The Monday Wrapup

Hunter Mahan wins the Travelers Championship on the first playoff hole over Jay Williamson

Two straight sick approach shots on the 18th; one directly inside Williamson's very good approach on the 72 hole, the other on the playoff hole within two feet, won Mahan his first PGA Tour win.

When I left the house for a walk (In my attempt to weigh less than the current U.S. Open champion) Mahan was 2 shots in front. When I came back, he was tied and quickly bogeyed the 17th to go one shot behind. The CBS crew were already warming up the 'sponsors exemption winning the tournament' storyline before Mahan went nuts. Mahan get to go to the Mercedes and Augusta nexct year, Williamson get to go to Flint, Michigan for the Buick Open with his top 10 finish. Williamson will not get to see Tiger Woods talk to framed paintings in person; Tiger pulled out of the Buick to spend more time with his new daughter.

As an aside, he is wearing an Under Armour shirt. You really shouldn't endorse Under Armour when it looks like you have never completed a pushup.

Lorena Ochoa defeats In-Kyung Kim on the second playoff hole to win the Wegmans LPGA

This is her third win on the LPGA Tour this year. More importantly, she didn't choke in a pressure situation as she has previously. The only thing missing from her resume is a major win. Hey, the U.S. Women's Open is next week.

I tried to find television coverage of this tournament and failed miserably. Only after it was over did I discover it was on ESPN2. I'm not as down on LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens as most, but her main job in my opinion is to solidify a regular U.S. television partner, whether it is ESPN2, Golf Channel, Versus or the Oxygen Channel. Her second main job is to put together a Ryder Cup like competion between U.S. and South Korean players. But that is for another post.

Official Golfing Negro LPGA favorite Christina Kim tied for 67th place

I am spared a drubbing by my father in law

He is coming to town on business this week, but will have no time for golf. He will have to suffice with his weekly calls from Louisiana, telling me how cheap the golf is down there and how well he is shooting.

Playing Golf 6/23

Course: Northwest Park
Score: 105 (Front: 55; Back: 50)
Best Club: 19 degree hybrid
Worst Club: Putter
Highlights: Birdie on the Par 3 12th hole. Par on the Par 4 5th hole.
Lowlights: Three putting the Par 5 8th and the Par 4 18th after reaching each green in regulation.
Summary: Started out slowly with two triple bogeys then two double bogeys. I hit good shots with the driver on the 5th, 10th, 16th and 17th, which is good for me. Had a horrible day with the putter, which has been my best club recently. Constantly short with putts. Shanked a ball off the tee at the Par 3 15th so bad, I said out loud I couldn't do worse if I spit the ball out of my mouth. Walked the course and the legs are sore.

105 is the best score for the year. If I can get more consistent with my irons (I'm convinced the driver will always be consistent) and put like I have a pair, I should be able to break 100 this season. I've only done it once before, coincedentally at Northwest.

Daly's definately juicing

PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem has announced the PGA Tour has begun to develop policies regarding performance enhancing drugs, incluing testing. This is a reversal of his original stance; that golf didn't need such a policy due to the arrogance of the golf elite integrity of the game. This annoucement led to writers going for the easy laugh, pointing to pictures of Mickelson and Angel Cabrera and saying 'these guys are on steroids?' Besides being more hacky than Robin Williams, they miss the point.

First off all, as baseball has taught us, steroids/human growth hormone/whatever the newest drug the cycling world is using these days are more important to extend a career or recover quicker from an injury. With all the money available on the PGA Tour, is it that hard to believe an older or injured golfer would throw down some HGH during the offseason, work out like his livelyhood depended on it and make a bunch of cash late in his career?
Second, isn't one of the main complaints about the current game is today's professionals hit the ball too far? Is it inconceivable enhancers could have something to do with that? I own a Taylor Made R7 driver (damn Sergio Garcia commercials) and I'm not hitting it 300+ yards. Could it be more than just the equipment?

Third, steroids are not the only performance enhancer out there. Craig Parry has brought up the possible use of beta blockers to steady nerves during play (perhaps someone should have told Aaron Baddeley about them before his round with Tiger).

Finchem has learned the lesson the NBA learned the hard way in the 80's with their cocaine scandals and MLB is still learning with their steroid scandals: it is easier to keep the trust of your fans then try to gain it back after you lose said trust. Professional golf may not need drug testing due to a doping epidemic, but they do need their good name. A little urine in a cup is a small price to pay for that.