PGA Tour: Texas Two-Step: Houston and San Antonio: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Because of the vagaries of the calendar, the Tour loses Houston as the stop immediately before Augusta this year and the boys will be playing Houston this week, and San Antonio next. Then The Masters of course.
But this is the week golf returned to the front pages of a breathless national media and headlined most of the national radio and TV news programmes. No, not because Sergio hit a ball out of a tree.
Tiger, Tiger, Tiger!!!

2).The relentless march of inevitability lasted five days but Tiger finished fourteen under par on the Par-5's alone.
So: Was the week's biggest story Tiger and his brilliant putting plus the ability to ride a big slice of luck at a crucial time?
Or was it Justin Rose who outplayed Tiger for 40 holes, went into so much of a funk that he played sixteen holes in six over par, and then regrouped to outscore Tiger by one shot on Monday as he finished a comfortable runner up?

Not sure myself - perhaps Rose would have been better off playing 72 holes alongside Woods instead of listening to the roars in front of him and ogling Tiger's rise up the numerous on-course leaderboards?
I thought at the time that Justin's careless 3-putt on Friday evening's 18th might come back to haunt him, and he certainly lost form with his putter on Saturday, pushing at least four short left-to-righters below the hole.

3).What is in no doubt is that sport sees strokes of fortune, good and bad, that can make or break a round, a match, even a career.
Matt Prior played the ball on to his stumps early in his innings today, but the bails stayed intact and the headlines were of a brilliant 110 n.o., and not about throwing his wicket away when England needed him most.
Bill Haas was still in contention on Saturday when he hit a ball out of bounds - by three inches. He was toast from then on.
But minutes before, Tiger had hit a tee shot on the 9th hole which (according to NBC TV) struck a tree out of bounds and rebounded back in play. A brilliant par followed and he was off to the races on a course he knows better than anyone.
No-one knows how to take advantage of a good break like Tiger, but equally no-one follows a poor shot with another poor shot so infrequently. He sure looks good for Muirfield Village . . . . .

4).Great play also from Gonzo (he does have a first name, NBC), Olesen and Stenson. A glimpse of form from Martin Laird, Sergio running on fumes, and rubbish from Westwood. Difficult to fancy Europe's chances at Augusta unless Rory returns to his best - my fancy will be the same as last year, left handers and Saffers.

5).NBC TV did a piece during their weekend coverage lamenting slow play with Bubba Watson, Lee Westwood and the Network providing evidence for the prosecution. But they won't name names, despite the clips of Webb Simpson, Kevin Na etc.. The info on time taken by each player to play each shot is recorded so why doesn't the media get the data and start to name names. I would back Bradley, Crane, Harrington, Na and Simpson as being at least as glacial as the slowcoaches of yesteryear, Faldo and Langer, Chip Beck, Bob Estes and Ken Brown. Even Nicklaus and Couples could be pretty bloody slow.
Still puzzled why this is not an issue with the PGA Tour, but when the media's investigative reporting doesn't investigate why should the Tour be bothered?

6).Perhaps slow play has something to do with the fact that, for the seventh year running, the National Golf Foundation reported a net closure of 141 golfcourses in the United States last year - 13 openings, 154 closures. One thing's for sure, it wasn't anchored putters that causes reduction in play (tho not last year) and closure of courses.

7).And so to Texas and the "Shell Houston Open" at Redstone GC. Rees Jones designed the course with an assist from "Player Consultant" David Toms, who thinks so much of the finished product that he's not showing up to play. One of the "hooks" of the design is to create an Augusta National aura, a strong driving course with sloping greens and shaved chipping areas.
It's the last chance for players to qualify for The Masters via the owgr Top 50 and there's a strong field on hand to compete for Hunter Mahan's title. McIlroy (nice to seeing him on the range with Wozza and Djokovich at Miami Muni), Mickelson and Mahan, Bradley, Dustin Johnson and Snedeker, etc, etc..
Steve Stricker will be there - Houston offered him a sponsor's invite when Steve was down on his uppers a few years ago. He played well there and never looked back. And "Strick" doesn't forget those who do him a good turn. (Unlike some others of course.)

