PGA Tour: Phoenix Open: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).A recent post on here asked for "Players to watch" for 2012 and Number One on my list was Kyle Stanley. Was feeling pretty smug about that for, what?, 71 1/2 holes, only to see it all unravel. Why oh why didn't Stanley, the second longest driver of the week, go for it with his second shot, just 236 yards to go? He couldn't have made anything much worse than 6 even if he'd've blown his shot into the grandstands. Next time he'd be daft not to do exactly that.
But don't overlook the excellence of his week:
Driving distance: 2nd (39th of 73 in accuracy)
Greens in reg.: 3rd
Putts per gir: 1st
With performances like that, it's just a matter of time for Stanley Kyle, just turned 24.

2).And then Brandt Snedeker compounded Stanley's misery by airmailing the second play-off green and hitting a TV tower instead of the Pacific. When it's your day, it's your day. I like Snedeker, though, very fun to watch and certainly the type of player one would expect to win a Major.

3).Sneds is just back from hip surgery and slowly the golfing wounded are returning to action: JB Holmes last week, Arron Oberholser Thursday, and Mike Weir due to play at Pebble Beach.
Still waiting to hear updated medical bulletins on Casey and Jacobson (will they be back for the MatchPlay?) and Tim Clark, and waiting for the steadily improving (in form and fitness) Trevor Immelman to reach contention again on a regular basis.

4).Before leaving the Emergency Room, it was disclosed after Mickelson's missed cut that his daughter had been taken ill, suffering "a seizure" before his Thursday 77. Not surprising he was "unable to focus".
Meanwhile Justin Rose spent last Wednesday with two IV's and three nurses. Nice work if you can get it, but credit to him for making the cut, 33rd overall and a promising start to the season.

5).Ernie Els's putter should also be in the E.R.; Big Ernie eased himself towards the top of the week's total driving stat's, was 12th in greens hit, but last in both putting categories, averaging 1.9 putts per gir and 32 putts per round. None of which will help him in his race to reach the top fifty to qualify him for the WGC Cadillac and then The Masters and US Open, none of which he's qualified for.

6).Els, currently 59th in the world rankings, would be unlucky to miss out on the WGC MatchPlay but his blog hints at the arithmetic torture he must be going through trying to determine his schedule to ensure the optimum route back to the Top 50. He's not in this week's Phoenix field but has yet to determine whether he'll enter the Pebble Beach lottery - he might possibly be better off not playing rather than risk a bad finish. One would think he'll then play Riviera regardless. Others just either side of the owgr top 65 necessary to qualify for the MatchPlay include Ryan Moore (61st), Allenby (62nd), Howell III (63rd), Luiten (64th), Sabbatini (65th), Noren (67th), O'Hair (68th), Vijay Singh (69th) and Phoenix specialist Kevin Na, 72nd.

7).This week's tournament, the lyrically named "Waste Management Phoenix Open" (supposed to be the "green" tournament but sounds like anything but) is the second of four desert tournaments on the PGA Tour. Reading the GolfWorld list of courses the Tour plays, I was struck by the low esteem with which desert golf is held by touring pros; none of the 11 desert courses rated were in the top 25; the TPC Scottsdale, this week's venue was rated 28th - almost high praise: " . . . players don't go crazy for the place because it's 'desert golf'" a common theme. Never played desert golf myself so found these commentaries interesting.

8).The dictionary definition of "disingenuous" has been revised to include a picture of Hunter Mahan. His IQ deficiency shows up again as he tries to explain his failure to return to Phoenix, site of the second of his three Tour wins (2010), by declaring he's playing Qatar instead this week because "there's a lot of world ranking points right now".
Unfortunately he didn't consult 606v2 expert "princedracula" first as he would have been informed that this week's Phoenix event is offering more ranking points than his destination of Qatar. I love the fact that his sponsors (Ping, based in Phoenix) and the Phoenix Open itself found out about Mahan's 17,000 mile slash and moneygrab odyssey from the press, not the man himself.

