OWGR Week 35

First topic message reminder :

A quick recap for Week 35  (Ending Monday, September 2, 2013)

Rank - (Last Week) - Average

1 ( 1 ) - 14.1823 - Tiger Woods
2 ( 2 ) - 9.3603 - Adam Scott
3 ( 3 ) - 8.5906 - Phil Mickelson
4 ( 5 ) - 7.8804 - Justin Rose
5 ( 4 ) - 7.8734 - Rory McIlroy
6 ( 10 ) - 7.1504 - Henrik Stenson (winner Deutche Bank - PGA Tour)
7 ( 6 ) - 6.8028 - Matt Kuchar
8 ( 7 ) - 6.2588 - Brandt Snedeker
9 ( 8 ) - 6.1135 - Jason Dufner
10 ( 14 ) - 5.9519 - Steve Stricker
11 ( 9 ) - 5.7687 - Graeme McDowell
12 ( 12 ) - 5.0916 - Keegan Bradley
13 ( 11 ) - 5.0190 - Luke Donald
14 ( 13 ) - 4.8945 - Lee Westwood
15 ( 15 ) - 4.7014 - Jim Furyk
16 ( 17 ) - 4.6506 - Ian Poulter
17 ( 20 ) - 4.6267 - Sergio Garcia
18 ( 18 ) - 4.5958 - Jason Day
19 ( 16 ) - 4.5183 - Charl Schwartzel
20 ( 19 ) - 4.4734 - Ernie Els
21 ( 21 ) - 4.2707 - Louis Oosthuizen
22 ( 22 ) - 4.1434 - Bubba Watson
23 ( 23 ) - 4.1420 - Dustin Johnson
24 ( 24 ) - 4.1175 - Zach Johnson
25 ( 26 ) - 3.9976 - Webb Simpson
26 ( 25 ) - 3.9959 - Bill Haas
27 ( 27 ) - 3.9197 - Hunter Mahan
28 ( 33 ) - 3.5044 - Jordan Spieth
29 ( 28 ) - 3.3043 - Hideki Matsuyama
30 ( 30 ) - 3.2084 - Nick Watney
31 ( 29 ) - 3.2074 - Matteo Manassero
32 ( 31 ) - 3.0664 - Branden Grace
33 ( 32 ) - 3.0450 - Peter Hanson
34 ( 34 ) - 3.0377 - Rickie Fowler
35 ( 48 ) - 3.0080 - Graham Delaet
36 ( 38 ) - 2.9525 - Jonas Blixt
37 ( 35 ) - 2.9423 - Bo Van Pelt
38 ( 36 ) - 2.9347 - Richard Sterne
39 ( 37 ) - 2.9338 - Martin Kaymer
40 ( 40 ) - 2.9333 - Scott Piercy
41 ( 39 ) - 2.8956 - Kevin Streelman
42 ( 41 ) - 2.7924 - Jamie Donaldson
43 ( 42 ) - 2.7227 - Billy Horschel
44 ( 43 ) - 2.6742 - Francesco Molinari
45 ( 44 ) - 2.5891 - Thorbjorn Olesen
46 ( 45 ) - 2.5142 - Ryan Moore
47 ( 50 ) - 2.4726 - Boo Weekley
48 ( 51 ) - 2.4478 - Gonzalo Fdez-Castano
49 ( 47 ) - 2.4371 - Nicolas Colsaerts
50 ( 46 ) - 2.4351 - Angel Cabrera
51 ( 49 ) - 2.4126 - D.A. Points
52 ( 52 ) - 2.3945 - David Lynn
53 ( 54 ) - 2.3382 - Robert Garrigus
54 ( 55 ) - 2.3359 - Michael Thompson
55 ( 53 ) - 2.3067 - Miguel A Jimenez
56 ( 57 ) - 2.2461 - Bernd Wiesberger
57 ( 58 ) - 2.2217 - Martin Laird
58 ( 59 ) - 2.2190 - Thongchai Jaidee
59 ( 66 ) - 2.2082 - Marc Leishman
60 ( 56 ) - 2.2062 - Tim Clark
61 ( 60 ) - 2.1795 - Carl Pettersson
62 ( 63 ) - 2.1310 - Patrick Reed
63 ( 61 ) - 2.1226 - Chris Wood
64 ( 64 ) - 2.1027 - Stephen Gallacher
65 ( 62 ) - 2.0982 - Paul Lawrie
66 ( 65 ) - 2.0885 - Thomas Bjorn
67 ( 69 ) - 2.0545 - Mikko Ilonen
68 ( 68 ) - 2.0545 - Jimmy Walker
69 ( 67 ) - 2.0441 - Russell Henley
70 ( 81 ) - 2.0409 - Brendon de Jonge
71 ( 70 ) - 2.0340 - Marcel Siem
72 ( 74 ) - 2.0323 - Harris English
73 ( 72 ) - 1.9723 - Alexander Noren
74 ( 71 ) - 1.9645 - Fredrik Jacobson
75 ( 73 ) - 1.9587 - Kyle Stanley
76 ( 75 ) - 1.9066 - George Coetzee
77 ( 80 ) - 1.8998 - Scott Stallings
78 ( 85 ) - 1.8790 - Brett Rumford
79 ( 82 ) - 1.8776 - John Merrick
80 ( 89 ) - 1.8759 - Joost Luiten
81 ( 76 ) - 1.8666 - John Huh
82 ( 78 ) - 1.8587 - Shane Lowry
83 ( 83 ) - 1.8455 - Kiradech Aphibarnrat
84 ( 77 ) - 1.8439 - Luke Guthrie
85 ( 97 ) - 1.8438 - Roberto Castro
86 ( 84 ) - 1.8396 - David Lingmerth
87 ( 79 ) - 1.8345 - Ken Duke
88 ( 87 ) - 1.8009 - David Toms
89 ( 90 ) - 1.7741 - Charles Howell-III
90 ( 91 ) - 1.7731 - Kevin Chappell
91 ( 86 ) - 1.7689 - Padraig Harrington
92 ( 99 ) - 1.7588 - Chris Kirk
93 ( 88 ) - 1.7544 - Ryan Palmer
94 ( 94 ) - 1.7038 - Geoff Ogilvy
95 ( 98 ) - 1.6973 - Gary Woodland
96 ( 119 ) - 1.6948 - Peter Uihlein
97 ( 92 ) - 1.6841 - Marcus Fraser
98 ( 95 ) - 1.6825 - Paul Casey
99 ( 101 ) - 1.6782 - Charley Hoffman
100 ( 93 ) - 1.6731 - Hiroyuki Fujita
101 ( 96 ) - 1.6699 - John Senden
102 ( 103 ) - 1.6029 - Rafael Cabrera Bello
103 ( 102 ) - 1.5897 - Marc Warren
104 ( 134 ) - 1.5797 - Kevin Stadler
105 ( 109 ) - 1.5682 - Chris Stroud
- - - -
118 ( 173 ) - 1.4763 - Gregory Bourdy (Winner Wales - Euro Tour)
- - - -
152 ( 243 ) - 1.1525 - Park Sung-Joon (Winner Vana H Cup - Japan Tour)
- - - -
200 ( 296 ) - 0.9112 - Trevor Immelman (Winner Hotel Fitness - Web.com Tour)
- - - -
286 ( 481 ) - 0.6306 - Daan Huizing (Winner N. Ireland  - Challenge Tour)
- - - -
523 ( 628 ) - 0.2974 - Andrew Curlewis (Winner Wild Waves - Sunshine Tour)
- - - -
710 ( 1407 ) - 0.1647 - Mark Hubbard (Winner Wildfire - Canadian Tour)

