That Thunder Road known as the avenue to Monmouth Park in New Jersey has seen a new boss this season and it’s not Springsteen or Obama but a veteran named Bruce Levine.

Because of the change at Monmouth this year to the ‘elite meet’ status, Levine has not saddled as many horses as he has in the past but he has seen his share of winners.

From short prices to long prices horse bettors that just isolated his stock at the shore this year cashed a ton of tickets. He was popping at just under 30% from his first 33 starters and nearly 60% ran in the money.

If a horse bettor can kind of get into the head of a trainer, maybe be able to anticipate where that trainer may spot his horses, then this is the type of exercise that can pay huge dividends with hard work.

Bruce Levine is a lucky man, and not just because he’s a human win machine. Not many people in this country can turn a hobby into a successful career and enjoy it all the way and it’s always nice to know when you pluck your money down, you are backing a trainer that knows the game inside and out.

Levine’s quote in the official New York Racing Association bio says it all, Levin: “I always came to the track to play the horses. That was my biggest hobby. Eventually, I found my way to the backstretch and started walking hots.”

Born in New York in the winter of 1955, Levine wasn’t really bred for the racing game but it found him and he found the sport.

Always attracted to the gambling aspect of the game, Levine was always going to the track to play the horses. He eventually found his way to the backstretch and what was once just a hobby, turned into a way to make a living. Right out of high school, Levine became associated with John Russell and started, like so many, on the bottom rung walking hots.

After a year of so, he started to work for John Campo. This was before Campo became a national figure as his Pleasant Colony won two thirds of the Triple Crown. But Campo had already won the Mother Goose Stakes with Girl in Love and the Wood Memorial with Good Behaving, so he was the consummate New York pro who could teach and nurture Levine through his educational process.

It was this relationship as assistant trainer with Campo that showed Levine all the tools he would need to go out on his own. He did just that in 1979 when he took out his trainer’s license.

I’m It provided Levine with his first winner when he got the job done at Aqueduct. That runner also gave Levine his first important stakes when he won the Grade 3 Grey Lag Handicap in 1982. 

What are the best angles to consider when betting Levine horses now?

First of all, he’s solid with comebackers, claimers, and if he enters in a stakes, it’s to win and not get a slice.

In the last 5 years he’s popped with 22% of his starters coming off a layoff of 180 days or more.

Not known for his work with juveniles, he can get sophomores to fire at first asking and they usually get bet. He doesn’t move his horses from surface to surface often and is much more potent on the drop than on the raise with claimers.

Blinkers off is a clever Levine move to the tune of 24% the last 5 years.

One of his most potent moves is when he cuts back from a route to a sprint. Again, the number is 24% the last half a decade.

With maidens, his signature move is when he enters a maiden claimer with a runner that has been racing in Maiden Special Weight company. He is 30% with this ploy the last 5 years with a median price of 5-2.

Levine was lucky enough to turn a hobby into a career. And the career flourishes.

Augusta Chronicle

Forget the discussion about Corey Pavin and Tiger Woods. If you were selecting the European team on Sunday night, would you take Padraig Harrington as a captains pick?

ELLING: Its darned-near impossible to envision a Ryder team without Monty, Paddy and Sergio on the active roster, isnt it? Monty running the show, Sergio went home to lick his wounds after a washed-out year and Harrington is about the fifth-best Irish player in the world at the moment. Harrington sealed his superstar status with a win at the PGA Championship 53 weeks ago for this third major in two years … and he hasnt won since. Harrington points out that he has a slew of top-10 performances in that time, which is fine if you are Jeff Overton or Matt Kuchar, and not one of the half-dozen most notable figures in the game. Only Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have won more career majors among active tour players than Paddy, but at the moment, its hard to envision him being picked over equally worthy potential captains selections like Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Justin Rose or Edoardo Molinari, who have all won in the past two years. You could have won a bunch of beer nuts in January by offering odds that the victory total for Paddy, Tiger and Phil Mickelson would stand at one with four starts left before the Fall Series.

MICHAUX: The simple answer is no. Im as big a fan of Harrington as anyone, but this isnt much of a debate. Im trying to figure out what the big deal is. Its not like Harrington is some kind of vital cog to European success in this event. The last Ryder Cup match Harrington won was a 1-up victory against a 50-year-old Jay Haas in 2004. Yeah, thats right. The guy is 0-7-2 in the last two biennial installments, including a team-worst 0-4-1 in the friendly confines of The K Club in Ireland. His career winning percentage in five Ryder Cups (.400, 7-11-3) is actually worse than Tiger Woods (.440, 10-13-2), and everybody criticizes Woods for underachieving. So unless Harrington wins this week, he should sit this one out and work on his game. Montys toughest call will be leaving one of the following off his invite list: Rose, Donald or Molinari. If it were me, Id probably pass on Donald, who isnt the most inspiring player. With Molinari, you have the option of pairing him with his brother in a reprisal of their World Cup glory. Rose made a pretty formidable partnership with Ian Poulter last time.

No changes were made to the FedEx Cup format this year, which doesnt mean it cannot be improved. Seems like we do this every year, but each one of you gets to make one big FedEx fix. Have at it, fellas.

