Follow Natalie Gulbis on Twitter

Here are Natalie's tweets. Here's a cool pic with Sergio Garcia. Wow, that guy is short! Or Nat is tall!

Golf Predictions for 2009

OK, it's time to make predictions for 2009. Here are ours--we like to go out on a limb:

1. Tiger Woods will win 4 majors, tying Jack Nicklaus's record of 18.

2. Michelle Wie will win 2 LPGA tourneys and will cause not controversies.

3. Natalie Gulbis will win 1 LPGA tourney and will continue to be the hottest golfer.

4. David Duval will make a comeback.

5. John Daly will go on the show Biggest Loser.

6. Steve Williams and Jim "Bones" Mackay will duke it out in a charity UFC event.

7. Greg Norman will place 2nd at the Masters, again blowing the final round.

8. Kelly Tilghman will make no more verbal gaffes on The Golf Channel, but Nick Faldo will.

9. Michael Jordan will break 100 at Bethpage Black, but just barely.

10. Sergio Garcia will become a sentimental fan favorite ... in Spain.

Long drive champ Jamie Sadlowski drives ball thru watermelon

This guy is a freak of nature. Only 165 lbs, he can drive the ball over 400 yards consistently. You heard that right: 400 yards. The wrist cock lag puts Sergio Garcia to shame.

Barack Obama golf swing video in Hawaii

Decent takeaway, but the future President needs more weight transfer and extension through the ball instead of scooping it.

Is it time for change to the PGA Tour?

As 2009 approaches, and Barack Obama will soon be sworn in, it's a good time to think about change and possible changes to the PGA Tour. The Golf Blog will offer its own thoughts soon, but we wanted to get your views, too. Here are a few questions to get the conversation started.

1. Should the PGA Tour golf season shorten its grueling 9 month schedule, to 7 months, especially if such a change might prolong Tiger Woods's career and knee from wear and tear?

2. Should the contrived and uninspired Fedex Cup playoff system, with its $10 million payouts to Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh so far, be completely scrapped, especially in today's economy?

3. Should the PGA tour lower the cost of admission to its events so that Joe the Plumber and average people can afford it?

4. Should PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem, the guy who came up with the extravagant idea for the FedEx Cup, step down?

Titleist asking golf shops to return ProV1 golf balls

If you haven't heard, a court has banned the original Titleist ProV1 ball in the US because it infringes the patent now owned by Callaway. Jan. 1, 2009 the injunction goes into effect.

Titleist is now asking dealers to returns its illegal ProV1 golf ball, but says it has a new version that doesn't infringe Callaway's patent.

PGA suspends John Daly for 6 months

Not surprising. JD says it's not fair.

Here's JD's mugshot after a recent night in jail.

Golf in the 2016 Olympics

Shots of the week ending 2008

Titleist ProV1 will be banned in US on Jan. 1, 2009

Titleist lost its request to stay a permanent injunction against selling its ProV1 golf ball (before its redesign). The ball infringes a patent owned by Callaway.

Titleist says it has redesigned the No. 1 golf ball on tour, the ProV1, so it doesn't infringe. But, if it's a completely different ball, how do we know it will be as good as the ProV1???? Titleist, your answer?

Photos of Barack Obama's golf swing

Barack Obama's playiing golf in Hawaii. Supposedly a 16-handicapper, Obama looks like he could use a lesson or two. This position at the backswing is not bad, but this position after impact needs some help. It looks like Obama doesn't get weight transfer (hanging back on his left side) and practically no extension through the ball. The follow-through is kinda made-up here, to make it look better than it actually is.

Someone should tell Barack it's OK to move from LEFT to RIGHT.

Can Tiger Woods win 4 majors in 2009 and tie Jack's record of 18 majors?

2009 is almost here. Tiger Woods says he is ahead of schedule in rehabbing his knee from ACL surgery. And Jack Nicklaus is already saying, "Get well, Tiger, but don't break my majors record."

Well, it's not too early to start thinking about the 2009 season. I can't wait for Tiger Woods to get back. My question is not when will Tiger return, but will he return to win 4 majors (the Grand Slam) in 2008, which would tie him with Jack Nicklaus's record 18 major championships.

If Tiger Woods thinks he is the best of all time, his goal for 2009 should be to pull off this near impossible feat. Coming off of knee surgery to win 4 majors in a row (and 5 in a row from the U.S. Open last year) would be the most spectacular golfing feat ever. That's exactly the kind of jaw-dropping goal that Tiger Woods should put on his list of New Year's resolutions. It would punctuate his quest for Jack's record more than any fist-pump could.

