PGA Tour: Transitioning: Notes from the Ballwasher

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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.

How good is golf just now for us europeans amd brits? Just watched a bit of match of the day and man its boring. Best wishes to big Fabrice from Bolton mind.

Yup, Internationals now on a 3-event winning streak. More of the same next week I wouldn't be surprised.

Fabrice was lucky he collapsed at White Hart Lane. If he'd've collapsed at Wentworth he'd most likely have been a goner. At least he has a chance now.

Desperate finish from Els, imagine he's still steaming. Wouldn't put it past him to contend again next week though.

kwinigolfer wrote:I like Overton but that's just a pig ignorant comment.

Agreed, what a moron! I can't say I liked him too much before, and no chance from here on...

Fantastic win for Luke!!!

internationals kwini- we just call em brits

mysti,
Agreed, but was just meant to be a reference to the chest beating that went on when the USA won the first seven or eight events.

Don't fancy Team GB&I next week unless Laird repeats so like to have the International cavalry lending a hand.

Yep the yanks had a good run didnt they.. back to normal service

Just goes to show hitting it long is no good if you don't hole the putts. That 7rion from Luker was awesome and did anyone think he wouldn't hole that putt! I think Garrigus knew he had to hole out but failed

Well done Luke.

Btw, what was the Overton comment I must've missed that

Anyone know what Fatty Overton said? Not sure how he can knock anyone when he hasn't ever won a professional event.

What did Overton say?

The comment i posted earlier from a US Journo at the tour event

Doug Ferguson on twitter

Overton "if i was playing in Europe, it would probably be good enough to win"

not the worst comment ever but still dont think he is in a position to have what looks like a pop at the Euro Tour.

That's a ridiculous thing for a man who has never even coming close to winning a professional tournament to say.

If he lived in Europe he probably also wouldn't be so fat, uneducated, ignorant and downright stupid either.

Ar$e.

SR hes come very close to winning on the US tour. Stuart Appleby shot a 59 to beat him by 1 in Greensboro. he also has a few other second places to his name and he was a shot off the playoff yesterday... even if never in contention.
Although his comments are a bit pompus and he probably shouldn't have said anything-in my opinion he kind of has a point.
leaving the mental game aside(granted quite a big thing to leave aside),all else equal, playing well enough to be one shot off a high quality field in the US is probably good enough to win the Andalucia open by a few.

As much as anything it seems a bit of a strange thing to come up in conversation. Why start talking about another tour, was he even aware there was an event on in Spain, cant really see why he'd be interested in it if there was or how strong the field was as is never ever going to play there.
He is has a point though.

thats what i was confused about diggs, maybe in his mind he has been cotemplating the switch.

It's a silly thing to say Hendo, because he's assuming that it's easier than in America, however if it was easier, than those who beat him would also have found it "easier" if over in Europe.

If it was so much easier in Europe, how is it that European golfers are probably more competitive than the American's on their home patch these days?

I understand what he's saying, but it's such an "if yer aunty had balls, she'd be your uncle" statement.

Just another American foot in mouth idiot.

Perhaps if he thinks it's so easy, he should join the European Tour, then if it's as easy as he thinks he may actually find out what it's like to actually win a tournament.

what's let Overton down in the past in the heat of battle is getting a bit too excited. No reason that wouldn't be the case over here

it was probably sheer frustration to be fair

but with the golf being less target golf over here and requiring more all round shots i'd say its a bit presumptious to say he'd be winning

It's a naive thing to say because, despite that the field may be slightly stronger in America, he'd still have to shoot better than the entire field, and it's not like he's a high ranking player who is much better than what is in Europe.

He's the world number 78. There are 28 Europeans alone ahead of him in the rankings, let alone what ROW players who are on the European Tour

Congratualtions to Donald for winning and returning to #1! He was again so impressive and again he hasnt quite received the adulation for it. His, what I would call, "tournament pace" is incredible. Hardly ever leading after day 1 or day 2 but almost always in the mix come the weekend. I wonder if he practices Ray Floyd's "play comfortable" psyche?

and how about this? I pinched this from another forum... if Harrington played Fri, Sat and Sun in 3under he'd have been in the play-off!

