General
Weir loses PGA Tour card
Mar 8th
WORLD GOLF RANKINGS Who’s streaking and who’s slumping? Check out the top 10 in the World Golf Rankings.
Weir made $559,000 last season and needed to make up the difference to reach the equivalent of 125th on the PGA Tour money list. Instead, he made only $10,778 in his five events, missing the cut four times and tying for 77th in the Farmers Insurance Open.
“I’m not really worried about that,” Weir wrote on his blog at mikeweir.com recently. “Of course I’m hoping to take care of things … but if it doesn’t happen, I’ll deal with it then. Either way, I know I will still play this year beyond those five events, so I’m not really worried about that. Right now, I’m just trying to get back into the routine. I know it will take time, but I’m also confident I’ll be back playing great golf soon.
“I truly feel that I’m getting closer to playing some good, consistent golf. … First and foremost, my elbow is feeling great right now. I have absolutely no pain in it, and there was only a tiny bit of soreness on a couple of days when I put in a little extra work on the range.
“However, I feel as if I still have some tournament rust clinging to me. The events I’ve played so far are really the first ones I’ve played healthy in about seven months.”
The 40-year-old Weir’s 85 on Friday on the Champion Course at PGA National was the worst score of his career, and he finished last among the 140 players who finished 36 holes.
His previous high was 84 at the Players Championship 10 years ago.
Weir, who had elbow surgery last fall after struggling for much of 2010, left the course quickly without speaking with reporters.
The 2003 Masters champion, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, did achieve conditional status on the circuit with $6,151 to spare and is a popular player who is expected to receive most of the sponsors’ exemptions he might seek.
As a past champion at Augusta, he has a lifetime exemption in the first major of the year, but he has not qualified for the other three majors, the Players Championship or the World Golf Championship events.
Since he cannot play in the WGC-Cadillac Championship this week at Doral, he is entered in the opposite-field event, the Puerto Rico Classic.
From msn.foxsports.com
Woods’ drought never more clear than at WGC events
Mar 8th
Woods’ drought never more clear than at WGC events
DORAL, Fla. — Tiger Woods has fallen to No. 5 in the world golf rankings. The last of his 71 PGA Tour titles came at the BMW Championship in 2009, and his last victory anywhere came in the Australian Masters in November 2009. He has gone 10 major championships without a victory since his epic triumph and 14th major win in the 2008 U.S. Open.
On an equally startling note, Woods has not won a World Golf Championship since the 2009 Bridgestone Invitational. That’s a drought of six WGC events, which sounds modest by most anyone else’s standards. But when you’ve won 16 WGC events — the Bridgestone Invitational seven times, the Cadillac Championship six times and the Accenture Match Play three times — and no one else has won more than three WGC events, the streak stands out. Especially when 2010 was the first year Woods didn’t win a WGC event since they started in 1999.
- AT DORAL: Woods-Mickelson-McDowell paired
- AT A GLANCE: This week in golf
Woods, who played a practice round Tuesday at the TPC Blue Monster at Doral, which hosts this week’s WGC Cadillac Championship beginning Thursday, lost to Thomas Bjorn on the 19th hole in the first round of the last WGC event, the Match Play Championship in February. His best finish in three starts this year is a tie for 20th in the Dubai Desert Classic.
“As I’ve said, my swing is still a work in progress, and it takes time to get comfortable with everything,” Woods wrote this week on his website. “It’s hard to implement all these changes. I just have to keep moving forward. I’m light years ahead of where I was at the end of last summer.”
That’s when he started working with swing coach Sean Foley.
“The biggest thing is understanding what shot to hit and how to adjust my ball flight,” Woods added. “When will I win again? Whenever it happens, it happens. I’m just going to keep trying to progress.”
Woods has won a lot at Doral. He won the Ford Championship here in 2005 and 2006, then won the 2007 WGC event at Doral.
“It’s one of the tougher courses we play, especially when the wind blows,” Woods said. “There are some good risk-reward holes, so you can get it going if your game is sharp.”
Roaring 30s:
The kids are getting spanked.
Generation Next, the collection of youngsters including Rickie Fowler, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and teenager Ryo Ishikawa, has grabbed headlines in recent months and led Commissioner Tim Finchem to say he couldn’t remember greater interest in a group of young players in his 18 years running the Tour. But the younger generation has nearly been a no-show in the winner’s circle this season, with only budding Venezuelan star Jhonattan Vegas, 26, grabbing a win.
Instead, eight of the 10 tournaments on Tour this season have been won by players who have blown out at least 30 candles on their birthday cake. And Aaron Baddeley, once a teenage sensation who was supposed to be the next big thing, was three weeks shy of celebrating his 30th when he won the Northern Trust Open at Riviera.
The early season breakout of the thirtysomethings shouldn’t come as a complete surprise. Last year, when 16 players in their 20s claimed a victory and created a buzz, 23 of the 47 Tour events actually were won by players in their 30s. And the generally accepted theory is that golfers tend to peak later than in other sports, around their mid-30s.
Still, when most of the buzz heading into the season centered on the budding, youthful stars of the Tour, it stands out when their slightly older colleagues have dominated the early going.
“You do see all the attention the younger players are getting, and I think that is good for golf. Those bright young stars bring a lot of energy to our game. But us older guys can still play,” said Mark Wilson, 36, the FedExCup leader and the only two-time winner this season with victories at the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Waste Management Phoenix Open. “I can’t speak for the rest of the winners, but for myself, I am a lot more comfortable with myself and with my game, and I’m not stressing so much anymore on my mechanics and trying to make things perfect.
“I’m just playing my game and it seems simpler.”
Last week’s winner, Rory Sabbatini, a month shy of turning 35, said knowledge should not be overlooked when trying to explain his age bracket.
“You can never say too much about experience. The years I have played are crucial. You get to know a lot of the golf courses really well and understand what is needed to win out here,” Sabbatini said. “I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to the 20-year-olds and all the stories. I just pushed myself. I just keep trying to get better. And there are just years where the 20-year-olds are the talk, others when the 30-year-olds are and others when the 40-year-olds are. Who knows how it works?”