Barack Obama plays golf, goes shirtless in Hawaii

The guy looks in shape, but says his golf game is no good. We hear Obama's a 16 handicapper, swings lefty and is prone to slicing to the LEFT!!

Here's some old footage. His swing actually looks halfway decent!

Jack Nicklaus tells Tiger Woods to get better, but don't break his majors record; Tiger says Jack didn't say that

Funny story from Golf Digest. Jack Nicklaus said he told Tiger Woods to get better and return to playing soon, but don't break his majors records. Tiger said that's just Jack joking around, because he never had such a conversation with Jack.

Vijay Singh wins Tiger's tournament after AK and Furyk collapse

While half the country is covered in snow, they're still playing golf in SoCal. Vijay Singh won Tiger Woods's tournament, at -11. But Vijay, 45 years old, was given an early Christmas present from both Anthony Kim and Jim Furyk, who had the lead but played the final few holes like weekend hackers. More

Anthony Kim, AK 2008

Tiger Woods 2008 recap

Tiger Woods says his rehab is on target

Paddy Harrington = Player of the Year 2008

2 majors in 1 year. Enough said.

Butch Harmon, Phil's coach, blasts Steve Williams for insults -- is the media to blame?

OK, now Phil Mickelson's coach (and former Tiger Woods' coach) Butch Harmon has jumped into the fray.

Butch said, "I can't believe he said what he said. I think it's deplorable he would say something like that. Golf is a game of honor and integrity and that was a very uncalled for remark. I don't think it's any reflection of what Tiger thinks of Phil Mickelson."

OK, I agree with Butch that Steve Williams's insult of Mickelson showed no class. But I do wonder what media people are trying to fan the flames for the story. Steve Williams sounded like basically a self-aggrandizing idiot, but, hey, the guy is only a caddie. Not to defend his comments either, but Steve apparently thought his crude remarks were "off the record." Obviously, they weren't. But I think the media are willing culprits in this non-story. I said it once but I'll say it again: Steve Williams saying that Phil Mickelson is not really a great player is like the Lakers ballboy saying that Lebron James is not really a great player.

Should Tiger Woods make caddie Steve Williams apologize for tirade against Phil Mickelson?

You wouldn't know it's the holiday season by the brouhaha stirring between Tiger Woods's (usually quiet) caddie Steve Williams and Phil Mickelson.

It all started when Steve blasted Phil in comments that he thought were not going to be published, but they were. Steve said, "I wouldn't call Mickelson a great player, 'cause I hate the [insert mean-spirited expletive]. I don't particularly like the guy. He pays me no respect at all and hence I don't pay him any respect. It's no secret we don't get along either."

Phil didn't take too kindly to the comments, so issued this statement: "After seeing Steve Williams' comments all I could think of was how lucky I am to have a class act like Bones on my bag and representing me."

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods didn't like any of it: "I was disappointed to read the comments attributed to Steve Williams about Phil Mickelson, a player that I respect. It was inappropriate. The matter has been discussed and dealt with.”

Steve Williams, sensing he stuck his foot in his mouth, tried to explain, "I don't deny that him and I don't get along. I shouldn't have said it, but no harm was meant. I was just having some fun."

Analysis: Steve Williams violated the first rule of being a caddie -- he caused a huge distraction and brought attention away from the players, not to mention Tiger's tournament. That's unfortunate. (Remember the last time that happened with Tiger Woods, Fluff Cowan became a media horde and was let go.) True, Williams is a good caddy, but anyone who can walk can carry Tiger Woods's bag and win. What Steve Williams forgets is that Steve Williams is NOT the professional golfer. Tiger is. So is Phil. Reminder to Steve: it's not about you, you don't play on tour -- you just carry a bag. Steve Williams may not get along with Phil Mickelson, but who really cares? For Steve Williams to say that Phil Mickelson is not really a great player is like the ball boy for the Lakers saying that Lebron James is not really a great player.

Best shots of 2008 PGA tour

Best short game shots PGA 2008

Best hole outs from the fairway 2008

Craziest moments PGA tour 2008

Best sand shots on PGA tour 2008

Best putts 2008

Best aces on PGA 2008

Corey Pavin is the next US Ryder Cup captain

Corey Pavin was 8-5-0 in 3 Ryder Cups and has 1 U.S. Open under his belt. The diminutive Pavin has a lot of guts and fire, and is an excellent choice. More.

John Daly in trouble down under: snatches spectator camera and destroys it!

John Daly shot 6 over 78 in Australia. His round was marred after he chased down (Ok, her really walked) a spectator who had snapped a photo of him during the round. JD did offer to pay for the camera!! More.