9).So, Mahan's wisps of facial hair might be awol but there's a decent field at Phoenix regardless. Not many Europeans though. Martin Laird (3rd in 2011 and close to home) will be there and Ian Poulter escapes nappy changing duty as he appears for his seasonal debut. Brian Davis completes the GB&I contingent, and only Blixt and Pettersson of the continentals tee it up.

10).There will be a heavy dose of centennial remembrances this year of three American golfing greats, Hogan, Nelson and Snead, all born within 6 months of each other in 1912. What's most amazing to me is that Hogan and Nelson grew up caddying together as teenagers in Fort Worth.
I hope there will be a footnote to such articles about a Spaniard, an Englishman and a German, all born within less than five months of each other in 1957. The Europeans are some way behind the Americans in Majors won (21 / 13) but have surely had just as big an impact on the world of golf?

Great stuff, kwini
(and not just because you called me 'expert'... )

That's a really odd 'excuse' by Mahan! He's gonna look a bit silly after all that.
The thing is that after all that round-the-world trip, he's been rewarded with a 'surprise' pairing with his old Ryder Cup pal, GMac!
Makes you wonder if the Qatar sheikhs have invited him of all people just to use that particular 'random' draw as a marketing ploy...

What can I say exceptional thread, saves me looking elsewhere for my golfing news on the the PGATour website. If this is the level of thread on here i'm glad I joined and am here to stay.

I seem to get the impression that Hunter Mahan is a bit of a hill billy in the intelligences stakes. I'm just getting my head around the rankings system but surely someone of Mahans standing in the game should be aware of what points are at stake and being an event in his sponsors home town would have some sort of loyalty to fulfill.

Cheers pd, Fader,
Not really trying to have a go at Mahan specifically, just wondering out loud why these guys can't just flat out say "I'm here for the money/appearance fee".
Not perhaps the strength in depth at Qatar as there is in Phoenix but the top groups are terrific. Like the fact also that Olly has got Colsaerts playing with him. Breakthrough 2011 for Colsaerts and I'd bet he's got just as good a shot at getting to Medinah as any other first-timer, even Quiros.

Fader,
This weekly article is designed to update on PGA Tour news, hopefully add an opinion or two, and offer facts/news that most, especially the BBC, didn't know.
The best part is the expertise (not from me) that continues on the thread through the particular week's tournament. Welcome to the Ballwasher!

Agreed on Colsaerts... provided he stays away from that scooter!

Freddy hands in the sick note as well... and probably already on his way to the Dubai petrodollars...?

Kwini,great read as always. Who does well around this track out of the field?
Loved the ending when Sneds won. Before that was occassionally flicking over to see what I thought would be the procession by Stanley. Lucky that when flicked back much later caught the last hole and all the madness. Great finish to what I thought would be a boring final day.
I wonder how many other people turned over and missed out on what turned out to be a fascinating finish. No doubt Stanley will recover from this and win soon,he definately has the game for it.

Perhaps Fred didn't fancy listening to Stanley Kyle's tales of woe, as they were grouped together . . . . ?

Cheers Noel,
Mickelson, Singh and Holmes are among those who have won here twice, Kevin Na and Bill Haas have done well here and John Rollins too.

The 16th hole yay or nae folks?

Some think it is crass, but really you have to think golf needs something with some atmosphere, even one produced by beer swilling, congresswoman shootin, Mexican hating Arizonians.

Kwini - good stuff as ever.
Not surprised tour pros aren't too keen on TPC at Phoenix. I am a regular visitor to Az and it doesn't attract me. Played it a couple of times but there are much better courses in the area. More interesting, scenic, challenging etc etc.

I watched Stanley's car crash on recording last night. Even though I knew what was coming it was difficult to watch. Still, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger - he's a talented player who I reckon will win! There he's cursed!!!!!!

I see Pompey woes continue! Even our beloved leader Kim Jong Cameron mentioned it a pmqs yesterday!!!!!

