Mr. Thornley, 65, who joined the Board of Callaway Golf in 2004, served from 2002 to 2005 as President and Chief Operating Officer of Qualcomm Inc., the global leader in wireless technology.  He served as Qualcomm’s Chief Financial Officer from 1994 to 2002.  Until his appointment today, he served as chair of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Callaway Golf and was the designated “financial expert.”

Mr. Fellows, 68, served as President and CEO since August 2005 and led initiatives that included the Company’s international expansion, product cost reduction and efforts to return golf to the Olympics. Mr. Fellows led the Company to record sales and earnings prior to the economic downturn.

“Tony Thornley has a deep knowledge of Callaway’s business and the steps we must take to improve results going forward.  He brings decades of experience, including the financial and managerial skills and discipline to execute on our immediate priorities and to lead a transition to new leadership as the company charts a path for the future,” said Ron Beard, Chairman of the Board.  ”As an avid golfer with a low single-digit handicap, he also brings passion for what we do. We appreciate George Fellows’ efforts, accomplishments and wish him the best in the future.  We look forward to continuing to work closely with our customers and partners as we take our next steps.”

“It’s been my privilege to serve Callaway these past 6 years and I’m proud of much of what we’ve done,” said Mr. Fellows. “However the personal demands of cross country commuting and other demands on my personal life and family have led me to conclude now is the right time for me to make this change.”

Preliminary Results for Second Quarter 2011

Callaway Golf announced that, for the second quarter of 2011, it expects revenues to be approximately $270 million.

The Company expects a net loss of approximately $55 million for the second quarter, including $48 million of noncash charges. These noncash charges include a valuation allowance of approximately $46 million related to the Company’s U.S. deferred tax assets.  The Company’s U.S. business, which has been adversely affected by the recent economic downturn and continued investment in the final phase of the Company’s global operations strategy, has not yet returned to profitability.  As a result, U.S. accounting rules require that the Company establish the valuation allowance.  The Company expects to be able to reverse the allowance in future periods as the Company’s U.S. business returns to profitability.  The net loss for the quarter also includes charges of approximately $8 million related to the organizational changes and approximately $4 million related to the Company’s global operations strategy.  

Organizational Changes

As part of its reorganization, the Company expects to reduce headcount at all levels of the organization. The Company said it expects its organizational changes and reevaluation of business processes and priorities to deliver annualized pre-tax savings of approximately $50 million, a portion of which will benefit 2011.  Pre-tax charges associated with these actions, including severance expenses, are currently estimated to be approximately $20 million for 2011, including the $8 million recognized in the second quarter.

“While it is clear that it was the global economic recession that derailed our record sales and earnings pace, it is also clear that our business is not keeping pace with the industry recovery,” said Mr. Thornley.  ”It is therefore necessary for the company to take immediate and aggressive actions to reduce costs in order to return the Company to profitability as quickly as possible. We will also focus our efforts on strengthening our Brands by reinvesting a portion of the cost savings in key marketing initiatives.  While we have the best performing products in the industry, that message has sometimes been overshadowed by the sheer volume of competitive marketing. In addition, the actions we are announcing today will also result in a leaner organization that is better able to respond to changing market conditions.  We will provide more details about the reorganization during our earnings call in late July.”

Bill Reimus, TaylorMade’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel, said “We are pleased that our position has been vindicated by the Court’s decision. The ruling is consistent with the Court’s previous Markman rulings, which correctly construed the claims in a manner that made clear that TaylorMade’s products are non-infringing. We respect the intellectual property rights of others and we expect that others will respect ours. However, if and when infringement is alleged without basis, we will defend ourselves vigorously, as in the present case.”

May 20, 2011
In December, 2010, we shared an announcement that our parent company, Fortune Brands, had approved a plan for the sale or tax-free spin-off of the Acushnet Company. Today, Fortune Brands announced that it has signed an agreement for the sale of Acushnet Company to a consortium led by Fila Korea Ltd., the owner of the Fila brand globally, and Mirae Asset Private Equity, the largest private equity firm in Korea, as described in the attached news releases.

