Tiger trying to salvage season at Chevron

Photo by Getty Images

Tiger Woods chats with Hunter Mahan at the Chevron World Challenge.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – He’d prefer to focus on his final chance to salvage the 2010 year, even if it’s at a silly-season event such as the Chevron World Challenge. The only thing is, inquiring minds want to know if Tiger Woods has formulated his 2011 schedule.

If the answer is yes, he’s not saying. Too many moving parts, it seems.

“There are a lot of things that we’re trying to adapt to, our new living conditions,” Woods said, a reference to the family issues that were central to his entire 2010 year. “That’s most important. We’re trying to figure all that out and then obviously I still want to play golf at a high level and win golf tournaments.”

Has he been approached by PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, perhaps to add some tournaments?

Woods would only say that Finchem has “done that every year,” but there was no elaboration. Even when asked specifically if there was a chance he’d return to the tournament at Riviera – now the Northern Trust Open – for the first time since 2006, he was elusive.

“I don’t know yet,” Woods said.

Though it’s more than seven months since he made his return to the game at the Masters, Woods is still answering questions about the controversy that saw his world come crashing down. But on that front, he’s not as evasive, difficult as it has been.

“Harder than anyone could ever imagine, unless you’ve actually gone through it before yourself,” he said.

While he’s playing host to a select group of 17 other players at year’s end for the 12th time, Woods will be playing for the first time for Chevron officials. They took over sponsorship in 2008, but Woods was out with a knee injury come tournament time. Then last year . . . well, it was more painful than a knee injury, Woods will tell you, but enough of history; now No. 2 in the world, he’s excited to be at Sherwood CC and his final chance to make sure he doesn’t go winless in a season for the first time since turning pro.

Asked to put himself on the golf fan’s couch and suggest what he’d like to see in 2011 as the PGA Tour heads into contract negotiations with the networks, Woods laughed.

“I’d like to see me win more tournaments – as a golf fan, yes,” he said.

That’s right, he’s more than the game’s most celebrated and talked-about player. “I am (also) a viewer,” Woods said.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Beyond Hiroshima - The Non-Reporting of Falluja's Cancer Catastrophe.

View the original article here

Storm season departs gently

The 2010 tropical hurricane season ends today, and despite dire early forecasts and fears that the area was due for a major storm, the Grand Strand emerged unscathed.

That's good news, of course, for emergency personnel, but it doesn't mean there wasn't plenty of activity despite no need for sandbags.

"Not having a system impact us in any way allowed us to continue to work on the rest of our plans," Horry County Emergency Management Director Randy Webster said Monday via telephone from Emmitsburg, Md., where members of Horry County's emergency management division are attending training.

Since the season's start on June 1, there were 19 tropical storms, 12 of which became hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean.

Before the start of the season, experts predicted that 2010 would be busy, with early predictions calling for as many as 23 tropical storms. They cited record warm waters in the tropics, light winds and the arrival of La Nina, the atmospheric force that promotes hurricane formation. Yet thanks largely to an expansive dome of high pressure settling over the eastern Atlantic, numerous storms were guided north into the Atlantic before they reached the East Coast.

Among them were hurricanes Danielle, Earl, Igor, Julia, Lisa, Otto and Shary. Earl came closest, passing about 80 miles east of North Carolina's Outer Banks in early September.

"It did meet expectations in the amount of storms because we had a lot of storms, but no real impact to land especially on the East Coast," Webster said. "It feels like we didn't have anything whatsoever, and that does concern me about complacency. If we don't have a direct threat the complacency continues to grow."

The same high-pressure area that redirected this year's storms, commonly called the Bermuda High, helped push several storms toward the U.S. coastline in 2005.

"In 2005, just about all the hurricane activity developed fairly far west, and close to the U.S. mainland," said Phil Klotzbach, a Colorado State University climatologist. "Fortunately, in 2010 almost all of the hurricane activity occurred much farther east and avoided the U.S."

Whether the high pressure will remain in the same place next season is unknown but unlikely, forecasters said. The position and strength of the Bermuda High can't be predicted much more than two weeks in advance.

Either way, Webster said he and his staff will train and review all their plans for the county to be prepared for the 2011 hurricane season.

"We'll take this time once again to go through to see if there are any changes we need to make," Webster said. "We talk about a lot of preparation, and if you are prepared for hurricane season you are prepared for any disaster year-round."

For American Red Cross volunteers, the lack of an active hurricane season gave them time to focus on other activities, including a large number of home fires in the area, said Angela Nicholas, chief executive officer of the Coastal South Carolina Chapter of the Red Cross.

