Stories for May 2012

Lavner: Day 3 marked the end for many at NCAAs

For 22 teams and plenty of individuals, Thursday marked the end of their collegiate season. Maybe even their competitive golf careers. As endings go, it was abrupt, says Ryan Lavner.

Martin: Aztecs could be this year's Augusta State

San Diego State fired a tournament-low, even-par 284 on Thursday to leap into a share of fourth place heading into match play. Could the Aztecs be the 2012 version of Augusta State?

Scores: Round 3 at NCAA Men's Championship

The third-round leaderboard from the 2012 NCAA Men's Championship at Riviera Country Club.

Stallings leads Memorial; McIlroy recovers

Scott Stallings quietly took the lead at the Memorial on Thursday, but most eyes were on Rory McIlroy's recovery, Tiger Woods' solid round and Erik Compton's amazing story.

Mickelson cites fatigue after WD at Memorial

Phil Mickelson says that it wasn't his 7-over 79 that caused his post-round withdrawal from Memorial on Thursday. It was his whirlwind schedule before the event that left him "fatigued."

Tracker: Tiger fires 70; Mickelson WDs

Tiger Woods carded a steady 2-under 70 and is four shots behind leader Scott Stallings. Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson fired a 7-over 79 and withdrew after the round.

McCabe: Muirfield plays starring role at Memorial

Much of the attention on Thursday went to the likes of Tiger Woods, but Muirfield Village was the biggest star.

Auberge Resorts goes northwest; Justice expands

Boutique operator Auberge Resorts added its first Northwest property as Jim Justice, owner of The Greenbrier, continues to add to his growing resort business.

Texas A&M makes a run at match play

Texas A&M won it all in 2009, but has just missed out on match play the past two seasons. After an impressive morning round, the Aggies will be holding their breath again.

Rusty but ready, Marino applauds his return

It was a rocky return to the PGA Tour for Steve Marino after a four-month absence from competitive golf, but as he would say later, it was better than sitting on the couch and watching television.

Oakhurst on the auction block; future uncertain

Oakhurst Links, a pioneer in American golf that annually hosts the National Hickory Championship, is up for sale. Will is still exist by the time next year's championship is played?

Renovations put best face on Kauai golf

Martin Kaufmann made his first trip to Kauai recently, and found the small Hawaiian island surprisingly attractive, especially for golfers.

Slattery's 67 with sore wrist lead Wales Open

Lee Slattery overcame a sore wrist and windy conditions to shoot an opening round 4-under 67 Thursday for a one-shot lead at the Wales Open.

McIlroy recovers from rugged start for 71

Rory McIlroy went from the bunker to the water, walked across the pond to the drop area, then hit into another bunker. When he was done making a mess of the 12th hole at Muirfield Village, he had a quadruple-bogey 7 on his card and wondered if this was going to be another short week.

Nolen (No. 18, 2013) commits to Oklahoma State

Stratton Nolen, ranked No. 18 in the class of 2013 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior Rankings, has given a verbal commitment to Oklahoma State.

East Carolina signee dies in swimming accident

Trevor Times, an East Carolina signee who would have graduated high school in less than a month, died in a Memorial Day swimming accident. Funeral services for the Williamsburg, Va., native take place Friday.

Ochoa to return for LPGA event in Mexico

After retiring in 2010, Lorena Ochoa will return in November to play the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico.

As U.S. Open approaches, Johnson relives '07 Am

Dustin Johnson might not remember match play at the 2007 U.S. Amateur, played at The Olympic Club, too clearly, but it's safe to say his opponent does.

NCAAs: Scoreboard from Round 2 at Riviera

The second-round leaderboard from the 2012 NCAA Men's Championship at Riviera Country Club.

Illinois' Pieters holds two-shot lead at NCAAs

Thomas Pieters is the only player to shoot two rounds in the 60s at Riviera and will take a two-shot lead into Thursday's final round for the individual title.

Martin: Thursday will provide tough test at NCAAs

Sean Martin: Come Thursday morning, the intensity at Riviera will be palpable, with the race for the top eight and the individual champ on the line, setting up what may just be college golf's best day.

Alabama leads NCAAs as match-play race heats up

Alabama and UCLA held steady on Wednesday, with the Tide holding a four-shot advantage after two rounds. But it will be the race to get into the top eight that will provide epic theater Thursday.

Ringler: What we learned Wednesday at NCAAs

With so many teams in the mix trying to make a run at a match-play spot, tension began to mount during the Day 2 at Riviera. Lance Ringler shares what he learned . . .

NCAA Tracker: Follow Round 2 from Riviera

Alabama rallied late to take a three-shot lead after one round at the NCAA Championship. Will the Tide stay hot or will someone catch them on Day 2 at Riviera? Follow with our running blog!

Briles-Hinton resigns from Richmond after 3 seasons

Jill Briles-Hinton has resigned as head women's coach at Richmond, the athletic department announced May 30. Briles-Hinton held the position for three seasons. A national search is under way for her replacement.

Memorial notes: Pros search for balance

Elite players know that they are at their best when they can occasionally get away, when they pick and choose where they play and when they have a balance between the sport they play and their family back home.

Cal's Hagy moves to the head of the class

Brandon Hagy was the sideshow in what promised to be an NCAA main feature between Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. But our Ryan Lavner says Hagy's talent belongs in the same class.

NCAAs: Riviera's 10th hole is short, but deadly

Riviera's 10th hole can be a risk-reward hole, but no one can really pinpoint where to take the risk. The little 315-yard par 4 is giving the field fits at the NCAAs, says Sean Martin.

Oldest coach to have a team competing at NCAAs?

At 75-years-old, UAB's Alan Kaufman might be the oldest coach to have a team competing in the NCAA Championship. If anyone knows of a coach older than 75 who brought a team to college golf’s national finals, let our Ron Balicki know.

NCAAs: Spieth, top-10 squads struggle at Riviera

Texas and other top-10 teams struggled Wednesday at Riviera. But as Ryan Lavner writes, they all have a chance heading into what should be an epic final day.

Player of the week: Ariya Jutanugarn

Ariya Jutanugarn, of Thailand, won a one-hole playoff shot 5-under 211 (72-72-67) at Grayhawk GC in Scottsdale, Ariz. on May 28 to win the AJGA Thunderbird International, after shooting 5-under 211 (72-72-67) to tie with Laura Sojo of Colombia.

Player of the week: Max Orrin

Max Orrin, an 18-year-old from the United Kingdom, shot 10-under 206 (70-67-69) at Grayhawk GC in Scottsdale, Ariz. on May 28 to win the AJGA Thunderbird International.

Spieth, Rodgers among All-Region selections

Jordan Spieth. Patrick Rodgers. Patrick Cantlay. Check out the other selections to the Division I Ping All-Region teams.

UC Riverside coach Hjulberg announces resignation

Paul Hjulberg, head coach of the UC Riverside men’s and women’s golf teams, has announced that he is resigning from both positions.

Murphy resigns as CSU-Northridge head coach

Bonnie Murphy has resigned as the head women’s golf coach at Cal State Northridge. Murphy recently completed her 11th season with the Matadors.

O'Connor resigns after 17-year career at Stanford

Caroline O’Connor has resigned as the head women’s golf coach at Stanford, ending a 17-year career with the Cardinal.

Cheyenne Woods to return to Wegmans as a pro

Cheyenne Woods, a recent Wake Forest graduate, will play her first tournament as a professional June 7-10 at the Wegmans LPGA Championship. It’s the second major of the LPGA season.

This week in the world of golf . . .

This week in the world of golf includes the PGA Tour's Memorial Tournament and the NCAA Division I Championship at Riviera CC in Los Angeles.

Tee times, pairings at The Memorial

Here are the first- and second-round tee times and pairings for The Memorial at Muirfield Village GC in Dublin, Ohio.

5 Things: Lawrie bidding for Ryder Cup spot

5 Things: European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal will get an up-close look at the state of Paul Lawrie's game when the two play together at the Wales Open.

Junior notes: Sojo takes Thunderbird loss in stride

Girls junior golf notebook: Colombian Laura Sojo, 16, takes her Thunderbird defeat to superstar Ariya Jutanugarn in stride, while Annie Park defeats a slew of boys in New York.

