PGA Tour: New Orleans, $6.8M Purse, but No-one Seems to Care: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).There seems little rhyme or reason to what motivates the best PGA Tourists to play in certain tournaments. The events in San Antonio, Dallas and this week's "Zurich Classic of New Orleans" in particular appear to get short shrift when the stars decide where to play.
Some will say they have lousy dates, and others will complain about the respective golf courses but the fact is that, year in, year out, each of these tournaments is well run, features a larger than average purse, and feeds mightily in to the Tour's overhyped contribution to charities.
You'd think, therefore, that the Tour might have a vested interest in ensuring that their better events are well supported, but apparently not.
 
2).I'll resist the temptation to suggest that the Tour's apparent lack of support for its New Orleans tournament is a metaphor for President Dubya's reaction to Hurricane Katrina; let's just say that, like Dallas and San Antonio, New Orleans is one of the Tour's longest running events and to have even recent winners and contenders like Dufner (dialling for dollars in China), Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson give the City and sponsors the elbow must be more than a little discouraging for the Zurich Company and local supporters.  
 
3).Whatever the real reasons, this week's field is weak and will be one of the lowest-rated on Tour this year. The bright side of the coin is that almost all Tour Pros who want to play this week will get a tee-time, unlike last week at lovely Harbour Town where the Twittersphere was awash with invective at tournament invitees. Respected golf writers who should have known better gave publicity to no-name mini-tour numb-nuts slamming Faldo for taking a tee-time and lamenting the fact that some of last year's web.com graduates are just not getting to play on the Tour for which they thought they'd earned "playing privileges".
Lots of half-truths there. But I would suggest that this season has witnessed a perfect storm of circumstances conspiring to populate fields to a largely unprecedented degree.
 
4).After this season several player exemptions will expire and a dozen or so players will see their Medical Extensions end. Already this year Messrs Baird, Goosen, Na, Byrd and Stefani have satisfied the demands of their Extensions, while guys such as JB Holmes and Levin are hopefully just about to. This wave of injuries is, fingers crossed, not being repeated this year although guys like Blake Adams, Anthony Kim and Jarrod Lyle have still to return to regular action.
The cynic who complains such injuries are manipulated has presumably not had leukaemia, undergone brain surgery or done their Achilles.
Similarly, exemptions for 2009 Major winners expire, guys like Glover, Cabrera and Yang are all likely to lose their five-year ride, while there are almost a dozen old pharts migrating to the Champions Tour.
 
5).Ironically, there's an attractive International contingent playing this week, Els, Goosen, Immelman and Sabbatini, for instance, Senden, DeLaet, Ogilvy and Camilo among them.
Europeans such as Casey, Hanson, Harrington and Olesen are here, and they'll be trying to make up for lost time as their compadres are slowly securing their Cards for next year. Perhaps one of them will follow Seve, Woosie and Westwood in winning - and they'd take home $1.2M.
 
6).The top Europeans in FedEx points are now:
25th: Knox
30th: Donald
35th: McDowell
36th: Garcia
43rd: McIlroy
45th: Blixt
51st: Poulter
59th: Jacobson
All the above have crossed the 400-point Rubicon and should be securely in the FedEx Play-Offs, and on Tour next year.
 
 
7).Others with work to do, at least to reach the Play-Offs by making the Top 125, include:
73rd: Rose (exempt for next year, of course)
85th: Westwood
92nd: Pettersson
98th: Davis
113th: Gonzo
122nd: Kaymer (exempt for 2014/2015
 
And, languishing outside the Top 125 are: Lingmerth, Laird (exempt for 14/15), Casey, Hanson, Colsaerts, Harrington, Olesen, Clarke (exempt) and Owen, Cejka and Chopra.  
 
8).Justin Rose, Keegan Bradley and Top Five Reed are the highest-ranked competitors this week, but I fancy Rickie Fowler to contend and Russell Knox to enjoy yet another super week.
The most local lads are David Toms, Hotshot John Peterson (sure to hit form sometime this year) and Andrew Loupe, slower than the proverbial molasses in January. (Where's John Paramor when you need him?)
 
9).It was great to see Luke Donald contend last week on Hilton Head, though one would suggest that Kuchar was a worthy winner.
Amazing stat:
Over the past six years, Luke Donald is -47 to par, whilst earning almost $2.5M without winning.
Second best is Furyk at -23.
Luke is a horse for the Harbour Town course.
 
10).Last year in New Orleans Billy Horschel finished off a Kuchar-esque streak of form by winning for the first time.
At that time it looked as if he'd finally broken through to the top level of American golfers, a surefire bet to be in Gleneagles this September, but since contending last June at Merion he's pretty much disappeared.
And, if he were to win again this week would he show up next year?
Wouldn't bank on it.
Hopefully Zurich will have a worthy winner who appreciates all that golf has given him.

