Can we get tee times from August 28th through September 2nd?

There’s not another golf destination in the world that can host 3100 golfers on 52 area courses and still say, “come on down we’ve got plenty of room!” August 30^th through September 2^nd the Myrtle Beach area hosts the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship. Practice rounds and pre-tournament warm-up events actually begin as early as Friday the 27^th. That’s a week of great golf.

Even though you might not be playing in the World Amateur, there’s still plenty of room for your group’s quick get away. And there’s plenty of tee times and great golf awaiting you.  Check in with the Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts golf director and staff to get the ball rolling. 800-682-5699 or http://www.myrtlebeachgolf.net/

Handicapping the FedEx Cup virtually impossible

The FedEx Cup playoffs get under way this week at The Barclays with no clear favorite.  Usually, Woods would be most everyone’s choice, but he’s at No. 112 in the standings, between Bob Estes and Cameron Beckman. Besides, we're saving Tiger for the Ryder Cup.

Ernie Els is on top of the standings with 2 wins and 6 top 10 finishes. Furyk, Stricker, Rose and Mahan also have 2 wins and impressive top 10 finishes. Michelson, Overton, Bubba Watson, Kuchar and Clark round out the top 10 in the standings, each with good credentials.  Dustin Johnson is lurking at No. 11.

So, who raises their game to the top and walks away with the FedEx Cup?  Of the players with 1 win, Michelson is probably the favorite choice. Frankly, I’m a little tired of hearing “a win captures the world No. 1 ranking from Tiger” line. Overton hasn’t won a tournament this year. Bubba’s not ready. Kuchar’s too nice. Clark had his moment and Johnson has a cold.

I think the winner comes from a player with 2 wins this year. Els, Furyk and Stricker are great choices if you like steady. Each is built for the long haul the FedEx Cup requires. Rose was hot earlier in the year, but I’m going out on a limb and choose Hunter Mahan.

Life is good for Mahan. He has a pair of wins for the year, 3 top 10 finishes and recently married a former Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. The FedEx Cup is the only thing missing and of course all newly weds need an extra $10 million.

While on this site, take a look at the great golf packages in Myrtle Beach and get yourself and some friends down here! The courses are in great shape and the weather has been spectacular. You may even want to take a cruise on the new Aquasino and get a little sports book on Hunter Mahan. However, if you have even half a brain you’ll avoid my prognostications and just play golf!

What can we say about the PGA Championship?

With all the turmoil involving local favorite Dustin Johnson – and I’ll get to that in a moment – we witnessed a pretty good golf tournament.  “Phil Fans” saw a strong finish by their boy that promises hope for the future. The “Young Guns” shined with many of them getting a taste of being in contention, but showing their not quite ready. Even the “Old Guard” was well represented by Elkington and Furyk.  Of course my pick to win showed signs of the former golfer know as Tiger Woods, but in the end he showed his game isn’t back, yet.

Most importantly congratulations to Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson.  Kaymer made the putt he had to make and Watson’s charge on the back nine reminded many of Arnie’s charges. In the end Kaymer’s game prevailed.

Regarding Dustin you have to feel for him.  Nothing about the incident was right.  There’s no reason for the PGA to have bunkers in-play that far behind the ropes.  I don’t care that everyone should have known.  There’s no reason the fans should be allowed to tear-up those bunkers.  There’s no reason a rules official was not with the leader.  There’s no reason the Marshall did not clear those spectators from the bunker. There’s no reason that Johnson’s caddy didn’t alert him before walking off.  Finally, there’s no reason for Dustin Johnson not to know the local rule that brought the bunker into play.

With all the “No Reasons” one stands out.  Dustin and his caddy should have been aware of the local rule. They should have been clear headed enough to recognize the situation.  Would this have happened with Phil and Bones, or Tiger and Stevie? I don’t think the caddies would have allowed such a glaring error. 

Who’s the favorite this week?

Where did this PGA season go?  Already we’re into the opening round of the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. Michelson’s win at the Masters was a 2010 highlight. McDowell holding on while my hometown favorite melted away provided a U.S. Open that was painful to watch. A virtual unknown won the Open in a Tiger like “no quarter given” fashion. So, what does the PGA Championship hold for us?

Frankly, who knows? We have Michelson coming off a 78 final round at the Bridgestone. Although Tiger’s 77 final round was better, his tournament score of plus 18 was awful. Our U.S. Open winner is for real, but I have no idea if the Open winner (What was that South African’s name?) is even in the field. The No. 3 ranked player in the world is mending and an analyst is fighting a Ryder Cup Captain! If you’ve caught some of my past postings, you know I’m no fan of golf reporters and analysts.

With all that said I believe this is the week that Tiger Woods rights the ship. We know he’s at his best in the Majors. Frankly, even in this most trying of seasons, he has been respectable in the Majors. Remember, I picked Dustin Johnson to win the U.s. Open and looked like a prophet until Dustin played his front nine on sunday. Maybe Tiger can avoid the meltdown.