PGA Tour: Thanksgiving and Post-Mortems: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Thanksgiving on Thursday, so Thanks to 606v2 for providing a platform for this brilliant golfboard, and Thanks to all the readers and posters who tolerate this Ballwasher drivel. And also, of course, those who don't.

2).The 2011 Presidents Cup has been and gone, some terrific golf on a wonderful course in about four different wind- and weather-patterns. In the end, so much promise of a rivetting competition evaporated in a meek surrender by the Internationals in general, the Aussies in particular. Almost as if staging the Pres Cup was Australia's victory. (Clearly Mick Channon should have replaced Greg Norman for reasons explained in last week's thread!)
Every indication that Nick Price will Captain the International Team at Muirfield Village in 2013, perhaps pitting wits against Mark O'Meara, or Tom Watson.

3).But Price, or whoever the Captain may be, will almost certainly be in a no-win situation; the American Team is unbeaten in North America but homefield advantage is not confined to venue. The PGA Tour determines the International Captain, the qualifying criteria and the order of play. Probably many other things besides which we have yet to discover. Critics, led by Fred Couples, pour scorn on the complaints by Norman, Els etc that the Home Team should choose whether foursomes or fourballs lead off the "Cup". Certainly the Internationals got royally thumped, but surely the home team should have the choice, as in Ruder Cup play?

4).The Captain will doubtless be a popular choice no matter who the selection is: Vijay Singh and Elkington must also have a shout as well as Price. But shouldn't the Internationals choose? Readers may or may not remember the mutiny a few years ago against David Graham, but here's a helping hand:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1008768/index.htm

Nice touch that David Graham had the balls to turn up at Royal Melbourne, perhaps not in the best health, to celebrate Australia being in the golf world spotlight, in his words, for one last hurrah of his lifetime.

5).But qualifying criteria is odd. The US Team is picked based on money won, the Internationals strictly taken from official world golf rankings, not points won this year which would better reflect current form. At least allow the Internationals to make their own rules as Norman has advocated. (Incidentally, given the trauma disclosed on this site present in Allenby's personal life, it is, with hindsight, a shame he didn't stand down and allow Norman a more competitive "pick", presumably John Senden. For those saying Norman should have chosen Oosthuizen, congratulations for your foresight! Who'd've thunk he'd turn an utterly dismal year - no top tens since January at the time of selections - to gold over the past two months?)

6).Regardless of all the would've, could've, should'ves above, and please make some changes Finchem before the world tires of your little international garden party, the Internationals were thoroughly outplayed and will be for the foreseeable future. Unless you make some fundamental changes. What about a "Cup" with five teams representing:
North America, South America, Asia, Australasia, Africa?
Perhaps four- or six-man teams with Foursomes, fourballs and singles, played every other year in the respective continents. There would be a closer team identity, and the competition could be moved around the world so that every continent sees the "Cup" every ten years.
If the teams were to be selected now, with one reserve, from the World Rankings based upon 2011 performance, they would be:
North America: Simpson, Johnson, Watney, Kuchar, (Stricker)
South America: Vegas, Villegas, Romero, Aguilar, (Cabrera)
Asia: Choi, Yang, Bae, Kim, (Ishikawa)
Australasia: Day, Scott, Baddeley, Senden, (Singh)
Africa: Schwartzel, Sabbatini, Oosthuizen, Coetzee, (Aiken)
Just a thought. We don't move "World" Championships round the globe, this could be the opportunity, but the PGA Tour wouldn't stand for it.

7).Woods was superb on Sunday, a bit-part player the rest of the week. But on Sunday his score, after 15 holes, was three shots better than anyone else. Baddeley had one of the best rounds, but was steam-rollered. (Others who lost their singles match, but still beat Mahan's +2 score against the dismal Day, included Simpson, Kuchar and Els.)
Much speculation that Woods will replace San Diego on his PGA Tour schedule with the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, which is held two weeks after San Diego/Abu Dhabi.
Whatever he gets up to, whatever money he chases, don't bet against him next week at his Chevron exhibition.