A WGC the week before or after The Open? Don't be daft

Shotrock,
Went to FM last Friday, the Stadium on Saturday - two first class events, by any standards!


Question for robo:
How do you explain the extremely poor field en Montreal this weekend?

And an observation: Read in the Canadian Press that the PGA Tour (effectively) subsidises the Canadian Open. Do you have any evidence of that? And: Wonder the extent to which the Tour subsidises other tournaments - thinking especially of Hilton Head.

kwinigolfer wrote:As for the rest, the PGA Tour has the strongest, most savvy and well-connected leader in Tim Finchem. Of that there is no doubt and is acknowledged weekly.

But: It doesn't make him right in everything and certainly doesn't make it good for World Golf.

It serves most of its constituency superbly, however, and for that he is to be congratulated.

Just PLEASE don't expect observers from the ROTW necessarily to agree with everything.

I don't expect everyone to agree with everything... bottom line is the Euro economy is even more whack than ours right now, and golf is suffereng... I get it.  And I get the angst at so many of the key Euro stars leaving the ET to make the PGAT their primary home base.

But IMHO... there is NO better time to strike than when the iron is hot... and from the sound of some reports, it might never be hotter than it is right now.  First thing I'd say is DON'T just capitulate by just "giving" the Euro tour over to the PGA Tour.  Do something with he PGAT... but do something BETTER than that.

