Element 21 Golf Co expands its business

(This entry was originally posted in this blog on December 5, 2008 and the information is based on that time.)

In the middle of the economic recession, Element 21 Golf Co (OTC:ETGF), a reputed manufacturer of golf equipments and fishing equipments, experienced a phenomenal increase in its business. On December 4, 2008, the organization announced that its golf and fishing products, which were previously sold by 175 stores, are now available in 450 stores. However, this number does not include the big box stores as they have recently started to carry the products of the company.

Currently, products of the Element 21 are available in only 30% of the USA. The company is planning to expand its business in the rest of the country. Nataliya Hearn, President and CEO, Element 21 said:

“Our footprint has increased by 2.5 time in the last 4 months, indicating significant market penetration of the Carrot Stix(TM) . Our strong revenue growth reflects the consumer demand for our unique brand of golf and fishing products, ……As our results reflect, growing numbers of golfers and fishing enthusiasts seeking a competitive edge are selecting Element 21’s products.”

Element 21 Golf Company was formerly known as BRL Holdings, Inc. It produces some of the best quality golf products and fishing products from Scandium Alloys which is patented by the company. The alloy was originally created to build jet fighters. The alloy provides high strength, great quality and durability. The company started producing fishing products in June 2007.

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Market Watch

Can Michelle Wie make it through the LPGA qualifying round?

(This entry was originally posted in this blog on December 4, 2008 and the information is based on that time.)

In the ongoing LPGA qualifying tournament, everybody’s eyes are stuck on Michelle Wie. This nineteen year old golfer, who has all the potentials to become the next PGA superstar, failed to gain any trophies till date. She had a phenomenal rise but could hold her flight long enough. After the wrist injury in 2007, her condition grew worst. Now, she is competing in the ongoing LPGA Qualifying tournament and things are turning out pretty good for this young player.

On the first day, Wie finished within 69 shots. She played in the legends course which is considered to be tough. On the first day, female Japanese golfer, Shiho Oyama, took the lead with an impressive 64 strokes at the Champions course. Michelle was consistent in her performance but her putters remained her major weak point. Golf World reports:

Playing on the tougher Legends course at LPGA International, the 19-year-old from Hawaii kept it simple during a mild and breezy afternoon on a course where trouble lurks amid marshes and thick palmetto bushes. She hit only four drivers — none on the par 5s — and her only bogey came on a three-putt from 25 feet on the par-5 14th when she was fooled by the speed.

The second day was even better as she finished within 65 at the champions course. Michelle Wie and Shiho Oyama are now jointly leading the score board as they both scored 134 in the last two days. If Michelle Wie can make it to the top twenty, she would be on the way to start her next LPGA tour. Now, the million dollar question is: Can Michelle Wie pull it all together and ensure her place in the LPGA 2009?

Related articles:

Golf World

Honolulu Advertiser.com

Environment friendly golf course: Is it too much to ask for?

Even if you do not play golf, you will enjoy walking on a golf course. The beautiful green landscape, carefully pruned plants and threes will make you feel very fresh and you would think that this is very environment friendly. YOU ARE WRONG!! Golf Courses are not so environment friendly. Creating and maintaining a golf course is very expensive and requires lots of chemical fertilizers and waters which cause serious environmental pollution.

The biggest challenge in developing environment friendly golf courses is that many golfers are not interested in developing environment friendly golf course at the cost of the pristine condition of the golf course which increases its property value. In 2007, Golf Digest conducted a survey on its 350 randomly picked subscribers. Majority of the respondents (75%) said that golf courses around the world should be maintained in the same way to maximize golfers’ enjoyment. Most of the respondents (85%) said that they would sacrifice some level of landscape perfection but 64% agreed to play golf under “less-manicured conditions” that would reduce the use of pesticides. Only 48% agreed to pay higher “green fees” to reduce the use of pesticides.

The golf course at the Hills Country Club in Lakeway, Texas is an ideal example of an environment friendly golf course. Designed by famous golf personality, Jack Nicklaus, a creek and waterfalls run through the golf course. It earned special certification as “cooperative sanctuaries” from Audubon International. The golf club placed nesting boxes for birds to build nests around the course, cultivated wildflowers in havily mowned areas, managed the deer population and took necessary steps to protect the creeks from chemical fertilizers. Now, we need to see more such environment friendly golf courses.

Related article:

Statesman.com

Top Ten Female Golfers of All Time

Golf is a game mainly for the rich people. However, it does not mean that golf does not have any appeal to middle class or lower middle class people. Golf has many loyal fans across the world has introduced many great players. Here, in this article, I am going to introduce you with the top ten female golf players of all time. No doubt, many of you might disagree with me on the players I included in my list. Well, I will really appreciate you to share your opinions about top ten women’s golfers of all time in the comment section. I would also like to say that there are many other players who were left out of the list, but they could have made it to the list by their own. That is why, I have included some other great female golfers in the end.