ELLING: Heres one I have not lamented before, but its worth noting. For some inexplicable reason, whenever those who qualify for the first-round FedEx event dont pl short FedEx fields get even shorter because player withdrawals are not replaced. Already, Corey Pavin, Sergio Garcia and Paul Goydos have skipped The Barclays for various reasons, which means the field stands at 122. No big deal? Well, last year, veteran Heath Slocum started the first-round FedEx event at No. 124 in points and beat Tiger, Ernie Els, Steve Stricker and Paddy in the most star-strewn Sunday leaderboard of the year. So clearly, players hovering around the last qualifying spot have the firepower to make upsets happen. Upsets make things interesting. The FedEx even NASCAR so lets not make them even smaller. At Nos. 126-28, Jeff Quinney, Chris Stroud and some guy named Mike Weir would have made the Barclays field if alternates were used to fill out the top 125. Instead, they are serving a forced, four-event break.

MICHAUX: We can talk about alternatives or the value of full fields until were blue in the face, but the PGA Tour isnt listening unless TV makes demands or FedEx questions whether it wants to re-up as the deep pockets behind this boondoggle. Its silly to claim that this is the crowning achievement for a full season of toil when a guy like Slocum can swoop in from nowhere in the last month and win the whole thing with a couple of timely victories. I like the idea of a season-long points race, but the whole playoff concept simply doesnt work in golf. The best thing about the series is that it brings together many of the top players for a cluster of events at a time of year when the fields used to be dead. It would be even better if three of the four major winners this year werent excluded. They should let any major winners automatically qualify for this thing and keep the fields full all the way until the Tour Championship. That would at least make each week more intriguing and keep everyone guessing until the end.

At the risk of sounding like we are picking on Tiger, when we arent, who is the No. 1 player in golf right now?

ELLING: We could have filled the entire Shotgun Start debate space with this query. Or perhaps, used no space at all. Right now, in the mens game, the world No. 1 spot sho pretty much vacated, abdicated, invalidated. Woods sits precariously atop the world rankings, as he has for the last five years, but hes nowhere near the best player in the game at the moment. So, who is? Its not No. 2 Phil Mickelson, who has blown nine straight chances to unseat Woods and hasnt gotten the job done, even with Woods moving backwards. World No. 3 Lee Westwood, who is the inarguable No. 1 in terms of consistency at big events and the reigning Euro Tour money leader, is home on the couch with a calf injury, hoping merely to return in time for the Ryder Cup. It would be a shame if Mickelson ascends to No. 1 mostly because Woods is losing points. Although in his eyes, having never been atop the world list, Lefty might take it however it comes. Somebody ought to take over the slot with a victory. At least in the LPGA, where a half-dozen players are slugging it out for the top spot, players like Japans New No. 1, Ai Miyazato, are winning and moving up. Yeah, I just made an LPGA reference. Sue me.

MICHAUX: Im inclined to believe that the world rankings are closer to correct than were giving them credit. If the criteria is which player stands the best chance to step up and contend to win a major event, your own calculations of the “Summative Slam” reve Phil edging Tiger only because Westwood withdrew from the contest. The two-year window of the ranking system isnt about what have you done lately. Despite its flaws, its still a fairly good measuring stick at the top end. Outside those top three, the guys I wouldnt want to have to beat right now are Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson. If Rory learns to putt, he will soon be the toughest force in golf. And if Johnson can iron out the wrinkles in his course management, hes the most powerful young American at the moment. How cool would it be to have a best-ball match at the Ryder Cup pitting McIlroy and Martin Kaymer against Johnson and Bubba Watson. It would be a version of the PGA playoff we lost out on when Dustin grounded his club and McIlroy missed his final birdie putt.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Aug. 23, 2010

Divorced. Single dad. Golf game still to be determined.

And so, after nine months of turmoil over his extramarital affairs, now begins the next chapter in the life and times of Tiger Woods.

In a hearing that lasted no more than 10 minutes in a Florida judges chambers, Woods and his Swedish-born wife officially divorced Monday.

“We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future,” Woods and Elin Nordegren said in a joint statement released by their lawyers.

Related Info Analysis Steve Elling
How will it affect Woods play? Hard to say, but it cant possibly be any worse. Read >> Related links Woods, Nordegren issue statement on divorce TMZ.com: Woods-Nordegren divorce papers

The divorce was granted shortly after 2 p.m. in Bay County Circuit Court in Panama City, Fla., about 375 miles from their Isleworth home outside Orlando, where Woods drove his SUV over a fire hydrant and into a tree on Thanksgiving night. That set off shocking revelations that sports biggest star had been cheating on his wife through multiple affairs.

Woods life and golf game have been in disarray ever since.

He and Nordegren were married Oct. 5, 2004, in Barbados and have a 3-year-old daughter, Sam, and an 18-mont were not disclosed. They said only that they will “share parenting” of their two children.

Nordegren, who for years tried to stay in the background, was captured on video by celebrity websites eating lunch or picking up her daughter from school.

“We love Elin, and we are so proud of the grace and strength she has shown during this difficult time,” her father, Thomas Nordegren, a talk show host at national broadcaster Swedish Radio, told the Associated Press. “We know that she will come out of this even stronger and has a bright future in front of her.”

The divorce was finalized by Bay County Circuit Judge Judy Pittman Biebel during a 10-minute hearing in a conference room in her chambers, according to Biebels judicial assistant, Kim Gibson. Woods and Nordegren were present, along with their lawyers, Gibson said.

“I dont comment on active cases,” Thomas J. Sasser, Woods divorce attorney, said. Asked why they chose to file in Panama City, Sasser said it was a joint decisi includi referred all questions to the statement.

Woods agent, Mark Steinberg, declined to comment when asked if the couple had a prenuptial agreement or terms of the settlement. “Were not commenting beyond what was in the release,” he said.

Nordegrens mother, Barbro Holmberg, also declined to comment.