From www.usatoday.com
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson paired together at WGC-Cadillac
Mar 8th
DORAL, Fla. — It had almost become a running joke between them, the fact that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were rarely put together during the opening rounds of PGA Tour events, despite a supposedly random pairings process.
This week, the tour is making no secret of its desire to put together marquee groupings during the first rounds of the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
Woods
Mickelson
Woods and Mickelson, ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, will play with reigning U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, ranked fourth. They will start on Thursday at 11:51 a.m. ET from Doral’s 10th tee, and then Friday at 12:54 p.m. from No. 1.
It will be just the 27th time since the beginning of Woods’ first full season as a pro in 1997 that he and Mickelson have played together during any round on the PGA Tour. Their last paring came during the final round of last year’s BMW Championship.
For this World Golf Championship event, the top 21 players in the world have been grouped according to the rankings. No. 1 Martin Kaymer, No. 2 Lee Westwood and No. 3 Luke Donald make up a group. No. 7 Paul Casey, No. 8 Rory McIlroy and No. 9 Steve Stricker are in another.
Despite being at or near the top of the rankings for most of the past decade, Woods and Mickelson are almost never grouped together to start a tournament.
The last time it occurred during a non-major championship was at the 2007 Deutsche Bank Championship, where the pairings were based on FedEx Cup points. Prior to that, they were paired at the 2002 Tour Championship, which was based on the money list.
The only time a “random” first-round grouping of Woods and Mickelson occurred was at the 1998 Nissan Open at Riviera in Los Angeles.
Woods and Mickelson were involved in a couple of classic duels at Doral’s TPC Blue Monster before the tournament here became a World Golf Championship event.
In 2005, Woods shot a final-round 66 to overtake Mickelson for the victory. A year later, they were grouped together in the third round and Woods went on to win that tournament.
Woods won the first WGC event here in 2007 and Mickelson won the 2009 title at Doral.
During their previous 26 rounds together, they each have bettered the other 11 times, with four ties.
Bob Harig is the golf writer for ESPN.com.
From sports.espn.go.com
Don Keeble Named President of Pine Lake Board of Directors
Mar 8th
DETROIT, March 8, 2011 — /PRNewswire/ — Don Keeble, the CEO of Merchant Analytic Solutions, has been named president of Pine Lake Country Club’s nine-member board of directors.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110308/DE61112LOGO )
Keeble succeeds Kevin McAlister, the owner of K Chas Incorporated, as board president. Keeble formerly was president of Kmart Store Operations, where he managed a team of 225,000 employees and 2,170 retail outlets. Merchant Analytic Solutions is a division of Hilco Trading, Inc.
A resident of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Keeble holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga., and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan.
Other newly elected officers of Pine Lake Country Club’s board include Todd W. Lewis, vice president; Robert J. Williams, Jr., treasurer, and Jeffrey J. Shandler, secretary. Lewis is president and CEO of Johnston Lewis Associates, Inc., while Williams serves as the CEO of Cadillac Products Packaging Company and Shandler is president of Punati Chemical Corporation.
The board also includes Paul E. Brakora, CFO at Plunkett & Cooney; Kevin J. Heinl, a partner at Brooks Kushman P.C.; Matthew W. Mills, owner of Mills Sales Company; Stephen H. Read, president of National Anesthesia Services, and newly elected board member Richard M. Bowman, president of Schmidt-Bowman Company, Inc.
Founded in 1902 as the Automobile Club of Detroit, Pine Lake Country Club’s early membership roster included leading Michigan industrialists and political figures such as Roy D. Chapin, Henry Ford, James Couzens, Henry Leland and Ransom Olds.
Today Pine Lake Country Club is one of Michigan’s premier golf and family-oriented sports clubs providing its members with a wide variety of award-winning golf, tennis, boating and swimming programs. Its restaurant and fine-dining program, managed by Executive Chef Darnell Richardson, features a 4,500-bottle wine list, one of the finest private-club selections in the Midwest.
The club’s championship 18-hole, par-72 golf course is home to a number of major charitable events and tournaments, including: the Michigan Breast Cancer Coalition’s annual golf outing on May 25; Beaumont Hospital’s July 11 “A Round for Life” golf and tennis program; the annual Angel’s Place Golf Classic and Tennis Tournament on July 18, and the Michigan Roundtable of Diversity’s Holy Strokes Golf Outing on July 25.
Additional information about Pine Lake Country Club is available online at www.pinelakecc.com.
SOURCE Pine Lake Country Club
From www.sacbee.com
Tiger on top in Fresno
Mar 8th
By The Record, Stockton, Calif.
March 08–Senior Alex Johnson carried the Pacific golf team played two solid rounds to open the Fresno State Lexus Classic.
Johnson followed an opening 71 with a 66 in the second round and holds a two-shot lead over the competition at Sunnyside Country Club.
Pacific is fourth place after shooting 375 and 366 over the two rounds but trails No. 6 San Diego State (721) by 20 shots in the 16-team field. Duke is in second place, 17 shots behind the Aztecs and three ahead of the Tigers.
Senior T.J. Bordeaux (73-74) is in 16th place, while Alex Edfort (149), Patrick Kucich (150), Matt Ogden (160) and Dan Garcia (161) all struggled.
Johnson holds a two-shot lead over UC Irvine’s Bryan Harris and San Diego State’s J.J. Spaun.
The tournament concludes today with tee times at 7:45 a.m.
boyS golf
Jesuit wins inaugural event
At Brookside Country Club, the conditions were difficult and the scores were a little higher than normal at the first Lincoln High Invitational.
Jesuit, which normally breaks the 400 barrier as a team, won the event at 411, followed by Christian Brothers at 414 and St. Mary’s (a) at 439. Hunter Rappleye of Christian Brothers was the medalist at 3-over par 75. Daniel Frantz of Red Bluff was second with a 76.
“We just had a great time,” Lincoln coach Matt Teeters said. “The wind was between 20 and 30 miles per hour, so it was brutal. But we were fortunate we didn’t get rained on.”
