PGA Tour: FedEx Play-Offs only SIX Weeks Away!: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Oh Deere, The John Deere Classic has attracted one of the weakest fields of the PGA Tour season, but there is a prize of $828K to the winner so not to be sneezed at. In addition, there's a full quota of FedEx points available so let's have a look at how the Europeans are doing as this season winds down.

2).So many of the European Tour players who come to play in America state that one reason is the competition, and bonus swag, available for those who are successful in the Play-Offs. But how many will actually get in to the field for Round 1, The Barclays (Top 125), and are they positioned to move forward via the DeutscheBank (Top 100) and BMW (Top 70) to the Tour Championship in Atlanta (Top 30)?

3).Currently in the Top 30:
6th: Kaymer
13th: Rose
21st: Garcia

4).31st - 70th:
39th: Knox
40th: McIlroy
52nd: Jacobson
58th: McDowell
60th: Donald
68th: Poulter
70th: Pettersson
This lot need a win and/or a succession of good finishes (especially in early Play-Off events) to get close to Atlanta. Poulter has NEVER reached Atlanta for instance.

5).71st - 100th:
80th: Blixt
97th: Davis
98th: Stenson
These three are each going thru a pretty mediocre season and need to catch Stenson-like fire-from-2013 to share in the bonanza. This is when Stenson really got trucking last year, so perhaps he can turn his season around starting next week. Blixt blows hot and cold and Davis's year has been tepid to say the least.

6).101st - 125th:
With PGA Tour estimates that 415-ish points will be necessary to qualify for The Barclays and assure a 2014/2015 Tour card, let's be conservative and look at those above 425 points and those below:
425+: None!
425-:
108th: Westwood: 410 points: He'll scratch some points via the Bridgestone so should qualify for the Play-Offs. Just. Otherwise, what would he do if he lost his Tour card? Unlikely, but not impossible unless he pulls his finger out.
112th: Casey: 398 pts: Who knows with him given the bizarre schedule he's set for himself? He could really use a strong Open Championship finish or may find himself destined for web.com finals action. It sometimes seems he hasn't quite figured out how to secure his destiny towards each rung of the ladder back to world-class golf.
123rd: Lingmerth: 364 pts: Having a tough second year, but will play where he can. Touch and go whether he makes it but a good week in the Quad Cities will help a lot!

7).126th and worse: On the outside looking in:
136th: Gonzo: 336 pts:  Really struggling to stitch 72 holes together; playing the John Deere and let's hope he finds a strong result.
148th: Laird: 272 pts: Seems to have thrown in the towel for this season. Needs a miracle to get to The Barclays where he's had success before. Exempt for next season.

All other Europeans seem to have given up on their Tour odyssey: Hanson, Olesen, Harrington (has a one-off option for next season) Lynn, Colsaerts, Clarke (exempt next year) and Chopra. Cejka will bounce back to the Tour from web.com action and Owen is also well placed to do the same.

8).Great to see Cabrera bring home the Greenbrier bacon - what a player he is when he's in the mood! But he needed a Top 2 finish to secure HIS card for next year. Great form coming in to The Open.

9).Apart from Spieth, Zach Johnson and Stricker, the "John Deere Classic" field is mostly made up of those desperate, like Gonzo, to secure their Tour membership for next year, or have some other personal motivation. Some golfers who are eligible for the Deere are playing the web.com event in Utah instead, as they strive for their 14/15 cards on a supposedly easier playing field. Perverse.

No Tiger, of course, and consensus seems to be, led by Hank Haney, that his Congressional and Hoylake outings are warm-ups for the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

10).The US Senior Open is being played this week in Oklahoma, at Oak Tree, site of Jeff Sluman's 1988 PGA Championship victory. Long-time Oak Tree resident Scott Verplank turns 50 the day before the Tournament; fancy that!
There is a handful or two of European contestants led by Langer and Montgomerie who are each hoping for their second Champions Tour "Major" of the year.
Oklahoma in high summer might be a bit hot for Monty, but perhaps Langer can reach the winners enclosure again as he looks to make more Champo winnings this year than most Europeans will bank on the PGA Tour? Wouldn't be surprised.

