PGA Tour: A Tale Of Two Trumps: Notes from the Ballwasher

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1).If you don't much care for self-obsessed blowhards with silly hair-dos who make you want to hurl a club at your TV, this week is not for you. (Shut up Johnny Miller, I'm not talking about you.)
Yup, this is the week where everything good in golf is Trumped, not just the WGC-Cadillac Championship staged at Trump-owned Doral. But also the Puerto Rico Open, being played at Trump International G.C.

2).Trump has plans to "blow up" Doral's famous "Blue Monster", originally designed by Dick Wilson and subsequently tweaked by half a dozen cosmetic face-lifters. Now Trump wants "a brand new, incredible course".
'Course he does, so he's hired Gil Hanse to do the job and, by next year, the course famous for sand and water will have sand and water, water everywhere. But Trump has been trumped and Gil Hanse is preoccupied with trying to design a course for the Rio Olympics so one of his henchmen will be driving the tractor. Great start Trump.

3).Two golf pros who had no plans to play at Doral this week are Michael Thompson, whose college golf career teed off at Tulane University until Hurricane Katrina caused Tulane to cancel its golf programme, and Geoff Ogilvy, a dial-a-quote favourite of journalists whose golf game has been in a shambles these past few years.

I compete in a one-and-done fantasy game and have been in a terrible trot of form just recently. And this week's results help to explain why.
1st: Michael Thompson finished runner up in last year's US Open, then promptly disappeared. 2013 record: cut, T78, cut, cut, WON.

2nd: Geoff Ogilvy, of whom I'm a great admirer. Until recently. No US top tens since finishing 3rd in the 2011 BMW eighteen months ago, and his 2013 record just a shade better than Thompson's: T27, cut, cut, cut, cut, 2nd. Now he's just one decent finish away from a Masters invite on a course (one of many?) which you'd think he's under-performed on.

My pick: Camilo Villegas: From the penthouse with a Round 1 64, to the outhouse, Round 2 77 and a missed cut. He's playing in Puerto Rico and hopefully he'll figure out where it all went wrong.

4).Meanwhile, the US Press has been trumpetting the 11 consecutive wins by US players. I wonder if they've also noticed that an anchored putter hasn't reached the winner's enclosure since Furyk gave Keegan Bradley an early Christmas present seven months ago at Bridgestone, 19 events, plus the Ryder Cup of course?

5).Somewhat more surprising is the rat-a-tat-tat of notes about Matt Kuchar having the Tour high of 32 top tens since the start of the 2010 season, three ahead of Luke Donald's 29. Both with 3 wins, Kuchar having played 19 more Tour events than Donald in this time. (And Donald, of course, up two Ryder Cups to nil ) Interesting though.

6).On a weekend where several American Young Ones made a splash - not just Luke Guthrie at Honda, but winner Cantlay (20) and 4th place Jordan Spieth (19) in Columbia on the web.com Tour - it is worth noting some big names outside the FedEx Top 125 as the season is approx 30% complete.
Examples of those who I imagine have exhausted their exemptions, can't be 100% on that,:
129th: Ben Crane (glacially slow except on those godawful videos).
135th: Fatty Marino, playing out his medical exemption.
136th: Immelman
151st: Brian Davis
162nd: Martin Laird
175th: JB Holmes (not quite so slow since his brain surgery)
181st: Appleby
188th: Ishikawa
Others like Allenby, Chad Campbell, Weir and Sabbatini are also struggling big time, but with one Get-Out-Of-Jail card up their sleeves.

7).Easy to complain about the young golfers in the post-Vijay, Davis, Ernie, Phil, Tiger, even Duval era being under-performers, but they are!
Top tens (like Kooch and Luuuuke) by the bucket load, but wins very thin on the ground. Let's update the Tour win totals of the Under 35's:
8 wins: Scott (34), Garcia (33)
7: Dustin Johnson (28)
6: McIlroy (23)
5: Kuchar (34), Donald (34), Sneds (32), Watney (31), Hunner (30)
4: Bubba (34), Rose (32), Haas (30), O'Hair (30).

8).So, Doral this week, more grainy Bermuda greens and a bomber's paradise. No idea who might win, though perhaps South Africa can redeem itself from a dismal MatchPlay effort. Unwise to count Ogilvy out if he's in the mood; he's won here and the field is just his size!
Of the European invasion there's one contestant who's driven down the coast with excellent, unsung credentials. Led the Honda field last week in greens in regulation and "proximity to the pin", and finished fourth here in 2012. And that man is Peter Hanson, surely worth a couple of bob each way?

