A News Grab-Bag: 1/17/2014

- There have been a surprising number of golfers giving up their LPGA cards in order to focus more on the Asian tours - more specifically, the tour in Japan. First it was Momoko Ueda, who announced weeks after the final event of 2013 that she would be returning to Japan. Next it was Teresa Lu, whose victory at the Mizuno Classic granted her the opportunity to rejoin the LPGA after a relinquishing her card in 2010, but she deferred. Now, it's JiYai Shin, whose name has been removed from the LPGA's priority list. Shin said before that she would try to focus more on the JLPGA this season, but everyone expected her to play the minimum required number of LPGA starts. For Ueda and Lu, these decisions do not come as much of a surprise, as they achieved most of their success on the JLPGA and, at least in Ueda's case, struggled in America. Shin, however, is a former Rolex Number One, and had won on the LPGA Tour as recently as last year, so to hear that she is completely passing over the American tour has come as a shock to many. Many speculate her reasoning behind doing so, but no one will know for sure until JiYai herself says something.

It is worth noting a New York Times article written last year about Chie Arimura's struggle to adapt to the LPGA. Chie a golfer with tremendous talent and who has won multiple times in Japan, but has not lived up to her potential yet on the LPGA (though she has only played one full season). It is wrong to speculate on JiYai's mental state, or to compare her situations with Chie Arimura, but we do often forget the sacrifices some of these young ladies make when they travel to a foreign country to try and make a living.

- John Daly got a hole in one during the pro-am for the Humana Challenge, but was unable to claim the prize (a new car). Seeing as this is only really a story because it is John Daly, I can't find it in myself to really care. Don't get me wrong, I LIKE Daly, but if Will Wilcox hit a hole in one, I doubt this would have been on the front page of Golf Channel's web site for three days.

- Sergio Garcia was cleared of any wrongdoing during an incident in Abu Dhabi in which he was fixing a pitch mark on the green, but that does not make up for how lame the idea of viewer call ins actually are. Golfers pride themselves on being the most honest sportsmen, and that they tend to police the sport themselves. Why take it out of the hands of the professionals and into the 10 handicappers sitting on their couches at home? It's even more unfair when you consider that the top players are constantly on television. Yes, the system worked here, and Sergio did not get penalized, but there has to be an end to this. Viewers aren't allowed to call in for missed pass interference calls in football. There are three players, three caddies, and a rules official following each group. Let them all do their jobs.

Following the cut, Scotland's Craig Lee and Spain's Rafa Cabrera-Bello lead in Dubai. Rory McIlroy and Thomas Bjorn are among the four within two shots. Phil Mickelson made the cut at -1. At the Humana Birdie Spectacular, Patrick Reed leads by two at -18.