PGA Tour: Walking in Memphis: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).No reports as to whether the boys are putting on their blue suede shoes, or even whether they "touched down in the pouring rain, in the Land of the Delta Blues again", but the Tour returns to the South after a memorable week in Columbus.
This is the week of the "FedEx St.Jude Classic", at TPC Southwind outside Memphis - it'll doubtless be hot and steamy, but it's a US Open warm up for some, another step on the tortuous road to retain or retrieve Tour Membership for most.

2).Disappointment last week for Justin Rose, but he played well most of the way and doubtless will consider the positives of fine-tuning for Chambers Bay rather than the negatives of a couple of unforced errors on Sunday that cost him his second Memorial win. Rose was hitting his tee-ball miles - he's up to 29th in Tour driving distance, 30th in the "Total Driving" stat and reports suggest he'll need every yard of his distance to give him a chance next week in the US Open.
And congrats to Andy Sullivan for a great week too. Guessing his owgr position, 56th, will hold in the Top 60 for US Open qualification, but by no means certain.

3).And what a win for David Lingmerth! He'd been having a quietly successful season, at least until the last few weeks, after losing his card last year and retrieving it via the WTF series.
But who'd've thunk he'd stick in there and eventually beat Rose? Probably the most surprising Tour win since Harrington's.
Good week for Scandinavia what with Alex Noren's most welcome return to fitness and form, and Suzann Pettersen's win in Canada (always liked her, both for obvious reasons and her carelessly(?!) throwing in a few "f"'s in a post-Solheim Cup round interview on NBC).

4).Obviously a miserable week for Tiger Woods - "reps" of the most unwelcome kind. Interesting interview with Sean Foley pupil, Hunter Mahan, on pgatour.com.
Among other things, he said:
"I don't know what was wrong with that (Sean Foley-taught) swing. He played pretty well with it, he knew what he was doing, hitting those little cuts and a nice little pull cut that he likes."
Perhaps a little self-serving, but it's not often that a pro offers an un-sycophantic (there's a word there somewhere, just not sure what it is) opinion on Woods. Hunner has silly facial hair and a sometimes gormless smile, but I like him!

5).And Steve Williams's "retirement" interview in July's Golf Digest was interesting for a number of reasons. Was there something left unsaid when he offered:
Did Tiger do PED's?: "There's no chance. Love him or hate him, Tiger respected the game." Nothing about blood-doping though.

6).Anyway, good interview which I can't link yet. He also talks about the Tiger intimidation factor:
"Some players can't be intimidated. Zach Johnson is at the top of that list." Zach's excellent Ryder Cup record would attest to that. Interesting that pros' respect for other pros often highlights qualities in places one wouldn't normally expect - unexpected, for instance, that Azinger always said that David Toms was the "most aggressive" player he ever golfed with.

7).Extraordinary story of "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" last week concerning Erik Compton's third heart - apparently, by the time "a bottle of white, a bottle of red" had been enjoyed, Compton's waitress and Erik realised that his third heart came from her nephew. Great story from CBS, and what a coincidence; Billy Joel would love it.

8).Goodbye Columbus, and Goodbye PGA Tour from Kenny Perry last week as the missed putt on his 36th hole sent him home and off into retirement from the PGA Tour.
And Hello to Special Temporary Membership to Patrick Rodgers. Commentators are giddy about Rodgers joining Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth on Tour; by and large the same commentators who predicted similarly great things from Patrick Cantlay and Jamie Lovemark.

9).Luke Donald qualified for next week's US Open and so did other Europeans, including Sebastian Cappelen and Stephan Jaeger from the web.com Tour. And 18-y-o Sam Horsfield who Ian Poulter described as "without doubt the best young golfer I have ever seen" when Poults played with a 14-y-o Sam four years ago. More giddiness no doubt, but it'll be good to follow his progress.

10).Majors on the Champions Tour and LPGA this week, but back to Memphis. TPC Southwind is a Par-70 "fairways and greens" course that has only two Par-5's and rewards par.
It's always difficult to know who's going to be motivated by more than the quest for form in the week prior to any US Open, but remember that it's also effectively the final "qualifier" for Chambers Bay. Harrington is not yet exempt and even if he wins would need a little bit of luck to make the field, but stranger things have happened.
I also like Billy Horschel who is such a streaky golfer that winning "Memphis" would just turbo-charge him for next week. Each-way longshot: Shawn Stefani.