Alabama takes three-shot lead at NCAAs

Red-hot Alabama used local knowledge from a pair of pros to help lead it to a three-shot lead over Florida and Auburn after Round 1 at the NCAA Championship.

'Bama authors a day of surprises at Riviera

Alabama's scorecards had as many twists Tuesday as a well-written novel. But for Hunter Hamrick and his teammates, that's typical Crimson Tide golf.

Ringler: What we learned Tuesday at NCAAs

From the set-up at Riviera Country Club to the Pac-12's surprisingly bad Round 1 to the race for Player of the Year, Lance Ringler reveals what he learned (and didn't learn) on Tuesday.

Tiger says he's building trust in his swing

Instead of his weekly press conference, Tiger took to the internet and instead hosted another fan chat after completing a practice round at the Olympic Club, site of the 2012 U.S. Open.

NCAA Tracker: Follow Round 1 from Riviera

Wondering how the first round is shaping up at the 2012 NCAA Men's Championship? Will UCLA and Patrick Cantlay have a home-course advantage at Riviera? Follow our running blog!

McCumber leads Gators to top morning round

Led by Tyler McCumber, Florida posted the lowest score Tuesday among the 15 teams in the morning wave of the NCAA Championship. Head coach Buddy Alexander knows there's lots of golf left.

Fantasy Tip Sheet: Memorial

Fantasy Tip Sheet: A week after three of our fantasy panelists correctly predicted Zach Johnson's victory, a pair of them are liking Bo Van Pelt's chances at Memorial this week.

NCAAs: Bill Murray yuks it up at players dinner

USC alumnus Scott Simpson was the scheduled speaker at a players dinner on Monday night, but it was his guest, Bill Murray, who stole the show, says our Ron Balicki.

Shaw to part ways with Vandy after six years

After six years as the head men’s golf coach, Tom Shaw will part ways with Vanderbilt when his contract expires June 30.

Toy Box: Johnson relies on Titleist in victory

Toy Box notes: Zach Johnson captured his second Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial on May 27 carrying a bag with mostly Titleist gear.

U.S. Open: A look at the sectionals

2012 U.S. Open: From Davis Love III to Beau Hossler, there are plenty of big names across all walks of golf that are ready to take on one of today's 11 U.S. Open qualifiers.

Junior notes: Murray qualifies for Nationwide event

Junior boys notebook: After making the cut at the 2010 Rex Hospital Open, Grayson Murray will make a return to visit to play in his second Nationwide Tour event on May 31.

Notes: Dufner lends a hand to alma mater Auburn

NCAA notebook: Red-hot PGA Tour star Jason Dufner catches up with alma mater, Auburn, to help the Tigers get a read on Riviera, while David Chung is left off Stanford's starting five.

2012 GW Pro-Am at Pebble Beach

2012 Registration now open.

Snedeker proves his talent goes beyond his clubs

After his bag was lost in Spain, Brandt Snedeker proved how talented he really is - mostly to himself.

Martin: Tide's Thomas driven to succeed

Alabama star freshman Justin Thomas knows what success looks like - he has been surrounded by it all of his life, and now he has a chance for an NCAA title says Sean Martin.

Jutanugarn, Orrin win AJGA Thunderbird titles

Ariya Jutanugarn (pictured) and Max Orrin won their respective divisions of the AJGA’s Thunderbird International at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Mickelson joins group trying to buy Padres

Phil Mickelson has joined a group of investors who want to buy his hometown San Diego Padres.

Lavner: Riviera a perfect backdrop for NCAAs

The NCAA Championship has gone Hollywood, and Riviera Country Club is its picturesque backdrop.

NCAAs: Top 5 candidates for player of the year

Our Sean Martin breaks down the top five candidates for Player of the Year honors, all of whom will be playing at the NCAA Championships this week at Riviera.

2012 U.S. Open Sectional tee times: Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Here are the tee times for the 2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Glen Ellyn, Ill.

2012 U.S. Open Sectional tee times: Memphis, Tenn.

Here are the tee times for the 2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Memphis, Tenn.

2012 U.S. Open Sectional tee times: Rockville, Md.

Here are the tee times for the 2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Rockville, Md.

2012 U.S. Open Sectional tee times: Creswell, Ore.

Here are the tee times for the 2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Creswell, Ore.

2012 U.S. Open Sectional tee times: Columbus, Ohio

Here are the tee times for the 2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Columbus, Ohio.

2012 U.S. Open Sectional tee times: Springfield, Ohio

Here are the tee times for the 2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Springfield, Ohio.

2012 U.S. Open Sectional tee times: Summit, N.J.

Here are the tee times for the 2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Summit, N.J.

2012 U.S. Open Sectional tee times: Houston, Texas

Here are the tee times for the 2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Houston, Texas.

2012 U.S. Open Sectional tee times: Suwanee, Ga.

Here are the tee times for the 2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Suwanee, Ga.

2012 U.S. Open Sectional tee times: Daly City, Calif.

Here are the tee times for the 2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Daly City, Calif.

First Links: A new starting point

says the First Links program addresses one of golf's most critical needs: beginner facilities.

Winner’s Circle: May 21-27, 2012

See what the winners had in their bags this week.

2012 U.S. Open Sectional tee times: Lecanto, Fla.

Here are the tee times for the 2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Lecanto, Fla.

Ashworth bolsters tour presence, adds Justin Rose

In a move designed to showcase its performance wear and greater presence on pro tours, Ashworth announced Justin Rose as its latest brand endorser.

Lugar named D-III Player, Freshman of the Year

The National Golf Coaches Association has named its Division III All-Americans for the 2011-12 season.

Nova's Gittings, Camisa sweep D-II player awards

The National Golf Coaches Association has named its Division II All-Americans for the 2011-12 season.

Clarke out of U.S. Open due to groin injury

British Open champion Darren Clarke has withdrawn from next month's U.S. Open in San Francisco because of a groin injury.

NCAAs: Staff picks for Elite 8, medalist

2012 NCAA Men's Championship: Our staff on the ground in L.A. takes a stab at predicting this year's Elite 8 and the individual champion. Hint: They're heavy on the Pac-12.

Barrett (No. 8, 2013) commits to TCU

Chelso Barrett of Keene, N.H., has given a verbal commitment to TCU.

NCAA tale of the tape.: USC vs. UCLA

The rivalry between USC and UCLA - while maybe not what you see on the gridiron - will be on full display this week at the NCAA Championship in Los Angeles.

NCAAs: May the Tide be with them . . .

Only one team can win the NCAA Championship . . . and our Ron Balicki, a.k.a. 'Wrong Ron,' predicts this year's victor will be Alabama.

Jones leads 5 others at U.S. Open sectional in Japan

Brendan Jones shot 10 under to lead five other U.S. Open qualifiers out of the Japan sectional.

It's a season of change for Iowa State's McCoy

Iowa State senior Nate McCoy locked up playing privileges at Canadian Tour Q-School before the NCAA postseason.

Ringler's 2012 NCAA Championship primer

Our Lance Ringler breaks down the field, including five teams to watch and who might overachieve this week at the NCAA Championship.

5 Things: Donald wins BMW to regain World No. 1

5 Things: Luke Donald claimed world No. 1 for the first time at the BMW PGA Championship in 2011. On Sunday, he ascended to golf's top spot again with another victory at Wentworth.

5 Things: Johnson wins Colonial duel with Dufner

5 Things: Zach Johnson - despite an odd, post-round two-stroke penalty - won his second Colonial title Sunday in what turned out to be a match-play style afternoon with the red-hot Jason Dufner.

Chapman holds on to win Senior PGA by 2 strokes

Roger Chapman won the Senior PGA Championship, holding on for a two-stroke victory after leading comfortably throughout the final round Sunday.

Balicki: Playing 'Did You Know?' for the NCAAs . . .

Oklahoma State won't be at Riviera this year, but let's learn more about who will be at the NCAA Championship . . .

Donald wins at Wentworth, regains No. 1 ranking

Luke Donald held off Justin Rose to win the BMW PGA Championship for the second straight year Sunday and overtake Rory McIlroy for the No. 1 ranking.

