PGA Tour: WGC Accenture MatchPlay: Notes from the Ballwasher

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1).All set for Tim Finchem's annual international get-together in the desert as we travel east from one of the most revered courses on the PGA Tour to one rated by PGA Tour pros as amongst the very worst on Tour. But the action should be compelling, Tiger plays with Chuckie, Rory plays with Shane, truly "Jeux Sans Frontieres".

2).But before we say, "Hello, Dove Mountain," we should offer a very fond au revoir to Riviera which looked at its absolute Major-worthy very best last week for the "Northern Trust Open", won eventually by John Merrick - and who'd've thunk it? Such a fantastic leaderboard and the two to come out on top were the two least heralded of the lot.
Until now, Merrick seemed to be the archetypal Tour journeyman, making the FedEx play-offs in each of the past six years, with an annual trip to the top of a leaderboard (two runner-ups), but never a winner. Now he's off to Augusta (where he finished 6th on his first visit), has a ticket to the stroke-play WGC's and may even reach the US Open (where he's also finished 6th).

We pointed out the inherent advantage that California boys had for the three coastal California events and John Merrick, from nearby Long Beach, joins Tiger as winners this year. Sure Snedeker won at Pebble Beach, but two lesser-known Californians, Hahn and Stadler crowded on to the podium.

3).And then there's Charlie Beljan. Most Tour pros play further right than Theo Walcott but Beljan is something else:
"Praying that Paul Ryan and Romney can beat the biggest D Bag this country has ever seen," he elegantly tweeted last August.
He then likened President Obama to the bad person issues at Penn State University and his uncomplimentary observations following last November's election preceded the deletion of his Twitter account.
Ironically, he was then carted away from the Disney tournament by health care workers and stuffed in to an ambulance destined for hospital where he overnighted - presumably partly Government services that his ideal world would abolish.
He was at it again in the press room on Sunday with his description of the highly regarded 10th hole:
"I really don't have anything good to say about the 10th hole." "It's a tough hole to have a play-off on. We might as well go and put a windmill out there," before going on to say they should blow it up.
Pity he's not in the Match Play, "Adolf plays with Beljan . . . ."

4).In fairness, the green on Riviera's 10th might be getting a little severe but there were still eagles to be had and birdies a-plenty. Azinger mentioned that, when he played the 10th as his first hole, before he felt properly warmed up, he'd lay up; when he played it as his 10th hole, he'd go for the green.
Great tournament regardless, a loss that Bill Haas will have nightmares about, and an opportunity for all the Europeans except Freddie Jac to flatter only to disappointingly deceive. Ironic that the Swedish Seve should miss a 4-footer for a play-off berth.

5).Let's keep an eye on Ross Fisher this season. He secured his "playing privileges" via an excellent Q-School result and has four tournaments under his belt: 56th, 21st, cut, and now 38th at Riviera.
He led the Northern Trust in greens in regulation so 38th was a disappointing result. He gets this week off, will presumably then play Honda, Puerto Rico, Tampa, week off for Bay Hill, and perhaps Houston and San Antonio before The Masters. If the pgatour.com web-site ever returns to normal, we'll know for sure where he stands on the "reshuffle" as the Tour heads east, but he's probably lost about six or eight places, to perhaps 12th. Just guessing.

6).Dustin Johnson dominated the field at Kapalua but since he embarked on his synchronised gymnastics with Paulina Gretzky his sequence of finshes is: withdrawn (you couldn't make it up, could you), 51st, cut, cut. T33 is the worst he can do this week unless he withdraws again or gets dq'd for unsportsmanlike conduct.

7).The weather forecast for Round One of the Match Play is dismal, cold (forties), strong winds and the likelihood of rain. Or perhaps snow. Wind gusts today could reach 40 mph.
Conditions Wednesday are likely to be worst early so Rory and Tiger might benefit from later tee-times (12.05 p.m. & 12.25 p.m. local) as they get to renew friendly rivalries with Lowry and CHIII - Woods and Howell first met in the 1996 US Amateur when Chuckie was a mere yute of 17, but subsequently became near-ish neighbours at Isleworth.

8).No idea of who might fare well this week beyond the obvious - Luuuuke, South Africa - but some of the guys have previous, for better or for worse:
Most wins:
Woods: 33
Toms: 24
Poults: 18
Lukey: 16
Scott: 14
Those with more losses than wins include:
Westwood: 14
Els: 12
Furyk: 12
while Harrington has 11 wins to go with 11 losses.

9).Bernhard Langer continues to add to his Champions Tour fortune although his march to victory in Florida last Sunday wasn't without the occasional self-inflicted mishap. Since turning 50 in 2007, Bernhard has now won 17 times, more than any player reaching the Champo Tour since 1998. He's 14th on the list of all-time wins behind Irwin, Trevino, Gil Morgan, Barber, Charles and January, Rodriguez, Colbert and Crampton, Larry Nelson and Player, Fleisher and Mike Hill. Pretty good company considering the greatly reduced number of events now compared to the heyday of the Tour in the 80's and 90's.

