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

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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.

Mac,
He may be "some old fat guy" but, in his prime, he was as exciting to watch as Seve, just didn't quite putt as well. Always great to watch.

Kwini

Dont worry I know all about calc, but can you really say you enjoy every major turning into a battle of also rans? I certainly dont and cant wait for the F1 qualifying highlights to start.


PS - I dont know the result of the F1 qualifying so please dont post any spoilers.

Mac, in the f1, some guy tightened something with a spanner to make the car go a nano second faster. That's it. Boring.

If also rans winning majors are boring then the same two drivers winning f1 races is far more boring.

s_r,
Is that like someone tweaking an adjustable driver with a screwdriver?

I reckon this Open is going along just fine, except the English challenge seems to have gone awol.

OOOOOhhhhhhhhh yeah. Get in the hole.

Ok, maybe I will watch a little more.

McLaren wrote:OOOOOhhhhhhhhh yeah. Get in the hole.

Ok, maybe I will watch a little more.

About the only thing that could make this more dull is Woods getting his game together.

It'd be improved as a spectacle if the final pair signed the wrong cards to be honest, no-one seems to be able to put them under any pressure.

Only Els from the final 9 groups under par, and only Scott, Kuchar, Alker at E.

Bet Mac is watching one handed.

If that's the image you wont to hold while watching the golf super, then go for it. I certainly wont judge you for it.

Ned

The one bit of interest remaining at the moment is whether scott can handle the pressure at the top. I remember he had a run at the 2011 masters but that was from behind. Can anyone remember any other high major finishes from scott?

Snedeker is looking a bit shaky, that makes it a bit more interesting because if Scott falters everyone comes back in to it.

That was an outrageous up and down from Olesen....

Martin Laird in with an 82 - five shots worse than anyone else today, playing with himself tomorrow.
Daly out with Watson in the second game, they might overtake The Laird on the second fairway . . . . .

Woods Scott showdown on sunday

So woods old swing/caddie vs woods 2012.

scott v woods lol... or is it just the williams show!

How can you not be impressed with Adam Scott at this time. Just tremendous control of his ball. Tiger looming, but quite a hill to climb.

James James Morrison Morrison England's best hope for Sunday?

Who cares about Williams, like see Thor get a couple and be in final group instead.

Putt for a 6 shot lead, no idea how anyone is playing as I've only got 5live for coverage right now

i dont think sned is out of this at all

Did I hear right! If Woods wins and Donald doesn't manage a solo 3rd place, Tiger returns to the No1 ranking spot! That is purely ridiculous imo.

oh no woods back to no.1 lol- noooooo

shotrock

I agree scott looks in total control for now. I would say however, that he probably needs a 5 shot lead if tiger can keep any sort of form going.

Mac whats that based on - considering tiger has never won a major from behind after day 3!

Fader wrote:Did I hear right! If Woods wins and Donald doesn't manage a solo 3rd place, Tiger returns to the No1 ranking spot! That is purely ridiculous imo.

Why is it ridiculous? it would be his fourth win of the season.

I am delighted GMac is in second place now, just 4 shots behind.

gmac is realkly starting to show he isnt no one time fluke -- two great majors on the bounce- pleased for him!

Absolute howler of a finish from Lawrie.

Scott looking good; think only McDowell or Woods can stop him winning......

4 wins this year! But what about last year! A 2 year rolling ogwr imo doesn't make him best player in the world

i think Tiger will desreve it if he gets it..

but i cant see him winning..

In majors, Donald is like Caroline Wozniacki. My guess is Murray will win a slam before Donald wins a major. Donald may never win a major; he is rarely in contention on the final day.

murray may never win a major- although murray is alot younger- donald has potentially alot longer left in his carrer.

