PGA Tour: Alabama Shakes: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).The Tour's second division tees off about now competing for the Barbasol Championship in Alabama, in the Auburn area of the State.
But whether Alabama is shaking at the prospect of PGA Tourists lighting it up, or having their racist ex-Senator Sessions resign from the position of Attorney General as he's clearly not the flavour du jour in yesterday's White House ('course, he may be back in favour today, you never know) is difficult to tell. Sessions is not just anti illegal immigrants, he's anti legal immigrants as well, so I'd better move on before I get ICEd.

2).Gracing the Barbasol field are multiple Major winners Cabrera, Goosen and Janzen plus Ryder Cup Captains Furyk and Love. And they are joined by several PGA Tour veterans looking to retain/regain their Tour cards, Barnes, Matt Jones, Levin, Stroud, Hearn, Ishikawa, Weekley etc, Not exactly a powerhouse field but we've discussed that on last week's thread. Let's just say that one hopes the golf fans of the Deep South support the event and better fields are in their future.

3).One golfer who seems to have recused himself from competitive golf is Graeme McDowell, who not only went to University relatively locally, but also looks likely to lose his Tour card; McDool only has three tournaments remaining to secure the sort of top finishes that have eluded him for most of the season. He hasn't registered a Top Twelve finish since the Wyndham in Greensboro last August and could well need a similar result there this year. He definitely represents the down side of mapping out a galactico schedule but matching it up with journeyman results. He's not in Majors (except a few more US Opens) or WGC's any more and it's difficult to see where his on-course career goes from here. Singing the Nona Blues presumably - hope Conboy is a good chef.

4).Europeans who are in Alabama include Alex Cejka, Carl Pettersson, Seamus Power, and Gonzo. No Greg Owen which is surprising (astonishing?); he has no status on Tour if he fails to finish in the Top 150, hasn't enjoyed a Top Fifty finish in 6 months, and is destined for web.com Tour Finals. Again.

5).Chad Campbell has a decent record in past Barbasols and has been playing well recently. So has Canada's David Hearn who has a home game at Glen Abbey next week, plays well at this time of year, and looks like a decent e.w. shout. Other than that, who knows?

Kwini

Is it the case that McDool is happy with what he has achieved in the game and possibly isn't all that fussed about climbing to the top of the game again?

McLaren wrote:Kwini

Is it the case that McDool is happy with what he has achieved in the game and possibly isn't all that fussed about climbing to the top of the game again?  

Mac,
No idea; he's exempt for next year on the PGA Tour.

Tried to make provocative comments to see if anyone had any insight as to why he's in a bit of a funk.


South of the border, Seamus Power with an early lead in Alabama, long may it last.

All our yesterdays in Alabama:
Three golfers tied for 3rd: Chad Campbell, Sabbatini, Allenby.
Cejka a stroke further back #fortysomethings

Seamus Power had a wonderful first nine holes, forgettable second nine, and signed for a 68, 3 under par. Not the end of the world, but needs to do better to make significant inroads to securing his card for next season.

Good work Kwini .bearing in mid we have another little competition on the go.
Some of the lads giving Casey a hard time today but I think he committed long ago to life in USA and lives in Arizona which is fair enough.

Hi Dyna,

Yup, leaving The Open to the experts, but still important action over here that might be of interest.

I kinda like Casey this week, but he's been so fickle these past few years when in sniffing distance of a win that it's tough to have too much conviction in him!

Surprised G-Mac is not behind the Microphone at Birkdale. Seems like NBC/Golf Channel has hired the cavalry for the blanket coverage. And it seems like GMac has been angling for a post-golf career as a broadcaster.

At 114 on the FEX list, he is in position to qualify for the playoffs, but obviously he has some work to do. He is listed in the preliminary field for the Canadian Open, along with Dustin, Kuch, Poults, Bubba.

Poults is on a OPEN tour, first the French, then Irish, then Scottish, this week and Canadian next week.

GPB,
If your guestimate of 375 pts is correct for the Play-Offs, that would mean the equivalent of a Top 20 finish at Glen Abbey or Greensboro, or a Top Ten at Reno, which he's probably never played. We'll see!

For anyone interested Sky had this on their sports channel that is free from additional subscription last night. Whether that's just a 1 night affair or whether they intend to show the rest of the tourney too I don't know.

Just thought it might pique some interest for those either without Sky Sports or those for whom 14/15 hours of live golf in scouseland just isn't enough.

And, might just be me but I've never seen sufficient in MacD to think his US Open was anything other than a Curtis/Hamilton flourish. Unexpected and un-repeatable. Top guy, not a top golfer for me.

A bit unkind to McDool there Roller? I would put him a couple of levels above that, let an Open and US Open slip from his grasp, but had a dozen or so worldwide wins including some pretty good ones . . . . . . but distracted these days by the looks of it.


Alabama was shaking for Chad Collins - in with a Round 2 60.
Seamus Power off in a few minutes; he'll need to improve on yesterday's 68 just to keep pace, scoring red hot this morning. Gonzo shot 66 but is headed down the river. Or hopefully to Glen Abbey.

Catching a little bit of the US Juniors.

Kid from California, Matthew Wolff, has swing that looks a lot like Miller Barber's swing.