10).Weather permitting, the first round of the "WGC Accenture Match Play" is as exciting/fascinating as any day of the golfing year, at least outside the Majors and Ryder Cup. TV coverage should be comprehensive starting at 5.00 p.m. GMT on Wednesday. Games without frontiers, war without tears.

7 Americans remain
7 Europeans
1 South African - Tim Clark
1 Aussie - Jason Day

Lots of great match-ups, but I'd say Ian Poulter has his hands full with Tim Clark - two of the best Match Players head-to-head.

McDowell/Lowry vs Bubba/Day
Garrigus/Freddie vs Kooch/Colsaerts
Gonzo/Webb.com vs Kaymer/Mahan (cracking match)
Piercy/Stricker vs Timmy/Poults

Make your picks! Kuchar vs the Clark/Poultie winner for me.

Looks like a two tee start tomorrow as they try and fit the last 16 and quarter final in on the same day. Will be interesting for some that haven't played the last few holes that often as they will come earlier than usual.

No one can want this more than poults.. Its impossible..

so Still backing the Poulty

Interestingly enough, I think the players that have gone all the way in the first two will have an advantage (instead of players that were done early with big wins) in case of a 10th tee start.
I am sure the Gary Player and Ben Hogan brackets will be starting of the 10th tee as they both figure US/EUR matches with the Americans having played a lot more holes on the back nine.

Kwini, have you got any tee time info?

TMO - here are tee times (GB&I time) for today's 3rd round matches:

1st tee

14:10 Garrigus vs Jacobson
14:22 Colsaerts vs Kuchar
14:34 Lowry vs McDowell
14:46 Watson vs Day

10th tee

14:10 Piercy vs Stricker
14:22 Clark vs Poulter
14:34 Fdez-Castano vs Simpson
14:46 Kaymer vs Mahan

mighty,
I know it's hardly the same thing, but one or two of those who finished early actually carried on playing the remaining holes, Kuchar for one. Not sure how many others.
Apparently Bubba has played most holes of those still standing.
Garrigus has made most birdies!
Gonzo's made fewest bogeys!!

"The darkest hour is just before dawn" - can't remember who warbled that, Mamas and Papas?, but it's often the coldest hour too - 35F in "Marana, AZ" right now but don't know if that's the same altitude as the golfcourse. Regardless, it'll be touch and go as to whether there'll be frost this morning - would think they'd get going anyway unless conditions are completely unplayable.

If they don't go out on time, I wonder if pgatour.com is up to the task of letting us know?
Doubt it somehow - wish the European Tour would take over website duties for the WGC's and Majors.

Piercy playing some inspired golf. Look for him to square off against Poulter.

Add this to the list of Nicklaus courses that don't impress me much. Just some nutty runoff areas, IMO.

I know that Rory was going to be careful this year in his schedule so that he doesn't get burnt out, but only playing 2 days in stroke play events and 18 holes or less in match play events is going a bit far.

It won't bother Rory, but at least a half-hour's delay in the desert - frost.
Warmer here than it is there, but that won't last!

Kwini, I am betting 10 bucks on R4 not finishing today. Wonder whether they'll try to finish on Sunday if R4 is not over by dusk

The projected Fedex Cup standings are very interesting at the moment as all players are allocated the winner's share of 546 points. Wait up, 546???

I can see the winner of Kaymer vs Mahan winning the title....and I would just give the edge to Martin.

Forty-five minute delay.

pgatour.com has been the worst web-site in the sporting world thse past two months.
Info missing from the database, links which don't work or go to the wrong data, no live scoring, absence of up-to-date information, absolute bloody rubbish.

Fair play to the unsightly leprechaun. I wasn't sure he would even be alive after two days in the desert.

super_realist wrote:Fair play to the unsightly leprechaun. I wasn't sure he would even be alive after two days in the desert.

Oh how I would love it if Lowry won this.

I think Mahan has added incentive this year, trying to prove a point after not getting a captains pick for the Ryder Cup last year. Having said that, I'd like to see GMac win !

Americans mostly in the driving seat here - that'll please the TV people.

Aye, GMac to win this.

super_realist wrote:Fair play to the unsightly leprechaun. I wasn't sure he would even be alive after two days in the desert.

I think during an interview he was asked if he could cope if he was to make it to the final and his response was something along the lines of "it's only playing golf!". Thought that was quite funny.

Getting stuffed now mind you.

nb. only checked on the official website which is gash so he might actually be winning.

Looking at who's likely to be left in by the QF's I think I'd better hope there is something good on another channel.

A collection of my least favourite players.

