PGA Tour: The John Deere Classic: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).No argument with Nick Watney winning last week's AT&T National Invitational; -1 after 45 holes, -12 for the next 27, better than anyone else could muster up in 72 holes. "Young Gun" Rickie Fowler disappointed once again, three over par for the same 27 crucial holes.

2).And Watney pretty much clinches his spot on Fred Couples' Presidents Cup Team; he's now third in the qualifying rankings behind Kuchar and Stricker. Mickelson, Bubba and Dustin Johnson will likely join them, while Fowler now ranks 21st, Tiger Woods 23rd. Not much homefield advantage though for Greg Norman in Melbourne as he only has two Aussies (Day and Scott) in the top ten qualifying positions. High time for Allenby, Badds and Ogilvy to get their proverbial skates on.

3).Why does the PGA Tour persist in bigging up great old-style courses and dumbing them down for touring pros? Last summer, in a five week span, this happened at Toronto's St George's where Carl Pettersson shot a third round 60, the Old White Course at The Greenbrier, site of Appleby's winning 59, and Greensboro's Sedgefield where Atwal blasted a 61 on his way to a 20-under par win. Now last weekend at Aronomink where Adam Scott was thrilled with his third round of 66 until he realised there were 62's, 63's, 64's to be had. All very well playing Donald Ross classics but Betsy Ross could have come up with something more challenging than Saturday's set-up.

4).But good things come to those who wait - even Mike Weir, who happily made his second cut of the year, albeit almost six months after his first.

5).The American sporting press spends much of its time covering things because of what they wish would happen, not those that are happening. Hence their big stories this summer: The NFL strike which of course they need to finish by the time you read this; the NBA lock-out, ditto; Tiger's will-he, won't he play and when; the Williams Sisters etc. Let's help them on the Tiger saga. What do you think of this book for his return in the next year?
3/1: Firestone
10/1: PGA
100/1: Greensboro
100/1: Las Vegas
20/1: Disney
20/1 HSBC Champions if qualified.
10/1: Koala Open or other such appearance fee laden rinky-dink event Down Under.
2/1: Tiger's Chevron benefit.
3/1: San Diego

6).Tiger won't be in the Iowa/Illinois "Quad Cities" this week supporting the John Deere Classic, site of one of Tiger's earliest appearances as a PGA Tour member - he led into the final round only to be beaten by The Grip, Ed Fiori! But two top tenners are here, Steve Stricker, going for his hat-trick of wins, and Jason Day rewarding the folks who gave him his first Tour start.

7).And Champion Golfer Louis Oosthuizen will be on hand, a somewhat curious spot to launch his defence amongst a veritable plethora of Open Champions; King Louis plays with Day and Stewart Cink, ahead of Hamilton, Daly and Duval. Kudos to the tee-time guys for coming up with those groups!

8).As well as Stricker, and Todd Hamilton, local boys trying to make good this week include Jerry Kelly, Mark Wilson, DA Points and loyal Iowan Zach Johnson.

9).The Champions Tour are playing at Pebble Beach. Every so often a bright spark launches the idea of a Senior Ryder Cup, but Europeans are just not competitive in the world of Senior Golf, Bernhard Langer of course excepted. Even USA vs the Rest of the World would struggle to compete. Price and Frost sure, Peter Senior is enjoying a strong season, McNulty still putts like a dream, and Joe Ozaki has his moments, but Europeans over fifty seem to have better things to do, or just have Senior careers which have fizzled. The European Senior Tour players seem to have fun, but they seldom compete strongly in Majors.

10).No Nationwide business this week but the ladies are in Colorado, at The Broadmoor, for the US Women's Open. British competitors include Ms's Davies, Matthew, Morgan, Reid and Stupples. Ooh, and Lindsey Wright.

Luke getting primed. Kicking myself as I picked him as a reserve.!? Good to see a number of big names near the top in prep for next week as will add fuel to the fire.

kwini,
Hitting the gym at 5 these days to compensate for extra summer time activities such as increased bird sightings along the beach bike path which requires a least a good hour more of pedaling exercise.

venice,
Perhaps why the TDF peleton slows down from time to time?

