PGA Tour: Texas Swing, Part 1: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).Adam!!!!!!!
PGA Tour: Strokes Gained Putting: 1st: Adam Scott.
Unfortunately that was ten years ago, in 2004.
Fast forward a decade and Tom Callahan writes in April's Golf Digest, published a few weeks ago:
"Scott's issues on the greens aren't over."
Don't you hate to see journalist's predictions come only-too-true so quickly?
Adam's putting last Sunday was reminiscent of Justin Rose's recent yippy efforts - certainly not the only reason he didn't win, but a major factor.
 
2).Meanwhile, as Buddy Holly used to croon:
EVERYday it's a gettin' closer, Goin' faster than a roller coaster,
EVERYday it's a gettin' faster.
Matt Every has been one of the surefire future winners on Tour for quite a few years now, the cocky kid from Florida who teed it up in the US Open in 2005 and offered the opinion that he was as good as anyone in the field, and probably better. A touch of the Patrick Reeds, or John Petersons.
 
3).'Course, in Every's case at least, things soon started to go awry:
EVERYday it's a gettin' longer . . . .
. . . . as he struggled to reach the PGA Tour, finally earning his card for 2010, starting his Tour career off in respectable style only to get his collar felt for suspicion of marijuana possession whilst at the John Deere Classic.
Whatevery the circumstances, he was suspended by Commish Finchy for three months and lost his card and spent 2011 mostly on the Nationwide Tour. He foozled a golden opportunity for his first win at, yes, the 2012 Valero Texas Open, but gradually became more consistent.
He tried hard to make a horlicks of his final Bay Hill holes but Scott wouldn't take advantage and the Can't Miss Kid, Matthew King Every (you couldn't make these things up), finally crossed the finish line ahead at the ripe old age of 30.
 
4).Good finishes at Bay Hill for Europeans Molinari, Stenson, McDowell and Jacobson, varying degrees of disappointment for most of the rest, some of whom seem to be losing the scheduling plot.
 
5).And out-of-the-blue returns to form for two Americans whose early successes are increasingly fading from memory, Sean O'Hair, and Lucas Glover. No complaints from here if both get their acts together and resume their fine play of five years ago.
 
6).If Matt Every was a surefire future winner on Tour, who are others who have been paying their proverbial dues for a while who might join him as a Tour winner?
One who has more than his fair share of Every-style cockiness and the game, if not the temperament, to go with it is Kevin Chappell who has intermittently been knocking at destiny's door for a while now. 3rd behind Rory at the 2011 US Open, 2nd a few weeks earlier at the Texas Open, and runner up last year at Memorial.
 
Others I fancy to win soon include Canadians David Hearn and DeLaet (of course!), Cameron Tringale, Willie McGirt and Texan Chris Stroud. (Edit: Meant to mention Brendon Todd here as well.)
Haven't seen enough of recent Tour members (Langley, Guthrie etc) to judge whether any are better than Russell Knox; they certainly don't have his consistency. And, for a real long shot, how about Ben Martin who's still finding his feet on Tour but has looked as if he may have the "right stuff"?
 
7).This year's Texas swing starts at San Antonio, at the "Valero Texas Open", moves east to Houston, takes a month's break and returns in May for Dallas's Byron Nelson before finishing up in Fort Worth, at Colonial.
 
QUIZ: At least two current Tour pros have each won three of these four tournaments: Who are they?
 
8).The OWGR thread elsewhere describes the possibilities for earning a trip to Augusta via the Top 50, Hadley Chesson being the obvious candidate; but the winner also receives a note from Billy Payne and if "horses for courses" means anything at all, you've got to like the chances of Chappell, Freddie Jacobson and Charlie Hoffman.
Best known local boy is Jimmy Walker - remember him? - while a Texan with plenty to gain is Ryan Palmer, currently 62nd on the owgr list.
 