Considering he hasn't had a top 10 in the Open as a pro, hard to call him favourite imo

My hard earned shekle will be on Rosey

Birdies and eagles galore at the John Deere Classic.
Zach Johnson and Ryan Moore have the chance to achieve upward mobility on the US Ryder Cup qualie list, but there's also the chance for another left-hander, Brian Harman to win on Tour.

Rose seems to be in top form. He has to be one of the favourites.

Paddy Power prices:
12/1: McIlroy
14: Scott
16: Rose
16: Stenson
16: Woods
20: Kaymer
22: Garcia
25: McDool
25: Mickelson

Interesting!

Its a wide open Open, as is every golf tournament these days. It's gone from it not being impossible that most of the field could win to a genuine expectation that pretty much anyone..well certainly 50 or so players..could win.

Yup, Think it helps that McDowell & Rose have flashed some form these past few weeks.
Surprised that Stenson's form of last year seems to trump Kaymer's efforts in the past couple of months, at least as far as the bookies are concerned.

When did Garcia last win anything Kwini? Kaymers odds far more appealing than El Sulks.

Sergio won at Qatar in January, 3rd in The Players, 2nd in Hartford three weeks ago.
Would think these prices reflect the each-way demand though, and perhaps that brings down Sergio's price as you'd imagine his chances of a place are disproportionate to his championship chances. Unusually so compared to others - tho' I'd put Donald & Westwood in the same category.

Fair enough, don't really follow results like I used to, didn't realise his form was so good. Still think he'd choke any chance to win a major though.

Sergio's mate Tim Clark won't be at Hoylake unless it's via his John Deere finish, but happy to see him on a leaderboard at last - been awol for too long.
63 on Friday, 64 yesterday whilst hitting every fairway and all 18 greens. Followed him in miserable conditions at last year's PGA and little Timmy laid up on FOUR Par-4's, parred the lot!

Always liked Tim but guessing he will be a sufferer with the new putter regulations?

If what Clark says about not physically being able to make a "proper" putting stroke is correct (and I just don't get that, but it's his story . . . .) he'll be the golfer to suffer the most. Might as well make hay if the sun shines.
His college sidekick Pettersson might also have a problem.

Some good scores from early starters at Aberdeen.

The Mechanic has wrenched out a 5 under score through 11 holes and Paul Casey -4 after 8 holes to get into top 10.

A good test beside the seaside looks to have turned in to the John Deere Classic, 68 the apparent par in Scotland and Illinois.
 
But hasn't Royal Aberdeen looked a picture? For the first three days anyway.
 
 
A stiffer test for the Ladies where only Anna Nordqvist has matched level par - Dame Laura second-best at +1 for Round 4.

Now it's called "Scottish Open – The Open Qualifying Series"....     

The ET marketing people are getting increasingly more desperate, with their Claret Jugs all over the place. The Scottish Open isn't remotely more interesting because it's part of "The Open Qualifying Series". Tbh I don't give a sh!t whether Adrian Otaegui or the likes qualifies or not.

As of now the current 13 of the top 17 are already qualified. I bet it was the same thing last year. Can't really find the "Open" excitement. Imo good wine should not be re-labelled.

Well said pedro,
Plus: Our coverage is bl00dy awful.
Commercials.
Tape delay.
Nonsense from Doogie Donnelly. (Wonder if he ever listens to what he's said?)
Repeat.

First golf I've really watched all year today, master class from Rose. Never looked in doubt from the first couple of holes.
I suppose with his WGC's and multiple PGA wins another major would leapfrog Jacklin to make him England's second best ever player?

I see Salmond is in Aberdeen, Alex better watch out for Super behind a grassy knoll.....

Salmond was sleazing on US TV yesterday with commentators licking his fat arse. Which he loved.

Wonderful performance from Rose, great week of golf; thought Royal Aberdeen looked fab.
Expect Mac has already staked out his vantage point at Gullane next year.

