Open International Final Qualifying (US)

The UK's Brain Davis has won this weather shortened event at Gleneagles Country Club, Plano, Texas to qualify for this summers Open at Royal St Georges. The event was shortened to 18 holes after severe lightning and Davis won with a score of 64 (-6). The other players to qualify were; Chad Campbell, Nathan Green, Love III, Spencer Levin, Chris Tidland, Bob Estes and Jerry Kelly.

Sergio pulled out of this event because of an infected thumb, maybe he should have endured the pain barrier as I don't see him getting in through any of the other routes. Some other notables not to make it through this route were; DA Points, Brandt Snedeker, webb simpson, Steve Merino, Freddie Jackobson, Alex Cejka, Stuart Appleby, Ricky Barnes and former open hero Andres Romero.

No doubt kwini will confirm but I wonder if it is the end of the road for this years open as far as these players are concerned?

I'm not sure that Sergio will be that worried. He hates playing in the UK because of the Agassi tax issue and although playing better, is not exactly a favourite for a major at the moment. Probably more cost than it's worth for him this year...

Moi?

There are a number of ways for players still to qualify; I believe Sergio still has the option of playing the European Tour qualie as he didn't get to the starting gate in this one.
Snedeker will probably qualify via the owgr top 50 as at May 30th, and there are a couple of mini-money lists in the US and Europe, plus avenues via certain tournaments.
Specific details via Open website and also on pgatour.com.

There is also a funky criteria:
"After world ranking (top 50) on May 30th is applied - top 3 and ties inside Top 20 in FedEx Cup points through Colonial - May 22nd."

As things stand at the moment, these would be Mark Wilson, Woodland and Baddeley, followed by Jonathan Byrd.

Sabbatini (45th) and Sneds (47th) should qualify via the owgr top 50.

Talk about arcane - always looks from here that the R&A bends over backwards, and then inside out, to pander to the PGA Tour at the expense of local qualifying on courses that might actually resemble the Open Championship venue. Ridiculous, but there it is. No chance of such worldly generosity from the USGA.

I would like to see a raft of US PGA players hacking it around somewhere like north berwick, or the local alternative, the week before the open. It seems this does not happen all that often.

Don't forget there is International Qualifying for the US Open at Walton Heath on Monday 30 May, and for The Open Championship at Sunningdale on 6 June. Both events are 36 holes, free entry and at Walton Heath you can walk the fairways with the players.
Well worth the trip for anyone who can get to either or both.

...and I see Vijay is playing at Sunningdale!

puligny wrote:Don't forget there is International Qualifying for the US Open at Walton Heath on Monday 30 May, and for The Open Championship at Sunningdale on 6 June. Both events are 36 holes, free entry and at Walton Heath you can walk the fairways with the players.
Well worth the trip for anyone who can get to either or both.

And it's a bank holiday.

Thoroughly recommend attending Sunningdale, you get to see some top players without being kept too far away, and there's hardly anyone there. I got chatting to Graeme Storm one year as we stood looking at the leaderboard, top bloke!

Kwin - I'll admit my comprehension skills are frequently lacking ... are you suggesting Walton Heath is more "National Open" like than a qualifying course in the states is "British Open" like?

I do recall that Kiwi Michael Campbell qualified from WH an then won at Pinehurst a few years back. Campbell's game has taken an almost Weir-like turn of late.

On another subject I was at the Tiger Woods press conference today. Looks like he won't be at the Memorial (doubtful, his words) and he hopes to tee it up at Congressional. I give it a 50/50 chance he'll play at Congressional or even any more this year.

Good to see O'Hair had a pretty respectable weekend!

Hi Shotrock,
No, and you make a good point!
I was just trying to question the rationale behind all the ways the R&A contorts itself to leave doors open for PGA Tour pros to play in The Open. Have fond memories of the days American touring pros would fly over to Open qualifying sites and try to get in with the rest of golf's wannabes. Faxon once flew straight back after failing to qualify, played the BC Open and won it!
The USGA offers far fewer chances for players on "International" Tours and I don't see why the R&A seems to go overboard at the expense of local players.

