PGA Tour: 2013/2014 Season; The Interlude: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).The prologue series of the 2013/2014 PGA Tour season is complete and the golfers are taking a break until January, except of course those travelling the World (and California & Florida) in the never-ending hunt for appearance money. Exceptions would be those playing their National Tours. Meanwhile, the field is now complete for Kapalua and the Hyundai Tournament of Champions which tees off on January 3rd, 2014.

2).The prologue's winners are an interesting mix of veterans and up-and-comers and, in the case of Jimmy Walker, both. Walker won his first event; Dustin Johnson, Ryan Moore and Webb Simpson added to their multiple wins, while ex-University of Georgia golfers Chris Kirk and Harris English underlined their youthful promise with their second win.
English in particular looks as if he has a game that won't go away anytime soon - not sure that's a good thing; there might be a personality in there somewhere but he certainly seems to keep it well hidden.

3).The pgatour.com statistical gurus looked up from their logarithm tables just long enough to project that Tour players will require 424 FedEx points to reach the Play-Offs. Of those who would normally place this as their first seasonal objective, Jason Bohn (419) is almost there already, while Brian Stuard (364) and Briny Baird (321) are at least 75% of the way there.
Plenty of others have barely made a dent and these include Westwood, Colsaerts, Gonzo, Hanson, Olesen and David Lynn.

4).When Lee Westwood posted on 606 he was always very complimentary about Robert Karlsson, and "Robbie" seems to be embarking on a Stenson-like comeback despite the disappointment of last Sunday's back nine meltdown.
He'll play the Sony Open in Hawaii but, as a PGA Tour non-member, he'll be entirely dependent upon his own play (only top ten finishes earn him a spot in the next week's field) and sponsors' exemptions to further improve his position. But he HAS earned sufficient "non-member" FedEx points (got all that?) to qualify for next year's web.com Finals. Until then, hopefully he'll play in some E.T. tournaments and will perhaps turn up on the web.com Tour.

5).Meanwhile, Russell Knox bogeyed his final two holes on Sunday to cut his earnings (points and cash) in half and so concludes a four-event stretch of top 32 finishes which are all inferior to his result in the equivalent events last year. Which sounds terrible except that, due to the vagaries of "status" on Tour and timing of these tournaments, his status (fourth among web.com graduates) is infintely improved on any he has enjoyed previously.

6).It sounds as if Snedeker's Segway mishap has damaged his knee more seriously than first reported and he's in sick bay until January at the earliest.

7).At least he's in all the 2014 Majors and he'll be joined at The Open by a number of E.T. golfers by virtue of finishing in the Top 30 of the R2D. British qualifiers include Donaldson (also qualified for 2014 WGC: Cadillac), Gallacher (also in "Cadillac"), Wood, Howell, Fleetwood and Casey.

8).While the haves of the PGA Tour are resting on, or adding to, their laurels, Rhys Davies and John Parry are trudging through the web.com Tour Q-School. Both are off to slow "Stage 2" starts and daily updates will follow, but they are really the only significant names from the European Tour in the fields - not sure if any others will be exempt in to "Final Stage", but I can't imagine they would be.
And Barry Lane, Phil Golding and Mark Mouland are contesting Champions Tour Q-School - only five (out of 75+ golfers) qualify so good luck!

9).Anyone failing these Q-Schools but wanting to play the very best courses in GB&I and the United States could do worse than retrieve their amateur status. Look at the venues for the Walker Cup:
Just since 2005 the venues have been: Chicago GC, Royal County Down, Merion, Royal Aberdeen, National Golf Links, Royal Lytham & St.Annes, Los Angeles CC, Hoylake and now Seminole GC for 2021.
Pity the Ryder Cup looks at the dollars before it considers quality of course in its venue decisions.

10).Meanwhile, there is all sorts of buzz surrounding the USGA following Golf Digest's reports that current president Glen Nager is toast after "failed attempts to bring major organizational changes to" the USGA. Quite the brouhaha apparently.
The USGA and R&A have also announced changes to the way rules infractions will be penalised, or apparently ignored. These tweaks have variously been described as the Tiger Rule or the ELJames Rule - surely, the changes invite less integrity rather than more, and the role of playing partners' "protecting the field" in flagging possible malfeasance might be compromised?
The authorities have identified a problem but seem to have applied a very ambiguous remedy.

