PGA Tour: The "Honda": Notes from the Ballwasher

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1).Wonderful theatre at the Match Play last week, and a most deserving winner. Waste of time debating any improvements to the format - we'd all have differing ideas on that. But Hunter Mahan was outstandingly the best golfer once Zach Johnson had made a mess of his 19th Round One hole and good luck to Mahan as he moves forward. He'll turn 30 in May with 2 x WGC's in his back pocket, but only two run-of-the-mill events and "should do better" is written large on his career report card.

2).Rory went on about his semi final vs Westwood being his "final", but surely that's just the nature of match play?
From a point of view of English pride, not to say prejudice, I thought Lee was a touch unlucky Sunday morning. Off to a better start than even Chubby could have dreamed of and then a decent-looking iron into the 5th rolled up against the "collar" at the back of the green. Three strokes later and he was firing a lovely iron into the par 3 6th. But Rory holed his longer putt and Lee missed his. Lee's head down, two holes lost, Rory perking up, game over. Shouldn't be that way though and Westwood must know that he will only win the big ones by overcoming adversity along the way.

3).Mahan enjoyed his first outing with his Ping Nome putter having used a Ping Anser all his career. Now Nome sounds to me like the Alaskan town the sled dogs run to in the Iditarod, but Mahan was HOT on the greens from Thursday onwards.

4).OK, just to break the promise not to debate the format. Is it in the interests of the integrity of the game to hold a consolation match? Set aside the loot, just measure Wilson's achievement in winning a meaningless match-up in golf's new currency, official world ranking points. And he collects 7.6 pts for beating Westwood vs Paul Lawrie, for instance, who only won 8.88 points for winning two very meaningful matches. Just saying.

5).And on the subject of Aberdeen's favourite golfing son, it was timely to read that Aberdeen Asset Management are now sponsoring Martin Laird (impressive week, Martin). Which just goes to show how prescient Johnny Miller is as he spent all Saturday talking about Martin Laird, the man from Aberdeen. That Johnny!!!

6).That's the West Coast done with and the American golfing press is tickled to death about US golfers winning all nine tournaments. Partly courtesy of Robert Allenby's 18th hole Mayakoba meltdown of course. The last time Americans won nine in a row to start the season, the streak ran to 11 before Ian Woosnam scraped home in New Orleans. I'd put a lot of money on this year's streak not reaching 11.

7).So it's off to the "Sunshine State", and "The Honda Classic". "International" Tour players are queueing up to play in this intra-WGC week as they strive to register their mandatory 15 events for the year. Europe-based players seem to struggle mightily to get to grips with grainy Bermuda greens and don't expect anything less this week. PGA National is a Tom Fazio design which staged the 1983 Ryder Cup (where Europe finally came of age as a viable competitor) and the 1987 PGA Championship.
Personal note: I played PGA National in 1985, was walking down a front nine fairway when we heard a crack behind us and a Titleist fizzing over our heads. We looked back to see wtf was going on only to see a rather large golfer speeding by us, crouched over the front of his golfcart like Cav winning a TDF sprint. "Thanks guys," yelled Craig Stadler as he whizzed by.

8).Since those days Jack Nicklaus has "re-done" the course and redefined the signature "Bear Trap", holes 15 (par-3), 16 (par-4) and 17 (par-3), the most difficult hat-trick of consecutive holes on Tour last year. pgatour.com notes that only 12 golfers have completed the tournament in the five years the "Honda" has been played here without registering a bogey on 15, 16 or 17. Luke Donald (feet up this week) enjoyed the best score, a miraculous -5 here, in 2008, and Camilo is the only other to do better than -2 on these holes.

9).The golfers will have warm weather this week, mostly dry and sunny but with that ever present March wind. All of which makes it an improbable course to see Tiger playing at, his first visit to the tournament in 18 years (perhaps he'll be playing Quad Cities this year after all?), especially with the penal nature of so many of the holes. And Rory's high ballflight is similarly unlikely to be best suited to the course. Expect a strong tee-to-green player to prevail, along the lines of the five Honda Champions here so far: Mark Wilson, Els, Yang, Villegas and Sabbatini.

