PGA Tour: PGA Championship - Glory Days: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Hey, Didn't we just have a Major?
Here we go again, the PGA Championship on Tillinghast's Baltusrol in Northern New Jersey. The PGA used to be known as Glory's Last Shot until the PGA Tour interfered and suggested the PGA Of America change their slogan as the FedEx Cup was really the pros' last chance at "Glory".
Yeah, yeah.
But we're in New Jersey, Springsteen's manor, so let's just celebrate four Glory Days, even though the "speedball" will be rocketing off the face of a golf club rather than from the hand of a baseball pitcher.

2).It's perhaps unrealistic to expect a repeat of the thrilling duel between Stenson and Mickelson but a great field should produce its own thrills and spills as most of the players compete in the USA for the first time in a month.
As for Henrik's and Phil's reactions to Troon:
Henrik: "It's a boyhood dream come true, and something I wanted to achieve all my life, and then it finally happened."
Phil: "It's the first time in my career that I have played that level of golf and not had it be enough to win a tournament."

3).Half a dozen golfers left Glen Abbey thinking they gifted Jhonny Vegas the Canadian Open win - happy to see Martin Laird secure his card and fleetingly stick his nose in front before treading water for his final few holes; and Kuchar & Snedeker will feel they squandered golden opportunities to wrap up their automatic Ryder Cup Team place. Kuchar, Fowler and Reed are all headed to Rio (for eleven days according to Rickie) so the guess here is that Davis Love has tipped all three the wink that their RC participation is assured.

4).After this week, the Tour visits Hartford, the Quad Cities and Greensboro and anyone out of the FedEx Top 125 points placings after that lot loses their chance at a Barclays tee-time, and possibly their Tour card for next season as well.
Including Jamie Donaldson and it's looking increasingly as if he's given up on his PGA Tour membership - whether it's his schedule, his game or both, things don't seem to have worked out for him, professionally at least, so for him this possibly really his "last shot".

5).Phil has history on his side as he looks to get right back on his horse to "defend" the PGA Championship he won at Baltusrol in 2005; he then went on to win the very next Major, at Augusta in April, 2006, so he should relish the chance to go from disappointment to a relative comfort zone.

6).Top 50 finishers among the 24 playing tomorrow who finished behind Phil that week include:
T10: Vijay, Toms
T17: Zach, Westwood
T23: Sergio
T28: Vaughn Taylor
T34: Bohn, Furyk, Freddie Jac
T40: Scott, KJ Choi
T47: Ryan Palmer, Stenson, Yang
Not much course form to go by there.

7).Baltusrol has the reputation as a bit of a tree-lined snoozer, all Par-3's and 4's except the Par-5's 17th and 18th: The 18th was the easiest hole in 2005, a reachable Par-5 but it has now been lengthened with a narrow driving area dominated by water alongside the fairway. Unless there's a following wind, only the longest/most reckless will go for the green in two, so effectively making it a lay-up off the tee, lay-up second shot, wedge, putt putt. Not guaranteed to stir too much excitement but perhaps the PGA can liven it up a tad?

8).I'm interested to see how the nouveau British contingent fares, Hatton and Johnston, Fitzpatrick (lousy form since Sweden) and Sullivan (has promised more than he's delivered this summer). And what about Willett (quiet summer for him) and Wood (beware the injured golfer?)?
Of the continental Europeans, my each-way choice is Molinari, quietly having a fine summer and perhaps the sort of golfer that will play within himself, fairways and greens, and suddenly find himself in contention.

9).It's been hot and muggy in the New York area but temps are forecast to moderate to the mid-80's most of the week, with thunderstorms possible especially on Friday and Sunday. Hopefully the modest rainfall recently has been enough to ensure we won't have a repeat of Glen Abbey's brown out.
Day, McIlroy and Spieth are Major-less this year; sounds like Day has had his practice restricted by family health concerns, but that change could be as good as a rest for him. Can't fancy Spieth but hopefully Rory will be somewhere close to his best.

10).Willett, Dustin Johnson, Stenson. Who's next in line as we seem to be enjoying a near epidemic of first-time Major winners? Answers please.
The PGA Championship may be the Fourth Major in almost every respect, but it's still more important in our review of a golfer's legacy than the FedEx and WGC action. Hope the golfers feel the same.

Garcia is not as loved as some of the media love to suggest, I am not a fan

Inw,
Wasn't sure what the rule was, exactly how "full relief" was applied.

Hope those birds can kick-start Rory & Phil.

Nightmare start to the second round for Colsaerts...yikes!

sirbenson wrote:Nightmare start to the second round for Colsaerts...yikes!

