PGA Tour: Happy New Year!: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).Happy New Year everyone, or if the PGA Tour is reading: Happy New 3/4 of a Year, given that the Tour season finishes in September from now on. That means an abbreviated schedule in which players can make their mark, save their card or resurrect their career.

2).Let's reprise the big changes to the Tournament calendar for 2013:
The schedule through September remains essentially intact, except that the Mayakoba tournament, previously played as an "opposite field" event during February's WGC MatchPlay week, will be the sixth stop of the 2013/2014 season. The six events of next (2013/2014) season are:
Fry's.com
Las Vegas
CIMB Malaysia
WGC HSBC Champions
McGladrey
Mayakoba.

The "Lost Boy" in all this is the Disney tournament which has been banished to Neverland.

3).I'll run through prospects for the Europeans in the year ahead at a later date, but of one thing we can be sure: there will be more Europeans with some current Tour status than ever before with Colsaerts, Hanson, Kaymer and Lynn taking membership and Sweden's David Lingmerth "graduating" via the web.com Top 25. Fellow Swedes Karlsson and Norlander, plus Ross Fisher are in the "show' via Q-School.
We lost Gary Christian and Russell Knox, Matthias Gronberg has disappeared, Richard S.Johnson, Casey, Chopra and Olazabal only have Past Champion status remaining, and Parnevik has the formality of a handful of Medical Exemption starts. So the Europeans are stronger than ever though it behoves those with marginal status to get cracking early, Ross Fisher, David Lynn etc are you listening?

4).Among Tour stalwarts who are at the end of their exemption tether are veteran members and past champions Appleby, Jerry Kelly and Immelman, all coming off disastrous seasons.

5).If it's comebacks you want, look no further than 2010 Players Champion Tim Clark. Hopefully he'll start his season next week at the Sony Open where he runner-upped with Steve Marino in 2011 before getting injured the following week. "Runner-upped with Steve" who? Yup, Steve Marino should be back also, perhaps with greater fitness and far fewer lbs. Good player.

6).And who will break through for a first win?
I fancy Hanson of the Europeans but will look beyond the celebrated young Americans like Cauley, Michael Thompson and English and anticipate wins for les enfants terribles Matt Every and Spencer Levin, plus Cameron Tringale. Billy Horschel played well last year (15 cuts in the 17 events - incl the last 12 - he squeaked into) then finished T4 at Q-School. Of the true rookies, I'll be pulling for Monday qualie specialist Patrick Reed. While Seung-yul Noh is certain to enter the winner's circle sometime soon.

7).It's not just McIlroy who'll be playing with new sticks this year - Kyle Stanley and Nick Watney had so much success with Titleist they've switched to Swoosh, replacing Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover among others.

8).We'll see Stanley and Watney at Kapalua this week, at the "Hyundai Tournament of Champions" where there's a field of 30 including most of the better young and not-so-young Americans: 2 x Johnsons, Dufner, Watson, Simpson, Snedeker, Bradley, Kuchar and defending Champion Steve Stricker. Fowler, Haas, Mahan and Watney join them, but no Mickelson or Woods.

9).In the absence of Donald, Garcia, McIlroy and Rose the European challenge is led by Poulter, who played well here a couple of years ago. I also like the chances of Swedes Blixt (could be a great start to a super year for him) and Pettersson who has played well here in the past. Regardless, there won't be an event played all year with more scenic views - better yet if Blixt brings his entourage.

10).And, finally, one wish for the New Year:
Would all the unseemly speculation about Europe's choice of Ryder Cup Captain please stop? I'm a big Darren Clarke fan but the tsunami of garbage spouting forth, whether on a tide of alcohol I don't know, from DC about making a "big" appointment to match up with Watson is unfortunate to say the least.
Let's hope the European Tour remains steadfast with their presumed plan to appoint Paul McGinley, if necessary with a joint appointment of Clarke for 2016. Speculation to the contrary undermines everything that has been best about Europe's Ryder Cup success, dating back for instance to Sir Tony Jacklin (what's that, he STILL didn't get a knighthood?) taking on Nicklaus at Chez Jack, Muirfield Village.

