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Watching Golf this Week: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

May 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment

It’s Hogan’s Alley weekend for the PGA Tour, with a better-than-average stop known for many years as simply “the Colonial.” Played in Fort Worth, Texas, hometown of golfing legend and five-time tourney champ Ben Hogan, the Colonial this year has a pretty good field including red-hot Jason Dufner and player of the year candidate Hunter Mahan, among others.

No Tiger, Phil or Rory, though, so press drama will be at a minimum for at least one more week, until the stars reassemble at the Memorial in Ohio. Until then, let the less-known stars shine in Texas.

Here’s where to follow the action:

CROWNE PLAZA INVITATIONAL AT COLONIAL

(all times Eastern)
TV COVERAGE
Thursday, May 24 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Friday, May 25 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 26 — CBS, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 27 — CBS, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.

RADIO
SIRIUS XM (Satellite)
12 p.m. — 6 p.m., Thursday-Sunday

ONLINE
The PGA’s Live@ won’t return until next week’s Memorial. All you have this week on your computer is…

PGA SHOT TRACKER
Get your online fix via Shot Tracker for the Colonial.

TOP TWITTER FEEDS TO FOLLOW

Geoff Shackelford — well known golf writer.
Golf Channel — official Golf Channel feed
@PGATOUR — official PGA Twitter feed
@StephanieWei — great golf writer who is a Twitter fiend (though she is taking this week off too)

WHAT’S THE COURSE LIKE?
Colonial Country Club has been the site of this tourney since 1946. Here’s the tour’s brief course-info page. The tourney site itself has a good hole by hole map.

WHO WON THIS THING LAST YEAR?
David Toms. Who looks great in the winner’s plaid jacket. Yep. Plaid.

LOCAL FLAVOR
Bone up on your Colonial history on the tourney’s traditions page.

FEDEX CUP LEADERS
1. Jason Dufner, 1,435 points
2. Hunter Mahan, 1,395 points
3. Bubba Watson, 1,372
4. Phil Mickelson, 1,307
5. Rory McIlroy, 1,290

See the full standings for the FedEx Cup points list.

WORLD GOLF RANKINGS
1. Rory McIlroy; 2. Luke Donald; 3. Lee Westwood; 4. Bubba Watson; 5. Matt Kuchar.
See the official World Golf Ranking list.

Filed Under: CBS Sports, Golf, Golf Channel, PGA Tagged With: , ,

Nike Unveils New Golfer Performance App, NG 360

May 23, 2012 by 4 Comments

The ever-elusive golfing social media market has a new entrant, from one of sport’s biggest names: Nike today unveiled its NG 360 app, which is designed to be a one-stop shop for golfers who want to improve their game, their golf fitness, and to connect with like-minded friends.

Available only for the iPhone (Nike golf’s Twitter stream said an Android version is due soon) the NG 360 app (for Nike Golf 360) is, according to Nike, a place to “Track your rounds, dig deep on stats, get feedback on your swing from pros and your friends, and access golf-specific workouts. NG360° is a clubhouse, practice tee, gym and pro shop — all in one, and always with you.” The app is free for download from the iTunes app store.

Though many have tried to tap the millions-strong market of golfers who clearly love to track, talk about and most importantly, buy things to improve their games, nobody yet has come up with a Facebook-type winner where everyone wants to be. Some of that, no doubt, is due to the fact that for many people, golf is an escape from work, which now means their phone. Sure it sounds great to have a cool golfing app right there in your pocket but it’s so close to email that it may get ignored by golfers who are instead enjoying the sunshine and a cold beverage.

Nike also seems to have a kind of badge/reward system in place to honor golfers who are getting better, but not having played with the app, I wonder if there is too much going on here. I for one would kill to have just a simple place to record scores, and perhaps to access them via the phone from the cloud whenever I am out on a course. It’s unclear how the NG 360 performs at simple things. Time and some user feedback will likely tell, quickly.

