PGA Tour: Luke's Kind of Town, Chicago is: Notes from the Ballwasher

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1).Maybe this is a portent of things to come for the newly-minted US Amateur Champion, Matt Fitzpatrick.
The baby-faced assassin (sorry Ole Gunnar) is off to Northwestern University in the Chicago suburbs, following in the footsteps of young Luke Donald fifteen or so years ago. And now Luke is a star, making his home for much of the year in Chicago and a member at Conway Farms, a Tom Fazio design which this week hosts its first PGA Tour event, the "BMW Championship".
Who should be the prime mover in getting the PGA Tour to look at Conway Farms as a possible venue? None other than Luke Donald, but his return this week comes at a bad time with Lukey out of form and between swing coaches.

2).Nevertheless, if Matt Fitzpatrick can enjoy half the success that Luke has earned, he'll be an influential force in pro golf for decades to come.

3).The US Team gave GB&I an old-fashioned shellacking in last weekend's Walker Cup at magnificent National Golf Links. But there's reason for Team GB&I to be optimistic in the future given the comparitive youth of their team, with 2 x 18-y-o's, 2 x 19-y-o's and 3 x 20-y-o's, younger than most of their opponents and, for many of them, two years to hone their game at the Amateur level before returning to Walker Cup combat at Royal Lytham. (Thank goodness Jordan Spieth didn't come back for a second Walker Cup as he turned 20!)

4).The Walker Cup goes to the revered Los Angeles CC in 2017 and thence to Royal Liverpool. Pity there's not more geographical diversity from the R&A - it hasn't staged a Walker Cup on a South of England links since 1967.

5).Last week also saw Round 2 of the web.com Tour Finals, in North Carolina. Two more rounds to go and this week's fun is in Columbus, Ohio. (A share of the course record is held by Trevor Murphy who also shot a 56 in a Nationwide Pro-am a few years ago but sadly won't be eligible this week.)
If we accept the Golf Channel's estimate that it will be necessary to accumulate at least $40K in prizemoney over the four events, we can suggest that Will MacKenzie (thrilled to see the Legend back on Tour), John Peterson (sure to win on Tour, even more sure to ruffle thousands of feathers), Cauley and Ishikawa will join Immelman, Cantlay and Scott Gardiner on Tour in 2013/2014.

6).Greg Owen and Russell Knox have made a decent start to these Finals but have hard yakka ahead. Norlander's off to a slow start, Karlsson is struggling, while Cejka and Johnson (who both have tenuous status) and Marcel Siem have so far missed both cuts. Other well known names on pace to qualify include Matteson, Ricky Barnes, S-Y Noh, Vaughn Taylor, Slocum and O'Hair.

7).There has justifiably been criticism on this Board of the level of movement into and out of the higher owgr placings.
To underline that fact, only Watney (now 31st), Hanson (35th), Van Pelt (39th), Kaymer (40th), Molinari (45th) and Paul Lawrie (66th) have fallen out of the Top 30 this year, despite dismal runs of form by many others.
Of those who have replaced them, Bill Haas was already 34th, Jason Day 37th and Matteo 44th. Only Stenson, who has jumped from 60th to 6th, Matsuyama (130th to 28th) and Spieth (about 800th to 29th) have crashed the party from outside the Top 50.
Not surprising Paul Casey stressed last week in Switzerland that the first objective in his comeback was a return to the Top 50. But he'll have to play a lot better than last weekend's dismal show.

8).What do we know of Conway Farms? The Tom Fazio design opened in 1991 and entertained the top Collegiates in 1997, the USGA's Junior Amateur the following year and the Western Amateur four years ago.
But the pros have never played tournament golf there and, according to pgatour.com, the only competitors this week who have played it in any sort of competition are Dufner, Zach Johnson, Kuchar, Sabbatini, Snedeker, Castro, Kirk, Simpson, Fowler, Reed, Points, Summerhays and English. Not much help in looking for "horses for courses" then, and Luke Donald's lousy run of form doesn't bode well for him this week either.

9).Chicago has a real heater (93F degrees as I write on Tuesday) going this week, but that will blow through over the next 36 hours and temps will drop from the high 70's on Thursday into the 60's for Rounds 2 & 3; a little bit warmer on Sunday. As you'd expect with such temperature swings there are moderate-to-strong winds forecast for Thursday and Friday - a good job as it's a short (by today's standards) course at 7,100+ yards and prevailing winds are reported to be its primary defence. Translation: expect low scores.

