GREAT piece of golf photography

WOW!!! Ai Miyazato at the Evian Masters 2011

Darren Clarke is the Open Championship winner for 2011

What a great display of golf and an outstanding display of being a gentleman. Many people will talk about how Darren Clark controlled his shots in the strong winds and read the undulated greens for 4 days of The Open Championship. What the Urban Legend saw was a man who was the epitome of being a gentleman before, during and after those rounds of golf. As I watched him walk the fairways for 4 days I began to think what an honor it was for me to see him navigate the on and off weather, the ups and downs of shots landing or missing the fairways and greens. The questions about his personal and golf life. The questions about how the young Rory McIllroy is replacing him as the topNorthern Ireland golfer. Sir Darren Clarke took all of these questions in stride and like a true gentleman keep a smile on his face and answered each question and challenge one moment at a time. Pure Perfection Sir Darren Clarke!!! Many viewers watch golf to see who the winner will be at the end but the Urban Legend watches golf through various lenses. The lens this week was focused on carrying oneself in a gentlemanly manor. And trust me no was more deserving of getting his name engraved on the Claret Jug than Sir Darren Clarke.

On another note - Northern Ireland male golfers sure seem to be taking over. Has anyone else noticed this???? Darren, Rory, Graeme, Padraig

Fraud of the week – Golf’s World Rankings and the media types who declare that any of these guys in the top 10 are worthy of this ranking. Let alone anyone being declared #1. The golf world ranking should stop posting rankings for about 4-6 months and just hold the data until they have enough information to make solid declarations. Let the European golfers shake out a bit, lets see if Rory and Kaymer can get some more wins. Lets see if Luke Donald and Lee Westwood can take charge. Lets see if Stricker and Phil and the other US golfers can seize the moment. Let the PGA playoffs and the Race to Dubai run its course for the end of 2011. Lets let Tiger get healthy and see if he can get back on form. Then only after all of this has taken place can we say if any one golfer is #1.

Carpe Diem – Rory McIllroy

As the golf world has fallen in love with Rory McIllroy and thoughts lean towards maybe he will be the next Tiger. Many think Rory will surpass some of the records Tiger has set. Many say Rory has the best swing they have ever seen….EVER. They say Rory has the demeanor of someone on tour with long staying power. These are all comments from the top media individuals and some players on tour.

Now hear is what the Urban Legend Says – Glad to see him bounce back with a win and a major championship. His swing is always on balance. I am not sure he can accomplish what Tiger has because there are some young guns his age who want his spot. The main young gun on Rory’s divots (LOL – instead of heels – divots) is Jason Day. Jason Day has a swing just as nice as Rory’s and has come in second the last two major championships. That means he is knocking on the door and in his mind, I am sure he believes he will win the British Open. Jason Day hits it as long as Rory though not as straight but Jason scrambles with the best of them and he too can handle the pressure. The Urban Legend thinks Rory will have a tough time winning multiple majors because of the following:

Jason Day

Dustin Johnson

Martin Kaymer

Johnny Vegas

Ryo Ishikawa

Louis Oosthuizen

Ricky Fowler

They are all young and hungry. They all know the opportunity is now!!! “Carpe Diem”

Innsbrook - Transitions Championship

Congratulations to Gary Woodland for his 1^st PGA Tour victory. What the Urban Legend found interesting was the fact that he still carries a 2 iron in his bag and on the 18^th and final hole Sunday he decided it was time to pull it out. The tournament was on the line and he needed to hit the narrow fairway at all cost to ensure an opportunity to get a par on the difficult hole. The announcers thought a 3 wood was the preferred play but Mr Woodland decided to go down another notch to the 2 iron. Not a hybrid but a 2 iron. He hit it 280 yards right down the middle. It was awesome and it was old school just the way the Urban Legend likes it.

http://www.pgatour.com/players/03/13/23/

2011 Season is under way...

2011 Golf season is under way and lets see how things play out. A few thoughts as we start the 2011 season.

• Of course all eyes are on Tiger Woods and the big question is will he get back to the old Tiger.
• Next question is what will the PGA Tour do to keep players playing in their BIG events and not opting out. Many European Tour Players have already stated they will not play in the Players Championship.
• Who will be the most stylish player on tour.?
• Will the PGA tour have more events in Prime Time?
• Will the ghost driver take over golf?
• Will anyone care about the LPGA?
• Can Grahme McDowell keep it up?
• Will Dustin Johnson get it done?
• Will Sergio Garcia care about golf again?
• Will John Daly stop wearing the ugly clothing?
• Will the PGA stop saying TV Viewers are calling in penalties on players? No one has the phone number PGA - Stop it!!!

Lots of questions and nothing is more exciting than the beginning of the golf season. Everyone has chance to be the best golfer they can be in January......

Sand save for $10million dollars…WHOA

Sand save for $10million dollars…WHOA
How good is your bunker game….better yet when was the last time you dropped 10 balls in the bunker and started practicing some bunker shots? Mr. Jim Furyk was on the final whole of the FedEx Cup playoffs and what stood between him and a $10million dollar pay out, really almost $11million with the winnings of $1million from the Tour Championship tournament, was a sand save. Oh yeah it was raining and it was chilly but the pro that he is, he was able to make the sand save and get the big checks. I am extremely happy for Mr. Furyk because if you remember back to the first Playoff event at The Barclay's he was disqualified for over sleeping and not making his ProAM tee time. At the time we were still talking about Dustin Johnson and the bunker incident and Julie Inkster and the weighted club incident. Lots of talk around reviewing the ancient rules in the rule book to make them more player friendly. Why I am so happy for Jim Furyk is because he did not squawk or complain and he did not even mention it going into week 2 at Deutsche Bank. He just put the tee in the ground and played. A lot to be said for his actions and taking the high road. In taking the high road the golf gods lined him up to make a sand save for $10million dollars. Congrats to the man who goes about his business his way, his swing, his bald head, and his hat on backwards on the final hole of the 2010 PGA TOUR Playoffs.

FRAUD OF THE WEEK - I am not sure were I want to go with this selection because so many players have disappointed me going into Atlanta. Dustin Johnson just need a big week to make up for the downs of 2010 and did not take advantage. Matt Kuchar was the darling of the final weeks of the regular season and going into the playoffs and all he did was smile and blow a chance at $10million. Paul Casey was also in prime position to take the FedEx Cup overseas and I am noticing a trend with him and he seems to not play well on Sundays under the pressure.

Move on Young Man....

Golf is the one sport were a person can learn from past experiences and immediately start the process of becoming a better person. So much has been made about the faulters in Dustin Johnson's 2010 season. The media is so crazy with statements that he has missed opportunities, he might not recover, etc. What Dustin Johnson has shown is something that most non athletes no nothing about poise. Poise to embrace the present, let the past go and look forward to a bright future. The thing I observed this Sunday after his Big win in a Playoff event was his demeanor after the win. Seemed to be the same guy who lost a 2 Majors. Very Poised!!! Congratulations to Dustin Johnson and I hope in my heart that he wins in Atlanta and wins the FedEx Cup.

FRAUD OF WEEK - This person had on white framed sun glasses and came into Sunday with a 3 shot lead and all the momentum in the world. And somehow someway found a way to lose the tournament. This person was suppose to be the next HUGE star in golf and has not fulfilled the expectations at all. This person is still one of my favorites and has an awesome twitter account. Ms Michelle Wie…LOL Go get em girl and hopefully you will get another win soon:):)