Bl00dy Hell, Barry Lane on fire at Champions Tour Q-School - 7 under par after 12 holes.
At the risk of upsetting our American friends I'd say he's a class above anyone else in the field apart from Bill Glasson, Steve Jones and Romero, but he hasn't done the business in the States since the old Andersen Consulting Match Play tournament, where he beat Frosty to win $1M.

Phil Golding going very nicely also.

How about we get behind Steve Surrey in this week's event in SA - son of ex member here, Mary

Hi Davie,
Knew he was fighting for his place on the Sunshine Tour but didn't know his name.
Agree, Good luck to him and, Mary, Good luck to you too. Come back soon.


Seems Lindsey Vonn has a partial ACL tear - perhaps Mr.Woods will get out of a trip to Sochi after all.

I think he did okay, looks like he was in the mid fifties on the order of merit.

Kwini:

Robo and I have a descriptive name for Non-Member Fedex Points.


Phantom Fedex Points

Kwini....  

GPB wrote:Kwini:

Robo and I have a descriptive name for Non-Member Fedex Points.


Phantom Fedex Points

Yeah... but I guess the PGAT didn't like us calling them that... so now they're calling them "FedExCup Season Points for Non-Members"... but hey... at least they're easy to track now... http://www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.02398.html

By the way... check your PMs...

I like Phantom Fedex Points.  It's alliterative!!

Why is their an additional column for WGC Phantom FedEx Points?  Is there a special differentiation because they are open to non members without a special invite?

And Robo, I got your PM and I replied.

More good news dribbling down Finchem's sleeve as Sony announce they re-up sponsorship of the Hawaiian Open thru' 2018.

All good stuff and the sort of thing that keeps the PGA Tour's commissionership light years ahead of the E.T's.

Yep, if their was a metaphorical 100 meter dash between Finchem and O'Grady, Finchem would be Usain Bolt and O'Grady would be Chubby Chandler.

Davie wrote:How about we get behind Steve Surrey in this week's event in SA - son of ex member here, Mary

Well he's had a good start, shot a 4-under 68 (including an eagle 2 at a 396-yard par 4) to currently sit 2 off the lead...

Davie wrote:How about we get behind Steve Surrey in this week's event in SA - son of ex member here, Mary

After the faderick debacle? I want to see a birth certificate before I go round supporting any old random thank you very muchly.

GPB wrote:Why is their an additional column for WGC Phantom FedEx Points?  Is there a special differentiation because they are open to non members without a special invite?

There's a quirk in the rules regarding FedEx points earned in WGC events in cases where a non-member earns full membership mid season (with a win).

The rule is basically:

Points won by non-members and Special Temporary Members who subsequently become regular PGA TOUR Members during the season will be counted on the FedExCup Points List, along with any FedExCup Points earned as a non-member (excluding those won at World Golf Championship events as a non-member).

Bullet point summary from this and other regulations:

* "Phantom" points earned in ALL events by a non-member count towards both the #150 threshold to become a Special Temporary Member and towards the #125 threshold to become a full member for the following year.

* "Phantom" points earned by a non-member in WGC's DO NOT count towards the season long FedEx points contest

* "Phantom" points earned by a Special Temporary Member in WGC's DO count towards the season long FedEx points contest

EXAMPLES:  Let's take Kiradech Aphibarnrat and his current situation...

Right now he has earned 162.50 "phantom" points for the CIMB, and another 13.5 points for the WGC-HSBC for 176 total.  That's not enough for special temporary membership, but ALL of them count towards reaching the top-150 equivalent from 2013 season points list for STM... and all will count towards the #125 equivalent (to 2014 points list) to earn full membership for the next season.

Now lets say he qualifies for the WGC-Match Play and wins it.  That would give him automatic membership and his he is now eligible for the FedEx Cup. However only the points from the CIMB would go onto his FedEx points total.  The points from the two WGC's would not go on his total because he wasn't a member at the time he won them. So he wouldn't get credit for the 13.5 from the HSBC nor the 550 from the Match Play. He would only be granted the 162.50 points.

Now let's take it a step further.

