MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: I’m blogging live at this week’s HP Byron Nelson Championship!

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, May 23rd, 2011
Categories: Golf • HOG World Tour • Site News
Tags: HP Byron Nelson Championship

Today I’m wrapping up loose ends, charging up all my digital golf media batteries and doing a lube oil and filter on my golf cranium. I’m prepping for what is sure to be the most insane two week period in the history of the HOG World Tour.

First off, I’ll be teaming up with HP to provide an unrivaled blogging and social media experience at this week’s HP Byron Nelson Championship. HOG World Headquarters will be centered in the HP hospitality suite, perched above the 16th hole of the TPC Four Seasons in Irving, Texas. From my plush workstation next to the food and wet bar I’ll be hard at work at my HP machine cranking out the HPBNC hits. I’ll be posting all sorts of cool content from the tournament including blogs, tweets, photos, videos, behind the scenes features and anything else I can gather. I’d really love to show some content the normal Joe doesn’t see and the regular golf media never covers.

Live Content Stream

The content stream will be found in many places online like here on Hooked On Golf Blog, The Golf Space, the HP Byron Nelson Championship web site, as well as social media outlets like the HOG Twitter, TGS Twitter and Facebook. At the tournament the stream will be live on huge digital screens at the tournament! HP will have a system in place which will be live streaming the social media updates from media (like me) at the tournament as well as fans at the tournament or at home. Fans are allowed to bring media devices into PGA Tour events now and the HP system will also be streaming fans’ updates as well. Needless to say, there will be a social media blitz coming from this tour event on a level which has never before been reached.

HP Byron Nelson Twitter Hash

To follow the goings on at the Byron with Twitter, simply type this “hash” into Twitter’s search bar: #hpbnc Or you can follow this hpbnc Twitter link.

If you want to post your own updates which may appear live on the boards at the tournament, just post the hash “#hpbnc” (without the quotes) in a tweet. Keep in mind, that they’ll be moderated at the tournament so any boneheads who type inappropriate content won’t get their 10 seconds of fame.

Events & Attractions

Not only will I be providing content about the tournament, I’ll be checking out all of the cool events and attractions at the Byron.

HP has a “Technology Zone” which will have all sorts of cool high tech gadgetry for people to experience. The zone is open from 9am-6pm Wednesday through Sunday.

There will also be another zone, this one for kids. Inside the “KidsZone” are all sorts of fun activities like mini golf, bouncing, arts and crafts, as well as interactive games. Maybe I’ll take on a kid or two at mini-golf and see if I can beat them out of their allowance.

Nightly concerts in the HP Pavilion include Professor D, Jack Ingram and Le Freak.

Since it is Memorial Day weekend, there will be several patriotic initiatives at the Byron. The National 9/11 Flag will be on display in the Pavilion Thursday. Patrons will be invited to prepare care packages for our troops in a tent on Champions Way. 1,200 VIP tickets will be distributed to local military as well as complimentary general admission to the tournament to any military member.

Much more…

There will be so much going on, I won’t be able to cover it all so just stay tuned here on HOG/TGS as well as my twitter feeds.

HP Byron Nelson Field

Who’s playing this week at the HP Byron Nelson? Some big names include Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Anthony Kim, Vijay Singh, Brandt Snedeker, Nick Watney and Sergio Garcia. The full field list is below.

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Sergio Garcia WD’s from BRITISH Open qualifier

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, May 23rd, 2011
Categories: European Tour • PGA Tour • Pro Golf
Tags: Sergio Garcia

Can Garcia scratch his way into the British or U.S. Open?

In order to be eligible for the BRITISH (not U.S.) OPEN, Sergio Garcia must go through the qualification process because his world ranking is currently not high enough for automatic entry. That qualification round was to take place today.

Garcia withdrew from his qualifier this morning due to an infected fingernail.

“Unfortunately had to wd from qualifier this morning because of an infected fingernail in my left hand. Couldn’t hold the club comfortably even after 5 holes. Hopefully I’ll be fine for Thursday at the (Byron) Nelson! Sorry guys.” ~Sergio Garcia via Twitter

A fingernail can derail a world class player’s chances to play in the Open. Speechless.

Bridgestone Golf’s “free beer” promotion starts today…

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, May 23rd, 2011
Categories: Golf Balls • Golf Gear • Golf Videos • Interviews • Miscellaneous
Tags: Bridgestone Golf

Did the “free beer” quote get your attention?

Today marks the first day of the ultimate Father’s Day golf gift from Bridgestone Golf. They have a retail package which includes Bridgestone e6 golf balls and cans of Michelob Ultra.

Back at the PGA Show earlier this past winter I did a video interview and found out all about this innovative combination of products. Click read more below if the video isn’t visible.

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Donald and Kaymer – Quest for #1

Written by: Tony Korologos | Saturday, May 21st, 2011
Categories: European Tour • PGA Tour • Pro Golf

Volvo World Match Play Final Four

Semifinal Match #1 – Kaymer vs Donald – The Rematch

Luke Donald or Martin Kaymer could attain the #1 world golf ranking with a win this week at the VWMP. Looks like they’ll have to face each other for the semifinal of the VWMP, in a rematch of the Accenture Match play, which Luke won back in Arizona a few months ago.

Poulter vs Colsaerts

The other semifinal at the VWMP is between Nicolas Colsaerts and Ian Poulter. Colsaerts dispatched Graeme McDowell while Poulter beat Francesto Molinari.

Thoughts

The world golf ranking doesn’t necessarily tell us who the best player is right now. Personally I believe that Luke Donald should own that title.

You could argue that Kaymer, Donald and Poulter are the three best match play competitors on the planet.