TJ Auclair's blog

In case you live under a rock -- which isn't likely the case if you're reading this -- you know that there's no bigger party in professional golf than on the par-3 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale. The atmosphere is that of a frat party. If you think a good shot is going to be greeted with a slow, "golf-clap," here, you're going to be extremely disappointed. This is the PGA Tour's version of Animal House.

It sounds like a cruel question, but it's one posed by BleacherReport.com's Fred Altvater: has Phil Mickelson underachieved in his PGA Tour career?

Let's take a brief look at the resume...

In light of what's happened this week with World Golf Hall of Famer Vijay Singh admitting to the use of a banned substance in a Sports Illustrated article, GolfChannel.com has put together a helpful, informative timeline of the PGA Tour's drug-testing policy.

Rob Goldberg, a featured columnsist for BleacherReport.com, put together a nice primer to get you prepared for the start of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which starts today at TPC Scottsdale.

Goldberg offers up some players to watch, highlights some notable tee times and predicts the winner.

Have a look for yourself at Goldberg's piece here.

Earlier this afternoon, former Masters and PGA Champion Vijay Singh released the following statement regarding a Sports Illustrated article where he admitted taking a banned substance:

In light of the recent article on sportsillustrated.com, I want to issue the following statement:

Following up on yesterday's blog post where we brought you the news about Vijay Singh admitting to the use of a banned substance in the latest edition of Sports Illustrated, one of the authors of the story was on Golf Channel's "Morning Drive" this morning and explained that Singh may not have been aware that the product was banned.

GolfChannel.com's Ryan Lavner posted a blog this morning explaining what was revealed in the Morning Drive interview with SI's David Epstein:

OK, lovers, Valentine's Day is sneaking up on you. What are you going to get that loved one? The old, reliable, cliche flowers and a box of chocolates?

Why not think outside of the (tee) box this year?

A company called, "birth.golf.death." has some truly unique gifts -- some for on the course, some for off the course and some for pure relaxation.

Joseph Coonick, the owner and creator of birth.golf.death., has put a serious spin on the "country club" look -- he's actually turned it upside down.

File this under: Well, that didn't take long.

U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, a 22-time medalist (including the all-time record for Olympic gold medals with 18 -- double the second highest record holders), is a certifiable golf nut.

Phelps, who said the 2012 Olympics in London would be his last, has been spending a lot of his time on the golf course these days. He's renowned coach Hank Haney's latest "Haney Project," on the Golf Channel and it was just announced today that Phelps is the newest endorser of PING clubs.

According to an article in this week's Sports Illustrated, former Masters and PGA Champion Vijay Singh has been named as one of several athletes to use a banned substance from a two-man company  called S.W.A.T.S. -- Sports with Alternatives to Steroids.

Golf.com's Ryan Reiterman blogged:

The two men, Christopher Key and Mitch Ross, run their company from a gym in Alabama. They sell products such as deer antler spray and hologram chips that they claim will help athletes perform better on the field.

An unbylined, Associated Press report out of Dubai, says that 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke was recently in a, "minor car accident." By the sounds of it, the man long thought to be a favorite for the 2014 European Ryder Cup Captaincy until he pulled his name out of consideration and Irishman Paul McGinely got the nod, seems to be OK.

Here's the AP report: