PGA Tour: What a Way to Run a Major: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Congratulations to Adam Scott, Living proof that nice guys sometimes finish first.

But, really!
Never has a major sporting event seemed to be nothing more than public intrusion on a private party. We noted a few months ago the passing of the great Frank Keating, and it is worth recalling words from Matthew Engel's Guardian tribute, which included:
"After a last hurrah (well, not much of a hurrah - he hated the whole fiasco) at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics . . . " etc.
Those same Olympics run by President and CEO, Billy Payne (an ugly precursor to Romney at Salt Lake City), now Lord High Executioner of The Masters.

2).But have events of the past tournament served to forfeit Augusta National's "right" to manage a Major? From the capricious invitations, through various rulings, to the uneven (from day to day) condition of the greens this was a "major" Masters too far.
I missed Tiger-gate on Friday evening, attending instead a "Town Meeting" held by our US Senator accompanied by hard-hitting investigative journalist Matt Taibbi who writes for Rolling Stone and follows the banking fiascos of the past six years from "Too Big To Fail" to "Too Big To Jail". Kinda wondered about that when word started to surface about possible malfeasance on the 15th.
One of Taibbi's oft-quoted phrases is his description of Goldman Sachs which I can't help but think applies equally to Billy Payne:
"A great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money."
Step down Billy, before you strangle the Masters.

3).One immediate change that The Masters should announce immediately is a requirement for a Rules Official to walk with each group every round. They currently follow the PGA Tour's policy of stationing eight Rules guys strategically around the course to be called on in the event of a decision being deemed necessary.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of Guan's slow-play penalty and the Woods fiasco, it is likely that a travelling official would have improved the likelihood of avoiding penalties.

4).Nice story on yahoo.sports about Cabrera and Scott at the 2009 Presidents Cup. Scott had been mired in a slump but was controversially named a Captain(Norman)'s Choice for the International Team. Norman wanted to connect him with a partner whom he thought could help steady Scott's nerves.
Masters Champion Cabrera spoke up: "I'll play with him", telling Adam: "You're a great, great player", the start of a strong relationship betwen the two.
Hard lines this time on Angel, but great to see Adam win.

5).And, to be fair, I underestimated his ability to compete this strongly on such a sparse schedule, the same number of events played this season as the semi-retired Stricker. Other surprises to moi:
For better: Jason Day. Still not convinced about Jason Day, still only one minor, struggling, win on Tour. Suspect he'll win his next event from way ahead or way behind.
For worse: Obviously Mickelson had a horrible week as, to a lesser extent, did Hanson, McDowell and Rose.
But I got this one right: Tiger beat himself.

6).With the changes Chief Payne announced last week, only the top 12 qualify for next year. Those not previously exempt are: Day, Leishman, Olesen, Sneeedeker, Garcia, Westwood, Huh, Clark.
Hard luck stories, those who finished in the Top 16 and would normally get a 2014 invite, but not now!:
Toms, Dustin, Watney.

7).Phew! The traditional post-Masters breath of fresh air is blowing in to Hilton Head, the start of the "Pete Dye Swing" (three of the next four weeks are at Dye designs) or the "Banking Swing", RBC, Zurich and Wells Fargo.
Normally I'd fancy Luke Donald big time this week but can't help feeling his game right now has fallen from the elite; but lovely Harbour Town is a course specialist design, shortish, fairways where positioning is key, and tiny greens. Gay, Furyk and Snedeker won in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively and you'd fancy Tim Clark around here.

8).A strong field includes Colsaerts, Donaldson, Hanson, Kaymer (also falling from the elite level?), McDowell, Sterne as well as the usual suspects including Lukey. The Tour's "Carolina Boys" are out in force and I look forward to a great week on a beautiful course. "International" players are on a roll now though, and I like Badds (won in 2006) and Clark to contend at least.

9).The Champions Tour rev up their zimmer frames again in Atlanta, at the TPC Sugarloaf where the old Atlanta tournament was held for twelve years. The typically short list of Europeans will be there, including Messrs Langer and Lyle who both performed with credit last week while some of their more overweight contemporaries sank faster than the Belgrano, Woosnam, O'Meara and Stadler among them.

10).It was announced yesterday that Tianlong Guan has received a sponsors' invitation in to the New Orleans tournament next week. Pity the poor sods grouped with him who get to watch his funereal "pace".

PS: Lots of heads turning this week to the real world and the atrocities in Boston. Close to home for the one Tour member who lives there, James Driscoll whose drum is a couple of blocks away from the carnage. Thoughts to everyone there, as well as to those who were victims of atrocities in GB&I funded by organizations based in Boston.