9).The European challenge is pretty sparse: Martin Laird appears to be back from nappy-changing and defends his title, while Brian Davis's good finish at Bay Hill may mean he's just about to go on his customary spring streak of good play, which typically concludes in Hartford.
Unfortunately, one player who doesn't think the course suits his game is Sergio Garcia, Greg Norman's co-conspirator as design consultant.
Others with decent finishes here include Els, Furyk, Every's mate Billy Horschel and Kuchar.
 
10).Back to the Every man. I wonder what will become of him, whether he'll go on to a great career, merely a good player with a win every so often but tons of loot, or will his high opinion of himself get the better of him?
 
This time last year, Every's chum Horschel was embarking upon a run of: 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 1st and was in great shape as he dressed up as a lobster for the US Open where he finished 4th. The sky seemed to be the limit, but he's not had a top five finish since. You just never know, but one thing you DO know is that each has that extra gear in his golf game and make-up that makes each compelling viewing.

Nice write up Kwini

Quiz:

Spoiler:

  
Nice one, GPB.

Nice one kwini. Could google it by why did the commissar ban evs for 3 months? Reindeer horn contamination?

Monty,
Every was suspended after he was alleged to have had marijuana in his hotel room while competing at the John Deere Classic. As far as I know he was never convicted and has always denied he was a user.

Still haven't see any confirmation of Elkington's presumed "suspension" . . . . . .

Well I know that I play a lot better after partaking. Those bad shots just don't seem to matter somehow....   

Talking of suspensions, good to see the once very fine Tour player Jonathan Kaye back plying his trade on the web.com Tour. Hope he's injury-free and makes it all the way back to the "show".

It seems our Eurasia cup team ended safely up in Malaysia and not 2000 km west of Perth. Not sure too many people care about the result though.

What the format of the Eurasia Cup. ET website is unclear.

1 session of Fourballs on Thursday?
Another session of ???? on Friday
Singles on Saturday?

GPB,
I think it's just three sessions:

http://www.eurasiacup.com/team-europe/event-info/schedule/

Can't see anything to suggest otherwise.

Seems odd that they are starting the matches so early in the day if there are just one session on the first two days. Afternoon showers are commonplace in Malaysia, I would guess.

A few comments in the US Press and relayed to the US Press about Tiger Woods losing his "intimidation factor".
Last time I checked, and like it or not, Eldrick won five times last year.
Stallings, Henley, Reed etc might have beaten a wounded cat early this year, but not sure they were in the same postal code when Woods won those five.
McIlroy and Scott have just shown how difficult it is to lead thru'out a tournament, Tont made a career of it. Wouldn't count him out when he gets his back properly sorted.

Surely Tiger still "has it". But he doesn't intimidate to the same extent as before and is clearly not invincible as in the past. The other players definitely give him a run for his money now.

Ivor Robson looks like he swallowed the Starters Table over the winter.

GPB wrote:Ivor Robson looks like he swallowed the Starters Table over the winter.

Is he fatter than usual?

GPB wrote:Ivor Robson looks like he swallowed the Starters Table over the winter.

I've always wondered what the point of this man is. He doesn't have a good voice or intonation (which wobbles) for doing it.

Surely they could get someone better? James Earl Jones, Brian Blessed, the man who does the commentary on cinema trailers, the man from the Honda adverts, Joe Pasquale   etc

I like Richard Dawkins voice.

They had to find someone who could go 12 hours without a Jimmy, and Robson was the only applicant.

Have seen that Faldo and Tom Watson are in the Hilton Head field.
How ridiculous!
If Faldo cared to play, he could compete in the Masters and not take anyone's place - but no!

In this age of declining opportunities for web.com graduates, they take a 120-man field (as opposed to full-field events of 144 or 156 players) and effectively reduce it further.
Gawd only knows who else will be taking a free pass from the mortuary.
Disgraceful that this is allowed to happen, but a signal to Euro-tourists that opportunities for you are shrinking fast.

kwinigolfer wrote:They had to find someone who could go 12 hours without a Jimmy, and Robson was the only applicant.

I don't understand why the "no toilet" thing is lauded. Why is he torturing himself? He's got plenty of time between tee times to do go for a pee, could probably knock one out too and still be back in time.

