This is an Awesome Story about Golf and Friendship, and What the Combination of the Two Can Achive!

Hackers! I was laying on the couch Saturday morning, fighting off the night before, when this story came on E60 (a show on ESPN about inspirational stories that have a certain connection with sports). This story of friendship and perseverance really struck me to my core. To me, this is the true definition of golf. It is not about what score I shoot, but the relationships I have formed and the experiences I have had while playing this wonderful game! Enjoy! WARNING: This story might make you a little misty! This is The Story of Mike Reed

The End of One of the Great Golf Teams of All-Time

Good Afternoon Hackers! Today was the end of an era. One of the greatest golf teams of all time has been extinguished. You’re thinking to yourself, "Golf team? What the hell is this guy talking about?" I am talking about Eldrick firing his longtime caddie, Steve Williams. Although, one guy swings the club, there are two guys inside the ropes working to make that one guy better. Eldrick and Stevie were a team. Eldrick needed Stevie just as much, if not more than Stevie needed Eldrick. Eldrick has had two caddies in his professional career, Fluff and Stevie. I would say Stevie got the good end of that deal! Just look at the facts.

-Stevie was on the bag for 13 out of 14 of Eldricks majors. Fluff was on the bag for the 1997 Masters, Eldricks first.
-64 of 71 wins.
-Probably the most important stat…. The Cheddar. Stevie was reading putts worth $90,030,123 out of Eldricks career earnings of $94,728,667.

The stats do not lie. The duo had a very impressive run, very impressive. But I think more importantly than selecting a club for Eldrick, was the way Stevie was there for him through thick and thin.
This had to be a difficult decision for Eldrick. Stevie basically was an emotional crutch through some of Eldrick's most trying times on the course. At the British Open in 2006, his first major win after his father’s death, when there was no one to hug. There was Stevie. At the Torrey Pines in 2008, when Eldrick needed someone to lean on and push him through a knee injury that would have ended anyone else’s tournament. There was Stevie. When the entire world is against Eldrick for his outside the ropes antics and needed someone to take away the distractions. There was Stevie to stiff arm an unruly fan or camera man. I just don't think the timing is right for Eldirck.

I find it hard to believe that Eldrick let him go. Sure, Eldrick is the one that sinks the putt, hits the drive, and throws the dart into a stamp sized green, but could he have done it without Stevie? He needs the 6' 4" Kiwi, more than Stevie needs him. Shoot, Stevie has already landed on his feet, Tiger is still trying to find his.

Dagnabbit, 4 AM is Early: British Open Preview

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @SholesHomewood. I would love to also hear your opinion via email (sshomewood@gmail.com) or comments.

Hackers, I am going to give it another shot at predicting a major. Last time, my picks did not turn out so hot, so I will try to bounce back this week.

I love the feel of the British Open. It is ancient and rustic. The tournament takes us back to a time when Old Tom Morris was using a feathery (Pre-1848 golf ball) and persimmon shafted a spoon (old golf club) to attack a roughly manicured piece of land. There are many differences that make the British Open one of the most unique and challenging tests a golfer can face. The bunkers are so deep; you can almost feel the heat from Hell. When you are in the bunkers, you think that you ARE in Hell. They don't use lawn mowers, they use live stock. The rough is not cut at all! Throw in the wind and it could equal the worst day of a golfers life. It is so difficult, that some Americans choose not to attend. They can't stand the brisk links style of play. Heck, even "Irelands Favorite Son", Rory McIlroy, had the 36 hole lead going into Saturday last year and shot an 80. I do love this tournament, but there is always one draw back...

Dag-Gum-it, it is hard to get up and watch it at 4 AM. When you enjoy sleep as much as I do, I try to squeeze as much sleep as I can between the time I hit the snooze and the absolute time I have to start getting ready for work. So there is no chance of me catching the Thursday and Friday rounds live. I always count on catching the Saturday and Sunday rounds, but it is even hard to do that when coverage starts at 8 AM. It is especially hard when you go out the night before catching up with some old fraternity brothers in Atlantic Beach all weekend. But there is nothing like a little couch time with Mike Tirico serenading your hangover away! So on to the "Not So Expert" predictions.

Since I don't think that an American will win, I am going to pick 3 international players and one American sleeper. It will not be Phil, again. The British Open is not really his style.

