Lookin’ good on the #3 tee…
With the popularity of John Daly and his Loudmouth Golf apparel, it was only a matter of time before we started to see a few more apparel lines with the same flavor. In that vein, Royal & Awesome makes men’s trousers, shorts and flat caps with some very psychedelic colors and patterns.
Zebra to Ze-bar
Today I’m covering my cool black and white zebra shorts called “Zebra to Ze-bar.” Get it? Yes, very sophisticated. These are fun and comfortable shorts to wear and let me tell you, the comments you receive are possibly more entertaining than the shorts themselves. Here are a few:
“You lost the bet eh?”
“Where do the batteries go?”
“Your wife let you out of the house looking like that?”
My responses:
“You need to have the body for them.”
“You can’t wear bold shorts like these unless you have the golf game to back ’em up.”
Materials
These shorts are made from 97% cotton. I’m not a big cotton fan for a few reasons and these reasons do come into play with the Royal & Awesome shorts. First, cotton gets wrinkly. So, often I need to iron these babies before I can wear them. Unlike spandex or a poly, these do come out of the wash in need of an ironing.
Cotton shrinks. These shorts fit a tiny bit tight on me (must have had too many strombolis the week before). After washing, they’re a bit tighter. They do mention that ironing helps loosen them back up, so I’ll give that a shot. (more…)
Below is a table of the top 50 ranked golfers in the world. Following the PGA Championship, Rory McIlory moved from #3 back to the #1 position. Tiger Woods dropped from #2 to #3. Luke Donald dropped from #1 to #2.
| Rank |
Player |
Avg Pts |
Tot Pts |
Events |
| 1 |
Rory McIlroy, Nir |
10.35 |
507.35 |
49 |
| 2 |
Luke Donald, Eng |
9.59 |
498.69 |
52 |
| 3 |
Tiger Woods, USA |
8.71 |
348.37 |
40 |
| 4 |
Lee Westwood, Eng |
7.35 |
345.61 |
47 |
| 5 |
Webb Simpson, USA |
6.23 |
324.15 |
52 |
| 6 |
Adam Scott, Aus |
6.13 |
269.90 |
44 |
| 7 |
Justin Rose, Eng |
6.12 |
318.45 |
52 |
| 8 |
Bubba Watson, USA |
6.11 |
293.40 |
48 |
| 9 |
Jason Dufner, USA |
5.93 |
284.58 |
48 |
| 10 |
Steve Stricker, USA |
5.78 |
242.83 |
42 |
| 11 |
Matt Kuchar, USA |
5.68 |
295.15 |
52 |
| 12 |
Keegan Bradley, USA |
5.61 |
291.77 |
52 |
| 13 |
Graeme McDowell, Nir |
5.33 |
277.33 |
52 |
| 14 |
Zach Johnson, USA |
5.12 |
261.09 |
51 |
| 15 |
Hunter Mahan, USA |
5.05 |
262.45 |
52 |
| 16 |
Louis Oosthuizen, Zaf |
4.78 |
248.70 |
52 |
| 17 |
Ernie Els, Zaf |
4.72 |
245.26 |
52 |
| 18 |
Dustin Johnson, USA |
4.58 |
215.48 |
47 |
| 19 |
Phil Mickelson, USA |
4.32 |
215.84 |
50 |
| 20 |
Rickie Fowler, USA |
4.22 |
219.50 |
52 |
| 21 |
Martin Kaymer, Deu |
4.14 |
206.85 |
50 |
| 22 |
Charl Schwartzel, Zaf |
4.13 |
214.92 |
52 |
| 23 |
Ian Poulter, Eng |
4.10 |
213.10 |
52 |
| 24 |
Francesco Molinari, Ita |
4.08 |
211.94 |
52 |
| 25 |
Jason Day, Aus |
4.03 |
177.12 |
44 |
| 26 |
Bo Van Pelt, USA |
3.99 |
207.45 |
52 |
| 27 |
Brandt Snedeker, USA |
3.94 |
204.83 |
52 |
| 28 |
Jim Furyk, USA |
3.90 |
202.99 |
52 |
| 29 |
Sergio Garcia, Esp |
3.86 |
181.45 |
47 |
| 30 |
Peter Hanson, Swe |
3.80 |
197.66 |
52 |
| 31 |
Bill Haas, USA |
3.76 |
195.51 |
52 |
| 32 |
Carl Pettersson, Swe |
3.54 |
184.22 |
52 |
| 33 |
Paul Lawrie, Sco |
3.43 |
175.17 |
51 |
| 34 |
Nick Watney, USA |
3.41 |
177.14 |
52 |
| 35 |
Nicolas Colsaerts, Bel |
3.35 |
174.16 |
52 |
| 36 |
John Senden, Aus |
3.31 |
172.00 |
52 |
| 37 |
David Toms, USA |
3.30 |
158.34 |
48 |
| 38 |
K.J. Choi, Kor |
3.23 |
168.09 |
52 |
| 39 |
Martin Laird, Sco |
2.98 |
155.09 |
52 |
| 40 |
David Lynn, Eng |
2.96 |
136.15 |
46 |
| 41 |
Thomas Bjorn, Dnk |
2.85 |
148.41 |
52 |
| 42 |
Geoff Ogilvy, Aus |
2.71 |
135.59 |
50 |
| 43 |
Fredrik Jacobson, Swe |
2.69 |
137.04 |
51 |
| 44 |
Simon Dyson, Eng |
2.66 |
138.23 |
52 |
| 45 |
Rafael Cabrera Bello, Esp |
2.65 |
138.03 |
52 |
| 46 |
Bae Sang-moon, Kor |
2.65 |
137.72 |
52 |
| 47 |
Aaron Baddeley, Aus |
2.65 |
137.71 |
52 |
| 48 |
Gonzalo Fdez-Castano, Esp |
2.61 |
109.48 |
42 |
| 49 |
Mark Wilson, USA |
2.56 |
133.31 |
52 |
| 50 |
Alvaro Quiros, Esp |
2.51 |
123.10 |
49 |
Rory McIlory – 2012 PGA Champion
It has been about 36 hours now since the PGA Championship came to a close and Rory McIlory blew the field away by eight shots. That eight shot margin broke Jack Nicklaus’ old PGA Championship margin of victory record which was seven. I was pretty spent after the PGA and instead of cranking out a piece about it moments after it finished like the regular scribes, I decided to let my cranium chew on it for a couple of days before I posted my comments. Here we go.
