PGA Tour: Up the (Tobacco) Road to Greensboro: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy.
Simply Magnificent.

2).PGA Championship.
David Lynn.
Second?
In your first ever event in the United States?
You've got to be sh1tting me.
Invite to the 2013 Masters.
Invite to the 2013 PGA Championship.
Very good chances of earning automatic exemption to the "Opens".

3).PGA Championship.
Seven of the Top Ten are Europeans, and they'll all be back, exempt, next year.
The Top 4 and ties will be invited to the 2013 Masters. Carl Pettersson (edit: already exempt!) joins David Lynn of those not otherwise exempt who'll be receiving that envelope from Billy Payne.

4).PGA Championship.
And the Top 15 and ties will be invited to the 2013 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Those not already exempt include Lynn, Poulter, Pettersson, Adams, Donaldson, Hanson, Stricker, Curtis, Clark, Ogilvy and Scott.

5).Kiawah Island's Ocean Course.
The course received mixed receptions from players (mostly positive) and media (a lot of it negative). Most of the negatives focussed on transportation logistics and the supposed absurdity of playing a windswept oceanside course with raised greens and fairways, but few run-up options. Exhibit A; Friday.
Was it significant that only seven of the leading 17 golfers were American?
Does it speak to a lack of creativity that many have long criticised the PGA Tour players for??
However well the course stood up to a variety of conditions and wind directions, I'd be surprised to see the PGA return their Championship here anytime soon.

6).And who's this Blake Adams fellow who finished 7th?
Adams has played The Players, US Open and PGA Championship this year and contended to some extent in all three. Almost 37 and only on Tour for three years, Adams is another of the multi-sport athletes, basketball and baseball in his case, who's focussed on golf and graduated through the mini-tours to PGA Tour success. He's another of the Tour's walking wounded but has become a Tour "iron man"; no wins but a runner up to Jason Day (remember him?) at the 2010 Byron Nelson, when he screwed up the final hole worse than Day did.
Well worth bearing in mind next time the Tour stops at a course that rewards strategic play and pars.

7).Carl Pettersson has returned to his self-described "ten beers and a pint of ice cream" diet after losing a ton of weight and his golf swing a few years ago. Most significantly this week is his work as a Board Member of the Tour's Greensboro tournament, helping to ensure that one of the oldest stops on Tour has not only maintained its place on the calendar, arguably strengthened its position.
A new sponsor, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, and a new (old) course, Sedgefield Country Club, a Donald Ross original, have combined to elevate the event which now holds an interesting position with many of the field striving for FedEx participation or position.

8).Sam Snead won "Greensboro" EIGHT times, but last year's winner was a young American who'd been showing tons of promise, had been desperately unlucky not to win in New Orleans, and was a local lad to boot. Guy called Webb Simpson. He's back with an interesting field and some "interesting" tee times:
Simpson, Love, Pettersson. Local heroes.
Haas, Dufner, Snedeker. Ryder Cup player and two wannabe Captain's picks.
Appleby, Villegas, Glover. All outside the Fed Ex Play-Off places.
Schwartzel, Garcia, Watney. Disappointing seasons all.

9).European representation includes Christian, Davis, Jamie Donaldson, Knox and Greg Owen (good e.w. chance again this week?); Blixt, Chopra, Karlsson, Pettersson and Stenson; Colsaerts and Garcia (unlucky loser in a 2009 play-off here to Ryan Moore). Significant week for many of them:
Knox, Chopra, Karlsson all need big finishes to assist them in quest to retain Tour cards.
Blixt (back from a long injury absence), Christian, Garcia and Stenson will all qualify for The Barclays, but need good finishes this next fortnight to progress to the Deutsche Bank.
Colsaerts and Garcia are vying for Ryder Cup qualification.

10).In a sign of the times, Bud Cauley has just overtaken Arnold Palmer in the career earnings list;
Marc Leishman has recently passed Jack Nicklaus;
And Rory McIlroy's next top three finish will push him past Tom Watson!

GPB wrote:Kaymer, in a PGA Championship, came off as ambivalent towards to the 2012 Ryder Cup.

If he wanted to make the team, he would be protecting his position and playing GlenEagles.

