PGA Tour: "Arnold Palmer Invitational" etc: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Before we move up Interstate 4 from the course that the Pros consider the best they play in Florida to the course they rate the worst, let's have a look back at last week's Tampa Bay Classic, at Innisbrook's Copperhead Course. Kevin Streelman became the fifth first-time winner on Tour with a marvellous final nine holes which trumped Boo Weekley's best-of-the-week 63.
Streelman beat a good field to secure his maiden victory the right way, with birdies on two tough par-3's and brave, straight-down-the-middle drives on the "Snake Pit's" two par fours.

2).But who is Kevin Streelman? He's 34, middle-aged for a first-time winner, has collected $7M in official prize-winnings as he enjoys his sixth season on Tour, and won a cool $1M as the inaugural winner of the Kodak Challenge in 2009. Despite bursting on the scene in San Diego (twice, as he was joint first-round leader at the Torrey Pines US Open) in 2008, when he led after 36 holes and was grouped with E.T.Woods for Round 3 before fading, his only podium finishes before Tampa were third places in golfing hotbeds of Cancun, Puerto Rico and New Jersey.
Now he's a Tour Champion and the sky's the limit for someone who's always been much more than a journeyman and, by all accounts, one of the nicer guys on Tour. (Especially when he's not reading "the scriptures".)

3).He'll tee it up at Bay Hill this week and he's enjoyed a top ten finish here in the past. One bloke who won't be there is JB Holmes who has broken an ankle roller-blading and will be out of commission for three months. While this portends a pick-up in pace of play on Tour, it sadly suggests also that his brain surgery in 2011 wasn't as succesful as first thought. A terrible start to JB's season and now this.

4).This is one week where it's impossible not to speak of defending champion Tiger Woods. And of course he jump-started coverage of himself by posting mug-shots of Lyndsey and him all over social media and then requested privacy for the smiling couple. Good luck with that, especially following his week's canoodling with Lyndsey on his yacht "Privacy" (nothing if not ironic) during Doral. Las Vegas odds-makers are offering 4-1 against an engagement by January 2015 - I imagine Paddy Power and other reputable houses might offer rather different odds regarding rather different aspects of the joyful coming together of a sex addict and a depressive.

5).Speaking of Tiger, and why not, he was on the radio the other day likening the spotlight's glare on Rory and Wozza with that on himself and, you name her. He also revealed, in the aftermath of his (personal) record of 100 putts at Doral and putting tips from Stricker, that he had indeed offered tips to "Stricks" during last year's FedEx Play-Offs. 'Course, they then travelled together to Medinah and we know how that worked out, don't we. Needless to say he wasn't pressed on that but Thanks Tiger.

6).No tips on the putting green this week, Stricker is back in Wisconsin. But the fact is that Tiger has won here seven times and any consideration of likely winners has to include him. Which will mean that prices for the rest of the field should be generous, if only you can pick someone to beat the favourite. I certainly can't.

7).There's a terrific field on hand, no Luke or Rory, no Charl or Louis, but just about everyone else is in town. Strangely, and as noted last week, this has been a happy hunting ground for GB&I golfers with Martin Laird having won two years ago, Greg Owen incomprehensibly contriving to lose to Pampling in 2006, and decent best finishes by McDowell (2nd twice), Poulter (3rd last year), Rose (3rd in 2011), Davis (4th last year) and Westwood (5th in 2007). David Lynn makes his first visit and, at the other end of the scale, Ross Fisher was DQ'd after one round on his only appearance.
Maybe Justin Rose's turn? Wouldn't put any money on it but there seems to be something in Justin's DNA that has him winning this sort of event, especially after not doing so great coming in. Will playing with Tiger (and Ernie) in Rounds 1 and 2 help or hinder the English petal?

8).A strong web.com field is assembling in Louisiana for the first US-based tournament of the year, and Gary Christian and Russell Knox tee it up for Britain along with 18 Tour winners (and seven more are alternates).

9).While the old farts are in adjacent Mississippi, where Brian Henninger makes his first Champions Tour start. Not many Tour players can say their only two tournament wins were in Mississippi but Henninger certainly can. He was also the guy holding Ben Crenshaw's hand during the final round of Gentle Ben's post-Penick-funeral Masters win in 1995. Chapman, Mouland and Lyle will be there as well, Lyle presumably making his final (and futile) start before Augusta.