Fog in Texas, and not just in George Bush's home, start delayed in San Antone.
Drizzle also in the area so it could be an iffy morning before this blows away and decent weather for the rest of the weekend - warm but sometimes breezy.

Colsaerts and JB Holmes in the second group off - surprised they didn't invite Daly to make it a threesome, but Ryan Palmer hits it long enough to help provide a long-driving show.

Extended delay in San Antone and no action for another half-hour, at least.
Time for a breakfast beer.

Hmm. Sure the crowds will be suitable fun if they've loaded up on plenty of beer!

I think Harrington "loaded up on plenty of beer"; he bogeys his first par-5 - now there's a surprise.

The Shot Link crew appear confounded by Harrington's performance, but they seem to have settled on the idea that he double-bogeyed his second par-5.
Rumours abound that he's flashing a "Why always me?" t-shirt.

Spieth +6 after 7 holes. Didn't see that coming, but it feels as if players in the past have made birdies in almost as many bunches as they make bogeys; Kevin Na and John Huh in recent years just two examples.

The 19th hole at last for Padraig.
Four over for his round, and four over on the Par-5's.

Terrible exhibition from Mickelson as he posts a 77.

super_realist wrote:

GPB wrote:Ivor Robson looks like he swallowed the Starters Table over the winter.

I've always wondered what the point of this man is. He doesn't have a good voice or intonation (which wobbles) for doing it.

Surely they could get someone better? James Earl Jones, Brian Blessed,  the man who does the commentary on cinema trailers, the man from the Honda adverts, Joe Pasquale   etc

Actually I heard he just died. I wasn't aware it's actually the same guy doing all the trailers. Kinda like in boxing with that ring announcer Michael Duffer. Heard he has made $100M or so over the years just being a one trick pony. That's what I call a niche.

Yes Ivor Robson sounds like he's on helium or suddently gets something stuffed up his behind when he's approaching the end of his sentences. Anachronistic in a way, but that's golf in a nut shell isn't it.

McLaren wrote:I like Richard Dawkins voice.

For a minute I thought you meant Stephen Hawking....

Harrington is putting like crap at the moment, two three putts is just standard these days. Also +4 for Par5's wtf

Over the last 5 years Harrington must have the worst Par 5 performance on tour.

pedro wrote:

super_realist wrote:

GPB wrote:Ivor Robson looks like he swallowed the Starters Table over the winter.

I've always wondered what the point of this man is. He doesn't have a good voice or intonation (which wobbles) for doing it.

Surely they could get someone better? James Earl Jones, Brian Blessed,  the man who does the commentary on cinema trailers, the man from the Honda adverts, Joe Pasquale   etc

Actually I heard he just died. I wasn't aware it's actually the same guy doing all the trailers. Kinda like in boxing with that ring announcer Michael Duffer. Heard he has made $100M or so over the years just being a one trick pony. That's what I call a niche.

Yes Ivor Robson sounds like he's on helium or suddently gets something stuffed up his behind when he's approaching the end of his sentences. Anachronistic in a way, but that's golf in a nut shell isn't it.

In a world, where thousands of actors with excellent voices have to make ends meet by waiting tables, one man cleaned up by doing thousands of trailers. Now, that man is dead. Who will step up and become the next......
Voice Over Hero

Imagine Harrington as a voice over hero... "Ehhhhhhhhhhh, in a wurld, ehhhhhhhhhh, where one man, ehhhhhhhhh, bogeys every par 5..."

Harrington gets to cool his heels Friday morning as he contemplates his Westwood-itis on the Par-5's.

Fog in the area again this morning reportedly, and the chance of some morning "weather" (thundershower possible), but if a prompt start is possible they should get back on schedule by this evening.

Once again, Colsaerts is struggling - this is turning in to a long year for him, and it's only March!

Only four shots covering the leading 69 golfers.

"Voice Over Hero" was recorded by the Kinks wasn't it? Or was that Celluloid Hero??

Kwin - "Celluloid Hero" a great song!

