PGA Tour: Texas Two-Step: Houston and San Antonio: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Because of the vagaries of the calendar, the Tour loses Houston as the stop immediately before Augusta this year and the boys will be playing Houston this week, and San Antonio next. Then The Masters of course.
But this is the week golf returned to the front pages of a breathless national media and headlined most of the national radio and TV news programmes. No, not because Sergio hit a ball out of a tree.
Tiger, Tiger, Tiger!!!

2).The relentless march of inevitability lasted five days but Tiger finished fourteen under par on the Par-5's alone.
So: Was the week's biggest story Tiger and his brilliant putting plus the ability to ride a big slice of luck at a crucial time?
Or was it Justin Rose who outplayed Tiger for 40 holes, went into so much of a funk that he played sixteen holes in six over par, and then regrouped to outscore Tiger by one shot on Monday as he finished a comfortable runner up?

Not sure myself - perhaps Rose would have been better off playing 72 holes alongside Woods instead of listening to the roars in front of him and ogling Tiger's rise up the numerous on-course leaderboards?
I thought at the time that Justin's careless 3-putt on Friday evening's 18th might come back to haunt him, and he certainly lost form with his putter on Saturday, pushing at least four short left-to-righters below the hole.

3).What is in no doubt is that sport sees strokes of fortune, good and bad, that can make or break a round, a match, even a career.
Matt Prior played the ball on to his stumps early in his innings today, but the bails stayed intact and the headlines were of a brilliant 110 n.o., and not about throwing his wicket away when England needed him most.
Bill Haas was still in contention on Saturday when he hit a ball out of bounds - by three inches. He was toast from then on.
But minutes before, Tiger had hit a tee shot on the 9th hole which (according to NBC TV) struck a tree out of bounds and rebounded back in play. A brilliant par followed and he was off to the races on a course he knows better than anyone.
No-one knows how to take advantage of a good break like Tiger, but equally no-one follows a poor shot with another poor shot so infrequently. He sure looks good for Muirfield Village . . . . .

4).Great play also from Gonzo (he does have a first name, NBC), Olesen and Stenson. A glimpse of form from Martin Laird, Sergio running on fumes, and rubbish from Westwood. Difficult to fancy Europe's chances at Augusta unless Rory returns to his best - my fancy will be the same as last year, left handers and Saffers.

5).NBC TV did a piece during their weekend coverage lamenting slow play with Bubba Watson, Lee Westwood and the Network providing evidence for the prosecution. But they won't name names, despite the clips of Webb Simpson, Kevin Na etc.. The info on time taken by each player to play each shot is recorded so why doesn't the media get the data and start to name names. I would back Bradley, Crane, Harrington, Na and Simpson as being at least as glacial as the slowcoaches of yesteryear, Faldo and Langer, Chip Beck, Bob Estes and Ken Brown. Even Nicklaus and Couples could be pretty bloody slow.
Still puzzled why this is not an issue with the PGA Tour, but when the media's investigative reporting doesn't investigate why should the Tour be bothered?

6).Perhaps slow play has something to do with the fact that, for the seventh year running, the National Golf Foundation reported a net closure of 141 golfcourses in the United States last year - 13 openings, 154 closures. One thing's for sure, it wasn't anchored putters that causes reduction in play (tho not last year) and closure of courses.

7).And so to Texas and the "Shell Houston Open" at Redstone GC. Rees Jones designed the course with an assist from "Player Consultant" David Toms, who thinks so much of the finished product that he's not showing up to play. One of the "hooks" of the design is to create an Augusta National aura, a strong driving course with sloping greens and shaved chipping areas.
It's the last chance for players to qualify for The Masters via the owgr Top 50 and there's a strong field on hand to compete for Hunter Mahan's title. McIlroy (nice to seeing him on the range with Wozza and Djokovich at Miami Muni), Mickelson and Mahan, Bradley, Dustin Johnson and Snedeker, etc, etc..
Steve Stricker will be there - Houston offered him a sponsor's invite when Steve was down on his uppers a few years ago. He played well there and never looked back. And "Strick" doesn't forget those who do him a good turn. (Unlike some others of course.)

Who's there to win, who's there to fine-tune their game? That's the trick! Ogilvy and Charlie Howell, among others, will surely be trying as they look to secure a Billy Payne invite and this course certainly favours their length. I'll recommend a very modest e.w. interest in Chris Kirk, Jimmy Walker and Graham DeLaet, all at good prices, all in good recent form, and DeLaet and Kirk have good track records here.
Along similar lines, I'd imagine Stenson and Westwood might do well among a strong European entry.
Robert Karlsson up to 3rd alternate so hope some golfers' bad luck is his good fortune after he missed out in Monday qualifying. Conditions fine, at least until the weekend.