10).Easy to be cynical writing notes about the famous and wannabe famous, but much harder to express adequate admiration and appreciation for Stacy Lewis's relentless rise up the Rolex rankings to be Number One in the World.
Her difficulties with scoliosis, spinal fusion, years in a cast are well known, but she was also the first Curtis Cupper to win all five of her matches, at St.Andrews, in 2008, having already won a rain-shortened (and hence unofficial) LPGA event as an amateur. She qualified for the 2008 US Open which she led after three rounds before crumbling with a Sunday 78.
Lewis qualified for the LPGA Tour in the same Q-School as Michelle Wie, receiving far less publicity but winning the event by three shots, Wee Wie finishing six shots back.
Her career has maintained its upward trajectory including a 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship and, without falderal or fanfare has become the first American since Beth Daniel (in 1994!!) to be LPGA Player of the Year in 2012. Great to see her go from strength to strength, even as she and her caddie go over the Rules Book regarding etiquette in a bunker.
A credit to the LPGA Tour and one of many good reasons why the Tour seems to have bottomed out and is on the rise again.

delofted to an 8. super stiff shaft,with low kick point, blade head..

gonna go like a 6 iron if you have the swing speed.

That's 17 of 18 putts made inside 20 feet. That is incredible.

Fine round by Gonzo, played great and only beaten by two despite that putting exhibition.

A couple of crucial tee shots coming up for Justin Rose, c0ck either up and he's probably not in the final group.

Not just tee shots being the problem Kwini, the putter will be up there too.

interesting how they showed roses missed putts all the same. and only 4 wins in his career??

Miracle shot there Grumps - but can he two-putt it from there? Very, very careless on the greens from 18 yesterday to 17 today.

Last time Fowler and E.T. teed it up together on a Sunday, Woods outscored Rickie by EIGHTEEN strokes.

Well Fowler, Rose and host of others can certainly win this thing, but the road now goes directly through Tiger.

Good luck all - it will likely be needed tomorrow.

Tiger!

super_realist wrote:Curses, looks like I might be absent if this man sausage wins again.

Can't stand Fowler but I'd even prefer him to win than sports biggest barclays banker.

remember you're praising, not disappearing, for a week super if tont wins tomorrow...

Sr,
If Tiger wins it doesn't change anything:
The best golfer of his time.
One of the most nauseating public figures of all time.

Brilliant putting round today, and two jumbo breaks off the tee. If he has half that success Sunday he'll win by five.

Kwin - It absolutely does change one thing: he becomes the #1 player in the world. Again.

Also, I get a kick out of those that are quick to dismiss his success (primarily?) due to the courses he plays. Hint for those that want to take this "easy" path - Start winning multiple times on courses.

Or, that he can't win from behind. Well, he sure was behind Haas and Rose today.

But 54 holes does not a tournament make. Work to be done.

Sr,
Surely #1 player in the world and the best golfer of his time are synonymous? Seems I'm missing something there. Bloody English education missed le difference.

"Due to the courses he plays" . . . . . exactly, which is why we've been castigating European Golfers for playing courses that are not suited to them. Except Muirfield Village, Oak Hill, Oakland Hills and Medinah of course.

Work to be done indeed, but it's all about the par-5's. Not sure how things ended up but NBC put up a graphic which said that Tiger was -121 on the Bay Hill par-5's, seven over on the par-3's, and 5 under on the par-4's.

One word for Woods tomorrow: Jobalreadydone.

Even Tiger must realise he won't get away with this at Augusta though . . . . . . . not that he won't win as he very well could. But he's got to play better than this.

A big battle tomorrow tees off at 8.40 a.m., the Battle of Nottinghamshire:
In the Worksop corner: Lee Westwood.
In the Mansfield corner: Greg Owen.

A pair of 59's would result in a very honourable tie.

super_realist wrote:Maybe there's a lot of kinetic energy behind his chins, like some sort of spring.

Even in the face of a rare defeat for Super, he still comes up with the best line of the day

kwinigolfer wrote:
Am surprised Peter Hanson is absent - would think he needs a tournament or two before Augusta; maybe his injury is more serious than has been suggested?

A few guys who normally play Houston are skipping it this year, probably more because the Tavistock Cup plays Monday/Tues of SHO week (next week). Guys who played Houston last year, but this year chose the Tavistock instead include Hanson, McDowell and Fowler.

Hi robo,
Forgot about the all-important Tavistock.
But the case of Peter Hanson is a bit unusual, contended at Augusta last year, arguably in the best form of his career and, if he was fit to play at all, you'd think he'd choose Houston over the boondoggle named after a town in Devon - or at least the "Streak" railway engine of the same name?
Puzzling. (Adam Scott another surprising Houston absentee.)