The wind and Brookside’s thick rough made it challenging for most of the field.
“The rough was new to some of the players,” Teeters said.
Ripon’s Andrew Bonner was second with a 78 and Josh Richter was sixth with an 80. The Indians came in fourth.
Full results: Page C4.
HigH ScHool baSeball
Lincoln 11, ceres 6
At Lincoln, Daniel Perez was 3 for 4 with three runs scored, and Brett Sullivan went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI as Lincoln (1-0-1) picked up its first win. Nick Welsh went 2 for 3 with a double and a triple for Ceres (3-2).
chavez 10, Turlock christian 1
At Chavez, freshman Averey Kolomvopos threw 52 / 3 innings, allowing no earned runs on four hits and striking out seven to earn the win. He also singled and drove in a run for the Titans (2-2).
HigH ScHool SofTball
Riverbank 9, Bret harte 2
At Riverbank, the Bullfrogs gave up four hits but committed five errors. Kendra Bennett and Savannah Tindell each had a double, and Taylor O’Conner had two hits for Bret Harte.
Track and field
Local honored
Cal Poly Pomona senior Lance Walkington out of Lincoln High was named the California Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Track and Field Athlete of the Week. Walkington won the javelin event at the Ben Brown Invitational on Saturday at Cal State Fullerton with a school-record tying 207 feet, 7 inches that earned him an NCAA Division II Championships provisional-qualifying.
—–
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From www.americanchronicle.com
Dick’s Sporting Goods Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Results
Mar 8th
PITTSBURGH, March 8, 2011 — /PRNewswire/ — Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE: DKS) today reported sales and earnings results for the fourth quarter and full year ended January 29, 2011.
Fourth Quarter Results
The Company reported consolidated non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter ended January 29, 2011 of $94.0 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, excluding an after-tax charge of $6.5 million, or $0.05 per diluted share from litigation settlement costs. These costs are from the previously disclosed fourth quarter settlement of wage and hour class action lawsuits and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. The fourth quarter consolidated non-GAAP earnings per diluted share exceeded estimated earnings expectations provided on November 16, 2010 of $0.69 – 0.71 per diluted share.
On a GAAP basis, the Company reported consolidated net income for the fourth quarter ended January 29, 2011 of $87.5 million, or $0.71 per diluted share. The GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations are included in a table later in the release under the heading “Non-GAAP Net Income and Earnings Per Share Reconciliation.” For the fourth quarter ended January 30, 2010, the Company reported consolidated net income of $67.4 million, or $0.56 per diluted share (GAAP and non-GAAP).
Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2010 increased by 13.6% from the fourth quarter of 2009 to $1,518.9 million due primarily to a 9.4% increase in consolidated same store sales and the opening of new stores. The 9.4% consolidated same store sales increase consisted of an 8.6% increase at Dick’s Sporting Goods stores, a 2.2% increase at Golf Galaxy and a 36.3% increase in our e-commerce business.
“In 2010, we generated significant earnings growth while maintaining our focus on strengthening our balance sheet,” said Edward W. Stack, Chairman and CEO. “We have successfully navigated the storms of the recession and have executed our business plan by posting six consecutive quarters of same store sales gains, opening 26 new stores in 2010, expanding our margin rates and reducing inventory per square foot. As a result, we are solidly positioned to generate further growth and increased operating margins in the coming years.”
Stores
In the fourth quarter, the Company opened eight new Dick’s Sporting Goods stores, remodeled one Dick’s Sporting Goods store, relocated one Dick’s Sporting Goods store, closed one Dick’s Sporting Goods Store and opened two new Golf Galaxy stores. The new stores are listed in a table later in the release under the heading “Store Count and Square Footage.”
As of January 29, 2011, the Company operated 444 Dick’s Sporting Goods stores in 42 states, with approximately 24.6 million square feet and 81 Golf Galaxy stores in 30 states, with approximately 1.3 million square feet.
Balance Sheet
The Company ended the fourth quarter of 2010 with $546 million in cash and cash equivalents and did not have any outstanding borrowings under its $440 million revolving credit facility. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company had $226 million in cash and cash equivalents and did not have any outstanding borrowings under its credit facility.
The inventory per square foot was 4.1% lower at the end of the fourth quarter 2010 as compared to the end of the fourth quarter 2009.
Full Year Results
The Company reported consolidated non-GAAP net income for the 52 weeks ended January 29, 2011 of $198.4 million, or $1.63 per diluted share. Non-GAAP earnings exclude Golf Galaxy store closing costs and litigation settlement costs. For the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2010, the Company reported consolidated non-GAAP net income of $141.4 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, which excluded merger and integration costs.
On a GAAP basis, the Company reported consolidated net income for the 52 weeks ended January 29, 2011 of $182.1 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, compared to $135.4 million, or $1.15 per diluted share for the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2010. The GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations are included later in the release under the heading “Non-GAAP Net Income and Earnings Per Share Reconciliation.”
Net sales for the full year 2010 increased 10.4% to $4,871.5 million due primarily to a 7.4% increase in consolidated same store sales and the opening of new stores.
Current 2011 Outlook
The Company’s current outlook for 2011 is based on current expectations and includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as described later in this release. Although the Company believes that comments reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.
- Full Year 2011
- Based on an estimated 125 million diluted shares outstanding, the Company currently anticipates reporting consolidated earnings per diluted share of approximately $1.89 – 1.91. For the full year 2010, the Company reported consolidated earnings per diluted share of $1.63, excluding Golf Galaxy store closing costs and litigation settlement costs. On a GAAP basis, the Company reported consolidated earnings per diluted share of $1.50 in 2010.
- Consolidated same store sales are currently expected to increase approximately 3%. The same store sales calculation for the full year 2011 includes Dick’s Sporting Goods stores, Golf Galaxy stores and the Company’s e-commerce business.
- The Company currently expects to open approximately 34 new Dick’s Sporting Goods stores, remodel 13 Dick’s Sporting Goods stores and open approximately three new Golf Galaxy stores in 2011.
