Golf News from The Sports HQ - 08/04/08

Golf News | Chevron - Woods Partnership in Woods Foundation

Tiger Woods has signed a five-year deal with Chevron with the idea of raising money and developing programs which will in turn support the education based foundation that Woods set up.

The sponsorship will begin with Chevron being the title sponsor of Woods’ holiday tournament due to take place in southern California, December 18-21. The Chevron World Challenge will be help in the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California and will be host to 16 world class players. Woods, has the honour of being both tournament host and defending champion.

Chevron, the energy company has become one of the five partners of the AT&T National, seasonal PGA Tour event. The deal has been struck at a pivotal time with the economy in a slump the PGA Tour is in need of title sponsors for regular-season events in Florida. Chevron’s investment is sizeable, being compared to the contribution made by title sponsors of regular PGA tour events.

The profit taken from the tournament is to be donated to the foundation, which funds the Tiger Woods Learning Centre and plans for an education centre near the nation’s capital.

Chevron has pledged to aid Woods in expanding the youth programs in California as well as equivalent programs world wide.

Golf News | Drug testing agency fail to meet LPGA grade

In the first major change to its drugs testing policy, the LPGA have fired their collection agency.

The LPGA have announced that it will now be the National Centre for Drug Free Sport  who will administering the test until the end of 2009.Though Drug Free Sport were instrumental in the establishing of the LPGA’s program,  Comprehensive Drug Testing were the highest bidder in October for Tour’s contact.

The relationship between Comprehensive Drug Testing and the tour broke down when problems arose in sample collection at the Fields Open, the company were dismissed by the tour shortly after.

The LPGA were disgusted that competitors were forced to wait hours to be tested due being understaffed. Aware of the consequences met by their predecessors, Drug Free Sport has said that overstaffing events will become policy to ensure players do not incur delays or additional inconvenience.

Golf News | Pressel in Defence Pressure

Defending LPGA champion,  Morgan Pressel has announced that she does not see her first title defence in a positive light. Pressel fell short of the Safeway International cut last week and only finished within the top ten once, out of four starts so far this year. This has clearly dented the pro’s confidence, which was clear to see at the pre-tournament press conference.

Pressel has taken on the guidance and support of PGA champion Dave Stockton. Stockton, who has come to be regarded as one of Golf’s best putters, is helping Pressel to improve her putting ahead of her title defence.

Pressel has also spoken of the pressure to defend a title, the additional training with Stockton, Pressel hopes will deliver her the second LPGA victory.

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