I watched Tiger's presser but couldn't figure out which question was yours! Thought he looked totally unconvincing about Congressional and, if I was the Aronomink Tournament Director I wouldn't be holding my breath either. Firestone next?

Yup, some nice pieces in GolfWorld about SO'H, obviously much happier and could be a good bet this week.
(Four to beat the field; Davis, O'Hair, Sabbatini, Verplank.)

Shotrock

I actually don't think you would be too far of the mark to say Walton Heath could be set up more like a US open course than any course in the USA could be set up to resemble an Open Championship venue.

Maybe they should get international final qualifying in the US over to Bandon's old mac?


Kwini

That is a bit of a dire prediction you have for Tiger, firestone is not until after both opens?

Hi Mac,
I think Shotrock has played Walton Heath a few times so I chose to defer to him regarding similarity to a US Open course. I think the plain fact is that international qualies are staged at venues chosen for expedience, no more thought into course or set up other than where it might attract the most players.

I'd be very surprised if Tiger was to play RStG if he had to miss Congressional so, apart from Aronomink which he'd also likely avoid, Firestone is next on his normal schedule. He just doesn't play many PGA Tour events.

Mac - Bandon Dunes is a great thought for qualifying! And if Old Mac is what you're thinking perhaps they could get the NGLA to host as well on the East coast.

I have played Walton Heath Old and New a few times. Great courses, although I hear some work is being done (or has been done), including 17 old -- a hole I can't imaging they could improve upon. Is it similar to US Open set up? Good question.

I would like to think so, but the USGA makes the set ups so penal I'm not sure I could compare it to any course. Not a fan at all of the USGA pre-occupation with protecting par.

I'm hopeful that Tiger plays Aronimink (but not delusional about his chances). When he's on his game, it's something to watch, as we witnessed glimpses of at Augusta.

Shotrock

yes, not sure the regular punter who played walton heath after it had been given a USPGA set up would thank you for it. I certainly wouldn't.

According to my world atlas of golf NGLA has not held any notable event since the 1922 walker cup.


Actually if you have played NGLA I have a question for you. On the 3rd (apls) how elevated is the second shot? From pictures I have looked over I can't quite picture the type of shot needed to hold the green.

If they selected NGLA for a qualie, guys would show up just to play it, whether or not they wanted to qualify or, indeed, were already exempt!
Hoping to see the Walker Cup there . . . .

Unfortunately, the qualie courses will always be chosen for their proximity to where the pros are playing, but it's a shame they can't at least find a classic American course, links or not, for the purpose. (Memo to self: Classic and Texas are not synonymous.)

Mac - I have played the National and the 3rd is my favorite hole. The elevation is, I'm guessing, 15 or so feet from the nearest fairway. A mid iron and you can probably hold it (but I didn't!) What's more intimidating about that shot is that it's blind, and the green complex is amazing.

Kwini - Good call ... I suspect many would show up just to play it. Are you familiar with the Bandon complex Mac mentioned a few posts ago? I have not been there, but look forward to playing it someday. My issue is from the East Coast I can be there or in the UK in about the same amount of time, and I have always opted for the mother country.

Sr,
Have lived a sheltered life and not been to Oregon at all - sure my first reason for going would be the wines of the Williamette Valley, my drinking game having matured into advanced middle age much better than my golf game.

If Tiger does play, am I right in thinking that he spends a week or so over in Ireland to hone his links game? If thats the case then it seems there are no rumours about his arrival as there usually is. So Kwini could be correct, but will it be down to injury or form?

If Tiger has decided against the Open then he as serious problems (If not injured) Could he be trying to shed all the work he's done with Foley, and working with someone else, because the Foley thing should be showing results by now shouldn't it

Doc wrote:If Tiger does play, am I right in thinking that he spends a week or so over in Ireland to hone his links game? If thats the case then it seems there are no rumours about his arrival as there usually is. So Kwini could be correct, but will it be down to injury or form?

If Tiger has decided against the Open then he as serious problems (If not injured) Could he be trying to shed all the work he's done with Foley, and working with someone else, because the Foley thing should be showing results by now shouldn't it

Tiger usually goes to one of the more famous Irish courses. I know as a daughter of a friend worked there for a while and was invited to spend time with him and a few other pros who were there at the same time. I understand he uses the same venue each year for this.