As one of the largest golf equipment companies in the world, this begins a new chapter for the Acushnet Company and an opportunity to build upon the game’s longest running records of golf equipment success. Titleist and FootJoy are two of golf’s most revered and iconic golf brands delivering superior performance and quality excellence in their respective product categories.

The Fila Korea and Mirae group understand and appreciate our golf industry leadership, passionate associates and our unique and enduring culture. Acushnet’s worldwide headquarters will remain in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and Fila Korea and Mirae have expressed their intent to keep Acushnet a standalone operation and keep the Acushnet management team in place. Together, with our new owners, we share a collective desire to continue to provide you and golfers with the best-in-class products and service that you’ve come to expect from Titleist and FootJoy.

Transition is nothing new for Acushnet Company. The Golf Division was founded in 1932. In 1935, the first Titleist golf ball was brought to market. Fortune Brands acquired Acushnet Company in 1976, and Acushnet acquired FootJoy in 1985. Titleist has been the #1 ball in golf for over 60 years and counting, and a leader in high performance clubs. FootJoy claims the #1 position in golf shoes, golf gloves and outerwear.

The Acushnet Company has long been the trusted steward of the Titleist and FootJoy brands and we remain steadfast in our mission to provide you and golfers around the globe with the highest performance and quality equipment in the game.

We greatly appreciate your loyal support of our brands, products and people, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership with you as we move forward.

The tournament also announced a new name in 2011, the “Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G”, reflecting the fact that Northwest Arkansas-based Walmart has now become the title sponsor for the event with P&G becoming presenting sponsor.

“We give back locally in the communities where we operate, including Northwest Arkansas. We are proud to host the tournament and expand our support of it because the event showcases the beauty of Northwest Arkansas, one of the country’s best-kept secrets,” said Susan Chambers, executive vice president of Global People at Walmart. “We are committed to doing our part to help make our community one of the premier destinations to live and work.”

Added Jay Allen, Tournament Chairman, “We’re pleased with our progress in four years and the outstanding support we’re receiving from sponsors, volunteers and fans from throughout the region.  We are well positioned for future success in Northwest Arkansas, and on behalf of all those involved we will continue to grow the event and make it better in all aspects.”

Said Jeff Schomburger, President, Customer Business Development for P&G, “We are proud of the tournament and the impact it has had on the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas.  We’re also thrilled, and believe it is in the best interests of the tournament, for Walmart to become the title sponsor with P&G moving to presenting sponsor.  P&G remains fully committed to the event and looks forward to working closely with Walmart to take the tournament to the next level.”

For the second straight year, the tournament will offer a total purse of $2 million in prize money, with the winner receiving a first place prize of $300,000.  Relative to other LPGA Tour tournaments in 2011, this purse will make the Northwest Arkansas event one of the most competitive on Tour in 2011, according to tournament officials, including in comparison to the Tour’s four “major events.”

Allen added that announcements will be made in the coming months about other tournament-related activities, including charitable outreach, special events, and the player field.

For the first time in club development, both the crown and sole components of the new RAZR Hawk and RAZR Hawk Tour Drivers are comprised of Forged Composite. This highly advanced carbon composite material was developed in partnership with luxury Italian automaker Automobili Lamborghini and is the lightest, strongest, most precise material either company has ever employed.  Forged Composite is one-third the density of titanium, features a greater load carrying capacity per unit mass in bending, and provides Callaway engineers with a level of precision that was previously unachievable.  

“Designing a clubhead built almost entirely out of Forged Composite gave us the ability to engineer speed, power and precision enhancements that exceeded even our own high expectations,” said Dr. Alan Hocknell, Sr. Vice President of Research & Development, Callaway Golf.  ”Forged Composite’s flexural strength and low density allows us to strategically locate every last gram of weight to increase performance.  Further, the ability to precisely forge the carbon material to within one-thousandth of an inch yielded aerodynamic shaping that greatly reduced energy lost to drag during a golfer’s downswing.”