10).This week is the last opportunity to qualify for Doral's WGC Cadillac event next week. The field has pretty much been finalised with just new entrants to the owgr top fifty, and FedEx points top ten, able to graduate to Doral. Europeans on parade over and above the usual suspects include Bjorn, Canizares (nice job qualifying courtesy of his T5 finish last week) and Clarke. YE Yang was runner up last year and I could see him playing well again, along with Justin Rose who has form here also. Rory? Tiger? Top Twenty? Maybe?

PS: The "Cadillac" field as it currently stands is listed on the Fantasy thread.

kwinigolfer wrote:

Players already on the course (figuratively speaking) are collectively 28 over par which makes Westwood's early birdie look pretty good!

those 28 players have played 84 holes. +0.33 per hole and on pace to shoot an average score of 76.

And they're off... but Lee really took off with an eagle!
Now, interesting....

why they showing the 3rd round if there off!!!

mystiroakey wrote:why they showing the 3rd round if there off!!!

No idea, watching it on shot tracker in an airport... again

Everybody seems to eagle the 3rd... first Lee, then Compton and now even Tiger!

...and Charlie 3Sticks...

Does anyone know what's going on with the sky coverage??
Listed as live currently but showing 3rd round, programme finishing at 8:30 ulster time!?!

Come on Leeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Lairdy wrote:Does anyone know what's going on with the sky coverage??
Listed as live currently but showing 3rd round, programme finishing at 8:30 ulster time!?!

Ahh normal service resumed. The matinée is warming up!!

tiger and lee killing it out there- do they not like playing with each other!!!

I bet charl wishes he hadn't gone 20 yards right at the bear trap on day 1 or 2 (cant remember).

tigers enjoying himself- crowd loving it ~

english losing his mind!!

come on!!

yeah lol havent seen a shot by the world no.3 , sky commentators shouting about it and fair play!! 5 under today in dem conditions!

Hope Woods isn't complaining about his putting today; both he and Westwood have only missed one green each today in 23 holes, nine birdies while all around there are train wrecks.

-10 for Tiger will put pressure on Rory Mac and Gillis. Rose is not out of contention yet, but he is not in the habit of playing his best on the last day.

3 amazing par putts from rory- reminicent of woods in his prime

Westwood and Woods now each three shots better on the day than the next best . . . . .

Woods and Westwood showing how much easier it is to score low on a Sunday when you don't start the day in contention.
Sure both will be happy with a top 5. Wonder how many top 5's LW has had on the PGA outside the majors.

westy has had so many wins anyway- he knows how to do it- so does tiger,

i think they rubbed each other up the wrong way first 3 days

the commentators really want a 'markletable' no.1 dont they lol.!!

mystiroakey wrote:westy has had so many wins anyway- he knows how to do it- so does tiger,

i think they rubbed each other up the wrong way first 3 days

Not the way they used to, it's certainly been Woods problem for the last few months. LW is hardly a prolific PGA winner, 2 is it ?

yep i suppose

Diggers wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:westy has had so many wins anyway- he knows how to do it- so does tiger,

i think they rubbed each other up the wrong way first 3 days

Not the way they used to, it's certainly been Woods problem for the last few months. LW is hardly a prolific PGA winner, 2 is it ?

You mean 2 on the PGA tour and 35 other wins.

That's the Bear Trap taken care of nicely. Eagle on the last please Lee.

westy done it again- end of last year he pul.led of 3 insane rounds and another one today!!

he will win a major this year!!

Very impressive the way the cream has risen to the top.
Number Two, Number Three, Schwartzel, McDowell, Bradley, Woods, Rose.

yep interesting that one!

its a quality golf course and a true test

Looks like Rory Mac has this sealed.

dolfinack wrote:

Diggers wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:westy has had so many wins anyway- he knows how to do it- so does tiger,

i think they rubbed each other up the wrong way first 3 days

Not the way they used to, it's certainly been Woods problem for the last few months. LW is hardly a prolific PGA winner, 2 is it ?

You mean 2 on the PGA tour and 35 other wins.

Nope, I'd have said that if I meant that. I'm saying he's not prolific on the PGA tour and this event is a PGA event. Who know why but he wins more outside the States.

tigers back peops!!!

Of course, Lee's very seldom been a PGA Tour member which limits the number of chances he gets. Almost all his best non-Major finishes have been at The Players and Firestone - nothing wrong with the quality of the fields there.

I think he has played as much in the states in the past few years as Europe, same as all the big Europeans. I'm not saying he isn't good but the fact is he hasn't won even a WGC event, he hasn't beaten a really full strength field in terms of works ranking players. Sure lots of bridesmaid positions but ultimately it's a big blot on an otherwise excellent CV IMO.

oh lol the flash back to that name- knowntobegay- i really am childish but it cracks me up!!

diggers he has been playing some amazing golf last few months- things will change very soon i am sure of it!

Digs,
I'm sure he agrees. Which is why he's here now.
Good first two weeks. Hoping for better.

Westwood played 95% of his golf since the early nineties at non-pga tour events. Anyhooo.

I'll predict a McIlroy win by two shots today me thinks.

dolfinack wrote:Westwood played 95% of his golf since the early nineties at non-pga tour events. Anyhooo.

I'll predict a McIlroy win by two shots today me thinks.

No he hasn't , since he came back from his slump he has played loads over there , just look at his win ratio on other tours compared to the PGA....it won't be the same.
You can say what you like but the statistics are he isn't the same player in terms of wins in the States.

cant wait for the masters!!

woods,mcilroy,donald,westwood fighting it out!!!!

If Woods holes this, Rors will hear the roars even if he was in Belfast.

ouch! c'mooon rooory!!!!

That's the way to answer, Rory . . . . . .

Diggers wrote:

dolfinack wrote:Westwood played 95% of his golf since the early nineties at non-pga tour events. Anyhooo.

I'll predict a McIlroy win by two shots today me thinks.

No he hasn't , since he came back from his slump he has played loads over there , just look at his win ratio on other tours compared to the PGA....it won't be the same.
You can say what you like but the statistics are he isn't the same player in terms of wins in the States.

Diggers,

Do you have said statistics? Would make interesting reading.

Re: Tiger, don't particularly like him, but I do appreciate what he does when hot, great to see him puting in a round like this and getting into contention, putting has been very good today. Lee also puting in a fantastic round. Still predict that Rory will wrap this up -13/14.

The Masters has alot to live upto after last years final day, hopefully will be another classic!!!

'Mon Rory!!!

Hats off to Tiger..............i, for one would LOVE to see a play off with Tiger & Rory (and anyone else who wants to join them)..................

Amazing round from Tiger..his lowest ever on the pga at 36? Amazing approach on 18...

Wow that bring's back memories, birdie eagle finish. Two behind McIlroy ..

Is Tiger going to win this tournament? Almost certainly not. But it's cannon shot across the bow for the PGA tour. Tremendous round today, obviously getting comfortable with his swing under Foley and a testament to his mental fortitude.

I'm already thinking Rory and Tiger late Sunday at Augusta.

Can Donald get his game on track for 2012?

Where's Super you need him eh.

Ric Flair said it best - "To be the man, you gotta beat the man!"

important day for golf this- no one would have expected rorys no1 status to be overshadowed(if he gets it) but it will be!!!

Diggers - Probably at the drones club, reading a book on military history. I jest.

Rose all but done.

It's Rory time - I'd be stunned if he didn't bring it home. He's the man now.