PGA Tour: WGC Dell Match Play: No Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

Anything to start a thread for this week, but no notes as out of town and out of touch (even more than usual).

Let the matches, and comments, begin:

Anyone else see Na tap "something" down on the line of his putt (not sure if it was on 18 or 19)? He made no attempt to repair a pitch mark - just tapped down the ground on his line. Simon Dyson got castigated for doing that - Na seems to have escaped censure.

Really great course for Matchplay.

The Speith/Louis match really stands out............

LP

I missed that. Do you have a link to video or photo of the incident.

That "not tapping down a spike mark" rule is perhaps the stupidest rule in golf. If you can't tap down a spike mark, why should you be able to tap down a pitch mark, or remove debris, or ask your playing partner to move their marker. It's just bloody stupid, and just gives the people who do the rules something else to keep them in a job.

Just allow all marks to be repairable. Problem solved. No ambiguity, no need to conduct rules. Repair whatever is in your line and get on with it. Can't see the problem. There's nothing to stop someone saying a spike mark is the remnants of an old pitchmark anyway, so not even sure how the rule can be applied effectively. When you declare you are repairing a pitchmark, has anyone EVER had that mark inspected? Doubt it.
Just more old farts in the R&A being stuffy old pedants, with so many stupid, outdated and needless rules, it's no wonder people would rather do something else than take up golf.

super_realist wrote:That "not tapping down a spike mark" rule is perhaps the stupidest rule in golf. If you can't tap down a spike mark, why should you be able to tap down a pitch mark, or remove debris, or ask your playing partner to move their marker. It's just bloody stupid, and just gives the people who do the rules something else to keep them in a job.

Just allow all marks to be repairable. Problem solved. No ambiguity, no need to conduct rules. Repair whatever is in your line and get on with it. Can't see the problem. There's nothing to stop someone saying a spike mark is the remnants of an old pitchmark anyway, so not even sure how the rule can be applied effectively. When you declare you are repairing a pitchmark, has anyone EVER had that mark inspected? Doubt it.
Just more old farts in the R&A being stuffy old pedants, with so many stupid, outdated and needless rules, it's no wonder people would rather do something else than take up golf.

Harrington fell out with Olazabal after "inspecting" a "pitch mark" Ollie intended repairing a the Seve Trophy once.....................

This course looks right up Zach's street, not long and he's already won four times in Texas. Rory will have his hands full.

Mac's favourite part:
Weather should be great for golf today, warm and sunny, not much wind, but a chance of "weather" on Sunday.

IMO, the R&A and USGA think that if you allow players to repair spike marks that players would pat down a trough from their ball to the hole.

I don't agree with this notion, but IMO it is a legit concern.

I have always thought that allow players who wear spikeless shoes to fix spikemarks.  Pretty soon, everyone would be wearing spikeless shoes, and, voila, no more spikemarks.

I think I saw the Kevin Na incident referenced above.  In that instance, I don't think he was patting down a spikemark.

Sounds like a good compromise GPB. There really isn't a need for spikes these days.
Whilst we are at it. I think if your ball settles in a divot which hasn't been replaced you should get a free drop.

Two streaks on the line this week:
Non-Americans have won the last four PGA Tournaments: Scott x 2, Schwartzel, Day . . . . . . . .
Non-Americans have won the last four WGC'S: Rory, Shane, Knox, Scott . . . . . . .

An, Rafa, Rory, