PGA Tour: "There Is Nothing I Can Look Forward To": Notes from the Ballwasher

1).Too right, Tiger. Another five weeks until we have another PGA Tour event to look forward to for starters.
But that's a pretty sorry sentance/sentence for Tiger, almost pathetic in its helplessness - never heard him sound sorry for himself before and it's sad to hear. It'll be eight years since his last Major, three years since he was last relevant as a top golfer, and he's now apparently reduced to "walking" and "playing video games". I was hoping the twenty-something generation would beat him on the course, but that's looking increasingly unlikely, almost as if he's abdicating without a fight.

2).Is Tiger's health really so serious that the limit of his aspiration is Vice Captain of a Ryder Cup Team? Sounds like he may even be physically compromised against fulfilling that role.
He's never said exactly what surgery he's had except he's now saying he's had the same surgery three times. He's hired coaches who can't mend his golf game, now he's using surgeons who can't fix his back.
It scarcely seems credible and it's been suggested that he's wary of more rigorous drug testing on Tour prior to the Olympics. Dunno about that, but it's difficult to believe he'll fade gracefully into the background.

3).Charl Schwartzel seems as if he was in nothing-to-look-forward-to mode with his golf swing just a year ago, so it's good to see him back in the winner's enclosure. He now has his best 2-week haul of owgr points for three years.

4).And what does Adam Scott have to "look forward to" as he completes his first season without an official win for 14 years? But two second place finishes in the past month suggests he might be coming to terms without propping his putting up with an anchor.

5).On the other end of the optimism spectrum, Paul Broadhurst has probably been looking forward to turning 50 for years and he is among those in Arizona this week, contesting Champions Tour Q-School. Barry Lane is there too and they're both off to a strong start. Will follow their progress with interest.

6).web.com Q-School begins next Thursday, just four rounds this year after a six-round marathon for decades. No significant European Tour members are participating, with the possible exception of Gonzalo F'dez. KT Kim is the only other "notable", and there is the usual flock of Aussies led by Nick Cullen and Lincoln Tighe. Dornoch's Jimmy Gunn is there and so is England's David Skinns.

7).Lots of speculation here that DLIII is rueing the fact that prize-money won in non-WGC events in the 2015 part of the 2015/2016 season does not count in qualifying for his Ryder Cup Team. That means that $millions won in tournament wins by Justin Thomas and Kevin Kisner will not contribute to their qualifying points.
Is that because task-force members Furyk, Mickelson, Stricker and Woods seldom play those events? Who knows but it certainly doesn't make any sense.

8).Back to Tiger as he hosts his World Challenge in the Bahamas this week.
I'm sure he wasn't thinking of Family Of The Year when he collaborated with Hero to sponsor his little Nassau. Their Hero lyrics certainly didn't sound like Tiger, but now maybe they do:
I'm a kid like everyone else
So let me go
I don't wanna be your hero
I don't wanna be a big man
I just wanna fight with everyone else . . . .
. . . . Except now it seems less likely that he will fight with everyone else.
Too bad.

Cheers kwini

In his presser yesterday Tiger said his first goal was to be able to play soccer with his kids.... He doesn't sound too optimistic anymore. No more 'reps', 'getting there', 'on the right track' and all that BS anymore. He sounds beaten.

Wonder if we'll see 9C teeing it up as an honorary starter with Sarazen, Nelson and Hogan at The Masters?

Agree pedro, Never heard him so downtrodden. Probably cramps his style with the vestal virgins as well.


No chance s_r,
If he can't bend down to stick his tee in the ground.

Dale Hayes came out with a very funny remark when introducing Chris Wood at the Nedbank. He said Wood, who is arguably the tallest player on tour was asked if everything on his body was in proportion and the reply was, "No, it isn't. If it was I'd be ten feet eight tall"

!!!!
That would get him fired in the US! If the US networks got the joke, of course, so perhaps he'd be OK after all.

Stenson going well in South Africa, and a good (69) start for Russell Knox.

