PGA Tour: "Bridgestone" / Reno-Tahoe: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Whatever the merits of corporations appointing golfing ambassadors, and the impact they had on the quality of last week's Glen Abbey field, it is unarguable that two of those ambassadors provided a thoroughly absorbing RBC Canadian Open last week. Snedeker proved he has finally, and fully, rebounded from rib problems to his early season form, while Mahan played beautifully before returning to Dallas for the birth of his Zoe.

2).Sneds will be forgiven if he cruises through this week's Bridgestone event, and punters will be forgiven for thinking he might take it easy this week, honing his game for Oak Hill's PGA Championship. His schedule is hectic as his long-time sponsor Wyndham are hosting the Greensboro event following the PGA, and right before the Play-Offs begin.
(Hadn't realised that Snedeker's caddie, Scott Vail, is Eric Vail's son - Eric Vail was an extremely talented ice-hockey player for the Atlanta/Calgary Flames franchise during the 70's, scoring bucketloads of goals but with a work ethic that ultimately fell foul of the increasingly disciplined regimes of the time. Imagine Scotty has already passed his Dad in career earnings!)

3).Hunner is taking this week off and hopefully will get some sleep before the PGA. It'll be inneresting to see what birthday pressie Snedeker gets for Baby Zoe, as Daddy Hunner had stretched last week's field and looked completely in control - he should win much more than he does and maybe this was a tournament that got away, for all the right reasons.

4).Messrs McGirt, Bohn (seems one of the genuinely good guys on Tour so happy to see him playing well again) and Badds wrapped up their Tour cards for 2013/2014, but others slip inexorably in to the mire of uncertainty, including Gary Woodland, Charlie Wi and Ben Crane.
Appleby helped himself but is still in trouble while others such as Colsaerts and Hanson desperately need some good finishes this week and next.
And then there's Mansfield Man, Greg Owen, who played himself in to job security only to make a pig's ear of the par-5 18th in bogeying it on Saturday. But fortitude saw him retrieve that situation and came to #18 on Sunday needing a birdie to secure himself "playing privileges" for next season. So, from a perfect position, he shanked his wedge in to the drink, wrapped up a closing double, and has to play well this week and at Greensboro to survive.
His Bay Hill horlicks was no fluke - his 15th club is a blunderbuss with which to blast away at his feet at the most inopportune moments.

5).We can't stop writing about Russell Knox so here we go again, in the wake of his web.com 59 last Friday. Unfortunately he was unable to spin that in to a victory and a PGA Tour card for next year, but he's surely got the right stuff as illustrated by his post-59 comment:
"I didn't come here to shoot 59, I came here to win the tournament." Better luck this week, Russell, in Reno.

6).Finally for last week, and moving to Russia for a moment, Michael Hoey won his 5th European Tournament. I'll repeat a curiosity I spotted in his career record on the European Tour web-site:
This is Hoey's 5th win, but he has only three other Tour top ten finishes. That seems extraordinary to me and the only thing I can imagine compares, on a totally different level of course, is Tiger Woods's record in Majors pre 2008 surgery:
Won 14.
Other top tens: 13.
Closer.

7).And so to Bridgestone and Reno-Tahoe.
There are sure to be divergent views on WGC's, especially the "cookie-cutter" versions at Doral and Bridgestone, but they can't be ignored and, no doubt the select few who will still be grinding out a result on Sunday afternoon will provide excellent entertainment. But the difference for most of the field between a 20th place finish and 40th, say, or 50th, is just so much petty cash and hardly surprising if the majority will care more about getting to Rochester than ekeing out a result.

8).Who will win? No idea, but Firestone Furyk is a course specialist, should have won last year, and played well in Oh Canada. No doubt the likes of Westwood and Jason Day will "ball-strike" their way to a fat cheque and it's impossible to look past Woods's multiple victories here. More important for some Europeans will be to play well enough to extend their season in to the Play-Offs, Martin Kaymer for instance, while Play-Off participation is synonymous with a job next year for Colsaerts and Hanson - has anyone managed their season worse than Peter Hanson?

9).Ah, yes! I can see Ross Fisher putting up his hand in Reno - sorry Fish, forgot about you.
There's a very competitive field on the Nevada/California border for the Tour's annual Stableford event. Harrington will be there looking to extend his season and guys like Fisher, Karlsson, Knox, Norlander and Owen will hope for a decent result to take in to the season's final "regular" event in Greensboro.

10).Very pleased to see Paul Casey teeing it up at Bridgestone. At least as talented as any of the thirty-something British crew, this could be the second step towards rehabilitation as a top PGA Tour golfer and threat at upcoming Major Championships. Paul has got a long way to go before returning to golf's upper echelon, but a top finish this week, and/or next week at Oak Hill, could see him earning his PGA Tour card after two miserable years in the wilderness. Good luck to him.