8).Champions Tour update:
No action for three weeks, but Roger Chapman earned a nice finish last week and is up to 25th in the money-list, while Mouland spoiled a good start but is still 30th for the season. Top thirty crucial for both to retain their cards for 2014 (tho Chapman might have an additional year's exemption).

Web.com update: Top 15's in Louisiana for Gary Christian and Russell Knox, but they're way back (56th and 54th respectively) on the moneylist and need to get some big finishes under their belts.

LPGA update: Spain's Beatriz Recari won last week in California and is up to 2nd in the money-list. Catriona Matthew is 21st and Jodi Ewart 33rd. No other GB&I golfers in the top 50.

9).Back to Mr.Woods: His stat's for the year are looking increasingly Tigeresque, including the all-important "strokes gained putting" where he leads.
Still wayward off the tee though, so he'll need something special to win anywhere that driving straight is a core competency.

10).And: Lots of snarky comments about Tiger's photo album with Lindsey Vonn, one wag suggesting the only thing missing was the Easter bunny.
But they seem to have their wires crossed somewhat.
Tiger: "We want to continue our relationship privately, as an ordinary couple."
Lindsey's Tweet, on the front page of USAToday among other places: "Number 1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Way to keep a low profile.

but actually I take it he didnt make an effective albatrous(counting it up!!)

so he obviously didnt go in the drink twice!!!

I can see your point, Ned, but the fact that Louis is also there would suggest that Charlie should be grateful rather than Lee aggrieved. Nonetheless, I hope he does get a good kick up the arse from something sometime soon, preferably in time for Augusta.

Mysti - In the water off the tee, drop, went for the green, kicked into the water greenside in 3, drop 4, chip on 5, in for a 6.

Europeans always get disrespected in terms of who they tee off with if they are not in form or aren't Mcilroy, Garcia, Rose or Donald they get crappy pairings....but Westy did get with Oosty so it isn't a poor pairing imo!!

of course yep he still made the ground!!

why am i thinking OB!!

mystiroakey wrote:two in the water and you get a 6!!

you feel great. Yes its a great 6!!

No, it's a 6. You don't get anywhere in tournaments hitting two in the water, and you don't get anywhere taking 6s on par 5s. Especially given that his game is hitting it long and straight, getting wet once when you pride yourself on fairways and greens is bad enough, splashing twice is a killer.

Meanwhile, with the rest of team Europe doing sod all.... SHAAAAANE!!!

NedB-H wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:two in the water and you get a 6!!

you feel great. Yes its a great 6!!

No, it's a 6. You don't get anywhere in tournaments hitting two in the water, and you don't get anywhere taking 6s on par 5s. Especially given that his game is hitting it long and straight, getting wet once when you pride yourself on fairways and greens is bad enough, splashing twice is a killer.

its not a killer if you only make bogey. It really isnt, its just a bogey.

you can bounce from a bogey.. a double or worst is a killer. its all about the score, not how you get it

A bogey on a hole most players are making birdie on is closer to a double... and he's done it twice in 8 holes.

so - when your out there you can only look at the positives or you might as well give up.

All golfers get a boost in confidence if they limit there mistakes..

Most feel better with a bogey on a 5 after being in sh!t creek twice than they would 3 putting for par..

Grinding is key. limiting mistakes is key..

Come on lee..

Back to 2 under

mysti,
Fact is Lee just threw away three shots to the field, a bit pointless defending that. Much as I'd like to offer him an excuse, there just is none.
Embarking on the Par-5 13th so better luck this time!

I am not defending it. Why offer him an excuse either.. If any golfer dwells on mistakes they might as well go home.. You crack on, all of them do it..

Tbh i dont understand what point your trying to make

Go Shaaaaaaaane!!!!!

He has thrown shots away but he will have forgotten about it. It's the past.

He'll be all about this shot he is on/approaching. Nothing else will be on his mind right now.

Except possibly his wisdom teeth if he does it again...

leaders will probally be 7 or 8 under today.. So lee needs to push for 4 at least. this set up seems a bit easy tbh

Strangely enough, the two Par-5's are the only greens he's missed hitting in regulation.

How can someone reknowned as both a long and accurate hitter make such a balls up of par-5s??

3 under

navyblueshorts wrote:How can someone reknowned as both a long and accurate hitter make such a balls up of par-5s??

are you lot actually serious..

All pros make mistakes sometimes and he birdied the other 2!! the other one

he might as well of made doubles on the 4's and birded all 4 of the 5's

its just one of them things..