Patricia Jane Berg

Patricia Berg is perhaps the greatest ever female golfer of all time, considering her contribution to the game in the formative years of women’s golf. Both as an administrator as well as a player, Berg played a phenomenal role in women’s golf. In fact, she was one of the founding members of Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. Then as a player, Patricia Berg went on to win 60 LPGA tour titles including record 15 major titles during her glorious career. No other female golfer could yet win more major titles than Patricia Berg. Among her 15 major titles, Patricia Berg won 7 in Titleholders Championship, 7 in Women’s Western Open and one in U.S. Women’s Open.

Born on 13 February 1918 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, Patricia Berg came to golf in 1931 and turned amateur three years later in 1934. In the same year she turned amateur in golf, Berg won her first title. She also served as a lieutenant in Marines during World War II, but before that, she turned professional in 1940 after winning 29 amateur titles. After the war, she became the first president of LPGA in 1948. This legendary golfer won her last career title in 1962. LPGA introduced an award named Patty Berg Award in her memorial. Patricia Berg won the Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year award three times in 1938, 1942 and 1955. She was awarded the highest honor by the United States Golf Association, Bob Jones Award, in 1963 for her immense contribution to the game. Old Tom Morris Award was also awarded to her Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in 1986. Patricia Berg is now considered to be a mother figure in women’s golf.

Kathy Whitworth

There are many who consider Kathy Whitworth as the greatest ever female golfer the game has seen. In fact, this American legend achieved something in professional circuit that many legendary female golfers could not achieve. Kathy Whitworth’s 88 LPGA tour titles have made her the record holder of most career tour titles both in LPGA and PGA. Among the female golfers, Kathy Whitworth was the first to reach the career earning mark of $1 million which she achieved in 1981. Among her 6 major titles, Kathy Whitworth won 3 LPGA Championship titles, 2 Titleholders Championship titles and one Women’s Western Open title.

Kathy Whitworth was born on September 27, 1939 in Monahans, Texas, USA and took up golf at the age of 15. During her amateur career, Whitworth won New Mexico State Amateur Championship titles in 1957 and 1958, before turning professional at the age of 19 in 1958. Kathy Whitworth started her winning run in LPGA tour by winning the Kelly Girls Open in 1962 and won her last career title at United Virginia Bank Classic in 1985. She became LPGA Player of the Year on seven occasions between 1966 and 1973. During his illustrious career, Kathy Whitworth won the Vare Trophy for record seven times in between 1965 and 1972. In 1990, she represented US team in the first Solheim Cup match in 1990. This legendary figure of women’s golf was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975, many years before her retirement.

Mary Kathryn “Mickey” Wright

Mickey Wright is another legendary figure of women’s golf. During her short career, Wright won 82 LPGA tour titles including 13 major titles, placing herself at the second spot in the list of both all-time highest LPGA tour titles as well as all-time highest LPGA major titles. With 82 LPGA tour titles, Wright is also second to Kathy Whitworth who has 88 tour wins, and with 13 major titles, she is second to Patty Berg’s 15 career major titles. However, you should note here that almost all these titles she won before her retirement as a full-time golfer at the age of 34. Mickey Wright was forced to go into retirement because of her feet problems. After her retirement from full time golf in 1969, Mickey Wright took part in golf tournaments occasionally.

Mickey Wright was born on February 14, 1935 in USA. She was at the peak of her career during 1958-1966 when she won 12 out of her 13 LPGA major titles. In the history of LPGA tour, Mickey Wright is the only golfer who could hold all of the four major titles approved by LPGA at the same time. She was the highest earner for four seasons in a row in between 1961 and 1964 and was in the list of top ten earners for 13 times. Mickey Wright was well-known for her swing shots. After her retirement from full-time golf, she could win one title at the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner’s Circle in 1973. Golf Digest magazine ranked Mickey Wright at the 9^th in the list of greatest golfer of all time (including both male and female golfer) and she is the highest ranked female golfer in the list published in 2000. Mickey Wright is now suffering from breast cancer which she was diagnosed with in 2006. There is no doubt, Mickey Wright could give more to women’s golf had her physical ailment not forced her into an early retirement.

Annika Sorenstam

Many believe that by the time Annika Sorenstam will retire from professional golf, she will have almost all the LPGA record to her credit and will be considered to be the greatest female golfer of all time. Well, there is enough justification of such claim too. At the age of 38, Annika Sorenstam has already won 72 LGPA tour titles including 10 major titles during her 16-year-long career. With such record, she has already become of the greatest ever female golfers of all time and you should not be surprised to see Sorenstam surpassing Patty Berg’s record 15 major titles as well as Kathy Whitworth’s record LPGA tour titles. In fact, the Swedish golfer won 90 international tournaments including 72 LPGA tour tournaments. Among her 10 LPGA major titles, she won 3 U.S. Women’s Open titles, 3 Kraft Nabisco Championship titles, 3 LPGA Championship titles and one Women’s British Open title.

Born on 9 October 1970 in Sweden, Annika Sorenstam had interest in ski and soccer, but at the age of 12, she took up golf. She had lots of success during her amateur career as well before turning professional in 1992. At present, Annika Sorenstam leads the of LPGA’s career money list with her career total earnings of over $22 million which is over $8 million more than her closest rival.