I think both will win 2 or more though

i honestly think donald just has his priorities wrong - he needs to prepare to peak during major times and forget rankings, money lists and normal events.. Look at the lads that win majors. good players but peaking at the right time.. I am sure we will see a switch up with donalds scheduling very soon as we are gonna also see with lee- but then lee needs something different which he also understands and that is more week in week out us golf

This may not be a done deal for Scott with GMac and Snedekar lurking behind with 4 shots back and Woods about there as well. Final round +3 for Scott and -2 for GMac or Sneds can happen.

leff

I predict a 71/72 from scott but even then he would finish at least -9, which I think would be enough for him. Really great play from Scott and a win would move him ahead of the likes of Donald/Westwood in terms of career success. Remember, he has won a wgc, the players and the tour championship.

Mcdowell to win by 2 tomorrow.

gonna go with zach

ban

I hope so, i really like the way mcdoo can lift the level of his game for the majors at the moment. Some my find him a little cocky or prattish but I admire how he relishes the pressure of the biggest events.

I'm not really a fan - cannot stand him in interviews, but he's my kwinfantasy pick

Aye, c'mon GMac!

Can't understand Woods's "process", handcuffed by refusal to use his driver, going in to greens with way longer irons than he needed to. He can't win like that unless he makes some bombs.

McDowell is certainly not afraid to win but it's difficult to say the same thing about Woods the way he's playing - clinic Thursday and Friday, but just a little bit off today and others took advantage. Would actually expect Snedeker to free-wheel it a bit tomorrow, nothing to lose. Can't see anyone -6 or worse pulling it off, sorry Erns.

Agree Mac about assessment of Adam Scott's career vis-a-vis L and l, and Scott is as good a front-runner as anyone not called Eldrick.

Mac, Scott is quite capable of 73 or higher. Sneds may repeat yesterday's run. I like GMac in a pressure situation. I am with Bam.

Mysti, Jesus is too busy elsewhere; he cannot walk with Zach tomorrow.

y'no, t'i, t'eh, y'no!

zach is the one under the radar and possibly in the greatest form

tbh had enough of this god talk- jeas let em believe what they want to.. no skin of my nose..

but i am rooting for our fellow aussie thats for sure!! i also have money on the lad

Kwini

I agree, statistically i dont think even tiger make enough birdies to win approaching the greens from those distances. Although would you agree that it was his short game that let him down today?

I dont think any of his bogies were tough up and downs, however, would it have mattered had he made a few more birdies?

Leff - I agree if scott does shoot 73 or higher i fancy gmac, but has kwini points out; adam is a good front runner and should be able to produce a 71/72 if needed.


ban

??????

They can believe what they want to, but we don't need to hear that stuff.

i dont hear it though dude- only from you lot- i must switch off completly during interviews and stuff i suppose

McLaren wrote: Leff - I agree if scott does shoot 73 or higher i fancy gmac, but has kwini points out; adam is a good front runner and should be able to produce a 71/72 if needed.

I looked up Scott's final day performances in majors. You are right. He tends to give it a go. If he goes even par or under, others have no chance tomorrow.

Mac,
The old Eldrick used to be fearless, now he seems to fear carving the ball into the rough. Ernie tried to drive a couple of greens today, came up in rough and in sand, but still made fairly routine pars.

It's not that Tiger's short game wasn't sharp, it was surely that he was missing greens with clubs two or three longer than most of the field and needing that short game too much. What's he going to do if it (wind0 blows? Hit wedges off the tee??

mystiroakey wrote:i dont hear it though dude- only from you lot- i must switch off completly during interviews and stuff i suppose

Here, we hear a lot of that stuff from Zach. He seizes every opportunity to express his religious views like a vulture over a dead body. Good for you that you have a thicker skin.

Leff gonna be honest if i did hear it off him all the time I probally would have the occasional dig.

When they start talking i start chatting on here i suppose- i have the concentration of a gold fish

Attractive pairings tomorrow.
Think I'll start out with Daly and Watson at 7.30.

Then follow Ogilvy and The Mechanic for a few holes at 10.05.

Quick scamper to the first tee for Ernie and Zach & 2.10 p.m.

Then watch the last group including the Champion Golfer coming up #18.

Perfect!

Kwini

Did you keep track of today's pace of play?

The commentators mentioned it was quite quick.