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

First topic message reminder :

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.

A few European Ryder Cup hopefuls buckled under pressure. They will be under a great more pressure come Gleneagles.

I thought Hamilton won in Malaysia?

Should be an interesting Sunday in Alamo Country; Bowditch almost seems to be a golfing savant with his brilliant golf and a headful of demons. Which will win the day today?

Don't fancy Loupe, but then there are the Steady Eddies like Kuchar and Zach, the temperamental Perez and, sometimes anyway, Willie Mac, and then there's Kevin Na - what a shame he and Loupe aren't playing together, they may never finish! Finally there are Hadley Chesson and Ryan Palmer, both of whom have the chance to secure a Billy Payne invite with a top finish.

Looks like Bowditch's demons are getting the better of him early, as he's slipped in to a tie for the top spot with Kuchar.

But coming through on the outside after being tailed off early (+6 in his first 8 holes) is Jordan Spieth, now up to 5th. He couldn't, could he?

No such flourish from Team Europe with Pettersson the only one left in the Top 20.

Not looking good for Hadley and Palmer - Billy Payne looks like he'll save some postage there.

And Kevin Na finally gets a 2-shot penalty - a touch spurious I would have thought, for "testing the sand" in a bunker. Mmmmmm, not sure about that.

Extraordinary tale of survival by Bowditch - a name to fit his back story.
I wouldn't have picked him as a Tour winner in a million years, which just goes to show that's why they play the game.
Very good to see Sendo waiting for his buddy beside the 18th green; they can drive down Magnolia Lane together.

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

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

GBP, I think the thread has been quiet this week as the events on both the main tours are a little less than interesting and the EPL has had a pretty big week and the biggest sporting event in Malaysia this week was the f1. The main golf headline on the BBC is mickelsons injury scare.

The European tour is in a run of very low quality events, which makes you wonder why they spent the time and energy to organise the Eurasia cup?

This event hasn't really grabbed my attention. Though from seeing the final 3 ball went round in 5 half hours I'm glad it didn't!

kwinigolfer wrote:....And Kevin Na finally gets a 2-shot penalty - a touch spurious I would have thought, for "testing the sand" in a bunker. Mmmmmm, not sure about that.

I was watching on TV and it looked and sounded like he was slamming the club into the sand and saying something to his caddy about how deep and heavy the sand was - sort of the definition of testing the sand. However, it's one of those quirky rules - his new lie in the bunker was nothing like the one he'd just played from and he might as well have been in a different bunker..which if he had of been, would have resulted in no penalty.

I do think though there has been a bit of an air of "we need to seen to be strong and start penalising people..oh look, there's Kevin Na" about it. The pace of play was shocking, but ironically, not due to Na.

One thing is sure - Na is going to get a complex about the Valero.

Bob!
Spot on in every case!!
Interesting that Kuchar got put on the clock, haven't read anything from him yet but wonder whether he'll blame that for starting a bogey run?

Agree that pace of play, and the threesomes format, resulted in a very tedious broadcast; plus terrible coverage from NBC, what with Johnny Miller's inappropriate political comments and others making snarly comments about the course.

Have made a few alusions to Bowditch's troubled past; had not realised that this article was from so long ago, but it's well worth a read, an incredible (I thought) insight to a tortured soul:

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2009-04/gw20090427_moriarty

Apparently Golf's pre-eminent nearly man, Bruce Crampton, also suffered chronic depression - I put a note on the cricket thread back when we were getting our Ashes torn from our wimpy grasp that snarky comments from Aussie players and press alike were pretty rich considering these golfing Aussie back stories.
How pathetic it is that I think I'm depressed when I'm served a skunk beer . . . . . .

Stephen Gallacher and Steven Bowditch are the only additions this morning to The Masters' field. Next Sunday's Shell Houston Open winner will complete the field of 96 or 97.

I don't suppose International golfers who are not PGA Tour members give a monkey's whether they make the Players field or not, but Tour members certainly should!
Reaching the owgr Top 50 for those not otherwise qualified by April 28th is the next significant milestone for gaining entry in to elite fields, Messrs Colsaerts, Gonzo, Hanson, Harrington etc, please take note.

kwinigolfer wrote:Have made a few alusions to Bowditch's troubled past; had not realised that this article was from so long ago, but it's well worth a read, an incredible (I thought) insight to a tortured soul:

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2009-04/gw20090427_moriarty

Apparently Golf's pre-eminent nearly man, Bruce Crampton, also suffered chronic depression - I put a note on the cricket thread back when we were getting our Ashes torn from our wimpy grasp that snarky comments from Aussie players and press alike were pretty rich considering these golfing Aussie back stories.
How pathetic it is that I think I'm depressed when I'm served a skunk beer . . . . . .

Cheers Kwini - he's been through the wringer indeed.