Sr,
The only course I've been to which I thought had greens well beyond the scope/ability level, of amateurs was at a US Senior Open at Salem CC where I just couldn't imagine 10-handicappers breaking 100.
As it was, the pros averaged more than five strokes over par per round.

If Merion is like that, I can't imagine McDowell have the precision to contend, but it wasn't just speed, it was the small portions of the green to aim at as well as keeping the ball below the hole.


pedro,
See above. "Proximity to the pin" is the Tour stat; Greg Owen was first at Harbour Town (30 feet, McDowell almost 35 ft) . . . . which says everything you want to know about Owen's putting.

GPB wrote:
Robo: Is this criteria consistent in all Invitationals? In other words, are we likely to see Daly at Colonial, Memorial and ATT?

No... the criteria is different for each of the Invitationals. Lots of similarities... but different. For instance... the Heritage uses the standard priority list in several instances including the last "to fill the field" category... but the the others (API, Colonial, Memorial, ATT) use the current FedEX points lists to fill the field...

The Merion legend has it that in a major (in the 30's I think) a professional golfer actually putted the ball out of bounds. He was front right on #14 and had to putt uphill to the crest where the pin was located. Trouble is that he went just a little long and in the dry hot summer of Philadelphia the ball went just over and bounded through the rough down onto Ardmore Avenue.

It would be wonderful if Eddie Molinari could qualify for the US Open, as he was the winner of the US Amateur when it was held at Merion in 2005. Others competing included Brian Harmon, the always popular twosome of Anthony Kim and Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk, Matt Every, Kyle Stanley, Ollie Fisher (he must have been about 13 at the time), Richie Ramsay, Gary Woodland, Rhys Davies, Webb Simpson (fresh from morning "bible reading"), Michael Sim, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Kevin Chappell, Dawie Van Der Walt, and Charlie Beljan.

Competitors in the 2009 Walker Cup, also at Merion, included Rickie Fowler, Cameron Tringale, Tommy Fleetwood, Bud Cauley, and Peter Youline. Oh, and Brian Harmon again.

Do you need precision if the greens are ridiculously quick?

I always think judgement of weight to avoid three putting is the key on super fast greens. No one will hole anything so you should aim to be the person with the fewest three putts.

McLaren wrote:you should aim to be the person with the fewest three putts.

Didn't work for Westy at the Masters

Mac,
It takes all facets, obviously.
But my sense at Salem was that, if you didn't hit the right portion of the green, more than any course I've watched at or played, chipping from ten yards away was almost as problematic as a wedge from 120 yds. Plus the humps and bumps on the greeens repelled anything other than the perfect approach.
I just wondered how similar Merion's greens were, both designed by a Scot so you never know!

I thought Henry J. Whigam layed out Merion?

Hugh Wilson seems to get the credit:

http://www.meriongolfclub.com/Club-Information/Merion-History.aspx

"The Golf Course" states that "C.B.McDonald and H.J.Whigham both offered advice on the endeavour."

Who designed Merion, who built Merion, who consulted on Merion all enduring questions and open for debate among golf architect geeks, particularly here in the greater Philadelphia area. One thing that's not debatable (IMO) is what a world class course it is.

But, it sure lacks the infrastructure that most major championships need. Although practice round tickets remain, the event has been sold out for months. (25,000 spectators a day, 4,000 volunteers). Driving range, locker rooms all about 1 mile away from the first tee. Grandstands pretty much from the 13 hole on.

Players already sneaking in rounds.

Looking forward to seeing Merion.

Sr,
Watched David Graham's Tour de Course in the bar at Hidden Valley - Danny used to play Merion, among other great courses in your neck of the woods, when he was a student at LaSalle. Nice to get a running commentary about the holes . . . . .


robo, GPB, Am puzzled about Peter Kostis tweeting and soliciting prayers on the air for Miller Barber when he and Gentleman Jim Ferree appear to be playing in Savannah, though they ARE one over par. Perhaps PK was having a laugh . . . . .

kwinigolfer wrote:
Robo, GPB, Am puzzled about Peter Kostis tweeting and soliciting prayers on the air for Miller Barber when he and Gentleman Jim Ferree appear to be playing in Savannah, though they ARE one over par. Perhaps PK was having a laugh . . . . .

Yeah... odd isn't it. I'm not working so I really don't have anything on it yet... I sent some texts last week to inquire.... but only received digital "shoulder shrugs" in return...

Sounds all a bit like Mark Twain's obituary somehow - can't see Miller buying Kostis too many drinks after a premature eulogy.

Kwin - I believe Mr. Graham hit EVERY fairway and EVERY green on that fateful Sunday.

Given the now ribbon sized fairways that have been contoured I would be astonished if any one player did that come June.

kwinigolfer wrote:Sounds all a bit like Mark Twain's obituary somehow - can't see Miller buying Kostis too many drinks after a premature eulogy.

