PGA Tour: Happy New Year!: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).'Ere we go again; seems like only yesterday that the first six events of the 2013/2014 PGA Tour season were in the book and Christmas seemed so far away. But here we are, with the "Hyundai Tournament of Champions" teeing off on Friday morning, with the final round scheduled for Monday. (Back to a normal Thursday thru Sunday routine at Waialae next week for the Sony Open.)

2).The past few weeks over here have been consumed with golf media picking their ten/twenty/thirty best of the year, either this one or last, coincidentally or not all finding ways to put Tiger Woods's name in their headlines. Golf Channel revealed breathlessly that Tiger featured in seven of their top ten stories of 2013 - which just goes to show they don't give a monkey's about Majors.

3).And most of the rest of the ink, cyber or otherwise, has been devoted to "What's wrong with Rory? and that won't last" plus the usual anti-Sergio bandwagon, even the AP's Doug Ferguson piling on with conclusions that Padraig Harrington thinks Sergio's a pr1ck ('course he does); no mention of what others are beginning to think about St.Padraig of course.

4).So, let's start with Tiger. Happy Birthday, 38 a few days ago, and Golf Channel reminding us that only Hogan and Nicklaus have won four Majors after turning 38.

5).But a far more significant milestone will be marked on Sunday as Miguel-Angel Jimenez turns FIFTY!!!!! No word of immediate plans for The Mechanic but surely Rioja, Cigars, Ferraris and the Volvo Golf Champions will be on his radar - snuggled in behind Ryder Cup qualification no doubt? Despite his win in Hongkers a few weeks ago, he's still outside the qualification places, currently held by:
~European points: Poulter, Bjorn, Dubuisson, Stenson.
~World points: Garcia, Donaldson, Rose, McIlroy and Gonzo.

6).And the American top nine are:
Mickelson, Dufner, DJohnson, Moore, English, Simpson, Walker, Kirk, Furyk.

Three Captain's Choices in each case.

7).Last year's busman's holiday to Kapalua was almost blown away, Dustin Johnson winning the trophy, and Paulina, with the best score over 54 holes played in about 36 hours.
Five star attractions are missing this year, Rose, Mickelson, Woods, Stenson and McDowell, but there's a decent field nonetheless, led by Adam Scott. 26 of the 30-strong field are Americans, Sang-Moon Bae, Jonas Blixt and Martin Laird being the only other "overseas" players with a tee-time.

8).Three players that I'll be watching, for this week and especially this season, are Dustin, Bill Haas and Harris English.
Will Johnson, who won here last January, take the chip-on-his-shoulder from not making the Presidents Cup Team and propel himself to this year's Ryder Cup Team? He certainly took the WGC-HSBC Champpions in his stride.
And what about Bill Haas? Not the most consistent of players but a very impressive ball-striker on his day who looks to have the game for Kapalua and the ambition for a bump up to the elite level of American golf.
Then there's Harris English, twice a winner last year - he won't win this week but has the game to turn his consistency in to a Ryder Cup spot and at least one more win. Seems at home with the frat-boy crowd making names for themselves on the PGA Tour, but what a miserable sod he looks on the course.
'Course, I'll be watching for Martin Laird because I always do, but in his two visits to Kapalua he has a 4th and 2nd place finish. Ten knicker each way please Guv.

9).It seems the WGC-Accenture MatchPlay will have to do without some of its leading qualifiers; Woods could be otherwise engaged in a Sochi hotel suite, Mickelson usually avoids it, Scott has said he won't play and Justin Rose has flashed the orange traffic light.
Talking of Rose, it seems that Golf took a backseat in the New Year's Honours List, no gongs apparently to be had by anyone, least of all recognition for Justin's win at Merion. No Dame Laura, no Sir Tone. Shameful really.

10).And let's bid a final goodbye to four great golfing stalwarts who signed their scorecards in 2013 for the last time: Miller Barber, Bernard Hunt, Dave Thomas and Ken Venturi.
They will be replaced by four shining lights in 2014.
No guessing (yet) who they may be, but hope all our favourite golfers enjoy a Happy and Healthy New Year, and a Ryder Cup win for Europe.
OK? Thanks.

