The Golf Week in Review

Scott Stallings wins his first PGA tournament with birdies at the 18th in regulation and the first playoff hole to defeat Bob Estes and Bill Haas at the Greenbrier.

At age 22, Yani Tseng wins the Women's British Open for her fifth major championship victory.

Olin Browne wins the U.S. Senior Open to become the fifth player to win on the Nationwide, the PGA, and the Champions Tour.

Simon Dyson wins at The Irish Open with a final round 67.   

Tiger Woods is back for the WGC Bridgestone this Thursday against a stellar field.

Michael Jordan weighs in on Tiger's return

Assistant President's Cup captain and basketball legend Michael Jordan has offered his insight into Tiger Wood's upcoming return.

“The biggest thing is that I’ve always – and I’m pretty sure Tiger has, too – used sport as a therapeutic tool,” he said. “Once you’re inside the lines, you can focus on what your jobs are and what you’re doing on the court, or for him the course.

 “The problem for him was that he wasn’t physically capable of getting inside those lines and doing those things. I think he’s been somewhat fragile mentally and physically.

 “When I went through those issues, once I got on to the basketball court that became a therapeutic thing for me where I was able to forget all those other things. Once I finished playing basketball, I came out with a better understanding of the decisions I had to make.”

The hardest part for Tiger is that golf is much more mentally difficult than basketball. With basketball, you can use your emotions and anger to take over the game in a physical way. With golf, it is all mental, which is why it's the hardest sport to be great at consistently.

Most golfers know that if you allow any negative outside thoughts into your head when trying to play, you are screwed. For Tiger, he has to blank out the car crash, affairs, divorce, rehab, losing sponsors, media criticism, and overall haters in combination with trying to get healthy and groove a new swing. It's going to be a challenge, but if there is any golfer with enough mental capability, it would be Woods.

AK - 62 fires 8 birdies

Anthony Kim made eight birdies and no bogeys en route to a third round 62 at the Greenbrier Classic to vault into first place by one shot.

Injured for much of the past two seasons, Kim has struggled with his game but things appear to be on the upswing now that he's healthy again.

"I haven't had this much fun playing golf in a long time," Kim said. "Even when I wasn't hitting the ball particularly well yesterday I had a lot of fun. The last couple weeks have really turned my golf game around, especially starting at the British. So I'm looking forward to pretty good things."

McILroy fires back at golf channel analyst

“Shut up. You’re a commentator and a failed golfer. Your opinion means nothing!” wrote McIlroy.

After being criticized for his course management and his caddie at the Irish Open, Rory McILroy fired back on twitter at Golf channel analyst and former pro Jay Townsend. 

Just another amusing golf drama played out on twitter.

Tiger Woods to return next week at Firestone

Tiger Woods will return next week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone, a tournament he has won seven times previously.

"I'm excited to get back out there", said Woods, who hasn't played since withdrawing from the Player's Championship in May with an injury.

Woods has since fallen out of the top 20 in the world rankings and recently fired his caddie Steve Williams after 13 years together. No word yet on who will replace Williams.

It will be nice to see Woods on the course again and hopefully he will bring some life into the PGA Tour for the remainder of the season.

Charles gets a statue

Taken from ESPN'S PAGE TWO

Charles Barkley

Location: Outside any golf course in America.

Design Inspiration(s): The 7-foot-high statue of Ben Hogan at the Colonial; Charles Barkley's actual golf swing.

