PGA Tour: Transitioning: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).What a win for Justin Rose last week and, from my point of view at any rate, who'd've thunk it so quickly after rather messing up an equally good opportunity at the "Honda". This win compelled me to review my pre-season projection about Rose and I see that he's already exceeded (my) expectations!
He's been big on stressing the upward mobility in the calibre of tournaments won, first "Memorial" and the "AT&T National", then a FedEx Play-Off event and now a WGC Championship. But the fact remains that it's been almost four years since his last Major top ten and one can only hope that Rose takes whatever it is he's found down Magnolia Lane with him.

2).Not much respect in the American media for Justin's win, all the headlines (and those of the BBC website) reserved for another of Sean Foley's pupils who completed his third Tour withdrawal in less than two years. Rose could be forgiven for echoing Caddyshack's Rodney Dangerfield, "I don't get no respect!", yahoo sports even calling Justin "Dustin" in their headline.

3).But the promise of another Tiger spectacular was enough to boost TV ratings 30% over last year, proving the extent to which the Tiger factor attracts viewers even when he slips from contention.

4).One more year of the "tired" old Blue Monster and The Donald will Trump it with Gil Hanse's rebuild of the course. He pledges to leave #18 well alone however and don't you love a finishing hole that is really, truly demanding? "To get a putt at par is sometimes all you're trying to do" on this hole says Stricker, and average score on this 467 yard par-4 was 4.539. (In contrast to the first hole, a par-5, which played to 4.16.)

5).Keegan Bradley seems to have been the flavour of the opening two months or so of the season, but his rather feeble challenge on Sunday seemed to suggest a man in need of a break. He butchered par-5's #8 and #10 from just off, and on, the green in two shots respectively, but he sits on top of the US Ryder Cup qualifying points list.
Mickelson is second and the two of them are some way ahead of positions 3 thru 8, which include would-be-rookies Haas, Stanley, Wilson and Snedeker as well as Stricker and Mahan.
Other among Celtic Manor's vanquished include Watson (10th), D.Johnson (11th), Woods (14th), Kuchar (19th), Fowler (22nd), Z.Johnson (31st), Furyk (48th), Overton (66th) and Cink (who has sunk to 71st).
Other struggling notables inlude Simpson (17th), Toms (24th) and Watney (33rd).

6).Before we leave South Florida, there have been a number of articles in the golfing press recently regarding the number of touring pros now resident there, 61 by one count, including Luke and Ernie, Rory and Jack, Greg and Karrie. That's possibly, depending on who's counting, one up on "Orlando", with an assist of course from Elin's ex.
SI amuse with a story of the Swedish contingent at the "Dye Preserve" where Richard Johnson, Jacobson and Parnevik play regular games, not for the traditional money game Nassaus but for press-ups, "the loser of each hole (having) to do a certain number, right there on the green". And compatriot Elin is apparently a sometime companion at these wags' barbecues! (Don't expect any of the three to be paired with the "ex" any time soon.)


7).And so to the pros' favourite Florida course, Innisbrook Resort's "Copperhead" course, home of the "Transitions Championship", in the Tampa area. The 1971 Larry Packard design is rated 9th in GolfWorld's survey, ahead of TPC Sawgrass (11th), for instance, and well ahead of Doral and Bay Hill, both in the thirties. The set-up for the "Transitions" will feature 5 par-3's and 4 par-5's, and Carnoustie native Ryan Stewart, the Superintendent, is expecting firm conditions helped by a forecast of unseasonably warm, dry weather.

8).Only two more weeks to qualify for a Masters invitation, and those not already in who are on the bubble of making it via the owgr top fifty include:
#45: Paul Lawrie (withdrawn - perhaps tactically? - from the Open de Andalucia)
48: Crane (not playing this week)
52: Goosen - playing Transitions
56: Rock - playing Andalucia
59: Chalmers - playing Transitions
60: Cabrero-Bello - playing Andalucia
62: HowellIII (w/d this week)
63: Manassero - playing Andalucia
64: Allenby - playing Transitions
67: Colsaerts (not playing this week)
68: Els - playing Transitions

9).Strong GB&I representation this week including Messrs Casey, (edit to include Gary Christian who was added to the field Tuesday p.m.), Davis, Donald, Harrington, Laird, Owen and Rose. And Tom Lewis making, as far as I can tell, his first ever appearance on the PGA Tour, in the company of fellow young 'uns Ishikawa and Bud Cauley. Other Europeans include Garcia and Peter Hanson.

