rickyleepotts …an opinionated realist

I play video games.  I play video games a lot actually.  I play sports games, first person shooter games, racing games, and even role-playing games if the mood strikes me.  I am not into games like World of War Craft, but I probably spend as much time playing games like Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf as some of you do playing WOW.  I take the game very serious and have purchased every copy of the game on the day of release since the 1999 version when it came to PC.  I recently have been going to Walmart at midnight the day of the release as that allows for immediate satisfaction of the updated graphics and the new game play.

I would venture to say that I play my Microsoft Xbox 360 about 95% of the time.  I am a console collector, as I have all three of the next generation consoles, but the 360 has a special place in my heart.  Perhaps it is the fact that I waited in line at Walmart for over twenty hours to guarantee that I got one the day it came out.  Or maybe it is because this is the first time that Tiger Woods was a launch title.  Actually, I think the real reason is because of the achievement points.  These points are a way for you track your progress as you play and beat games.  You get points for doing things like completing a season in Madden or for running a lap in Project Gotham Racing without hitting a wall.  Some of the points are easier to get than others, but with that comes smaller point totals.  I currently have just over 14,000 gamer points and from what I can tell that is a lot.  But again, I do play a lot.  Think of gamer points as bragging rights for the rest of the gamers out there.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 has been giving me some problems lately.  I have not beat the game, I have not completed the tournament challenge, and I have only received about half of the gamer points that this game has available.  However, with that being said, I do know what all of these achievements are.  And not only do I know what these achievements are but I also have researched them a little deeper to know not only how to accomplish these achievements but also some of the little innuendos that go along with each task.  Below you will see a complete list of the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 achievements and a little more information on each one.  (These will go from the easiest achievements to obtain to the hardest and highest point valued ones.)

Team Work – Watch the Credits – 10 Points

This is a pretty simple task to complete.  All you have to do is head to the main menu, choose the My Tiger Woods -10 option, then select Extras, and then Credits.  Once you have watched the credits for the game you will unlock this achivement.  This is an easy way to jump start your list and to learn a little bit more about the number of people that went into making this game possible.

Blammo! – Earn the Bingo, Bango & Bongo point on a single shot in the Bingo Bango Bongo Traditional game mode. – 10 Points

This is another pretty simple task to complete.  Bingo Bango Bongo is a pretty fun style of play.  The concept here is that you and your opponent(s) tee off.  You earn a Bingo for the first person to hit the green.  Then, you win the Bango for being the closest to the pin once everyone is on the green.  The Bongo then comes as the lowest score on that hole.  So, for instance, if you hit in the middle of the fairway, stick it to three inches, and your opponent misses his putt and is a foot away from the hole, you would in theory win all three.  There are multiples ways in this game to achieve this task, but the easiest is to play you with two controllers.  Set up the game to be you versus yourself.  Hit the shots that you know will allow the first, or the second, player to win all three.  Is it cheating?  Sure it is but it beats trying to figure out a way to do this while playing in the exhibition mode.

Weather Report – Complete an online 18-hole round in the rain using the Live Weather feed. – 10 Points

Live Weather is new to the Tiger Woods franchise.  This is a feature that based on GPS and the constant connection to the web that your console has (assuming you invested in an Xbox Live account) to pull the actual weather conditions as they are in the city of where the course you are playing exists.  So, if you head over to St. Andrews to play a quick round before bed, have Live Weather set, and it is raining in Scotland you better believe that it is raining on the game.  This feature is cool because it gives you an accurate sense of what these guys truly have to deal with from week to week out there on tour.

The Comeback Kid – Come back from a +5 or worse to finish Even or better, in any Traditional or Online game mode round. – 15 Points

This is a very easy task to complete.  The idea of this is that you have to come back from being at least five strokes over par and finish the round even or under par.  This is not hard as most of these courses have the potential to shoot in the low 50s once you have figured out the putting.  The easiest way I know how to tell you to beat this challenge is to knock a few balls out of bounds on the first hole and start your next seventeen holes already at your target of five shots over par.  Then, once you have hit that magic number just play the way you would normally play.  Chances you finish even or under par are pretty good.

Tough at the Top – Compete in Play-The-Pros mode and submit your score online. – 15 Points

This is also another easy task to complete.  All you have to do is log on, play 18 holes in this particular category, and post your score online.  It does not matter if you shoot twenty under par or twenty over par, as long as you submit the score online you will unlock this achievement.

Play with the Big Boys – Drive the ball 400 or more yards in the fairway in any Traditional or Online game modes. – 15 Points

This is a task that takes a little bit of planning.  First, your player (you could use Tiger Woods for this if you want to) needs to have a high distance rating.  Once you are near a full rating on your distance category, head out to any given golf course and let the big dog eat, as they say. Some things that might help are finding a downhill down wind par four or five.  If the wind is at your back it will be much easier for the ball to carry.  If you do get a big down wind open the club face a little to let the ball get that extra airtime after you hit it.  You will probably get this achievement on accident by just playing the game.

Maximum Power – Complete an 18-Hole round using a max stats costume in any Traditional or Online game modes. – 25 Points

There are a couple of ways to complete this task.  You can purchase the bunny costume with 300 Microsoft points and get this challenge right out of the gate.  But, if you are like me and find yourself on a budget, you just simply have to unlock the bunny suit to break this challenge.  You can unlock this costume by making your way through the Tournament Challenge.  You have to play this to be able to unlock all of the achievements anyway, so it just comes with time.  But once you have unlocked the bunny suit all you have to do is play 178 holes.  Easy enough.

Raindancer – Play in the rain and score an Eagle or better in any Stroke based Traditional or Online game modes. – 25 Points

This is simple.  Set the weather to rain, play a round, and score an eagle or better.  Once you sink that eagle you will get an easy 25 points.

Riding Spinnaz – Sink an approach shot using backspin covering a distance of 5ft or greater in any game mode. – 25 Points

You will get this just by playing the game.  As you make your way through the PGA Tour season or the Tournament Challenge.  Most wedges wil spin this much by default so do not worry about the distance of your spin.  So just go out and play and eventually you will sink a field shot.

Taking Flight – Total 50 birdies with a created player. – 25 Points

This is a pretty simple one to break.  Just go out and play and you will break this in no time.  I currently have over 1,000 birdies and I am not even at 100% game completion.  A harder challenge might have been 50 eagles with a created player. But make sure that you are using your created player as these do not count with the players that are already in the game.

