It all went pear-shaped for Woods after his Melbourne trip and though he is now back playing on the PGA Tour, he isnt the same player who won the 2009 Australian Masters. However he is still the World Number One, and he is still arguably the best golfer ever. Joining Woods will be Villegas, Garcia, Ogilvy and others will be added. Tickets will sell out once more, the lure of Tiger may be different, but he will still bring in the masses. Tickets are now on sale at www.ticketek.com.au, season pass is $179 to access the venue over six days and general admission to the tournament is $49 per day.

This years Masters will be held at Victoria Golf Club as part of the very smart rotation of the Masters venue between sandbelt courses, Victoria is a fantastic layout, the epic bunkering and tight fairways will test the pro’s.

Australians will now have the opportunity to see Tiger play three years in a row, as he will most likely return next year as well as part of the US Presidents Cup team.

Welcome back Tiger, you da man!

In Japan, 18 year old rising star Ryo Ishikawa carded the lowest score ever on a professional major tour to win the Crowns Tournament by 5 shots. Ishikawa was trailing Maruyama by six shots into the final round before shooting a 58. He birdied nine of his first 11 holes, had three in a row on the back nine, and missed a 15-footer on the 18th for a 57.

Hours later on the other side of the globe, 20 year old Rory McIlroy blew away the field with a course record final round 62 at the US PGA Tour’s Quail Hollow Championship in North Carolina to win by 4 shots.

PGA Tour watchers have been predicting big things for both Ishikawa and McIlroy, as well as predicting Tigers demise, it turned out to be a huge weekend of professional golf with signs that these predictions may be coming to light soon!

The US Masters hype is reaching fever pitch with a day to go before the first round. 95% of the media has been focussed on one man, Tiger Woods, returning to tournament golf following his self imposed break to work on his ‘issues’. The other 5% of the media has been focussed on asking the other golfers what they think about Tiger returning to tournament golf.

In his press conference, the new Tiger2.0 has expressed that he will be more respectful to the game, appreciate the fans and enjoy golf again. On Thursday afternoon at 1:42pm Augusta time, Tiger will probably hit the most watched golf shot in history, will he nail it down the middle and pick up where he left off?

There are of course, others playing the tournament including six Australians. Will an Australian finally break through to be the first Aussie to wear the green jacket? None of the six are carrying in fantastic form:
Geoff Ogilvy had his best finish last year finishing 15th, and would have the best chance for an Australian win
Adam Scotts best year was 2002 finishing 9th, he hasnt played well since then at Augusta
Robert Allenby has struggled at Augusta, 22nd his best finish, could this be the year?
John Senden missed the cut in his only previous appearance in 2008
Nathan Green and Marc Leishman make their first appearance at Augusta.
Good luck to the Australians, and good luck Tiger, glad to see you back!

On his website Tiger writes: “The Masters is where I won my first major, and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I’m ready to start my season at Augusta. The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it’s been awhile since I last played.”

So who will be looking forward to his return, and who wont? Opponents: The rest of the PGATour field wont be that happy that Tiger is back, there has been an extra spot in the top 10 of tournaments recently and no Tiger effect on the back nine of the final round. However they will be happy with the extra patronage, viewership which leads to more sponsors and richer purses!

Media: The media will be jumping out of their socks. Media will outnumber spectators at the Masters, watching Tigers every move, pity the golfers paired with Tiger in the first round, the atmosphere on the first tee will be electric.

Broadcasters: The Masters could be the most watched golf tournament in history, Broadcasters will be VERY happy. The Masters will also be broadcast in 3D for the first time ever!

PGATour: Tournament Patronage has been down 20% since Tiger started his exile, PGA Tour and golf in general needs Tiger to be on the course not the gossip mags.

Bookies: Have already installed Tiger as favourite for the Masters. Time will tell if the whole incident, excessive media, possible negative crowd have an impact on his game. Will we see calm, relaxed Tiger or frustrated, angry Tiger

Good luck Tiger, good to see you back doing what you do best, playing golf.

Plenty Views Golf Park located in Plenty in Melbournes North East used to be a busy driving range on weekends, most bays were full with all types of swings on display, the driver being the most used club. The driving range also has a great cafe with wood fired pizza and work had been underway to finish a bar area as well

That was all until last year when new neighbours moved in, and took offence to the number of golf balls landing in their backyard (well away from the house!), buyer beware you would think. However the buyer took the owners of the driving range to court, and won!

Suddenly the whole business plan for the driving range was thrown on its head, unable to allow balls to be hit next door, they have turned the range into a short game target golf range, and are also adding a Zorb park (those huge balls that you climb inside and roll down the hill

We took our kids and a handful of short irons to have a hit, the kids loved the short game targets, however the owner said that 90% of golfers were walking away as they couldnt hit drivers! So he is now targetting familys and kids in a dramatic change of customer, thanks to the new neighbours! Hopefully it all works out, or the neighbours move on!

Plenty Views Golf Park and ‘Sfear factor‘ Zorbing is located at 206 Yan Yean Road, Plenty.

At the Australian PGA at Coolum this weekend, Scott is 2 shots off the lead going into the final round. But he should be closer. Scott carved his tee shot on the par 3 8th hole way left, wedge onto the green was long and the par putt missed the hole stopping 2 feet past. He jabbed at the return putt and missed!

Ive missed a number of 2 foot putts, and unfortunately they count exactly the same as a scorching drive down the middle of the fairway. Even for the average golfer, missing a two footer is all mental. The brain throws in doubt on the roll, slope and you decelerate or jab at the putt only to watch it edge past. Its important to accelerate through the ball and not take a large backswing.

Scott has the game to win a major, but please dont give him a 2 footer for the win at Augusta.

Scott misses another 2 footer

His latest news, probably not surprising, is that he is taking a break from professional golf. “After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.” Woods will be followed relentlessly by the paparazzi and spend equal time in Gossip mags as he will in sports mags. He will then do the tell-all interview with Oprah, and eventually make his way back into golf.

Golf needs Tiger, interest in the PGA tour fell 50% when Tiger was out due to injury, sponsorships and prizemoney thrive with Tiger around. He single handedly turned our Australian Masters event into a rock concert. Whether he returns a shell of his former self, or as the Worlds greatest is going to be one of the biggest stories of 2010.

One thing Scott does need to work on is his putting (and Im not one to talk) but to go that next step, you cant be taking 31 putts in the final round of a major tournament, he missed some sitters. Scott has had a year to forget, so hopefully this victory can kick start 2010, next step is a Major!

Tiger also goes on to request privacy from the media, however unfortunately being the Worlds Greatest Golfer, and arguably greatest sportsman means that media scrutiny is intense and will continue. Unfortunately Tiger seems to have jumped the fence and played a couple of rounds on another course (or two). Brand Tiger Woods has been tarnished, and time will tell whether he gets his life back on track. The tabloid wolfpacks will eventually retreat and Tiger will return to the sports pages not the gossip pages.

Facts are still limited on what happened last Friday night in Florida. Rumours however are rampant. We do know that Tiger smashed his car into a fire hydrant and a tree. We also know he received cuts to his face. Thats about it from a fact perspective. Woods has stated the accident was his own fault. Rumours however point to affairs and assault and with no full comment from Woods, the press are having a field day.

The other facts are that Woods is still the Worlds Number One golfer, he is under intense media scrutiny and unlike his golf game, he, like the rest of us, isnt perfect. The sooner we see Tiger back on the golf course, in red, leading into the 71st hole, the better.

Not even Accenture really knows Tiger….
photo credit: ATIS547