PGA Tour: The Arnold Palmer Love In: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).Back to typical Florida Tour golf this week, at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club, originally designed by Dick Wilson who is still believed to be the only alcoholic course architect who went to University on a football scholarship. The course has been changed quite a bit since Dick's day, many of the modifications by Palmer himself and not necessarily for the better. But it is what it is and the pro who banks $1.1+M next Monday won't give a toss.

2).Course specialist Tiger Woods is still on sabbatical, apparently didn't think his game was up to it, but perhaps he'd received word that the greens are also not up to snuff - a "health warning" about them reportedly having been posted in the Innisbrook locker room telling Valspar contestants to beware.

3)Talking about the "Valspar Championship", there have been gushing articles in the press here about Spieth and Reed representing the new generation of American golfers, but precious little about Sean O'Hair who, ten years ago, trod the path that Spieth and Reed are now navigating.
Like Spieth, O'Hair won the John Deere Classic for his first win and followed up a few years later with Valspar victory.
And, like Reed, O'Hair came out on Tour estranged from parental guidance, soon entered Victory Lane and beyond but subsequently lost his way. Moving around the country with four young children couldn't have helped.

4).One constant for O'Hair, though, has been his play at Bay Hill where he could've, would've, should've won a few years ago before getting beaten (intimidated?) by Tiger and has Top40'd 7 times in 9 visits. But it's only a slight exaggeration for O'Hair to compare the depths of his struggles to those currently being fought by Woods.
Following his play-off loss on Sunday, and trying to explain his welcome return to form, O'Hair is rumoured to have said:
"I was thrashed in an Aronomink member/member match against a curler called Shotrock. He gave me some tips from his bonspiel battles, I took his advice to heart and here I am!"

5).And: On the subject of Pros being paired with Woods in Tour events, Golf Digest's April edition's "Undercover Tour Pro" describes: "Being paired with Tiger: It's a circus, good and bad." Nothing but good things to say about Tiger. Worth reading.

6).pgatour.com listed its Top 5 Irish Golfers in homage to St.Patrick's Day:
1st: McIlroy, 2nd: Harrington, 3rd: Himself, 4th: Clarke, 5th: McDool.
For Nor'n Irish post WWII golfers, I would think: McIlroy, Fred Daly, Clarke, McDowell, Rafferty?
For the Irish list I would agree with Harrington at #1. Then O'Connor Sr, Harry Bradshaw, Christy Jr (edges ahead of Smyth thanks to that 2-iron!), Des Smyth?
Whaddya think? (Sure I've forgotten one or two.)

7).For the Bill Frindalls amongst us who look at Tour stats, Jordan Spieth defied logic last week:
Driving distance: 26th
Driving accuracy: 51st
Greens in Reg: 32nd
Strokes gained putting: 26th
Scrambling: 18th.
Most important stat, just a hair (not ohair) ahead of Reed: Ability to get the ball in the hole: 1st.
Almost Woods-like, from both of them really.

8).Only two chances remaining for golfers to qualify for Augusta via the owgr's.
As far as I can see, and GPB will disabuse me if I've missed someone, all above 44th in the owgr's are arithmetically (or as close as damnit) certain of invites, which leaves Casey the highest placed golfer on the brink.
Others close but not yet certainties include:
Casey: 46th, Playing Bay Hill
Warren: 51st, Not playing this week
English: 52nd, at Bay Hill
Levy: 53rd, at Bay Hill
Sullivan: 58th, Not playing
Fleetwood: 62nd, Not playing
DeLaet: 63rd, at Bay Hill
Molinari: 64th, at Bay Hill
Siem: 65th, Not playing
Hopefully some of those not playing this week's Sam Saunders Invitational will get a final chance at next week's Valero Texas Open. (Plus the Houston Champ also gets into The Masters.)

