PGA Tour: Who wants to be a (Multi)Millionaire?: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).That's it! To use US sporting vernacular, the "regular season" is over, let the "post season" begin.
Lots of arithmetic kerfuffle at Greensboro last week but, after the dust had settled and Camilo had wheeled off into the sunset, only one player, Sang-Moon Bae, had leapfrogged (over Nicholas Thompson) into the all-important Top 125 in FedEx points.
And David Duval had lost the right to enter the web.com Tour Finals.

Five old lags who had qualified for the FedEx Play-Offs for each of the seven years failed to make it this time, Brian Gay, JJ Henry, Merrick, Rollins and Charlie Wi.

And Martin Laird found to his cost that a spring and early summer swoon cost him a spot in The Barclays at Ridgewood CC where he finished T7 and 2nd (lost in a play-off to Kuchar) the only other times the tournament was played there. The price of fatherhood as he missed much of his usually profitable spring programme.

2).A bit of an anti-climax then in Greensboro, with Camilo's closest pursuers self-destructing during the closing holes.
That won't bother him at all - he was last seen walking off the Royal Montreal course during Round 2 of the Canadian Open to avoid further futility and frustration. He went back to Colombia for some home cooking and returned to the Tour a new man! Although he's endured an extended drought since his last win, at Honda in 2010, he has been a big winner of FedEx largesse, currently 11th in the all-time FedEx bonus pool money list, with #3.8M.

3).Ahead of him are:
1st: Woods:     $25.3M
2nd: Furyk:      $13.5M* - will increase his bonus in 2014
3rd: Snedeker: $11.5M*
4th: Singh:      $11.1M*
5th: Haas:       $10.8M*
6th: Stenson:  $10.3M*
7th: Stricker:    $8.5M (includes his 2014 share)
8th: Mickelson:  $7.8M*
9th: Donald:     $5.2M*
10th: Kuchar:   $5.1M*
Followed by Villegas*, Simpson*, D.Johnson, Garcia*, McIlroy*, Z.Johnson*, Watney*, all with $3M+.

4).Europeans in The Barclays field are (with their current FedEx placing):
1-30: McIlroy, Garcia, Kaymer, Rose.
31-70: Jacobson, McDowell, Knox, Donald, Stenson.
71-100: Poulter, Pettersson, Blixt, Davis.
101-125: Westwood, Casey, Gonzo.
George O'Grady should be keeping an eye on the stragglers here as all (plus Laird) would enhance European Tour fields over the coming month.

5).The web.com Tour Final Series of four tournaments to determine 50 Tour cards for 2014/2015 begins next week - we'll see then which European Tour members will take their chance, with a dozen or more eligible.

6).At last count 122 entries planned to line up for The Barclays - the Top 125 in Points, less Dustin Johnson, Dufner and Stricker.
When fully fit all would have been candidates for Watson's RC Team - not to mention T.Woods. Johnson clearly has other things to deal with, Stricker and Woods say they're out until December, while Dufner hasn't offered a comeback plan after problems with bulging disc issues in his neck.
On top of that Matt Kuchar withdrew from the PGA because of back problems and Arnold Palmer has just had a pacemaker implanted. Field of candidates for Ryder Cup duty shrinking by the day.

7).This is the final chance for European Ryder Cup wannabes to strut their stuff, in the USA at least, whether to qualify automatically (Donald, McDowell etc) or attract McGinley's attention for a Captain's Choice.

8).The Barclays heads to the New York City area, to Paramus, NJ, and Ridgewood C.C., a Tillinghast design highly rated by pros and pundits alike. Both previous visits, in 2008 and 2010, resulted in play-offs, duels eventually between Vijay Singh and Garcia (2008), and Kuchar and Laird. It's a Par-71 that has yielded winning scores of 8 under par and 12 under par. Plenty of scoring opportunities then, but one of the more demanding sets of (3) Par-5's the Tour Pros will see.

9).Not many touring pros grow up in the North-Eastern US these days but Kevin Streelman spent part of his youth playing Ridgewood - that experience paid off in 2008 (T4) and 2010 (T3). He's been largely awol since rattling off seven closing birdies to win The Travelers at Hartford two months ago so a big fat caveat emptor to anyone brave enough to wager half a crown each way. Just saying, that's all.