3. Rory McIlroy - This seems to be the popular pick of the week. Let me say, Rory has the game to win anywhere. If he puts on a show like he did at Congressional, this thing could be over before it starts. He is accurate and can make putts under pressure. Not to mention, he has a backyard that looks like finger of the Golf Gods touched it. See Insert. But also, Las Vegas loves him. In my short gambling experiences, Vegas is almost always right or close to being right.

2. Lee Westwood - This guy is due. He has been one of the best golfers in the world for the past decade. He is always steady. He is another player that is long off the tee and very good around the greens. If he putts well, he will definitely be in the mix on Sunday. Not to mention, he is English. What a headline "England's Own Wins His First Major!" Talk about someone that will party if they win! Westwood is known to drink a few totties in his day.

1. Sergio Garcia - If Westwood is due, Sergio is desperate. Garcia has to fight more than the winds, though. He has a deeper, darker challenge called demons. When this guy is on, he is on! You can tell he is out there playing, not thinking. He is a guy that when you watch him, you can tell that his wheels are turning too much. However, recently he has been in top form. His putting has always been sketchy, but since he has switched to the claw, he is much improved. I think this is the year that he gets the monkey off his back.

American Sleeper Tom Watson - Stop Laughing. Sure, this may be a sentimental pick. But, Mr. Watson is still playing at a high level on the Senior Tour. He is one of the best wind players to ever live (see his 5 British Opens) and 2009 was not that long ago. I know it is not likely to happen, but a guy can dream. Can't he?

This should be fun, the British Open always is. It is fun watching guys putt from 50 yards and knock it stiff. As always, please feel free to send me your picks via comments, E-mail at sshomewood@gmail.com, or Twitter!

Also, to Uncle Steve, Stephen, Will and Conger... Have fun at the British Open tomorrow! I am jealous that ya'll are on leg 3 of the "Career Grand Slam"! Awesome... Don't spend to much time in the pubs!

In this Era of Sports, Nothing Would Suprise Me!

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @SholesHomewood. I would love to also hear your opinion via email (sshomewood@gmail.com) or comments.

Good Morning Hackers! Some of you might consider this a reach, but their are some strange coincidences. Today I will revert back to Eldrick's nickname for this article.

The sports era that we live in is constantly being tainted with steroid use and HGH. Sure, it is predominantly in baseball, but other sports are riddled with PED scandals, also: track, football, wrestling, and basically anything in the Olympics; to name a few. Why not Golf? As a traditional sports fan, I am constantly disappointed to hear that each year some of America's greatest sports icons (Roger Clemmons, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez) are constantly getting crossed of the "Fair Players List"! Even Lance Armstrong, one of the greatest ambassadors of out country, is constantly engulfed in performance enhancing drug (PEDs) speculation. But this blog is about golf...

Yesterday, Dr. Anthony Galea pleaded guilty to bringing PEDs into the United States from Canada. For those of you who don't know of Dr. Galea, he "treated" over 50 athletes in their homes from 2007 to 2009. Some of you will be surprised that his two biggest clients were Alex Rodriguez and Tiger Woods. Now, Tiger has denied any connection with PEDs through Dr. Galea. He states that he received a treatment called blood swirls to help him rehab his knee after the 2008 season, but the changes in Tiger's game and health cannot do unnoticed.

Let's take a glance at some timeline coincidences...

Tiger was at the top of his game coming into the 2008 season; winning 5 majors in 3 years. Even his appearance was one of great stature; he looked more like a starting safety in the NFL, instead of a golfer. Going into the 2008 US Open, everyone knew Tiger had a real shot at doing something special. He had dominated Torrey Pines in the past. Boy, did he do something special! He won in dramatic fashion, beating Rocco Mediate in an 18 holes playoff on Monday. (The Greatest US Open of all time) Not to mention, with a torn ACL. This brings me to my next point, the deterioration of Tiger's left leg.

Something else that happened in 2008, Tim Finchem, announced that the PGA Tour would institute drug testing effective July 3rd, 2008. (Tiger was completely for drug testing on tour... btw) What happens when a human body that has been exposed to steroids for years? It becomes dependant. If you stop the usage of PEDs then the body begins to deteriorate. There could be a direct correlation of this to Tiger's injuries, but it has not been proven. Nor will it be proven. What does this plea mean for Tiger? Probably nothing, but information doesn’t always come out overnight.

