The 12th event on the Champions Tour’s 2014 schedule, the $1.8 million Encompass Championship, begins its 54-hole run on Friday at North Shore Country Club in Glenview. Last of the event’s three pro-ams is on tap for Thursday and the first two rounds of the 54-hole tourney proper will have a tournament within a tournament,…
Features
Was scheduling back-to-back Opens at Pinehurst No. 2 a good idea?
For American golfers June is the biggest month of the year. It’s U.S. Open time, and this June will be different than all the others. This time you need a primer to know what will be going on, so here goes: The men’s U.S. Open dates back to 1895 and the U.S. Women’s Open to…
IT ZIEHMS TO ME: Getting No. 1 seed gives U.S. boost for International Crown
By Len Ziehm There’s a drawback to designating one prime superstar in a sport. That policy can work to the detriment of others, and that’s what happened this week, when Tiger Woods announced he wouldn’t play in this year’s Masters. In this case the victim was the LPGA, which had its own big news to…
IT ZIEHMS TO ME: International Crown trophy will be impressive
DAYTONA BEACH, FL. – I’ll let you in on a secret. The trophy that will go to the winner of the LPGA’s biggest-ever event will be one of the most impressive in all of sports. I received a sneak preview of the prize that the players in the new International Crown event will play for…
LinksVideo partnership gives LZOG a new dimension
The lenziehmongolf.com website is proud to announce a sixth partnership agreement – and this one is much different than the other five. Dave “Links’’ Lockhart (left), who has worked for over 20 years in the golf media business and created three award-winning golf TV shows, is bringing his LinksVideo.net to a golf promotional effort that…
SentryWorld’s renovation will trigger a big golf year in Wisconsin
We Illinois golf fanatics had best disregard the state line boundaries. Our neighbor to the north, Wisconsin, isn’t far away – no matter where you live in Illinois – and that’s where the action is these days. It’d be a shame not to enjoy it to the fullest. For whatever reason, golf progress in Illinois…
PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW: Tour Edge is quick to unveil its latest Exotics
ORLANDO, FL. – It’s become a tradition now. For the ninth straight year David Glod, president of Batavia-based Tour Edge, has gotten a jump on his club manufacturing rivals at the massive 61st annual PGA Merchandise Show. The biggest show in golf begins a three-day run at the Orange County Convention Center on Wednesday with…
IT ZIEHMS TO ME: LPGA Legends deserve a U.S. Women’s Senior Open
The LPGA Legends Tour announced its schedule for 2014 last week, and it’s good one. This circuit for players 45 and over continued its slow but steady growth and created more attractive dates for its biggest championship. Still, the circuit has a glaring absence on the slate for its 14th season. The Legends – with…
IT ZIEHMS TO ME: Sainz, Pope, India earn Web.com Tour spots
By Len Ziehm The Chicago area will have three new players competing on a major pro golf tour in 2014. Carlos Sainz Jr., Andy Pope and Vince India all advanced through the rigorous Web.com Tour qualifying school this week. With the PGA Tour revamping its qualifying procedure, its satellite Web.com circuit claimed the survivors of…
IT ZIEHMS TO ME: New Concession Cup will bring back good memories
BRADENTON, FL. – The Ryder Cup matches have produced plenty of drama over the years, but one of the most memorable events in the competition didn’t involve anyone hitting a shot. It came in 1969 at England’s Royal Birkdale, in the final singles match between American Jack Nicklaus and England’s Tony Jacklin. Nicklaus conceded a…