Nordegren, who once worked as a nanny for Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik, asked to have her maiden name restored as Elin Maria Pernilla Nordegren.

The sordid sex worth millions of dollars, and he lost his stature the gold standard in sports endorsements. A month after the scandal became public, Woods spent two months in therapy at a Mississippi clinic with hopes of saving his marriage.

“While we are no longer married, we are the parents of two wonderful children and their happiness has been, and will always be, of paramount importance to both of us,” they said in the statement. “The weeks and months ahead will not be easy for them as we adjust to a new family situation, which is why our privacy must be a principal concern.”

Some of the court documents indicated that Woods had to focus on his marital woes as well as his golf this summer.

He completed a four-hour course on “Parent Education and Family Stabilization” on July 10, the day before he left to play the British Open. He had won the previous two times at St. Andrews by a combined 13 shots, but this time finished 13 shots behind in a tie for 23rd.

The couple signed a marital settlement agreement on July 3 and July 4, the weekend of the AT&T National outside Philadelphia, where Woods failed to break par in a PGA Tour event for the first time in 11 years.

Nordegren completed her four-hour program through FloridaParentingClass.com on Aug. 16, the day after Woods tied for 28th in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. It was the first time in nearly seven years he had finished out of the top 20 in consecutive majors.

Documents also show that the children lived at th and that Nordegren had moved out to a nearby residence since then.

Woods is to play this week at The Barclays, his first tournament as a single man in nearly six years. He needs a good performance just to get out of the first round of the FedEx Cup playoffs, which he won the previous two times he played, and he also is trying to show he is worth picking for the Ryder Cup, where wives take on a visible role.

Since returning to golf at the Masters, Woods has not come close to winning a tournament. He tied for fourth in the Masters and in the U.S. Open, both times taking himself out of contention early in the final round.

One example of how the impending divorce has affected him came last month when he played in a charity pro-am in Ireland, which ended on Tuesday. Instead of staying overseas to practice on links courses, Woods flew home to Florida for six days to see his children and then returned to Scotland for the Britis in his professional career. His last victory came at the Australian Masters on Nov. 15, his last trip before his serial infidelity was uncovered.

CBSSports.com w Many players came to the Wyndham Championship for a push into the PGA Tours playoffs.

Not Arjun Atwal. He was playing for his spot on tour.

Atwal won by a stroke Sunday at Sedgefield Country Club, becoming the first Monday qualifier to win on the tour in 24 years.

After leading or sharing the lead after each of the first three rounds, Atwal shot a 3-under 67 in the final round. He or, more than double the amount he previously earned this year, the reason why his future on tour had been in jeopardy.

“I told my caddie, Weve got nothing to lose this week. Just go out there and try and win it,” Atwal said. “Guys are going to be out there trying to secure their FedEx Cup spots or whatever. Weve got nothing. I dont have a card. I dont have anything. Just go out there and free-wheel it, and thats what I did this week.”

Hes the first Indian-born player to win on tour and the first to win both the qualifier and the tournament that follows since Fred Wadsworth at the 1986 Southern Open.

David Toms (64) was 19 under. John Mallinger and Michael Sim shot 62s to match John Rollins (65) and Justin Leonard (65) at 18 under.

For a few dizzying moments late in a low-scoring day, seven players shared the lead at 18 under.

Atwal, who carried a three-stroke lead into the final round, was at 19 under for most of the day but bogeyed the par-3 12th a few minutes before Lucas Glover bogeyed 14 and Toms, Rollins and Leonard all birdied No. 16.

“It just kept changing,” Atwal said. “Everybodys tied for the lead at a certain point.”

Atwal reclaimed the lead with a birdie on No. 14, Leonard birdied No. 17 and Toms birdied No. 18 to join them at 19 under. Leonard dropped back a stroke after running into trouble giving him more than enough chances to settle things himself.

Wyndham Championship Final scores and earnings

Atwal made his move on the par-3 16th, plopping his tee shot 6 feet from the flagstick and sinking his birdie putt to move to 20 under. He followed that with consecutive pars, sinking a 7-foot putt on No. 18 before dropping his putter and extending his arms upward in jubilation after closing out his first tour victory.

“I was thinking about going to the [driving] range, but when he got to 20 under and they said he had a 15-footer on 17, I just went in the clubhouse and tried to cool off,” Toms said. “I was ready to go to the range, if need be, but good for [Atwal]. I know its tough to get that first victory. … Im sure that he was battling some nerves, and to pour it in from 6-8 feet on that last hole was pretty impressive.”

Glover (67) finished at 17 under, and Webb Simpson (63), Chris Riley (64), Scott Piercy (68) and second-round co-leader Brandt Snedeker (69) were one stroke behind him.

Atwal, who has won on the European, Asian and Nationwide tours, certainly has been through plenty during the past few years.

The player perhaps best known for his practice rounds with Tiger Woods is ineligible for the playoffs and lost his tour card last month because he was too low on the money list when his minor medical exemption ran out. That came after he said he returned too soon following weightlifting injuries to both shoulders.

Three years ago, a driver trying to race him down an Orlando street died in a crash. Atwal was cleared of any wrongdoing, although the yearlong investigation took an emotional toll.

Glover made five consecutive birdies, sinking four putts from 14 feet or beyond, to catch Atwal, then briefly had the lead all to himself with a birdie on No. 9 that put him at 20 under. That didnt last long: He sent his drive on No. 10 into the rough and three-putted for bogey, and slipped out of contention after he was 3 over on the back nine.

“I didnt make anything coming in,” Glover said. “Dont win doing that.”