- First Quarter 2011
- Based on an estimated 124 million diluted shares outstanding, the Company anticipates reporting consolidated earnings per diluted share of approximately $0.26 – 0.28 in the first quarter of 2011. In the first quarter of 2010, the Company reported earnings per diluted share of $0.22.
- Consolidated same store sales are expected to increase approximately 4 – 5%. The same store sales calculation for the first quarter 2011 includes Dick’s Sporting Goods stores, Golf Galaxy stores and the Company’s e-commerce business.
- The Company expects to open approximately three new Dick’s Sporting Goods stores in the first quarter of 2011.
Conference Call Info
The Company will be hosting a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. eastern time to discuss the fourth quarter and full year results. Investors will have the opportunity to listen to the earnings conference call over the internet through the Company’s web site located at http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/investors. To listen to the live call, please go to the web site at least fifteen minutes early to register and download and install any necessary audio software.
For those who cannot listen to the live webcast, it will be archived on the Company’s web site for 30 days. In addition, a dial-in replay will be available shortly after the call. To listen to the replay, investors should dial 888-286-8010 (domestic callers) or 617-801-6888 (international callers) and enter confirmation code 60701090. The dial-in replay will be available for 30 days following the live call.
Forward-Looking Statements Involving Known and Unknown Risks and Uncertainties
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements as those that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or advancements and by forward-looking words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “will”, “will be”, “will continue”, “will result”, “could”, “may”, “might”, or any variations of such words or other words with similar meanings. Forward-looking statements address, among other things, our expectations, our growth strategies, including our plans to open new stores, our efforts to increase profit margins and return on invested capital, plans to grow our private brand business, projections of our future profitability, results of operations, capital expenditures, our financial condition or other “forward-looking” information and include statements about revenues, earnings, spending, margins, costs, liquidity, store openings and operations, inventory, private brand products, our actions, plans or strategies. The following factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect our financial performance and actual results, and could cause actual results for fiscal 2011 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this release or otherwise made by our management; the current economic and financial downturn may cause a continued decline in consumer spending; changes in macroeconomic factors and market conditions, including the housing market and fuel costs, that impact the level of consumer spending for the types of merchandise we sell; changes in general economic and business conditions and in the specialty retail or sporting goods industry in particular; our quarterly operating results and same store sales may fluctuate substantially; potential volatility in our stock price; our ability to access adequate capital and the tightening of availability and higher costs associated with current and new sources of credit resulting from uncertainty in financial markets; the intense competition in the sporting goods industry and actions by our competitors; the current financial and economic crisis may adversely affect our landlords and real estate developers of retail space, which may limit the availability of attractive store locations; risks that could affect our ability to grow our number of stores, including the availability of retail store sites on terms acceptable to us, the cost of real estate and other items related to our stores, and our inability to manage our growth, open new stores on a timely basis or expand successfully in new and existing markets; changes in consumer demand; unauthorized disclosure of sensitive, personal or confidential information; risks associated with our private brand offerings, including fluctuations in the cost of products resulting from increases in raw material prices and other factors; reliance on foreign sources of production; compliance with government and industry safety standards; and intellectual property risks; our relationships with our vendors, including potential increases in the costs of their products and our ability to pass those cost increases on to our customers, their ability to maintain their inventory and production levels and their ability or willingness to provide us with sufficient quantities of products at acceptable prices; risks and costs relating to the products we sell, including: product liability claims and the availability of recourse to third parties, including under our insurance policies; product recalls; and the regulation of and other hazards associated with certain products we sell, such as hunting rifles and ammunition; disruptions in our or our vendors’ supply chain, including as a result of political instability, foreign trade issues, the impact of economic or financial downturn on distributors or other reasons; the loss of our key executives, especially Edward W. Stack, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; currency exchange rate fluctuations; costs and risks associated with increased or changing laws and regulations affecting our business, including those relating to labor, employment and the sale of consumer products; risks relating to operating as a multi-channel retailer, including the impact of rapid technological change, internet security and privacy issues, the threat of systems failure or inadequacy, increased or changing governmental regulation and increased competition; risks relating to problems with or disruption of our current management information systems; any serious disruption at our distribution facilities; the seasonality of our business; regional risks because our stores are generally concentrated in the eastern half of the United States; the outcome of litigation or other legal actions against us; risks relating to operational and financial restrictions imposed by our senior secured revolving credit agreement; risks associated with our pursuit of strategic acquisitions, including costs and uncertainties associated with combining businesses and/or assimilating acquired companies; our ability to meet our labor needs; we are controlled by our Chief Executive Officer and his relatives, whose interests may differ from those of our other stockholders; the impact on the U.S. retail environment of foreign instability and conflict; our ability to secure and protect our trademarks, patents and other intellectual property; our current anti-takeover provisions could prevent or delay a change in control of the Company; impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other acquired intangibles; and changes in our business strategies.
Known and unknown risks and uncertainties are more fully described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 30, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 18, 2010, and other reports filed with the SEC. The Company disclaims any obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by the securities laws.
About Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. is an authentic full-line sporting goods retailer offering a broad assortment of brand name sporting goods equipment, apparel and footwear in a specialty store environment. The Company also owns and operates Golf Galaxy, LLC, a multi-channel golf specialty retailer. As of January 29, 2011, the Company operated 444 Dick’s Sporting Goods stores in 42 states, 81 Golf Galaxy stores in 30 states and e-commerce and catalog operations for both Dick’s Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy. The Company’s SEC filings, press releases and reconciliation information required pursuant to Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available at www.dickssportinggoods.com/investors. The Company’s website is not part of this press release.