Say Aphibarnrat earns enough "phantom" points in the WGC Match Play to earn Special Temporary Membership.  Then he comes back two week later and wins the WGC Cadillac which makes him a full member.  In that case he get's the points from the CIMB, but not the WGC-HSBC or the WGC Match Play (because he wasn't a member when he earned those) but he would get the 550 points for the WGC Cadillac win because he had a special temporary membership status at the time he won that event.
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Mary,
If Credence Clearwater was commenting on you after Steve Surry's round, they might write a song called "Proud Mary" . . . . . .

Let's hope Steve "keeps on burnin', rollin', rollin', rollin' . . . . . . "

Very funky TV coverage of the World Cup last night, almost unwatchable so gave up.

Thomas Bjorn tied for the lead after a round that included a 4-putt - afterwards he praised RM:"Probably the finest course you can ever play".

A 9 for Adam Scott on the 12th after having to hit five from the tee: "Just away with the fairies on that hole." Don't think I've heard that expression before.

While at the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan, the top 9 on the leaderboard are all local-ish golfers, then:
Billy Horschel: T10
Tommy Fleetwood: T10
Luke Donald: T35
Gonzo: T35
Keegan Bradley: T35
. . . . followed at a distance by JB Holmes making his reappearance after several months out following an ankle break whilst rollerblading.

Would think JB is at something of a crossroads in his career, a demanding Medical Extension being his only significant status on Tour (tho he will always have conditional status as a Past Champion).
Still only 31, and it's about time for him to start taking things a bit more seriously if he wants to resurrect a promising career.

59 year old Tommy Nakajima is one of those top 9 players at the Dunlop Phoenix.

Some of (the Sands of) Nakajima's peer group still contesting Champions Tour Q-School:
Barry Lane and Mark Mouland are the best placed of the Europeans, right on the precipice between full and conditional status with approx 1 1/2 rounds to go.
Phil Golding is in reverse, and Steen Tinning, M-A Martin and Santiago Luna are the only remaining Europeans threatening to make their travel worthwhile, with Anders Forsbrand (who already has some status) surprisingly well adrift.

Rhys Davies appears to have no chance of reacing the web.com Tour for 2014 - all that getting carted around by Montgomerie at Celtic Manor has done him no good whatsoever, no inspiration at all unless of course he's a blowhard.

John Parry might progress but he has to shoot mid-sixty-something or go home.

And not much better for Champions Tour hopefuls. Given that "conditional status" is pretty worthless, each of the Europeans needs to at least match their best round of Q-School so far to get their "card" - almost no chance.

Great shame re Davies - saw him in a few things when he first got on tour and very impressive, in particular short game. I recall going back to a pro friend of mine and saying "you told me ABC when chipping, but this guy does XYZ! With great humility I suggest you change!"
Were still friends, but Davies short game was much more than the putting stroke! Sure he will return.

A welcome sight tied at the top of the Dunlop Phoenix tournament:
Luke Donald! . . . .  after a fine round of 66.

Gonzo moves up to 9th, tied with Tommy Fleetwood, but Bradley and Horschel well off the pace.

Reports on pgatour.com state that the "Northwest Mutual World Challenge" will move next year from California to Florida and the "Tavistock" property at Isleworth G&CC - had a girlfriend once who lived in Isleworth, a long way from Florida though.

It's difficult to know what to read in to this announcement, perhaps the independent contractors want to avoid California taxes, possibly it's the opening gambit to adding this event to the PGA Tour season in place of the Disney tournament.

I'll be sorry to see the loss of watching good golf, even in such a meaningless charade, at Sherwood Country Club, one-time host of the Shark Shoot-Out - a great set-up for TV viewing.

PS: The pgatour.com article also states that Messrs Donald, Harrington, Love and Singh are playing this year. That can't be true, can it?
EDIT! Of course it can't!
EDIT, EDIT!: The wallys on pgatour.com have given Luke, Padraig, Vijay and Davis the boot! Too bad.
Field is: Woods, Furyk, Dufner, 2 x Johnsons, Simpson, McDowell, McIlroy, Westwood, Poulter, Kuchar, Mahan, Spieth, Watson, Bradley, Day, Haas, Stricker.

I'm always happy to see Bradley struggle.

He's got a short man's head on a tall body.

Great write up Kwin. For those interested in golf architecture, Seminole will be a real treat to finally see on TV (and, better, to see in person). Not sure Seminole, however, could ever host a Ryder Cup without going to the lengths that Merion did to encroach on the neighborhood for crowd/media demands.

