Golf Boys release second video

Who says golf is boring?

Leave it to 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson and fellow PGA Tour players Ben Crane, Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan to lighten things up with their boy band musical group, "Golf Boys."

The quartet splashed onto the scene last year with a gnarly music video that was quite funny.

Now they're back at it again.

Crane, the ring leader, got his brethren together for the latest video, which was launched in early March.

Here it is:

PGA Tour: Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler finally won his first PGA Tour title last Sunday.

But the real story is the look Fowler is sporting now.

He's added facial hair, but honestly, yours truly thinks he should dump the look.

It didn't bother his golf game, but where do you guys feel about it?

Let your voice be heard in the new poll on the right-hand side of the blog.

(Edited update: check out Fowler's look below in his post-round interview)

The Monday Recap: Beware Flying Hot Dogs

So Tiger Woods returned to golf this past week, but the former world No. 1 was attacked on Sunday.

A fan threw a hot dog at Woods, while he was putting on the seventh green during the final round of the PGA Tour's Frys.com Open.

Now, while the act was deplorable and the offender was dealt with by security, Woods shouldn't take headline status away from Bryce Molder, Briny Baird or Rickie Fowler.

Molder and Baird went into a six-hole playoff, when Molder finally outlasted Baird.

Woods finished a distant tie for 30th, 10 shots behind, but showed life in his golf game with a third consecutive 68 to close out the tournament.

And Fowler finally shed the winless tag moniker with his first professional victory overseas against a solid field including reigning U.S. Open champ Rory McIlroy.

So while a spectator put Woods on top of several media outlets talking points on Monday, players like Molder, Baird and Fowler deserve the recognition instead.

Especially with Woods falling so far down in the world rankings and refusing to play any more Fall Series events in preparation for the President's Cup where he received a captain's pick from Fred Couples.

Woods, though, is scheduled to play the Australian Open as a precursor to next month's President's Cup.

To read more about the flying hot dog incident, click here.

Golf's new Boy Band

So what do four PGA Tour pros do when they're bored?

The video below is a taste of the creative juices of Ben Crane, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan.

Enjoy:

Tiger Woods still isn't back

Tiger Woods from The Barclay's tournament in August/provided by McClatchy News-Service

His spot atop the world golf rankings already vanished, but Tiger Woods still had a chance to reclaim the tag as the game's best player with a victory in the Chevron World Challenge coupled with Lee Westwood not finishing in the top two on Sunday.

However, Woods failed in his bid for his first victory in more than a year, while Westwood dusted off the competition to capture the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa.

What happened during Sunday's final round in California proves that Woods still isn't "back" as an elite golfer, a mere year removed from the scandal that shook the golfing world to its core.

Woods held a four-shot lead with one round left in the 18-player tourney.

Yet, Graeme McDowell was able to overcome what used to be an insurmountable lead.

The Northern Irishman capped his banner season - which included a victory at the U.S. Open - with a 20-footer for birdie on the first playoff hole in defeating El Tigre.

So what did we learn?

Tiger Woods isn't back as the unstoppable force - although he's getting closer - and McDowell is pretty darn good.

Not too many have gone toe-to-toe with Tiger and walked away with a trophy in tow.

McDowell accomplished that feat to move to No. 7 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Jim Furyk reacting to winning the Tour Championship earlier this year/provided by McClatchy News-Service

Amidst the hoopla surrounding McDowell's taming of Tiger Woods, the PGA Tour released its Player of the Year award over the weekend.

Jim Furyk was named the Player of the Year, earning the Jack Nicklaus Trophy as he beat out Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar and Ernie Els.

Furyk's three PGA Tour victories in 2010, second on the money list behind Kuchar and FedEx Cup title were enough to seal the Player of the Year.

Rickie Fowler was named the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year with Jamie Lovemark taking the Nationwide Tour's Player of the Year award.

Some final thoughts on the Ryder Cup

Apologies to loyal blog followers for not getting this out sooner, but here are my final thoughts on the Ryder Cup that ended Monday:

1. Let's not stage the Ryder Cup so late (October) in the United Kingdom again.

The biennial matches ultimately had to be finished on Monday for the first time ever, since constant rain halted action on the first day, which set the entire schedule back a bit.

2. Get adjusted faster.

The old cliche is putt for dough and drive for show. That's never more evident than at big-time tournaments, where the winner is usually decided by who has the hot hand with the flatstick.
The United States is a team built with PGA Tour players, who are all accustomed to fast greens.
Since it was Europe's turn to host, Celtic Manor's greens looked as fast as a shaggy carpet.
To be fair, it's hard to get the greens lightning quick in Wales in October (see No. 1 for this issue). But that doesn't mean the American players can't get themselves adjusted and acclimated better and quicker.
One of the things, aside from consistency, that separates PGA Tour pros from other golfers is the ability to adapt to different conditions on the fly.

3. Kudos to Rickie Fowler

The PGA Tour rookie has zero career wins, yet he was selected with a captain's pick to join the team.
For the first few sessions, his inclusion on the team looked like a complete bust.
But then something remarkable happened in the singles match on Monday, and the United States benefited by having a chance at the end to escape Wales with the Ryder Cup in tow.
It was a coming-of-age moment for the phenom Fowler, where he closed with four straight birdies, stealing a crucial half point like the way John Dillinger used to rob banks.

4. Amazing finish

After Fowler's unfathomable comeback to garner a half point, Hunter Mahan had all the weight on his shoulders for Team USA.
Graeme McDowell had it on his for the Europeans.
Who would buckle first?
It didn't hurt that McDowell was 2-up with two to play, but the Northern Irishman turned it on just enough – thanks to a gravity defying putt that snuck in the bottom shelf on No. 16 – to down Mahan and regain the Ryder Cup for Europe.
Not a bad finish for anyone playing hooky from school or work that was able to watch.
And I must admit, that McDowell sure looked like he wanted the pressure.
Boy, did he thrive. I guess that's what happens when you play near-mistake free golf en route to a United States Open victory at the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links.

5. Speaking of that finish...

... I could, and have, done the same exact thing as Mahan with that chip shot.