NCAAs: Balicki breaks down the odds

Check out how our Ron Balicki breaks down the field, from which team is a "best bet" to which ones will need to "wish upon a star" this week at the NCAA Championship in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Freshman Taylor receives pair of NAIA honors

Julian Taylor of WIlliams Woods leads 11 golfers on the NAIA Ping All-America first team.

Els apologizes for expletive-laced outburst

Ernie Els has apologized for his expletive-laced outburst about the condition of the greens at Wentworth at the BMW PGA Championship.

Duncan earns NGCA Player of the Year; Lee top freshman

The NCAA Women’s Championship closed Friday night with the announcement of the annual National Golf Coaches Association Awards and All-American teams.

Dufner has 1-stroke lead over Johnson at Colonial

Jason Dufner matched playing competitor Zach Johnson's birdie putt on the 17th hole Saturday and finished with a 4-under 66 for a one-stroke lead in the Colonial.

Edwards making most of Senior PGA opportunity

Joel Edwards is only playing the Senior PGA Championship because of a series of withdrawals. But the 50-year-old is trying to seize the opportunity.

Chapman takes 5-stroke lead at Senior PGA

Roger Chapman shot a 7-under 64 on Saturday to take a five-stroke lead into the final round of the Senior PGA Championship.

Dowling steps down as head coach at Florida

Jan Dowling stepped down as the head coach at the University of Florida on Saturday, despite a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Women's Championship.

Donald leads BMW, closes in on No. 1 spot

Luke Donald put himself in position to regain the world's No. 1 ranking, shooting a 3-under 69 to take a two-stroke lead after the third round of the BMW PGA Championship on Saturday.

Els goes on expletive-ridden tirade at BMW

Ernie Els has felt plenty of heat over his Wentworth redesign in recent years. And that would explain his expletive-ridden tirade on Saturday, ripping the greens staff from top to bottom.

Sources: Couples, Price to captain Presidents Cup

Sources close to the Presidents Cup have told Golfweek that Fred Couples will return to lead the U.S. team and Nick Price of Zimbabwe will captain the International team in 2013 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

Top 25 photos from NCAA Women's Championship

Our Tracy Wilcox was on the scene all week, capturing images from one of the most memorable NCAA Women's Championships in recent history. Check out her Top 25 photos from the week . . .

Baldry: Newfound parity great for college golf

With Alabama winning and plenty of excitement as multiple teams made a run at the Tide, our Beth Ann Baldry says that true parity in women's college golf is now a reality.

Alabama wins 1st title, Jao-Javanil top individual

In a see-saw battle that saw both USC and Alabama hold the lead during the final round, it was senior Brooke Pancake's 3-foot par putt that clinched the Tide's first NCAA title.

N.C. State, Colorado finally get to the Dance

Our Lance Ringler says that N.C. State and Colorado finally got to the "Big Dance" in 2012, and have built teams that could make return trips.

Irwin shoots 66, trails by 2 at Senior PGA

Hale Irwin shot his age Friday with a 5-under 66, finishing the second round of the Senior PGA Championship two shots behind leaders Roger Chapman and John Cook.

Dufner up 2 strokes halfway through Colonial

Jason Dufner moved into position for his second straight victory and third in five weeks, shooting a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead in the Colonial.

Judge asked to block land of Olympic golf course

A company disputing ownership of the land where the 2016 Olympic golf course will be built has asked a judge to annul all contracts and block construction on the site.

Johnson, 77, guided WGA for 21 years

Donald D. Johnson, who led the Western Golf Association and its Evans Scholars Foundation for more than two decades, died Thursday at his home, according to the WGA. He was 77.

Pinehurst No. 2 preps for 2 U.S. Opens in 2014

In a little more than two years, Pinehurst's renowned No. 2 course will play host to the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open on consecutive weeks — the first time the USGA has attempted such a feat.

Magee back in the swing of things at Senior PGA

After kidney cancer limited his activity on tour, Andrew Magee, who is making his debut at the Senior PGA Championship, is ready for a full season on the senior circuit, says Rich Skyzinski.

Allen in contention at Senior PGA after 64

Michael Allen shot 7-under 64 in the second round of the Senior PGA Championship Friday, bouncing back from a difficult first day to move into contention.

Oglethorpe golfers earn D-III All-America honors

After leading Oglethorpe to the Division III title, Anthony Maccaglia and Hayden Jones earned first-team D-III Ping All-America honors.

McIlroy fires 7-over 79, misses second-straight cut

Alistair Tait: It's never a good sign when the highlight of your day is two-putting on the final green to save 7-over 79. Who is this cut-missing Rory McIlroy?

Montgomerie, Olazabal head U.S. Open qualifying

Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal, Europe's past and present Ryder Cup captains, headline the field contesting the 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier at Walton Heath on Monday.

Achenbach: In defense of the Rules of Golf

Graeme McDowell should have been penalized two strokes on Thursday, plain and simple.

Unheralded Morrison leads BMW Championship

James Morrison started playing golf 11 years ago. He's never made a cut at Wentworth. He is 131st on the Euro Tour money list. And now he is leading the BMW PGA Championship. Huh?

Baldry: ASU's Molinaro learns to enjoy journey

With a share of the 54-hole individual lead, Arizona State's Giulia Molinaro has learned to enjoy her journey - from her upbringing in Kenya to strengthening her mental game says Beth Ann Baldry.

Alabama falters late to set up frantic Friday

Alabama held a 15-shot lead late on Thursday, but fell apart coming down the stretch and will take a two-shot lead into Friday's final round at the NCAA Championship.

Golfweek’s Best: Municipal Courses (2011-12)

Bethpage Black leads our list, but who else makes the cut? Check out our 2011-12 Golfweek's Best Municipal Courses.

Hanna resigns as Furman women's coach

After seven seasons as the women's coach for Furman, Jen Hanna resigned Wednesday.

Ringler: Tide's collapse will create a tense Friday

Alabama had a chance to put this one away on Thursday but couldn't make it happen. Now, the likes of USC and Purdue are within striking distance. It's going to be a great Friday in Franklin, Tenn.

Johnson has 1st-round lead at Colonial after 64

Zach Johnson's 6-under 64 has him leading after the first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Mohegan Sun CC provides counterpoint to casino

Bradley S. Klein: The Mohegan Sun CC provides a counterpoint to sleek casino.

Owners hope big gamble on Greenbrier pays off

Deep-pocketed Jim Justice vows to make his big gamble on The Greenbrier pay off says our Martin Kaufmann.

Chapman has early lead at Senior PGA

Despite playing just one event on the European Senior Tour this season, Roger Chapman leads the Senior PGA Championship at 3 under.

Ringler: Legends Club ranks high among venues

Due to its welcoming atmosphere, and well-maintained, gallery-friendly course, the Vanderbilt Legends Club ranks high on the 'Ringler Championship Feel Test' chart. Lance Ringler

Thailand's Jao-Javanil at home in Oklahoma

Oklahoma's Chirapat Jao-Javanil is a long way from "home," but she has found a new one in Norman, Okla., says our Julie Williams.

Greens grab attention of Senior PGA field

The greens at 18-month-old Harbor Shores – site of the 73rd Senior PGA Championship – have challenged players with their difficulty and diversity.

Annie Park wins Nassau boys golf championship

Annie Park, of Levittown, N.Y., shot 8-under 134 at Bethpage State Park’s red course to win the Nassau Boys’ High School Championship on May 23.

McIlroy shoots 74; Lawrie, Drysdale share lead

Leaders Peter Lawrie and David Drysdale each shot 6-under 66s at the BMW PGA Championship, leaving a frustrated top-ranked Rory McIlroy and his high-ranking rivals trailing after the first round.

Tait: McDowell's two-stroke penalty a bit much

Alistair Tait: Graeme McDowell was assessed a two-stroke penalty after a ball moved in the bushes before he addressed the shot. Sure, rules are rules. But this one was a bit too penal.

McIlroy tosses club, shoots 74 at Wentworth

A frustrated Rory McIlroy tossed his club to the ground in a fit of anger during his bogey-filled opening round at the BMW PGA Championship on Thursday.

Live scores: Round 4 at Colonial

Follow our live leaderboard from Round 4 at Colonial.

5 Things: Vanderbilt's Alex back in contention

5 Things: Vanderbilt's Marina Alex plays herself back into contention for the individual title, while Alabama will need to avoid its recent front-runner demons.