By this time next week, we'll know the quirky tee-times drummed up by the USGA for their "Open". Their "fun" (their description, not mine) last year included grouping Stadler, Lowry and de Jonge together, which p1ssed Lowry off. (Apparently de Jonge was ambivalent and Stadler "resigned" as he'd previously been lumped with Herron and Pettersson.)
How do you think it would go down this year if Lowry played Rounds 1 and 2 with Montgomerie and, say, Patrick Reed?

Kwini

I read the Stevie interview and did not interpret his comments on Tiger and PED's to be him sidestepping the blood doping question. When stevie said PEDs he meant all forms of physiological cheating.


"......reports suggest he'll need every yard of his distance to give him a chance next week in the US Open."

Oh christ, not more moaning about CB.


I am going to start sounding like I think CB is the best course in the world, or some sort of masterpiece. I don't think that. I think it is an above average design and an interesting project, if probably a little too expensive with too much earth moving.

But FFS, you and a lot of other media types are really getting your knickers in a twist about a course that we haven't even seen a top class player hit a shot on (other than the long lens tiger snaps). So what if fans on the ground are not as numerous as on other courses, they are a tiny proportion of the golf viewership. Can we not wait and see what sort of spectacle it produces and what sort of tournament we get until passing judgement? A false story is currently being spun out that CB is unsuitable as a major venue and some sort of goofy course. We we know not to be true and the other we will only know come the end of US open week.

The record will state that you were hysterical about CB in the run up to the US open. Does it not worry you that you have set up that perception? Especially if things turn out to be ok.



And, nice work again as usual.

Mac,
I'm not moaning about Chambers Bay, just passing on observations from others more qualified than me, or most media of which I am certainly not one. And even more than you.

If Brooks Koepka, for instance, describes CB as "offering a big advantage to big hitters", who are we to argue? You know the lengths of the holes as well as I do; we don't know yet how the USGA will set the course up, but given the average length of most of the par-4's is close to 500 yards, and there's a 620-yd Par-5, it's pretty silly to suggest that a Luke Donald and other short-hitters will be favoured.

PS: Interesting to read what Stevie had to say about Koepka's extraordinary ball-striking, meant to include that comment.

Kwini

I don't object to the observation that a course favors big hitters, that happens most weeks. It is the insinuation at every mention of CB that it is unworthy of holding a major and that the greens are too interesting for the pro game. The media seem to have done their usual and just go with whatever the players say, in this case that there is an issue with the course. It is not the done thing for golf journo's to question what a player proclaims.

I also object to you asserting that just because someone writes in golf digest or whatever they are more qualified than you to comment. Your weekly ballwasher is one the better and more importantly least sycophantic sources of golf news.


I was intrigued by stevie's comments on Koepka, to say he is in a group of ballstriking excellence that only contains Woods and Floyd is pretty bold. Not sure why he would even mention it. If true then Koepka could soon be up there with Rory and Jordan "simba" Spieth.

Nice write up Kwin.

Memphis in June. Ugh. Good thing players stopped wearing neckties decades ago.

I've read blog reports that Chambers Bay is getting bone dry. Maybe take away some of the length issues and put more a premium on accuracy? Another silly hard setup from Mike Davis is what I'm predicting.

Not surprised by the Brooks Koepka mention from Steve Williams, he is an incredibly talented golfer!

https://twitter.com/JamesHaddockSky/status/608685651332988928 Jamie Donaldson a possible withdrawal? I presume that would affect Harrington's chances of getting into the field next week.

Great article as per usual btw!

McLaren wrote:Kwini


I also object to you asserting that just because someone writes in golf digest or whatever they are more qualified than you to comment.  

Yet, you say that because you've frapped over Doak's book of golf Course Architecture on a library pew that you have a better understanding of course architecture than anyone else here.

Kwini - not aiming to ignore Memphis, but heard any suggestion that CB tees are sloped? Suggestion I heard today.

Tees at CB do have some slope.  Intentionally.  Probably no more slope than the average course.