Babe Zaharias

Babe Zaharias is a legend not only in women’s golf, but also in women’s sports. In fact, along with Lottie Dod, Babe Zaharias is considered to be the most versatile female competitor of all time, according to Guinness Book of Records. Besides tennis, she had success in basketball as well as in track and field. Zaharias won two gold medals and one silver medal in 1932 Los Angles Olympic Games. One park as well as a museum is named after Babe Zaharias in America. Babe Zaharias used to play several other sports in her early life as well. She was nicknamed ‘Babe’ after legendary baseball player Babe Ruth as she hit five home runs in a baseball match.

Babe Zaharias was born on 26 July 1911 and tool up golf by 1935. As she was a latecomer in golf, it was not easy for Zaharias to establish herself as a professional player. She was not even given the amateur status and was forced to start her professional career with a men’s PGA tournament, Los Angeles Open in 1938. However, gradually Babe Zaharias flourished her golf career and won 41 LPGA tour titles including 10 major tiles during her illustrious career. Among her 10 major titles, she won 4 Women’s Western Open titles, 3 Titleholders Championship titles and 3 U.S. Women’s Open titles. This great female golfer could have won more accolades had colon cancer not taken her life at the age of 45. Even at the time of her death, Babe Zaharias was leading the female golfers.

Louise Suggs

Louise Suggs is one of the finest ever female tennis players in the history of women’s tennis. With 58 LPGA tour titles, she stands fifth in the list of all-time highest tour winners. With 11 LPGA major titles, Louise Suggs is placed third after Patty Berg and Mickey Wright in the list of all-time highest major titles winners. When at her best, Louise Suggs could dominate over any other golfers. During 1950-1960, Suggs was in the top 3 of the highest earners’ ten times. That means she was out of the top three only once during this time.

Born on September 7, 1923 in Atlanta, Georgia, Louise Suggs was one of the founders of LPGA in 1950 and she was LPGA’s president from 1955 to 1957. Suggs was very successful in her amateur career too winning lots of titles. The legendary golfer turned professional in 1948, but even before turning professional, she had three LPGA major titles to her credit. In 1946, she won the Titleholders Championship, Women’s Western Open titles and won the Women’s Western Open title in 1947. Among her 11 major titles, Louise Suggs won 4 Titleholders Championship titles, 4 Women’s Western Open titles, 2 U.S. Women’s Open titles and one LPGA Championship title. She was the first inductee of LPGA Tour Hall of Fame and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1979. An award named “Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award” has been introduced in her memorial and is given to the most successful rookie player of the year. Louise Suggs was also awarded the Bob Jones Award by the United States Golf Association for her contribution to golf.

Elizabeth Earle “Betsy” Rawl

Betsy Rawls is another great golfer in the history of LPGA who played golf for more than two decades. Turned professional in 1951, Betsy Rawls went on to win 55 LPGA tour titles including 8 LPGA major titles during her glorious career. With 55 LPGA tour wins and 8 major titles, she takes the sixth place in the all-time lists of highest tour winners as well as highest major title winners. Betsy Rawls won her first major title in her first year on professional circuit in 1951 winning the title of U.S. Women’s Open. Rawls won 4 U.S. Women’s Open titles, 2 Women’s Western Open titles and 2 LPGA Championship titles.

Born on 4 May 1928 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA, Betsy Rawls studied at the University of Texas at Austin before taking up golf as a profession. She was the highest earner in LPGA tour in 1959 and was in the top ten list of season-ending highest earners ten times during 1957-1970. United States Golf Association awarded its highest honor Bob Jones Award to Betsy Rawls in 1996.

Karrie Webb:

One of Australia’s most successful female golfer and one of the most successful female professional golfers in women’s golf circuit, Karrie Anne Webb, was born in December 21, 1974. Webb started out as an amateur. As a member of the Australian Amateur team, Karrie Webb made six international appearances between 1992 and 1994. This includes the Espirito Santo Trophy World Amateur Golf Team Championships where, she became Australian Strokeplay Champion. Webb started out as a professional golfer in 1994. She appeared on the Ladies European Tour and obtained the second place at the Australian Ladies Open. In the Futures Tour in the US, she won one tournament. In 1995, Karrie Webb became the youngest ever winner of the prestigious Weetabix Women’s British Open in Europe before it was considered to be an LPGA major. By winning this tournament, she became the European Rookie of the Year. In 1996, Karrie Webb won her first LPGA tournament at HEALTHSOUTH Inaugural on the fourth hole. She won three other tournaments and became the first LPGA player to win $1 million in total in a single season. She became one of the top money makers of the year. In 1997, Karrie Webb won three LPGA tournaments including her second win at that Weetabix Women’s British Open. In the tournament she won her first Vare Trophy and was voted 1997 ESPY Best Female Golfer. Two years later, Webb won her first major championship at the du Maurier Classic and won her first LPGA Tour Player of the Year award.

