PGA Tour: All At Sea: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Well done to Lt.William Hurley III, US Navy, Ret'd, for winning the Quickie Loans tournament. The personal tragedy he suffered 13 or 14 months ago is a matter of public record so no need to go into it here. But good for Billy for putting family first and turning down the Open Championship opportunity.

2).And, talking about watery matters, expect to see an aircraft carrier swooshing down the first fairway at The Greenbrier sometime soon. The place is awash with floodwaters but cancellation of the tournament certainly puts the PGA Tour and many of its players in a watery bind. I'm still wondering whether transferring the event to Turning Stone was a viable option - perhaps the Oneida Nation Indians turned the PGA Tour down?  

3).Top ten for Francesca Molinari last week and he's pretty much home and hosed as far as his card for next year is concerned. Decent result for Martin Laird but he still needs a few more like that to secure his place in the Barclays and PGA Tour ranks next season. The "Barracuda Championship" in Reno, Nevada, has been a happy hunting ground for the Laird in the past - more of the same and he's got a Tour job next year.

4).What an absolute c0ck-up the WGC people have made with the revised date for the "Bridgestone Invitational" (declined by so many). And the European Tour have compounded the stupidity by not recognising it as a European Tour event. Absolute b0ll0cks. Regardless, can't imagine Darren Clarke and his E.T. cronies will turn that much of a blind eye if Russell Knox, Soren Kjeldsen, Shane Lowry or some others wins the tyres but misses out on the automatic qualifying positions for Ryder Cup play.

5).And: Why didn't the European Tour bring influence to bear to hold the WGC the week after Troon? Perhaps they did but there is no European tournament scheduled and "Canada" would almost certainly have been happy with the revised  Bridgestone date (especially considering the extent to which their excellent tournament has been subsidised in the past). Bunch of egotistical idiots.

6).McIlroy, Lowry, Knox, Day . . . . . . . who will be the next non-American to win a WGC? Diminished field this week so Sunday is probably not going to reveal the answer. But there were many better solutions to the compressed Tour schedule conundrum than torpedoing France with the SS Bridgestone, which reverts back to its normal place on next year's Tour calendar.

7).Can't help but have a titter or two about the number of abdications from Olympic golf - perhaps it might have been better to post the WGC up against the Olympics? Zika this. (And the first LPGA Pro has done exactly that - first of many or just a Pacesetter?)

8).There's a proper tournament this week in Reno, Nevada, the Barracuda Championship. It has been suggested that Jhonny Vegas would be an appropriate winner but this (Montreux GC) is a good Nicklaus course and is worthy of Tour recognition. Unfortunately, the Tour's dumbfxck decision to pitch Bridgestone against France has resulted in a weaker field in Reno - a handful of Seniors doesn't help the tournament's credibility. Hoping for good weeks from Laird & Steele regardless.

9).Quite apart from all the tragedies of the floods in West Virginia (probably exacerbated by the likes of Greenbrier owner Jim Justice's coal mining exploits), losing the Greenbrier tournament reduces the opportunities for Tour members to ensure they're in the top 125 in FedEx points, qualify for The Barclays and keep their card for 16/17. Tournaments remaining are:
Bridgestone/Reno
Troon/Barbasol
Canada
PGA Travelers
Joohn Deere
Greensboro

10).Six weeks then for some good names to keep their cards. Omitting golfers who may have career-money exemptions coming, this lot are among those playing for their golfing careers:
John Senden
Lahiri
Molinari
Tringale
De Laet
Crane
Stallings
Chris Stroud
Martin Laird
Matt Jones
Jamie Donaldson
Overton
de Jonge
Morgan Hoffmann
Thomas Aiken
Owen
Davis
Allenby.
As happens every year, most of these will go to the web.com Finals, and some will fail to retrieve their card. Will they bounce back courtesy of sponsor invites, or perhaps good results on the web.com circuit? Or will they disappear from sight?? You'd think at least some of these still have good careers in front of them but their clock is ticking and the pressure is on. Perhaps some (Molinari, Donaldson, Aiken) have a safety net overseas but we'll be following others on Tour for the last time. An unforgiving business for so many below the very top level.