10).The "Transitions" tends to favour course specialists and Choi and Goosen have two wins apiece, while Senden and Pettersson have a good record here. After a string of American wins to open the season, GB&I have two wins on the trot now, and I'd expect another "International" win this week. Donald plays his first two rounds with Justin Rose, and maybe he'll find inspiration/incentive to break their tie with Tony Jacklin for most post-war Tour wins by an Englishman not named Faldo.

kwinigolfer wrote:
6).Before we leave South Florida, there have been a number of articles in the golfing press recently regarding the number of touring pros now resident there, 61 by one count, including Luke and Ernie, Rory and Jack, Greg and Karrie.

i thought luke lived in chicago area?

as for lawrie i thought he withdrew becoz of illness

Poults,
Yup, Donald lives much of the year in Chicago but winters in Florida.

I know Lawrie has been sick; just suggesting there might have been an ulterior motive also. Speculation, nothing more nor less.

PS: Hope your boy is feeling a bit better - this pneumonia plus the paternity has rather delayed the start of your season.

so donald only winters in florida (maybe) and lawrie has ulterior motives are you ian carter in disguise?

Poults,
Lukey spends his winters in Florida. Isn't that good enough for you?

As for Lawrie, a poor finish in Andalucia would add risk to his Masters chances . . . .

I thought it was common knowledge that the Donald's spend winter in florida, luke even mentioned it last year saying that and a new gym regime had attributed to better consistency as he was getting warmer weather to practice in the winter which he hadn't done for a few years a chicago only resident.

Poulterswig: easiest way to tell Kwini isn't carter! His articles are interesting, well thought out and are not merely the whim of a poor spelling, bbc tiger sycophant that merely rights what he thinks is news rather than what factually is!

Why am I not surprised that Justins fine win goes by unheralded in US media because of achillesgate! Next they'll have images of Woods dressed in ancient greek armour as if at the battle of Troy!

Fader wrote:Why am I not surprised that Justins fine win goes by unheralded in US media because of achillesgate! Next they'll have images of Woods dressed in ancient greek armour as if at the battle of Troy!

It's the US press's equivalent to what we do in England when one of the footballers inevitably breaks a metatarsal bone shortly before a major tournament, right? Go nuts, fellas...

Great read, kwini

Really looking forward to watching Transitions, one of my favorites on the Florida swing. Interesting point you make about course specialists, I'm thinking Watney also has a good record here and would fancy him to do well. And CHIII had a decent history at Copperfield, so I'm a bit puzzled as to why he WD... And talking about Hanson, I remember he had a very good run here last year in what it was probably his first showing, just dropped back somewhat after a (not so unusual) little final round slump. Hopefully he'll show us this week that he's getting over that particular aspect of his game...

And if anyone's wondering what is numero uno doing in the mean time, he's due to join Barack and David for dinner at the White House tonight. Life's tough at the top...

http://yfrog.com/oekhrucj

'Morning all!
Rory and 1,000 of his best friends - wonder if Caro gets to go, or will she be stuck in Indian Wells??!!

Interesting insight from Doug Ferguson on Peter Hanson's situation: It seems he's reluctant to commit himself to taking up the benefits of PGA Tour membership this year because of Ryder Cup qualification considerations.
He's earned "more than enough to be eligible for special temporary membership, and he's virtually a lock to be able to become a full PGA Tour member next year.
Hanson is limited to 12 starts. Being a special temporary member allows him as many exemptions as he wants. Oddly enough, Hanson might not take any more. This being a Ryder Cup year, he still wants to play a full European Tour schedule to give himself a chance to make the team through European Tour money or world ranking points.
His other four PGA Tour events are Transitions, Houston Open, Hilton Head and the Memorial. He also plans to play in the Volvo China Open, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the French Open and the Scottish Open."

I'm thinking a win along the way might influence a reconsideration of his schedule . . . . .

Good read as always Kwini... Understand your point about Lawrie but hes been in the local press here, he has a chest infection and disappointed not able to defend. Think he would have pulled out last weekend if it wasnt a WGC. Not that your saying in anyway hes not ill, dont think hes the type to not defend a title if he can.

Is he likely to still cling on to a top 50 for the Masters?

