“I definitely want to be a captain."

A few readers forwarded Michael Buteau's story on Davis Love lobbying for the Ryder Cup captaincy in 2012 and initially I didn't pay much attention, but on further reflection, it is a bit odd that the man who seemed to be a lock for the job is making sure to keep his name out there. Could the PGA be flirting with a certain former captain who really wanted the job again in 2010?

“If you asked me two months ago, I’d have said no, I don’t want to take any chance on screwing up playing,” said Love, who has a 9-12-5 record as a player. “But now I look at it, I don’t want to take any chances on not getting to be the Ryder Cup captain.”

The PGA of America, which oversees the U.S. team, has no specific timeframe on selecting its next captain.

“I remember Robin Love holding up the trophy and telling the guys to take dead aim,."

Stephanie Wei provides that image for us courtesy of Tabitha Furyk, one more reminder that 2012 should be fun too! She also talks to other wives about the Ryder Cup for WSJ:

While the men practice, the wives do act as their own auxiliary unit this week, with a packed itinerary of events. Before the inspirational pep talks they might serve up this weekend, they’ll have lunched, caught up — oh, and hit up a fashion show put on by the University of Wales. Then there’s tonight’s formal gala: the ladies enjoy a spa day to help them prep with their hair and make-up for the evening’s events.

“Everybody went shopping to get the big formal dress,” says Sybi Kuchar, wife Ryder Cup rookie Matt Kuchar and, as she’ll tell you, not a fashion obsessive. And yet, for this weekend, even she’s fully on board: “A lot of our conversations revolved around that — did you get your dress? How high are your shoes? Are you going to wear your hair up or down? Just that kind of fun girl talk.”

The Future Is Bright For More Rees-toration Sniping!

Now that the PGA Tour's finest have found their voice when it comes to evaluation of Rees Jones Reestorations of tournament venues, it's worth remembering that we have many more opportunities in the next few years for more tirades, brouhahas and other kvetching.

Two of next year's majors are played at Reestored courses, Congressional Country Club Blue (US Open) and Atlanta Athletic Club (PGA). Throw in the fact that these are not just Reestorations, but Reestorations of previously unheralded Reestorations, with both courses having troubled summers this year, and how can you now love the possibilities for 2011?

And lest we not forget, the 2012 Ryder Cup heads to Reestored Medinah!

Until then, the boys will just have East Lake to fuel their insipred critiques.

Bjorn Tries To One-Up Monty In Bad Publicity Race

I'm not sure what this means for the team Europe except that Thomas Bjorn will likely not be Monty's replacement this year or in 2012. Mark Reason reports.

Rees Jones Modern Era; Adds A Drivable Par 4 To Medinah

Here's the release...certainly a positive addition to Medinah No. 3's 15th. Though I'm having a hard time envisioning a lake looking natural up there. Hopefully it'll have a fountain.

MEDINAH'S 15TH HOLE UNDERGOES DRAMATIC REDESIGN IN ADVANCE OF 2012 RYDER CUP

Transformed Into A Driveable Par 4, Hole Features A New Lake

Club Also Completes Major Greens Renovation Project

MEDINAH, Illinois (May 5, 2010) - Medinah Country Club has transformed the 15th hole of its famed No. 3 course into a drive-able par 4, reducing its length by 100 yards and adding a new two-acre lake that borders dangerously on the right side of the fairway and green.

The dramatic new hole was designed by golf course architect Rees Jones in an effort to present a strong risk-reward challenge both for Medinah members and contestants in the 2012 Ryder Cup to be played in just over two years on the historic layout in west suburban Chicago.

The redesign of No. 15 took place concurrently with a major greens renovation project in which 11 of Course No. 3's original 18 green and its main putting green were rebuilt to U.S. Golf Association specifications.  Course No. 3's other seven greens, which had been rebuilt to USGA standards in 2002, also were re-grassed and the No. 15 green rebuilt.  The most recent renovation cost $1.5 million.

"We are thrilled with the changes to the 15th hole and with the completion of the greens renovation project," said Medinah club president Joe Ebner.  "The membership has embraced and supported these course improvements in order to keep Medinah among the world's elite championship golf courses.  The feedback we have received from our members has been extremely positive.  Everyone is eager to get out and play the course."

Jones, who has overseen all architectural design aspects of Medinah's three golf courses since 2000, said he long had envisioned the change to No. 15.

"I felt that the 15th was a hole where the risk-reward challenge could be strengthened," Jones said.  "I felt a pond adjacent to the 15th green would give it plenty [of the risk-reward element], in a fashion similar to the 12th hole.  It's now an important part of the round and extends one of the greatest finishing tests in golf."

The new forward tee on No. 15 allows the hole to be set up as short as 280 yards.  The original tee area - which measures 392 yards from the championship tees and 367 from the regular men's tees - will be preserved to provide the club with flexibility in course set-up.

By moving the 15th green to the left (south), Jones also made way for the creation of a new back tee for Medinah's famous par 4 16th hole.  With the new tee on 16, the tree-lined dogleg left now has been extended to 500 yards from the championship tees from 485.  Moving the tee back and shifting the landing area to the right will bring the dogleg back into play, Jones said.

The course, which closed Aug. 17, 2009, is expected to reopen June 18, 2010.