S.F. Examiner: No matter the changes, Giants will answer bell

By Art Spander
San Francisco Examiner

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Storm clouds swirled in the distance, above the Superstition Mountains. But Tuesday, for the Giants’ first full-squad workout of 2015, there was only sunshine.

When you’re the World Series champion, anything else would be unacceptable. So Panda has crossed the continent. “A good player, a good teammate, always a happy person,” center fielder Angel Pagan said about the dearly departed Pablo Sandoval. “But we have to move on.”

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© 2015 The San Francisco Examiner 

Global Golf Post: Thomas Already Has Big-Time Game

By Art Spander
Global Golf Post

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA — This is Hogan's place, actually "Hogan's Alley," a label that stands as surely as does the statue of Ben adjacent to the practice green at Riviera Country Club.

History counts here. History and reputations. Justin Thomas seems destined to create both. "Justin Thomas," said Graham DeLaet, "is part of the future of golf."

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Copyright 2015 Global Golf Post

Global Golf Post: Riviera's Short 10th Long on Difficulty

By Art Spander
Global Golf Post

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA — The sixth hole is a par-3 with a pot bunker. In the middle of the green. The 10th hole is a par-4 that's drivable. And perplexing.

Riviera Country Club, where the tournament is now called the Northern Trust Open but began existence in the late 1920s as the Los Angeles Open, is yet another example there's more to a golf course than length.

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Copyright 2015 Global Golf Post 

S.F. Examiner: Harding Park a rich piece of SF sports history

By Art Spander
San Francisco Examiner

These are good days in the old city that remains forever young.

We start, of course, with the Giants and AT&T Park. Couldn’t get much better than that, could it?

Then we look a few miles west, beyond Twin Peaks and Mount Davidson to another venue of champions, TPC Harding Park, the muni golf course that in some ways is a miracle.

Read the full story here.

© 2015 The San Francisco Examiner 

Global Golf Post: Comebacks Anything But Easy

By Art Spander
Global Golf Post

PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA — Such an appropriate nickname. "The Big Easy." Golf, however, is nothing but easy, even for the man with the relaxed, easy swing, Ernie Els.

"I've been to the dark side a couple of times," said Els.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2015 Global Golf Post