McLaren wrote:

navyblueshorts wrote:

McLaren wrote:Question posed on twitter by GCW'ers.

Lydia Ko (modern ball+equipment) vs Palmer in his prime (60's ball + 60's equipment)

Who wins?


I vote Ko, and would also predict Ko would beat a 70's Jack using 70's kit.

Not a chance. Certainly not against 70s Jack in his prime.
I presume you'd have them playing the same layout? So Ko off the tips or Arnie/Jack off a LPGA setup?

Really you think she would have no chance?  In a ten match series I could easily see it coming out in Ko's favour playing from the tee's of Jack and Arnie's era's.

Super, you always wanted to know Mac's profession - it's clearly greengrocer, given the number of apostrophes in his posts!

As suggested when Koepka did his runner, he's fallen from 3rd to 6th in US Ryder Cup Team rankings where the top 8 qualify automatically.
Rankings following the Bridgestone:
DJ
Spieth
ZJ
Phil
Bubba
Brooks
Koocha
Sneeedeker

-------------

Fowler
Reed
Piercy (this week's big mover)
Holmes

Then:
Chappell
Haas
Berger
Dufner
Hoffman

Nothing much to scare the European side there.

i think its "funny" that someone plays golf professionally for 10 years and the media slate him for his flaws. 2 weeks later and all of a sudden hes the best thing since sliced bread and Spieth is a dead beat.
is Dustin Johnson better at golf now compared to 2 weeks ago? i don't think so.
has he "learned" how to win? ... maybe- but i'm not convinced. he still made a balls of the 18th yesterday.

maybe DJ is playing golf to the same level as he has all season but the last 2 weeks are too iterations from the same underlying distribution of scores that have the same mean.

super_realist wrote:Nothing much to scare the European side there.

Willett, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan, and Matt Fitzpatrick have me shaking in my boots.

In a matchplay situation, which is what the Ryder Cup is all about, I'd back Willet and Fitz or Sully against anything the USA can throw at them. Put them up against DJ and Spieth in a strokeplay contest and I wouldn't be so sure, but that's not the topic in question.

Your attitude, if it carries over to people who matter, will again be the difference. Or perhaps it's just Independence Day euphoria

If Willett and Fitz are paired against DJ/Spieth, I am sure your local bookie will give you some attractive odds.

A bit like Mickelson & Woods up against Montgomerie & Harrington or Clarke & Westwood.

hend085 wrote:i think its "funny" that someone plays golf professionally for 10 years and the media slate him for   his flaws. 2 weeks later and all of a sudden hes the best thing since sliced bread and Spieth is a dead beat.
is Dustin Johnson better at golf now compared to 2 weeks ago? i don't think so.
has he "learned" how to win? ... maybe- but i'm not convinced. he still made a balls of the 18th yesterday.

maybe DJ is playing golf to the same level as he has all season but the last 2 weeks are too iterations from the same underlying distribution of scores that have the same mean.

TBH there's never really been any doubt about Dustin Johnson's golfing ability, it was his mental issues(more so the issues in closing out the various major opportunities that came his way).

I think the turning point has been the birth of his child, and he's finally matured. For many years he has seemed like a big kid. Now he's a man.

Let's not forget had he used his brain better, we could be talking about a 4/5 major winner.

Jermaine2015 wrote:
TBH there's never really been any doubt about Dustin Johnson's golfing ability, it was his mental issues(more so the issues in closing out the various major opportunities that came his way).

That and a few issues with the rules.

Most of which were arguably jobsworth intervention.

All the media Top Four nonsense, including Fowler with Day, Spieth and Rory is looking more than a touch ridiculous right now.

Willet and Fitz against ANY US team in matchplay ... keep your wallet handy Davie!

To be sure, you guys voted to leave the EU, but you still want Europeans on your Ryder Cup team ... right?

GPB wrote:

super_realist wrote:Nothing much to scare the European side there.

Willett, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan, and Matt Fitzpatrick have me shaking in my boots.