Patty Sheehan:

An American female professional golfer, Patty Sheehan became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1980. Sheehan started her golf playing career in high school. She attended the University of Nevada and moved to San Jose State University. Between 1972 and 1974, Sheehan won tree Nevada High School Championships. From 1977-78, she won the California Women’s Amateurs two times. In 1979, she became the runner-up at the 1979 U.S. Women’s Amateur. In 1980 Sheehan became the AIAW national collegiate champion. In 1981, Sheehan won LPGA Rookie of the Year award. That year, she won the Mazda Japan Classic golf tournament. As one of the top female golfers, Sheehan ruled in the 80s. In 1983 and 1984, she won four times and won the LPGA Championship in both seasons. In 1983, Sheehan became LPGA Tour Player of the Year in 1983. In 1987, she was among the athletes who were named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. Sheehan won five championships in 1990. She won the U.S Women’s Open in 1992 and 1994. She also won the LPGA Championship in 1994 and the Nabisco Dinah Shore aka the Kraft Nabisco Championship. She is also famous for being the first LPGA player to publicly announce that she was a lesbian. Sheehan got married to her partner, Rebecca Gaston and adopted two children.

In her successful career, Sheehan won 6 major championships and 35 LPGA Tour victories.

Juli Inkster

Juli Inkster is one of the most popular female golf players today. With 31 LPGA tour titles including 7 major titles, Juli Inkster has already written her name among the greats of women’s greats. By the time, she finishes her career, Juli Inkster, 48, could become one of the greatest ever player in the history of women’s golf. Among the LPGA major titles she won so far, 2 came in Kraft Nabisco Championship, 2 came in U.S. Open, 2 in McDonald’s LPGA and one in Du Maurier Classic. Outside LPGA, she also won 6 titles.

Born on June 24, 1960 in Santa Cruz, California, USA as Juli Simpson, Inkster turned professional in 1983. Besides individual successes, Juli Inkster represented USA with sheer success in many tournaments. She was in the United States Solheim Cup team seven times. Juli Inkster along with Pat Hurst represented USA in the Women’s World Cup of Golf in 2007. She was awarded the Women’s Sports Foundation Sportwoman of the Year award in 1999. Juli Inkster was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.

Some Other Great Female Golfers: Laura Davies, Nancy Lopez, Sandra Haynie, JoAnne Carner, Carol Mann, Betsy King, Pat Bradley, Amy Alcott, Beth Daniel, Donna Caponi, Se Ri Pak, Lorena Ochoa, Marilynn Smith, Marlene Hagge, Jane Blalock, Hollis Stacy etc.

Michelle Wie Reached Final Qualifying Stage of LPGA Tour Golf

Michelle Wie from Hawaii has progressed to the final stage of LPGA Tour's qualifying round after tying for fourth at the sectional qualifying school of LPGA Tour. With this victory Wie secured a spot in December’s final qualifying stage in Florida. Scoring 8-under 280 total, she was just eight strokes behind the South Korean winner Sun-Ju Ahn who finished with a 14-under total after a 2-under 70.

Swedish Anna Nordqvis finished second with a total score of 14-under total after a 2-under 70. Among the 32 players, who got the tickets of the final qualifying stage scheduled to take place in December, there are two Canadian players: Angela Buzminski (71-285) and Lisa Meldrum (72-289)- who have been qualified for the final.

Michelle Wie is one of the most promising women’s golfers at this moment in the world. The American was named as Time Magazine’s one of 100 people who shape the world in 2006.

Related article:

Canada.com

Tiger Woods Expected to Get His Fifth Masters Titles

People are now waiting to hear the roar of Tiger Woods again at the Augusta Golf Club, the host of the Masters Golf Tournament, ahead of The Masters Golf Tournament 2007. This year’s Masters would be started from April 5, 2007. Having won the recently held PGA Tour tournament, The CA World Championship, he is now regarded as the most favorite to win the upcoming Masters. Even he is much more ahead of the defending champion Phil Mickelson.

On the other hand, there are some contenders including the inform Vijay Singh, who will be hard for Tiger Woods to defeat. Vijay Sing has also won his last tournament, Arnold Palmer Invitational, before the upcoming Masters. Bradenton Herald reported:

A

week before the 1997 Masters, Tiger Woods shot 59 playing with his friend Mark O'Meara at Isleworth in Orlando. So skeptics chuckled when Woods, playing his first round with defending champion Nick Faldo, opened with a 4-over 40 on the front nine.

But when he birdied No. 10, talent and destiny took over.

The 21-year-old Woods shot 30 on the back nine and went on to scorch the final 63 holes in a staggering 22 under. His record score of 270 - 12 strokes ahead of runner-up Tom Kite - probably will stand for decades, due to the lengthening of the course.

Although Phil Mickelson has won two of the past three Masters, Woods is favored to claim his fifth green jacket when the first major of 2007 tees off next Thursday.

Former Masters champion Vijay Singh is in top form after his victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Other possible contenders include Adam Scott, Charles Howell III, Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington.

Well, though Tiger Woods is favorite at the Masters, it does not mean that you are going to experience a one-sided tournament. I hope you will have a lot of excitement in the tournament. So, do not miss it, rather just kiss it.

Rocco Mediate is Now on Fire

Rocco Mediate is now playing at Shell Houston Open and it seems that he is now in a good form. He recently became runner-up in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. However, after getting the unfortunate result in the last year’s Masters, she went for an off and that time he worked as a commentator for a golf channel. Rocco Mediate came back to his role and it seems that he is now more matured than he was before. PGA Tour reported:

Mediate is competing at the Shell Houston Open for the first time since 1995, without much of a track record. He has one top-25 in seven starts, a tie for 22nd way back in 1987, his second season on TOUR when the event was played at TPC Woodlands.

