter’s fault.

The news that Tiger was going back to his Cameron made headlines all over the world as reporters and columnists looked to explain his continued lack of major championship success.  Why would he switch?  More money?  Just a gut feeling?  Tired of the same thing and looking for something new (that type of thinking turned out to be a BIG mistake late last year)?

Who knows.

We do know that Cameron’s company comes out of this:  1) looking like a hero and 2) the recipient of a huge does of free publicity.

Cameron’s clubs are hugely popular and so are his designer head covers.  In fact, the British Open models that pay homage to Scotland are selling like hotcakes, with the few that have made their way to eBay selling like hotcakes.

Overall, there are 2600+ Cameron items on eBay and after the Tiger talk this week, they’re going fast.

AT&T said Happy Birthday to Tiger Woods by ending Woods’ endorsement deal.  The embattled golfer turned 34 on Wednesday, and is wrapping up a year he’d just as soon forget.

Woods hasn’t been used much by the phone company in advertising, but its logo was on Woods’ golf bag, a multi-year deal signed earlier this year.

AT&T, which is based in Dallas, offered the usual “we wish him well” in a statement emailed to Bloomberg News regarding its decision to sever ties.

When contacted by AP, Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, had no comment on AT&T’s decision.

Woods admitted martial infidelity is costing him millions of dollars, even though some companies continue to back him.  Consulting firm Accenture dropped him two weeks ago, saying he was “no longer the right representative” for them.  Gillette isn’t airing Tiger ads or using him in its shaving product advertising. Swiss watch maker Tag Heuer is pulling back its use of Woods’ image in its campagins.

Electronic Arts Inc., which puts out the “Tiger Woods PGA Tour” series of golf video games, hasn’t pulled the plug.  Upper Deck has kept its autograph deal going and Nike has said it plans to stick with Woods.

John Daly still has some appeal to corporate America.

A week before he’s scheduled to rejoin the PGA Tour after a six-month suspension, Daly has signed an endorsement energy drink maker All Sport. The company’s Big Red logo will be displayed on his golf bag.

“Corporate America believes in his comeback,” agent Bud Martin said Thursday.

Daly was kicked off the Tour for a series of events that brought a flurry of negative press, including an overnight stay in a North Carolina jail to get sober.

Daly will be back on the course in a U.S. Open qualifier on Monday in Memphis, where he’ll tee it up in the St. Jude Championship next weekend.

If you like to mix your golf with a little football and haven’t been to the Dallas area lately, we can report that there is a “Cowboys Golf Club” in Grapevine, Texas.

Located approximately 20 miles from downtown Dallas and Fort Worth, Cowboys Golf Club has been named the No. 1 daily-fee golf course in the Metroplex for seven consecutive years by AvidGolfer Magazine. Designed by architect Jeff Brauer and opened for business in 2001, Cowboys is the world’s first and only NFL-themed club in the world.

The club integrates a historical tour of the franchise’s accomplishments with a display of Cowboys memorabilia and historical markers.

Now, the club has partnered with ProLink Solutions to offer GPS functionality and some video advertising.

The club’s general manager says “GPS systems will help us keep the pace of play steady, monitor our carts, and deliver a great tournament experience through the scoring software.”

ProLink uses a patented, 10.4″ high-resolution color screen mounted on carts to display what it calls “dynamic, easy-to-read graphics including distances to the pin and hazards, pro tips, pace-of-play timer and radial arc for cart-path-only holes”.   The system also offers golfers the ability to order food and beverage items with a touch of a button on the ProLink screen.

The GPS provider recently introduced ‘ProLink Touch’, the golf industry’s first cart-mounted “Touch” screen which features enhanced scoring functions which will automatically calculate “Nassau” and “Skins” results.

For courses’ bottom lines, the new system’s expansive memory stores up to 7,500 ads, generating incremental revenue through a larger sales inventory. Designed with a proprietary custom interface, ProLink says Touch delivers “lightning-fast cart-to-clubhouse communication for all purposes including two-way communications, golfer safety, food-and-beverage orders and pace-of-play alerts”.

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Cowboys tickets, memorabilia on eBay

2000 British Open

You might not be able to play a round of golf with Tiger Woods but you can put him on your desk.  Upper Deck has released some new Tiger figures that are accurate right down to the wind rippling through his pants.

The 2000 calendar year was an especially good one for the young phenom. He won three consecutive majors on his way to eventually fulfilling at least one version of the grand slam when he won the 2001 Masters. Winning four majors in a row – albeit not in the same calendar year – still ranks as one of golf’s greatest achievements. Now the Upper Deck Company has released a couple of Pro Shots action figures commemorating the finest stretch of golf a player has had in recent PGA Tour history.  The figures spotlight two of Tiger’s most thrilling moments from 2000, the U.S. Open and British Open.   The two moments captured include Tiger’s incomparable backswing with his driver in hand (British Open) and his crowd-pleasing iron shot on the fairway (U.S. Open).