Kinda surprised that he is in the field. I thought his ranking had plummeted pretty badly.

He is actually having a much better this year Mac!

Does Rory's strategy now have to be get it to level walking of 16 and then see what he can do over the closing par 5's?

sirbenson wrote:He is actually having a much better this year Mac!

Just had a look and he started 2016 ranked 233 and is now 123.

He is in the PGA on a special invite.

That's cause they look to invite the top 120 in the world.....They extend it past the top 100

Grillo is just so impressive from tee to green!

McLaren wrote:Does Rory's strategy now have to be get it to level walking of 16 and then see what he can do over the closing par 5's?

Keep it at +3 and hope for -2 over the closing par 5s to just sneak in at +1

That left foot looked extremely close to the water and when he finished the shot it also looked like he had turned that foot through it based on the small amount of water underneath that scuff mark. Anything happen over it?

Here is PGAs explanation of the Spieth ruling. Convoluted

https://twitter.com/MattAdamsFoL/status/759106610321121280

7 birdies in 8 holes for Day! Amazing stuff

Methinks they're digging themselves out of a DJ type penalty review.

Westwood has hit all 17 greens so far, and is level for the day

18 greens, 36 putts, 70.

What a sorry finish to Rory's week.

A nice mix on the leaderboard of big names and lesser known.players

Should be an interesting weekend.

Mcilroy's chipping on the last, woeful stuff to miss the cut....he didn't seem to be 100% invested. Maybe some problems off the course

GJ AUSSIE MAN wrote:A nice mix on the leaderboard of big names and lesser known.players

Should be an interesting weekend.

Fantastic stretch of golf from Day for 8 holes there!

Indeed Benny really clicked in to gear at the right time

GJ AUSSIE MAN wrote:Indeed Benny really clicked in to gear at the right time

Probably the man to beat! Hopefully a Spieth vs Day showdown on Sunday, that would be fun!

Will they go in three balls if 80 plus players make the cut?

Some relevant OWGR scenarios now that Dustin and Rory have missed the cut.

Some OWGR scenarios:

Jordan Spieth will go to World No 2 by finishing in a two way T2nd or better.

Henrik Stenson will go to World No 3 by winning if Jordan Spieth finishes outside the Top 15.
Henrik Stenson will take over the #4 spot if he finishes 6th or better

sirbenson wrote:Will they go in three balls if 80 plus players make the cut?

Looks like 86 players make the cut. Signoff time for CBS is 7 pm EDT. That means Final group usually goes out at 3 pm. if they go in two somes and 10 minute increments, then the first group starts at 8 am.

Doable.

60% chance of rain tomorrow. Don't know how that will factor into the decision making.

Too bad for Rory, you can't win majors if you don't make the cut. He'll be back ... and on a mission.

NO way Walker keeps this up. Did I mention I was happy "racist pea-brain" missed the cut????

Two somes starting at 7:35 am ending at 2:55 pm.  10 minute increments. With two skipped Tee times at 11:05 am and 1:35 pm.

Not sure why they have two skipped tee times, rather than having alternating 10 and 11 minute tee increments

Definitely twosomes for Saturday - Matt Jones & Robbie Castro opening the batting at 7.35 a.m.
Given this forecast, hopefully they'll be OK:

https://weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/l/USNY0176:1:US

Quite the roller coaster for Andy Sullivan.

Went out when Rory had a tap-in for birdie on #16 - what happened there and on #18? He hit it well enough to shoot 65 at the worst.


Sr should have been be in Philadelphia, MS, not Philly, PA.

golfchannel.com reckons Rory led the field in "strokes gained tee to green", 151st in "strokes gained putting".

Don't know if that's true, but what an indictment . . . . . .

kwinigolfer wrote:Definitely twosomes for Saturday - Matt Jones & Robbie Castro opening the batting at 7.35 a.m.
Given this forecast, hopefully they'll be OK:

https://weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/l/USNY0176:1:US

Quite the roller coaster for Andy Sullivan.

Went out when Rory had a tap-in for birdie on #16 - what happened there and on #18? He hit it well enough to shoot 65 at the worst.


Sr should have been be in Philadelphia, MS, not Philly, PA.

I have played golf in Philadelphia MS...and the Country Club and the Indian Casinos. My father (former FBI agent) did some Police Work in Philadelphia back in the 60's

GPB,
I think D.Drumpf Jr was there earlier today, "advancing" racial division, hence my comment.


I see Stephan Jaeger imploded to a 65 today, further proof as to how difficult it is to follow a sensational round with a merely great one!