Eye of the Hurricane – Shoot under Par through a Gale Force wind in a Traditional or Online game mode 18-hole round. – 25 Points

Gale force winds are insane on this game. You will be starring at 25+ mile an hour winds going in any given direction.  Sometimes with winds this crazy rain is also thrown into the mix.  Regardless, just play smart, make sure you sink a few birdies early, and you will break this achievement.

It’s All in the Hips – Use Precision Putter to sink a 30ft putt without Putt Preview, in a Traditional or Online game mode. – 30 points

For this challenge you must sink a 30 foot putt without using the putt preview.  The putt preview is your one and only chance at seeing where, if you hit the ball at 100%, your putt will travel.  It can be difficult not using this as the new putting is something very hard to grasp for most average to mid level players.  But, there is luck!  In the tournament challenge you will be matched with Tiger and are required to match him shot for shot.  One of these is a putt that is 30 foot long.  The first time you have this putt, line it up, and use the putt preview.  Understand where the putt will break but then miss the putt on purpose.  The challenge will restart leaving your putt exactly where you had it before. Adjust accordingly and sink the putt.

Bare Minimum – Play a round under Par in a Traditional or Online game mode with a Driver, SW, 5 Iron and Putter. – 30 Points

This is a fun one to break.  I suggest that you use a curse like St. Andrews.  The course is not that long, from the white tees, and has pretty flat greens.  Also, while playing use the three click style of play.  This way if you have a 5 iron going into a 130 yard shot you can guarantee you will not miss the green by very much.  But the easiest thing you can do is just go out and have fun!

Big Money – Win 5 Million Dollars in Live Tournaments. – 30 Points

Good luck on this one.  This is the hardest challenge in the game, in my opinion.  This will take you not only time but patience as you have to play a lot, and for a long time to unlock this one.  There are various styles of online tournaments ranging from daily, weekly, and play the pros.  Each one requires you to play four rounds and the top 350 places generally pay out.  The play the pros one pay fewer spots.  This is not hard; it is just time consuming and a lot of golf.  So get out there and start making some birdies!

Piece of Cake – Post a Top 50 score in a Live Tournament. – 30 Points

This is not s hard as it sounds.  All you have to do is go out to live tournaments and finish one round in the top 50.  Find a tournament that has just started, play your heart out, shoot a decent score, and you will place in the top 50.

Migration – Total 100 Birdies using a created golfer. – 35 Points

Just like the 50 birdies that you must collect this is just a continued effort.  Keep playing and keep making those birdies and this one will eventually find its way into you trophy case.

Birds of Prey – Total 25 Eagles using a created golfer. – 35 Points

Exactly like the two birdie challenges, this is based on eagles.  So, head out there, play some par fives, and rack up the eagles.

Big Tuna – Play an 18-hole Traditional or Online game mode round in FIR and GIR using only tuned clubs. – 50 Points

This one is quite difficult for multiple reasons.  First, every club that you have in your bag must have been tuned out on the driving range.  The putter is the only club that you cannot tune.  This can be done by changing the loft, the lie, or anything else that you think will benefit your swing in the club-tuning mode.  I changed my clubs by one degree of loft.  Now comes the hard part.  You have to play 18 holes and not miss a single fairway.  You also cannot miss a single green.  You must literally play a perfect round from tee to green to break this with those tuned clubs.  Mine happened by accident but with a little patience you can break this in a hurry.

Aces High – Ace a Par 4 or a Par 5 hole in any Traditional or Online game mode. – 50 Points

This one is a lot more difficult than you might think.  You might pull this off by accident during normal game play but if you want to focus on this challenge and guarantee that you complete it then you need to head back to St. Andrews.  And rather than using your created player take Luke Donald.  On hole #9 at St. Andrews Luke will hit a 99-100% driver pin high.  Then, just play with the spin until you knock it in.  Also, use the mulligan feature in case you miss it to save from having to go back and set up the hole again.

Well-Seasoned – Complete a PGA TOUR® Season with at least 10 Million Dollars in career earnings. – 50 Points

This is a pretty simple task.  Just play through a season, win as many tournaments as you can, and finish the PGA Tour season with over $10 million in earnings.  The first time you do this it will actually unlock not only this achievement but also the Tracking Tiger Trophy Ball for making more than $10 million in a single reason.  Think of it as killing two birds with one stone.

Circle of Life – Score an Ace, an Eagle, a Birdie, a Par and a Bogey in a single round of a PGA TOUR® Event. – 55 Points

This, as hard as it seems, will again just happen on accident.  You can play a round and get any number of eagles, birdies, and bogies.  But the hole in one is the issue.  Play a course like Wentworth where you have a lot of chances.  Play the white tees, as well, giving you a better chance at scoring that ace.  With a little luck this will happen during the course of play.

Eagle Eye – Total 100 Eagles using a created golfer. – 55 Points

Remember when I said they should focus on the eagles rather than the birdies?  Well, your wish is my command.  Score 100 of these and you will unlock another achievement.

Ten Thousand Ways – Earn 10,000 Player Points in EA SPORTS™ GamerNet. – 75 Points

This is something that just comes with time.  You can either win these through the course of normal play by knocking it close to the pin or by out driving some of the other players on Xbox Live, or you can do it online in their menu.  You can search for and find these set challenges and if you beat them this route it will earn you double points.  This track will allow you a much easier road and can be accomplished in a few hours if that. (I am doing it the old school route and earning them as I go through the PGA Tour Season.

Challenge the World – Complete the Tournament Challenge mode. – 75 Points

It does not get any easier than this. Just play through and complete the tournament challenge.

Sharkies – Play 18 holes online against an EA Tiburon team member or against a player who has this Achievement. – 80 Points

You can either head online and setup a match with this as a requirement or just risk it and play as many people online as you can until you unlock this.  You must, however, complete all 18 holes for this to unlock.

From Bad to Worse – Hit the ball from any bunker into a different hazard, such as a Water Hazard or Out of Bounds. – 10 Points

This is easy.  Hit the ball into a bunker then hit it out of bounds or into a water hazard.  It really is that simple.

Mulligans Island – Use 20 or more mulligans during an 18-hole round, in any Traditional or Online game modes. – 15 points

Just start a round with mulligans activated and go to town.  You can do this all on the first shot of the round if you want.  Once you have used twenty of these finish the round and you will unlock this achievement.