"We look forward to Nov. 30 and having a quiet season. It's always a blessing because everybody stays safe," Nicholas said. "We continue to do our education and preparations all year long - just because hurricane season passed doesn't mean we don't have threats from hazards."

A group of volunteers were dispatched to North Carolina during Hurricane Earl, but otherwise the season was uneventful, Nicholas said.

"We really are encouraging people to be careful during the holidays," she said. "It's been quiet everywhere."

The Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Sun-Sentinel contributed to this report.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Beyond Hiroshima - The Non-Reporting of Falluja's Cancer Catastrophe.

View the original article here

Top 10 women's stories from the fall season

With the fall golf season in the books, here’s a look back at 10 of the most notable stories from women’s college golf. Check back later this week for Lance Ringler's top 10 men's stories.

10. Colorado proves its grit

Even before its home event, the CU Heather Farr Memorial, Colorado was putting together a season that could make the team a favorite to advance out of regional play this spring. The Buffs won their season-opening event, following up with a second- and third-place finish in the next two events as Pepperdine transfer Jessica Wallace led the charge.

The Buffs left the course after the first round of the Heather Farr with a five-shot lead. When five players were involved in a multi-car accident that evening, head coach Anne Kelly wasn’t even sure she could field a team to finish the tournament. The next morning, Wallace and junior Emily Talley laced up their shoes and hit the course, only to lead Colorado to a 16-shot win, the largest margin of victory in program history.

“I woke up that morning, and physically I felt fine so I figured that it was better for me to be out on the golf course doing something than to be inside all day,” said Wallace, who also won the individual title that day.

9. Daytona State redefines JUCO experience

For all those who think junior college golf is merely a stepping stone, refer to Daytona State College, in Daytona Beach, Fla., as exhibit A. The Falcons won their first three events, beating such Division I programs as Stetson, Xavier, Augusta State and Miami as well as defending Division II national champion Nova Southeastern. They ended the season with a second-place finish and another tie for first.

As head coach Laura Brown explained midway through Daytona State’s whirlwind season, part of the reason the junior college enters Division I-dominant events is for exposure, but the Falcons clearly have proven they belong in those events as they consistently finish atop the leaderboard.

Daytona State’s star player, Mitsuki Katahira, earned medalist honors at four events and was runner-up at the fifth. While Katahira hopes to earn LPGA playing privileges through qualifying school next fall, sophomores Ericka Schneider (Ole Miss) and Amy West (South Florida) will move up to the Division I ranks at the end of this spring.

8. Portland cuts golf program

Women’s – and men’s – golf suffered a painful blow in the Northwest this fall as the University of Portland announced it would cut both programs at the end of the 2010-11 season. Portland cited Title IX compliance as the catalyst behind the cut, and will add women’s crew to the list of intercollegiate athletics in the fall of 2011.

The women’s team earned two top-5 finishes this fall, and is No. 153 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.

7. Women’s World Amateur Team Championship drains college fields

While certainly an honor for any college player to have the opportunity to represent her country at the WWATC, the event also made for a quiet week in the college game at the end of October. As the four-day team competition raged on in Buenos Aires, Argentina, women’s college golf all but shut down.

A total of 38 college players made the trip, and Arkansas senior Kelli Shean, representing her native South Africa, finished T-4 at 5-under 283 to earn “low college” honors.

6. Yale freshman makes a name for herself

She may not have ended the season atop the rankings, but arguably one of the hottest players in the game this fall was Yale freshman See Heo Moon.

Moon wasted no time after joining the Yale roster, winning her first event at the Bulldogs’ season-opening Princeton Invitational, then going on to win three more times throughout the season.

“I know a lot of the other freshmen on the other teams because I played a lot of junior golf with them, and so it didn’t actually feel that much different transferring into college from junior golf,” Moon said of making the transition from junior golf to college.

Moon is No. 34 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.

5. UCLA rounds into form at season’s end

For UCLA, the fall season was just starting to get interesting about the time it ended. The Bruins ended the first half of the year with back-to-back wins at the Landfall Tradition and the Pac-10/SEC Challenge.

Of course, success comes as no surprise when talking about the Bruins, considering they lost just one player from a team that last year scored six runner-up finishes and two wins. Ranked No. 3 by Golfweek, the Bruins boast big-name players in Curtis Cup duo Tiffany Lua and Stephanie Kono. Head coach Carrie Forsyth pointed to even more depth as a reason for the Bruins’ success.

