Shane Bacon: 10 Things to Change in Pro Golf

This week, Yahoo Sports golf blogger Shane Bacon published a list of ten things he'd like to see change in professional golf. Any -- if not all -- of his list items would be fantastic to see, but I thought I would throw my two cents in as well. Using Bacon's list as a guide, here are ten things I'd also like to see change in pro golf.

Walking rules officials in each group -- I agree with Shane on this one. Having a rules official with every group in a tournament would not only eliminate controversial rulings on the course, but it would also add an element sorely missing from the game: consistency in rule enforcement.

FedExCup Match Play -- This is something I've been telling anyone who would listen for years, so I'm happy to see Shane agrees. The current FedExCup Playoffs structure is boring and flawed. When I think "playoffs", I think "brackets", and when I think "brackets" in golf, I think "match play".

I don't care if there are WGC events, the Ryder Cup, the Presidents Cup and whatever else. Bring match play to the FedEx.

Hold an LPGA event at Augusta National -- This idea might be crazy enough to work. Honestly, I don't think we'll ever see a female golf tournament at the home of the Masters, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't bug the piss out of Augusta National until it happens. I'll lead the charge.

Force big names to play in team events -- I'm not sure how I feel about this suggestion (mandate guys like Tiger, Phil, and other big-timers play in the Ryder Cup and President's Cup), because I really don't see this becoming an issue. Sponsors have a lot more to say than we may think when it comes to who plays where, so that's that.

Instead, I would like a rule where only the top 3-5 point leaders automatically get a spot on the team. Qualifiers -- not captains -- would then get to "draft" the rest of the players from the entire pool of competitors to fill up both teams.

Laser flagsticks? -- This idea is ridiculous... and I love it. As Bacon points out in his piece, if the US Open can have wicker baskets on poles, then other tournaments can have hologram flagsticks. Let's make it happen.

Alright, here are a few additions of my own:

Keep the PGA Championship in the United States -- There has been talk of future PGA Championships being held overseas, and it makes absolutely no sense to me. Globalizing the game can be done in numerous ways, but none of them should include shipping off a major championship to "force" the issue. PGA President Ted Bishop needs to make an announcement that his tournament is staying home, and that's it.

Match Play Championship for long drive athletes -- Why the hell not? These behemoths who pound 400+-yard drives are actually decent golfers in their own right, and who wouldn't love to see these guys tear apart a golf course head-to-head? If it makes golf traditionalists happier, hold the event in December instead of the Wendy's 3 Tour Challenge. That event sucks anyway.

Make Drug Testing as transparent as possible -- I don't care how this happens, but we need to make PGA Tour and Euro Tour drug testing loud, transparent and as public as possible right now. This is the only way to keep our sport from turning into a comical sideshow saturated with assumptions and accusations (see: Major League Baseball).

Allow cameras at every tournament -- I get it; pro golfers don't like swinging clubs amid a wave of shutter clicks and flash bulbs. But if these guys can do exactly that during a practice round with seemingly no issue, why can't we just allow it full-time? Marshals wouldn't have to throw people out, phones wouldn't get confiscated, and golf spectators would be treated the same way as those at other major sporting events.

Abolish the wraparound schedule idea -- This is a brand-new feature of the PGA Tour schedule this season, but that doesn't mean it makes any sense. Players shouldn't be asked to play golf year-round for FedExCup or world ranking points. They deserve an offseason, just like every other pro athlete.

A Few Things for Which Golf Fans Can Be Thankful

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, golf fans, and many people will express their gratitude in various ways to friends and family presumably while feasting on the spoils of another successful grocery run store and turkey hunt. From a golf fan perspective, we all have a great deal to be thankful for as one of the more memorable years in professional golf winds to an end. If your family is like mine, football will play a large role in the day thanks to the National Football League's offering which includes a satisfying parlay of contests throughout the afternoon and evening. As the season continues despite nearly being cancelled altogether thanks to collective bargaining agreements, ownership differences and 'underpaid athletes' (according to them, of course), our wonderful sport of professional golf remains as strong as ever. Thus, one thing all golf fans should be thankful for is the lack of a player's union in our game. As such, there will likely never be the threat of a player lockout or cancellation of a season.

Secondly, the world was treated to the dawning of a new age in both men's and women's golf in 2011. Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng have solidified their names as elite players, especially in the case of young Tseng. Domination is now expected from both young players, of course, which will undoubtedly be more difficult in the case of McIlroy. Regardless, both players have nothing but time of their hands to continue accomplishing that which their peers could only hope to achieve. And for that, any golf fan could be thankful as we all anticipate the next great performance collectively.