8).Final Stage Q-School starts once we've got the Thanksgiving mess safely out the way, in California's Palm Springs desert area. Six days of torture at the "Fall Classic". Among those competing will be:
Sang-Moon Bae
Chopra
Duval
Franco
Nathan Green
Gronberg
Janzen
Richard Johnson
David Lingmerth
Seung-Yul Noh
Owen
Petrovich
Vaughn Taylor
Weekley
Wetterich
and Old Colwyn's Ben Briscoe (About whom I'd never have been aware if not for "Ned", but clearly following in the Footjoy steps of fellow North Walian Errie Ball (the last remaining survivor from the first Masters, now 101 years old!).

9).Barry Lane and most of the Internationals came up short at Champions Tour Final Q-School. Canada's Jim Rutledge regained full "status" and Mark Mouland reprised his (utterly worthless) conditional status, but Fowler, Harwood, Lane, Martin, etc, all went home empty handed. Probably in their best interests that they did.

10).Well, Thanksgiving here on the West Coast of New England and 4 - 8 inches of snow-shovelling to prepare for as we head in to Wednesday. Courses closed for the season, and every Turkey's fate has been sealed. I'll be one of very few to enjoy one with bread sauce. And a few bottles of delicious Oregon Pinot Noir (Mac, the Bandon Dunes of the wine world). Happy Thanksgiving!

Only because Casey and Day and Fowler have been perennial nearly men.

If there's a threat to Tiger it will come from Mahan or Furyk, much though I'd love to see Casey do the business.

Would be good to see Tiger win again, although if I had a choice, I would've preferred that to happen in a 'normal' tournament rather than this one. He certainly seems to be improvig, but I'm not sure yet if he's ready and able to put together 4 good rounds and win it, and probably I'd fancy someone else this week before him (Casey, Mahon)...

I see that Franny is replacing Bjorn (injured) at Nedbank...

Ooh, hadn't seen that Bjorn had withdrawn this week as well. Great chance for Franny though.
More interested in the Nedbank than the Chevron, though the Chevron will receive extensive coverage here especially after a good fortnight for American golf. Spoiled by the thrills and spills of the Shark Shootout when it was played at Sherwood but it's a great course for a televised tournament, three par fives in six holes, par-3's where anything can happen and one of my favourite par-4 finishing holes.
Not sure what should be the shorter price;
Woods to win?
or:
Watson to finish out of the top 15?? Would think he'll be knackered.

Kwini

Would there normally be so few non americans at Tigers Chevron?

Mac,
It does seem that way. I think the timing with Chevron being played the week before Dubai, following a 3-event Aussie stretch, and pitted against Hong Kong and Nedbank has made it less attractive to many "Internationals".
Obviously, as players drop out, it does make it easier for previously uncommitted American residents to backfill the tournament, rather like McDo did two years ago. Not sure who's dropped out this year, but Snedeker (replaced by Fowler) and Dustin Johnson were both in the original field, I believe.

Seems like the "post-mortems" continue:

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golftalkcentral/ogilvy-allenby-in-heated-argument/

Not sure that it comes out clearly in the linked article, but Allenby's blog during the Pres Cup lamenting his record specifically noted that he's had to chip out sideways at least three times after foursomes partner Ogilvy had planted his drives in the trees.
Ogilvy seemed to escape Melbourne as the "good guy" of the Aussie debacle but his actual play seldom matched his winning record, lots of fine chips and long putts belieing a weekus horribilis with his driver.

Ogilvy could do with getting back to where he should be after a few years in the wilderness. It just seems like he should at least be a OWGR top 10 at the very least.

No doubt, Mac. And no-one is a bigger fan of Ogilvy than moi.
To be fair, he did pretty much miss the first three months of the 2011 season due to his brush with coral, plus suffered some aches and pains thereafter - but fully fit now apparently and posted Els-like rounds last weekend.

PS: Mac, Thought you might have incurred a one-shot penalty a little while ago. Trust you obtained a lift, clean and place instead?