“They’re a really solid team, just all around for the most part good ball strikers, good short game,” Forsyth said. “They’re a smart team, they’re not going to make too many mistakes.”

4. Freshman Tubert ties NCAA scoring record

Those who witnessed long-hitting Emily Tubert wax the field at the Women’s Amateur Public Links might have had an inkling she would take to collegiate golf like a fish to water. As if winning her first college outing (the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic) wasn’t enough, Tubert went on to tie the NCAA 18-hole scoring record in just her third event at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown.

Tubert posted a first-round 9-under 63 at Boulder Creek (Nev.) Golf Club that included seven birdies and an eagle. She finished at 11-under 205 to win by five shots. What’s more, the smiley California kid clearly has her head in the right place, as she had this to say at the end of the week: “Every time we tee it up I always tell my coaches, I say, ‘You know this is so cool, what an awesome experience,’ ”

3. McChrystal emerges as the player to beat

The last anybody heard of Megan McChrystal at the conclusion of the 2009-10 golf season, she had put up a final-round, 8-under 64 at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C., to set a school, course and NCAA Championship scoring record. After a quiet summer that included more summer school than tournament action, McChrystal burst onto the scene at the beginning of the fall with a win at the NCAA Fall Preview.

The LSU senior finished out the season with a T-4 at the Mason Rudolph and a runner-up finish at the Tar Heel and will take the top ranking in the Golfweek/Sagarins into the spring.

2. Arizona State competes without a team

A year ago, Arizona State entered the fall season with a national title to defend. It was a much different story this year for the Sun Devils as only two golfers were able to represent the team in two events this fall.

Arizona State lost Juliana Murcia Ortiz to graduation after a fourth-place finish at the national championship, then saw Jennifer Johnson and Jaclyn Sweeney jump ship to join the pro ranks during the summer. Only Carlota Ciganda and Giulia Molinaro remained.

Both Ciganda (Spain) Molinaro (Italy) traveled to the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship this fall, and Ciganda had two top-20 finishes in her two starts for Arizona State this season.

“I would like to have a team because you are more motivated and you have more fun,” Ciganda said. “I love Giulia and I like going with them but I think having a team, it’s much better.”

1. Alabama is the team to beat

Last year’s NCAA Championship provided some pretty significant foreshadowing for Alabama’s reign at the top of the rankings this fall. Purdue might have had the darkhorse story locked up, but it was Alabama that outpaced the rest of the field in the final round, scoring a program-best third-place finish.

Alabama won two of its four events this fall – flying out of the gate with a win at the NCAA Fall Preview – and never finished worse than sixth. The Crimson Tide had eight rounds under par and one round at even par, and set the single-round school record three times this season.

The question now is whether that momentum can roll through another off-season.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Beyond Hiroshima - The Non-Reporting of Falluja's Cancer Catastrophe.

View the original article here

Iowa wins 4th title of season at Royal Oaks

The Hawkeyes ended their fall season with another win Tuesday at the Royal Oaks Collegiate. It’s their fourth tournament crown in five starts on the fall season.

Iowa took a five-shot lead into the final round at Royal Oaks Golf Club in Dallas after putting up rounds of 276-275 on Day 1 to get to 17-under 551. The third round was cancelled because of persistent heavy rain, leaving the Hawkeyes, No. 19 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings, with the trophy. Texas A&M, No. 12, was second at 12-under 556 while Arkansas, No. 11, finished third at 4-under 564.

Even though Tuesday’s weather delays amounted to a lot of waiting around, Iowa head coach Mark Hankins said his team was ready to play and defend its lead.

“With difficult conditions today, the guys came out and stayed tough,” Hankins said. “They were prepared to play until the last minute. Fortunately, we played well enough yesterday and built a big enough lead to earn a championship.”

Iowa also won the Golfweek Conference Challenge, the Rod Myers Invitational and the Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic this season.

Iowa senior Vince India won the individual title at Royal Oaks after shooting 10-under 132. His back-to-back rounds of 66 included 11 birdies. India also won the Golfweek Conference Challenge in September.

Texas A&M’s Conrad Shindler, playing as an individual, was second at 8-under 134 while teammates Jordan Russell and Case Cochran were third and T-4, respectively.

–Iowa athletics contributed to this report.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Beyond Hiroshima - The Non-Reporting of Falluja's Cancer Catastrophe.

View the original article here

Travel offers abound among the holiday season

by Dawn Gilbertson - 24 October 2010 12 H.
The Arizona Republic

Just at the beginning of December, Jan Luster dashing Mall mail or decorate his home for the holidays.