I'm a big Jeff Overton fan but that is just ridiculous.

He's also played in 9 Major Championships and never achieved a top ten; imagine there were Europeans ahead of him in every event. Just like Luke, yesterday. Interestingly, he's played the Open Championship four times and has his only top 30 finishes there, 11th and 13th.

I hope this expression of moronic ignorance haunts him for a while.

Boom Baby!

Well done to Luke for getting back the No. 1 spot. Perhaps he will push on from 2011 and not fall back into the pack (like Gmac the year before).

The battle between Luke and Rory for No. 1 spot is similar to the battle last May between Luke and Lee. It will probably be close for a few tournaments until somene opens up a gap.

So, which golfer will prevail and hold the No. 1 spot through the summer. Luke? Rory? Or will it remain close or will someone else make a charge?

My money would be on Rory opening up a gap and staying ahead through the summer just cause he has a bigger game and can compete when one part of his game is off, but Luke perhaps needs to be in control of all of his game.

Cream rises to the top, as Donald proved on Sunday. Just a magnificent approach shot on the extra hole. Would have to put him near the top for contenders at Augusta.

Too bad for Ernie! So close, but hopefully something very positive to build upon. And also a fine tournament for Furyk. He could do some damage yet this year.

Overton - "probably" be good enough to win? Jeff, go to Europe, hoist some trophies, and then come back tell us all about it.

I think Luke will be in charge as he was the model of consistency last year. Coco has the habit of disappearing if things aren't going his way, plus I think Luke is better under pressure whilst does not appear to be affected by being a top player whereas Rory has the media playing a bigger part of his life and could become overhyped and unrealistic expectation placed upon him.

I imagine someone will tell us that Rory could reach #1 again without hitting a ball depending upon the attrition of owgr points, which some can figure out but I always get wrong!

Regardless, the more mid0term answer will depend on The Masters.

If Rory finishes behind Luke I'd assume Luke will enjoy a decent run as Luke hits some fertile spits for his game - Hilton Head, TPC, Wentworth, and Rory will only counter with Quail Hollow, then Memorial. Would definitely favour Luke over Rory at Olympic Club, but by that time perhaps Worksop Man will have had his say?

I'm not quite sure Luke is the master of handling pressure. He's "O-fer" as they say in all things major, but we'll see how he does this year leading late on a Sunday, which I expect will be the case in at least one major.

The most ironic part of Overton's comment is that the American tour is stronger because so many Europeans play here! Maybe Jeff can try the Australian tour?

Well i dont really see what is that wrong with what overton is saying.

Going of on abit of a tangent- imagine the european tour had all the top euro golfers on it. week in week out it would probally be harder to win tournies!- perhaps not harder to top 10 but to win i reakon it would over the US tour!!

Well said SR.

Another American goof. Perhaps him and Watson could do a stint in Europe, live in Hilton's, eat McDonalds, watch dreadful American programming and clean up in Europe whilst living in their own insular "little america" , seeing how they are both so good and better than all the other European and ROW golfers who play on the European Tour.

I'll be expecting Overton to walk The Open this year too.

Mysti - Overton's making an unsound leap of logic, IMO. Yes the US tour is stronger than the European tour. Given this, he probably would have a better chance of winning. But he hasn't won, and surely he won't ply his trade in Europe - so it's a lot of hot air.

Super, you never disappoint with the on-going stereotypes.

Sr,
There'll always be American scepticism about Luke Donald until he really steps up in Majors, just six top tens so far and no real back-nine contention.

It's not "handling pressure", it's not being good enough on the day to get into contention.

But don't remember anyone complaining when he dominated the MatchPlay or spun Simpson into a Webb at Disney.

Time for him to step up in Majors now, about the same age as Mickelson was when he broke Ernie's heart at Augusta. A good group of Major venues this year for Luke and Lee.

