Happy Independence Day to all my American readers, and for those outside the US...hey, have a splendid weekend anyway.
- Steve Stricker is leaning towards skipping the Open Championship. Stricker has cut down his schedule considerably the last couple of years, and doesn't seem to be bothered by which events his misses and which he plays in. He is playing this week in West Virginia and will be playing next week at the John Deere Classic in his home state of Wisconsin. Stricker said he will make a "last minute decision" on whether or not he is going.
- The Match Play has been saved! The PGA Tour has announced that the WGC Match Play will be played at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco next year, with a few changes. It will become a round robin style event, much like the World Match Play event in Europe, where each player gets to play at least three matches. Harding Park was also awarded the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2025 Presidents Cup, because we have to look that far ahead for an event that is struggling for relevance.
- Charles Howell III has turned down an invitation to play in the Open Championship. No official word has been given for his decision, but a source via GolfChannel.com claims that is is family related. Howell got in this year based on his solid 2014 campaign. He is being replaced by Thorbjorn Olesen.
- The caddies on the PGA Tour, who have now formed a pseudo-union to represent themselves in certain matters, have been in a strong disagreement with the PGA Tour over several issues. GolfChannel.com has the full write up here. It's an incredibly fascinating situation, and one that could cause some severe problems if the PGA doesn't at least listen to the demands of the caddies.
- Is 2015 going to be the end of an era? The R&A has announced that they have given Tom Watson an exemption into the Open Championship at St. Andrews, which will be the final year of his eligibility. This means next year could be the last year we see the incredible Tom Watson play at the Open Championship. Then again, Captain Watson recently came out and said he feels he can contend at the Open this year, so who knows? I have learned to never doubt Mr. Watson.
- R.I.P Errie Ball, who was the last surviving participant in the first ever Masters Tournament in 1933. Ball was 103. Can you imagine the stories Ball could tell from the people he met over the years? Even more incredible is that Ball has been a member of PGA of America for 82 years. His life has seen 18 US Presidents and two World Wars. As PGA of America president Tim Bishop put it, his career has spanned "from Harry Vardon to Tiger Woods."
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