Nike unveils golf-fitness initiative, launches app

In an effort to elevate golf fitness – and strengthen its business – Nike Golf has launched a major training initiative called NG 360. Among its first elements: a smartphone app and an alliance with the Gray Institute, a renowned "movement" center.

It's homecoming for Alabama's Pancake at NCAAs

Alabama's Brooke Pancake (right), who got the golf bug at a summer camp at Vanderbilt's Legends Club, returns to her home state having learned her lessons well. She and the Crimson Tide lead the NCAA Championship.

Do intends to leave Bruins 'with a good feeling'

After the NCAA Championship, college golf will come to an end for UCLA senior Brianna Do. While she plans on playing the Symetra Tour circuit, Do will "always be a Bruin". Julie Williams

Lee Westwood feels loss of injured caddie Foster

Lee Westwood says his season has been seriously disrupted by the injury to his caddie and new putting coach Billy Foster.

Hak signs national letter of intent with Georgia Tech

Shun Yat Hak, the No. 1 player in the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior Rankings, has signed a national letter of intent with Georgia Tech.

Els among 24 to earn U.S. Open exemptions

Ernie Els won’t have to worry about a special invitation to the U.S. Open. Els, a two-time Open champion, was one of 24 players to earn exemptions to The Olympic Club by being in the top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking as of May 21.

Lee (No. 13, 2013) commits to UC Davis

Paige Lee of Folsom, Calif., has given a verbal commitment to UC Davis. Lee, ranked No. 13 in the Class of 2013, made unofficial visits to California, Arizona, UC Irvine and Oregon before deciding on UC Davis.

NCAAs: 10 things you could see at Riviera . . .

Who really saw Augusta State winning one title, let alone two? No one. So our Ryan Lavner tries to predict the unpredictable at the NCAA Championship next week in Los Angeles . . .

5 Things: Will McIlroy prevail at BMW PGA?

Will this be Rory McIlroy's year to shine at the BMW PGA Championship? The World No. 1 has yet to be best in four appearances at the European Tour's flagship event. Alistair Tait

In this issue: May 25, 2012

Inside the May 25, 2012 issue of Golfweek:

Fantasy Tip Sheet: Colonial

Fantasy Tip Sheet: Zach Johnson has simply dominated Colonial in recent years, and our fantasy panel doesn't see any reason not to ride that train this week.

Alabama leads after Virginia's luck runs out

Portland Rosen led Virginia to the early lead in the opening round of the NCAA Championship, but a disqualification later in the day changed the story for the Cavaliers.

5 Things: Different year, same ol' teams

5 Things: Is it realistic to think anyone can challenge the likes of UCLA or Alabama? Meanwhile, a couple of newbies held solid in the first round of the NCAA Championship thanks to veteran leadership.

Duke women make run behind Cangrejo, Duncan

Duke, behind Alejandra Cangrejo's comeback from injury and a late surge by Lindy Duncan, sits only three shots off Alabama's lead.

Notes: Europe's version of The Players Championship

Notebook: Two weeks after the best Europeans came to Florida for the PGA Tour's premier tournament, the favor is not being returned at the European Tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship.

Els, Furyk, Rose, Singh join Memorial field

Memorial Tournament winners Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Justin Rose and Vijay Singh have committed to play in the 37th tournament, set for next week at Jack Nicklaus' Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Top 10 NCAA Women's Championship moments

Sure, 'Time Marches On,' but not so fast that we can't hum a few notes while compiling a top-10 list of NCAA Women's Championship favorites, courtesy of our Beth Ann Baldry.

Hate To Be Rude: Dufner has figured it out

Hate To Be Rude: After years of heartache, Jason Dufner has won twice in the past four weeks and is coming into his own at the age of 35.

Maginnes On Tap: Let’s not rush to judgment

Slow-play penalties may improve the pace of play, but at what cost? John Maginnes.

Toy Box Notes: Dufner relies on Titleist

Toy Box Notes: Jason Dufner's driver helped seal his Byron Nelson victory.

Nationwide Notes: Struggles on path to PGA Tour

For players like BMW Charity Pro-Am winner Nick Flanagan who earn their PGA Tour cards via the Nationwide Tour's three-win promotion, PGA Tour success isn't a given. Sean Martin

Els hopes for approval of Wentworth West redesign

Will Ernie Els' re-design of Harry Colt’s Wentworth West Course finally get the seal of approval from Europe’s elite during this year’s BMW PGA Championship? Alistair Tait

Bateman (No. 50, 2013) commits to North Carolina

Davis Bateman of Charlotte, N.C., has given a verbal commitment to North Carolina. Bateman, who attends Providence Day School in Charlotte, is ranked No. 50 in the Class of 2013 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior Rankings.

This week in the world of golf . . .

This week in the world of golf includes the PGA Tour's Crowne Plaza Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas at Colonial CC.

Tiger insists he's close to regularly contending

Tiger Woods insists he is close to contending on a weekly basis, even if recent results suggest otherwise. "I think I'm headed in the right direction," Woods said at Congressional Country Club, where he was promoting the AT&T National which takes place June 28 to July 1.

English's 60 propels young star into British Open

Behind stellar rounds of 60-63, former Georgia star Harris English will head to Royal Lytham for the British Open after taking the top qualifying spot in Texas on Monday.

Patrick Cantlay wins 2012 Ben Hogan Award

The world's top amateur, UCLA’s Patrick Cantlay, became the first sophomore to win the Ben Hogan Award on Monday, given annually to the top men’s player in both college and amateur events.

LIVE webcast: 2012 Ben Hogan Award

Who will win the 2012 Ben Hogan Award: Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth or Patrick Rodgers? Follow the award presentation live, only on Golfweek.com!

Vanderbilt shows off its course, hospitality

NCAA Women's Championship: Music superstar Vince Gill puts on a private show, while host Vanderbilt attempts to show off its own course as the eyes of the college world descend on Franklin, Tenn.

5 Things: Pancake, Richards in familiar territory

5 Things: Alabama's Brooke Pancake feels right at home at the Legends Club, while Texas coach Martha Richards returns to her old stomping grounds.

Q&A: Kevin McPherson, Augusta State coach

Our Ryan Lavner sits down with Kevin McPherson, head coach at the two-time defending national champion Augusta State, and talked about the Jaguars failing to make it to Riviera.

Winner’s Circle: May 14-20, 2012

See what the winners had in their bags this week.

PGA Tour Superstore makes push into Chicago

The PGA Tour Superstore is growing its national presence by entering the Chicago market with two store openings within weeks of each other.

Do (No. 6, 2013) commits to North Carolina

Henry Do of Ypsilanti, Mich., has given a verbal commitment to North Carolina. Do also considered Harvard, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford, California, Michigan, Houston, Virginia and Tennessee.

2012 NCAA Women's Championship: Staff picks

The NCAA Women's Championship starts May 22 at Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn. Golfweek's writers made their picks for the individual and team winners.

Injured Kim expects to be sidelined until October

Anthony Kim expects to be out of action until October because of a right-elbow injury and tendinitis in his left forearm. He injured the elbow after striking a rock in the first round of the Valero Texas Open.

Lavner: Thomas the best college player this season

The best player in college golf this season? Alabama's Justin Thomas. The freshman just became the frontrunner for National Player of the Year honors, says our Ryan Lavner.

2012 U.S. Open: Sectional qualifying recaps

2012 U.S. Open sectional qualifying: Keep track of who made (and didn't make) the cut, as well as photos, updates and more.

TV: Time to pull the plug on the Nationwide Tour?

As the Nationwide Tour grows in relevance, its presence and quality on TV have diminished.

Rushton (No. 57, 2013) commits to Notre Dame

Matthew Rushton of Cape Town, South Africa, has given a verbal commitment to Notre Dame. Rushton also made unofficial visits to Virginia, Duke, North Carolina, Northwestern and Auburn.

A look at the NCAA Women's Championship field

Who is the favorite headed into this week's NCAA Women's Championship? Our resident expert Lance Ringler breaks down the field.

Flanagan's not Rickie or Rory, but he was

Jim McCabe: Nick Flanagan won the BMW Charity Pro-Am on Sunday, completing a long journey back to relevance after the former can't-miss disappeared into golf oblivion.