First...  understand that Of COURSE Finchem is going to serve his constituents first and foremost... so how do you deal with that?  Simple really... you make what's good for WORLD golf good for Tim's constituents as well... otherwise it AIN'T happening.. PERIOD. And it CAN be done  Think about what I just proposed on two new WGC's...   1) it gives Timmy the ability to give his top players opportunities to play abroad in big events and stay current in their OWGR rankings during the fall / early winter... and 2) crates more playing opportunities at home for the rank and file because the top-tier is mostly away.  And 3) for the non dual-PGAT touring Euro's... it gives them more big money/point opportunities as well.  AND... since the TV revenue from WGC's is at least somewhat shared... as long as Timmy has his mitts sufficiently in the PGAT's market area share of TV revenue pie... hello... winner, winner chicken dinner for EVERYONE involved.

And as far as the fans... HECK it's football season man... It's not like any weekend event here is gonna have an audience worth a spit anyway...  so some WGC featuring Tiger and Phil and a world class field from Timbuktu, but playing outside the NCAA and NFL football time windows (even in tape delay but done before 11am Eastern U.S. on Saturday's and Sunday's) would probably pull far better numbers than say the McGladrey would going heads up against Saturday NCAA and Sunday NFL afternoon timeslots.

Bottom line.. be PROACTIVE and work with the guy... IMO there really is such a thing as the "win-win scenario" in most all cases... that is if  those involved are of the mind to be absolutely committed to finding it.

kwinigolfer wrote:Question for robo:
How do you explain the extremely poor field en Montreal this weekend?

And an observation: Read in the Canadian Press that the PGA Tour (effectively) subsidises the Canadian Open. Do you have any evidence of that? And: Wonder the extent to which the Tour subsidises other tournaments - thinking especially of Hilton Head.

I really don't have a clue why Montreal field might not be strong... I'm not nearly as up on Champions Tour matters as PGAT... But I guess the question is... is it really all that weak? I understand Fred not being there (busy with PC matters) but who else is missing... of the top-20 in the Schwab standings... other than Fred, looks like only Pavin and Haas missing... but most everybody else is there... no? And most the "name" guys lower in the the Schwab are there as well... sans Watson

And not sure what you are referring to on the Canadian Press and the Canadian Open.. can you pass on some links maybe?

Yes, But the older "name" attractions are mostly awol.
No Irwin, Watson, Montgomerie, Lehman, Oh Meara, Nelson, Crenshaw, Elk, McNulty, Sutton, Morgan . . . . and there's plenty more. Anytime John Adams is first alternate you know there's been a ton of regulars giving it the elbow.


The context of the CO was in regards to the fee payable to stage the tournament, and that the "Canadian" got to pay a significantly discounted chunk o'cash. Apparently there is concern north of the border that they'll be in trouble if RBC doesn't re-up. I'll search for the links.

kwinigolfer wrote:The context of the CO was in regards to the fee payable to stage the tournament, and that the "Canadian" got to pay a significantly discounted chunk o'cash. Apparently there is concern north of the border that they'll be in trouble if RBC doesn't re-up. I'll search for the links.

Well never say never... but doesn't sound right to me.  But I do know that RBC is signed through 2017 for the Canadian Open and 2016 for the Heritage.  Granted... I could see the Tour giving a sponsor a discount "white knight" rate for the first year or something (like with Farmers at Torrey), but I couldn't imagine them doing that on a long term basis.  I couldn't imagine the other "full rate" sponsors sitting still for something like that.

Davie wrote:A WGC the week before or after The Open? Don't be daft

What's daft about that... there's one a week before the PGA and the reason it's well attended is because the worlds best are assembling for the Major anyway... IMO they'd do the same with a WGC on the week either side of the Open. Bottom line is if the rest of the world is going to complain about the WGC's being too "America centric", then the answer is to do something about it. IMO the key to hosting a successful WGC outside the US is to do it in a way and timing most, if not all the worlds best are likely to participate.

IF they opened up "WGC's" to actually include countries outside the "World" of America then I'm going to open an Atlas shop. I'll make a fortune.

robo, wasn't that the case with Mount Juliet in Ireland one year? What was the story there?

I think it followed the 2004 Ryder Cup, at a week's distance. Same with The Grove in 2006 perhaps, won by Woods, though that might have been the following week.
Woods turned up for the WGC but clearly not for the Ryder Cup.

With Valspar taking on the sponsorship of the Tampa event (3 years)... and Hyundai annoucing their 2 year extention... all events on next year's PGAT schedule are set.  

Looking forward... the following sponsorships are up after 2014.