16th is a bit like old Stretford End, Kop, Holte End etc without the tradition, class or humour. I've turned into my dad and don't think it should be allowed on a golf course. Hey ho!

This will be only the 2nd time i've watched this event, however I have to say I find it a little odd that the PGA Tour have turned a golf hole into ampitheatre. From memory I liked the look of the course last yearly especially holes 15 through 18 but just think the atmosphere on the par 3, 16th is not one that belongs on a golf course.

If I wanted to indulge in that type of atmosphere i'd watch a premiership match though not one of my own team and the woes were suffering.

Business has me in Phoenix this week. Plan to stop by the tournament tomorrow -- and you can be sure one stop will be at the 16th hole. A hole like this once a year is fine for me, but I could not take a steady dose of it.

Kwin for a very memorable desert golf course, try We-Ko-Pa, a relatively new Coore and Crenshaw course.

Kwini,

As good as ever.

I missed Stanley's colapse, but interesting you felt he should have gone for the green as even the grandstand was not a bad place to end up (certianly was a good option for GMac).

Reminds me of the 1999 Open. I always thought Van de Velde made the correct choice with his second by knocking it over the burn and erring to the right away from the OB just left of the green. Most people felt he should have laid up but the fairway short of the burn was about 20 yards wide and heavey patches or rough on both sides.

Of course Van de Velde bounced back off the grandstand, back over the burn and into a thick lie.

I guess when its not your day its not your day regardless what choices you make. Just hope Stanley has some good people round him and he can see the bigger picture and the bright furure ahead.

I watched the ET weekly show last night on sky. I saw Peter Uinlein was playing this week. The reported said he was splitting his schedule between both tours - one way of saying he is desperately taking advantage of any and all invitations he can get. I've just checked his scope. 6 over after 14 holes with all pars except three double bogeys. Surely he has to commit to one feeder tour rather than hoping for a miracle on one of the main tours.

Interesting comments about TPC Scottsdale, and the 16th in particular.

Think there's a difference between playing a course as an amateur and watching the pros compete; TPC Scottsdale certainly has a good selection of risk/reward holes on the back nine, the par 5's at 13 and 15, plus the reachable-ish par 4 17th, and that can make for strategy, intrigue and excitement.

pgatour.com has a photo of the 16th without the grandstands and hoopla - who'd've thunk it could be transformed the way it is??!! Many PGA Tour stops have party holes, though perhaps these are being watered down a bit while the Phoenix 16th goes from the ridiculous to ridiculouser. Some guys relish it, others can't stand it.

Suppose that for a once-a-year event I don't have complaints so long as the crowd/mob is respectful of the golfers when they're playing a shot. Not my cup of tea, but then I don't like tea.
Tiger stopped playing Phoenix partly as a result of concerns about personal safety, so the party comes at a price.

One Fratton fiasco after another, puligny; surprised that KJ Cameron's actually heard of Portsmouth. He sounds like he'd fit right in in Arizona?

Kwin-- Crowd at 16 is silent for the tee shot and during all putting. It's the (good natured) booing when a pro misses the green that I'm sure has these guys a bit jittery.

Hi Scottie,
I'm sure Stanley will be back, perhaps a bit wiser - his caddie also!
Those with long memories will recall the 18th hole shot over Glen Abbey's lake at the Canadian Opens of times past. Similar sort of thing, and firing into the grandstands was they key, both in regulation and the play-off with Goosen, to Nathan Green's win in 2009.
I hate that tactic in that it's just not golf, but it IS Tour golf and, as you say, McDo certainly benefitted big time!

Behave yourself Shotrock, 606v2 will be unforgiving if we hear some Aronomink yahoo yelling in the middle of Poulter's tee-shot! Should be a great week of weather, n'est ce pas? Who will you be following? Eye-witness reports gratefully anticipated! Enjoy!!

