PGA Tour: WGC:Cadillac Championship / Puerto Rico Open: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Congratulations to Padraig Harrington.
What a way to liven up an otherwise boring Monday. And what a bizarre final round - can't think of anything more extraordinary since Paul Lawrie's Open Championship.
We'll hear about Poulter failing to close out a tournament and Casey's driver and putter going cold, but Patrick Reed put a dent in his cocky/brash young-gun image by foozling his chances just as surely, but less spectacularly, as Poults. Interesting to see how Top Five does next time he's in contention. Maybe as soon as this week.
Padraig has this week off before he honours a string of sponsors' exemptions that he now doesn't need, but will show his gratitude by playing the tournaments anyway. What a guy!

2).We see Harrington most years at The Travelers, in Hartford, and whether he's playing well or playing poorly he's always among the most popular golfers in the field, guaranteed a following whether he's grouped with "A" rated players or the proverbial Joe Blow from Windy City. The affection for him is genuine, and it appears his appreciation is heartfelt also. And now, at last, he has a performance to match his popularity.

3).No Harrington in this week's field at Doral, but Ireland will be represented by Shane Lowry. It's Lowry's first look at Doral so an Irish double might be asking for too much, but the Shane of San Diego and Pebble Beach can certainly win on Tour.

4).A couple of Ryder Cup thoughts before going back down the Interstate to Miami.
Lots made about Couples not getting a captaincy chance, but Jaime Diaz's article in GolfWorld contains some interesting observations from Fred's Vice Captain act at Medinah:
~Attendance and input all week at "Captain's Meetings" was "erratic".
~For too long he was "inaccessible" when needed on the course, "not reachable by walkie-talkie or cell-phone", and was therefore not available to "soothe nerves" on the course when Love was handling Sunday singles first tee duties.
~And his texting Furyk to tell him he wasn't a Captain's Choice for his 2013 President's Cup Team instead of calling him or speaking to him directly was thought to count against him.
Fred being Fred.

5).Another snippet from the Ryder Cup Task Force small print was the news that Love, Mickelson and Woods are to be the players on a 6-man "PGA of America Ryder Cup Committee" charged with selecting Vice Captains, future Captains "and other duties". Lunatics hired to run the asylum. Only surprise is that Rickie Fowler is not on the Committee.

6).No surprise here, but Davis Love has also been named a Vice Captain (alongside Couples of course) of Jay Haas's Presidents Cup Team in Korea; Tony Johnstone & McNulty assisting Nick Price for the Internationals.Surely there'll be some sort of Korean presence?
EDIT: Apparently KJ Choi is also a VC; didn't see that in the original report.

7).Terrific news about the revival of the "British Masters" tournament  at Woburn this October. Thanks Poults, and looking forward to seeing where Donald, Rose and Westwood take the tournament through 2019.

8).Hopefully this will be part of new initiatives by the European Tour, perhaps learning something at last from the genius that is Tim Finchem's management of the PGA Tour. His latest coup is getting Dell Computers (they of the utterly useless technical and customer service agents) to sponsor the WGC:MatchPlay, in Austin, Texas, starting March 2016.
Finchem manages tournament scheduling as if he's finding pieces for a giant jigsaw that embraces a decade or two, witness his recent long-term sponsorship agreements with Waste Management and Charles Schwab (for the Seniors).

9).Last year's Cadillac tournament was marred by high winds on a course that wasn't built for them. Or was it?
Anyway, hundreds of waterballs ensued, no windmills necessary when water hazards are everywhere.
As Rob Bolton describes his fantasy team strategy for the new, unfortunately not improved, Doral: Choose "brutes (he chose Rory, Bubba, Dustin and Reed) in a big-boy field on a big-boy course".
I'd be very surprised if Bubba and DJ were not in Sunday's shake up. At least the winds will be fresh and not gale-force, and the weather looks fine for Rounds 1 and 2, possible rain on Saturday and Sunday.