Plaque Inscription:

Charles Wade Barkley

Golfer

Handicap Unknown, But Very Large

Immortalized here is a golf swing known but to God. A former professional athlete, Charles Barkley appeared to be anything but one when holding a driver. His tortured swing was a metaphor for quantum physics -- somehow jerky and rigid at the same time -- and beset by an awkward, Dadaist, midswing hitch that made him appear to have a video-game pause button installed in his belt buckle. Barkley once was a 10-handicap golfer who could break 80. He regressed. He was friends with Tiger Woods. Didn't help. He tried hypnosis. Didn't work. He received coaching from Hank Haney. He actually got worse, hitting a spectator with a slice and breaking his club head on a drive. Barkley had access to world-class equipment, yet finished last in the Lake Tahoe celebrity golf tournament five consecutive times. He had monetary wealth and widespread social renown, yet could not hit a little white ball with anything approaching a degree of accuracy. He supposedly had a decent short game. Supposedly. In his Sisyphean futility and dogged desire to keep engaging in a masochistic activity designed to frustrate and disappoint, Barkley was more than a golfing everyman. He made the rest of us hacks look downright competent, inadvertently justifying every dollar we ever wasted on laser rangefinders and high-tech clubs. For that, he is honored.

Caddy Story #2: 10k for a hole in one

This story occurred when I caddied for one summer at Columbia Country Club in Maryland many years ago.

One day I got the bag of Jonathon Ledecky, a business man and one-time part owner of the Washington Capitals, who at the time was supposedly worth three quarters of a billion dollars.

Anyway, when we got to the par-3 13th hole, Ledecky announced to the foursome that if any player gets a hole in one he will give the caddy (me) 10 grand. Apparently he did this everytime at this particular hole.

After viewing these player's games for the previous 12 holes, I pretty much had no hope of any of them getting a hole in one, much less getting the ball close to the green.

As expected, the first three guys hit horrendous shots. But then, the fourth player gets on the tee of the approximately 175 yard hole and channels his inner Tiger Woods. He hits by far and away his best shot of the day, and as the ball travels high and dead at the pin, everyone in the group begins to take notice.

The ball lands a few yards in front of the pin, begins rolling towards it, but then breaks slightly to the right, stopping no more than two inches from the cup.

A variety of Holy $%^&#! cursing was yelled out by the group on the tee, including by myself. I have no idea if he actually would have paid me but he did say he would of taken out his checkbook and wrote it.

I guess the story would be better if the guy drained the hole in one but either way it was pretty crazy.

Ladies at the Evian Masters

Caddy Story #1: Black Mambas

Here is a post about black mambas being the deadliest golf hazard known to man from a few years back.

Caddyshack: How about a little something...for the effort?

In honor of caddy Steve Williams getting canned by Tiger Woods, The 20th Hole will focus on the caddy for awhile. To kick things off, Carl Spackler talks about getting stiffed by the Lama.

Click here for more classic caddyshack.

Early Early PGA Championship Betting Odds

The PGA Championship begins August 11th at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Georgia. Martin Kaymer is the defending champion with David Toms the last player to win it at this venue.Current Bodog betting odds have Rory McILory as the favorite with all the big names close behind.

Rory McILroy 8-1
Phil Mickelson 10-1
Lee Westwood 12-1
Luke Donald 12-1
Tiger Woods 12-1
Martin Kaymer 16-1
Dustin Johnson 25-1
Matt Kuchar 25-1
Nick Watney 25-1
Steve Stricker 25-1

Tiger new caddy betting odds

You can bet on anything, so how about Tiger's new caddy?

Betting odds from Paddy Power:

6/4 Fanny Sunesson
13/8 Byron Bell
7/4 Paul Tesori
5/1 John Wood
6/1 Tony Navarro
8/1 Billy Foster
12/1 JP Fitzgerald
20/1 Joe la Cava
33/1 Colin Byrne

Steve Williams is a bit bitter, and rightfully so

"With the scandals, a new coach, a swing change, I've stuck with him through thick and thin and been incredibly loyal - and then this happens."

Steve Williams has been fired and he's not happy about. 

I normally take Tiger's side on most issues but I'm not sure about this one. Stevie definitely had his back through the entire scandal disaster and the timing doesn't seem fair. Not exactly sure why Tiger did this but maybe it's simply because Williams caddied for Adam Scott.

You can bet when Tiger comes back, tournament officials will pair Tiger with Scott, creating both good television and an awkward day on the course.

