Some golf-related thoughts while wondering how many people really care about a Baltimore Ravens – San Francisco 49’ers matchup… I can’t imagine having to watch the Pats lose at some local Massachusetts establishment and step out into freezing winter conditions for the drive home. All that does is make the winter seem even longer.

What a great weekend it was for watching golf on TV – you had the Humana Challenge out in the California desert at PGA West and the Champions Tour playing at Hualalai on the Big Island of Hawaii. Beautifully scenic desert golf followed by oceanside golf all in a single sitting – have yourself a couple of brewskies and a big bowl of popcorn and play couch potato for a weekend.

I don’t care what anyone says, nice guy or not, great swing and millions of dollars in career earnings aside, Charles Howell III is the definition of a modern-day career golf pro. It’s one thing to have a great swing, but the difference between him and the likes of a Tiger or Phil or Rory is light years. I’m not saying he isn’t a talented player – he is – it’s just that he doesn’t have the kind of killer instinct you need to win regularly on Tour.

And Bud Cauley might be the nicest guy in the world, but he sure doesn’t look it when he’s out there playing. I can think of a couple two three of the new “up and comers” that seem like privileged pretty boys who don’t know how good they’ve got it. Some emotion, a smile, or a self-deprecating remark or two before the cameras wouldn’t hurt their cause. Phil Mickelson isn’t enormously popular simply because he’s a great golfer.

Had to feel for Scott Stallings, losing a five-shot leagoing into the final round at the Humana, then blowing it with some poor shots over the last few holes. Seems like a nice guy, though, and, with two wins under his belt already he’ll figure out what went wrong and be standing in the winner’s circle again soon. He’s certainly got the game.

I’m not a golf video player, but this would certainly make me think about trying it. Check the link out – the look and feel they’ve created is fantastic.

Nike has a winner with that Tiger Woods / Rory McIlroy commercial. Can’t wait to see the next in the series.