10).Finally, a truly horrendous field takes their clubs to Puerto Rico for their Open. The top sixty-odd players are competitive enough, buttressed as the field is by some European Tour players. But holding an "opposite field" event on the same week as a web.com tournament is just plain daft, especially as the Champions Tour has the week off.
I wonder whether they'd be better off choosing the field from all three U.S. Tours and taking the top 44 from each?
Still, this week represents a great opportunity for a win and just the same 2-year exemption as Padraig Harrington earned for last week's miracle.

super_realist wrote:Does look like a good field emerging for the spudmuncher open.

The winner gets a pot of gold

incontinentia wrote:

pedro wrote:

super_realist wrote:
On another note, hilarious that 9C is nearly out of the top 100.

No surprising really, considering Harrison Ford hits more fairways than he does.

Hahaha, brilliant Pedro!!!

Excellent.

This clears up the DJ absence and tour drug policy;

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/nobodys-business-dj-still-mum-time-away-pga-tour/?cid=twitter-gc-v-nobodys-business-dj-still-mum-time-away-pga-tour-030915

Anyway feel strongly about the fall series events not offering ryder cup qualification points?

http://golfweek.com/news/2015/mar/08/pga-tour-ryder-cup-tim-finchem-fall-points/

Mickelson seems happy that weaker events, and therefore weaker players are not rewarded, but finchem is unsurprisingly annoyed that some of his events will loose a little bit of status.

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/top-10-newsmakers-2014-2-%E2%80%93-ryder-cup/

Who really knows, Mac?
DJ has been more than forthcoming about his drinking, quite possible he did some things way ott while under the influence.
But who is the PGA Tour to judge what's acceptable and what's not? Marijuana is now legal in a small number of States - why shouldn't a PGA Tour partake legally, though the inference is that a positive test for a "recreational drug" is not acceptable?

As for DJ it seems a waste of time speculating.

Mac,
As for Ryder Cup points credit, Phil wants his cake and to eat it too. Who says they're weaker players? Certainly all of the American winners last autumn are playing better golf than Phil right now.
Finchem's p1ssed off because he either spaced on year vs season, or he acquiesced deliberately and hoped no-one would notice. What's it got to do with him anyway?

Ironic Phil should be demeaning the "weaker" players hoping to qualify for US Ryder Cup team when he along with 9C have two of the worst RC records in US History.
I think I'm right in saying that no American has lost more games than Mickelson

Kwini

my post about DJ, PED's and the drug policy being cleared up was meant to be sarcastic. Of course the tours policy is still as clear as mud.

Not only "as clear as mud" but also will presumably have to be enforced more rigorously for Olympic action.

PS: My point about alcohol and especially marijuana is quite serious. Haven't seen how they're going to deal with positive (kind of an oxymoron in that wording, can't think of anything more negative!) tests for pot.

Maybe you need to prove that you had a toke in Seattle or Denver?

And there's nothing wrong with that.
According to the States' Law.
Finchem needs to address.

Deer antler spray is legal most places too, but you still get short shrift (and endless legal rumblings) from the tour if you use it. Slight difference in the weed not being performance-enhancing, unless it soothes Eldrick's yips; but the players are employees of the tour, and the employers are entitled to include bans on the use of legal stuff to their contracts if they so wish. As I imagine they will do unless legalisation goes nationwide.

Interesting piece here from Rex Hoggard about Doral, and which courses the pros would prefer to play in an ideal world:

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/rex-hoggard/if-not-doral-where-players-pick-favorite-courses/

Doral receiving plenty of unfavourable reviews . . . . . .

Guaranteed money is the most important point in making Doral a choice for players. The course, imo, is a shocker! Wouldn't get on to my to play list if Trump stumped up the air fare. We all have our own list of attractive features in golf course design, but from my armchair Doral ticks no boxes. About as ridiculous as a football World Cup in Qatar!

Patrick Reed story takes another turn.

