THE BUBBA SOCK created for Bubba Watson before his first Masters win, now part of the Kentwool Line, for more information see Kentwool.com. The Msitwood Golf Club in Romeoville is getting ready to open tomorrow. Call (815)-254-3333 for details on tee times and green fees. McWethy’s Tavern in the clubhouse is open. Mistwoodgc.com.      _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Magnolia Lane is open. It’s Masters Week.

The clock is ticking, and while there is some great golf to watch this week from the land of Pimento Sandwiches and Green Jackets, it’s hard not to get excited about Chicago’s biggest golf tournament of the summer ahead.

THE UL INTERNATIONAL CROWN, coming from July 19-24 at the Merit Club in Libertyville.

The second UL International Crown is shaping up to be even more exciting that the first one back in 2014.

Defending champion Spain is out and didn’t even crack the field of eight. 2014 runner-up Sweden is gone as well, yes the team that finished 1 and 2, won’t be back.

Australia got in. The Aussies were there in 2014, but like Team USA they didn’t qualify for Sunday’s final round at Caves Valley. This time they plan to stick around until the end, and they might have just the player who can help them do that.

The venue for this years UL International Crown, is the Libertyville based Merit Club which previously hosted the 2000 U.S Women’s Open won by Karrie Webb. The club hasn’t hosted any tournaments since. Many of today’s top players weren’t around in 2000, or they were under the age of 10.

But Australia has Webb, who knows the course and has the hardware to prove it. While Webb hasn’t returned to the Merit Club since her victory or played golf in the Chicago area since her win in the LPGA Kellog-Keebler at Stonebridge Country Club in Naperville, she did return to Chicago yesterday to start promoting this summers UL Crown.

   The Merit Club was the site where Karrie Webb won her first U.S Open, pulling away from Meg Mallon during the back nine on Sunday.

Click here to hear the interview with Karrie Webb member of Team Australia and the winner of the biggest tournament the Merit Club has ever hosted.

Webb says with defending champion Spain not in the field, she feels like she is really the defending champion, and she is looking forward to her return and hopefully winning at MC again.

Tickets and information at ULCrown.com The UL International Crown July 19-24.