Many happy returns, kwini!

Great read, as usual!

They may be limited field events, but it's good to see strong starts of the new year both on the PGAT (Hyundai) and the ET (Volvo). Pitty about The Mechanic though...

Good calls on Noh and Horschel, I'd certainly keep an eye on these two as well... As far as I understand, Noh also signed with Nike this year, this news just getting totally eclipsed obviously by all the other 'names'...

And talking about 'new dealz', what about McDowell joining the RBC crowd, and implicitly the Heritage and Canadian Open fields this year. Bit of an odd one, considering his rather poor record at these events in the past...

Talking of predictions, not sure what the odds are, but I would put €1 on Kuchar winning a major this year...

Good read as ever Kwini, hard to believe we get off and running again with a new season tonight, I know it never feels like the new season for a lot of us until the Masters comes around but I love these early season tourneys, especially the ones at venues I've played.

I suppose the biggest disappointment about this week is the lack of Europeans in the field....they don't know what they're missing I wonder how outnumbered Poults feels?

I have a sneaky suspicion that we might see IJP get his hands on a Major this year. All he has to do is somehow convert/adapt his Ryder Cup attitude to a Major week. Easier said than done I suppose. Would not surprise me one bit if Rosé also converted this year.

As far as Kapalua is concerned, it'll be interesting to see who comes storming out of the blocks. Because of the length and the width of the fairways I'd go for a boomer, Bubba DJ or Bradley perhaps.

Cheers pd
Hadn't seen the McDowell move - wonder if that means he's no longer a "Zurich" "ambassador"?


Indeed JAS,
I still think an expert short game will be important this week, which is a good reason to fancy Blixt and IJP.
I too love these early season tournaments - and I'd play Kapalua every year if I could - drop-dead gorgeous surroundings, super-fun course, and a short island-hop to Waialae for the Sony. There, two events under the belt in ten days.

On a completely serious note, the necessity to get off to a great start this season for web.com and Q-School grads cannot be underestimated - there are going to be "tears", or at least angst, from some of the guys who will not get into fields they must have assumed they'd play in.

Are you back from paradise JAS? HNY!

I am Kwini, got back New Years Eve, still jet lagged though. Very memorable trip this time round. From the eagle & our pairing placing 3rd (net Div) at PB and shooting my lowest round in 4 attempts there to the morning spent with Scott Simpson at Ko'olina, to the week in Kauai (been there so many times now and nobody will convince me different that Hanalei Bay must be right up there as one of the most beautiful spots on the planet).

...agree about the short game expertise required this week. Bermuda greens can be perplexing at the best of times but at Kapalua the slopes and ocean pulls seem even more pronounced.

It's probably not the place to be trying to 'find your range' with new irons either due to the slopes & trades. Looks like the trades will will rather brisk each day as well with them gusting over 40mph Sat...interesting!!

Hi kwini, and happy new year.

Did you see the golf digest article about players to watch out for this year?

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2013-01/fantasy-sleepers-photos#intro

JAS wrote:I am Kwini, got back New Years Eve, still jet lagged though. Very memorable trip this time round. From the eagle & our pairing placing 3rd (net Div) at PB and shooting my lowest round in 4 attempts there to the morning spent with Scott Simpson at Ko'olina, to the week in Kauai (been there so many times now and nobody will convince me different that Hanalei Bay must be right up there as one of the most beautiful spots on the planet).

Truer words never spoken.

Kwin - Great write up, thanks for your insights. I suspsect you are waking up to single digits, so just how nice does Hawaii sound now?

Poulter for a major? Why not - his confidence must be sky high at the moment; do it soon before Rory gets it in gear or Tiger figures things out.

