PGATour Running Commentary - Aug 2020

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PGATour Running Commentary- Aug 2020

1. Last week:  Justin Thomas overcame a 4 shot deficit to win the WGC-FEDEX St Jude by three shots over a four players of Tom Lewis, Daniel Berger, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka   Richie Werenski won the Barracuda event, by one point over Troy Merritt.

2. After he won the Memorial, Jon Rahm took the #1 OWGR ranking from Rory, and now after winning the FEDEX, Justin Thomas took the #1 spot.  

3. This week is the PGA Championship, with most of the OWGR Top 100 players in the field.  The tournament venue is at Harding Park, which has hosted two WGC tournaments in the last 20 years.  Here are some finishes by players in this years field:  Woods (1), Garcia (3), Stenson (3), GMac (6), Furyk (15)Poulter (18), Mickelson (29), Scott (29), ZJohnson (43),  The Match play was played at Harding Park in 2015, won by Rory, beating Woodland in finals.  Players advancing to the Round of 16, include Willett, Furyk, Casey, Oosty, Fleetwood, Fowler, Hideki, and Leishman.

4. Only two more tournaments to qualify for the FEDEX playoffs, some notable players that are currently inside the Top 125, but probably have not clinched a spot in the Northern Trust (Tom Lewis (#117), Russell Knox (#120,  Paul Casey (#121), Charl Schwartzel (#123).  Some players just barely outside the Top 125 include Nick Watney, Zach Johnson, Matt Wallace, Shane Lowry, RCB, Sergio, and Justin Rose. Some players that need a big week to get inside the Top 125 include Willett, Dufner, Power, Walker, Stenson

Not as dead as McIlroys game. What has happened to him post lockdown?

McLaren wrote:Not as dead as McIlroys game. What has happened to him post lockdown?

Not as bad as Botox's game Mac. He must need "more reps" or maybe it was just "really tough out there, really tough"

super_realist wrote:

Not as bad as Botox's game Mac. He must need "more reps" or maybe it was just "really tough out there, really tough"

Beating Woods must be as comforting as the Hoodie that Rory is wearing today.

Got to celebrate the little victories!

Tiger’s game was zo zo.

GPB wrote:

super_realist wrote:

Not as bad as Botox's game Mac. He must need "more reps" or maybe it was just "really tough out there, really tough"

Beating Woods must be as comforting as the Hoodie that Rory is wearing today.

Got to celebrate the little victories!

Apparently McIlroy made 29 birdies at the Zozo, and that is the most he has ever made in a 72 hole PGAT event. Any yet he was still 8 shots back. Has there ever been a more perplexing player than Wee Mac? He takes every opportunity to shoot higher than he needs to.

McLaren wrote:

GPB wrote:

super_realist wrote:

Not as bad as Botox's game Mac. He must need "more reps" or maybe it was just "really tough out there, really tough"

Beating Woods must be as comforting as the Hoodie that Rory is wearing today.

Got to celebrate the little victories!

Apparently McIlroy made 29 birdies at the Zozo, and that is the most he has ever made in a 72 hole PGAT event. Any yet he was still 8 shots back. Has there ever been a more perplexing player than Wee Mac? He takes every opportunity to shoot higher than he needs to.

He used to be a player who could hit 4 good rounds out of 4, but like 99% of tour pro's he has regressed to a 3 round player.

Speaking of 3 round players, JT is sure having trouble closing a 54 hold lead.

JT did have a 2 shot lead at Memphis, closed with a 65 and won by three shots

I don't think JT has all that much to worry about, Tiger kept winning from 54 hole leads but I assume that JT's conversion rate is fine compared to those not named Tiger? Rory for example would just like the chance to blow a 54 hole lead.

I suspect McIlroy, like Gordon Spieth enjoyed a relatively short period of peerless golf but has been left behind, lost motivation, distracted by being massively wealthy or is getting in his own way. Whatever it is, I'm not sure I can see him being the best player in the world again.

super_realist wrote:I suspect McIlroy, like Gordon Spieth enjoyed a relatively short period of peerless golf but has been left behind, lost motivation, distracted by being massively wealthy or is getting in his own way. Whatever it is, I'm not sure I can see him being the best player in the world again.

I can see him getting to #1 again because there is not a dominant player at the moment, but I agree that he will not repeat his form of 2011-2014. Or even some of his other better periods as #1.