Callaway’s RAZR Hawk drivers mark the debut of a proprietary innovation in aerodynamics called Streamlined Surface Technology, which addresses the complex variations in aerodynamic flow during a driver’s entire downswing — from transition through impact. The result of a multi-year research enterprise and the unparalleled precision of a Forged Composite design, Callaway engineers reduced the energy loss due to drag by 43% in the RAZR Hawk drivers (compared to their predecessor, the FT-9 driver). Impressively, RAZR Hawk features the highest driver head speeds ever recorded by a 460 cc Callaway driver, leading to measurable distance gains.  

The RAZR Hawk Standard driver is available in either a Draw or Neutral model. The RAZR Hawk Tour models, which come standard with a 45.5″ shaft, feature a slightly smaller head size and a more open face at address for a look preferred by skilled players. RAZR Hawk drivers also feature Callaway’s proprietary Hyperbolic Face Technology™ for improved impact efficiency and have been proven on professional tours around the world.  All models of RAZR Hawk drivers will be available for the new product introduction retail price of $399.

The RAZR Hawk fairway woods extend Callaway’s history of genuine innovation in the category. Employing Forged Composite in the crown of the clubhead allows Callaway engineers to precisely redistribute weight for Center of Gravity placement that maximizes distance without compromising ball flight or feel.  The Company’s club designers then apply aggressive Variable Face Technology® to precisely shape the face thickness in each fairway wood, increasing the sweet spot to promote consistent trajectories. Tour-inspired styling features a traditional head shape with a full-length hosel.  RAZR Hawk fairway woods will be available at the new product introduction retail price of $229.

“For the first time in the development of a fairway wood, we have engineered a configuration that allows the golfer to benefit from a Forged Composite crown,” added Dr. Hocknell.  ”The significantly lighter crown and subsequent repositioning of weight around the club’s perimeter promotes considerable performance advantages, such as increased ball speed and accuracy.”

About the Callaway-Lamborghini Partnership and Forged Composite

On September 30, 2010, Callaway Golf and Automobili Lamborghini announced an agreement to connect the resources of their world-renowned Research and Development teams.  This unique alliance establishes an ongoing partnership to develop innovative technologies and materials such as Forged Composite, the first collaborative element of this partnership.  Forged Composite is the lightest, strongest, most precise material either company has ever employed, and features an incredibly high threshold for withstanding the extreme forces encountered by Lamborghini and Callaway products.  The implementation of a new, proprietary isothermal forging process enables Callaway and Lamborghini engineers to incorporate Forged Composite into their designs with a level of precision that was previously unachievable.   

About Callaway Golf

Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) creates products and services designed to make every golfer a better golfer. Callaway Golf Company manufactures and sells golf clubs and golf balls, and sells golf apparel, footwear and accessories, under the Callaway Golf®, Odyssey®, Top-Flite®, and Ben Hogan® brands in more than 110 countries worldwide. For more information please visit www.callawaygolf.com or shop.callawaygolf.com .

Split into week-long academies, summer at the Tiger Woods Learning Center focuses on STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Math); or Golf for the beginning player. This flexible curriculum will allow students to move along at their own pace with customized lessons for a fun and appropriate challenge.

All students that attend the STEM Academy will receive 15 hours of STEM instruction along with three enrichment workshops for the week. STEM classes include, Comparative Zoology, Resourceful Robotics, Velocity Vehicles and Video Game Design, while enrichment classes include Digital Photography & Photoshop, Rocketry, Alternative Energy, Comparative Marine Life and Beginning Golf.

The Golf Academy will provide beginning golfers with a world-class golf experience taught by full-time Tiger Woods Learning Center golf instructors and PGA teaching professionals. Students will learn the basics crucial to the success of professionals including, grip, stance, posture, alignment and controlling ball distance. Located on site at the TWLC is an exceptional practice facility designed by legendary international architect Tom Fazio, a 14-acre driving range, target greens and 18-hole putting course. During their time at the Golf Academy, students will practice with the best in Nike Golf equipment and digital video swing analysis.