The Wyndham marked the last chance for players to pick up points for the playoffs that begin next week in New Jersey.

Michael Letzig, who arrived at Sedgefield at No. 125 on the points list, finished 14 under move to 118th place, solidifying his spot in The Barclays.

“The goal is to give myself another tournament to play,” he said. “Im in, so (Ill) see what happens.”

Others werent so fortunate. Mallinger started at No. 163 on the points list, but initially figured a final round that included six birdies and an eagle was good enough to propel him into next week. But when others joined him in a tie for third on the leaderboard, he slipped to 132nd place in the standings and finished roughly 40 points out of the playoff picture.

Jeff Quinney, who arrived at No. 127, only moved up one spot on the list and finished about 3 points shy of making the postseason field with his 12 under.

“I could have taken care of my own business today,” Quinney said.

Who: Thoroughbreds – Devil May Care, Blind Luck, Gio Ponti
What: Horse Racing Betting Tips – The Alabama, The Arlington Million
Where: Saratoga, Arlington
When: Saturday, August 21st

East meets west this Saturday when the top two 3YO fillies in the country, Devil May Care and Blind Luck, square off in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Alabama. Meanwhile, in the nation’s mid-section, the teak tough Gio Ponti takes on all comers in The Arlington Million. Outsiders had better bring their running shoes.

Devil May Care (morning line favorite at 7-5) enjoys the home-court advantage against Blind Luck (8-5), who must ship in from her Del Mar base. The Todd Pletcher-trained Devil May Care also boasts a perfect 2-for-2 mark over the Saratoga strip, while Blind Luck makes her first appearance locally. One thing characterizes all of Devil May Care’s five victories – she’s had the lead at the top of the stretch, and in all but one instance, increased her margin at the finish. That spells trouble for a come-from-the-clouds type like Blind Luck. As for the 1 ?-mile distance of the Alabama, I can’t help feeling that Blind Luck’s pedigree (grandsire Carson City was a sprinter) may pose a problem in her first attempt going this far. Havre de Grace (4-1) was nosed by Blind Luck last out in The Delaware Oaks, but she too has Carson City in her bloodlines (maternal grandsire). I’ll bet on #2-Devil May Care to win, and use her in a straight exacta over #4-Blind Luck…pretty chalky, but I can’t see it any other way, barring horrendous racing luck.

The Arlington Million looks equally chalky, as turf champ Gio Ponti faces nine runners whose accomplishments don’t quite stack up. Marsh Side is a multiple Grade 1 winner, but he seems to be at his best going a mile-and-a-half at Woodbine. None of the foreign invaders (Debussy, Tazeez and Summit Surge) are true Group 1 types overseas, and should be considered for minor awards only. General Quarters (8-1) won the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs three back, but disappointed recently in The Arlington Handicap at the Arlington Million distance of 1 ? miles. Just as Well (3-1-2-0) and Rahystrada (2-2-0-0) have done well on the Arlington sod, and are playable underneath in the exacta. I’ll bet on #6-Gio Ponti to win and key him over #4-Just as Well and #7-Rahystrada in the exacta.

Those are my horse racing betting tips for the weekend. Best of luck and happy gambling!         

Sometimes you don’t have to wait till the weekend to turn Blue into Green so we’ll try to do just that Friday night at Del Mar in the Sandy Blue Handicap.

Ten California-bred sophomore fillies will go a mile on the grass trying to earn the main portion of the $75,000 purse.

Let’s examine them from the rail out.

Sweet Hanni, who will carry 113 pounds, will be making her stakes debut and is coming off an even try in $80K optional land. In the good hands of Vlado Cerin, she will likely have to track and attempt to out kick them late.

Conniption beat 11 foes to start her career in England packing 126 pounds, is proven at this distance and is exiting the best races as she was beaten less than 2 lengths in the Grade 2 San Clemente last time. She totes 10 pounds less then her debut assignment today.

Go Forth North is in light at 112 after just breaking her maiden and the best thing she has going for her is her red-hot trainer in A. C. Avila.

Warren’s Jitterbug finally got up last time but is only 2 for 12 with 7 slices in her career as she is burdened with a 114-pound package this time.

Got an Itch is proven fresh, is proven on grass and the way she won a stakes in Arizona at 7 and a half furlongs suggests she’ll get this distance under 114 pounds.

Fortunia got a feel of the surface last time and was never comfortable when rank and forced to steady. This miss is assigned the same weight as Conniption.

La Nez, the highweight at 118 although she has never won on grass, was game in her sprint score last time in the $100K Fleet Treat. She has limited speed as she is out to prove her 6-1 upset last time was no fluke.

The pews will be filled with backers of True Religion, who is pushing the envelope as a 113-pound entrant who was just crushed in her first try vs. winners.

Sandy Cheeks will be making her 4th start of the time, this time under 114 pounds and she has a right to be making an impact late.

Excellent News got anything but last time when she hopped in the air as the beaten chalk. She was third in her only turf try but is a stakes winner and she has some semblance of speed.

This fray is wide-open so we’ll take a shot at a price. Excellent News will take some money off her troubled trip last time, and so will La Nez.

Droppers like Conniption and Fortunia will be somewhat highly regarded but could be under valued on the tote.

As the race unfolds look for Sweet Hanni to be sent hard from the fence chased by Excellent News and Got an Itch. At the top of the lane the closers will be looking for room but Got an Itch will get first run on the group after getting a perfect 3-hole trip to prevail in a close photo at about 10-1 under Alonso Quinonez, who’s 5 winners this meeting averaged over $40.

Why not take that Green and buy a margarita.

