Funnier Than Fiction: Kwop Kilawtley, Shane Sparks and Tiger Woods

I just wrote 3 entries in South Asia Blog about 3 topics that are getting a lot of attention in Google search at this moment. I found the topics in Google Trends and I wrote about them. If you have time then you can check them.

If you are a fan of Tiger Woods then you are perhaps not happy with your player now. Well, you should read this one: Tiger Woods Divorce Settlement: What are the Details?

You will not any detail information there but it is really funny to see that betting websites are now busy about the future of divorce settlement.

Well, the next topic is not funny but very serious: Shane Sparks Arrested for Alleged Child Molestation

The title says it all and I don’t need to write more.

I am finishing this entry in a confusing note: What Does Kwop Kilawtley mean?

Do you really know or do you want to know? 

Chevron World Challenge Tournament: Jim Furyk has not finished yet

(This entry was originally published in this blog December 2008 and it is based on the information of that time.)

On the first day of the Chevron World Challenge at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, American golfer, Jim Furyk, acquired the top position by scoring an impressive 4 under par. In the first round, he was one of the sixteen players to score below 70. However, he failed to score birdies on any par-5 holes. Jim was also the only player to score a birdie on the 18^th hole which is the toughest one in the course. Los Angeles Times reports:

“My expectations weren’t that high . . . as little as I’ve been playing,” said Furyk, who has 13 career wins, including the 2003 U.S. Open, and earned $3.4 million in 2008. “It’s a good score and I’m happy with it, but I need to build on it.”

The year 2008 has not been very good for Jim Furyk. He did not win any major tournament. He was actually on a four month vacation. Prior to this match, he played in PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda on October 15, 2008. The Chevron World Challenge is his last match of 2008. In 2009, he will start his season at the AT&T Pebbel Beach Pro-Am.

Both K.J. Choic and Boo Weekley tied for the second position with 2 under par. Weekley, a Florida golfer who played in 2008 Ryder Cup, said that he had never played golf in weather like that but he had hunted in it. Another fan favorite is 49 year old golfer, Fred Couples, who scored one over par. He scored a birdie on the first hole. This is Couples’ eighth challenge match. Couples did not win any tournament since 2003. He is going to play on the Champions Tour for senior players.

The sixteen player match, which is on its 10^th year, has started from December 17, 2008. It is hosted by golf’s living legend, Tiger Woods. He announced that Steve Williams will continue to work as his caddie despite his controversial comments on Phil Mickelson.

Related articles:

Seattle Times

Los Angeles Times

Tiger Woods is coming back on the golf course for more action

(This entry was originally published in this blog December 2008 and it is based on the information of that time.)

Tiger Woods, the living legend of golf, is going to be back on the golf course pretty soon. In a press conference, held at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks California, on December 17, 2008, Tiger Woods told reporters that he was right on schedule and hitting short irons. He was excited about playing on a leg that had never been more stable. In the press conference, Tiger Woods talked about various subjects with reporters including his caddie’s comments on Phil Mickelson.

This is Tiger Woods’ first press conference after 184 days. One of the most important issues in the press conference was the surgery on his left knee and his career. Tiger Woods underwent a reconstructive surgery on his left knee. A ruptured ligament on his left knee was repaired. This is his third surgery in six years. The surgery took place in June 24, 2008. In the press conference, he was wearing sneakers instead of spikes.

Regarding his career, Tiger Woods talked about his fabulous victory at Torrey Pines but he did not give out any specific answer about his future plans. He said:

“I’ve just been training and trying to get healthy enough to compete next year. Everything has been right on schedule. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Regarding his caddie, Steve Williams’ comment about golfer Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods told reporters that he talked about it with Phil and it is over, they had put it to bed.

Related articles:

Seattle Times

LA Times

Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Thierry Henry Failed with Gillette Advertisement?

(This entry was originally published in this blog December 2008 and it is based on the information of that time.)

Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Thierry Henry are perhaps among the top ten icons in world sports today. They are in different sports. Roger Federer is the top tennis player. Thierry Henry is considered to be one of the top ten influential strikers in football and Tiger Woods is the undefeated or unrivaled king of professional men’s golf. There is no doubt that all of them are very successful in their own field and Gillette company wanted to use their success in their advertisement so that they can attract more men to use their Gillette shaving razor.

Telegraph wrote:

The golfer, tennis champion and former Premiership football star lined up for the razor commercial in 2008.

But industry magazine Campaign voted the advert the top turkey of 2008 for its cringe-worthy imagery.

Campaign editor Claire Beale said: “The Gillette ad is an own goal, a double fault and a bunker shot rolled into one.

It seems that this effort from Gillette Company has suffered a blow in England as according to a report of Telegraph, the advertisement has been considered as the worst TV advertisement of the year. So, it is seen that getting sports stars can not guarantee success for companies when carrying out a commercial campaign.