As kwini states he has hit 11 GIR's out of 13 today and is also well in the hunt at 3 under

Completely agree nbs, still +1 on the par fives but nice to see that birdie roll in. Bunker play has been quite good this year.

Now for an eagle on #15 and all will be forgiven . . . until Friday afternoon.

I'd be curious to see his career stats on par-5s cf. someone like Woods. It's not just today...

mystiroakey wrote:

navyblueshorts wrote:How can someone reknowned as both a long and accurate hitter make such a balls up of par-5s??

are you lot actually serious..

All pros make mistakes sometimes and he birdied the other 2!!

No he didn't. He just birdied the third par 5 he's played, on the first and the second he both made 6. If he'd birdied those two instead of bogeying them he'd be in the lead on his own, instead of tied for 10th. And it's not just this week, see Kwini's stat about Woods and Westwood on the par 5s last week. In fact the Tour keeps a record of "par 5 scoring average", the 2013 leader is Woods at 4.29 on par 5s. Westwood is T139th at 4.69. It's a recognised problem...

Ahh. That's what I was meaning Ned. Cheers for that.

Nice bird on the 14th - he should be leading!!!!!!!!

NedB-H wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:

navyblueshorts wrote:How can someone reknowned as both a long and accurate hitter make such a balls up of par-5s??

are you lot actually serious..

All pros make mistakes sometimes and he birdied the other 2!!

No he didn't. He just birdied the third par 5 he's played, on the first and the second he both made 6. If he'd birdied those two instead of bogeying them he'd be in the lead on his own, instead of tied for 10th. And it's not just this week, see Kwini's stat about Woods and Westwood on the par 5s last week. In fact the Tour keeps a record of "par 5 scoring average", the 2013 leader is Woods at 4.29 on par 5s. Westwood is T139th at 4.69. It's a recognised problem...

Firstly I updated that post!

No one has ever ever had an average of 4.29 for the years golf on par 5's(what a ridculas assesment you are making for 3 months of golf)!!! tigers average last year was 4.56 and rorys was 4.49(topped it)

If woods maintains this average- It ISNT LEE THAT NEEDS TO SORT IT. its everyone


And if you think life is about IFS your crazy! you cant change the past.

Westy is pretty decent with the 5's, and i am sure that will come down if he has an ok year..

kwinigolfer wrote:Nice bird on the 14th - he should be leading!!!!!!!!

Oh dear. Are you lot purposfully trying to wind me up!

Jeas- you think players should allways birdie par 5's

I am struggling to work out if you have ever watched or played the game.

the IF mentality belongs with lesser sports

Sorry Mysti but I'm with Kwini and Ned - he needs to sort this out. You're completely right that he'll look on that 6 at the 8th as a let off right now, but in the cold light of day once the round/tournament is over he needs to look at this issue. It really does seem to be holding him back significantly.

Its really 100% not holding him back at all.

He is playing the way he is playing..

Off course he is going to practise on his faults. Who wouldnt!!

I have never read so much nonsense on here before. From normally pretty decent posters i might add.

Crazy mentality. especially about someone that has one of the best long games in the game !! He knows how to fix it- he has before. He has just been a bit rusty on occasion

Comments like he should be leading is childs playl. I could give the same type of ludicrous assesment on every player in the field..

He looks to be playing nicely.

Come on Lee

If he has one of the best long games in the business then the par 5s are where he should be gaining ground on the rest of the field. He has to be a lot better than 139th on tour scoring on them, simple as. It might only be 4 months into the season, but even if he just improved by 0.25 per hole that would get him somewhere in the top 10 on tour, and would have him a shot better every round, 4 shots better at the end of the tournament.

Ned he needs to fix his long game . Then he naturally score better on the 5's- by the looks of things today he is killing the ball(hit 14 out of 16 gir's), but hit a few bad shots on the 5's.

So by the looks of things today anyway he has done it. Its just coincedental that he has hit the bad ones on the 5's..

The better you play - you better you score on all the holes

Leeeeeee!!!

El Pato smells the Masters coming up once again!

5 under

mystiroakey wrote:...I have never read so much nonsense on here before. From normally pretty decent posters i might add....

Have you been drinking early today Oakey?

mystiroakey wrote:Ned he needs to fix his long game . Then he naturally score better on the 5's- by the looks of things today he is killing the ball(hit 14 out of 16 gir's), but hit a few bad shots on the 5's.

So by the looks of things today anyway he has done it. Its just coincedental that he has hit the bad ones on the 5's..