I can see Rory being the best player in the world again. But I can't see Spieth - he's got more 'hang-dog' body language than even Bubba Watson.

Agreed, Spieth is a write off.

What Player, who has never been #1, will be the newbie player to be #1

I guess DeChambeau is the most likely candidate but if given reasonable odds I would take Cantlay before BDC. I think Wolff has a chance to be #1 one day.

I don't think Morikawa will ever get there, nor Xander.

As for international players, I don't see any player who could ascend to #1, who hasn't already been #1.

De Chambeau possibly. There's a raft of Yanks who could get there as Rahm came out of virtually nowhere with a massive rise so Cantley, Schauflee and Wolff would be my guess. From Europe I would suggest Hovland as an outside possibility.

It's funny how Koepka from being the best has just evaporated. Mac is right, there is just no nailed on dominant player right now.

You know who could possibly sneak in the #1 spot (and not stay there for long either)? Webb Simpson.

Will be interesting to see if Koepka can get back to his pre-injury form and hold it for any period of time.

I sincerely hope not SR in regards to Jesus Simpson.

Webb is a really underrated player. And I gather a really decent guy.

I think Webb is the best player from fairway to through holing out. IOW, taking the driver out of the equation.

I think Webb is this generation's Jim Furyk

BdC, Xander and Cantlay most likely to reach #1 IMO.

But a few big wins from Tyrrell and he could be close though...

I reckon Hatton if he can pickup a major in the not too distant future and capitalise on his form at the moment, could challenge for that #1 spot.

If Tommy Fleetwood could stop missing five foot putts and turn being the bridesmaid into being the bride, he's really the only one from Europe I could see challenging.

From outside Europe, and a very outside shout admittedly, but I like the look of Joaquin Niemann's game. Former amatuer world number #1, has consistently improved his game on the PGA tour in his short time on it, and picked up one convincing win the season just gone...goes a bit under the radar with the likes of Hovland/Wolff/Morikawa doing so well, but he has just as much talent as they do in my opinion. A bit like Hovland, needs to work on the chipping around the greens, and his putter runs very hot/cold, but still only 21 and has ranked well off the tee and approach play. Will be keeping an eye on his price with the bookies for Augusta in a week or two...

GPB

How come you you don't think morikawa will get to #1?

McLaren wrote:GPB

How come you you don't think morikawa will get to #1?

Probably something to do with the Hall of Fame Mac

I just thought that Morikawa had shown the sort of consistency required to get to #1 in an era without a dominant player. Sort of like an upgraded version of Donald.

Think shows just how unusual Woods was. Pretty much everyone else, no matter their fine words, lose it once they've been there and 'made it'. There's too much money near the top for anyone other than an obsessive to keep grinding it out week after week just to remain on top of the pile.

Morikawa really has not been that consistent. He made a lot of cuts in a row to start his professional career, and he had an early win in Reno, but a lot of made cuts were T21 and worse.

And since the restart he has had two wins and 4 Missed Cuts. The only four tournaments he has finished since the PGA Championship have been no cut events (BMW, Tour Champ, CJ CUP, and Zozo). The other three tournaments he has played, he has missed the cut. (Northern Trust, Shriners, USOpen)

I don't think Morikawa has game to be dominant enough to be #1.

For mac:
https://www.golfchannel.com/news/jack-nicklaus-asks-people-vote-donald-trump-warns-against-socialist-america

Americans don't understand what socialism is do they?
A vote for the Democrats isn't a left wing or socialist vote, in fact it's barely any more to the left than the UK Conservative party.

The next time I take my political direction from a pro athlete (former or current) will be the first. Good luck there Jack.

Shotrock wrote:The next time I take my political direction from a pro athlete (former or current) will be the first. Good luck there Jack.

Athlete?

I vote green because of Lewis Hamilton.

But don't people remember that Jack promoted Trump last time round as well. Maybe not quite so blatantly but he did he was pro Trump in 16.

McLaren wrote:I vote green because of Lewis Hamilton.

Best joke yet Mac.

McLaren wrote:But don't people remember that Jack promoted Trump last time round as well. Maybe not quite so blatantly but he did he was pro Trump in 16.

I'd be pretty confident that most American golfers are also Republican, even Botox Woods probably is as he comes across as one of the whitest Black men you could imagine.