"At Augusta National last year, I might have won the Masters," Mediate said at a Shell Houston Open pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. "I was leading after 63 holes. I was loving it, but I couldn't walk, hardly get up to the 10th tee box."

Mediate was forced to take a month off and was never the same the rest of the year, with just one top-25 over his final 11 starts.

"When this thing locked, it put me down for a minimum of two weeks," he said. "There were days I couldn't put my foot on the floor out of bed for 45 minutes. It would take me an hour to get down stairs. Just horrible."

In the off-season, Mediate jumped at the opportunity to work as a walking commentator for the GOLF CHANNEL -- on a three-week trial basis beginning at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Hawaii.

"GOLF CHANNEL was fun," he said. "It was a blast. I really enjoyed calling the guys' shots because I knew what they were going to do before they did it because I know them so well."

Convinced he still had some gas in the tank, Mediate went back to playing, bad back and all.

It is true that his career success is not something special with five PGA Tour titles. However, it is to say that he is in good form and this is the time he can make his career special. I would like to say that the players who are now out of form can join to commentary for a short time in order to meet with their good days. Am I wrong?

Tiger Woods to Win The Masters Golf Tournament 2007?

It seems that winning the recently held CA World Cuampionship, Tiger Woods has already been the only favorite for the upcoming Masters Golf Tournament 2007. Tiger Woods won 8 out of his last 10 tournaments. So, his current success percentage is 800 which proves his current form and confidence. This no. 1 ranked golfer will appear in the coming Masters tournament aiming at his fifth Masters title. According to the recent betting odds, he is much more ahead of his participants.

Moreover, in 2001, Tiger Woods also won the last tournament before that year’s Masters and later on he won the Masters as well. Similarly, this year he won the CA World Championship which is also the last tournament before the coming Masters Golf 2007. So, there is a huge possibility Tiger Woods can win The Masters Golf Tournament 2007. INS News reported:

By prevailing at Doral Golf Resort, Woods won for the eighth time in his last 10 starts at tour events. Included are triumphs at the last two majors.

The .800 winning percentage marks the best he's ever done over a double-digit stretch of PGA Tour events.

More disheartening news for Phil, Ernie and Vijay: The only other time Woods won his last tournament before the Masters (2001), he went on to complete his "Tiger Slam" two weeks later at Augusta.

Even more ominous for Tiger chasers: At no time before the 2001 Masters did Woods offer the type of glowing reports about his golf swing that he shared after Sunday's victory.

I think as Tiger Woods is now on fire, he is more likely to win the coming Masters at Augusta Golf Club. He has already won 12 major titles in his career and I think he is now aiming at the peak where he would like to reach.

Tiger Woods’s 50th Runner Up Came into Lime Light

Brett Wetterich may feel proud now. Why? Recently, he has been runner up in the CA World Championship at Doral. So what? The winner of the tournament was no. 1 ranked Tiger Woods. I know that you are losing your patience now.

Well, it is true that being runner up in a PGA tour tournament is nothing special but if you are the 50^th person to be runner up to Tiger Woods then it is, for sure, you are going to be the headline of the newspapers. It does not matter if you like it or not. Yes, Brett Wetterich has become the 50^th runner up to Tiger Woods in his PGA Tour career. It was Woods 56^th PGA Tour in his career. Edmontonsun reported:

Brett Wetterich was the latest. He was faced with a four-shot deficit against the world's No. 1 player in the CA Championship at Doral.

He held his own, kept it interesting as long as he could, but wound up in second place and in the record books as a footnote.

Wetterich became the 50th player to be runner-up to Woods on the PGA Tour.

"Guess I had to become some kind of statistic," he said.

At least he's in good company. The 50 victims include 21 major champions and 18 of the top 30 players in the world ranking, a list that goes from A (Stuart Appleby) to Z (Paul Azinger) when allowing for nicknames (Zinger).

Tiger Woods is going to take part in the upcoming Masters Golf Tournament 2007 in order to get back the title for the fifth time. He has already won 12 major titles in his career. Considering his recent form, it is easily predicted that Tiger Woods is going to roar again in this prestigious tournament.

The Masters Golf Tournament 2007: Phil Mickelson and Photographers

Phil Mickelson had a terrible experience with photography last year in The Masters Golf Tournament. Sudden flash of a camera from a photographer caused him the tournament. So, he should be extremely happy to know that this time, the organizers have taken every precaution to refrain the photographers from causing a similar shock.

The Ledger reported:

About the only negative memory Phil Mickelson has of Sunday at the Masters last year was finishing his third round in the morning. The sudden clicks of a camera from the tower over the 18th tee when he was at the top of his swing led to a wild shot and ultimately a bogey that reduced his lead to one shot.

It was one of the rare times Mickelson has shown anger inside the ropes.

Ditto for Augusta National officials, who tried unsuccessfully to find out which photographer committed the crime. Billy Payne, head of the media committee last year, banned photographers from the stand for the final round in the afternoon.

