PGA Tour: Open Championship / True South Classic: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).Well done Zach Johnson, winning the John Deere Classic after you tried hard to throw it away on the first play-off hole. Second win of the season for Zach who is on the Board of the tournament and has done so much to ensure its place on the PGA Tour schedule - reminiscent of Carl Pettersson's win at Greensboro a few years ago in that respect.

2).This win doesn't arithmetically ensure Zach Johnson of a place on Davis Love's Ryder Cup Team, but he and DLIII are near neighbours on the Georgia coast, have worked together to help create "The McGladrey Classic", and it would be a huge surprise if his John Deere success doesn't clinch a spot at Medinah.

3).Troy Matteson came way too close to winning last week's John Deere Classic, leading as he did every day, to throw it all away on his first play-off hole. He would have been the first player to win a Tour event in which he finished last in driving accuracy for 24 years! But he putted for his dough, leading the field in "strokes gained - putting". Sometime College Teammate of Kuchar and Molder, among others.

4).Open Championship week, then, and let's hope Royal Lytham gets the Champion it deserves. Rather like Carnoustie did in 1999, or so Davis Love thought:
"When you have a screwy setup, you're going to get a screwy finish," Love was quoted as saying. "And if Paul Lawrie is the champion that Scotland wanted, I think they got exactly what they wanted."
The R&A get exactly what they want on Thursday, 8.31 a.m. BST, when Lawrie and Love tee it up together with Tim Clark!

5).Let's see who's done well in the past at Lytham:
1996 result:
1st: Lehman
2nd: Els
11th: Darren Clarke, Vijay Singh
14th: Duval
18th: Harrington
22nd: Woods, Stricker
27th: Broadhurst (also 58th and Leading Amateur in 1988 - hope he plays well this week, will never get the credit he deserves for his 1991 Ryder Cup play.)
41st: Calc, Mickelson
Also made the cut: Hamilton, Furyk, Allenby, Ames, Lyle, Daly, Goosen

6).2001 result:
1st: Duval
3rd: Els, Clarke, Jimenez
9th: Garcia
13th: Vijay, Goosen, Jacquelin
21st: DLIII
23rd: Michael Campbell, Greg Owen
25th: Woods
29th: Barry Lane
30th: Cink, Mickelson, Rose
37th: Harrington
42nd: Stricker, Paul Lawrie
Also made the cut: Allenby, Scott, Westwood, Calc, Lyle.

7).The last two Major winners won Majors their namesakes had won, Watson and Simpson. Sadly Jarrod Lyle won't be maintaining the tradition as he battles leukemia in Australia. But Aussie Luke Elvy tweets a promising update on Jarrod's condition:
"Has had his ups and downs over the past 6 weeks but Bone Marrow tests overnight showed no leukemia cells. Great news."
Get well, Jarrod, hope to see you on Tour soon.

8).No idea who'll win this week, fingers crossed though for Westwood and Harrington. Obviously Els, Clarke and Vijay have played well here in the past, but, Woods apart, it's difficult to see where any American challenge might come from. (Interesting take in USA Today on David Toms' non-participation: "He's pulled out of the British on several occasions due to injury and general disinterest."!)
Apart from the golden oldies, Woods, Stricker, Furyk and Phil, the leading Americans in the owgr have little to show for their trips to The Open, Dustin Johnson, Fowler, Mahan and Watney scoring the only 5 top 15's.

9).Hate disclaimers but this week's "opposite field event", the True South Classic in Mississippi, has been abandoned by PGA Tour players in their droves, very few of the owgr top 200 bothering to show up for a $540K first prize. Players are withdrawing by the dozen and it seems futile to speculate too much about the event. If they don't care, why should we?

Except to say that it's a BIG tournament for Gary Christian and Russell Knox, not to mention the ailing Richard S.Johnson and a golfer with an excellent record in Lytham Opens, Alex Cejka - a cut for Cejka this week will earn him PGA Tour "Veteran" status as he reaches 150 career cuts. Good luck Alex, but a poor reward for a first-time sponsor and a Jack Nicklaus course that the players rate more highly than Torrey Pines, Doral, Bay Hill and the Greenbrier.

10).Finally, Majors may be two-a-penny on the Champions Tour, two-in-Michigan even, but Sundridge Park's Roger Chapman won't be complaining as he added the US Senior Open title to the Senior PGA he won a few weeks ago. Two fingers, then, to the USGA who only saw fit to invite five Europeans (Hogberg went through qualifying) to their Senior Open which is even more of a closed shop than the Champions Tour. Pathetic.

Roger Chapman won't mind though as he will be at Kiawah Island for next month's PGA Championship, and joins Lee Westwood in being the first two Englishmen to punch their tickets to next year's US Open at Merion.

Going from the amatuer game in 1988 to the ryder cup in 1991 implies a rather fast rise to the top. What happened to Broadhurst after that, as in my years watching the game he has never been close to a top player?