9).Tiger was carted off here last year and Rory obviously walked off last week, and they're playing together Thursday, with Luke Donald joining them. Justin Rose defends his title, and we wonder whether his career will kick on, or is he destined to be another one-win-a-year merchant, never quite reaching the heights.
Weather should be fine and the course playing relatively firm and fast. No rain in the forecast and there'll be low scores in Rounds 1 and 2, but beware the possibility of stronger winds by the weekend.

10).And so to Puerto Rico where Shane Lowry will make a very welcome return to action. There's a pretty decent field, all things considered, including Europeans Casey (dreadful finish last week), Christian, Davis, Karlsson, Knox, Norlander and Stenson. Old lags whose brilliant future is well behind them help pad out the field, Allenby, Ames, Campbell, Jerry Kelly, Leonard, Sabbatini and Weekley but the theoretical class of the field among the veterans should be KJ Choi and YE Yang.
Shane will have the really Young Ones to contend with, Cantlay, Guthrie, Kohles, Spieth, Ishikawa and this will be good competition for him as he assesses his game in PGA Tour events. He's told pgatour.com that he plans to try for as many sponsor invites as he can get as he intends to stay here into May in his quest for Special Temporary Membership. He made plenty of friends at the MatchPlay and good luck to him in his efforts to achieve PGA Tour status.

PS: Please, pgatour.com, get your act together for the "live scoring". Or fire those CDW people and hire europeantour.com for the job.

Post Injury - was Tigers problem!

The scandal didnt affect him to be honest. It was all about the leg injury with the swing change to put less stress on his body

Indeed, changing your swing takes a long time as well. Last season was his first full season since 2007, give him a break..

6 years?????????

Just how much of a break does he need?


It will be a glorious day when he retires.

It wasn't a break you clown, it was a mixture of injuries, swing changes and his personal problems.

So why should you give him a break?

Furthermore, a golf injury is hilarious.

Round 2 underway in Puerto Rico and Shane Lowry needs something like a 65 to make the cut.

Karlsson and Stenson tied for 14th.
Casey and Knox T42.

Brian Davis struggling, again, in 97th, while Gary Christian is almost in LowryLand, T116.

Interesting that a Chamblee column about Rory's w/d last week noted the extent to which Davis uses the withdrawal method on an annual basis. So far on Tour, he's taken an early shower in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2 x 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and last week. Add to that a tactical DQ or two and it's a wonder he doesn't somehow get disciplined. Dalyesque, except that in Davis's case no-one cares.

super_realist wrote:So why should you give him a break?

Furthermore, a golf injury is hilarious.

maybe to a pencil neck weakling like you, but no-ones body could stand up to the power generated by Tiger's swing. The name Tiger is apt considering the raw animalistic strength of the man

incontinentia wrote:

super_realist wrote:So why should you give him a break?

Furthermore, a golf injury is hilarious.

maybe to a pencil neck weakling like you,[n] but no-ones body could stand up to the power generated by Tiger's swing.[/b] The name Tiger is apt considering the raw animalistic strength of the man

Plenty other golfers do.

The most ridiculous name in sport.

super_realist wrote:So why should you give him a break?

Furthermore, a golf injury is hilarious.

All joking aside i discovered a korean powerlifter yesterday called Suck Young

Tiger has already won once this year on the toughest tour in professional golf. And is #2 in all the world. But, to most Tiger haters he'll never be "back" until he wins a major. This level of expectation is probably the same for Rory.

So, does that mean, Westwood, Lukey, Johnson, etc. ... will never "be" until they win a major?

I think for the Tiger lovers as well, Shotrock!

Rory's fine, as suggested above, somwhere!!

What did you think about Ray Floyd's rant about the Hall Of Fame? Is he just getting bitter in his post-Mariapause, or will the Hall have to tighten up its entry criteria? O'Meara among the most egregiously overlooked in this Hello Monty, Hi Freddie HOF age.

Tiger's leg injury or Tiger's medication for his leg injury?

Sergio needs a decent showing this week in this field. He's proved some form past year or so but not at this level. This should be his next step.

Can Sergio get a decent showing in a decent event!! I wonder

Can Poults or Rose hold on and win one(showing some top form recently but flaking out)

Anyway my hopes are riding on those 3.

