PGA Tour: Happy New Year - But Not New Season: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).Yup, Only about six weeks ago that Charlie Howell won the RSM Classic in Georgia's gorgeous Golden Isles to wrap up the prologue part of the 2018/2019 PGA Tour Season. And that's about 17% of the season in the book. Or down the drain for those whose tournaments were more "fall" than autumn.

2).One imagines that Howell's win was a popular one for his fellow pros, he's certainly one of the more interesting players; can he turn that W into success (more wins anyway) more reflective of his 20th position ($37M) on the career money list? Whichever way you cut it, it's been an interesting trip from the deer-in-the-headlights ute that won the "Michelob" in Williamsburg back in 2002, when he was obliged to confess he didn't expect to celebrate by drinking the sponsor's product because he didn't drink beer - presumably he's subsequently figured out that Michelob barely qualifies.

3).Not much has happened since the "RSM", a couple of senior pros (Zach, Henrik) have changed caddies, there's a Slovakian at #27 ($31M) on that same career money list, Tiger Woods has turned 43 and the Goose is just about to see his 50th birthday; the last bloke to wear shorts whilst competing in a US Open has gone to the clubhouse in the sky and some new rules are applicable as of Jan 1st.

4).The two most notables rules tweaks are the modification to the drop rule (was from shoulder height, now knee height) and the option to leave the flag in when putting. I disagree with both, but you can only imagine that DeChambeau has been out with his setsquare and sliderule in his everlasting quest to gain a scientific edge.

5).And Rory McIlroy & Franny Molinari have been raising the spectre of dispensing with European Tour membership.

6).Regardless of the merits of their respective arguments, it can't be denied that 2019 opens with its most crowded calendar ever. Between mid-February and the LA Open @ Riviera and mid-June (US Open), the Tour doesn't go more than one week without a tournament that they have deemed even more prestigious than the usual events, EXCEPT the four weeks between Augusta and the PGA.
Those four weeks feature Hilton Head, New Orleans, Quail Hollow and the Byron Nelson, and good luck to Tournament Directors trying to attract leading pros for more than one of that lot.
And for the very excellent Travelers Championship the week following the Pebble Beach US Open. Despite The Travelers being the Players' Choice for best tournament for the past two years.

7).We'll try to continue to keep an eye on the Tour's Europeans, just as much on the journeymen as the galacticos, past (Donald, McDowell: big year for both!) and present. Only Poults, Rory, Casey, Molinari & Rahm in this week's field.

OK, Not much else to add. Happy New Year and I for one can't wait until Thursday afternoon (Klopp vs Pep, what else?), then the action from Kapalua.

Trivia time: (saw it on twitter)

DJ won two tournaments in 2018 by six or more shots, the 2018 ToC and St Jude.

What two players (in the last 50 years) won back to back tournaments by six or more shots. Several other players (including Tiger twice) have won 2 or more events in a season by six or more shots, but only two players have done it in back to back events.

One of them should be relatively easy, the other one is a little more obscure.

Brian Gay?

Phil?

Duval? Ernie?

It's BAAAAACK.... Yay... real golf is here again this week. Love watching on that golf course, but talk about a b**ch to walk and follow... not many spectators to begin with, especially few once they go "up the mountain"

By the way... various Tour SCHEDULES has been updated in the thread below... Web.Com Tour starts up next week in the Bahamas... then the next Week ET begins in Abu Dhabi, LPGA in Florida (new ToC event for them) and Champions Tour starts in Hawaii...

https://www.606v2.com/t68126-2018-2019-tour-schedules-various-tours

JAS wrote:Duval? Ernie?

They would have been my guesses too.

I misread the tweet from Sean Martin so I didn't properly phrase the question.  sorry about that.  It should have phrased as two consecutive starts

Answer:

Don't worry GPB I wouldn't have got that anyway. A bit like football only started in 1992, the PGAT only exists from 1997 for me.

Looking forward to the visual course porn in Hawaii! Also, big news in from Patrick Reed:

As reigning Masters champ, Reed has the honor of creating the menu for the tournament's Champions Dinner. Speaking at Kapalua ahead of this week's Tournament of Champions, Reed revealed what his fellow green jacket winners can expect at Augusta this spring.

"I'm definitely going to fatten everyone up. I'm going to go with the bone in rib eye, mac and cheese, creamed spinach, creamed corn," Reed said.

I don't want to start another yank pile on from our more anti yank posters but what is it with mac and cheese being a side dish?

You see it so often now in UK restaurants that are going for an American vibe. Ghastly idea.

Ha! Mac - Comfort food that helps fight that dreaded softening of the arteries!

I am all in for the bone in ribeye. Creamed Corn and Spinach would not be my choices especially with Mac/Cheese. I would choose veggies that go well with Mac/Cheese like Broccoli and Asparagus.

I kind of figured that Reed would not be serving BBQ Crow.

Shotrock wrote:Looking forward to the visual course porn in Hawaii!

It’s even better when you’ve previously had a good grope of it Shotrock ;-) I believe they are the widest fairways on tour as well? Downhill, down Tradewind is the furthest you’ll ever hit a golf ball!!

