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.

8pm I think hend.

the boss will be delighted to hear- i wont be leaving early so!

I'm also in the Yang/Rose club for this week's fantasy. Unfortunately Rose is on my bench, as is Sabbatini...

hend085 wrote:any idea what time sky start at?

Def 7.30

There is a chance you will see no live golf until 8???

Operation put kids to bed so from 7.30......................

Kwini - belated thanks for the Westwood interview link. Seems to having things in perspective. Top man.

The US Media didn't take to Westwood for a long time, perhaps feeling was mutual, but I think they rather feel as if he's breath of fresh air nowadays. Which of course he is, Top Man indeed.

(I actually thought he was very, very good, interesting, informative and fair, with a dry sense of humour, when he was on 606.)

had an outside pick on harris english this week and backed rose.

very happy at present!!

Hadn't realised they were playing lift, clean, place today; hope they put a stop to that for the rest of the week.

Love getting in Rory's way. Not for the first time?

kwinigolfer wrote:Hadn't realised they were playing lift, clean, place today; hope they put a stop to that for the rest of the week.

Love getting in Rory's way. Not for the first time?

It is a little surprising given the course looks in good condition despite the rain. Cant say I condone lift and place in any conditions never mind in pristine conditions.

fairways should be fairways- id be happy with winter rules all year round

Two interesting interviews, Westwood comes across great but Tiger appears not to have changed at all and comes across as a complete bell end I reckon.

No wonder the American media love Rory, if they have been used to Tiger's nonsense it must be a breath of fresh air.

Team Ireland (except Rory!)

errr- what your beef with your irish players

Caito - I'll suggest media love Rory because the public love Rory the dominating golfer. And they still love Tiger ... have you seen a tournament on US TV where they didn't show nearly every possible shot of his? Tiger's still their primary ratings mule.

I guess I meant they love dealing with Rory, whereas they suffered Tiger because they knew he was the main man and the one joe public cared about.

Completely agree Tiger remains the main attraction in the media, although I think there is a growing awareness and lack of acceptance of his boorish behaviour but not enough to change sales.

Did anyone else just hear on the coverage that Boo Weekely led the 2011 pga tour GIR stats and still managed to loose his card.

Ouch! New putter for Boo.

Yes Mac

Was just about to post about that, incredible stat

Scores quite a bit higher this afternoon, not quite sure why. No-one threatening to go low.

Mac,
Joe Durant has been doing that for years!

McLaren wrote:Did anyone else just hear on the coverage that Boo Weekely led the 2011 pga tour GIR stats and still managed to loose his card.

wow didnt know- unbelivable.

english!!- 4 under- my 190/1 is looking good

very surprised no one has been talking about him much- good player- set to be a rookie of the year for my money

mystiroakey wrote:errr- what your beef with your irish players

No beef. Just all 3 afternoon irish struggling..........................

0ok missunderstood cregan! thought you were wishing them bad luck

tiger really doesnt enjoy it out there does he. i know how he feels mind, but he is quite petulent, poor little tigros

enjoying monty in the studio playing augusta on the shot centre... Hes good.

Did you see his booming long drive attempt as well?

How did Denis Pugh only get 235?

er who and how did that dude get 405 lol.

montys wasnt exactly far was it mind lol.

mystiroakey wrote:er who and how did that dude get 405 lol.

montys wasnt exactly far was it mind lol.

I saw that 405.. Hes the long drive champion or something. It was crazy...

Check it out guys, 405 yards;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EyZVMYLaJw&feature=related

arr i heard them say athlete and strong but!! not long drive champ, should have guessed

McLaren wrote:Check it out guys, 405 yards;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EyZVMYLaJw&feature=related

my gawd

guy is huge!!

Nice comeback from Harrington today, burnishing his Bear Trap credentials as well!

Seems like Casey will definitely be playing at the "Cadillac", and then will be playing in China along with Ian Poulter following The Masters.

See Poulter has Pneunomia, wonder if that will be him out for a while.

That could be a serious blow to Poulter, could even jeopardise him keeping his Tour card. Good health to him.

They're playing the game again in Palm Beach Gardens, Westwood and Woods, and McDowell off at 7.30 a.m., Clarke and Harrington 20 minutes later.

Only 10 of the top 28 on the Round 1 leaderboard played Thursday afternoon, so chance for today's morning "wave" to redress the balance.

Bit premature that about Poulter keeping his card, he is of course exempt for 2013.
But he could struggle to fulfil his 15 event requirement.

How long is tiger exempt for?

Mac,
He has a lifetime PGA Tour membership.
The only thing he could possibly lose is exemption for WGC's and the US Open (tho' I believe he has a 10-year exemption for that). Not sure about The Players, but he certainly doesn't have to worry about that any time soon.

I was just kidding kwini. although I always wonder what level a player has to sink to while the still have exemptions but not use them. Vijay and ernie for example, will the continue to play if the fall out of the top 100 for more than about a year?

Vijay also a lifetime member. Plus the Champions Tour (he turned 49 last week) will welcome him with open arms - and cheque books.
Ernie's OK through next year. Wouldn't be surprised if his autism advocacy and campaigning didn't take Ernie on a slightly different route as his son grows up.

Just look at Davis love III and Olazabal, why are they still trying to play on the pga tour? Two great players but clearly past it other than the odd moment.

Think Ollie has been a bit better this year on the European tour and Davis Love still contents some tournaments. Think there are much worse players that still get into tournaments than these 2.

Fantastic start from Padraig! Another birdie at the 15th...
I understand there's little wind today out there (?)

Another player I never tire of watching compete: Padraig Harrington. Many an analyst will tell you everything that's wrong with his swing, but when he's on he simply has a "get it in the hole" mindset. Duty over beauty.

Hope he keeps it up.

O'Hair was very promising the first 14 holes of this tournament ... now on cut line tightrope.

Good work from Harrington and from another name who's made more "Police Blotters" than Golf headlines in the past few months: Jeff Overton -4 on his round today.
Schwartzel gliding into form also.

PS: Great win just now for Andy Murray over Novak Djokovic.

PPS: Anyone got 100 million smackers for Pompey?

harris english on top

Inspired selection mysti, hope your Rose pick blooms also.

ta kwini and as allways well put!

hope i can do better next time in your fantasy league!