Sometimes a lot of truth can come from humor. That theory held true when the number one player in the world, Yani Tseng, joked earlier this week at the Avnet LPGA Classic that she is thinking about getting a part-time job to make up for all the down time on the LPGA.

Sure, Tseng doesn’t need another job, but the point can be dissected; the LPGA needs more sponsors, and more tournaments, fast. It has been three weeks since Stacy Lewis won the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and no tournament has been contested since. This week’s stop in Mobile, Ala. is the only LPGA event in April, and May will only give fans two tournaments before the summer months.

Sure, Tseng doesn’t have anything to worry about, but what about those players struggling to make cuts? Could we be heading towards the old Denver Broncos days when players worked at the Coors factory in the offseason to pay all their bills?

Right now, probably not, but it isn’t completely out there. I know LPGA players that book plenty of pro-ams and such that hand out appearance fees so they can make extra money on the side. The LPGA is doing some good things, like donating the entire Founders Cup purse to charity earlier this season, but there has to be more opportunity for players than the stingy schedule they have right now.

Lower purses, give sponsors a break … anything that could add more tournaments and at least give them a chance to compete. If not, you might soon be getting a lesson from your favorite LPGA player, when the tour is on another lengthy sabbatical.

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As we while away the hours until the first rounds of the weekend’s stateside tourneys complete, we turn our eyes to the ongoing battle for No. 1 in the world. And Lee Westwood is yet again adding to the mystique of the No. 1 ranking by falling apart in the final holes of the first round of the Indonesia Masters. Westwood carded a bogey and a double-bogey on two of the final three holes to fall six strokes behind leader Damien McGrane.

Assuming you’re not a member of the McGrane family, why’s this significant? This: according to the AP, Westwood needs to finish in the top 5 this week to hold onto his top ranking, or Martin Kaymer will retake it. And don’t rule out Luke Donald, who’s playing this weekend in New Orleans. He takes the top spot with a finish of T2 or better at the Zurich Classic.

OK, so it’s obvious that the No. 1 ranking will be in play for months to come. So we need to attach some more significance to this. How about this: for every week you spend at No. 1, you get one stroke knocked off your card at the major of your choice. Hey, could’ve helped Kaymer make the cut at Augusta this year.

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Let’s face facts: golf is a game that’s slooooooow to change. And the institutions which oversee and represent golf lead the charge — or dig in their heels, pick your metaphor. But times, they do change, and even the most revered old-line institutions must also change … eventually.

Last year, the United Kingdom passed the Equality Act, which basically provides for equal protection and treatment under the law of both genders. And that law slams headlong into the front door of clubs like St. Andrews, pictured above, which has a, shall we say, well-defined policy on who can get into their club (certain gentlemen) and who can’t (everybody else).

But the Equality Act doesn’t play that game, and as a result, St. Andrews is having to consider changes. Roughly speaking, that would mean one of three options:

1. Members and their male guests could come into the club, but no women whatsoever, even in the places where they’re currently now permitted. In a letter to members, the club notes, with pleasant dry humor, that "mixed social events would become a thing of the past and the dining room would suffer hugely."

2. Everybody who’s not a member gets kicked out of the members’ lounge, which, as the club notes, would deprive it of its much-needed ability to inspire envy: "The committee is concerned that this would result in a loss of the special atmosphere of the members’ lounge, created by seeing guests being in awe of the club’s trophies and memorabilia collection."

3. Give in to the tides of time and let everybody in everywhere. You can hear the sigh of disappointment from here, can’t you?

"After much consideration and discussion," the club noted, "as well as a meeting with the past captains and trustees of the club to make them aware of the position, the committee of management is recommending that option three be adopted as the best way, in their opinion, of safeguarding the long-term wellbeing of St Andrews Golf Club."

The club, which dates to 1843, has never had a female member. Club members will decide in late May how to proceed.

St. Andrews Golf Club wrestles with implications of Equality Act [The Courier]

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Ever since Graeme McDowell closed the door on Hunter Mahan back at Celtic Manor in the 2010 Ryder Cup, Colin Montgomerie has played a coy little game with the idea of captaining the team again. Sure, Jose Maria Olazabal got the 2012 gig, and deservedly so, but Monty has been running the old "I won’t campaign for it, but you can ask me, and maybe I’ll say yes" gig. That tease!