But then Luuuuke,Could he be doing what he does best.. hanging about in the background.. Will he improve on his score each day and then without anyone realizing be right in contention last 9!

Kwin - Pretty much agree with Ray Floyd. Seems tilted toward more "fame" than "accomplishments". They really had me rolling my eyes when George Bush was admitted.

But speaking of lock-solid, immediate HOF entry -- I would like to be in Cooperstown when Mariano gets the microphone. I take that back ... I would like to be in Cooperstown just about anytime!

So, no snow from this "event" here in Chester County ... but are you guys getting some?

No snow here, and a nice weekend in prospect. But parts of the coast got walloped with high tides and strong winds. Four inches in Brooklyn last time I checked, much more further inland.

Agree about Bush, ridiculous, but very happy for Venturi - think they should have made Montgomerie and Couples wait also, perhaps even Sandy Lyle.

Always love Cooperstown, worth a visit every year if only one had time.

Aaargh. We only just got rid of our snow from February, got in one round at Bethpage, and now it's snowing again ! We had about 2 or 3 inches when I left home this morning and it's still snowing now. So much for our weekend golfing plans.

Poor Plunky . . . . .

Nothing to write home about from Doral early in Round 2. Superficially conditions are similar to yesterday's, but scoring is sluggish.
Hidden pins perhaps after some of the guys said yesterday that they were quite accessible?
Anyway, with the leaders going nowhere fast, this is a perfect set-up for Tiger if he has at least his "B game".


Lower scores in Puerto Rico where the morning "wave" are back in the bar.
Decent rounds from Russell Knox and Stenson and they have the chance to make some noise on the weekend. Henrik Norlander should also make the cut.
Which is more than can be said for Christian, Davis and Shane. Casey and Karlsson halfway through their second rounds and right on the edge - OK so long as there are no disasters.

Hadn't appreciated yesterday that Angel Cabrera, Romero and Villegas are grouped together - that would be a fun threesome!

Went to bed last night feeling very pleased with myself having backed Dustbin Johnson who was at the time leading on -7. Woke up this morning and had to check so far down the leaderboard that part of me feared he had withdrawn.

Thankfully he's repairing the late damage early this morning.

But, doing early damage is Lukey.

A Rose repeat this week?

Is rors going to miss the cut.

Dream top 6!!

top players..

This could be a classic..

fingers crossed for

No cut Mysti so he hasn't anything to worry about other than turning up on time. Lukey moving quietly in the wrong direction.

Oh ok. Ta grumps

So, what's been going on? Missed all the golf for the last couple of days...

Go Thawoooooorn!!!

This is shaping up nicely for a Tiger and Figjam head to head battle, but one where neither could end up winning!

Smithers - True that ... I think all you can do today is pretty much only guarantee you won't win this thing.

Looks like a Runaway Train, as Soul Asylum might describe it. (Andres Romero I mean, of course.)
Hitting the road.
Laters.

Is GMac playing with Bubba and Stricker?

Going well is Graeme, and he doesn't fear the Tiger!!!

Mark 1 woods is making an appearance here.


Ominous times..

I'm just afraid he's peaking too early for the masters roak!

One chin Poulter getting left behind.

Tigers last peak lasted for 10 years!

Season peaks dude! He certainly looks very confident. Just lookin at the highlights- he's holing everything on the greens, looks like strickers tips are paying off!

Tiger

Two rounds does not a tournament make, but a fine position to be in when you are playing against the best in the world.

Bit of a dissapointing finish, but a great performance through two rounds. He holed virtually everything from 15 feet and in. Couple of clumsy chips mainly due to the fact he barely missed a green, hoping it continues. Great leaderboard.

Tiger vg. GMac (what a terrible name) excellent. Course awful!

Great to see Tiger putting like he used to, the last two days were as good as he has putted since probably his fall from grace.