Good luck.

Augusta Chronicle

Heres a simple query with no easy answer: Would you take Tiger Woods as one of your four captains picks for the Ryder Cup team?

ELLING: It doesnt matter what we think, of course, because it would probably represent career suicide if U.S. captain Corey Pavin didnt pick the guy, despite the fact that at the moment, Woods is about the 50th-best player on the PGA Tour. Or despite the fact that he has a losing record at the Ryder Cup. Or despite the fact that it appears hell only play one more time before the Ryder picks are due, after likely washing out of the FedEx Cup series early. Woods is having a hard time hitting two quality shots in succession, as Michaux detailed last week at Whistling Straits with a look at how poorly he played the par 5s, where he historically has eaten the field for lunch. Unless Woods shows clear improvement in his next start, expected to be at The Barclays next week in New Jersey, I would rather take the hottest player of the moment, whoever that is. Pavin would never admit it, but its hard to imagine he isnt under some pressure to pick Woods, either from NBC or the PGA of America. With Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson on the team, the U.S. needs steadier hands, not another vial of nitroglycerine. Woods didnt play well at Pebble Beach, St. Andrews or Firestone, tracks he owns. So why assume he will play well at the Ryder, where he traditionally hasnt? I must be missing the reverse logic here. Lets ask the U.S. wives whether they want him around.

MICHAUX: Ive gone on record saying I dont think Woods should be a pick, but I understand why Pavin will choose him, and if push came to shove, I would probably end up picking him myself. Before washing out at Firestone, Woods was evasive about his desire to be a captains pick if necessary. After his worst career performance, he said he didnt believe he could contribute to the team the way he was playing. A week later, however, Woods changed his tune and said he would accept a pick from Pavin and even hoped for one. He even cracked a joke about it: “I think I got a chance of maybe helping out in singles.” Woods might be a shadow of his former self at the moment, but he showed enough fight at the PGA to convince Pavin to give him a nod. I mean, as off as he is, he still has enough game to finish 28th in his worst major finish of the year. Thats better than most of the captains other options. Having talked to some of the caddies who will be there, they tell me the other players love having Tiger in the team room. And maybe his presence can deflect some of the pressure from his teammates. If Woods is there, hell be the story as always. He has a lot of proving to do and this just might be the PR opportunity he needs to further rehabilitate his image in the name of team and country. As Monty said, the Ryder Cup is a bigger deal with the worlds No. 1 player present. Like Woods, I guess Ive changed my tune as well. If he really wants to be there, he should.

The Wyndham Championship this week is allowing fans to bring cell phones onto the grounds, provided they are in silent mode. Is this the beginning of a new mindset on the games major tours?

ELLING: Three or four years ago, back when the PGA Tour actually pretended to listen to the input of outsiders, the tour brass staged a media summit at the company HQ in Ponte Vedra Beach. An expert hired to talk about future of electronic media stood before a few hundred invitees and tour officials and flatly stated that the organization needed to modify its stance on mobile phones. “They are not just te alienate fans who are tethered to the information stream on their phones and you run the risk of losing business. Thursday and Friday are work days for most. The phones are a business and personal lifeline. The Wyndham tournament modified the rule b which is quite likely a recipe for disaster, at least initially. Already, tournaments in China have been a nightmare with buzzing phones going off everywhere. But its an overdue transitional move. Metal detectors used at events are a hassle and costly, but the tour and its players rightly dont want to be interrupted by jangling phones at crucial junctures. At some point, though, the policy needs to change. If players cant get used to it and have to wear earplugs, so be it. Asking fans to go several hours without communication access, in an age of immediacy, has become increasingly unrealistic.

MICHAUX: As long as this trend never gets adopted by the Masters, I dont really care. Augusta National is a happy anachronism that should remain that way, with hand-operated scoreboards and no digital video screens or commercialization anywhere. Its an escape from the real world and that is part of its allure. But that real world is reality everywhere else and this is a sign of things to come. The GGO (it will always be the Greater Greensboro Open to me) is the testing ground. The players will just have to get used to it and learn to cope with their hypersensitivity to noise. Sometimes people cough or sneeze. Whats the difference? Quite frankly, I think the fans should be allowed to use their hand-held devices anywhere on the course as long as it remains a silent entity. If they want to take or make a call, they need to go to designated areas to talk and leave everyone else in peace. There will always be idiots who cant figure out how to turn off the ringers and alerts, and if they violate the silence policy they should be kicked out. But if they can use their handhelds to keep up with the outside world and enhance their on-site experience with leaderboards and stats and muted video and all sorts of other things that were capable of getting nowadays, whats the harm? As we saw with the kids dominating the leaderboard last week, the future is now.

Guys, weve seen two majors staged at Whistling Straits, which is more than enough time to shake out the bugs and form an opinion. Like it or loathe it?

