Lacoste Leads - The Iconic Brand's New Momentum

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Few, if any, apparel brands have a history as extraordinary and inspiring as that of Lacoste.

It began with the company's founder, back in the first half of the 20th century.

A champion tennis player, Rene Lacoste was also an innovator. It could be said that he transformed the way the world dressed when he invented the polo shirt. Prior to its appearance, men wore long sleeved starched shirts made of classical woven fabric...even on tennis courts and golf courses! When Monsieur Lacoste decided to put a cute little crocodile logo on the outside of the garment, that was another first. And it led to a procession of polo ponies, pumas and playboy bunnies... as well as the collective logo-lust that pervades all stylish societies today.

The Lacoste passion for golf is also tied to the family's history, Rene's wife, Simone de la Chaume was a golf champion as was their daughter, Catherine, who won the US Women's Open when she was a 22 year old amateur playing in just her third professional tournament. She remains the only amateur to have ever accomplished this.

I've written about Lacoste many times over the past couple of years sometimes in relation to the amazing professional golfers they sponsor, like Lorena Ochoa and Cristie Kerr, other times it was one of their awesome and innovative campaignes or unique environmental efforts. I've always been impressed by the way this brand honors past traditions while creating the trends of the future.

Well, once again Lacoste is breaking new ground. The company has announced it'll be trying a pure digital approach for its latest American advertising campaign, dispensing with all print ads, and spending the entirety of their 12 million ad dollar budget on-line ...and voila, Lacoste's new Momentum: a visually stunning new ad campaign created by Euro RSCG 4D New York.

It's built around LacosteMomentum where shoppers build their own Lacoste wardrobes and blend them into their own kaleidoscopic music video mash-ups to share with friends on social networking sites like facebook, Pandora, polyvore and Hulu.

The winter 2009 collection, by the way, is gorgeous. So I'm looking forward to creating some Momentum of my own this weekend.

Tiger Woods' Ten Best Golf Shirts of 2009

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If past years are any indication, a number of publications will soon be bringing you Tiger's Ten Best Golf Shots of 2009.

However, despite the fact that Tiger Woods wears hundreds of shirts each season, there's never... as far as I know... been a feature on Tiger Woods' Ten Best Golf... Shirts. That is until now.
























Those presented above are my choices, and what I'd like to know is which of them do you think is the all around best? Or perhaps I missed one that's even better. Let me know what you think, and we'll start a new tradition: Golf Girl's annual Tiger Woods Shirt of the Year Award.

I'm sure Nike won't mind.

Photos: Getty Images ✿

Michelle Wie Wins - Wie Warriors Celebrate

I've always been a huge Michelle Wie fan... Always.

Over the years curmudgeons and critics called us the "Wie Warriors". We who believed that Michelle would soon prevail were accused us of being in denial... Which really wasn't a problem in my case because I actually liked the Wie Warrior label and knew I wasn't denying anything.

The haters sometimes called themselves purists, and maintained that Ms. Wie... because of her unconventional career path... would never learn to win and would be relegated to the role of also-ran in men's tournaments. They blamed her parents... and others... but mainly her parents.

When asked about her parents today her response was definitive and delightful:

"Yeah, I think it's just so awesome, seeing them on the 18th green and hugging them. You know, we have been through a lot as a family, and it's just so great that they are here to share my highs and to keep me up from the lows, as well. But you know, I have to thank my family: Nike and Omega and my sponsors, and IMG and my friends and my fan base and everyone. They all feel like my family. We all have been through a lot, even through my lowest point, they have always been there for me. They have always supported me, and you know, I just feel so grateful for my family, which includes everyone, my sponsors, my friends, and my management company and my fans. So I'm just lucky to have such a great family."

For me, seeing the photos of Michelle Wie's parents, B.J. and Bo, celebrating with their daughter made her awesome win all the more awesome.

Dubai-Bound: France's Greg Bourdy Wins in Hong Kong

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He held his own against a roaring Rory McIlroy to win the USB Hong Kong Open... and in doing so, secured a place a the table in Dubai.

The win was Gregory Bourdy’s third on the European Tour, making him the first French man to win three tournaments in consecutive years.

I first got to know Mr. Bourdy in April of 2008 when I wrote about his victory at the European Tour's Portuguese Open.

I played golf for the first time in France a few years ago, and though it's not often associated with the game, golf's popularity is growing and there are a number of French players making their marks in international tournaments. In fact, the Hong Kong Open leaderboard featured another Frenchman in prominent position as Raphael Jacquelin sharing the number five spot with with Ian Poulter. And, down in Australia where Tiger Woods held court at the Australian Masters, Francois Delamontagne finished T3 with American Jason Dufner. Thomas Levet won the Open de España in April, and a couple of weeks ago finished in the top ten at the Barclays Singapore Open.