10).No idea who will contend this week but of one thing you can be sure - there'll be some tired golfers turning up to next year's BMW Championship, at Cherry Hills in Denver. Apart from the fact that, for most of the field, this will be at least their 6th event in eight weeks (Open, Bridgestone, PGA, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, BMW), they'll only complete their Deutsche Bank entertainment on Monday, Sept 1st, fly two time zones west, and resume their action on Thursday, Sept 4th, at altitude. Flight delays will not be welcome.
That schedule wouldn't phase most of us working stiffs who are used to frequent flying travel, but it's a lot to ask of our precious PGA Tour pros, and one would expect something to give, especially for those also committed to "Canada" (the RBC Ambassadors for instance) and/or Greensboro. It won't just be Steve Stricker opting out of a Play-Off event or two next year . . . . .

kwinigolfer wrote:Woods's double bogey on his first hole seems to have turned in to an eight - anyone know what happened?

I was wondering about that also... I just noticed it

If its confirmed as an 8, am I right in saying it will be Tiger and Sergio tomorrow?!

Twitter is saying his ball moved at address and Tiger didnt replace it.

That sounds like at least the third retrospective penalty he's endured this year, not to mention the dodgy drop at The Players.

Is this just carelessness, is there more scrutiny, or is something more sinister going on?

Imagine only Tiger knows.

This is what Golf Channel has to say:

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golftalkcentral/penalty-drops-woods-to-72-in-second-round/

So Sand is correct, Garcia and Woods on Saturday, whether they go off in two or threes, they can't avoid each other!

All very well Tiger making snarky remarks about Tom Kite getting his eyes fixed, perhaps Tont needs to go back for a re-do?

Too bad, Furyk should get all the headlines, but sure he's just been trumped.

apparently Woods was adamant the ball oscillated on the spot, rather than moved. I believe him. But there's no argueing with Slugger White!

from golfweek: A reporter standing outside the scoring trailer said there was a loud thump against an inside wall before Woods walked outside. The reporter’s sense was that Woods punched the wall in frustration, but White would neither confirm nor deny.
“Let’s just say there was frustration,” White said. “He was a little disbelieving.”
Woods stormed out of the trailer and, instead of stopping in the nearby interview area as usual, walked quickly by a group of reporters. One radio reporter followed him to his car, but Woods got in and drove off.

I watched the video and while I do think the ball might have slightly moved this is becoming ridiculous.

http://blogs.golf.com/presstent/2013/09/video-tiger-slapped-with-2-shot-penalty-for-shifting-golf-ball-while-removing-a-twig.html?sct=hp4

Just pathetic and totally ridiculous. Let's see if Tiger is able to channel this frustration on the course today.

But as Kwin point out the bigger story is the 59 WITH a bogey.

Shotrock wrote:Just pathetic and totally ridiculous. Let's see if Tiger is able to channel this frustration on the course today.

But as Kwin point out the bigger story is the 59 WITH a bogey.

Agreed, but if someone is going to suffer at the hands of such a video, I'd rather it was him, given how much he's got away with dodgy rulings in the past.

I loved the Furyk round, what we saw of it, and the way the players seemed to be so thrilled for him.
Reminds one of Rory's Quail Hollow masterclass (when Furyk was one of the players to hang about and congratulate Rors, so good for him), even DC's Open win.

Love it when history transcends competition.

I've always rated Furyk. As someone getting on who has never been a long hitter he's always managed some impressive wins and performances.

Steady, sensible golf which many would do well to emulate. He wrote an article online about course management which I refer to sometimes.

Shows that an ungainly swing and look of  a frail grumpy old man means nothing to getting the ball round.

I wonder how long before we see a 59 in a major. 2015 at TOC maybe?

Round 2 now complete in Columbus and Europeans Richard Johnson, Knox and Norlander miss the cut.
Nice finish for Marcel Siem who starts Round 3 in 9th place; Greg Owen treading water but a good weekend could secure the sort of finish he let slip last week. Karlsson also needs a good weekend, difficult conditions on Friday and if there are more of the same, you'd think he'd move up the leaderboard.

Owen easily the best placed of the Europeans after 2 1/2 (of four) events.

In addition to Darren Clarke, it seems that Gonzo and Thorbjorn Olesen will join the PGA Tour for the 2013/2014 season. And Hideki Matsuyama will be there as well.

Last year's batch of overseas players joining the PGA Tour have all slumped in the World Rankings and, overall, performed poorly on all Tours. Hanson and Colsaerts retained their "cards" by the skin of their teeth while missing the FedEx Play-Off jackpot. Kaymer did little better, while Ross Fisher looks like he's returning full-time to "Europe".
(Edit: Tho' of course David Lynn did well.)

