PGA Tour: Presidents Cup / Q-Schools etc: Notes from the Ballwasher

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1).For the first time since 2003 the American Prsidents Cup Team will have to use their passports and there is every prospect of an exciting "Cup" this week at Royal Melbourne, hopefully with a little touch of needle and a partisan crowd. Presidents Cups have often resembled exhibitions and that's exactly what we don't want this week.

2).Both teams must take some comfort from last week's tournaments in Japan, Singapore and Sydney with good results from Woods, Watney and Watson, plus Baddeley, Day, Ogilvy, Scott, Ishikawa and Schwartzel. Mahan and Stricker have declared themselves fit and rarin' to go, so the stage is set for a thriller.

3).Who's going to win? On paper you'd have to go with Team USA especially bolstered by Woods' good form at The Lakes. The International Team pay the price for a qualifying system that rewards players for 2010 form even if they stunk the joint up these past few months - Exhibit "A" being Goosen who has fallen from the World's Top 20 just three months ago, now languishing with team-mates Allenby and Els outside the Top 50, Baddeley, Ishikawa and Yang not much better in the 40's. In contrast, only Furyk and Woods of the Americans lie outside the Top 22.

4).But the Americans have ridden homefield advantage to straightforward wins while coming up short in their only two journeys abroad: 1998's thumping in Australia and 2003's twilight tie in South Africa. This is a very big deal for Greg Norman, presumably much more so than for Couples, and his Team is as Melbourne-centric as he could get. In 1998, Appleby, Elkington, Norman and Parry finished 10 - 1 - 3 in their matches on their way to a resounding win and if Shark's homeboys don't do something similar, I don't see Goosen, Els and Ishikawa (the only three Internationals with a winning PC record) rescuing them.

5).Most of us let our heart rule our head when it comes to Team events and I'm expecting the poor recent form of Furyk, Kuchar, Mickelson and Toms, plus the inexperience of some American rookies to be beaten to the post by Greg Norman's ability to galvanize his Team. He'll need Ogilvy and Scott to lead from the front and better form than they've shown previously from senior players like Allenby, Choi and Els. But in Baddeley, Ishikawa and K-t Kim, Shark may have the three best putters in the event, hopefully trump cards.

6).What of Woods? He looked good at The Lakes; even when he was piling up bogeys on Saturday, his form wasn't as bad as his score. Arguably only ring-rust prevented him from winning the tournament and I expect him to justify his selection this week - apart from anything else, Couples needs Tiger's experience. I agree with selecting Woods over Keegan Bradley, just not announcing it months in advance. Whatever happens this week, expect Tiger to reassert himself at his Chevron benefit and then embark on a Masters-oriented schedule early next year, hoipefully adding an event (Riviera?) to his normal schedule.

7).Whatever the golfers do in the coming week, expect the real star of the show to be Royal Melbourne's "composite" course. The course will play relatively short (about 7,000 yards), but positioning of the tee shot is crucial to being able to shoot at the pin (very Harbour Town in that regard), and the famous bunkering will get lots of action. Geoff Ogilvy's perceptive comments about golf and golfcourses belie his apparently laid-back, nonchalant on-course demeanour, and he once defined a great course design and set-up as one which the very best players found "relatively easy" while lesser players "found it really difficult" (his description of Southern Hills at the 2007 PGA).
When he talks about Royal Melbourne in GolfWorld, "I must have played the course thousands of times, but I can't wait to get back. It really is a special place.", you get the impression he hopes to navigate it successfully while others with less familiarity of its nuances find it very tricky.

8).Just a word or two about John Daly. Yes, he behaved like an idiot in Sydney last week and he seems to have worn out his invariably warm Australian welcome. But, really, what did the Aussies expect; he's done it before and, given the chance, he'll doubtless do it again. Fortunately Tour comedian Jarrod Lyle had the last word by presenting Daly with a box of golfballs before the start of their round at a Monday Melbourne Pro-Am.

