Set A Date And DO IT!

The amount of people who complete a thru-hike is drastically lower than the amount of people who think about doing one. This can be related to anything, not just thru-hiking. When planning for a life changing experience, we tend to think realistically and accept that it can’t happen because this reason or that. But, let’s talk about the reasons why it should happen.
It will forever change your life.
I talk to a lot of people about my hike and they say they’ll never have time for something like that. ...

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Number Crunching: Thru-Hike Budget Breakdown (Part 2!)

Do you love numbers, charts, and explanations of things? Do you aspire to take detailed data about your thru-hike and mine it for gems of information? You’ve come to the right place! This is a sequel to my last post, which contained all sorts of information about the data I tracked during my hike. If you’re planning a thru-hike, or plan on reading the post below, I would recommend taking a look. In my biased opinion, ...

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Hygiene Tips and Tricks for Fearless Female Hikers

DISCLAIMER: If you’re a dude, turn back now, because this post is all about pooping and periods. Sorry, boys.
In the months leading up to our thru hike, I started researching many aspects of the trail, including feminine hygiene. I had NO clue how to handle pooping in the woods, much less having my period or getting my birth control refills while on trail. And shockingly, I didn’t really find that much information that calmed my fears. ...

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The Great Pack Debate

As my start date gets closer, my pre-hike panic/obsession has escalated, and I’ve been questioning everything, including my gear, start date, resupply strategy, all the usual. Specifically, I started obsessing about my pack.
ULA Circuit
I purchased the ULA Circuit online last May. It was a leap of faith, since I couldn’t actually try it on, but I liked everything I read about it. I chose the Circuit, because its size would limit what I could put in in, ...

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That awkward moment when you can’t fit all your gear in your pack

After realizing I finally have everything that I’m going to need for the trail I decided to take the cliche gear spread photo.
(Though cliche it may be, I still search the appalachian trail tag on instagram periodically to see other people’s spreads…)

 
Like everyone else who is about to start their first thru-hike, it looks like I have a lot of shit. But I wasn’t worried about it because I went on a week long shake down hike from Springer to Neels Gap last year and I could carry everything I needed. ...

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Hiker’s Choice: Favorite Appalachian Trail Hostels

he Appalachian Trail has a lot of defining characteristics, perhaps none as welcome to a weary hiker as the incredible hostel community running the length of the trail. You really can begin and end your hike at hostels, as well as get fed, pampered, socialized, and shuttled at countless stops along the way. Each hostel has its own quirks and is known for different things, but thanks to our survey of past thru-hikers, we get to highlight a few that go above and beyond. ...

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The Top Sleeping Pads on the Appalachian Trail: 2016 Thru-Hiker Survey

For the third year in a row, we asked Appalachian Trail thru-hikers and long-distance section hikers about the sleeping pads they used. Many of the trends continued from last year, but we saw some differences when it comes to the kinds of sleeping pads hikers pair with different shelter systems. For the details, keep reading, or just check out the TL;DR at the end. For general information on the hikers, check out this post.
Sleeping Pad Types
Sleeping pad types are pretty straightforward. ...

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The Appalachian Trail: A Homecoming of Sorts

I was one to fanaticize a return to nature, to romanticize what that would be, to trust that blind will and stubbornness would see me through despite any amount of discomfort and pain. Thank God I didn’t go.

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Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview Notes

2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview Notes

Dates: January 30 – February 5, 2017
Where: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Courses: TPC Scottsdale (Par/Yards: 71/7,266)
Field size: 132
2014 champion: Hideki Matsuyama
Purse: $6,700,000 ($1,206,000/winner)
FedExCup: 500 points to the winner
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Facebook: http://ift.tt/2kn7Fds
Twitter: @WMPhoenixOpen

The “Greenest Show on Grass” poised for another outstanding week:

• Once again, the Waste Management Phoenix Open features a top-notch field that includes 26 of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings and marks FedExCup leader Justin Thomas’ first start since winning back-to-back at the SBS Tournament of Champions and Sony Open in Hawaii.
• Record crowds are once again anticipated at the 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Last year, more than 65,000 fans came out to TPC Scottsdale for Sunday’s final round, helping to break a new weekly attendance record at 618,365. That mark eclipsed the previous record of 564,368 that was set in 2015.
• All told three attendance records were broken in 2016 — the weekly attendance mark, plus record crowds on Friday (160,415) and Saturday (201,003).
• With massive crowds once again expected in 2017, the tournament has asked fans to be ambassadors for “their” event with an overall theme of respect to ensure an enjoyable experience for all. The tagline is: Respect the game. Respect the players. Respect the fans.
• Now in its 82nd year, the event surpassed the $100 million in all-time charitable giving in 2015, making it the third PGA TOUR event to achieve the historic milestone, along with the AT&T Byron Nelson and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
• The Waste Management Phoenix Open has done something that no other sporting event, municipality, or company in the world has ever done – Zero Waste – for four straight years.
• The Waste Management Phoenix Open was named the 2015 PGA TOUR Tournament of the Year and this year was co-honored for Best Sales Award at the 2016 year-end PGA TOUR tournament meetings.
• First of a 10-year contract extension with Waste Management began in 2016.

World No. 5 Hideki Matsuyama set to defend.

• How Hideki Matsuyama won the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open
• Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who began last year’s final round trailing by three strokes at 10-under, birdied the 72nd hole to post a 4-under 67 and force sudden death with Rickie Fowler.
• With a par on the fourth extra hole, No. 17, Matsuyama claimed his second career PGA TOUR title in his 65th start on TOUR.
• Matsuyama had previously won the 2014 Memorial Tournament.
• Following his win in Scottsdale last year, Matsuyama went on to claim six more top-10 finishes, good for a season-long total of eight. Among them were a pair of T7 finishes at the Masters and PLAYERS Championship and a T4 at the PGA Championship.
• Matsuyama is off to an even stronger season so for this season. On the PGA TOUR, he claimed his third career TOUR win at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and finished second at the CIMB Classic and SBS Tournament of Champions.
• On the Japan Golf Tour, he won the Japan Open Golf Champions and Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo. He also won Tiger Woods’ unofficial Hero World Challenge in December.

A Look At The Field

• Ten of this season’s 11 winners on the PGA TOUR: Brendan Steele (Safeway Open), Justin Thomas (CIMB Classic, SBS Tournament of Champions, Sony Open in Hawaii), Hideki Matsuyama (World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions), Cody Gribble (Sanderson Farms Championship), Rod Pampling (Shriners Hospitals for Children Open), Pat Perez (OHL Classic at Mayakoba), Mackenzie Hughes (The RSM Classic), Jon Rahm (Farmers Insurance Open).
• 26 of the top 30 in the current FedExCup standings, led by No. 1 Justin Thomas.
• Two players that have posted rounds of 59 in 2016-17 are in the field, Justin Thomas (Round 1, Sony Open in Hawaii) and Adam Hadwin (Round 3, CareerBuilder Challenge). The two 59s were the seventh and eighth rounds of 59 or better in PGA TOUR history
• Last year’s runner-up Rickie Fowler, who fell in a sudden-death playoff to Hideki Matsuyama.
• 13 of the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking led by Hideki Matsuyama (5), Jordan Spieth (6), Justin Thomas (8) and Patrick Reed (9).
• Eight past Waste Management Phoenix Open champions: Hideki Matsuyama (2016), Brooks Koepka (2015), Phil Mickelson (2005, 2013), Kyle Stanley (2012), Mark Wilson (2011), Hunter Mahan (2010), J.B. Holmes (2006, 2008) and Aaron Baddeley (2007).

Three-time Waste Management Phoenix Open champion Phil Mickelson returns for 28th start

• With this week’s start in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, his 28th, World Golf Hall of Fame member Phil Mickelson will be one start shy of the record of 29 shared by Gene Littler, Jim Ferrier and Jerry Barber.
• In search of his first PGA TOUR win since the 2013 Open Championship, and 43rd overall, Arizona State University alum Phil Mickelson will make his 28th career start at this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. He is a three-time winner of the event (1996, 2005, 2013), with a total of 10 top-10 finishes.
• Mickelson has twice posted an 11-under 60 in the event; R1/2013, R2/2005.
• Mickelson’s average winning margin of victory in his three wins at the Waste Management Phoenix Open is 3.667 strokes (playoff/1996, 5 strokes/2005, 4 strokes/2013).
• Since 1989, Mickelson has played in the event each year, with the exception of 1990 (27 total).

Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview – Players

• Justin Thomas
  • Three-time PGA TOUR winner this season Justin Thomas is poised to make his third start in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
  • Thomas, the current FedExCup points leader, has already won the CIMB Classic, SBS Tournament of Champions and Sony Open in Hawaii this season.
  • En route to his victory at Waialae Country Club, Thomas became the seventh player to post a 59 (11-under/R1) in PGA TOUR history.
  • He finished T17 in 2015 and missed the cut in 2016.
• John Rahm
  • 2016 Arizona State graduate Jon Rahm drained an eagle on the 72nd hole, from 60’8” away to post a final round 65 and clinch his maiden PGA TOUR victory at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open at the age of 22 years, 2 months, 19 days.
  • Amazingly, Rahm became the first player since Jay Don Blake (1991) to earn his first PGA TOUR title at the Farmers Insurance Open.
  • Rahm was a four-time All-American at ASU and is the only player to win multiple Ben Hogan Awards (2015 and 2016), given to the NCAA’s top collegiate male golfer.
• Jorden Spieth
  • The 2015 FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth returns to TPC Scottsdale for a second time.
  • In 2015, Spieth finished T7 with scores of 70-68-70-65—273 (-11).
  • Spieth comes into this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open with third-place showings in both starts this season; SBS Tournament of Champions (T3) and Sony Open in Hawaii (3rd).
  • On the PGA TOUR last season, Spieth collected his seventh and eight TOUR victories at the SBS Tournament of Champions and Dean & DELUCA Invitational.
• Patrick Reed
  • Patrick Reed, who captured his fifth career PGA TOUR title last year at The Barclays, one of 11 top-10 finishes on his season, will be making his third start in this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open.
  • He finished T19 in 2014 and T40 in 2015. In addition to his successes in TOUR events last season, Reed represented the United States at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games (T11). He also competed in his second Ryder Cup, going 3-1-1 in five matches.
• Bubba Watson
  • Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson returns to TPC Scottsdale this week for a 10th-consecutive appearance in the event. In his previous nine starts, he has collected three top-10 finishes, including a pair of T2s in 2014 and 2015. In his first start in Scottsdale, he finished T8 in 2007.
  • In the 2014-15 PGA TOUR Season, Watson won the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and Travelers Championship, both via playoffs. In addition to the wins, he amassed six top-5 finishes.
  • Watson, who is making his third start of the season this week, is in search of his ninth career PGA TOUR win.
  • Watson will be joined in this year’s Wednesday pro-am by actor Mark Wahlberg, whose latest film “Patriots Day” recently hit theatres.
• Steve Stricker
  • The 2017 U.S. Presidents Cup Captain Steve Stricker will make his first start of the 2016-17 PGA TOUR Season.
  • Stricker, a 12-time winner on the PGA TOUR, turns 50 on February 23 and will play in his own PGA TOUR Champions event in June, the American Family Insurance Championship in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, where he serves as tournament host.
• Andrew “Beef” Johnston
  • Andrew “Beef” Johnston caught the attention of the golf world with his eighth-place finish in last year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club.
  • Johnson, who divided his time last season between the PGA TOUR, European Tour and Web.com Tour, earned his exempt status to the PGA TOUR this season by virtue of his 21st-place finish on the 2016 Web.com Tour priority list.
  • Johnston came to be known as “Beef” by friends in his childhood years.
  • Born in London to a working-class family, his late father worked as a bus driver and at a timber company, while his mother worked in a school cafeteria.

Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview Notes

• Seven of the 10 winners of the Waste Management Phoenix Open in the FedExCup era (2007-present) have qualified for the FedExCup finale, the TOUR Championship: Aaron Baddeley (2007), Kenny Perry 2009), Hunter Mahan (2010), Mark Wilson (2011), Phil Mickelson (2013), Brooks Koepka (2015) and Hideki Matsuyama (2016).
• Three of the last five winners of the Waste Management Phoenix Open made their win in Scottsdale their first on the PGA TOUR; Brooks Koepka (2015), Kevin Stadler (2014) and Kyle Stanley (2012). The others since 2000 were J.B. Holmes (2006) and Jonathan Kaye (2004).
• Since 1980, only three players have won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in a first attempt: Jeff Mitchell (1980), Kyle Stanley (2012) and Brooks Koepka (2015).

 

Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview Notes via PGA TOUR

 

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Work On Your Putting: Feeding Your Golf Addiction In the Winter Part 6:

Work On Your Your Putting

Putting is one of the few golf activities that I can engage in year-round at GolfBlogger World Headquarters in Michigan. When the snow is falling, the wind blowing and the temperatures plummeting, I can still lay out a small putting course in my family and sun rooms and get some quality time in with the flat stick.

And that’s a good thing, because putting is fully half the game of golf. Two of the stokes on every par are set aside for putting, so on a par 72, 36 of those are for putts. The math here is simple. To score well, you need to putt well. Teaching pros have long insisted that the easiest way to improve your scores is to improve your short game. I’ll go one further. Simply work on improving your putting.

Fortunately, the putting stroke is the easiest thing in the game to master. Compared to a full swing (or, god forbid, one of those dreaded Dave Pelz three quarter clock swings), the putting stroke is simple, slow and controllable. When a ball goes offline on a drive, it’s often hard to tell which of a dozen things actually went wrong. When a ball falls short, rolls long or heads offline on a putt, the cause usually is more obvious.

Given the central importance of putting, and the relative ease of fixing a bad stroke, I have always found it strange that players who regularly three jack on the greens will spend so much time focusing on the full swing . It does absolutely no good to get to the green in regulation if you’re going to three- or even four-putt once you get there.

So feed your golf addiction this winter by practicing your putting. Set up one of those mechanical ball return targets in a room with a short carpet and have at it with a couple of dozen putts a day. Concentrate at first on tempo and a smooth stroke. Work on your putting distance control. You might even consider getting one of those putting plane systems that are designed to align your eyes, shoulders, clubface and path for a clean stroke.

Another fun thing to do is to head to the local well-stocked pro shop, spend an hour or so putting around on their large professional greens. My conscience usually bothers me after a free session like this, so I buy a box of balls.

Work On Your Putting is the sixth in a series of essays on things to do to feed your golf addiction in the off-season.

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West Virginia Golf Cigarette Card

In 1910 – 1911, the Murad Cigarette company produced a “college series” of collectors cards, including this one of West Virginia golf.

Cigarette cards were included in packs of cigarettes, much like bubble gum cards did later.  In addition to serving as a purchase incentive, the cards stiffened the packs.

Card topics included sports, movie stars, landscapes, natures, military figures and uniforms and heraldry.

The practice ended during the WWII due to paper rationing, and never really recovered.

I find it interesting that golf was the sport chosen to represent West Virginia University. The University of South Carolina featured Women’s golf. Illinois and Millsaps Universities were others schools where golf was the featured sport. Baker University featured both men and women golfers.

Michigan”s card spotlighted football, as was Harvard. Amherst had the hammer throw. Vermont had the shot put.

West Virginia golf returned in 2015, after a 33-year layoff.

The back side of the West Virginia golf cigarette card is below.

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Fifteen of the best ‘dream bikes’ for 2017

Want a top-level machine for 2017? Feast your eyes on this selection...

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Omega Dubai Desert Classic Past Winners and History

The first European Tour event to be staged in the Middle East, the Dubai Desert Classic was inaugurated in 1989. It currently is one of three played in the Emirates.

With the exception of two tournaments (1999 and 2000) it has been played at the Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club.

A few factoids:

• The tournament record were set by Thomas Bjorn in 2000. Aggregate: 266 ; To par: −22.
• With three wins, Ernie Els has won the most titles (1994, 2002, 2005).
• In 1994, Els shot a tournament record 61—11 under par.
• Tiger Woods has won twice.
• At just under 20 years old, Rory McIlroy is the youngest winner (2009)
• Mark O’Meara was the oldest winner, aged 47.
• The tournament’s 19 different winners hail from 12 different nations.
• Martin Kaymer has played in every one of the tournament’s editions.