Tiger Woods won the double-skins game at the 34th Memorial Tournament

World’s number one player, Tiger Woods won the pre-match double-skins game at the Memorial Golf Tournament on June 3, 2009. Pairing up with Memorial Tournament founder and host Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods won the contest on June 3, 2009. Guardian.co.uk reports:

After holing a clutch 12-foot par putt at the last to extend the eight-man competition, Woods coolly sealed victory by holing out from 25 yards in the closest-to-the-pin chipping contest at the 18th.

"That was nice," the American world number one told reporters at a wet Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Sixty nine year old golfer, Jack Nicklaus, who was paired up with Woods after nine years, won two skins on the par-5 11^th hole.

From today, the Memorial Tournament started from June 4, 2009. The first round of the tournament is going on now and English golfer, Luke Donald is leading pack with 8 under par. In the par-4 first hole, Luke scored a bogey but he scored three birdies in his 9 out and six birdies on his 9 in. Tiger Woods is going to start playing in the second half. If you are looking for the latest score of the tournament visit the following page:

http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r023/index.html

The 34th Memorial Tournament: Chris Wilson’s dream come true

The Memorial Tournament is one of the prestigious tournament where top golfers of the world can play and so the ordinary golfers but how is it possible? Well, you need to have to have two things. First, you have to be a golfer; second, you have to born in Dublin or the State of Ohio. The Memorial Tournament board can invite fourteen local players. In the 34^th Memorial Tournament, Chris Wilson is one of those lucky players. Wilson did not play at any PGA Tour or International tour. In the Hooters Tour ranking he is ranked 97^th in terms of earnings. Since he is a native of the “Columbus bedroom community” of Dublin, he received an invitation.

In a letter to Jack Nicklaus, founder and host of the Memorial Tournament, who also grew up in the Columbus suburb, Wilson wrote how he grew up near Muirfield Village and skipped school to attend the tournament and how much it means to him.

Six years ago, another young man, a first year struggling pro-golfer like Chris Wilson, received an exemption. He was also a resident of Dublin and his parents mow the Muirfield golf club and run the snack bar. Unfortunately, he missed the cut in the Memorial tournament after playing 74 and 76. The boy then went on and got the attention of the golf world by winning the British Open at Royal St. George’s. It was his first major championship. That talented golfer was Ben Curtis.

Related articles:

The Golf Channel

The Muirfiled Golf course: A preparation ground for the players

Jack Nicklaus is the living legend of golf. He designed the Muirfield Golf course. The course stretch over 220 acres of land with an 11 acre driving range. The course was finished in July 1972 and became the host of the prestigious Memorial Tournament since 1974. Today, the Memorial Tournament and the Quail Hollow Classic are the two top tournaments between the Masters and the US Open. The 2009 Memorial Tournament is the 34^th Memorial tournament.

Many players consider the Memorial Tournament as a preparation ground for the US Open. Kenny Perry, the 2008 Memorial Tournament Champion said that he loves the course very much because the Muirfield Village course has many similarities with the course of the US Open except the fairways of Muirfield are much wider, the rough is deep and the greens are fast. Ranked the fifth toughest course on 2008 tour, the Muirfield golf course also has the highest record of cuts in one year-12 times.

Nicklaus is always trying out new things to make the course more challenging for the players but sometimes it did not go well. In 2006, the bunkers contained big furrows as they were contoured with a rake. This year, the rough is difficult but the bunkers are smooth. World’s number one golf player Tiger Woods is also going to play in the tournament. He has six-top five finishes including three wins. Kenny Perry, the defending champion of the 34^th Memorial Tournament, also won three times. Other major players of the tournament are: Paul Casey, Vijay Singh, Kenny Perry, Zach Johnson, Sean Ohair, Geoff Ogilvy, Jim Furyk, and Steve Stricker.

Related articles:

USA Today

Point-Spreads

34th Memorial Tournament: Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods will play nine-hole Skins game

In the 34^th Memorial Tournament at Murifield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods will participate in a nine-hole Skins game on June 3, 2009. For the first time in nine years, the two players will compete against one another. However, this rare event is coming at a price. According to previous schedule, famous investment firm, Morgan Stanley, was to sponsor the tournament’s annual pro-am competition. In a bid to cut its cost, the company will not provide its hospitality tent and the pro-am event where it pairs its employees and clients with some of the top players of the tour.

In fall 2008, amid the rising credit crisis, Morgan Stanley changed its status to a “bank holding company.” In February, the company already announced that it would not sponsor events to entertain its clients that would be held prior to a professional golf tournament in June. In 2008, fifty four clients and employees of Morgan Stanley participated in the pre-tournament pro-am event. Morgan Stanley’s sponsorship agreement with Memorial Tournament will expire next year.

