FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Because of the intense attention on Tiger Woods, the playing field is lop-sided and Steve Williams sees it as his job to level it up. "When you're in a job like mine you've got to control the situation and you can't be shy about it,'' Williams said. "You have to take things into your own hands." "Take a walk in my shoes and see what we've got to put up with and try to deal with. When you're caddying for Tiger, you have to deal with increased media attention, increased television attention - there's a lot of people that want a piece of him." "What I try to do with Tiger, I try to give him the same playing field as everyone else in the tournament and I'm not shy on doing that.'' So, you are part bodyguard, part caddie? "Exactly,'' Williams said. "That's probably it.''

Sydney Morning Herald

> Comment

To cut back on her heavy workload and give a bit more stability to her life, two-time major winner Dottie Pepper has chosen to leave the Golf Channel and focus solely on her NBC job. It's an understandable move, given that in 2009 Pepper worked 35 tournaments between the Golf Channel and NBC. That's a lot of airports, security lines and hassles -- and too little time at home -- which is where Pepper would like to be more often now that she's moved back to the upstate New York area.

Golf Week

> Comment

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem's Asian adventure is under way, further confirming the region's growing importance in the golf hierarchy. Finchem is spending 18 days in Asia, visiting five cities to meet current and potential sponsors. The ramifications of the trip could be significant. As one industry observer put it, once Finchem sees the potential of the Asian market for himself he is going to want the Tour to have a larger stake there.

Golf Week

> Comment

TaylorMade's TP wedges with xFT (exchangeable face technology) have hit a speed bump. Although the U.S. Golf Association has approved the wedges, it has told TaylorMade not to sell interchangeable faces with aggressive U grooves. Faces with smaller grooves that meet 2010 PGA Tour specifications are OK, according to the USGA, but faces with larger grooves are not. TaylorMade immediately appealed the USGA decision, and chief technical officer Benoit Vincent traveled to USGA headquarters in Far Hills, N.J., in October to present his case. Vincent said he would discuss the wedges after Nov. 9, when a ruling on the appeal is expected. The wedges, from 50 to 64 degrees, are scheduled for release early next year. A face plate can be removed and replaced in a few minutes, using the same torque wrench designed for TaylorMade drivers.

Golf Week

> Comment

The LPGA Tour is returning to San Diego for a second straight year in 2010, but it will be a new tournament at a different storied pro venue. The La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad has signed a deal to host a new event called the LPGA Classic presented by J Golf, the SportsBusiness Journal, citing industry sources, reported Wednesday. J Golf is the LPGA's Korean TV partner, which earlier this year agreed to a five-year deal worth $4.5 million.

San Diego Union-Tribune

> Comment