Mac he was probably what you would call a jouneyman thereafter good living.Family man still lives in Atherstone where his mum and dad ran the clubhouse at Atherstone golf club .Father lost an arm years ago and played one handed.I believe he also took some time out when wife was quite poorly.Friend of mine has Pauls Ryder Cup bag which he put into a club raffle after the event. Seniors in a couple of years.Unusual swing though toay the least

Great article Kwini! Up at 6 tomorrow to follow the scores bring it on!

Is there any point leaving work early (about 4ish) tomorrow and friday or will most of the action be over by then anyway?

If i could catch a good chunk of r-mac's or tigers group it might be worth it.

Going by the tee-times, Rory should be playing until around 7pm tomorrow and Tiger until about 7.30pm on Friday.

Might as well go home early then.

Could we have a specific thread for BBC blunders please.
Three in the space of a few minutes towards the end of the Scottish.
Alliss is certain to be talking about the Lower Chidlington over 65s mixed foursomes as the leaders battle ie out down 18 on sunday-bless.

Thanks Kwin - nice write up!

For those of us living in the Eastern US, the Open Championship is a great tournament to watch. Early morning viewing, still get work in, and even play golf on the weekends.

So, Tiger wins and he goes back to World #1. Don't count on it - not because he doesn't have as good a chance as anyone, but the sheer numbers are against him.

I think it's high time we heard from Australia or South Africa again. Just a hunch.

Paul Broadhurst didn't play until the afternoon of Day 2 at Kiawah but shepherded Woosnam (the only point Woosnam scored that year as he and Faldo fell out of form and love) to a victory over Azinger and Irwin, then beat O'Meara 3 and 1 in the singles.
Finished 12th behind Harrington and Garcia at Carnoustie and wouldn't be at all surprised to see him playing this weekend. Greg Owen too among Englishmen under the radar.


Interesting note from the R&A about pace of play:
3 balls expected to finish in 4 1/2 hours.
Twosomes expected to take no longer than 3 3/4 hours.

Good luck, especially if the rain falls and/or the wind blows. Looking at the groupings, I'd be prepared to bet the threesome of Dufner, Laird and Na will struggle to beat five hours. All downhill after that.

Kwini dont mention Kiawah.I can still see vividly Langer and that spike mark

Me too! I was standing on a mound looking down as the drama unfolded. And Langer will also never get the credit he was due for fighting back against Irwin . . . . . . . the putts he holed to earn a half. Great Ryder Cupper that he was.

The Jarrod Lyle news is certainly good news.

Quite amused with the R/A goals on time of golf rounds. I wonder how long the rounds would take w/o forecaddies and marshalls finding the balls in the long rough.

IMO, the single biggest contributor to slow play is long rough and time spent searching for golf balls. IMO, rough should not be over 2" tall.

Karlsson has just WD from this week apparently, not sure of the reason yet. Raises the threeballs/twoballs question as that's the field down to 156

USAToday quotes Karlsson as saying:
"Have got into some bad habits in my game and routine that I need to address; taking a few weeks off."

Would say that's the end of his PGA Tour membership also. Q-School or Europe unless he has a miracle in the PGA or the Fall Series.

I don't think they will adjust tee times. The two two somes are off first tomorrow and Karlsson plays in the 1:10 pm (w/ Wilson & Grace).

Interesting query on the Golf Channel this morning.

Over/Under on former Open Champs in the top 10.

IMO, there are 4 former champs in decent enough form to get into the top 10. Woods, Paddy, Oosty and Els)

I don't expect Clarke, Cink, Daly, Hamilton, Curtis, Duval, Lehman, Calc, Leonard to contend. Oddly, IMO Daly (yes better than Curtis) has the best chance other than top 4 in my opinion

Strange doings at the front of the "alternate" field:

Crane has withdrawn from first alternate, presumably due to the afore-mentioned crackdown on completing rounds in 4 1/2 hrs, and Michael Thompson is the new #1 - no idea if Thompson is in England.

PS: GPB: I would add Paul Lawrie to your list of possible top-tenners.

curtis hasnt really featured since his good spell eary in season has he?

PPS: New opening tee-time at 6.30 a.m. for Barry Lane, Driscoll and Mulroy.
Finch presumably saying Grace with Wilson.

Thanks Kwini ill have an extra 11 minutes lie in

6:19 am start time? or 6:30 am? does Ivor Robson have to hold it in for 9 hrs 40 minutes or 9 hrs 51 minutes? does he not drink any of this: ???

kwinigolfer wrote:PS: GPB: I would add Paul Lawrie to your list of possible top-tenners.

Yes, I knew there was one contender that I was leaving out. Thanks

Steve Elling ‏@EllingYelling
FYI: Ben Crane's agent, Tommy Limbaugh, says Crane was not in UK, never withdrew and is currently in Portland, eyeballing airline schedules.

I think Crane hasn't withdrawn, some journalists saying he has and others saying he hasn't mostly USA journalists who would probs have better info!

Strange about Crane, he had always said he'd travel regardless, but apparently not! Thompson reportedly on site!