Thanks Mac, HNY,
No, I hadn't seen that - in fact I had meant to forward you a link to their new top twenty course list, but expect you've seen it now.
Think I've mentioned the up-and-comers above before, along with a couple who actually delivered last year.

A couple of interesting GD choices:
Blake Adams had a terrific run during the spring and summer last year - he's an interesting story being originally a very promising baseball (I think, altho' pgatour.com says basketball!) prospect, but with a chronic hip problem which reportedly is partly why he's an anchorer. He's also 37 and his window of opportunity is closing by the month.

And I've been having interesting dialogue with robopz about Martin Flores who I knew almost nothing about until he started appearing on leaderboards last year. He's wild off the tee but has a fine short game; could be a threat anytime he keeps his teeball in the fairway!


JAS, Shotrock,
Never been to Kauai - you're persuading me to edge it higher on my bucket list.
No "single digits" here Sr, it was -14F when I got up this morning, all the way up to -5F now. Already had as much snow as all 2011/2012. HNY!

pgatour.com has a more extensive list of golfers changing their major sponsors this year, quite the exodus from Titleist with Noh, Brian Davis, Woodland and Kirk joining Stanley and Watney among those deserting.

A big year ahead for Brian Davis I would think; consistently makes his $million every year on his favoured courses, but really struggled as last season wound down - he's among those who could really use a strong start, but with new equipment, who knows? To me, he's one of those guys who could fall off the radar very quickly.
On a related subject, I miss LimeyAtTheBeach's perceptive views on Davis who he apparently competed against in Junior Golf . . . . . his views on this experience seem to lead to his disappearance from 606! Too bad, he knew his stuff.

Certainly well worth a visit Kwini, especially now that both the Prince and the Makai have had a makeover. The Prince has as good and diverse a selection of par 5s that you'll find anywhere. The Makai is rather tame in comparison although it does have 3 or 4 outstanding coastal holes. As I said to my mates last week "I had an outstanding back 9 on the Makai - 3 birdies and 2 albatrosses - unfortunately the albatrosses were nesting Leysan albatrosses (between the 14th green and 15th tee). As for nearby Hanalei, no matter how good the cameraman I don't think any picture taken could fully capture how magical the place is, you just have to be there.

JAS - I kayaked the Napali coast and then camped out on the beaches for 7 days. Just an incredible place and, as you say, no pictures seem to do it justice.

I think this could be a big year for some of the Saffa's. They traditionally start very well and I usually win a bit of money on them early doors in the season.

Schwartzel and Oosthuizen must be strong contenders for The Masters at pretty reasonable odds. Brandon Grace is poised too.

Nice Shotrock, I understand there is quite a bit of "interesting foliage" in those remote parts....which was apparently the inspiration for "Puff the Magic Dragon"

Now there's a dark horse s_r. Brandon Grace, we'll find out soon if last year was just a one off or whether he's destined for a long stay in the upper eschelon of the rankings.

Happy New Year super_,
Agreed about the Saffers, especially now that Schwartzel has proved his return to fitness and Clark is nearly there.

Question marks against Immelman and Sabbatini though, and fitness concerns still for Goosen.

Els? Now there's an enigma - pity he can't be at Kapalua this week as he's a fine record there.

Look forward to guys like Aiken, Coetzee, Grace and Kruger taking the next career step forward.

HNY Kwini,
I've never been too keen on Immelman or Sabbatini, but Clark is often worth a punt, shortknocker but very steady.
Saffa's are definitely a nation with strength in depth and while Els and Goosen's best days are behind them there's a lot of talent coming through. Good each way bets for big tournament.

I'm wondering whether it's going to be a year when the ROW clean up again in the PGA like they did in 2011. I'll be interested to see how Colsaerts makes the transition. A huge hitter but actually has the game to back it up.

Best wishes for 2013 to everyone.

