Golf can be a tremendously difficult sport for anyone.

If you play poorly one day, can't make anything, the ball goes right every time, you name it, you want to pack up your clubs and go home. The game gets discouraging and you would rather beat yourself into a coma with your putter than play it ever again.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have the No. 1 reason why you should come back.

The best player in the world, and maybe the history of civilization, Tiger Woods, just hit a ball on the roof of a clubhouse. Actually there are conflicting reports as to whether or not it stayed on the roof or if some short-order cook walked out and picked it up after the ball went over the roof.

Either way, he made bogey and you all can take solace in the fact that the greatest did something most of you probably have never done.

Well, I was half right about Tom Lehman's Ryder Cup picks. Cink was a virtual lock, but I was a little taken back by Scott Verplank and here's why:

1.) He was 20th on the points list and Lehman kept stressing how unimportant experience was. If that was the case, why go all the way down to 20th? I think experience was a bigger factor than Lehman wanted to let on, but that makes it obvious that he would have selected Courtney Love before Davis Love.

2.) Verplank missed the cut by miles at the PGA Championship. If you believe Love lost his spot based on a 73-76 weekend, how exactly does a guy watching Saturday morning cartoons from home warrant a spot?

(I'm not clamoring for a Davis Love III spot. I'm really not, because the U.S. has won twice with him in there in six tries. This Verplank pick Ver-plexes me, that's all.)

3.) Verplank hasn't won in five years. Lehman said how important winning was, then tabbed two guys who haven't won in five years and two years for Cink. Verplank has one top 10 since Bay Hill in March. Sadly, that's one more than Davis Love III, who I think will be captain for the U.S. in 2010 after Paul Azinger next time.

Some other Ryder Cup observations:

1.) I love the idea of going to The K Club next week as a team. I love it even more when Lehman said players and caddies only. This will give them time to play the course, but also be around each other. Lehman said on Monday that the squad would play golf (and compete in practice rounds), fish and drink Guinness. My question is, do they need anyone else to go?

2.) I also like that this is for players and caddies. There is plenty for the ladies to do once the event starts with the gala dinner, opening ceremonies and other things. That's not sexist so all of you Gloria Steinem wannabes, take a breath.

3.) Here's what I don't like. Two guys probably aren't going. Any guesses? Of course it's Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the two guys who could use a bonding session more than anyone. Woods is actually going to try and make it for the day (he's going to Ireland for the day. I'm going to the supermarket after I write this.), but both have corporate responsibilities. These are the two studs of this team and with four unheralded rookies, they need to show leadership. Bad start.

4.) Monday afternoon truly made me realize the lack of depth in American golf. I'm not in love with the Verplank pick, but where else could Lehman have gone? Lehman said he looked seriously at Love, Lucas Glover, Steve Stricker and Corey Pavin. How weak a crop is that? Is Jackie Burke busy? He may be 80, but why not?

Woods and Furyk will play together. So too will Mickelson and DiMarco. Most think Toms and Campbell will tee it up some together. What does that leave Lehman? One team out of Vaughn Taylor, Zach Johnson, Scott Verplank, Stewart Cink, Brett Wetterich and J.J. Henry. Slim.

5.) I do like one rookie more than the others and that's Wetterich. This dude is a masher who could have a future in pro wrestling if he ever hit hard times on the course. He is fourth in distance and third in birdies. Pair him with someone consistent in fourballs and you have something potentially strong.

No matter what Padraig Harrington says, the Americans are underdogs heading into the Ryder Cup. Maybe not Duke versus UNLV underdogs or David versus Goliath, but definite underdogs.

Quick non-golf thoughts - Watched the William Shatner Roast last night and here's a sentence I never thought I'd write - "Betty White destroyed."

Well that was certainly dramatic wasn't it? I'm done talking about Tiger Woods. Maybe forever. He's so good right now, no one can come close to touching him and that ends the conversation.

Wanted to send this out before the press conference tomorrow morning. I would take Stewart Cink and Tim Herron. Tom Lehman will take Stewart Cink and Davis Love III. This is the most wide open race for two captain's pick I can ever remember.

I'm going to bed.

Two things I forgot in the last posting.

Tim Herron has an outstanding chance to make the U.S. side. He looks like he will need a tie for seventh or better and is currently ninth. That can be done.

Also, did anyone catch the TNT broadcast earlier on Sunday? Ernie Johnson, who reeks of awesomeness, is recovering at home. Verne Lundquist calls him on the air and talks to him without the audience being able to hear Johnson. This sounded so bad on the air. So bad. I would have rather heard Lundquist and Bobby Clampett sing Broadway tunes than this monstrosity, which could have been kind of nice.

