TIME Names Lorena Ochoa One of the 100 Most Influential

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 1, 2008 – LPGA Tour player and world number one Lorena Ochoa today joins an acclaimed list of individuals honored in this year’s TIME 100. As TIME managing editor Richard Stengel writes in his Letter to Readers, “The TIME 100 is not a list of the smartest, the most powerful, or the most talented—it is a thoughtful and sprightly survey of the most influential individuals in the world. Influence, like those other categories, is subjective, but you try to measure it in the effect people have on the world.”

The list recognizes the men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming our world, and the list is divided into five subsections: Leaders & Revolutionaries; Builders & Titans; Artists & Entertainers; Scientists & Thinkers; and Heroes & Icons.

Ochoa joins Andre Agassi, Lance Armstrong, Oprah Winfrey, Tony Blair, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and others in the Heroes & Pioneers subsection. While her performance on the golf course is dominant and record-breaking, it is her passion and dedication to those in need off the golf course for which she is being honored. On learning of the honor, LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens remarked, “Lorena is a wonderful ambassador for our Tour, a true icon in Mexico, and a role model for women across the globe. We could not be happier for her, and we are delighted that through her placement in TIME others will now be touched by her spirit.”

Other honorees this year include U.S. presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain, as well as music artists Mariah Carey and Bruce Springsteen, and business titans Steve Jobs and Rupert Murdoch.

To read Lorena’s write-up by LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez, please visit here.

The TIME 100 issue hits newsstands Friday, May 2.

Counterfeit Club Supplier Jailed

This just in yesterday from an alliance that is becoming increasingly important to the golf manufacturing industry. Glad to see some real penalties for this kind of activity. I know it will not be a deterrent to all but if it even stops a few people it is at least a start.
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COUNTERFEIT GOLF EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER SENTENCED TO JAIL

Phoenix, Arizona: The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group (the "Group", comprised of Acushnet Company, Callaway Golf, Cleveland Golf, Nike Golf, PING and TaylorMade Golf Company) reports that the Panyu District Court convicted the defendant Tan Jian ("Tan") of selling counterfeit golf clubs. Tan was sentenced to four years and three months in jail and was ordered to pay a fine of RMB$80,000 (approx. USD $16,667). Tan has filed an appeal to the conviction.

The defendant is a 23 year old male Chinese native from Fengshu Village, Xiadong Town, Chaling County, Hunan Province. Tan was arrested on April 30, 2007 for allegedly committing the crime of trademark counterfeiting after the Group successfully petitioned the local law enforcement agency, the Public Security Bureau (PSB), to conduct an investigation of the defendant's business operation.
The criminal hearing was conducted in Panyu on October 15, 2007 before a three judge panel. The Court determined that the sale of counterfeit golf products in this case caused great economic harm and damage to the victim brand owners, especially in Southern China where much of the legitimate golf industry is concentrated. Additionally, the large monetary value attached to the seized golf products (RMB 4.7 million, about USD $640000) established that Tan Jian's counterfeiting constituted a "very serious crime" and the defendant was sentenced in compliance with the PRC Criminal Code and Judicial Interpretation.
Shih Yann Loo, a principal with the law firm of Baker & McKenzie states that "the custodial sentence of 4 years and 3 months is significant as it sends a very strong message that this Chinese Court is no longer prepared to take the soft approach when it comes to sentencing for IPR related crimes. There is also implicit recognition that this Court is prepared to recognize that theft of intellectual property will be viewed like any other criminal violations and punished in accordance with the laws in place. Hopefully, this will serve not only as a deterrent but will encourage other judicial organs in China to be more proactive in investigating and prosecuting IPR infringements".

The Group was formed to petition governments to enforce their country's laws against counterfeiters of golf equipment products. As a result of the Group's petitioning efforts, dozens of successful raids of manufacturing, assembly and retail facilities have been conducted by Chinese law enforcement authorities over the past four years. Several business operators have been arrested and many have now been prosecuted in the Chinese courts.
The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group consists of the worlds' leading golf equipment manufacturers. Its members and brands include Acushnet Company - Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra Golf; Callaway Golf - Odyssey, Top-Flite and Ben Hogan; Cleveland Golf-Never Compromise; Nike Golf; PING; and TaylorMade-adidas Golf.

Caddy at the Masters Par 3 Contest? Whoa!!

When it comes to golf I count myself pretty lucky. In more than a quarter century playing the game (and working around it for more than 20) I have been quite fortunate to have some amazing experiences. Great courses, famous people, some unbelievable travel adventures. The narrator of the story to follow was even part of one of those career highlights, I was in his group last year as we played Shady Oaks, Ben Hogan's old club, followed by lunch with Nike design guru Tom Stites at the Ben Hogan table. But this guy's story - well, he certainly topped any I have been a part of so far.

One thing I have yet to do in golf is make it past the vaulted gates at Augusta National Golf Club during Masters Week. So you can imagine my jealously when I recently heard the story of a business colleague, Vity Gomes.

Vity is fabulous guy; as one of the top guys in the Nike Canada food chain you could not have a more affable person who knows how to get the job done while still maintaining great relationships. He has strong ties with the Nike athletes and during Masters Weeks, it looks like it paid off.

He was only too kind to pass on the tale for you to hear, not because he was bragging, but because he was asked and, well, it is just too cool of a story not to share.

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"On my way to the Masters, I learned that a joke text message might not be what it seems.

I was heading to Augusta on the Wednesday of tournament week for some meetings with Nike Golf and with some of our athletes. At the Atlanta airport, I got a text message from Stephen Ames asking if I would caddie for him in the par-three tournament.

‘Yeah, right,’ I thought.

Soon after my arrival at Augusta National, I was standing under the big oak tree behind the clubhouse talking with the media when Stephen walks up and says, “Well, you ready?”

Indeed, he was serious. We went to caddy shack and I got an official Masters hat and white overalls worn by all tournament caddies, as well as a carry bag for Stephen’s irons.

Stephen played with Arron Oberholser, whose wife Angie caddied for him and Vaughan Taylor, whose father Jack caddied for him.

I was impressed by the commitment of the players. Most of them had friends or family caddying for them. It’s special for a player to allow someone close to them to experience a great event like the Masters, one of the best sporting events in the world, like Wimbledon.

The players also did a great job of job catering to the fans, signing autographs and spending time with juniors. Their actions say a lot about the quality of their characters and their status within the game.

I’ve been around major league sports for a while working with Nike, so I don’t get weak in the knees meeting celebrities and athletes, but I was awestruck at first. For the first few holes, I was thinking, ‘This is very cool to walk with a good friend at the Masters inside the ropes. This is outstanding.’

We played behind the threesome of Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, which was a thrill, especially with tens of thousands of spectators ringing the course.

It was interesting to see how competitive they are with each other when they’re on the tee deck. There’s great camaraderie and respect, but they are still very competitive. Arnold stuck it to within two feet on No. 1 and that set the tone. It was game on.

I’d never been to the par-three course in my two previous visits, but I thought that it is one of the best courses I’ve ever seen with the combination of contours, trees and the greens.

It was also fascinating from inside the ropes to experience what sets these players apart. To hear the crispness of each shot, you get such a respect for how good these guys are. There is such a different sound when a tour player hits a ball versus the rest of us.

It also didn’t take very long before I came to this realization: That anyone passionate about the game should try to attend the Masters at least once in a lifetime. Just being there is a thrill, regardless whether it’s for a practice round, the par-three tournament, or the Masters tournament. The experience is incredible, from Magnolia Lane to the azaleas to the mystique of players such as Hogan, Snead, and Nicklaus with their rich Masters history, and so much more.

This was definitely one walk in the park that won’t soon be forgotten."
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Very nice Vity - a great reward for all your hard work and a well-deserved memory for a lifetime.

Can't wait to see the pics!

Weir Focused On 2nd Green Jacket

It's finally here - the first sign of Spring for golfers - The Masters. It's a giddy time, when images of Georgia in bloom burst through the television and prompt many to swing a club right on the spot - ceilings be damned.

For PGA Tour players like Mike Weir, this is a big week as well.. Not only will he be focused on winning a Green Jacket, he gets the pleasure of participating in all the pageantry that befits a former champion. It has already been more than a half decade since that pivotal moment in the Canadian's life but that does not mean the memories have faded any less.

Weir spoke by phone with several media members this past week and, even with inconsistent play to start the year, he is optimistic about his chances to add another win at Augusta National.

Weir has long worked with Rich Gordon as his mental coach but was recently spotted chatting with Dr. Bob Rotella. That prompted the question of whether he is taking a new approach to the game. "I just wanted a little bit of a change, a different perspective," says Weir. "I talked to Bob Rotella a little bit at Doral - mainly it is just trying to gain more consistency....I think my game is where it needs to be and mentally it's going to be there Thursday through Sunday. I just needed a different perspective for my overall game."

