PGA Tour: Rising from the Ashes in Phoenix?: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).Sound familiar? Turns up at his press conference in Phoenix just a week or so from appearing in mug shots looking, shall we say, not his normal self, back after his face has undergone, as Shawn Colvin might sing, "A few small repairs", out of contention for more than a year and no Majors since 2008, and moaning at the press for making too much of a slight rearrangement:
Press: "So many people are not believing your story."
Golfer: "Dude, you guys, it's just the way the media is. It is what it is."
Press: "It's not just the media."
Golfer: "It is just what it is."

2).But enough about Tiger Woods, I'm more interested in Robert Allenby. And the script is pretty much the same. Who knows what to believe, but Aussie Allenby has been a pretty good player, a sometimes entertaining pro to follow, friend, mentor and benefactor to Jarrod Lyle, and author of one of the finest shots ever to win a PGA Tour Play Off, this time in pouring rain at Riviera. Six golfers set out from the 18th tee, a motley crew including Tway, Sluman, Chamblee, Izawa and Paulson. (No coincidence that two of them are broadcasters now.) And Allenby, in a downpour, laced a 2-iron to within tap-in distance to win the tournament.

Four shots off the winning score was the son of a professional footballer who is in the Stockport County Hall Of Fame! (And it's a curiosity that four of the Football League teams that Dad played for are now in the Conference, or worse!!)

3).But one shouldn't digress. Very happy to see Bill Haas win the final "Humana"-sponsored tournament in the California desert, and won't be surprised if he goes on to have a terrific year, which he'll probably wrap up as a member of his Dad's winning Presidents Cup Team.

4).Also at "Humana", Phil Mickelson tied for the tournament lead in birdies, perhaps a sign that the nearly-45-year-old might be fit and ready to go for 2015? Phil will be playing Phoenix and the "Farmers" at Torrey Pines, skip Pebble Beach and Riviera, and be back in the saddle by the WGC:Cadillac.

5).He also announced his intention to play the WGC:MatchPlay at Harding Park, in May. So far then, Mickelson will be competing in the MatchPlay but Donald will be taking the week off, so we're talking the Top 65 in the owgr rankings, at least, to tee it up in San Francisco.

6).Also notable from "Humana" is the performance of three "anchorers": Brendan Steele finished T2, Webb Simpson was T7 (leading the field in putting), and Carl Pettersson was cruising well inside the cut-line until closing with a 3-hole, four-over par flourish to miss the cut by one. All with short putters.
Keegan Bradley is flip-flopping between a regular stroke and anchoring, while Tim Clark and Kevin Stadler are among the few anchoring hold-outs. When they're healthy.

7).They all want to play in Phoenix, probably the most over-subscribed tournament of this year's Tour. Wheatcroft tied for 2nd last week and is an alternate as his Top Ten exemption is gazumped, as is Colt Knost's.
Mansfield's Greg Owen is 34th alternate, Richard Sterne about 40th. No-one said it was going to be easy Richard.

8).The second biggest cheque won by a European golfer last week was the $300+K banked by Miguel-Angel Jimenez as he won the season-opening Champions Tour event in Hawaii. Bernhard Langer, anchoring as usual, finished five shots back despite taking a TEN on a Par-5, duffing one shot after another in the lava, getting himself into a lather. One-time "Humana" and Phoenix winner, Jesper Parnevik, turns 50 in a few weeks and it'll be interesting to see how he does. (Talking about golfers remodelling their bodies; not you Greg Norman.)

9).The LPGA Tour kicks off its season this week in Florida, with lots of eyes focussing on Lydia Ko who is still just 17. Amazing talent, 5 career wins already, and physically transformed from the 14-y-o who burst onto the scene three years ago. Jodi Ewart Shadoff is the leading GB golfer competing.

10).And so to Phoenix. It's fashionable to say that the season proper doesn't get underway until the boys reach Florida. Don't you believe it. The 2014/15 season will be more than 25% complete by the time the circus returns to California next week. Those who've played poorly (Casey, Donald, Gonzo, Harrington, etc) or not at all, will find they have a lot of catching up to do.    
The TPC Scottsdale has undergone some restoration/redesign work since we last saw it, Tom Weiskopf happily vacating the TV booth to enhance his design. So, it will be familiar to the pros, but slightly different.
The European contingent on hand is small but hopefully Molinari can continue last week's good work. Davis, Knox and Laird lead the GB&I competition and can build on recent good results, whilst Harrington makes another cameo.
But all eyes will be on the guy with the recently disfigured appearance, almost like watching a NASCAR race these days, the audience compelled to watch in case of a "wreck". Not you Allenby, the self-described "brown dude".

Good stuff Kwini. I saw you mentioned Laird in the other thread - seems like he's at his level now doesn't it? Half a good season here and there, then throw in a win every 2 years. Hope not.

Re Mickelson - I know he schedules everything around his family and kids holidays but why anyone would want to play last week and this week then miss out on Pebble and Riveria?? An amateur would never make that choice.