Reports surfacing that E.T.Woods will miss The Masters.
Haven't seen corroborated statements yet, but that's the way it looks.

golfchannel.com suggesting he's undergone surgery for a pinched nerve.
Can't see him playing anytime soon, assume no Players, no Pinehurst; Hoylake must be a big bit iffy.

PS: A great interview with The Legend of Willie Mac on the PGA Tour website. If you have 15 minutes to spare, spend it on Will MacKenzie.

kwinigolfer wrote:Reports surfacing that E.T.Woods will miss The Masters.
Haven't seen corroborated statements yet, but that's the way it looks.

An awful shame if true.

ESPN now reporting that Woods underwent surgery yesterday, hopes to be doing light exercises within a week (Lindsey, be careful with your damaged goods), but his playing schedule is on indefinite hiatus.
Must raise the spectre now that he'll see no value in travelling to Gleneagles.

Indefinite hiatus? Last time he said that he was playing 2 weeks later.

A report on Rotoworld compared the Tiger procedure, a microdiscectomy, to a procedure conducted in 2011 on Jamie Lovemark, after which Lovemark was able to play again within two months.
 
Two points though:
Lovemark has never been the same golfer as the college hotshot who played in a Tour play-off in one of his very first starts, alongside Rickie Fowler.
Lovemark was in his early 20's, Tiger is an old 38+ who may decide to take it real easy before committing himself to a return to competition.
 
It all sounds a serious situation and one assumes it must be for him to bite the bullet, so to speak.


PS: No "Notes" until tomorrow in light of this news; we'll let the inevitable cyberhubbub settle down a bit!

incontinentia wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:Reports surfacing that E.T.Woods will miss The Masters.
Haven't seen corroborated statements yet, but that's the way it looks.

An awful shame if true.

No 9C in The Masters                                           

Thank God this wasn't an April fool joke

Davie wrote:Thank God this wasn't an April fool joke

That bald fool couldn't make a joke if his life depended on it Davie.

Coincidence that Ladies' World Number Two has withdrawn from this week's first major with a bad back - Suzann Pettersen out of the Nabisco Dinah Shore.


Is this tongue in cheek from Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson:
"I want Tiger to be on the Team in the worst way, just hope he's healthy enough to play. Way too early to tell."

Is Watson telling porkies?
If Woods comes back, say, for Bridgestone and the PGA it's not inconceivable that he could qualify; but most likely he'd have to be a pick. And what if Phil is also injured and needs a pick? Hmmm.

Other than TV ratings I'm not sure why Watson would pick Nine Chins or Mickelson, they are Ryder Cup deadweight and a considerable Albatross around the neck of any Captain.

I'm not sure that's fair about Mickelson; he's been a very effective mentor for young US players, especially w/Keegan Bradley, but with others too.
Don't think he throws a moody like Tiger sometimes seems to.

Tiger playing the RC would almost guarantee a European victory. The US has not won with TW on the team since Brookline 1999. I can't understand why they want him so desperately (apart from tv ratings).

super_realist wrote:Other than TV ratings I'm not sure why Watson would pick Nine Chins or Mickelson, they are Ryder Cup deadweight and a considerable Albatross around the neck of any Captain.

     

MontysMerkin wrote:

super_realist wrote:Other than TV ratings I'm not sure why Watson would pick Nine Chins or Mickelson, they are Ryder Cup deadweight and a considerable Albatross around the neck of any Captain.

     

Well you wouldn't pick them on their Ryder Cup form or records would you? They are two of America's worst ever players

I know that but I think tv audiences are where it's at, don't you? It's going to be like watching Hank McGutbucket III from Wyoming winning the masters. Or that finger snapping tw@t. Great.

I'd rather see a good match than care about the tv ratings.

I think Woods' record is perceived to be worse than it actually is .. partly because of his moody attitude and partly because he is somehow expected to win everything

At a quick search the records I found were from just before the 2012 RC but show him with the following results..

Singles: 4-1-1 (W-L-H)
Foursomes: 4-7-1
Fourball: 5-6-0

So the singles record really isn't too bad and only 4-somes really stinks the house out. A just under 50% record in 4-ball, when the form of his partner also counts, over a period of relative European dominance is hardly dreadful; just maybe  not what people expect of him

For comparison, Hefty Lefty's record is as follows...

Singles: 4-4-0
Foursomes: 2-5-4
Fourball: 5-8-2

I'd venture to say that's even worse than Eldrick's ..

Indeed, but neither have records which imply that they should be actually should be shoe-ins for selection.

Interesting stats indeed Davie, I thought his record was worse, certainly worse than Mickelson's.

Everybody seems to be making the automatic assumption that he will actually come back. "Indefinite Hiatus" seems like a strange choice of words for someone focused on returning ASAP. Just a gut feeling and personal opinion but I think there's been a complete sea change. I think deep down he's now realised that actually he isn't gonna catch Jack. So now what else matters, why risk health and well being pursuing a goal that you know you're no longer going to reach. Don't wet yourself Soups but I have a sneaky suspicion that we may have seen the last of a competitive TW on a golf course.

