Tiger Woods during the Presidents Cup 2005
The Mercedes Championship will be minus another major star, maybe the major star on the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods says "I haven't had an off season, and I need one."
The last time Tiger missed a tournament was recovering from surgery on his left knee. That means we'll have three players from the top ten, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and Jim Furyk. Ernie Els didn't win on the PGA Tour last year before his season ended with the knee injury, which he has recovered from after surgery. Kapalua vice president Gary Planos says not having Tiger will hurt, but "we're not running a funeral, we're running a championship. We're going to show Kapalua to a freezing mainland." He added that they are very excited about the improvements to the Plantation course and the clubhouse.
Fred Funk - the skirt brings home the bacon!
It was a "silly" season event and he was the fill in guy when John Daly had to withdraw. The made for TV skins game, featuring Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, Fred Couples and Fred Funk, "Funky" to his friends.
Well, since Funk knew he was the butt of the jokes about Sorenstam out driving him, he decided to play it up. If she did, he'd wear a skirt. Sorenstam says it was "Funky's idea" and Funk says he's glad he did. Funk says he nervous about playing. That is until Sorenstam indeed out drove him, as expected, and on the next hole he had to wear a skirt. After that, how could he be nervous!!!! He was shut out during that first nine holes. Sorenstam won a bunch of money and so did Woods but then came the second nine holes.
The money was adding up. No one was winning a hole. Until the final hole, worth $925,000, THE MOST MONEY EVER WON ON ONE HOLE IN A SKINS GAME. Talk about drive for show and putt for dough. On the 18th, Woods over drove the green, Sorenstam simply lost her game, Couples came close but missed his putt and then it all came down to "Funky". With a five foot putt, Funk won the pot and walked off with more money than any of his competitors, the Player of the Year on the PGA Tour Woods, the LPGA Tour Player of the Year Sorenstam and the man who has won the most money in the Skins format, Couples.
20 percent of the players winnings go to the charity of the players choice. Funk chose "Builders Care". "Builders Care" is making a home for a 19 year old boy who is paralyzed from the neck down after an awkward hit taken during a high school football game. Jerry Townsend spoke for the first time publicly soon after the Skins game. J.T., after moving his head away from the tube that controls his wheelchair, got close to the microphone in front of him, thanked everyone for their support and then looked at Funk. "Mr. Fred, you pulled it out, pink skirt and all."
Funk wiped his eyes. This has been a huge year for Fred Funk. He became the oldest winner of the Players Championship in March, the oldest player to qualify for the President's Cup, a year after becoming the oldest to qualify for the Ryder Cup.
Annika Sorenstam
Probably the most under publicized feat of the year belongs to the LPGA's Annika Sorenstam. The winner of the Rolex Player of the Year, and the Vare Trophy, Sorenstam won 10 LPGA titles in 2005, after successfully defending her ADT Championship title.
Sorenstam also beat out Michael Campbell and Colin Montgomerie to win the European Golf Writer's Trophy for the second time in three years, becoming the first women to claim the award more than once.
In 2006, the LPGA Tour is beginning the first playoff system for professional golf. The final event will be The LPGA Playoffs at the ADT and the $1,000,000 will be the largest first place check in the history of women's golf.
Sorenstam walked away with $2,588,240.00 this year, but the Rookie of the Year, Paula Creamer was one million behind with $1,531,780.00. Creamer also made it clear she is going to continue to challenge Sorenstam - loudly. Creamer made a big statement when she called the ADT officials over to challenge a decision Sorenstam made about her ball position from a hazard. Creamer walked away after the officials ruled in favor of Sorenstam, Creamer almost accusing Sorenstam of cheating by saying "It's her conscience."
There will be two more young LPGA players challenging Sorenstam this coming season. Japanese sensation Ai Miyasato won her LPGA Tour card by a record 12 strokes ahead of second place, the largest margin of victory at LPGA Q school. The second big name to make it through was Morgan Pressel, who still has to challenge the LPGA's age requirement. Pressel turns 18 on May 23rd and she wants all of the money she earns while playing through sponsor exemptions to count toward her official total at the end of 2006.
