PGA Tour: The Humana League: Notes from the Ballwasher

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1).So much for the Hawaiian Swing on the PGA Tour. An orthodox-enough win for Steve Stricker (not my pick but certainly no big surprise), but I was as taken aback by Johnson Wagner's win as I was by his Freddie Mercury moustache. I followed Wagner eighteen months ago for a forgettable round which culminated in him missing the cut. He appeared a bit overweight and a lot out of love with the game.
Fast forward via a fine end to his 2010 season, a win in Mexico last year, plenty of time in the gym and some Movember bristle which he vows will last through The Masters. Good for Montford Johnson Wagner. (Where do they get these names? Wish they'd pronounce him "Vahgner".)

2).And now he has three Tour wins, the same number as Kuchar and Kim, Bubba Watson and Mahan, one more than runner-up (for the 13th time) Charles Howell, and three more than Rickie Fowler. Lots of chat here about Howell - is he destined to be one of life's nearly men or does he have the desire, and putting stroke, to finally move on from his 20 career 2nd's and 3rd's and into the winner's enclosure? I'd say emphatically YES!, but he's 33 years old this year and that brilliant future is dimming.

3).Carl Pettersson shared second place in his first event as an American citizen but I don't see him in the USA Ryder Cup points list. Difficult to believe his first win was so long ago he beat David Gilford in a play-off. He'll never be a prolific winner on Tour - let's face it, who is? List of two. Or three? - but there'll be a Harbour Town success or a Transitions, a Greenbrier, something like that in his near future.

4).Another month, another dose of speculation on Q-School / Nationwide graduation etc, etc. But the chat is getting louder as some building blocks are apparently now in place. First, PGA Tour Commissioner Finchem has earned himself an extra $60M by signing up for another four years, and the Players Advisory Council has been elected for 2012. Comparitively rare to have many overseas players among its 16-player membership, but this year Justin Rose and Jason Day are on board.

5).The next Players Meeting is due for next week, in San Diego, and the destiny of qualification for the PGA Tour is sure to be up for discussion, if not determination. Some possibilities being bandied about include:

~An end of season 3-tournament series to determine PGA Tour cards for the following year. This could include the top 75 players who didn't make it to the FedEx Play-Offs and the top 75 from the Nationwide.

~A separate Q-School to determine composition of membership for the following year's Nationwide Tour.

~Whether to start the 2014 Tour season in 2013, similar to what the European Tour has done in the past. So some Fall Series events could morph into 2014 tournaments, perhaps some into qualifying super-series events.

~Got that? And apparently Hyundai has expressed an interest in becoming title sponsor of the Nationwide Tour!

6).As we said, it's all speculation. Meanwhile, Luke Donald was among those exercised in Twitterland about slow play during the Hyundai tournament at Kapalua. Don't expect any change this year as Ben Crane will be a Players representative on the Tour's Policy Board.

7).Matt Every made news last week for all the wrong reasons including an early candidate for the year's most bizarre putter. But that shouldn't obscure the fact that he's a fine young player, or the fact the Tour's policy in not disclosing disciplinary sanctions is open to abuse, as the Press showed in questioning Every.
Yes, they've every right to ask what the hell they like within reason.
No, it's a double standard asking a player about something they've been sworn to "omerta" on by the Tour.

8).This week marks the first event of the Champions Tour year with their "Mitsubishi Electric Championship" for Tour winners plus handpicked invitees like Crenshaw and Wadkins, Strange and Zoeller etc. Suffice it to say (sometime Tour member) Steve Thomas is not in the field, apparently destined for some time in the slammer if convicted of charges related to his arrest by Florida police in "Operation Red Cheeks", an Internet child sex sting. (No, I didn't make this up!)

9).The Tour's first week in California has recently been reserved for a trip to Palm Springs and the five-round Bob Hope pro-am marathon. Player support has steadily declined and Humana (Official Health Benefits Company of the PGA Tour) have stepped in to the breach and are now title sponsor for the four-round Humana Challenge, in conjunction with the (Bill) Clinton Foundation. President Bill will play with Greg Norman in Round 3 apparently, with the first three rounds being played on 3 courses with an amateur partner, Round 4 pro's only at the Palmer Course at PGA West.