The extraordinarily lifelike figures are now being prepped to ship next week. Locations include Toys R’ Us, Champs, BC Sports, and select Target, Sports Authority, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.  There will also be alternate colorway versions in clam shell packaging. The alternate versions are available only at Champs outlets and hobby stores.

Pro Shots figures are 7″ scale collectible figures presented in the popular “hyper-realistic” style.  With sculpting by

2000 US Open

industry leading Gentle Giant Studios and an impeccable level of accuracy in paint and deco applications, Pro Shots action figures recreate the top moments of sport’s top athletes. Packaged in either a diorama collector’s box or in a crisp clam shell, each Pro Shots figure connects the collector to the emotional moment out on the field of play. Pro Shots figures packaged inside the clear “in the moment” diorama-style display box also include an Upper Deck trading card commemorating the moment.

Besides these latest two variations, Upper Deck has previously released Tiger’s victories at the 1997 Masters and the 2000 PGA Championship. The figures generally run less than $20.

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Shop for Tiger Woods on eBay

The PGA of America, in its efforts to demonstrate its corporate citizenship, invited approximately 200 Kentucky based charities to participate in the 37^th Ryder Cup Community Relations Program.  Collectively $849,325 was generated to benefit programs that target youth education, wellness, fitness and sports.

The 37^th Ryder Cup was contested Sept. 16-21, 2008, at Valhalla Golf Club.

The following programs were among the beneficiaries:

• The PGA of America joined with Cobalt Artworks to present checks totaling $22,000 to Louisville’s Muhammad Ali Center and The First Tee of Louisville.   The contributions were the result of an online auction of one-of-a-kind portraits created by famed American artist LeRoy Neiman of 2008 Ryder Cup U.S. Captain Paul Azinger and European Captain Nick Faldo.

The on-line auction drew bids from art collectors and sports fans from all over the world. The successful bidder is golf enthusiast Ian Inglis of Scotland.  Through Inglis’s arrangement, both paintings will go on display in spring 2009 at the British Golf Museum in St. Andrews, Scotland.  The Museum is directly opposite The Royal and Ancient Golf Clubhouse and just 67½ yards from the first tee of the Old Course.

· The WHAS Crusade for Children recently received a $50,000 donation as a result of The PGA of America hosting The Ryder Cup Captains’ Challenge, conducted Sept. 17, 2008 at Hurstbourne Country Club

· The Ryder Cup Captains’ Celebration, marking the one-year-out point for the event, raised $35,361 for four charitable organizations:  Down Syndrome of Louisville, Louisville Urban Youth Golf Program, The Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana.

· The PGA provided 158 charities two weekly Ryder Cup tickets to use as auction items to support their fund raisers.  These tickets were given to charitable organizations that provide community services in the areas of healthcare, youth and family services as well as youth sports.  Collectively $537,000 was raised by these charities to support their causes.

· Levy Restaurants, the concessions, food and beverage partner of The PGA, supported the Ryder Cup Community Relations efforts through its Levy Cares initiatives and its Concession Non-for-Profit Program.  For the Ryder Cup, six organizations provided approximately 115 volunteers per day.  In return, these organizations received a portion of all alcohol and food sales from the six concession stands being run throughout the course.

Among the groups represented were the Heartland Flyers Competitive Cheerleading Group, St. Bernard Parent Teacher Organization, Becca’s Fliptown Gymnastics Booster Club, The Eastern High School Booster Club, The Louisville Youth Hockey Association and the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. These six charities shared $168,465 from this Levy Cares Program.

“It is a wonderful feeling for all members of The PGA of America to know that the excitement of one of the best Ryder Cups ever - played before the best fans in America in Kentucky – carries on through charitable work to benefit the citizens of Louisville,” said PGA of America President Jim Remy. “The Ryder Cup was born because of a desire to bring the best players on either side of the Atlantic together. In Louisville, thousands came together for one unforgettable, historic week and we are very pleased that the benefits will continue.”

“We believe the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club was the best Ryder Cup in history,” said Walt Gahm, general chair of the 2008 Ryder Cup and founder of Valhalla Golf Club. “We were thrilled by the enthusiasm of the community and pleased to have used this event to develop awareness and funds for deserving organizations.”

(Click for a list of Ryder Cup memorabilia on eBay)

Not since the opening of Whistling Straits in Wisconsin has there been a more anticipated golf course opening in the Midwest and Hall of Fame architect Pete Dye is responsible for both. The new Pete Dye course at French Lick Resort will open to the public on April 24, 2009.