No Known Survivors – Equip the CEC Mining Hazard Suit – 35 Points

All you have to do is play through the Tournament Challenge.  Once you have completed the four rounds at the TPC of Boston you will unlock this in the pro shop.  Equip it and then you will unlock this achievement.

Levinator25 – Complete the first Bonus Challenge in Tournament Challenge. – 55 Points

This is a fun little secret achievement that you will have to complete.  Once you have made your way through what you think is 100% of the Tournament Challenge you will be given one more set of tasks to complete.  You will be given incredible shots from recent history on the PGA Tour.  The first, and the one that you need to complete to win this task, is knock it in from a lily pad.  Remember that Tiger Woods commercial where he hits the ball from a lily pad standing in the middle of the lake?  Well, now you get to experience this first hand.

These are the achievements in the 2010 Tiger Woods PGA Tour Xbox 360 game.  The game is the best graphics you have seen in this series to date and the game play is incredible.  The putting, as always, changes this year but you get used to it.  If you are like me and obsess over achievement points hopefully this will help you get a healthy chunk.

Today, on Friday February 19, 2010, Tiger Woods made a public apology to a group of close friends and family. At the PGA headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida Tiger stepped to a podium with people like his mother, long time friend and former college roommate Notah Begay, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, and a handful of others. Also said to be there were his wife and other good friends like Michael Jordan. Yet these individuals did not sit in the room where Tiger gave his speech, you could tell he was with friends and family while presenting.

The speech itself was very scripted. Tiger read from a stack of papers and the speech lasted just over thirteen minutes. Tiger expressed his apologies to his sponsors, friends, family, and fans. Tiger also said that he has been receiving and will continue to receive rehabilitation for his actions. To the average person you would assume that Tiger meant every word of what he said.

Tiger left the stage by hugging his mother, shaking hands with the majority of the front row (where Tim Finchem was sitting and was the only person who did not get up once Tiger was finished speaking) and then gracefully walked out of the room. Then came hours of “experts” expressing their thoughts on the speech. Basically, when this was all said and done it was something that Tiger had to do. He has no choice but to apologize to a nation demanding answers.

Below you will find the presentation word for word as well as a video of him speaking. This was a tough day for Tiger Woods, and Tiger fans all over the world. I feel sorry for the man to have to go through all of this, and I know that once he does in fact return to the golf course everything will go back to normal. Tiger is, and always will be, a professional golfer and very well the best player to ever play the game.

“Good morning and thank you for joining me. Many of you in this room are my friends. Many of you in this room know me. Many of you have cheered for me, or you worked with me or you supported me. Now every one of you has good reason to be critical of me. I want to say to each of you simply and directly I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in.

I know people want to find out how I could be so selfish and so foolish. People want to know how I could have done these things to my wife Elin and to my children. And while I have always tried to be a private person there are some things I want to say. Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior. As Elin pointed out to me my real apology to her will not come in the form of words. It will come from my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss and however what we say to each will remain between the two of us. I am also aware of the pain my behavior has caused to those of you in this room. I have let you down. I have let down my fans.

For many of you, especially my friends, my behavior has been a personal disappointment. To those of you who work for me I have let you down personally and professionally. My behavior has caused considerable worry to my business partners. To everyone involved in my foundation, including my staff, board of directors, sponsors, and most importantly the young students we reach, our work is more important than ever. Thirteen years ago my dad and I envisioned in helping your people achieve their dreams through education. This work remains unchanged and will continue to grow. From the learning center in southern California to the Earl Woods scholars in Washington DC, millions of kids have changed their lives and I am dedicated to making sure that continues. But still, I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position.

For all that I have done I am so sorry. I have a lot to atone for but there is one issue I really want to discuss. Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night. It angers me that people would fabricate a story like that. Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage. Ever. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame.

The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable and I am the only person to blame. I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong but I convinced myself that normal rules did not apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all of the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame I didn’t have to go far to find them. I was wrong, I was foolish; I don’t get to play by different rules.

The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife’s family, my friends, my foundation, and kids all around the world who admired me. I have had a lot of time to think about what I have done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It is not up to me to make amends. That starts by never repeating the mistakes I made. It is up to me to start living a life of integrity.

I once heard, and I believe its true, “It’s not what you achieve in life that matters, its what you overcome. Achievements on the golf course are only part of setting an example. Character and decency are what really count. Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology I want to say to them that I am truly sorry.

It’s hard to admit that I need help. But I do. For forty-five days form the end of December to early February I was in in-patient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I am facing. I have a long way to go but I have taken my first steps in the right direction.

As I proceed I understand people have questions. I understand the press wants to ask me details of the time I was unfaithful. I understand people want to know whether Elin or I will remain together. Please know that as far as I am on concerned everyone of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me. These are issues between a husband and a wife. Some people have made up things that never happened. They said that I used performance-enhancing drugs. This is completely and utterly false. Some have written things about my family. Despite the shame I have done I still believe that it is right to shield my family form the pubic light. They did not do these things. I did.

I have always tried to maintain a private space for my wife and children. They have been kept separate from my sponsors; my commercial endorsements. When my children were born we only released photographs so that the paparazzi could not chase them. However, my behavior doesn’t make it right for the media to follow my two and a half year old daughter to school and to report the school’s location. They staked out my wife and they perused my mom. Whatever my wrong doings for the sake of my family please leave my wife and kids alone. I recognize I have brought his on myself and I know above all I am the one who needs to change. I owe to my family to become a better person, I owe those close to me to become a better man. That is where my focus will be.

I have a lot of work to do and I tend to dedicate myself to doing it. Part of following this path for me is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age. People probably don’t realize it but I was raised a Buddhist and I actively practiced my faith form childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years. Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security; it teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously, I lost track of what I was taught. As I move forward I will continue to receive help because I have learned that’s how people really do change.

Starting tomorrow I will leave for more treatment and more therapy. I would like to thank my friends at Accenture and the players in the field this week for understanding why I am making these remarks today. In therapy I have learned the importance in looking at my spiritual life and keeping a balance with my professional life. I need to regain my balance and be centered so that I can have the things that are important to me; my marriage and my children.

That also means relying on others for help. I have learned to seek support from my peers in therapy and I hope someday to return that support to others who are seeking help. I do plan to return to golf one day I just don’t know when that day will be. I don’t rule out that it will be this year. When I do return I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game. In recent weeks I have received many thousands of emails, letters, and people expressing good wishes. To everyone who has reached out to me and my family, thank you. Your encouragement means the world to Elin and me. I want to thank the PGA Tour, Commissioner Finchem, and the players for their patience and understanding while I work on my private life. I look forward to seeing my fellow players on the course. Finally, there are many people in this room and there are many people at home, who believed in me. Today I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again. Thank you.”