The better you play - you better you score on all the holes

Not sure it is coincidental mysti, we've been going on about on here for weeks, there must be a reason for that... like you say his long game seems to be in perfect shape so is it just a concentration thing that he can't put three solid shots together on the spin without getting distracted? Or is it a gameplan thing, going for the green when he should be playing safe, and laying up when he should be attacking? There's an article in the Telegraph today where he says himself it's the former, "I've actually been hitting the ball well but my concentration has been drifting away at the wrong times".

Either way, it's shaping up for a hell of a back 9. Looks like either a putt from off the green or a chip in for the birdie on 16, he does seem to have addressed that weakness.

No every player hits bad shots. Even the winners of the tournies- Its all about limiting the mistakes(ie the 6 on that 5)

last week i was mentioning that the no.1 golfers each year allways seem to have the best par 5 performance(or close).. Its just one of those things. when you play well you do well on the longer holes. Lee has just been abit out of sorts., this however will give him the world of confidence. Lee may be back in to form again. And then the 5 average will naturally come down

I'd think it more likely the strategy. The first 6 today came from a poorish drive which meant he had to lay up, which he did safely to the fairway (so far so good course management wise, he might have tried to hit it in two) but then flew over the green from 95 yards. Louis was in the greenside bunker in 2, so it would suggest he was too aggressive with the pin at the back. You don't accidentally hit a wedge 10 yards too far from the fairway.

You do accidentally hit the ball to far or to short. That is how you hit a bad shot. You do something wrong, or the wind gets up, you miss hit it, you miss judge it, you get to pumped up, you get to lazy, it could be a bad lie!!

he knew the yardage and he messed it up. every golfer does that from time to time..

If I had seen the coverage I garantee I could show you a bad shot or three from Louis

Well, he's spudsed the 17th and the 18th is a toughie.
Short memory Lee and stripe that drive.

I can see you're not going to be persuaded, Mysti - fair dos. He'll be there or thereabouts at the end of day 1, but he's been there or thereabouts after the first round a few times this year and has faded away on Friday and Saturday. Let's hope he can build over the next couple of days and be in contention on Sunday.

well he just hit a bad shot on a par 4 and it cost him. I suppose that doesnt count though

SmithersJones wrote:I can see you're not going to be persuaded, Mysti - fair dos. He'll be there or thereabouts at the end of day 1, but he's been there or thereabouts after the first round a few times this year and has faded away on Friday and Saturday. Let's hope he can build over the next couple of days and be in contention on Sunday.

What is the point you lot are actually trying to make.

Are you suggesting that he has a mental issue with holes tagged 'par 5's'

Or is it something else

Argg fairway bunker on the last!!

come on lee. get par. 4 under is needed

All I'm saying is the facts suggest he fails to take advantage of his length and ball-striking on the very holes he should be capitalising on.

We've been going on about this for years and, just to make sure you know we're not picking on Lee, Harrington has exactly the same tendancies.

Lee should be at least in the Top 40 on Par 5's and he's habitually in the Bottom 40.

Hopefully he'll improve because he's just not going to win unless he can sort it out.

Kwini lees problem is/was getting up and down and putting - not his long game..

when you hit in to a greenb from a longer distance you naturally will be furthar away from the pin! he hasnt had the short game to capitilse on his good long game.

Isnt this obvious?

and no he hasnt habiually been in the bottom 40!!

he was 56th last year.. Obviously he isnt on the stats before that because he wasnt a memnber of the tour.

but if you would kindly show me a link to his stats before to prove your statement I would be gratefull

I'm not saying his long game is a problem.

What the facts suggest is that his short game doesn't capitalise on his strong long game.

OR:

His course management stinks.

Regardless, his Par-5 record is one that doesn't do him justice.

so ... whats your point?

It sounds like you are trying to say that he should do better on 5's?

Therefore you think he has a mental problem with them.. Or what?

That's better - very tidy round with a couple of blemishes on the Par-5's!

My point is: He stinks on the Par-5's compared to the top golfers on Tour.

So where are these stats then?

2013:
Par 5: Birdie or better: 83rd (middle of the road)
Par 5 Scoring: 142nd. (horrible)

2012:
Par 5: Birdie or better: 47th (quite good)
Par 5 Scoring: 132nd. (almost horrible)

The facts speak for themselves.
And I'm a big Lee fan.

nope 58th in 2012

http://www.pgatour.com/content/pgatour/stats/stat.144.html#2012

where are you getting your stats from?

you have taken the perfomrance stats kwini.. - this is meaningless

the performance stats are not averaged out -its just how many under par you are. lee didnt play as many holes.. You need the average not the amount under par!!