A couple of points:

* It seems slightly odd to me that Rory's new equipment deal hasn't been publicly launched yet. I've read that Nike are planning a big announcement of some sort prior to Abu Dhabi, suggesting even more that this tie-up is the worst-kept secret in sports sponsorship.
* I received a copy of Darren Clarke's autobiography for Xmas, and have now read most of it (large print and quite a few pictures!). He mentions RC captain ambitions in it, but doesn't go over the top in putting himself forward. Difficult to say from where I'm sitting whether he's pushing for it or whether it's the media.

[Oh, and some of you will find this amusing I'm sure - in the RC chapter of Darren's book, he describes his first match partnered with Westwood. It was ultimately down to Lee on the last hole whether they won this fourball match or not, and he had left himself a tricky chip. DC then writes something like "You have to understand, back then, Lee wasn't the short game wizard he is now..." Even as a Westwood supporter, I had to laugh out loud. There's another unfortunate reference later on where he wishes that Lee and Billy Foster win a major together soon as they both really deserve it. Oops.]

Should have reminded us all that the Kapalua Hyundai Tournament of Champions doesn't begin until Friday, when Fowler and Dufner get us underway at 10.35 a.m. Hawaiian time. Final round Monday then off to the Sony which tees off more conventionally next Thursday.


Hi Sky,
Look forward to reading that when it makes it to our shelves; wouldn't you think Foster and Westwood might reunite, especially if Lee gets off to a slow start?
Doubt DC has to go ott "in putting himself forward" for the RC Captaincy, just about the biggest racing certainty - just a question of when.

We've been talking about "International" players and it's interesting to look at the International Team for Presidents Cup qualification as it currently stands:
Scott
Oosthuizen
Schwartzel
Els
Grace
Day
Senden
Fujita
Choi
Coetzee
11th: Ogilvy
12th: Fraser

Think the US should be in awe of that lot?
Thought not, though it could be said that playing at a course (Muirfield Village) that's a regular Tour stop at least puts most of the Internationals on a level footing with the US.
Would also think Captain Price might consider adding a 50-y-o to his Team: Vijay Singh who has won and enjoys a good record at Jack's Place.

Will they be in awe of the team? No. But nor should the Intl's be in awe of the US team. For the good of this event, would be nice if the Internationals won.

I'll be curious to see how Mr. Scott rallies this year. We saw how a true world beater rallies after a 4th round major meltdown (Rory). Can Mr. Scott follow suit?

Speaking of this event, I love how past captain Greg "Ego" Norman held his Shark shootout the same weekend as the Australian Open. Atta boy Greg.

Kwini

Not sure the internationals are all that bad when you consider Scott, Oosthuizen, Grace and Els all had pretty good seasons while Schwartzel is currently winning events by 12 strokes.

After that unfortunately form is a little thin on the ground, but surely day and Ogilvy have to get better at some point soon. Ogilvy had an ok finish at the aussie open I think?

Shotrock,
Given the dysfunctional nature of the Australian Golf scene, and in particular the alleged warring factions between the respective golfing mafia in Melbourne and Sydney, I imagine the date for Shark's Shoot-Out was inked in before the Aussie Open. It usually is anyway.
You will note that he hopped on a plane immediately the Shoot Out had finished to play in the Aussie PGA - from which he w/d'd after two holes with a queasy case of Queensland lurgy.

Kwin - Loved his 2 hole WD! Surprised he didn't helicopter off the course ... or did he?

You may be right about his inked date before the Aussie Open. It would not surprise me either way, however.

I've a lot of time for Greg Norman; sure he has an outsized ego but most successful sportsmen do.
Great to follow, almost always gracious with the galleries and golf's top attraction for a dozen years, in the U.S. anyway.
Had Majors snatched from him, and gave others away, in equal measure and shafted on the World Tour idea by the PGA Tour.
Not many sportsmen have built a more successful business empire than him but he'll always come across now as unfulfilled, whether through ego or attitude or what.
I'll stick up for him even if no-one else will!