Another almost for Mickelson at a Major

Phil Mickelson almost did it again. He almost posted an insane number in the final round of a major championship to win. In a round mixed with brilliance and mediocrity, Mickelson had American golf fans watching in awe during his front-nine and then saying "wtf" on the back-nine.

For anyone who missed it, Mickelson began with three birdies and an eagle through the first seven holes. He then lipped out a 10 footer for birdie at the 8th, and left another short birdie putt on the edge of the cup at the 9th. His score very easily could have been 28, but he settled for a 30, putting him in great position to win.

Finally looking like he had truly learned how to play links golf, Mickelson was hitting great shot after great shot with a variety of knockdowns. With a great approach shot at the 10th, he made another birdie, moving to six under for his round.

And then, out of nowhere, he missed a two foot par putt on the 12th, proceeded to make three more bogeys coming in, finished with a back-nine 38, and lost by three to Darren Clarke. It seems hard to explain other than golf is very difficult and it must be extremely hard to keep up that level of play for the entire round, especially during the final round of a major. But really, I don't know how he missed a dead straight two footer.

This isn't the first time Mickelson has done this. At the 2009 Masters, he made six birdies on the front-nine to post 30, but then dumped his tee shot into Rae's creek at the 12th, making the mistake of missing right, which everyone knows you should never do. From there, he shot 37 on the back for 67, and lost by three to Angel Cabrera.

Tiger Woods had a similar round going at this year's Masters in which he shot a front-nine 31, but missed a three footer for par at coincidentally, the 12th hole, which slowed all his momentum. From there, he shot 37 for a 67 and lost by four to Charl Schwartzel.

These are three perfect examples of how hard it is for a golfer, even for two of the top players of all time, to keep all the momentum going for an entire round during the final round of a major championship.

The Open Championship in Photos

Half way home to the Claret Jug

Lucas Glover will look for his second major championship this weekend. (Getty)

The Open Championship is wide open after two days at Royal St. Georges with terrible weather predicted for the weekend. Should be a good show.

Players with a great chance to win include leaders Lucas Glover and Darren Clarke, with The Mechanic, Martin Kaymer, Davis Love III, Dustin Johnson, Tom Lehman, Charl Schwartzel, Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim, Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, and Rory McILroy all within four shots of the lead.

Tiger Woods broke

Like many people crushed by this atrocious economy, Tiger Woods may be running out of money.

Yeah, he now only has 500 million in the bank. That sucks.

Maybe he didn't reach Golf Digest's previous prediction but he should survive somehow.

The Open Championship returns to Kent

Press release issued on behalf of Visit Kent by Landmark Media International

(Canterbury, Kent – July 12, 2011) The Open returns to Kent and Royal St George’s Golf Club this week, the only venue in southern England for golf’s most prestigious major championship.

This is the 14th occasion the historic links at Sandwich has welcomed the Open – it was the first venue outside of Scotland to host an Open, in 1894 – placing Kent, known as The Garden of England, in the world golfing spotlight.

Royal St George’s Golf Club forms part of Kent’s ‘Regal Golf Coast,’ which includes Royal Cinque Ports (venue of the Open Championship in 1909 and 1920), Prince’s (the Open venue in 1932), Littlestone (a Final Qualifying course for the 2011 Open) and North Foreland.

Overall there are more than 100 golf courses in the county, which also features modern classics such as London Golf Club (a European Tour Destination and home of the 2009 European Open and where work will soon start on a five-star golf and spa hotel resort) and Chart Hills (designed by Sir Nick Faldo and ranked 82nd in Golf World Magazine’s Top 100 Courses in the UK and Ireland) plus landmark castle courses, including Leeds Castle.

British Open 2011 Betting Odds

Betting odds for the 2011 Open Championship can be found at Bodog.

