Crawford's Golf Daily, for March 30th, 2014

By Gregory Crawford, golf analyst @wchoops @crawssportsbiz

Dan Hicks----It is apparent as the years go by that Dan Hicks is rapidly becoming the best golf announcer of all time. His work at NBC is nothing short of sensational, week and week out. Hicks gives you just enough each week, but not too much.

His story telling about Steven Bowditch the winner of the Valero Texas Open this weekend was at times magical. Of course it was quite the compelling story talking about Bowditch's battles with depression and how he has fought hard to overcome those issues.

NBC realizes it and all the rest of the world is starting to realize,  Hicks in the best in the business.

The Masters---One guy who never falls off the map and another guy who has of late, are two players to watch in this year's Masters. Matt Kuchar, Mr. Top Ten certainly has to be one of the favorites. With five top ten finishes already in 2014, Kuchar has the ability and the mental game to win at Augusta.

It should also be noted that Jim Furyk has been playing well as of late. He knows how to win a major championship and is still capable of bringing home the big trophy, even though his play overall in the last couple of years has been "sub par", as compared to what we are accustomed too out of one of the world's best players of all time.

Pacific Northwest---It will not be long now that every golf course in the Pacific Northwest will start to plug their greens. It sometimes is a painful time for all golfers, considering the first plugging of the greens comes usually wants the weather starts to turn good. Keep in mind this is so needed to give all of us golfers great greens all the way into the fall. If you have questions, I am sure your local golf course superintendent will be happy to answer any of them.

PGA Tour---I have often written that not the now retired David Stern was the best commissioner in sports, but instead it is Tim Finchem. The way Finchem has been able to sustain the Tour through the toughest economic period this country has ever gone through and actually grow the Tour is nothing short of sensational. 

Since the formation of the PGA in late 1968, after breaking away from the PGA of Amercia, the PGA Tour has had only three commissioner. Joe Dey (69-74, Deane Beman (74-94) and Finchem from 1994 to present.

Recently the PGA Tour has promoted Jay Monahan to deputy commissioner, much the same way that the NBA promoted Adam Silver to deputy commissioner early on, so that it would be an easy transition become commissioner as he is now. Nothing formal yet, but it sure would appear that Jay Monahan is the heir apparent to Tim Finchem, whenever that happens.

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Crawford's Golf Daily, For March 24th, 2014

By Gregory Crawford, Golf Insider @wchoops @crawssportbiz

Gregory Crawford has been in golf business for 45 years,  both on the business side and media side. He really wants to bring you the best in golf news, six days a week, taking every Tuesday off. This column will always be interactive, so please feel free to comment in the section below.

The New Guys---Are we really seeing the end of the Woods and Mickelson era in golf with all these new great players? I would have to say a strong maybe and want your opinion on the matter.

For my money the greatest new player on the scene is Jordan Speith, followed by Jimmy Walker, Patrick Reed and of course yesterday's winner, Matt Every, a really talented player.

Will Woods and Mickelson win again. Of course they will, but even a better question, will they win big again and will either player win another major. It is doubtful, but not out of the realm of possibility. 

Clubs and Balls----What is your favorite model of clubs and what golf balls do you use on a regular basis if that is the case?

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