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.

Their chances of winning tournaments are better without him, but it’s clear the players on the PGA Tour would much rather have Tiger Woods in the field Thursday through Sunday.

At this weekend’s tour stop, Tiger’s statement on Friday was a big topic of conversation.  Many have reached into their bags and pulled out the ‘no comment’ club.  A few others offer milquetoast responses to reporters’ questions.  They’re tired of talking about it and really, what can they say?  Passing judgment in public likely wouldn’t be well accepted by some.

It would be nice to see more players offer up some thoughtful responses on the whole subject because it has so many tentacles that affect the tour, pro sports and society.  Did Tiger pull the wool over our eyes by letting his marketers form this ‘determined family man’ image?  Is he a victim of too much success too soon?  Few of his PGA Tour colleagues are willing to even share their opinions.

Here’s what they were saying this week:

No doubt, the players probably lay a lot of the blame for what could be a very soft season squarely on Tiger. There are other stars playing pro golf, but Woods is such a mega force that a lot of people dismiss the Tour without him as if a win doesn’t really count if Tiger isn’t in the field. The Tour needs him and it doesn’t sound like he’s anywhere ready to come back. Tiger and “the rest of the field” are joined at the hip, for better or worse. They say they’ll be patient and wait for him, but the circus that will ensue once he does come back isn’t something the “field” deserves.

Latest Tiger Woods Update:  Tiger Woods says he is “taking an indefinite leave” from golf and for the first time mentioned the word “infidelity”.  In a post on his website, Woods said he would concentrate instead on being a “better husband, father and person”.  That would seem to mean wife Elin has not yet decided to leave him despite the statements of multiple women who say they had affairs or relationships with him during his marriage.

The embattled star’s apology meter did climb a bit since his last missive in which he railed against the tabloids and begged for everyone to leave him alone.

Woods has yet to speak about his car accident or anything else associated with the ongoing saga that has created a firestorm once thought to be much ado about nothing.

Woods’ statement:

“I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try.

I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What’s most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.

After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.

Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.

It was new territory for Tiger Woods and maybe he didn’t know the protocol.

After losing a lead on Sunday for the first time in 36 events, Tiger decided not stop and chat with CBS.  He’d lost the PGA Championship despite leading by four shots after the second round and by two coming into the final eighteen holes.  It wasn’t Tiger’s best moment and he’ll have to wait through another long winter before chasing his 15th major next spring at the Masters.   But make no mistake.  Tiger didn’t lose it.  He flat out got beat.

Y.E. Yang, a 5-foot-9 dynamo from South Korea who began playing at age 19 and then served time in his country’s military, out-Tigered Tiger.  Major championships are won with consistency, but also with memorable shots that create separation.  Sunday, Yang got Tiger by the tail with a spine-tingling chip in on the 14th hole at Hazeltine.  Then he yanked on it with an exclamation point putt at 18, creating history on multiple fronts:  first Asian-born golfer to win a major.  First man to take Tiger down on Sunday since the modern day king of golf turned pro.

Woods was game, but his putting stroke was off.  He seemed unable to read a green this time.  Still, he was in it until 18.    On Sundays, no one had been able to stare him down until Yang did.  His win gives hope to others who duel with Tiger from here on out.

The mojo may not be gone, but it’s softened a bit.
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PGA memorabilia on eBay

Golf continues to slide high tech for even the average player.

If you play…and you’ve got an iPhone… this might be something to check out.

Shotzoom Software just announced the release of Golfshot: Golf GPS rangefinder, available on Apple’s App store for iPhone 3G and 3G S.   Golfshot: Golf GPS allows golfers to touch any point on a golf hole to receive distances to and from that point.

According to the company, the golfing community has already embraced the Golfshot Scorecard Application, with user reviews praising its “perfect balance of features and usability.” Golfshot: Golf GPS builds on the easy-to-use interface, tour quality statistics, and scorecard share and compare functionality currently available in Golfshot. The GPS capabilities quickly give users a multitude of vantage points and course-specific information, including:

“The GPS capabilities in Golfshot: Golf GPS exceed what is available on most stand-alone golf range finder hardware, but at a fraction of the cost,” explained Laura Khailany, Vice President of Shotzoom Software. “In this economy, saving up to $400 on a golf GPS range finder is an exceptional value,” Khailany added.