I have heard 1 degree slope with is less than 2 cm from toe to tee for side hill inclines and less than 1 cm from foot to foot for uphill and downhill slopes.

Unless plans fall through I will be at the tournament tomorrow, but I am disappointed that both Mickelson and Johnson both have morning tee times.

TPC Southwind is a par 71 for the membership, hole #5 is a par 5 for the membership, par 4 for the pros.  I have played it several times.  (but never in the summer)

Good write up as always Kwini. Always preferred Marc Cohns' versions to Chers'.

If you hear of one person talking about a course, then you could put that down to sour grapes, or they had an off day.
When a number of them pass comment, you should take notice.

Inw, Never heard Cher's version; I might not have used it if I'd known!

From what I can understand, the USGA are intent on presenting the golfers with multiple different "looks" every round, with many different tees being used to reflect changes in length and elevation; as robo and Shotrock have suggested, Mike Davis risking being seen as too clever by half. But, hey, maybe it will work out.

Let's add some flesh to the bone presented by Shotrock that the area has been pretty dry:
Jan: In round figures, Seattle had 2 1/4 inches of precip compared to an average of 5 1/4 inches.
Feb: Actual of 4 1/2 vs average of 3 1/2
Mar: Act 4 1/4 vs 3 1/2
Apr: Act 1 3/4 vs 2 1/2
May: Act 1/2 inch vs 1 1/2
June: Act to date 1/10th vs ave of 6/10'ths
Approx total to date according to Weather Underground: Act 13+ inches actual vs average of 17 inches, more importantly a significant deficit the past ten weeks and no major threat of rain in the 10-day forecast. Won't make much difference for Luke unless he can hit it straight!

We'll keep an eye on that!

sirb,
Haven't heard anything further about Donaldson, he's still shown as going off just after GPB gets there, 1.20 p.m.


Enjoy the fun GPB, you can ask one or two of the guys what they think of CB.

super_realist wrote:

McLaren wrote:Kwini


I also object to you asserting that just because someone writes in golf digest or whatever they are more qualified than you to comment.  

Yet, you say that because you've frapped over Doak's book of golf Course Architecture on a library pew that you have a better understanding of course architecture than anyone else here.

When using "you" I was referring to kwini. He cuts through the crap the players peddle better than most. The amount of moronic comments players make that go unchallenged is one the reasons golf journalism can be so dull. How the hell is tiger still not being ridiculed for claiming to have reset a joint that experts need surgery to fix.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/33083260

Wow, this kids mouth is unreal.

Chambers Bay Tees

"One of the things that's unique to this is the architects put in what they refer to it as ribbon tees, these tees that just kind of meander. And it allows us to put tee markers where we want. And in some cases we may end up putting tee markers on slight slopes as opposed to you think, well, you're always going to have teeing markers on very flat areas. But there may be some where we give the players a little downhill slope, a little uphill slope, a side slope. So that's interesting."

This quote apparently from Mike Davis. What's going on?

I really look forward to CB. Sick and tired of the same dull parkland courses.
One of the more exciting majors in recent time was the 2010 PGA at Whistling Straits - a course that, at least visually, reminds of CB. So I have high hopes.

Read the Steve Williams article too, interesting.
And incredible that he completely checked out and didn't even watch it on TV or check results.
PS. as Zach Johnsons RC record (6-6-2) may be relatively good for American standards, it's hardly excellent.

Yeah, I am another one excited about Chambers Bay and agree regard it being similar looking to Whistling Straits (as it happens the PGA is returning there)

It also reminds me of Shinnecock Hills, admittedly I was quite young then, so my memory of it maybe a bit off!

If you haven't been to usopen dot com website yet to see the flyovers, you should do so.

Some of the holes are visually stunning.  #9-#12 were particularly interesting to me.

I think they could have done a better job with filter the video as you could not easily tell the greens from the fairways.

If Mike Davis wants a +10 score to win the USOpen, I think he can do so.  Even with very wide fairways.

I have seen them GPB and it really does look spectacular!

Crazy to think that they are going to alternate what the par is on 1&18 between a 4&5 depending on conditions, right?....That has surely never happened unless weather has forced the par to change mid tournament like at the Byron Nelson!