ELLING: Based on the incredible amount of feedback received after the Dustin Johnson incident in the bunker on the 72nd hole, most readers would like to toss a match into owner Herb Kohlers facial fescue, add gasoline to his course and forget the place ever existed. But with a future PGA Championship and a Ryder Cup already slotted for the Straits, thats not going to happen. This is going to sound like George C. Scott playing the role of General Patton, when he stood before a bloody battlefield and muttered, “God help me, but I do love it so.” The course is a complete contrivance, granted. It doesnt play like an Irish links because you cant run the ball onto the green or play along the ground. Another point conceded. Its located 60 miles from civilization, a considerable handicap. But its not just another in a series of predictable parkland courses, either. You didnt enjoy watching guys like Stricker and Watson trying to hit challenging flop shots from below the hole onto greens carved out of Lake Michigan sand cliffs? Its true, there are so many rough-hewn bunkers, you cant count them all (they tend to meld into one another indistinctly). In an attempt to get reasonably close to the action, fans were allowed to tromp through the sandy areas on the periphery of the course. One boneheaded rules blunder by Johnson doesnt mean the course is irretrievably overdesigned, though. Johnson missed the fairway by what, 50 yards? Had it been any other course, he would have been in deep hay, a forest of trees, or somebodys backyard Jacuzzi. He was damned lucky he found a firm lie in that fateful bunker. He almost salvaged a par because of it. The Straits is unique, quirky and worthy of a spot in the majors rotation. That said, I admittedly have no desire to play it, either. Its so penal for regular folks, they would find me dead in one of those shallow graves that designer Peter Dye calls bunkers.

MICHAUX: For all its faults, Whistling Straits has produced two pretty good shows. It looks incredible on television and one of these years theyll get weather conditions that make it the test its supposed to be. But there are some significant flaws with the venue that go beyond the inability of the design to make it play like the faux links its supposed to be. The local rule about the bunkering that caused all the trouble is flat-out ignorant and Herb Kohlers arrogant dismissal of Dustin Johnsons plight makes it easy for me to rip the contrivances he paid for. He told Pete Dye he wanted it to look like Ballybunion, but having been to Ballybunion, I dont remember seeing useless bunkers strewn in places that are unnatural. Its just stupid to play them as bunkers when thousands of people are trampling them all day and kids are literally building sand castles in them. Play any bunkers inside the ropes as bunkers and anything outside simply as it lies. If it doesnt have a rake, its just a waste area. Bunker-gate, however, masked the worst element of Whistling Straits, which is that abominable 18th hole. Even local boy Steve Stricker hates it. That only Jason Dufner could manage a birdie on it Sunday (and with a bomb of a putt) illustrates just how stupid it is. Its fitting that the tournament ended there with one mans bogey beating another mans double. Flush it down one of Kohlers toilets and start over. Theyve got five years to fix it into something thats not an out-of-character monstrosity compared to the rest of the course. And while theyre at it, make the place walkable. You shouldnt have to risk blowing out a knee to watch a golf tournament.

For a week that featured six hour players, officials and reporters all scrambling around, trying to figure out whether Dustin Johnson was the victim of a bad break, a self-inflicted gunshot wound or a terrible ruling. The 2010 season didnt provide the greatest Grand Slam sequence in professional history from a spine-tingling aspect, but victories by Phil Mickelson (ailing wife), Graeme McDowell (first Euro to win U.S. Open in 40 years) and Louis Oosthuizen (destroyed St. Andrews) had their compelling story angles. The 92nd PGA Championship, however, was downright bizarre. CBSSports.com senior writer Steve Elling takes it in and sorts through the mist and the misses.

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Like German engineering Theres not much doubt that the play of German star Martin Kaymer was swallowed whole by the Dustin-in-the dust controversy late Sunday night at the PGA Championship, providing the perfect ending to a wild, disjointed week that began with an argument between the Ryder Cup captain and a reporter, revelations that Europes Ryder captain is involved in another embarrassing personal situation, and two days of fog delays that threw the whole schedule into a spinning blender. Kaymer, who has had solid credentials on the European Tour for years, was practically unerring throughout, making three birdies in his last three rounds. With all due regard for Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson, Kaymer was the steadiest player on the leaderboard Sunday. The 15-foot par putt he made on the 72nd hole is what makes careers

Sympathy misdirected The 92nd PGA Championship never will be forgotten, partly for all the wrong reasons. The public hue and cry over the absolutely proper application of the two-shot penalty against Dustin Johnson had been, frankly, astounding. People who know nada about golf have been talking at the water cooler for two days, grousing about how he was robbed, arguing the merits of one of golfs oldest rules, barking about perceived advantages and player intent, discussing what should rightly have transpired. Actually, what happened was absolutely proper. The issue here is with the rough-hewn course, which is strewn with more than a thousand bunkers. Fans had to be allowed to walk somewhere close to the action, and sometimes, that mean trooping through largely decorative sand traps on the periphery of holes. Make no mistake, Johnson missed the fairway by a mile. Nobody noted how, at any other course, a shot that far offline would have been stone dead, O.B. or in somebodys backyard. Landing in a flat lie in a compacted bunker was, in fact, the he could have received, given the high hay in certain areas. Yet Johnson screwed it up because he didnt read the rules sheet. You want to feel sorry for somebody who got hosed by capricious fate? Lament the outcome of 47-year-old Steve Elkington, who hit what he thought was a perfect tee shot on the par-3 17th, only to watch it roll off the back of the green and turn into a certain bogey.

Then there was the undercard Right from the start, it was a bizarre week at the Straits, beginning with the none-to-nose discussion between U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin and Golf Channel broadcaster Jim Gray, who had reported a day earlier that Pavin had conceded a captains pick to struggling Tiger Woods. Pavin denied he said any such thing, and Gray accosted him in the media center later that day, resulting in an unprofessional display of finger-pointing, and according to Pavin, name-calling. Gray almost got his credential yanked by the host PGA of America. It happened right under the PGAs nose, and the two had an animated discussion, to say the least, within a few yards of several PGA officials. Nobody ever will know but the two principals what had been said and if Gray got it right or wrong. But we might get a hint if Pavin picks Woods despite his unbelievable run of mediocre and poor results of late, wont we?