As you all know Tiger Woods has been under the gun since his Thanksgiving Day car accident outside of his home in Orange County, Florida. The accident happened very late at night and there was immediate speculation that alcohol and domestic violence was involved in the incident. Alcohol, according to the Orange County Police Department, was not the cause of the accident. Then stories came from everywhere claiming that Elin Nordegren, Tiger’s Swedish super model wife, had beaten him up and he was running in a frantic to get away from her. (That might explain why Tiger did not have any shoes on when the police arrived.) There were even reports that she had bashed the car window in with one of his golf clubs. Regardless, this was a bad way for Tiger to spend his turkey day.

Tiger would spend the next couple of months in hiding as accusation after accusation came pouring in about his extramarital affairs. As many as fifteen women have lain claim to having shared a bed with Tiger Woods as a married man. Stories began to unfold that he would such as how Tiger would rent an entire floor of a Las Vegas hotel and order multiple cases of booze for him and a few friends.There were even stories that Tiger would purchase illegal drugs, order women who were paid to stay quiet, and disappear to some remote island for the weekend. (There were pictures taken recently of Tiger walking on the beach with a blond woman who was not his wife. He was in Australia for a golf tournament.)

Tiger married Elin Nordegren in October of 2004. On the list of women who have claimed to have slept with Tiger Woods includes Mindy Lawton, Cori Rist, and the hottest topic of them all, Rachel Uchitel. We are talking about Las Vegas cocktail waitresses to industry favorite porn stars. There are even reports starting to come out that one of these women is pregnant with Tiger’s baby. The gossip never ends thanks to websites like TMZ and magazines like the National Enquirer.

Needless to say this has been a mess for Tiger and his family. Tiger and Elin spent some time overseas at first, then Elin took some time to herself while her husband reportedly checked into a sex rehab facility down south. However, Tiger and Elin are now back in their Florida home with both of their children. This comes just in time for Tiger Woods to make his first public statement since November.  This announcement will come at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 19^th, 2010. But, before the announcement comes out I wanted to take the time to share with you what I feel the announcement will say. This is my attempt at writing a speech for the man I admire, Tiger Woods.

“Good morning everyone, and thank you for coming. Allow me to start by saying how deeply saddened I am for my friends and family. Since Thanksgiving Day there have been an onslaught of rumors about my transgressions and what the future for my career would hold. As you know I did take an indefinite leave of absence from golf. You will also recall that I did make an official statement on my website admitting to these transgression and I am deeply sorry for all of the hurt that I have caused. I have had to deal with this and what it has done to my family every day since and every day from here on out. That is why I am here today. Not only to apologize to you, my fans, but to also announce my return to the game of golf.

I will be making my official return to play at the Tavistock Cup in a few weeks. This is an event that I hold in high regard as it allows a select few PGA players the chance to play on one of the nicest courses in the country, Isleworth. This tournament also is on what I would consider a home course-taking place just down the road from my home here in Orange County. After this event I plan on playing at Bay Hill for the Bay Hill Invitational a couple of weeks before the Master and then again taking my game to Augusta for the Masters in April.

In my time away I have been able to rest, gather my thoughts on all that has been said in the media, and I am now ready to make a return to the game that I love. So to my family, friends, and fans know that I am deeply sorry for all that you ave been through as a cause of my actions, and know that I love you all for sticking with me through this difficult personal time in my life. I look forward to getting back on the course and I thank you for coming here today. That is all I have for you and there will be no questions at this time. Thank you.”

This might not be word for word what Tiger says in his press conference tomorrow, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I have hit a lot of nails on the head here. Tiger has spent too much time in hiding to come out and not have an announcement for his return to golf. He might shock the world and say that he is taking the rest of the year off or that he and his wife are getting a divorce or something insane like that. But I would venture to say that he is going to do nothing more than announce his return to the game that pays for his house, boat(s), and cars. I wish Tiger the best of luck tomorrow and I cannot wait to hear what he has to say. As always, you have my support in whatever you decide to do.

This year the Golf Inc. Conference will take place in Florida. When you think of Florida you start to imagine places like Disney World in Orlando or beaches in Miami. But on the north side of the state there are places of interest just the same. For instance, places like Amelia Island. This is home of the 2010 Golf Inc. Conference and proves to be a great selection as folks are already talking about the course and the hotel. So, as you begin to prepare for the three day conference this April, I wanted to provide you with a list of eight reasons why you should attend this event. (Note that this list was taken from an issue of Golf Inc. Magazine.)

Recovery Shots for the Next Decade

At this year’s event you will have the opportunity to sit through thirty sessions that will cover the full gamut of your business and help you on your most pressing needs. It’s time to see your business get ahead of the game.

Guaranteed Return on Your Investment

89% of past attendees rank it as a “good” value or better, with 64% ranking it “very good” or “excellent”. The folks at Golf Inc. are so confident that you will find the conference a good value that we offer a money-back guarantee*. They are sure you’ll feel you got your money’s worth that they will give you your money back if you find the conference was a “poor” value.

Best Speakers of any Golf Conference

94% of past attendees rank the quality of speakers as “good” or better, with 65% ranking them “very good” or “excellent”. And 91% agree that the speakers represent the industry’s leading operators, developers, and experts.

The Ultimate Networking Experience

Network throughout the conference with colleagues, industry leaders, and others. Their cocktail parties and other events are rated as the best part of the conference. “You always bring together a strong group of industry professionals in a great and intimate setting. Hard to find another conference that duplicates that kind of value,” a recent attendee wrote in an anonymous survey.

Lowest Rate in Years

They are offering their lowest attendee rates in more than five years. Get in for as little as $399 for one person, if you register before February 19th, 2010. You can register the second person in your party for only $199., and the third person for only $99.

Special International Development Symposium

Learn from international golf leaders on where to build now and what’s working in today’s economy. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear speakers from the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Bahamas.

Private Club Track: The Membership Dilemma – How to Stop the Bleeding

They have crafted a track especially for private clubs, board members and owners who are struggling with membership declines in this tough economy. Learn from experts who have success stories to share.

