Another Golfer's Caddie Made More in Prize Money Than Tiger Woods Last Year


Twenty-two-year-old Texan golfer Jordan Spieth had a hell of a 2015 PGA Tour season, winning the Masters and U.S. Open and ascending to the sport's No. 1 ranking. Spieth made so much prize money this year, in fact—more than $23 million—that Golf Digest estimates that his caddie has made more money from golf prize money in 2015 than most golfers, including fallen star Tiger Woods. By a lot. From SB Nation:
Estimates of what Michael Greller, a former elementary school teacher, earned during the Summer of Spieth come in at something north of $2.3 million -- some $1.8 million more than Tiger Woods netted in another forgettable season for the former world No. 1.
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You can see how much prize money other golfers hauled in (on the PGA Tour, which is the largest though not only source of prize income) here. More than 220 of them made less than Greller!

Rory McIlroy: “10 millones ya no significan mucho para mí”


En su cuenta de Twitter, Rory McIlroy se define como alguien que “a veces le pega golpes a una bola en el campo”. Esa naturalidad, poco común en el deporte de élite, la exhibe en todos los órdenes de su vida. En la conferencia de prensa previa al inicio del Tour Championship, que además de repartir más de 8 millones de dólares en premios decidirá quién se lleva el bonus de 10 millones que corresponden al ganador de la FedEx Cup, dio una nueva demostración.

“Por suerte esa cantidad de dinero ya no significa mucho para mí. Iría a parar al banco y me permitiría comprar algo bonito si lo deseo. Es bonito pensar que puedes ganar 10 millones en una semana, pero eso no es lo que me motiva. Me motiva jugar y ganar. Nunca he ganado la FedEx Cup y eso me motiva más que salir de aquí con un cheque en la mano”, explicó McIlroy, en unas declaraciones que han suscitado muchas y muy diferentes reacciones. Hay quienes alaban su sinceridad y también quienes le tachan de frivolidad y de vivir alejado de la realidad.

Lo cierto es que McIlroy, que lleva ganados 28 millones de dólares en premios en el PGA Tour, había ingresado ya 20 millones de dólares antes incluso de disputar su primer torneo como profesional. Esa fue la cantidad de su primer contrato con Nike, que, según Golf Digest, actualmente reporta al jugador norirlandés 1.5 millones de dólares mensuales. Además, de la marca deportiva, su patrocinador principal, tiene contrato con Omega y Bose. Normal que diga que se pondría más nervioso ante un ‘putt’ para ganarle un dólar a Tiger Woods que ante para llevarse 10 millones. O quizá no tanto…

En todo caso, tras la disputa de la primera jornada del Tour Championship, McIlroy mantiene vivas sus opciones de ganar la FedEx y embolsarse esos 10 millones. El norirlandés marcha tercero, a dos golpes de Henrik Stenson. Para encabezar la clasificación necesitaría, básicamente, ganar el torneo y que ni Day, ni Spieth, ni Stenson, ni Fowler, ni Watson queden entre los cinco primeros clasificados.


Tiger Woods has second back surgery, done for 2015


Tiger Woods had back surgery Wednesday and won’t play again in 2015.

"This is certainly disappointing, but I’m a fighter,” Woods said Friday on his website. “I've been told I can make a full recovery, and I have no doubt that I will."

The microdiscectomy surgery was performed in Park City, Utah, by neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Rich, who also performed the initial operation to Woods’ back March 31, 2014. He missed three months after that surgery.

“With the upcoming offseason, the decision was made to remove a small disc fragment that was pinching his nerve,” Rich said. “The microsurgery was a complete success, and he was discharged Thursday night.”

Woods played just 11 events this year and had one top-10 finish. He hasn’t won since 2013 and is ranked No. 283. He will not play in the Frys.com Open, which is the 2015-16 season opener for the PGA Tour. He also will miss the Bridgestone America’s Golf Cup presented by Value in Mexico City and the Hero World Challenge at Albany in the Bahamas.

Woods felt some discomfort in the back and hip area the last several weeks of his season this year.

He will begin rehabilitation and soft tissue treatment within a week.

"This is unfortunate, but these things happen,” Woods said. “I've been injured before and played again. It won't be any different this time.”

Police: Golfer Dies After Being Stung By Bees In Michigan


Police say a golfer from Ohio has died after being stung at least 20 times by bees as he searched for a ball in woods in northern Michigan.

Michigan State Police Sgt. Mark Tamlyn says Darryl Dever of Powell was pronounced dead Wednesday after having trouble breathing.

Tamlyn told WWJ Newsradio 950 that Dever and a friend — a doctor — were golfing together at Treetops Resort’s north course when Dever went into the woods to retrieve a ball.

Tamlyn said that’s bees came out of a hive on the ground, stinging Dever at least 20 times in the head and neck.

Still, he played on.

“He went from the second hole to the third hole, and when he got to the third hole, he was having problem, was feeling sick, was having respiratory problems,” said Tamlyn.

There was no cell service, Tamlyn said, so the pair could not immediately call for help.

Dever had no known allergy to bee stings, but Tamlyn noted that enough stings can be fatal even to someone without an allergy
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“It is sad; it really is…You just go golfing and it results in your death. You just never know what life is gonna present to you,” Tamlyn said.

Treetops Resort is near Gaylord, about 200 miles northwest of Detroit.

Sergio Garcia Proves Why the PGA TOUR Needs to Fix the FedEx Cup Playoffs

This week marks the second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs when the PGA TOUR swings through TPC Boston for Deutsche Bank Championship. For most golfers, they will continue to fight their way to make the cut for the BMW Championship, but for Sergio Garcia it’s just another opportunity to skip an event.
Sergio’s agent Carlos Rodriguez confirmed that the golfer isn’t injured, but he has simply decided not to play in the first half of the playoffs. There hasn’t been any reason stated for why he is skipping the two tournaments, but some speculate that it may be so the Spaniard can rest up for the final stretch of the playoffs.That’s right, Sergio, currently ranked No. 43 in the FedEx Cup standings, will be skipping his second consecutive playoff tournament. After skipping out on the Barclays, Garcia will also forgo his eligibility for the Deutsche Bank Championship. Despite missing out on both events, he will still be able to make the cut of the top 70 golfers and play in the BMW Championship next week at Conway Farms.
If he plays well at the BMW Championship, then he will qualify for the TOUR Championship. Once the field is set for the TOUR Championship, the FedEx Cup points reset and any of the top 30 golfers have an opportunity to win the FedEx Cup and the $10 million that goes along with it.
It seems that Garcia’s strategy is to only play in eight rounds throughout the four playoff events and still have an chance to win the whole thing.

Woods watches U.S. Open tennis match with daughter


With his golf season already over, Tiger Woodsspent some of his newfound free time watching a U.S. Open tennis match Friday night alongside his daughter, Sam. 

Woods watched Rafael Nadal's third-round match against Fablo Fognini from Nadal's box. The two athletes, who have each won 14 major titles, have been friends for years and Nadalonce said that acting like Woods on the course is "the only way I can play a round of golf."

While two years ago Woods had his daughter follow him at the Deutsche Bank Championship, he failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs this season which allowed for some father-daughter bonding time in New York.

Unfortunately for Nadal, Woods did not prove to be a good luck charm as the Spaniard was upset by Fognini after blowing a 2-set lead at a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.
Woods is next expected to tee it up at the season-opening Frys.com Open, Oct. 15-18 in Napa, Calif.