Tiger opens up a bit more than usual in this Lorne Rubenstein interview for Time.

http://time.com/tiger/?xid=tcoshare

Thanks for the link Mac. Interesting read.

Tiger's competitive playing days appear behind him. Even if he were to be able to play pain free, I'm guessing he would always be guarding against the next back issue. No way to compete (at least for him, IMO).

Also good to see Adam Scott coming into form with his small putter.

Shotrock wrote:Thanks for the link Mac. Interesting read.

Tiger's competitive playing days appear behind him. Even if he were to be able to play pain free, I'm guessing he would always be guarding against the next back issue. No way to compete (at least for him, IMO).

Also good to see Adam Scott coming into form with his small putter.

Sounds like a Pat Rafter "taking time out, never to return" sort of end to his career.

I still find it hard to believe that Tiger suffered so many serious injuries. Are we really to believe that from 2008 (aged 32) he has had 8 years of constant injuries that have prevented him for playing at his best. He is probably the greatest player ever and didn't hit a shot not influenced by injury during what are usually a golfers prime years.

I don't doubt that he thought he was injured but it seems needless surgery caused the issues and not anything sustained playing golf or other physical activities.

Thanks for the link, Mac. I like Rubenstein, seems to write with a wider perspective than most golf writers. Good stuff.

Apropos your post there Mac, I would have been interested in more reflections on 2013 when he played so well, and how it then all went so wrong, health-wise.
And why he still tried to swing like a stevedore (no offence) and not like, say, Snead.

Difficult to feel that he's got away from his self-serving self, hiding behind "the kids". And, really, hiding behind the "Tiger" image that he's created for himself.

Does anyone really think Tiger and Erin are now best buddies?

Is there some booty call action?

Lots of speculation here that DLIII is rueing the fact that prize-money won in non-WGC events in the 2015 part of the

2015/2016 season does not count in qualifying for his Ryder Cup Team. That means that $millions won in tournament wins by Justin Thomas and Kevin Kisner will not contribute to their qualifying points.
Is that because task-force members Furyk, Mickelson, Stricker and Woods seldom play those events? Who knows but it certainly doesn't make any sense.

And neither did the money earned in the 2014-2015 Playoff events which are not too far removed (time-wise) from the McGladery.

I think its the media is making this molehill into the Matterhorn.

Mac, Why shouldn't they be? If the focus is on raising children, and fidelity is irrelevant, can't see why not.

kwinigolfer wrote:Thanks for the link, Mac. I like Rubenstein, seems to write with a wider perspective than most golf writers. Good stuff.

Apropos your post there Mac, I would have been interested in more reflections on 2013 when he played so well, and how it then all went so wrong, health-wise.
And why he still tried to swing like a stevedore (no offence) and not like, say, Snead.

Difficult to feel that he's got away from his self-serving self, hiding behind "the kids". And, really, hiding behind the "Tiger" image that he's created for himself.

Are you doubting his Martin Riggs ability to self diagnose and self rectify serious injuries Mac? Didn't you now he fashioned an ACL out of a shoestring for that US Open win and made a corset out of two pringles and the waistband from his waterproofs?

McLaren wrote:Does anyone really think Tiger and Erin are now best buddies?

Is there some booty call action?

Does anyone really care?

Irish press reporting that Rory is engaged.

And: Is that Luke Donald's ex, John McLaren, on Casey's bag in the Bahamas? Stands to make a big cheque if Casey keeps up his first round pace.

Paul Broadhurst's chances of qualifying for the Champions Tour have pretty much cratered in Rounds 2 & 3 - he'll need something like a 61 in Round 4 to make it. Not what you'd expect.
Barry Lane conducting his annual swoon, but he at least has more holes to mitigate the damage.

Kwini

I would be more than a little surprised if Elin and Tiger had best buddy phone chats, but I am sure they keep it civil enough in front of the kids.

Davie

I guess I care and all the other people who enjoyed the Ruberstein interview.

Mac,
Haven't you ever ended a relationship yet remained good friends with the once-significant other?
Can be quite rewarding; imagine especially so when there are children involved.


OK, More important things; much better end to Round 3 for Lane, but he still needs his week's best round on Friday.

Kwini

There is ending a relationship and then there is shagging your way around PGAT stops, getting walloped with a 5 iron and then crashing your escalade into a fire hydrant. As I said, it would
be surprising if Erin had much time left for Tigger.


"Can be quite rewarding"

Hence the booty call comment.

PS: Good start to Casey's PGAT season.

No top 20's yet, Mac. 79th in FedEx points and not going any higher for more than a month at least.

Kwini

He is leading the Hero.

Not the PGA Tour.

I was just messing kwini. Although It would be a good bunch of players to beat and great confidence booster for him to get back to contending in the majors.

Though the Hero challenge, has the PGA tour signage on leader-boards etc. Is it just a glorified knockabout?

McLaren wrote:I still find it hard to believe that Tiger suffered so many serious injuries.  Are we really to believe that from 2008 (aged 32) he has had 8 years of constant injuries that have prevented him for playing at his best.  He is probably the greatest player ever and didn't hit a shot not influenced by injury during what are usually a golfers prime years.

I don't doubt that he thought he was injured but it seems needless surgery caused the issues and not anything sustained playing golf or other physical activities.

One serious injury has escalated and contributed to a whole series of other injuries. It's a shame that we have missed out on seeing a great golfer in his prime. I guess that happens in sport, plenty of examples, just look at Michael Owen, who should have smashed all goal scoring records.

A million dollar "knockabout".
Interesting to hear Adam Scott, who lives there and practices there, say that the course set-up was shorter and easier than usual.
Got to keep those birdies and eagles flying.

Seems Rory might be engaged again as mentioned somewhere on here yesterday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-35007440


It will be a nerve racking day when the invitation go out. Lets hope Erica hasn't snapped Rory while he was sleeping.

Eric Astoll?

Champions Tour Q-School: And it's bad news for Broadhurst and Lane. Back to Europe for them.
France's Remesy achieved conditional exemption, which is pretty worthless, and M-A Martin probably did too.
But the patience of Brandt Jobe won the day, from Willie Wood, Tom Byrum and Coceres, with Montana'a Mike Grob taking the final exemption.
1996 US Open Champ Steve Jones among those who also achieved conditional exempt status, much more valuable for an American-based golfer than for a non-American.

Disappointed that an old golf buddy of mine did not get a card in Champions Tour.

I used play some golf with Gibby Gilbert III (and his Dad, Gibby II) when I lived in the Chattanooga area. I played on Mondays during the winter months with the area club pros in a big money match. I was one of the worst golfers in that group (of about 60 players) so I got matched up with Gibby II (who was a tour pro at the time).

I learned a lot by watching these guys. I wasn't a horrible golfer, it is just that the group was very good. I was probably an 8 handicap at the time. Capable of breaking 80 from the tips (which we played).

He DID earn Conditional status, GPB.
I remember Gibby Gilbert winning with Grier Jones on his bag - would certainly have won by more if it was a team (playing) event!

Bahamas is for Birdies . . . . .

Conditional Status doesn't mean much on Champions Tour. He might get 5-6 starts from that status.

Closed Shop.

Agreed, but better than nothing.

Tiger's World Nassau playing like a Par 68.

Was anyone else a bit disappointed by Bill Haas' decision to destroy that plant?

Two things Tiger:
1).You don't need to wear a red shirt on Sunday when you're not playing. (Similarities with John Terry just keep on coming.)
2).Get someone to design a new trophy - who wants that monstrosity in their collection. The money, YES! The trophy, No Way.

2) nowadays they oughta replace the trophy with an alley cat

beninho wrote:Though the Hero challenge, has the PGA tour signage on leader-boards etc. Is it just a glorified knockabout?