Well, until now. Now he’s straight up about wanting the gig. In an interview with the BBC, he noted that he wouldn’t turn down the job if asked. "But no one’s asked me, and we have fantastic candidates in Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn and Paul McGinley," he added. (Where’s Nick Faldo on that list, you think?)

Montgomerie had indicated he wanted to improve his own game with the hopes of playing his way onto the teams that will play in Medinah in 2012 and Gleneagles in 2014. That may be a long shot, considering the strength of the European team. Still, it’s a noble enough goal.

And Montgomerie deserves credit for captaining the European team to a win, though it wasn’t quite as dominating as many now seem to be remembering it. As we recall, if even one of the Americans had turned in a slightly better round on Sunday, this would be a moot point. But Monty didn’t blow his stack, as many had hoped expected, and for that, we say, good show.

Colin Montgomerie eyes 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy [BBC Sport]

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It was just last year that former NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice was given a sponsor’s exemption into the Fresh Express Classic, a Nationwide Tour event that was clearly trying to make headlines by giving up a spot in the field to one of the biggest names in football.

But the decision backfired horribly, as Rice finished DFL and looked more like a weekend hack than a guy who could make a living playing professional golf. As expected, Rice’s decision to steal a spot away from a worthy Nationwide Tour player drew the ire of many in the golf media world.

A year later, another Nationwide Tour event, the South Georgia Classic, decided to try the gimmick again, handing a sponsor’s exemption to former Major League pitcher John Smoltz, who will be teeing it up in Thursday’s first round.

Like Rice, you’d expect Smoltz to take some heat for stealing a spot from one of the guys on the mini-tour. That’s until you see his golf resume.

His best round is a 63, he made the cut last year at the Georgia Open, and he’s a scratch golfer. Already, he’s got a leg up on Jerry Rice. Smoltz has also talked of trying to qualify for the Champions Tour when he turns 50 in seven years, and he definitely has some game to make that dream a reality.

While some may still have a problem with another pro athlete playing in a professional golf tournament they didn’t qualify for, I honestly don’t have as big a problem with Smoltz playing than I did when Rice took a spot.

Call it a double-standard if you want, but I have a feeling Smoltz could make the cut. He just seems more dedicated to actually making a career out of the game in his later years, and his swing seems to be pretty solid. Even if he doesn’t have a great week, I’d be willing to bet he doesn’t fire a 92 or get disqualified for using a rangefinder.

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We’re deep in the heart of the PGA Tour season, and our cheat sheet will give you all the info you need to know to plan your viewing, fantasy picks and bar bets. Enjoy, and if there’s a category you’d like to see added, hit us up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. We’re here to serve, after all.

History: The Zurich Classic dates, in some form or another, back to 1922, though it didn’t really get rolling consistently until 1958. It bounced around courses in the New Orleans area before settling in 2005 at TPC of Louisiana. Alas, Hurricane Katrina damaged the course, but the tournament returned there in 2007.

The TV: Thursday and Friday, 3-6p.m. ET, Golf Channel; Saturday and Sunday, 3-6p.m. ET, CBS.

The course: TPC Louisiana in Avondale ranks right in the middle of PGA Tour courses, 25th of 51 in difficulty. The course record is a 64, achieved by Kyle Reifers — yes, the Kyle Reifers — in 2007. The course will play at 7,520 yards, and as our pal above demonstrates, you don’t want to wander too far into the rough.

The field: Notable names in the mix include Bubba Watson, Steve Stricker, Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald. Oh, and John Daly and David Duval are playing, too.

The fantasy picks: Luke Donald (A-list), Ben Crane, Steve Stricker (B-list), Brandt Snedeker (C-list).

The relevant video: Dig on some New Orleans love, as well as some outstanding golf, from David Frost‘s chip-in to win in 1990 to Lee Westwood‘s first PGA Tour victory:

Enjoy the tournament, everybody! Make your picks below!

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