Tough work, but I guess someone's got to do it.

super_realist wrote:Is Sergio still bending one in Daniella Hantuchova?

Just googled her there. Looks like a comely maiden of virtue true.

What is it with golfers and tennis players? Bigger balls?

I'm waiting for Lowry to start going out with Sharapova

Never go out with a tennis player, love means nothing to them   

 

incontinentia wrote:Never go out with a tennis player, love means nothing to them   

    

incontinentia wrote:Never go out with a tennis player, love means nothing to them   

15-0 for you inco!

Hi hend0,
I DID say "a sometimes very good golfer since".
As you say, Padraig has had close calls, just as Sergio has who I was comparing him with; no intention to demean Harrington's golf career, other than to say the past 18 months has seen a fairly consistent regression. He should arguably have at least finished in the frame early 2013 at Phoenix, rather squandered brilliant play, and hasn't really been a force since. Crucial year ahead for him if he's to regain traction as a top player.


No traction here, and the Ballwasher is all iced up. Out to get anti-freeze and replacement ice-scrapers and there'll be some Notes posted Thursday.

Good grief, Padraig the cross eyed Leprechaun is the world number 134 now.

Needs a bit of that famous "luck of the Irish" eh Inco

Indeed super, if only pots of golfing talent were found at the end of the rainbow, then Padraig may have a chance to redeem himself. Unfortunately I fear he is finished.

In other news, Darren Clarke has apparently shed 3 stone and is ready to attack 2014.

super_realist wrote:Is Sergio still bending one in Daniella Hantuchova?

Think that was a couple of years ago now. His new mrs caddied for him when he won in Thailand before christmas, German lass, looked very tidy.

pedro wrote:What is it with golfers and tennis players? Bigger balls?

I think Ana Ivanovic allegedly got to handle Scott's shaft and balls.

Speaking of Sergio, he is playing a $10,000 Buy In Poker Tournament in the Bahamas.

Didn't Sergio also have a dip with Martina Hingis (tho' some would say who didn't?, others of course would say good for her.)?
And then there's Venus and Hank Kuenhe.

Can't help but think the tennis players get the rough deal.

Harrington has been all over the irish papers and radio admitting he had the yips for most of 2013 but he is over it now.

I find it odd that, having seen the depths Westwood, Stenson, Stricker and others fell to only to recover to winning ways, that people are writing Harrington off quite so quickly. He's mercurial and a bit barmy - I wouldn't put it past him to have another good season or two in him. I'd agree the balance of probabilities are against him, but his chances aren't zero.

incontinentia wrote:In other news, Darren Clarke has apparently shed 3 stone and is ready to attack 2014.

2014 what? Burgers? Cigars? Ferraris? Greedy barsteward

Bob - Totally agree with your comment ... I'm sure it has a lot to do with the personality that is Padraig rather than a reasoned look at the inevitable ups and downs of a professional golf career.

Paddy's in some very rare air with 3 professional majors.

Bob,
Don't think anyone's writing Padraig off, just saying he's regressed from his Major-contending form of the summer of 2012, had a poor year last year, and that this is a crucial year for his PGA Tour career. No more, no less.

As for his Majors, the really "rare air" is winning three out of six Majors. Only a handful have done that, but that was the point of bringing his name up in the first place. In comparison with great friend Sergio, as it happens, in light of Shotrock's perceptive observation that he and Sergio have the same number of Majors.

My point was that Padraig's on-course record of contention in Majors was very similar to Sergio's until making his breakthrough and suddenly attaining a different level. From which he's taken a step back in to Garcia, Westwood, younamehim territory - a sometimes very good golfer who, in his case anyway, has regressed from that form.

Anyway, this year is his chance of stepping back up, or slipping further. Even money, I'd say.

He needs to start making headlines on the course rather than off it, I do agree what he says about Sergio but it's sad to me as a fan that he is only getting headlines due to a feud.

I agree Kwini make or break year.

Here is a question that will probably get a yes but is Retief Goosen finished?

I think Retief's goose is cooked Benson.

The Goose is in Hawaii; he started off well last year but then ran straight in to a recurrence of health problems. Would think this week will be an instructive harbinger of the year to come.

its all about his back nothing to do with his talent. if he gets his back in good shape then i expect to see him competitive again