There is debate over whether Castle Stuart will tempt him. Personally I doubt it though

Is your friends daughter a "lady of dubious virtue" LJ?

Invited to join them was she?

super_realist wrote:Is your friends daughter a "lady of dubious virtue" LJ?

Invited to join them was she?

Not in this case. And no. Just got a little coaching and the ability to walk around with them. Wasn't briefed beforehand... just told to turn up at 5:30am

She wasn't briefed beforehand, but almost certainly debriefed later!

Doc,
I'm just thinking that, if he's not fit enough to play Congressional and Aronomink, then it's unlikely that he'll test his fitness and form in relatively unfamiliar surroundings; much more probable I would think that he'd get fully fit for important tournaments later in the summer.

Nah. As I recall O'Meara was with him.

Calming influences and all that.

kwinigolfer wrote:Doc,
I'm just thinking that, if he's not fit enough to play Congressional and Aronomink, then it's unlikely that he'll test his fitness and form in relatively unfamiliar surroundings; much more probable I would think that he'd get fully fit for important tournaments later in the summer.

Kwini is he injured or is he taking time out again to change things? he's hardly played any golf this last couple of years, and yes we know he had a serious problem with the knee, and then there were the home issues and then the Foley debacle (Funny how O'Hare binned Foley after a nighmare few months, only to ressurect his career again without him) Just speculating that he may have got rid of Foley as it aint working.

Doc,
Tiger's been using crutches and a boot to stabilise his knee and ankle. He says he should be good to start hitting balls again next week but that will mean little practice time before Congressional, and it's difficult to believe he could be "match fit" in time for three weeks tomorrow.

O'Hair has said his change from Foley wasn't as much to do with Foley as it was to suround himself again with familiar faces, eyes, ears and voices. In that spirit he's returned also to using his father-in-law to caddie for him after being with pro caddies the past three years. Quite like his chances this week.

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that Foley isn't working (although the jury is certainly still out on that move) ... I'm more inclined to think all the moving parts in Tiger aren't working!

I'm inclined to think the thing that isn't working most of all is the two brain cells that rattle arond in his vacuous head.

Tiger's big problem, and Foley may or may not be able to help him with it, is nothing to do with the mechanics of his golf swing or his short game changes or his mental game. The real problem is the rest of the field's attitude towards Tiger.

Before his off course problems he had an air of invincibility like he was super human but his marital problems have shown him to be very much like, if not slightly worse, than everyone else. When Tiger was at the business end of a leaderboard his mere presence caused everyone around him to suddenly lose the form that got them in contention. This in turn bred a dominant confidence in Tiger that brought out the best in his game and hence his glittering array of trophies. When Tiger's making a move or leading from the front now, the rest of the field are just not scared of him which is why the sort of positions that he got himself into and runs that he made before are now just giving him top 10 finishes. Add this to the younger players coming through that were never scarred by a Tiger steam train and this helps to explain his lack of success.

We've all seen Tiger play majestic golf and win and slap it all over the show yet still win - his presence was that strong. However, now that he has been shown to be just like everyone else his aura is not there and that spark that made him so successful has gone. Foley or any other coach working on the technicalities of his swing will not change that.

sharrison01 wrote:Tiger's big problem, and Foley may or may not be able to help him with it, is nothing to do with the mechanics of his golf swing or his short game changes or his mental game. The real problem is the rest of the field's attitude towards Tiger.

Before his off course problems he had an air of invincibility like he was super human but his marital problems have shown him to be very much like, if not slightly worse, than everyone else. When Tiger was at the business end of a leaderboard his mere presence caused everyone around him to suddenly lose the form that got them in contention. This in turn bred a dominant confidence in Tiger that brought out the best in his game and hence his glittering array of trophies. When Tiger's making a move or leading from the front now, the rest of the field are just not scared of him which is why the sort of positions that he got himself into and runs that he made before are now just giving him top 10 finishes. Add this to the younger players coming through that were never scarred by a Tiger steam train and this helps to explain his lack of success.

