BY: CB MAXWELL

"if you can´t win the US Open with a blown ACL and a fractured Tibia...What the heck good are you?"

Okay folks, we have just witnessed maybe the gutsiest performance in sports history in the 2008 edition of the US Open Championship. Tiger Woods, the greatest golfer to ever play the game, (yes, I think we can say that now) gave us a show for the ages. Basically playing on one leg he held off the entire field and then was taken to the limit by fan favorite Rocco Mediate. Yep, that big ol’ bone had a stress fracture, and a blown ACL from earlier in 2007 while running.

TIGER SAID: "I know much was made of my knee throughout the last week, and it was important to me that I disclose my condition publicly at an appropriate time. I wanted to be very respectful of the USGA and their incredibly hard work, and make sure the focus was on the U.S. Open," Woods said on his Web site. "Now, it is clear that the right thing to do is to listen to my doctors, follow through with this surgery, and focus my attention on rehabilitating my knee."

My prediction is this: There is going to come a time when he will have to have a full blown knee replacement with custom made Swiss titanium, plastic fantastic knee that will we be specifically made to withstand the forces he brings to a golf ball...over 120 mph, phwoosh.

The good news is that some of the “others” on the Tour will be able to pick up some wins, but the question remains, who will be watching or caring?

Who knows, maybe Sergio can bring home the OPEN Championship this year. As for Retief Goosen and his comments, that Tiger was “acting” what an ass, and he best be sending Tiger a written apology.

Get well Tiger, we will miss you.

I was at the PGA Show and have just returned.

As I walked by the Golfweek booth and saw the cover, I almost fell over. The visceral reaction I had was strong, and as everyone knows, I am not very good at PC behavior or words for that matter. In the press room, every single golf journalist, writer, publicist was appalled at the premeditated callous knife in the back of Kelly and the issue, without really exploring it.

Kelly´s comment was racist based period. Did she mean harm? Of course not, just some good ol´ boy southern humor, which was offensive to many. It was interesting that Jeff Rude (Golfweek writer) said that the vast majority of emails he received said it was no big deal. I was one of three emails criticizing his "covering" for Kelly and received a call back to publish the same comments that got me in so much hot water here.

Diversity in golf? Is this a question? Should the golf industry be subject to more criticism because so few African American´s play the game? I don´t think so. If we simply look to the cultural makeup of any sport, we see those who have access...play. Soccer, baseball, basketball, football...there is lots of money and major support systems in place to bring talent to there respective games.
Hispanics and Latinos are replacing blacks in baseball. Blacks gravitate to basketball and football, where millions of dollars are at stake, even for those just leaving high school...think Kobe Bryant. Blacks dominate basketball, and no one is saying we need affirmative action to bring more white players are they?

Golf is an elitist sport. Always has been, likely always will be. It is expensive. It is for those with too much time on their hands to learn the game with proper instruction. It is for those who embrace the tradition that made the game great.
What I see happening is a coarsening of the game. Drunk hackers who will threaten you if you ask to play through. 6 hour rounds. 7500 yard courses when the majority can´t break 100. It is out of control and the industry is suffering the consequences.
More and more manufacturers are opting out of the show. Fewer and fewer visitors come to the PGA Show. Total cynicism from the golf media, most perfectly exampled by the Golfweek cover.

As one senior Golfweek writer expressed it me, when I asked the age of the editor who was fired, he said he was 55, but the editorial staff below him were all 30 something guys who thought this cover would be "edgy." Smart move boys.

Golf doesn´t need to be edgy. Golf needs to rediscover it roots, and that it is this it is not a game for the masses, as much as the PGA has said "we need to grow the game." Everyone played baseball as a kid, and everyone has a hoop on his garage, or in the park. Golf takes training. Golf takes money. Golf take dedication. Golf takes time. It doesn´t take two minutes to learn to shoot a basketball. It doesn´t take two minutes to learn to throw a baseball. It takes one minute to learn how to run. It takes ten minutes to learn to ride a bike. Nicklaus says it takes five years of dedicated practice to learn to play golf. It is not, and should not be for everyone.

Kelly should go to FOX.

Well, well, KJ Choi has once again showed that he is indeed a world class player as he scored his 7th PGA Tour Win at the Sony Open to begin his ´08 season matching Jim Furyk and Ernie Els with wins on Tour. Now all he as to do is get a Major under his belt.

Recently, he signed an endorsement deal with the folks at SuperStroke, the "big fat ugly" grip that served him so well last year. The oversized putting grip helps minimize the wrists and tension in the putting stroke and since he has used it he is well over $3 Million in earnings and moved into the top 5 players in the world. This tournament was won by strong iron play and consistent driving, and his first day out his Putts in GIR, was in 1.58 which put him squarely in the lead. KJ is so convinced in the grip, that he had the company make him his very own signature model. Look for other players this year to come on-board with this over-sized putting grip technology.  There are now over 500 retailers nationwide where you can try it.  Or order online, with a 30 day money back guarantee.

The company will be showing off their new pro version of the grip at this years PGA Show. Look for a column here next week for my Maxwell Media Marketing Awards for exciting new products. For more information on the SuperStroke grip go to: www.superstrokegrip.com

I have been using it with great results particularly on the 5 to 6 foot ranges.

The current issue of Golf Today (OCT) featured the handheld GPS from Golf Logix. (www.golflogix.com) 

Look for more coverage on this device in our upcoming NOV issue.  This is one cool device.  I have had a unit for about a month to do my own testing and I can tell you this, it is simple, easy to use, and spot on accurate.  At virtually every marker I stopped at on any golf course I have tested it, it is accurate to within a yard.  As you may have read in the Page 23 story (you can read it for yourself in our digital magazine here by simply clicking on the COVER on our home page) and see the head to head comparison to another leading brand.

Once I received my unit, it was a VERY simple matter to download courses.  First you go to their website and download their Course management program.  Then you plug in your device to any USB port on your computer.  Go to the Select a Course feature, and go to any city or state and find your course.  Click Save, and then add them to your device.  You can load up to ten at once and it only takes a few minutes.  If you want to load a different course, you can by simply repeating the process.  Every time you load a new set of courses, it drops the ones you have currently.

They also take requests for courses that are not available...but with over 13,000 available, you are going to have to look far and wide for one not listed, but if you do, a simple email request, and with a day or two, you get an email saying the course is now available.

The best part about the Golf Logix GPS is the big screen, which is easy to read and the two button operation.  It gives distances to hazards, doglegs, front and back and center of green.  And it automatically scrolls forward to the next position without doing a thing.  So, I just set in on my cart seat and go to my ball and bingo(!) there is my distance!

This device is made by Garmin, the world´s leader in all types of GPS:

"Since 1999, GolfLogix is the undisputed leader in golf GPS. Our GPS gives you the precise accuracy and rugged durability that you need for a high-quality outdoor electronic device. GolfLogix GPS is manufactured by Garmin, the world leader in GPS technology. Garmin is a $14 billion company and is #1 in the Aviation, Automotive, Marine and Outdoor-Personal GPS navigation markets. We are so confident in our product’s functionality and reliability that we offer a 30-day money back guarantee and a full unlimited 1-year warranty. See how our leading competitor doesn’t even come close!"  (Excerpted from the Golf Logix Website.)

And when these guys say rugged, it truly is.  And it is waterproof..now I haven´t dropped it in a bucket of water yet to test it, but you can tell by the feel of the unit in your hands that this was made to withstand a Bagdad attack.

Anyway, look for more excitement in the GPS category as the titans of industry duke it out for prominence.  Later...

Congratulations to Golf Today, and happy birthday! 21 years of bringing the best golf information and stories to the West! And now our brand new spanking website. IF you click on the home page Cover Story in the upper left hand corner, it will open up our digital version of the whole magazine! Awesome.

We have had some great success stories this year with some of our sponsors. I think the best one is about our friends at Super Stroke Grip, the oversized putting grip we featured early in the Spring. Well dang if KJ Choi didn´t pick one up from their infomercial and win the AT&T National at Congressional and had everyone on TV talking about. They have gone to penetrate the retail market so, you should be able to find one just about everywhere, but if not, they have an easy order system online, and a 30 day guarantee, so don´t be afraid to try one. They definitely relax your hands and promote a shoulder based stroke. We will be featuring them on our next Cover Story.

www.superstrokegrip.com