Seamus Power going nicely, Gonzo in reverse.

Kwin should call a racist a racist. Too "Euro" Kwin?

kwinigolfer wrote:GPB,
I see Stephan Jaeger imploded to a 65 today, further proof as to how difficult it is to follow a sensational round with a merely great one!

Always dislike that meme.

Whats difficult is shooting a great round of golf.

Its just as difficult to follow a 72 with a great round as it is to follow a 62 with a great round.

How far back do we think still in in contention ?

Any storms due today ?

kwinigolfer wrote:golfchannel.com reckons Rory led the field in "strokes gained tee to green", 151st in "strokes gained putting".

Don't know if that's true, but what an indictment . . . . . .

Does "tee to green" include the fluffed chips onto the 18th?

I have said for more than a year now that his putting would be a problem but never did I think it was as bad as the stat above indicates.

'Morning GJ,
Can Emiliano's putter hold up for you? Always used to think that was where he got wobbly at the end of tournaments in Europe, but for his two wins here last year he did OK.

This is the latest hourly forecast - more indicative than precisely accurate but still a decent guide:

https://weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/l/USNY0176:1:US

I have this set for Brooklyn, but Baltusrol is just NW, so chance of showers this morning but nothing serious.


GPB:
Strong field for Hartford. Two notables fyi:
Appleby has exhausted his Major Medical, now playing out of Cat 30 and an alternate.

Michael Putnam is also an alternate.

No MDF today!

And Jamie Donaldson is just one of a few golfers making the 36-hole cut who are playing for their PGA Tour careers. Matt Jones would have Past Champion status and I'm guessing Keegan Bradley might have an extra year of exemption remaining?


Mac:
Here is a breakdown of Rory's stat's from this week:
http://www.pgatour.com/content/pgatour/players/player.28237.html/scorecards/r033

Rankings not shown.

Jay Townsend on 5 live writing off grillo

I think anyone 2under or better has a chance

Given the scores yesterday I'd think it's a bit early to write off anyone - a very real chance of the first Major 62, or better, if conditions today are like yesterday afternoon's. With pristine greens I'd expect something really low among the first groups off.

Grillo is too good tee-to-green to go away completely. Daft to write him off, and his Major record this year is pretty good.

Jay Townsend wrote off JP years ago but he is still somehow on Rory's bag, so don't take too much notice of what Jay has to say.


Kwini

Thanks for the link. No rank but -4.576 for strokes gained putting is quite astonishing. (And as you mentioned above strokes gained tee to green was about +4).

Do you think it is a green reading problem, stroke or both? I still think his stroke looks ok .

Always a bit stupid imo to write people off with 36 holes to go like Kwini says! And who knows how Walker & Streb will both fair!

Mac I read somewhere on Twitter Mcilroy was 151st in putting this week!

Mac,
Could be green reading, and I agree his stroke looked good, but he seemed to have a big problem matching pace with line, from my armchair anyway. He seemed pretty embarrassed by it all. Doesn't disguise the fact that his chipping and short pitches were also not very sharp.

Prompt start this morning, with Rafa and Rose among the early pairs.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/golf/padraig-harrington-the-last-man-standing-as-rory-mcilroys-miserable-finish-rounds-off-irish-black-friday-34924722.html

Kwini I know you're off to see the tournament next week....Lowry a possible withdrawal

Kwini

I bet you have seen quite a few putting strokes from that armchair so I trust your judgement. I guess the short game has a slight domino effect in that not getting it as close as possible when chipping and pitching really puts the pressure on the putter. Although I don't know how the strokes gained putting is calculated so maybe that is taken into account.

Question, I want some examples of players who have become good or even great putters after being poor putters.

The obvious recent example is Stenson who still has a twitchy looking stroke but by all accounts has transformed his putting over the years.

But are there other examples who have turned their putting fortunes around that Rory can use as inspiration, or is it a case of once a poor putter always a poor putter?

sirbenson wrote:Mac I read somewhere on Twitter Mcilroy was 151st in putting this week!

Yes 151st of 156. And that includes 20 club pros!!!

Good point pedro.

sirb,
I think we'll see a few w/d's, but have only seen Shane hit a handful of shots so was hoping to follow him. I'll keep my eyes peeled but if you see him coming thru passport control, let me know!
Harrington's a regular at Hartford, very popular and does a great job of acknowledging that - I'd expect him to play well, especially given his recent decent form. Off with Danny Willett today, at 9.15 a.m.

https://twitter.com/PGAChampionship/status/759361400154316802