My fantasy pick of Montgomerie has fizzled into exactly that, fantasy. Oh well, he's certainly seceded any claim to The Open, except for in the commentary box.

Trahan going like a Trahan, -8 after 14 holes with an easily reachable par five still to play.

And as soon he's played himself out, he's starts firing the birdies in again.

I think however, this past month has shown I believe that free from the Ryder Cup captaincy pressure perhaps, he can still compete at tour level and that whilst obviously the title and next weeks Open has now gone, that they're OWGR points and since he's away down there in 280 or whatever, even moderate results will can start pushing you up a few places etc.

ryan,
Don't you think it's almost as if he needs to play himself back into the mindset of finishing out rounds and tournaments. Stamina, mental as well as physical, is so crucial, especially one would think for Monty.

I'm not sure that even Tiger might not have a similar problem when/if he returns.

I think a lot of us doubted whether there actually anything left. Whether he was going to end up like someone like Ballesteros or Lyle where their game has totally gone and they tour around Europe for a number of years missing every cut going. He sort of semi-contended here and I kind of like the fact that the final hole, the way he played it seemed to imply "this might be go wrong, but I'm going to try and make an albatross here". I wonder, beyond what he says publicly, if he wondered whether or not he hadn't completely burnt out.

But, yes, I think that's the next step.

kwini, was FAHed already in or he's THE man for the Open from Scotland?

...if Hed was already in, then I'm thinking Jamieson could be the qualifier fron those T3 as he's first owgr from the not-yet-qualified...

Yup, it's been confirmed here that Jamieson is in the Open field next week. Great for him!

http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011047/news/newsid=140368.html#donald+king+castle

Hi pd,
Been awol for a while.
The CBS guys described the process for determining the Open field placing differently yesterday, as if there was a countback, best final round, best 3rd round if still tied, etc.
The Jamieson story makes far more sense though!

What a mess from Brian Davis today, very disappointing for him. Birdies on 17 and 18 would pay a lot of bills!

Extraordinary win for Stricker, heartbreak for Kyle Stanley. Unless he fancies the trip to Sandwich and the nightmare involved in finding civilised accomodation within thirty miles of the course.
Hopefully The Open will be a thrill for him as that's where he's going!

Stricker plays his best in final rounds if he's in the last group when he's in head-to-head with the main opposition; incredible how tight he gets otherwise, but he does a helluva job in prevailing for the win. Colonial a couple of years ago, Riviera and John Deere last year, Muirfield Village and now this.

Kwini

Tiger will announce on the golf channel today that

a) he will play the PGA
b) He will not play the PGA
c) He is out for the rest of the season
d) He is retiring from the game

Mac,
Has an announcement been made for a press conference? Couldn't find anything on the traditional US sites.
Still think he'll return to host the Chevron event.

Oops, I see it now. But not on the Golf Channel site!

Sure the R&A are thrilled with his timing.
And: Guaranteed softball questioning given Kelly Tilghman is in the chair. She couldn't grill a slice of bacon.

Yahoo threw in the relationship with Anthony Galea as a talking point also . . . . !

I will go with d)

he is retiring and opening a casino in vegas. You heard it hear first.

EmmDee57 wrote:Kwini, the way Bjorn has began today, he might not fancy getting a call up to play at Sandwich.

I think my dream of seing Sandy lift another Claret Jug may be fading a bit now. Who knows though, he's done it once before around there

Come to this thread a bit late but does anyone know if Lyle and Bjorn get on? It could have been down to the bad golf but they weren't talking much when I saw them on thursday! Bjorn hit one of the worst shots I've seen a pro make. Just a total duff off the 4th tee.

I saw the net is full already with Tiger announcement 'speculations'... Just a few other I came across:

- he's taking membership of the European Tour in 2012
- he's getting married... among the sub-options here: he's remarrying Elin, he's marrying Steinberg, etc.
- he's firing Sean Foley
- etc...

