PGA Tour: The Top 30. OK, 29: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).That's right, 29 golfers assembling in Atlanta for their Tour Championship. Number 30 would be Dustin Johnson and wonder what would have happened if he had registered for the event instead of just sitting at home with Paulina on his lap and $175K being transferred to his bank account?

2).Of course, that's not going to happen and the remaining 29 will get their balls in the air at East Lake on Thursday, knowing that the very worst they can do is to finish the season 29th in the tournament, 29th in FedEx bonus money and $309,600.00 in the financial vehicles of their choice. Plus they'll have earned tickets to Augusta National, Chambers Bay and St.Andrews in 2015.

3).Not bad, but there is still bleating among Tour players about the FedEx format and, especially, the genius of requiring the most of the Tour's best to play four events in four weeks, six tournaments in seven and, for some who also played Royal Montreal in July, eight in nine. Can't imagine Jim Furyk, for instance, looking too refreshed by the time he rocks up on Gleneagles' first tee.
Hunter Mahan is one who's been on the road for the better part of the past two months as he extends his streak of 32 FedEx Play-Off events and counting.
There will be change next year as the 2015 Tour takes a one week break between the Boston area's Deutsche Bank and Chicago's BMW. Phew.
No word yet on what the Tour's calendar for 2016 will look like, what with the Olympics thrown in to the mix as well, golf course completion permitting.

4).Fifteen months ago Billy Horschel was in the final round shake-up at Merion - he looked the part with his octopus-design strides and a swashbuckling approach befitting the form player of the previous three months. Unfortunately he closed with a 74, slipped to 4th place and failed to earn another full-field top ten result for a year.
Fast-forward to Boston and last Monday's Deutsche Bank denouement and he mis-hit the approach to his 72nd hole knowing that a birdie would have secured him a first-place tie with Chris Kirk.
Instead his reward was a bucketful of media criticism and Horschel flew to Denver determined to "stick it" to his critics. Job done, and how Tom Watson must be wishing he could have a "raincheck" on one of his Captain's Choices for Ryder Cup action, if only to have a player who could go toe-to-toe with Ian Poulter in the "in your face" stakes.
Horschel may be a brash and sometimes brattish golfer, but he's a helluva player.

5).Five Europeans departed the FedEx Play-Offs, flying home from Cherry Hills instead of heading to East Lake, but Russell Knox at least took with him a share of the Cherry Hills course record, 62, not that anyone following the action on NBC would have known about that. Great season for the independent Scot.
Stenson, McDowell, Pettersson and Jacobson also dropped out.
And that leaves McIlroy, Garcia, Kaymer and Rose to contest the Tour Championship with 25 of their best friends.

6).The Tour is quite Georgia-centric these days with three tournaments (New York State for instance has none) and many of this week's competitors have strong connections with the State.
~Either they went to University there: Kirk, Watson, Kuchar, Reed, Tringale, Henley and Todd.
~Or won or runnered up at East Lake: Furyk, Haas, Scott, Johnson, Garcia, Mahan, Rose and Spieth.  

7).Elsewhere in FedEx news, Pete Dye's Crooked Stick in the Indianapolis area, has been announced as the venue for the 2016 BMW Championship; they return to Chicago's Conway Farms next year. I like the fact they move this tournament around, hate the fact the Tour won't make an annual stop in Chicago.

8).We're halfway through the web.com Tour Final (WTF) Series with Bud Cauley and Canada's Adam Hadwin winning the first two tournaments.
Fifty golfers will receive PGA Tour cards for 2014/2015, including 25 who are already assured a card based upon their web.com earnings this season.
Fluctuating fortunes for some well known golfers of years gone by:
~web.com qualifiers: Hadwin, Cejka, and Tour winners Jason Gore & Bill Lunde.
~Already earned enough to be assured of cards: Cauley, Greg Owen, John Peterson, Lingmerth.
~Good start but more good finishes required: Greg Chalmers, Robbie Castro (played in last year's East Lake Tour Championship), Spencer Levin.
~Struggling: Chad Campbell, boy wonder Lovemark, YE Yang, Immelman, Johnson Wagner, Kyle Stanley, O'Hair, JJ Henry, Two Gloves Gainey, Byrd, Richard Sterne, Branden Grace, Steve Marino, among others.

Europeans struggling are Richard S.Johnson, Norlander, Cappelen . . . . and Gary Christian making his last whimpering hurrah before heading for the broadcast booth.

9).Just to underscore the time of year - yes, our North Country leaves are turning and the Canadian geese are flocking south in their perfect formations - the "pre-qualifying" rounds of Q-School have begun, with First Qualifying Stage action to commence on Tuesday, October 7th. No idea yet how many, if any, European Tour members will enter.  

