Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Tiger. The man is in the groove. Can someone please challenge him today to make it interesting. This is old Tiger, 4 stroke lead after Friday, could be an 8 stroke lead after today and he could win by 12 strokes.

Most golfers yell, "FORE". Tiger yells, "FOUR".

Tiger got caged today.

Tiger choked :0

Seriously, Y.E Wang played some great golf today.

Senior golfer Jim Thorpe was found guilty of not paying $2mil in taxes. He can get 2 years in jail and fines up to $4.5 mil. Can you say double bogey?

Ernie Els is looking VERY good this year. He just bacame the first player in history to win at Doral and Bay Hill in the same year. I'm giving him the edge over Tiger and making him the favorite at Augusta due to Tiger's inactivity. Jim Furyk is playing very well, so he has a shot. Phil is putting for shit, and his family problems (wife and mother BOTH battling cancer) seem to be weighing down his game. But you never know.

I heard that Ernie has an autistic 7 year old son. They recently moved to Florida from London. Apparently their son is making much better progress in his therapy. Sportcasters hypothesize that Ernie's state of mind may be contributing to his success. I love to watch him swing the club; him and Fred Couples.

The two easiest swings I've ever seen, MC. Ernie recently moved to Jupiter, where they have one of the top autism clinics in the world.

One year I tried imitating an Ernie Els swing tempo. I would set up, then in my backswing I would say to myself - I am Er-nie, then on the downswing - Elllllllssssssss. It actually worked.

What makes me in awe of Ernie's easy swing is how BIG the guy is. For such a big guy to have such an easy, almost ballet like movement, is unheard of. It reminds me of watching Darryl Strawberry swing a baseball bat as a young man.

The Driving Range. There is a pro/teacher who insists it should be referred to as "The Practice Tee or Range" because we should be practicing more shots than just the drive. If you take out the par 3s, we only drive on 14 holes. So that's 14 out of.....100 shots . If you realize that par on a course consists of 36 putts, which should we practice more? I know for me chips are my downfall and I don't practice those enough. When I'm at the Practice Tee I usually hit 5,7,P irons and the driver.

Great Masters as usual. It is one of my favorite TV sporting events. Phil is a great champion. Westwood will have his day, maybe at this year's Open. I was pulling for Freddie. I've always enjoyed watching him; but they say the first thing to go is the putting. He had his chances.

You're right MC - it was a great Masters. Phil's shot from the woods on the par 5 yesterday to get it on in 2 was an amazing shot. Too bad he missed the eagle put. Golf-wise, I'm glad Tiger's back because I think it puts a little spring in at least some of these golfers' steps.

DS, I was never a Tiger fan, but I am an admirer. He has incredible talent, but I'm not sure if he has a soul. He may be a droid of some type. My golfers have to have a heart, not just a libido. I've always loved Freddie C., Phil is OK. I like Anthony Kim and Ian Poulter. They show some fire and personality. Even Camilo Villegas is fun to watch and cheer for. And Natalie Gulbis!...oops, sorry, I digress.

Gulbis is adorable, MC. She can play a little golf, too . But I'm an Annika man.

I love Freddy. I was rooting for him big time; he just ran out of gas.

I agree that Phil is "OK." This was a great story, so I'm glad he won this week. I empathize with him and I know EXACTLY what he's going through with his wife and Mom. But I'm not a big fan of his. He always struck me as kind of phony with that goofy grin and plodding Herman Munster-like walk.

Don't forget, he's 5 years older than Tiger and hit the PGA full time in '92, so he was out there awhile pre-Tiger. In those days he wasn't the media friendly guy with the shit-eating goofy grin on his face that you see today. In other words, he could afford to be rude back then.

Once Tiger came along and stole the spotlight, with his greater talent and Iceman type of golf ethic, only then did Phil adopt this cuddly personality. He did it to win fans back from Tiger, and it worked. He knew he'd never get the fans adulation on talent alone, so I give him credit for that realization.

I just have no idea when he's being sincere (although I'm sure he was VERY sincere this weekend), and no idea when that goofy smile is just for the cameras.

Plus, he should get a haircut .

what about golf announcers.....I like Nantz (CBS), Hicks (NBC) and Tirico.? ESPN/ABC for "play-by-play" They are all balanced with their reporting. Its the "color" guys and girls that can be a bit off. Recently Nick Faldo has been great. He is blends a nice personal touch with insight. Gary McCord and David Fehrety are a bit too theatrical. I can take Fehrety, but not too much McCord. Overall, not too many are offensive or off the wall. I do miss Ken Venturi.

MC,

Nantz has a great "booming" voice, doesn't he? Kinda like Chris Berman's.

But I used to like him a lot more. Now I've been as hard on Tiger as anyone but I hate hearing Nantz play the morality card. He likes to pass himself off as an uber conservative Christian, and he's played the morals police while covering Tiger more than once. Yet the fact is, he just left his wife of over 20 years for a woman half his age. In my book that makes him a hypocrite.

Fun fact: the judge gave his wife a HUGE settlement of almost a million per year as long as she never remarries. Hey, who needs a piece of paper, right?

I can't stand Johnny Miller, either. He was a tremendous talent as a young golfer but was a terrible underachiever. He only won 2 majors, yet he rags on Phil time and again for "only" winning 4 (including last week's Masters).

Love Feherty and McCord, and I'd pay big money to play a round of golf and shake Nick Faldo's hand. A great announcer. A superior golfer. 6 majors to his credit and you never hear his name mentioned with the greats of his era (post-Nicklaus, pre-Tiger). Ridiculous. I say he was better than Greg Norman any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Hate Dottie Pepper. She shouldn't be covering men. Yeah, I said it .