The early starters in Phoenix will be teeing off in a moment, under fair skies but cool (50-ish) temps, rising to 70. And that's the meteorological prescription for the week with fair weather, little or no chance of rain and moderate winds.

Note that the time difference from Phoenix to GMT is SEVEN hours. Martin Laird on his way at 8.06 a.m. local time, Davis at 11.40 a.m. and Poulter at 12.25 p.m.

Oops, Start delayed 30 minutes, not sure why. Perhaps frost but temp currently 43F in Scottsdale, tho could be colder at the course.

Kwin - Just returned from a run. Bunch of wimps out here if they think this is too cold!

Not sure who I will follow. Massive attendance and property, but unmemorable holes.

The only golfer I will seek out will likely be Mr. O'Hair. Don't want to bother a man at work, but do want to support him. Good start for the year, I hope he keeps it up.

Shotrock,
Sean O'Hair has a decent threesome. Bryce Molder (my pick for next week!) and DA Points who is very crowd-friendly and hasn't suffered an over-par round yet this year. I love golf tournaments, even the no-names are worth following usually.

Mild here, 25F , temps above normal all winter. Ridiculous.

Quite looking forward to seeing the 16th hole on tonight's coverage. It's enjoyable as a one off, wouldn't want to see every course have this sort of thing. Wonder what Billy Mayfair will wear this year when playing that hole?

My starting Yahoo fantasy picks for this one are
Villegas
Snedeker
Cink &
Wagner

Play delayed because of frost.

Yup, But they're on the move now - tee times just pushed back one hour.

Interesting start for Carl Pettersson, stuck his approach on the first to four feet and left with a bogey.

edit - the tenth actually, playing it backwards

Great start by Stanley, a lot of people would feel happy to see him doing well...

EmmDee, Billy Mayfair may have trouble finding a Cardinals jersey that fits him! More portly every season.
Chat that CBS had a Patriots Brad(le)y #16 jersey made up for Keegs to wear.

Ned, Looks like he missed two four footers! Not the way to feel good about your putting.

Just had a gaze at tomorrow's forecast and there may be frost interupting play Friday morning also. They'll be very hard-pressed to squeeze 18 holes of today's late starters.

Shot rock - spot on with We Ko Pa. Played both courses there a few times last year, and bar one close up with a Celtic fan thought they were excellent! Going back for more. Also if you ever get up around Sedona try Seven Canyons - Tom Weiskopf design. Fantastic.

Don't know how Celtic fan got in there - I typed Celtic fan!

Ok I give in - rattle snake!!!

Nine of the Phoenix top ten after three hours started on the back nine, 18 of the top 23 also.
Plenty of time for Martin Laird to catch up then!

puligny,
Agree about the young Saffers, Still hoping Richard Sterne can make a comeback.

Stewart Cink at 10 over through 11, don't know what's happened to him since he won the Open but he's not been the same player.

Ned,
I provided a link to a very good interview with Cink and Win McMurray a couple of weeks ago where he described some aspects of his swing he was working on, but overall he waxed very positive about the season to come. Not a bad start to the year but today's "effort" is incomprehensibly bad.

Most reaction to the link was with regard to Ms McMurray's attributes, not Cink's.

Continued good form from Mesrs Simpson, Frazar and Points.

Choosing Cink in my Fantasy team was a bad choice. So was benching Webb Simpson.

Andres Romero had a poor end to his first 9 after being -3 at one point.

I hope Sarah Stirk is wearing hold ups, that's a short dress she has on, we may see a flash of a stocking top!!

I used to like Mahan - especially he got my sympathy after the RC defeat - but I think he has made a fool out if himself one too many times now.

Hats off to Tiger (for once) for admitting he got paid last week in Abu Dhabi. It seems his shift from Bootyism to Buddhism has done him well.

But my question is: why isn't there any more critical journalism on this topic (appearance fees)? I think the sport would benefit from taking an open discussion about it rather than keeping dodging the bullet.

Hello!