DICK’S SPORTING GOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME – UNAUDITED (In thousands, except per share data) 13 Weeks Ended January 29, % of Sales (1) January 30, % of Sales 2011 2010 Net sales $ 1,518,914 100.00% $ 1,336,590 100.00% Cost of goods sold, including occupancy and distribution costs 1,039,320 68.43 946,809 70.84 GROSS PROFIT 479,594 31.57 389,781 29.16 Selling, general and administrative expenses 332,305 21.88 276,727 20.70 Pre-opening expenses 1,298 0.09 (15) (0.00) INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 145,991 9.61 113,069 8.46 Interest expense 3,487 0.23 908 0.07 Other income (1,058) (0.07) (367) (0.03) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 143,562 9.45 112,528 8.42 Provision for income taxes 56,073 3.69 45,168 3.38 NET INCOME $ 87,489 5.76% $ 67,360 5.04% EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: Basic $ 0.74 $ 0.59 Diluted $ 0.71 $ 0.56 WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: Basic 117,952 114,640 Diluted 124,063 119,666 (1) Column does not add due to rounding
DICK’S SPORTING GOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME – UNAUDITED (In thousands, except per share data) 52 Weeks Ended January 29, % of Sales January 30, % of Sales 2011 2010 Net sales $ 4,871,492 100.00% $ 4,412,835 100.00% Cost of goods sold, including occupancy and distribution costs 3,422,462 70.25 3,195,899 72.42 GROSS PROFIT 1,449,030 29.75 1,216,936 27.58 Selling, general and administrative expenses 1,129,293 23.18 972,025 22.03 Merger and integration costs – - 10,113 0.23 Pre-opening expenses 10,488 0.22 9,227 0.21 INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 309,249 6.35 225,571 5.11 Interest expense 14,016 0.29 4,543 0.10 Other income (2,278) (0.05) (2,148) (0.05) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 297,511 6.11 223,176 5.06 Provision for income taxes 115,434 2.37 87,817 1.99 NET INCOME $ 182,077 3.74% $ 135,359 3.07% EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: Basic $ 1.57 $ 1.20 Diluted $ 1.50 $ 1.15 WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: Basic 116,236 113,184 Diluted 121,724 117,955
DICK’S SPORTING GOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS – UNAUDITED (Dollars in thousands) January 29, January 30, 2011 2010 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 546,052 $ 225,611 Accounts receivable, net 34,978 35,435 Income taxes receivable 9,050 8,420 Inventories, net 896,895 895,776 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 58,394 57,119 Deferred income taxes 18,961 – Total current assets 1,564,330 1,222,361 Property and equipment, net 684,886 662,304 Intangible assets, net 51,070 47,557 Goodwill 200,594 200,594 Other assets: Deferred income taxes 27,157 66,089 Investments 10,789 10,880 Other 58,710 35,548 Total other assets 96,656 112,517 TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,597,536 $ 2,245,333 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable $ 446,511 $ 431,366 Accrued expenses 279,284 246,414 Deferred revenue and other liabilities 121,753 108,230 Income taxes payable – 8,687 Current portion of other long-term debt and leasing obligations 995 978 Total current liabilities 848,543 795,675 LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: Revolving credit borrowings – - Other long-term debt and leasing obligations 139,846 141,265 Deferred revenue and other liabilities 245,566 225,166 Total long-term liabilities 385,412 366,431 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY: Common stock 938 898 Class B common stock 250 250 Additional paid-in capital 625,184 526,715 Retained earnings 730,468 548,391 Accumulated other comprehensive income 6,741 6,973 Total stockholders’ equity 1,363,581 1,083,227 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 2,597,536 $ 2,245,333
DICK’S SPORTING GOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS – UNAUDITED (Dollars in thousands) 52 Weeks Ended January 29, January 30, 2011 2010 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 182,077 $ 135,359 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 110,394 100,948 Amortization of discount on convertible notes – 321 Deferred income taxes 18,005 9,151 Stock-based compensation 24,828 21,314 Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options (22,177) (16,041) Tax benefit from exercise of stock options 1,281 1,276 Other non-cash items 1,538 1,588 Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 9,265 6,823 Inventories (1,119) (41,005) Prepaid expenses and other assets (1,970) (24,996) Accounts payable (2,251) 132,858 Accrued expenses 23,965 33,785 Income taxes receivable/payable 11,796 19,658 Deferred construction allowances 11,170 9,046 Deferred revenue and other liabilities 23,165 11,244 Net cash provided by operating activities 389,967 401,329 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Capital expenditures (159,067) (140,269) Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions 19,953 31,640 Deposits and purchases of other assets (22,021) – Net cash used in investing activities (161,135) (108,629) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Revolving credit borrowings, net – - Repayment of convertible notes – (172,500) Payments on other long-term debt and leasing obligations (934) (2,566) Construction allowance receipts – 7,022 Proceeds from sale of common stock under employee stock purchase plan – 1,199 Proceeds from exercise of stock options 52,952 9,375 Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options 22,177 16,041 Increase (decrease) in bank overdraft 17,396 (605) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 91,591 (142,034) EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 18 108 NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 320,441 150,774 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 225,611 74,837 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $ 546,052 $ 225,611 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Construction in progress – leased facilities $ – $ (52,054) Accrued property and equipment $ 8,905 $ (1,656) Cash paid for interest $ 12,384 $ 4,501 Cash paid for income taxes $ 85,230 $ 63,378
Store Count and Square Footage
The stores that opened during the fourth quarter of 2010 are as follows:
DICK’S Store Market Dubuque, IA Dubuque Paducah, KY Carbondale Madison, MS Jackson Port Huron, MI Detroit Metairie, LA New Orleans Danbury, CT New Haven Gastonia, NC Charlotte Westminster, MD Baltimore GOLF GALAXY Store Market East Hanover, NJ New Jersey – North Burlington, MA Boston
The following represents a reconciliation of beginning and ending stores and square footage for the periods indicated:
Fiscal 2010 Fiscal 2009 Dick’s Sporting Goods Golf Galaxy Total Dick’s Sporting Goods Golf Galaxy Chick’s Sporting Goods Total Beginning stores 419 91 510 384 89 14 487 Q1 New 5 – 5 9 1 – 10 Q2 New 1 – 1 4 – - 4 Q3 New 12 – 12 11 – - 11 Q4 New 8 2 10 – - – - 445 93 538 408 90 14 512 Closed (1) (12) (13) (1) – (2) (3) Converted – - – 12 1 (12) 1 Ending stores 444 81 525 419 91 – 510 Remodeled stores 12 – 12 – - – - Relocated stores 2 – 2 1 – - 1 Square Footage: (in millions) Dick’s Sporting Goods Golf Galaxy Chick’s Sporting Goods Total Q1 2009 22.0 1.5 0.6 24.1 Q2 2009 22.7 1.5 – 24.2 Q3 2009 23.4 1.5 – 24.9 Q4 2009 23.3 1.5 – 24.8 Q1 2010 23.6 1.5 – 25.1 Q2 2010 23.7 1.5 – 25.2 Q3 2010 24.3 1.3 – 25.6 Q4 2010 24.6 1.3 – 25.9
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to reporting the Company’s financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company provides information regarding net income and earnings per diluted share adjusted to exclude a litigation settlement charge and Golf Galaxy store closing costs; earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation, adjusted to exclude certain significant gains and losses (“Adjusted EBITDA”); a reconciliation from the Company’s gross capital expenditures net of tenant allowances; and calculations of consolidated and Dick’s Sporting Goods new store productivity. These measures are considered non-GAAP and are not preferable to GAAP financial information; however, the Company believes this information provides additional measures of performance that the Company’s management, analysts and investors can use to compare core, operating results between reporting periods. These non-GAAP measures are provided below and on the Company’s website at http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/investors.