NO golfer would want the same thing happen to them. So, Phil Mickelson has all the right in the world to react that way.

After Winning the CA World Championship, Tiger Wood’s Next is Now Mission Masters 2007

Tiger Woods, the best golfer of present time, seems to be more confident to win the forthcoming Masters Golf Tournament 2007 having won the CA World Championship at Doral. With this victory he has won the championship for three consecutive times. Ahead of the first major tournament, The Masters Golf Tournament 2007, he is now undoubtedly the most favorite to win the masters title for the fifth time in his career. Even the defending champion of the masters, Phil Mickelson, is not that much favorite as Tiger Woods is at this moment. Sports Network reported:

Woods is available at a best of 11/8 with William Hill to be sporting a brand new green jacket with a win at the Masters but most bookies have him down at 6/5. He's also 20/1 with William Hill for the Grand Slam.

Fellow American Brett Wetterich finished second, two shots off the pace, and he's been slashed to 80/1 with betdirect to claim the Masters title.

Phil Mickelson has been trimmed to 8/1 second favourite with Totalbet to win at Augusta National despite finishing 10 shots adrift of Woods in Miami while Ernie Els has drifted slightly to 12/1 third favourite.

However, it does not matter who is favorite or who is minnow; rather the best performer of the tournament will be the winner of the tournament. I hope, the masters will be an interesting tournament for the golf fans.

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.

Justin Rose Got Invitation for The Masters Golf Tournament 2007

Ahead of The Masters Golf Tournament 2007, seven golfers have been invited at the last moment. Justin Rose, a British golfer, is one of them. Rose could not participate in the last couple of tournament due to a back injury. However, he got the invitation as he is in the first 50 golfers according to the recently published world golf ranking. Manchester.com reported:

Rose, who has been struggling with a back injury recently which has kept him out of the last two scheduled events, qualified by finishing among the 50 leaders on the official world golf rankings published during the week prior to the competition.

Along with Rose, Australian Aaron Baddeley and American players Bart Bryant, Paul Goydos, Charles Howell III and John Rollins were all handed invitations to the tournament.

Mark Calcavecchia will also join these players on the Georgia golf course courtesy of his place among the ten leaders on the official PGA Tour money list in the week before the event.

Billy Payne, the chairman of the Masters and the Augusta national golf club confirmed that a total of 107 players have been handed invitations, although only 97 of those are expected to take to the tee as the other ten are ageing former champions.

Well, you may think that how so many players will take part in one competition. For your kind information I would like to tell you that though there are too many golfers to be appeared at the Augusta Golf Club, a few players will be seen till the end of the tournament racing for the championship title of the masters.

The Masters Golf Tournament: Too Much of Tiger Woods

You know that we are covering The Masters Golf Tournament 2007 in this blog. We have posted a number of entries in the last 3 days. The interesting part is that half of the entries that we posted here are directly related to the best golfer of this time, Tiger Woods. Even in the other entries, the name of Tiger Woods has come at least one time. When I was searching in Google about The Masters Golf Tournament, I just saw a lot of news items about Tiger Woods.

Forbes reported:

The Blue Monster hosted the top 50 in the world ranking, and even Justin Rose pulling out with a back injury and Davis Love III withdrawing Saturday when a friend died did not dilute the star power in Miami.

Bay Hill winner Vijay Singh was there. So were Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy.

Woods beat them all, as he usually does.

His record in the World Golf Championships is astounding. Woods has played these events 24 times since they began in 1999, and he already has 13 titles and more than $17 million.

I just hope that too much dominance of Tiger Woods does not make Golf boring in the long run.

More than Hundred Golfers Got Invitation for The upcoming Masters Golf Tournament 2007

The organizers of The Masters Golf Tournament 2007 have already completed the invitation process of the tournament. Seven golfers were invited at the end of the invitation process. Ahead of this first major tournament of the year, 107 golfers have been invited to tee off in the tournament. However, it has been reported that 10 former winners of this tournament may not take part in the masters. It has already been said that 18 golfers will appear in this prestigious tournament for the first time. Globeandmail reported:

"It's always difficult to predict the exact number but I think you can bank on roughly 10 former winners not teeing off in the opening round," a media spokesman for Augusta National Golf Club said.

Americans Mark Calcavecchia, Charles Howell III, John Rollins, Bart Bryant and Paul Goydos, as well as Justin Rose of Britain and Aaron Baddeley of Australia, were the seven to receive invitations yesterday.

Calcavecchia, who missed the cut at Augusta National last April after his first Masters start in four years, qualified for next week by retaining his top-10 place in the 2007 PGA Tour money list.

"I'm happy to be back at Augusta, it's everybody's goal," the 1989 British Open champion told reporters after tying for 32nd in the CA Championship at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami on Sunday.

Despite closing with a five-over-par 77 Sunday after hitting it in the water twice on the final hole and running up a quadruple-bogey eight, the 46-year-old was in upbeat mood.

"That's the best I've ever felt after an eight," Calcavecchia said after securing ninth spot on the money list with $1,417,408 (U.S.). "Now I'm ready to celebrate."