9).Matt Every won last year's "Arnold Palmer Invitational", and has only surfaced on the Memphis leaderboard since then. Not sure about Matt, bags of talent but destined for the Tour's discard pile the way he's going.
Several of the British contingent have played well here in the past, Martin Laird best of all with his second Tour win. McIlroy makes his Bay Hill debut, but I fancy his Ryder Cup teammate Stenson whose stats and play last week made one wonder why he finished a stroke shy of the play-off. Distance is always a trump card at Bay Hill, but Brian Davis, Ian Poulter and McDool have good records here also.

10).The PGA Tour made the strange decision to increase the customary two-year winner's exemption for Bay Hill and the Memorial to three years, the same exemption as awarded to WGC's.
What's that all about? What about the Byron Nelson, or Ben Hogan's Colonial??
It's good to honour legends of the game, but the Tour was unkind to the Byron Nelson event when Lord Byron passed away; Jack and Arnie can expect more of the same.

No doubt Arnie will be funneling funds to a childrens hospital, what a nice man.

kwinigolfer wrote:2).Course specialist Tiger Woods is still on sabbatical, apparently didn't think his game was up to it, but perhaps he'd received word that the greens are also not up to snuff - a "health warning" about them reportedly having been posted in the Innisbrook locker room telling Valspar contestants to beware.

Wasn't there a tournament course in the UK that had issues with the greens some years ago? Woodhall Spa or am I getting confused?

Not sure about greens in Britain, but certainly there have been issues on the PGA Tour, Quail Hollow a couple of years ago comes to mind.
You'd think with all Bay Hill's money they could get the greens right though.


Here's an update on how they're going to seed the WGC:MatchPlay next year:

http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/cadillac-match-play/news/2015/03/18/match-play-drawing-process.html

I think it's just a bigger version of the European Tour's Volvo set-up, but bigger of course - has to be doesn't it? Yawn.

Great thread as always!!!

Some great groups as well!

I think Marc Warren has received an invite for next week's Valero, while Harrington has pulled out! Wise decision

kwinigolfer wrote:Here's an update on how they're going to seed the WGC:MatchPlay next year:

http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/cadillac-match-play/news/2015/03/18/match-play-drawing-process.html

Hmm, not sure that it makes for a good Fantasy League event this year.  Looks like we'll either be skipping this one or play it as a non counting event.

Thanks for the Warren update, sirb. Hadn't seen that.

How do you rate Irish post-war golfers, North and South?

Kwin -

Thank you for the shout out and credit given where due!

Actually, my free advice is worth just that and Sean is rumored to be moving much of the season to Florida, but still keeping his PA residence. He made Aronimink proud last week ... hope he can keep it going.

The Arnie love-fest begins.

Matt Every has been extremely poor since his win collecting only 30 OWGR points since his win and dropping back to 96th in the world rankings. He was #94 when he won the API, and rose to a high of 42 in the weeks after the win.


Kwini

I don't think the April edition of the undercover pro is online yet but I will look out for it. In the March edition he claims that most pro's are only in it for the money, and in his case would rather win the fedex cup over 3 of the majors. And he would only prefer to win the masters as there is a full season to implement a plan to turn your increased status into more dollars. His theory being that if you win the PGA the golf season is over in the eyes of those deciding golf endorsements (what about the fedex??) so you cannot capitalize as easily on the win.

PS, who did you think the undercover pro is? Having 2 pga tour wins is mentioned in the march blog.

McLaren wrote:PS, who did you think the undercover pro is?  Having 2 pga tour wins is mentioned in the march blog.

Ian Poulter?

Mac,
The Undercover Pro almost certainly is a different golfer each month.
Imagine it's only a journeyman (and a pretty Frak journeyman at that) who only sees Majors on TV that would say that about FedEx over Majors.

There are plenty of Major Championship winners who are still riding on the coattails decades after their win(s). Even an Ian Poulter would admit that is more lucrative than a FedEx Cup win, and also provides a legacy, a place in history.