Non-GAAP Net Income and Earnings Per Share Reconciliation (in thousands, except per share data): 13 Weeks Ended January 29, 2011 Litigation As Settlement Non-GAAP Reported Charge Total Net sales $ 1,518,914 $ – $ 1,518,914 Cost of goods sold, including occupancy and distribution costs 1,039,320 – 1,039,320 GROSS PROFIT 479,594 – 479,594 Selling, general and administrative expenses 332,305 (10,821) 321,484 Pre-opening expenses 1,298 – 1,298 INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 145,991 10,821 156,812 Interest expense 3,487 – 3,487 Other income (1,058) – (1,058) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 143,562 10,821 154,383 Provision for income taxes 56,073 4,328 60,401 NET INCOME $ 87,489 $ 6,493 $ 93,982 EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: Basic $ 0.74 $ 0.80 Diluted $ 0.71 $ 0.76 WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: Basic 117,952 117,952 Diluted 124,063 124,063 During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $10.8 million relating to a litigation settlement. The provision for income taxes was calculated at 40%, which approximates the Company’s blended tax rate.
52 Weeks Ended January 29, 2011 Golf Galaxy Litigation As Store Closing Settlement Non-GAAP Reported Costs Charge Total Net sales $ 4,871,492 $ – $ – $ 4,871,492 Cost of goods sold, including occupancy and distribution costs 3,422,462 – - 3,422,462 GROSS PROFIT 1,449,030 – - 1,449,030 Selling, general and administrative expenses 1,129,293 (16,376) (10,821) 1,102,096 Pre-opening expenses 10,488 – - 10,488 INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 309,249 16,376 10,821 336,446 Interest expense 14,016 – - 14,016 Other income (2,278) – - (2,278) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 297,511 16,376 10,821 324,708 Provision for income taxes 115,434 6,550 4,328 126,312 NET INCOME $ 182,077 $ 9,826 $ 6,493 $ 198,396 EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: Basic $ 1.57 $ 1.71 Diluted $ 1.50 $ 1.63 WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: Basic 116,236 116,236 Diluted 121,724 121,724 Golf Galaxy store closing costs include the Company’s lease exposure relating to the closure of 12 underperforming Golf Galaxy stores in the third quarter of 2010. During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $10.8 million relating to a litigation settlement. The provision for income taxes was calculated at 40%, which approximates the Company’s blended tax rate. Refer to the Company’s press release dated March 9, 2010 announcing its results for the fourth fiscal quarter ended January 30, 2010 for a reconciliation of non-GAAP net income and earnings per share for the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2010.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other GAAP measure of performance or liquidity and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is a key metric used by the Company that provides a measurement of profitability that eliminates the effect of changes resulting from financing decisions, tax regulations, capital investments and other significant items that may vary from period to period and have a disproportionate effect in a given period, which affects the comparability of results. Adjusted EBITDA was determined as follows:
13 Weeks Ended January 29, January 30, 2011 2010 (dollars in thousands) Net income $ 87,489 $ 67,360 Provision for income taxes 56,073 45,168 Interest expense 3,487 908 Depreciation and amortization 30,083 24,989 EBITDA 177,132 138,425 Add: Litigation settlement 10,821 – Adjusted EBITDA, as defined $ 187,953 $ 138,425 % increase in Adjusted EBITDA 36% 52 Weeks Ended January 29, January 30, 2011 2010 (dollars in thousands) Net income $ 182,077 $ 135,359 Provision for income taxes 115,434 87,817 Interest expense 14,016 4,543 Depreciation and amortization 110,394 100,948 EBITDA 421,921 328,667 Add: Litigation settlement 10,821 – Add: Golf Galaxy store closing costs 16,376 – Add: Merger and integration costs – 10,113 Less: Depreciation and amortization (merger integration) – (2,478) Adjusted EBITDA, as defined $ 449,118 $ 336,302 % increase in Adjusted EBITDA 34%
Reconciliation of Gross Capital Expenditures to Net Capital Expenditures
The following table represents a reconciliation of the Company’s gross capital expenditures to its capital expenditures, net of tenant allowances.
52 Weeks Ended January 29, January 30, 2011 2010 (dollars in thousands) Gross capital expenditures $ (159,067) $ (140,269) Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions 19,953 31,640 Changes in deferred construction allowances 11,170 9,046 Construction allowance receipts – 7,022 Net capital expenditures $ (127,944) $ (92,561)
New Store Productivity Calculation
The following calculations represent: (1) the new store productivity calculation on a consolidated basis; and (2) the new store productivity calculation for Dick’s Sporting Goods for the quarter ended January 29, 2011. Golf Galaxy stores and the Company’s e-commerce business are excluded from the Dick’s Sporting Goods only calculation. New store productivity compares the sales increase for all stores not included in the comparable sales calculation with the increase in store square footage.