Getting by on peaches and herbs Who else but Phil Mickelson could come careening into Wisconsin, the so-called Dairy State, and within moments after arriving before the assembled media, announce that he had secretly become a vegetarian two months earlier? The guy has panache, Ill say that much. Mickelson also revealed that he has been fighting an arthritic condition for the past few weeks, though he said after Sundays final round that he again felt 100 percent after only two weeks of treatment. After he shot 67 on the final day for the weeks low round, I congratulated him in the locker room on having fashioned the lowest cumulative score at the Grand Slam events in 2010, plus catching and passing Woods on the 16th and final round at the majors. Mickelson laughed, shrugged it off and made it clear that he could not have cared less. So I guess its a good thing I didnt congratulate him on being the weeks low, left-handed, arthritic vegetarian. Pity he didnt win, because the awards-ceremony introduction of club owner Herb Kohler to Herbivore Mickelson might have been funny.

Careful what you wish for There is news that Canadian swing coach Sean Foley, based outside Orlando, was working last week on the range with Tiger Woods and might eventually become the struggling stars new teacher. Foley is a bright, glib guy who never has sought the limelight. He doesnt have his own website. He doesnt even have a business card. He likes to drink beer after the round with his pupils. So, assuming an offer is proffered, becoming the next in the line of former Woods swing coaches wouldnt seem an ideal fit, though Foley certainly would love the challenge. Foley has a wife and young son. He moved to Orlando to run a golf academy for Canadian kids. This would be a game-changer for him, and the impact it might have on young stars like Hunter Mahan, Sean OHair, Justin Rose and the other players in his stable would be interesting to track. Foley undoubtedly would make millions, though he doesnt seem to be a guy who worries about money. On the plus side, Woods is so lost right now that anything Foley offers would seem like genius because theres nowhere to go but up. Heres hoping that the guy knows what hes getting himself into.

Its Hail Mary time Its always interesting to track the list of en and not because of anybodys particular chances that week on whatever venue they happen to be playing. Nope, Greensboro is last call for the regular-season portion of the FedEx Cup series, and its populated with guys who either ha requ or are hoping to pile up more points against a weak field. Two surprises in the field are who are coming off illness and injury and hoping to make an 11:59 rally to move up the points ladder. According to the PGA Tour, that man at No. 108 on the list, defending FedEx champ Tiger Woods, isnt guaranteed a spot in next weeks field because of last-ditch moves that could be made at Greensboro by players below him in points. For the first time all year, tracking the FedEx is actually fun. Kim is trying to prove hes healthy enough to warrant a Ryder captains pick, too.

Down

Monty and the media It would be one thing if Colin Montgomerie never had run afoul of the European Tour rules crew, never cast pious aspersions regarding the extramarital life of Tiger Woods, or been forever faithful to his wife of two years. But of course, Monty is as winless in those categories as he is in the games major championships. Because he spent past week on foreign U.S. soil, where British law has no teeth, his latest embarrassing personal episode was unveiled for all, at least to some degree. Monty has secured an injunction in the U.K., barring reportedly embarrassing personal photographs of a decidedly private nature from being published or even discussed in print. But once he set foot on U.S. soil, he was fair game for questioning. What Monty does in his personal life is one thing, but among the European press contingent, its feared unless its as the brunt of even more jokes. The feisty and intensely competitive British press corps doesnt like being handcuffed or having a gag ball stuffed in its mouth. With 46 more days until the Ryder Cup, this probably isnt the end.

Putting the vice in vice-captain Its quite a list of deputies that old Monty assembled as his assistants, too, as it turns out. The big story in the Dutch papers last week was that European Ryder assistant captain Thomas Bjorn, a native son and a longtime tour veteran, had fathered a child out of wedlock with a woman hed been entangled with for several years. So, setting aside the perceived balance-of-power issues on the two 12-man rosters, whos to say the U.S. doesnt have a chance after these leadership soap operas? The Jim Gray episode aside, maybe we should be thankful that Pavin is about as exciting as a bowl of room-temp oatmeal. Pavin has a steady, if somewhat less headline-grabbing, hand. As the Monty/Bjorn sex stories roll out, think of low-key captain Corey and remember that vanilla is sometimes a satisfying flavor, too.

Penalties for Every thing According to a report, rookie Matt Every has been benched for three months as a result of his arrest at the John Deere Classic on misdemeanor marijuana possession charges, when two longtime tour caddies also were hauled off to jail. Every claimed it wasnt his weed, but the tour gave him a righteous hammering anyway, though theres virtually nothing the tour can do to the caddies. According to tour regs, the commissioner has broad punitive powers when doling out sanctions for using recreational drugs, and in keeping with a theme this year, Tim Finchems penalty doesnt seem to fit the crime, does it? Then again, maybe it does. How many others have been sanctioned for a comparable offense since drug testing began two years ago? Hard to say, and even hard to compare the sanction, because of the tours antiquated mindset of keeping penalties in-house. Thus, since Every is benched until the season finale at Disney World, the very, very harsh and shrouded in smoke.

It was 1992 when Daily Racing Form incorporated Beyer Speed Figures in their past performances and the way handicappers studied changed drastically. It was good news for those that continued to work but bad news for lazy handicappers who just wanted a place for ‘one stop shopping’.

Growing up as a fledgling handicapper, was personally not comfortable with accepting one figure as the cure all but as the years escalated, I’ve come to understand the importance of Beyer figures although players have to beware of not relying on them like they have come down from Mt. Zion.

The Beyer number reflects the time of the race and the inherent speed of the track that it was run on. Using this formula, the difference of 2 and a half points are roughly equal to one length in sprints and 2 points to one length in routes.