10).Back to the "Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola".
Of course, this is about two things, the tournament and accompanying winnings, AND the FedEx bonus, $10M to the winner of the FedEx Cup, but incremental sums earned by all 29 competitors with $180K going to the final FedEx placing, $500K for instance to 10th place.  
Despite all the media (and player?) misgivings about the structure of this FedEx sponsorship and structure, there's no doubt it provides excellent year-end tournaments, although the best ones are perversely often the first couple.
East Lake is a reclaimed Donald Ross classic, but without exciting risk/reward holes to climax the event which can make this finale seem a war of attrition. Broadcasters turn inept somersaults as they try to figure out the ramifications of every shot, so deflecting from the tournament itself.
If one of the top five FedEx points getters win, the $10Mill is theirs so Messrs Kirk, Horschel, Watson, McIlroy and Mahan know exactly what they have to do, they control their own destiny. The other 24 golfers will hope they win and the top five all stumble.

kwinigolfer wrote:Michelle Wie has been the most over-exposed (excuse the pun) athlete of the modern era.
But, wait, do I see Rickie Fowler flexing his abs on the cover of Cosmo . . . . ?

There seems to be a correlation between underachieving "athletes" and media exposure.

What about Tiger?

He overachieved massively and got the most media attention an athlete has ever had.

Trouble is, he's getting "the most media attention an athlete has ever had" even now that, for the time being at least, he's a competitive irrelevance. And still less does he ever have anything interesting to say.

Wonder how many Asian golfers will suddenly receive an invitation to Slumdog's World Challenge?

He was the best player in the world by a long way in 2013, so it would be a little odd if he was suddenly erased from the golfing media. You also have to accept he is actually the most interesting man in golf.

How can you over-achieve Mac?

I'd say he's the least interesting man in golf.

McLaren wrote:What about Tiger?

and you want to see him with his top off

Now we're getting to the crux of it.......

Not complicated really ...

1 - Tiger Wood's achievements are irrefutable. In most categories, he's rewritten the records books at the professional level.

2 - His appeal to the golfing media is a direct result of the rating's (and gate) spikes when he's competing (and higher when he's near the leaderboard). If you need to sell air time or space for your advertisers (why US media exists) you will gravitate to the personality that is Tiger. When he loses his appeal, he will be dropped faster than a hot potato. Don't, however, expect him to fade anytime soon. Ol' Arnie still gets plenty of attention and not exactly a person of "compelling interest" -- more accurately described as "living nostalgia".

Sounds like Mac and Shotrock are fighting over who gets first "read" of the Woods issue then.

McLaren wrote:You also have to accept he is actually the most interesting man in golf.  

You've surpassed yourself this time!

You state that as a fact, yet I'd be surprised if ANYONE here agreed with that statement

1). No doubt.

2)."Ol' Arnie" also still earns plenty of money, second in earnings for a golfer last year, testimony to his enduring appeal. Wonder what Tiger will be flogging when he's 84? Arnie's appeal is that he's always seemed approachable, accessible, even though he's probably not. Hopefully Rory will still retain the same appeal.
Tiger is quite the opposite, shuns the media and fans alike, except when it suits him otherwise. He's getting increasingly desperate for sponsors now, there's a reason he can't maintain sponsorships for his world "Challenge", his image more tawdry now rather than the squeaky clean he used to portray.
A bit like ARod really, and I don't mean the estimable Roddick!

kwinigolfer wrote:Trouble is, he's getting "the most media attention an athlete has ever had" even now that, for the time being at least, he's a competitive irrelevance. And still less does he ever have anything interesting to say.

Wonder how many Asian golfers will suddenly receive an invitation to Slumdog's World Challenge?

SSP Chowrasia?

Kwin - I would not categorize his sponsorship appeal as "desperate", but it certainly took a short term (and likely long term) hit since hydrant-gate. (The big gun "Nike" however stood by.) Even without that, I would have expected his "Challenge" event would have run its course. Silly season stuff.

Davie

To re-phrase, he is the person more people are interested in when it comes to golf.

McLaren wrote:Davie

To re-phrase, he is the person more people are interested in when it comes to golf.

No, he is the person non golf fans and glory hunting sycophants are most interested in.

Still wrong

So who is more of a draw than tiger?

If TV audiences are the measure of such things it is clear that tiger is even more popular than Rory.

McLaren wrote:So who is more of a draw than tiger?

He's a fade.

"Label" the people to fit any and all stereotypes you feel inclined to - non-golf fans, glory hunters, etc. - but the numbers show he's still the biggest draw in the game. Rory closing fast!

If they were golf fans, it wouldn't matter if 9C were playing or not, so by not tuning in when he doesn't play, they are 9C fans first and foremost, not really sure they are golf fans.

pedro wrote:

McLaren wrote:So who is more of a draw than tiger?

He's a fade.

More accurately, he's an intended fade that often becomes a big pull left

Varying degrees of "fan" out there  ... die hard (most of the people that post here I'll offer), casual, etc. But none of that really matters to the sponsors -- who are much more interested in meaningful demographic segments. Tiger delivers the numbers. Rory likely to be the next big draw.