Sunday afternoon and I woke up with a cold. Scratchy throat, congestion. Hopefully it doesn't impact my normal jovial soul.

Tiger Woods will win the PGA Championship. When you win every time you have a piece of the 54-hole lead, it seems practical to pick him again. He's playing out his mind and his long iron play is simply chilling. Three-irons that spin to six feet, these are the things that make him just untouchable right now.

Luke Donald, Geoff Ogilvy and Mike Weir all need to fly out of the gate like they were shot out of a cannon. I mean four birdies in their first four holes. I think everyone else is a little too far out of it.

My other bold predictions for today involve the Ryder Cup. I don't think anyone new is going to make the squad so the 10 that came in, will be the 10 that earn automatic spots.

As for the picks, I've changed my tune overnight. Stewart Cink is currently tearing Medinah up and I don't think he'll make up enough ground to get into the top-10. Cink needs a solo ninth or better and unless there's some sort of catastrophic accident involving the leaders, I don't see him getting there. However, I do think he's done enough to warrant one of Tom Lehman's picks because he's playing strong golf the last month.

The other pick is tricky. No American is high on the leaderboard and worth picking (Austin, Micheel, Riley). That's why I still give the advantage to Davis Love III. With four rookies, Lehman might just opt for experience, but he indicated he's not afraid of inexperience. Love does not own a top-10 this season and faded the last two days of the PGA Championship.

Outside the box - take whomever finishes 11th. John Rollins or whomever gets there. I still bet on Love.

What in the name of God is going on here?

Mike Weir just birdied the 15th and is seven-under on his round. There are more birdies than a flock flying south for the winter. Is this a major championship or a chip-and-putt round at Woody's?

Why is this happening? Well, when you have no wind and soft conditions, these guys will make birdies. There was quite a bit of rain overnight...

Luke Donald just chipped in for birdie.

Anyway, back to my point - soft conditions can lead to birdies if you put the ball in the fairway...

Mike Weir just hit a shot from a fairway bunker to about a centimeter. This is getting ridiculous.

There are so many people lighting up this scoreboard that I literally am writing down every shot I see. You never know who's going to come out of the pack and I don't want to miss anything.

By the way, David Toms is now five back. I'm displeased and a little hungry.

Hello friends, Jim Brighters here...Imagine me doing my Jim Nantz impersonation there.

If you ain't making birdies, you ain't gonna contend. That would be the theme of Saturday morning as birdies are racing into the cup at breakneck speed. There are close to 30 players within three of the lead, which is great if you're at home watching, but is hellacious if you are a golf writer. Keep me in your thoughts today.

When handicapping those near the lead, here are the four you will hear from in round three.

1.) Phil Mickelson - the defending champion will not have Tiger draped around his neck in the third round so I look for something in the 66-68 range for Phil. That may not sniff the top of the leaderboard by the time this birdie fest gets done, but Lefty will be in the mix.

2.) David Toms - can't say enough about him when healthy. Awesome ball striker who is a former champion. Plus he has the added bonus of being my pick in a bar pool, so if he makes it happen, we'll discuss compensation. Just kidding I.R.S.

3.) Tim Herron - played the best of the leaders on Friday as his irons were like darts. I don't know if he can pull this thing off, but I do know that I am warming up to the notion that he will be on the Ryder Cup team.

4.) Tiger Woods - if you don't know why he's on this list, check yourself into a hospital.

Big free falls on Saturday - Chris Riley (no matter what anyone tells me, he was a girly bum for not playing Saturday afternoon at the 2004 Ryder Cup.), Shaun Micheel, Billy Mayfair and Davis Love III (don't worry - he's done enough to get on the Ryder Cup team.)

Friday afternoon and a chaotic one at that as I have been imbibing Diet Pepsi like I was preparing for a standardized drug test because I got very little sleep. Thanks to my friend Chris Clayton for calling me at 3:40 a.m.

The leader in the clubhouse after round two will be...Luke Donald.

This guy is so much better than he gets credit for. I can't believe Sergio Garcia and David Howell are both ranked higher than him. Donald is one behind at the moment and I expect him to fly by Stenson and get to about minus-10.

Europeans in Ryder Cup contention in the top-15 at the moment - Stenson, Donald, Garcia, Ian Poulter and Jose Maria Olazabal. Americans in Ryder Cup contention in the top-15 at the moment - Davis Love III, Tiger and David Toms.

Speaking of the Ryder Cup, wave bye-bye to it Misters Couples, Rollins and as a player, Lehman. Missing the cut at the PGA means you will be watching from home. Not you Lehman, you have to go.