Golfshot: Golf GPS has over 15,000 courses available worldwide. Golfers can search for their courses at www.golfshot.com/courses and can request additional courses for free.

The company says the app was “designed by golfers with an eye for simplicity and ease-of-use”.  The Golfshot GPS application is priced well below competitive stand-alone golf GPS products and is available in the iTunes App Store, or at www.tinyurl.com/golfshotgps.

From the Associated Press:

Daly was suspended for six months in November after a series of off-course incidents that brought negative publicity, the latest a picture of him in an orange jail suit with his eyes half-closed after being locked up to get sober in North Carolina.

He has played eight times overseas during his suspension, and tied for second earlier this month in the Italian Open.

“I know I’ll be ready to play,” Daly said.

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.

It’s died down a bit now, but the praise heaped upon golfer J.P. Hayes for essentially disqualifying himself for using a non-approved Titleist during the second round of a qualifier came from all corners.

It’s kind of sad that someone is complimented incessantly for simply upholding the rules of a very traditional game.  Hayes said so himself.  “It’s important for players to police themselves,” he told ESPN.  “We don’t have referees.”

If pros don’t police themselves, who will?  And Hayes does deserve plaudits for doing the right thing.  It would have been so easy to ignore the violation.  No one would have known.  The ball was a prototype and looked no different than any other golf ball in his bag.  But why did his caddy even have the ball in the bag to begin with?

Players and caddies both know that using such golf balls is a no-no during competition.  Hayes has been a touring pro for a long time.  Navigating his way through the qualifiers to earn a PGA tour card for 2009 was important to this 43 year-old from Wisconsin.  He’s got only a few years left to make a really good living on tour.  So why would an experienced player even put himself in a position to make such an error?

At least he knows now that he’s one of those guys who isn’t afraid to call a penalty on himself no matter what the consequences… or the stakes.

Even if he had never recaptured the magic he once had while winning major championships and contending on Sundays, John Daly could have been one of the most popular players ever to pick up a club.

Sort of a 1960s guy dropped into the wrong decade.  A smoker.  Guy who couldn’t stay married to the same woman for more than a year.  Liked to drink.  They used to say, unfortunately, that those guys were ‘characters’.  Writers thought they made good copy.  And John Daly did make a good story for awhile.   Now he’s just a sad one.

Daly’s latest trouble was documented by the wire services, his picture showing a guy who couldn’t walk a straight line, let alone line up a putt.   The stories written about him used to paint him as just sort of a crazy everyman.   Those days are over.  Daly is a danger to himself now.

It’s a damn shame, too, because the tour really does need him.  Not to play on the Ryder Cup team.  Not anymore.  They just need Daly to be Brett Favre.  He has the talent.  Or did.  It’s probably still there somewhere.  A guy with flaws who can be brilliant enough to make you stop what you’re doing and watch.  He might make a spectacular shot or a 370-yard drive.  He might be a spectacular failure.  You never knew.  You just want to be there when it happens.  Celebrate when it goes his way.  Sympathize when it doesn’t.  Pro golf doesn’t have a lot of those guys.  Players who make you care.

You watch Tiger but he’s so successful and powerful now you’re more in awe of his ability.  Phil makes it interesting.  So does Anthony Kim.  Boo Weekley did for a few days.  Maybe he’ll keep it up, but it’s way too soon to know.    But most players don’t have the personality and the jaw-dropping skills Daly once displayed.  Favre had his trouble with addictions but had the sense to realize what he was losing by giving in.  Hard as it was, he stopped with the drinks and the painkillers and won a Super Bowl.  He’s answered the bell each and every Sunday.  In golf, you have to actually make it to Sunday and Daly has checked out on Thursday afternoon far too often.

In spite of his troubles, he never copped an attitude with fans.  He’ll sit with anybody and have a beer.  Or six.  What makes him endearing has also gotten him into trouble.  Last weekend,  Daly had been signing autographs while blitzed out of his mind.  Some guys in that condition would tell fans to get lost.  Daly isn’t that type.  He’d rather you drink with him.  It’s too bad he can’t offer them a spot in the next pro-am instead.

And show up without a hangover.