Gerry out of the APinv, he has withdrawn so he can attend the funeral of a close friend.

According to princedrac its down to 60 owgr points.

GPB... with Bubba out... do you know what Stenson would need to finish to get #2 this week?

kwinigolfer wrote:Mac,
The Undercover Pro almost certainly is a different golfer each month.
Imagine it's only a journeyman (and a pretty Frak journeyman at that) who only sees Majors on TV that would say that about FedEx over Majors.

There are plenty of Major Championship winners who are still riding on the coattails decades after their win(s). Even an Ian Poulter would admit that is more lucrative than a FedEx Cup win, and also provides a legacy, a place in history.

I'm not sure it's different one's every month... but it looks to be a rotation of at least 3.  I'm pretty sure one of them is Carl Petterson (and I have semi-quazi-kinda-confirmation on that.... :-)... and the March "in it for the money" guy is almost certainly J.J. Henry (that's just me saying that on my own based on a few connected dots)

robopz wrote:GPB... with Bubba out... do you know what Stenson would need to finish to get #2 this week?

Through my bleary eyes!

Quick calculation:  Solo 3rd (or 4 way T2nd).

Bubba's projected avg average is actually increasing because of loss of divisor.  From 7.63 to 7.68

The boys are on their way in Orlando, Gonzo blazing the trail, and he desperately needs a good tournament.
Unusually warm weather forecast thru the weekend with inevitable possibility of afternoon showers each day. Breezy perhaps, but not expected to be windy.

kwinigolfer wrote:Thanks for the Warren update, sirb. Hadn't seen that.

How do you rate Irish post-war golfers, North and South?

I think the PGA Tour and you pretty much nailed the rankings, as much as I hate to admit it, Mcilroy is the best due to his 4 major wins! Golf is a funny game though! Harrington will always be my favourite and I have given up hope of one last major win, I also think Lowry can win a major in the future.


McDowell seems to have lost some of his consistency lately, as it happens I think he will have a good week this week!

No play so far in the Madeira Islands Open due to strong winds. I've played at Santo da Serra and it is very high up and Madeira is susceptible to high winds. ET website says the length of the delay is "indefinite" and a video posted on their Facebook page shows the wind holing a putt!

kwinigolfer wrote:The boys are on their way in Orlando, Gonzo blazing the trail

He's +2 after 6 holes

Yes LP, Gonzo +3 and plug last - early days yet, but I fear for his PGA Tour future. He's behind last year's pace which is difficult to do and there is nothing in his game or stats to suggest he will turn it around anytime soon.


McDowell's played well at Bay Hill in the past but his form recently has suggested the "bomber" tracks are beyond him now - he needs to be pretty much at the top of his game to be successful at Bay Hill, but you're right sirb!

LadyPutt wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:The boys are on their way in Orlando, Gonzo blazing the trail

He's +2 after 6 holes

Guess who picked him?

LadyPutt wrote:No play so far in the Madeira Islands Open due to strong winds. I've played at Santo da Serra and it is very high up and Madeira is susceptible to high winds. ET website says the length of the delay is "indefinite" and a video posted on their Facebook page shows the wind holing a putt!

No play today. The event's now 54 holes (they hope) with the cut after tomorrow's round.

Alex Levy needs un bon fini to boost his chances du Masters but he's just delivered un early neuf.
That won't get it accompli, mon ami.

Watching the Live@ and Horschel just 3 putted it from 3 feet.

Looks like he put his next shot in the drink. Or was that his putter?

kwinigolfer wrote:Looks like he put his next shot in the drink. Or was that his putter?

Great par in the end!

Levy and English need top 10 finishes to have a chance at cracking the Top 50.

Neither is off to a very good start.

Had a look on the Medeira open wiki page and via 2 time winner Mats Lanner got to the page on a short lived event won by Jose Olazabal, Woosie, seve and langer called the Epson grand prix.