Where Nike may have an edge over past and current efforts to tap the golfer-social-media-stats market (like Callaway’s new gizmo) is in its innovative twists, one to let you record your swing in video and another to allow professional instructors to help you improve your game. Like many things, NG 360 sounds great as an idea. Now let’s see if Nike’s marketing can find success in a field where many have failed.

Filed Under: Android, Apple, Apps, Golf, Nike, Outdoor Activities Tagged With: , , ,

Beyond the Hostage Video: Tiger Woods Schedules Google+ Hangout with Fans

May 23, 2012 by 1 Comment

Though we here at MSR thought a lot of the criticism was unfair, the now-infamous Tiger Woods hostage video is getting an upgrade. According to a tweet from Eldrick himself, Tiger Woods will invite some real people to join him in a Google+ hangout on May 29, ostensibly to talk about the upcoming Memorial and U.S. Open tournaments.

If you haven’t seen one, a Google+ hangout is basically a shared video chat, where up to 9 people can interact live via the comfort of their own webcam. The hangouts can also be broadcast live or archived to watch on YouTube, so non-participants can view the interchange. No word yet whether or not Tiger’s hangout will be broadcast live or taped, but you can be sure whatever happens that the mainstream golf media will rip it apart, bit by bit.

Here at MSR we are actually in great favor of moves like Woods’, which eliminate the bow-tied middlemen who still think of themselves as necessary “conduits” to the athletes. Don’t get us wrong — there is always going to remain a needed and necessary space for sports news coverage and opinions. But I also think that sports media are going to have to live with the fact that their value-added access to athletes is going to diminish in the future as more players, like Tiger, take their interactions directly to the fans.

The great upshot of all this is that the clowns who clutter up press conferences with questions like “how did you feel when you hit that great shot” will fall by the wayside, while true athlete-fan interactions and smart reporting and writing surface to the top. At least we can hope. And hangout in the meantime.

Filed Under: Golf, Google, Tiger Woods Tagged With: , ,

Timeout Tuesday: Playing Your Golf Shot off the Grandstand… to Win

May 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Welcome back to Timeout Tuesday, a few time-wasting videos to help you get your day going. First up is the PGA’s shots of the week, which include an incredible under-the-tree recovery shot from Phil Mickelson, as well as a winning putt from Jason Dufner. But I think the first shot fron Nick Flanagan is the winner of the bunch. Take a look and see what you think.

Second up is a ridonkulous and-one shot from Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook. While I can live without Westbrook’s angry-man court persona as well as his church-lady press conference red glasses, there’s no denying the skills of Westbrook, Kevin Durant and the other OKCers who made short work of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers legacy. (hat tip to the Big Lead, who always seems to dig up these videos within minutes. If you don’t follow the Big Lead, you should.)

Filed Under: Golf, NBA, PGA Tagged With: , ,

Watching Golf this Week: HP Byron Nelson Championship

May 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment

After burning out a bit watching the Players Championship last week, I might be like Tiger and take a week off. After all, without ol’ Lord Byron around to pass judgement from his lawn chair this tournament just doesn’t feel like it has the same meaning. Plus, I am not sure I want to wallow in the Keeeeeegan Bradley “first win” BS that is sure to emerge. I am not a Bradley fan, mostly due to the long putter. I may not ever like the guy because I was pulling for Dufner in the PGA finale last year. Is that a rivalry worth worrying about? Maybe not. But even if I don’t watch, there will be golf this weekend.

And with Phil and Ernie Els in the field there is some star power, though anything other than the U.S. Open right now feels like practice. Well maybe the Memorial will be worthwhile. Certainly the PGA Tour seems to think so, because that is when we will next see live online coverage of golf — none this week from Texas. And we’re back to shortened times for Golf Channel and CBS so — maybe this week is for hard-cores only.