Mickelson and Mullet Watson are two of the worst US Ryder Cup players in history, whilst what is the wisdom in having non team player, and serial RC hater, loser and deadbeat 9C as Vice Captain?

I actually think America will edge it, not because they are that much better, because they simply have to win and Europe are likely to be a bit more blasé after 3 wins on the bounce. Could be a bit of a damp squib, or damp squid as Ray Wilkins would say.

Not too worried about Willett, Rafa and Sully. Wood, Fitz and Olesen however could be a bit more of a liability should they qualify.

McIlroy, Garcia, Stenson, Rose, plus a wildcard for Lowry and Kaymer should they not qualify, doesn't look so bad imo.

The US team has a few known chokers such as 2xJohnson and Bubba. But I do think the new breed in Koepka, Spieth, Fowler and Reed could prove the difference in favor of the Americans.

Pedro

I still predict Day will be back to his pre Autumn 2015 choker status before long. He spend 6/7 years struggling badly to win, can he have reversed that in such a short period of time? His current form is just a statistical glitch. Think paddy Harrington 07/08.

hend085 wrote:

is Dustin Johnson better at golf now compared to 2 weeks ago?
.

Yes he is.

Golf is so much more than hitting the ball.

McLaren wrote:Pedro

I still predict Day will be back to his pre Autumn 2015 choker status before long.  He spend 6/7 years struggling badly to win, can he have reversed that in such a short period of time?  His current form is just a statistical glitch.  Think paddy Harrington 07/08.

Are you serious with both these comments? You do know Paddy was ranked in the top 10 for close to a decade? You constantly down play his career....if you are going to compare everyone to Tiger well then yes everyone is a statistical glitch.....Day has also been very strong for the last 5/6 years in majors and tournament but hey if you are going to compare with Tiger well then yes his a statistical glitch like everyone in the game

There are plenty of players not called Tiger who have looked capable of winning majors for a number of years. Compare Day or Paddy to any one of them if you want.

Looking to the future, Spieth for example will be at the top end of the game long after Day has had his day.

McLaren wrote:There are plenty of players not called Tiger who have looked capable of winning majors for a number of years.  Compare Day or Paddy to any one of them if you want.

Looking to the future, Spieth for example will be at the top end of the game long after Day has had his day.

Based on what Mac? I don't see any reason why both might not just fall off a cliff. Your crystal ball gazing goes against the scientific method.

I don't see anything about either which makes them certs to stick around a long time.  Look at any sport, only a few maintain a career long level at the top.  Far more have a short purple patch then for the rest of their career wallow in abject mediocrity.

One, or both could stick around, or just as likely disappear.

Would think the biggest problem that Jason Day will have to deal with is his back - he's had a history of health issues for the past four years and has curtailed his schedule to protect that back/neck but, like Woods, still swings at 200 mph and that'll catch up with the best of 'em. Including Day.

Agree Kwini, Day has a young man's swing, one that isn't conducive with a long career. Although Rose seems to be suffering from injuries and his swing is as smooth as they come.

Another one bites the Olympics dust: Not that his present form suggests it's a big deal, but sure it is in Zimbabwe - de Jonge is out of Olympic action, citing his FedEx Cup points - or lack of them.


ray,
Rose tends not to be very forthcoming about his "issues", whether they be physical, family (new borns) or yippy. So difficult to know exactly what's troubling him now. Except crappy results.

raycastleunited wrote:

hend085 wrote:

is Dustin Johnson better at golf now compared to 2 weeks ago?
.

Yes he is.

Golf is so much more than hitting the ball.

i agree he held his nerve at Oakmont but he did his best to make a mess of the WGC.

if Jason Day didn't have a meltdown on 16 then we would be talking about how Dustin Johnson is back to his choking ways. he hit it into the trees off the 18th tee and then hit them again with his second shot.


dont get me wrong i think DJ's talent is almost unrivaled and he may become a better closer as a result of getting over the line a couple of times,but I dont think theres a whole lot different about DJ this week compared to a few weeks ago.