Not sure that next year's crop will fare much better altho' am prepared to believe that Matsuyama might at least do better than Ishikawa has done, so far at least.

incontinentia wrote:apparently Woods was adamant the ball oscillated on the spot, rather than moved. I believe him. But there's no argueing with Slugger White!

from golfweek: A reporter standing outside the scoring trailer said there was a loud thump against an inside wall before Woods walked outside. The reporter’s sense was that Woods punched the wall in frustration, but White would neither confirm nor deny.
“Let’s just say there was frustration,” White said. “He was a little disbelieving.”
Woods stormed out of the trailer and, instead of stopping in the nearby interview area as usual, walked quickly by a group of reporters. One radio reporter followed him to his car, but Woods got in and drove off.

It moved enough to be spotted, certainly more than a mere oscillation. He should have called it on himself. Did it gain him any advantage? No, however the ruling is not about advantage. Unfortunately for him this is one of the downsides of the sycophantic blanket coverage he gets.

Wonder if Sergio has the sense of humour to turn up on the first tee with a KFC :-O

Also one of the downsides of trying to be so precise on getting "loose impediments" out of the way.

Kuchar off to an almost Furyk-like start, -6 after 10.

Trevor Murphy three shots ahead after 36 holes on Canada - could he eventually become the second Vermont ski-racer to earn a Tour card?

Much better (68) from McIlroy today - he and Hoffman (70) round in 2 1.2 hrs - they'll be an hour ahead of Westwood and Piercy.

Not far off for Kuchar - in with a 61.

Furyk six shots better than the rest yesterday, Kooch six ahead of anyone so far today.

Tiger certainly may not win this, but crawling up the leader board. Bet he would like those two shots back now.

If he can keep making his short putts Tiger could be back in this

Tiger wearing red(dish anyway) on Saturday - perhaps indicating that he intends to win it today?

Bizarre penelty for Justin Rose on 314 today - practice swing divot hits and moves his ball!

http://www.pgatour.com/video.html/2013/09/14/rose-takes-penalty-on-no--14-in-round-3-of-the-bmw-championship

Haven't seen that before.

Pretty interesting day at the BMW, but perhaps Sunday started one hole early for Jim Furyk who 3-putted the 18th after the power lip-out of a 25-footer that looked in all the way. Comebacker pushed and never had a chance.
Reckon it'll give oxygen to guys four (that's you Tiger) and five shots behind, and make the hole pretty small for Furyk's short putts, perhaps make him tentative on the longer ones.
Would love to see Sabbatini shake things up with a low round . . . . . .

kwinigolfer wrote:Tiger wearing red(dish anyway) on Saturday - perhaps indicating that he intends to win it today?

Perhaps he's decided to stop his shiversomely stupid superstition.

kwinigolfer wrote:Bizarre penelty for Justin Rose on 314 today - practice swing divot hits and moves his ball!

http://www.pgatour.com/video.html/2013/09/14/rose-takes-penalty-on-no--14-in-round-3-of-the-bmw-championship

Haven't seen that before.

It was pretty silly place to take a practice swing. But, he had a chuckle, called in the rules guy and took his medicine. Woods take note.............

We could be in for a drizzly, breezy, cool sort of day in Chicago - not very pleasant for golfers or spectators, but any rain will surely soften the course up even more.
Can you say "Target Golf"?

Not much change to the players earning a ticket to the Tour Championship with Watney the only man moving from out of the Top 30 FedEx points and Westwood sliding out - unless he somehow conjures something like a 57 out of his round Sunday.

In Columbus, a poor week for the Europeans with no-one making a significant move forward, unless Greg Owen and/or Marcel Siem can set 'em alight today. Wouldn't bank on that happening.

Looks like Hoffman and Piercy are going to try to beat Hoffman's and Rory's speed job yesterday - would imagine Rory and Chappell will be right on their tails.

Nothing to play for - they'll get paid basically the same whether they shoot 69 or 99.

Chilly and a bit damp at Conway Farms, not unlike Friday morning at Oak Hill, and only Rory is significantly under par (68 and safely warming himself in the bar) so far.

Like Hoffman and Piercy, Rors and Chappell raced around, and now the rest of the poor things are downing tools for a suspension of play.