I am rooting for the Yanks, but I also want the best available Euro RC team. And I don't think that includes an indifferent Kaymer.

I saw some of those comments... Seems to me Kaymer comes of as mostly ambivalent about everything, such seems to be his nature. And then again... maybe he was just trying not to put any added pressure on himself... who knows.

I want to see the best competition too... but quite frankly if Kaymer makes the team on points... then he should receive nothing more than hearty congratulations for making it... because he EARNED it as per the system that was set up to qualify. If the Euro's want to prevent "out of form: players from making their team... then fine... change their points formula to more heavily weight towards most recent performance... but until then... If Kaymer makes its... welcome him with open arms.

Hey... this is RC, not PC... so if Kaymer's form doesn't improve Ollie can [mostly] hide him. And who knows.... form can change in a hurry... 5 weeks ago, Tim Clark was on the outside looking in on the FedEx Playoffs... now he's #54 and assured in the first two events...

He most definitely earned his spot. Never implied anything else. But I don't think he wants to play, especially in his current form. Maybe he will come up with a mysterious bank problem, for the good of the team.

I want Colsaerts to pass Kaymer so Ollie is free to pick another player with some fresh passion for the Ryder Cup.

Hasn't Martin Kaymer already got a pad in Scottsdale?

If he isn't chosen by J-M O it will be because he has sgnified to Capt. Olly that his game is not ready for it, not for any other reason.

Forget Kaymer ... if you can convince J-M O to pick Casey it will help me hedge my Vegas bet.

GPB wrote:He most definitely earned his spot. Never implied anything else. But I don't think he wants to play, especially in his current form. Maybe he will come up with a mysterious bank problem, for the good of the team.

I want Colsaerts to pass Kaymer so Ollie is free to pick another player with some fresh passion for the Ryder Cup.

I would certainly agree that I would want all of the players on both sides to be in good form. So if Colsaerts passes... more power to him. I doubt I would pick Kaymer right now based on what I've seen either.

But as for him stepping down for the "good of the team". I say bunk to that. He's earned his place, and barring non-phony legitimate injury, IMO Martin participating and doing the best he can is what's best for the team, and the integrity of the Ryder Cup.

kwinigolfer wrote:Hasn't Martin Kaymer already got a pad in Scottsdale?

Duh... that's right he does.

robo,
I'd imagine everyone remotely Euro wants Kaymer in the team, but if he doesn't feel as if his form warrants a pick, I'd imagine he's shared that with Olly as well as the rest of us lot!

Really enjoyed the Greensboro layout, the tournament seems to get better every year. Regardless of who wins of course!

Got to be said, Kaymer's loss of form and plummet down the rankings is quite alarming (as well as mysterious - how many would have predicted that a couple of years ago?) If he stays in an automatic spot and doesn't get "injured" then yes she should be wholeheartedly backed. As other people quite rightly say, matchplay is so different to stroke play so he may surprise. Having said that though he didn't exactly set the heather alight at Celtic Manor did he? Personally I think it would be better for Europe if Colsaerts finished joint 2nd or better at Gleneagles. If that happened it would then be a case of who would Olly's 2nd pick be as his first will almost certainly be Poulter.

super_realist wrote:Excellent from sergio, hopefully that will shut all the Harrington sooth sayers up.

Well done to Sergio. Qualified by right and nobody can argue with that. If he has a bad Ryder Cup though, will you then go on about what an awful record he has in the event? That would be completely unfair in my view but I don't think you would have any choice if you were to be in any way consistent.

All if's and but's so far tin.

Regardless of what happens though he'll s have a better record than the hapless harrington.

In six appearances, Harrington has had three very good, one okay and two very poor. But I don't suppose you're all that interested in facts.

Is Harrington in the team this year? No, not even close.

Harrington has only won 40% of the points on offer. Garcia 67%. Those are the facts.

Harrington has played 21 and has a 7/11/3 winl/loss/half ratio to Garcia 14/6/4 from 24.

Garcia could lose all five matches and STILL have a better points percentage than harrington.

I think the picks will now be Poulter & Colsaerts but if Colsaerts does well enough at Gleneagles to qualify automatically, that'll then mean Poulter + another which seriously cant be Kaymer given his form. So with a place still up for grabs in that situation who should get it? Gonzo? Bello? Laird? I could add Harrington to that list but realistically Olly ain't going to pick him is he? He's actually got a better chance of being the 4th vice.