Rory McIlory
Here’s a guy who is 23 years old, same height as me (5 ‘9″), and weighs in at only 160 pounds (considerably less than me), yet he outdistanced the big hitters like Bubba Watson, averaging 311 yards per drive. On one 500 yard hole, Rory hit pitching wedge for his 2nd shot after hitting his drive 350 yards. The power and speed with which this kid can hit the ball is astounding. The balance in his swing is beautiful. Yes Bubba hits it long, but Rory hits is as long or longer when he needs to without swinging out of his shorts.
McIlory retrieves tee shot from dead tree at the 2012 PGA Championship
The break McIlory got when the blimp found his ball in the dead tree branch was big at the time. That came when he was just starting to heat up. Had he not found his ball in that tree and managed to save par after the unplayable lie, he would have been looking at a likely double on that hole.
I’ve had the pleasure of following Rory around for a few rounds this season, at the Masters. Watching him hit the ball is one of the few times I’d rather watch golf than play it. He hits the ball so damn high it is insane. Softer course conditions, like Kiawah this past week, favor his length and carry. I wonder if they will have to start “Rory-Proofing” courses now?
With the win McIlory beats Tiger in how fast he got to his 2nd major if I’m not mistaken. How long until the scribes and fans start pondering if Rory will break Jack’s major record of 18? Easy now. We see how hard it is for Tiger right now. The win also moves Rory to #1 in the world again. But this time there is no doubt. He really is the best golfer in on the planet right now.
Final thought on McIlory for now, is how genuine he seems to be. Hard not to like someone who is so personable, friendly and seemingly genuine. Loved his tweet yesterday which said something like “how cool is it to wake up to this?” The picture attached was the Wanamaker trophy.
Tiger Woods
Tiger looked solid for the first two days, like he has in other majors this year. Once again the regular golf media slobbered all over themselves and awarded him his 15th major before it happened. That’s getting old.
There’s no doubt that Tiger has lost his edge. Not saying he can’t get it back, but he certainly doesn’t have it right now. Watching him miss crucial short putts and seeing his body language after bad shots tells the story. And the bad shots are all over the place. Distance control in the short irons and wedges is extremely inconsistent. After rounds Tiger always has an explanation for it, like not having enough reps or needing to make a swing adjustment. This time his story was that he was playing “too relaxed.” If he’s so sure of the reasons he can’t win, why can’t he figure it out until after the tournament is over? Doesn’t make any sense.
Tiger doesn’t dominate off the tee with his length like he used to. Everyone hits it long now, nullifying the advantage he had for years. Rory is much longer than he is now, as are many other players. Courses have been lengthened too.
In the end it all comes down to what is going on inside Tiger’s head. There’s no doubt he still has the physical ability and the knees look to be fine. He’s got the physical tools still, but his psyche is what needs the most improvement if he’s to win another major at all, let alone break Jack’s record. It will be interesting and entertaining to watch either way.
Lee Westwood
Following his missed cut Lee Westwood sacked (to use British terminology) his caddie and coach. Lee’s putting has been his nemesis. I’d love to see him win a major. Lee posted this on his social networks:
“It’s a shame my first missed cut in more than a year was at the USPGA Championship. I played well enough to be in contention but my putting is frustrating me at the moment.”
Ian Poulter
Ian Poulter’s run to start the final round was off the charts good. Five consecutive birdies to start. For a minute there I thought perhaps he’d get his first major win. He faded at the end, but the front nine performance was fun to watch.
