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BY: LEAD WRITER & ASSISTANT EDITOR RORY SPEARS

Day two of the Tiger saga continues, Woods caddie Joe LaCava is at Valhalla and is walking the course and getting his yardages ready in case the boss actually does show up. Even LaCava didn’t know yet what the deal is regarding whether or not Woods plays. We do know this much, Woods pre-tournament press conference has already been postponed. No word yet if it will be rescheduled. In the meantime the golf fans are ready for some golf.

Rory Spears with Anna Nordquist at the Hotel Arista in Naperville. For the 2016 International Crown tee off event.

Closer to home, the 2016 LPGA International Crown launched it’s first tee ball down the fairway with an event at Hotel Arista in Naperville.

Lead by Commissioner Michael Whan, LPGA VP Kelly Hyne, Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich, and Team Sweden player Anna Nordquist the Crown arrived in town.The trophy made by Tiffany’s did too, it will be on display at Rich Harvest Farms until the end of the 2016 Crown.

I have already mentioned how good the first event was, and how it’s going to be better the next time around. Jerry Rich and his team in Sugar Grove are going to run an event that will be on the level with the Ryder Cup. Chicago golf and sports fans will enjoy 2016 at the Crown out on the farm.

Click here to hear my interview with Anna Nordquist.

The publicity and the push for the 2016 Crown has already started, it won’t stop until there aren’t any more tickets to sell. Even then it might not stop anyway, it’s one event everyone should look forward to being at. I’ll have more on the International Crown’s opening event in the days ahead.

TOURNAMENT MONTH..I wrote at the beginning of July that it was tournament month, and called it the most wonderful time of the year. Well I was right, but I am rethinking that. Maybe it’s the most hectic time of the year.

Big 3 partner Len Ziehm and myself had a full month of covering tournaments from start to finish. The conclusion we arrived at was that there are too many tournaments in July. Can we spread the wealth around please. All or part of five tournaments were played in a three week span. Next year it gets worse when the Encompass Championship gets pushed back into July, in 2016 The International Crown will join the fold in July.

Trying to play the Encompass championship, The John Deere Classic, the Illinois State Amateur, the Men’s and Women’s Illinois Open, the Western Amateur all in less than 30 days is a bit much. How about June anyone, anyone ???

The Western Amateur had some of the best amateur golf I’ve seen played in a long time. Congrats to Doug Ghim of Arlington Hts., and Nick Hardy of Northbrook for making a great run in the championship. Both losing to eventual champion Beau Hossler. Both graduates of the Illinois Junior Golf Association (IJGA), maybe the state is turning out some good young players. Too bad more patrons were not on hand, I have never seen a lower attended Western Amateur. Maybe it’s a south side thing. Beverly is such a great course to see and walk.

The Illinois Women’s Open was well done again. Congrats to champion Emily Collins who played great in tough windy conditions. Another tip of the cap or golf visor to owner Jim McWethy, Dan Phillips, Dan Bradley and the staff at Mistwood for a job well done. They have the Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open rolling. Next year when the new clubhouse is built Mistwood will really be something. I’ll share the plans and comments with McWethy here on the site later this week.

BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm has some some great content on his site Lenziehmongolf.com. The Ziehm machine is off to Valhalla this week, he will have more from the PGA Championship this week.

If you have not picked up the new copy of Chicagoland Golf, you should do so. Publisher Val Russell takes his shot’s at Jake Griffins piece in Daily Herald that unfairly and incorrectly was critical of tax payer supported golf courses. It’s a must read.

I’m back more this week. Stay clicked in. Go play when the courses dry out. RS