Great song, great writer, great band!
Did you see them at the Stanley about 20 yrs ago, Sr?


Terrible round (80) from Billy Horschel yesterday - he should arguably have won this last year, but he's played poorly so far this season. I thought he'd kick on and establish himself as a top player, but he's slipped into reverse instead.

Only one tournament win (by Pat Perez) among the top 9 in San Antonio.
Brian Davis T6 after 11 holes - can he break his duck??!! (Imagine our old friend "limeyatthebeach" would still call him a tool.)

Early birdie on the 11th for Harrington, but he's probably quivering in anticipation of his first Par-5 - the 14th. Good start though.
After yesterday's 76 he probably needs a 69 to play the weekend.

Birdie on the Par-5 for Harrington and, with the cut-line creeping (inexorably?) to +2, he's made an excellent start.

Harrington said he plays his best when he is fearful and he has admitted he is fearful over missing the Masters.....time to show he means it over the next 6 rounds.


I am presuming he makes the cut this week and next that is!

He has one of the better rounds going this afternoon - a slim chance he'll make the cut if he just pars in with the wind giving the players fits.

Wasted week for Colsaerts, Harrington and Laird.

Shocked that Erik Compton w/d'd, hope he's OK.

Some shockingly bad scores out there, but Mickelson looks like he's playing the weekend; Ernie Els among those down the road.

Looks like everyone finished, some had to have flashlights to finish

Probably Split tees with so many making the cut, and in the Central Time Zone.

=============

Houston field looking strong, with many Euros represented.

24 players in the top 50.

Stenson, Rory, Sergio, IJP, Luke leading the Euro contingent.

Preliminary OWGR rating looks like a Weak 60, vulnerable to a WD from anyone in the top 100.

Stenson can claim the #1 spot if he wins Houston.

And Steve Stricker honouring the tournament that got him his (second) big break back in the mid-2000's. Good for him.

Other Europeans include Blixt, Casey, Colsaerts, Davis, Hanson, Freddie Jac, Kaymer, Matteo, Pettersson and Westwood.

Plus all the better Saffers.

MDF's after Round 3 in San Antonio. Slightly artificial leaderboard with afternoon/morning waves definitely having an advantage over the morning/afternooners. Would think anyone making the cut has a very good chance.

Team Asia is fighting hard. Winning 6 of the 8 active matches.

I haven't seen much of this, but it looks like Oleson is really struggling with his game. and duh,,,and his results on the PGATour.

Wow, just saw the conclusion of the Eurasia Cup. Hard to believe that Europe lost a 5-0 (from Day 1) and 7-3 (From Day 2) leads.

Obviously, Euro did not have their starters, but 4 or 5 of those players could be on the RC team (Doobie, Jamie, GMAC, Bjorn)

And it is not like Team Asia was loaded with World Class Players. Nicholas Fung? Lahiri? Oda? Tanihara? Bhullar?

I notice the course in San Antonio has a bunker in the middle of one of the greens. Is that such a clever idea? Surely that encourages lots of divots on the green and deservedly so.

Not clever at all.

Riviera (Los Angeles) has a similar green. Always thought it was silly.

A posse of veterans chasing the leaders. All Americans except someone called Geoff Ogilvy.

Not a great week so far for Team Europe, but Pettersson is coming in to some form, Freddie's not really playing poorly and Russell Knox is still making his bank manager smile - he's taking the next two weeks off and let's hope he still has his excellent form upon his return.

As for Phil: Imagine the golf world is shaking its collective head while the Tournament Director in Houston must be wondering whether he's going to be on his arse or his elbow:
Rest and practice at Augusta?
Or teeing it up in Houston??
Or out for a while???

Not sure what to make of this leaderboard.
Bowditch has had more than a touch of the Cramptons or Trescothicks, perhaps not the Trotts!

Wouldn't mind a longshot e.w. double on Kuchar for "Texas" and "Augusta".

Split tees and 3-somes after the MDF cut. Not sure why.

This thread has been dead since the Euro Collapse in Malaysia. SHOCK?