5 Things: Munoz wins amid semifinal controversy

5 Things: Azahara Munoz won her first LPGA title Sunday, but the attention is on a pace-of-play penalty against Morgan Pressel that vaulted Munoz into the final at the Sybase Match Play Championship.

Nick Flanagan wins BMW Charity Pro-Am

Nick Flanagan won the Nationwide Tour's BMW Charity Pro-Am for the second time in six years, beating fellow Australian Cameron Percy on Sunday with a par on the third hole of a playoff.

5 Things: Dufner wins Nelson for 2nd win in month

5 Things: Weeks removed from his first PGA Tour win (Zurich Classic) and getting married, Jason Dufner drained a birdie putt on the 72nd hole to avoid a playoff and win the Byron Nelson Championship.

Munoz wins Sybase after slow-play controversy

Azahara Munoz beat Candie Kung on Sunday to win the Sybase Match Play Championship, a title that was set up when Morgan Pressel was penalized for slow play while in control of their semifinal match.

Tait: Colsaerts makes his case for Ryder Cup

Nicolas Colsaerts not only won the biggest title of his career on Sunday - the World Match Play title - but he also put himself in position to be named to the European Ryder Cup squad.

Nova Southeastern men win first D-II championship

Nova Southeastern captured the NCAA Division II National Championship title on May 19 by defeating Chico State in a 5-0 sweep. It’s the first national championship title for the Sharks.

Nova Southeastern women win 4th D-II title in a row

Nova Southeastern captured its fourth consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship title as junior Abbey Gittings became the third consecutive Nova player to win the individual championship.

Colsaerts wins World Match Play over McDowell

Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts handled fierce winds to top Graeme McDowell and capture the World Match Play Championship on Sunday, boosting his chances of making Europe's Ryder Cup team.

Cabrera-Bello earns second trip to U.S. Open

Rafael Cabrera-Bello's consolation prize following his semifinal exit at the World Match Play Championship is a spot at next month's U.S. Open.

West: California stays hot with Regional victory

California continued its last-season surge with a dominating victory at the West Regional, using three top-10 finishers to win by six strokes.

Central: USC protects slim lead, wins by one stroke

Top-seeded USC protected its lead during the final round of the NCAA Central Regional to win the title by one stroke over Oregon Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Rude: Henry finding success at Byron Nelson

J.J. Henry is enjoying success at the HP Byron Nelson Championship and it's easy to see why.

Pressel wins twice to reach semifinals of Sybase

Morgan Pressel won twice Saturday to reach the semifinals of the Sybase Match Play Championship in Gladstone, N.J. Azahara Munoz, Vicky Hurst and Candie Kung also advanced.

Dufner carries lead into final round of Byron Nelson

Nine players had or shared the lead during the third round of the Byron Nelson Championship. But it was Jason Dufner who played himself to the top of the leaderboard Saturday.

South Central: Chattanooga, Jaeger take top spots

Chattanooga senior Stephan Jaeger ran away with the individual title at the South Central Regional as his team just managed to pass Texas A&M and UCLA for the team title.

Southwest: Washington's win ends recent woes

After struggling in recent weeks, Washington conquered strong winds and top-ranked Texas to win the Southwest Regional by four strokes Saturday in Norman, Okla.

East: Liberty triumphs; SMU, Duke fall short

Blayne Barber (pictured) went 4 under in his final four holes to help top-seeded Auburn qualify for its first NCAA Championship under head coach Nick Clinard.

British Columbia holds off SCAD for NAIA crown

During the final round of the NAIA National Championship, it looked as if the tournament could easily go one of two ways: to British Columbia or to Savannah College of Art and Design.

Southeast: Alabama rolls to fifth title of spring

Alabama rolled to a 25-stroke victory in the NCAA Men's Southeast Regional in Athens, Ga. The victory marked the Crimson Tide's fifth title of the spring.

Defending champ Watson out of Senior PGA

Defending champion Tom Watson has withdrawn from next week's Senior PGA Championship.

McDowell edges Garcia in Match Play playoff

Graeme McDowell held his nerve in a tense playoff against local favorite Sergio Garcia to squeeze into the World Match Play Championship semifinals in Spain on Saturday.

GCAA announces Division II First-Team All-Americans

The GCAA announced PING First-Team All-America honorees for Division II following stroke-play portion of the NCAA Championships.

Maccaglia, Oglethorpe win NCAA Div. III titles

Freshman Anthony Maccaglia showed off his impressive abilities on the greens in leading Oglethorpe to a convincing 20-stroke victory for the NCAA Div. III National Championship.

Dufner takes Nelson lead with late birdie spree

Jason Dufner birdied four of the last five holes Friday for a 4-under 66 and a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Byron Nelson Championship.

Balicki: IUPUI pulls off a record-setting season

IUPUI is not likely headed to the NCAA Championship in L.A., but it can take solace in a breakthrough season.

Percy's 62 leads BMW Charity event by 2 shots

Cameron Percy made birdies on seven of the last 10 holes to shoot 62 and take a two-stroke lead midway through the Nationwide Tour's BMW Charity Pro-Am.

West: Cal rides Kim to one-shot lead over SDSU

Red-hot California vaulted into the lead at the West Regional on Friday, riding Michael Kim's 6-under 64 to a one-shot margin over San Diego State in Palo Alto, Calif.

Lewis wins at Sybase in quest for 2nd straight win

Stacy Lewis is a step closer to her second straight victory on the LPGA Tour. She won the first four holes and beat Sandra Gal 4 and 3 Friday in the second round of the Sybase Match Play Championship.

South Central: Texas A&M, Chattanooga charge

Texas A&M charged up the leaderboard Friday at the South Central regional, and are in position to challenge UCLA for medalist honors in Bowling Green, Ky.

Southwest: Washington vaults into the lead

Cheng-Tsung Pan and his Washington Huskies took on the Oklahoma wind and came out with a four-shot lead over Florida State at the Southwest Regional.

Rio served search warrant over Olympic golf course

The city of Rio de Janeiro has been served with a search warrant to disclose the contracts it allegedly signed with the owner of a disputed land where the Olympic golf course is to be built.

Central: Paolucci leads USC charge

Going into the second round of the NCAA Central Regional, USC was in sixth place, but after shooting 12-under 272 in the second round, the Trojans have a one-shot lead.

Southeast: Alabama takes control in Georgia

Behind Bobby Wyatt, Alabama will take a 12-shot lead into Saturday's final round. But the biggest chase will be for the final spot, with New Mexico clear of four others by only four shots.

East: Liberty takes six-shot lead over SMU

Liberty maintained its lead at the East Regional and will take a six-shot lead over surprising SMU into the final round on Saturday.

Top-seeded Kaymer loses at World Match Play

Top-seeded Martin Kaymer was eliminated from the World Match Play Championship by the lowest-ranked player in the field on Friday, losing by 1 hole to Richard Finch.

Klein: Sharp Park puts focus on muni courses

says Sharp Park highlights the reasons why municipal courses are under fire: budget deficits, public scrutiny and mistrust of government.

Czech Open canceled due to lack of money

Organizers say the Czech Open scheduled for August has been canceled due to a lack of funding.

Yuan, 15, moves on to U.S. Open sectionals

At 15, Carl Yuan sports an uncanny ability to stay calm under the toughest of situations. And, on Thursday in central Florida, that helped him move one step closer to the U.S. Open.

West: San Francisco takes first-round lead

San Francisco entered the West Regional as the No. 11 seed, so it was safe to say that the Dons’ opening-round, 7-under 273, was quite the surprise.

'11 Nelson runner-up Palmer leads with opening 64

Ryan Palmer shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Byron Nelson Championship, a year after losing a playoff to Keegan Bradley in the event.

Darron Stiles leads BMW Charity Pro-Am

Darron Stiles shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the Nationwide Tour's BMW Charity Pro-Am.

Babineau: The Greatest Round Ever Played?

Rhein Gibson shot 16-under 55 at River Oaks GC, a feat that's gone viral across the sports universe.

Sybase champion Pettersen loses in 1st round

Defending champion Suzann Pettersen didn't last long at the Sybase Match Play Championship, and neither did three well-known Americans.