9).John Daly should be at Stage 2 PGA Tour Q-School this week with fellow Major Champions Duval, Beem, Janzen, Micheel and Hamilton. Not to mention erstwhile "Cuppers" Austin, Begay, Maggert, Weekley, Franco, Hensby and Lonard. Garcia-Heredia, Gronberg, Hafthorsson, Johnson, Owen and Fergal Rafferty are among the Europeans competing, while other surprising entries include Nathan Green and wonderkids of recent times Lovemark and Michael Sim. Barry Lane and Mark Mouland contest Champions Tour Final Stage Q-School.

10).Happy 30th Birthday today to Lorena Ochoa. And hearty congratulations to Catriona Matthew for winning last week's Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara.

Hi kwini,

Yep. One of the disadvantages of living on the East Coast. Out here, the tee-times are sitting pretty. Can't wait with ales and snacks aplenty, no scotch but substituting cognac if need be, cigars also.

Love the starkness of foursomes play. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Priceless are the looks and demeanor of those partners who are shooting lights out for consecutive holes only to have their mate toss away those holes with a string of poorly executed shots. But inevitably the bum will pull the rabbit out and salvage a half point for the match on the 18th.

Here are my picks for the first round: (heaven help those I've chosen)

Els/Ryo over Bubba/Simpson
Haas/Watney even Ogilvy/Charl
Badds/Day over Kuchar/DJ
Phil/Furyk over Retief/Allenby
Kim/Yang over Mahan/Toms
Tiger/Stricker over Scott/Choi

Sky,
Looks like you're stuck with Fowler for another year, at least. He's TEN shots off the top five pace after two of the four rounds.
Harwood rescued his round but Barry Lane has dug himself a hole; Miguel Angel just one shot behind Lane following a good round today.


venice,
Difficult to believe, but a good bottle of Remy is mighty difficult to unearth around here. The VT Liquor Bureau must have a dim view of the Francais.

Interesting choices, probably the least that the Internationals will need going in to Friday's fourballs. Both our sets of skaters on home ice tonight . . . .

kiwni

Apparently tiger will open his 2012 season in abu dhabi instead of Torrey. Wonder what that might reveal about his 2012 if anything?

Hi Mac,

Was thinking that also as I just read it online. Maybe TW's trying the old "shake the linens out the window" routine to rid himself of the evil spirits that have been lurking for the past 2 years. In Naples, it's a tradition to throw old furniture out the window just after midnight New Year's Eve regardless of which floor one may live on. And they wonder why they have a garbage crisis every year (month) (day).

kwini,
I wouldn't wager a penny on my picks but it seems the home field advantage has to take effect for at least one day. Like the Remy XO but am also fond of Pierre Ferrand XO. Unfortunately, can only afford a shot or two for special occasions. (Like waking up, for instance.)

Mac, venice,
We were chatting about Abu Dhabi earlier. Wonder if this means he'll add L.A.? Or Pebble??
Regardless, if he doesn't add a West Coast tournament, he could find himself in a hole (not for the first time obviously), in this case short of his 15 tournaments. Again.
Still, millions of Arab ducats in the hand is presumably of more value to him than opportunity in the bush (or barranca).
Makes no sense to me.

venice,
I subscribe to the Pete Townshend thesis: Thank you to Remy Martin for saving my life - by making your product so bloody expensive!

I imagine this was Tim Finchem's surrogate opinion on Tiger playing in Abu Dhabi, as reported by the AP on pgatour.com:
"The move is somewhat surprising for Woods, taking appearance money for the European Tour event instead of playing what he considers one of his favourite PGA Tour courses."
Emphasis on "APPEARANCE MONEY FOR THE EUROPEAN TOUR EVENT".

Early surprises in Melbourne:
Mickelson looking terrific on his return to the short putter.
Mahan and Toms looked rock solid.
Some inspired shots from Webb and Watson in beating Ernie and Ryo who shot -3 and got waxed.
Schwartzel didn't seem to make anything, Ogilvy and Baddeley made miles of putts.
Haas and Watney catching Ogilvy and Charl; arguably should've won.
Baddeley doing a Kevin Na on the 18th tee. But unintentionally.