Here’s where to follow the action:

HP BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP

(all times Eastern)
TV COVERAGE
Thursday, May 17 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Friday, May 18 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 19 — CBS, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 20 — CBS, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.

RADIO
SIRIUS XM (Satellite)
12 p.m. — 6 p.m., Thursday-Sunday

ONLINE
The PGA’s Live@ is gone. All you have this week on your computer is…

PGA SHOT TRACKER
Get another online fix via Shot Tracker for the HPBNC.

TOP TWITTER FEEDS TO FOLLOW

Geoff Shackelford — well known golf writer.
Golf Channel — official Golf Channel feed
@PGATOUR — official PGA Twitter feed
@StephanieWei — great golf writer who is a Twitter fiend (though she is taking this week off too; but she’s still fun to follow, as her twitpics of mini golf this week showed)

WHAT’S THE COURSE LIKE?
The TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas sounds like the hotel at the mall at the end of the world. Here’s some info on the layout.

WHO WON THIS THING LAST YEAR?
Do you have to ask? KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEgan.

LOCAL FLAVOR
If you don’t know anything about Lord Byron, time to hone up on your history. The tournament’s legacy page is a good place to start. When Tiger was challenging Nelson’s 11-in-a-row streak a few years back a lot of folks learned a lot more about one of golf’s more silent heroes. And then there’s the Dallas Morning News for local reporter-type coverage.

FEDEX CUP LEADERS
1. Hunter Mahan, 1,378 points
2. Bubba Watson, 1372
3. Rory McIlroy, 1,290
4. Phil Mickelson, 1,220
5. Carl Pettersson, 1,215

See the full standings for the FedEx Cup points list.

WORLD GOLF RANKINGS
1. Rory McIlroy; 2. Luke Donald; 3. Lee Westwood; 4. Bubba Watson; 5. Matt Kuchar.
See the official World Golf Ranking list.

Filed Under: CBS Sports, Golf, Golf Channel, PGA Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Callaway Readies Re-Launch of GPS Golf Course Device, and Golf Social Media Site

May 16, 2012 by 1 Comment

After an initial launch that was scrubbed due to technical glitches, golf manufacturer Callaway is readying a May 30 debut of its Upro MX+ GPS course-guide device, as well as a revamped social media site where golfers can trade reviews, scores and conversation about golf courses the world over.

We haven’t had a chance to play with the Upro MX+ yet, but the $249 device looks like it could be an instant contender in the course-info-device marketplace. Here’s the promo blurb from the Callaway website, which also has some other details about the device’s ability to basically tell you where you’re at and how far it is to the green, no matter where you are playing since it comes pre-loaded with info on some 25,000 courses. Ah, the wonders of memory!

ProMode provides a realistic view of the course using actual aerial photography (not renderings) with precise yardage to hazards and key points selected using AnyPoint Technology. In this mode you can pan the entire hole with the swipe of a finger and zoom in and out to see more or less detail, allowing you to make better decisions and play with confidence.

What’s even more potentially interesting than the device itself is Callaway’s Uexplore site, which has been on-again off-again with the hiccup in the Upro launch. What Uexplore is designed to do is allow golfers to record scores and reviews of courses, with the idea that such user-generated content could mushroom into a big conversation about golf with Callaway at the middle. Of course, this idea has been somewhat of the Holy Grail for the golf business roughly since about the invention of the browser. The innerwebs, unfortunately, are filled with ghost towns of “user course reviews” that never got off the ground for probably the simple reason being that most people don’t really want to sit down and write about their rounds after they’re done.

But if the Upro offers golfers an easy way to track scores while they play and then lets them upload the info directly to the site, it could be the potential solution to tapping into the great wealth of knowledge currently locked into golfers’ minds. More as we hear more from Callaway, which we are betting we will with the U.S. Open coming up soon.

Filed Under: Apps, Golf, Sharing Sports Media, Sports Social Media, Sports Social Media Data Tagged With: , , ,
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