What about: He's marrying Kelly Tilghman?

According to his agent Mark Steinberg he is no longer or indeed never was making an announcement. Come to think of it I thought he was meant to be ditching Steinberg?

Lairdy wrote:

EmmDee57 wrote:Kwini, the way Bjorn has began today, he might not fancy getting a call up to play at Sandwich.

I think my dream of seing Sandy lift another Claret Jug may be fading a bit now. Who knows though, he's done it once before around there

Come to this thread a bit late but does anyone know if Lyle and Bjorn get on? It could have been down to the bad golf but they weren't talking much when I saw them on thursday! Bjorn hit one of the worst shots I've seen a pro make. Just a total duff off the 4th tee.

i think this may go back to the Sandy vs. Monty saga over the ryder cup captaincy. isnt Bjorn on the selection committee?

OK, maybe it's not like a marriage, looks more like a threesome (Tiger-Steinberg-ESM)...

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golftalkcentral/steinberg-to-join-excel-sports-management/?hj=xfs

Bjorn in is now as it happen....Singh has withdrawn

Thanks benson, I mentioned earlier I was surprised Vijay had a tee time - doubt if we'll see him now much before the PGA - he's not eligible for Firestone. Glad Bjorn is in though, he deserves it.

They're dropping like flies at The Viking Classic, this week's "opposite field" event in Mississippi. Not saying they're struggling, but Jesper Parnevik's caddie is 10th alternate.


Mac,
A fair bit of criticism in the golfing media over the Tiger nonsense, the press feeling they were duped into expecting a Tiger revelation just to get publicity for Steinberg's stunt.

Speaking of TW, nice article from a guy I know ... and Applebrook is a really nice course

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/golf-today/2011/jul/11/tiger-woods-i-told-you-so/

hopefully monty has years lef of plaing because hes unbearable to listen to!

Shotrock wrote:Speaking of TW, nice article from a guy I know ... and Applebrook is a really nice course

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/golf-today/2011/jul/11/tiger-woods-i-told-you-so/

Billionaire son of soldier in spends a few quid and a couple of days he'd have otherwise have had his feet up for with some soldiers shock.

SmithersJones wrote:

Shotrock wrote:Speaking of TW, nice article from a guy I know ... and Applebrook is a really nice course

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/golf-today/2011/jul/11/tiger-woods-i-told-you-so/

Billionaire son of soldier in spends a few quid and a couple of days he'd have otherwise have had his feet up for with some soldiers shock.

Tiger Woods still manages to get stick despite doing a good thing shock.....

Ah ha! Three of my least favourite subjects all in one article: Tiger, Feherty and "The Military"!
Wonder who the other pros attending were?

I see alex hay has sadly died from cancer. It has been a while since he was on the beeb but I seem to remember liking him and allis together.

McLaren wrote:I see alex hay has sadly died from cancer. It has been a while since he was on the beeb but I seem to remember liking him and allis together.

Good bit in the Scotsman about Mr Hay. Alex Hay

Sorry to see that about Alex Hay. Would have thought his passing might warrant a note on the BBC website but nothing so far.

Is it just me or is BBC On-Line in some sort of death spiral? It used to be my go-to site for British sport but, unless it's football or F1 you're after, it seems to be getting increasingly superficial.
Virtually nothing on this year's TDF for instance since the first two days; I suppose they'll make a splash about The Open but then golf will presumably be filed away until The Masters. (Good blog by Hodgetts though on the RStG greenkeeper and his team.)

kwinigolfer wrote:Sorry to see that about Alex Hay. Would have thought his passing might warrant a note on the BBC website but nothing so far.

Is it just me or is BBC On-Line in some sort of death spiral? It used to be my go-to site for British sport but, unless it's football or F1 you're after, it seems to be getting increasingly superficial.
Virtually nothing on this year's TDF for instance since the first two days; I suppose they'll make a splash about The Open but then golf will presumably be filed away until The Masters. (Good blog by Hodgetts though on the RStG greenkeeper and his team.)

