Ricky Fowler puts a shot in the water, and then makes a nice recovery from his drop.

Phil Mickelson has initiated a lawsuit against a Canadian Internet Service Provider to find the identity of an internet troll who has been making defamatory comments. From Fox News:

Phil Mickelson filed a lawsuit against an Internet service provider in Canada to learn the identity of a person who has been posting “vexatious statements” that the four-time major champion says is a deliberate attack on his reputation.
“I’m all for freedom of speech, but I won’t tolerate defamation,” Mickelson said Thursday after his opening round in the Phoenix Open.

The person or persons involved apparently have said that Mickelson’s wife had an affair and the he has fathered a child out of wedlock.

That’s not good. But it leads me to wonder about how the law works in Canada. Assuming Mickelson does obtain the name of the troll, what then? I’m no lawyer, but in the US, it seems to be fairly difficult for a public figure to obtain satisfaction. As I understand it, actual malice has to be proven. And while making such accusations may seem obviously malicious, it surely will be difficult to prove what’s in a person’s mind. The defense could argue that the suspect believed it to be true. And who is to say otherwise?

Good luck to Phil, though.

by guest blogger David F. Cline

Storing Your Cigars

So – your family and friends got you some cigars for Christmas, and while you were able to smoke one or two with the garage door open, the cold winter is preventing you from lighting up as much as you would like. What to do?

First of all, make sure you keep your cigars stored properly. If you don’t have a humidor, get one. The initial cost is worth the investment, and you will have peace of mind knowing you can keep your cigars stored for weeks at a time without them spoiling, drying out, or losing their flavor.

If you don’t have a humidor yet, get one. In a pinch, your local cigar shop will probably have plastic bags lined with a humidifying agent - that will work for the short term. Your best bet, depending on how many cigars you plan to keep at a time, is to invest in a good quality humidor. They are available online, and all good cigar stores should stock them. The key to a good humidor is properly seasoning it, then keeping the element moist. There are many options to choose from, from water pouches to crystal-filled tubes to the elements that come with most humidors. Find what works best for you, and check it periodically to make sure the inside of your humidor is not drying out.

As nice as it is to have a well-seasoned humidor full of cigars, that really is not the goal. After all, why have cigars if you don’t plan to smoke them? Ah, the chill of winter … but all is not lost. If your stogie preference is for a torpedo or robusto – five-inch or longer cigars with a ring gauge of 50 or 52 – you may want to get a few coronas of the same brand. Coronas are shorter and have a smaller ring gauge, so they won’t burn as long as other sizes – an advantage for cold weather days. Cigars with larger ring gauges allegedly have a deeper, richer flavor, but remember that each cigar has the same blend of tobacco. In other words, A Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Corona has the same blend as a Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Torpedo. The only difference is the size.

Speaking of Rocky Patel, have you taken part in any cigar auctions yet? I just picked up a 14-stick Rocky Patel sampler for $55 – less than half what I would pay in a cigar store. Give the auction sites a try – I think you will be pleased with the results.

Golf Themed Chess Set Pieces

Ridiculous Golf Item of the Week

When I turned on the Golf Channel this afternoon to watch the Phoenix Open, one of the first things I heard was that the round likely would need to finish on Friday. That’s because play was delayed for an hour in the morning due to frost.

Nonetheless, Ryan Palmer leads with a -7 64, and Webb Simpson is a stroke behind. The leaderboard shows that Bubba Watson, Spencer Levin and Jason Duffner still have a chance to get into the lead. Watson and Levin are at -5 after 15, and Duffner is at -4 through 13. Bo Van Pelt also is still on the course at -4 through 14. Finally, Seung-Yul Noh is at -4 through 12.

I’d really hate to be one of the guys who has to sit around all night and think about finishing the round in the am, and then turn around and play again later that morning.

Bubba Watson has released a new video of his drive to the course in the General Lee, which he recently purchased.

Bandon Dunes

Here’s an event I’d like to attend: A golf and wine tour at Bandon Dunes. The cost of the trip is $4,750 based on double occupancy and includes: four nights’ lodging, four rounds of golf as well as a round on the new Par 3, all meals, four evening winery dinners, all wines, gratuities, and much more.  Reservations are limited to just 20 participants on a first come/first serve basis.

There’s a terrific book on the building of the Bandon Dunes complex. You can read my review of Dream Golf here.