DJ at least kept his head during his "mess" at #18 better than Day did two holes earlier . . . . . . two great talents whichever way you look at them.

Not sure why Van Zyl has dropped out of The Open, but his absence opens the way for a Luke Donald tee-time. Lucky Lukey.
Daniel Summerhays strapping on his pads.

Camilo Villegas is in a similar situation as Brendon de Jonge. Villegas is 141st on the FEX list (at least 154 pts short of the projected bubble) with no 2016-17 exemption in his back pocket.

I thought Graham DeLaet was going to be on the bubble, but with any kind of decent result in Alabama or Canada he should be guaranteed to be inside the top 125. He has 442 FEX pts.

Incidentally, Jean Van de Velde is making his PGATour Champions debut this week.

From an interview I read w/Camilo last week, he feels he's obligated (my word, not his) to go to Rio to best represent South America . . . . . . .


This is what the Golf Channel's journo makes of Andrew Johnston:

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/will-gray/dinner-beef-close-and-personal-andrew-johnston

AJ's the kind of guy I would enjoy a round with (both on the course and at the pub)!

Don't we all love this... Fowler and his alter ego.

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/grill-room/fowler-celebrates-july-4th-justin-bieber

amusing

https://twitter.com/KyleThompsonPGA/status/750383857736806400

Nice spot GPB!
PS: Good to see David Branshaw still plugging away . . . . . . .

Open Championship Purse increases by 200,000 Pounds from 2015 level

But decreases by 1.4 Million Dollars from 2015.

kwinigolfer wrote:From an interview I read w/Camilo last week, he feels he's obligated (my word, not his) to go to Rio to best represent South America . . . . . . .


This is what the Golf Channel's journo makes of Andrew Johnston:

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/will-gray/dinner-beef-close-and-personal-andrew-johnston

Doug Ferguson just tweeted that Camilo was out of the Olympics....and then retracted it about 20 minutes later.

Golf Channel agrees with Fergie's original tweet - says Camilo is out. Must've changed his mind, both of 'em.

So Van Zyl is pulling out of the majors to concentrate on the Olympics, well that's a new one haha! Why not cut back on your schedule and play in the majors, quite bizarre!

Cink w/d's, to concentrate on his wife's health.
Summerhays in; Knost, Lovemark & Curran reported to be next alternates, so perhaps CHIII has also withdrawn or he's already squeaked in.

I read on Twitter that CHIII has withdrawn due to the fact he is getting some procedure on an injury done and will be back in 4/5 weeks, he is hoping...Although I do remember he has withdrawn as an alternate before

Mmmm,
Hadn't heard that, sirb. 3 wks until the PGA. Not long.

kwinigolfer wrote:Mmmm,
Hadn't heard that, sirb. 3 wks until the PGA. Not long.

http://espn.go.com/golf/theopen16/story/_/id/16834254/charles-howell-iii-medical-procedure

I found the article!

Thanks!
Surprising that he'll probably miss the PGA.
Apart from the fact that he has such a hard time actually winning, I've never heard a bad word said about Charlie Howell.
Only time I've ever followed him for a complete round, his threesome seemed to be cracking jokes and laughing most of the way around. Not what his image projects.

sirbenson wrote:So Van Zyl is pulling out of the majors to concentrate on the Olympics, well that's a new one haha! Why not cut back on your schedule and play in the majors, quite bizarre!

Maybe he read GPB's post about the prize fund decreasing by US$1.4m (based on yesterday's exchange rates?), and realised that by the end of July it will be worth half that again.

Do the R and A pay out the prize money in pounds, Euro's or Dollars?

Most go straight to the Cayman Islands . . . . . . .

Yeah but the money must leave an R and A account that is in one of those currencies?

Cheap golf opportunities for the US visitor ... may need to schedule something!!

McLaren wrote:Yeah but the money must leave an R and A account that is in one of those currencies?

What currency do you think? It's pretty obvious

No idea ray, for all I know the R&A have a USdollar account.

Why should they pay out in dollars when they've just become more worth ?. Last time I checked the R&A wasn't a charity.