Outstanding Golf at Amelia Island Plantation

Play one of the four Audubon International certified golf courses beautifully designed along the coast. Enjoy the ocean, the weather, and work on your game while at this year’s conference.

This list should be more than enough to get you to the 2010 Golf Inc. Conference. If not, just take a look at the presentations that make up that list of thirty sessions. There are some industry thought leaders at this event and it will be a great value for you and your club by attending this year’s event. Plus, the round of golf, the cocktail parties, and the potential for all the relationships that you can build is invaluable. So go ahead and register and start planning your trip to Amelia Island.

*Money-back guarantee: Attendees will be sent a survey by email one week after the conference. If you rate the conference as a poor value you will be offered a refund of your purchase price.

How many of you out there play golf? Do you play by the rules as set forth by the USGA or do you drop a ball on the tee and hack it around the course? For those of you who play by the official rules, I assume that you fill out a scorecard during your round. You write down what you scored on each hole and tally them up at the end of the front and back nine to give you your total score for the day. If you are like me, you even keep track of your fairway shots, green shots, and putts. This allows for even more data to be taken into consideration the next time you head out to practice.

Now, put yourself in the shoes of a potential state champion – Adam Van Houten. Five years ago, Adam was staring a state title right in the face. He had busted his butt all the way through high school hitting balls and putting many long hours away on the practice green. He was honing his skills to be able to say that he truly was the best in his state. In 2005, he was set to take the title, finishing with a seven-stroke lead in the state finals. He finished the round, signed his scorecard, and walked to the clubhouse.

Then Van Houten noticed that he had made a mistake on his scorecard. The person keeping score that day had written a 5 on a hole where Adam had actually received a 6. The final scored turned out correct, so Adam signed it. But, under the rules he signed an invalid scorecard. As soon as he signed the invalid scorecard, he should have been disqualified by the rules of the USGA. What should he do? Should he just keep quiet and see what panned out? Maybe no one will catch the mistake. After all, the final score came out correct, right?

Whose fault was this? Was it his playing partner’s fault for writing down the wrong score? Or was it his fault for not double-checking his score against the official scorecard. Regardless of whose fault it truly was, Adam had signed for an invalid score and risked losing the title one way or the other. If he admitted it, then he would lose the title and be disqualified, but he would feel better about himself in the future. He would hate himself now, sure, but in the future he would know he made the right decision. If he ignored it, becoming the newest Ohio state champion, he ran the risk of someone catching him in the future and then living with the turmoil of losing the trophy for cheating. What was Adam to do?

Adam sucked it up. He admitted that he had signed for the wrong score, was disqualified, and was not crowned as the state’s best. But, just when all is thought to be lost, a mere five years later, he was rewarded for his honesty. Adam received a spot on the Sports Illustrated Sportsmanship of the Decade list. And not only that, but the Ohio State High School Athletic Association honored him with a commemorative medal for his honesty.

So, the next time you are on the golf course, are you going to use the foot wedge to knock a ball out from under that tree? Are you going to take a 6 when you know you should really write down an 8? Are you going to fudge the numbers so your handicap goes down just a little bit before the choose up this weekend? Regardless if you are playing in a sanctioned tournament where the rules truly do matter, pay attention to why these rules were created in the first place. In some circles, rules were meant to be broken. But on the golf course, they are taken very seriously. Attitude, appearance, maturity, and honesty are important parts of the game. Adam Van Houten showed not only the state of Ohio that he was an honest and genuine individual but he inspired the number one sports magazine to consider him a true athlete.

I bought some new golf clubs a few years back. I had been playing the Tommy Armour 845 irons for as long as I could remember. They were cavity back, easy to hit, and I never thought I needed anything else until I put a blade in my hand. I was carrying around a 7 handicap at the time and was playing golf any chance I got. But, when I landed a job at Galyan’s Sporting Goods (now Dick’s Sporting Goods) in the golf department I had the chance to hit a lot of different irons. That is when I fell in love with the MacGregor V-Foil blades. I put my order in, got the discount for working at Galyan’s, and began carrying a new set of irons.

The only reason I switched was because I added distance as well as control with these new irons. I had a hard time giving up the other sticks but it was time for me to move to better and more consistent irons. I have since dropped to a 1 handicap and have, over the last few years, been playing some of the best golf of my life. But what if you do not have the luxury of knowing when the time is right to buy new golf clubs? Hopefully the list below will help you in your decision this off-season to get out, try some new equipment, and start playing the best golf of your life.

1. When was the last time you bought a driver?

On a normal day and on a normal golf course you will hit your driver maybe 14 times. This club, as few times as you do hit it, is not one you can ignore. The further you hit the ball the less club you will have into the green and the straighter you hit the better your chances at landing a good lie will be. The driver is very important to your golf game regardless. So when was the last time you bought a driver? If it has been more than two years since you last replaced the big dog in your bag it is now time to consider a new stick. (The driver is usually the first club people tend to pull when he or she steps on the driving range, too.)

The reason why you should consider replacing your driver is simply the increased technology that has been released in the last few years. Sweet spots have gotten bigger, the ball is flying further and further off of these new designs, and the control that you can gain with these new drivers is off the charts. I am currently hitting a Titleist 975JVS driver. This driver has been in my bag since high school. I hit it straight, I hit it far, and the club has never let me down. The shaft has a lot to do with it, but it works so why switch? (I am actually in the market for a new driver. I have been for a couple of years but have been having a hard time pulling the trigger.)

2. What is your actual handicap?

How many clubs are in your bag? The limit, according to the rules stated by the USGA, is 14 clubs. That is all you can carry including your driver, irons, wedges and putter. You can carry less but never more than 14 total. If your handicap higher than, let’s say a 5, you should be playing alternative long irons such as the popular hybrid clubs. The were originally released for older players as they were able to hit the ball further and straighter without as much effort, but when the younger guys picked it up and realized that they in fact could get the same benefit, these guys started using them too.

So, unless you are carrying a lower handicap than most (the average golfer shoots 100 or more on an average 18 hole golf course) then you need to be carrying a set of these hybrids. A buddy of mine actually put a couple in his bag recently and he is a fairly low handicap. He states that they are easy to get the ball out of the rough and their distance control is more accurate than his long irons. He claims they were a great improvement for him. Perhaps it would be a positive switch for you as well.

3. When was the last time you cleaned out your grooves?

If you want any form of control over your shots from 120 yards and in your wedges need to have some fresh grooves on them. The USGA actually made some rules this past year regarding the differences between U and V grooves, and it actually made some PGA players upset. Some of the guys on tour can stop a ball on a dime or even throw the ball to the back of the green and spin it to the front with no problem.