JAS wrote:Interesting stats indeed Davie, I thought his record was worse, certainly worse than Mickelson's.

Everybody seems to be making the automatic assumption that he will actually come back. "Indefinite Hiatus" seems like a strange choice of words for someone focused on returning ASAP.  Just a gut feeling and personal opinion but I think there's been a complete sea change. I think deep down he's now realised that actually he isn't gonna catch Jack. So now what else matters, why risk health and well being pursuing a goal that you know you're no longer going to reach. Don't wet yourself Soups but I have a sneaky suspicion that we may have seen the last of a competitive TW on a golf course.

Remember that doesn't include 2012 where he also stunk the place out. Compare it to Donald, Poulter, Westwood or Garcia and it's a pretty poor record.

JAS wrote:Interesting stats indeed Davie, I thought his record was worse, certainly worse than Mickelson's.

Yes that's what many think JAS .. I seem to recall he didn't do a lot at Medina though (and neither did Phil) .. so the up-to-date stats will be slightly worse, but still not as bad as many perceive (particularly Tiger in the singles)

Agree with S-R though .. neither is good enough to presume a "shoe-in"

super_realist wrote:

MontysMerkin wrote:

super_realist wrote:Other than TV ratings I'm not sure why Watson would pick Nine Chins or Mickelson, they are Ryder Cup deadweight and a considerable Albatross around the neck of any Captain.

     

Well you wouldn't pick them on their Ryder Cup form or records would you? They are two of America's worst ever players

US Team worst players (from those who played at least 5 matches)
Fuzzy Zoeller, 1-8-1, .150
Jerry Barber, 1-4-0, .200
Olin Dutra, 1-3-0, .250
Tommy Aaron, 1-4-1, .250
Miller Barber, 1-4-2, .286
Ben Crenshaw, 3-8-1, .292

Mickelson and Woods have lost more matches than Americans (17 & 16)
Woods has also lost more 4-Ball matches than any American

Phil withdraws from the Houston Open Pro-Am.
Not sure what that portends but you know he'd play if he was 100%.

It seems Phil - man of the people - Mickelson is always finding a way to get out of the pro am, I hope he takes up one of the non playing pre tournament commitments instead.

Mac,
All players get two free passes a year - this is his second.
There was certainly a kerfuffle a few years ago when he sneaked out of a Byron Nelson obligation but I don't know that that constitutes "always".
It sounds as if he's still in San Diego receiving treatment - touch and go whether he plays this week or goes directly to Augusta without passing go.

Knowing San Diego and Houston, I know where I'd rather be.

super_realist wrote:Mickelson and Woods have lost more matches than Americans (17 & 16)
Woods has also lost more 4-Ball matches than any American

Somewhat skewed stat as for most of the 90 years the RC has been played it's been against the British Isles rather than Europe and all the players were utter gash anyway. Stands to reason that any yank playing 1950's, 60's and 70's matches should have a far superior record.

Golf Channel quoting Paul McGinley as hoping Tiger Woods is fit for the Ryder Cup; no sh1t, Paul, I bet you do!

Nice exchange on Golf Channel between Jason Sobel and Mark Calcavecchia:
Sobel: Tiger's Masters haul:
4 Green Jackets (plus silver trophies no doubt for the wins)
2 silver salvers (for second place)
9 crystal vases (for low round)
12 pairs of goblets (for eagles)

Calc: "Jason, Just for a good laugh, can you research my haul?"

Sobel: "One salver, three vases, 12 pairs of goblets. Eagle machine!"

Diggers wrote:

super_realist wrote:Mickelson and Woods have lost more matches than Americans (17 & 16)
Woods has also lost more 4-Ball matches than any American

Somewhat skewed stat as for most of the 90 years the RC has been played it's been against the British Isles rather than Europe and all the players were utter gash anyway. Stands to reason that any yank playing 1950's, 60's and 70's matches should have a far superior record.

Yet other stalwarts like Furyk or Stricker aren't as bad are they

I'm not saying he is brilliant in the RC, but overall historical comparisons are pointless.
Anyway, its just a glorified exhibition as we all know.

Well, not really historical because Mickelson and Woods have lost more than everyone, that includes their peers and the historical players from a less comparable age.

The point being it's not exactly a big group of players you are choosing from is it, and it's not like anyone is going to say Stricker and Furyk are not very good golfers, they clearly are, so having a worse RC record then them is hardly shocking.

But Mickelson has played the most matches of any american player so is more likely to have a so so record.

Really? Faldo played tons of game but has a much better record, Ditto Monty.

I suppose the real truth is that hardly any American's who have played in a few Ryder Cups in the last 30 years have anything better than truly average records.

Harrington has played a lot in Ryder Cup games but is widely regarded as being hopeless, yet his record is still better than most Americans who have played a similar amount of games.