Who's there to win, who's there to fine-tune their game? That's the trick! Ogilvy and Charlie Howell, among others, will surely be trying as they look to secure a Billy Payne invite and this course certainly favours their length. I'll recommend a very modest e.w. interest in Chris Kirk, Jimmy Walker and Graham DeLaet, all at good prices, all in good recent form, and DeLaet and Kirk have good track records here.
Along similar lines, I'd imagine Stenson and Westwood might do well among a strong European entry.
Robert Karlsson up to 3rd alternate so hope some golfers' bad luck is his good fortune after he missed out in Monday qualifying. Conditions fine, at least until the weekend.

8).Champions Tour update:
No action for three weeks, but Roger Chapman earned a nice finish last week and is up to 25th in the money-list, while Mouland spoiled a good start but is still 30th for the season. Top thirty crucial for both to retain their cards for 2014 (tho Chapman might have an additional year's exemption).

Web.com update: Top 15's in Louisiana for Gary Christian and Russell Knox, but they're way back (56th and 54th respectively) on the moneylist and need to get some big finishes under their belts.

LPGA update: Spain's Beatriz Recari won last week in California and is up to 2nd in the money-list. Catriona Matthew is 21st and Jodi Ewart 33rd. No other GB&I golfers in the top 50.

9).Back to Mr.Woods: His stat's for the year are looking increasingly Tigeresque, including the all-important "strokes gained putting" where he leads.
Still wayward off the tee though, so he'll need something special to win anywhere that driving straight is a core competency.

10).And: Lots of snarky comments about Tiger's photo album with Lindsey Vonn, one wag suggesting the only thing missing was the Easter bunny.
But they seem to have their wires crossed somewhat.
Tiger: "We want to continue our relationship privately, as an ordinary couple."
Lindsey's Tweet, on the front page of USAToday among other places: "Number 1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Way to keep a low profile.

Anyway although your above stats are completly meaningless. It truly is only about the scoring average. and the only viable one is from the full year. The season hasnt really started yet- it all starts with the masters!!

I will admit that 58th isnt the best from Lee.(but it isnt 140th!!!!!!!!!)

But break it down.

lets imagine that lee gets on average 40 yards from a par 5 in 2 due to his good long game.. many others may average 50 yards from the pin in 2 due to a lesser long game..

what is really truely the difference at that point- nothing. If you have even a marginally better short game you should out score lee..

Its that simple..

Luke donald topped birdies in 2011- he isnt long- its all about the short game!! the long game is actually more benefical on the par 4's and 3's if your short game sucks- lee strikes a 5 iron as well as a 9 iron. he allways gets them close!- he usually drives immaculatly giving himself irons from the fairway on most 4's!- on 5's its clearly great but you still on average have 250 in.. your not allways going to get that close- so short game rules- its immaterial if you get them a few foot closer than the player that can putt and chip!!

case closed from my pov

People are wrongly banging on about woods par 5 performance.

Whats changed with tiger..

His putting has been imaculate again!! his par 5 average is just a BI PRODUCT of that

we all know lee's problem. Its his short game.. His PAR 5 average is a bi product of that..

Its all well and good banging on about par 5's but lets be honest its about finding the root problem..

And hey Lee knows this root problem and has been practising very hard on putting and chipping.. good luck to him

mysti,
You're absolutely right, my apologies.
But he's 139th in Par-5 scoring average this year and that stat just got worse.

So, for 2013, it IS 140th. Sorry, cheap shot.

But the fact is he's nowhere near as good as he should be and I'd say his course management is as much to blame as his short game.


At one atage last week, I think during Round 3, the up-to-date stats on Woods during his career at Bay Hill were something like:
Par 3: +8
Par 4: -7
Par 5: -121

You can't tell me that that's not a combination of;
1).Length
2).Ball-striking
3).Course management (often exquisite)
4).Good short game
5).Excellent putting.

Those Par-5 stats are way better than anyone else and that's what Lee should be getting close to. He ticks boxes 1) and 2) and his sand play is usually excellent.
So course management, chipping and putting are all that's left, and his course management, I'd say, has long been a weakness.

Anyway: Good round today - there more 68's and he should be in the argument on Sunday.

isnt the main issue with Westwood that he isn't competing in the big events and seems to have forgotten what winning is like. when he was globe trotting at least he won a few tin pot euro tour events. at the moment he is moving towards journey man status.

well he clearly isnt the best from 100 in. but he never has been. should course management tell him to go for every green regardless..
Maybe if he cant go for a green he should allways leave himself 160 yards!!