O'Hair getting some sea legs, which is nice to see.

C'mon Duval (and I'll include the beer)!!

O'Hair just treading water now, seems to have lost the natural flair he wowed us with seven or eight years ago.
Oosterhuis was saying yesterday that Bradley's pre-shot routine stifles his ability to play naturally. Not always necessarily but when things go wrong.
Often wondered if that "paralysis by analysis" plagues O'Hair.

Time for Paul Casey to start a move up the leaderboard, big chances for him before he goes back to Europe. Time to take advantage.

Early, bullet-in-the-foot bogey from Ben Martin, eagles and birdies everywhere else, and all of a sudden we have a shoot-out. Crowded leaderboard.
At the other end of the table, Harrington is hanging on, when he knows a slip-up will get him relegated.

MDF - a 3rd Round Cut.

"Made cut Did not Finish" - what a really stupid abbreviation. It's as if they just decided to go home. What's wrong with MC and MC3 or something that actually makes sense.

Casey!!!!!!!!!!

Harrington continuing to struggle, throwing in his customary Par-5 double bogey and then 3-putting, each when it looked as if he might save himself. With another Par-5 to come, one can only fear he'll be down the road.

John Cregan wrote:MDF -  a 3rd Round Cut.

"Made cut Did not Finish"  - what a really stupid abbreviation. It's as if they just decided to go home.  What's wrong with MC and MC3 or something that actually makes sense.

What about CNC - Close but No Cigar, or OOL - Out Of Luck -- or simply STL - Second Tier Losers.

If Harrington doesn't birdie #8 or #9, it'll be an OYB for him, On Yer Bike.

kwinigolfer wrote:If Harrington doesn't birdie #8 or #9, it'll be an OYB for him, On Yer Bike.

LOL !! 50 footer from Harri at the last to make the Cut !

Good on him................

Wouldn't you know it!
Back to courtesy car, bike for another day!!
Good to see.

(Hope ShotLink isn't kidding.)

A heck of a round from Casey and from Bradley.

Kwin, I do know the guy O'Hair is working with and he's certainly not an overly analytical coach -- more a feel guy. My take on it is that winning at that level is such a razor thin difference that it could be a multitude of things that make a world class player not get it done on the big tour. (See the discussion about Monty, Poulter, Duval, etc.).

Cream rose towards the top in China, behind Alex Levy.
Fleetwood 2nd, Quiros 3rd, Molinari 4th (and off to The Players if he wants to), Anders Hansen, Poulter and Stenson T5.
Dufner 54th, but presumably without a care in the world after pocketing a big, fat appearance fee.

Hope we see the same happening in New Orleans, preferably with Casey continuing how he left off Saturday.
Conditions at TPC Louisiana should be dry and warm, but breezy/windy thru'out.


Sr,
Would think Monty, who never had a PGA Tour card, Poulter who has 2 x WGC's and Duval, who once seemed to win every third time he played but then got injured and took a different path, are all unique cases, at least compared to O'Hair who has never been "world class" but certainly hinted strongly he could reach that level.

As I posted in the OWGR thread, Harrington is getting real close to falling out of the top 200.

After a 5th place finish in the Volvo Champions he was 121st. And before Zurich and Web-com results he is projected 190th in the OWGR.

No-one going really low at the "Zurich", and it's quite possible the course will become more difficult as the afternoon wears on - firmer and with a stronger breeze.
Will that suit Noh or the chasing pack?

A very disappointing weekend for Harrington, especially after receiving lifelines at the end of play Friday and Saturday. No sign that his poor form will bottom out anytime soon though he has enjoyed some decent results at QH. Then a week off as he's not in The Players.

Hah! Someone HAS gone low - the Man from Nampa, Robert Garrigus, the Tour Pro with Olympic blood running thru his veins.
One eagle, on a Par-4 no less, and 8 birdies help him to a 64. No word on whether he's still using on-course Portalets for a mid-round joint but he's four shots better than anyone else out there, halfway thru Round 4.

Hopefully Casey can go one better than Garrigus. That would take care of much of what has ailed him.
Ooh, Birdie!!

Duh, Bogey. And in the weeds on the fourth.

And a first bogey of the tournament for the leader. Oh Noh.

Casey in neutral, Hanson playing very well, and Justin Rose finishing well.

Not a big fan of Sloboda - beer gut hanging over his belt-buckle, baggy trousers (couldn't possibly call them strides) with an ever-present wedgie at the rear. 'orrible sight.

Back-door Top Ten for Justin Rose keeps his World Ryder Cup Points total ticking over.

Good for Justin Rose, maybe, but disappointment for Paul Casey, misses out on a top ten finish, and a place in the Quail Hollow field, by one place.
That's what happens when things are not quite, nearly but not quite, going for you.