Got to be said Harrington's best efforts at Celtic Manor were reading putts for his playing partner (Fisher I think)

JAS wrote:I think the picks will now be Poulter & Colsaerts but if Colsaerts does well enough at Gleneagles to qualify automatically, that'll then mean Poulter + another which seriously cant be Kaymer given his form. So with a place still up for grabs in that situation who should get it?

This is spot on


If that scenario did happen, I'd go for RCB.

JAS wrote:I think the picks will now be Poulter & Colsaerts but if Colsaerts does well enough at Gleneagles to qualify automatically, that'll then mean Poulter + another which seriously cant be Kaymer given his form. So with a place still up for grabs in that situation who should get it? Gonzo? Bello? Laird? I could add Harrington to that list but realistically Olly ain't going to pick him is he? He's actually got a better chance of being the 4th vice.

Got to be said Harrington's best efforts at Celtic Manor were reading putts for his playing partner (Fisher I think)

i cant see PH as a vice as hes not best buds with many of the players (or ollie) and he kind of does his own thing usually

For all you Irish out there, I think Shane Lowry has a better shot at it...

pedro wrote:For all you Irish out there, I think Shane Lowry has a better shot at it...

Cue S_R on a fat boy rant...

Personally I'm a Harrington fan, and his never say lost attitude is a great asset for matchplay.. but based on his recent & current form.. I wouldn't pick him - his game whilst improving is still too unpredictable. That said, I'm not convinced by RCB and some of the other potential picks either. In fact our last man is a bit problematical.

Can you really see Lowry play 36 holes a day?

Does anyone else think Ryder cup performances are a bit of a lottery? I mean who could have predicted Sergio being hockeyed at the hands of Kim in Valhalla. Likewise Oliver Wilson played awesomely despite being one of the lesser known players.

incontinentia wrote:Does anyone else think Ryder cup performances are a bit of a lottery? I mean who could have predicted Sergio being hockeyed at the hands of Kim in Valhalla. Likewise Oliver Wilson played awesomely despite being one of the lesser known players.

There is an element of that in the singles especially.. any given player beating any other on any given day and all that. For these guys, one round is a bit of a sprint I guess, and that's what team selection is all about - picking those likely to win. There are no guarantees, and if there were, there'd be no need to actually play the matches - it would be like a game of Top Trumps (cue S_R saying "Pick Shane Lowry for the kerbside weight category").

Incontinentia - Absolutely. But it's fun to be sure. I would never, however, attend another RC in person. I was at Oakland Hills and it was difficult to follow the action on the course. Best viewed on TV -- and I like it better still when it's in Europe and I have much of the day leftover after the event .

super_realist wrote:Can you really see Lowry play 36 holes a day?

18 x foursome + 18 x donuts

Shotrock wrote:Incontinentia - Absolutely. But it's fun to be sure. I would never, however, attend another RC in person. I was at Oakland Hills and it was difficult to follow the action on the course. Best viewed on TV -- and I like it better still when it's in Europe and I have much of the day leftover after the event .

European crowds produce a better atmosphere too.

Call me sad but sometimes I actually find the mashed potato comments funny. So dont mind the more exuberant us crowds.

That should carry a custodial sentence Mac.

I liked it when Europe sang "you've only got one song" to the Yanks.

Don't worry Mac.. after that comment, calling you sad would be redundant

Must say the European Teams orchestrated antics at Celtic Manor with their fist pumping at the crowd really left a sour taste in the mouth with me........

Ross Fisher looked particularly foolish doing it....it just didn't come natural to him. And GMac's fetish for a high five was nausiating..............

High fives are a shiversomely embarassing thing, especially from fat white golfers.

Actually have to admit that I usually end up rooting for the US team, not sure why?

your god Woods perhaps?

Super

This will make your day. I think you have a good point. Although this time it could be different with Rory and Rose on the UK team, both players i like to support.

McLaren wrote:Super

This will make your day. I think you have a good point. Although this time it could be different with Rory and Rose on the UK team, both players i like to support.

The UK team ??

