PGA Tour: Kapalua etc etc: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

Happy New Year is out the window over here as rhetoric emanating from Iowa will attest, so let's use these Notes to stop looking in the proverbial "rear-view mirror" and ahead to this week and this year:

1).A beleagured "Hyundai Tournament of Champions" gets underway this week, on FRIDAY! Only 28 of the 39 eligible players will be teeing it up but at least Freddie Jacobson, Dustin Johnson, and Brandt Snedeker will get paid (about $50K apiece) as they are no-shows for medical reasons.

2).Those not playing this week miss a golden opportunity to notch up a couple of quick starts on the PGA Tour, not important to most Americans of course but crucial to those such as Scott and Schwartzel, Rory and Rose who ply their trade on multiple Tours and could struggle to fit in the minimum 15 events. They are also missing the Plantation Course at Kapalua, a Coore/Crenshaw masterpiece which offers glorious (mostly Pacific Ocean)views from almost every hole.

3).But let's use these Notes to assess the chances of Europeans on the PGA Tour this year, as categorised by the FedEx Play-Off cut offs, top 30, 70, 100, 125 etc plus the conditional status accorded to the money list top 150. A note of caution which may be pervasive in these comments: I see this year as being a crucial one for our favourite Europeans on the PGA Tour: They're not getting any younger, only Rory McIlroy younger than Martin Laird's 29 years, most of the rest now well into their mid-thirties. And: What is the motivation for those playing both Tours? Are they committed or are they just playing follow the leader? That won't work against a re-focussed Woods and the Young Americans.

4).Top Thirty (Tour Championship):
~Donald: Luke Donald has managed his schedule superbly, but am convinced that one of the secrets to his 2011 success is the almost 3-month break he took prior to the season. I would be alarmed that he's playing in the Middle East and would suggest he'll pay for that. No Majors for Luke but can see a Players win and possibly a lesser event (Heritage?). Consistent as always.

~Westwood: Big year for Lee and I think he'll go balls out to make it the best it can be. Not sure about big wins but a boatload of top finishes in his future. US spotlight on McIlroy and the Fowler/Simpson generation of Americans will only help his low-key personality.

~Casey: Struggling with fitness until the end of the year and not fully exempt, he is nevertheless in all the Majors and WGC's and there may be a chip on his shoulder. But he needs some big finishes, preferably a win, early. WGC MatchPlay?

~Garcia: Good rebuilding year in 2011 for Sergio and still relatively under the radar. Took a nice winter break and will flourish in 2012.

~Karlsson: Now or never for the big Swede. Fit and two years of acclimation under his belt, I expect a win (Charlotte or Memphis maybe?). Very consistent in Majors.

5).BMW: 31 - 70:
~McIlroy: Rory is in for a tough year as the American press will be building up a Tiger rivalry for him. Is he mature enough to handle it? Signs not good in my eyes; he should be in Hawaii this week and his absence begs the Wozza question. Will his distractions get the better of him or will they make him stronger? Expect a win on one of the parkland courses he favours (Augusta, Memorial or Q.Hollow), but also inconsistency and missed cuts. He got knackered last time around and his recent schedule suggests he hasn't learned much. One of the best young sportsmen from the British Isles in the past sixty years, but will he have the mental fortitude to match? Jury out, but he's very young for the expectations heaped upon him. Patience!

~Poulter, McDowell: Disapppointing 2011's for both, and they'll each need a good start to get their years on track. Reports that Poults will miss time as he welcomes a baby-Gooner and he'll likely struggle to cram events in (as he did last year) as a result. Expect both to do well in Florida, but neither long/accurate enough to prosper on the courses the Tour takes in later in the year. Tears for at least one come Ryder Cup time.

~Jacobson, Rose: May have placed one or both higher but each kicks off the season on the bench, Freddie nursing ligament damage to his thumb, Justin changing nappies. My comments about Rose missing "Hawaii" were regrettably inappropriate, but the fact remains that he made a mess of his schedule when little Leo reared his head three yrs ago and getting his year off to a slow start won't suit him. No Major top tens since the 2008 PGA. Caution for Freddie Jac, as it's not clear how bad his thumb injury is. What we DO know is that thumb injuries derailed Anthony Kim's career. Memo to Fred: Get fully healthy first, then wait another month before returning.