Laird had a child last year (and you know how that goes) and played "distracted" for a while, but started to find some form in the summer and has done OK this 14/15 season.
He's won every other year since his breakthrough in 2009 - so he's due!
Shame about Phil, but that's just Phil being Phil. Doesn't help either tournament though.

I've enjoyed the duelling Tour events, Persian Gulf vs West Coast, but seems the PGA Tour will have by far the higher rated events now until the spring.

Monterrey Beach  vs Palm Springs.

Obviously the courses in Monterrey are much much more iconic that Palm Springs.  But after 20+ years playing in Pebble, I don't think that is a tipping point for Mickelson any more.

Chances are pretty good that you are going to have perfect weather in Palm Springs.  Sunshine, Temps in the 60s and 70's, and little wind and perfect greens.

The same cannot be said for Monterrey where insulated rainsuits are standard attire and bumpy poa annua greens are an annual complaint.  And the celebrity distractions might get old after awhile.

If I was a established touring pro, after playing Pebble tournament for years and years, I think I would rather play Humana than Pebble.  

But as a rookie amateur, I would want to play Pebble Beach instead of Palm Springs.  I would pack my thermals, and heating pad and love every minute of playing Monterrey Point, Spyglass and Pebble Beach Golf Links.

And frankly, I never understood the reverence for Riviera.  Tour pros love it though, so obviously I am missing something about the tournament and course.

NBC's Mark Rolfing gave his Top 5 Americans as of right now.  In alphabetical order:

Kuchar, Reed, Spieth, Walker, Watson

Hard to argue against that list.  4 of them playing this week

Forecast of rain for Friday - don't imagine the course drains that well so we could have some interruption to Round 2.

According to a guy I know with the Phoenix Thunderbirds, TPC Scottsdale has excellent drainage.  One inch of rain should not be too much of an issue.

Jamie Donaldson will be one of tomorrow's early starters, and he could use a good result to take some pressure off his schedule.
He'll turn 4-0 this year so you'd think his window of opportunity for making the (very)big bucks is comparatively small.
Would think all three of the latest European double-dippers would want to be established securely in the FedEx Top 100 points getters by the time the Florida Swing is complete.
Can't see an emoticon for a leek so to Jamie instead.

A sheep would be a far better emoticon that a leek - but the Welsh on here are far to militant for the admins to allow it. The RU forum for example it a total no-go area on 6N weekends. Even less of a sense of humour than Liverpool fans

1960 Open Championship Winner Kel Nagle has passed away at age 94.  

I think he was the oldest living golfer that had won a major championship.  (Up until he died of course)

He had quite a career.  Winning 61 tournaments.

Not sure on who is now the oldest living golfer who won a Major.  Former PGA and Masters Champ Doug Ford is 92.  Jackie Burke Jr is 91.

Fantastic as usual Kwini!

Great field this week!

Cheers sirb,
Deep field, but missing the foreign legion! Got Gallactico Harrington though . . . . . . .
Hope the weather doesn't intervene - even in perfect conditions they struggle to squeeze 132 golfers round in one day.

GPB,
That's quite a scoop! Roberto DeVicenzo is coming up to 92, but imagine Doug Ford must be your man.

PS: Not a Major winner, but Himself is 90 - probably the oldest surviving GB&I Ryder Cupper.

The LPGA could not get 120 players to finish all 18 holes today.

IMO, The LPGA plays much slower than the PGAT.  

Logistically, that doesn't make sense as the guys often have to walk backwards to Back tees where the Gal normally play the Members tees which are generally a closer walk (from Green to Tee).

I think Annika once commented that women take considerably longer on the greens, like upwards to 60-90 seconds per green.  That's at least 20 minutes right there.

===========

Doug Ford's B-day is Aug 6, 1922
Jackie Burke's B-day is Jan 29, 1923  
Roberto's B-day is Apr 23, 1923

Happy Birthday 92nd Jackie Burke!!

Davie wrote:A sheep would be a far better emoticon that a leek - but the Welsh on here are far to militant for the admins to allow it. The RU forum for example it a total no-go area on 6N weekends. Even less of a sense of humour than Liverpool fans

But watch out, Fireman Sam will be at you. Or Ruth Madoc.

Cheers inco, No stereotyping here

Plenty of good rounds early in Dubai from some of the best players - Sergio getting left behind. Among others.

Gout alert. No, not me.
Erik Compton suffering from gout, reportedly, and may not make the Phoenix starting line.

I would have thought the dry heat would have been good for gout? Golf however...

I worry that Sergio will fade a bit this year. Not that he should be tired but last year he spent a lot of time near the top leaderboards without winning many. That might have worn him out a bit. But then again, I always worry about Sergio.

A couple of friends of mine were at the big Poker tournament in the Bahama a few weeks ago

Sergio was there, partying pretty hard with Renaldo the week prior to Qatar. 

I didn't expect much from him to start the year as it didn't appear he was working on his game.


Edit:  More back issues for King Louis.