AlciG wrote:

MustPuttBetter wrote:Anyone know what this funny points system in the Reno-Tahoe thing is? New one on me

Modified stableford, intended to promote attacking play. 4pts for eagle, 2 points for birdie, something like that I believe

Surely if you wanted to see really attacking golf you would not penalise failures to make a low score so heavily.

It would be cool to see the following format.

10 for albatross
5 for eagle
3 for birdie
1 for par
0 for everything else.

Or at least a set of points that reflected the face you wanted to see the players go for as many birdies as possible without worrying about loosing points.

A double eagle is a ridiculous term. Its a bloody albatross.
A double eagle would suggest its twice as good as an eagle e.g 4 under par rather than just 50% better than an eagle which of course is virtually impossible unless you are using a cannon.
Why dont the bloody yanks just call it what it is. An albatross. Technically they should call it an eagle and a half.

S_R with his symatic issues again [laugh]

language isn't and doesnt have to be logical mate.. Its why I suck at it.. Dont use the same rationale as you would with maths!

What's the point of rewarding an albatross with double the points for eagle - it's just a fluke after all?

I think they've got it about right and, at least for the holes they show on TV, it's a nice change.

Big day Sunday for Knox and Karlsson - not just to get as close to winning as they can, but to score at least a top ten finish to book a spot in the Greensboro field.

isnt it 5 to 8 kwini! and lets be honest its so rare but if it does happen then fair play..

kwini

Given that it won't happen i guess it doesn't matter what points you assign to an albatross.

I would just be interested to see the pro's go on full attack mode without fear of the round blowing up. Although if it started to resemble target golf it would as we know be rather dull.

The Modified Stableford should get a week on its own so it isn't clashing with a WGC.

Yup, The International should never have been scrapped.

Mac,
There actually were some albatrosses at Castle Pines over the years . . . . . . usually on the risk/reward 17th.

Double Eagle as its known here regardless what SR wants!

Tiger in cruise control and would surely like to save some of those strokes for Rochester. Rest of field playing for first loser ... Unless ...

s_r is correct - just another example of misunderstanding arithmetic!
Or nature: Ooh look, there's a double eagle in the sky!

Brandon Steele had a 28 on the back nine at Reno yesterday - at least someone is trying to out-do Tiger.

I think Oak Hill has a little more variety to it than Firestone - if Tiger drives it like he did yesterday that get-out-of-jail card won't be free.

Plus, he's already started to line up his excuses - complaining earlier this week about the "spotty" greens; almost as if he's preparing himself for a long week.

But if he can putt and chip at Oak Hill like he has been doing at Firestone (not likely imo), watch out.

kwinigolfer wrote:s_r is correct - just another example of misunderstanding arithmetic!

I think the guy that did stableford scoring for the US is also the guy who counts the votes in Florida. I think he also provided a number for the age of the earth as well.

Ha! The list is long for common usage names that don't pass everyone's test: hot water heater (why heat hot water), Get on an airplane rather than in?


For those truly offended suggest they pony up the cash and send to the European tour to hold a similar event ... And maybe even in Europe! Then it will be "proper" ...

Sr,
Fortunately "the European"s invented Stableford scoring (as you know of course!), and have also held Stableford scoring pro events in the past.

But the demise of The International (and golf in the Denver market) was daft - glad the concept is working well in Reno.

Field at Firestone spread out like a big field in a 3-mile novice chase at Wetherby - lots of "action" early on among the back-markers but they know that even a 61 will be pretty much meaningless. It will be three more hours before a pairing that can actually make any competitive difference take to the course.

Isn't that the trouble with these loser-take-a-lot WGC's, that only a quarter of the field have anything to play for come Sunday? Bor-ring!

Looking forward to the action from Reno . . . . . . . .


PS: Can't find Golf Digest's list of "Good Guys" on-line, but the somewhat bizarre list goes like this:
Stricker
Snedeker
Fowler/Kuchar (tied for 3rd)
McDowell
Joe Durant
Scott
Van Pelt
McIlroy
Zach Johnson
Bill Haas
Ogilvy
KJ Choi/Jason Gore (tied for 13th)
Pettersson
Harrington/Rose (tied for 16th)
Cink
Langley
Mickelson/Webbgod (tied for 20th)
Crane (Why?)
Weir
Oosthuizen
Love
Badds
JJ Henry
Kenny Perry/Westwood (tied for 28th)
Goydos

What? No Gonzo? Or Luke Donald?? Or Mechanic??? Or Ernie????

Looks a heavily sanitized (by their god?) list to me, but it is what Golf Digest says it is.

No corresponding list of Tour sh1theads.

Catriona Matthew doing a bit of a westwood at the moment.