Kenny Perry, last year Memorial Tournament Champions considers this loss as a new opportunity. He said that the sponsors might miss it but to him it would be a “truly fun day.” Kenny Perry and Stewart Clink will compete with Tiger Woods, the current No.1 player in the world and Jack Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 major tournaments. The last time Nicklaus and Woods played against each other was at the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhall Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. This will be followed by another foursome featuring Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and Camilo Villegas. The 34^th Memorial tournament will start from June 4, 2009.

Related articles:

Bloomberg

Arnold Palmer vs Jack Nicklaus= Tiger Woods vs Phil Mickelson

Well, if you are young in age then I would not blame for not knowing much about Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. However, if you are old and if you are a golf fan then you should never forget Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. They were great players and great fighters. Their rivalry only increased the glamour of Golf and The Masters. Now, it is up to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to create the same joy in golf.

Covers wrote:

Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus defined the Masters for the better part of a decade, trading green jackets during a five-year stretch in the 1960s, although rarely going head to head on the back nine of Augusta National.

Now, only the names seem to have changed.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have won five of the last six Masters, and there is little evidence to suggest the 71st Masters will be any different when it starts Thursday.

''We both feel comfortable on the golf course,'' Woods said. ''We both have decent short games, and that golf course is one of the very few golf courses where we can utilize our imagination and creativity. I think once you understand how to play it, and you can build your misses into some short-game situations, you start seeing the same guys up there at the top of the board.''

But not since 2001 have Woods and Mickelson put their names atop the leaderboard at the same Masters.

May be The Masters 2007 will be an exception. May be, Mickelson will be able to put a brave fight against Tiger Woods.

The Masters 2007: The Tournament of Tiger Woods?

For giving coverage of The Masters 2007, I am going through many news items in Internet everyday. Most of the time, I really feel bored to see so many news items saying the same thing about Tiger Woods. I wonder if Golf reporters have anything else to report now except Tiger Woods.

The Age wrote:

Australia's top-ranked player Adam Scott, the world No.5, has no doubts Woods is again the man to beat at Augusta National.

"Tiger just knows how to win big tournaments and we saw that scenario again last week in Florida," said Scott.

Woods was on cruise control as he completed his 56th PGA Tour title with a two-shot victory over fellow American Brett Wetterich in the WGC event at Doral.

"His win last week does send an ominous warning to the rest of us heading into the Masters," Scott said.

"We're all working hard but Tiger is just better than us right now - that's just how it is.

Yes, really that is how it is! All news is about Tiger Woods. Everyone is saying Tiger Woods is the man to beat. Can anybody really beat him this time?

The Masters: Tiger Woods and his father Earl

Tiger Woods is not only the greatest golfer of our time but he is also a family man. His strength comes from his close ties with his family. Take the example of his close relationship with his father Earl. 12 years ago, Tiger Woods was just 21 years old and he won his first championship in The Masters. His father gave him an emotional bear hug. Tiger Woods still remembers this bear hug.

Stuff reported:

The pair embraced each other beside the 18th green at Augusta National moments after the 21-year-old Woods romped home by an unprecedented 12 shots in his first major as a professional.

The young American astounded the golfing world with his spectacular march into the record books, becoming the tournament's youngest champion and the first black player to win a major title.

"Now that my father is no longer here, I realise how important that hug was to me on the last hole," Woods, now aged 31, told reporters during preparation for his 13th Masters.

Earl, a lifelong mentor and friend to his son, died last May after a long battle with cancer and next week's tournament will be Tiger's first Masters since his father's death.

It’s so sweet from Tiger Woods. While I am writing this entry in my blog, I feel sad for him. Yes, Tiger Woods is extremely successful but he has not his father with him now. I know that many of you have your father. Do you have good relationship with your father? Why not thank your father again today and follow Tiger Woods.

Tiger Woods Outshining Everyone in The Masters Golf Tournament

Just next week, we have The Masters Golf Tournament 2007. Tiger Woods is now hoping for a great win in the tournament. He is simply the hot favorite. No one is talking of any person except Tiger Woods. He is sure to win in the tournament. If he does not win The Masters Golf Tournament 2007 then it will become one of the biggest upsets in Golf history.

Belfast Telegraph reported:

Even more bad news for Tiger Woods' rivals. The world No 1 was back on the fairways yesterday facing them down in an exhibition match near his home in Florida. As if he had not done enough damage to their confidence on Sunday night.

Woods' WGC-CA Championship triumph was, in the event, hard earned, as the 31-year-old's errant putting game threatened to surrender a six-shot lead with six holes remaining. But as Woods always does, he found a way to prevail, squeezing in by two shots over his fast-finishing countryman Brett Wetterich. If anything, the shaky style of this success - remarkably, his 13th WGC title out of 24 events - made it all the more daunting, as did the fact that he did it with a sore neck.

Can Tiger Woods be defeated? Yes, the only way that Tiger Woods can lose the trophy of The Masters Golf Tournament 2007 is to play bad. Tiger Woods will have to try to play bad and lose the match.