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

Anyone remember this? It was a matchplay then a strokeplay event running from 1986 to 1991.

Levy's chances look to be done after 8 holes!

The flukiest of all fluke shots from Snedeker! Bounces twice on the rocks and finishes a few feet from the hole

Did sneds not have some sort of fluke in a play off once? Maybe the 2012 farmers?

He's got "irish" eyes

Mac,
I think that's correct, the one where he beat Kyle Stanley in a play-off after Stanley's wedge to the 18th spun back off the green and into the billabong to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Spencer Levin returned the compliment to Stanley the following week, in Phoenix. Stanley now on the web.com Tour.

Anything over par this morning is looking like a disappointing score, they're going lower than I would have expected.

Watsons' replacement taking his opportunity.

Kisner got to play after four others failed to answer the bell - we followed him in Montreal last year, would think he'll break through this year or next, improving all the time.

And: Poulter is playing.

Bit of a rough start for Shane.

Nice break for Harrington, bouncing the ball off the 6th hole rocks and back into play.
Another good round in progress for Padraig.

70 golfers under par already.

McLaren wrote:Bit of a rough start for Shane.

Thanks for reminding me of one of my picks Mac.

Poulter's good form seems to be continuing! Had a disappointing 3rd round last week, which stopped him from contending.

kwinigolfer wrote:Nice break for Harrington, bouncing the ball off the 6th hole rocks and back into play.
Another good round in progress for Padraig.

70 golfers under par already.

You can be sure a month ago that would have landed in the water!

All the GB&I golfers at Bay Hill except Danny Willett are in this morning's "wave", Paul Casey leading the way.

17 out of 18 greens hit in regulation by Rory yesterday, but just even par on the 4 x par-5's. If he hits another 17 greens today, you'd think he'll be scoring a lot lower.

Should be warm and sunny, perfect conditions for morning scoring.

kwinigolfer wrote:All the GB&I golfers at Bay Hill except Danny Willett are in this morning's "wave", Paul Casey leading the way.

17 out of 18 greens hit in regulation by Rory yesterday, but just even par on the 4 x par-5's. If he hits another 17 greens today, you'd think he'll be scoring a lot lower.

Should be warm and sunny, perfect conditions for morning scoring.

Nice write up Kwini - what do the tour make of messages being posted about the quality of the green at the next venue? Do we know who posted it?

As for Rory - his putting has been a bit poorer recently and you can see the frustration growing within him. Given what look like bumpy greens at Bayhill, it's hard to see this being the tournament his putting returns. His iron play is also not quite as good as the second half of last season, so he's not hitting it so close and thus putting a bit more pressure on his putting.

Hi Bob, Thanks.
My understanding was that it was the Tour itself forewarning the players that there had been problems with the Bay Hill greens; not sure about that, but the Tour is usually pretty upfront in trying to take the sting out of potential course problems, of whatever nature. Anyone p1ssing and moaning when they turn up at the course will at least have been warned and less likely to criticise.

Nice bird from Rory on his first hole; he's hit 19 greens out of 20 now and needs to make hay on the par-5's to climb the leaderboard.

Rory has failed to birdie another par 5. Is there no way the tour can ensure Rory gets a tee time where viewers get to see him play on Thursday and Friday?

By the time most people are able to pick up the coverage his round will be over today.

O'Hair looks to make another cut ... and some effort by Paddy thus far!

Torrid pace being set by Morgan Hoffmann.

Good scoring again this morning, and the cut looks likely to sit at -1. Which won't halp Paul Casey as he tries to sew up his tee-time at Augusta. A missed cut will dim his chances, for another week anyway, and he's two strokes adrift with ten holes to play. May have led the field in driving distance for Round 1, but throwing shots away on the greens. Not good enough Paul!

Mcilroy made a birdie on a par 5.

Where are the Irish contingent?

Paddy is on a roll.