SB, I like the changing par.

I have always said that I ever won an unthinkable amount of money that I would hire an architect to build a golf course with 18 holes that could play as a par 3, a par 4 and a par 5.  (or at least two of the options).

Basically the membership could have a different golf course to play each and every day. Might be tough it get a course rating and slope, etc,. but I think it can be overcome with some organization.

Of course the tees could multifunction.  Par 4's from the championship tees could be par 5's from the membership tees.

But unless I win the Powerball lottery, the GPB Sybil golf course ain't happening soon.

GPB

Have you played the sheep ranch at Bandon? It could be the sorta thing you are looking for.



As always when par comes up I feel I should point out that it is a useless and unhelpful concept. An architect should route the best hole the land allows, whatever the length, and the player should play the hole in as few shots as they can.

McLaren wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/33083260

Wow, this kids mouth is unreal.  

What do you mean?

Have to say it seems pretty sadistic to throw a 15 year old into the US Open environment and expect them to be in any way competitive.

I'm really looking forward to the US Open and seeing how the course plays. Of one experience on the 12th green during the US amateur in 2010, Peter Uhlein recalled: “I putted it off the green, up the hill and back down to a couple of feet.”

It is that sort of vision which will most likely prevail next week.

Some great golf articles in the Irish Times. Here's the latest from Shane Lowry and former bagman Colin Byrne.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/shane-lowry-i-probably-deserved-to-miss-cut-after-putter-incident-1.2236351

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/caddie-s-role-colin-byrne-s-column-1.2244702

incontinentia wrote:

McLaren wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/33083260

Wow, this kids mouth is unreal.  

What do you mean?

Have to say it seems pretty sadistic to throw a 15 year old into the US Open environment and expect them to be in any way competitive.

I'm really looking forward to the US Open and seeing how the course plays. Of one experience on the 12th green during the US amateur in 2010, Peter Uhlein recalled: “I putted it off the green, up the hill and back down to a couple of feet.”

It is that sort of vision which will most likely prevail next week.

I presume the 15 year old beat a lot of adults to get the chance. If he's played better than them, arguably it would have been more sadistic to have them in there! Besides, at 15 in the event of bad laps it'll just run off him like the proverbial water off the ducks back.

On the course it looks (on t'interwang) amazing, if it needs vision, imagination and skill to come out on top whilst being "fair" (very subjective I know), it could be a belter of a comp. Or it could be ruined by the USGA.

Will the 15 year old beat Tiger?

Someone from the LPGA could beat him right now. He'd probably pay for that though.

#timhunt

McLaren wrote:#timhunt

:yawn:

No 15-y-o's playing in Memphis; they're on their way and Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell are off with the early starters.

Shocker from Wiesberger in Austria - give him more time to get from Vienna to Seattle I suppose.

Roller_Coaster wrote:On the course it looks (on t'interwang) amazing

For those that haven't seen it, if you go to Google maps, you can go to Streetview and there is a "walk" all around the (mostly) outside of the course. "Chambers Bay Walk"
Gives you an idea of elevation changes etc. Looks as though the imagery was taken some time ago, so it might have changed since.

Does DJ's withdrawal affect the world ranking points or it doesn't matter as long as he started?

No! He started so he counts in the "strength of field". And it also counts against him as a "start".
A good week to have bet against the favourite - left him out of my fanto foursome, but he was chosen by over 50%! Amazing, as there was no reason for him to be especially motivated in putting out much effort - so it proved. Says he's ill; course he is!!

Early leading GB&I golfer so far is Greg Owen. Just as you'd expect. Ben Crane leading, Yawn.

Lukey scratching around, but now under par. McDool looks like he wants to follow Dustin outathere.

For Irish eyes: Another promising web.com round from Seamus Power.

Very poor from McDowell; he has his work cut out to make the FedEx Play-Offs at this rate - more of the same next year and he loses his card.
Disappointing finish from Donald but still in the Top 20 of the "morning wave". Lousy irons but putting better. Baby steps.

Jamie Donaldson has started so no impact on Harrington's potential should he win.