Status of 2013 Season Awards:

Majors Won:
Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson, Jason Dufner

Post Season Awards decided this week:

PGA of America Player of the Year (points based).
Tiger Woods clinches the points race today barring Phil Mickelson or Adam Scott winning today... and that ain't happening. Going into round 4, Phil is 12 shots out of the lead, Adam Scott 15 shots out.

Arnold Palmer Award (Leading money winner):
Tiger Woods - In practical terms coming into this week, all Tiger Woods had to do was finish the Tour Championship and last place money for that event would have clinched the money list. If Tiger would have not played the TC, the only other player with a mathematical chance coming in this week was Matt Kuchar who needed to win this week and next... while Tiger finished no better than 27th this week. Barring a miracle... Kuch is not winning this week. He's currently 8 shots back and probably even another 10-under round wouldn't be enough... not to mention Tiger would probably need to shoot about a 77 or 78 to fall to 27th.

Rookie of the Year:
Jordan Spieth has been hands down favorite for weeks now and is all but assured of wrapping it up today. Coming into this week, Russell Henley (the only other rookie remaining in the playoffs) still had a chance, that is if he went on a tear in at least one of the last two playoff events. However, after 3 rounds of the BMW Henley (+1 - T38th) is in serious trouble of even making the field for Atlanta. Going into the 4th round today he's fallen from 43rd in FedEX points to a projected 46th. To make top-30 it looks like he needs to notch a low top-10 finish. My guess is he'd need to shoot in the 60 -61 range for that to happen. Not impossible because we've already seen a 59 and 61 this week... but extremely unlikely...

Mark H. McCormack Award (most weeks at OWGR #1 in calendar year):
Tiger Woods has clinched as he came into the week with 25 weeks at OWGR #1 for the year and he's assured of remaining #1 for at least 3 more weeks regardless of what McIlroy at 11 weeks might do. And obviously Rory's exiting the playoffs today. This one was clinched a week or so ago.

- - - -

Post Season Awards yet to be decided:

Vardon Trophy (awarded by PGA of America for low scoring average 60 round minimum):
Tiger Woods is on the verge, but it's not yet a mathematical certainty... First TW needs to get his 60 rounds in (which he will after the 3rd round of the Tour Championship), not have a mid-round WD and he needs to hold of Justin Rose and Adam Scott. Coming into the week the best estimate was Rose needed outscore Tiger by 16 shots over the last two events, and Adam Scott needed to outscore Woods by 18. Going into the final round both players are going in the wrong direction. Rose has lost another 7 shots to Woods and Scott has lost 11.

Byron Nelson Award (Same as Vardon Trophy except awarded by the PGA Tour and with a 50 round minimum)
Same scenarios for Tiger, Rose and Scott for the Vardon Apply... BUT Steve Stricker is eligible for this award and he is VERY MUCH in play. The adjustments can vary due to differing scoring scenarios, but most models had Stricker needing to make up 11 shots on Woods over the last 2 weeks. Through 3 rounds of the BMW... Stricker has made up 3 of those shots... so this one is still wide open.

PGA Tour Player of the Year (Jack Nicklaus Trophy based on player vote):
3 Leading candidates, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott (not necessarily in that order) Dufner or Rose could have joined the fray with a win this week. JUST MY OPINION... Tiger seems to be by far the leading candidate barring one of the major winners getting up to three total wins. Rose and Dufner would need to win today and next week to get to 3.. and that's not happening, so IMHO, eliminate those two. Phil and Adam aren't going to win this week either, but they have next week, and a possible Tour Championship and FedEX Cup to win... If either pulls it off.. IMO it's a real race in the players vote. AGAIN... this one is PURE OPINION on my part.

FedEX Cup - Still totally up in the air....

Most weather delays by one Tour in a single year: PGA Tour. Very disappointing. Perhaps the half an inch or so of rain has flooded the place - no Sub-Air? Or any other drainage presumably as there doesn't appear to be any lightning around, except the pace of the opening four players' play.

If I read the various headlines correctly, Rory McIlroy followed his career-worst two Rounds 1 and 2 with his first two back-to-back rounds in the 60's this year. Fast play has its rewards.
Cue: Stereotypes about British weather, following stereotypes about PGA Tour conditions.

Greg Owen doing himself the power of good in the web.commer, three under par after nine holes. Another birdie or two with no bogeys coming in and he can start to plan 2013/2014 on the PGA Tour.

There are more than 2 hours' worth of BMW tee-times remaining and only seven hours of daylight, six if they don't get going before 1.00 p.m. CDT - that adds up to a Monday finish unless they speed up to the example of 2 1/2 hours-per-round pace of play. Disappointing.