About McDowell and TW Head to head results .... Here's the last 10 times they were paired together (PGAT ONLY - official and unofficial events)

(underlined McDowell lower - bold Tiger lower)

Year - Round - Tournament McDowell (score/finish) Woods (score/finish)
2012 4 Arnold Palmer Invitational 74 (2nd) 70 (1st)
2011 1 WGC-Cadillac Championship 70 (T42) 70 (T10)
2011 2 WGC-Cadillac Championship 73 (T42) 74 (T10)
2011 1 The Masters 74 (MC) 71 (T4)
2011 2 The Masters 73 (MC) 66 (T4)
2010 1 WGC-HSBC Champions 74 (T34) 68 (T6)
2010 2 WGC-HSBC Champions 71 (T34) 72 (T6)
2010 3 Chevron World Challenge 68 (1st) 68 (2nd)
2010 4 Chevron World Challenge 69 (1st) 73 (2nd)
2009 3 The Masters 73 (T17) 70 (T6)

Totally different Tiger this one.

We saw him play well many first 36 last year and then end quite poorely in the big ones.

He looks different this time tbh. He is closer to his old ways than ever before..

I think Incont was right. I cant see past him in this event

Yup i wouldn't read much in to those stats to be honest, Tiger's worst form of his career coupled with McDowell's best. I think it could tighten up with the winds, they will probably shoot similar scores tonight leaving it all open for tomorrow.

Tiger is even money!!

crazy. 2 ahead with 2 rounds to go with the worlds best behind..

and he has lost form after 36 plenty in the last year or so..,

well although I think tiger is looking different and the player to beat. I had to lay him off and take that price..

Tiger Woods 2nd round leads since 2005 - LOSSES underlined....

Year - Event - aggregate score thru round 2 - result

2005 Open Championship 4 over Montgomerie -11 W
2005 WGC-NEC Invitational tie Donald -4 W
2006 Ford Championship at Doral tie Mickelson, C. Villegas, S. Verplank -13 W
2006 Open Championship 1 over Els -12 W
2006 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational 1 over Love -8 W
2006 WGC-American Express 5 over Furyk -15 W
2007 WGC-CA Championship 2 over Pampling -7 W
2007 Wachovia Championship tie Singh, Oberholser -6 W
2007 PGA Championship 2 over Verplank -6 W
2007 THE TOUR Championship 3 over Austin -13 W
2008 Buick Invitational 4 over Streelman -12 W
2009 AT&T National 1 over Pampling -10 W
2009 PGA Championship 4 over Singh, Harrington, Glover, Fisher, B. Jones -7 2nd
2009 BMW Championship tie Wilson -7 W
2009 THE TOUR Championship 1 over Harrington, O'Hair -5 2nd
2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational tie Wi -10 W
2012 U.S. Open tie Furyk, Toms -1 T21
2012 PGA Championship tie Singh, Pettersson -4 T11
2013 Farmers Insurance Open 2 over Horschel -11 W

Bottom line... 2nd round leads used to be fairly automatic for TW (winning 35 of 45 for his career)... but the last 4 years not so automatic.

Does anyone know if anything triggered Jamie Donaldson's small meltdown that included, I think, a 5 (FIVE!) putt? I saw he was playing with Jason Day... pace of play perhaps??

I read that Jason day has a new training aid (not sure if he wears it in competition). It makes a noise if he uses the wrong side of his brain ! Sounds crazy but I read it in 2 different golf magazines. The beeping could certainly throw a playing partner off his game ! Anybody else heard of this so-called training device ?

He won't be allowed that in comp..

I guess you know a guy is getting "Americanized' when he changes his name from Fredrik to Freddie... Now if only he'll change the last O to an E in Jacobson... maybe he can secure himself a spot singing Bass in Jake Trout and the Flounders....

Plunky wrote:I read that Jason day has a new training aid (not sure if he wears it in competition). It makes a noise if he uses the wrong side of his brain ! Sounds crazy but I read it in 2 different golf magazines. The beeping could certainly throw a playing partner off his game ! Anybody else heard of this so-called training device ?

yes Harrington was hooked up to some contraption which measured right and left brain activity on the range this week.

incontinentia wrote:

Plunky wrote:I read that Jason day has a new training aid (not sure if he wears it in competition). It makes a noise if he uses the wrong side of his brain ! Sounds crazy but I read it in 2 different golf magazines. The beeping could certainly throw a playing partner off his game ! Anybody else heard of this so-called training device ?

yes Harrington was hooked up to some contraption which measured right and left brain activity on the range this week.

Harrington would be happy just to have a brain detected.

Go Gmaaaaaaac!!!!!

Attaboy Tiger ... steady as she goes.

Shotrock wrote:Attaknobend Tiger ... steady as she goes.

Don't know how anyone can want that man sausage to do anything other than fail.