Depending on the week of stay at the Summer Academy, members will either experience the best of college life at Chapman University or Cal State Fullerton or, enjoy the ultimate outdoor stay at the Irvine Regional Outdoor Education Center.  

A rather arrogant title methinks. Let’s start with the question, does golf need a renaissance and to accurately answer I looked up the word. While rebirth is given as a synonym the broader meaning is a cultural change from history going forward. When I accessed data from The National Golf Foundation and the US Census, it struck me that golf, as played regularly by amateurs, needs a renaissance…badly.

 Numbers can be pretty boring so here’s the macro analysis. (The census data and National Golf Foundation reports are available for those interested in the details.) We have approximately the same number of golfers playing today as we did in 1990. Since then over 3800 courses have been built in the US and our population has increased over 25%. Moreover, the demographics of our population’s increase in age and income fit the profile of potential golfers. Something has happened over the last 20 years that has resulted in less people taking up and enjoying the game.

Distilling commentary on the Internet we learn that golf has become too time- demanding, too expensive, and too frustrating. I agree with the first comment on time but consider the argument on expense. Paying money to be aggravated and  frustrated is not exactly logical, change that to enjoyable and rewarding and the expense argument weakens considerably.

Taking those specific complaints what follows will speed up play, make the game more fun and do so at no cost to the golfer or the industry. I’m not writing this just as a story. This is about changing the game of amateur golf, taking on its culture, tradition and negative reaction from the players themselves. To say it’s a formidable task is almost funny. My approach is to produce hard data, draw the conclusions, and try to get support at all levels, from players to the organizations who influence the game.

Sometimes you have to experience something in a different environment to get a clear understanding. For transparency, I’m a 9 handicap 71 year old having played the game for over 50 years. I also worked in the equipment side of the golf industry and possess a deep love for the game.  Some months ago I was invited to play with guys I didn’t know on a course I’d never played before. The group was easily in my age bracket and most had higher handicaps. The course wasn’t long we were going to play from the back tees, short of 6700 yds. Since my regular course was longer, the players better, my ego was on full throttle. I was prepared to star; I’d  show these guys what I had once been, a player( at least my memory convinced me thus.)

 At the end of the round (an uninspiring 83) I reflected. My first reaction was: with a 9 handicap an 83 is within normal limits. Yet as I thought more, this conclusion was a trap, one that I have somehow accepted over the years. It was an immediate reaction: 83…9 handicap…ok. But what about a couple of other things? Did I really have fun or was I managing frustration? Did the time go by quickly and with pleasure or was it a struggle? As I contemplated these and other ideas the entire round began to take on a different perspective. It was like I had played two different courses, one eliciting a “hey not so bad, you need to work on your game a little” response and the other, a vague mystery about overall length and my game.

 There were at least 4 holes where most of the group could not reach the green in regulation, but because of my incredible length I only fell short on 3. Further I still hit (or more correctly tried to hit) hybrids and the occasional fairway wood into greens designed to receive shorter irons. The playing conditions were excellent, and in honest reflection, the results were well within my norm considering that on average I play yardages from 6600 to 6900.

 I have to pause here because among my friends, virtually every male to whom I relate this story,  (not senior golfers, amateurs of all ages) the mere suggestion of a 6700 yard course being too long is treated with scorn and derision. The basic response is, maybe for you (you wimp) but not me. 

Was I any different in my reaction and the answer is certainly not. I had to be missing something. Maybe my golf balls had gone bad, maybe there was more wind than I realized, maybe I had the flu or worse the beginning of some horrible muscle deterioration caused by my advanced age.  None of these were apparent and after a trip to my doctor, who looked at me quizzically as he found nothing wrong, I reverted to an old habit: analyzing numbers.

 I don’t quite remember why, maybe watching an event on TV, but I started with the distance Tour players hit their tee shots. Officially it’s 287 (but that includes positioning holes) so a 300 yard drive is normal and the big hitters easily exceed that number. I then went on the Internet and found several articles on the distance male amateurs hit their tee shots. They ranged from averages of 205 to 230, and to be clear, this does not include the college players or scratch amateurs. I’m talking about the great majority of players who support the game: you, me, us. 

I used 230 because, well, you know, I must be hitting it that far!

 Even then the difference is 70 yards compared to the tour professional 300. On irons they hit 20 yards farther and here again I’m giving us the benefit of a very big doubt. It’s closer on our strong lofted wedges, but when they launch a 5-iron 220 yards over water its game over.

So using my ego inflated numbers I get 70 yds on the drive and 20 yds on irons for a total of 90. Take a par 72 course with 10 par 4 holes and the difference is 900 yards. Add in the same formula for the par 3 and par 5 holes and the total easily reaches 1400 yards. (Let me emphasize, easily)  EUREKA! The reason why my little 6700 yard course was so long is because it was like a tour professional playing an 8100 yard course. And there you have it, something a Tour Professional with their great skills would never, do we ignore and frustrate ourselves on a regular basis.

 If you stop and think about the “why” it’s grist for the mill of the analyst. We do not now, nor will we ever, hit the ball as solidly as a tour player, control the distance, possess the shot making skills they do, and yet we continually spot them in the area where they have the greatest advantage, length. It’s like scrimmaging against  an NBA player except that our basket is 12’, or batting against a major league pitcher and letting him throw fast balls from 45’, or serving a tennis ball from 20’ behind the baseline.  You could have a field day listing comparable pursuits.

To further test my theory I got a young tour aspirant to play with me one Friday late, when the front nine was empty. All he had to do was accept my leveling  the playing field and tee off 90 yards behind me, which meant from an adjoining fairway in some cases. I didn’t move up I played the “mens” tees that in this case produced a 6800 yard course.  After a few 280 yard shots into par 4 holes I asked him if he’d play that distance on a regular basis. The look I got was accompanied by “Are you kidding me?” and he decided he needed to go and practice.

What prevents us from playing the 6000-6400 yard courses (which is what the Tour plays weekly given their superior distance)? And by the way, the same data analysis produces yardages of 4000-4600 for women, a discussion I’ll have later.  What is it that makes the male ego respond, that chest swelling, “no way, not me, I’m not playing those front tees.”

 I’ve tested the theory with several of my golfing friends and can come to only one conclusion; it’s the misconception and our ego reaction to the front tees when it should really be only about Tour Length. 

 It’s also incorrectly looked at as a senior movement, us “old guys” move up. The 230 yard average did not come with any age classification, it is universal to the core who support the game.

 Let’s say your course has a neat little par 4 of 345 yards, a couple of par 3’s 160 or less, and moving to the front tees ruins what are very nice designs.  Leave those holes as is. This is a critical point because moving to the very front tees would turn them into weak, uninteresting golf holes.

 How about a par 4 at 445 Yards and a par 5 at 440? Crazy stuff you say? Not necessarily. The par 4 has a fairly wide slightly down second shot to a large green. Your 230 yard drive leaves 215, and given your Sunday best, you can get to it (or at least close enough to have a chance at par). There’s no restriction against having a long hard hole, just like the Tour.

The 440 yard par 5, with the same 230 yard tee shot, leaves 200, carry 210, to the flag. This hole has water in front, trouble on all sides, a classic risk/reward situation. Now 200 all carry, over water, for our group… well, the challenge is very interesting! OK, 98% of the time we should lay up but again, the ego response: only 200 yards, why?  It’s a tight target, surrounded by trouble. The shot that works is high, landing softly, and the person hitting it isn’t concerned about the distance, he’s thinking about the correct trajectory.