Kwini

I am not sure if the players understand how the new Ryder cup qualification system favours those further down the world list over those further down the euro list. This of course assumes that like last time the top euro players are also the top world list players.

If the euro list is used to pick the first 5 players and they are also the first 5 players ont the world list, then you are basically picking from the positions 6-10 on the world list for the next 5.

So if you do well on the European tour (positions 6 – 10), it is possible that given the lower average OWGR points on offer in Europe, you may not be as high on the world list.

In 2010, by putting the world list first those in positions 5-10 on the euro list were given preference over those on the corresponding world list positions.

To make this clear look what the team would have been in 2010 using 2012 qualification system;

Top 5 euro list

Westwood
Kaymer
McIlroy
G-mac
Poulter

Top 5 world (not already qualified)

E. Molinari
Donald
Harrington
Rose
F. Molinari

2 picks ????

Notice all the captains picks now qualify and Hanson, fisher and MAJ do not (those players relatively better in europe than the world list).

So given the top European players in the OWGR’s at the moment are Mcilroy, westwood, Donald, kaymer it is very possible, in fact likely, that they will also be the top European ranked players. It would therefore be safe to assume the most open area for qualification is the world list positions.

It would be an odd choice then for anyone to concentrate on European points unless they think Europe’s top players will have bad years on the European tour.


In simpler terms I am trying to say 6th on the euro list is useless (if a given set of assumptions plays out) unless this translates into position 6-10 on the world list.

I think it should be 12 captains picks

Very cynical re Lawrie Kwini! But I have to admit the same thought crossed my mind. As I understand it Lawrie's 0 owgr points fom the 2010 andalucian masters will drop off and his divisor will reduce by one so his overall owgr position will improve by not playing. Perhaps princed can confirm.

I don't really think this will be the reason he has withdrawn but perhaps if he wasn't feeling quite 100% it may have been a factor...

Great read as always.

John Daly is in the field.

On the PGA website, he is described as 5' 11" and 185 lb (BMI 25.8).

Caito wrote:...As I understand it Lawrie's 0 owgr points fom the 2010 andalucian masters will drop off and his divisor will reduce by one so his overall owgr position will improve by not playing. Perhaps princed can confirm.

Paul was, will remain and would've remained (if he was playing Andalucia) at #45 after this week's amortisation is applied. The only slight difference is that his owgr average points will be (by not playing in Spain) 2.855 and it would've been 2.800 if he was playing and not scoring anything. So, only a small advantage relative to those who could pass him or not after this week... Interestingly, it could've been more beneficial in that way for Ishikawa if he chose not to play this week in Tampa...

...(editing) well, actually not so much of an advantage for Ryo either, as he is invited to the Masters anyway...

Yes, Probably being unkind to Lawrie and I was aware of his health concerns at Doral; but what's a column without some scepticism thrown in?

The bigger picture is that the rankings between, say, 55 and 65 are really quite stretched, more so than the very congested "30's and 40's" so the number of candidates likely to overtake Lawrie is actually quite small.

I take Mac's point about calculating strategy for RC qualification; all Hanson really needs to do is carry on the way he's been playing/putting and he'll be fine. His PGA Tour schedule looks well thought out, all he's really sacrificing is the FedEx Play-off season.

From the world of tennis, I see that Ana Ivanovic Scott defeated Caroline Wozniaki McIlroy rather comfortably at Indian Wells, so Wozza will presumably be able to join Rors at the White House.

Kwini

So are you predicting Hanson to finish in positions 6-10 on the world points list even if he playes in europe more than he could do?

Mac,
I'd think so, Yes! The European tournaments he's earmarked usually carry healthy owgr points, plus he's in all the Majors and Bridgestone.
Given his decent (not great) record in PGA Tour events, I'd say his schedule looks pretty sound.
'Course, if he runs in to a bad stretch of form, it won't much matter where he plays.

Thanks kwini.


But do you really think the players understand the change or do they still assume that euro list is a feasible entry route if the big four (rory, lee, donald, kaymer) have a similar run of form to last time?

I also cant decide if the european tour sidelined their own tour on purpose or just didn't think this through?

Mac.
The dynamic of the European Tour has changed since the qualifying rules were designed haven't they?! McIlroy and Westwood now on the PGA Tour.

