Scotland, Here I Come!

My bags are all packed (I'm bring more stuff than the pilgrims did our way), and my golf clubs are nice and shiny and the golf towel got its first wash in months, so it must mean I'm ready to head across the pond.

I leave tomorrow afternoon on my three-flight excursion, but wanted to let everyone know a couple of things.

First, I'll have a Flickr page (right here) that you can check to see updated photos. Basically, at night when I'm at the bed and breakfast after 11 Tennets, I'll be trying to make funny captions about the day. Follow me as a buddy on Flickr and you might win a high five.

Second, I'll be Tweeting like crazy over in Scotland. Follow me here, and enjoy the pics and stuff I'll be sending around while driving on the wrong side of the road, trying not to hit any sheep.

Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen, The Old Course, The Castle Course, Carnoustie and possibly Kingsbarns, if it's lucky. That is the lineup. I'll be reporting from the trip. Follow along and comment at will.

Have a great week everyone.

Well, That Was Awkward

Tiger Woods is normally pretty cool at everything he does, as long as that doesn't include high fives with Steve Williams or double-fist pumping after a huge putt. I can always forgive those because it is the heat of the moment and I could only imagine how dorky I would look if I ever converted a big putt like Torrey Pines to push a U.S. Open into 18 more holes of fun.

That said, Woods put together one of the more awkward moments of his impressive career after his victory on Sunday at the AT&T National. At the trophy ceremony, champion and tournament host decided he'd interview himself, because, well, why the hell not, right?

Ryan at Waggle Room luckily got some video of it, and, oh what the hell is this?

Hey Buddy, You're Looking the Wrong Way

I'm sorry for the shitty video quality here, but hey, there is only one Awful Announcing and this ain't it.

Anyway, this is some guy on the 18th hole at the AT&T National, looking the wrong way as Anthony Kim's tee shot came flying at the gallery. Like my co-worker said, "YOU'RE LOOKING THE WRONG WAY. i love those guys, btw. Just out for a f-ing stroll."

Kim lost to Tiger Woods at the AT&T National. Tiger is not in a slump anymore, it appears. Call off the dogs, everyone.

Anthony Kim, We Love You, But Lose the Necklace

It's the day after July 4th, which most know as "the day I had 11 Advil and drank my local Starbucks out of coffee," so while you're nursing that hangover that has made you and your toilet rekindle that long, lost relationship, golf is now to help between sessions.

Currently, Hunter Mahan is tied with Tiger Woods after Mahan fired a course-record tying 62 with birdies on what seemed like the last 32 holes (I'm not much of a math guy). Also in the hunt is Anthony Kim, who I'm a big fan of but is sporting a necklace right now that looks like he is posing for a Hollister billboard.

Listen, I love Kim, and am all for the crazy belt buckles and what not, but this necklace takes it too far. Come on AK ... douche it down.

Scott Halleran, Getty Images

Happy Fourth, Everyone

Since it's the Fourth of July, and this is a golf site, I thought of the only thing that combined the beauty of my favorite game with our great country. So, of course, you're getting the goosebump filled 1999 Ryder Cup highlights.

The Justin Leonard putt is around the 4:18 mark, but watch the whole thing. I forgot how fired up Tiger Woods used to get.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July, everyone. Remember, blacjacks + frogs = mean.

We Have a Winner ...

Just wanted to post that we have a winner for the free tickets to the AT&T National.

Thanks to Alan Smith for his submission, and hope that him and his father have a great trip to the tournament. Who knows, Anthony Kim might fire another 62.

Why Jim Brown Shouldn't Care What Tiger Woods Chooses To Do

Sure, Tiger Woods is a polarizing figure. He's one of the best athletes in any sport we've ever seen, changing golf from what it was (old, white, boring, flabby) to what it now is (hip, cool, tailored and fit) in just over a decade. Woods burst on the scene and allowed everyone to know who he was, even admitting in a commercial that he wasn't allowed to play on certain golf courses because of his skin color.

The problem is, that isn't the Business Tiger as we see him today. Woods uses everything he posses, from good looks to brains and personality, and benefits from it. Sure, he isn't leading a march against racism in golf or really going out of his way to talk on social issues, but that just doesn't seem to be Tiger. Do you think he does that in the privacy of his own home? Absolutely. Do you think he, like Andy Roddick or Derek Jeter or Sidney Crosby, feel the need to blurt it out to the mass media, hoping to gain a few supporters while losing a whole slew of fans?

Tiger is black, and that is something he will never be able to change.

Last week, Jim Brown said on the HBO's Real Sports that, "You know what's so interesting about Tiger to me? He is a killer, he will run over you, he will kick your ass. But as an individual for social change? Terrible. Terrible. Because he can get away with teaching kids to play golf, and that's his contribution. In the real world, I can't teach kids to play golf and that's my contribution, if I've got that kind of power."

When did teaching kids about the game of golf, and furthering their education become a bad thing? No, he isn't hitting hot button topics, but he is making a difference, and has done so through his career. Being a public figure means you have to share your wealth (Bill Gates is a perfect example) and I think Tiger does that. His foundation has done so much, yet we can't be happy because he avoids topics that are touchy?

Teaching less fortunate kids a sport they would have otherwise never heard about is a negative? How does that make sense.

Tiger responded on Tuesday to the comments by Brown, saying, simply, "I think I do a pretty good job as it is what we're trying to do with the (Tiger Woods) Foundation. We have this event here (The AT&T National), the Chevron World Challenge, our (Tiger) Jam in Vegas and our Block Party in Orange County. What we're trying to do (is) not just here in United States, but what my mom's doing in Thailand."

I'd have to agree with Tiger. He found a niche, he pursued it and it has blown up into a large center for children. I, for one, will be the last to tell Tiger he is in the wrong for this. Is Brown the only one that disagrees?