As in the case with most athletes who used steroids, most information comes out during or after the trial. For example, take Roger Clemmons, he told Congress that he did not use steroids. Now, several years later, he is in a court room fighting to stay out of jail for lying about it. However, this doctor holds the key for Tiger. He needs to doctor come out and say that he never treated him with PEDs. Until then it has to be something that ways on Tiger's shoulders. What Tiger does not need is some sort of tell all book.

Do I think Tiger has done steroids? I don't know. Do I think it is weird that he chose Dr. Anthony Galea to treat him? Beyond weird! Tiger Woods is the best golfer I have ever seen! Of all these athletes, Tiger would disappoint me the greatest. I am not a huge fan of his, but I have a great respect for him on the golf course. When he was in his "Tiger Mode", it was like magic to watch. He often played as close to perfect as any golfer there has ever been. I would be destroyed to know that it was all a mirage. Let's hope that Tiger did everything by the book and nothing comes of the events yesterday… for both Tiger and the game!

Friday's Links Lesson: Your Not Eldrick

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @SholesHomewood. I would love to also hear your opinion via email (sshomewood@gmail.com) or comments.

Hackers... each Friday I am going to bring a lesson from the golf course that will hopefully help your enjoyment of the game and maybe help you off the course, as well. These are just little lessons that I have picked up over the past 12 years I have been playing the game.

Golf is one of the few sports that can be enjoyed from the ages of 3 to 90. It doesn't matter whether you play by yourself or with a group of friends in the Sunday scramble. It is meant to be challenging and enjoyable. One of my favorite things to do when I was a kid was to get out on that green landscape of Chockoyotte CC and shank it around for 4 hours while thinking about my grades, girls, and just life in general. It was my escape, no one could touch me. Each shot was one to win a Major and each time I missed the next shot was just as important. Gosh, life was good... NO WORK! However, this walk can easily be disrupted when playing with others.

Let me tell you about my late Grandfather, Sam Homewood Sr (Great). Great was a man who had more passion for the game then anyone else I have ever met. He is the one to which I credit my passion. Every Sunday, golf was on, it didn't matter whether it was the PGA, the Seniors, or LPGA. He enjoyed telling me old stories about his playing days and I enjoyed listening. Almost every story had a lesson that he wanted me to learn. He once told me the story of a younger man he played with at the club. He said this guy could par the course with a 5 iron and putter. UNREAL! Great said he was playing with this guy one weekend and the man got all bend out of shape on one of the holes and broke one of his clubs. Great took his bag off the back of the cart and walked back to the clubhouse. "There is no use for something so bad, in a game as beautiful as golf.", he told me. There is no need for an amatuer to get so upset.

Your not Eldrick, you don't practice everyday like Eldrick, so there is no need to think you are going to play like Eldrick.

My brother actually struggled with this concept. My brother, Hill, has one of the most natural swings; with practice, he could shoot in the mid to low 80s. When we were younger, he was a natural athlete in every sport that we played. He was drafted to the upper leagues and All-Star games before me and I was a grade older. I am still a little bitter to this day. Anyways, when he first started playing, it took a few years for him to realize this game just doesn't come to you. He would get upset with himself and it really affected his performance. Once you let the "demons" enter your head, you add at least 5 strokes to your game. This is true for everyone, even the pros! Look at what happened to Rory at Augusta. The "demons" got him. As Hill has "matured" (the jury is still out on this), so has his game. He has learned to enjoy the game as he has aged, and it has had a direct affect on his scores. Still no 80's, but he is working on it.

Don't get me wrong, just because I enjoy playing, doesn't mean I don't like to compete. I enjoy getting out there and competing on the golf course and throwing a little money around. However, I know I am not Eldrick, so there is no point for me to throwing clubs. I don't practice enough to expect anything more out of my game. I have buddies that can go out there, look at the white ball for the first time in 6 months and shoot their average... this is amazing to me. If I haven't played in 6 months, I come down with a terrible and contagious illness called the "Shanks". If you have ever had them, they are worse then the flew.

The first day of Hilton Head, I didn't have a single ball get over 3 feet off the ground. Was it enjoyable to hit the ball that way? Nope, but what is the point in going out there, making an ass out of myself, and ruining everyone elses rounds. I mean, I was on vacation... NO WORK! You know what? I remained patient and finally my game came around by my 3rd round and was on my way shooting the round of my life, with a couple of tweeters thrown in there for good measure.