Surprise resident will be lounging on the deck of the Princess Sapphire as he cruises to the Mexican Riviera for a week.

Lustre, retired teacher did not take holiday this year, and called his travel agent as soon as she saw the cruise deal in a booklet of AAA travel: $850 per person, including food and entertainment.

The best part: it is to stay in a series for the first time.

"It was like" Yes, I'm going to ' "', said Luster.

This is a refrain that travellers should utter this time of year.

A few weeks after the action of grace and before Christmas offer some best year-round travel arrangements.

Why? many people travel on Thanksgiving and Christmas action.Also, people are too busy with, or left, vacances.Dans functions simultaneously, taper, travel opening inventory for the airlines and hotels.

"This is the slowest three weeks of the year, without a doubt", said Scott Kirby, CEO of US Airways."It is just dead."

Days of vacation and money saving have collection offers, discounts for early-season ski-low rates to stations that are budget busters the rest of the year there.

A sampling:

-Book a package from Southwest Airlines Vacations three nights for two new brilliant Aria Resort and casino at the Centre of the city in Las Vegas, including the Phoenix roundtrip airfare and all taxes, to $683 on weekends from 10 décembre.Payer $50 less going in midweek.

Do not need in a hotel of luxury? A similar package for 3 nights at the Flamingo Hilton is $496 on the end of week and $440 midweek.

-Check in luxury Waldorf Astoria Park City, Utah, for as little as $160 per night midweek at the beginning of décembre.La room figure almost $ 700 stays of one night Christmas week and week end Presidents.

-Spend a week at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu for as little as $600 per person, including the two stars hotel nonstop flights and the taxes of a package holiday Pleasant.Billet aircraft only Phoenix trays easily award during the summer season.

-Check in the five five - star, five diamond Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas on select dates midweek $129 or $139 in December.

-Head of Puerto Vallarta on a US Airways vacation package. Tempe airline offers a one-week stay at Hotel Sheraton Buganvilias just after Thanksgiving for $717 per person, including tickets and taxes.

The only place where that you will not find an agreement between Thanksgiving and Christmas action is a Mecca for travel, this time of year.

"This really is a formidable to find not only bargains moment, but the availability," said Matt Saczawa classic travel in Scottsdale."I wish that more people have benefited from this."

In many cases, the dead travel zone extends to the beginning of January, said Saczawa.Lui and his wife enjoy great cruise offers better than their rates, travel agent each year to celebrate the birthday of his wife.

Pleasant holidays CEO Jack Richards said post-Thanksgiving, nice package holiday company trafficking is compete solely by bargains offered three weeks in August after startup school West.

He said that end-of-the-year contracts are a great success with couples without children, Girlfriend Getaways and other sophisticated travelers who know that they can share a more beautiful as hotel never previously.

"Some people travel during this period," says Richards.

And they would like to keep their little secret.

Randy Williams, Manager, Office Crystal Pier hotel always reserved for San Diego, said several guests who book a stay every year during this period of three weeks called "time of the year".

"They'll probably shake their punches with anger article," he joked.

It's the only time this year Williams doesn't have to say no to the caller after caller requesting availability.

Crystal Pier, known for its cottages on the water on the beach of the Pacific, books up to one year in advance for dates pointe.La most weekends of the year are sold per month in advance.

November is already full, but last week, there is availability for weekends and days of the week in December.

"We have a lull type", said Williams.

Travelzoo.com, best known for its top 20 weekly travel deals he emails to subscribers, said Treaty is arriving just for this period and will increase as dates draw rapproché.Il a ticket through 15 décembre.Certains offers best holiday offers for Caribbean Mexico and ski resorts, said Travelzoo editor Jaime Samuels.

"This is really good actually go", said Samuels. "You can be stressed after seeing family and want to decompress until you see again for Christmas.?

Samuels said notice applies to the availability of the frequent flier, trop.Elle is headed for a stay of two weeks in December, Thailand for free tickets.

"It was the best time to do," she says. "I wanted to go a little later for Christmas, I couldn't just get seats.

Booked a hotel after seeing this transaction on Travelzoo: $114 night in a hotel 5 stars in Bangkok.

No deal is good enough to do drag many travelers this holiday, says Kirby US Airways.

"They're not travel because it is expensive; it is because they have other things to do", he said. "You are not going to ignore your Office Christmas party for save $100 on aircraft.?

This entry transmitted via the service for full-text RSS - if this is your content and you read on someone to another site, please read our FAQ page fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Article five filters features: After Hiroshima - non-rapport Cancer Catastrophe of Fallujah.

View the original article here