Howell, Rollins, Bryant, Goydos, Rose and Baddeley got their Masters berths by virtue of being in the top 50 in the latest world rankings issued yesterday.

Here, it is noteworthy that The Masters Golf Tournament is the only major golf tournament where the winners get the lifetime access to this tournament. So, you can easily understand the significance of the tournament. I think the upcoming masters will have a lot of excitement for the golf fans.

The Masters Golf Tournament 2007 Involves 18 First Timers

Ahead of the first major golf tournament, The Masters Golf Tournament 2007, of 2007 is going to field at the traditional Augusta National Golf Club from April 5 to 8. In the tournament 107 golfers were invited and it is expected that 97 golfers across the world will take part in this prestigious tournament. Among the participants 18 will appear in the tournament for the first time. United Press International reported:

The field includes five amateurs and 18 Masters rookies. Those first-timers are Bradley Dredge, Johan Edfors, Kenneth Ferrie, British Amateur champ Julien Guerrier, J.J. Henry, Robert Karlsson, U.S. Amateur runner-up John Kelly, Troy Matteson, Brett Quigley, U.S. Amateur winner Richie Ramsay, Jeev Milkha Singh, Tanihara, Camilo Villegas, U.S. Amateur Public Links champ Casey Watabu, Brett Wetterich, Dean Wilson, U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Dave Womack and Yong-Eun Yang.

So, you may think that the tournament would not be as competitive as it should be considering the 18 first timers. However, I would like to make you concern that they have been invited due to having the potential. So, I think the tournament will have a lot of excitement for the golf fans.

Tiger Woods Favorite to Win The Masters Golf Tournament 2007 in terms of Betting Result

According to the betting result Tiger Woods is ahead of the other participants of the upcoming Masters Golf Tournament 2007. It is undoubtedly true that Tiger Woods, the current no.1 ranked golfer is the favorite to win the tournament. The defending champion Phil Mickelson stands second in terms of betting result. Bodogbeat reported:

Tiger Woods, fresh off his victory at Doral, headlines the event and is a 3/2 favorite to win the same tournament he won in 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson is getting 8/1 odds to win the Masters, while Ernie Els (11/1), Vijay Singh (16/1), Jim Furyk (20/1), and Retief Goosen (25/1) round out the favorites.

I think Vijay Singh can be the hardest competitor for Tiger Woods to win the masters. However, it is also true that there is hardly any chance to take the title away from Tiger Woods.

AT&T to Provide Live Coverage of The Masters Golf Tournament 2007 through Three-Screen Content

AT&T, one of the popular communications holding companies in the world, has already taken an initiative to provide information about the forthcoming major golf tournament, The Masters Golf Tournament 2007. The company will make the tournament more flexible for the golf lovers as the information will be providing through three-screen content. It means that the fans will have access to the wireless device, the TV and the PC in order to know the instant information of the Masters. At&T is going to arrange all the things as per their with the Masters. Pr-inside reported:

Under an agreement with the Masters, AT&T will provide golf fans with access to Masters previews and daily highlights, live tournament and practice range coverage, player interviews, live updates, links to real-time scoreboards and more. Masters coverage will be available through AT&T blue room.

(http://www.attblueroom.com/), AT&T U-verse(SM) TV, AT&T Homezone(SM) service, AT&T U-verse OnTheGo, AT&T Broadband TV, and Cingular, now AT&T, wireless service. Live video, including Masters Extra and Amen Corner Live, real-time scoring and additional information is also available on the Masters official Web site, masters.org.

The deal furthers the company's commitment to deliver compelling content across the three screens. AT&T offers customers a wide variety of content through a portfolio of advanced video, broadband and wireless services, bringing customers more of the entertainment they enjoy and strengthening programmers' and advertisers' connections with new and loyal audiences.

"By extending the excitement of the 2007 Masters Tournament across the three screens, AT&T is giving golf fans more ways to enjoy one of the greatest traditions in all of sports," said Dan York, head of content and programming, AT&T Entertainment Services. "As audiences look to get content on the range of digital devices, three-screen entertainment is the future. The Masters recognizes that successful programming translates to all three screens, which AT&T can deliver to consumers, programmers and advertisers."

I think the service AT&T is going to provide will make the tournament attractive to the fans as they will provide live coverage of the Masters. To know more information you can go to the AT&T website or The Masters website The Masters officials have done a good job making such an effective contract with AT&T. I hope the company will be available with such services in the other major golf tournaments as well.

Coverage of 2007 Masters Tournament from AT&T

The Masters Golf Tournament 2007 is going to take place from next week. AT&T has arranged special coverage for this event. I found a press release about this matter. Here is the press release:

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T)

announced today that golf fans can now enjoy more of the 2007 Masters

Tournament as AT&T launches its first major content initiative across the

three screens central to customers' lives: the wireless device, the TV and

the PC.

Under an agreement with the Masters, AT&T will provide golf fans with

access to Masters previews and daily highlights, live tournament and

practice range coverage, player interviews, live updates, links to

real-time scoreboards and more. Masters coverage will be available through

AT&T blue room (http://www.attblueroom.com), AT&T U-verse(SM) TV, AT&T

Homezone(SM) service, AT&T U-verse OnTheGo, AT&T Broadband TV, and

Cingular, now AT&T, wireless service. Live video, including Masters Extra

and Amen Corner Live, real-time scoring and additional information is also

available on the Masters official Web site, masters.org.