Consolidated Dick’s Sporting Goods Only 13 Weeks Ended 13 Weeks Ended January 29, January 30, January 29, January 30, 2011 2010 2011 2010 Sales % increase for the period 13.6% 13.7% Comparable sales % increase for the period 9.4% 8.6% New store sales % increase (A) (1) 4.2% 5.0% Store square footage (000′s): Beginning of period 25,556 24,864 24,262 23,384 End of period 25,900 24,816 24,568 23,337 Average for the period 25,728 24,840 24,415 23,361 Average square footage % increase for the period (B) 3.6% 4.5% New store productivity (A)/(B) (1) 118.6% 111.0% (1) - Amounts do not recalculate due to rounding.
Contact: Timothy E. Kullman, EVP – Finance, Administration and Chief Financial Officer or Anne-Marie Megela, Director, Investor Relations 724-273-3400 investors@dcsg.com
SOURCE Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.
From www.sacbee.com
The Masters 2011
Mar 8th
Lee Westwood – can he go one better this year?
Lee Westwood’s bid for a first major has gathered pace in the last couple of seasons.
He’s knocked at the door repeatedly – four top threes in his last six majors – only to end up settling for silver or bronze due to an odd missed putt or a piece of inspiration from a rival.
One of those near misses came in last year’s Masters when only the inspirational play of Phil Mickelson stopped Westwood slipping his arms into the Green Jacket.
The Englishman will be lining up in his 12th Masters this year and although he lost his number one spot in the world rankings to Martin Kaymer he’ll still go into the year’s first major as one of the favourites for victory.
Westwood talks to us about the challenge of Augusta National and his hopes for 2011 in this exclusive interview.
Lee, you first played The Masters in 1997, how does it differ to other majors and how does it feel when you go back there year upon year?
LW: Obviously, as it’s the same venue each year you learn to know what to expect. It changes subtly but in essence it’s pretty much the same every year, so you get used to it.
How do you prefer the course to play, hard and fast or wet and long?
LW: I don’t really have a preference, I think it plays its hardest when it’s very firm and breezy, that’s when it plays its trickiest. But it’s the kind of course that you just enjoy no matter what the conditions, and you just play it as it comes.
How do you feel your game is suited to the challenge?
LW: Yeah, I think over the years I’ve gradually got a game plan for it. I think Billy (Foster, Westwood’s caddie) helped a lot last year having been around there with Seve who would’ve shown him a few tricks, and it was nice to go there a couple of weeks beforehand and get a feel for the place so I didn’t have to put too much practice in prior to the tournament. I was pretty fresh by the time the tournament started; those practice rounds can wear you out. So a lot of things contributed to playing well last year.
You must be pretty proud of the fact that you were able to rise all the way to the top of the world rankings after slipping outside the top 200 at one point.
LW: I am proud of coming back, I have the sense of achievement and it’s taught me a lot of things about myself and when things tend to go wrong on the golf course now I’m a lot less flustered. If I don’t feel quite right with the way I’m swinging it I’m less likely to panic and try too many things out, I just go back to what I know will work.
Fred Couples, David Duval and Ian Woosnam all became world number one without having won a major, and then they all went on to win one. Are you a superstitious man?
LW: I’m not a superstitious man but I was aware of that, yeah. I would obviously rather be a major champion but it’s something I can’t control, but I’d like to put it right and join that club by winning a major championship this year.
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, how do you feel the other major courses suit your game?
LW: I’ve played them all and I feel like they all suit me. You look at my game last year and I pretty much played well every week so there’s not really a golf course where you could say ‘that’s not his kind of course’. I played pretty well at Congressional, that was my first experience of a US Open when Ernie won in ’97 so I’m looking forward to going back there. I played well in a Booz Allen Championship there too so that’d be one of my favourite US Open venues and one of my favourite golf courses full-stop. And I enjoyed playing at Atlanta Athletic Club (host of the PGA) although when we played there (2001) I was going through a poor patch so I didn’t have my best game with me.
Are you a goal-setter or do you just play your game and what will be, will be?
LW: I do set little goals, but they do tend to be short-term rather than long-term, you know with stretches of tournaments coming up. Obviously a goal this year would be to win a major championship but it’s something that sometimes you can’t control, you go into the week playing really well and you do play good but, like I proved at the Masters last year, someone plays that little bit better and pulls off the right shots at the right time and you don’t win it. So the intention is just to peak for every time I play.
A final question then, a lot has been made of the use of Twitter. Can we fans expect updates during the event?
LW: No we’re not allowed our mobile phones in there that week, so it’ll be a Twitter-free zone Augusta National.
I don’t know how we’ll cope. Lee, thanks for speaking with us and good luck.
LW: My pleasure.
From www.skysports.com
Golf world lands 2 new sponsors
Mar 8th
If you are looking for a little good news in the world of golf and sponsorship money, then Monday was your day.
Two tournaments, one on the Champions Tour and one on the LPGA Tour, announced new sponsorship deals, showing that there are companies out there willing to use golf as an advertising and marketing tool.
The first news came from Pebble Beach, where the Champions Tour event played on the fabled course in cooperation with The First Tee program announced a new title deal with Nature Valley. Nature Valley is a General Mills brand that is best known for its granola bars and snacks.
That tournament had not used the name of a title sponsor in the past, instead going with the First Tee program as its identification for the last seven years.
While that’s good news for the Champions Tour, better news came for the LPGA on Monday when it was announced that CME Group will be the title sponsor of the season-ending Titleholders Tournament. That event was previously known as the Tour Championship.
According to the company’s website, CME Group is “the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace.” If you don’t know what the means, you aren’t a big-time finance or investment person. Suffice it to say that CME Group has a lot of money, and they are happy to use the LPGA’s final event to help brand their company a little more in the golf demographic.