Another player that I would be petrified of if I were on that leaderboard is David Toms. If he's healthy, he leads that next tier of strong players below the Big Five or Six or however many there are.

And how about Geoff Ogilvy? He is thoroughly destroying Woods and Mickelson, who both couldn't find the fairway at this point with a compass and Boy Scout troop.

Tiger Woods' shirt on Friday is hideous.

Phil Mickelson just tried to nearly hit a pitch through a tree like he was superhero with wood-splitting as his magical talent. Of course he acted like he had a functioning brain, pitched 40 feet long then made the par putt. Freak.

I don't think this round is going to be finished on Friday. The weather is looking ominous.

Thursday evening and a couple of things come to mind.

Davis Love III just suffered an all too familiar breakdown with a triple-bogey on 17. That knocked him out of solo first and is something that we've seen a little too frequently (second round of the Players, last year's PGA). Love's in the hunt so he needs to get over it quickly. A 20-foot birdie putt at the last is a nice start, although he just narrowly missed it.

Medinah is playing so much easier than anyone expected. No wind and quick conditions are leading to a possible recored number of under-par scores in a PGA Championship. Friday calls for rain so it's about to get a whole lot tougher.

Has anyone even mentioned Luke Donald at this point? He shot a 68 and is getting less mention on this telecast than Kyra Sedgwick and "The Closer." The guy's ranked 11th in the world.

Final note, in my "Out of the Rough" column, I pegged Chris Starkjohann as one of my Five I Didn't Like for no other reason than I didn't have a fifth I really didn't like. Turns out he bailed to play the Champions Tour event in Washington. Don't know about that decision, but it was kharma that me jumping on a club pro for no real reason would come back and bite me.

Early Thursday thoughts, including some pre-round stuff as I am pouring over "Judging Amy" reruns on TNT.

Dave Pelz was only trying to have his guy's back with his comments in the Chicago Tribune, but how idiotic is it to say something Tiger Woods might use as ammo? The guy is playing as well as he has since 2000 and Pelz gives him bulletin board material by saying Mickelson can't be beaten when he's playing his best.

Remember when Stephen Ames said something about how anything could happen when he played Woods in the opening round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play? Woods won 9 & 8 and I felt so bad for Ames I thought about giving him some money. Bad move by Pelz.

Woods and Mickelson are not best friends and they are not acting like it on Thursday. Not that anyone would know.

Seriously, "Judging Amy?" I know TNT can't schedule its broadcast around certain pairings, but let's be real. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are paired together and it's not like the episode of "ER" from the mid-90s is bringing home that big a Nielsen rating.

Anyway, pga.com is doing an awesome job with a podcast that features either the elite grouping of Woods, Mickelson and Geoff Ogilvy (remember him?), or a full broadcast.

The other big story from the first wave Thursday morning (third place goes to a windless, therefore defenseless, Medinah) is Billy Mayfair. At the moment, he is one behind Lucas Glover, who just birdied 18.

Mayfair is 11 days removed from surgery after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. I barely got out of bed two weeks after having a wisdom tooth pulled, and this guy is competing for a major title. Awesome.

Michelle Wie, or more specifically her family and handlers, are getting a "wie" bit out of control.

According to her now former caddy, Greg Johnston, he was fired one night after having dinner with Wie's agent. This came after Wie was given a two-shot penalty during the Women's British Open for improperly hitting a spot in the sand before hitting the ball.

Anyone who has ever played golf at any level of seriousness knows that's a violation. When she got disqualified from her first professional tournament last year, I thought Johnston could have done a better job. During the British, Wie has to accept full responsibility, especially because some reports indicate Johnston told her to avoid hitting the piece of moss.

I doubt a 16-year-old girl with more handlers than Prince Harry made that kind of decision on her own. Her agent fired the guy for God's sake. No one from the family picks up the phone and acts like a man? B.J. Wie, I'm looking at you.

To say that Mr. Wie's reputation is not great would be an understatement. Ever since the 2003 U.S. Women's Open, I have not, for one second, trusted this man. Loyal readers of the column know how much I support Michelle Wie, but the dad is a problem.

In 2003, B.J. Wie accused Michelle's playing partner, Danielle Ammaccapane, of bumping into his daughter. Meanwhile, the youngester was constantly walking through Ammaccapane's line of sight on the other side of the hole when Ammaccapane would putt. The elder player informed the younger what she was doing and how it was wrong. Suddenly, B.J. tells the media that Ammaccapane treated Wie poorly in the scorer's tent as well.

