European Tour 2018

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That's OK if it gets these guys round more quickly.
Didn't watch it, but did they play more quickly?
If so, job done. Or at least point made. For now.

Did you guys see that "Mary"'s son Steve Surry is playing this week in Austria - second round of 65 today. She must be a proud Mum.

kwinigolfer wrote:Did you guys see that "Mary"'s son Steve Surry is playing this week in Austria - second round of 65 today. She must be a proud Mum.

She posted her pride on Facebook! she is, indeed, very proud of him and after a round like that, so would I be!

Anyone else feel that this "shot clock" has rather shot itself in the foot? It was supposed to speed up play and make it more exciting but with the clock apparently not starting until the players are ready to play their shot, I don't see the point! And if they are disturbed by someone, for example, on an adjacent tee or green, then the clock is stopped! I have found this week's comp a bit of a bore-fest and quite honestly have been happy to have recorded it so I can fast-forward a lot of it. I thought last week's Italian Open, without the gimmick, was far more enjoyable and exciting (and the course was much better on the eye, too).

I think you're probably right LP.
Would be better if the clock starts when they get to their ball. So they've got 40 seconds to figure out the yardage, get the club out, pick out the target and play the shot.

It’s still cut out a lot of the unnecessary stuff though hasn’t it. The likes of Cantlay and Bradley who stand over their ball for 90 seconds “composing themselves” for a swing would be in a world of trouble. If it’s been less exciting than last week that’s probably because Korhonen is running away with the thing.

I don't understand why they didn't play two-somes today.

Final three some played in 4 hr 20 minutes.

Appleby & Holmes paired together in Memphis's Round 3 - in their respective days, they've been about as slow as it ever gets. Hope FedEx gets the shot clock from Vienna to Memphis in time for them.

All I can think of re threesomes/twosomes is they had a limited number of working stopwatches left. A few more must have broken today as they’re having a Saturday cut too.

Good result for super's mate Connor Syme (2nd).

Saw Steve Webster on the Golf Debate saying he couldn't wait for this weeks event as he was a quick player. Third place for him, bet he wishes they had a clock every week.

2nd place for my coaches son Connor. Exactly what he needed in his first season on Tour.
Halfway to retaining his card.

super

Does your coach let you have a look at Connor's data to see where you differ from a pro?

McLaren wrote:super

Does your coach let you have a look at Connor's data to see where you differ from a pro?

Surprised super needs a coach..

McLaren wrote:super

Does your coach let you have a look at Connor's data to see where you differ from a pro?

Hard to tell if you're being serious or not Mac, but I'll indulge.
It's not really discussed as much because club golfers shouldn't be trying to compare themselves to tour pro's, however certain stats come up in conversation such as "Don't worry about "X", because tour pro's only manage "Y". That sort of thing, so I realise how far behind a tour pro my swing speed is for example, or where my carry differs from a tour pro, or how many greens I might be making, or how often I'm getting up and down.

Connor's data though is never discussed specifically, it's probably available on European Tour stats, but there's little point in trying to compare myself to a young tour pro who's 20 years younger and 10x the player I'll ever be. He basically plays a different game.

I'll substitute the word "coach" though for "the golf pro I get lessons off". Not like I'm seeing him enough, (every 4-5 weeks) to consider him a proper full on coach I suppose.

I meant his club and ball data from launch monitors.

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/golf/stephen-gallacher-gives-role-of-caddie-to-his-17-year-old-son-1-4754132

Pretty sad.

why is this sad?

Shouldn't the kid be in school instead of hanging around the numpties in the caddie pool?

Mac,
Is that your parenting advice based upon experience, or from a manual?
Can't imagine anything much better than having my lad caddieing for me; tho' more aptly it would be me caddieing for him.
Father/son on the golf course: Can't beat it.

McLaren wrote:Shouldn't the kid be in school instead of hanging around the numpties in the caddie pool?

What if he's a thicko? He's better served going out to work and actually learn something useful instead of going to Uni to do some silly non-course.

McLaren wrote:Shouldn't the kid be in school instead of hanging around the numpties in the caddie pool?

Good to see you've read the article Mac. It says that his son has JUST LEFT SCHOOL.

Don't you remember when you left school? You'd have finished your last exam and you'd be finished too.

Well that didn't take long.

Just started to watch the BMW Int'l, and within the first minute, I saw an example of backstopping.

Sebastien Gros was playing a green-side bunker shot on the 13th hole, and his playing competitor left his ball unmarked about 3 ft from the hole.

Didn't see any back-stopping in Hartford, saw a couple of opportunities for it too.


But I didn't see Thunderbear either: 77 on Saturday, 61 today. Quite the improvement and he could win this!!
How come the scoring is so much better today?

A lot of low scores today. Doubt it’ll be enough for Thunderbear.

Not sure how Oleson made an 8 on a par 3 yesterday, but that will be the difference if he doesn't win.

A win would not do much for Oleson in the World Point RC list, nudging him ahead of Dunne and Fisher into 14th spot but it would put him into the #5 (bubble) spot on the Euro Point list.

A win would put Oleson nearly into the OWGR Top 50, #51 at best, depending on other finishes

Terrific field committed for Gullane:
Fowler, Reed, Kuchar, Mickelson, Matsuyama, Kiradech, Louis, Hoffman, Dufner, Uihlein, Chappell, List, plus all the usual ET suspects and more invitations tba.
The word about the course must have got around.
Imagine the Strength of Field will exceed that of Wentworth.

