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.

incontinentia wrote:Mysti, the U.K. don't want to give back NI because they know a united Ireland would have a much better soccer team than England/Scotland/Wales.

A combination of ROI/NI would still be gash.

Yes Benhio

(we want BALE!!)

beninho wrote:All the half decent Norn Irish choose to play for the Republic anyway. Would make no difference.

The patriotism would help galvanise the squad, games like soccer are mostly mental anyway.

Really, didn't do their rugby team much good this year.

There isn't enough talent in Oirland in football, North or South. Too busy counting their lucky charms.

Patriotism- Arnt half the irish footballers English anyway?

Mind you English football falls below where it should be too. Dreadful in tournaments.

mystiroakey wrote:Patriotism- Arnt half the irish footballers English anyway?

No. That's a common misconception. They just have English accents from playing there.

Garth Bale is the only world class player from the British Isles. So I don't think the team would be that unstoppable.

Did all your players grow up in ireland then and just come here late on in there lifes?

Most of them go over in their teens. Even Roy Keane had an English accent!

incontinentia wrote:Most of them go over in their teens. Even Roy Keane had an English accent!

You think this is english?

Roy Keane:

Tony Cascarino - Was(still is?) irish record goal scorer, not a hint of irish in him. Did (ghost)write a great autobiography aswell.

Football is driving me mad at the moment, its just getting sooo stupid.

Agreed Ben, I only enjoy playing football, watching it is ridiculously boring.

Look dude no disrespect and all but I had a quick look at your squad and the below were all born and raised in GB.

Keiren Westwood
Sean St Ledger
Ciaran Clark
James McCarthy
Paul Green
Aiden McGeady
Anthony Pilkington
Jon Walters
Simon Cox

We'll agree to disagree Mysti. In my opinion they are Irish, GB probably benefits more sports-wise from immigration than any other nation.

They are as irish as kp is english.

incontinentia wrote:Most of them go over in their teens. Even Roy Keane had an English accent!

Roy Keane most certainly did not have an English accent.

here is the starting 11 for the most recent irish international



[1] David FORDE (GK)     IRISH
[2] Seamus COLEMAN    IRISH
[3] Marc WILSON            N. IRE
[4] John O SHEA (C)       IRISH
[5] Sean ST LEDGER       ENGLISH
[6] Glenn WHELAN         IRISH
[7] Aiden McGEADY        SCOT
[8] Wes HOOLAHAN       IRISH
[9] Jon WALTERS            ENGLISH
[10] Robbie KEANE        IRISH
[19] Simon COX             ENGLISH

Point being though Incont I have no issue with it really.

I would much rather sportsman played for the system that raised and made them. But unless that happens across the board then it is what it is..

I am also happy to throw you another 20 odd average footy players as you have given us Mogan our hard hitting ODI specialist batsman

mystiroakey wrote:
I would much rather sportsman played for the system that raised and made them.

Me too, that's why McIlroy should represent ROI in the Olympics.  

Well dude..

you see its a tough one. Because you have to factor in his outside life away from sport, his schooling, the industries his parents worked in(uk based), the fact that NI takes more benefits than it gives back to the UK in tax etc etc.. The fact that the golf club he played in was also UK based.

The other side(your argument)

Is about team ireland golf

Rory didnt recieve any grants anyway.

Its partially funded by NI anyway!!(UK)


It still heavily balances on the UK side dude!

But... He can pick who he wants and I have no problem with it.

I will still support him.

The sad truth is that he will Only Pick ROI due to pressure from Irish nationalists!

That is my biggest concern, he stated very clearly who he associates with and that is the UK.

mystiroakey wrote:But... He can pick who he wants and I have no problem with it.

I will still support him.

The sad truth is that he will Only Pick ROI due to pressure from Irish nationalists!

That is my biggest concern, he stated very clearly who he associates with and that is the UK.

the ways hes playing at the moment i fear the only reason hell pick ROI is because he wont make the GB team.

Doubt he'd even make the Santander team at present. Ironically, his dreadful performance in that advert has been better than his golf this year..

He has to much talent in the tank not to come back..

Even if he keeps perfoming really badly. His sponsers and stake holders will capture him and instal bionic arms and legs.

mystiroakey wrote:He has to much talent in the tank not to come back..

Even if he keeps perfoming really badly. His sponsers and stake holders will capture him and instal bionic arms and legs.

Without a brain, which is probably the issue, I don't think that'll help all that much!

Good point. Not sure how far we are with bionic brains

mystiroakey wrote:Good point. Not sure how far we are with bionic brains

For your sake you had better hope pretty far.

 


 

I always find it a bit disconcerting when someone changes nationality in a career move. It always seems so fabricated in order to make money. And yet the general population accept it.

I suppose if you qualify you qualify..

lorus59 wrote:I always find it a bit disconcerting when someone changes nationality in a career move. It always seems so fabricated in order to make money. And yet the general population accept it.  

Why? Does anyone actually care about their nationality?

I do, I care about mine. Proud to be English (/Welsh), proud to be British. Despite Thatcher and Cameron.

Kwini

I am proud of certain aspects of UK life, such as the Nhs and being part of europe. But if I also admire france for similar reasons.

Then there are the little things like a great pint of english bitter, but me being british does not change or enhance my ability to enjoy them.

I of course am glad to have been raised in Europe rather than the US because of the values and way of life that has instilled in me but I struggle to make the connection between this and caring about my nationality.

Especially when I have to feel the shame about what our nation has done to the rest of the world for nearly the last 500 years.

You are proud of the NHS and being part of europe-How can you be proud of that. You mean you support the ideologies!!

You also feel shame because of something that happened generations ago which you have no control over..

Every country has been guilty Mac. Should the scandinavians feel guilty , should the Italians, should the mongolians,should the americans, should the irish(oh yes the victim irish killed red indians as the brits did to clear that land!!) should the french(you seem to mention them in the positive but not in the negative- The french were no different to britain - just not as good at it!!). And what about the Germans born today. Should they feel guilty..

the answer is NO...

My advice to you

Stop feeling false shame or false pride and make something of yourself!

by the way there is nothing wrong with identity pride(national pride)- or simply put patriotism!- There is if it makes you feel superior. but not when you are just supporting your sporting team

I'm perfectly happy to be British although not patriotically so, not too keen as being labelled as Scottish though. Very little to be proud of in 2013 in being Scottish.

If you cannot take pride in the fact that in the decimation and despair of one of the worst wars ever we decided to prioritse healthcare for all, then what can you find to be proud of about your nation?

So yes, I am proud of the mindset that continues to see how wonderful a system the NHS is.


I am also sure many countries, like the ones you mention, have been guilty of atrocities against other nations people at some point in history. But why does the UK still have to be quite so cruel in the 21st century and continue to be at the forefront of arms dealing?

Mac, how is the UK cruel in the 21st Century or worse than any other country?

I am British because i happen to have been born in England. I support the national team in most sports, but would not say i have a love or passion for my country. I do not support individual sportspeople due to their nationality, as they are competing for themselves in the majority of cases. Though i would rather see Bolt win the 100m over any brit, and i would rather see a Ferrari win the F1 (unlikely) over any british driver, though quite like Hamilton.

super_realist wrote:Mac, how is the UK cruel in the 21st Century or worse than any other country?

Ask all the poor young men coming back from some very dodgy liberating with missing limbs and worse...

Fair point mac. But in fairness its not just UK and the US. The whole of the west are in political and/or military support..

We can speak out about the wrongs our country is doing today. But lets forget about the history that we have no control of.

McLaren wrote:

lorus59 wrote:I always find it a bit disconcerting when someone changes nationality in a career move. It always seems so fabricated in order to make money. And yet the general population accept it.  

Why? Does anyone actually care about their nationality?

My guess is that these sports people's agents cared. Greg Rusedski became "British" so he would automatically become the top class tennis player the British public were crying out for. I am sure he would have achieved as much in his career staying Canadian, but he would make far more money in endorsements by being British.

super_realist wrote:I'm perfectly happy to be British although not patriotically so, not too keen as being labelled as Scottish though. Very little to be proud of in 2013 in being Scottish.

Too bad.  You're Scottish - get over it.  Not a question of being labelled, it's a question of what you are.  But in a way, you have it easy - you're Scottish and British only.  A nice simple union of sets.

I often see mention made on this board of Northern Ireland, sport, nationality, the “Irish problem” etc etc, so let me take a moment to give you a perspective, using McIlroy as an example, but only at a cursory level.

