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The following edited content was supplied by Golf Channel in a news release.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy headline the field at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, where Woods defends as an eight-time champion. Golf Channel will air live, primetime coverage of all four rounds of the Barracuda Championship (Reno-Tahoe Open formerly), while Paul Goydos makes his Champions Tour debut at the 3M Championship in Minnesota.

WGC-BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL
(PGA Tour)
Dates: July 31 – August 3
Venue: Firestone Country Club (South Course), Akron, Ohio

Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 1:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 1:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday Noon-1:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday Noon-1:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m....

IT'S NOT JUST HIS GOLF. What also makes Rory McIlroy so appealing is his refreshing candor, as the New York Times' Karen Crouse wrote in "Becoming a Champion at Charming Fans":
Among other non-pat answers, Rory offered this:...

I asked John Coyne why he called Bobby Locke a "bad boy." Coyne said, "Locke wasn't liked on the PGA Tour. They blackballed him. Also, he was fired from his first pro job in Johannesburg." In this series, read how the South African golf legend made enemies by beating America's best. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.

By John Coyne

Copyright © John Coyne. All rights reserved. Used with permission....

(From the ARMCHAIR GOLF archives.)

GROWING UP PLAYING GOLF in the California desert, I hit my share of wayward shots into the sandy dirt, Joshua trees and tumbleweed. Some of my golf balls dove into gopher holes and many disappeared elsewhere in the desert landscapes that adjoined the fairways of my youth.

I lost countless Top-Flites, Maxflis, Titleists, Wilson Staffs and Golden Rams. Yes, Golden Rams. It was that long ago.

But I was no Douglas Jones.

Jones, a 57-year-old La Quinta, California, man, deposited an estimated 3,000 golf balls into Joshua Tree National Park over a year’s time. He was cited by park rangers a month ago for abandoning property, littering and feeding wildlife.

Joshua Tree National...

BERNHARD LANGER FIRED AN OPENING 65 at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales for a two-shot lead over Bob Tway in the Senior British Open.

"Six under is very satisfying," Langer said. "I played smart, some good, some great. I didn't make many mistakes and that's what it comes down to at the end."

Langer got off to a fast start with four birdies on the outgoing nine, good for a 31.

"I kept it out of the bunkers and out of the hay, and gave myself some opportunities," Langer added. "And I'm pleased with a birdie-birdie finish."

U.S. Senior Open winner Colin Montgomerie shot a 1-over 72.


Source:...

TIGER WOODS AND PHIL MICKELSON are not shoo-ins for the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup team, although Mickelson is a lot closer to the promised land than Woods. Lefty is 11th in the standings. Tiger is 70th.

The top nine players will automatically qualify for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Captain Tom Watson has three discretionary picks.

Woods would appear to need a minor miracle to make the team on points. Tiger needs at least a third-place finish at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship, according to Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press. Or he would need to be one of Captain Watson's three picks.

After completing the British Open, Tiger more or less said he felt he would be ready for the Ryder Cup and would pick himself. "I hope I'm on that team," he said.

Would you burn a pick on Tiger?


U.S. Ryder Cup...

I asked John Coyne why he called Bobby Locke a "bad boy." Coyne said, "Locke wasn't liked on the PGA Tour. They blackballed him. Also, he was fired from his first pro job in Johannesburg." In this series, read how the South African golf legend made enemies by beating America's best. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

By John Coyne

Copyright © John Coyne. All...

By Brian Keogh

Brian Keogh is a golf correspondent for The Irish Sun and a contributor to The Irish Times, Golf Digest Ireland and other golf publications. The following excerpt from Brian’s Irish Golf Desk is used with permission.

RORY MCILROY DEDICATED THE OPEN to his mum Rosie but set his sights on the daddy of them all--completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters next year.

By carding a 71 to win by two shots from Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler at Hoylake, the Holywood star became only the third player after legends Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods to win three of the four majors by the age of 25. He also ended all speculation about his ability to prepare well and execute on a links course.

Now the...