10).Lost from Note 8). above is the fact that there was a third man in that Barclays play-off six years ago, eliminated before Vijay rolled in putts to defeat Sergio.
And that was Kevin Sutherland, newly famous as the first Mr.59 on the Champions Tour, with a closing bogey no less. (That 59 wasn't enough to beat Bernhard Langer's bogey-less three rounds as he won his fifth event of the year, now tied with Sir Bob Charles at fifth in the all-time Senior wins table behind Irwin, Trevino, Morgan and Barber.)

There are most unlikely to be any 59's at Ridgewood this week, but there are millions on the line for the winner ($1.44M in prize-money plus certain entree to the other three Play-Off events and bonus pool booty).
It would help Mr.McGinley if Donald or McDowell, Poulter or Rose would step forward and continue the fine summer of golf for Europeans. Six championships in the past 16 tournaments - didn't think we'd be saying that four months ago.

It will be interesting to see if Dustin Johnson qualifies for the Tour Championship w/o playing the first three events.

DJ? It seems the stat's guys think he'll make it, just! A field of 29 then.

Matt Kuchar is reporting his back has healed and he's good to go. He won in 2010 at Ridgewood and must have a good chance.

And Bubba has apologised for being "Bubba" - presumably he'll go back to "rejoicing".

Forecast looks a bit iffy for Thursday and Friday, pretty fine for the weekend. Moderate temps and humidity apparently.

I just watched Tiger and Rory on the Jimmy Fallon show and it was painful to say the least. It was basically an advert for Nike Vapor irons interjected with some cringe worthy comments from Tiger. Rory just said he loved Tiger and the irons are great.

Woods is the perfect Manchurian Candidate, no brains and easy to manipulate, just tell him what you want to say and he'll say it.
Fallon and his annoying sidekick are incredibly irritating.

Super

It was Rory who spouted the Nike advertising slogans, not Tiger. Tiger just made a few unfunny comments, not helped by the brain dead nature of fallon.

Was 9C promoting the new Nike zimmer frame?

Sort of "entertainment"'s version of a Pro-Am.
But the sycophantic morons in the US Golfing Press seem to have chattered about little else for a week.
Who are they trying to score points with? Certainly not their readers/viewers.

Not exactly a gushing article about Patrick Top Five here:

http://www.golfworldmonday.com/golfworldmonday/20140818?sub_id=m6YFz2X7vbcH#pg16

With the demise of Johnson and Woods, I wonder if Top Five reckons he's Top Three now?

kwinigolfer wrote:Not exactly a gushing article about Patrick Top Five here:

http://www.golfworldmonday.com/golfworldmonday/20140818?sub_id=m6YFz2X7vbcH#pg16

With the demise of Johnson and Woods, I wonder if Top Five reckons he's Top Three now?

If he hadn't already demonstrated how much of a dick we know him to be, he confirms it with his "crucifix" necklace.
What an arse.

It'll be interesting to see who gets lumbered partnering him at Gleneagles. Bubba?? They could come to blows!

Reed could well be a perfect replacement for the non-team player 9C

Surely it's a case of who's going to have the honour of playing with him.

If he's self proclaimed top 5 and none of the actual OWGR are US then surely he has to be US number one on his logic.

Hell, he should be playing captain.

Oh, and president too.

I found this very humorous.

http://lannyhgolf.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/dateline-april-12-2025/#more-3977

Weather should be good for Thursday, rain likely Thursday evening/night and showers forecast for Friday.
Saturday & Sunday look dry, sunny, autumnal!
Looking forward to getting another look at Ridgewood - the Tour doesn't play many Tillinghast courses and this is supposed to be a great one.
Super field and hopefully all set for a great tournament.
My protege is going on Saturday so looking forward to his report!
You going Plunky?

GPB,
I love it!
Surprised he didn't have 2,000 members of the media diving in after Tiger's ball on #15.

GPB wrote:I found this very humorous.

http://lannyhgolf.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/dateline-april-12-2025/#more-3977

Hah. Pretty good and probably scarily close to reality....

kwinigolfer wrote:Weather should be good for Thursday, rain likely Thursday evening/night and showers forecast for Friday.
Saturday & Sunday look dry, sunny, autumnal!
Looking forward to getting another look at Ridgewood - the Tour doesn't play many Tillinghast courses and this is supposed to be a great one.
Super field and hopefully all set for a great tournament.
My protege is going on Saturday so looking forward to his report!
You going Plunky?

No, not this time.  We were away last weekend (Cape Cod, golf) and we'll be heading off again Labour Day weekend (Sonoma, golf) so we have stuff to do at home this weekend.  Hope to still get in our usual 9 holes x 2 at Bethpage though !