Kwin - I suspect his massive ego is one of the reasons his businesses are so successful. He charisma off the charts and undeniable. His business instincts and work ethic are also not to be denied. His list of flourishing enterprises is jaw dropping to me.

Paint the PGA Tour as the big bad "shafting" element, but I don't see it that way. He wanted to topple the PGA tour, which is entirely his prerogative. They protected their interests as he pursued his. Someone didn't win. Obviously, a world tour at the expense of the PGA tour (mostly I would suggest) is inevitable.

And I'll never believe he or anyone else for that matter had a major snatched from them. 72 holes is a lot of time to post your score.

The trouble with Greg is that, in golfing terms, he had a glass chin. He was awful under pressure. Great player who should have won more.

His first really big miss was the 1986 PGA at Inverness; played the back nine with both hands on the wheel and let Boring Bob Tway overtake him with a couple of once-in-a-lifetime shots.
After that, and Mize's chip-in at Augusta, it seemed he was always looking over his shoulder for something bad to happen, either by his own hand or someone behind him. Glass chin is a great description, but funnily enough it didn't afflict him at RStG when he beat a fantastic field with an almost perfect round. If only he could have summoned that fortitude a couple more times we'd be hailing him a an all-time great, "B" Division!

He wobbled a bit there as well if my memory serves me right. I remember him missing an 18 inch putt on 17 & thinking to myself here we go. It was his best win without a doubt holding off Faldo & Langer, but he never kicked on from that.That was it in terms of majors.

They're off!

Rickie Fowler with the first shot of the new season.

The Plantation Course has received a soaking so conventional wisdom says that will favour the long knockers, but I still think the short game will be crucial. We'll find out on Monday evening.

Looks like Rickie finally got a decent shave -- now he just needs a haircut !

Think it's fair to say we wont be seeing a 20+under par winning score this week. Brutal looking conditions.

No sooner do I type then the horn goes

Weather conditions aside, Stallings' not listening to your cheers, kwini... disastrous +7 over three holes

Still not warming up to Simpson at all... but he may well end up having another very good year.

And the 2013 PGAT Season has begun........

JUST KIDDING! ! ! !

Total Restart Happened at the Womens British Open in September IIRC.

Geez, they guys are going to be feeling it Sunday morning if they walk 36 holes on that course tomorrow.

What the hell is this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/20913912

I know DC has had a tough time of late but is there ever a time for this sort of circus antics?


I watched the 89 masters from the link I posted on the other thread and it was interesting to see Norman go low, but for Faldo to shoot even lower.

Another thing I noticed was how poor seve's course management was on the final stretch. Having never watched him in his prime this was a big surprise. It is fair enough to be crooked but does it count as just crooked if you are aiming in the wrong place to begin with?

I wasn't watching the action on tv last night when I mentioned Stallings' scores, now I see there was some other reason behind that...

http://instagram.com/p/UFQ3LNkLI-/

Shiv Kapur could be one of the 'driving forces' behind that weird stuff that his ISM stablemate DC is getting into in India, but it all sounds to me very much like yet another typical Chubster new business idea in Asia...

Not a great forecast for today either, quite windy but hopefully without the drenching squalls. They could always finish on Wednesday and then play the next day at Waialae?

Webb Simpson not thrilled about the cancellation but not blaming his god. Not yet, anyway. Incredible that he hit all seven greens in those conditions, pretty sporty so credit to him.

A field of very mixed quality for next week's Sony Open.
Bradley, Dustin and Zach, Simpson, Kuchar, Pettersson and Ryan Moore will be there, but most top players are escaping.

But their loss is Russell Knox's gain, and he'll be playing along with Brian Davis, Greg Owen and, hopefully, Gary Christian who is currently an alternate.

PS: I'll be glad when pgatour.com put money in ther web-site meter - that site is a shambles right now. Someone with a sense of humour add "in the hole" to each of Scott Stallings' shots yesterday, quite apart from half the site being outdated and dysfunctional.