Central: TCU leads by 8, only team to break par

The only team to shoot below par, TCU blew away the competition in the first round of the NCAA Central Regional, shooting 6-under 278 to lead by eight strokes over Kent State.

NCAA Div. III Championship: Oglethorpe in command

Oglethorpe is in position to claim its second NCAA Division III men's golf title heading into Friday's final round at Mission Inn in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

South Central: UCLA up by 10; Arkansas lagging

UCLA seems to fare well when it leaves the West Coast. The Bruins built a quick 10-shot lead during Round 1 of the Southeast Regional as Patrick Cantlay landed in third.

Southwest: Florida State, Texas share lead

Florida State's team unity and confidence showed in round 1 of the NCAA Southwest Regional Championship, as the Brooks Koepka and his teammates share a six-shot lead with Texas.

East: Liberty takes first-round lead

Liberty leads the NCAA East regional by five strokes, but SMU is making a run for it with the guidance of coach Josh Gregory, who's in his first year as coach of his alma mater.

Kaufmann: Florida governor's recycled idea belongs in the trash

Florida Gov. Rick Scott needs to back off of his idea to add more municipal and state-run courses to Florida, says Martin Kaufmann.

Southeast: Alabama leads by two strokes

No. 2-ranked Alabama couldn’t have asked for a better start to the NCAA Southeast regional: Bobby Wyatt shot 66. Player-of-the-year candidate Justin Thomas shot 67. Cory Whitsett and Hunter Hamrick each had 68.

Maginnes On Tap: Tiger headed to the hills

Tiger Woods' decision to play the Greenbrier Classic in July may raise a few questions, but it's still a win-win, says John Maginnes.

Snedeker wins World Match Play opener

Three days after his flight to Spain needed an emergency landing because a passenger suffered a heart attack, American Brandt Snedeker used borrowed irons and a putter from the pro shop to win his opener Thursday at the World Match Play Championship.

Young N.C. State squad 1st in history to make NCAAs

In a slow, southern drawl, Page Marsh says its hard to rile up her young North Carolina State team. The way she says it, it’s hard not to believe her.

Tait: King's impact still felt at British golf school

Late swing guru Leslie King was one of the most important figures in British golf, and his impact is still felt.

Tiger named most powerful athlete by Forbes

Tiger Woods is still the most powerful athlete in sports, according to Forbes' Celebrity 100 list.

GCAA names Div. III all-region, all-freshman teams

The Golf Coaches Association of America has announced its all-region teams and all-freshman team for the 2011-12 season.

Live scores: Round 4 at Byron Nelson

Follow our live leaderboard from Round 4 at the Byron Nelson.

NCAA Div. III Championship: Oglethorpe extends lead

Oglethorpe extended its NCAA Division III Championship lead to 14 strokes Wednesday at Mission Inn while Methodist moved into second place.

Simson elected to SGA Hall of Fame

Paul Simson, 61, of Raleigh, N.C., will be inducted into the Southern Golf Association Hall of Fame in mid-July.

Wie: ‘I still have a lot left in this year’

Following a rainy practice session, Michelle Wie took a few minutes to discuss the state of her game with Beth Ann Baldry.

New Jersey natives Stasi, Alex invited to ShopRite

Sponsor exemptions for the ShopRite LPGA Classic have been extended to two top New Jersey-born amateurs.

NCAA bid goes to top Buff (no, the other one)

The NCAA Men’s Golf Championship Committee selected Colorado’s Derek Fribbs to take a recently available individual spot; an interesting selection given that Kevin Kring is the Buffaloes' No. 1 player.

Poulter is match-play specialist to beat in Spain

Ian Poulter looks to be the man to beat when he defends his title at this week's World Match Play Championship in Spain.

Postseason upsets could begin long before Riviera

The most dramatic upsets generally happen at the NCAA Championship, but that doesn't mean regionals won't produce drama, too. Lance Ringler breaks down each of six regional sites.

Fantasy Tip Sheet: Byron Nelson

Fantasy Tip Sheet: Adam Scott hasn't played much on Tour in 2012, but our fantasy panel likes him to be the overwhelming favorite at the Byron Nelson this week.

WGC-Match Play returns to Dove Mountain in 2013

The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship will return to The Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain in 2013, the PGA Tour announced.

Midflight drama delays Snedeker's 1st trip to Spain

Brandt Snedeker's journey from Miami to Madrid ahead of the World Match Play Championship in Spain was interrupted on Monday when his plane was forced to land after a passenger suffered a heart attack.

NCAA Div. III Championship: Oglethorpe leads

Led by Anthony Maccaglia’s 4-under 68, Oglethorpe University jumped out to take the first-round lead at the NCAA Division III men’s golf championship on May 15.

Golf whodunit: Burglary at USGA Museum

The USGA Museum was burglarized early Wednesday morning when two display cases were opened and two artifacts were stolen.

NCAA Women's Championship: Pairings, tee times

Pairings and tee times have been released for the opening two rounds of next week's NCAA Women's Championship. The first tee shot will be launched May 22 at 7:30 a.m. at Vanderbilt Legends Club.

Hate to be Rude: Vivid memories of Hogan, Nelson

As the Tour makes its annual two-week stop in Dallas/Fort Worth, memories of Ben Hogan (left) and Byron Nelson flow – especially for Jeff Rude.

NCAA Men's Regional staff predictions

NCAA Men's Regionals: Which teams do our experts think will earn a ticket to Riviera Country Club for the NCAA Championship? Check out our predictions.

Celano (No. 24, 2014) commits to Florida

Ryan Celano of Naples, Fla., has given a verbal commitment to Florida. Celano will join fellow commits Ramsey Touchberry and Kristian Caparros, with whom he played junior golf.

Toy Box Notes: Kuchar wins with mixed bag

There is plenty to be learned from Matt Kuchar’s set makeup at The Players.

Governor says Florida needs more golf courses

Gov. Rick Scott says golf is so important to Florida’s economy that, in a state with more than 1,200 golf courses, more should be built.

Reed to make yet another PGA Tour start

Patrick Reed may not have a PGA Tour card, but he'll be making his fourth start in five weeks at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.

Complete coverage: U.S. Women's Open sectionals

Sectional qualifying has begun for the U.S. Women's Open, which returns this year to Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wis. Stay up to date here.

Aldila's RIP collection has something for everyone

Aldila's RIP collection includes some of the most recognizable graphite shafts on the PGA Tour, and its family of five gives plenty of options for every golfer.

TaylorMade introduces new ATV wedge

TaylorMade's new ATV wedge has one job: To be able to be expertly used from tight lies, heavy grass or sand - or a true all-terrain wedge.

In this issue: May 18, 2012

Inside the May 18, 2012 issue of Golfweek:

Ludlam receives NJCAA Div. I Phil Mickelson Award

Ben Ludlam of Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, received the Phil Mickelson Award presented by the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation as the most outstanding freshman in NJCAA Division I men’s golf.  

Player of the week: Jordan Lippetz

Player of the week: Keagan Cummings

This week in the world of golf . . .

This week in the world of golf includes the PGA Tour's Byron Nelson Championship, where Keegan Bradley won his first PGA Tour title last year.

Player, agent defections cause IMG upheaval

The defections of key agents and pros such as Trevor Immelman and Sean O'Hair sent IMG scrambling to court to protect its business. An injunction hearing is scheduled for June 4.

Notes: A special Mother's Day for Kuchar's mom

Matt Kuchar's victory at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday was the first "big win" his mother has been there to witness. Jim McCabe

Balicki: Kuchar provides a trip down memory lane

Through the years, 2012 Players champion and former Georgia Tech standout Matt Kuchar has stayed true to his roots, reflects Ron Balicki.

MetLife set to purchase Reynolds Plantation

MetLife has reached an agreement to acquire Reynolds Plantation, a golf and resort community near Atlanta.

Play our 2012 LPGA Match Play Challenge and win!

Ready to compete against the rest of the world? Can Suzann Pettersen repeat as the LPGA Sybase Match Play champion? You tell us by picking your winners in our Match Play Challenge!

Title IX: An empowering transformation

says Title IX has transformed women's college golf, but its full impact on the game has yet to be witnessed.

Winner’s Circle: May 7-13, 2012

See what the winners had in their bags this week.