"Sonoma, golf"
Not just a taste of vino in that itinerary?

The Tour goes to Silverado in October, in Napa Valley - now that's a tournament I'd like to go to!

I'm going on Thursday, Friday, and maybe Sunday Kwini. Was there last time it was held there and seem to recall it a little awkward to try jump around to follow different play. This isn't a full 18 hole Tillinghurst design as such as they've cherry picked 18 holes out of the three nines that he designed for Ridgewood.

More than just a taste of vino I hope !  I may even visit the spa, which would be a first for me.  I was in San Fran years ago for business and we drove out to Sonoma for a couple of days.  Didn't realize until we got there that the final event of the Schwab Cup was taking place that week -- first (and only) time we watched a senior tour event.  It was fun -- they had all sorts of wine/nibbles from local wineries there -- great atmosphere.  We may go to Silverado this time depending on how much fun we have golfing in Sonoma.   

Thanks for the tip Grumps, kwinijr (the real Kwini if truth be known) will be there Saturday so I'll warn him to suss out his way around. Have fun there.

Plunky,
Sounds the perfect complement to the New Orleans tournament which I also want to get to some time . . . . . ! Bon voyage.

Thanks Kwini, I've got a couple of spare tickets for Sunday if you want to join Kwini-Jr...

Very kind of you Grumps, but that's a tricky weekend for me; plus of course a bit of a hike to get down there. Maybe one day.
Enjoy,

I know you are a bit of an adventurer so I thought I would offer.

!!!!
Anniversary weekend so parole required, not likely to be granted; razor wire being erected at the very thought.



There was lots of fuss made over the streak of American wins at the start of the season, thirteen until February when Jason Day won the MatchPlay.

Since then the Americans have struggled a touch. Season tally:
USA wins: 24 (none since mid-July.)
Australia: 6: Day, Sendo, Bowditch, Jones, Scott, Ogilvy.
Asia: 2: Noh and Hideki
South Africa: 1: Tim Clark (I'm not falling for the Justin Rose claim)
South America: 2: El Pato and Camilo
Europe: 6: Kaymer (2), Rose (1), McIlroy (3)

Congratulations Kwini

Interesting snippet from McDool on Rotoworld.
He's planning to play this week, though if baby McDowell arrives early all bets are off.
He's definitely a no-show for the DeutscheBank - so that will be a 98-strong field at best, probably (Dufner?) 97.
Then he's hoping to play the Beemer, if he qualifies, and Tour Championship. Bigger IF for that.

An hour to kick-off at Ridgewood - should be decent conditions most of the day, chance of a shower this afternoon.
Rory opens his account at 8.26 a.m., with Jimmy Walker and Bubba.

Early double-bogey for Rory McIlroy . . . . . .

And world #1561 is back in action in the Czech Rep.: Yevgenij Kafelnikov...



(He's currently dead last though.)

Just saw that pedro, Why does he bother??!!

But good news at Ridgewood as Russell Knox cruises in to an early lead, four-under-par after 8 holes.

pedro wrote:And world #1561 is back in action in the Czech Rep.: Yevgenij Kafelnikov...



(He's currently dead last though.)

This guy isn't even good enough to play on something like the Alps Tour, Tartan Tour or Europro Tour, and there are some diabolical players on those tours.

I'd think most clubs have at least a dozen players of a higher standard than Kafelnikov, he wouldn't even make an average amateur.

He is the Golfing equivalent of Eric the Eel or Vanessa Mae trying abysmally) to ski. A recreational golfer at best.

Eccentric first ten holes from Kaymer - 5 bogeys, four birdies.
Hardly German efficiency.

Rory doing a Kafelnikov, dead last!

Some good players making an early statement:

CzechMates: Donaldson leading, but Gallacher and Luiten both four shots behind.

Barclay Scarred? Hunner Mahan tied for the morning-wave lead. He's played the first 29 FedEx Cup Play-Off tournaments and a podium finish here should see him extend that streak to 32. Recent form suggests he'll struggle on the weekend, but great start anyway.

McIlroy still struggling, only beating one man so far, still surprised he played this week. But Russell Knox just one shot off the early lead.

Bo Van Pelt with a one-stroke lead, EIGHT tied for 2nd, including Paul Casey. Russell Knox and two others at 4-under par.