Play to resume in Chicago at 1.30 CDT.
With little or no wind, and soft greens, expect low scores despite temps in the fifties.
Forecast for Monday a little warmer and SUNNY!

To the South-East of Chicago, in Columbus, Greg Owen has stuck two fingers up at PGA Tour membership; he'd got himself in excellent position but, in characteristic style, completed a five-hole, five-over-par run and will now need something very close to a top ten finish in two weeks' time to secure his Tour card.
Edit: I should now add that he tripled #18 to complete his last six holes in +8.

Not much better for the other Europeans with Marcel Siem the only one still on the course and, so far at least, losing ground.

robopz wrote:
Post Season Awards decided this week:

This week? Why they hell do they announce them before the FedEx finals?

As I understand it, anyone who makes the final week of the FedEx can win overall - or am I mistaken?

If Rose or Duffner were to win the FedEx final - would they not be valid contenders for the awards?

I think the POTY award is announced in 12 days' time.

Miserable out there right now, but the late starters should enjoy clearer skies and perfect scoring conditions.

Doesn't help that the guys playing at the head of the train, Michael Thompson and Patrick Reed, are playing so bl00dy slowly. Not as if they have anything to play for after all.

And there's the suspension of play once again.

Davie wrote:
This week? Why they hell do they announce them before the FedEx finals?

As I understand it, anyone who makes the final week of the FedEx can win overall - or am I mistaken?

If Rose or Duffner were to win the FedEx final - would they not be valid contenders for the awards?

As far as I know... none of the awards are announced until after the season...

However... several of them are statistically or points based... and although not formally announced... we know who wins some of them before the end of the season.  That's why I broke them into two categories... those decided, those still to be decided.  (And by the way... I probably should have put a note that Rookie of the year is a VOTE... and not points based... so technically it's not decided... even though for all intents and purposes it is. Bottom line is nobody is talking about anybody but Spieth as far as I've heard.

And yes... on the FedEx... anyone into next week has a mathematical possibility of winning the FE Cup.... course obviously the lower you start... the more help you need from above.   But it can be done... see: Bill Haas.

And as for Rose or Dufner... They are mathematically out of the PGA of A points based POY even if they were to win today.  It's only my OPINION that 1 major + 1 regular win (even if it includes winning the FECup)  wouldn't be enough to head off Tiger's 5-wins in the players POY vote

Play over for the day - keys in the ignition about 8.00 a.m. CDT on Monday.

And Trevor Murphy comes up one short in Canada.

A handful of guys will have wrapped up their Tour cards for 2013/2014 in Columbus today, led by winner S-Y Noh and runner-up, European Tour veteran, Edward Loar.

Troy Matteson will be among the PGA Tour veterans who also clinched today. Heath Slocum among those possibly still on the edge.

Robo - Thanks for the information! And I agree it will be very surprising if anyone other than Tiger wins POY. Money, Scoring Average, Wrestling Back #1 from Rory, 5 Wins ... an amazing year ... so even with no major I think he gets it unless Phil or Adam are holding the fed ex trophy later this month.

Meanwhile, O'Hair stumbles ... but still in a fine position to retain his card for next year.

Agree Sr, about S O'H at any rate - he should be OK, but not yet up to the magic $40K number that was projected. Hope he makes it; Ricky Barnes also.

Cool and cloudy in Chicago, temps should reach the mid-sixties by the time the winner is known. Could get breezy but soft conditions should allow for plenty of low numbers.
They should be good to go . . . . .

I'll take Furyk in the windy condtions.

Watney finally showing his form from late last year - he's the crucial guy in all the permutations as to who will make the Tour Championship. If he starts to slide badly he'll drop like a stone, but this kind of start makes that improbable.

Watney still going like a train, but Tiger's nightmares on short putts continue - 'course, he makes enough long ones to compensate, but not in his first six holes today. Beginning to lose touch unless the leaders come back to him.

Lukey can make vacation plans unless lightening strikes, but Dustin Johnson sure to be watching the scoreboard rest of the day ...

wrong thread

Lukey bringing it!

Maybe this will be Luke's kind of town after all?

One more birdie should do the trick Shotrock, apparently to your dismay??!!

Something to be said for this home course knowledge to be sure. Yes I am dismayed but well earned Luke!!!

Still think he needs to birdie #18, too many guys just behind him who can get hot.

Not sure that was a smart move by Stenson to tomahawk the head off his driver . . . . .

Well done Zach!
Well done Lukey!!