From a business perspective, the Desert Classic has gained some notoriety for the generous appearance fees that it pays top stars.

A complete list of Dubai Desert Classic Winners is below:

Omega Dubai Desert Classic Past Winners

Year	Winner	Country	Score
Omega Dubai Desert Classic
2016	Danny Willett	England	269 (-19)
2015	Rory McIlroy	Northern Ireland	266 (–22)
2014	Stephen Gallacher	Scotland	272 (–16)
2013	Stephen Gallacher	Scotland	266 (–22)
2012	Rafael Cabrera-Bello	Spain	270 (–18)
2011	Álvaro Quirós	Spain	277 (–11)
2010	Miguel Ángel Jiménez	Spain	277 (−11)
Dubai Desert Classic
2009	Rory McIlroy	Northern Ireland	269 (−19)
2008	Tiger Woods	United States	274 (−14)
2007	Henrik Stenson	Sweden	269 (−19)
2006	Tiger Woods	United States	269 (−19)
2005	Ernie Els	South Africa	269 (−19)
2004	Mark O’Meara	United States	271 (−17)
2003	Robert-Jan Derksen	Netherlands	271 (−17)
2002	Ernie Els	South Africa	272 (−16)
2001	Thomas Bjørn	Denmark	266 (−22)
2000	José Cóceres	Argentina	274 (−14)
1999	David Howell	England	275 (−13)
1998	José María Olazábal	Spain	269 (−19)
1997	Richard Green	Australia	272 (−16)
1996	Colin Montgomerie	Scotland	270 (−18)
1995	Fred Couples	United States	268 (−20)
1994	Ernie Els	South Africa	268 (−20)
1993	Wayne Westner	South Africa	274 (−14)
1992	Seve Ballesteros	Spain	272 (−16)
Emirates Airlines Desert Classic
1990	Eamonn Darcy	Ireland	276 (−12)
Karl Litten Desert Classic
1989	Mark James	England	277 (−11)

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Dubai Tour 2017: Marcel Kittel draws first blood; Mark Cavendish third

Defending champion bags stage one victory to pull red jersey on again

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On the Path to Healing & Hiking for Mental Health

My battle with depression, hiking to heal, and hiking with a purpose.

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Wilson Staff Triton Driver: Winner of “Driver vs Driver”

Wilson Staff Triton Driver: Winner of “Driver vs Driver”

The winner of last year’s Driver vs Driver club design reality show, the Triton Driver features baseplates that can be swapped out to change driver performance.

The club features:

• 1:1 Visible Swing Active Technology – The revolutionary crown feature makes set-up consistent, easy and intuitive. The 1:1 alignment aid, visible both pre-shot and at impact, improves ball striking for improved accuracy, distance and consistency.
• Changeable Sole Weights – Innovative, interchangeable sole plates, one titanium and one carbon fiber, are included for significant launch and spin changes. The 22 gram titanium sole plate is optimized for the majority of players who need mid to high launch and low spin while the 9 gram carbon fiber sole plate is geared for players who need lower launch and lower spin, for the world’s most adjustable multi-piece driver.
• Chemically-Etched Crown – A chemically-etched crown reduces weight and increases the thickness toward the face for structural support and durability.
• Movable Weights – Five moveable weights – two 2 gram, two 6 gram and one 12 gram – can be placed in 18 unique combinations to fine tune and perfect ball flight. By varying the weight placement in the three sole ports, shot trajectory can be adjusted higher or lower or to help with draws and fades for true customization to complement each player’s swing.
• Adjustable Hosel – Green Means Go! One of the smallest, lightest and easiest to use adjustable hosel systems available, Fast Fit technology makes getting the perfect set-up fast and easy. Just a few turns of the wrench, the head does not need to be detached from the shaft, allows access to all six hosel settings. Those settings include three for loft – 1o strong, standard, 1o weak – and those same three in a Draw configuration for enhanced right-to-left shot shaping.
• Head Cover and Wrench Included

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Meet The Hostels!

Hats Off to Boots Off: A Hostel is Born
(Hostel owners are a special kind of trail angel and I think it’s time for their story to be told. This is the first in a series of stories to highlight Appalachian Trail hiker hostels)
 
Last year, my friend and fellow trail angel, Crazy Larry of Damascus, posted a short video on Facebook of a new hostel, Boots Off. Once I saw that, I just HAD to drive up there and see it for myself. ...

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2016 Thru-Hiker Stats Preview

here was a lot of talk this time last year about what to expect from a record-breaking 2016 season. Thanks to an onslaught of sustainability efforts, LNT initiatives, and encouraging of non-traditional thru-hikes, the Trail community was on top of it. We checked in with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and got the numbers for what the 2016 season actually looked like.* The numbers were record-breaking indeed, so let’s put our hands together for everyone who did their part to leave the Trail better than they found it. ...

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Your winter hiking #inspiration for the day: Meet Peter Freuchen

What’s the coldest night you’ve ever spent? For me, the answer is easy: on the shore of Chicken Spring Lake on the Pacific Crest Trail. At a shade above 11,000 feet, it gets awfully chilly up there, and the lone night I camped on its frozen shores was the longest and bleakest of my life.
Take whatever you answered to the question above and multiply that feeling by the first double-digit number that comes to mind, ...

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Wait! You’re telling me Mountain House isn’t ultralight?!?

When buying ultralight gear thru hikers expect high performance for minimal weight but at a typically higher cost. Thru hikers should have the same performance expectations of food consumed on trail.

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A conqueror, an athlete and a bad-ass – that’s what.

I already wrote an entire post to answer Zach’s question: “I am hiking the AT because…”
My answer to “When I finish the AT I will…”
…I do not definitively know the answer to that and I am not sure anyone who has not done a thru-hike of the immensity of the AT can really know the answer. We all speculate about how we will feel when we finish, we all fantasize about who we will have become when we have finally reached that goal but without having endured something so foreign to our everyday lives it is hard to say. ...

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British apparel brand Sealskinz launch lightweight, waterproof cycling range

Sealskinz Capsule collection features bib shorts, bib tights, leg warmers and full-zip jacket

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Buyer’s guide: cycling insurance

Everything you need to know about cycling-specific insurance

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Waste Management Phoenix Open Winners and History

The Phoenix Open dates back to 1932 and 1933, when it was known as the Arizona Open. The event was suspended for one year and then returned in 1935 for one more. But like a Phoenix, it rose from the ashes in 1939 when Bob Goldwater Sr. convinced his civic group, The Thunderbirds, to sponsor a golf event. As with the original Arizona Open, the Phoenix Open was played at the Phoenix Country Club. Beginning in 1955, the Arizona Country Club (also in Phoenix) alternated as event host with Phoenix Country Club; this arrangement lasted until Phoenix Country Club took The Arizona Country Club’s turn in 1975 and became the event’s permanent home. Finally, in 1987, it moved to the now famous TPC Scottsdale, with its circus par 3 16th.

The Phoenix Open is annually the best attended event on tour, drawing as many as 500,000 over the weekend. Some of that is due to the circus surrounding the par 3 16th, which has been converted to an amphitheatre that seats thousands. In 2008, the tournament set a PGA Tour record of 538,356 fans.

Phoenix Open founder Bob Goldwater was an accomplished amateur golfer. He won the Arizona State Amateur and the Southwest Amateur three times each. In 1951, he beat well-known amateur Charlie Coe in the Broadmore Invitational in Colorado Springs. Because the other Thunderbirds were skeptical about the golf event, Goldwater did all the work on the first tournament himself.

Mark Calcavecchia, Gene Littler and Arnold Palmer have three Phoenix Open wins each. Double winners include JB Holmes, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Bob Gilder, Miller Barber, Johnny Miller, Lloyd Mangrum, Jimmy Demaret, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson.

The tournament record was set by Mark Calcavecchia in 1981, with a aggregate 256, which was an astonishing 28 under par.