I myself have some issues spinning the ball back, but I hit the ball quite high which forces the ball to stop on one or two bounces. So, if you are out there trying to stop the ball on a dime or put some backspin on it then you should invest in some new wedges this season. The more you hit the ball with these wedges whether on the golf course or on the practice range, the weaker those grooves get. A decent wedge will hold a life of about two years depending on how much you play.

4. Get rid of those useless fairway woods.

Just like the long irons in your bag, the 3 wood is just about as hard to hit. I am actually carrying a Tight Lies in my bag that is between a 3 and a 4 wood. I have never, in my entire golf career, carried a 3 wood. It is just not a club that I ever felt I could hit. And that seems to be the case here as well. You can replace that 3 wood with a hybrid, or even a 4 wood which has a smaller head but a bigger sweet spot and easier to hit. The smaller head will cut through the rough a lot better and give you a better chance to hitting the sweet spot off of the fairway. Regardless, the 3 wood has always been a hard club to hit so why makes this worse on yourself if you don’t have to?

5. Are you custom fit to the clubs in your bag?

The last time you bought clubs did you just get them off the shelf and throw them into your golf bag?  If so, then you are losing distance, control, and basically throwing away shots every time you tee off. Every club in your bag from the driver to the putter should have the shaft set to your height and the flex to match your swing speed. Did you know that some guys on tour have steel shafts in their drivers because they swing so fast a graphite shaft is too flexible?

When I bought my irons I actually had them custom fit by the representative from MacGregor. They were then sent to the headquarters, matched with each and every club, and shipped to me already fit. I then went and saw a PGA professional and had them resized to match any differences between the original specifications. Even my driver had a few inches shaved off the shaft to give me a touch more control over distance. To me I would rather hit a six iron from the fairway than an 8 iron from the rough. So, the next time you go out to purchase some irons, a driver, wedges or other make sure you invest to have them custom fit to your body. Your scorecard will show a difference.

I hope that the next time you visit your local pro shop that you take the time to research your next club purchase. There is no question that the equipment, even down to the ball that you play off the tee, has a lot to do with the score that you post at the end of the day. So before this season comes along jump online, research the products you think you are interested in, and then head over to your local pro shop and hit them. You will not regret taking the time to invest in some new equipment. In the end it will simply make you a better player.

My final round of golf on this incredible California golf vacation was a little further south in Dana Point, California.  Still keeping in the Troon Golf tradition for the week, I was playing yet another Troon managed course.  This time it was at a course called Monarch Beach and was located right on the coastline.  It felt like I was playing Pebble Beach on some those holes, as all I could see were fairways and the waves.  One of the holes even forced me to hit an iron off the tee as I felt a driver would reach the beach.

The day started with a thirty minute drive for my 10:00 AM tee time.  I stayed just outside Dana Point near Newport Beach up the coast.  I was on a budget so I could not afford the $500 a night starting rates at the hotel at Monarch Beach.  The hotel, ironically enough, has recently filed bankruptcy.  I wonder if that has anything to do with their room rates?

When I got to the golf course I was confused as where to go.  The course was literally wedged in between multiple housing complexes and was nearly impossible to find.  I guess if you are a member at a course like this you know how to find it without too much trouble.  But I eventually found the clubhouse, bypassed the valet (I am from Indianapolis, I do not require valet) and parked at the back of the parking lot.  I changed shoes and headed to the practice area to get warmed up.  But before I pulled out the flat stick I needed some coffee and a bite to eat.  It was time for breakfast.

I grabbed a seat starring out over the ocean and ordered the single best stack of $25 pancakes I have ever had.  They were topped with blueberries, fresh picked raspberries, and plump strawberries.  I drenched them in syrup, covered them in butter, and had breakfast as if I was a member of the club.  When I finished I headed to the putting green, grabbed a handful of golf balls, and quickly realized that I was putting on the fastest greens of the week.

After I was comfortable with the greens I headed to their practice nets.  This course was so packed in between these homes that they did not have room for a range but rather had some nets setup allowing folks to hit some balls to get loose before his or her round.  Shortly after I began hitting I made the realization that I was too excited about getting the chance to play here I headed back to the first tee to see if I could get out before my actual tee time.  Fortunately there was a pair of gentlemen going out right then and I was paired with them.  I introduced myself and they seemed nice enough to spend the day out on the course with.

By the first couple of holes I knew that these guys were going to provide me with some much appreciated conversation.  They were locals and both had never played Monarch Beach before.  One was a chemist and the other was a CPA.  We talked real estate, yearly income as it relates to folks from the Midwest to those on the coast, and even about social media and their online reputations as professionals.  By the end of the day we had shared a handful of missed putts and ended up having a drink at the 19^th hole.  I did not give them a business card (I know, I usually pass those out like candy) but didn’t feel that I needed to. I made a lasting effect on them and they on me.  I couldn’t tell you their names but it was a great day filled with conversation that I would not soon forget.

The golf course itself was incredible.  It started with an uphill par four that lead to an opening bogey.  I managed to throw up some birdies with a few short holes toward the turn and gracefully threw up a one over 36 for the front nine.  Into the back nine I managed to start strong and suddenly found myself two shots under par.  I ended the day at one under with a 71 but just felt like I hit the ball well enough to shot in the mid sixties.

Hole three at Monarch Beach is their signature hole.  It is a sharp dogleg to the left that has you starring straight out over the ocean.  You tee off with no shot at the hole, yet it less than three hundred yards away.  There are bunkers left and right and OB on the right hand side just past the bunkers.  By the time you make it to your tee shot you are so scared that you can not hit anything but an iron.

There was even a camera on the next tee box to give you a memory of your time spent here.  The green literally was right up next to the beach and from the next tee box you can see why they want to give you a chance to remember your round.  There were even samples of celebrities that had played the course and had their picture taken on that hole spread out all over the clubhouse and on the golf carts.  I bypassed the picture opportunity but I did snap a few on my iPhone.  No pictures, however, will do this view justice.

The round served as my conclusion of courses for the week.  It was a long week and I played a lot of golf, but it was worth every second.  I only lost three balls all week, and one was due to a cut that was caused by a cart path.  Sure, it gave me a handful of extra yards, but in the end the ball was worthless. For three rounds of golf a sleeve of balls isn’t too bad, though.