Greg Owen in with a 64 and a share of the lead with European Tour member Koepka.
Looking at Owen's stat's, you'd think he shot 59 - extraordinary.
A fellow traveller in the bottom of the putting stat's, Lucas Glover, also had a nice round - as I said, fairways and greens this week!

Regarding the fly-bys .. I've mentioned before there is an online (free) golf game/simulator that has recently added CB to its courses. That makes it seem really awesome, though it is sponsored by USGA so think what you will. But this site has other courses that seem to be pretty realistic (no I've never played any of them but the match up well with TV coverage)

Someone mentioned the fly-bys don't give much distinction between fairway approaches and greens - the simulator "suffers" the same problem so maybe it is really true

kwinigolfer wrote:Amazing, as there was no reason for him to be especially motivated in putting out much effort - so it proved. Says he's ill; course he is!!

Official statement from Dustin Johnson, (6/11/15):

"Thanks everyone for all your concern and support. I hated to have to withdraw this morning, but thought it was the best thing to do under the circumstances. Hopefully, I’ve only got a little bug, but didn’t want to make it worse by playing in the extreme heat and humidity. Special thanks to all my fans in Memphis, my friends at FedEx and of course, St. Jude Children’s Hospital. I’m sorry to disappoint, but I’ll be back!"

Padraig Harrington: "Ehhhh.... nothing that a 61 tomorrow won't fix... ehhh... "

Plenty of self-inflicted catastrophes for St.Padraig - he can take a breather next week and tune his engine for The Travelers.

Obvious first round leading Europeans in Owen and Davis - you'll be telling me next that Cejka and Harrington won on the same weekend. Davis has previous here; if nothing else he's flashed form before his Hartford annuity.

I see a Russian competitor in the Austrian "Lyoness Open" managed a 17 on hole #1. Dalyesque.

Big day for some Europeans in Memphis with Greg Owen tied for the Round 1 lead, Brian Davis a shot behind, and Gonzo and Red-necked Swede one and two shots respectively outside the cut-line.
Job Number One: Make the cut!
But a huge opportunity for Davis who's made just two cuts in his last nine tournaments and stunk out the joint in his US Open qualie on Monday. Way off the pace necessary to keep his card so an important summer coming up for him.

Not yet an official 59 watch, but Kevin Chappell is 6 under par after 7 Memphis holes . . . . .

Knox and Laird off to promising starts, Gonzo going backwards.

kwinigolfer wrote:Not yet an official 59 watch, but Kevin Chappell is 6 under par after 7 Memphis holes . . . . .

Knox and Laird off to promising starts, Gonzo going backwards.

Not a 59 watch... but recent NCAA Champion Bryson DeChambeau (of the same length irons) is acquitting himself quite well so far in Memphis, currently -3 overall and T15 for the event.

Bryson DeC looked impressive on yesterday's coverage. Which unfortunately focussed on him more than others higher up the leaderboard.

Looking as if Donaldson's hoping for an early flight to Seattle.

EDIT:
Interesting that pgatour.com shows Frannie Molinari as the Round 1 leader in greens in regulation. Good work as he's not playing.
And Dustin Johnson as leader in total putts with 21: Considering he only played 9 holes before walking off . . . . .

Some of featured groups for the US Open: Mickelson/Watson/Cabrera; McIlroy/Kaymer/Yang; Spieth/Rose/Day; Woods/Fowler/Oosthuizen; D.Johnson/Scott/Garcia

http://www.pgatour.com/content/pgatour/news/2015/06/12/2015-us-open-tee-times-chambers-bay.html here they are in full!

Nice scoop sirb, Not up on the USGA US Open web-site yet!

Don't see too much for anyone to complain about - no obvious fatty groups, though Furyk may take exception to being lumped with pensioners Miguel and Monty.


Morning wave complete in Memphis with Russell Knox tied for the clubhouse lead. Donaldson, Gonzo and Harrington have already been shown the exit, Pettersson waiting and seeing.

Teeing off 3pm PT = 11pm UK time then a 5 hour round = 4am.
I don't think I'll be staying up for that.
But that's for Thursday and Friday, would Sat and Sun leaders be teeing off the same time, I wonder?

Probably INW; it'll be coming into prime time TV on the East coast

Thanks Grumps.