French Lick Resort, long one of America’s premier resort destinations, is situated on rolling hills overlooking the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana. The historic resort is located in the small town of French Lick, where for over two centuries the Pluto Mineral Springs has attracted visitors. (It is also known as the hometown of basketball legend Larry Bird.)

Since the early 1900’s, golf has been an integral part of this resort area. Tom Bendelow designed the first course here in 1907 followed by the great Donald Ross ten years later. In 2009, however, French Lick moves to an entirely new level with the opening of the spectacular new Pete Dye course.

Dye, an Indiana native who recently was inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame, is famous for his innovative course designs. In 1982, Dye introduced stadium golf at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. What followed were a series of Dye signature designs including the Ocean Course at Kiawah, PGA West in California, Whistling Straits in Wisconsin and now this new course at French Lick Resort.

“I have spent the past five decades designing golf courses all over the world, including courses on great coastal sites,” Dye explains. “This new project at French Lick Resort brings great excitement to Alice and me because the course is on arguably the best inland site I have ever worked on.”

 The course was carefully carved on a dramatic hilltop offering a variety of elevation changes, rugged and dramatic terrain, narrow fairways and ever-changing bunkers. There are spectacular views from every hole, some that stretch for over 40 miles.

Integrating the advances in modern equipment, golf balls and player fitness, Dye has designed a golf course that stretches over 8,100 yards from the professional tees. However, this new creation welcomes all levels of players. With five sets of tees, yardages begin at 5,100 yards from the forward tees. (Alice Dye always makes sure the courses play well for women.) Most players are expected to play from either 6,100 or 6,700 yards.

This new course is already gaining national recognition. In 2010, the PGA of America will play its PGA Professional National Championship on the new Pete Dye course. This is expected to be the first of several high profile professional events to be hosted here.

The new Pete Dye course will also mark the return of caddies to French Lick Resort for the first time in 45 years. The resort’s new caddie program will give young people from the area the opportunity to learn the game and qualify for college scholarships. The resort will work with the Western Golf Association in developing the caddie program. While caddies will be an option, forecaddies will be required upon opening.

Complementing the new Pete Dye course at French Lick Resort is the historic Donald Ross course, which has just undergone a $4.6 million restoration project that has brought the course back to Ross’s original plans.

Tiger Woods may be sitting at home watching golf on TV, but he still leads the 2nd annual “Power 100″ rankings from BusinessWeek magazine.

The magazine released its list of the 100 most powerful people in sports and Woods topped the list for the second straight year. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and NBA Commissioner David Stern round out the top three.  LeBron James ranks as the top NBA athlete at No. 17, 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps debuts on the list at No. 42, and Danica Patrick, Indy Racing League driver, is the highest-ranked female on the list at No. 50.

The 35 panelists include athletes, executives, marketers, writers, and academics were told to make their  picks based on how each individual rates vs. his or her peers; how much money each controls, generates, or influences; and the breadth and staying power of their impact. Fans were invited to cast votes on BusinessWeek.com and their cumulative vote counted as the final panelist.

Tiger’s knee injury has kept him off the course since mid-summer, but it has only whetted golf fans’ appetite for his return in 2009.   Jack Nicklaus is no longer competitive on the course, but his influence as a course designer, equipment manufacturer and golf icon–we presume– has him at #47.

Here’s the top 20 on that Top 100 list

     1    Tiger Woods Golfer
     2    Roger Goodell Commissioner, NFL
     3    David Stern Commissioner, NBA
     4    George Bodenheimer President, ESPN
     5    Dick Ebersol Chairman, NBC Sports
     6    Phil Knight Chairman, Nike
     7    Allan   "Bud  " Selig Commissioner, MLB
     8    Brian France Chairman and CEO, Nascar
     9    Michael Jordan NBA great; minority owner, Charlotte Bobcats
     10   Sean McManus  President, CBS News and Sports
     11   David Hill Chairman and CEO, Fox Sports
     12   Rupert Murdoch  Chairman and CEO, News Corp.
     13   Myles Brand  President, NCAA
     14   Tony Ponturo  VP, global media and sports marketing, Anheuser-
           Busch
     15   Lance Armstrong  Tour de France cyclist
     16   Theodore Forstmann  Chairman and CEO, IMG
     17   LeBron James  Forward, Cleveland Cavaliers
     18   Donald Fehr  Executive Director, Major League Baseball Players Assn.
     19   Steinbrenner Family  Principal owner, New York Yankees
     20   John Henry  Owner, Boston Red Sox; co-owner, Roush Fenway Racing