Divot Mix

We have these champions of the practice range who hit hundreds of shots but I think if you haven't got it when you get to a tournament you won't find it hitting away for hours. Use your brain, not your endurance.  --Peter Thompson

USGA acquires Lawson Little’s Sullivan Award medal

Given annually to the outstanding American amateur athlete, the Sullivan Award has been known to some as the "Oscar" of sports awards. Named for the founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, the award not only stands for excellence on the field, but sportsmanship, integrity, leadership and high ideals of amateurism off it.

W. Lawson Little Jr., who won six national championships, including back-to-back U.S. and British Amateur crowns in 1934 and ’35 in what has been called "The Little Slam" (as well as the 1940 U.S. Open), won the 1935 Sullivan Award. He and Bobby Jones are the only golfers who have been given the Sullivan award.

Jones was the first recipient of the Sullivan Award in 1930, other winners include Carl Lewis, "Doc" Blanchard, Bill Bradley, Wilma Rudolph, Mark Spitz, Bill Walton, Bruce Jenner, Greg Louganis, Michelle Kwan and Tim Tebow.

Now, the Little family has given the Sullivan Award to the USGA. In a special ceremony at Almaden Country Club in San Jose, Calif., Lawson Little III formally presented the Sullivan to USGA President Jim Vernon. The USGA plans to permanently display the trophy in the USGA Museum with the medal Jones received for being the first Sullivan recipient.

"Dad has always had the ultimate respect for the USGA as the guardian of the game," said Little III. "Even though this is not a trophy that the USGA created or gave out, it’s something that he thought symbolized the same principles of the USGA of integrity and sportsmanship. For that reason, Dad and Mom always wanted it to eventually end up at the USGA."

"The Sullivan Award has only been won by two golfers … and now we have both of those awards," said Vernon. "In one case it’s a medallion, and in the other it’s a really neat trophy. The achievement itself is remarkable. The fact that we have both of the awards in the museum is pretty significant."

TIME names Lorena Ochoa to 100 most influential list

LPGA Tour player and world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa today joins an acclaimed list of individuals honored in this year’s TIME 100. According to managing editor Richard Stengel, "The TIME 100 is not a list of the smartest, the most powerful, or the most talented—it is a thoughtful and sprightly survey of the most influential individuals in the world. Influence, like those other categories, is subjective, but you try to measure it in the effect people have on the world."

The list recognizes the men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming our world, and the list is divided into five subsections: Leaders & Revolutionaries; Builders & Titans; Artists & Entertainers; Scientists & Thinkers; and Heroes & Pioneers.

Ochoa joins Andre Agassi, Lance Armstrong, Oprah Winfrey, Tony Blair, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and others in the Heroes & Pioneers subsection. While her performance on the golf course is dominant and record-breaking, it is her passion and dedication to those in need off the golf course for which she is being honored. LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens said, "Lorena is a wonderful ambassador for our Tour, a true icon in Mexico, and a role model for women across the globe. We could not be happier for her, and we are delighted that through her placement in TIME others will now be touched by her spirit."

Other honorees this year include U.S. presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain, as well as music artists Mariah Carey and Bruce Springsteen, and business titans Steve Jobs and Rupert Murdoch.

To read Lorena’s write-up by LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez, click here.

The TIME 100 issue hit newsstands May 2.

Revival in Greensburg

Last week was special for the residents of tiny Greensburg, Kan., as they celebrated a collaborative effort to rebuild their community. For it was on May 4, 2007, that an EF5 tornado devastated the town. Among the many activities last week was a double shotgun scramble golf tournament at Cannonball Golf Club in Greensburg. Residents from the region signed up to participate, but a special invitation went to a foursome representing the Kansas Golf Course Superintendents Association. Last September, more than 40 members of the chapter spent two days renovating the golf course to give the residents an outlet for dealing with the tragedy.

The participating foursome of Kansas GCSA members featured Matt Lowery from Mariah Hills Golf Club in Dodge City, Matt Miller from Carey Park Golf Course in Hutchinson, Charlie Thompson from Willowbrook Golf Course in Hutchinson and Ryan Bourne from Dodge City Country Club. According to Cannonball Golf Club president Stan Robertson, the course looks great, plays great and has never been in better shape.

Miller, who coordinated the renovation last fall, was energized by what he saw. "I was told they raised $35,000 for the community. There was a true spirit of togetherness. I would not put anything past these people. "

ING spring conference to tackle state of the industry

What is the true state of the golf industry? That question draws a wide array of
answers when discussed among golf industry people during these challenging economic times.

A distinguished panel of golf business leaders will tackle that issue during the "State Of The Industry" panel at the 18th Annual ING Spring Conference, set for May 27-31 in Atlantic City, N.J.

This annual gathering of golf media and companies from all corners of the golf industry is open to anyone in the golf business and media, and is conducted by the non-profit International Network of Golf. Visit http://www.inggolf.com for more information.

The State Of The Industry panel will be held on Wednesday morning, May 28 at the host hotel, the Atlantic City Sheraton. Panel participants include: Joe Steranka, CEO, PGA of America; Steve Mona, CEO, World Golf Foundation; Mike Hughes, executive director, National Golf Course Owners Association.; Libba Galloway, deputy commissioner of the LPGA; and representatives from the USGA and a major golf equipment manufacturer. The moderator will be Adam Schupak, senior writer for Golfweek.

Each participant will provide an opinion of the state of the golf industry from his or her organization’s viewpoint. The audience will then be allowed to ask questions.

That panel is one of several educational workshops that have been created to help individuals improve their professional skills, increase knowledge of the industry and elevate their companies or careers. Other sessions include:

• Small Groups Topics Breakfast, where experts in various occupations will share secrets of success with their tablemates.
• Media Roundtable, with members of the media sharing opinions and information about various topics.
• Marketing Roundtable, where business executives, marketing professionals and promoters interact about their marketing, advertising and PR challenges.
• Tried, Tested & True, a new session in which several new marketing and promotion ideas will be presented and dissected.

For a complete schedule of ING events, click here.

IBM, USGA begin four-year partnership

IBM and the USGA have announced a new four-year agreement making IBM the official technology partner of the association. The agreement began with the relaunch of usopen.com. Jointly designed and developed, the new interactive Web site will allow fans to experience the U.S. Open Championship in ways never before possible.

As the USGA’s newest corporate partner, IBM will contribute its business and technology expertise to help the USGA fulfill a key mission of expanding and improving the game of golf. It will also help run the technology operations at the U.S. Open and provide scoring services for the U.S. Open, Women’s Open and Senior Open championships. As part of the relationship, IBM will help the USGA with its business operations, including the GHIN Network and member services.