I think it's a combination of factors, Kwini; they've said they're cutting down on their online content, which of course the axeing of 606 was part of, and the other is holiday season.

Id say it was you Kwini. The cycling page is basically the TDF page this year, updates on every stage, reports on all the events that are happening. What exactly do you want, an interactive chat with each stage winner ?
Absoloutley swamped with articles and blogs this week about the Open. Video interviews from players, up tpo date tweets on the weather etc.

Well, for instance, for the past few years there's been a Live Text on the TDF, well worth following if too much Lil Phiggett and Paul Sherwin grates more than a little. All pretty much retroactive now.

Agree that The Open's getting blanket coverage, duvet coverage almost, but none of the usual diet of practice round photos - I DID acknowledge a good blog or two. But more and more signs that the rest of their golf content will be "outsourced". Not saying that's all bad, just that Smithers is right, on-line content on the wane and one has to get used to multiple sources instead of the one-stop shopping one has been used to.

Not trying to be picky - probably depend on the BBC more than I should tbh.

I see that Bubba's been on the retreat after the French Open fuss, saying he didn't mean to offend and accepting he still has a lot to learn. Indicative of the state of golf I think, that he even needs to learn how to play tournaments in France, 10 years ago he needn't have bothered leaving the US.

Ned - He still doesn't need to leave the US, that's for sure. Plenty of money to be made here. But, IMO, he should and good to see he's taking his (well deserved) lumps.

Apparently he was leaving US 10-15 years ago.
Good to know that he has Irish 'links'... should help him a bit this week.

http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2011/7/12/bubbas-irish-links-denies-courtesy-car-snub.html


R.I.P Alex Hay

pd,

Blubba might be interested to hear the rumour that the LPGA are likely to confer "Major" status upon France's Evian Masters.
It makes one wonder how close the LPGA are to experiencing a breakaway group of touring pros dedicated to playing tournaments just in North America - there are increasingly few full-field events for the rank and file to contend and this is just another limited field tournament being raised in status at the expense of the LPGA Tour's traditional stops.

Thanks for the Bubba link.

Seems like the Blubba publicity machine is kicking into overdrive a couple of weeks late

Most of his faux pas were after the first round in France but I saw his interview after the second day. To be fair to the journos and TV people he was given ample opportunity to back down build bridges[ he actually (IMO) made things worse.

What did bubba do?

Good link pd, great read.

Mac, this should give you an idea

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/watsons-french-foray-lacking-in-entente-cordiale-2305531.html

Hopefully Bubba can enjoy some Goldings while he's in Kent, then have a good experience in Sweden next week.
Think he's probably just about figured out that the last thing you need to do when you're in a hole is to keep digging.

He's played a bit in Australia, wonder what he thought about that?

kwinigolfer wrote:
He's played a bit in Australia, wonder what he thought about that?

Probably disappointed he didn't get to see Vienna

What's Midge Ure got to do with it?

Just imagine how confused he'd be to see the Spanish Riding school in Vienna while on the lookout for Kanagaroos

He'll probably feel at home if he plays in Germany or Czech Republic as the mullet still rules there.

I followed Bubba a few weeks ago, just before he travelled to France. His wife was in the gallery and I overheard her bemoaning the crammed scheduled that Bubba had got himself into, and commented on that indirectly on here.
By the time he finishes the FedEx nonsense he'll have played 11 weeks out of 15, including two trips to Europe. He'll be fried if he reaches Atlanta (for the Tour Champ), so expect a few more daft things to happen between now and then.

Jesus, you'd think it was a hard life being a tour pro and earning thousands just to turn up.

I'm making explanations s_r, not excuses!

But certainly a schedule like that puts Rory's decision not to take a PGA Tour card in its proper context. He too was fried after the PGA last year, completely running on empty and you see it with a lot of players.

Appearance fees and resultant obligations are a slippery slope unless managed properly, and fatigue brings out the worst in people.

I'm sure he doesn't need to play quite as often as he does, he just needs to organise his schedule better. If I ever heard a player complain about how tired he is I think I'd spit in his face.