Canada’s Golf Town to acquire Golfsmith

Toronto-based Golf Town announced May 14 that it reached an agreement to acquire Golfsmith International Holdings Inc., creating the largest golf specialty retail chain in North America.

TV notes: Media quick to defend Na's slow play

TV anchors defended Kevin Na at Sawgrass, but his slow play should have been addressed long ago.

Greenbrier owner says Tiger will play in Classic

The Greenbrier's owner says Tiger Woods will play in this year's Greenbrier Classic. Jim Justice tells The Register-Herald of Beckley, W.Va., that Woods has committed to play in the tournament.

'Big Break Atlantis': A cast of determined unknowns

The cast of "Big Break Atlantis" might be full of unknowns, but their stories are worth hearing. Beth Ann Baldry says there is more riding on this season's challenge than ever before.

Na undeserving of vicious heckling at Players

No athlete in no sport deserves the lampooning experienced by Kevin Na from hecklers in the gallery at The Players Championship. James Achenbach

Only a matter of time until List receives Tour card

Luke List, who's paid his dues on the Nationwide Tour, is in close proximity to his first PGA Tour card. Sean Martin

Kansas fires head men's golf coach Kit Grove

Kansas men’s coach Kit Grove was fired May 10 after a five-year run at the helm of the Jayhawks.

IMG Junior Tour closes season at Concession

The IMG Junior Golf Tour ended May 13 with the tour championship at the challenging Concession Club in Bradenton, Fla. Keagan Cummings, Tzu-Wei Lin, Jordan Lippetz and Newport Laparojkit won their respective divisions.

Texas-Pan Am, Bethune-Cookman win PGA Minority

Texas-Pan American captain Kevin Kirakossian shot a 1-under 71 and the Broncs rallied for their fifth Men’s Division I title Sunday in the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, while Bethune-Cookman won the Women’s Division for the record ninth time.

Na is slow, but Sawgrass hecklers took it too far

Kevin Na is slow. He knows it. The golfing world knows it. But it doesn't excuse the heckling that Na received on Sunday at Sawgrass. That was just embarrassing, says our Ryan Lavner.

5 Things: Kuchar picks up signature victory

5 Things: Matt Kuchar stole the spotlight from his wife and mother on Sunday with the biggest victory of his professional career says Ryan Lavner.

Tracker: Kuchar wins Players title by two strokes

On the day that is designed to highlight motherhood, it was father Matt Kuchar that celebrated on Sunday at the Players Championship. See how it happened:

Paul Casey withdraws from Volvo Match Play

England's Paul Casey withdrew from the Volvo World Match Play Championship on Sunday because of a right shoulder injury, and Sweden Robert Karlsson took his spot in the 24-man field in the European Tour event that begins Thursday at Finca Cortesin.

Wolstenholme earns second European Senior win

Gary Wolstenholme won the Mallorca Open Senior – the second European Senior Tour win for one of the best stories in British/European golf, Alistair Tait writes.

Hull makes impressive Ladies European Tour debut

Charley Hull made an impressive debut on the Ladies European Tour at the Turkish Airlines Ladies. The sixteen-year-old, finishing 1 under, didn't return a score over par.

Woods (73) finishes unremarkable Players

It's been three years since Tiger Woods completed 72 holes at The Players. Aside from making it to the weekend, Woods' performance was predictably unremarkable. Ryan Lavner

Methodist wins 15th consecutive D-III national title

Methodist won the Division II Women's National Championship for a 15th consecutive year. It's the longest active championship streak in the NCAA across all divisions.

Santos wins Madeira Islands Open

Ricardo Santos shot a 9-under 63 Sunday to win the Madeira Islands Open by four strokes, becoming the first Portuguese-born golfer to win on the European Tour in his home country.

Ricardo Santos wins Madeira Islands Open

Ricardo Santos shot a 9-under 63 Sunday to win the Madeira Islands Open by four strokes, becoming the first Portuguese-born golfer to win on the European Tour in his home country.

Sawgrass' final three holes will test players' mettle

The final three holes at TPC Sawgrass can make or break you, and the likes of Kevin Na, Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler will need to be tough at the finish if they are to be the Players champ.

West: UCLA, LSU co-medal, make program history

UCLA (pictured) and LSU tied for the top spot in the NCAA West Regional, and it amounted to a record victory for each program.

Central: USC wins 8th regional; Arkansas sneaks in

USC won an NCAA-record eighth regional title Saturday at Ohio State's Scarlet Course. Sophomore Sophia Popov helped lead the charge.

Na battling a case of the waggles at Sawgrass

Kevin Na admits he has a hard time pulling the trigger, but also says it's not nearly as painful for viewers as it is for him. Jeff Rude explains.

Duke qualifies for nationals with roster of four

Duke head coach Dan Brooks said early in the week his team would need to muster something special to qualify for the national championship. Then he watched it happen.

Na leads Players by one; Fowler three back

Kevin Na rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole Saturday for a 4-under 68 and a one-shot lead at The Players Championship.

Notes: Garcia's round a tale of two nines

Sergio Garcia put together very different nines Saturday at TPC Sawgrass. Still, he had leapfrogged 42 players on the leaderboard by day's end.

After Wells Fargo win, Fowler ready for more

Rickie Fowler can attest to the fact that being a PGA Tour winner makes all the difference in the world. After winning last week's Wells Fargo Championship, Fowler is contending at The Players.

East: South Carolina wins; Michigan State delivers

After a rousing pep talk from coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, Caroline Powers and her Michigan State teammates put on a show at the East Regional. It was enough to earn a ticket to nationals.

Tiger Tracker: Woods falls out of contention with 72

Tiger Woods got nothing out of a 72 on a windy Saturday afternoon at TPC Sawgrass that dropped him out of contention at The Players. Ryan Lavner explains why.

Del Moral leads in Madeira Islands; sets putting record

Carlos Del Moral set a European Tour record of 20 putts in a 9-under 63 Saturday for a three-shot lead after the third round of the Madeira Islands Open.

The Friday grind: Stories from The Players cutline

Save for the World Golf Championships, which have soiled the landscape with their “no cut” agendas, there remains a constant storyline with PGA Tour tournaments that never loses its flavor. The Friday grind to earn a weekend tee time.

Babineau: Stadium Course favors no player

The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass plays no favorites, making The Players anyone's tournament to win.

Tiger Tracker: Woods shoots 4-under 68

Ryan Lavner: Survive and advance? Not for Tiger Woods, who's 2 under going into the weekend at TPC Sawgrass.

Bradley, Simpson face turbulent rounds

While Matt Kuchar's solid play put him in a share of the lead at The Players, playing competitors Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson were swirling storms around Kuchar’s serenity. Jim McCabe

West: LSU, Stanford battle for top spot

LSU's Austin Ernst is in position to earn a regional crown to match last year's NCAA Championship hardware. Her team is in position to take home the West Regional title, too.

East: Burnett, Dreher lead South Carolina charge

South Carolina's Katie Burnett last won an individual title at the 2010 East Regional. She's more than due for another as her team leads the pack in State College, Pa.

Central: USC extends lead; Vandy makes up ground

Lisa McCloskey and USC extended their Central Regional lead on Friday by 11 shots. The team is chasing its eighth regional win in program history.

Johnson takes lead as McIlroy heads home

Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Kevin Na share the lead going into the weekend at The Players Championship.

Baldry: Campbell could be this year's Cinderella

Campbell senior Michelle Koh filled an important role for the Camels on Friday at the NCAA East Regional with a 3-under 69. It's all part of veteran coach John Crooks' plan for a national-championship bid.

England's Oliver Wilson leads Madeira Islands Open

Oliver Wilson of England shot a 7-under 65 Friday to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Madeira Islands Open.

Quiet Curtis evades media attention

At 5 under, Ben Curtis may be in contention at The Players, but he fails to garner the media attention of "personalities" like Rory McIlroy. Jim McCabe

McIlroy is 0-for-3 in Players cuts made

Rory McIlroy, a victim of TPC Sawgrass' visual trickery, misses his first cut in more than a year at the Players Championship. Sean Martin

Notes: Harman makes cut, Stricker doesn't

Players Championship notebook: Brian Harman will be playing the weekend at the Players, while a familiar weekend warrior, Steve Stricker, will not.