~Laird: Underrated, understated, just as he seems to like it. Hopefuly he'll get off to a rousing start this week in Kapalua. Two wins and two play-off losses the past 2 1/2 years suggest he'll contend again in 2012, but much will depend on that long putter of his.


6).Deutsche Bank: 71 - 100:
~Davis: Time Brian Davis won, but no top fives last year and he doesn't usually get going until the "Florida Swing", even though next week's visit to Waialae CC should suit him. Possible threat at shorter courses, Harbour Town, Travelers, Colonial, Reno.

~Pettersson: Poor year after contending at Kapalua but seems to rebound just as we count him out.

7).Barclays: 101 - 125:
~Harrington, Stenson: Time for the two biggest wildcards. We all know they could turn the form book upside down at any moment. Either or both could easily bounce back to win one of the big tournaments, but they're not getting any younger and, if last year is anything to go by, neither is getting any better. Would like to see Padraig play a full California schedule, Pebble Beach and Riviera at least.

8).Conditional Status for 2013: 126 - 150:
~Blixt, Knox: The young Swede and the young Scot will both want to get off to a good start whilst their post-Nationwide status is strong. Knox made his 2011 season with a high finish in the Bay Area and hopefully he'll reprise that, whereas Blixt played well towards year's end. Definitely both ones to watch and would be no surprise to see either in the FedEx play-offs.

9).The rest: 151+:
~Chopra, Owen: Certifiable journeymen. Early tournaments will tell their tale, especially Owen who's played so well at Pebble in the past and endured that historic close shave at Bay Hill. Chopra is capable of going as low as anyone on Tour, just not for two consecutive rounds and his driver will ensure he goes back to Q-School.

~Cejka, Johnson: Limited status for both. Would think Cejka is capable of bouncing back eventually, but Richard S just doesn't hit it far enough. Would be good to see both playing some events in Europe.

~Christian: One of the oldest "rookies" on Tour for many years the quiet man from Surrey will surely enjoy the experience even if his year concludes back at Q-School. Any six-figure cheques will be a very pleasant surprise but a great sense of humour and a fun interview. TV in his future?

~Olazabal, Parnevik: Still have some status on Medical Exemptions. Wish them good health but any tournament success this side of the Champions Tour will be a very pleasant surprise.

10).Remember: There'll be a Friday start to Kapalua and a Monday finish. Set your British Isles alarm clocks for an early wake-up call to see how the hotshot Americans, Simpson, Bradley, Haas follow up their 2011 seasons, to see if Stricker is fit, whether Lucas Glover still has his beard (no top tens since his May win in Charlotte), Rory Sabbatini can win after two second place finishes or Martin Laird can belatedly celebrate Hogmanay. Happy New Year indeed.

Laird leaving a lot of shots on the greens today, disappointing. If he plays as well tee to green for the rest of the week he should be up there though.

First words out of Kevin Na's mouth in post-round interview a few minutes ago, "I was getting off to a slow start today..."

That's better Martin.

Comments like that "shot" about the German doctor make my blood spin . . . . .

And that's not so good. Hope he can make 6 at worst.
Stricker more impressive by the minute.

Odd interview with Webb there! Fair play for the honesty about the POTY award though, doubt any of us would've done different!

She's been doing some good interviews this week - playing basketball with Gary Woodland seems to have loosened her up. Plus that one whisky, one bourbon, one beer appetiser.

Disappointing for Martin Laird, and he pays the price: a round with Sabbatini's buddy, Kevin Na. They'll hold up Simpson and Stricker on every hole!

Superb sart from Stricker, not often you see someone hitting the ball so purely in the first week of the season. And inspite of (or maybe, who knows, because of) his God prasing attitude, you have to admire Simpson for continuing with these high level performances. NaNa is up to a flying start (helped by 2 eagles ) of the season, are we going to see him moving to a new level now after getting his first win last year?

So only a 2 point penalty for being late for Sabba yesterday... no punch ups, no swearing? That's a bit dissappointing

Great battle brewing in South Africa for the 1st win of the season, with Goosen making an early statement. Only two players over par there, one of them being Oli Wilson...
Finally, I think it could be worth keeping an eye this year on this very young chap from Argentina, Emiliano Grillo, still a teenager but looking very promissing indeed!

Time you sent Van Der Walt the script, pd.
Incredible back nine for NaNa, his final 1,200 yards of golf played in five shots. Playing with Laird today, and that'll serve Laird right for hitting his tee shot into the jungle on 17.

Oosty won't go away so easily, but what happened to Philip Price? Something wrong with his card or he w/d for some reason? He played very well the first 3 days...

They're now recording Phillip Price as a w/d. Hope he's OK; I follow him, for nostalgic reasons I suppose, always feel as if those who helped win a Ryder Cup deserve a special place on the ET, David Howell too of course.


Not sure how to anticipate the owgr impact this week without going through so many golfers' 52nd, 53rd and 54th oldest outings. But I'm thinking a 3rd place won't do much to help Goosen, but that a Kapalua win might bring Simpson or Stricker up to #5?
Great shout on Grillo, sounds like a refugee from the Godfather, have to keep an eye on him.

Anyone up for a bit of trivia.

Name the first golf club formed on US soil?

I mentioned I think a few days ago in the OWGR thread that these two can reach #5 this week, and as it stands now it's Stricker at #5 and Simpson at #6... and poor Ernie @ #68 with a couple of extra guys surpassing him if it stays as it is...

A potential top 10 in his first big time outing is no mean feat for Grillo.
He even seems to have some early Argentinian superstar features (looking at his nose in particular)...

Spoiler:

Mac,
St Andrews?

pd, It's certainly a minefield for this amateur.
Forsyth saga taking an early season twist. Good!

Not st andrews.

Somewhere in Charleston?

No, a bit warmer than there.

St.Augustine then?

Otherwise, give up!

2-0

Job done by Oosthuizen then, 3rd for the Goose, but still no top tens "Out Of Africa" since July.

Mac - I was going to say Chicago Golf Club.

Stricker the model of swing consistency if ever there was one. And great to see Simpson picking up where he left off last year.

Local boy O'Hair having a respectable outing thus far.

Good job by king Louis, should bring him somewhere around the 30th spot, have to look at that in detail later... For Goose may not be enough to lift him inside the top 50, we'll see...

Oakhurst Links would be my guess for Mac's trivia...

"St Andrews Golf Club: This is the oldest golf club in America, opened in 1888, and is a founder member of the USGA."

Interpretation of the definition of "Club" vis-a-vis Oakhurst at least.?

pd,
Good comeback over the past five months for King Louis, perhaps his fellow Highness can match him next week?
Must be close for the Goose but I'd guess just outside. Better 3rd than nothing though - the eternal problem of a top player competing loyally in a small event.

One thing I find hard to discern with these top South African players is when (if ever) they have their Big break in a season... If he's not due to have such a big break soon, you'd think that Ooosty's come back to his peak form is just in time for the big events that will follow in the next couple of months...

Oosty is putting together a nice little career, going to be around the top for a long time to come I think.

Kwini

I actually had to go look this up.

There are records which show balls and clubs from Leith were exported to Charleston south Carolina in 1743. One of the earliest records of a club in the US is south Carolina golf club 1786.

I think a second era of golf in the US must have started with the St Andrews club in Yonkers and shinnicock hills. I guess things must have tailed off, and I wonder if the story of golf in the US between the mid-late 18th century and 1890's is well known?

Mac,
This is off at a tangent a little, but this is a report of the oldest golf league in North America, albeit later than your point of reference:

http://www.cnycentral.com/sports/story.aspx?id=472317

and this is the website for another local (Mohawk Valley) club of 1895 vintage:

http://www.sadaquada.cc/

pd,
Would it be cruel or just facetious to suggest Oosthuizen took his downtime between February and May last year? Returning just in time for a decent effort at Congressional.

Not Ernie and Goosen so much, but King Charl paced himself pretty well last year. More difficult for all three with the Pres Cup.

My two comeback players of the year for 2012 likely Tim Clark and Immelman, he of the fabulous ball compression at strike-point.