Super, stick your head out the window and let us know how windy it is.

Thanks for posting the list kwini. As you say it seems a bit odd.

Would Tiger be further clear in the sh1theads list than he is currently at firestone?

Ah Mac,

But there's a definite American bias showing itself there, towards the godsquad and Irish/NIrish; surprised DC didn't make the list. None of the Texas contingent either, unless they count KJ Choi.

Nice to see Joe Durant and JJ Henry on the list though, always seem to be good guys on course, sharing a laugh with their mates, and with the crowd.

Are you watching the womens open kwini?

No. It's on but there's only so much golf I can watch in one day - and it looks as if yesterday's early starters might just as well have been in a different competition. And that wiped out my only parochial interest.
Trying to follow the Live Scoring though, especially now rain stopped play at Old Trafford.
Hope Pettersen or Lewis wins.

Very prescient Mac,
Not sure about Catriona but Westwood is plumb last in the "strokes gained putting" stat, averaging two strokes squandered to the field each and every day. First 3-putt of his day already in the bag - shades of Hartford? Hope not.

No-one setting 'em alight so far.

Continued rubbish from Westwood - no credible evidence this year that moving from Worksop to Florida has helped him. Certainly not his golf game. Already two 3-putts in the bag and a couple of other missed shorties.
Hopefully his caddie will give him a bollocking and there'll be some pride in his final 10 or 11 holes.

Kwini, as far as I know just before his big slump Lee moved to the States. Blamed his decline partly on moving and that he missed home.
I know home is now officially the states but he clearly enjoyed living in the UK so Im not sure why a full move was deemed a sensible option.

kwinigolfer wrote:No. It's on but there's only so much golf I can watch in one day - and it looks as if yesterday's early starters might just as well have been in a different competition. And that wiped out my only parochial interest.
Trying to follow the Live Scoring though, especially now rain stopped play at Old Trafford.
Hope Pettersen or Lewis wins.

I wanted Pettersen to win too...i wonder why...

http://fablesofthedestruction.tumblr.com/post/26934395914/suzann-pettersen-jeff-lipsky-photoshoot-for-espn

But she putted like me today

Not sure who photo-shopped that little sand dune protruding from her groin, JAS?

Digs,
You'd really think he could've had the best of both worlds really; there was a "Feherty" w/Westwood a couple of months ago where he seemed totally consumed by tooling around in his Bentley and enjoying his mac-mansion. The sort of bling and living large in America which seems to be the raison d'etre for guys like Poulter and Rose - and Feherty of course, who seems to have forgotten what brung him to the ball in the first place.

Good news from the PGA Tour: Bridgestone renew their contract thru' 2018.
Bad news from the PGA Tour: The "Bridgestone" will still be at boring old Firestone. (Strong rumours here that Tiger was influential in this decision.)

No significant moves made at Firestone yet, not forwards anyway.

PS: We had a 54-watch on the Champions Tour for a while there, as Jeff Sluman (from Oak Hill of course, very surprised he's not playing at the PGA) made seven birdies in his first seven holes. Par on #8 ruins it.

Must admit the while Florida lifestyle seems a bit vapid to me. Big sterile house in a gated community, drive everywhere in your big car meeting other rich people.
Mind you I suppose Im knocking the multi millionaire lifestyle without ever having tried it sadly.

I wouldn't live in Florida if you paid me to. Nothing personal, just not everyone's cup of tea.

Jeff Sluman shoots a swift 28 in the Champo Tour.

JAS - scrolling through those I noticed she changed her hair colour, and became somewhat bolder!!

Chances of catching Tiger? More likely to spot that flying albatross. Hardly an inspired design at Firestone, but great crowds and always excellent support.

Not sure how westwood would deal with the big life in florida, he doesnt seem the type..Anyway he has killed my love of golf. So

I am going to be as grumpy as some of you lot soon if I keep supporting him..

Had enough and I am not even going to put any money on him next week!

Shotrock,
But don't you think Doral AND Firestone fail the test of playing "World"-worthy events on great courses? Decent Tour tracks for sure, but tragic that these events are stuck in the same place year after year. After year.

Still no-one making a move. Almost as if no-one cares to risk their chance of a top ten pay day.

super_realist wrote:A double eagle is a ridiculous term. Its a bloody albatross.
Why dont the bloody yanks just call it what it is. An albatross. Technically they should call it an eagle and a half.

Why? Maybe because it irritates you so much... :-)

Some of the guys on the edge of the Top 125 have done themselves no favours this week - Colsaerts, Crane, Hanson, Immelman, but still lots to play for as Kaymer sneaks in with an unremarked 66 and Appleby and Romero still to get going.

Karlsson in reverse, Russell Knox just about to get going.

robo,
I'm surprised Champions hasn't put its dibs in for a go at staging the Bridgestone . . . . . . .

Still wish it could move from Firestone (and/or the Cadillac from Doral). "World" golf deserves better, surely?

Quite good for Woods this in terms of not having to play any dazzling golf for two rounds and still stroll to a win.
You always expect a hot streak to end and rarely is low round like a 61 followed by anything stellar, lets face it you need to use a fair bit of luck up as well as playing brilliantly to go that low.
This way he goes into the PGA on the back of two decent rounds but nothing amazing.

Kwin - Tragic? Another word we obviously don't share the same meaning of!

Tragic?
But don't you think there's a terrific opportunity to showcase the best of Golf?
And all we do is showcase the special interests. I know it's the American way, but surely the Tours can do better? Maybe not tragic, but certainly a great opportunity squandered.

First 3 putt of the week for the GOAT.

super_realist wrote:A guy in California the other week asked if I voted for Obama or Romney. I had to tell him only those who live in America get to vote in American elections.

And I guess you have to be a US citizen as well?

robopz wrote:

super_realist wrote:A double eagle is a ridiculous term. Its a bloody albatross.
Why dont the bloody yanks just call it what it is. An albatross. Technically they should call it an eagle and a half.

 Why?  Maybe because it irritates you so much... :-)

It's related to the size of the bird, isn't it? Never heard Attenborough talk about a double eagle.

Aussie Matthew Jones earns a place at Oak Hill following the Woods win at Firestone.
JJ Henry next up.

kwinigolfer wrote:robo,
I'm surprised Champions hasn't put its dibs in for a go at staging the Bridgestone . . . . . . .

Still wish it could move from Firestone (and/or the Cadillac from Doral). "World" golf deserves better, surely?

IMO you'd be in the slim minority in your thinking... at least as compared to the Tour's and players perspective.  They all really like Firestone.   And by the way...  I haven't heard a peep about TW being involved in the re-up from Bridgestone... could be I guess, but just not hearing it. But granted, he's been involved in grip and grins with sponsors here since like day one... so I guess that could influence things. But seriously... all I've ever heard over the last few years was that Bridgestone wasn't going anywhere and as long as they were involved it WILL be Firestone CC.

robo,
I thought the Tour had the right idea in the early days of the Tour Championship, before it got marooned in Atlanta.
They played at some super, seasonally appropriate, courses like Oak Hills, Champions, Harbour Town, Pinehurst, Pebble, probably one or two others.
I can't believe that, doubling that range for August-weather, the Pros wouldn't prefer some variety.
But maybe they just don't really care - but tournaments like this week's couldn't possibly be duller, quite apart from the runaway win which no doubt the Tour and CBS loved.

And Gary Woodland takes the final Oak Hill tee-time by winning Reno-Tahoe.
Disappointment for Russell Knox as his 72nd hole eagle putt missed by a fraction - that costs him a top ten finish and a free pass in to Greensboro; the second time this year that he's been denied (or denied himself) a top ten free pass in to an upcoming tournament.

Hard luck, or just desserts - tough to tell, but he'll be lucky to get in the Greensboro field now, and is off to Missouri for next week's web.commer.

Romero clinches his card for 2013/2014 with his T2. Just wish he'd get motivated a bit earlier in the year.

What will happen when as Doral is transformed into trump florida, or whatever he will call it. At some point will they not have to stage the event on another course as the trump makeover takes place?

I think they're working on it now, Mac.
What we all need is a shop window for Trump's excesses.
What a joke.

He doesn't hang about apparently.  

Donald Trump wrote:"They are saying that the course is in the best shape in 25 years. It's a little ironic, because we blow it up on Monday,"

5 March 2013

Can you really make major changes and hope everything has grown in and settled down within a year?

From the plan below it seems the routing is intact, and I don't know the course well enough to work out what the changes are.  Would be interesting to know if the greens are being recontoured for example.

Doral renovation plan:

From trumps comments about blowing it up you would have to assume some major changes beyond bunker redo's, unless of course came from a blowhard like trump.  Who knows what he will do with it?


PS kwini

I know i will have a hard time convincing you Tiger's WGC record means something, so hopefully this nugget can help a little.

From Jason Sobel on twitter;

"Tiger Woods now owns 18 career WGC titles. Everyone else in the current top-50 on the Official World Golf Ranking has combined for 17."

Very impressive win by Tiger. However, it turned the final day into a bit of a snooze-fest.

kwinigolfer wrote:...But maybe they just don't really care...

Think you're on the money with that observation Kwini.

McLaren wrote:...From Jason Sobel on twitter;

"Tiger Woods now owns 18 career WGC titles. Everyone else in the current top-50 on the Official World Golf Ranking has combined for 17."

Woo hoo!