THE PALMER CUP, this week at Rich Harvest Farms, Arnold Palmer on Site Thursday and Friday. Opening ceremonies Thursday, Matches start on Friday, and run through Sunday. FREE Admission and FREE Parking, walk the fairways with the players, no ropes. Visit Palmercup.org or RichHarvestFarms.com for more details.USA vs Europe.   ______________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor & Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin, & Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

IT’S PALMER CUP week at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, as tournament season begins here in the Chicago area.

You know it’s golf season when the King himself Arnold Palmer is in town, to help get the first tournament in the Chicago area launched.

It’s Team USA vs team Europe, in the Palmer Cup Matches. The USA has a slim lead in the series, and will be hard pressed by the Europeans to extend it. Come out and see the best college players from two continents battle it out at Rich Harvest Farms. Jerry Rich has really stepped up to host this event, and has opened the doors to for everyone to visit Rich Harvest Farms, stop by and see it, along with some great golf.

Jerry Rich has Rich Harvest Farms ready for your visit, won’t you join him. #Palmercup.org

Georgia tech Coach Bruce Heppler will coach Team USA, and Frenchman Jean Van de Velde of British Open fame will coach Team Europe. Janice Moody will be an assistant coach for the Europeans, she played for team Europe in the 2009 Solheim Cup played at Rich Harvest Farms won by Team USA.

University of Illinois Men’s Golf Team member Thomas Detry will play in the Palmer Cup for Team Europe, Detry hails from Belgium.

 2019 on Medinah No.3. Could it Happen, and yes it could. According to a published media report it might happen and with the USGA and PGA absent in Chicago, maybe the PGA Tour will be moving around. Of course the BMW Championship drives all over anyway, why not have it drive around Chicago. The BMW is more mobile than a M*A*S*H* unit.

According to multiple sources, the WGA reached out to Medinah for the 2019 edition of it’s local championship. Which likely means Conway Farms needed to be out of the picture for that year, and what’s still up in the air is 2017. Conway Farms, or maybe the new player who is an old player in the big tournament game again Kemper Lakes, could return for that season.

What’s interesting for Medinah is having a tour event, since the last PGA Tour event at Medinah was the 1966 Western Open won by Billy Casper, his second of four Western Open wins. What will it take for Medinah to host a professional event, that’s not a major.

Perhaps a seven figure guaranteed check, and making sure the newly renovated courses No.1 and No.2 don’t get torn up from being used as a parking lot. Another thing for Medinah to think about, is that 2019 is the last year of a deal between BMW amd the PGA Tour. If it’s not extended before 2019, do you want a sponsor who would be pulling out after the event. Which normally means they go with a cheap presentation.

TIGER WOODS..somehow World # 156 and sinking by the week is still generating conversation. This week Woods did it by hitting the ball sideways in round one, then after just making the cut in round 2, he rallied with a +13 over par 85 on Saturday. the worst score of the year on the PGA Tour. Going out first on Sunday, he carded a 2 over par 74 to finish in last place of those who made the cut.

This leads to the question of what can we expect from Woods at the U.S. Open. If the Memorial is any indication, we can’t expect much of anything. In fact, if Woods can’t pull it together in the next week, he needs to do everyone a favor and WD from Chambers Bay. No one wants to watch him shoot another score in the 80’s or high 70’s, and then have half the broadcast wasted breaking down his bad round and swing. Professional athletes talk about distractions and avoiding them, well that’s what Woods has become, a distraction to the game.

Kemper Lakes Par 5, 15th hole, soon to be near 625 yards.

It was great to tour Kemper Lakes last week with BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm, who has written his thoughts about Kemper Lakes on his site Lenziehmongolf.com.

Kemper Lakes plans to “Restore the Roar” and bring tournament championship golf back to the Kildeer based golf club.

I’ll have more thoughts on this in a future upcoming column, but it’s nice to see Kemper Lakes moving in the right direction again. Kemper Lakes gives the major golf organizations a nice option in the Chicago area to bring in a needed championship. You can visit our “Past shows” area of this website and listen to our show from yesterday that included Kemper Lakes GM John Hosteland.

SPEAKING OF KEMPER, a tip of the cap to KemperSports Managment on it’s long time running KemperSports Golf Invitational that tee’s off today at the Tom Fazio designed Glen Club in Glenview. Let’s hope the weather holds off and a great time is had by all.

I’m looking forward to being at the Palmer Cup this week, and seeing the players and Arnold Palmer. I hope you will join me out there, and GO PLAY everyone. RS