Since you're looking into the golf's US history books here is my small contribution, a picture I took a couple of years ago in the clubhouse (looks more like a shed really, but does its job) of the Van Cortlandt golf course (NYC), which is the oldest public golf course in America. That placque at the top indicates "USGA Member - 1894"...

Spoiler:

kwini, any new news on Tim Clark (or on JBH)?

Tim Clark? No update, except circumstantially to suggest that, if he was anywhere close to being fit, he'd've played next week at Waialae CC where he finished 2nd last year. Perhaps the Humana/Hope, where he finished second the year before?

JBH: I think he had a setback in the autumn; he had been committed to play the Shoot-Out with Kenny Perry but withdrew in early December - no recent medical bulletin that I've seen.

Several guys injured right now, but the JBH concern seems the most unsettling.

Thanks for the info guys.

I have not even got to grips with the early history of golf in the UK yet never mind the US. I find it all interesting all the same though.

Great pic PD.


So whats the story with Andrew Giuliani, was he a college golfer or something?

First starting time is 8.55 GMT (I think, as the tee times seem a bit funky and inconsistent with the advertised TV coverage).

Is this:
A one horse race: Stricker?
A five horse race, plus those to -8, Simpson, Na, Laird and Byrd?
Or are there some middle of the pack-ers in with a chance? Still expecting Sabbatini to make some noise, beyond fluffing off his missed tee-time yesterday.

Mac, Giuliani was a failed college golfer - got kicked off and sued! Toss pot! Like his Dad.

Kicked off and sued!

What did he do?

He was recruited by Duke University which is one of the more prestigous uni's. Quite why he lost his scholarship and was removed from the Golf Team is not clear; could have been academic reasons, could have been disciplinary, could have been he just didn't cut it.

How come his name crops up?

In the pick that PD posted it was Giuliani 's big break bag in the glass cabinet.

Interest from our favourite Doug about Haney's upocoming book about his time with Tiger Woods: "The Big Miss". (Apparently it doesn't refer to any particular waitress. In fact there's the suggestion that there's nothing scurrilous or salacious about the livre at all):

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug=ap-woods-haneybook/

I remember Giuliani from big break. He was the one with the big ego that everybody loved to hate. I think there was an attitude problem with him at Duke --throwing clubs, verbally abusing team mates etc.

Sounds like a nice guy, kinds like his daddy.


Interesting to hear Sir Nicholas Alexander Faldo say that he thinks the long/belly putter should be banned as he does not think clubs should be anchored to the body. I have to say I totally agree.

Yup, Nobilo said the same thing yesterday.

Plunky,
WELCOME to the Ballwasher . . . . .!

Nice start from Martin Laird, two under after five.
Some good rounds from those behind but nothing sensational so far.

Awful, awful coverage, they just show Keegan Bradley a million miles off the lead more than third place Martin Laird. I can understand if it's an established star like Tiger or Phil but not a guy who's only been noticed in the second half of last season.

PS that lip out for Laird on 6 was ridiculous

monty,
Completely agree.
PGA Tour trying its darndest to promote young American golfers - not a bad policy if they're playing well as Simpson is, but Keegan Bradley is obviously not. Time to give it a rest.
The bigger point is whether Bradley is all they're cracking him up to be anyway. And I seriously doubt that he is.

I think he's a good player who could win another few majors but certainly not the next superstar golfer imo.

He comes from eighty miles down the Interstate so I should be a big fan.
But I'd say he may win another few tournaments but "another few majors"? I'd be astonished.

Hey Kwini

Reassuring to see that the Laird is still less than appreciated by the US tele. Wouldnt feel right if it was any different.

Hmm, maybe that came across wrong, he's so young i simply couldn't rule it out. But yea he might only win won but it's possible to win 3 or 4. Harrington shows what hard work can do

Welcome sandy,
Yup, What an inconvenience that Laird is up there. Who the Hell does he think he is?
Americans bemoaning the "Internationals" that give this a miss, but don't respect those who show up. The five placed in two pairs plus Vegas (honorary American), just to ensure as many all-American pairings as possible. Absolutely pathetic.

Nice to see his putts finally dropping. But that usually means a drive into some bushes is on the cards.

Laird's doing his best to make it interesting.

Laird drops a shot and that will be the last we see of him