Golf In New York City Blog

On not playing since the Presidents Cup
“It’s totally different when you play at home. You can have all the money games you want, you can play with everything on the line, but it’s just a little different when you get out here and play a tournament. Hopefully I’ll find it fairly soon.But as far as having time at home with (wife) Elin and (daughter) Sam, it’s been incredible. You appreciate the little things, and I think that’s the most important thing.”

On how his late-season form compared to his other great runs
There’s no doubt it’s right up there. I hit the ball very well, and made the putts, which was nice. I really felt like I had control of the golf ball. I could hit any shot I wanted to hit.

On three celebrity amateurs playing the 2008 U.S. Open layout a week before the event
They should play the Monday after the tournament. That’s when it’s the hardest. A week or two before is not so bad. It’s just amazing how the grass seems to grow in the last couple weeks for USGA events.

On the 24/7 news cycle and sports media
It has become microbial, the focus. I think that’s the biggest difference. I’ve talked to people in my sport, from Jack to Arnold and even to Byron, about how it was in their day, and each of them says the same thing: We don’t know how you do it in your day and age. Well, 20 years from now I couldn’t imagine how it would be for some other kid to do it this day and age.

On fatherhood
My father was instinctively a teacher. He got the most joy out of helping others. He always tried to help somebody each and every day he livedThat’s something I’ve done but I haven’t been able to do with Sam yet. She’s not quite old enough for me to talk to and teach her these life lessons, and I think that’s going to be the fun part.

On saying that if he ruled the game, players would be using persimmon woods and balata balls
I actually played the ninth hole at St. Andrews in 2000 with a gutta-percha ball and with my old golf ball, which was the first Nike ball I put out there, and I drove the green with my ball. And then with the gutta-percha ball I hit driver and 5-iron and just barely rolled it to the middle of the green. … It would be fun to play a tournament (with persimmon and balata), there’s no doubt.

On the Web site TigerWoodsIsGod.com
I am so far away from that.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The inaugural Patriot Golf Day, inspired by Capt. Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional and USGA member from Broken Arrow, Okla., has resulted in donations of more than $1.1 million to support the families of veterans who have been injured or perished in the line of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The nationwide campaign, conducted on Sept. 1, was originated by Rooney, founder of the Fallen Heroes Foundation. Patriot Golf Day is jointly supported by The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association. This past year, contributions were received from more than 3,200 golf facilities nationwide. On Patriot Golf Day, golfers at public facilities added an extra dollar to their greens fee, and private facilities asked for donations.

Patriot Golf Day will be renewed in 2008 during the Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29 - Sept. 1, with Rooney, once again at the front to lead the mission before he reports in the fall for his third tour of Iraq as an F-16 pilot in the 125th Fighter Squadron of the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

“I contended all along that there are patriots lying latent all over the country,” said Rooney, a 34-year-old father of three daughters, who is president of Falcon Golf XVI Management Company, which is developing a course – The Patriot – in Owasso, Okla. “We gave golfers something that fit into their schedule. I enjoyed the quote that appeared in GOLF Magazine, ‘Honey, I can’t mow the lawn today, my country needs me.’ That’s really what it was.

“This is my core; I have a direction and a purpose in life. There is no doubt every decision I’ve made has brought me to this point for this cause. It is amazing what has transpired in a short time and how there is a vision and a passion by so many to support this.”

Rooney said that the initial Patriot Golf Day scholarships to children of veterans will be awarded in the spring of 2008 to aid students beginning in the fall semester. Participating facilities for Patriot Golf Day will be listed on www.PlayGolfAmerica.com. Individuals interested in contributing to the Fallen Heroes Foundation, and those applying for scholarships should visit www.fallenheroesfoundation.org.

PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb praised the support of PGA Professionals in the initial campaign.

“You cannot help but feel uplifted by the generosity and the spirit of Dan Rooney, a true American hero and someone who has generated the same patriotism in so many throughout the country,” said Whitcomb. “Our work is not finished, however. Patriot Golf Day is an ongoing effort by all of us in the golf industry to support the needy families of our fallen and injured heroes who have sacrificed for us. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and enlisting more patriots each day in this campaign.”

Rooney continues to work to build a team to sustain the momentum, and said that he has heard from hundreds of individuals throughout the past few months concerning the fundraising effort. The United States Golf Association partnered with The PGA of America in 2007 to build Patriot Golf Day awareness and will continue in 2008.

