PGA Tour: The Road to Humana: Notes from the Ballwasher

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1).After taking 188 starts to earn his first win last autumn, Jimmy Walker has become the latest mid-thirties overnight sensation on the PGA Tour after turning in to Jimmy Runner over the final ten holes at Waialae last Sunday when he rattled in six birdies to win going away.
Jason Dufner went from journeyman, to two wins, to Ryder Cupper, to Major Champion in 18 months and Walker himself has leapt to the head of the US Ryder Cup qualifying list. Last year's "California Coastal" swing was kind to Walker as he scored 4th, 3rd and 16th place finishes - a repeat this year will see him comfortably into the owgr top 30 and get very close to assuring him of a ticket to Gleneagles.

2).Walker is giving the field a break this week, celebrating his 35th birthday Thursday before, reportedly, taking his hot streak to San Diego. His close pursuers at the "Sony" also improve their Top Ten Ryder Cup positions, Kirk moving up to 7th, English up to 5th.

3).Golf Digest released their annual assessment of golfers' earnings this month, detailing on-course earnings and estimates of off-course loot.
T.Woods dominates, of course he does!, the combined earnings and it's estimated that his total earnings since turning pro (no speculation of what he was paid before "Hello World" in 1996) are now $1.3B. And that understates the true extent of his wealth (minus Elin's share) as there is no accounting there for his Tour pension which could also run in to the $Gazillions. Anyway, three lists:

4).Total earnings 2013: Top ten:
Woods ($83M), Mickelson ($52M), Palmer (not Ryan - $40M), Nicklaus ($26M), Stenson ($21.4M)
McIlroy ($20.6M), Player ($16M), Scott ($15.6M), Els ($14.7M), Norman ($14M).
(Those dropping out from 2012: Donald, Snedeker.)

5).On-course earnings, worldwide: Top ten:
Stenson ($18.6M), Woods ($12.1M), Scott ($8M), Kuchar ($7.1M), Mickelson ($7M),
Stricker ($6.6M), Rose ($6.3M), Snedeker ($5.6M), Day ($5.2M - how'd'edothat? World Cup??), Zach Johnson ($5.2M).

6).Off-course bounty: Top ten:
Woods ($71M), Mickelson ($45M), Palmer ($40M), Nicklaus ($26M), McIlroy ($18M),
Player ($16M), Norman ($14M), Els ($12.5M), Garcia ($8.5M), Scott ($7.6M). Faldo was 11th with $7.5M.
Hardly seems fair, does it??!!
One interesting observation by an unnamed agent was that the PGA Tour's incursion into Asia has the effect of devaluing the appearance fees for anyone below superstar status, money going instead to the tournaments; Dufner mentioned as a player who might have earned a $400K fee, now down to $200K. Kuchar, on the other hand, pocketted $500K in Australia where the Tour hasn't yet extended its reach.

7).Comparitively petty cash is on offer in the California Desert, at the "Humana Challenge". Given that the "international" contingent is still on the beach or in Abu Dhabi, the field is pretty good: Simpson, Bradley, ZJohnson, Horschel, Snedeker, Haas, English, plus a welcome appearance from the golfer formerly known as Geoff Ogilvy.
The European challenge is led by Nicolas Colsaerts and includes Messrs Jacobson, Pettersson, Davis, Knox (big black eye from him last week), Laird, Chopra, Blixt, former champ Parnevik and last year's play-off loser Lingmerth.

8).Making welcome returns from the casualty ward are Brett Quigley, Dudley Hart and John Mallinger plus 2011 winner Jhonny Vegas. But sadly Tim Clark won't be there following his withdrawal last week with elbow trouble.

9).Good form from Hawaii often carries over to the desert before the California specialists get their teeth in to the distinguished triumvirate of Torrey Pines, Pebble and Riviera. I am hoping that last year's winner Brian Gay still has his putting stroke and that Charlie Howell has now properly warmed up to his customary good early season form.

10).Back in Hawaii the 2014 Champions Tour season kicks off and fingers crossed that the limited field "Mitsubishi Electric Championship" offers golf as good as their avalanche of dodgy commercials are bad.
Roger Chapman and Bernhard Langer are the only Europeans on hand (wonder if Monty and The Mechanic - sorry Mike Rutherford - were invited?), but most of the best of the over-50 crowd will be there and the entertainment is often better than at the Humana.

PS: Best announced return of the year comes next week at Torrey Pines as the very excellent Peter Kostis returns to CBS TV coverage after a fight with colon cancer. Good health to him, his return is our good fortune.

Brian Davis has withdrawn from the published field in San Diego; wouldn't have thought the courses suited him especially and he played well this past weekend so presumably is fit.

Might be worth watching next time he tees it up, at Phoenix most likely.


Sr,
Only player I've followed who came close was Calcavecchia, just terrific swashing his buckle in his heyday years. Playing fast and don't get in my way!

Kwini, I was a terror in match play, usually played much better than my handicap.

My first club championship was against fellow who went pro, played mini tours until he went broke.  He was much better than me and he also was a CLASS A Pr*ck to play with.  Club tossing etc.

It was a 36 hole final and after the first 18 I essentially shot 4 under and was 3 up on him.  Then I birdied 1,2,3 on the second 18 to cruise to a 6 up lead.

Then he birdied 5,6,7 to reduce it back to 3up.

We had separate buggies and after we teed off on 8 (I hit a poor drive) I stayed behind, pretending I had a little cart problems.  I was just giving myself a little pep talk.

I ended up making a long putt for par to tie him and put a finger in the dyke.

We got to the 10th tee, a par 5 that plays real short.  HE bombed a drive to he 150 yd and I hit a good one too, about to the 190 yd mark.

I flagged it to 2 ft for a tap in eagle and he was D-O-N-E, done.  He was tossing clubs and mumbling how a 36 year beer drinking weekend warrior that never practiced could beat him like a drum on the golf course.  I closed him out on the 14th hole.  I was about 7 under for the thirty holes, making two bogeys and eagle and 7 birdies.  

I also drank about 12 beers that round!!

GPB -

Be delighted to play golf with you someday, just not for any $!! You've got some serious game and certainly understand the art of competition.

Also, love the 12 cans of "swing tempo" call which evidently worked.

Well done sir!

Probably Bud Light. If it were Heady Toppers http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/27039/16814/, a four-pack would have done him in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shotrock wrote:GPB -

Be delighted to play golf with you someday, just not for any $!! You've got some serious game and certainly understand the art of competition.

Also, love the 12 cans of "swing tempo" call which evidently worked.

Well done sir!

Well I used to have game.  I had a crippling accident a few years ago and lost most of the use of my right hand. I don't play golf anymore.  I was actually thinking about giving up the game before accident as I was getting jaded by politics at the country club and also some independent financial issues.

I do occasionally play a charity scramble once or twice and I can hit the ball about 175 yds in dry conditions.

From forward tees I might get back to a 10-12 handicap again but that simply does not interest me.  There is no way I could play the game playing the ball down.  I simply do not have enough strength to get the ball out of rough.

Funny thing, the only time I drank was when I played golf, so I have basically given that up too.  Double bonus to my wallet!  I might drink a dozen beers a year now.

kwinigolfer wrote:Probably Bud Light. If it were Heady Toppers http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/27039/16814/, a four-pack would have done him in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was Miller Lite!  Thank you very much.

My Grandmother used to drink Guinness!

Heady Topper - Someone from my office brought some back for me from Richmond, VT. Tasty stuff Kwin!