Anyone got an updated weather forecast for the week at Lytham?

Interesting to note that 24 different players beat Woods at Lytham in 2001. From 1963-1980, there were about 24 different players that beat Nicklaus in all those years (some of them did it a multiple times)

I was reading a story about bobby Jones win at lythm and it brought back thoughts of lee westwood at turnberry in 2009. Or at least a contrast in fortunes after a wonder shot from a bunker at the climax of an open.

On the 17th hole (462 yards) Jones was trapped in a bunker up the left of the hole after his drive and about 175 yards from the green jones was in real spot of bother. He took his mashie and picked the shot off the sand so crisply that he found the green and made a par 4.

There is a plaque next to the bunker where he played this shot so it might be something interesting to look out for in the next few days. His rival Al Watrous who was level with jones before the 17th was by all accounts so unnerved that he three putted.

GPB,
The forecast on the weatherchannel website for Blackpool is rather benign:

Thursday: High 60F: Light rain: precip: 70%, winds 11 mph
Friday: High 60F: Showers: precip 80%: winds 8 mph
Saturday: High 62F: Few showers: precip 30%: winds 8 mph
Sunday: High 67F: Partly cloudy: precip 0%: winds 14 mph.

That will surely have changed by the time you read this.

I have seen 100 different forecasts so far!

AK after doing his achilles in another shame for a talent of his to be ruined by injury (and lack of work ethic according to others)

We keep hearing that the jet stream is imminently about to move to its usual more northerly summer position. I can only guess it hasn't as yet given how wet I got earlier this evening.

benson,
Hadn't heard that but I see he's already had surgery (June 30th) and is expected to be out for 9 - 12 months.
It'll be interesting to read how he did it!

Anthony Kim blew out his Achilles while "training" according to his agent EDIT: Mark Steinberg substitute IMG. He's already had surgery and is expected out for a year. I've got a sneaking suspicion the back story to this one's a beaut.

Shame as I thought he was going to win a good few majors!

robopz wrote:Anthony Kim blew out his Achilles while "training" according to his agent Mark Steinberg. He's already had surgery and is expected out for a year. I've got a sneaking suspicion the back story to this one's a beaut.

When did A.K. become one of Mark Steinberg's clients? Not listed in the ESM's clients.

Am I the only one crazy enough to get up to follow the scores from 6:30? I know people will get there for 6:30 but to follow scores!?

I'll be up at 4.30 a.m. for TV coverage. Does that count?

robo,
Thanks for the tip - also hadn't realised he was w/Steinberg. He must be heartily sick of Achilles injuries!

I suppose it does xD!! in saying that I have done all nighters with the Aussie Open tennis so this is nothing!!

Coverage here in the Midwest starts at 3:30 am.

No, I won't be up that early. but I will tune about 6 am and catch up by FFing through commercials. Since it is ESPN, I figure I will be caught up at 8 am my time. Then go do some errands...lather rinse repeat.

GPB wrote:

When did A.K. become one of Mark Steinberg's clients? Not listed in the ESM's clients.

Ackkkkkkkkkkk... you're right... I picked it up elsewhere and just posted it... but in checking I see this from Rotoworld:

Anthony Kim will be out of action for as much as an additional year due to an injury to his Achilles, according to Steve Elling on Twitter.
Elling wrote: "IMG confirms that former Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim blew out left Achilles training, has had surgery, and will be sidelined 9-12 months." GolfChannel.com's Ryan Ballengee later tweeted that the golfer had surgery on June 30. AK was already on the mend for injuries in his right elbow and left forearm. Given today's news, even leagues in which dropping AK would offer a tasty morsel for your competition to protect entering 2013 can do so comfortably without concern. Kim would likely fly through waivers.

I edited my original post above

kwinigolfer wrote:I'll be up at 4.30 a.m. for TV coverage. Does that count?

robo,
Thanks for the tip - also hadn't realised he was w/Steinberg. He must be heartily sick of Achilles injuries!

Kwini... I was wrong about Steinberg... I picked that up elsewhere and posted it here with out fact checking... AK is still an IMG client... not a Steinberg guy..

And we are off!!!!

The pop out leaderboard isn't too great thankfully the main one makes up for it!

Up at 5.30, in work for 6.30 so I can finish at 2 and get home to see most of the afternoon play.

Love the OPEN!!!

That sounds good except for the work bit but hey that is life!

Have i missed something! Seen a report on bbc this morning saying the favourite Tiger Woods has 3 wins this year! I heard the same on Sky last night!

I know he has 2 but where have they got the 3rd from! Did he beat someone at tiddlywinks or something because i cannot recall 3 tour wins!

Bay Hill, Memorial and the AT-T National (his own event on the PGA tour)

I was away for 2 weeks recently! So I assume that was recent(ish) event!

Well we'll see how he does here this week wouldn't mind the winner coming from 1 of the 3 in his opening 3 ball

The third hole seems a bit brutal early on!

it was a few weeks after the US OPEN so yeah recent enough I suppose!