I was going to say, they seem to have regressed from last season's versions of the schedule and upcoming-field pages, very antiquated.
Waialae should be a course that suits Lingmerth, would be nice to see him earn some all-important early cash/points/whatever to keep him high in the re-ranks. And even more important for Norlander to do the same to escape from rock bottom in the exemption list, he's done well to get himself a start here. Not entirely sure how Knox has leapfrogged Christian into the field, unless he's got himself a sponsor's invite? Pretty sure Christian's affiliate membership thingy is of a higher standing than Knox's one.

Agreed Ned,
Knox made a lot of friends during his run at the end of last season and he must have earned himself a sponsor's call.
I'm not a big fan of Champions Tour players taking places in the field at this time of year. I know he probably has a medical exemption but Bryant hasn't bothered to play for most of the past five years, and even Fred Funk has conned a sponsor's shout, as he looks to shake the rust off for next week's Champo opener.
All very well the Tour saying they'll make more places available given the short season, but that doesn't help one bit.
Hope Bryant and Funk miss the cut.

My feeling on the over-50s playing regular events has always been the same; I've got a lot of time for anyone (Allen, Pernice) who takes it seriously and wants to prove they can still play more-or-less full time and keep their card. I've got a lot less time for anyone who just uses events as practice rounds between their Grandad Tour stops.
Having said that, I can't really argue too much with this week seeing as all the Web.com and Q-school grads who have entered, are in the field. Much as I'd like to see Gary Christian there, he didn't keep his card, he's not automatically entitled to a place in any field on this year's tour.

Only mitigating factor there Ned is that neither Funk nor Bryant (brother of Doctor Dirt) knew the field would be so dismal when they committed.

More importantly, what do you expect when the Weather Channel says 20% chance of rain? That's right, 25 mph winds carrying a heavy downpour and tee-times delayed. (They reported "dry conditions for the next six hours here earlier today - as a blinding snowstorm blanketted the landscape.)

Where do we rate the likelihood of Kapalua reverting to a Thursday start in 2014? Come to that, where do we rate the likelihood of Kapalua staging an event at all in 2014?

Hyundai are said to be close to signing a new contract. But for what?
They're unlikely to be happy with the World's Top Four opting to sit their show out so what's the alternative that works for the sponsor - and the Tour?

Perhaps adding some elite Asian players to exploit the Far Eastern TV market?

pgatour.com awol from offering any updates - almost as if they've decided not to cover the event.

In the absence of any insight from pgatour.com, which still seems to be suffering from a hangover, Doug Ferguson sounds pessimistic of getting the postponed first round underway any time soon, with high winds still raking the Plantation Course.
Better forecasts the next two days, but clearly one round is the most the Tour can hope for today.

Or indeed none. Back tomorrow.

Tournament of Hope.....

Well, let's Hope for a prompt start today, 7.10 local time.
Should still be breezy but not as windy as Friday and Saturday. Hopefully drier and better conditions still on Monday.

TV coverage starts in the States at 8.00 p.m. Portsmouth time and should last through the conclusion of 36 holes today, fingers crossed of course.

kwinigolfer wrote:Well, let's Hope for a prompt start today, 7.10 local time.

4:38 am - still blowing HARD in Lahaina, not quite as bad as yesterday, but close (even though it's laid down just a touch in the last 1/2 hour). If it's still this bad here, I don't know how they're gonna get it started 15 miles up the road at Kapalua where it's much windier than here.

From what I've read the only reason we're not getting any play is that the winds are so high balls are being blown all over the place on the greens. I realise conditions might be so severe that this is irrelevant, but what speed have the Tour prepared the greens at? We usually expect US greens to be at least 2-3 higher on the stimpmeter than Euro Tour greens. Perhaps if the forecast was always for high winds, it would've sensible to slow the greens right down over the past few weeks?

robo,
Are you working there today?

Good point on the green speed Ned, but the Tour would probably say the greens and some breeze are the course's defence. Not much good of course if they can't play as a result.