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.

C'mon Rory, another birdie at this par 5...!

princedracula wrote:C'mon Rory, another birdie at this par 5...!

3-putt bogey from around 6 feet?

Oh Rory,
These putting eccentricities will only be magnified at Augusta . . . . .

King Louis has pretty much been written off for the Masters in the US media, but he's putting together a nice round today - played well here last year and you'd think he'll be there or thereabouts tomorrow - and in fifteen days' time.

Yep the cream is begining to rise in louis and Phil..

Westy only steady- Couldnt captilise on two ok shots on to the last 5.. All pars so far..

Sorry Rory - 2 under won't get it done today. World #1 safe for this week.

Win this thing? Another "no-name" American is my guess!

Ah ha, Lee has his eagle putt just where he wants it - 75 feet away.

Very efficient, now time to climb the leaderboard.

westy to 7 under

Stenson making a great move up the board, what exactly does he need to get into the top 50?

Stenson benson? The gospel according to St.princedrac says top 50 gets him in the top 50 - looking good so far.

now 8 under

but as we know the last 4 holes are v tough. hopefully he can maintain 8 under

Good up and down again from Lee.

Both parts of his game coming together back nine..

westwood Only player all week to hit the 15th in 2!!!

Were you saying something about par 5's kwini

9 under

My 31 /1each way shot looks good..

BTW i havent seen westwoods odds that high for about 4 years! and to be honest this field is quite weak! Crazy odds. Glad I took em

Yeeeeees . . . .

Koprack and Wheaty are starting to look like a couple of hackers on a jolly!

Westy gets in to the virtual lead from my POV! at 10 under

Another good round from Greg Owen, important day for him tomorrow and then a couple of weeks off.

Cabrera looks to be playing well, hasn't missed a green at all...surely one of the most naturally talented golfers?

Cabrerra is unbelivable..

he just walks up and hits the ball. Love his style..

Once saw him hitting a 3 wood of the tee at wenty..

He dropped his ball on the ground and in literally a split second after it rested had hit it 280 straight down the middle..

A three putt from Westy, that must hurt.

Especially as his second shot was dead on line, one club short. Still, nothing worse than a par on 18 and he'll be right in the hunt, playing a few groups behind the lead, 64 and the trophy.

nah he will get over it.. He is used to them

Let's not worry about Stewart Cink winning; he's never won in the States except during the week following a Major Championship, all five of his wins following The Masters, US Open and PGA.

all before a major!!!

Yeah, Because it's before The Masters he hasn't a chance!

50% chance of two Chubby UPS boys playing together tomorrow; certainly hope Lee doesn't get stuck with Ben Crane - his pace of play would drive him crazy.

Sorry yeah all after a major..!

It is a tough last two holes . I am hoping we dont get to many above 10 under.

But i think the two journeymen on top at the start are completly out of this. There is some real class about now.

Stewart Cink, imagine that!

A major winner finally making some hay. I doubt he'll be there come late tomorrow -- but I assure you very few on here would have ever thought he would have been drinking from a Claret Jug.

Rory nowhere to be found, Tiger likely dreaming of ski slopes -- this is a free week boys.

Top 50 Spoilers Alert:

Bud Cauley (definitely) and Ben Crane (possibly) will ascend into the OWGR top 50 with a win.

PD is the OWGR expert but I think Ben Crane barely passes Sterne if he should happen to win tomorrow.

Cauley climbs to #42-#44 with a win.

No complaints here if Ben Crane shoots triple digits this Sunday - except it will take him until Tuesday to complete his round.

Happy Easter and Happy British Summer Time.

Another good day for scoring in Houston unless and until the 50% chance of "severe storms" materialises later in the day.

"Anyone's game" is obviously a cop-out cliche but the top 15 are covered by three shots, there are four Major Champions and at least four more proven winners with a couple of future multiple winners (Cauley, Tringale, perhaps even Chappell) all contending.

They'll be off in an hour, at Villa Park and Redstone, with Rory and David Lynn off 80 minutes later. Could be a thriller.

kwinigolfer wrote:No complaints here if Ben Crane shoots triple digits this Sunday - except it will take him until Tuesday to complete his round.

I guess once a player gets a reputation for playing slow, there is no way to shake that reputation.

If playing slow is a reason to dislike a player, why do so many people on this board like Padraig Harrington?

FWIW, Ben Crane played his round in 4 hours 7 minutes yesterday.

GPB wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:No complaints here if Ben Crane shoots triple digits this Sunday - except it will take him until Tuesday to complete his round.