Norman should be bitterly disappointed after that lot - his Aussies are going to have to play better than that, or home court advantage will be frittered away.
Matches starting at least two hours earlier on Friday due to incoming weather. Phew!

Shocking display by Woods and Stricker, but somewhat pleased that it's been such an anticlimax contest after all that hype. I wonder what Bradley was thinking watching those two struggling like they did from start to finish... Other than that the Americans should be really happy with their play and with that result today.

Just read that Watson and Simpson were -7 thro 16 holes. That's incredible foursomes golf. I saw some of Bubba's early shots and he certainly seemed to have brought his A game.

With one exception, the American pairs played really well; it looked as if they were the Team with superior local knowledge.
Stricker and Woods the only pair not to make a birdie, the only pair not to win a hole. Both looked ring rusty, to say the least. But some Internationals pairs were not much better, and to see Ogilvy and Schwartzel, and Baddeley and Day wobble away their leads must have been of great concern to Shark.

Kwini

If you dont mind saying who will you be supporting in the pres cup?

kwinigolfer wrote:Early surprises in Melbourne:
Mickelson looking terrific on his return to the short putter.
Mahan and Toms looked rock solid.
Some inspired shots from Webb and Watson in beating Ernie and Ryo who shot -3 and got waxed.
Schwartzel didn't seem to make anything, Ogilvy and Baddeley made miles of putts.
Haas and Watney catching Ogilvy and Charl; arguably should've won.
Baddeley doing a Kevin Na on the 18th tee. But unintentionally.

Norman should be bitterly disappointed after that lot - his Aussies are going to have to play better than that, or home court advantage will be frittered away.
Matches starting at least two hours earlier on Friday due to incoming weather. Phew!

what is doing a Kevin Na these days Kwini? i didnt see it!
did they have a 16 or an fresh air? or maybe was he just a complete jerk the whole way up the 18th!

Hi hend0,
Yup, Could have been a lot of things couldn't it!
Crucial 18th hole, Baddeley driving. Uses a 3-wood; took a huge divot and popped it up behind a tree.
At last year's Tour Championship, Na on his 72nd hole took a huge premeditated divot, a sort of JCB effort, after his tee shot failed to meet expectations.


OK: Approximate results of yesterday's Foursomes play:
-7: Simpson/Watson after 16 holes.
-5: Furyk/Mickelson after 15.
-4: Choi/Scott after 12.
-3: Mahan/Toms after 13
-3: Els/Ishikawa after 16
Level: Haas/Watney after 18
Level: Ogilvy/Schwartzel after 18
Level: Allenby/Goosen after 15
+1: Johnson/Kuchar after 18
+1: Baddeley/Day after 18
+3: Kim/Yang after 13
+3: Stricker/Woods after 12.

McLaren wrote:Kwini

If you dont mind saying who will you be supporting in the pres cup?

I find it difficult to support one side over the other. Saw a bit before work this morning and the course looks fantastic, but the speed and slope of greens seemed a bit too much on some holes. Just looking forward to watching some of the best golfers in the world playing in the sunshine.

I hope it's a close finish and the best team wins.

Sorry Mac,
I missed your post.
I'm unequivocally supporting the Internationals this week, partly out of appreciation for everything Greg Norman has done for Golf, and partly because frankly, if they can't win this year (albeit with a relatively weak team), when can they win?
No longer a viable competition if the US win going away this year.

Course looks fab! Interesting to listen to Mahan waxing lyrical about it - didn't know he had it in him.

Can't believe Tiger & Stricker fared so poorly.

The entertainment tonight begins 3 1/2 hours earlier than scheduled due to the forecast of inclement weather. Not clear what will become of the schedule if the "weather" forces a suspension of play.
Certainly suits those of us on the East Coast Leff!

kwinigolfer wrote:The entertainment tonight begins 3 1/2 hours earlier than scheduled due to the forecast of inclement weather. Not clear what will become of the schedule if the "weather" forces a suspension of play.
Certainly suits those of us on the East Coast Leff!

Interesting. The UK coverage started 2am this morning so should be 10.30pm tonight then if sky are showing it live.