Gallacher earns almost 12 OWGR points which will pass GMac and Jimenez (who spit the bit on the back 9) in the Ryder Cup standings.

Poulter has a 1.99 pt lead on Gallacher to be the first player outside the top 9.

Diggers wrote:First golf I've really watched all year today, master class from Rose. Never looked in doubt from the first couple of holes.
I suppose with his WGC's and multiple PGA wins another major would leapfrog Jacklin to make him England's second best ever player?

Behind Vardon or Faldo?

Never saw Vardon play...he was from Jersey anyway wasn't he?

kwinigolfer wrote:Paddy Power prices:
12/1: McIlroy
14: Scott
16: Rose
16: Stenson
16: Woods
20: Kaymer
22: Garcia
25: McDool
25: Mickelson

Interesting!

I bet those prices are vastly different now! Rose ranked equal to Woods and Stenson in those odds? Hindsight is easy but I wouldn't have credited those odds even before the start of play today

For what it's worth the odd at my fave online bookie is as follows...

12/1 Rose
14 McIlroy
16 Scott
18 Stenson
18 Kaymer
20 Woods
25 Mickelson
25 Garcia
25 GMac
33 G'day
33 Speith
33 Dustbin
33 Westwood
40 Blubba
40 Luuuke
40 Kuch
40 Rickie

After that it's pretty much take your pick though Jimmy Walker, Top5 and Jooost at 80s look not bad e/w bets (e/w pays top 6 places at 1/4 odds)

Diggers wrote:Never saw Vardon play...he was from Jersey anyway wasn't he?

Yes, he was Jersey. Does England not claim Jersey? (is there a MOOOOO! emoticon?)

I think they can represent England but aren't English, but I don't really have a scooby. They were German for a few years!

Diggers wrote: They were German for a few years!

So was France!

Watching the last few holes of the Senior US Open, Monty needs a new tailor.

It looked like he was trying to stuff 3 pounds of sausage into a 16 oz casing.

He needs a new diet plan, fat heffer. 3 holes for an oldies play off, really? I think one would do fine.

Just wish he'd let his clubs do the talking and keep his big mouth shut.
Good win for Montgomerie though, doubt he'll win many 3-round Champo events but 4-rounders are just up his street.

Enjoyed watching Harman win; he seems a good guy and has the game to be a consistent winner. Fancy him to make a decent showing next week.

Zach Johnson moves ahead of Top Five to reach the Top Nine automatic qualifying places for the US Ryder Cup Tram:
Watson, Walker, DJohnson, Kuchar, Spieth are all pretty much certainties.
Then: Furyk, Fowler, Dufner, ZJohnson.
Top Five, Todd and Mickelson are the next three.

No change in the European qualifying lists, but Rose has surely joined Stenson, Garcia, McIlroy and Kaymer as racing certainties. Would think Bjorn and Dubuisson need one more really good result while Donaldson and Donald are sitting ducks to be overtaken with three top tournaments in the next four weeks.

There was a beef earlier this year from Golf Digest's "Undercover Pro" (I reckoned this entitled brat was Alex Prugh but pure speculation!) about Tour Members manipulating Medical Extensions to the detriment of those with conditional status.

So it's good to report that Venezuela's Jhonny Vegas, with just a start or two remaining, fulfilled the FedEx points requirements of his Medical Extension and is now good to go for the rest of the season and, due to his accumulated FedEx points (428), almost certain to resume Full Membership next season.

Westwood down to 116th with only the Top 125 retaining Tour Membership for '14/'15.

Stenson is treading on thin ice this year of not getting in his 15 events.

102nd in FE points so he is not guaranteed to get past Barcleys, let alone to the BMW if he only plays Hoylake, Akron, and Valhalla.

Maybe he has plans to play Canada and Greensboro. He better be making plans anyways.

On the other hand, by this time next week he'll have played one more event and earned more FedEx pts than Stricker. Not sure how the rules will be applied.