Hawaii's Michelle Wie, who started waking up women's golf from a media slumber, will be back in action at the Sony Open in Hawaii, the first full field event on the PGA Tour.
From the PGA Tour Q School, Parker McLaughlin, who grew up in Hawaii but lives in Arizona, missed his card by one stroke but he did earn his Nationwide Tour card, so we'll be hearing more about the Nationwide Tour as we follow McLaughlin's game on "The Golf Club."
Parker McLaughlin
Congratulations to the Aloha Section PGA members who qualified for the 2006 Sony Open in Hawaii. Over 40 professionals teed off at Waialae for two spots and Pearl Country Club's David Ishii and Beau Yokomoto earned them with 1 under par 71's. The third spot goes to the Aloha Section 2005 Player of the Year, Kevin Hayashi. And the fourth and final spot was awarded to Brandon Kop, the low score amongst the 12 amateurs from this year's Governor's Cup standings.
David Ishii missed Q School but he is back in the Sony Open in Hawaii.
More awards this year from the Aloha Section PGA.
Congratulations to Andrew Feldman, the 2005 Golf Professional of the Year; Edward Lee, the 2005 Teacher of the Year; and Jerry King, winner of the 2005 Horton Smith Award.
The Hawaii State Junior Golf Association held the Champions of the Champions at Wailea on the Emerald course. A total of 58 juniors competed in 4 ages divisions for boys and girls.
Thomas Robertson of Pukalani and Kimberly Kim of Pahoa captured the boys and girls 15/18 age divisions.
Taeksoo Kyung of Wailuku and Dayna Bersamin of Kihei won the boys and girls 13/14 division.
Lorens Chan of Honolulu and Kyung Kim of Wailuku won boys and girls 11/12.
Joshua Defreitas Jr. of Waianae and Taylor Viquelia of Waimea won boys and girls 10 and under.
GOLF CLINICS COMING UP IN 2006 - CALL (808) 924-8000
"The Golf Club"® Radio Show is working to organize two special clinics in Hawaii.
One will feature Dr. Robert Grober with his invention that makes it possible for you to hear the sound of your swing. It's a huge breakthrough for people who perceive and learn better with their ears! You'll be able to hear what's going on in your back swing. We're planning one clinic on each island, including one at the Dunes at Maui Lani where Master PGA professional Bill Greenleaf teaches. Greenleaf has already tested the device, and he is excited with the results. If you are interested in being in a clinic, please call this number and leave a message, including what island you are on, your name and your contact information. 924-8000 or from a neighbor island (808) 924-8000.
We are also organizing a clinic with Paul Gagné from ChampionsGate and the David Leadbetter school. Gagné has the amazing ability to size up your posture and how it's hindering your ability to play your best game of golf. Gagné shows you eye exercises that'll help you accurately read your putts plus improve your posture. While he was in Hawaii working with Michelle Wie, my executive producer Rick Gray and I had a chance to have him size us up. We were amazed with his knowledge of bio mechanics and how he could help us not only make our golf game better but our overall feeling of well being. If you'd like to attend a clinic with Gagné, also call 924-8000 and let us know.
Paul Gagné
So while the big name players were either taking a break, recovering from injuries, or working on their game during the golf seasons short intermission, Hawaii kicks off the 2006 PGA Tour season with the Mercedes Championships.
Kapalua Plantation course
"The Golf Club" goes on the road, beginning at the Mercedes Championships at Kapalua on Maui. The champions of all of the PGA Tour tournaments from 2005 compete for the coveted Mercedes Championships trophy. It's the best of the best on the Plantation course. It's January 2nd through the 8th. All the information is available at www.kapaluamaui.com. If you miss it this year, get ready for 2007 and plan your holiday around a week on Maui.
"The Golf Club" stays at the Outrigger Maui El Dorado, conveniently located at Kaanapali between Lahaina and Kapalua. The Outrigger Maui El Dorado is also right on the Kaanapali South course 15th green and on the beach with a private cabana for outdoor sheltered card games or playing in the gentle surf.