Ironically, a sense of parity was also established in 2011 thanks to the resurgence of many veteran players, almost in response to the 'young guns' stealing the spotlight. Well-known names showcased strong play throughout the season on all tours, providing fans reminders of past success from many of our favorite players. This sense of parity helped provide numerous exciting finishes to some of the grandest tournaments, for which I will be forever thankful.

There have been numerous additional examples throughout the year that I'm sure other fans could name, but the premise remains the same: the current state of professional golf is strong and well. As we all take time to express our gratitude this holiday season, we can also look forward to what can only be an even more exciting golf season next year. And for that, I couldn't possibly be more thankful.

Final Thoughts on 2011 Presidents Cup

As the 2011 Presidents Cup is now in the books (USA 19, Internationals 15), the world was treated to an exciting exhibition event that included most of the world's best players on quite possibly the toughest golf course on the planet. I have shared my thoughts on the first two days of the Cup over the past few days, so I figure I will wrap everything up with my final thoughts on the 2011 Presidents Cup from Royal Melbourne in Australia.  Just to get this out of the way, Tiger Woods was pretty much a disappointment throughout the week. While he would eventually sink the Cup-clinching putt for the Americans on Sunday, the former World #1 went through a nasty two-day stretch where he only won 1 hole in team play. In fact, his play was so irradic and inconsistent that the phrase "former World #1" just seems silly nowadays when referring to Woods. Still, it was somewhat nice to see him actually smiling at the end of a tournament.

Jim Furyk was by far the MVP of the Presidents Cup for the Americans. He went undefeated throughout the week (5-0) and made a ton of clutch putts and solid iron play to hold off any opponent(s) he faced. His pairing with Phil Mickelson turned out to be an ingenious move by American Captain Fred Couples, and is definitely one I would like to see again in a Ryder Cup.

Adam Scott played solid throughout the week even when his partners seemed to let him down on a regular basis. While I have no doubt that caddie Steve Williams offers Scott a new way to manage golf tournaments, the buck stops there as far as I am concerned with Stevie. Scott is a tremendous talent that is on another upswing in his career, which will hopefully yield a major win or two in the near future.

The team of Ernie Els and Ryo Ishikawa was simply fun to watch for most of the event. It honestly reminded me of a father playing golf with his son in the respect that Els was showing the young superstar 'the ropes' in front of the world. A trial by fire, so to speak; and the young Ryo responded. His clutch putts in days two and three were awesome to watch for the International team, and the reactions by Els was just as cool to watch.

Bill Haas and Charl Schwartzel. Well. Thanks for showing up, I guess?

Royal Melbourne was repeatedly compared to Augusta National throughout the week. This obviously did not bode well for Greg Norman. Oops.

A great event all around. The course showed its teeth often and in an array of different ways, often changing throughout the day and in-between morning and afternoon sessions. Play was exciting, and the prime time coverage was an awesome compliment for the weekend.

Mickelson & Furyk; Old Dogs' New Trick

While everyone will be talking about the obvious pairing of Woods/Stricker vs Scott/Choi on Thursday in the opening round of the President's Cup, another pairing should garner a good amount of attention for entirely different reasons. Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk have the distinguished honor of being labeled the 'most experienced' players on the American team, having appeared in a combined 31 President's Cup matches in their careers. What is perhaps even more shocking - at least to me - is the fact that they have never been paired together during that stretch.

In fact, the only time Mickelson and Furyk have played together was at the 1999 Ryder Cup where they lost to Sergio Garcia and Jasper Parnevik.

That streak has come to an end, of course, as American captain Fred Couples will send this seasoned duo out to face the International team pairing of Retief Goosen and Robert Allenby. They will face-off in the fourth match of the day, which many Americans will be able to watch tonight as the Golf Channel broadcasts the event for the first time live in primetime.

Greg Norman Excited About Fellow Countrymen on Presidents Cup Team

As many players continue to stake their claim for inclusion on this year's President's Cup team, International team captain Greg Norman is excited that he will be joined by a few familiar faces when competition begins November 17th. Fellow Australians Adam Scott, Jason Day, and Geoff Ogilvy have already qualified to play in the event for the Internationals, according to a Sportal.com article earlier this morning. The three men will bring a great deal of expertise and familiarity to Royal Melbourne this November, hopefully giving their team an edge over what appears to be a strong American opponent. Norman has also had a great deal of success at this particular golf course, which he hopes to share with his team.

"You look at Jason Day, Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy, we have the three lynchpins of golfers carrying the Australian flag, so I think it is nice to have that in that department," Norman said.

"As for my experience of Royal Melbourne, I can just tell them (that) I remember every putt. I know where the pin position is going to be. I know how to play the golf course" (sportal.com, 2011).

Norman will also be tasked with choosing his captain picks - or "wildcards" - within the next few days. If he wishes, he can grab fellow countryman Robert Allenby who has also played Royal Melbourne numerous times in his professional career.