The Wire -- Golf's only weekday transaction newsletter

The Wire for Friday, December 21, 2001

A Look Back: Dec. 21
1892: Walter Hagen is born in Rochester, N.Y. Hagen would total 40 PGA Tour wins including 11 major championships. He died on Oct. 6, 1969, in Traverse City, Mich.
1920: U.S. Golf Association President George Herbert Walker introduces a plan for an International Challenge Trophy before the USGA Executive Committee meeting and offers to donate a trophy. The competition and the trophy will be known as the Walker Cup.
1920: Kel Nagle, winner of the 1960 British Open, is born in Sydney, Australia.
1945: The U.S. Golf Association announces that it will increase the purse to $8,000 for the 1946 U.S. Open, the first to be conducted after World War II.
1985: Don January and Alice Miller team to win the Mazda Champions.

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Note to Readers
The Wire will take a break for Christmas and New Year's and return Wednesday, Jan. 2. We hope all our readers have a wonderful holiday.

People
Tiger Woods re-signs with Electronic Arts to star in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour game for the next five years. The 2002 version of the game, which will be available for the PC and PlayStation in February, introduces a new feature -- split screen/speed golf.
For more...

Sponsorship
Golf and sportswear maker Ashworth signs Chris DiMarco and Stuart Appleby to multi-year sponsorship agreements by which both players will wear Ashworth apparel on and off the course. Also, the company renewed its contract with Scott Verplank.
For more...

Business
An independent committee of the National Golf Properties Board of Directors hires Lazard Freres & Co. to act as its financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to act as its legal advisor in the process of evaluating restructuring alternatives. One of the studies to be done is a review of the company's leases with its primary tenant, American Golf Corporation.
For more...

Equipment maker Carbite Golf announces its stock will now be listed for trading on the OTC Bulletin Board under the trading symbol CGTFF. The company's stock will also continue to be listed on the Canadian Venture Exchange.
For more...

The 19th Hole
As usual this time of year, there are plenty of lists being checked. So The Wire thought it would check one of its own. We want to know what/who you, the reader, think is (1) the best course in the United States; (2) the course you most want to play; (3) the best course designer -- past or present. Send your picks to stuart@gpagolf.com with RE: Poll in the subject line and the results will be published in The Wire in early January.

Casual Friday
12 Reasons to be Jolly

Well, Christmas is almost upon us and the stockings have been hung with care, the tree has been trimmed and the presents bought and wrapped. Now all there is left to do is wait for jolly 'ol St. Nick.

So while I'm waiting, I thought I would zip off a quick note to Santa in hopes I can sneak in a few last-second requests. All I want is:

A call from a member, any member, at either Augusta National or Pine Valley and say "Hey, I need a fourth for Saturday. Can you make it?"

A United States win in the Ryder Cup. OK, I know I may have offended a lot of our Europeans readers, but after Sept. 11, I've become a real patriotic Yankee. But I am willing to compromise, so how about another white-knuckle finish like Brookline -- without the raucous rowdiness.

Greg Norman to win the Masters and then, in no particular order, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and an amateur to win the year's remaining three majors. And if not an amateur, then how about Ty Tyron?

For the LPGA Tour's reduced schedule and the Senior PGA Tour's makeover to be positive steps that will strengthen both tours.

Peter Kessler to show up on on my television screen talking golf.

A year in which Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb go head-to-head in each of the year's four majors and battle down to the year's final event for the year's Player of the Year and money title.

For the changes at Augusta National to not ruin what has forever been a good thing.

A ball that will add 30 yards to my irons shots and right itself on every hook and slice.

Continued restoration projects of the Classical Era architectural course designs.

Arnold Palmer to keep on playing and Jack Nicklaus to make a Sunday -- shoot, I'll even settle for a Saturday -- charge in a major championship.

My daughter Allison, who turns 3 in March, to say "Dad, I want to learn how to play golf...."

For everyone to have a safe and prosperous 2002.

Happy Holidays,

Stuart Hall
Editor