But I think it will work out fine for the top players.
A loyal European Tour golfer will still have to play well in Europe PLUS the WGC's and Majors to qualify.
Obviously some of those didn't pick up that much money in the MatchPlay and Cadillac, Bjorn, Dyson, Rock, Jimenez, F'Dez, Lawrie come to mind.
As it is, we have Rory, Kaymer, Hanson, Rose and Lawrie leading the European list - not much to argue about there, especially as Rose will likely slip unless he prospers in the Majors.

The funny thing about the last time was that Eduardo Molinari would have qualified via the World Points List had this new system been in place and at the time and he was not considered a "World Player".....................however he won 2 high OWGR events on the Euro Tour (Scottish & Gleaneagles)..................

Good to hear that Mike Weir will be playing the Irish Open this summer (as well as in France and Germany)...

I read where Miguel Angel Jimenez is reaching into his wallet to help the Andalucia Open in the black. For the the third year in a row. A tournament with one of the lowest purses on the ET. Certainly an altruistic and unselfish act of charity and MAJ should be commended.

I have read a lot of criticism of Finchem on these boards but I don't think he has ever needed a player actually make a monetary contribution to the purse to keep a PGAT tournament alive.

I wonder what the long term sustainability of the Andalucia Open is and what O'Grady is doing to make it happen.

GPB,
That's a good question - sure there's not been such a gesture by a PGA Tour player in the past thirty years, perhaps ever!

I'm not really sure whether the Mechanic's generosity is to save the tournament, or to save it from leaving Spain.

Finchem's PGA Tour has certainly subsidised sponsorless events in the past, or found last-minute sponsorship for an event they would otherwise have to subsidise - events in Hartford, Hilton Head, Tampa, Palm Springs and San Diego come to mind. Fortunately each of these found benefactors and are happily saved.

But some tournaments haven't been saved and Finchem seems to have been content to let them go; some, not necessarily all, from the past decade include:
BC Open (replaced temporarily by Turning Stone, now gone).
Milwaukee
Buick
The International
Marconi/84 Lumber
Atlanta
Ginn Sur Mer
while long-established venues in Tucson, Westchester and Chicago have been replaced, either by WGC or Play-Off tournaments.

GPB - Very good point. Finchem attracts the best talent in the world -- which is mostly European born and bred these days. He lines up the sponsors and runs events that get terrific participation, crowds and TV revenue.

The US domination for professional events will surely come to an end, but not nearly as quickly as the all-knowing Chubby Chandler or Greg "the ego" Norman would have us believe.

Kwin - IMO, Finchem is smart to let many of those tournaments you mentioned leave the playing field. If the good people in Binghamton could not get sufficient corporate support, professional participation, and others could, good for them.

I think we all know chubby is a it of fool, especially if he thought the european tour was on the verge of outshining the PGA tour.

But back to the tournaments timmy "let go", did he let them go or screw them over through unworkable scheduling or their place in the fedex?

Ironically of course, the BC Open slot has evolved into one of the most popular spots on the Champions Tour!

Sr,
I think you're largely right, but also feel it mirrors socio-economic migration that is government subsidised - and I've no wish to go into that. The Ginn tournaments of course were launched by someone all Golf Commissioners should have realised was not a "fit and proper" person to be climbing into bed with.


Mac,
I would say Finchem definitely screwed over the "International" people, but the others were apparently economic decisions; except Turning Stone whose Founder is an egotistical character, very good for the Oneida Nation he represents but in over his head in major league sports.

I know there are several other European touring pros involved in tournaments, among them at one time or another Bjorn, Briere, F'dez Castano, Sergio; even DC was heavily involved in a fleeting visit of the Challenge Tour to Ulster.
Whereas in the US, obviously Woods, Nicklaus, Palmer LoveIII, ZJohnson, even Carl Pettersson are heavily involved in events, though whether they pony up any of their own cash I really don't know, but certainly doubt.

Confirmation that there's a Champions Tour event this week, the Toshiba Classic in Newport Beach, California.

Sandy Lyle has a sonsor's exemption so he'll be making his seasonal debut - wouldn't it be nice to see him actually play three top-notch rounds and begin a string of decent finishes? Don't see it myself, but another reminder of how meagre Europe's representation on the Champo Tour really is. Bernhard Langer, and then who?