European Ryder Cup candidates fared poorly, McDowell, Westwood and Gonzo all tied for 45th, Luke Donald at 56th, and Poulter used a late eagle as a lifebelt for a close at 73rd.

Among Americans, Mahan and Todd are among those T2, Bradley T13, but Sneeeeedeker and Haas are T45, Kirk & Moore are T56, while English and Simpson languish at T102.


Weatherwise, there's likely to be rain overnight and possible storms Friday morning. Not promising for an on-time start.

Poulter had lots of putts burn the edges yesterday, had they dropped it would have been a very different number. The rough, is rough, almost US open style and the players were having a hard time advancing the ball if they were offline. In fact it was easier for them to play down the 14th if they went right on 13.

If Kwini-Jr is following groups he should watch out for potential pinch points as they finish 4. The tee boxes for 5 and 9 are side by side playing the same way and get in the way of each other.

Cheers Grumps, I'll be warning him.

Looks like you copped some rain last night - outlook not too bad now?

Enjoy today . . . . Donaldson on cruise control in Czech even (Gallacher going well also), so Poults needs to put his foot down, Donald & Westwood too.

Wheels up at Ridgewood - Poulter sweeping the dew, and perhaps this will be a season-defining day (hopefully three days) for him.

Meanwhile Rene Gruber (we all know him, right?) with an 11 on the par4 4th in the Czech rep. Even Kafelnikov can't beat that.

Donaldson and Gallacher doing what they have to do.

How much did Kafelnikov pay Gruber to keep him out of last place?
And it still might not work.

No-one making much of a move in the early going at Ridgewood, looks like the 36-hole cut will fall at about +1.

Really fine course.

Lukey continues to play uninspired golf and if he hopes for a RC berth better get on his horse.

Rory can certainly go cold and hot, and if he heats up today could be in the hunt in no time.

Sad sight to see Tim Clark walk off with elbow problems again - hope he's OK. Suffering from a double whammy these days; he must be wondering where it will all end.
Always seems one of the nicest guys in Pro Golf.

Stenson finally making some putts . . . . . .

kwinigolfer wrote:Sad sight to see Tim Clark walk off with elbow problems again - hope he's OK. Suffering from a double whammy these days; he must be wondering where it will all end.
Always seems one of the nicest guys in Pro Golf.

Might it not help him not sticking them out sideways with a cheat stick and instead putting properly?   

 

Ridiculous rule change.
They allow mega-headed, trampoline-effect drivers and turbo-charged balls but not belly putters.
Not surprising golf is on a downward slide, in the USA at any rate.


And: Talking of downward slides, Poulter's going to need some big-time help or he's lost his last chance to impress McGinley . . . . unless he cares to travel to Turin; Luke Donald too if he doesn't conjure up a miracle on #18. Westwood also struggling.
Story of the season for all three of them.

Luke a goner, Westwood on the edge . . . . . .

Great round by Stenson, three strokes lower than anyone else out there. As he pretty much was all latter part of last year.

kwinigolfer wrote: 

Ridiculous rule change.
They allow mega-headed, trampoline-effect drivers and turbo-charged balls but not belly putters.
Not surprising golf is on a downward slide, in the USA at any rate.


And: Talking of downward slides, Poulter's going to need some big-time help or he's lost his last chance to impress McGinley . . . . unless he cares to travel to Turin; Luke Donald too if he doesn't conjure up a miracle on #18. Westwood also struggling.
Story of the season for all three of them.

How about this, you can carry on using a cheat stick...unless when you previously used one it was the club you used to measure a drop.
In which case you have added insult to injury and should be banished from the sport forever!

You can certainly use a driver which is way longer than anything used until the Mayor of Toco, Texas, introduced his all those years ago.
Fortunately my putter is short and unanchored and I use a persimmon 3-wood off the tee!

But I like a bit of devil's advocacy on this because it's just so damned stupid. I'd like to see a limit of three foot for measuring for a drop, but then Americans would complain that Europeans were using a metre!

To be clear, the putter is not being banned. Just the anchoring.

(Unless, of course, I missed something -- which is entirely possible.)

Knox just driven the 5th. 4th tee shot on green so far today. Can he follow Henley who made eagle after hitting the pin with his drive. Playing partner, Stuard, just holed out from front bunker too.

Edit: and he did too!

Mrs Grumps watched from the stand behind all morning and only saw two tee shouts out of the many attempts hit the green and none made the putt. She's just seen two in two groups and three eagles now.