Thanks Sr,
Sad day today, but some great remembrances on the radio. One of those incidences where anyone above a certain age will remember where they were when they heard JFK was shot.
I know in our school everything stopped and we crowded around the very few black & white TV's, all rivetted, all speechless.


Yes, sure Seminole is not a realistic site for a mega Pro event, but love the way the USGA (and R&A) go for such timeless quality in selecting courses for the WC (incl Nairn of course, gael).

Kwini - my memory is a strange one, not related to when/where I heard but seeing a copy of the Manchester Evening News with dotted line from book depository to street showing path of bullet (maybe). I know where I was, the names of 5 lads I was with, and numerous other details. Felt an incredibly sad time.

Almost as moving as Nobby Stiles' remembrances of how he found out from the M.E.N. about "Munich" . . . . . .

I was doing penance at a boarding school (borstal, take your pick!), one ghastly experience after another, but none as ghastly as this one. A bloke had been banished from the room, usually a recipe for the cane, when he came running back in with the news. All forgotten and off to the telly.

A bit young to remember the moment, but clearly remember watching the funeral procession on TV. A sad time indeed.

Nairn ... a really wonderful course!

Kwini - interesting to me if nobody else, fast forward to 9/11! I was in a meeting room in a large building on Bishopsgate, working in the City. Meeting is with US colleagues from Boston and NY. We have just explained the possible connection between the building we are in having been blown up by IRA and finance from US (Noraid anyone?)!!! We are urged by one of the security staff to go next door to watch the tv! A few minutes later I recall saying "that building has just collapsed!" Impossible says my US buddy from NY! Things you will never forget eh!!

Btw, didn't realise you were posh!!!

 
Not posh at all, just paying the extra - bored and lodging - to attend a Grammar School with parents overseas! Hated it, but at least I learned how to make a book!!

People over here don't realise the havoc the IRA caused, much of it subsidised right here ("Boston Strong", I expect they called it)! They did my workplace, local and a couple of pubs I used to frequent in Birmingham. Quite apart from the devastation elsewhere.

Yup, 9/11 just incredible, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

I am a little south of that "certain age" and several years ago a friend was talking about C.S.Lewis and said that his death went almost unnoticed because he died on November 22nd, 1963. I think I was the only person in the room who hadn't a clue why that date was significant. I just nodded wisely (I hope) and then asked Mr. P about it later.

Heartbreak for John Parry in the web.com Q-School - good round today will place him one position and one stroke shy of qualifying.
Rhys Davies's goose well and truly cooked however.

BUT: David Skinns qualified and goes to Final Stage with every likelihood of earning at least conditional status on the web.com.


Plunky, Hope Mr.P was sympathetic . . . . .
(I felt the same way when Farrah Fawcett died on the same day, close anyway, as Michael Jackson!)

Champions Tour Q-School: Goose eggs for the Europeans, but Mouland and Forsbrand (great recovery by him from a dismal first round) get conditional cards - which are pretty worthless.

All 8 Europeans finish in the top 44 (of 78 starters), but that crumb of (dis)comfort is almost futile. All should have some exemption on the S.E.T. however.
Barry Lane turned in to Penny Lane. Can't figure that out at all.

kwinigolfer wrote:
(I felt the same way when Farrah Fawcett died on the same day, close anyway, as Michael Jackson!)

Had missed that! Just checked on Wikipedia to check I wasn't missing a joke. She was a little before my time but I'm remember her being an early crush. And am I right in remembering her wearing only gold paint? Definitely worth a search!

Ah Farrah.... best "pokies" in the history of mankind... err... make that womankind... :-)

After the first round of the Dunlop Phoenix I was going to make some comment about how Luke Donald's game had deteriorated to the point he wasn't even competitive against a weak field in Japan. Good thing I didn't though.... now nobody will ever know how wrong I was.... sheesh.

Yup robo,
Two-shot lead and six ahead of 3rd place. Good chance for a confidence builder; disappointing rounds from Gonzo & Fleetwood though.

And: After Stuart Manley's experience at RM, I wonder if that's the first 1, 11, to be carded in successive holes by a Pro??!! Good for him for holding his round together after that.

Manley.... no kidding.

"So tell us Stuart, how'd you shoot that 38 on the front?"

"Oh Really... a what and a WHAT? Sheesh Stuart... you're are such a kidder...."

Charl still looks like the man in the S.A. Open... but it'd be a great story if James Kamte were to pull this one out.

