I did not know this was why we hadn’t seen David Duval much this year. This AP report explains it. I salute what he is doing and offer up my prayers for his wife and family. As one of the most intelligent golfers on tour, I am sure David did not hesitate in his decision to place family first before his golf career. Some people may still get cynical and say: “Well, he’s got plenty of money…” but that alone does not drive all people who are used to being in the spotlight.

In the microcosm we call “sports” it is always a welcome relief to see someone with his priorities straight. Not unlike Darren Clark last year attending to his ill wife, we can never forget life throws curve balls and double bogeys at everyone.

 

By Associated Press – April 22, 2007

David Duval hasn’t played the PGA TOUR in two months and could play only sparingly through the summer because his wife is having a difficult pregnancy with their second child and will be on bed rest until the baby is due in August.”I’ve been home taking care of the family,” Duval said Saturday from his home outside Denver, where he was getting ready for a birthday party for his 2-year-old son, Brady.Susie Duval also had a tough pregnancy with Brady and was on bed rest the final six months.Duval, whose 13 victories include a British Open, used a one-time exemption for being in the top 25 on the career money list to keep his card for the 2007 season. He has played only five times, with his best finish a tie for 36th at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February. His last tournament was the following week at the Nissan Open, where he missed the cut.

His wife has three children from a previous marriage, and Duval has been busy the last two month taking care of her and the children, the oldest a junior in high school.While he chose not to discuss specifics of his wife’s pregnancy, he said she was doing better but still is taking it easy. The couple is expecting a girl.

My bad. Watched the tournament all weekend and didn’t know he was a Californian. With a name like Nick Watney and with a swing that looks like a cross between Geoff Olgilvy and Adam Scott, I thought I was watching another new Aussie coming to life on the tour. Great job Nick!

Watney, the 25-year-old Californian in his third year on the TOUR, had a 15-under 273 total at the TPC Louisiana. Duke, who also was seeking his first victory, shot a 70.
“I’m living a dream right now,” Watney said, wearing Mardi Gras beads as winners in New Orleans traditionally do. “I’ve played in close to the last group sometimes, and I’ve seen guys go through it. But it’s definitely more fun to actually do it. I’m trying to soak it all in.”

Watney, fifth in two tournaments last year, lost the lead when he missed a 3-foot par putt on the par-4 10th. He bounced back with a birdie on the par-5 11th and went in front for good with a birdie on the par-3 14th.

For more from the Golf Channel, click here.

Hats off again to Mancil Davis as he records his 51st Hole in One. And you heard about it first on Hole-in-OneNews.com!

Golf King Of Aces Adds to Hole-in-One Totals

Mancil Davis, perhaps better known as the “KING OF ACES’ for his PGA World Record 50 holes-in-one, has now added to the total, scoring his 51st career ace on Monday, April 16 at the Woodlands, Texas. Davis Scored the record extending shot during a Celebrity Golf Event, on the 7th hole from a distance of 154 yards.

(PRWEB) April 19, 2007 — Mancil Davis, perhaps better known as the “KING OF ACES’ for his PGA World Record 50 holes-in-one, has now added to the total, scoring his 51st career ace on Monday, April 16 at the Woodlands, Texas. Davis Scored the record extending shot during a Celebrity Golf Event, on the 7th hole from a distance of 154 yards.

Davis, who appropriately enough serves as the Director of Golf Operations for the Dallas, Texas-based National Hole-In-One Association, first claimed the PGA record in 1982, when he surpassed the late Art Wall, who held the title with a total of 42 holes-in-one.

Mancil appears at corporate, charity, member-guest, or any special golf event. Corporate or charity guests enjoy a full day with the PGA’s career hole-in-one leader (a total of 51) and will also have the chance to win fabulous prizes for scoring their own hole-in-one.

About NHIO
The National Hole-In-One Association (NHIO), with offices in Dallas and London, is the world’s oldest and largest provider of hole-in-one insurance and prize insurance for golf and other sporting events. NHIO has 26 years of experience adding a feeling of excitement and integrity to your corporate or charitable events and amateur tournaments. Unmatched experience in hole-in-one and putting contests, as well as million dollar shootouts ensures a successful day with each detail handled with precision. Increasing your revenues or making the most of a charity event is easy when you feel confident that every detail has been attended to with meticulous care. NHIO provides services related to hole in one insurance, hole-in-one contests, hole in one prizes, driving contests, putting contests, golf promotions, golf contests, promotional insurance, Million dollar hole in one contests, Million dollar shootouts, prize insurance, hole in one coverage, charity fundraising, golf signs, contest insurance, golf tournaments, tournament services, promotional insurance, charity golf tournaments, golf awards, golf hole in one, golf promotions, hole in one promotions, hole in one contests, hole in one programs, million dollar contests and million dollar hole in one prizes.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Mancil Davis
936-321-9007

NATIONAL HOLE-IN-ONE ASSOCIATION
888-446-1912
DALLAS, TX

Hey fellow hackers, I just got this email from PGA Hole-in-One record holder Mancil Davis about his latest hole-in-one. I would like to take credit for it, but I am a good blogger, not a great golfer. Way to go Mancil! Our podcast interview will be ready in a few days!

“Durk,

Guess the interview brought some luck with it.  Made # 51 today at the Dan Pastorini/Mark Dennard Celebrity Classic here at The Woodlands.

Just wanted to update you.

Thanks,

Mancil”

Got a in too late to see the tournament completion, but wow, 2 chip ins on the last 2 holes to win! Wow indeed. This from GolfWeek:

“HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Boo Weekley didn’t blow his latest chance for a first PGA Tour victory, chipping in on the final two holes to hold off Ernie Els and win the Verizon Heritage on Monday. Weekley looked as if he would give back all of a three-shot lead after his bogey on the 16th hole and his muffed chip behind the 17th green. Weekley followed the blunder with a 40-foot, par-saving chip to keep a one-stroke lead.

But then Weekley had more troubles on Harbour Town’s lighthouse hole, No. 18. He chipped across the green and into the fluffy rough down a short slope. Once again, Weekley’s short game saved him, this time rolling it from 36 feet away.

“Unreal,” Weekley said. “This is unreal.”

Els, bidding for his first tour win since 2004, lost his chance on No. 17, driving into the hazard behind the green for a bogey. The Big Easy made things interesting, though, putting his second shot – and last opportunity to tie – at the 18th inside 2 feet.

“I don’t think I want to see this replay,” Els said, smiling.”

See all of the article, click here.

Don’t worry Ernie, I really think you’ll get it done again and again.

I really enjoyed Jerry Kelly’s play last weekend at the Masters. I like it when he putts and wills the ball in the hole wiggling all over the place. It reminds me of some of my high handicap friends that can’t buy a putt beause they are moving all over. That and along with looking like he is always enjoying himself, I think Jerry could get to be a fan favorite like Fred Funk has become. Good luck Jerry.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Jerry Kelly, fresh off a top-five finish at last week’s Masters, fired an 8-under-par 63 on Thursday to lead by two after the first round of the Verizon Heritage.

Kelly had an impressive Masters, including an under-par round on Sunday, while the man in second place did not have a good showing at Augusta National Golf Club.

Ernie Els, a three-time major champion, posted a 6-under-par 65 Thursday at Harbour Town Golf Links and is alone in second place.

“Whatever happened in the past, you can’t bring it back,” said Els, who missed his first cut in a major championship since the 1999 PGA Championship. “For some reason, I wasn’t there mentally. I felt I needed to focus on my game this week.”

The only player in the field this week who played better than Kelly at the Masters was winner Zach Johnson. His first round as a major winner was a 1-under 70, which put him in a tie for 20th place.

On this day, however, it was Kelly who came out on top.

Kelly began on the back nine Thursday and parred his first hole before a run of birdies. At the 11th, he hit an 8-iron to 5 feet to set up birdie, then made back-to-back birdies when his 8-iron approach landed him even closer than that on 11. Kelly racked up his third straight birdie thanks to an 18-footer at 13.

For more, click here

Dear Mr. Hole-in-OneNews.com,

I’ve never written to you before, but I really need your advice. I have suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs……… phone rings but if I answer, the caller hangs up. My wife has been going out with the girls a lot recently although when I ask their names she always says, “Just some friends from work, you don’t know them.” I always try to stay awake to look out for her coming home, but I usually fall asleep. Anyway, I have never approached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just didn’t want to know the truth, but last night she went out again and I decided to really check on her.

Around midnight, I decided to hide in the garage behind my golf clubs so I could get a good view of the whole street when she arrived home from a night out with “the girls”. It was at that moment, crouching behind my clubs, that I noticed that the graphite shaft on my driver appeared to have a hairline crack right by the club head. Is this something I can fix myself or should I take it back to the pro shop where bought it?

Anxiously awaiting your response!!

Let’s give him some good responses!

National Hole-In-One Association (NHIOA) now offers golf enthusiasts everywhere the opportunity to talk up the game, anytime. At Hole-in-OneNews.com, golfers can share comments with other avid golfers the sweet victories or the agony of a missed putt./24-7PressRelease/ – DALLAS, TX, April 12, 2007 – Had a hole-in-one? Tell us about it. Have a funny story to share, or want to talk with other golfers to get tips and tricks of the game? Create a comment posting at Hole-in-OneNews.com and share the love of the game with others who enjoy golfing just as much.

Blogs, or weblogs, are web publications of human thoughts and web links. Like a journal, bloggers can publish comments, offer opinions, ask questions of others who read the blog, and find links to other web sites and services directed at the blog topic.

As the sponsor of the blog, National Hole-In-One Association (NHIOA), is the world’s oldest and largest provider of hole-in-one insurance and prize insurance for golf and other sporting events which include field goal kicks, basketball promotions, baseball contests and over of a hundred other prize contests. NHIOA has 26 years of experience adding excitement and integrity to your corporate or charitable events and amateur tournaments.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hole-in-OneNews.com will host a podcast interview with Mancil Davis, the world record holder in number of aces with 50. I am conducting the interview this Friday and should have it posted early next week. In the interim, look at some of these statistics and world records from Mancil’s website: www.mancildavis.com:

The King of Aces . . .

Mancil Davis is known worldwide as “The King of Aces”, for his PGA world record 50 holes in one.  The native born Texan scored his first official hole in one at age 11, and continued to find the hole throughout his amateur and professional career.
50 Official Holes in One
(The PGA World Record)

10 Double Eagles
(The World Record)

Read the rest of this entry »

Really good “In the Bag” post from Titleist on what clubs Zach was playing last weekend as well as some details on the specific tweaks that were used to master the Masters. Check out the site, click here, to see some great comments and feedback too.

“With unwavering faith in himself and his equipment, Titleist brand ambassador Zach Johnson secured his place in golf history by winning the 2007 Masters Tournament. Congratulations Zach. With challenging conditions at Augusta National and the world’s best players surrounding him, Johnson displayed patience and perseverance to earn his first major championship and second career PGA TOUR title. Johnson’s previous win was at the 2004 BellSouth Classic in just his 13th PGA TOUR start.

Read the rest of this entry »