Here's the problem - that wasn't actually true and he went on NBC the following day with a mea culpa. Can't tolerate that kind of crap. That started the ball rolling on two fronts. The first is that B.J. Wie is sketchy and instead of being a pain in the you know where, should have taught his daughter the rules better. Secondly, everyone else seems to be wrong when it comes to the Wie family.

I know Wie is a kid (so am I apparently because I'm watching a "Challenge of the Super Friends" DVD at the moment). I'm not asking Wie to stop listening to the advice of her parents and agents. Just for everyone to think where the blame lays in each situation.

Greg Johnston won four majors with Juli Inkster, so it's not like he's a bad looper. Young Michelle has played enough professionally now to know the rules and not take it out on her caddy.

It seems too immature and rushed for all involved. Actually, it doesn't at all. Seems like par for the group.

Let's get into this so-called Ryder Cup debate.

Most are up in arms about the fact that the final four automatic spots on the U.S. team will be occupied by the likes of Vaughn Taylor, Zach Johnson, Brett Wetterich, John Rollins, J.J. Henry or Lucas Glover.

Quick question - does anyone remember what happened in 2004? We got the holy crap beat out of us, so why not bring in new blood? I've got news for you, Fred Funk, Stewart Cink, Jay Haas and Kenny Perry have gotten us nowhere. (6-15-3 and Funk and Perry have the same number of wins as my mother.)

(Before we continue, I think Lehman will take Davis Love III and Fred Couples if they don't make the team on points. Pair them together in alternate-shot and keep them rested for singles.)

No one thinks these will be the 12 greatest American golfers when the team is finalized in a little over two weeks. But remember, the Ryder Cup is a lot about momentum. In '04, European players won the three weeks prior to the event and it looked like they were playing a group of nuns, not golf stars.

This system is designed to get the 10 best American players at the time of the competition. If Stewart Cink isn't in that group, enjoy NBC's coverage. Kenny Perry doesn't crack the list, there's always the Texas Open.

I'm so sick of people crying about these guys that will be there. We need legitimate change for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. This is the best way, by weighing the current season heavier than the prior one. Is it flawed? To some degree. (I agree that it's lunacy for John Rollins to earn more points in winning the B.C. Open where the quality of the field was about as strong as this week's U.S. Women's Amateur, then Chris DiMarco got for finishing second at the British. Stop crying, DiMarco is on the team.) The PGA of America will get it figured out next time. Congrats, Zinger.

How about the fact this team desperately needs to get younger?

Tiger Woods is 30. He played his first Ryder Cup in 1997 and was 21. He was the youngest guy on the team then and has been ever since. There are no young American studs. Charles Howell III stinks. Sean O'Hair is struggling in his sophomore year. Ryan Moore has been injured.

Glover is 26. Taylor and Johnson are 30. Henry and Rollins are 31 and Wetterich is 33. The European team went young last time around. Paul Casey, David Howell, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter all debuted at Oakland Hills. They went a combined 5-4-1. All but Poulter appear to heading back this year and throw in Garcia and Westwood who are both young in terms of golf years and basically the U.S. can look forward to beatings like they were a bunch of misbehaving dogs.

There's an old phrase that says, "I'll take the devil I know over the one I don't."

Not for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. I've seen enough of the devil I know.

Here we are, the maiden voyage into blogger world.

So Michelle Wie did not play great on Thursday at the Women's British Open. She shot a 74 and again, here at The Sports Network, her critics took their shots.

"She shouldn't play because she hasn't won yet."

Well that argument stinks out loud. Should we not have Villegas play on the PGA Tour? He hasn't won and he was also born while I was in grade school. If you say this is a different argument, then you might have a problem. If you don't think Wie should play on the LPGA Tour, but Villegas should play the PGA Tour, that makes no sense. Wie has a better resume (her major record in the last two years is the fourth best in all of golf behind Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Annika Sorenstam.)

Another part of the argument is that she is not an official member of the LPGA Tour. That's because she's not old enough and I'd actually like to see her old man pony up the dough to try and fight that legally.

Consider this - If Wie's parents conceived her earlier in their lives and she was eligible to be on the LPGA Tour, she would be 14th on the money list. That would be one spot ahead of the lovely and talented Natalie Gulbis, who has yet to visit the winner's circle on tour. Should we refuse to let Gulbis play?

The bottom line is that she's more than qualified to compete with the women at this level. If you'd rather she worked at the local grocery store asking if you prefer paper or plastic, that's ageism. If you don't like that she plays with the guys, that's sexism.

I'm with Ferris Bueller in my oppostion to all "isms," so let's leave this 16-yeard-old alone to compete without scrutinizing her every move. Wie deserves to play at the highest level of whichever tour she wants. Leave it alone and head back to your GOP strategy meetings.