General Sports Water Cooler

Tiger and Phil have both won this tournament before, but it seems like the biggest names like to take a few months off at the beginning of the year nowadays before tuning up for the Masters. I don't blame them - it's a long season, and you can only go so hard for so long. With the Presidents Cup, Chevron, etc., the season goes pretty much year-round for some of these guys. Might as well rest up and try to be in your best form for the spring/summer.

Interesting, the appearance fee trumps Torrey. I thought he hated Pebble since the last time he played with Costner and the 7 hour rounds.

Edit for the obligatory I know Kelly Tilghman doesn't prefer men but I'd smash her to bits post.

Edit for Watney going to get a two shot penalty for his caddie testing the green while reading a putt.

Real nice 63 Stricker shot on Saturday. If he's healthy watch out. Have really enjoyed watching Miller and Faldo together again.

Tiger paired with Phil Knight at Pebble?

I just read this. You seem to generally be an announcer-hater, but you like Johnny Miller? I didn't think there was a single golf fan in the world who actually liked Johnny Miller.

Really? I love MIller, and most golf fans I know do like him too. He's brutally honest, but that's what I like.

I guess we hang out in different golf circles, as most of my friends think he's an idiot. I don't mind the negativity - I just mind when he criticizes asinine things, as well as some of the exceptionally retarded things he says.

Very happy that this event has moved to 4 rounds. The 5 round format is complete overkill and ruined any interest I had in the event.

The Pro Am isn't until Saturday? Thought I read Clinton wasn't playing with Norman until then.

Tiger playing with Donald and McIlroy first two rounds at Dubai. If I'm reading it right, live coverage on Golf Channel starting tomorrow morning at 4.

According to practice-tee buzz Tiger Woods, is earning between $1.7 million and $2.7 million in appearance fees to play this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, although he declined to give an exact figure when asked on Tuesday.

He did, however, address what is a fundamental distinction between the PGA Tour and the world’s other circuits. When asked if an appearance fee ever influenced his scheduling, Woods said, “It certainly does. That’s one of the reasons why a lot of the guys do play in Europe, they do get paid. . . . Only place we don’t get it is the U.S.”

Phil with +5 on the South Course yesterday.

Tiger with a 66 to take the 3rd round lead against a really tough field at Abu Dhabi. Six of the OWGR Top 10 (Donald, Westwood, McIlroy, Kaymer, Schwartzel, Day) were in the field. It's by no means a slam dunk though - ten guys are within three strokes.

*Make that the co-lead. Robert Rock just birdied 18 to tie him. Those two are 2 strokes clear of the field.

Huge chokejob for Kyle Stanley here. I was rooting for Snedeker, but I still kind of feel bad for Stanley - he just made an 8 on the Par-5 18th with a 3-stroke lead. Laid up to 75 yards, which is standard with that lead, but then he put his 3rd in the drink, put his 5th on the back edge of the green to stay dry, and then 3-putted from 45 feet. Heading to a playoff now.

Win or lose, Stanley's game really impressed be this week. He's soooo long, and didn't hit a bad shot all day yesterday. His drive on #13 yesterday was one of the better drives I'd ever seen. And he made a ton of 10-foot par-saving putts down the stretch today until that last hole. He'll win sooner or later.

Not sure who has the edge here - Stanley with his length, or Snedeker with the momentum. They're playing 18 again.