Another good tournament for Brian Stuard . . . . .

Kwin - Did you check the world rankings today? I read it twice: Rory McIlroy is the #1 player in the world (still). Maybe the internet lines are all jammed up in Vermont? Really, here's the link: http://www.pgatour.com/stats.html

Don't blame the education!

And how many times do you have to lose on a course to write it off? Fast forward this logic and Lukey, Lee and Striker and even the #1 player in the world today (see above again) should bypass Augusta. Sorry, not buying it.

It's alright Sr, I don't believe Luke Donald is the 3rd best golfer itw right now, probably not in the top 20, but he's still #3 in the rankings.
Woods this spring is trumping what Rors did last autumn; Rory hasn't learned to will the ball in the hole like Woods does, 17 out of 18 within 20 feet? Come on!

The reason some players play the events they do is because of the PGA Tour handcuffs - otherwise Doral, for instance, would get far fewer takers. Majors different of course.

Ahh ... but there's a lot we don't know, Kwin.

Sometimes players hope to find success by "staying the course" or by "changing things up". It's absurd to think I should be penning in Tiger's schedule, or Rory's or Luke's based upon what I think - no matter how a regression analysis will support my logic.

Perhaps Tiger will soon feel the need to step up to Riviera ... or find what club member guest Ed Fiore is playing in this Fall so he can see if he's up to the task. Or, maybe not.

"The Grip"!
Now there was a golfer - round enough to make Shane Lowry envious!!

The one thing Tiger will never bother to do is return to the events who gave him his start, before he had a Tour card.

Methinks you've got some home-cooking bragging rights, especially if the 'Cuse win tonight?

"One of the most nauseating public figures of all time."

What with him being a golfer and not owing you or any other member of the public anything, how can this be the case?

Given that I cant think of any pro golfer with anything worth listening to I would rather they said nothing than try and make ham fisted effort.

Just look at the pillock mcilroy for a good example of this.

kwinigolfer wrote:

The one thing Tiger will never bother to do is return to the events who gave him his start, before he had a Tour card.

This is one of things that changed me from a TW fan to a TW critic.

@robopz....That looks familiar, doesn't it?

Why should tiger play in second tier events? I am sure he would return if they managed to attract a decent enough field to garner more than 35 OWGR points.

Tiger has it right in that respect. Its not so much about the points, tbh. Its about the quality of the field and set up. Tiger is a major golfer- and its all about the correct preparations to win more WGC's and majors

This masters is going to be so interesting.

Hopefully Rose will bring this form and not flake out for once. I also think poulter will be a major player.. He needs to start well and keep it going. The tougher the set up the better he will be..

Woods will be massive fav. Guessing he will be about 3/1 max(without checking)

mysti

Are you watching the F1?

Who's your money on?

Backed hamilton at 12/1 a few days ago..

He is well placed. But lets be honest it could sadly be all about vettel

Massa beating alonso in the qualy again is going to be interesting..

Well not any more.!!

He is out

Hamilton pitting in the wrong box?
Perhaps Woods will come out today playing Titleists . . . . . ?

Well then. Is F1 even a sport?

No, It's an engineering competition.

i still love it. But sometimes you gotta feel cheated watching it..

super_realist wrote:

incontinentia wrote:what's with Woods' iron yardages, 180 yard 9-iron??

Warmer temperature, different air, wind, different loft than conventional 9 irons. All pro's seem to have mad yardages compared to ours, our yardages very rarely match any pro's.

Maybe there's a lot of kinetic energy behind his chins, like some sort of spring.

mystiroakey wrote:delofted to an 8. super stiff shaft,with low high kick point, blade head..

gonna go like a 6 iron if you have the swing speed.

FWIW, I'm pretty sure TW's lofts are far more traditional than most i.e. his lofts aren't strong cf. everyone else.

Quite looking forward to S_R's 'praise' for Eldrick over the coming week!

Woods driver is 11°.

Nine Chins requires a driver of higher loft because he is so errant with that club. Higher lofts are easier to hit straight (less sidespin), but with his swingspeed it naturally suits him better and doesn't suffer much distance loss.

By the way, how bad does Bay Hill look? Looks like a pay and play course in the UK.

Think I might just go on holiday for a week or use a profanity to a moderator and get a weeks ban.