Two years ago, Ernie Els was furious at the EuroTour and Sunshine Tour for scheduling the 2011 Presidents Cup and 2011 S.A. Open on the same weekend.

So why isn't Ernie playing the S.A. Open this year?

GPB wrote:Two years ago, Ernie Els was furious at the EuroTour and Sunshine Tour for scheduling the 2011 Presidents Cup and 2011 S.A. Open on the same weekend.

So why isn't Ernie playing the S.A. Open this year?

Yeah... in light of those comments back then... this is kind of odd not playing the SA Open... but yet he can prioritize the NedBank? I don't begrudge a guy of Ernie's status his opinion... but those comments on the SA Open a few years ago, and no-showing this year... his blistering explicative laced criticism of the greens at the BMW PGA last year... and his criticisms on the "must play 2" for the ET playoffs... and he's starting to come off a bit of an an arrogant whiner... not good IMHO.

By the way... I put up some OWGR final numbers and projections in the OWGR Week 47 thread...

Ernie's chasing too many $$'s in too many parts of the world and is having a hard time seeing the wood for the trees. Time to shut up and let his clubs do the talking.
Had only followed him for a few holes here and there during his career so was glad to have the chance to watch him for 18 holes at the PGA - big disappointment, played poorly and looked thoroughly out of sorts with his game.
Perhaps he just needs a decent break - Nedbank and then can't imagine he'll play again until the end of January. S.Africa can be lovely this time of year!

Didn't Chubby have a lot of influence about the date of the S.A Open two years ago?

Ernie left Chubby and ISM a few months later.

But given that reaction from Ernie two years ago, there is no way that he should be missing the S.A. this week.

kwinigolfer wrote:Ernie's chasing too many $$'s in too many parts of the world and is having a hard time seeing the wood for the trees. Time to shut up and let his clubs do the talking.
Had only followed him for a few holes here and there during his career so was glad to have the chance to watch him for 18 holes at the PGA - big disappointment, played poorly and looked thoroughly out of sorts with his game.
Perhaps he just needs a decent break - Nedbank and then can't imagine he'll play again until the end of January. S.Africa can be lovely this time of year!

Have you ever had the opportunity to watch him in a practice round Kwini? I followed him for quite a few holes in one of the practice rounds at Turnberry a few years back...absolutely awesome to watch when he's relaxed and playing with a smile. On the 2nd par 3 (6th I think) his caddy put down 3 hole sized disks on different parts of the green (to simulate different pin positions presumably) and for each one he put 3 balls within 2 feet from one of the left hand bunkers...awesome to watch. I always though he had another major in him but thought he spent it missing out at PB when McDowell won, was really pleased to see him win at Lytham. Apart from all the "Watson shoulda got a 6th" talk, the big thing I took away from that Turnberry week was how the Pros practice.

JAS,
No!
Very seldom watch practice rounds these days, but am a big fan of Els. Though the past few months seem to have been hard on him, not sure why.
Perhaps a month off, and friendly confines, can inspire him at the Nedbank?

Lousy final round from Schwartzel, and disappointing weekend for Steve Mary.

kwinigolfer wrote:Thanks Sr,
Sad day today, but some great remembrances on the radio. One of those incidences where anyone above a certain age will remember where they were when they heard JFK was shot.
I know in our school everything stopped and we crowded around the very few black & white TV's, all rivetted, all speechless.


Yes, sure Seminole is not a realistic site for a mega Pro event, but love the way the USGA (and R&A) go for such timeless quality in selecting courses for the WC (incl Nairn of course, gael).

It is very similar to the situation we have where we all remember where we were when tiger hit the fire hydrant.

Eh? Fire hydrant, what the hell happened?

Kwini. I hear Bill Foulkes died today. Strong man.

Hi puligny,
Just saw that. Hope he enjoyed a decent quality of life all the way because what a life it must have been.
Probably defines "unsung hero", love the way David Meek portrays him in The Legends of United, especially his role vs Real Madrid in 1967/68 semi.
One of the greats that was always in the game from the time I first became aware of the Beautiful Game until well into my twenties.
Love listening to the Harry Gregg interviews about Munich; would like to have heard Bill Foulkes' take also.


Mac,
Can honestly say I have no recollection of where I was as the fire hydrant saga unfolded. Hope your comment was tongue-in-cheek?