His claimed affidavit isn't really an affidavit at all.

http://www.weiunderpar.com/post/haacks-affidavit-and-assistants-statement-cast-new-light-on-patrick-reed-controversy

Patrick Reed will be judged by a whole new set of standards now that he is a world-class golfer.
From my experience of children who went thru the College system, the entire college process here is an artificial existence, sometimes for better, often very very good, sometimes for worse.
Reed should shut the phuck up and let his clubs do the talking.

Can't imagine I'd be much taken with the Harris Englishes, Russell Henleys etc, of this world - would think that Henrik Norlander's take, when Reed had already been taken down a peg, if Henrik could ever be persuaded to provide it, would be more instructive.

Marc Warren, Wiesberger and Zanotti tried to "Monday Qualify" for this week's "Valspar" tournament, but came up short. It's a tough crowd.

There's an ongoing scandal at the University of Oklahoma where a group of frat boys were filmed chanting racially charged slogans and songs.
One of the two identified ringleaders attended a High School in Dallas "for young men under the Society of Jesus" - as did Jordan Spieth.

"Jesus" clearly didn't do a good job there.

Hope Spieth turns out to be a more upstanding product than his fellow "old boy".

Don't want to go down this route again but it's quite common for bible thumpers to be intolerant, racist, bigoted, homophobic, sexist etc, especially those from an American background. THe nature of that particular religion sets up the situation for them, and if they are actually reading the bible, as many of these golfers profess to in their PGA "bible class", there are plenty verses which condone that sort of behaviour.

Gerard Watson is one good example.

super_realist wrote:Fair enough, I've probably got sentimental attachment to it from Goldfinger.
I see Stoke Park to a 72 hole Open in August though. I might look into this.

Bit late to this thread, but probably a good idea for me to switch topic...

Stoke Park is a very pretty course. Delightful setting in landscaped grounds with a large lake, and the iconic clubhouse. But I found the actual course pretty uninspiring. Special clubhouse, car park full of Aston Martins, trophy wives wandering around the spa / tennis club, but ultimately the course is nothing special.

.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XawWEaBUFo&feature=youtu.be

Legend!

sirb,
Am already in a team. 21st in the latest weekly ranking - better than 2,900th at the end of last year!

Pretty sure GPB is in a team or two also.

Will defo join yours next year.

sirbenson wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XawWEaBUFo&feature=youtu.be

Legend!

It almost sounds sensible until he claims that 2012 was actually his best year. What is wrong with the guy?

He said 2012 was his best ballstriking year....fair assessment, he just putted extremely poor!

Some of Paddy's 2012 stats

Driving distance 57th
Driving Accuracy 120
Total driving 76
ball striking 121
GIR 161

But he was 18th in strokes gained tee to green. So must have had a decent short game.

Strokes gained putting 107
sand saves 10
Scrambling 39

So not really amazing short game stuff.


Was this really his best year in terms of ball striking? Doesn't seem like it.

raycastleunited wrote:

super_realist wrote:Fair enough, I've probably got sentimental attachment to it from Goldfinger.
I see Stoke Park to a 72 hole Open in August though. I might look into this.

Bit late to this thread, but probably a good idea for me to switch topic...

Stoke Park is a very pretty course. Delightful setting in landscaped grounds with a large lake, and the iconic clubhouse. But I found the actual course pretty uninspiring. Special clubhouse, car park full of Aston Martins, trophy wives wandering around the spa / tennis club, but ultimately the course is nothing special.

Saw an advertorial for Stoke Park in Golf world magazine - "just" £3,500 a year membership! What planet are some people living on?

That's cheap compared to some LP.

super_realist wrote:That's cheap compared to some LP.

Really?

Name an example of a course that has higher fee's than that.

I can only think of places like Renaissance that are ultra exclusive.

Loch Lomond, London Club, Wentworth, Woburn, Archerfield, Muirfield etc etc That's what makes them exclusive Mac, don't you think?

I was looking at Celtic Manor the other night, that's 3k with a 3k joining fee.

There you go Mac, you've answered your own question. The likes of Queenwood and Loch Lomond am sure are more than £3,500 a year.

Members of these courses are buying into the exclusivity of the place, rather than the challenge or architectural merits of the golf course.