Book review: The power of three

James Dodson insists we not forget three legends – Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan – who all were born in 1912 and set the stage for Arnold Palmer’s generation and those who followed.

Alliss can't quite fathom his place in World Golf HoF

Peter Alliss has enjoyed a long, fruitful career in golf because he hasn’t taken the game too seriously. That trait shines through in his commentary.

Rater's notebook: Aiken Golf Club

At 5,800 yards from the back tees, par-70 Aiken Golf Club might seem an anachronism. But golf in its traditional form has a long shelf life. Bradley Klein explains.

Nelson Championship to host Argyle Saturday

Byron Nelson attended his final HP Byron Nelson Championship in 2006, passing away that September. Six years later, the event will try to bring the memory of Nelson front and center with its first ever Argyle Saturday on May 19.

Golf wouldn't be possible without greenkeepers

Thank your greenkeeper, because without greenkeepers there's no golf.

West: Stanford goes low for first-round lead

Sally Watson and her Stanford teammates got hot on the back nine at Colorado National Golf Club to overtake North Carolina for the early lead at the NCAA West Regional.

A rested, prepared Scott shoots 68 at Players

Adam Scott, proving that his sparse tournament schedule is working for him, shot what appeared to be an effortless 4-under 68 to get into a share of sixth in the opening round of The Players Championship.

Dyson pulls out of Players with ‘shooting pain’

Simon Dyson joins D.A. Points, Paul Casey, Hunter Haas and Angel Cabrera, as the Englishman withdrew due to a “sharp, shooting pain” from his hip all the way down the leg.

Big names fail to top Players leaderboard

The Players Championship has one of the year’s best fields . . . but that fact wasn't apparent looking at today's leaderboard.

Central: Top-seeded USC takes early lead

That Doris Chen and her USC teammates are leading the NCAA Central Regional after one round is no surprise. The Trojans have fared well in the Central Regional in the past.

East: South Carolina leads; Duke down to four

Duke has done some special things with four players in the past. With sophomore Alejandra Cangrejo on the injured list at the NCAA East Regional, the Blue Devils are short-handed again this week.

Proveaux among recipients of Byron Nelson Jr. award

Wyndham Clark, Cody Proveaux, Matthew NeSmith and Ricky Kato have been named recipients of the Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award, presented annually to promising junior golfers who not only perform well on the course but shine academically and in the community.

Longshot Longhorns play their way into contention

Nicole Vandermade hopes to lead the 11th-seeded Longhorns to an NCAA Championship. They’re tied for for fourth after an opening 8-over 296.

Velasco leads at Madeira Islands Open

Alvaro Velasco of Spain shot an 8-under 64 Thursday to lead after the opening round of the Madeira Islands Open.

Poulter, Laird tied at Players Championship

Ian Poulter ran off four birdies around the turn. Martin Laird was the only player without a bogey on his card.

Notes: Woodland returns to action at Players

Players Championship notes: Gary Woodland returns to action after injury at Masters, while Thursday morning's featured pairing didn't provide the fireworks fans were hoping for.

Tiger Tracker: Woods fires 2-over 74

Coming off a missed cut, Tiger Woods still was out of sorts Thursday at The Players. He shot 74 and will need a good round Friday to avoid missing consecutive cuts for the first time as a pro.

Q&A: Cole Madey, Haley Moore, AJGA Junior All-Star winners

Golfweek's Jackie Strouse caught up with Cole Madey and Haley Moore, winners of the AJGA Junior All-Star at Cypress Ridge.

Alternate Harman squeezes into Players field

Despite originally being left out of the Players Championship after D.A. Points withdrew due to back spasms, first alternate Brian Harman was let into the field and shot a 1-over 73 Thursday.

Amid the ailments, Adams still can contend

Blake Adams contending at the Players Championship would be surprising because he is physically a mess. He shot 6-under 66 Thursday.

Cantlay, Rodgers, Spieth are Hogan finalists

In the youngest class of finalists in its 11-year history, UCLA's Patrick Cantlay, Texas' Jordan Spieth and Stanford's Patrick Rodgers have been named finalists for the prestigious Hogan Award.

Live scores: Round 4 at The Players

Follow our live leaderboard from Round 4 at the Players Championship.

Golfweek's Best: Next 100 Modern Courses

Take a look at the Next 100 Modern Courses, exclusively built for Golfweek.com.

Player receives Tour's Lifetime Achievement Award

Gary Player has traveled to all corners of the world and it led him to the Tour's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Brooks earns another shot at a big loop

Thirty years later, Mark Brooks finds himself back on the bag, this time as the caddie for J.J. Henry at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Augusta National's power forces Finchem to fold

Jeff Rude weighs in on Tim Finchem's stance defending the PGA Tour's sanctioning of the Masters, regardless of Augusta National's controversial membership policy.

Golfweek's Best: Next 100 Classic Courses

Take a look at the Next 100 Classic Courses, exclusively built for Golfweek.com.

First-timers have hands full at Players

Sang-Moon Bae, Bud Cauley and David Mathis are three of 16 first-time participants at the Players Championship, and each will be challenged by TPC Sawgrass' subtle design says Sean Martin.

Women's regional tee sheets need an adjustment

Today, 72 women’s college golf teams will play a practice round at one of three regional sites, each in hopes of being one of the 24 total teams that will earn a ticket to the NCAA Championship.

For Your Game: Shun Yat Hak

After an unusual path into golf, Shun Yat Hak has developed into Golfweek's No. 1 junior. Sean Martin spent a day on the range with Hak and swing coach Mike Bender.

Howard making her way in a grown-up world

Call Ginger Howard the junior player who isn't. The 18-year-old is playing her way through the Symetra Tour season as a newly-minted pro. Julie Williams

Junior academies: A life totally focused on golf

Young students from around the world enroll at U.S. golf academies to improve their chances for a college scholarship or pro career, but it all comes at a cost.

Renovations under way for Gilchrist practice facility

For now, Sarabande Golf Club looks more like a motocross track than a golf course. But by the end of August, Ben Pauluhn hopes it will provide students at Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy a one-of-a-kind practice experience.

Tee times, pairings at Players Championship

Check out the first- and second-round tee times and pairings at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

A lost ball, no penalty, a U.S. Women's Open title

Notebook: Tiger Woods got a free drop after a ball mysteriously disappeared during the second round at the Wells Fargo. In 2004, Meg Mallon won the U.S. Women's Open after a similar situation.

Tiger hopes to stick around at Sawgrass

Tiger Woods is about the only person not in a panic about his game. But these remain curious times for the guy trying to show he can still dominate golf as he once did.

CSU-Northridge's Russo gets NCAA spot, after all

CSU-Northridge junior Chris Russo got a pleasant surprise Tuesday when he was extended an invitation to NCAA regionals. Ron Balicki explains.

Schneider wins Toms Award for facing adversity

Central Florida senior Brad Schneider has been named winner of the David Toms Award, which recognizes the men’s college golfer who has overcome adversity to achieve collegiate excellence.

Toy Box Notes: Fowler carries mixed bag to victory

Rickie Fowler earned his long-awaited first PGA Tour victory with an assorted bag of clubs.

Fantasy Tip Sheet: Players Championship

Fantasy Tip Sheet: In the back-and-forth world of the World Golf Rankings, at least two of our panelists think that Luke Donald will get back to No. 1 with a win at TPC Sawgrass this weekend.

Staff picks: 2012 NCAA Women's Regionals

NCAA women's regional play begins May 10, and only 24 teams can move on to the NCAA Championship. Golfweek's college gurus made their annual predictions.

Appeals court: Harris not liable in bias lawsuit

John Harris, the former Minnesota director of golf who was a defendant in a sexual-discrimination lawsuit, won a significant legal decision this week.

Rude: Alliss steals show at Hall inductions

With wit, wisdom and a little something extra for a grade-school teacher, Peter Alliss stole the show at Monday night's Hall of Fame induction says our Jeff Rude.

Top 41 teams, 5 individuals make NCAA D-III field

The NCAA has announced a field of 41 teams and five individuals for this year's NCAA Division III National Championship, to be played May 15-18. The championship will be hosted by Oglethorpe and the Central Florida Sports Commission at the Mission Inn Resort, in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

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