The fact you mentioned "rooting" gives away your fondness for Americanisms, no surprise you prefer them. I blame drivel like Glee etc.

Maybe he means the Australian version of rooting? Actually.. let's not go there

Super - Really don't care much about the crowds -- it's the golf that I watch.

I can't stand the vitriolic USA chant. Ghastly, plus the retarded shouts of GEDINDAHOLE or YOUDAMAN are really irritating.

Ah Super, so you like the "Europe" chant??

Personally i like most of the crowd hoo-haw during the RC. I don't take the RC too seriously as, to me, it's not an important golf competition, however it is a great showcase and a great event.....if you can understand the diffrenciation i am trying to make....................

never heard the "europe" chant so it can't be that prevalent.

super_realist wrote:never heard the "europe" chant so it can't be that prevalent.

It goes kinda like "You ruh ope".........

Sounds pretty bad.

John Cregan wrote:

super_realist wrote:never heard the "europe" chant so it can't be that prevalent.

It goes kinda like "You ruh ope".........

Turning a two syllable word into a three syllable one just so it scans the same as the other team's chant, is even more stupid than the original U-S-A one... and that's saying something.

NedB-H wrote:

John Cregan wrote:

super_realist wrote:never heard the "europe" chant so it can't be that prevalent.

It goes kinda like "You ruh ope".........

Turning a two syllable word into a three syllable one just so it scans the same as the other team's chant, is even more stupid than the original U-S-A one... and that's saying something.

Sort of sums up the RC for me. How do you cheer on a side that in any other sporting context just doesnt exist, well maybe apart from the Mosconi Cup pool tournament.

pedro wrote:

super_realist wrote:Can you really see Lowry play 36 holes a day?

18 x foursome + 18 x donuts

pedro- you seem to be taking on the role of super's pandering manservant whenever he comes out with these hogwash comments about Lowry. Shane is a good man, he doesn't deserve this.

He may well be, but he's still a fat bar steward who looks about 40, not 25.

NedB-H wrote:

John Cregan wrote:

super_realist wrote:never heard the "europe" chant so it can't be that prevalent.

It goes kinda like "You ruh ope".........

Turning a two syllable word into a three syllable one just so it scans the same as the other team's chant, is even more stupid than the original U-S-A one... and that's saying something.

The only way a 2 syllable "Europe" chant would work is when preceedede by a bout of hand clapping, which wouldn't be great for Golf!!!

I tend to think of the RC as an event for the same type of fan who thinks the golf season consists of nothing more than the masters, open and RC.

A bit like X factor being for fat mums and sad dads?

Diggers wrote:

NedB-H wrote:

John Cregan wrote:

super_realist wrote:never heard the "europe" chant so it can't be that prevalent.

It goes kinda like "You ruh ope".........

Turning a two syllable word into a three syllable one just so it scans the same as the other team's chant, is even more stupid than the original U-S-A one... and that's saying something.

Sort of sums up the RC for me. How do you cheer on a side that in any other sporting context just doesnt exist, well maybe apart from the Mosconi Cup pool tournament.

Lucky that I can support Manchester United Cricket Club then!


I tend to "support" European golfers in tournaments regardless of the RC... if a Frenchman, a Swede, a South African and an American were in contention to win a tour event I can almost guarantee I'd want one of the first two to win. I guess that's ultimately because of the Ryder Cup effect, it wasn't a conscious decision though, and I don't support all the Europeans in tennis for example (probably cos they're all European at the moment...)

I cheer for the US in the Ryder Cup.

But in the Solheim Cup I always cheer for the better looking golfer - which, of course, means the Scandinavian competitors.

Sexist? No, simply human.

super_realist wrote:never heard the "europe" chant so it can't be that prevalent.

Oh really.... it may not be of their origination... but don't you remember the European crowds in EVERY victorious Ryder Cup for at least a couple of decades singing Ole' ole'... ole'... olaaaay" ?

I sure remember it... every stinking time... stung like hell too... :-)

But I do get where you are coming from on the USA.. USA.. chant... annoys the fire out of me too... but please... don't characterize U.S. fans with a brush of inappropriate jingoism.. and not be willing to paint the Euros with the same brush for the same types of behavior.