Not much to talk about after last night. The coverage was so stop start and does McCord stay around the area? He was talking more drivel than usual.

Wagner was 50/1 this week after being 80/1 at the Humana. Ridiculous value! Frazar was around the 100s this week, unfortunately I didnt take him. Wagner, Woodland 45/1 and Haas 28/1 my horses this week.

Good to see Trev Immelman playing well this week. Hopefully decision to play an extra week pays off. Would love to see more of that swing this week.

Has Woods got religion now? How very predictable.

Even more reason to dislike the guy.

If he really is a Buddhist then I'm a shaolin monk.

Tiger woods has always been of a Buddhist persuasion due to his mothers origins. At least that is what he said on the Sky special report a couple months back, just said after his loss of his dad he lost his way and sight of it so he says.

Lairdy wrote:If he really is a Buddhist then I'm a shaolin monk.

If he's a Buddhist, then I'm Monk the TV detective, or Colin Monk the darts player.

or the goal keeper from the film Mean Machine.

What he says and what he practices are most likely two entirely different things.

Bit like Webb Simpson, always going on about God, but when does he get the chance to go to Church, he's usually playing on a Sunday.

What ever god they favour, there's the distinct likelihood of another delay to today's proceedings, with frost forecast once again, possible repeat on Saturday as well.

kwini, not sure if we talked about this before, but Simpson is one of those people who I can't quite figure out why he's been getting such great results over the past year or so. I tried to look at his stats (only very briefly) but I can't really say that there is something outstanding in there to match/explain his results. And that is in a way reflected also in how I feel after I watch him play, can't really remember something really outstanding about his game. But maybe I'm wrong... Surely, can't be just his God...?

Simpson was trying to explain last night that testing a year or two ago showed that his hip rotation was minimal and that he's been working hard to increase it, and yield more distance on shots all the way through the bag.

Looking at three key stats, comparing 2011 with 2010, might suggest he's making progress:

Driving distance:
2010: 118th
2011: 51st

Total driving, distance plus accuracy:
2010: 170th
2011: 24th

Greens hit in regulation:
2010: 121st
2011: 24th

All round stat performance:
2010: 55th
2011: 1st

Curiously, his putting stat's don't look quite as strong, but overall he's made improvements in stats and, more important I should think, confidence.

Still don't consider him a particularly great putter, especially on fast greens under pressure, and can't imagine the long putter helps you improve tat if you've always used it.

Not yet clear whether they'll be starting promptly today, pgatour.com not a particularly good resource early in the morning!

kwinigolfer wrote:
Driving distance:
2010: 118th
2011: 51st

Total driving, distance plus accuracy:
2010: 170th
2011: 24th

Greens hit in regulation:
2010: 121st
2011: 24th
---------------------------
All round stat performance:
2010: 55th
2011: 1st

Thanks, kwini. That kind of sums it up, I guess... Looks like a case of the result being somehow greater than the sum of its parts. Or as he would say, the Hand-of-God is in there somewhere...

"All round stat performance"

Should that not just be scoring average?

Hour delay in Phoenix, which means there's no chance of Round 2 being completed today.

Mac,
That (all round) stat is a PGA Tour accumulation of the position, out of about 190 players, of all the key performance stats, inluding driving distance, accuracy, greens hit, sand saves, putting stats etc. The leader in that category is seldom the leading golfer, just very, very good in most disciplines.
I'm sure Luke Donald's bank manager is more impressed with Lukey's stats, however.

So basically it shows that there is something wrong with the toal stats calculation or that the stats collected do not explain veru much about scorig. Not sure I would publish that.

Not at all Mac.
It's exactly what it says it is - just an accumulation of stats - doesn't reflect any variables like condition of course, course set-up, penal bunkering or shallow jobs, fast greens or slow, uphill drives on soft narrow fairways or downhill drives on hard wide fairways.

Bottom line is this - the guys towards the top of that stat have well-rounded games, those at the bottom have one or two glaring weaknesses.
Nothing more, nothing less.