I read Nantz book (can't remember the title), great antecdotes, especially about his roommate Freddie Couples. Good read overall. Don't know the story of his marriage break up. I think all announcer have to have the ego going. They need to create a larger than life image; know all, see all. Interesting profession.

Watching Mickelson miss two foot puts at the U.S. Open is getting kind of old. It's painful to watch.

Out on my strole this morning on the board here. I came across this topic, it drew me in ! While getting ready for the babeball season to get going. I also love golf. My game sucks, but it is fun to watch and play. Got sick of it when Tiger Woods did his horndog act. But whats done is done. So how many of you folks play and what kind of clubs you use ? I picked up a Nicklaus Brass Ring putter. He head on this is the sise of a spaceship, but it has a super feel and just playing with it I like it. Alot of my buds really like theres , not much for distance. Average cost $200.00 bills , but I gotta deal I couldn't refuse

I just upgraded two weeks ago for the first time in almost three years. I went with Cleveland straight across the board. CG Black driver and fairway woods. CG16 irons (3-pw + aw/sw). And a Cleveland VP milled blade putter. Total cost was $1,500, but they threw in a new Cleveland stand bag. I've been to the range about five times already (the weather has been unseasonably warm all winter here in New York), but I can't wait to try them out in Florida next month .

This has been such a great year to get out and play some golf, when the we usually are doing other things, not going to bring them up lol. Clevelands are great clubs, I am sure that you will enjoy them. I just have some old Jack Nicklaus , Golden Bear clubs that I have had for some years now. I did have a really nice set of King Cobra's, that my X put in the lake That hurt.

But the game is alot of fun. If you take it for a game. Florida , that, would be sweet I am sure you will enjoy. Now is a good time to do shopping on golf items , good time of the year ! And a good time to buy on sale items .

The past two years my golf playing has really dwindle. Financials and caring for the twins were the likely excuse. Didn't mind taking care of the twins, but this year I hope to get back in the swing.

My clubs are a hodge podge collection. Driver-Nike 460 Sumo; 3 Wood-Nike SQ; Taylor Made Rescue 3 (it was a gift, I would have preferred a 5); 7 Wood, Callaway knockoff called a Calcutta (my favorite club); MacGregor irons 5,6,7,8,9,PW (old); then 3 clubs I made from kits (Maltby) putter that looks like a Ping, Slippery Frog for around the green or low shots under trees (where I usually find my ball) and a Sand Putter, suppose to use out of the bunker, but for me its good inside 50 yards. OH, and another gift club - Cleveland SW 56 degree. May player partners always try to challenge my clubs as illegal, but they aren't and there are 14.

So let's start bragging about our efforts this year!

Funny you mention the Nike SQ's, MC. Dy Dad is 82 years old (and still WALKS the golf course). We got him the SQ's with the senior graphite shafts last year and he LOVES them.

Now here's a guy who has been playing blades for 50 years, and he's still around a 12 handicap. So he scoffed at the idea of playing a cavity back club for years. Now he can't believe he waited so long.

I have friends that have golfed for years and some, it seems every new set of clubs that come out they have to have . I think they are show off's as they sure what you would call good golfers. Then I see these old guys getting out of there old trunks a old set of clubs well taken care of maybe a newer putter, or Driver. But like pizziaboy said still around a 12 handicap.

I wonder why the putters are getting as big as flying saucers, and also the drivers , the drivers I can understand somewhat but putters . This new Nicklus Brass ring sure does stay flat to the ground and is the right amount of weight. I have been out of it a few years also. But drug them out and cleaned them up, gonna have to put some new grips on them.

It's looking like Tiger will have a hard time breaking Jack's record. There are so many young guys who are looking good; Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Keegan Bradley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan and now throw in Kyle Stanley. And some of the older guys won't go away either; Sergio seems to have found something, Stricker is always tough, and of course Mickelson.

They say putting is the first thing to go and Tiger might be having early puttzheimers.

MC, couldn't happen to a better guy ! Jack is the man ! The Golden Bear ! But we all have to stand down at times . But it has to be some fun and pressure out there ! I sure wish I would have gotten in the game younger (pasture pool) could tell ya some story's about that ! Get together on the 19th hole , maybe some gin and tonic's !

I like that puttzheimers. Never heard that before , who knows maybe so I will regonize you know my friend ! Maybe this weekend I can go out and hit a few balls !

Interesting tournament this weekend WGC Cadillac Championship. McIlroy, Westwood and Donald all have a shot at being number one in the world. I'm running a distant fourth.

McIlroy IS number one in the world. But I know what you mean, MC. If Donald or Westwood wins, either of them will become number one.

Interesting because Tiger has always been so successful in WGC events, and he's no stranger to winning at Doral. Like him or not, if he still has an occasional 62 in him (like this past Sunday), you'd be absoultely nuts to count him out .

Who watched my boy Els win the British yesterday at 42 years old?!

Yes, Adam Scott choked like a stuck pig, but let's credit Ernie for shooting a freaking 32 on the back nine. Els has been one of the most consistently classy guys in ALL of sports for twenty years. I'm thrilled for him.

Sidenote on Els: Yesterday was his 65th win worldwide. I think this fourth major (2 US Opens and 2 British Opens) cements his legacy as the second best golfer of his generation (after Tiger). Sorry, Phil.

Now Mickelson's a nice guy, too. But he never could win on a links course. Els is a more complete golfer.

Re Scott: He's a nice kid, but I hope he never wins a major while that asshole Stevie Williams is on his bag.