Now super, don't back down from our agreement. 1 post of praise for Tiger per day for a week. Preferably compliments about his chin, hair and personality. What do you want if he loses? something to do with leprechauns judging by your previous post

Not sure how this works but sunrise at the Bay Hill muni due 7.25, first man out the traps at 7.30. Can understand hitting balls under floodlights, but practicing putting must be a bit dodgy.

Regardless, the early starters are forecast to have the best of the weather, with winds forecast to increase to 27 mph and a 50/50 chance of "severe storms" in the afternoon. High winds will mean high penalties for errant shots, Tiger more than extremely lucky on 9 and 12 yesterday, whereas Haas was derailed by a shot which went ob by 3 inches. Fine margins.

Early starters include McDowell, Furyk and the Battle of Nottinghamshire - will there be a new Sherriff in town or will Westwood build on his good round (7 excepted) of Saturday?

NBC ecstatic about Fowler and Woods being the final pair - it means they won't have to show any other golfer.

Sunrise isn't the same as first light Kwini, there's a lot of light before the sun gets above the horizon.

Are NBC the sports equivalent of Fox News Kwini? They certainly seem just as irksome.

My one hope is that Nine Chins does not play good in the wind. So I've still got a glimmer of hope for my forfeit being well, forfeited.

Yup, quite understand that, but you'd have to be on the putting green by 7.10 for a 7.30 kick-off . . . . . scarcely going to affect the result tho'.

NBC as bad as Fox? Not usually; having said that I very seldom watch Fox except their Soccer Channel which comes from GB OK. Their other sports coverage is unwatchable, worse than NBC Golf. (But not much.)
All US Networks talk about the World as if it has 50 States, even Canada gets short shrift.

Woods is 41-2 on the PGA Tour when he has the outright lead going into the final round.

With a victory today can tie a PGA Tour record for most victories at one tournament. Sam Snead won the Greater Greensboro Open eight times.

Nice win by the 'Cuse. Now I would like to see LaSalle do the same.

Impressive record from TW, but this is certainly not over given Tiger's lack of success in finding fairways. So, who will step up? Rose looks like he lost a lot of confidence, but he's a true pro. Folwer a hot hand, but will that handsy swing fold come Sunday?

I've been to Bay Hill one time -- fine conditioning, ample rooom, but pretty forgettable track. And, as Kwin points out, the 17th silly at that length.

I love how Tiger dominates the tournaments hosted by the sacrosanct Palmer and Nicklaus. Inside, they must be more than a bit agitated.

LaSalle will have to beware the lunatic Ol' Miss man Marshall.

I think Arnie loves the attention, knows that the Tiger legend sustains an otherwise average event - Jack not so much!!

I want Tiger to replace Mcilroy as number one.....but I want the Tiger hype to calm down.

Bye Rory *waves*

Unless Rose gets his act together I'm not sure anyone else in the top 10 can wrest this title from Tiger's grasp

Agree, this is not over by any stretch with all that wind coming in, although on his day Woods can be as good as anybody in windy conditions...

Not been on the Bay Hill course, only drove once by and stopped to have a quick look through the fence (soon after the event, they were taking down the stands, I remember...). At least the part I could see from there was looking pretty dull to be honest. Not taking anything away from Tiger's impressive last couple of weeks performances but it's a pitty in many ways that he's reaching the top of his game and possibly no. 1, etc. with wins on two of the dullest courses on the PGA Tour...

As for Arnie, I stopped also at his gate that time, but the old dog never bothered to invite me in...

Spoiler:

Westy waking up once again far too late...

Westy fell asleep again. Looks like an exceptional round by Bubba Watson.

Blowing a bit out there . . . . . .

Sergio makes a 9 on the par 5 sixth hole. Then birdies par 3 7th hole.

T60 something for Westy, and his average keeps plummeting. If windy weather continues (or gets worse), Bubba might back door a top 10 finish and pass Westy in the Rankings. Keegan needs a top 5 finish to pass Westy.

Get ready for "the super_realist Tiger Woods appreciation week"... A once in a lifetime experience...

has SR got to big up Chins all week if he wins.

Oh dear.. I almost want Tiger to win now

Poulter's tournament blowing (away) in the wind.

pedro wrote:Get ready for "the super_realist Tiger Woods appreciation week"... A once in a lifetime experience...

an excellent proposal for the thread title ped - looking forward to the first post

Tiger birdied the second (12 under, lead of three). But now play is delayed due to this 'storm'

I think the horn just sealed s_r's fate. Any rain will soften up the greens and presumably the wind will subside somewhat, certainly be less gusty.
Wish there was some football to watch.