Willkommen » throw out 153 years of championship

SHANGHAI, China -- Consider a couple of scenes from the golf world this year, with emphasis on "world." Inbee Park began her bid to become the first golfer to capture four straight majors in one season by teeing off at 7 a.m. in the opening round at St. Andrews. It was a strange starting time for the star attraction, except that was prime viewing in South Korea. One of the rules officials at the HSBC Champions was a Chinese woman who has a Ph.D. in golf. Tiger Woods has only a Masters (OK, four of them). Jordan Spieth wandered down to the caddies bar Saturday night with his Texas Longhorns cap turned backward and his eyes on a TV showing the USC-Oregon State game from Friday night that had ended eight hours earlier. He was a long way from home, but for a moment, it sure didnt feel like it. One of the biggest celebrations of the year starts this week in Australia -- Adam Scott finally returns home with his green jacket. Americans can be found over the next month from the Pacific Rim to Down Under. Rickie Fowler went from Malaysia to Shanghai to Australia, and then he was headed to Los Angeles for intense gym work before returning to Thailand. Tiger Woods was in China, Macau and Singapore doing corporate outings and an exhibition before going to Turkey this week for his second regular European Tour event of the year. Matt Kuchar is representing his country at Royal Melbourne again, this time in the World Cup. Graeme McDowell, who grew up in Northern Ireland and lives in Orlando, Fla., spent two weeks in Shanghai, and then flew home to Florida for a week going back across eight time zones to finish his European Tour season in Dubai. Then he goes to Australia and Los Angeles. Now, throw out 153 years of championship history and ask yourself this question: If golf were starting from scratch and there could be only four majors, would three of them really be in America? Thats why it makes perfect sense for the PGA of America to explore the possibility of occasionally taking the PGA Championship overseas. The key words are "explore" and "occasionally." "I would say were more than halfway through a serious analysis," PGA chief executive Pete Bevacqua said over the weekend. "Whats important is we boil down our missions to two pillars -- serve our members and grow the game," Bevacqua said. "The ultimate test will be can we check both boxes? Does it make sense to occasionally play the PGA Championship overseas? Would growing the brand globally help our members? Would it grow the game? Part two is easy." The assumption would be to look at Asia, though the HSBC Champions already bills itself as "Asias major" and likely will be even further established when or if the PGA of America ever decides to start accumulating stamps in its passport. The most obvious hindrance is television, which was driven home by a tweet from Bob Estes to Dustin Johnson. "Just woke up to find out that you won." The tweet was sent Sunday at 7:30 a.m. Texas time, about five hours after Johnson completed his three-shot win in the HSBC Champions. Estes missed an extraordinary display of golf -- Johnson, Ian Poulter and McDowell each closed with a 66 from the final group. Then again, if the PGA Championship were to leave America on occasion, thats at least a decade out. It wasnt long ago when the Masters showed only three hours of the final round. Or when golf in America was only televised on the weekend. How will sports even be broadcast a decade from now? Bevacqua has only to look at other sports to identify a trend. The NBA is playing preseason games in China. The NFL is making London a regular part of its schedule (yes, that team from Jacksonville really is part of the NFL). The Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks will open the 2014 baseball season in Australia. "The world is getting smaller," PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said. "Things are coming together. Its more a question of the best players in the world are going to play, and its going to be a big deal wherever it goes. Whats best for that tournament long-term? And whats good for golf globally given the options? I dont think theres any reason not to think of those things." Its a new world of golf. Its a big world, yet one that is shrinking. For years, the PGA Championship has been looked upon as the "other" major because it lacks a clear identity the other three enjoy. The Masters and Augusta National. The Open Championship and links golf. The U.S. Open historically as the toughest test in golf. The PGA Championship has a chance to identify itself as the only international major. Its worth exploring, because its clear thats where golf is going. Luke Guthrie had just started his second PGA Tour season when he packed his bags, along with a 2-litre bottle of Mountain Dew for his caffeine fix, and flew from Las Vegas to Shanghai for a European Tour event with little more at stake than experience in a new environment. He nearly won. Hello, China. Chandler Jones Jersey . The roster changes have been constant and continuous since late last year, but even with their 46-man roster set for the start of the season, the banged-up Bombers will be kicking off Week 1 with a handful of fresh faces and back-ups in the starting lineup. Arizona Cardinals Jerseys . Now he has a complete game. Scherzer tossed a three-hitter in his 179th career start for his first complete game and Victor Martinez hit his 16th homer to lead the Detroit Tigers a 4-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. http://www.officialarizonacardinalspro.c...rdinals-jersey/. A lovely summer day in England with abundant sunshine and minimal wind allowed him to attack Royal Liverpool. Custom Arizona Cardinals Jerseys . Pikul Khueanpet scored early in the second half and Kanjana Sungngoen made it 2-0 in the 65th minute of the playoff. Tuyet Dong narrowed the margin with goal four minutes from time. The win gave Thailand fifth place at the Asian Cup and the last of the continents qualifying spots for the 2015 Womens World Cup in Canada. Adrian Wilson Jersey . Lynchs attorney, Ivan Golde, told The Associated Press on Thursday of the plea deal that was reached with the Alameda County District Attorney Office. The plea will be formally entered in court in Oakland, Calif.