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Welcome to The Morning Punch Out
The story of @TigerWoods hanging out with Michael Jordan during the 1997 @NBA playoffs.
— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) April 26, 2020
Full interview: https://t.co/WPDOM1m7Iv pic.twitter.com/864aJe8O3o
ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary, "The Last Dance," has become one of the most captivating things to happen in sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, and given Michael Jordan's proclivity for golf, there are some obvious crossovers.
During an interview with GOLFTV, Tiger Woods was asked about his relationship with Jordan and he told a story about how he hung out with Jordan and the Bulls during the 1997-98 season that inspired the documentary.
"They were playing the Knicks in the (Eastern Conference Finals)," Woods said in the interview. "I went up there and hung out with him for a few days. It was neat to be a part of the mindset—I can relate to that. I can relate to the intensity."
You often hear Tiger vs. Jack Nicklaus comparisons in golf and Jordan vs. LeBron James comparisons in basketball as the basis for debate fodder, but Woods compared himself and Jordan when it came to intensity as cut from the same cloth.
"I would say 1A, 1B, myself and Michael," Woods said. "He's more, I think, outwardly competitive than I am. But I have my tendencies to be a little competitive at times."
The NCAA says it “will not” consider blanket waiver for reducing sports programs.
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 26, 2020
Our @BrentleyGC with more on the welcome news for #NCAAGolf programs: https://t.co/SfX1qoYMAK pic.twitter.com/Zs1uOKaUeS
Good news for college golfers and other athletes in non-revenue-generating sports: the NCAA announced on Friday that they would not be considering a blanket waiver of limiting the number of sports an institution must sponsor to remain eligible.
“Higher education is facing unique challenges, and the Division I leadership believes it’s appropriate to examine areas in which rules can be relaxed or amended to provide flexibility for schools and conferences,” said council chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletics director at Penn. “We will prioritize student-athlete well-being and opportunities balanced with reducing costs associated with administering college sports, but a blanket waiver of sport sponsorship requirements is not in keeping with our values and will not be considered.”
While it's a small victory, sports such as golf are not out of the woods yet, as Texas Tech men's coach Greg Sands, who is also president of the Golf Coaches Association of America, told GolfChannel.com.
"I think it's a small win for the Olympic sports to know that there's not going to be a blanket situation to where possibly sports could get cut," Sands said. "I know the door's still open for individual waivers to be processed, so I don't think we're out of the woods necessarily."
Another week, another win for Alex Cejka.
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 27, 2020
The 49-year-old veteran carded a hole-in-one and added an eagle as part of a final-round rally Sunday to capture the 54-hole Parker Open in Parker, Ariz. https://t.co/yOYi65lZ2x pic.twitter.com/ReHlCUfx51
PGA Tour pro Alex Cejka is probably ready to start playing for bigger checks again as the 49-year-old German won his second mini-tour event in the last three weeks.
Down six shots with six holes remaining in the 54-hole Parker Open in Parker, Arizona, Cejka made an ace and an eagle to play the final six holes in 6-under par to force a playoff with Ed Olson, which Cejka won on the first extra hole.
Cejka's win over a 78-player field earned him a $7,000 first-place check, taking his total pull up to $12,000 over the last three weeks.
"Somehow he heard about the event," tournament founder Steve Benton said. "In fact, he said he was thinking about coming back next year to defend. I know $7,000 is nothing compared to the money he has played for in the past, but he said he and his family had a really good time."
U.S. Girls’ Junior and U.S. Junior Amateur Championships have been canceled for 2020.
— USGA (@USGA) April 24, 2020
In addition, the opening of entries for six additional amateur championships will be delayed.
The USGA announced on Friday that two more of its flagship events — the U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur and the U.S. Junior Amateur — would be canceled in 2020, joining the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, the U.S. Senior Open and the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
“Our primary focus when making determinations around championships continues to be the safety and well-being of everyone involved,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director of Championships for the USGA. “While we are incredibly disappointed to have to make the decision to cancel our two junior championships, we know it is the right one.”