For the LPGA, which has lost sponsors and tournaments over the last few years at an alarming rate and just lost another sponsor last week in State Farm, getting any sponsor is a good thing. Getting a sponsor for the season-ending showcase and having the sponsor be a big-time financial corporation is even better.
So maybe, just maybe, there is hope. Maybe there are other companies that are on the verge of coming back to golf, or maybe coming to the game for the first time to fill the void of sponsors who have left in the last few years.
Maybe the LPGA can sign up a few sponsors to shore up a schedule that is lagging and will be short at least two announced 2011 events when the 2012 season rolls around.
There are other signs that the game may be on an upswing, at least on a commercial, sponsorship level. The Golf Channel, CBS and NBC have all recorded year-to-year increases in ratings for the early season events. Sinking ratings were one of the major concerns in the last few years, since lower ratings mean fewer eyes watching commercials or seeing corporate branding. Rising ratings could make corporations take a second look at spending millions of dollars to help an event cover the costs of television, tournament production and player purses.
One new sponsor on the Champions Tour and one new sponsor on the LPGA doesn’t make for a full recovery. But every recovery needs a start, and this could be it.
Larry Bohannan covers golf for the Desert Sun. His columns appear Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. He can be reached at 778-4633.
From www.mydesert.com
Rory Sabbatini captures Honda Classic
Mar 8th
Rory Sabbatini captures Honda Classic
Brad Morgan
8 March 2011
Rory Sabbatini captured his sixth PGA Tour title on Sunday when he won the Honda Classic on the PGA National Champion Course at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.
Thanks to his victory, Sabbatini rose a huge 50 places in the latest Official World Golf Rankings, up from 102 to 52. He also pocketed a huge cheque of $1 026 000.
Addressing the press following his win, Sabbatini said: “To me, every win out here is as special as the first one. They’re all different, they’re all unique, and, what can I say? It was a fantastic week and everything went great and it was better than could be expected.”
A good feeling
Sabbatini has been playing a busy schedule and was questioned about it. He explained: “I felt like something good was going to happen and I guess [I] was just really trying to flush a win out. So I guess if you flip a coin enough times you’re eventually going to come out on the right side. So I thought of it in that way.”
After building up a five-shot lead following the first three rounds, the South African closed with a level-par final round of 70 to win by one shot over 2009 PGA champion YE Yang on a testing course.
Just how tough was the course? Well, a look at the scores turned in by some other South Africans puts it into perspective. Trevor Immelman finished on 18-over-par 298 and Ernie Els on 16-over 296. Louis Oosthuizen missed the cut. All three are, of course, major winners.
Charl Schwartzel finished on level-par 280, which was good enough for a tie for 14th place. In total, only 13 players managed to better par.
Tournament best round
Sabbatini’s success was built around excellent scores in the second and third rounds. He fired a six-under 64 in round two, which was matched only by US Open champion Graeme McDowell in the fourth round for the best round of the tournament.
Following his 64, a four-under 66 in round three put the South African in the driver’s seat, well clear of the chasing pack, and on course for victory.
He finished on nine-under-par 271 after rounds of 71, 64, 66, and 70, while 2009 US PGA winner YE Yang took second spot on eight-under 272 after putting in a strong charge in the final round, with a four-under 66.
Sabbatini refelcted on the pressure that Yang put him under. “YE played a fantastic round of golf today. He came out there, he did what he had to do and put the pressure on me, and luckily I had enough of a cushion, [so that] I didn’t get too concerned about it.”
In the past, Sabbatini has stitched up some people the wrong way with his outspoken ways, but the Sabbatini that won the Honda Classic on Sunday appeared to be a more mature, “softer” version of the man. ‘I’m a passionate golfer’
He agreed, with a vague hint of sheepishness, that he has made some changes for the better. “I’m a passionate golfer,” he explained. “I love the game of golf, and I’ve had my moments. I’m not proud of everything I’ve done out here, but I’m trying to learn.
“I’m trying to be a role model for my children, and I know as my wife has said to me, I wouldn’t want my son doing some of the things that I’ve done in the past.”
Going on this result, the “new” Sabbatini has found a winning formula.
LEADERBOARD
From www.southafrica.info
If you go: WGC-Cadillac Championship
Mar 8th
When: Thursday-Sunday
Where: Doral Golf Resort & Spa, 4400 NW 87th Ave., Doral
Course: TPC Blue Monster (7,266 yards, par 72). A 1961 Dick Wilson creation, Doral’s signature course gets its name from its famed 18th hole, where water along the entire left side intimidates golfers both on the tee and the approach shot. At the first Doral Open, pros went a combined 104-over par for the week at No.18. “This is a monster,” said Frank Strafaci, Doral’s golf director. “A blue monster.”
Purse: $8.5 million ($1.4 million to winner).
Defending champion: Ernie Els (18-under-par 270), four shots ahead of Charl Schwartzel.
Schedule: Tuesday, practice rounds all day; Under Armour junior clinic with Hunter Mahan and Dennis Walters, 10:30 a.m., Red course first fairway. Wednesday, practice rounds all day. Thursday, first round starting 11:15 a.m. Friday, second round starting 11:15 a.m. Saturday, third round starting 8:30 a.m. Sunday, final round starting 9:30 a.m.
Television: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel). Saturday, 2-6 p.m. (NBC), Sunday, 3-7 p.m. (NBC).
Tickets: Single-day tickets $20 Wednesday, $40 Thursday-Sunday. Full-week Clubhouse Ticket for $120 includes access to clubhouse and a voucher for discounted golf rates at Doral. Full-week Point Club pass for $225 includes access to The Point hospitality suite overlooking the No. 8, No. 9 and No. 18 greens. Order online at WorldGolfChampionships.com or call 866-494-2849.
Parking: Preferred parking off Northwest 52nd Street adjacent to Doral’s Great White course. General parking ($10) at J.C. Bermudez Park, near Northwest 87th Avenue and Northwest 33rd Street. Shuttle buses will transport spectators from both sites.
From www.orlandosentinel.com
