PRESS RELEASE: Phil Unveils Coaching Lineup for 2010

RANCHO SANTA FE, California -- Hours after winning the Tour Championship in convincing fashion with help from putting wizard Dave Stockton, Phil Mickelson is proud to announce his full coaching roster for the 2010 season.

Full swing: Butch Harmon
Pitching/Chipping: Dave Pelz
Putting: Dave Stockton
Secret Full Swing Coach for when Butch Harmon "talkin' crazy": Rick Smith
On Super Secret Retainer: Hank Haney
Mother Advice: Mary Mickelson
Motherly Advice for when Mom "off rocker": Florence Henderson
Strength and Conditioning: Chuck Norris
Sports Psychologist/Spiritual Guru: Miss Cleo
Dental Hygiene: Dr. Chandler, DDS

BYE-WEEK: To Keep You From Flatlining...

Well, it's hands down the most boring week of the golf season. This point was made clear when the last two night's editions of Golf Central were reduced to showing highlights from the U.S. Senior Womens Amateur.

It's really more of a reflection kind of week. And a couple of friends have done just that...

First, my pal Jeff Pearlman (author of a number of great sport books including Boys Will be Boys and The Bad Guys Won!) recently returned from Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame induction and just posted an excellent short piece on SI.com about the trappings of celebrity.

Also check out Ryan Ballangee's self-described "rant" over at Waggle Room.com about Camilo Villegas and other Tour players who complain about the rigors of having to play six tournaments in eight weeks.

As for me, I was a guest on Eli Miller's radio show yesterday. The entire program can be heard or downloaded here.

Other than that, I'm in deep with TV stuff, but will be charging ahead once again next week.

Attention So. Cal Fans!

I'll be speaking, showing some footage of Tiger's 2008 and doing a book signing TONIGHT as part of the Newport Beach Library Foundation's Fall Speaker Series. If you live in the area, come say hi.

7-8pm
1000 Avocado Ave.
Newport Beach, CA

Couples Withdraws Hunter Mahan Pick

Following the surprise selection of Adam Scott by International Presidents Cup captain Greg Norman, American captain Fred Couples has withdrawn his pick of Hunter Mahan and replaced him with Jason Gore.

Couples said that until Norman picked Scott, he wasn't aware that he could take someone so far down the 2009 money list. "For some reason I'd been limiting my search to the top players on Tour," Couples explained in a hastily called press conference late Tuesday. "Norman helped me see this thing in a whole new light." Gore is currently ranked 149th, hasn't won in four years, and, like Scott, has been battling an injury all season. "He's perfect!" Couples exclaimed.

Couples was also quick to point out that Gore is from California, the same state where the Cup is being held. "That's got to help," he reasoned. "Plus he has a good sense of humor."

Deutsche Bank: Tiger Quote of the Day...

The above Photoshop job was inspired by my favorite moment from Saturday's postround back and forth:

REPORTER: Is grinding on a cut line any different than grinding in contention at all? Is there any philosophical and emotional difference?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, if you're grinding on the lead, you're playing a lot better than you are grinding on the cut line.

Vandal Destroys 18th Green at Liberty National

Jersey City, NJ -- Just hours after Tiger Woods missed a 7-footer that cost him a chance at The Barclays Tournament, officials at Liberty National Golf Club are reporting that the 18th green was "destroyed beyond recognition" by a vandal who struck under the cloak of darkness.

Jersey City police said they have few leads at this time, just an endless circle of tire tracks that they believe belongs to a 2008 or 2009 Buick Enclave.