Shotrock wrote:Mysti - Overton's making an unsound leap of logic, IMO. Yes the US tour is stronger than the European tour. Given this, he probably would have a better chance of winning. But he hasn't won, and surely he won't ply his trade in Europe - so it's a lot of hot air.

Super, you never disappoint with the on-going stereotypes.

SR, no worse than Overton.

I would accept Overton's comments if he was a regular winner on the USPGA or a long time top 10 player. However he could barely even call himself a journeyman player, so I think his comments deserve to be thrown back at him. If only interviewers had the balls to have a go at such poorly thought out statements.

super_realist wrote:

Shotrock wrote:Mysti - Overton's making an unsound leap of logic, IMO. Yes the US tour is stronger than the European tour. Given this, he probably would have a better chance of winning. But he hasn't won, and surely he won't ply his trade in Europe - so it's a lot of hot air.

Super, you never disappoint with the on-going stereotypes.

SR, no worse than Overton.

I would accept Overton's comments if he was a regular winner on the USPGA or a long time top 10 player. However he could barely even call himself a journeyman player, so I think his comments deserve to be thrown back at him. If only interviewers had the balls to have a go at such poorly thought out statements.

So your ambition is to be no worse than a bloke who made a fairly stupid comment ?

Kwin - It's not American skepticism, I'm speaking specifically as a golf fan.

Great job with Luke for the matchplay and beating the likes of Webb Simpson, but it's go time for the Majors. Rory's the man to beat on that stage, given what he's done the past 12 moths.

The context of Overton's overreach, as far as I can determine, went someting like this extract from a Golf Week article following Els's assertion that "it's difficult to talk with a straight head here".

"Overton apparently wasn't thinking clearly, either.

Asked about his difficult par save on the 17th to stay in the hunt, Overton said, "It's amazing how the PGA Tour . . . . . it's the best Tour in the world by far. I don't know, if I was playing in Europe, it would probably be good enough to win.

Overton has never won in six years on the PGA Tour."

I really don't think the American media will take this garbage any more seriously than the European press.
Most (not all as some NBC broadcasters advertise on a weekly basis), American journalists tire of this sort of rhetoric by underachieving millionaires just as surely as we do.


Sr, That's pretty much what I said except that, in America, anyone not called Tiger getting to Number One is suffixed with a "BUT", certainly not fair on Luke Donald but nothing to do with "handling pressure" as I said earlier. He's Number One fair and square, as he was most of 2011. But would think Rors will pass him in two weeks.

Exactly Kwini, was just about to post the full comment now i've seen it, rather than the quote i saw last night

to me it makes matters worse, calling the US Tour best by far is a bit off

But, like they said i think he was probably in as bemused a state as poor Ernie.

what did you think of the Ernie/Steve Sands interview?

Well done Luuuuke! Another good performance under pressure, can only stand him in good stead when those Sunday chances for majors do come along, which surely they will.

As for Overton, his comments at face value do seem rather ignorant, but then "our Rors" has been caught with his foot in his mouth on occasion as well, so I'm prepared to offer the benefit of whatever doubt remains. You could never imagine the current #1 getting caught up in such controversy. A class act in my opinion.

As for Ernie, credit to him for giving an interview last night, and for not reacting to the pretty poor questions in my view.

Alsie,

To me, Ernie was in such a state he should have declined the interview (frequently done by Woods for instance).
And NBC shouldn't have gone ahead with it.

Nothing wrong with the questions, what was Steve Sands supposed to ask? He was on a hiding to nothing.

Reminds me of the 1991 Ryder Cup when Roger Maltbie (then a new kid on the TV block) told his producer that he flatly refused to pursue Calcavecchia for an interview after his meltdown against Montgomerie. The image of Calc by the water in tears was worth a thousand words.

In this case, Ernie's thunderous complexion should have been enough.

its all abit of something and nothing really. It does highlight a problem though..I would love to see a change up in the golf tours. Cannot understand the amount of majors and wgc's on american soil, it is becoming more and more of a monopoly- quite similar to the english premier league really. The better it becomes the less local talent will be competing! good for world golf, bad for lesser tours, bad for US talent- maybe!!

