"On Our Mind" Golf Blog by Brandon Underwood

Known for their racy and mildly entertaining Super Bowl spots, Go Daddy.com has completed its foursome of beautiful spokeswomen with professional golfer and part-time model Anna Rawson.

Rawson, who is competing in this week's J Golf Phoenix LPGA International at Papago Golf Course, was a rookie on the LPGA Tour in 2008.

The announcement was made Tuesday March 24.

Golfsmith has gone Randy Gonigam on Sergio Garcia, well sort of.

Gonigam isn't a household name by any stretch, but a promotion he orchestrated at his Chicago area furniture store in the fall of 2006 may jog your memory.

A "huge Bears fan," Gonigam grew tired of the preseason hubris exhibited by Brian Urlacher and his fellow Monsters of the Midway. So Gonigam, who owns the World Furniture Mall in Plano, Ill., offered customers free furniture, up to $10,000 worth, if the Bears shut out the Green Bay Packers in the season opener.

The World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Championship was on a different level compared to the previous PGA Tour events in 2009 in terms of atmosphere and the excitement it generated. That's partially due to the return of Tiger Woods, but a lot of the attention can be attributed to the top 64 players in the world gathering to go head-to-head in Arizona this week.

Geoff Ogilvy emerged as the winner, and looks like he will be a force to reckon with in 2009. Woods returned, but not for long. And, the top-ranked players like Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia didn't make it to the weekend. Here's a look at how things looked at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Dove Mountain and how they sounded. 
 

Geoff Ogilvy isn't one to shy away from the big moments. Last year as Tiger Woods compiled a string of victories around the world there were whispers about a perfect season. They were silenced when Ogilvy captured the WGC - CA Championship at Doral. The circus-like atmosphere returned this week, and again it's Ogilvy who has embraced the championship environment.

"I enjoy situations like that," Ogilvy said. "Doral last year was obviously a really nice week to win for lots of reasons. Mostly because everyone had decided that Tiger was going to win every tournament last year. And it was a course that he had won three years in a row at before, so I don't know, I just enjoy big tournaments. I enjoy the big situations."

Thirty-two players began the day, but once again too much of the talk, in and out of the Media Center, was about Tiger. 

Here's the report.  At precisely 11 a.m., exactly an hour and two minutes before his match with South African Tim Clark, Woods made his way to the practice range.  A huge roar ensued, and then more and more and more people rushed to the area to see the World's No. 1 player warm up. 

A spectacular day of golf is now complete after the First Round of the World Match Play Championship played at the new Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona.

Brilliant sunshine, 87 degrees temperatures (with just 14 percent humidity) and good golf were on display.

It's remarkable how much momentum the PGA Tour has picked up in a four-day span.

Phil Mickelson broke out of an embarrassing early season slump in a big way Thursday at Riviera, only to be trumped by news of Tiger Woods' return to competitive golf. Mickelson managed to nudge his way back into the spotlight in a very entertaining final round at the Northern Trust Open Sunday. 

Another spectacular day in Scottsdale! Kenny Perry won the 2009 Thunderbird Trophy after burying a 22-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole. Perry beat a game Charley Hoffman.  

Perry shot a 2- under 69 for the day but bogeyed the 18th which set up the 2-man playoff. This was the second year in a row that this event has gone to a playoff. Last year, J.B. Holmes besting Phil Mickelson.

Today’s Second Round featured better weather (glorious sunshine and 76 degrees), better attendance (111,013 fans) and better golf.

The big news was that Phil Mickelson missed the cut after shooting a 7-over 149.  This was the second time in three years that the affable, fan favorite will not be around for the weekend action. 

The opening round of the 2009 FBR Open is in the books. A staggering 71,901 fans enjoyed a gorgeous, 72 degree sunny day and plenty of good golf. Australian James Nitties and American Lucas Glover share the leaderboard after each shooting a 6-under-par 65.

Nitties, the Q-School runner up last fall, shot a 31/34 for his share of the lead.  Playing in just his 3rd Tour event, Nitties lists “clubbing and girls” among his hobbies.  Seems like he will enjoy his time in Scottsdale this week.