Short-game guru Stan Utley begins a Senior career having Monday qualified. Other "new" 50-y-olds this year will include Kirk Triplett who'll debut in April.
Other multiple Tour winners are Magee, Waldorf, Mediate and, the best of a mediocre lot, Elkington who turns 50 in December.

I don't know how it works elsewhere, but the PGA gets loads of volunteer labor for their events. Our club held an event for 2 years and both years we were oversubscribed for volunteers (about 1,250 in all). And, they had to buy two awful colored (IMO) shirts out of their own pocket. They had to work 4 six-hour shifts. For that they had access to an out-of-the way Volunteer tent (with water and other light refreshments) and full access to the tournament otherwise.

But perhaps the bigger free labor was in the management of all these volunteers (scheduling, training) and the sale of the corporate tents and boxes, which came in various packages from expensive to crazy-expensive. These things don't just sell themselves -- lots of legwork to get to contract.

Build up for an early July Tournament starts in early May and the clean up takes 6 - 8 weeks. Looks like the carnival left town for the immediate two weeks afterwards.

For this, the club made some money (not an insignificant amount), and helped solidify a reputation (or so we hope) for future and (hopefully) bigger events.

Merion (US Open 2013) will be a tough ticket to get and even harder to volunteer for (my prediction).

Sr,
Agreed with all that - and it certainly shows. The organization at Tour events is exceptional, a far cry from that I witnessed at the only European Tour event I've attended recently.

We volunteered for the 2009 US Open and they had an arrangement with local charities. We worked a food tent that was sponsored by the Girl Scouts, so we bought an ugly shirt, got there by 6 am and worked through til 2 pm. For every volunteer who completed their shift the Girl Scouts got some $$. It was pretty tiring though, so when the Barclays comes along this summer we're just going to watch and let somebody else take care of the burgers/hot dogs.

Hey Kwini,
how do you expect Tom Lewis to fare this week? i havent seen too much of him but what i have seen it has made me think he is probably quite suited to the US style courses- even if he did earn his rep on a link course.
will be a good learning experience one way or the other

Hey hend0,
Only seen Lewis on TV at The Open and in Portugal so not sure what to expect. But this will be a good test, quite a long course considering there are FIVE par-3's and par will be a good score on every hole. He seems pretty confident and if he can just focus on his own game I'd imagine he'll do just fine. He and playing partner Cauley might actually have quite similar games.

Where is cantlay these days? last summer he seemed the in thing.

Early birds on their way on a lovely morning outside Tampa. Should be fine all day and most of the week.
Often some of the Tour's old lags are the designated dewsweepers, but this morning's first two groups comprise six who might be in Sunday's final few pairings: Van Pelt, Overton, Senden, Tringale, Blanks and Rollins, top ball strikers (almost) all.

Mac,
Cantlay's probably doing classes at University; he missed the cut in Los Angeles last month and I'm sure he'll leave most of his sponsor's exemptions until after the Uni golf season has wound down. Expect him to turn pro this summer if he enjoys a good spring.

Is the shot tracker not working for anyone else (more than usual)? I'm just seeing a 'retrieving hole imagery' message.

Goooo Padraig!!!!!

sandy,
I see what you mean but at least it tells us that Padraig's in the right rough, par for his course on a Par 5 but maybe he can repeat his Hole #1 birdie yet!

Are my eyes deceiving me?

benson, Where the Hell have you been???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Been quiet busy tbh, but still watched tonnes of golf, looking forward to the masters!!!

Good to hear from you sirbenson, hope you'll catch up with the Fantasy League for the Majors and WGC's . . . . .

sandy_trap wrote:Is the shot tracker not working for anyone else (more than usual)? I'm just seeing a 'retrieving hole imagery' message.

Nope not working for me either... Almost glad you mentioned it so its not just my PC. Great start from POD and decent enough one from Serg.

good one kwini. Hoping for a good turn out for tom lewis this week, and would like to see casey continue on his form from last week(didnt do great- however i thought he got better throughout the week).

I think donald has this one i the bag in fairness! gonna gof or him this week, especially seeing he will be playing with rose- i think they will match shot for shot out there with donald holing more putts..

Shot tracker seems to be working again

poddy - 5 under par ! wow- back in form, certainly been threatening it recently

Wow a 31 now to finish it off another two under will do

That's what I call a great day!! Matteo and Padraig leading the main tournaments of the week!!

There's another!

What's more surprising?
Harrington at the top??
or:
Schwartzel at the bottom???