A list of Phoenix Open Winners follows:

Waste Management Phoenix Open Past Winners

Year	Player	Country	Score	To par	1st Prize ($)	Purse ($)
Waste Management Phoenix Open
2016	Hideki Matsuyama	Japan	270	-14 (playoff)	1, 170,000	6,500,000
2015	Brooks Koepka	United States	269	-15	1,134,000	6,300,000
2014	Kevin Stadler	United States	268	-16	1,116,000	6,200,000
2013	Phil Mickelson	United States	256	-28	1,116,000	6,200,000
2012	Kyle Stanley	United States	269	-15	1,080,000	6,100,000
2011	Mark Wilson	United States	266	-18	1,080,000	6,100,000
2010	Hunter Mahan	United States	268	-16	1,080,000	6,000,000
FBR Open
2009	Kenny Perry	United States	270	-14	1,080,000	6,000,000
2008	J. B. Holmes	United States	270	-14	1,080,000	6,000,000
2007	Aaron Baddeley	Australia	263	-21	1,080,000	6,000,000
2006	J. B. Holmes	United States	263	-21	936,000	5,200,000
2005	Phil Mickelson	United States	267	-17	936,000	5,200,000
2004	Jonathan Kaye	United States	266	-18	936,000	5,200,000
Phoenix Open
2003	Vijay Singh	Fiji	261	-23	720,000	4,000,000
2002	Chris DiMarco	United States	267	-17	720,000	4,000,000
2001	Mark Calcavecchia	United States	256	-28	720,000	4,000,000
2000	Tom Lehman	United States	270	-14	576,000	3,200,000
1999	Rocco Mediate	United States	273	-11	540,000	3,000,000
1998	Jesper Parnevik	Sweden	269	-15	450,000	2,500,000
1997	Steve Jones	United States	258	-26	270,000	1,500,000
1996	Phil Mickelson	United States	269	-15	234,000	1,300,000
1995	Vijay Singh	Fiji	269	-15	234,000	1,300,000
1994	Bill Glasson	United States	268	-16	216,000	1,200,000
1993	Lee Janzen	United States	273	-11	180,000	1,000,000
1992	Mark Calcavecchia	United States	264	-20	180,000	1,000,000
1991	Nolan Henke	United States	268	-16	180,000	1,000,000
1990	Tommy Armour III	United States	267	-17	162,000	900,000
1989	Mark Calcavecchia	United States	263	-21	126,000	700,000
1988	Sandy Lyle	Scotland	269	-15	117,000	650,000
1987	Paul Azinger	United States	268	-16	108,000	600,000
1986	Hal Sutton	United States	267	-21	90,000	500,000
1985	Calvin Peete	United States	270	-14	81,000	450,000
1984	Tom Purtzer	United States	268	-16	72,000	400,000
1983	Bob Gilder	United States	271	-13	63,000	350,000
1982	Lanny Wadkins	United States	263	-21	54,000	300,000
1981	David Graham	Australia	268	-16	54,000	300,000
1980	Jeff Mitchell	United States	272	-12	54,000	300,000
1979	Ben Crenshaw	United States	199*	-14	33,750	250,000
1978	Miller Barber	United States	272	-12	40,000	200,000
1977	Jerry Pate	United States	277	-7	40,000	200,000
1976	Bob Gilder	United States	268	-16	40,000	200,000
1975	Johnny Miller	United States	260	-24	30,000	150,000
1974	Johnny Miller	United States	271	-13	30,000	150,000
1973	Bruce Crampton	Australia	268	-12	30,000	150,000
1972	Homero Blancas	United States	273	-11	25,000	125,000
Phoenix Open Invitational
1971	Miller Barber	United States	261	-23	25,000	125,000
1970	Dale Douglass	United States	271	-13	20,000	100,000
1969	Gene Littler	United States	263	-21	20,000	100,000
1968	George Knudson	Canada	272	-12	20,000	100,000
1967	Julius Boros	United States	272	-12	14,000	70,000
1966	Dudley Wysong	United States	278	-6	9,000	60,000
1965	Rod Funseth	United States	274	-14	10,500	65,000
1964	Jack Nicklaus	United States	271	-17	7,500	50,000
1963	Arnold Palmer	United States	273	-15	5,300	35,000
1962	Arnold Palmer	United States	269	-15	5,300	35,000
1961	Arnold Palmer	United States	270	-10	4,300	30,000
1960	Jack Fleck	United States	273	-11	3,150	22,500
1959	Gene Littler	United States	268	-12	2,400	20,000
1958	Ken Venturi	United States	274	-10	2,000	15,000
1957	Billy Casper	United States	271	-9	2,000	15,000
Phoenix Open
1956	Cary Middlecoff	United States	276	-8	2,400	15,000
1955	Gene Littler	United States	275	-5	2,400	15,000
1954	Ed Furgol	United States	272	-12	2,000	10,000
1953	Lloyd Mangrum	United States	272	-12	2,000	10,000
1952	Lloyd Mangrum	United States	274	-10	2,000	10,000
1951	Lew Worsham	United States	272	-12	2,000	10,000
Ben Hogan Open
1950	Jimmy Demaret	United States	269	-15	2,000	10,000
Phoenix Open
1949	Jimmy Demaret	United States	278	-6	2,000	10,000
1948	Bobby Locke	South Africa	268	-16	2,000	10,000
1947	Ben Hogan	United States	270	-14	2,000	10,000
1946	Ben Hogan	United States	273	-11	1,500	7,500
1945	Byron Nelson	United States	274	-10	1,000	5,000
1944	Harold “Jug” McSpaden	United States	273	-11	1,000	5,000
1943	No tournament
1942	No tournament – hosted Western Open
1941	No tournament – hosted Western Open
1940	Ed Oliver	United States	205^	-8	700	3,000
1939	Byron Nelson	United States	198^	-15	700	3,000
1936-38	No tournament
1935	Ky Laffoon	United States	281	-3	500	2,500
1934	No tournament
Arizona Open
1933	Harry Cooper	United States	281	-3	400	1,500
1932	Ralph Guldahl	United States	285	-1	600	2,500

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Video: Chris Froome gets 2017 season underway at Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

Nikias Arndt sprints to victory; Team Sky's Luke Rowe finishes fifth

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Tom Pidcock leads British 1-2-3 in junior men’s race at ‘cross Worlds

Evie Richards claims women’s under-23 bronze; Nikki Brammeier grabs top-ten place in elite women’s race Tom Pidcock led a British clean-sweep of the medals in the junior men’s race at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships 2017 in Luxembourg. British and European junior champion Pidcock showed the future of the sport is in great shape for […]

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SkyCaddie Linx GT Tour Edition GPS Watch

SkyCaddie Linx GT GPS Watch

The SkyCaddie Linx GT Tour Edition GPS Watch is a standalone GPS unit that can sync with an app on your phone so you can see a birds eye view of the entire hole.

It features:

• Preloaded with 35000 trueground course maps with accurate distances to bunkers, carries, water, creeks, end of frwy and more
• Powered by the Linx GT use your smart phone with the SkyCaddie Mobile gps app to have an eagle’s eye view of the entire hole
• Auto shot tracking works in the background to track the location and distance of each shot automatically without any intervention while you play
• SkyGolf 360, all your auto shot tracking data is wirelessly uploaded to your personal performance locker to analyze your game and learn your shot tendencies
• Smartphone notification alerts, digital scorecard, statistic tracking, odometer and sunlight readable display with reverse polarity background

The post SkyCaddie Linx GT Tour Edition GPS Watch appeared first on GolfBlogger Golf Blog.

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British sprinter Dan McLay wins Trofeo Palma but ends up in hospital after post-race crash

British sprinter Dan McLay claimed his first race win of 2017 on the final day of Challenge Mallorca, but finished the night in hospital after crashing into a photographer. McLay won the Trofeo Palma by the tightest of margins, a photo finish having been required to separate the Brit, Bora-hansgrohe’s Matteo Pelucchi and French star […]

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for those crisis of confidence moments

With the NOBO AT season closing in, a lot of The Trek posts I’ve read lately echo what I’ve been feeling, basically:
omg, this is really happening! / am I ready? /  can I do this?
Whether it’s reading about others’ never-ending search for the ‘right’ gear or another owning that this is as scary as it is exciting, it makes me feel less alone to know that you all are as anxious as I am.  ...

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10 Undeniable Truths of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail spans over 1,000 miles from the top of Clingman’s Dome in the Smoky Mountains to the highest sand dune on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. If you don’t know the basics about the trail here is a great Overview of the MST. The MST is unlike any trail I have ever hiked. In my opinion it is one of the hardest trails that exists in this country and for reasons you would not initially suspect. ...

The post 10 Undeniable Truths of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail appeared first on The Trek.

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Check Your Politics at the Trailhead

Okay, I get it…we are all a bit on edge 
Ninety-nine percent of the country seems to be politically polarized. If you’re reading this, it’s likely you either want to “make America great again”, or you are firmly in the “he’s not my president” group.
Given the inevitable heated discourse whenever the subject comes up, on the trail leave your politics at home. Arguing the subject does nothing to change it, it only further divides people who should be coming together to share in an uplifting experience. ...

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RCUK’s Best Buys – this week’s hottest deals

Our round-up of this week's best road cycling deals

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Coming Full Circle: The Beginning of an End

“A man who pushes his boundaries ultimately finds them.” – Point Break, 2015
January is over. I wish I could say that there was still gear left for us to research. I wish I could tell you that we still have “fun things” to do in our preparation. Things like spraying our gear with permethrin, setting up our tent, envisioning camp chores, and taking trips to Costco to plan meals were enjoyable because we were learning and growing together. ...

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5 Million Steps For Childhood Cancer

In April of 2010, I received the devastating news that my son Cole had cancer. He fought bravely for a year and a half through all efforts to save him, but sadly lost his battle on January 20th, 2012 at age 5.
Cole left behind an identical twin brother named Troy, his sister Tara, my wife Michelle and I, and many others who loved him deeply.
Cole was an amazing young boy who loved the outdoors, ...

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Fear of the Unknown (or The Process By Which I Came to Own Three Tents: Part 1)

The amount of days left until my husband and I start the AT is waning quickly. The countdown app on my phone keeps ticking down the days. Three of the four remaining weekends that I have here at home are filled with “see you later” gatherings.
My pack sits in the corner, mostly packed but still lacking a few odds-and-ends. I go round and round with my mother (and myself) about paring down the size of my pack and leaving luxury items behind. ...

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The Class of 2017: All Geared Up, Ready to Trek, and Here’s Why

Katahdin and all of her sisters called out to us, screaming into our souls... and we can do nothing but helplessly answer, yes, we're coming

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Before I get to the AT, let me tempt you with this stunning European trail!

WELCOME TO MY FIRST POST!
I’m excited that you’re joining me as I start this big adventure.  Not only will hiking the full length of the AT be a challenge, but also figuring out how to pitch my tarp and post on this blog without my trustworthy engineer husband helping me out.  But with a whole lot of luck and diligence, things should work out.
A Little Background
As my intro indicated, we’ve had the great privilege to live and travel abroad for many years.  ...

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Coming soon: Tutor.com to Go™ for Higher Education Programs

Does your school have a mobile engagement strategy?  Are you connecting with students and providing timely support through their preferred devices?  If not, you probably should be.

As we heard at the recent Eduventures Summit in Boston – and as any parent or educator already knows – the rising generation of college learners have a unique relationship to their smartphones and tablets.  They’re always online, always available, and many of them, especially those born after the mid-nineties, may not even remember a time before our era of constant connectivity.  They simply assume that anything they’re looking for, from movies to music to the day’s news, will be available at a moment’s notice with a few taps on their screens.

That’s why Tutor.com is available anytime, anywhere, and from any internet-connected device, with or without an appointment.  We pride ourselves on serving students the moment they need help, and now, to make it even easier for our college and university students to connect with a subject-matter expert, we’re updating up our Tutor.com To Go™ mobile apps to allow access from Blackboard, Canvas, Desire2Learn and a variety of other popular learning management systems.

With Tutor.com To Go (available for both iOS and Android devices), students can connect with a tutor, share files from their Tutor.com locker, or even take a photo of their textbook or lecture-hall whiteboard to send directly to a subject-matter expert for immediate help.  Tutor.com to Go is completely free, so it can be a great way to start extending your student-support services to the mobile platforms your students use every day.

To learn more about Tutor.com To Go and receive a notification when our updated apps are available for download, please visit http://ift.tt/2kCuGKi.

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Golf Charity Totals $3.9 Billion In 2016

Golf charity totaled $3.9 billion in 2016, according to data released by Golf 20/20, a collaboration of leading golf organizations. The National Golf Foundation says that sum that is greater than the charitable impact of the MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL combined.

Of course, golf has a great advantage over those leagues. Golf charity extends from the PGA and LPGA tours, down to weekend hackers at their local muni. I spend several days each season playing charity “outings” for various charitable causes. I could easily spend every day of the week in southeast Michigan playing in summer golf outings. Along with collecting cans for the deposit change, golf outings seem to be one of the area’s principle

The National Golf Foundation study says that golf fundraising involved:

• 12,700 golf facilities (84 percent of U.S. total, 8 percent increase from 2011
• 143,000 events
• 12 million participants
• $26,400 average per function
• 1 percent of all U.S. charitable giving (totaled $373 billion in 2015)

“Charity is at the heart of the U.S. golf industry,” says Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation, administrator of GOLF 20/20. “Golf is a key driver for charitable giving and takes pride in hosting charitable events to improve millions of lives through causes that are mostly unrelated to golf.”

Most common charitable golf event beneficiaries include health, youth, education and cultural groups nationally, regionally and locally.

The majority of the ones I participate in involve local youth sports. I have also played in golf outings for church, veterans and some health-related projects.

Golf 20/20 reports that more than 85 percent of organizations conducting golf events find them important for the exposure and networking opportunities in addition to the money raised. They’re great places to meet people with interests similar to your own.

The findings are based on qualitative calls and data collection from a coast-to-coast sampling of public and private golf facilities, and non-profit organizations producing golf events, conducted on behalf of GOLF 20/20 by the NGF.

The post Golf Charity Totals $3.9 Billion In 2016 appeared first on GolfBlogger Golf Blog.

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Mark Cavendish starts season with Dubai Tour 2017 sprinting showdown with Marcel Kittel

British champion Adam Blythe also among 14 British riders set for Dubai startline Mark Cavendish starts his 2017 season at the Dubai Tour on Tuesday (January 31), where he will battle for early sprinting supremacy against Marcel Kittel. Cavendish is one of 14 British riders set for the Dubai startline, returning to the United Arab […]

The post Mark Cavendish starts season with Dubai Tour 2017 sprinting showdown with Marcel Kittel appeared first on Road Cycling UK.

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Plans for a 2,000+ Mile Hike and the Obligatory “Why?”

My knee jerk reaction to this question is usually, “why not? UUUUGGGGHHHH” but that makes me sound like a cavewoman, so I’ll try not to.
The “why” is hard to articulate for me, and as you’ll find, took about 14 months to arrange itself in my brain to come out in (at least semi) coherent thoughts. A couple things to keep in mind:
1. This is a reflection of the PCT, but it’s much of the reason I’ll be heading back out to the trail — the Appalachian Trail this time. ...

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Former WVU Golfer Tim Dyer Gives Back

Interview: British champion Nikki Brammeier recovered and excited for ‘Cross Worlds

Boels-Dolmans rider reflects on Rio 2016, marriage and celebrity status in Belgium When Nikki Brammeier rolls out to contest the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships on Saturday, she will do so as a proud member of Team GB, even if regulations dictate that her cherished national champion’s jersey – a title she has won on three […]

The post Interview: British champion Nikki Brammeier recovered and excited for ‘Cross Worlds appeared first on Road Cycling UK.

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Ten of the best cycling climbs in the Chilterns

Picturesque backdrops and gruelling climbs to tackle Riding areas of natural beauty have their clear positive points, from the picturesque backdrops to the commonly secluded nature of the roads – ideal for cycling. They can also offer some of the most challenging terrain available to cyclists, and the Chilterns has its fair share of tough […]

The post Ten of the best cycling climbs in the Chilterns appeared first on Road Cycling UK.

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Snoopy Golf Statue

Snoopy Golf Statue

Ridiculous golf Item of the Week

 

 

The post Snoopy Golf Statue appeared first on GolfBlogger Golf Blog.

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How to Answer the “Bear Question” or: Planning for the (Eventually) Inevitable

In the months leading up to my 2016 AT thru-hike, the number one question asked by friends and family was simple and straight-forward – “But what about bears?” Bears weren’t even on my mind when I began planning my AT thru-hike attempt. I was more concerned about storage units (I’m living in Seattle having moved from Atlanta), gear (what’s up REI flagship!), cell phone coverage (what’s up Verizon!) and working a 60-plus hour work-week (what’s up savings accounts!) to be concerned with something as trivial as bears. ...

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Dusty Camel Sets Out to Thru-Hike the Arizona Trail (with a Ridiculous Catch)

here’s a good chance you’re already familiar with Ian Mangiardi and/or Andy Laub.  Seven years ago, by the fate of the Internet overlords, I was put in touch with Ian prior to my AT thru-hike.  In no uncertain terms, he went onto become my pre-trail therapist and gear guru, later going onto write the gear chapter for Appalachian Trials.
You may better know them by their trail name combo alter ego- the Dusty Camel. They met in 2009 as complete novices on the southern end of the Appalachian Trail, ...

The post Dusty Camel Sets Out to Thru-Hike the Arizona Trail (with a Ridiculous Catch) appeared first on The Trek.

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Putting My Best Foot Forward

The AT has already humbled me, and I haven't even started.

The post Putting My Best Foot Forward appeared first on The Trek.

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Our differences & similarities: raising the bar while on the trail.

In addition to the reason I’m thru-hiking, I am also looking forward to getting away from the intrusive, unavoidable noise pollution of our multi-media coverage of politics and the dissent that has become pervasive. I was/am thinking that being in the woods – and here I am imagining the noise of the wind in the trees mixed with my labored breathing and my footfalls on the trail – away from the daily noise of TVs, phones, ...

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I would rather die hiking the Appalachian Trail than live in our current society

Trump is our president. I just want to go live in a hole.
But hole’s are boring, cold, and dark, so instead I’m hiking the Appalachian Trail. THAT’s 2,189 miles from Georgia to Maine.

I’m hiking the this thing because…

In the woods, Trump can’t grab my pussy
I’m sick of all things men, sexist, misogynist, and patriarchal
I just want to live on MY OWN TERMS

When I successfully thru-hike the trail…

Trump will be 6 months closer to leaving the White House
I will be on another level of self-knowledge
I will know that I am capable of literally anything

If I give up I will…

Enter back into a degrading, ...

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Shelving, Surgery, and Success: Why I’m thru-hiking, Why I need your help, and Why that’s actually okay.

In 41 days, I will begin my thru-hike attempt of the Appalachian Trail.
And I’ve got to be honest with you, I’m shitting my pants a little.
The absolute monstrosity of this undertaking has got me everywhere from crying for joy to crying with dread and everything in between. But I think it’s really important, five weeks and change away from starting, to take a moment and reflect on WHY this is something I’m attempting. I think there are two parts to this story. ...

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Pearl Izumi Pro Pursuit Cycling Bib Tights – review

Warm, comfortable tights suitable for a range of British winter temperatures

The post Pearl Izumi Pro Pursuit Cycling Bib Tights – review appeared first on Road Cycling UK.

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Diary of a fourth category racer: January – And so it begins…

Can you feel it? That ever-so-slight frisson of fresh beginnings in the air? The intoxicating aroma of chamois cream and long-neglected dry chain lube. Slowly but surely, spring is appearing on the horizon and with it a new season of cycling, full of crashes, controversies and cake, both for the pros and for us lowly […]

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Why I Hike Alone

I almost always hike and backpack alone.

The post Why I Hike Alone appeared first on The Trek.

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Golf.Com Revises Design; Still Objectifies Women

Golf.Com Revises Design; Still Objectifies Women

Golf.Com has redesigned their site, boasting of a cleaner design, faster loading and a new editorial focus. Plus, they’ve added a virtual store to let you buy clubs and other golf gear. In spite of the revisions, however, I still can’t take the publication seriously. Front and center is the cheesecake that drove me away from the last version.

Seriously, people. This is the 21st Century. I am no feminist, but I find the treatment of female athletes in the online golf publications demeaning. The front page had FIVE stories on the “Most Beautiful Women in Golf”, plus “The Wives and Girlfriends of Ryder Cup Players”, and “Model Swing: The Best Photos of Maria Verchenova,” which was just another excuse to show a woman in a bikini.

Of the dozens of stories on the front page, there was just one on a legitimate women’s golf news item: Michele Wie had signed with Callaway. And when I got to the bottom of that story, there were links to golf porn articles such as: “See The Pics That Almost Got Her Kicked Off The LPGA TOUR,” and “Nine Female Golfers That Will Blow You Away.”

I find it embarrassing, and I’m not even part of the Golf dot Com staff.

From a practical point of view, the mistreatment of the women’s game is suicidal. Women represent 50.8% of the US population, but only 22% of its golfers. If the game — and these publications are going to survive — they’ve got to draw more women into the golf. To do that, they’ve got to start treating women like human beings, not sex objects.

I have watched LPGA golfers on numerous occasions, at events such as the Jamie Farr and the Volvik Championship. I can testify that — beyond a doubt –most of these athletes would destroy any male weekender they come across. I frankly have yet to see the male amateur who could challenge them.

The 100th best LPGA player averages nearly 250 off the tee. The average male golfer, according to all available statistics, averages 200.

Readers of Golf Dot Com actually have a lot to learn from the LPGA.

This is a call to Executive Editor Alan Bastable: Start treating women’s golf with the respect it deserves. Unless you are willing to publish articles like “The Most Beautiful Men In Golf,” and put it front-and-center on your site, stop these awful sexist click-bait articles about professional athletes who happen to be women.

 

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Meet the 2017 Badger Sponsorship Winners!

At the beginning of this month, we unveiled the 2017 Badger Sponsorship, where a handful of aspiring thru-hikers would win some very tubular gear, food, and resources, including a grand prize of…

Choice between one (1) Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 or Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 tent
Choice of one (1) Gossamer Gear Backpack
One (1) REI Igneo Sleeping Bag
One (1) Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite Sleeping Pad
Four (4) $100 Gift Cards to Altra
Three (3) pairs of Wigwam Socks
One (1) pair of Bedrock Sandals
One (1) pair of Injinji Toe Socks
Three (3) Granite Gear eVent Sil Dry Sacs
One (1) Sawyer Squeeze
Ten (10) boxes of CLIF Nut Butter Filled Bars
Five (5) boxes of PROBAR Meal and three (3) boxes of PROBAR Base
Twelve (12) Good To-Go Dehydrated Meals
Three (3) Thru-Hiking Coaching Sessions
A signed copy of Appalachian Trials or Pacific Crest Trials (your choice)
An eBook copy of Appalachian Trials or Pacific Crest Trials (your choice)
One (1) Trek Truckker Hat
An invitation to become a Blogger for The Trek

Contestants were asked to create a 90-second video explaining why they should be chosen as this year’s Badger Sponsorship victor. ...

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Slackblock Balance Trainer Review

Slackblock Balance Trainer Review

SlackBlock Balance Trainer
Grade: ?
Teacher’s Comments: I think it does the job, but I frankly have had trouble incorporating it into my training regime.

Balance is at the core of nearly every sport. Watch a beautiful golf swing from Adam Scott or Fred Couples, and you will see great balance. Watch Julio Jones snag a ball from the air and you will see great balance. Watch Michael Jordan fly toward the basket, and you see great balance.

Most amateur athletes don’t have that kind of balance. Slack Block aims to help you with that.

The SlackBlock consists of a board with a gritty, non-slip surface, mounted to a foam base. Tee goal is to balance on the SlackBlock on one foot for up to two minutes at a time. As you might expect, that foam base makes that more difficult than it seems. To say on top of the board requires a great deal of balance, and also of foot and ankle strength.

SlackBlock can be used with the feet in parallel to the block, at an angle or perpendicular. The angled to the block position helps the balance with rotational sports, such as golf. The use of the SlackBlock is best seen in this video.

Does it work? I am having a hard time with that answer. Try as I might, I have had trouble incorporating the SlackBlock into my regular exercise routine. I hit the gym to lift weights three times a week, have regular stretching routines, spend time crunching out my knots with an exercise roller and walk daily. There is only so much time in a day.

It is not that Slack Block is difficult, or even enormously time consuming. Two minutes balancing on each foot, in each of three different angles equals a total of twelve minutes, plus whatever time  needed to get back up on the block (I fall off a lot), and time off between sets. So maybe twenty minutes total.

I will have to try again to build it into my routines as we head into the new golf season. Given my inability to stay on the block for long, I think it’s pretty clear that I need to work on balance.

SlackBlock inventor Jim Klopman also has published a book, Balance is Power, in which he explains his theory of balance as “our sixth and most important sense,” describes ways in which balance is critical to our healthy existence and briefly prescribes routines to improve your balance.

 

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Farmers Insurance Open Video Preview

This Farmers Insurance Open Video Preview highlights the return of Tiger Woods to the Farmers Insurance Open, an event which he has won seven times. It is his first official PGA Tour appearance in nearly two years.

The tournament also will feature:

• 15 of the 30 players who made it to the 2016 TOUR Championship will compete in the Farmers Insurance Open: Dustin Johnson, Paul Casey, Jason Day, Kevin Chappell, Emiliano Grillo, Hideki Matsuyama, Jimmy Walker, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, Si Woo Kim, Gary Woodland, Roberto Castro, Daniel Berger, Jhonattan Vegas and J.B. Holmes.
• Three of the top six in the Official World Golf Ranking, including world No. 1 Jason Day, Dustin Johnson (3) and Hideki Matsuyama (6).
• Seven of the top 10 in the FedExCup standings, including Hideki Matsuyama (2), Pat Perez (3), Brendan Steele (4), Mackenzie Hughes (5), Hudson Swafford (6), Rod Pampling (7) and Adam Hadwin (10).
• Seven past champions are in the field: Brandt Snedeker (2016, 2012) Jason Day (2015), Scott Stallings (2014), Tiger Woods (seven times, most recently 2013) Ben Crane (2010), Nick Watney (2009), Phil Mickelson (1993, 2000-01).

 

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Rapha Brevet Long Sleeve Windblock jersey – review

Luxurious, versatile jersey from Rapha, which should see plenty of use from autumn to spring The Rapha Brevet Long Sleeve Windblock is a cracking jersey which will get plenty of use from autumn through to spring. It’s a luxurious piece, thanks to the merino construction, and has the high attention to detail you would expect […]

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Could a cycling coach be your best investment in 2017?

Should you invest in new kit or employ the services of a coach in pursuit of your goals? At the end of every year, the dinner party chatter and social media feeds of clubs are packed with riders’ declarations of targets for the following year. We’ve all had a target that we’d like to achieve, […]

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Orient Sun and Moon Automatic Watch

Orient Sun and Moon Automatic Watch

This Orient Sun and Moon Automatic watch is absolutely beautiful. From the product description

The Orient Sun and Moon combines classic design combined with high functionality for a truly unique aesthetic. The intricacies of the dial are immaculate and one could say that it crosses the watch from the executive look to classic territory. From the concentric pattern on the other ring to the guilloche-styled finish on the interior and sub dials, the new Sun and Moon has all the markings and embellishments of a luxury watch.

What will also be noticed is the incredible depth of the dial—from the looks of the date window cut out, it appears as though the dial is built in layers. This comes as no surprise as the case is measured at 14.1mm thick. The day indicator sub dial is embossed and the sun and moon indicator is raised above all.

The hands and Roman numerals on the watch are in a rich black color that contrasts nicely with the white dial. The color contrast drawn from the sun and moon disk, red Sunday highlight, and Orient logo, really ties the look of the watch together.

This watch has a sun and moon (or AM to PM) indicator between 10 and 11:00 on the dial. The date is between 7:00 and 8:00 with the day of the week shown in a sub-dial between 2:00 and 3:00. The watch is powered by a Orient made 21-jewel automatic (self-winding) movement and it is housed in a brushed 42.5mm stainless steel case. A sapphire crystal is included to guard against scratches. The watch comes with an alligator grained leather strap with a buckle closure.

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The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Training for the AT (in Winter)

This is my plan. My plan may not work for you.* To each his/her own!
 
Nutrition
Eat lots of Ramen. Add things to it like veggies and eggs and tell yourself you’re experimenting for life on the trail. Eat all the Kraft mac & cheese. Lie to yourself about this too. If you eat it out of your backpacking pot/mug/bowl in your kitchen, it’s basically the truth. Try every Pop-Tart flavor as “research.” Make a spinach smoothie or two because you’re not going to be getting those for a while. ...

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‘Bout Time for Another

Hi everyone!
My name is Kim, trail name (Rice) Krispies, and I am so excited to be one of your bloggers for the 2017 hiking season! The short and sweet version of my hike is: a northbound of the Appalachian Trail beginning early May 2017, exact date TBD.
A little background
In 2012, I did a large section of the Pacific Crest Trail (Washington, Oregon, and Northern California), which I intended to be a thru but I got sick and had to get off. ...

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The Big Question

“How has life been after the trail?” 

 
The big question. The question that sparks a million thoughts. The question that causes sorrow and happiness at the same time. The question that I don’t quite yet know how to answer. Life on the trail was simple. I didn’t do much thinking. I know you were expecting me to say that I went out there and discovered the meaning of life and what my true destiny is… I didn’t find out any of those things. ...

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Whatever Happened to: Trek Bloggers Class of 2016

ach year, The Trek signs up over 100 prospective thru-hikers to tell their story to our audience. Needless to say, some of our hikers fall off the face of the blogging planet, and some fall off the face of the trail. Hey, blogging from the woods is hard, and thru-hiking might be even harder. So for the second year in a row, we are bringing you a compilation wrap-up from some of our brave 2016 bloggers. ...

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Walking the Walk: Quadriplegic AT Thru-Hiker Stacey Kozel Shares Her Story

Stacey “Iron Will” Kozel, the legendary quadriplegic 2016 AT thru-hiker tells her story.

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#StepUpPackOut

There’s a loop path that goes behind my old high school, it’s maybe about a mile in length. It’s close to my neighborhood so I walk it quite often. A lot of people do. We would ride our bikes there all the time when we were younger.

There’s a lot of trash though: on the side of the road, in the parking lot behind the school, next to the stream along the trail, buried in the leaves, ...

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Farmers Insurance Open Preview 2017

2017 Farmers Insurance Open Preview

Dates: January 26-29, 2017
Where: La Jolla, California
Courses: Torrey Pines Golf Course South Course (host) North Course
Field size: 156
2016 champion: Brandt Snedeker
Purse: $6,700,000 ($1,206,000/winner)
FedExCup: 500 points to the winner
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Facebook: http://ift.tt/2ktulph
Twitter: @FarmersInsOpen

A look at the field

• Seven-time Farmers Insurance Open champion Tiger Woods, who will make his first official PGA TOUR start since a T10 finish at the 2015 Wyndham Championship.
• 15 of the 30 players who made it to the 2016 TOUR Championship will compete in the Farmers Insurance Open: Dustin Johnson, Paul Casey, Jason Day, Kevin Chappell, Emiliano Grillo, Hideki Matsuyama, Jimmy Walker, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson, Si Woo Kim, Gary Woodland, Roberto Castro, Daniel Berger, Jhonattan Vegas and J.B. Holmes.
• Three of the top six in the Official World Golf Ranking, including world No. 1 Jason Day, Dustin Johnson (3) and Hideki Matsuyama (6).
• Seven of the top 10 in the FedExCup standings, including Hideki Matsuyama (2), Pat Perez (3), Brendan Steele (4), Mackenzie Hughes (5), Hudson Swafford (6), Rod Pampling (7) and Adam Hadwin (10).
• Seven past champions are in the field: Brandt Snedeker (2016, 2012) Jason Day (2015), Scott Stallings (2014), Tiger Woods (seven times, most recently 2013) Ben Crane (2010), Nick Watney (2009), Phil Mickelson (1993, 2000-01).
• Last week’s CareerBuilder Challenge winner Hudson Swafford, who became the third first-time winner of the 2016-17 PGA TOUR season. Swafford became the seventh winner under the age of 30 in 10 events.
• Adam Hadwin, who finished second at the CareerBuilder Challenge after becoming the eighth player in PGA TOUR history to post a round of 59 (third round).
• Six of the eight different winners on the PGA TOUR in 2016-17.