Carl Pettersson
Carl Pettersson had a tough break on the 1st hole in the final round when he brushed a leaf with his club in a hazard. That’s a two stroke penalty, which really hurt him. He came back nicely, despite the setback. Fans on the social networks complained about the “stupid rules of golf” etc., but I think anyone who complained about that is in fact stupid. The rules are the rules. Sometimes one can take advantage and sometimes not. Yes it was a tough break and too bad for Carl.
John Daly
Big news. John Daly made a cut in a major. In fact, he had a solid appearance all around, especially in some tough conditions. Big JD finishes at -1 for the tournament, good enough for a tie for 18th. Solid.
Martin Kaymer
Martin Kaymer missed the cut with two rounds of 79. The former #1 has not been playing terribly well as of late. Is he a one hit wonder?
Kiawah – The Track
I have not had the opportunity to play Kiawah, but it is on the list. I’m currently a 3 handicap, but I doubt I could have broken 100 if the best players in the world averaged 78 on the 2nd day with the wind and rain. The track looks pretty amazing. I hope to play it one day, and to break 100.
Season Winding Down
Sniff sniff. The PGA is the fourth and final major of the year. That means the season is winding down. For me that means my playing season is winding down. That thought doesn’t thrill me much. Here in Salt Lake (HOG World HQ), the snow will be flying in a couple of months, then the game will go into hibernation until spring. And the game is getting good right now too. Same cycle every year: suck in the spring, work it out and get the game decent in the summer, cry and whine in the fall and winter.
With the majors over it is FedEx Cup playoffs time, and of course this year will be the Ryder Cup as well. There’s still plenty of golf to enjoy on the pro circuits. And the new PGA Tour schedule is starting, where the first official events of the season don’t start in January anymore, but in the winter. Not sure I can wrap my cerebral cortex around that but we will see how that plays out.
Love To Hear From You
Whether you agree with my comments or not, I’d like to hear from you. Comment below.
2012 MAJOR CHALLENGE – PGA Championship Winners – Season Long Winners Announced Later This Week
- 1st Place: Irish Peacefrog – Carnahan Golf Putter
- 2nd Place: fdringo – Kikkor Golf Shoes
- 3rd Place: NJ Golfnut – Bridgestone Golf Balls
- 4th Place: Stiff Shafts – Switch Belt
The following prizes will be awarded for EACH of the four major championships in golf this year:
- Carnahan Golf: Putter
- Bridgestone Golf: One dozen of the new dual dimple golf balls
- Kikkor Golf: One pair of Kikkor’s skate style golf shoes
- Switch Belt: One cool plastic golf belt
- Grand Prize (total winner for ALL FOUR MAJORS): Set of wedges from Carnahan Golf!
Do I rock it or what!!?!?!
SIGN UP NOW FREE! Information Below:
1. Go to http://www.buzzfantasyleagues.com
2. Create an account if you don’t have one
3. Click on “Join Existing Private League”
4. Enter League ID 233, and Season ID 206
5. Create your team, enter league password “HOG”
SPREAD THE WORD! SPONSORS NEEDED
If you wish to sponsor 2012 HOG Space fantasy golf, the benefits are great. You will receive a ton of love from the patrons of HOG and TGS, as well as millions of hits throughout the 2012 season from banner and link placements on both host web sites. Contact me to inquire about becoming a sponsor.
FANTASY LINKS
Fantasy Information Page
Talk all about fantasy golf in The Golf Space Fantasy Golf Discussion Thread.
Fantasy Golf Update
Week #27 (PGA Championship) winner: NJ-Golfnut59
Weekly prizes provided by Champ Spikes: Flix divot tools. Winners please contact me to make shipping arrangements.
PRIZE BREAKDOWN
- 1st Place: Nike Golf VR_S Irons (forged or cast), value up to $1200
- 2nd Place: FootJoy complete golf apparel makeover including shoes, pants/shorts, shirt
- 3rd Place: Sun Mountain Club Glider Journey Golf Travel Bag
- 4th-10th Place: To be announced
- Special Events: Bridgestone Golf B330 golf balls with new dual dimples
- Weekly Prizes: Champ Spikes Flix switchblade divot repair tool
Please do our sponsors a favor and CLICK their banners to the right and thank them!
HOG SPACE FANTASY GOLF IS FREE – SIGN UP NOW! It is never too late:
- Point your browser to Kerplookee.com.
- Create an account if you don’t have one. It is easy.
- Click on Join a private league.
- Enter league ID 145
- Password is: Masters
Players who were in the 2011 HOG Space league do NOT need to sign up again. You are already in!
MAJOR CHALLENGE – MAJORS ONLY FANTASY GOLF
New for this year is the Major Challenge fantasy tournament. Four majors only. Click the previous link for info. Never too late to join the competition!
Brought To You By
HOG Space Fantasy Golf is brought to you by Hooked On Golf Blog and The Golf Space.
Related Links
Fantasy Golf Info Page
Official fantasy golf discussion forum and smack talk thread
« Previous
1
…
3
4
5
6
7
…
9
Next »
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