As for Rory McIlroy, his third place finish in Hong Kong put him right back on top of the European Money List and front runner in The Race to Dubai.

Photo: Getty Images/Anthony Dickson ✿

Cristie Kerr ★ Michelle Wie - Share Lead into Sunday

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"There are now 11 golfers within 5 shots of the lead. All of a sudden, it's looking like pretty equal odds that we could have a career 1st-time winner (Wie, SH Kim, Lang, McPherson), a seasonal 1st-time winner (Creamer, Pressel), or a repeat winner (Shin, Kerr, Tseng, IK Kim, Pettersen) at the '09 LOI when all is said and done."

That's how the Constructivist summed up the possibilities at the end of third round of the 2009 Lorena Ochoa Invitational yesterday. His blog, Mostly Harmless, is a must-read blog for LPGA fans, particularly those who care to look at the bigger picture.

There's no shortage of storylines at Guadalajara Country Club this weekend with compelling possibilities spread across the impressive leaderboard and the Rolex Player of the Year award tantalizingly within reach for several players. A win here would have its own special significance for each of the players, and whoever does come out on top will have a late season victory... and the accompanying confidence boost... to take into 2010.

For a fun read... and the ungarnished perspective of a student who arrived in Guadalajara for the first round via a seven hour bus ride from Mexico City... check out Drew Haciendo Trabajo a slice-of-life blog by an adventurous American studying in Mexico.

The players tee off for what promises to be an exciting final round in just a few hours. For pairings and tee times I once again direct you to Mostly Harmless.

Photo: Getty Images, Sports Illustrated Collection/Darren Carroll ✿

Golfer's Elbow and/or Blogger's Elbow... Hurts !

It seems I have one or the other... and whichever it is, it's a real pain in the... elbow.

I've been unable to post for over 24 hours. You see yesterday morning I had a cortisone injection... which subsequently led to something they call Cortisone Flare and that = ouch X 10!

As it happens there's a lot of good golf happening right now too... with Tiger on the trail in Australia, Rickie Fowler on a roller coaster at Disney and Lorena Ochoa hosting the LPGA elite in Mexico.

I hope to be back in full writing/golf mode tomorrow... because I intend to do both this weekend. Injured elbow not withstanding.

Golf Girl's Diary Supports "The Girl Effect"

The Girl Effect. The powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate in their society... are not to be underestimated.




The Girl Effect

Tiger Woods Stalked by Golfballerazzi in Australia

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We know Australia is famous for its unique species.

One such rare creature came out of the Melbourne woodwork recently to greet Tiger Woods: The Golfballerazzi. Seen here in its natural habitat, which is any course where the world's number one golfer might be found.

The Golfballerazzi stalks Mr. Woods' errant golf balls, and when he catches one in a vulnerable position, he'll pounce. And snap a photo. An extreme close-up. Of Tiger's golf ball.

H/T Devil Ball Golf

Of Portable Putting Greens and Topless Tap-ins

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This is just too awesome not to share.

When I first encountered it earlier today at Charles Boyer's Me and Old Man Par I knew it was going to be a... big story. You see Charles rarely touches on fashion, preferring to write engaging features on golf course architecture, golf history or the pro tour news. ~ When Charles writes about apparel, you've got to assume it's something special

Then I discovered that it had made Stephanie Wei's prestigious Dumbest Golf Gadget column. So that was it...and without further ado, I present the Nice Cup In Bra:

Cristie Kerr Leads LPGA to a 3-Tour Challenge Win

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At the 2009 Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge, the LPGA team was clearly the most photogenic. ~ After all, the team consisted of Cristie Kerr, Natalie Gulbis and Suzanne Pettersen... and you just don't get much more photogenic than than.

Well it turns out they were also the best golfers yesterday, as Ms. Kerr's 4-under 32 led the ultra-blonde team to a combined 6 under on the final nine holes. That resulted in a win of $300,000... which along with their $100,000 purse from the opening nine, allowed the women to claim the title.

The event took place at Rio Secco Golf Course, overlooking the Las Vegas skyline. and the photogenic threesome was competing against some pretty stellar male competition: Stewart Cink, Fred Couples and Bubba Watson made up the PGA Tour team and and the Champions Tour team consisted of Fred Funk, Jay Haas and Nick Price.

The biggest names in golf have played in the Wendy's Three Tour Challenge over it's 18 year history: Jack Nicklaus, Annika Sorenstam, Phil Mickelson and Nancy Lopez...to name just a few... and the event has raised nearly $30 million for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge will air nationally on ABC on December 19th and 20th on ABC.

Watching the girls beat the boys? Sounds like must see tv to me.

Photo: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS / Daniel Gluskoter ✿