First tee time will be 10.35 p.m. GMT


Quick Stage 2 Q-School update.

There are so many "faces" playing that I'll just run through those that are in serious trouble (two or more places outside the qualifying positions) at the six sites.

After two rounds:
Woody Austin
Shaun Micheel
Brett Quigley has withdrawn
Durant
Will MacKenzie
Spain's Garcia-Heredia
Todd Hamilton
Peter Uihlein

After one round:
Swden's Richard Johnson
McLardy
Hensby
Aussie Michael Sim has withdrawn
Icelander Hafthorsson
Fergal Rafferty

Others such as Duval, Janzen, Weekley, Lonard, Lovemark, Owen and Gronberg are off to good starts.

McLardy? Is that a pseudonym for Shane Lowry?

I thought of exactly that when I typed it!

kwinigolfer wrote:The entertainment tonight begins 3 1/2 hours earlier than scheduled due to the forecast of inclement weather. Not clear what will become of the schedule if the "weather" forces a suspension of play.
Certainly suits those of us on the East Coast Leff!

Kwini, Thanks for the schedule update. I am heading to my west coast home in La Jolla later today. This schedule works better for me.

Who would you pair Tiger with in the next pair event? Rather, who would choose as partner for Stricker?

La Jolla? Tell us what they think about Tiger deserting them. Give my regards to Delmar.

Well, it's Woods and Johnson, Strick and Kuchar for Friday. Stricker didn't look fit to me; Tiger played poorly by his standards from last week but Stricker didn't seem to be committing to anything; a couple of really bad flares, then a bunker shot right across the green into another bunker. Would put money on him being rested for at least one match on Saturday.

I think Woods and Couples are married with the idea of him playing with Johnson at least for the two four balls.

Kuchar was also poor on Thursday so tough to see him and Stricker turning it around overnight.

kwinigolfer wrote:Kuchar was also poor on Thursday so tough to see him and Stricker turning it around overnight.

Is this often a ploy in team match play? No one wants to be the sacrificial lambs.

Morning kwini,

Surprises or not from the first day gauging by what happened after the matches reached the 10th tee:

Bubba/Simpson with constant sustain to beat a very nice Els/Ryo effort.
Haas/Watney even with Ogilvy/Charl was the latter's until the 16th. 2nd biggest disappointment for Team INT. Have to give the US duo much credit for not breaking.
Badds/Day with the biggest collapse of the day to square with Kuchar/DJ. Badds and Day were on the verge of winning this by the 12th hole. No. 1 disappointment for the INT team.
Phil/Furyk steamrolling Retief/Allenby once they got the engines going. Would Oosty have made a difference? We'll never know. Textbook foursomes play by the US vets.
Kim/Yang surprisingly outmatched throughout by Mahan/Toms. Lackluster effort by the INT tandem.
Scott/Choi made a mockery of things against the 'bucket of rust' Tiger/Stricker vehicle. Should have seen this coming. This was akin to beating the red-headed step child.

Yup, venice, I jotted down some perceived surprises on here before I crashed last night, pretty similar to yours.
From the putts we saw him roll, Phil looked a different putter compared to the efforts with short and long sticks earlier this year. Back to short for good I hope.

How did you like Jimmy Roberts snub of KJ Choi? The NBC guys just can't help themselves, no apology, no nothing.

(Our respective icemen fared well though.)


Lairdy,
I wonder if we would know if there any "sacrificial lamb" pairings on the International Team - Allenby and Yang looks like the clearest example. Hopefully they can find some rhythm playing their own ball.

kwinigolfer wrote:How did you like Jimmy Roberts snub of KJ Choi? The NBC guys just can't help themselves, no apology, no nothing.

Saw that myself this morning... couldn't believe it, utterly shameful! If NBC have any standards, they should really punish that guy straight away, unless of course, the producers themselves were shouting in his ear... don't mind KJ, we want to hear Tiger here...!

kwinigolfer wrote:La Jolla? Tell us what they think about Tiger deserting them. Give my regards to Delmar.