We've all seen Tiger play majestic golf and win and slap it all over the show yet still win - his presence was that strong. However, now that he has been shown to be just like everyone else his aura is not there and that spark that made him so successful has gone. Foley or any other coach working on the technicalities of his swing will not change that.

I've seen this argument made quite a lot lately. The only thing I'd ask is how do you suppose he developed that aura in the first place? It was by winning by a country mile in major tournaments, playing golf so far ahead of the rest of the field that they couldn't compete. If he can finish in the top 5 of the Masters playing rubbish, imagine what he can do if he does start hitting, and more importantly putting it like he used to, aura or no aura.

Tiger was obviously very talented as an amateur and when he first turned pro but I still do not believe that he has won as much as he has purely through his technical ability. There are absolutely loads of tour pro's that are far more talented than Tiger but his combination of golfing talent and determination set him apart. He was also given a helping hand by the golfing media who were captivated by him and his achievements in golf then became quite self-fulfilling.

It doesn't work with all players (Sergio) but Tiger thrived on the attention that he was given and this helped to create the self fulfilling prophecy. There are a whole host of reasons why the media were taken with Tiger but you can only imagine how the rest of the field felt when Tiger turned up at the range on a tournament and suddenly everyone is surrounding him and not watching them.

This is in no way taking anything away from Tiger because he is obviously one of the truly great players in the game. However, I just think that his career was given the right breeding ground for him for his success as the media loved him and he loved the media. A swing coach cannot bring that back...

Sharrison - I'm not sure how much media love helped fuel Tiger (or does now), nor do I think that there are loads of tour pros far more talented than him. The shots had has pulled off put him in some rare air in the latter regard.

I semi agree with you - you are correct in that I may have exaggerated how many other players are more talented than Woods. However, at the top end players like Mickelson, Els, Singh etc have all felt the force of Woods' dominating aura without really being any less talented than him. There have been loads of tournaments that have pretty much been given to Woods on a plate where players have shot three solid sub 70 rounds and then played like an amateur on the last day at the mere sight of Tiger on the leaderboard.

I'm not saying that the media have solely contributed to this but I believe that they have played a big part. When Tiger burst onto the scene, he was exactly what golf needed and the media recognised this. He was young, exciting, determined, clean cut and his cultural heritage all made him a marketeers' dream. However, a similar set of circumstances have been seen in his fall from grace. He is being dropped all over the show by sponsors, has shown he is beatable when leading from the front and now the young crop of golfers are not scared of him. It also feels like he can no longer walk with the same degree of pride and these contribute to the rest of the field now not fearing him which is also important because Tiger used to feed on that fear.

On the final days of tournaments over the past year or so, Tiger has still made his runs up the leaderboard but they are no longer having an effect. In his prime, such a run would cause others to falter and this in turn would fire up Tiger's game and make his runs last to the end. They now run out of steam because people hardly bat an eye.

Woods was clearly leagues ahead in the talent stakes when he first burst onto the scene after all the hype he was given he had to have the game to back it up and he did.

His aura was created from his ability to conjure up recovery shots when he should have been out of it, and the fact he could throw in a round lower than anyone else, plus the fact when he had a lead he didn't let it go like others did. This has now all turned it's head on him at the moment, he is not getting out of bad situations and he is no longer one of the best putters on tour and where he dominated between 150-250yards he now is struggling to hit greens.

I'm not a tiger fan, but I don't dislike him either, he was/is good for the game and has helped elevate the PGA tour and the world game, but so did the likes of Palmer, Player, Nicklaus, Seve, Faldo etc all before him. I also don't buy in to the he's finished talk saying Foley is useless and ruining his game, he's done Wonders for Mahan and Rose, difference between his rebuilds with Foley and those he did with Haney and Harmon before that are all he had to focus on was the swing and games changes, now he has to split his time up more than before being in a separated family and he himself has acknowledged he spends less time practising due to their being more demands on his time but ones any may would gladly make the sacrifices for.

He will never be the force he ws before because the players coming to the fore now are better prepared than those that were about in the early Woods years, and they are more focused on what it takes to win and a lot of what they've learnt is from Tigers example of exercise and hard work and besides bet a few wouldn't mind his little black book of waitress numbers..