If you ever get the chance to head to Monarch Beach, or Dana Point for that matter, do.  You are right on the coast, there are plenty of shops and restaurants to keep you occupied, and if all else fails you have Newport Beach right there to soak up the sun in an attempt to a nice golden tan.  Not to mention the scenery of mansions and the golf courses that are all over the area.  My trip was a success and I am glad that I got the chance to play these golf courses.  Working at a firm that has ties to Troon is a great honor and to be able to play these courses is a true blessing.  So until the next time I visit a Troon golf course remember to always tee it high and let it fly.

When I was first asked to take part in this event I was immediately excited.  I was not sure if it was the full day of golf that got me out of my seat and dancing or the fact that I would have the chance to help raise money for and be a part of the second annual Show Hope Golf Classic outing.  The Show Hope Golf Classic is something that was started by IMAVEX, an Indianapolis based web design and SEO firm, last year.  It was put into place to help raise money for the Show Hope Foundation.

Steven Curtis Chapman is the man behind the curtain when it comes to the Show Hope Foundation, formerly known as Shaohannah’s Hope.  The foundation raises money and awareness for orphans all over the world.  The Show Hope Golf Classic, on the other hand, is designed to not only help raise money but to also get more folks involved on the ground level.  Last year the Show Hope Golf Classic took place at the Hawthorn’s Golf Club here in Fishers, Indiana.  It included over ninety players and had it’s own set of rules that forced everyone on the course to have a good time.

This year, taking place at the same golf course, it was narrowed down to only 18 players, but yet included a different set of rules than before.  This year players would spend a few months prior to the event raising money for the charity.  Each player would take part in a series of competitions in an effort to raise the most money.  It became a game of bragging rights very early on as some of the participants were making side bets on their own to see who could raise the most money.  It was all in good fun and in the end actually helped push us all over the top.

I did not raise the most money, but I did get the chance to be a part of the day’s events.  On Monday, October 5^th, 2009 all 18 players walked to the first tee knowing what lie ahead of them.  Twelve hours later every man had finished an eleven-hour day of golf having played a total of 100 holes of golf.  The event was even coined as the 100 Holes of Hope.

My day started out great with a bomb right down the middle of the fairway.  I was a little nervous, as it was one, cold outside since the sun had only been up for less than an hour, but two, it was soaking wet from all of that mornings dew.  However, I stepped right up and blistered one right down the middle.  I would proceed with a shot just short of the green and would get up and in for a starting par.

I would play decent the first few holes, and then I began to warm up.  Throughout the day, and based on a loose scoring system, I managed to card a few eagles, a dozen or so birdies, and three holes in one.  Now, before you get all excited, let me explain the aces to you here.

The way the scoring worked, and to speed up the pace of play as getting 100 holes of golf in in one day is a task in of itself, we were allowed to consider it good if it was within a few feet of the cup.  There was no lining up putts and once a side we were allowed to take a “pullie” meaning that if the ball was inside the pin it was considered a continuation therefore the same shot you hit to get the ball there.  So, on hole three, I stuck an eight iron to five foot, just inside the length of the stick.  Therefore I received my first of three holes in one for the day.   So yes, I got a hole in one, but by the rules of the Show Hope Golf Classic.

I played with a co-worker and an incredible golfer named Zach Miller.  He had played high school and college golf down at IU in Bloomington, and I had wanted to play with this guy since the day I met him.  He always talked about how far he hit the ball and how good he was but I just had to see it for myself.  After 100 holes, and a few three hundred plus yard drives, I will vouch if anyone ever doubts his skill set.  This guy can play, and I am glad that I got the chance to share the same fairways with him.  He carries a 0.9 USGA handicap index and hits the ball thirty to forty yards past me every time.  He also made more putts on Monday afternoon than I thought possible.  Every time he had a putt I knew it was either going in or missing on the lip leaving him a tap in.

By the end of the day I was tired, but not as tired as I thought I would be.  That would come the next morning as I lay in bed till just after 9:00 AM aching and moaning my pains into my pillow.  I finally made it up and to the shower but worked from home that morning due to aching legs, arms, hands; and the list goes on.  But it was all worth it in the end for the money we raised for such a great charity.

At the end of the event on Monday Marathon Event Marketing, the group that put this event together, wrote a check to the Show Hope Foundation for just over $30,000.  In about three months a set of eighteen guys raised over $30,000 for these orphans.  It was incredible to be a part of this and I am already looking forward to next year’s event.  On a much more serious note, we were told that in the eleven hours that we played golf on that Monday, 2,200 new orphans were discovered somewhere on this planet.  That number is sobering in any conversation.  I am not a father myself, but I highly encourage you, if planning on becoming one in the near future, to consider adoption as a solution to parenthood.

In the end my legs and hands might have hurt but I am still alive.  I am alive to live another day and to be able to share my story with you.  I did not collect as much money as I wanted for this event, but I honestly feel that what I did raise will make a difference in someone’s life.  If a sport that I have grown to love and to become pretty good at can change the life of someone out there then I am winner in my eyes.  Thank you to everyone that had any foot in this event, as well.  It was a great day of golf, a great day of conversation, and I am glad to say that I have survived the 100 holes of hope!

Although it was my second round of golf on this incredible vacation, it was my first chance at playing golf in the great state of California.  It happened, however, nowhere near where I was staying in LA but rather a little over an hour south in Palm Springs, California.  Actually, the golf course, aptly named Indian Wells Golf Resort, was located in Indian Wells, California.  After getting the chance to see the Grand Canyon and LAX while dropping off the two travels that were with me, I headed down to Palm Springs a day early.  I wanted to one, make sure I got to the course on time as I had an early tee time the next morning, but two I wanted to scope out the city and see what trouble I could get into the night before I teed it up on yet another Troon Golf managed course.

When I got to Palm Springs it was just after ten in the morning so I headed to the best place for free wifi that I know, Panera Bread.  While there I had a cup of Joe and checked a few emails.  I must admit although I was on vacation I did work a little bit while on the road.  I did, however, manage to nail down plans with my cousin who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona to coming over to Palm Springs for the night to hang out with her favorite cousin.

When I was finished there I decided to go check out the golf course and see what the facility had to offer outside of the obvious.  I get to the course, parked in the public parking located on the far side of the clubhouse, and looked around at the incredible scenery that surrounded me.  The fact that people get to come to work and see this everyday is enough to make any man jealous, but I was getting to play golf here so I couldn’t be too upset.  I headed into the clubhouse, which was more like a mansion in Beverly Hills, and began just taking it all in.  I felt like a celebrity as I was asked numerous times if I needed anything and if there was anything anyone could do to help.  I didn’t need anything; I just wanted to look around at all the sights of this championship golf course.

