It’s official! For the 3rd straight year I will be your 18th green announcer at the LPGA’s first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship which gets underway next week in Rancho Mirage, California. I’d like to use this forum to thank KNC Tournament Director Gabe Codding and his very nice staff for having me back as it truly is special to be involved with one of the great traditions in golf while also having the priviledge of playing in the Pro-Ams (can’t wait to find out who my playing partners will be?). As for my gig there, I’ll be the voice you hear introducing each group after their approach shots on 18 (on Saturday and Championship Sunday only) as they walk past famous Poppy’s Pond in which one lucky woman will get to take that traditional jump in as the KNC Champ late on Sunday afternoon.

Last year, it was Yani Tseng (now ranked #1 in the world) who I briefly spoke with as we left the 18th green championship ceremony together (still in a wet robe from her jump in the pond) right after winning her 2nd LPGA major in 3 years. And she was understandly also wearing a huge smile from me to you…

Yani Tseng 2010 KNC champ:

What most don’t know is that Yani’s win was litterally earth-shaking as during her championship newsconference, we had a strong 6.9 earthquake shortly after she was handed the trophy. So of course, I felt compelled to get her reaction to that, too…

Yani Tseng on the earthquake that shook her post-round newser:

Yani’s in L.A. this week for her KNC prep at Industry Hills, the new venue for the LPGA’s Kia Classic. And we spoke on the phone today not only about her great golf game but also the house that she bought from Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam in Florida. Yani has some giant shoes to fill as she needs to fill up the huge trophy case that Annika used to store her championship keepsakes in…and we had some good laughs about that and what makes this 22 year old millionaire Taiwanese golfer and 2010 LPGA Rolex player of the year keep her constant and genuine smile…

Yani Tseng Tuesday from the Kia Classic:

The previous year it was the long-hitting Brittany Lincicome who’s amazing approach shot on her final hole led to a winning eagle as we spoke about at last year’s media day…

2009 champ Brittany Lincicome speaks KNC:

Yesterday, Brittany fell one stroke short of another former KNC champ and Hall of Famer Karrie Webb at the inaugural RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup in Phoenix and Karrie was kind enough to call me today and share thoughts on her 38th career win and the next 10 days ahead which of course includes going for her 3rd win at the KNC…

Karrie Webb on the Kia Classic and Kraft Nabisco Championship:

And FYI…Poppy’s Pond that Karrie, Yani and Brittany have all earned the right to jump into, was named after the KNC’s longtime tournament director and former PGA pro Terry Wilcox who I will always be grateful to after we met 3 years ago. Which is when he was kind enough to bring me on board so that the big gallery on 18 can rightfully cheer each player as they get ready for their final putts of the day.

Sharing his plaque with Terry Wilcox at Poppy's Pond

If you’re into women’s golf at all (specially the history of it) this blog is the place to be as I’ll be interviewing some of the greatest golfers of all-time (including hall of famers such as Amy Alcott and several current stars) later this week so please check back here frequently. Amy and I worked together in 1995 on the first-ever major championship on network radio in the U.S., the PGA Championship from storied Riviera Country Club. Amy was a co-host alongside the great Jack Whitaker and I was their on-site producer and it was great working with those 2 legends of their fields. And now Amy (as a 3 time KNC champion) has created a new event to honor the legacy of Dinah Shore and the 40 year history of champions at the KNC as well as raise awareness and funding for important children’s education initiatives. It’s the inaugural Fresh and Easy Dinah Shore Charity Pro-Am to be played Saturday morning April 2 on the Palmer Course at Mission Hills Country Club.

For ticket info log on to http://www.kncgolf.com and check out some of the field of all-time greats that Amy has put together for Saturday morning…it’ll be like walking through the golf hall of fame on the course with the legendary greats of the game playing just for you!

Fresh & Easy Dinah Shore Charity Pro-Am field

First off this week it’s the LPGA’s Kia Classic with a stellar field at Industry Hills prepping for the women’s version of “The Masters” next week at the Kraft Nabisco. Hope to see you out there!