10).But who else is there? Pretty much a Rag, Tag, Bobtail of the PGA Tour with some Champo guys double-dipping. Phil Mickelson returns from hibernation and some notables are back from long-ish term injury: Dustin Johnson, Brandt Snedeker and Kevin Sutherland among them. GB&I are represented by Christian, Davis, Knox and Laird with Greg Owen an "alternate". Bill Haas won here two years ago and should have repeated, losing in a play-off. He played poorly at Kapalua but must have a decent shout this week.
Regardless, birdies and eagles will fly, scores will be low at three of the Tour's more user-friendly tracks.

Very true about Laird, Harrington-like which is not like him.
Chance to put things right this afternoon; scoring looks quite low, perhaps some easier pins to move things along?

kwinigolfer wrote:Very true about Laird, Harrington-like which is not like him.
Chance to put things right this afternoon; scoring looks quite low, perhaps some easier pins to move things along?

That might make it too easy for the guys in front to keep away from the chasing pack, I'd prefer them to push some tees up to make the short par 4s and par 5s into eagle chances. I'd like to see a shoot out without it being just about the guys at -18 or better.

Another par 5 for Laird!

Gary Christian 4 under after 8 holes; every chance to cash a big cheque this week which would help him greatly in the reshuffle.
Would think Laird's slow start just about does in his chances of contention barring a miracle. Still hopeful of a top ten though.

Twelve birdies in the last 19 holes by Garrigus. How long can he keep this momentum!

Well I didn't miss the man utd game and now feel like that much beer on a sunday afternoon was a poor decision. Bed the most likely destination before even the golf starts. Great win but hardly the best showcase for the talents of the premier leagues best.

Better performance than watching Mancini's thugs, Mac.


Garrigus gone from the shortest putter on Tour to one of the longest!

Deja vu for Laird at the next par 5. The leaders are going nowhere so far. He had putts for birdie inside 9 feet on both. Very disappointing from him.

Gary Christian now in the Top Ten, 7 under for the round. Needs a couple more birds to stay there most likely, but he's treading where we expected Laird's footsteps to be.

What a day Garry Christian is having! Great move from Bae as well. Wagner's stache in contention again...

snap, kwini!

...and of course, we jinxed him!

Johnson Wagner in contention for back-to-back titles!

kwinigolfer wrote:
Not necessarily easy courses, Leff, but usually very straightforward pin-placements for pro-ams.
They'll be more difficult tomorrow when the amateurs go back to doing whatever it is they do best.

Kwini, The flow of birdies is continuing on the final day...
Jeff Maggert, coming from oblivion, may bag another 100K here.

Leff,
Maggert needs to make decent pay cheques, he has eight events remaining to make another $470K to keep his card as he plays under a medical exemption.
Those missed 2-footers last week cost him dear. Perhaps being a bit more under the radar will help his bottle.

Gary Christian still going nicely, Laird with 7 more holes to rescue his round.

What is the basis, Kwini, for the $470K figure? Is there minimum earnings total set for PGA players on medical exemption?

Leff,
It's all based upon the number of events a golfer is deemed to have missed during their absence and the amount of money necessary to accrue that sum earned by the 125th guy on the year-end money list.
All a bit arcane, but a definite deterrent to a player competing when he's carrying an injury.
Others playing this year on medical exemptions include Sutherland, Cejka, Lovemark and a host of names we're forgetting about.

Christian up to -17, making Laird look like the rookie.

Anyone's tournament but hopefully not Garrigus's.

Maggert needs to pick up two more shots to keep himself in contention. Mark Wilson finally got a birdie to make it even on a day full of birdies. At least 5 players could win.

Leff,
Just to make murky things clearer, I hope.
Maggert also did a belt and braces job by going to Q-School, so he also has qualifier's status. But if he can make that money from his medical exemption, that will re-instate him at a higher level of "status" which is the criteria for tournament entry.

$100K for Christian, which must be very close to his highest ever pay cheque.

Thanks, Kiwini, for that clarification.

Mark Wilson is alive and kicking suddenly.

Ten players could win this - Wilson, Mallinger, Garrigus, Wagner, Gates, Toms, Crane, Z Johnson, Senden, and Snedekar. Maggert may remain in contention if he makes an eagle on the 18th. Looks like the finish is going to be a bit tighter than last weekend.

Should be interesting finish.Sick of adverts on sky,not normally as frequent as they are tonight,normally don't mind them as can have a little flick and then come back. Kwini, why don't you want Garrigus to win.

Garrigus?
1).Producing the loudest expletive I've heard by a Pro on a golf course.

2).The drug habit he pursued while on the Nationwide Tour, and his contention that that's OK.

3).Diminishing Luke Donald's credentials, just thru pure ignorance, in the POTY voting period.

4).He just comes across as an arrogant pr1ck.

Not that there's anything wrong with any of those individually, just the quartet grate more than a bit.

From your description, I figured Garrigus must be from Texas! His PGA profile says he resides in AZ.

Yup,
Garrigus is really from LAPD retirement land, Idaho! In Arizona on a witness protection programme.

3 wins in 12 months for Mark Wilson, up to about 40th, perhaps just a place or two higher.
Great credit to a quiet man of golf.

kwinigolfer wrote:Garrigus?
1).Producing the loudest expletive I've heard by a Pro on a golf course.

2).The drug habit he pursued while on the Nationwide Tour, and his contention that that's OK.

3).Diminishing Luke Donald's credentials, just thru pure ignorance, in the POTY voting period.

4).He just comes across as an arrogant pr1ck.

Not that there's anything wrong with any of those individually, just the quartet grate more than a bit.

Not that I've ever done anything heavier than tonnes of alcohol, but 2) sounds good; and I don't have anything against 1) either. 3) is a black mark, but 4) is open to question. Or maybe after last week's Every affair I just want to see every anti-Finchem have as much success as possible?

Mark Wilson is so quiet, I didn't realise he has more wins than any other player in the past 12 months.

Has Maggert picket up another 100K for solo 5th?

Leff,
I'm guessing it's about $225K for Maggert, just another $245k approx in 7 events. Hope he does it, even if just for his Major Championship record.

Ned,
We saw Garrigus make the biggest pig's ear of a reachable par 5, only to be emulated by JB Holmes a group or two later. Holmes threw the clubs, Garrigus threw expletives that couldn't be deleted amid murmurings from the New England faithful. Understandable at North Foreland, but not clever when hundreds of paying punters are hanging on your every word.

And no sympathy here for any sympathy on drugs; but full marks for pointing out the hypocracy of Finchem's ways regarding the selective meting out of discipline.

And talking of JB Holmes . . . . . I see he's in the field for the Farmer's this week. Not my favourite player, but good to see him back after all he's been through.
Perhaps they implanted a go-faster chip in his brain during surgery?

Was happy enough to see Wilson winning last night. Not a lot of faffing about in his game and there was plenty of faffing about by others last night... Crane, Zacher etc. Dear god! ...wait, is that what they are thinking over their shots?

Disappointed Wagner didnt make it 2 in a row. 80/1 he was at the start of the week! 80/1! Was worth a small e/w stake thats for sure

Hope Laird doesn't slip into a mindset the likes of Phil has when it comes to an event like this. Laird does well in the desert and needs every bit of focus to get as much world ranking points as he can.

Shame Villegas didnt hang about longer. Apparently his grip got a touch too strong last year before fixing it and finishing well. Don't like the change to a belly (aye, Camilio has a belly...) putter though.

My dislike for Garrigus is for subjecting us all to his sweaty derriere a few years ago.

Hi Lairdy,
Couldn't agree more about Laird in the desert, opportunity missed but a strong start to the season nevertheless and another chance to get sand in his shoes in Phoenix in ten days' time.

Thought Sunday's coverage was pretty good, despite the usual conspicuous slow-play culprits. Golf Channel seems to enjoy much greater flexibility in scheduling, to the advantage of us all.
Downside was Feherty trying to enhance his American credentials; I actually enjoy Phil Parkin's low-key commentary.

Freddie Jacobson withdraws again, from the Farmer's. This must be worse than previously advertised.

Least Freddie's taking the sensible route, and sitting out til he's 100%.


I know it's last week's news, but there's a good article on the Every brouhaha here:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/james-corrigan-matt-every-refuses-to-play-bawl-with-hypocrites-6290155.html

Thankfully they finished the Humana yesterday. It's raining cats and dogs today in SoCal.

Good article Ned, Thanks.

I think Corrigan got it just about dead right.
What I take exception to is the Golf Channel spilling the beans on something he's not (theoretically) allowed to talk about himself - he was in a position where he couldn't properly defend himself even if he'd've wanted to. Prosecution can say what it likes, yet he is sworn to omerta.
Golf Channel and the PGA Tour needs to get their ducks in a row. And SNF would do well to limit his comments to Golf unless he can do better than that.
Every playing this week and hopefully he'll have a good tournament, perhaps even interview worthy.

Hi vemice,
Thanks for the tip. I see the outlook for San Diego for the rest of the week is pretty decent though; so fog the only danger?

kwinigolfer wrote:Hi vemice,
Thanks for the tip. I see the outlook for San Diego for the rest of the week is pretty decent though; so fog the only danger?

The fog will be a little less dangerous than some of Phil's wayward shots off the tee. And we don't know how much rust Rickie will be carrying as it's the same color as his prison jumpsuit. Hopefully Ernie will bring his "A" game with him from this past weekend's effort in South Africa, except for maybe that playoff hole.

Phil Parkin is pretty good. Wasnt sure when I heard him first time round last year but he seems to know a lot of the players more than most.

I wonder how much comparison will be made between Cauley and Fowler this week? Cauley to impress more than Fowler for me. Time Ryo did something on the PGA too. I always remember Chilli's (from old 606) comments about Danny Lee and how he would be more successful than a bunch of the emerging stars. Seems like Lee is starting to feel at home on the tour, lots of rave reviews on his ball striking last week. He did seem to make the jump to the full tour a bit quick.

" Chilli's (from old 606)"

yeah where the hell is he, he was another from Edinburgh.

Chili was a good man, think he fell foul of the 606 moderators due to their relentless censorship of factual information that the Beeb hadn't caught up with. He reinvented himself a time or two but ended up going down in flames.
This Board would have suited him much better.
Think he played at Carnoustie.

Not sure about Ryo, think he missed the cut in Hawaii and his career is headed in the wrong direction. Needs to get the parachute out.

Danny Lee was a bit of a hothead when he tried to play on Tour a couple of years ago; hope he's settled down a bit.

Has Ryo taken up full membership this year? Starts in Hawaii and here would seem to be a bit excessive if he's just maxing out his non-member events again.

Ryo?
He took Special Temporary Membership for last year following his 4th place at the Bridgestone, but haven't read anything about his eligibility so far this year.

I'm sure there was a big sponsorship incentive for him to play in Hawaii, but was saurprised to see him in this week's Farmer's field.

There was also a comment that he would play mainly on the Japanese Tour to boost his World Ranking; among Majors, he's only in The Open, plus the WGC Bridgestone. And he'll fall out of the top 65 for the MatchPlay if he's not careful.

Chilli's knowledge of Scottish golf was amazing. Would be great to have him in this forum. Carnoustie rings a bell with me as well, I'm sure that's correct.

Found this on Ryo link looks like its non-member events again.

Lairdy,
I always thought it a sad reflection of the way the Beeb managed 606 that so many of the most knowledgeable posters were turned off by the moderation, usually for writing things pointing out the errors of the Beeb's way or disclosing stuff that hadn't necessarily become common knowledge.

Chili for one, and crookedken for another, he hated Carter and expressed his contempt in a very pithy way!
Limeyatthebeach was hounded off the Board, presumably for his relentless battering of Brian Davis's "character", and the mods made goldwolf's efforts with his fantasy league a misery.

Oh well, we get 606v2 and there's a civil war. Just can't win!

Lairdy wrote:Chilli's knowledge of Scottish golf was amazing. Would be great to have him in this forum. Carnoustie rings a bell with me as well, I'm sure that's correct.

Found this on Ryo link looks like its non-member events again.

Doesn't sound like the AP writer is too clear either! He "is interested" in membership, OK, thanks for that... is his plan perhaps to cram his early schedule, and hope to win enough PGA cash from his invites to earn a special membership to take him through the rest of the year? Big risk if it is.

Kwini, find me a forum on any topic which doesn't descend into a dogfight every 12 months or so. Can only assume it's a case of keyboard warriors.

Just saw a comment from R. Hoggard quoting Casey's manager who thinks Paul should be ready for the Match PLay in February, we'll see...