Poor from Sergio so far, but bad news from King Louis who had to withdraw from "Dubai" with a bad back. Not clear when he'll return.

Looks like they're off on time in Phoenix, forecast for cloudy, sometimes showery weather until Sunday when the sun comes out for the Super Bowl.

GPB

Not great news for the Sergio fans on here. Thankfully I am not one of them.


Who is Renaldo?

Lairdy wrote:I would have thought the dry heat would have been good for gout? Golf however...

I worry that Sergio will fade a bit this year. Not that he should be tired but last year he spent a lot of time near the top leaderboards without winning many. That might have worn him out a bit. But then again, I always worry about Sergio.

I doubt it - hotter, more perspiration, less overall blood volume, higher urate concentrations, more chance of gout attack. Wonder why he's prone to gout?

should have been Ronaldo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronaldo

FWIW, it is not all that warm in Phoenix in late January.

Temperatures won't get much above 20-23 deg C this week.

This tournament often has frost delays in the morning.

No frost delays this week though - they're reserved for Florida and there's been a 90-minute delay to Round 2 of the LPGA tournament.

Birdie at the first for Donaldson. !!

GPB wrote:should have been Ronaldo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronaldo

You sure it wasn't Christy Ronaldo GPB?

It was Brazilian Ronaldo.

Surviving major winners age 80 or older...

Doug Ford - 92 - 8/6/1922
Jack Burke Jr. - 92 - 1/29/1923
Roberto DeVincenzo - 91 - 4/14/1923
Arnold Palmer - 85 - 9/10/1929
Peter Thompson - 85 - 8/23/1929
Dow Finsterwald - 85 - 9/6/1929
Bob Goalby - 85 - 3/14/1929
Gene Littler - 84 - 7/21/1930
Billy Casper - 83 - 6/24/1931

Hey,
The "late" Don January here, dob: Nov 20th, 1929. Doesn't my PGA count??!!

kwinigolfer wrote:Hey,
The "late" Don January here, dob: Nov 20th, 1929. Doesn't my PGA count??!!

Crap Don... sorry dude... you were on my geezer list... I musta accidently deleted you when I removed the non-major winners. So how's it hangin anyway????

Talking about Bones:
Phil and Bones making a mess on the 15th.

Robo:  Who is the oldest living person to win ANY PGA Tournament?

How did a spanish amateur called jon rahm manage to get into the field? Monday qualifying?

Jon Rahm got a sponsors invite.  He is on the Arizona State Sun Devil Golf Team which is located in the Phoenix Metro area.

Local tournaments often give sponsor invites to local college kids.

One such notable invite happened in the 1991 Tucson Open.  Phil Mickelson.  He won the tournament.

Scoring seems relatively modest so far, certainly compared to what we usually expect. Conditions seem good, little wind, so assume players are just getting used to the changes that Weiskopf has made.
Laird and Donaldson going well.

Erik Compton still in the field, scheduled to leave the traps in three hours.

Web-com tour starts their 2015 season this weekend in Panama.

My pick to be PotY is Rhein "Mr 55" Gibson.  He is 1 under par early in his round.

GPB,
Three WGHOF'ers knocking on are:
Charlie Sifford, ailing at 92.
Himself: 90
John Jacobs (the Yorkshire version) 90 in March.

Himself?

Christy O'Connor.

Stefani catching fire, and Bradley's short putter working well.

Great start for 9C ... can't understand why the TV channels are STILL talking about him

#47 in the world or whatever he is now shouldn't be getting this attention.

Isn't he playing with top 5 and Spieth this week? Hardly heard a mention of them yet (good or bad)

Terrible start for Woods but Pettersson was +6 thru 7 holes and recovered to +1.
Wonder how many japesters picked Woods in Grumpy's game fancying him for worst round of the day?

Solid start for most Europeans, except Brian Davis who is even worse off than Woods.

He's going to have to get worse to reach that mark Kwini. +10 is the worst, next comes one of my picks at +6

Marshawn Lynch would be fined by the NFL for repeating the same phrase to every question, but I've a feeling we're going to hear something about "reps". To every question.
Still, can't believe he's forgotten how to play, but he won't get away with this nonsense at, let's say, Augusta.

Perhaps harrington back to his best? Hardly hit a green yet but his short games bailed him out. Just like old times!

Or as they write on PGATour.com: "Tiger's slow start."

Just changed gear. For how long?

Let's see: He gets his first eagle in 18 months, and now he has a ten-ish footer for his second.

He'll still need a 68 or lower on Friday morning.

Nice eagle from St.Padraig. From 162 yards.
Looks like the 36-hole cut will be about -1. Tiger needs to get on his horse, as does by one-and-done - a golfer I can't stand, but usually plays well here. KEVIN!!!!!

BBC doing another terrible job yet again. Reporting 9C is 8 shots behind Palmer, when he's actually 9, the number of his chins.

Not enough 'reps' yet for 9C it would seem...

Wonder if he's still "having fun out there"?