The deal furthers the company's commitment to deliver compelling

content across the three screens. AT&T offers customers a wide variety of

content through a portfolio of advanced video, broadband and wireless

services, bringing customers more of the entertainment they enjoy and

strengthening programmers' and advertisers' connections with new and loyal

audiences.

"By extending the excitement of the 2007 Masters Tournament across the

three screens, AT&T is giving golf fans more ways to enjoy one of the

greatest traditions in all of sports," said Dan York, head of content and

programming, AT&T Entertainment Services. "As audiences look to get content

on the range of digital devices, three-screen entertainment is the future.

The Masters recognizes that successful programming translates to all three

screens, which AT&T can deliver to consumers, programmers and advertisers."

Beginning Masters Week (April 2 - 8, 2007), AT&T customers will be able

to view the following Masters content:

-- Masters TV. Daily tournament previews and recaps will be available on

AT&T blue room; via Cingular, now AT&T, wireless service; through AT&T

U-verse TV and AT&T Homezone video-on-demand (VOD) services; and as a

streaming channel on AT&T U-verse OnTheGo and AT&T Broadband TV.

-- Player Interviews. AT&T blue room, AT&T wireless phones, U-verse

OnTheGo and Broadband TV will feature multiple player interviews each

day. Full-length interviews will also be available on demand through

U-verse TV and Homezone.

-- Masters Extra. Live bonus coverage will be available on AT&T blue room

during the competitive rounds, with nearly an hour of play-by-play

action before cable and network broadcast coverage begins.

-- Amen Corner Live. Live Tournament coverage from "Amen Corner" - the

11th, 12th, and 13th holes - will be available on AT&T blue room during

the competitive rounds.

-- Par 3 Interviews. A live feed of player interviews after their

completion of the Par 3 Contest on April 4 will be available on AT&T

blue room.

-- Masters Practice Range Live. AT&T blue room will include a live daily

video feed of the practice driving range.

-- Outdoor Green Jacket Ceremony. The outdoor Green Jacket presentation

ceremony will be available live on AT&T blue room, via U-verse TV and

Homezone VOD services, and on U-verse OnTheGo and Broadband TV.

-- Masters Scoreboard. AT&T blue room will have exclusive direct links to

the Masters live leader board.

-- Interactive Features. Viewers can also participate in polls, trivia and

customized alerts via AT&T blue room and AT&T wireless phones.

-- Masters Moments. Customers can view archived footage of memorable

moments from past Masters tournaments on AT&T blue room, via AT&T

wireless phones, through U-verse TV and Homezone VOD services and on U-

verse OnTheGo and Broadband TV.

Masters programming will be available to AT&T customers at no

additional charge (service and wireless-data-plan subscriptions may apply),

and select content will be available for 60 days following the conclusion

of the tournament. Customers can visit http://www.attblueroom.com/sports to access

available coverage.

AT&T Entertainment Services is a new division within AT&T that is

focused on delivering innovative and unique entertainment services and

multiplatform advertising opportunities across the three screens. The AT&T

Entertainment Services group represents the intersection of the company's

vision to be the premier communications and entertainment provider. As

today's media environment continues to evolve, AT&T combines its technology

expertise and capabilities for a head start in delivering next-generation

three-screen services, content and advertising.

Tiger Woods Looking at Jack Nicklaus’s 18 Major Golf Championship

Golf has already found another legend, Tiger Woods, after Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer of all time. Ahead of The Masters Golf Tournament 2007, Tiger Woods might be inspired to place his feat again in the history. Jack Nicklaus has the highest 18 major championships in his career. Tiger Woods has already bagged 12 major titles in his career. So, he can easily set his mind up to reach at the peak. Supergolf reported:

Seven days after finishing outside the top 20 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, ending a run of 13 consecutive top-10s worldwide, the world number one hit back with his 56th PGA Tour title.

Woods, never satisfied with the status quo, is continually aiming to improve his swing and pile up more 'W's (wins). Above all, he is fuelled by his desire to eclipse Jack Nicklaus as golf's most prolific major champion.

Fellow American Nicklaus claimed 18 professional major championships in his glittering career while the 31-year-old Woods trails with 12.

Few would bet against him clinching a fifth green jacket at the April 5-8 Masters on an Augusta National layout which suits him to the proverbial tee.

Victory at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa on Sunday in his final tournament before the first major of the year gave him the perfect send-off.

"You can't have any better way, getting a 'W' right before you go," Woods told reporters after holding off compatriot Brett Wetterich to win his 13th WGC (World Golf Championships) crown by two shots.

"I'm very excited about the things that I've been able to rectify on Monday and Tuesday, and then obviously applied it to Thursday through Sunday.

Well, I think this is very possible for Tiger Woods to break the record of Jack Nicklaus and he has the ability to make him the greatest golfer in the history of Golf. Recently he has won his 57^th PGA tour title. So, undoubtedly he is in a good form and if he can continue it to the coming Masters tournament then I am sure that he is going to win another Masters title.