Xeon Centre Putter

The Pinemeadow Xeon Center Putter offers many of the features of the popular Yes! Golf C-Groove series at a fraction of the price. Like the Yes!, it’s got the circular grooved face that’s supposed to make the ball start rolling more quickly.

The club has an offset hosel to preposition the hands at address and a nice, rounded look at address. The position of the hosel over the blade is supplsed to force the weight of the club behind the ball at impact.

As with all clubs by Pinemeadow, this one comes with a 30 day guarantee.

It’s been a rough year for John Daly, as he has battled through physical injuries and has recently filed for divorce from his fourth wife four months after she finished serving time on federal charges involving an illegal gambling operation and a drug ring.

2007 is not shaping up to be any better. Finishing 193 on the money list, he will be without full playing privileges for the first time since 1991. That means he’ll have to rely on sponsors exemptions to have any chance of making it back on tour. I can’t imagine him going through Q school.

I have a lot of sympathy for Daly—probably because I know a guy who is a lot like him who has had similar run of bad judgment and bad luck. My friend is a large, friendly, somewhat naive, salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. He’s got a heart of gold that has led him to become the victim of several rather evil women. And he has suffered through a list of medical problems that you wouldn’t wish on your enemies. He doesn’t have Daly’s gambling addiction, or self destrictive tendencies, but my buddy makes me realize that there are some really good people for whom things just don’t ever seem to work out.

I imagine that Daly is a lot like that. He probably had the best of intentions when marrying his first wife—and his second—and his third—and his fourth. I’m sure he was completely unprepared for the fame and riches that were thrown at him following his bolt-out-of-the-blue victory at the 1991 PGA. His various addictions probably took him somewhat by surprise. And no one can plan for injuries which pop up at exactly the wrong time.

I hope that—for both my friend and for Daly—things finally settle down and the next year is better than the last few.

HANDRI Hand Dri Pouch

Wet conditions can lead to slippery grips. You don’t want to mess up your swing by hilding the club tighter, so you’ve got to do somethign about the slipperyness.

The Handri pouch contains a substance that soaks up moisture, making it easier to grip the club. The manufacturer says that its is equally effective at removing sunscreen from your nands and at restoring tackiness to grips. I’m putting this one on my Christmas gift wish list.

At the behest of Captain Paul Azinger, the US Ryder Cup team selection process has apparently undergone a much-need revision.

The major change is that eight players win automatic berths on the 2008 team via a points-list based on money earned at PGA Tour events held earlier that season.
Double points will be on offer at the four majors, with single points available at the 2007 majors.

In addition, the number of Captain’s picks has been increased from two to four.

The presumed advantage of this system is that it will stock the US team with the players that are playing their best just prior to the Cup. Under the previous system it was possible for a player to play very well two years before the Cup and then cool off in the Cup year, but still have enough points to get on the team.

Kenny Perry is the poster child for the flaws in the old system. He won three times in 2003 and played poorly in 2004, yet had enough points to get on the team. He lost both of the matches in which he played at Oakland Hills.

“I think this is the best way,” Azinger said. “Money has always been the barometer. We are always rewarded based on our earnings. I really wanted a one-year system because I just felt like something a little more current was going to be the best way to ensure that we had the hottest and best American players on the team”

I like the idea—especially in doubling the number of Captain’s picks. In fact, I think that ALL of the picks should be Captain’s picks. No more of this automatic berth nonsense. And if I were Captain, Tiger would not be one of my picks. Nor would Mickelson. All of my picks would be young, hungry guys who play with passion and joy and exuberance. Who won’t scare their teammates. And who can jump more than six inches off the ground when they sink the winning putt at a major.

And I’d try to get Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Stuart Appleby to become naturalized American citizens.

But all silliness aside, it’s about time something was done. I still have my doubts that it will make much of a difference, but it’s about the only thing that could be done.

Now we’ll see if Azinger can get the American players to focus.

In an effort to elevate its status as an international destination, Moscow is planning to build ten new golf courses by 2012, including a course on the Moscow River near the city center. That’s an ambitious agenda for a city that is snowed in six months out of the year.

The city fathers seem to think that golf will attract international tourists.

I hate to be so negative, but I doubt it. Given all of the other places to go on a golfing vacation, I can’t imagine that Moscow will be on my list. I wouldn’t mind visiting Russia, but it wouldn’t be for the golf.

Professional race driver Paul Tracy’s Champ Car season has ended after he suffered a broken shoulder in a golf cart mishap.

“Sorry to say it was self-inflicted,” Tracy told the Toronto Star. “I was at a party and had a little too much to drink, and we thought it was a good idea to go out on a golf cart and try and jump some sand dunes with it.”

“Like I say, it sounded like a good idea at the time, but it didn’t pan out that way,” Tracy said.

ZERO RESTRICTION Comfortsuede WindStopper Earband

Frankly, you really should have your head covered in cold weather with something like a stocking cap. You lose something like 80% of your body heat through your head. But if you jsut can’t muss up your hair, you might try these windstopper earbands to keep your ears from freezing off.