After walking around for a bit I decided to head across the street to my hotel.  I was staying at the Indian Wells Resort.  (There are a lot of things in this small town called Indian Wells.  It is hard to keep everything straight.  So if you are confused, its OK, I was too for most of my stay.)  I checked in, for an incredibly low rate, and headed to my room.  If you do not remember from my last few posts I had not slept since my vacation had started.  It was time to snooze.

That did not last long as I was so hungry I could barely sleep.  I decided it was time to explore the great city of Palm Springs.  I headed out to my rental car and just picked the coolest looking pub that I could find.  I ended up at a local spot toward the end of the main highway.  I had a few drinks, a nice meal, and I even won a shirt in a free raffle that they were doing.  It was a great night but it was time for me to hit the sack as I had an early tee time and I was simply exhausted from all my travels up to this point.

The next morning when my alarm went off I headed to the golf course. I hit a few range balls and headed to the first tee.  I was by myself and I would later learn that the course was not getting as many rounds in due to the weather.  They were even running discounted rates because the temperature was getting over one hundred degrees before noon nearly every single day.  I played the first three holes by myself before I ran into what seemed like the slowest threesome on the planet.  They asked me to play with them; I obliged, and ended up having a good day’s worth of conversation.  One of the guys was a little older, and used a few too many cuss words for my liking on the golf course, but he was tolerable.  The other was a nice guy that seems to play golf more than he seemed to work.  And the third was the owner of a placed called the Red Mill Burgers restaurants in Seattle, Washington.

This is important to note that he was the owner of this particular restaurant chain as this is one of the featured restaurants on one of the best shows on TV, Man vs. Food.  He was telling me all about the guy on the show and how they film it all.  He explained in detail how they handle each place they stop as it is part of the director’s role to make sure everyone understands their process before they begin filming.  It was interesting listening to him speak about it.  He also claimed that each time this show is run on TV they get over a hundred more new clients.  He even claimed that they run at 100% capacity seven days a week from open to close without the help of the TV show so any help that is thrown their way they will not complain.

After my round, which ended with a snake birdie putt to shoot one under par for the day, I headed back to the clubhouse to meet the man that made this all possible.  He was a super nice guy and showed me around their offices a little bit.  It made the round that much more sweet knowing that the staff is just as nice as the carpet fairways and perfect greens I had just played.

Indian Wells Golf Resort was one of the nicest courses that I have ever played in my life.  The scenery was to die for and the course forced you to play shots that you would not normally hit on a municipal course.  Courses like this always play better to my game anyway as I like to strategize around the golf course, not just grip it and rip it.  This was my second Troon Golf experience and just as sweet as the first one.  It was time to leave the golf course and head out to have lunch with my favorite cousin from Arizona.

We did not paint the town red as some might think we should but we talked over beers at the Yard House, shared stories over wine tastings at a local winery, and made jokes over a nice steak dinner at the Chop House.  It is time that is rare now that we are living in different states but time that does not go unnoticed.  It was a blast hanging out with her while on vacation.  We even managed to hit some outlet malls the next day before I took off to Dana Point, California for my next round of golf.  This concluded my time in Palm Springs and it will not soon be forgotten.

It was only a matter of time before this happened.  I am not so sure why so many of you out there are even surprised by this.  He makes a mere seven to ten million a year in tournament earnings but nets over one hundred million a year in sponsorship exemptions alone.  He also is the face of one of the most popular video games on the market as well as doing work with golf course architecture and the Tiger Woods Foundation.  (Just so we are clear, the Tiger Woods Foundation is a not-for-profit.  But, as you and I know, not-for-profit organizations still make a profit.  His profits are just not that of companies like Microsoft or Walmart.)  So when they announced this week that Tiger Woods was the first athlete to hit one billion dollars in career earnings it should have come as no surprise to any of you.

I think the more important thing to look at here is his age.  Tiger is only thirty-three years old.  Yeah, I know, he’s still extremely young.  He has been playing professional golf for over a decade but is only thirty-three.  He will be thirty-four years old by the time the next season starts, but he truly is getting better every single year.  Age does matter at this stage.  Tiger has an incredible career as a PGA Tour player; he has a wife that he loves very much and two incredible children.  This makes him have what I like to call the perfect family.

This year alone Tiger earned just over ten million dollars in tournament earnings.  That, of course, does not include appearance fees that he makes at nearly every tournament that he plays in, rather just the giant check that he receives on Sunday.  Speaking of ten million dollars, Tiger also won that amount for winning the season-long FedEx Cup last Sunday.  Let me get this straight.  He played all season and won just over ten million but played four weeks to win another ten?  Yeah, pretty good pay day for Tiger if I do say so myself.

Who is the one that decides how much Tiger has made?  Sure, it is public knowledge week in and week out what he makes on tour, but he is not really talking about his income from Nike, Wheaties, American Express, Buick, Target, and all of the other sponsors that cut him checks.  This does come from a trusted source.  Forbes is the one claiming that Tiger has surpassed this amount.  I trust this as not a year or so ago I read an article in Forbes Magazine regarding his net assets.  Tiger owns a huge boat, private jet, and an incredible mansion in Florida.  Yes, he owns them.  He paid for his land, house, boat, and everything else inside of it I imagine, with cash.  After all of these big purchases, not including what he had to pay Darius Rucker to play at his wedding, Tiger still had over five hundred million in the bank.  That was over five years ago that report was generated.  That is a lot of income since then and since nearly everything he owns is paid for it is going nowhere but in the bank.

This is a day to celebrate for Tiger, I am sure, becoming the highest paid athlete in any sport.  He continues to shut up critics every week on the golf course, and whether he wins or not, he will be the number one player in the world for the rest of his career.  The dollar bills are not why he plays (although they are a nice benefit of what he does), but rather the records that he can break with a golf club.  Once he surpasses Jack’s major total, as well as when he surpasses the most wins of all time, you will see Tiger slow down a little bit.  He just wants to make sure that when he makes his last putt and walks off his last green, in however many years that is from now, that no one mistakes him as anything but the greatest player to ever play the game.  There has never been a player like him nor will there ever be one like him in the future of the game.