Davie wrote:

McLaren wrote:You also have to accept he is actually the most interesting man in golf.  

You've surpassed yourself this time!

You state that as a fact, yet I'd be surprised if ANYONE here agreed with that statement

Sorry Davie. It shocks me to find myself disagreeing with you in an argument with Mac.... but I do agree with Mac here.

Love him or loathe him, the media coverage is empirical evidence that Tiger is the most interesting man in golf. He is the only man who has transcended the sport of golf to become a global star. He was interesting before the fire hydrant due to his incredible success and relentless drive, he was interesting during hydrant-gate for the car crash (literally and figuratively) that was his personal life. He has been interesting post hydrant to watch this shadow of a player rise to number 1 again but then stumble in majors and display a fragility that never previously existed.

Come on guys, even on here there are more conversations about him than anyone else (bar Salmond ). Even if you think he's a washed up has been with no personality, he's still more interesting than just about any other golfer!

He might be considered a ratings draw, but that doesn't make him an interesting person, which is where the confusion is.

There's a distinction to be made between the player, and the man. As Mac claimed he was an interesting man, i'd disagree with that, is he an interesting player? Not for me, but if you're of a certain disposition, then perhaps he might be.

Just because he doesn't give interesting responses to journalists in press conferences, doesn't mean he's not an interesting person. Even if he's never actually said anything interesting in his life, he is still an interesting man!

Really? I think you could argue he is an interesting player, I don't think you could argue he was an interesting person.

It's a bit like saying Steven Gerrard is an interesting person.

I guess if you're using the dictionary definition then Woods is an interesting man. Even though in reality he is as interesting as medium density fibreboard.

I also think Mac and Ray are right.
If people are interested in him - and they are - then he's interesting. Clearly he's still the main focal point of the sport, even though his performances don't back that up

incontinentia wrote:I guess if you're using the dictionary definition then Woods is an interesting man. Even though in reality he is as interesting as medium density fibreboard.

Then they wouldn't bother watching his golf, and only bother with his press conferences

Tiger Woods had his car smashed up by his wife after she caught him cheating, it then came out he was a serial love rat, who claimed to be a sex addict ( i think) he had a thing for blondes and porn stars. For the second most sucessful golfer of all time, this is quite interesting. Steven Gerrad had a punch up with a DJ in a bar, because he refused to play a Phil Collins song, this is quite interesting.

When sportsmen carry out there job, it is not down to them to be interesting.

Steven Gerrard likes Phil Collins?
What a bell end

Gerrard once also stood as a character witness for a scouse bloke who was charged with a 41,000 bank raid and tied up a security guard. This is also quite interesting, as the guy then skipped bail. Also quite interesting.

The guy who was charged with a bank raid and his subsequent bail skipping is interesting. Standing as a character witness (the irony) is not interesting in the slightest.

Ray - I understand what you are saying but as super says the debate is probably over the word "interesting" .. means different things to different people I guess.

Yes I suppose you can say Woods' career is "interesting" - but not in the way I generally interpret the word. In fact as a person he is very, very dull.

Guys like the 'merican who had open heart surgery are "interesting". Guys like Donald, Rose, Poulter (I don't mean to just pick on Englishmen just 3 names that came to mind) are "interesting". Even Blubba is "interesting" (in perhaps yet another different sense). Woods is just car crash TV (I can't find who said that first, but literally and figuratively).

Woods is now a bore to golf fans. Casual watchers may still find his drop in status "interesting" but the man himself? No way

Donald and rose seem to of the most boring guys around. May be nice but in no way interesting. Poulton wants to make himself look interesting but I don't like him so won't comment on him. Tiger Woods may be boring in Interviews but he has an interesting story and life. He has enhanced golf since his breakthrough. Old golf from the 9th really looks a bit beige and dull.

Prince William is interesting.

I think Prince Boateng (and his brother now!) is more interesting.

Can't imagine many Tour Pros I'd prefer to have a drink with than Luke Donald - two boring guys together I suppose. Would also like to see what's behind Justin Rose's supercilious strut.
Couldn't care less about Poults though; enjoy following him however.

Poulter would just sit with his mobile and tweet kwini. Wouldn't even look at you.

Funnily enough, there's a pgatour.com promo piece on TV of him doing exactly that!
He's more interested in his bling and the Arse.

Woods generates interest but I don't think that's remotely close to claiming that he's an interesting man.

What people consider interesting is entirely subjective.

In regards to watching sports people, "interesting" is not an adjective I'd use.

I don't watch Andy Murray because he's an "interesting" player (i'm not talking about his perceived personality) You could use better words like unpredictable, exciting, compelling etc to describe a persons game, but "interesting" isn't really a word I'd use in regards to any sport or sportsman.

I'm sure those who support a football team wouldn't say they do so because they find their team "interesting"

In the context, it seems a very poor choice of word, not because it can be confused with the person themselves, but applying it to their performance or even presence, just seems incorrect usage.