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.

Olesen, and this old spunker Duke are still in this too.

Come on Rose..

Sort it out. You have the game in your locker- somewhere!

GONZOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Oh my that par 5 is sweet.

Hole in one possible (double albatrous)- I would go for it all day long

Hows that for course management

Strange how they never call Woods "Woods" yet they never call Gonzo anything other than "Fernandez Castano".

I love watching Gonzo play . . . . .

mystiroakey wrote:Oh my that par 5 is sweet.

Hole in one possible (double albatrous)- I would go for it all day long

Hows that for course management

That would ruin your argument of the longer holes having the highest average score!

Its a par 3 SR..

only 360 yards long

kwinigolfer wrote:Strange how they never call Woods "Woods" yet they never call Gonzo anything other than "Fernandez Castano".

I love watching Gonzo play . . . . .

I would flat refuse to call him by the ridiculous name he's given himself. I'd use his surname like everyone else.

Justin back to 8

come on woods - Shank it!

Wonder if Woods' crackpot superstition means he's wearing the same shirt as yesterday. PIkey.

Tiger

Panthera tigris pulling away...

All over it. Different league. Golf is offically boring again.


"Go rickkky"

Didnt realise bianca was out there!

Better get them in while I can.

NIne Chins, you are a ****. (surely can be excused in the circumstances moderators )

Yes, fill your boots super

mystiroakey wrote:
"Go rickkky"

Didnt realise bianca was out there!

It's over the pond, it's probably Ricki Lake !! It is daytime TV after all.


JR back to even, has it finally clicked?

Nice round by Horschel, two SEVENS and an ELEVEN! Somewhere, Rory is smiling . . . . .

Poulter Fighting. Mcilroy and sergio take note.. He is Europes number one

Have you lost it mysti?

Maybe.

Poulters still the best..

The green jacket will be his prize

He is a great competitor, but there are a lot of better euros. Mcdowell for me

Not Lowry Inco?

Seriously- Rors by a mile .

Poults is just my fav..

I am backing Adam scot and poults this masters...

super_realist wrote:Not Lowry Inco?

not yet. Like a seed or bulb, Shane needs time to germinate before he can truly mix it with the worlds finest. Another year or two.

woods with a 6 footer for par--!!
Its not over yet !!

He made it- Yep no mistake- He is back

Mysti - You are right, it's not over yet. Not by a long shot.

But, I like Tiger's chances!

There is no justice.

Go Tigger. Killer putt for birdie might just have sealed the deal.

One back from Fowler. You are on a bit of a hiding to nothing here Super. Fowler who you have always slated as being pony and Woods who you have always, well, just slated for everything.
The saying caught between a rock and a hard place springs to mind. Be like me watching GPlank and Poultry going head to head down the stretch.

Indeed Diggers, hard to bear. It's a bit like choosing between Hitler and Stalin.

Id imagine Stalin was a bit more jolly.

Maybe Rose will rescue you, Justin time.

Id be quite happy to see any of Tigger, Ricky or Justin win.
And as I type that Ricky gets wet. That was a shocking shot really. Silly boy.

Tiger strolling to victory, got to hand it to him, he's certainly back. I see another major this year.

Good comeback from Justin in the end, he threw it away on Saturday afternoon when he was 5 clear of Tiger though.

He is the top Englishman by a country mile at the moment.

Justin no cigar.. Should have took him each way...

Much better play today though. He fought well.. If tiger mark 2 was playing he would have won..

Tigers bushed it!

Come on rose make birdie! put the pressure on..

How sensible is this play by woods. Playing Supers text book Course management

To ruin him

Well done man sausage.

So then..

Is anyone brave enough to bet that Tiger wont beat Jacks record at the moment?

Tiger's always had terrific course management. It's one of the reasons ...

He gets his 3rd "W" on the top tour on the planet in 2013 (and it's only March)!
Regains the World #1 Ranking.
He's one of the favorites going into Augusta (but that road will go through Rory IMO).
He is on his way to passing Slammin' Sammy Snead for all time wins on Tour.


Tiger - well played.

Everyone else (except those who quit early), thanks for playing.



Now looking forward to some quotable back handed compliements from Super.

Back to number one!!!! Who would have thought it would be so soon this year after the way Mcilroy ended last year! The end of Mcilroy as number one hopefully lol!

I'll bet 8 chins wont win 18 majors.

your right he will probally win 20

There is only one golfer out there that can match this play.

Rise to the challenege and stop being a chimp Rors..

Tiger's back!

Mysti - Fully agree with that. It's Tiger or Rory ... and then throw a towel over about 15 others.

I think Rory WILL answer the call. And his natural draw, as compared to Tiger's now manufactured fade, will serve him well in Augusta. The one thing Rory needs to do is get his flat stick going.