Felt so sorry for the big man, his par putt didnt even touch the hole!

Yikes!

Just felt he was bemused by Sands first question, something like "talk me through what happened after your drive on 18"

it was almost as it there was an incident that had happened that he wanted Ernie to go into. Maybe i read it wrongly though.

That's a class touch from Maltbie

was looking at the putting stats for ernie during the week and he was actually pretty solid. i guess you only truely find out how comfortable you are with a new putter is when you need to make the clutch one

Overton:

My view on his comments is merely that they are disrespectful to his fellow pro's and simply based on what he has said, he now needs to grow a set and come over here for a few events to show us how easy it is. Then once he has travelled back across the Atlantic without a trophy to explain why!

"hend0" mentioned on another thread his disbelief that Goosen was playing today and tomorrow given his alleged back injury, his appointment for treatment on Wednesday and his withdrawal from Bay Hill on Thursday.

My disbelief too, so much so that I still didn't believe it until I saw his name on the scoreboard.

By my reckoning, there are at least FIVE players gobbling up appearance money for playing the "Tavistock" today who have withdrawn from tournaments, either in advance or in progress, claiming injury or illness in the past three weeks.

Makes you wonder about these guys sometimes, no sympathy if any of them are not fully fit for Augusta or, in Goosen's case, Olympic Club.

Cant deny I am a little sad to see the goose behave like this, he is either injured or not so why play?

To another saffer, Immelman, anyone think he will be back playing well at the top anytime soon?

They all seem to be at it Mac.
Goosen obviously rates the "Tavistock" higher than trying to qualify for The Masters.
Immelman withdrew from Transitions (who sponsor him after all!) alleging a wrist injury but he's playing.
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.

I thought Immelman was 75% of the way back six months ago, but he seems to have regressed these past couple of months. Perhaps he'll have his game peaking for the Tavistock????

Anyone see this;

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/22bd6c74-71bd-11e1-b853-00144feab49a.html#axzz1pbYZRb4u

I know there are a few adams fans on here so maybe you guys are worried the products will become a bit generic taylormade?

Fader wrote:Overton:

My view on his comments is merely that they are disrespectful to his fellow pro's and simply based on what he has said, he now needs to grow a set and come over here for a few events to show us how easy it is. Then once he has travelled back across the Atlantic without a trophy to explain why!

Boom Baby should change his diet into something less sensitive for his metabolism. Obviously his body has taken control over his mind.

Just an fyi that there's another PGA Tour Policy Board Meeting today which is expected to discuss - again - the mooted changes to the "season" and qualifying processes.

Regardless of what is determined today, and there are a lot of i's to be dotted, t's to be crossed, it is almost certain that there will still be tweaks to whatever they decide.

Most of the i's to be dotted are i as in I, players looking how to best refine the new qualifying process.

And most of the t's are as in t for Tournaments with the full definition of the status of current Fall Series events, not to say finding a formula which attracts a viable sponsor (Hyundai?) to replace Nationwide as the umbrella sponsor of the "minor league" circuit.

My take is that Finchem has opened a can of worms and no-one is staisfied with every element put forward so far.

I really like golf and I generally enjoy watching top professionals play. But I can't for the life of me get into this Tavistock Cup thing.

Sr,
Completely agree; fortunately I find the Golf Channel unwatchable except for actual tournament coverage so it's not really on my radar except when golfers skip other tournaments to play in it. I mean, who cares??!!

Kwini,

Is it possible Immelman pulled out the Transitions to let a lesser known player get a spot in the field? Rest the wrist a bit more and get fit for Augusta

Goosen is a strange one, can't explain his actions at all

Alsie: Re Immelman;

Maybe, but his official reason for withdrawal according to pgatour.com was that "he aggravated a wrist injuury during practice this (last) week".

Given his history of wrist injury and surgery, it makes perfect sense for him to protect it . . . . . . .

Are the players paid to appear at the Tavistock??

I had thought it was a charity gig.................a truly awful event............