Super

I thought Muirfield just divvied up the total costs between the members at the end of the year?

I am also pretty sure super wished to imply that £3500 wasn't all that much for a membership, which it quite clearly is.

I would also like to see the evidence for some of those clubs charging more than £3500.

Mac, I'm not saying it isn't a lot, but for a lot of places, specifically some of the more well known ones in England, 3500 isn't as much as you might think

Even some really terrible courses in England will cost you 1500 a year.

The Celtic Manor website has it at 3000 a year.
There are clubs which run into the 10's of Thousands per year.
Wentworth for example is 15k to join and 8k per annum.


http://www.golfmagic.com/news/golf-news/the-10-most-expensive-golf-club-memberships-in-the-world/14871.html
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/may/11/golf

THis will make your eyes water.

Bear in mind, if you live in St.Andrews, you get all the courses for £150 per year.

super_realist wrote:Even some really terrible courses in England will cost you 1500 a year

No doubt about that. I pay £1,452 a year and I'm definitely not anywhere special.

I have a client who is a member at Wisley and the annual costs there are anything from £10k to £40k

When I played Loch Lomond, joining fee was US$100k, although this was a debenture that you sold to a new joiner if you wanted to leave. Still, it would be nice to have a spare 100 grand lying around.

In the south east £1,500 seems to be the average, even for poor courses.

raycastleunited wrote:In the south east £1,500 seems to be the average, even for poor courses.

That's why I intend retiring to Scotland in May next year. Just won't be able to afford £1,500 for each of us on a pension. Seems the average where we're looking (and I'm not talking the silly money of Loch Lomond etc) is around £500. Now that's what I call affordable! We're not all minted and some of these prices are just way beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.

Did you look into Lundin LP?

I'm paying around £1800 in Thames Valley area ... even a fairly average club that tries to be exclusive likes Bearwood Lakes can't be far off the £3.5K mark

Amazing the difference between North and South.

Davie
When I left Bearwood Lakes - due to work commitments in 1999/2000 - it was, if I remember correctly, about £4000 debenture, £1500 joining fee and £1500 per year. Mistake in hindsight, to join, but went with some friends. I was lucky to get the debenture back.

Davie wrote:I'm paying around £1800 in Thames Valley area ... even a fairly average club that tries to be exclusive likes Bearwood Lakes can't be far off the £3.5K mark

There are always cheaper options, I guess you pay what you are prepared to, given what else is in the area.

Where do you play Davie?

What you mean you've never had an invite Ray?

Blue,
Do you get up to Woodbridge at all?

How bizarre you should ask that kwini. Just sent my entry for the Eastern Counties Cup (first held in 1897!) to be played at Woodbridge in May only yesterday! 36 hole medal with a practice round the week before, looking forward to it already.

You know it obviously kwini, was it a favourite course of yours?

No, a shot in the dark really. But I met an old friend of mine who I hadn't seen in decades and he plays there, believe he's a member. From what I can research it looks a v.nice place. Good course?
Not a part of the world I know very well. Sadly.

Ray - I've been at Sand Martins in Wokingham for the last six years

It's not somewhere I've played a huge amount kwini but yes it is lovely and very pretty. Not the longest course in the world by any means, but accuracy is essential as unforgiving gorse and heather awaits anything that is a little wayward.

Like most of the Suffolk courses it is sandy based and so drains really quickly. There are some gems in that part of the world there is no doubt, along with Woodbridge favourites of mine are Purdis Heath, Thorpeness and Aldeburgh to name just a few. Not forgetting my own second club Felixstowe Ferry, which has just been voted one of the top three Links courses in East Anglia the other two being Hunstanton and Royal West Norfolk.

Blue,
I remember on 606 a number of your local-ish courses being raved about - I'll have to get myself a tee-time at Woodbridge next time I'm home. Tks for the info.

Pleasure kwini, if you happen to have the time for a game at Felixstowe as well you would be more than welcome as my guest.

Just been looking at that open - great value at a terrific course. Just got to persuade the missus that she can do without me for the whole day!