This is where the PGA of America comes in. I’m encouraging (badgering) them to make this their legacy. Use their considerable golf skills to set courses up with a set of Tour Length tees and during the process, educate members, explaining the reasoning and the benefits. At the same time I’d love to see amateur golfers understand and ask for the change. Use the 230 yard drive as a base, give us second shots from 160 on down, some 5 pars reachable in two; nothing Tour players don’t experience in every event.

 Golf magazines, Internet sites are flush with articles on how to get core golfers playing more and new people into the game.  Yes, come on lets all play continually from the equivalent of 7500 to 8300 yards, take an inordinate amount of time and be hellishly frustrating. It’s a credit to the great game that more people haven’t quit.    Tour length would give us faster rounds, more fun (if you consider the occasional birdie putt more fun). Those two things alone and we don’t need more benefits.  

Once started this will spawn ideas well beyond anything I can imagine. One club pro suggested a season long Tour Length event at his club to get his members used to playing the new tees. How about PGA section recognition to the best Tour length layouts, show them in the PGA magazine.

I mentioned women’s Tour Length at 4200-4400. I used the same formula comparing average women golfers to LPGA players. This has more ramifications than you might think. For years I’ve read that the influx of women golfers will increase rounds played. Hasn’t happened, net zero to minus. The National Golf Foundation calls it churning; the same number that start playing is equaled by the ones that quit.  Maybe, just maybe, putting them on Tour Length courses will allow them to enjoy golf, play faster and stick with the game.

Since I’m the advocate of Tour Length I have tried to come up with reasons why it might be a bad idea, find significant flaws. One is handicapping. It could affect the way the USGA or other systems handicap courses. Given the dramatic benefits from faster play and players having more fun, I cannot envision any organization that promotes golf not embracing the concept and making necessary changes.

One of my friends made me stop and think.  A Scotsman, he brought up two significant issues, one factual, one philosophical. The first was that here in the US we overwater our courses. He said we have a fixation on lovely green fairways which translates to soft and minimum roll. The second was our obsession with par. He said if we took the European attitude and just made numbers, the frustration issue would be mitigated.

 I agree on the first thought, it’s a basis for another story. I am a great fan of firmer, faster courses; and healthy fairways, light green to a little brown, are fine with me. If the result is increased driving distance from my suggested “Tour Length Layout” with less maintenance cost, that’s wonderful. As to ignoring par and just making numbers, I said he missed my point. Just give me the same relative distances as the greatest players and we can play any system that works.  

 I don’t advocate turning the 6700 or the 7000 yard tees into flower boxes. The strong amateur players need their challenges.  One of my favorite stories involves a guy from the Northeast who spent winters in Florida. Once a year in February he flew back, went outside, experienced the cold and took the next flight back. My gang and I can treat the 6700 yard tees with equal reverence.

Some golf writers have written about playing shorter tees and the response has been essentially nil. This isn’t about shorter tees it’s about a Tour Length Layout. I realize I’m repeating here but I’ve explained this many times on a one-on-one basis.  The universal reaction starts negative, but when I go through the logic, and ask “why not, what is wrong with the analysis” the negative reactions turn positive.   

 I sincerely hope the PGA of America, aided by all the concerned bodies, use their considerable influence to install Tour Length as a renaissance in golf. It needs it, we need it.

Arkansas Fairways & Greens note:  Barney is the founder and owner of Adams golf.  He invented the Tight Lies golf club that was the forerunner of the hybrid.  The Adams Hybrid is a favorite among tour players and amateurs alike and Adams Hybrid Irons are becoming increasingly popular with amateur players.  He knows from whence he speaks!

Masters Tournament Featured in EA Sports’ Tiger Woods Game

This news release from Augusta has shocked some observers because it seems so out of character for the staid and formal image that has been cultivated about America’s most famous private golf club.  EA Sports is one of only two sponsors who have stuck with Tiger Woods since the revelations surrounding his personal life.  Especially interesting since Billy Payne publicly criticized Tiger’s actions at last year’s Masters.

