News Grab-Bag: 2/28/14

- Two time PGA Tour champion Scott Piercy is expected to miss three to four months after undergoing surgery on his elbow. Surgery in the golf world is has two possible outcomes - either the player will return better than ever after being completely healed, or the player will constantly be worried about the injury and never be the same again. Let's hope it's the former for Scott, who has an incredibly large amount of talent.

- Have we finally gotten to the bottom of JiYai Shin's decision to leave the LPGA Tour? An article in the in the Korea Times discusses the issue with a quote from JiYai:

"It's true that I was mentally and physically tired while competing in the U.S. I love golf and want to play golf as long as I can."

It is important to note an error from the article: Players CAN hold multiple memberships between the LPGA and other tours. Many of the European players hold LET memberships, and some of the Asian players, like Shanshan Feng, hold memberships on the JLPGA. Also, other players have taken time away from the tour without completely withdrawing their membership. Still, I take JiYai at her word, and it appears exhaustion was the reason for returning to Asia.

- Some illness or injury is currently plaguing Beatriz Recari. After three incredibly poor this season, Recari withdrew from the HSBC Women's Championship Thursday. Immediately afterwards, she took to Facebook to explain her decision:

"My body is not healthy and I had no choice but to withdraw. Will be back fit and stronger!"

Let's hope so. After the season Recari had last year, it's hard to not see her contending. Her two win season was enough for me to think she was going to pass Suzann Pettersen and be the next top golfer in Europe. In fact, the state of European golf is in a bit of disarray, with Recari and Pettersen both struggling. Only Anna Nordquist has given Europe a reason to smile.

- In case you all want to feel worse about yourself, Zach Johnson began his round at the Honda Classic by carding a quadruple bogey on the second hole. He then turned around an carded seven birdies to post -3. I've heard of taking it one hole at a time, but jeez...