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Acquiring a quarterback — and maybe two — tops the Buffalo Bills off-season to-do list after the team was stunned by quarterback Kyle Orton announcing his intention to retire Monday.Right now, its still trying to process it, general manager Doug Whaley said. We had no inclination that he was thinking to make that decision at this time or down the road. So it was surprising.The 32-year-old caught the team off guard when he informed coach Doug Marrone of his plans shortly before the Bills held their end-of-season meetings.The revelation came a day after the 10-year journeyman led Buffalo (9-7) to a season-ending 17-9 win at New England.Despite enjoying its first winning season since a 9-7 finish in 2004, Buffalo missed the playoffs to extend the NFLs longest active post-season drought to 15 years.Its just a family decision, Orton said, in a statement released by the team. Ive decided to get home and be a dad and call it a day.Orton declined to speak to reporters while making a brief appearance at his locker, where he picked up a few of his belongings, including a money clip.By electing to retire, Orton passes up a chance to make a $5.4 million base salary he was due next year after making $2.5 million this season.I cant be disappointed with a guy that says his hearts not in it, Whaley said. I respect his decision. I respect what he brought to our team this year. And we wish him nothing but the best.Orton was already contemplating retirement in mid-July when he was cut by the Dallas Cowboys after failing to attend the teams spring minicamps. The Bills signed him to a two-year contract with a little more than a week before the start of the season.Initially brought in to mentor EJ Manuel, Orton wound up replacing the second-year player after a 2-2 start.Orton provided an initial spark in going 3-1 in his first four starts before he and the offence sputtered down the stretch. He finished 7-5 with 3,018 yards passing with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.Minus Orton, the Bills are left with two quarterbacks, Manuel and Jeff Tuel, who spent the entire season on the practice squad.Manuel hhas two years left on his contract.ddddddddddddThe 2013 first-round picks future as the teams long-term starter, however, remains in question after he was benched.Without making any commitments, Whaley and Marrone said Manuel will be given an opportunity to reclaim the starting job next season.It wont happen without competition with Whaley saying he intends to add potentially two quarterbacks this off-season.Getting a quarterback through free agency or trade is a more likely option. The Bills dealt their first-round draft pick to Cleveland for the right to move up five spots and select receiver Sammy Watkins fourth overall.Ortons addition was a stop-gap measure. And yet the Bills were looking forward to seeing the benefit Orton would get by having an entire off-season to better learn the offensive system.Marrone was so surprised by Ortons decision that he initially asked the quarterback to reconsider.Had Marrone known about Ortons plans, the coach would have reconsidered his decision to start the veteran over Manuel in the finale with the Bills already eliminated from playoff contention.Receiver Robert Woods said Orton had hinted at the possibility of retiring in recent weeks.Hed talk about it here and there, just joking around, Its my last get-around, guys, Woods said. I gained a lot of knowledge from him. Im happy for him. Were thankful for him.With a 42-40 record as a starter, Orton was Chicagos fourth-round pick in 2005, and also played in Denver and Kansas City.Quarterback shuffles are nothing new in Buffalo.The Bills havent had a starter last beyond three years since Hall of Famer Jim Kelly retired following the 1996 season. Including Orton, the Bills have now had 11 quarterbacks start at least eight games over the past 18 seasons.NOTES: Tuel was one of 10 players the Bills signed to reserve/future contracts on Monday. Also signed were WRs Caleb Holley and Tobais Palmer, DLs Bryan Johnson and Jeremy Towns, OLs William Campbell and D.J. Morrell, linebacker Jimmy Gaines, cornerback Rod Sweeting and safety Deon Broomfield.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Wholesale MLB Orioles Jerseys Red Sox Jerseys From China Discount Yankees Jerseys Online Rays Jerseys For Sale Blue Jays Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB White Sox Jerseys Indians Jerseys For Sale Tigers Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB Astros Jerseys Cheap Baseball Angels Jerseys Athletics Jerseys From China Mariners Jerseys For Sale Cheap Baseball Rangers Jerseys Braves Jerseys For Sale Discount Marlins Jerseys Online Discount Mets Jerseys Online Phillies Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB Nationals Jerseys Cubs Jerseys From China Discount Reds Jerseys Online Brewers Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB Pirates Jerseys Wholesale MLB Cardinals Jerseys Diamondbacks Jerseys For Sale Rockies Jerseys For Sale Discount Dodgers Jerseys Online Discount Padres Jerseys Online Giants Jerseys For Sale ' ' '