Or maybe he should just keep practising on his pitching inwards!!

The par 5 figures hasnt told us anything we dont know . We know Lee's problem.. And i see it at as being a short game issue over course management..

Forget about Lee, have a look at Paul...

Spoiler:

...or maybe not...

Anyway this has taught me one thing. Not all no.1's do amazingly on par 5's!!

Lee is a recent exeption to the rule I suppose..

But it would be nice to know his stats pre 2012(darn euro tour! not given them out!)

Looks like Lowry holed a bomb on his final hole, nice redemption after his round got away from him.
60-something would be nice Friday though.

Lousy from Laird and whassup with Thorbjorn?

mystiroakey wrote:well he clearly isnt the best from 100 in. but he never has been. should course management tell him to go for every green regardless..

The par 5 figures hasnt told us anything we dont know . We know Lee's problem.. And i see it at as being a short game issue over course management..

mysti- I haven't been paying much attention to Lee's game recently (apart from noticing his awful chipping). But I would be willing to bet course management is a big part of it i.e. Lee is missing greens in the wrong places putting pressure on his weak short game to bail him out. One good aspect of Tiger's course management is that he always misses in the right place leaving straight-forward up and downs.

I cant agree mate. because the majority of full shots you play in to the greens are on the 4's and 3's.. Now dont get me wrong he may miss them occasionally on the wrong side.. But thats course management overall not just on the par 5's which is the point of the others in this debate.. So why no problems on those holes?

Anyway due to lee being a good and accurate ball striker -going for pins may outweigh missing on the wrong sides. Because he can make it effective by getting more birdie chances.. Nothing worng with that course management at all.. its a blance of risk to reward.. If your risk is lower than others due to your strengths it outweighs the negative


Tigers recent strength was highlighted by making the right amount of clutch 10 foot putts- not neccesarily where he misses the green..(this has allways been key when he is top).. If he missed the ten footers for pars- how good is his chipping????

Lees problem has been with his short game. That is maximised on the longer holes due to being on average furher away from the pin in reg or 1 under reg(even if he may be closer on average than others)

Rory's 8th hole is turning Westwood-esque . . . .

davies up to 3 under

Two lowest guys in the afternoon wave are Rollins and Davis, two of the streakiest guys on the tour, with a tendency to rattle off a flurry of top 10s then go AWOL for six months at a time. Tringale, Points, Cabrera, Hoffman, Walker all in the top 15 and all with similar tendencies to some extent... wonder whether the end of the two spring "Swings" has levelled the playing field and given a few guys the chance to kick-start a season.

Stenson hitting 83% of GiRs so far, but undermining that stat slightly by leaving himself an average of 55ft from the hole. Just three putted for his first bogey of the day, needs a birdie or two to get inside the Top 50 pd suggests would get him a Masters invite (Siem-dependent perhaps).

Agree about Davis, had put his haplessness for the past three months down to new clubs, but this is usually the beginning of his time of year. Don't expect too much after June from him.

I think Cabrera bases himself with Charlie Epps in Houston when he's in the States - love to see him playing well again.


Conditions should even themselves out tomorrow - windier this afternoon and benign conditions Friday morning followed by breezier stuff in the p.m.. Rory needs that help as his final few holes don't get any easier.

Bradley seems to play every week does he ever take a break?

golfers should not act. Rory for santander lee and bubba for ping (?) even Bernard Gallagher for golf insurance. all terrible.

Love Taylormade's "ier" ad. Johnson Wagner is a hoot. Sean O' Hairier!!

Ooh Hoo,
Who'd've thunk it?
Brian Davis back from his winter's hibernation - very nice, bogey-free round of 67.
Stenson going nicely also.

73 for Rory. and could have been worse from what I have seen especially in tougher conditions. he battled back well though needs a lowish one tomorrow.

I see Randy Lowry is playing has Shane brought along his brother?

Hah!
Quel coincidence - Randy Lowry is a Monday Qualifier.

Good work from Greg Owen as well - 68, tied with the King of the Par-5's: Lee Westwood.

Not bad in the end for most of the British golfers, Ross Fisher still going of course.
Paul Casey? Disappointing.