The superstars of the sport could record Beyers in the mid-120 range but those figures are rare indeed. Generally, the best horses in the country will be able to show a 115 Beyer or better on the best of performances.

Good allowance runners or low-grade stakes performers will run close to 100 Beyers while a traditional $25,000 claimer that is going good, will be able to post a 90 figure.

On the lower end, $10,000 sellers are performing well when then post a figure in the 80 range while the bottom rung runners at the minor tracks are life and death to reach the 60 Beyer plateau.

The best way to use the Beyer figure may be as a gauge as to who fits and who does not fit at this current level.

If a runner has proven that at any point of his career he is capable of posting a Beyer that fits with the field, he has to be left in the mix.

On a random recent day at Del Mar when 8 races were carded, the Beyer was a prime player in 6 of the 8 events.

One race was won by a first timer so that test can be eliminated.

Two races were won by a horse that had the best last-race Beyer.

One race was won by a runner that had the top Beyer in the field considering the last 3 races.

Another was won by a runner that had the 2nd best in the field considering the last 3 races.

Two others were won by the third best last-race Beyer and one of those runners paid over $15.

Lastly, a $40 plus runner with the worst last-race Beyer won but that runner was making only his second start on grass.

Some theorize that there are also times when the Beyer figure can be naturally inflated especially when a horse wins by himself on an off track.

Basically, the figure seems to stand up much better on the main or synthetic track and is a bit less reliable on the grass.

Using the Beyer figure to your advantage, takes much more than just hopping on a number and staying there but trying to evaluate how that recent Beyer will improve or decline under today’s conditions.

Happy shopping.

CBSSport Tiger Woods remained No. 1 in the world ranking M that mean much more these days.

Woods faile he and now must rely on U.S. captain Corey Pavin spending one of four wild-card picks on him.

In a hotel conference room Monday, Pavin sat at the head table between two poster boards, each showing the final standings for the eight American qualifiers. Woods name was nowhere to be found between Phil Mickelson at No. 1 and Matt Kuchar at No. 8.

Pavin would only say that Woods is “high on my list” and will be a “big consideration” when he announces his selections Sept. 7.

“Im looking at him in essence like any other player. He isnt … but he is,” Pavin said. “Im certainly not going to disrespect other players by considering him different from other players. I have to look at the way hes playing, the way he played, and I have to look at his body of work as well. If anyone can turn it around quickly, its him.”

Woods should have at least one more tournament to make an impression.

While he wound up No. 12 in the Ryder Cup standings, equally troublesome is that Woods is No. 108 in the FedEx Cup standings. The top 125 are eligible for The Barclays next week at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey, the start of the PGA Tour playoffs. Only the top 100 in the standings advance to the second round of the playoffs at the Deutsche Bank Championship outside Boston.

Woods is so far down in the FedEx Cup standings hes one spot behind Pavin.

“Hes ranked a lot higher on Ryder Cup points,” Pavin said with a laugh, “and probably the world ranking, Im guessing.”

Despite the shockingly low numbers next to Woods name, Pavin came away from the PGA Championship encouraged as much by what he heard from Woods as what he saw from him.

Woods stated plainly at the start of the week that he wants to play in the Ryder Cup and would accept a captains pick. Even after he closed with a 1-over 73 to tie for 28th at Whistling Straits, he joked that he could still help out in singles. His Ryder Cup record is 10-13-2, including 3-1-2 in singles.

“I feel my game is a lot better than it was obviously last week, and given a little bit more time, its starting to head in the right direction now, which is good,” Woods said. “And Im looking forward to it. Hopefully, Corey will pick me on the team.”

Woods tied for fourth in the Masters and U.S. Open. He missed the cut at Quail Hollow with the highest 36-hole total of his career, and only a week before the final major, he had the worst tournament of his career when he shot 18-over par at Firestone.

Which guy will show up? Is he even worth a pick?

Pavin was asked about the pros and cons of taking Woods, and he could think only of the positi thats a pretty good pro,” Pavin said. “Obviously, Im considering him highly, no doubt about it. Hes playing better. I he wants to be part of the team. But its going to be my judgment whether I pick him or not. I dont think there are any cons.”

Mickelson led the points table for the first time followed by Hunter Mahan, PGA runner-up Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overto Watson, Johnson, Overton and Kuchar – have never played a Ryder Cup. Stricker and Mahan played the first time two years ago at Valhalla. Overton, meanwhile, became the first American to qualify for the Ryder Cup without having won on the PGA Tour.

“I believe the eight players that have qualified is really going to allow a lot of flexibility for the four picks,” Pavin said. “Its not just going to be about a type of player. Theres going to be a lot of room for maneuvering.”

Also missing from the list is Anthony Kim, the star of the American victory two years ago. Kim had thumb surgery in May, missed three months and has played poorly in the two tournaments since he returned.

Still, it all centers on Woods.

“Im very encouraged by the way he played last week,” Pavin said. “He did a lot of good things. One of them may not have been driving the ball, but he grinded hard, he chipped the ball beautifully and putted better. His improvement from the Bridgestone to the PGA Championship was large. And I think he was encouraged by it.”

Pavin is not planning to play in The Barclays, worn out from playing so many big tournaments (Champions Tour and PGA Tour) the last month. Even so, he plans to keep in touch with Woods.

And what Woods says might go a way toward what Pavin decides.

“I have to evaluate how hes playing,” Pavin said. “And he has to help me evaluate, just like any other player. If he feels he wants to take himself out of it, then thats fine. If he feels like he wants to play, then its my decision.”