A look back at the 2016 Farmers Insurance Open

• Brandt Snedeker, who finished his final round at 1:40 p.m. PT Sunday (3-under 69), posted a 6-under 282 and waited nearly 24 hours for the final round to be completed. He began the final round trailing by six strokes at 3-under par. Snedeker was the only player in the field to break par in the final round.
• The win was Snedeker’s second tournament title (2012), fourth in California and eighth on TOUR.
• With the win, Snedeker moved to second in all-time earnings in the Farmers Insurance Open with $3,780,342, behind Tiger Woods with $6,856,015. Phil Mickelson moved to third with $3,029,517.
• Was the second Monday finish for the Farmers Insurance Open. In 2013, Tiger Woods claimed his seventh tournament title on a Monday due to dense fog over the weekend.
• Marked the first time since the 2012 Quicken Loans National a course was closed to spectators.
• The final-round scoring average was 77.901 (+5.90) on the South Course, the highest fourth-round scoring average since 1983.

Farmers Insurance Open and the FedExCup

• Eight of the 10 Farmers Insurance Open champions have advanced to the FedExCup finale, the TOUR Championship. Tiger Woods, the 2008 champion was unable to compete in the FedExCup Playoffs due to injury.
• Defending champion Brandt Snedeker is a former FedExCup winner (2012).

Tiger Woods and the Farmers Insurance Open

• Woods will compete in an official PGA TOUR event for the first time since the 2015 Wyndham Championship (T10).
• Woods has won the Farmers Insurance Open seven times: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2013. Only Woods and Phil Mickelson have more than two wins in the event (Mickelson won in 1993, 2000 and 2001).
• Woods’ last major title came via playoff at the 2008 U.S. Open held at Torrey Pines.
• When Woods won the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open, he became the first player in TOUR history to win on the same golf course eight times, including his U.S. Open victory.
• Every year Woods has won the Farmers Insurance Open, he went on to have multiple-win seasons: 1999 (8 wins), 2003 (5 wins), 2005 (6 wins), 2006 (8 wins), 2007 (7 wins), 2008 (4 wins), 2013 (5 wins)

A closer look at the field

• Phil Mickelson
  • Mickelson is making his 28th start at the Farmers Insurance Open where he is a three-time winner and has seven additional top-10s.
  • In his last five starts, he has only played four rounds once (2016-MC, 2015-MC, 2014-WD, 2013-T51 and 2012-MC).
  • Thirteen of Mickelson’s 42 wins have come in the state of California.
  • Mickelson returned to competition following two hernia surgeries in the fall at the CareerBuilder Challenge (T21)
• Jason Day
  • The World No. 1 is making his eighth start in the Farmers Insurance Open where he won the 2015 tournament. He missed the cut in 2016 (one of two missed cuts) to go along with three top-10s (2015-Won, 2014-T2 and 2013-T9)
  • Day made his first start of the season at the SBS Tournament of Champions, finishing T12.
• Justin Rose
  • Coming off a runner-up in his first start of the season at the Sony Open in Hawaii, the Olympic gold medalist will make his eighth start in the Farmers Insurance Open.
  • Rose has yet to finish in the top 10 at Torrey Pines and has consecutive missed cuts in 2015 and 2016. His best finish is a T22 in 2010.
• Dustin Johnson
  • The 2015-16 PGA TOUR Player of the Year will make his third start of the season. He opened the calendar year with a T6 finish at the SBS Tournament of Champions.
  • In eight previous starts at Torrey Pines, Johnson has one top-10 in six made cuts (T3 in 2011). He finished T18 in 2016 following final rounds of 74-80.
• Rickie Fowler
  • The Farmers Insurance brand ambassador will make his eighth start in the Farmers Insurance Open. In his first four starts, Fowler finished no worse than T20, highlighted by a T5 in 2010 and T6 in 2013. The last three years, he has missed the cut (2014, 2016) and finished T61 (2015).
  • In his only start on the PGA TOUR this season, Fowler finished T6 at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.
• Hideki Matsuyama
  • World No. 6 comes into the week with four wins and two runner-ups in his last seven starts worldwide.
  • Matsuyama finished T16 in his tournament debut in 2014 and missed the cut the last two years (2015, 2016).
• Beau Hossler
  • University of Texas product Beau Hossler will make his professional debut at the Farmers Insurance Open. Following the 2016 NCAA Championship, Hossler underwent surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
  • Hossler has made four starts on TOUR. He gained national recognition at age 17 when he played the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club and briefly held the outright lead in the middle of the second round.
• Xander Schauffele
  • The San Diego State University alum returns to San Diego as an official member of the PGA TOUR, making his second start in the Farmers Insurance Open (MC-2016).
  • Schauffele earned his TOUR card by virtue of 31st-place finish on 2016 Web.com Tour priority list.
  • His best finish to date on TOUR was T5 at the 2016 Sanderson Farms Championship last fall.

Notable Tournament Records

• The Farmers Insurance Open has not produced a first-time TOUR winner since Jay Don Blake in 1991.
• There has never been a rookie winner at the Farmers Insurance Open. Gene Littler won the event as an amateur in 1954.
• There are only three international players to win the Farmers Insurance Open: Gary Player (1963), Jose Maria Olazabal (2002) and Jason Day (2015).
• The largest final round come-from-behind win at the Farmers Insurance Open is eight shots by Scott Simpson in 1998.
• Since 2000, only four players have carried the 54-hole lead on to victory at the Farmers Insurance Open. Phil Mickelson in 2000, Tiger Woods in 2003 and 2008 and John Daly in 2004.
• Dating to 1997, only eight players have recorded all four rounds in the 60s at the Farmers Insurance Open. Most recently, Jhonattan Vegas and Phil Mickelson performed this feat in 2011, which was the first time since 2001 (Frank Lickliter II, Mike Weir, Jay Don Blake and Shigeki Maruyama). The other two players were Billy Ray Brown and Bill Glasson in 1999.

A look at the North Course Renovation

• The North Course recently completed a nine-month, $12.6 renovation. Tom Weiskopf, who won his first PGA TOUR event at Torrey Pines in 1968, served as architect for the renovation.
• Notable upgrades and changes include:
  • Green speeds and firmness are now comparable to the South Course, a critical improvement for competition
  • Five sets of tees were created, adding nearly 200 yards from the professional tees
  • All 18 greens were completely reconstructed to USGA standards with existing poa annua grass being replaced with 100% bent grass – a Tyee 007 blen
  • Greens were fitted with an advanced SubAir system
  • Greens sizes increased by an average of 42% allowing for more hole locations (4,500 to 6,400 sq. ft)
  • The number of bunkers have been reduced from 59 to 41
  • Fairways average five yards wider
  • The nines were reversed to allow players to finish their rounds along the ocean and canyons
  • The project was completed on time and on budget

Suits for Soldiers

• Tuesday, Jan. 24, 3-3:30 p.m. at The Lodge (Charles Reiffel Room
• Farmers Insurance® launched Suits for Soldiers, designed with the purpose of collecting business attire for military members who have served our nation and are transitioning to the civilian workforce.
• Farmers®, with the help of PGA TOUR players Rickie Fowler, Brandt Snedeker and Ben Crane, will provide suits to local San Diego military active duty and veterans. Farmers will also announce the total collected during the 2016 campaign at the event.
• More than one million military personnel will be making the transition from the military in the next couple of years and many of these veterans may not own appropriate business attire to go to networking events, interviews or even to work.

via PGA TOUR

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