News from Paddy

https://twitter.com/padraig_h/status/1080798189987467264

Bucket list JAS. Been to Hawaii a couple of times, but only camped and hiked (and kayaked). An amazing place and would love to go back and golf.

Shotrock wrote:Bucket list JAS. Been to Hawaii a couple of times, but only camped and hiked (and kayaked). An amazing place and would love to go back and golf.

It is indeed, been multiple times and at a rough count played 19 courses on 5 different islands. Surfed, scuba’d, jungle trekked etc. Love the place really but I did feel on my last trip that it had lost a bit of its Aloha, maybe it was just me, I definitely would like another go at Kapalua before my dotage set’s in though :-p

Petition to give Hosung Choi a sponsors invite to the WMPO.

https://www.golfchannel.com/news/could-signatures-bring-ho-sung-chois-signature-swing-scottsdale?utm-tags=golf1308000

The Senior Tour used to hold an event at Kaanapali - a couple of good holes but when I played there (just after the pros had competed) it was as dismal an experience as Kapalua was out-of-this-world gorgeous.
Loved Maui as a family destination though.

JAS wrote:It’s even better when you’ve previously had a good grope of it Shotrock ;-) I believe they are the widest fairways on tour as well? Downhill, down Tradewind is the furthest you’ll ever hit a golf ball!!

DJ Nearly holing in one on a 430 yard par 4. HERE

GPB wrote:Trivia time:  (saw it on twitter)

DJ won two tournaments in 2018 by six or more shots, the 2018 ToC and St Jude.

What two players (in the last 50 years) won back to back tournaments by six or more shots.  Several other players (including Tiger twice) have won 2 or more events in a season by six or more shots, but only two players have done it in back to back events.

One of them should be relatively easy, the other one is a little more obscure.

Byron Nelson won by 6 or more in consecutive stroke play starts THREE TIMES... in ONE SEASON... 1945 of course...

During Nelson's 11 in a row streak, he won by 6 in two consecutive starts twice...

Miami - NA - Team event
Charlotte - Playoff
Greensboro - 8 strokes
Durham - 5 strokes over Penna
Atlanta - 9 strokes over Sammy Byrd
Montreal - 10 strokes over Jug McSpaden
Philadelphia - 2 strokes over Jug McSpaden
Chicago - 7 strokes over McSpaden and Ky Laffoon
PGA - NA - Match Play
Tam O'Shanter - 11 strokes over Hogan and Sarazen
Canadian Open - 4 strokes over Herman Barron

Note: PGA Match play was between Chicago and the Tam... but this is about stroke play

Then the last two events he played that year (Oct & Dec) Nelson won another 2 consecutive starts.

Seattle - 13 strokes over McSpaden and Harry Givan
Glen Garden - 8 strokes over Jimmy Demaret

McLaren wrote:I don't want to start another yank pile on from our more anti yank posters but what is it with mac and cheese being a side dish?

You see it so often now in UK restaurants that are going for an American vibe.  Ghastly idea.

Mac,
We agree!!!!!!!!
If Thomas Jefferson really said, "Let my meat be condiment for my vegetables", he must be rolling in his grave.
Hope Jordan Spieth goes for the fish option, that'll show Patrick Reed.

And Harrington to be announced as Ryder Cup Captain next week?

kwinigolfer wrote:And Harrington to be announced as Ryder Cup Captain next week?

Congratulations to the Americans for winning the 2021 Ryder Cup.

super_realist wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:And Harrington to be announced as Ryder Cup Captain next week?

Congratulations to the Americans for winning the 2021 Ryder Cup.

Fortunately, it won't come to that; guaranteed. Not unless Drumpf blows up the WTC Freedom Tower . . . . . . and you certainly wouldn't rule that out.

Hadn't realised Kevin Na had w/d'd with a finger injury - kinda like Charlie Austin . . . . . . .
Bummer to get all the way there and have to drop out. But he'll pick up about $60K - unofficial loot though.

Robo: I did specify in the last 50 years. Saw something the other day that Nelson had 65 consecutive Top 10's

kwinigolfer wrote:And Harrington to be announced as Ryder Cup Captain next week?

Of course it will be Harrington, McIlroy already decided that.

And then he’s Irish - which usually would be a decisive factor if 2/3s of a selection committee were Irish themselves.

kwinigolfer wrote:Hadn't realised Kevin Na had w/d'd with a finger injury - kinda like Charlie Austin . . . . . . .
Bummer to get all the way there and have to drop out. But he'll pick up about $60K - unofficial loot though.

Not much difference in unofficial loot and official loot these days on the PGATour. FEDEX pts is the de facto currency on the PGATour.

kwinigolfer wrote:The Senior Tour used to hold an event at Kaanapali - a couple of good holes but when I played there (just after the pros had competed) it was as dismal an experience as Kapalua was out-of-this-world gorgeous.
Loved Maui as a family destination though.

I stayed in a hotel in a beach hut on the Kaanapali course. Had to play it really as I was walking through it every day. So I can remember the 2 holes by the beach which seduced me into playing the course, but I have no recollection of the other 16. It was complete rubbish, I was complete rubbish, waste of time.

