Tiger Woods has posted a message on his website about his recent affairs. Tiger Woods says he is taking an indefinite break from professional golf. He also apologizes for his infidelity.
I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try.
I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What's most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.
After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.
Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.
Over the past couple of weeks we have learned that Tiger Woods was repeatedly unfaithful to his wife and had affairs with at least a dozen women including porn stars. It isn't a surprise that he is taking a break. It won't be good for professional golf to lose its star but it is likely better for the sport in the long run if he takes a break and repairs his image, his personal life and his health before returning. Some of Tiger Woods sponsors are already using Tiger's exit as a chance to drop him.
CNN's Rafael Romo reports that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has declared war on the game of golf. Hugo Chavez thinks golfers are lazy. Chavez is seizing golf courses in Venezuela in order to turn them into public housing projects. Venezuela still has 23 golf courses but they are risk of being taken over by Chavez. Take a look:
Nullarbor Links is the World's Longest Golf Course
Nullarbor Links is the world's longest golf course. The 18-hole par 72 golf course will span 1,365 kilometers with one hole in each participating town or roadhouse along the Eyre Highway, from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia. Each hole includes a green and tee and a somewhat rugged outback-style natural terrain fairway. Hazards include
You can find more information and photos of the course on the official website.
Annika Sorenstam says she is happily retired. She still serves as an advisor to the LPGA tour but she won't be coming out of retirement. She says the LPGA is in survival mode because of the economy. She also helped get golf in the Olympics in 2016. Take a look:
Golf will be returning as an Olympic sport for ths first time since 1904 at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Golfers are excited about the chance at a gold medal. It is also exciting for fans. It should be interesting to see golfering competing for such a huge non-monetary prize. Too bad we have to wait until 2016.
Tiger Woods said, "I think it's great for golf. It's a perfect fit for the Olympics and I think we are all looking forward to golf getting into the Olympics."
Jason Hargett, a Utah restaurant manager, made a hole-in-one that earned him $1 million at the Mark Eaton charity golf tournament in Utah. Take a look:
Tiger Woods won the Buick Open for the third time in his career. Tiger finished three strokes ahead of Roland Thatcher, Greg Chalmers and John Senden. You can see a tournament overview here on PGATour.com. This is Tiger's 69th PGA Tour title of his career. It is his fourth win this year in eleven starts.
Tiger Woods shot a shot a 4-over 74 and missed the cut at the British Open on Friday. It is only the second time in his career he has missed the cut.You can see the leaderboard here. Tiger said he "just didn't play certain holes well." Take a look:
Top-ranked Tiger Woods is hoping to win the The Golf Champion Trophy (aka the Claret Jug) at the British Open this year. Tiger Woods missed last year's British Open at Turnberry. Defending champion Padraig Harrington says he is hopeful rather than expectant. CBS has a list of the tournament field here.
Lucas Glover is the winner of the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open was already unusual this year as play extended into Monday because of rain delays. Lucas Glover built a small lead Monday as others around him struggled.
With his challengers faltering ahead of him, he suddenly had a two-stroke advantage. After a par on the 17th, which had bedeviled Phil Mickelson and David Duval moments earlier, he walked to the par-four 18th leading by two. Eliminating any possibility of a Jean Van de Velde moment, he played safely, hitting a six-iron off the tee, then two-putting for par and a two-stroke win.
It was Lucas Glover's first major championship win. The final leaderboard can be found here. You can read more about Glover's win here, here and here. Lucas Glover's official profile can be found here.
The AP reports that Phil Mickelson is returning to the PGA Tour after stepping out to be with his wife, Amy Mickelson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. He will also be back in time for the U.S. Open. The Mickelson's say recent tests have given hope that Amy Mickelson will be able to fight the breast cancer. Hopefully, she will be able to make a full recover.
The AP reports that three-time major champion Phil Mickelson has temporarily left the PGA Tour after learning his wife has Amy Mickelson has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is one of the most visible wives on the PGA Tour. It is not known how long Phil Mickelson will be out.
The key to designing the perfect golf ball is all in the dimples. Today's golf balls have between 250 and 400 dimples. Reuters reports that a Japanese rubber company has found a way to create the perfect golf ball with the optimal dimple pattern using complex computer software. The company doesn't yet have the solution but they believe they will eventually find it.
Media Life reports that Travel + Leisure Golf magazine will be folding. They say the ad pages for the publication plunged 14% in 2008 and 54% in the fourth quarter of last year.
"While the award-winning editorial product has enjoyed a loyal and passionate following, the current advertising climate has severely impacted the magazine's bottom line to where the short-term and mid-term prospects for the magazine are not viable," president and CEO Ed Kelly said in a statement.
The combination of the Internet and a recession is making print magazine closures a common thing but it's still sad when a good magazine is lost. The publication's website can be found here.
Tiger Woods will make his return to golf in next week's Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Arizona. Tiger has been out for several months following reconstructive surgery to repair cartilage damageon his left knee. Tiger has been practicing since December. See also ESPN, New York Times and MSNBC.