Sony Hawaii
Farmers Insurance - Torrey Pines
ATT Pebble Beach (ATT has stated intention to continue  but not yet announced as signed)
Accenture Match Play,
Wells Fargo - Quail Hollow (deal supposedly done but not announced)
HP Byron Nelson (ATT to take over from 2015 forward)
FedEx - for Memphis tour stop only, but FedEx Cup is set through 2017.
Travelers - Have said they plan announcement soon for both Event and main tour secondary partner status)
ATT National
BMW Championship

That's great news about Finchem getting the painters in for Tampa - strange ring about it really!
And: Surprised that Hyundai haven't (or maybe they have but just not reported it yet) somehow restructured the TOC.

Regardless, all good news for Tiny Tim.

Now: Would think AT&T and Congressional will divorce, Farmers and BMW might be a question mark, and Quail Hollow might have a gap year in 2017 due to the PGA Championship also being at Dan's Hollow.

kwinigolfer wrote:That's great news about Finchem getting the painters in for Tampa - strange ring about it really!
And: Surprised that Hyundai haven't (or maybe they have but just not reported it yet) somehow restructured the TOC.

Regardless, all good news for Tiny Tim.

Now: Would think AT&T and Congressional will divorce, Farmers and BMW might be a question mark, and Quail Hollow might have a gap year in 2017 due to the PGA Championship also being at Dan's Hollow.

This is the "gist" of what I'm hearing... please understand... this is an amalgam of "chatter" among some of the media over the past year or so.... so take it for what it's worth...

All of those listed for need of renewal are supposedly in "good shape" with three possible exceptions...  Sony, Accenture and ATT National.

Sony.... The thinking is a lot of their reasoning for sponsorship was the belief that golf was the perfect platform to showcase their 3D technology. But 3D is all but dead in it's tracks.   The positive side for Sony is a large Japanese population in Hawaii... and a very healthy secondary sponsor group of mostly Asian companies attached to the event.

Accenture... is said to not be happy... I've heard everything from date, weather, and lack of top players making the weekends all putting a damper on Accenture's enthusiasm.  

AT&T National... Surprised that nothing has come out of Congressional yet.  Chatter is that there maybe be some kind of linkage between the National and the World Challenge.   The WC wants to elevate in some form or fashion ala the NedBank...  Some (among the media anyway) are voicing discomfort with the TW foundation having it's hooks into 3 official events (now running the Deutsche Bank as well).  Possibilities... The Foundation is replaced as operating entity for the National and the WC is elevated to Tour status... or the two remain as is but with a new sponsor (and possibly new venue) for the National... but the WC expanding it's field but remaining unofficial.  WC sponsor Northwestern Mutual is said to be eying a step up to a full tour event... if not WC, then elsewhere.  

BMW is thought to be a solid... and even looking to expand their "official car" status to more events as "secondary" event sponsors...  EDIT: But it's also been suggested that BMW might feel they get more bang for their buck as top-tier secondary sponsors of several events as opposed to title sponsor.

There's also chatter that another large American Auto is looking to get back in the game.  Kia is said to be potential new player as well with their luxury model.

 
Would be nice if the Tour could make an effort to return to the Detroit area - always thought the Greenbrier gambit was more of a Bobby Ginn-type stopgap with about the same amount of substance, tho' love the course. But a great shame the Buick went south.

Perhaps Allan Stanford will be out of the slammer in time to give Memphis some more of his ill-gotten gains?

kwinigolfer wrote:Would be nice if the Tour could make an effort to return to the Detroit area - always thought the Greenbrier gambit was more of a Bobby Ginn-type stopgap with about the same amount of substance, tho' love the course. But a great shame the Buick went south.

Perhaps Allan Stanford will be out of the slammer in time to give Memphis some more of his ill-gotten gains?

It's been mentioned that both Michigan and Colorado have been trying to put something together for a while now... a long while for CO.   But the late spring - summer - early fall schedule is a tough nut to crack except for the now vacant alternate to the Open... That is unless Congressional washes out and maybe TW would want to move the National to one of his old favorites Warwick Hills with maybe one of those U.S. Autos as a sponsor?  (thats just thinking out loud on my part).   But then again... if Congressional is out... supposedly Aronimink Golf Club (bigger market) is at the ready ... but that doesn't solve the sponsor issue (if it is an issue).. so who knows really?

But then again... there can always surprise spots opening up on the schedule. For instance Disney had been mentioned as a potential issue more than a few times over the years... but that was always written off with "not to worry, someone will step in".... well guess what.... someone DIDN'T and now that's gone.  Seems to me the hardest spot to fill would be that alternate spot created with Sanderson Farms moving to the fall.... unless maybe there's a tourism angle to be had... IE Reno, Maykoba, Puerto Rico...  But hey... just thinking out loud again...  maybe the recently Nicklaus renovated Broadmoore Mountain course could do a "Greenbriar redux" to fill the alternate to the Open spot.