Not a bad field declared for "Canada",though it will surely thin out a bit following Birkdale.

A couple of surprising omissions in Luke Donald (one-time RBC "ambassador") and 2015 winner Jason Day, plus Martin Laird (T2 last year).

But McDool and Poults are there, Snedeker is committed (but will he play?), Cantlay seems to be back, and Lowry's turning up (just to keep his exemption?). And Ryan Palmer plays despite missing the Barbasol who sponsors him.


Not a great day for Seamus Power - he needs a good weekend to get anything worthwhile out of his trip to the Deep South. And the backmarkers have the spectre of MDF hanging over them.

Scott Stallings has to be one of the streakiest golfers on tour!

Kwini must be so pleased that Spieth and Grayson Murray win today.

A W is a W on the big tour!

Shotrock wrote:A W is a W on the big tour!

There's always shades of grey...son

Agree ... Ironic to Grayson that the much stronger field was elsewhere as he got his.

Shotrock wrote:A W is a W on the big tour!

Was it the bestest, most winningest W?

McLaren wrote:Kwini

Is it the case that McDool is happy with what he has achieved in the game and possibly isn't all that fussed about climbing to the top of the game again?  

Perhaps he simply had a purple patch for a few years - I don't recall much mention of him regularly contending a lot prior to his US Open win.

navyblueshorts wrote:

McLaren wrote:Kwini

Is it the case that McDool is happy with what he has achieved in the game and possibly isn't all that fussed about climbing to the top of the game again?  

Perhaps he simply had a purple patch for a few years -  I don't recall much mention of him regularly contending a lot prior to his US Open win.

I'm of the opinion that most players are like G-Fat. Most players simply won't be able to enjoy a career at the top, many will be steady enough, with a few years of a purple patch if they're lucky. It doesn't mean they've given up if they don't make it. I don't think it's realistic to believe like Mac that if you haven't stayed at the top then you've given up.
It's the same in every sport. For every 1 player who enjoys a Ronaldo type career, there's 1000 Gareth Southgates.

super_realist wrote:

navyblueshorts wrote:

McLaren wrote:Kwini

Is it the case that McDool is happy with what he has achieved in the game and possibly isn't all that fussed about climbing to the top of the game again?  

Perhaps he simply had a purple patch for a few years -  I don't recall much mention of him regularly contending a lot prior to his US Open win.

I'm of the opinion that most players are like G-Fat. Most players simply won't be able to enjoy a career at the top, many will be steady enough, with a few years of a purple patch if they're lucky. It doesn't mean they've given up if they don't make it. I don't think it's realistic to believe like Mac that if you haven't stayed at the top then you've given up.
It's the same in every sport. For every 1 player who enjoys a Ronaldo type career, there's 1000 Gareth Southgates.

Slowly trying to catch up after, fortunately I suppose, being readmitted into the US:
McDowell had won five ET events prior to his Pebble Beach win, including the Welsh Open two weeks earlier and the Scottish Open two years before. Plus he'd played well in the Valhalla Ryder Cup shambles in 2008. So not exactly a flash in the pan; he won twice more in 2010 and has had good wins since, including Hilton Head, 2 x French Open wins and Mayakoba.
Not Faldo-esque, but a darn sight better than half the Major winners.
I'd say Mac is half right; not given up, perhaps, but golf no longer a top priority for him either. That might change, but he'll have dug himself a hole by the time it does.

Kevin Stadler starts his comeback at the Webbie event in the Kansas City area this week.

Didn't even notice he was gone. What was wrong with him? #journeymanwatch

Super

I didn't say gmac had "given up".  My point, which is backed up by Kwini's last post, was that he had a great career which included a major win and that he might not see the need or even consider it a goal to get back to such levels.  At some point a player will face a decline in form as they age and if you have a cv like gmac that might be a lot easier to accept.  I don't consider this "giving up", but rather being happy enough with what you have achieved to be able to cope with a natural decline in form.


As a contrast look at Poulter who clearly doesn't have the luxury of being content with his career.  His disappointment of falling short in this years open after a brush with contention showed that he will not be happy to hang up his clubs not having won a major.

Mcdowell, has PGA tour earnings of $15m or so. He is 37 years old with a young family and other interests, I am sure he owns a bar/restaurant. Suppose its easy to let slip when you have other things in life.

super_realist wrote:Didn't even notice he was gone. What was wrong with him? #journeymanwatch

On diet?

Maybe the USGS might have noticed.

Did he take inhale some deer pi55?

Confirmation that the PGA will be broadcast on the bbc

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/40738368


"Live coverage begins on iPlayer, online and the red button, with the conclusion of each day's play shown on BBC Two."

So a mix of internet and then the last few holes on tv. Seems like a good way to wedge it into the schedule at the last minute.

No mention of how long they have secured the rights?

It seems that BT sport is in talks with the Masters. If the majors are spread round different broadcasters, it will have an impact on people who have SKy for the golf. Why pay a lot for coverage of the european tour and regular PGA events mainly. But then what impact on the European tour if SKy pulls back its funding?

I'll happily take it as a bonus, 1 year's better than none for me without any pay TV.

sirbenson wrote:Scott Stallings has to be one of the streakiest golfers on tour!

He's at it again!
-5 for his first nine holes at Glen Abbey . . . . . . . .