New World Order: Covering nine with the ghost of Ben Hogan The PGA Tour this week stops at Colonial, nicknamed Hogan's Alley because of Ben Hogan's dominance there. Steve Elling marks the occasion with nine interesting items about one of the most enigmatic players ever in New World Order. After years of missed cuts and subpar play, Kim's ready to get healthy Two years of missed cuts, withdrawals, embarrassing results and relative poverty. Anthony Kim is playing with a litany of aches, but Steve Elling says the one-time up-and-comer is ready to take time off to get healthy. Will PGA Tour make quick moves to rein in slow play? Na The Players Championship turned into an excruciating slow-play display with fans turning on staggering Kevin Na. Steve Elling feels the galleries' pain and says the tour must finally fix the problem -- and fast. On the Tee: HP Byron Nelson Championship Keegan Bradley made headlines as after winning last year's Byron Nelson Championship in his first Grand Slam appearance. This time around, Steve Elling says people will know his name as he tries to defend his title. New World Order: Observing the great Byron Nelson on eve of his event Byron Nelson was the prototype golfer, a swing so perfect a teaching robot recreated it. As the HP Byron Nelson Championship looms, Steve Elling says we must pay homage to an all-time great human being. Kuchar soft? Players Championship title, off-course demeanor belie that Matt Kuchar isn't supposed to be tough enough to win. With a Players Championship title under his belt, that criticism is dispelled. Steve Elling says Kuchar has a competitive streak that belies his always-pleasant demeanor. Fowler's horde of fans grows by two legends at TPC Sawgrass Fan favorite Rickie Fowler has added two iconic peers to his bandwagon. The young Californian is in
great shape at the Players Championship and Steve Elling finds Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the
shaggy one's corner. Mystery of TPC Sawgrass, not sense of humor, still eludes McIlroy Three tries, three missed cuts. But the way Rory McIlroy figures it, he has another 20 chances to figure out TPC Sawgrass. It might take that long to solve what Steve Elling calls the trickiest track in golf. Only hard-to-miss fan makes any noise in Tiger's opening 74 at Players Tiger Woods' opening round Thursday at the Players Championship was memorable for two reasons: He made it 18 holes, and a female fan was raucously present every step of the way. The 74? Not much to talk about, Steve Elling says. Stars take back seat to uniquely challenging TPC Sawgrass at Players It starts with accuracy off the tee, not only finding the fairways but the right spots. Approaches must be precise. Putting is huge. Steve Elling says it takes a complete game to win the Players on its headlining course. New World Order: 10 things to make No. 17 at Sawgrass more famous From water balls to birdies to the unforgettable, No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass is golf's most famous hole. With The Players Championship on tap this week, Steve Elling pulls 10 anecdotes out of the bag. On the Tee: Players Championship It's not the most elegant of a prolific career, but K.J. Choi will take his 2011 win at The Players Championship. Steve Elling says he's in for a fight to repeat with 44 of the world's top 50 at TPC Sawgrass this week. High-flying Mickelson enters Hall winging it all the way Phil Mickelson carries his amazing 40 PGA Tour victories and four majors into the World Golf Hall of Fame. And Steve Elling says the occasionally goofy Lefty has done it with a flair not seen since Arnold Palmer. Fowler's win at Quail Hollow finally gets the gorilla off his back Rickie Fowler has been one of the more popular golfers on tour despite having no wins. Steve Elling says there isn't much standing in Fowler's way now after finally taking in his first PGA Tour win at Quail Hollow. McIlroy in comfortable position at Quail Hollow for No. 1 Just two shots back for the Quail Hollow lead, Rory McIlroy doesn't have to win to become No. 1. But Steve Elling says a triumph would stir memories and elevate his stature. Disappearing act: After ball vanishes, Woods will get weekend off Tiger Woods' new groove is gone. The slump is back. Steve Elling says even a rules break can't save Woods at Quail Hollow, where Tiger may miss the cut after two rounds that had mediocrity written all over them. Fowler, still in search of first PGA win, fires 66 at Quail Hollow For all the attention he garners, Ricky Fowler is yet to win on the PGA Tour. That's his main goal for 2012. With a 6-under 66 to kick off the Wells Fargo, he's in striking position, but Steve Elling says the clock is starting to tick. New World Order: Skewed rankings show need for new system Tour golfers playing in podunk events in Indonesia get as many rankings points as those playing traditional PGA events in the U.S.? Steve Elling says that's hogwash -- it's time for a new rankings system.