The problem people like McIlroy has, is a common one for people born and raised in NI, and given our respective backgrounds, I can empathise with him as well as anyone on this board and much better than 99%.  The "Irish" are at the mercy of many forms of joined and severed political, economic, social and sporting structures that makes defining your identity much trickier.  This is not "our" fault and in this we're a victim of history and the abuses of others.  However, the way groups, factions and individuals use this to support bigotry, violence, intolerance and injustice is to our eternal shame as a nation, in the same way as the German nation should feel shame for its actions in the Second World War.  However, that does not mean that being German automatically makes you guilty of atrocities, and nor does being "Irish" of any persuasion mean you are automatically guilty of bigotry, violence, intolerance and injustice (as you have certainly implied in the past in your usual sweeping statement manner which can be funny at times, but ironically at times also makes you look bigoted).

While I'm on a roll, let me give you some examples you might not be aware of.  You do know that in Rugby we have a joint team, but in football we don't.  I think the traditional playing base of those two sports, and the class of people involved goes a long way to explaining why one is a harmonious homogenous group and the other is a bunch of bigoted chanting a-holes. I'll leave you to figure out which is which.

However, the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) is a fine example of convolution.  It represents all golfers on the island or Ireland, and growing up like me McIlroy would have been a member, would have paid a GUI levy and might have received support from them.  However, he, like me would be affiliated to the Ulster Branch and would have played inter-club matches within Ulster.  For those who don't know, Ulster is a province that includes the 6 counties of Northern Ireland (part of the UK), but also 3 from the Republic of Ireland.  What?  Hold on.  Another set of arbitrary boundaries?  Yup.

So being from here you can identify as, Northern Irish and British, Northern Irish and Irish, Northern Irish and Ulster and British, Northern Irish and Ulster and Irish and so on.  Unfortunately though, the Ulster flag and identity has been hijacked by one section of the community to represent a more narrow definition, and so is felt to be out of bounds (see what I did there – a golfing term?) even to some people born and raised in Ulster.   We have an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), which actually only contests seats in the 6 counties in the Northern Ireland bit of Ulster, but the party name implies a union between Ulster and GB, when in fact none exists - the union is between NI and GB.  D'oh!

Really of course you should just have to identify as Northern Irish, but others with vested interest and agendas of their own force us to justify to a much lower level, and given there are the bigoted, intolerant, unjust and violent people about, that makes it tricky and occasionally dangerous not to.

You’ll note, that I’ve not yet even mentioned let alone layered on religion, schooling, or the intersection of civil unrest (nor am I going to), which like it or not, has played a major part in the formation of an individual’s personal and national identity in Northern Ireland (yes it shouldn’t have, but yes it did).

So for all of you that say “What’s the big deal in Northern Ireland, why don’t they/we just...<insert ill informed/poorly thought out/simplistic/un-empathetic concept with a fanfare like you’re just cured cancer>”.. don’t.  Just don’t.  We’re getting there, but it’s taking time.

For those of you without the necessary attention span, I’ll summarise:  It’s complicated. We’re trying to fix it.

(P.S. I'm not really picking on you Super, just happened to feel the need to vent when I saw how easy you have it )

I kind of get what you're getting at, but it will ironically only be the Irish who will cry about McIlroy if he represents GB, I can't see anyone caring over here.

Shows how far the knee cap smashers have to go

Thanks for youe thoughts bob. I understand how impossible it is for you northern irish..

mystiroakey wrote:Thanks for youe thoughts bob. I understand how impossible it is for you northern irish..

Impossible? It's fantastic! Beautiful place, brilliant golf courses and up until recently a reputation that kept the pesky tourists away so we could have it all to ourselves  

Nice

super_realist wrote:I kind of get what you're getting at, but it will ironically only be the Irish who will cry about McIlroy if he represents GB, I can't see anyone caring over here.

Shows how far the knee cap smashers have to go

History suggests, the "over here" crowd would care greatly if they thought he as going to win an olympic gold for them

Doubt it, GB have plenty opportunities to win Gold, wouldn't lose too much sleep over Pube Head playing for the leprechauns.

I'm pretty nationalistic over sport, to me its a good place to went your national pride as long as its done in a "reasonably" respectful and more importantly jocular way.
I'll pretty much always want a Brit to win and when one like Murray or back in the day Coe wins a big title I love that.
That said I hate all the pride in Empire, shopkeepers of the world Little Englander twaddle.

Lots of British sportspeople that I can never support though, delighted to see some fail.