"If we play with a golf ball that is 10 percent rolled back and we used to hit it 300 yards, now we're hitting it 270 yards. Well, fans that come to a tour event are not going to be impressed by that."

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Phil Mickelson's comments to E. Michael Johnson about equipment in the new Golf World prove short-sighted and frankly, disappointing.

What do you think of two sets of rules on equipment?

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"In the Balco case, numerous athletes were interviewed by federal investigators and summoned before a federal grand jury to answer questions about their knowledge of Balco and its steroid-distribution activities."

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Michael Schmidt and Ian Austen follow up their original story revealing Dr. Anthony Galea's troubles, with similar details to what we learned earlier today from ESPN.com's Mike Fish, as well as confirmation of Steve Elling's report on a possible Florida investigation into Tiger's in-home treatment administered by the unlicensed Galea.

Tiger may want to pay attention to this reminder from Schmidt and Austen:

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Finchem To Squawk On The Street

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Going to Mark Steinberg's choice for revealing news, Commissioner Tim Finchem makes an interesting, uh, platform selection to break his silence.

FIRST ON CNBC: CNBC MEDIA ALERT: CNBC'S SPORTS BUSINESS REPORTER DARREN ROVELL WILL SPEAK WITH PGA TOUR COMMISSIONER TIM FINCHEM, TOMORROW, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17TH ON CNBC'S "SQUAWK ON THE STREET"

WHEN: TOMORROW, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17TH AT 10:10AM ET
WHERE: CNBC'S "SQUAWK ON THE STREET"

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem will give his first interview since recent developments in the life of Tiger Woods became national headlines. CNBC's Darren Rovell will speak with Finchem on Thursday, December 17th at 10:10AM ET on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street."  Finchem will discuss his reaction to Woods' announcement that the world's top golfer would take of an "indefinite break" from the sport and its potential ramifications on the game's television ratings and future investment from corporate America.

Finchem is also scheduled for a teleconference with scribblers at 11 EST.

"You know what's really recklessly irresponsible? Dealing with a doctor who has a history of using and prescribing the banned HGH substance, that's what."

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That's the LA Times' Bill Plaschke responding to yesterday's Mark Steinberg criticism of the New York Times. There's more:

All the healers in the world, the best money can buy, and Woods chooses an eccentric 50-year-old HGH peddler who not only prescribes it to older patients, but says he injects himself five days a week to keep up with a wife who, he says, is 22 years younger?

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AP Names Tiger Woods Athlete Of The Decade

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Doug Ferguson writes:

Woods was selected Wednesday as the Athlete of the Decade by members of The Associated Press in a vote that was more about 10 years of performance than nearly three weeks of salacious headlines.

Just like so many of his victories, it wasn't much of a contest.

Woods received 56 of the 142 votes cast by AP member editors since last month. More than half of the ballots were returned after the Nov. 27 car accident outside his Florida home that set off sensational tales of infidelity.

Steinberg: "Apparently the Times like so many other news outlets on the Tiger Woods story, has abandoned principle."

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An ESPN.com wire story features a new and much improved denial from Mark Steinberg in response to today's New York Times story on Dr. Anthony Galea.

Interesting though that he chooses to focus his denial attention on protecting IMG first, Tiger second.

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NY Times: FBI Investigates Tiger's Doctor For Supplying Performance Enhancing Drugs To Athletes

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Back in October, Bob Weeks of Scoregolf.com noted that Tiger Woods might face scrutiny for his association with Dr. Anthony Galea. Now the New York Times's Don Van Natta Jr., Michael Schmidt and Ian Austin report the FBI is investigating Galea for possibly supplying illegal performancing drugs
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