IF you believe the polls, Trump should be voted out by this time next week. But, do we believe those things? I think Nate Silver's (538) site is telling (or at least I hope). He gives Biden an 89% chance and Trump an 11%. So, 1 - 10 can certainly happen. Heck, I even drain 30-foot putts on occasion.

Depends how many shy Trump fans are keeping quiet. Woko Ono's are pushing them under ground

It is well known that Gary Player supported apartheid in SA, but I bet Jack wasn't too keen on the civil rights movement.

Ha ... speaking of Gary Player (who lives in these parts and is a member at my club) ... he was going on at table next to me a few weeks ago and once he saw someone with a cell phone he stopped and demanded that be put away since he didn't want his "opinions" (I'll let you guess where they lean) going viral.

Shotrock wrote:Ha ... speaking of Gary Player (who lives in these parts and is a member at my club) ... he was going on at table next to me a few weeks ago and once he saw someone with a cell phone he stopped and demanded that be put away since he didn't want his "opinions" (I'll let you guess where they lean) going viral.

Doesn't Gary Player walk around with a piece of bacon in his wallet?

super_realist wrote:

Shotrock wrote:Ha ... speaking of Gary Player (who lives in these parts and is a member at my club) ... he was going on at table next to me a few weeks ago and once he saw someone with a cell phone he stopped and demanded that be put away since he didn't want his "opinions" (I'll let you guess where they lean) going viral.

Doesn't Gary Player walk around with a piece of bacon in his wallet?

Eh? Is this some antisemtic thing or something? Never heard of that before.

Shotrock

How does Gary get on in the club champs these days?

And I hope he isn't on the greens committee?

McLaren wrote:

super_realist wrote:

Shotrock wrote:Ha ... speaking of Gary Player (who lives in these parts and is a member at my club) ... he was going on at table next to me a few weeks ago and once he saw someone with a cell phone he stopped and demanded that be put away since he didn't want his "opinions" (I'll let you guess where they lean) going viral.

Doesn't Gary Player walk around with a piece of bacon in his wallet?

Eh? Is this some antisemtic thing or something? Never heard of that before.

No, that's why Corbyn has one. I think Player does it to demonstrate how much fat is in it by putting it in a glass of water.

McLaren wrote:Shotrock

How does Gary get on in the club champs these days?

And I hope he isn't on the greens committee?

He refuses to play off the "bleck" tees

super_realist wrote:I think Player does it to demonstrate how much fat is in it by putting it in a glass of water.

Is there a more unlikeable man in golf?

super_realist wrote:

He refuses to play off the "bleck" tees

Pretty good super. Made me chuckle.

McLaren wrote:

super_realist wrote:I think Player does it to demonstrate how much fat is in it by putting it in a glass of water.

Is there a more unlikeable man in golf?

Botox Woods, Matt Wallace, Patrick Reed, Rory Sabbatini, Bubba Watson etc. There's a long list of candidates.

Gary does not play in the (Super) Sr. Club Championship but rest assured he would get my bet ... and he would be up against another member Jay Sigel, who has a pretty accomplished career himself!

Getting back to golf

Malnati has shot 63 in three consecutive tournaments, If that has been done before, it probably hasn't happened very often.

Hunter Mahan showed some signs of life in Round 1. Now struggling to make the cut.

Big Earthquake and resulting tsunami in the Aegean Sea. Eurotour is playing in Cyprus which is "in the area". Not sure of the impact

Cyprus is the 50th country that the Eurotour has visited. Some notable countries that have never hosted a Eurotour event.

Canada
Finland
Norway
Greece
Japan

Surprised that Canada and Japan have never had a WGC event.

https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/news/articles/detail/cyprus-50th-country-host-european-tour-event/

Aphrodite Hills is a great course. I was fortunate enough to play in the Cyprus amateur senior open, held over 3 days there last year. Due to play in the 2020 event as well, this year to be held at nearby Elea GC. Cancelled due to Covid, like most other things sadly.

BlueCoverman wrote:Aphrodite Hills is a great course. I was fortunate enough to play in the Cyprus amateur senior open, held over 3 days there last year. Due to play in the 2020 event as well, this year to be held at nearby Elea GC. Cancelled due to Covid, like most other things sadly.

Showing my age, I played Elea when it was called Tsada (I think) many years ago and was the only course on Cyprus. They were just waking up to how golf could be useful for tourism. Secret Valley was just beginning construction and Aphrodite Hills was a dream on paper!