Had a quick look and lee seems to have an average of about 4.65 over the last 5 years or so in pga tour events.

That is about 0.15 away from the average best for each year.

I would say his putting from 3-5 feet is a bigger issue.

Anyone been #Dufnering?

You have been living a bit of a nocturnal life recently mac?

Working nights or something?

No, your mother just snores a lot.

I am up early a lot Mac, and noticed you are (or up late!) - so I asked.. I wasnt having a pop..

mystiroakey wrote:I am up early a lot Mac, and noticed you are (or up late!) - so I asked.. I wasnt having a pop.. :thumbsup:

Sorry, I wasn' really having a pop at your mother. Well, not in the way you meant it.

Are u my new step dad???

Really no idea why I made kwini's excellent thread deteriorate into your mum jokes. Sorry Kwini.

I'll make up for it by sharing some dufnering;

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2013/3/28/dufnering-takes-twitter-by-storm.html

You need to get some sleep pal..

We seem to be up and running in Houston; conditions Thursday seemed to favour the morning "wave" and the forecast suggests that might be repeated today.
If so, COME ON RORY!

As for Worksop Man:
"I must have the worst par fives of anyone this year. It was like dropping four shots really."
Well, let's hope he retrieves those shots this afternoon. COME ON LEE!

Well yes he does.. and I fully expect him to turn around day. Cleary killed it yestetday and holed a few decent putts..

Mixed bag in his first 19 holes for one of the more "mercurial" spirits of the PGA Tour:
Andres Romero: SIX birdies, FOUR double bogeys.

Thats like one of my rounds

Right, Rory's out of neutral, thru first and now in second. So far so good.
But not as good as Brian Davis who's birdie just now takes him into T4.

Beat me to it..

Davies at 6 under!

Westwood must be looking at that leaderboard with no fear at all tbh..

Just realised Cabrerra is up ther at 6 under.. Peaking at the right time pre major!!!

Scoring looks a bit tougher today, good for Davis who is just playing steady stuff...
Ace for the Swedish Redneck!

And a problem with his wisdom tooth for Sean O'Hair. Be nice to him Shotrock . . . .

Rory's making some nice par saves today - two under at the turn and a repeat performance will get him right back in the tournament.

Mcilroy may not need the wisdom tooth excuse this time.

Under the cut line and hit the water on the par 5 12th..(probally will make par mind)

Four holes for Rory to find a birdie if he wants to be sure of playing tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Ross Fisher cruising thru the front nine, tho just missed his first green, at the 9th.

Paul Casey will have to wait another week for his breakthrough.

Flawless tournament so far for Brian Davis, just one fairway and two greens missed today, not a bogey thru 36 holes.

No bogeys yet this week for Greg Owen - he still has holes to play so let's hope I haven't put the mockers on him.

Stenson still on course for Augusta, but Rory needs a birdie on the Par-5 eighth or the long Par-3 ninth to make the cut.

3 bogies/4 holes ... I hope it's his wisdom tooth!

well done rors- fought out and made the cut..

Shotrock,
I think it was the triple on his fifth hole that made him realise he needed a root canal . . . . . .


Good for Rors, A bit of a struggle but 2 x weekend 65's will have you back to Number One and then we'll see how resilient Lindsey Vonn is . . . .

Kwin - Ouch.

Rory showing his true stuff down the end. Good to see.

Good stuff from Pablito and Rorito... But who the heck is Steve Wheatcroft??

[quote="kwinigolfer"]Shotrock,
I think it was the triple on his fifth hole that made him realise he needed a root canal . . . . . .


Good for Rors, A bit of a struggle but 2 x weekend 65's will have you back to Number One and then we'll see how resilient Lindsey Vonn is . . . . [/quote

That wont beat LW

Hah, He's been around, on Tour intermittently but mostly Nationwide material.
Followed him once, at Turning Stone, but this is uncharted territory for him, though he won a Nationwider two years ago at 29 under par.

I really liked Graham DeLaet for this week and have him in fantasy games - but would like him even more if he hadn't 3-putted three times already this round. Grrrrrrr

PS: I see Thongchai's on the march in Thailand . . . .

Lee 1 under through 1

up to 5 under..

Fish needs a birdie like Rors tomake the cut coming homr..

Wheatcroft.. Who is this journeyman at the top?