April
Name like a question, but rookie Huh has answers in startling tour start His name first catches your attention, but John Huh's game is generating the conversation now. Steve Elling says the 21-year-old rookie is off to a spectacular start that's almost as remarkable as his journey to the PGA Tour. New World Order: La. has great golfers? Neaux way! But it's true In a state known more for Mardi Gras, gators and jambalaya, Louisiana has cooked up quite a stew of golfers. Steve Elling says this amazing list, going back to pre-World War II, starts with a Thunder Bolt. Bubba's 'arrival' creates buzz, but few likely to follow his route The golf world is talking about Bubba Watson and his self-made Masters championship. But Steve Elling says anybody looking for a trend shouldn't bother; Watson's too unique to have any broad impact on the game. New World Order: It's a phat time to be a Swede in game of golf Seems fitting the pudgy Swedish Bubba, Carl Pettersson, is now tied with his skinny, rather eccentric compatriot Jesper Parnevik with five tour wins. Steve Elling says it's a Swede time to play golf. For players like Watson, ADD a frenetic mix of impediment, edge He hasn't been clinically diagnosed, but all signs -- and friends and family -- say Masters champion Bubba Watson has attention deficit disorder. Steve Elling says the condition is a mixed bag for golfers at the highest level. New World Order: Bubba, Phil helping Yanks make major move The world had been kicking American tails for some time, evidenced by six major titles in a row. But Bubba Watson triumph in Augusta helps further a Yank charge that has Steve Elling wishing for a Ryder Cup now. Watson swings it and wings it all the way to Masters victory He doesn't use swing coaches. He fidgets, and sometimes refers to himself in the third person. But none of that stops Bubba Watson from winning the Masters. Steve Elling says it's something that endears everyone to him. Mickelson wakes up Augusta, in position for fourth green jacket Phil Mickelson unleashes a familiar Lefty run and trails Masters leader Peter Hanson -- his pair for the final round -- by one. Steve Elling says Augusta brings out the best in Mickelson, who has history in his sights. In a love-hate affair with Augusta, Friday the former for Garcia Sergio Garcia claims to love Augusta National, though some past results and comments would indicate otherwise. Steve Elling says Friday was one of the good days, a 68 that has Garcia in full contention heading into the weekend. Tiger far from his best at Augusta, and he knows it Tiger Woods couldn't put any dressing on his first round at the Masters as he sprayed the ball all over Augusta National. It was ugly, but Steve Elling says not totally disastrous to the truth-telling Tiger. Hot or cold, Tiger and Phil show they're masters of Augusta Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson always seem to have their A games at Augusta in good, bad or train-wreck years. Steve Elling says the Masters just always seems to fit the majestic-hitting pair like a green jacket. Trying to put a finger on cause of Tiger's Masters drought? Try putting Tiger Woods hasn't won the Masters in seven years, and Steve Elling pins most of the blame on the putter. It all comes down to the greens at Augusta, and a shaky flat stick will doom anyone's chances of winning. After epic Masters collapse, McIlroy had nowhere to go but up -- and did After his for-the-ages Masters meltdown last year, Rory McIlroy says his career might have been at a crossroads. If it was, then Steve Elling says McIlroy responded with a level of maturity and talent that defies his youth.
March
New World Order: Top 10 insights related to Haney's book on Tiger Tiger curses? Who knew? He can be selfish and petty? You don't say! Steve Elling digs into The Big Miss, the tell-all by Woods' former swing coach, and turns up 10 of the book's most illuminating points. Almost -- ALMOST -- as if he never left, Tiger's back on top Playing and personal issues vanish on the back nine as Tiger Woods ends a two years-plus PGA Tour winless skid. As the Masters approaches, Steve Elling says it's like old times right down to the Bay Hill locale. All eyes on Tiger in bid for victory with deep meaning Tiger Woods heads into the final round at Bay Hill with the lead. Steve Elling says if he can finish it off, it will be more than just win No. 72 for a man who has been through a total overhaul. McDowell past distractions, looks like himself with scorching 63 at Bay Hill After a spectacular season in 2010, Graeme McDowell endured the opposite in 2011, and one of the low points was at Bay Hill. Steve Elling says a rebooted McDowell looks like his old self Friday with a 63 at the same place. Kim keeps it in the park, revisits contender status at Bay Hill The Bay Hill leader Thursday was Charlie Wi with a 66, but the leader in his own mind had to be erstwhile phenom Anthony Kim. Steve Elling says Kim's 69 showed at least a flash that his game might be back on course -- literally. Biggest overhaul in PGA Tour history better be dead-on The PGA Tour announces massive structural changes regarding Q-school and the schedule. Steve Elling says it's going to take a lot of spin to call it an upgrade, and the tour better be right the first time around. New World Order: Little luck involved in Tiger's seven Bay Hill victories Bay Hill used to be in Tiger's backyard, and he has performed there as if it were a home game for years. Steve Elling runs down Woods' seven career victories, amateur and professional, at Arnie's Place. Trickle turns to flood of Korean players onto PGA Tour It started quietly, and momentum built with K.J. Choi's success and Y.E. Yang vanquishing Tiger Woods in the 2009 PGA Championship. Now, Steve Elling says, Koreans are the second-largest group on tour, with several possible explanations. New World Order: Tournaments battling timing handicaps The golf schedule isn't fair, and with the top guys playing less, that has become ever more clear. Steve Elling offers seven events fighting uphill battles in terms of timing and drawing top players.