Notable player odds:

Rory McILroy: 13-2
Luke Donald: 11-1
Lee Westwood: 11-1
Martin Kaymer: 22-1
Graeme McDowell: 28-1
Steve Stricker: 28-1
Sergio Garcia: 28-1
Charl Schwartzel: 40-1
Phil Mickelson: 40-1
Louis Oosthuiven: 66-1
Ben Curtis: 150-1
Tom Watson: 300-1

British Open Past Winners

This British Open was first played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. The third of four annual major championships, and the only one played outside of American soil, the Open Championship has seen many great champions in tournament history.

Most recently, South African Louis Oosthuiven played nearly flawless golf over four days at St. Andrews to win his first major championship. The last to win at Royal St. Georges, the site of this year's Championship, was American Ben Curtis, who came out of nowhere to claim victory.

Recent Champions:

2010: Louis Oosthuiven, St. Andrews
2009: Stewart Cink, Turnberry
2008: Padraig Harrington, Royal Birkdale
2007: Padraig Harrington, Carnoustie
2006: Tiger Woods, Hoylake
2005: Tiger Woods, St. Andrews
2004: Todd Hamilton, Royal Troon
2003: Ben Curtis, Royal St. Georges
2002: Ernie Els, Muirfield
2001: David Duval, Royal Lytham and St. Annes
2000: Tiger Woods, St. Andrews

British Open Pairings

World #1 Luke Donald will seek his first major victory at the British Open after winning last week at the Scottish Open. (Getty)

Here is a look at the British Open Pairings and Thursday tee times.

Notable groups:
Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Ernie Els
Luke Donald, Ryo Ishikawa, Sergio Garcia
Graeme McDowell, Jason Day, Bubba "Eiffel Tower" Watson
Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker, Charl Schwartzel
Louis Oosthuiven, Martin Kaymer, Phil Mickelson
Nick Watney, Matteo Manassero, Angel Cabrera

Fab Four Bracket Challenge

If you are bored at work, enter this bracket challenge to select your ideal foursome from golf icons, entertainers, leaders, and athletes. My final four was Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicklaus, Barack Obama, and Michael Jordan.

Golf with Will Ferrell

Enter this contest for a chance to win a golf vacation at Pebble Beach hosted by Will Ferrell.

Women's U.S. Open Betting Odds

The women's U.S. Open begins Thursday with Paula Creamer as the defending champion.

Notable player betting odds from Bodog:

Yani Tseng: 7-2
Christie Kerr: 6-1
Suzann Pettersen: 10-1
Jiyai Shin: 12-1
Paula Creamer: 14-1
Morgan Pressel: 25-1
Stacy Lewis: 33-1
Michelle Wie: 33-1
Sandra Gal: 80-1
Natalie Gulbis: 125-1

Barclays Scottish Open Betting Odds

With the British Open next week, many of the world's top players are getting geared up by playing in the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart Golf Links. This tournament has a bit more luster than the John Deere Classic being played in the states.

Notable player betting odds from Bodog:

Lee Westwood: 9-1
Luke Donald: 9-1
Graeme McDowell: 18-1
Phil Mickelson: 18-1
Matt Kuchar: 20-1
Retief Goosen: 22-1
Justin Rose: 28-1
Padraig Harrington: 33-1
Ernie Els: 40-1
Angel Cabrera: 66-1
Danny Lee: 125-1

Tiger will not win his 4th British this year

Tiger has announced he is out of the 2011 British Open with injury. It will still be a great tournament with Rory McILroy as the favorite. At least the fans over there can root for Mr. Foreign relations, Bubba Watson.

Stoned golf

"We always talked about it. You could go in the Porta John and take your drags."

Robert Garrigus used to be a pothead along with some other pros. Maybe that's why he uses a 20" putter.

Troops requesting golf balls

"While our skill levels may vary, we here at Bagram Airfield find it relaxing to use the mine fields outside the base to practice our driving skills. Unfortunately, the ability to retrieve these balls is obviously limited. They do however provide great motivation for distance and accuracy!"

The troops have requested golf balls. Let's hook them up.