Kwini, I work in La Jolla, but live closer to Torey Pines and Del Mar. I saw Tiger playing at the Lodge several years ago when he was the #1 player. Not sure why he decided to skip. Have to head to the Miami airport shortly.

Look forward to the team matches coming up this evening. Regarding the pairing, I wonder if Tiger might actually have a negative influence on Johnson, who gets rattled easily at times. Assuming US will dominate the singles, this is not looking good for the international team. Hope they can recover some ground tonight.

Adam Scott/KJ played exceptional golf, Striker missing the green from 160 yards out is VERY unlike him. He has an excuse to be rusty, Tiger not so much.

Great day for the US overall. Toms/Mahan very impressive.

And good to see Lefty back with the short putter.

Leff,
I used to have an office in Irvine and visit Fujitsu offices in La Jolla frequently in an earlier, early nineties life. Seems a world away now.


Sr,
You are doubtless right about Stricker but it's difficult not to be fed up with prima donna team members who are either rusty (as Westwood clearly was at Celtic Manor) or show up late, Ryo, or without clubs, Furyk. In Stricker's case, Couples made it clear he expected his guys to play in competition the past couple of weeks - hacking it round with Tiziani doesn't quite do it, and that's why I felt Fred was remiss/daft not to have Bradley standing by.
Obviously a calulated risk in the case of all the above, but absolutely no excuse.

Agree, mucho impressed with Phil/Furyk and Mahan/Major Toms. If both groups keep that up the Cup will stay in Ponte Vedra.

Another selection for the World Golf Hall Of Fame was announced this morning - the Veterans Category welcomes Hollis Stacy through the Hall doors. Four Majors including 3 x US Opens, 18 LPGA Tour wins etc, etc will see her inducted along with Phil Mickelson, plus anyone elected on the International ballot and any Lifetime Achievement award.

Still a tragedy that Ken Venturi has not been inducted into the Hall, but at least Hollis Stacy's selection makes it pretty clear that Dame Laura Davies will get in. Eventually.

The BBC Sport Golf's main headline reads "Record Matchplay loss for Woods" and as the story goes on we are told "The former world number one failed to register a single birdie in the foursomes" The anonymous BBS Sport reporter either doesn't understand that Foursomes is alternate shot or they are being told to write about Woods as much as possible regardless of whether he has a partner..........................do they not understand that only real golf fans would be visiting this part of the BBC Site and as such deserve proper reporting.....

John Cregan wrote:The anonymous BBS Sport reporter .....

Was that deliberate John? Or a Freudian slip? Either was it was funny

Davie wrote:

John Cregan wrote:The anonymous BBS Sport reporter .....

Was that deliberate John? Or a Freudian slip? Either was it was funny

Well spotted Davie!! Not delibrate im afraid but just for you i won't bother editing it!!!

kwini,
Glad you mentioned Ken Venturi. Enjoyed re-reading several accounts of his 1964 U.S. Open victory. The only player under par and the last year the tournament required the field to play 36 holes on the final day. He must have got under someone important's skin to have been shut out from the Hall so far. Had 14 lifetime victories which may be part of the reason, but then he had to go up against Arnie, Jack, Player etc. to his detriment.

The Riviera Country Club's clubhouse still had a fine portrait of him hanging prominently on the wall the last time I looked for winning the 1959 Los Angeles Open in style. Recent summer Golf.com article about him:
http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/ken-venturi-64-us-open-champ-says-golf-was-different-game-his-era

His only Ryder Cup, 1965, was 1-3:
Foursomes:
Alliss/O'Connor Snr 5 & 4 Venturi/January - Lost
Hunt/Coles 3 & 2 Venturi/January - Lost
Four Ball:
Hunt/Coles 1 hole Venturi/Lema - Won
Singles:
Peter Alliss 3 & 1 Ken Venturi - Lost

John,
"BBS Sport Reporter"
I think that's correct, judging from the ineptitude of the on-line report I think the same more journo also covers football, croquet, wrestling and fly-fishing. Lots to do and not a very good job of doing it.
He might at least have added a Harrington report as well.