JT teeing it up in France this week, good for him and a bit surprised none of the other US Ryder Cup certainties not following. I suppose that also helps the field strength a bit too?

HNA (A Chinese company) pulling their sponsorship of the French Open

EuroTour used to have an annual event at Celtic Manor....until they hosted a Ryder Cup
EuroTour used to have an annual event at GlenEagles....until they hosted a Ryder Cup

Doubt if one of the oldest Tournaments in Golf is not going belly up....but you never know.

The trend has to be a concern for TPTB


https://golfweek.com/2018/06/29/french-open-in-need-of-new-sponsor-after-hna-backs-out/

Not surprising with GE and CM. Both run adjacent resorts and the PR they got from hosting the RC probably generated enough golf tourism to keep the owners happy.

G-Mac withdraws from Open qualifying because Air France left his clubs behind at the airport. Seems strange as airlines are hot on luggage not “travelling” without a person, why doesn’t it work the other way around?

How bizarre. I can't believe that there isn't a Srixon Tour Van in the country who could have sorted The Fat Accountant out with his specs. He's one of their top players, to think they couldn't refurnish him overnight with a set of clubs seems incredibly unlikely.

Poor organisation that TFA arrived with such a short window. Airlines are usually very good at getting the gear to you within 24 hours.

I've certainly arrived somewhere only to find my luggage went elsewhere though. Easily done.

super_realist wrote:How bizarre. I can't believe that there isn't a Srixon Tour Van in the country who could have sorted The Fat Accountant out with his specs.   He's one of their top players, to think they couldn't refurnish him overnight with a set of clubs seems incredibly unlikely.

Poor organisation that TFA arrived with such a short window. Airlines are usually very good at getting the gear to you within 24 hours.

I've certainly arrived somewhere only to find my luggage went elsewhere though. Easily done.

How odd...however they (Srixon) may have taken the view..."If he's one of our top players, what's he doing still trying to qualify for the Open at this stage?" Or he might have taken the view, "Too many up and coming Wiltshire boys in Open Qualifying, I'll focus on a top 3 in the Irish or Scottish" :-p

JAS wrote:"........ I'll focus on a top 3 in the Irish or Scottish" :-p

Actually, JAS, that is what he has said he will do.

3 spots from 72 decent players. Don’t know how many shots not playing with your own clubs would cost a player like TFA, but he judged it wouldn’t be worthwile trying.

Don’t think he’ll be travelling AF anytime soon.

Liking the look of Ballyliffin, anybody played it?

Do the Euro Ryder Cup people have any influence with the pairings for events? If they do, just wonder why Bjorn is paired with Clarke and Willett? Surely he would be better playing with someone "on the bubble" as they say.

And, of those on the "bubble" Rafa and Fitz did themselves absolutely no favours today.

And, yes! Ballyliffin DOES look good.

Great putt from Knox on 18 to get to -14...

Well well well, another shoot out. I would have Knox as favourite here..

Quite the contrast between the hell-for-leather approach of Fox and well-within-himself style of Knox.

Knox must be running on fumes after his last month of play & travel. Still in the Gullane field and then Carnoustie. Take a deep breath Russell . . . . . . .

(Happy to see Willett smiling and Sullivan in The Open.)

Lots of deja vu here . . . . . . . . . . . must be in RC contention all of a sudden.

Aah brilliant, well done Russell Knox a very popular winner. Drive for show, putt for dough!!

Agreed Kwini, Knox looked class up close 2 years ago at the K Club, by his own admission he struggled in 17 hopefully he'll kick on from here. He should be a shoo in for the RC...

Be_the_ball wrote:Agreed Kwini, Knox looked class up close 2 years ago at the K Club, by his own admission he struggled in 17 hopefully he'll kick on from here. He should be a shoo in for the RC...

Looking at the RC placings, he's still got his work cut out for him, not exactly an owgr bonanza (38 I think) for World Points and a long way adrift in Euro Points.
He's been playing well though - he's a quiet lad but I enjoy following him, always an acknowledgement for the gallery and interesting to see the way he plots out trouble shots. Just like 18 today! Twice!!

Disappointing that Henrik Stenson has withdrawn from Gullane, due to an elbow injury.
He hopes to be fit for Carnoustie but concerned that he might not be fully fit and ready for Paris. We need him!

PS: Tommy Fleetwood too . . . . . . . . .

Nedbank Challenge Tournament Director dies after a 5 story fall. sounds like suicide.

https://www.sport24.co.za/Golf/NedbankChallenge/ngc-tournament-director-dies-after-falling-5-storeys-20180712

GPB wrote:Nedbank Challenge Tournament Director dies after a 5 story fall.  sounds like suicide.

https://www.sport24.co.za/Golf/NedbankChallenge/ngc-tournament-director-dies-after-falling-5-storeys-20180712

Or a black out?

Always thought the Nedbank was a wretched tournament, but not that bad that I'd throw myself off a building.

Nice to see some Scots doing well @ Gullane.
Your boy Connor Syme certainly came to play today, super . . . . . . . . .

He's desperate to play the Open Kwini after making it last year. Needs to keep that form up going into the weekend as there's only three spots on offer I think.

Either way, whatever happens, any sort of decent cheque goes a long way to keeping his card (Top 110 of R2D I think).


Tomorrow could be first time in his career he's played with someone relatively famous in a tournament I believe, so should be a different experience.