I guess once a player gets a reputation for playing slow, there is no way to shake that reputation.

If playing slow is a reason to dislike a player, why do so many people on this board like Padraig Harrington?

FWIW, Ben Crane played his round in 4 hours 7 minutes yesterday.

There are many more reasons that slow play which make Ben Crane unlikeable.

I pretty much dislike everything about Crane except his actual golf.
He's slow, a nauseatingly relentless bible puncher, slower than the slowest snail and wears totally duff clothing. And then there are those inane videos.
What's to like? Unless he has a tasty wife of course.

Apart from pace of play, Harrington always seems a pretty good guy.

Ben Crane is well liked among the pros and I think is Bible Thumping is relatively tame. I see him in many interviews and he seldom mentions his relationship with God anymore

And of course, "duff clothing", whatever that means, is about the best reason I can think of for disliking a player.

If you don't like the videos, don't watch them. Yes they are goofy, but jeez it shows some personality and some self deprecating humor.

And Ben Crane has improved his pace of play greatly. I have not heard about him being on the clock for a couple years now.

Stock yank for me

GPB wrote:Ben Crane is well liked among the pros and I think is Bible Thumping is relatively tame. I see him in many interviews and he seldom mentions his relationship with God anymore

And of course, "duff clothing", whatever that means, is about the best reason I can think of for disliking a player.

If you don't like the videos, don't watch them. Yes they are goofy, but jeez it shows some personality and some self deprecating humor.

And Ben Crane has improved his pace of play greatly. I have not heard about him being on the clock for a couple years now.

There's a whole bunch of them Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson, Ben Crane who hold these stupid beliefs that god will help them on a course. A very good reason to dislike them, that sort of selfish arrogance is unacceptable.
:
Sophie Gustaffson got things in perspective in a quote:

"If there even is such a thing [as God] I hope he/she/it has better things to do than help someone win a sporting event."

"He is risen" pretty much sums up most PGAT golfers tweets today. If a muslim golfer made a similar comment he'd be off to Gizmo pronto.

It's funny how super forgives Ali for his outwardly religious stance.. Why's that dude?

When did I say that? I've never taken a stance other than that all religious belief is retarded. Ali's is just as inexcusable as any Christian bible thumping golfer.

super_realist wrote:There's a whole bunch of them Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson, Ben Crane who hold these stupid beliefs that god will help them on a course. A very good reason to dislike them, that sort of selfish arrogance is unacceptable.
:
Sophie Gustaffson got things in perspective in a quote:

"If there even is such a thing [as God] I hope he/she/it has better things to do than help someone win a sporting event."

OK, if a deep faith in God is a reason to dislike a player, so be it.

Do I believe that God cares who wins a golf tournament? Nope, not at all. But I think that people can parlay their faith into a inner peace and confidence that helps them perform better on the course. As much or more than (1) practice, (2) a fitness regimen, (3) or anything else.

But alas, I have learned a long time ago that there is no use arguing with a brick wall, although many times I do forget.

double post

On the goat thread you bigged him up.. Then said that his Muslim stance was fine as long as he kept it at home.. Which off course he never has done.. You couldn't put it as a negative towards him at the time..

It's a perfect reason. If a person is so arrogant that he thinks that a god will help him win a golf tournament whilst simultaneously allowing children to die and terrible things happen all over the world, he is basically a complete moron and deserves to be panned for expressing such a shiversomely embarrassing thing.

If you are stupid enough to hold such views, at least be clever enough to keep them to yourself. About time an interviewer laughed in their face, or walked away the next time someone brings it up.

I have just thought of your next TW big up.. He isn't religious....

mystiroakey wrote:On the goat thread you bigged him up.. Then said that his Muslim stance was fine as long as he kept it at home.. Which off course he never has done.. You couldn't put it as a negative towards him at the time..

Think you are confusing me with someone else although I agree you can believe in Leprechauns, Pixies, Elvis or whatever you like, as long as you keep it at home.

It's not so much their faith in God, but their urge to tell everybody else about it. Religion is the root of most conflicts on earth. They should know that. If a muslim had uttered similar stuff as these golfers he'd be labelled an extremist and detained. These guys should keep their religion to themselves.

GPB - Agree 100%. In a professional golf event virtually every competitor has the physical skill set to hit the shots required.

You see it all the time -- the players that have a better mental edge get better results. How you get there is how you get there.

Which is why I can almost guarantee you Stewart Cink will not be victorious today!

Nope. It was you.. Maybe he was up against woods at the time