It must be assumed that Colsaerts, Hanson, Lynn and Olesen have already abandoned the PGA Tour ship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkkeehmbqwo

He's on Feherty tonight. Perhaps Padraig will explain why he's less successful these days without the blindfold . . . . . . .

Stricker is a long time member and semi-retired.

Stenson is playing a competing Tour.

Will that be put up on Youtube or the Golf Channel on the net?

kwinigolfer wrote:He's on Feherty tonight. Perhaps Padraig will explain why he's less successful these days without the blindfold . . . . . . .

Ha! Just my thoughts. Hasn't he played like this for years?

GPB wrote:Stricker is a long time member and semi-retired.

Stenson is playing a competing Tour.

Surely the minimum tournament criteria applies regardless.

Sometimes seems the Tour has rules for its own convenience, but Stenson's mean in this position before - and if he senses he might not get too far in the Play-Offs he'll likely play Greensboro, even if for just a hole or two before getting the flu.
His wife went to Uni in Columbia, SC, so there's some local-ish connection there!

Jason Day has only played 8 events - could be in even greater trouble unless he gets motivated. Right now he's presumably depending upon reaching Atlanta.

Jason Day probably has valid Dr's excuse with his thumb injury

Stricker has not been galavanting all around the world taking appearance money by playing in China and the Middle East. Playing those events and not playing PGAT events Stenson has done exactly that.

IMO, Stenson was c0cky and arrogant in thinking that he could just cruise to through three Playoff events and made his schedule accordingly.

I wonder when the Euros wil learn that they just can't mail it in on the PGATour (and play minimal events) and expect to get a long way in the PGATour playoffs.

I hope Stenson plays well this week. He is on my yahoo fantasy team.

Calcavecchia Withdraws...replaced by David Hearn.

Rules is rules, GPB.

Other Europeans may be oblivious, perhaps Stenson is too but at least he knows full well what he's doing - he's done it before, twice I think! Don't be surprised to see him at G'boro if he needs to be there.
Thanks for the Calc update.

I think 20 years as loyal PGATour member gets some goodwill from the wheels at PGATour. Especially when you get permission before hand.

Yes, Stenson has walked this line before. I remember him showing up at Match Play and hitting a tee shot (probably with his putter) and conceding the match to Ben Crane. He got FE Points, Ryder Cup Points, and about 45K. And an event played on both the EuroTour and PGATour. A Year later he was having to play at Puerto Rico

Good news is he went to PR and finished 3rd - if he does that this week it will be good for your Fanto Team. And mine!
 
Perhaps Calc didn't fancy playing with Faldo. Imagine it might be a good grouping for David Hearn.
 
Summerhays is first alternate now and should definitely be on The Wirral as GC reported Saturday that he was taking the JDC charter.

GPB wrote:I think 20 years as loyal PGATour member gets some goodwill from the wheels at PGATour.  Especially when you get permission before hand.

Yes, Stenson has walked this line before.  I remember him showing up at Match Play and hitting a tee shot (probably with his putter) and conceding the match to Ben Crane.  He got FE Points, Ryder Cup Points, and about 45K.  And an event played on both the EuroTour and PGATour.  A Year later he was having to play at Puerto Rico

To play devil's advocate, you could argue that Stenson is expanding the PGA Tour's marketplace by representing it in foreign events, whereas Stricker's extended camping holidays do nothing for the Tour's PR.

Personally I don't have much issue with either of them, but I'm not a fan of making tour membership dependent on it. I'd prefer a system where if you hadn't played x events by the start of the FedEx playoffs, you would miss out on them, regardless of your place in the points standings... but assuming you had eligibility for the following season, you would still retain your card.

Very sensible solution Ned, probably why it's unlikely to happen.

Food for the Players' grist though; and, Stricker and Woods apart, it is the overseas players who push the limit the most.

In years past, a player, a la Stenson, who didn't progress in the Play-Offs, could still cram in events in the "Fall". No longer though so it's a Small Faces question for Finchem:
Whatcha gonna do about it?

Apparently Calc had travel issues