Kwini.... just found out that Miller Barber is NOT at the tournament... Ferree is playing solo...

Sr,
That's what I recall

robo,
The Miller's tale, as Chaucer would have it. Or the Barber's tale, as he might have done . . . . Cheers.

Hearing that longest running sponsor on Champions Tour may not re-up... Liberty Mutual.

Just heard from Kostis... "X is not doing too well. Battling cancer and won't be playing in the Legends I'm afraid. Say a prayer"

Two pieces of bad news there . . . . . .

Kwin - Was a one Mr. Joe O'Toole your barkeep at HV?

Good friend of mine and I know did that for quite a while (just not sure when).

Wow, Sr, Completely forgotten about him; I remember him now but think he was working there more toward the mid-eighties. Had my stag do there - golf all afternoon, drinkies all evening with a nightcap at Dellers! Perfect.

Is Merrion the course with balls on top of the pins rather than flags? I seem to recall them from Walker Cup. If so will they be like that for the US Open?

Wicker baskets!
Easier to see than a flag, but no help to see which way the wind is blowing!

Puligny - Wicker baskets indeed. Handmade and heavy! Local rule (which I've never heard used) is that if your ball embeds in the basket you place it right beside the cup.

"Jason Sobel ‏@JasonSobelGC
Just spoke with PGA Tour executive who maintained no decision has been reached in regard to Vijay Singh and there is no imminent timeframe."

Mac,
Here is a scouting report from golfchannel.com on Merion:

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/rex-hoggard/an-early-look-at-merion/

Am looking forward to seeing what the USGA makes of it, and what the Pros make of the USGA's doings . . . . .

Easy to see in the wake of Harbour Town the extent to which length is overrated when there's an option to dictate precision.

(That green photographed looks a little benign however . . . . . .)

kwinigolfer wrote:Wicker baskets!
Easier to see than a flag, but no help to see which way the wind is blowing!

I never understood why the USGA Flags were RED.

A lot of Men are RED/GREEN colorblind.

I can see a red flag being hard to see by colorblind golfer against a background of trees or green TV towers.

Thanks for the link kwini. So they have removed 8 acres of fairway and plan to have ball loosingly thick rough to gather the balls that miss the disparagingly tight fairways.

I am not sure what makes Shaffer (one of those responsible) for merion's set up come to this conclusion;

" After the Open, he said the club will likely put that manicured turf back."

In relation to the lost area of fairway. Guys a genius.

Kwini/Mac great link. Sounds like they are trussing the old bird. Hope they remember a game of golf is supposed to break out!

GPB wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:Wicker baskets!
Easier to see than a flag, but no help to see which way the wind is blowing!

I never understood why the USGA Flags were RED.

A lot of Men are RED/GREEN colorblind.

I can see a red flag being hard to see by colorblind golfer against a background of trees or green TV towers.

I can confirm this is correct, they are hard for us colourblind people to see

Mac -

Sorry for repeating myself (probably) but one time I was about 3 yards off the fairway coming up 18 and 4 golfers and two caddies could NOT fit my ball in that rough. Think water hazard.

Looks like Quail Hollow is joining Riviera on Woods's sh1t list as he drops it from his schedule - next start assumed to be The Players, though he hasn't played that well for years so assume that is in jeopardy also.

And IanJames is tweeting about the condition of Quail Hollow's greens - first I've heard of it, so it'll be interesting to see if he expounds on that.

R&A's take on Viay, Rory in Rio and anchoring;

http://golfweek.com/news/2013/apr/23/peter-dawson-talks-tiger-woods-rory-mcilroy/


Not sure why the R&A cant announce whether or not VJ can play in the open?

Or at least the Senior Open . . . .


Quail Hollow update:

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golftalkcentral/quail-hollow-greens-undergo-emergency-repairs/

Doesn't sound very good . . . .

Anyone know what this means, other than maybe some more dollars for the W foundation?

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golftalkcentral/tiger-woods-foundation-to-manage-deutsche-bank-championship/

Mac,
I hadn't realised it before but apparently the TW Foundation manages the AT&T at Congressional as well as the Chevron, or whatever it's called now.

Presumably in the same way that IMG, and others, manage tournaments around the world.

So Woods has a nice little earner there, collecting a management fee and any prize money, plus being the primary beneficiary.

Can you say "monopoly"?

Would have thought conflicts of interest abound.

Maybe the EA sports computer games were a prophecy and not just a title, look out for "Tiger woods PGA tour 2020" to be a reality.

To be clear, the Tiger Woods Foundation is the primary beneficiary.

What's the conflict of interest?