Special Temp Membership achieved for Brooks Koepka, and terms of Medical Extension achieved for JB Holmes.
Neither gives them full status, but will get them (especially JB) many more tournaments.

The web.commer result reverted to the Round 3 scores. Andrew Putnam won with Sweden's Richard S coming 2nd, a very beneficial result for his efforts to get back on to the PGA Tour (where unfortunately he won't be successful, just too short a hitter).

I watched the final round today and enjoyed it alot. Enjoyed watching Noh right the ship and hang on to win it. Solid golf swing and game and I look forward to seeing what he will do at Augusta next year.

Good tournament I thought.
Bradley spooked for the second time in a year by a young Korean with a silky swing who played well and rode his luck.

Not a classic tournament in my view. Leaderboard on the final day made up of a load of uninspiring and unlikeable fat americans... I wanted them all to lose.

First time I've seen Noh. Lovely swing, superb birdie on 15 to steady the ship. Glad for him he won.

It's all that processed food we eat. Mr. Player was talking about it years ago. It's made us dat and lazy.

I hate being all dat.

You ain't all dat girlfriend

MontysMerkin wrote:I hate being all dat.

Oops. Hey I'm all dat and a bag of 'chips'.

Confirmation of new exemptions for next week's Players Championship:
Jimenez
Bjorn
Donaldson
Noh
Jaidee
FMolinari
Dubuisson
Gallacher
Gonzo
Luiten
Matsuyama

Not too many fatties in contention yesterday, ray, just Wedgie Sloboda - what a mess he is. Certainly played well this past weekend though.

[quote="kwinigolfer"]Confirmation of new exemptions for next week's Players Championship:
Jimenez
Bjorn
Donaldson
Noh
Jaidee
FMolinari
Dubuisson
Gallacher
Gonzo
Luiten
Matsuyama

Not too many fatties in contention yesterday, ray, just Wedgie Sloboda - what a mess he is. Certainly played well this past weekend though.[/quote
] It's just a slow metabolism! LoL

Welcome to the Ballwasher hennie.
It seems like Sloboda's been around on the periphery and mini-Tours forever. Think I first saw his fat arse on TV in a US Amateur when he was beaten by Jeff Overton!

kwinigolfer wrote:Welcome to the Ballwasher hennie.
It seems like Sloboda's been around on the periphery and mini-Tours forever. Think I first saw his fat arse on TV in a US Amateur when he was beaten by Jeff Overton!

Thanks for the welcome. Big ( not literally) golf fan here. Played since I was 13 (over 30 years now). I'd like to see guys who are more athletic winning on tour, so I was happy to see Noh win yesterday. A study in focus, dedication to his craft, and athletic ability. Most of the chasers, not so much.

kwinigolfer wrote:Welcome to the Ballwasher hennie.
It seems like Sloboda's been around on the periphery and mini-Tours forever. Think I first saw his fat arse on TV in a US Amateur when he was beaten by Jeff Overton!

Thanks for the welcome. Big ( not literally) golf fan here. Played since I was 13 (over 30 years now). I'd like to see guys who are more athletic winning on tour, so I was happy to see Noh win yesterday. A study in focus, dedication to his craft, and athletic ability. Most of the chasers, not so much.

The forecast for Charlotte this week is for the chance of heavy rain for Tuesday & Wednesday, but clearing Thursday and fine weather expected during the tournament proper.
If Quayle Hollow plays long, but with softish greens, you'd think guys like Hanson, McIlroy and Westwood would be rubbing the hands.
No significations defections from the field so far.

kwinigolfer wrote:


Not too many fatties in contention yesterday, ray, just Wedgie Sloboda - what a mess he is. Certainly played well this past weekend though

[/quote]

I dunno kwini. Overton, Garrigus aren't exactly slim. Keegan isn't lardy but he is certainly unlikeable to watch on a golf course with his spitting, stalking around and general slow play.

And henniebogan - welcome to the forum! It's not always so fattist!

raycastleunited wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:


Not too many fatties in contention yesterday, ray, just Wedgie Sloboda - what a mess he is. Certainly played well this past weekend though

I dunno kwini. Overton, Garrigus aren't exactly slim. Keegan isn't lardy but he is certainly unlikeable to watch on a golf course with his spitting, stalking around and general slow play.

And henniebogan - welcome to the forum! It's not always so fattist![/quote]

Thanks and I look forward to having a lot fun talking golf here with other golf fans like myself.

You're right ray, I had really considered Garrigus. And I give Overton a free pass on his golf because he's fun to follow; no free pass on some of the rubbish he talks though.
Hadn't see Keegs spit in his routine for ages, but he was gobbing all over the course between shots come Sunday . . . . . not pretty.

Interesting stuff on golfchannel.com from John Hawkins who noted that it's exactly two years ago this week that Anthony Kim last played on the PGA Tour. Apparently his agent had to respond specifcally that AK was not under Tour suspension, that he wasn't playing golf right now, and he wasn't sure whether he'd play professionally this year. Somewhere, Robert Allenby is smiling.

kwinigolfer wrote:You're right ray, I had really considered Garrigus. And I give Overton a free pass on his golf because he's fun to follow; no free pass on some of the rubbish he talks though.
Hadn't see Keegs spit in his routine for ages, but he was gobbing all over the course between shots come Sunday . . . . . not pretty.

Interesting stuff on golfchannel.com from John Hawkins who noted that it's exactly two years ago this week that Anthony Kim last played on the PGA Tour. Apparently his agent had to respond specifcally that AK was not under Tour suspension, that he wasn't playing golf right now, and he wasn't sure whether he'd play professionally this year. Somewhere, Robert Allenby is smiling.

No shame in making a living out there but IMHO money has made most of these guys soft.

People still talking about Bradley and his spitting? Yes he can be annoying with his pre-shot routine though thankfully the TV companies don't show that too much. But I was under the impression he wasn't aware of his spitting and once it was pointed out to him he stopped that. Is he still doing it?

If not I say fair play to him for listening to criticism. If he is, then I take it back but I admire people who (apparently) respond to negative opinions and do something about it

Davie wrote:People still talking about Bradley and his spitting? Yes he can be annoying with his pre-shot routine though thankfully the TV companies don't show that too much. But I was under the impression he wasn't aware of his spitting and once it was pointed out to him he stopped that. Is he still doing it?

If not I say fair play to him for listening to criticism. If he is, then I take it back but I admire people who (apparently) respond to negative opinions and do something about it

Agree 100% about the self improvement angle. Something we ALL should do!

Keegs still spitting big-time on the course, especially when he's frazzled a la Sunday. But mostly eliminated from his pre-shot routine.


ESPN reporting that Notah Begay, NBC TV Golf Analyst, four-time Tour winner, and one-time European Tour member (remember?), has suffered a heart attack. He's just 41 years old. Woof.

Imagine it's more to do with his one-time lifestyle rather than working with Johnny Miller.

He's expected to make a full recovery but a bit young for a heart attack.

Donald Trump to host a Major!
It's not Aprils fool: the man with the hairdo has purchased the Turnberry Resort.

pedro wrote:Donald Trump to host a Major!
It's not Aprils fool: the man with the hairdo has purchased the Turnberry Resort.

Soon to renamed Trumpberry.

And "The Open" renamed to "The Donald".

I don't think they've determined the site for Opens beyond 2016:
2014: Hoylake
2015: TOC
2016: Troon

Presumably Birkdale will get 2017, perhaps Carnoustie in 2018 and RSG in 2019, TOC again in 2020.
Wouldn't it be a hoot if the R&A didn't give Drumpf International at Turnberry The Open, at least in his lifetime?
Not that I'm predicting his early demise, but nice to have him cooling his jets. Literally.

Correct kwini, they haven't decided. But Turnberry seems to be back in the "regular" rota. And fact is I think it's one of the more interesting Open venues, so I' m actually looking forward to The Open coming back at Turnberry - despite the risk of seeing Trump's hairpiece blowing in the wind while fiddling The Claret Jug.

So, you'd think it might be either Turnberry or Carnoustie in 2018, the other in 2021 or '22?

Wish they'd announce a Northern Ireland date, especially now that Dawson has gone - he clearly didn't fancy it, but then there's a lot he didn't fancy. Except his burgeoning bank account. Can't stand him!

GPB wrote:

pedro wrote:Donald Trump to host a Major!
It's not Aprils fool: the man with the hairdo has purchased the Turnberry Resort.

Soon to renamed Trumpberry.

George bud. Meant to ask you to say hello to our mutual friend Jump. I am sure he is so busy this time of year with work.
Tell him a heart felt hello would ya? thanks pal.

paige,
Why don't you use the Personal Message feature?

If only the open were going to the greatest course in the world. It is a long held dream of mine that the open will be played exclusively at Trumpton Aberdeen.

In fact in thinking about this again I am reminded of something I wrote on the old bbc 606 site; Donald ‘saviour of classics’ Trump

And before people jump all over it, when I said winged foot was goofy I assume I meant the set up and green speed.

Would anyone object to this for the major course rotations;

The Masters: AGNC

US open: Bedminster NJ, Trump LA, New "links" course in NY, trump national philly

Open: Trumpton, Turnberry, His Irish course

PGA: Doral, Trump national colts Neck (NJ), Trump national NC, Trump national westchester (NY)

He has the portfolio. So why not hand over the majors to The Donald?