Whoever this fud Scott Piercy is, he's looking pretty decent for a relative nomark. Hopefully Poulter will gub him in the next round.

Webb Simpson can GTF too.

WTF happened to GC coverage? Stopped 30 minutes earlier than scheduled as matches are just about to conclude.

Edit: See they switched to NBC. Great, have to put up with the blowhard Miller for even longer.

Yes, why the hell would someone 4 down concede a >5 footer because they couldnt tell who's closer?? God damn it

Would think Piercy (if he gets there) vs Poulter could have more than its fair share of needle.
Piercy is about the most arrogant punk I've seen interviewed on a golfcourse - hope Poults gets under his skin early.

Some pretty straggly facial hair going on . . . . .

Kooch vs Garrigus - what a contrast in styles.

I have 6 left in the tournament. I'm going for a semi final line up of Day/Kuchar and Poulter/Mahan

Poultie vs Stricker then, probably for the best!

super_realist wrote:Whoever this fud Scott Piercy is, he's looking pretty decent for a relative nomark. Hopefully Poulter will gub him in the next round.

Webb Simpson can GTF too.

onna be very interesting!!!

Come on poults. But your right this poercy is fiesty!! good looking player. I have no idea how he got top 40 either!

Must have made a move this winter(my off watching season)

Anyone know who's up next? Poulter/Stricker or Day/McDowell?

Poulter first, then GMac, Hunter last

Good to hear Miller giving viewers a mouthful about Simpson's pace of play.

Grumps, You must be psychic, none of my final four made Round 3 . . . .

What. A. Putt!

kwinigolfer wrote:Good to hear Miller giving viewers a mouthful about Simpson's pace of play.

Grumps, You must be psychic, none of my final four made Round 3 . . . .

It was from first round picks as opposed to working a bracket. I ain't even the best BCM has 7 of 8!

Wow, Poults!!!

C'mon GMaaaaaaaaaaac!!

Poults holes a snake with 15 foot break and striker misses the 5 footer..


Legend skillz

You gotta like Stricker though - he plays these matches in a great spirit. His match yesterday with Nick Watney (2 eagles and five birds according to golfchannel) was played with smiles and high fives.
Good for both of them.

Two of the best and influenciAl golfers without a.....

Stricker will not give up

Don't you just love PGAtour.com! Round 3 is still going on and the players are on the 5th hole at the most.

NBC/GC are beauties - in the space of an hour and a half they've had Gonzo playing the Ryder Cup, Jason Day the youngest player in the tournament and Miller describing the 5th hole as an eagle hole - even though it's a 500 yard plus par 4.

Wish they'd just shut up.

Nice to see Garrigus go back to being Garrigus - probably looking for a port-a-loo so's he can do a quick doobie.

But McDowell needs to get his head back on straight, giving Jason Day way too much encouragement.

Bit too much adrenaline from Garrigus on 15. Touch like a r***ist from behind the green there.

Sorry Stevie, you shouldn't win holes against Poulter. Get one back, lose the next two!

If GMac and Day keep at it, they'll not be finishing today... Would cause some scheduling problems I imagine

Interesting from Shane Lowry - apparently he's off to Monday Qualifying for the Honda too - so his WGC top ten doesn't count????

Sad to say McDowell is letting this match slip through his fingers.

Looks like Mahan got screwed on 13. I guess Webb's god was smiling on him there.

Head says Poulter, heart says Kuchar.

Kwin, you can't complain about your picks when you didn't select an American for even one final four sport!

GunsGerms wrote:

super_realist wrote:Fair play to the unsightly leprechaun. I wasn't sure he would even be alive after two days in the desert.

Oh how I would love it if Lowry won this.

Are you related to Kevin Keegan Guns??

PGA Tour set to announce opposition to anchoring rule change today? Pathetic!

Sr,
Kuchar and Mahan have been superb all week long, would think the Mahan/Poulter match will be a classico.


puligny,
I wonder if there's something else going on here, the PGA Of America also came out against anchoring. USGA has all of a sudden become a very activist body and don't you think there's a sentiment from golf professionals, touring pros and manufacturers which says, "You're a bunch of amateurs, consult us before you start to change the rules,"?
Personally I'd say there are at least three major things they should address before anchoring but sure we all have our own sentiments about this.

Golf participation here actually took an uptick last year after many years in the doldrums and sure the PGA Of America are also defensive about that.

Regardless, it'll make for interesting times when the 2016 US Open and Open Championship come around.

Kwini, Hi. Agree Kuchar, and Mahan have been superb, as have Day and Poulter. Could be in for a treat today. We have the pleasure of Colin M reminding us he is a Ryder Cup God, and won the pre cursor to this particular tournament back in .....!! Yawn!

You are correct there are other issues, but if they can't deal with this one they won't deal with any others. Pros will do a lot of damage by sticking out against this change to anchoring, if that is what they do.