Hero World Challenge gets the PGA Signage treatment because it is a sanctioned PGA Tour event, albeit unofficial like the CIMB and HSBC Champions were also for a while on the PGA Tour. Also the WC is part of the PGA Tour's network broadcast deal.

kwinigolfer wrote:Champions Tour Q-School: And it's bad news for Broadhurst and Lane. Back to Europe for them.
France's Remesy achieved conditional exemption, which is pretty worthless, and M-A Martin probably did too.
But the patience of Brandt Jobe won the day, from Willie Wood, Tom Byrum and Coceres, with Montana'a Mike Grob taking the final exemption.
1996 US Open Champ Steve Jones among those who also achieved conditional exempt status, much more valuable for an American-based golfer than for a non-American.

Should point out that Monday Qualifiers on the Champions Tour are almost as much a closed shop as is the Champo Tour in general. One of the "perks" of conditional status for 6-12 in Q-school is they can at least participate in those qualifiers. But they will only get 4-5 direct starts out of the Q-School 6-12 category starting in June-Aug usually... then they go into a reorder category in which if they've been lucky enough to be top-5... they can get 4-6 more starts.

Agreed, and this is worth far more to US-based golfers than "Internationals" whose loyalties/day job is being finessed, almost to the extent of disqualifying them from Monday Qualies.

One thing that occurs though, is that the decline in events and money on the Champions Tour will eventually diminish the old soldier career earnings exemptions and allow more non-exempt participation.

PS: Well done Bubba, and it's not his season's end, he's playing Thailand this coming week.

kwinigolfer wrote:
One thing that occurs though, is that the decline in events and money on the Champions Tour will eventually diminish the old soldier career earnings exemptions and allow more non-exempt participation.

Not sure I understand what you mean by that. The Career earnings list used is based on PGATour earnings... then Champo earnings are added to that...

Also... despite the decrease in events on the Champo Tour... Total purses are not declining the way you might think because the average per event is up.

Since 2000 here are the total purse $$$ on the Champo Tour.
2000 - 54,100,000
2001 - 58,250,000
2002 - 57,900,000
2003 - 52,850,000
2004 - 53,080,000
2005 - 50,300,000
2006 - 50,950,000
2007 - 54,100,000
2008 - 55,500,000
2009 - 51,400,000
2010 - 51,500,000
2011 - 47,875,000
2012 - 46,700,000
2013 - 50,750,000
2014 - 51,550,000
2015 - 49,500,000
2016 - 55,250,000

Agreed, but there is a generation of late 50's, 60's golfers who are starting to fall out of the Top 70, and several of those who are still there are getting older, playing less.
When earnings fall by about 20% in 14 years, at a time when PGA Tour purses are growing every year, that is a "decline" in anyone's language. Difficult for the Steves Jones & Pate (and others) whose PGA Tour earnings were based upon pre-Tiger dollars, to catch up.

I think you'll see a 2014-like turnover in the next 18 months with guys like Kelly, Mayfair, Stricker, Toms etc ageing up.

Having said all of which, I'm not 100% sure how the alternate list is compiled each week.

McLaren wrote:
 Lets hope Erica hasn't snapped Rory while he was sleeping.

???

raycastleunited wrote:

McLaren wrote:
 Lets hope Erica hasn't snapped Rory while he was sleeping.

???

Wozza posted a little flattering photo of a sleeping Rory and some speculate it was the beginning of the end to their relationship.

Web-Com q-school still has K.T. Kim in the field.

He is also listed in the Thailand Golf Championship with Bubba and Sergio etc.

If he cares about the year end Top 50, and a card from W.Payne, he'd better play in Thailand. No sense in playing Q-School for him.

I see last week's Champions Tour Q-School saw a caddie die on the course. His player, Champions Tour veteran Gene Jones continued golfing, but missed out on qualification.

KT probably needs a Top 3 in Thailand to get into Top 50.

PaddyPower lists KT at 60/1.

K.T.Kim has a 9.17 a.m. tee-time for Q-School on Thursday.
Wonder if he knows that?