AUGUSTA, GA (January 4, 2011) – Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, today announced the formation of the Masters Tournament Foundation, which is designed to annually invest in development programs for the game of golf worldwide.

“The establishment of the Masters Tournament Foundation is central to fulfilling our responsibility of supporting the game’s continuous growth around the world,” Payne said. “This tradition, shaped by our Founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, is the cornerstone of the Foundation’s important commitment.”

The Foundation now serves as the vehicle whereby the Masters will further support its golf development goals and reach a broader audience. Efforts already include the creation of the Junior Pass Program, televising the Par 3 Contest, advancement of digital technology offerings on Masters.com, the co-founding of the Asian Amateur Championship and sustained significant monetary contributions to The First Tee and major golf organizations around the world.

To add to this list in 2011, Payne also announced that the Masters Tournament will be featured in EA Sports’ next iteration of its award-winning Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 golf game franchise. The Masters will be available in stores March 29. As a result, Payne said that 100 percent of the Augusta National’s proceeds will be contributed to the newly created Foundation.

“Our desire to help grow the game of golf throughout the world is sincere, and it is that commitment that first led us to EA Sports more than three years ago,” said Payne. “EA Sports, Tiger Woods and the PGA Tour have developed an extremely successful franchise that responds to one of the popular entertainment choices of kids today. We hope our inclusion will foster an appreciation for the history and traditions of the Masters and inspire the next generation of golfers. Equally important is its ability to help further the mission of the Masters Tournament Foundation with the entirety of its proceeds.”

Tiger’s life began to change that morning and soon his secret life was a secret no more.  We have learned more about his time away from the golf course than most of us wanted to know and many of us still find it hard to believe.  The guy we thought was perfect with the perfect life wasn’t so perfect afterall. 

This week the world’s most famous golfer began a mediz blitz to talk about his life a year later.  Observers believe Tiger’s handlers wanted to trump all the anniversary stories that might pop up with the various media outlets dredging up file video of the wrecked Escalade and the photos of all the bimbos and the sad photos of Elin and the kids trying to escape the paparazzi. 

So, Tiger writes an op-ed piece for Newsweek titled “How I’ve Redefined Victory” and his first ”tweet” hits Twitter and he’s suddenly on ESPN radio’s Mike and Mike show granting a 30 minute interview.  Woods talked about the support he’s received from friends, what he’s learned over the past year, says the experience has made him a better person and that he’s a happier person than he was a year ago. 

With Thanksgiving approaching  he was asked what he was thankful for, and he said he was thankful for his kids.  It was the only thing he said that sounded like it was coming from his heart.

Perhaps the most newsworthy thing he said was that he felt he would get to 19 majors and break Nicklaus’ record – most of what he said seemed contrived and disingenuous to me, all part of a PR campaign designed to regain some of the trust he has lost with the public. 

 He’s had a dismal year on and off the golf course.  First the extended period of time away from the game with his return coming at the Masters where he finished five strokes off the pace in a tie for fourth.  He also scored a top five finish in the U.S. Open but it was downhill after that.  He missed the cut at the PGA at Quail Hollow, had his worst round as a professional at the Bridgestone and for the first time in his career, failed to win a tournament. 

There’s no question that he’s playing better now.  His Ryder Cup performance was stellar and he ended the season on a high note with a 65 in the final round of the JBWere Masters in Australia and a fourth place finish.  All the work he’s put into his game is starting to pay off and now the work he’s putting into reshaping his public image has begun.   I have no doubts that his new swing is working and that his game will return and perhaps in a very big way – as for the new Tiger, the jury is still out.

For the first time since 1999, Woods is ditching his custom made Scotty Cameron putter for a new Nike design.

Asked about the reason for the change, Woods responded, “It rolls the ball better and rolls it faster.”

Despite his continued off the course drama, Woods remains the prohibitive favorite to win his 15th major championship at St. Andrews.