And the Golf Oscar Goes To…

Never has golf been such an integral part of two Best Picture nominees. The Aviator depicts a date between Howard Hughes and Katharine Hepburn at Bel-Air, only the real location was Woodland Hills Country Club and its tenth hole. The brief glimpse of a restored Bell greenside bunker was particularly exciting, if I may say so myself. And in Sideways, Alisal’s dreadful River Course features the hilarious golf scene between the character’s played so beautifully by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Hayden Church. Rex Pickett's novel, on which the movie is based, has its golf scenes played at everyone's favorite wind tunnel, La Purisma.

Just $58 A Dozen!

Steve Pike plugs the new $58-a-dozen Pro V1, which wasn’t generating much buzz at the Nissan Open. In fact, a few Titleist players said they sticking with the old version as long as they could. The press rel, err, PGA.com article also reports that “actor John Cleese has reprised his role as semi-deranged golf course architect Ian MacCallister in TV spots for the NXT line. The MacCallister character remains on his mission to design over-the-top golf courses in an effort to combat the performance of the NXT golf ball.”

Unfortunately it seems Jim Nantz is no longer doing voiceovers to the ads, ending his raging-conflict-of-interest as non-partisan broadcaster/traditionalist/ball company pitchman. Maybe this year he won't shill at the Memorial for the dwindling “it’s all progress” movement. You may remember that last year, he attempted to rebut Jack Nicklaus over solutions to the ball going too far.

Tiger Answers His Fans

This was posted on PGATour.com today : "EDITOR'S NOTE: Each week, Tiger Woods responds to five Club Tiger member e-mails on www.tigerwoods.com. In this edition, he talks about the Official World Golf Ranking and gives some tips on learning to play the game."

There were actually four posted questions answered, uh, succinctly by Tiger:

Q. I was just wondering if you prefer playing tournaments on the East-West coastal areas, and why? I notice that there are some tournaments in the central parts of the U.S. but, you generally never play in them. (Valero Open, in Texas) Is this just a preference of the geographic areas or just a natural playing preference? -Chris from Clinton

A. I determine where I'm going to play based on where the tournament falls on the schedule. Whoa! Warm and fuzzy one there! What insight!

And how about this elaborate answer:

Q. Hi Tiger. As a fairly new fan to golf, I have had the opportunity to see you play at La Costa for the last three years. My boyfriend and I make the trip every year now, and we are looking forward to seeing you (this week). I'm definitely a fan of golf now. Next step ... getting the courage to try and play the game. Any advice for a beginner? -Kristy from Mesa

A. Practice, practice, practice and make it fun!

Kind of hearkens back to Bobby Jones’s old instruction writings, eh? And then there's this profound exchange…

Q. While my father gave golf lessons to the blind, he found that putting can be improved by practicing with your eyes closed. He recommends practicing for 30 minutes with your eyes closed for improved sensitivity and feel for where the ball is going. He loves you, Tiger, and wanted to share this with you. Good luck in reaching your lifetime goal. -Susanne from Cleveland, Ohio

A. Your father is a smart man!

If you weren't a fan before, you must be now! Somebody get Tiger a cup of water, his throat must be dry from dictating these detailed, thoughtful answers.

Ave-not

The Tour has delayed its planned dynamiting of the TPC Avenal. The redo had prompted this year's temporary move to Congressional. Naturally, the Commish says this delay has been a big blessing.

The Vagaries of Stroke Play

The fluky nature of match play is once again a consistent theme at La Costa. A few players have pointed that they can have a so-so day in stroke play, but still win a four-day event with the lowest score. In match play, they can play okay, run into one hot player, and lose. So stroke play is better.

Well if consistency over four days is the mark of a champion, isn’t stroke play just as peculiar if someone shoots four 69’s and loses to someone who shoots 63-71-70-71? Head to head, the 69 shooter would win three out of four days.

In the World Match Play you still have to do something pretty special for five straight days. In this AP story, Tiger says not quite so. He claims that if they were it was stroke play one year he won, he might have finished 25th.

Perhaps this statement by Phil Mickelson sums up why some of us consider match play more demanding, revealing, interesting and pure.

"The things I like about match play are the things that I don't like about it,'' said Mickelson. "And the toughest thing is the anxiety that builds up between rounds. But that's the thing I love about it, the uncertainty of it all."