Talk Of The TOUR   Nobody spends more time on course with the best golfers in the world than the PGA TOUR Network broadcast team on XM Satellite Radio. Check here regularly for inside-the-ropes access and outside-the-box commentary from the opinionated members of the PGA TOUR Live broadcast team, and don't forget to tune in on PGATOUR.com and XM 146 to hear live tournament coverage each week. The heart of America Welcome to Mid America. Welcome to Small Town USA.  Fred Albers Welcome to the John Deere Classic. The PGA TOUR regularly visits large cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, but this week's tournament is being held in Silvis, Ill. It's a suburb of the "Quad Cities" of Moline, Rock Island, Bettendorf and Davenport. Moline and Rock Island are in Illinois, Bettendorf and Davenport are in Iowa, and there are dozens of smaller farm communities nearby. The total metro population is about 350,000, approximately the size of Wilmington, N.C. or Trenton, N.J. In these Midwestern towns people still sit on their porch at night listening to Cubs and Cardinals games on the radio, and seemingly every house flies an American flag. The residents not only know the names of their neighbors, but their children's names and birthdays as well. However, while the towns are relatively small, the golf is big time. TPC Deere Run is one of the better courses the PGA TOUR visits the entire season. D.A. Weibring took a piece of property adjacent to the Rock River and carved a spectacular golf course into the rolling, wooded hills. The water, trees and elevation changes combine to form a wonderful layout. I arrived in Moline late Tuesday afternoon, and took an evening walk around the course just as dusk slipped into darkness. An afternoon thunderstorm had cooled temperatures into the upper 60s, and painted the sky in an exotic shade of pink. The course was deserted as I strolled down the middle of the fairways, taking note of the natural bunkering and swales in the green complexes. It is a very, very good golf course. By the time I reached the 18th hole the waning light had faded into darkness, but a host of fire flies showed me the way while a chorus of frogs announced my arrival at the green. Before becoming President of the United States, Ronald Reagan spent his youth in the area and once had a summer job as a lifeguard on the Rock River. He said it was the happiest time of his life. So, while much of the golf world has already started to gather at Carnoustie for next week's Open Championship, I'm happy to be in Silvis, Ill. this week. You can't get more All American than a visit to the Quad Cities and the John Deere Classic. I think I'll have a slice of apple pie tonight. Daddy might get even better  Randolph Jr. S.A.W. (my nickname for Sam Alexis Woods) entered our world the Monday after her father finished second at the U.S. Open. It was kind of an odd championship for the world No. 1. On Saturday, he hit 17-of-18 greens, but inconsistency with the putter turned his brilliant ball-striking round into "just" a solid 69, putting Tiger in the final-round pairing with Aaron Baddeley. I was lucky enough to follow Tiger every step of the way on Sunday at Oakmont Country Club. Like many, I figured it was his championship to win on Father's Day as a fitting salute to "Pops," as Tiger always referred to his late father, Earl. Being the nickname guy that I am, I have always called Earl "Obi Won," a nod to the mentor from the Star Wars movie franchise. However, that Sunday was not Tiger's day. Mistakes on the par-4 third hole, a missed short birdie putt on No. 13, and not finding his way to a birdie on the short par-4 17th left some of us wondering what had happened. I still feel like Tiger did not lose the U.S. Open that Sunday. The problem was that he didn't win the championship on Saturday, when he normally would have shot 65 in a round in which he found all but one green in regulation. By the way, Angel Cabrerra won -- and deserved to win -- the U.S. Open at Oakmont. This week at the AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods, we learned that TW's bride was hospitalized with complications to her pregnancy during the U.S. Open. Since the complications were not life-threatening, Tiger played on just outside Pittsburgh, but Elin's condition had to be weighing on his mind. Many wondered how falling in love, and eventually marriage, would affect Tiger's game. I would say he's handled it pretty well. Many wondered how losing his father would affect Tiger's game. Well, after a missed cut at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot last year, I think winning seven in a row -- including two major championships -- answered that question. Many now wonder how becoming a father will affect Tiger's game. I am no Jimmy The Greek or Nostradamus, but I think he will handle the new challenge of being a dad splendidly, and he might even get better on the links. For instance, let's look at these numbers relating to winning majors:
There is an exception to this unique stat: Seve Ballesteros won all five of his majors prior to having children. Time will tell, but I think this quote from Tiger's announcement of his new event, just outside the nation's capital at the famed Congressional Country Club, is a great indication of how he was thinking leading up to the birth of his first offspring: "We wanted to make this a family atmosphere, something that everyone in their family could come out and participate. We wanted to do this for however many children you have, you can bring them. Basically it's one big picnic." I have already witnessed a ton of youngsters with their moms and dads here at Congressioinal, enjoying a hot dog and beverage while watching the best players in the world during our country's birthday week. Sounds like a heckuva picnic we've got going on TOUR! Best of luck on being parents to Tiger and Elin. I would wish him luck on the links, but I think he has that covered. |
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