After the Mercedes Championships, the first full field event of the PGA Tour season begins on Oahu at the Sony Open in Hawaii played at the Waialae Country Club. Vijay Singh is the defending champion. He managed to beat Ernie Els, Shigeki Maruyama and Charles Howell III by one stroke after starting the final round 4 strokes behind. This tournament is the largest charity sports event in the Hawaiian Islands. The Sony Open in Hawaii begins January 9th through the 15th. More information is available at www.sonyopeninhawaii.com.
Waialae beach front from the media center at sunrise, where you will find "The Golf Club" this year again enjoying a magnificent sunrise.
Now we get to the Champions Tour kickoff, with the MasterCard Championship at Hualalai on the Big Island of Hawaii. Again, the best of the best compete, with all the winners of the 2005 season starting off their season. It's a real treat just being able to go watch these guys play because the course is only open to guests at the Four Seasons on the Big Island.
Turtle Bay
After the MasterCard Championship, the first full field event of the Champions Tour is held at Turtle Bay on the Arnold Palmer course. Last year, Arnold Palmer got married after playing in the MasterCard, while the Turtle Bay Championship was being played and just before heading over to Maui for the Wendy's Champions Skins.
Wailea Golf Course
This year, the Champions Skins in on February 6th , that's a Monday, plus beefed up.
Eight of the best Champions Tour players including Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, Gary Player and Hale Irwin, Arnold Palmer and Peter Jacobsen, and Raymond Floyd with Dana Quigley. They'll compete against each other in an alternate shot, team format at Wailea Resort's Golf Course on Maui. Nicklaus is the Wendy's Skins defending champion after earning 11 skins and a career-best payday of $340,000 in 2005. For general information check out www.skinsgamesseries.com.
Jack Nicklaus at the Champions Skins 2005
The weekend after the Champions Skins, the local golf season kicks off with the most lucrative of all the local events, the Hawaii Pearl Open. The purse is worth $80,000 dollars for the professionals and prizes for the amateurs. The field of 180 includes golfers from Canada, Australia, Japan, the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. Will Yanigazawa is the defending champion. www.pearlcc.com.
Will Yanigazawa
Following the Pearl Open weekend, we've got the first full field LPGA event, the SBS Open at Turtle Bay on Oahu. Last year Michelle Wie played as a amateur, but this year she's expected to play and bring home some cash. The defending champion is Jennifer Rosales and call Turtle Bay if you are interested in being a volunteer.
The next event on the LPGA schedule is on Oahu as well and they'll be looking for volunteers as well.
Ko Olina
Following the SBS Open, we go out to Ko Olina for the second LPGA event, the Field's Open. It's the first Field's Open but we hope to see Wie playing on her home turf in this full field event.
Back to the Mercedes Championships. One of my favorite guests during the year is Tournament Broadcasting and the voice of the PGA Tour, Bob Bubka. He was at the Target World Challenge in December. The event is hosted by Tiger Woods and raises money for kids.
The winner this year came as a surprise since the defending champ is Tiger Woods and Michael Campbell set a blistering pace. Luke Donald, who says he stole the victory!
He told Bubka it's a wonderful way to wrap up the season.
How about second place?
I think Campbell put it best, on Friday, after starting to feel that victory sliding out of his reach
So where was the defending champ and the tournament host, Tiger Woods? Happy for the kids
Bubka and Janis Self stay at the Best Western Thousand Oaks Inn to bring you all of the action from the Target World Challenge.
Best Western
And where in the world was our intrepid traveling reporter, Michael Patrick Shiels? How about Istanbul after enjoying the luxurious amenities at the Kempinski Belek - The Dome - home of the Pasha and the Sultan Golf Courses.
Kempinski Belek - The Dome in Turkey
Life's rough for Shiels who stopped next in Puerto Rico to visit with Chi Chi Rodriguez. You can hear how that went at www.radiogolfclub.com where all of our shows are available to be heard at your convenience. Just click on the listen button.
Until next time, thank you for your Mana and may you hit the sweet spot every time.
Aloha,
Danielle Tucker
