John Holmes's blog

Here's some very welcome news: The number of rounds played nationwide in 2012 was up 6.4 percent over 2011, according to PGA PerformanceTrak. That represents the largest single-year percentage increase in rounds played since 2000.

And along with growth in rounds played, golf fee revenue increased by 6.6 percent last year, based on reports from the facilities participating in the monthly surveys. Some details:

Luke Donald is ranked No. 3 in the world, won three times around the globe in 2012 and in 2011 captured the money list titles on both the PGA Tour and European Tour. Still, he's feeling unfulfilled because, despite all his success, he's yet to win a major.

So he's made what can only be described as an unusual – but possibly inspired – choice for help with his mental approach.

Odyssey putters with a White Hot insert claimed more than 30 victories on tours around the world in 2012, so the company has expanded its White Hot offerings.

The new line of White Hot Pro flat sticks represents the next step in Odyssey's development of putter face inserts, as these new ones are better formed to match the shapes of the faces on which they’re installed. This is done, Odyssey says, with a new laser milling cutting process that helps make the inserts fit more perfectly and provide more consistent sound, feel and reaction across the face.

Craig Ferguson, the host of the ''The Late Late Show'' on CBS, is Scottish – as he never lets anyone forget, ever. And Scotland, as we all know, is the home of golf. Somehow, though, Ferguson never got the golf bug – until now.

Ferguson revealed that he's recently taken up the game during an interview with guest Julie Andrews on Monday night. Out of the blue, he asked ''The Sound of Music'' star if she played golf.

What an interesting 24 hours of golf Sunday was. Here's a quick spin through it:

In this post, we will formally conclude our tee-to-green coverage of Davis Love III's neck surgery by passing along the news that the 20-time PGA Tour winner is up and around, and even putting already.

After being seriously injured in a crash during the Alpine World Championships, skier Lindsey Vonn flew home to the United States on Friday in a private jet provided by Tiger Woods, according to TMZ.com.

The gossip website ran a photo it said was of Vonn on crutches boarding the plane. There was no indication of where the plane was headed, though speculation was its destination was Colorado, where Vonn lives.

As we reported here in the ol' Golf Buzz on Wednesday, Davis Love III underwent surgery on his neck earlier today. Everything went well, and he's doing fine, according to his Twitter account.

He's even cheerfully modeling the latest in hospital haberdashery, as you can see in the photo above that he tweeted out about 3:30 p.m. ET.

"Coolest Shower Cap Ever?!," Love asked on Twitter, then added: "I may regret this when the pain meds wear off."

For years, a lot of prospective cricket fans stayed away from the game because they thought the matches lasted too long. They weren't wrong – in some major tests, the teams battled all day for five straight days.

The Monterey Peninsula is absolutely one of the most picturesque spots in all of golf – not to mention all the world. But there's a little something extra to catch your eye as you gaze longingly upon the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am this week.

Out there among the celebrity hackers and drop-dead scenery over the next four days, you'll no doubt notice a lot of people decked out in bright yellow bucket hats.