“The great partners of The PGA of America and the USGA have made this effort so special,” said Rooney. “It makes you feel good that you can go to bed at night and feel good about having fought the good fight and that the world is a better place for your efforts. It all boils down to the game of golf. None of this would be possible, if not for the game of golf affording all these opportunities.”

Rooney believes that he is a man with two missions – building Patriot Golf Day and supporting the ground forces in Iraq. He and his wife, Jacqy, are the parents of daughters Victoria, 5, Tatum, 3, and Mia, 4 ½ months.

“They are definitely making sacrifices,” said Rooney, of his time that is split into both military and civilian duties. “But, there is a great feeling of having given back. The greatest therapy in life is to make sacrifices to help other people. You have to have balance in your life, and I am blessed to have had that balance.”

The PGA of America is the world’s largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf, while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives and award-winning golf promotions. Today’s PGA Professional is the public’s link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.

Snedeker Finishes 20th on the FedEx Cup Points List and Earns more
than $2 million in his First Tour Season CARLSBAD, Calif. (December 12, 2007) – TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff Professional Brandt Snedeker was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year after a sensational 2007 season which included a win at the Wyndham Championship and six top-10 finishes.
“This has been a wonderful season for me and to finish it by being voted by my peers as the Rookie of the Year is tremendous,” Snedeker said. “When I looked at the list of TOUR players who have been honored in such a way, I am humbled to have my name alongside them.”
Snedeker, 27, who played on the Nationwide Tour a season ago, elevated his status on the PGA Tour when he captured his first career PGA Tour win at the Wyndham Championship. On the final day of the tournament at Forest Oaks Country Club, Snedeker needed what he called the “best swing of his life,” a TaylorMade r7 TP 3-iron to land the ball close on the par-three 17th to setup a birdie that moved him ahead of fellow TaylorMade-adidas Staff professional Tim Petrovic.
Snedeker finished 20th on the FedEx Cup points list and earned $2,836,643 – the third highest rookie total in history.
This was the second time in three years that a TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff Professional took home Rookie of the Year honors (Sean O’ Hair in 2005).
In Snedeker’s bag this season:
TaylorMade r7 425 TP
Burner® TP 14.5-degree FW
TaylorMade Rescue® club (19°)
TaylorMade r7 TP (3-PW)
ClimaCool® apparel
adidas Golf POWERBAND footwear

As Seen On usga.org

What Would You Shoot?
Four Golfers To Play Torrey Pines Under U.S. Open Conditions On June 6

December 10, 2007

Far Hills, N.J. – Golf Digest and NBC Sports, through the support of the United States Golf Association (USGA), have teamed up to create a unique opportunity for four individuals to play the 2008 U.S. Open venue six days prior to the start of the championship.
On June 6 at Torrey Pines’ South Course in San Diego, Calif., three well-known celebrities and one at-large golfer will get a chance to see what kind of score they can post on a course set up for the greatest players in the world. The event will be packaged and edited into a one-hour broadcast on June 15 as a lead-in to NBC’s final-round telecast of the U.S. Open.
“We’re excited to partner with Golf Digest and the USGA on this unique and compelling contest,” said Jon Miller, the executive vice president for NBC Sports, which has been the USGA’s network broadcast partner since 1995. “It’s a great way to involve players and fans in the premier event in golf.”
The genesis of this reality show came from the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club, where Tiger Woods mentioned in a post-second-round interview that a 10-handicapper could not break 100 the way the course was presently set up.
Torrey Pines will be set up exactly the way it would for an official U.S. Open round. A walking USGA Rules official will accompany the group to ensure the game is played fairly and equitably, and no mulligans will be permitted. Players will use the championship tees and will face the same challenging rough and green speeds.
“We are genuinely excited about this contest as we believe that it will serve as a great celebration of golf and the U.S. Open Championship,” said Pete Bevacqua, the USGA’s chief business officer. “Along the way, we also hope to educate people on the value of a USGA Handicap Index and the benefit of having a true understanding of the Rules of Golf.”
The three celebrity participants will be selected sometime in early 2008. NBC and Golf Digest clearly want three recognizable names to enhance viewership in the challenge. The at-large golfer will be picked through a special contest run by Golf Digest. Golfers of all handicaps are eligible to participate in this contest.
“Every amateur has dreamed about what it would be like to play in U.S. Open conditions on national TV and thanks to the USGA and NBC we’re going to make that dream come true for someone,” said Jerry Tarde, Golf Digest’s chairman and editor.
Details about the contest have already appeared in the January issue of Golf Digest as well as the Dec. 9 edition of The New York Times. Please be sure to check usga.org regularly to find out how you can enter.