With a golf swing that has been under revision the last few years, Weir has been under fire a bit from critics for his recent play but he asserts that he has not been working on anything "special" for The Masters. "I think the keys for me at Augusta are always the same," he says with conviction. "Short game; getting the ball up and down; my wedge game has to be on. You have to drive the ball pretty good, especially you have to work shots right to left for me off the tee, which is a fade, so I work hard on that so the preparation. You know what you need to do, it's just a matter of executing and hopefully I will be able to do that."

As a former winner at the famed major, many people assume that Weir would rely heavily on those positive memories and, in some ways, they are right. "I use it a little bit. I guess I think it is more the game plan that I set up that I visualize how I am going to approach the day given what conditions we have and all the little details - from the different types of spin I want on wedge shots to where I want to put the ball on the green. You know there is some recollection of 2003 and other rounds where I have hit some pretty good shots that I try to rely on; if that situation comes up I can use it (the memory of the past success).

Referring back to his swing and the recent developments Weir says he is more comfortable than he was a year ago but that it has not been so much the technique that has changed, simply his understanding of his golf swing and why certain things work for him. Those revelations have made him feel more independent and confident. "Ten years ago I didn't really understand why a lot of things worked in my swing. There is a blend of the work I have done with Mike (Bennett) and Andy (Plummer) the last year and half but also trying to incorporate a little of what I have done in the past , which were some good things. I've got to blend the two of them together because ultimately when I going to play my best is when I am figuring most of it out on my own."

For the Masters trial ahead Weir says he will lean on not just his 2003 win, but his eight appearances at The Masters, and his faith in his planned routine. "I just have to sharpen a few things down, some things in the scoring aspect of my game but I feel very confident head into next week."

Weir says he feels he has a strong advantage over players who have not stepped to the podium just off Washington Road. "I know the game plan that I had there that won, that gave me the chance to win there. Going in I know I don't need to do anything, the golf course hasn't changed that much that I don't need to change my strategy much at all. It is just a matter of executing and knowing that I've done that before, you know, puts you at a sense of ease more at a tournament like that where some of the maybe less experienced players, and the players who haven't has as much success there, are maybe a little more amped up before Thursday begins. Maybe they work a little too hard to try to figure things out; I see guys playing lots of extra practice rounds, lots of extra holes. I don't feel like I need to do that; I know what I need to do it's just a matter of doing it. That's at least half the battle."

Playing a practice round a few weeks ago, devoid of the patrons, was a big step in Weir's 2008 Masters preparation. "I was there the Sunday before Doral and the course was playing pretty firm and fast. It was playing pretty long but the greens were firm and fast already. It has a totally different feel and that's why a like to go there before the event because the grandstands aren't up, you are just playing golf to get a feel for the golf course without maybe some of the distractions that go on during the week. When the week does begin, during The Masters, you just have to get in that mindset that 'I was here a few weeks ago and this is just a golf course', even though everything around the periphery is loud and busy, you just have to keep your eyes focused between the ropes and remember what you have to do out there."

Weir says although the practice rounds may not have the same feel it certainly gets his attention. "When you can't reach the par fives except for maybe 13 and you have to hit long irons and even hybrids into the par fours, it just reminds you how hard of a golf course it really is. You really appreciate how hard it is to shoot a good score out there, let alone win."

Or win again as is the case for one Mr. Weir.

It should be a great week as always.

Help...When Will It End? Better Yet; When Will It Start?

For all you Canadian golfers, especially those of you in Eastern Canada, can you believe the weather? Old man winter does not want to give up.

Here it is March 28, I am getting ready to spend two days at the Ottawa-Gatineau Golf Expo, and there is literally several feet of snow on the ground in Canada's National Capital. It is hard to imagine that only a month from now several competitive golf tournaments are set to play out. Unfortunately for those golfers participating, they will have little time to whip their games into shape unless they have been working indoors and/or made a few forays south.

I am hoping to be out on the links myself soon but until then I will have to sit here on my computer staring at golf course photos. At least they give me some hope about the golfing days to come.

I am sure they will arrive but when it will be sure seems to be a big mystery given the current weather conditions.

Back to dreaming - all I can do for now. ahhhh!!! That's better. I guess...