Kapalua on the other hand... I remember every hole and every single shot (even though there were a lot of them). It doesn't make any top 100 ranking lists but this is my favourite golf course in the world, so much fun. Hats off to the architects for imagining this beast.

Does anyone know if the winner of this event gets an automatic entry into next year's tournament?

Seeing a few comments on twitter that Rory's Irish Accent is disappearing and sounding more American.

https://twitter.com/NicoleRaeGolf/status/1081014405310033920

https://twitter.com/willbardwell/status/1081013804513804289

Shotrock wrote:Does anyone know if the winner of this event gets an automatic entry into next year's tournament?

Yes, he does.

Thanks Kwin.

BDeC putted all the putts I saw him take yesterday with the flag in. Don't think it made any difference that I saw, but wonder how long it will be before others follow suit?

Number One watch: Koepka playing in one desert (UAE), Rose playing the same weekend in another desert (Palm).

Kwini

I like putting with the flag in because it feels like it is easier to aim, from 10 feet plus or so. Maybe that works foe him.

McLaren wrote:Kwini

I like putting with the flag in because it feels like it is easier to aim, from 10 feet plus or so. Maybe that works foe him.

Seve always reckoned that getting someone to tend the flag for longer putts helped with gauging depth perception. Not sure about 10 feet though - Spieth would look at the hole from 10 feet . . . . . .

kwinigolfer wrote:

Shotrock wrote:Does anyone know if the winner of this event gets an automatic entry into next year's tournament?

Yes, he does.

Appleby qualified that way three consecutive times.

How much lobbying did J.T.'s entourage do to get this award?

https://twitter.com/golfweek/status/1081365031290355712

considering his outburst at the Honda Classic

https://youtu.be/FhdEsKfsPqo?t=15

A very decent field at next week's Sony Hawaiian Open. Casey & Poults getting another tournament in and Luke Donald starts his comeback.

Poulter said he was playing 5 consecutive weeks to start the year. I guess that means he is playing Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Saudi.

BDeC being told to get a move on - not the first time we'll hear that this season.

All the stars getting back in action...  Of course there's the chalk field this week... adding to Kwini's post earlier... here's some known field highlights for the next 4 weeks... Euros in bold...

- - - -
Week 2
Sony Open in Hawaii - Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, Bryson DeChambeau, Marc Leishman, Paul Casey, Cameron Champ, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald

- - - -
Week 3
Abu Dhabi - Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrell Hatton, Henrik Stenson, Cabrera-Bello, Pepperell, Ian Poulter, Oleson

Desert Classic (Palm Springs) - Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson,  Patrick Cantlay, Alex Cejka, Bill Haas, Zach Johnson, Kisner, Kizzire, Martin Laird, Lingmerth, Seamus Power, Rory Sabbatini (Slovakian...:-)

Singapore - Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Matt Fitzpatrick, Davis Love III & IV,

- - - -
Week 4
Farmers Torrey Pines - Tiger Woods,  Jason Day, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Billy Horschel, Schauffele, Danny Willett,  Gary Woodland, Schwartzel, Cameron Champ, Russell Knox, Martin Laird, Marc Leishman, GMac, Seamus Power

Omega Dubai - Sergio Garcia, DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood, Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, Tyrell Hatton, Olesen, Bjorn, Westwood, Jimenez, Ernie Els, Oosthuizen

- - - -
Week 5
WMPO - Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Tony Finau, Hideki, Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Gary Woodland, Cam Smith, Brandt Snedeker

Saudi International - Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Thomas Bjorn

If Rory is playing in the Omega European Masters due to his sponsorship, then why isn’t he playing in Dubai?

I'm never wrong wrote:If Rory is playing in the Omega European Masters due to his sponsorship, then why isn’t he playing in Dubai?

that's the whole point of Rory focusing on the PGA Tour the first half of the year. By meeting his commitment to Omega in Switzerland, he doesn't have to play in Omega Dubai.

Understood. So that implies he has a commitment to Omega to play in one of their tournaments. I would have thought they would have got him to play in all of them. Depends on the terms of the sponsorship I suppose.

I'm never wrong wrote:Understood. So that implies he has a commitment to Omega to play in one of their tournaments. I would have thought they would have got him to play in all of them. Depends on the terms of the sponsorship I suppose.

it's usually a given that a player will play in an event title sponsored by one of his sponsors. But not always when there's multiple events involved. I'm not sure what the rules are on the ET, but technically a sponsor can't contract a player to play in his event on the PGAT. But {{wink-wink}}, it's understood.

Aaah. I didn’t know that bit about a sponsor not being able to “make” them play. Cheers for that.

Come on Rory,
You're falling asleep out there.

Rory. Still sleeping . . . . . . zzzzzzz

Xander Schauffele. Wow. Pretty bl00dy good.

That was some round of golf from that Shuffle chap. Chip in's all over the place. When it's your day it's your day hard for anyone to compete with that. congrats to him

If Rory can take anything from this week it's he put himself into the mix straight out of the blocks. Hope he keeps patient and gears up well for the main part of the season.