Good stuff about Venturi, venice. Add to that his remarkable amateur record, an unprecedented thirty years in broadcasting, and his Presidents Cup Captaincy and it makes one wonder how they include George Bush and exclude Venturi while keeping a straight face.

Champions Tour Q-School: Final Stage: Round 3 Update:

Bad day at the office for Barry Lane, Peter Fowler and M-A Martin, and they will need to get it round in the fifties on Friday to earn exempt status for 2012.

Five players earn fully exempt status and Mark Mouland got himself right in the picture with his Round 3 64. He's right on the number at -12. Mike Harwood trod water and is outside the top five by two strokes - mid 60's needed on Friday.

Top five currently are:
T1: Gary Hallberg
T1: Jeff Freeman (one of RoderickSlyme's chums)
3rd: Canada's Jim Rutledge
T4: Mouland
T4: Bill Glasson (one of the best Americans of the 80's/early 90's never to play Ryder Cup, mainly because his back made Couples look bionic)
T4: Ben Bates
T4: Kirk Hanefeld.

Update on PGA Tour Q-School Stage 2 Friday morning.

Els and Ishikawa have disappointed again. Or should I say Bubba and Simpson rocked again?

Looks like Tiger's erratic play is affecting Johnson although they still have a chance.

Phil and Furyk are having a nice run again. US should keep these together for the next Ryder.

Yang - blank for two days
Allenby - blank for two days

That's at least 4 players who haven't contributed any points yet - Els, Ishikawa, Allenby, Yang..

Freddie will have an easier time deciding his choices for singles than Norman.

Badds . . . . .

Only one from the U.S. side without a point so far.

I think Ryo and K-t will sit down Saturday morning, Allenby and Yang perhaps in the afternoon.

European Tour and Luke Donald seemingly embarking on a Twitter war ridiculing Rolfing's comment about Badds vis-a-vis Lukey.

Who will Fred sit down Saturday morning? Could be his most difficult decision so far. Perhaps Stricker and Kuchar?

Nice putt for the win for the hometown lad.

Compelling golf, Jesus beat the Jets, but Les Habs came up short.

Looking forward to the pairings in the a.m.
G'night!

Incredibly slow play in Friday's fourball matches.
Royal Melbourne showed its teeth, 25 mph winds gusting to 40 mph, and lightning fast greens meant the course was on the edge of playability.

First match to reach the 18th took over 6 hours; if that was Ryder Cup play, they'd never be able to complete the two sets of matches on one day.
Extraordinarily difficult conditions but SIX hours? Where are the officials at a time like this, John Paramor?

Stricker, Watney, Kim and Yang sit down Saturday morning; very difficult to comprehend Norman choosing Ishikawa for foursomes, barely able to keep the ball in Victoria. Early leader in vote for worst player of the Pres Cup, and a waste of some decent play by Els.

Kwini,

I was expecting Ishikawa to come through the ranks last year and this year in a similar manner to Rory, but the guy has dissapointed. He has a great swing and obvious talent. Are you aware of any reasons why he his progress has stalled?

I saw Tiger lost at the last hole. Didn't see the coverage so not sure how he played, but i guess it was a given he wasn't going to get dropped. If he loses again on Saturday morning will Couples be brave enough to give him a rest for the afternoon matches.

'Morning Scottie,
Not sure about Ryo and don't feel as if I've seen enough of him to judge his ability. But he is obviously a genius on and around the greens - this week, it's been the number of strokes it's taken him to get there. I'd've sat him down for foursomes, he's sabotaging a solid effort from Els.

Didn't think Tiger played that badly Friday, but Johnson was poor and they ran into an Aaron Baddeley hell-bent on redeeming himself after Thursday's 17th and 18th. Tiger made a super putt on the fourth hole and thought that would get him going, but he was having trouble clubbing (not for the first time apparently) and showed once again that he has difficulty making up a deficit, whether strokeplay or matchplay. Perhaps trying too hard to hit the perfect shot.

Began to look in despair as they came down the final two holes. Clearly a Saturday foursomes loss would be tough to take - going up against Scott and Choi again. Fascinating matches.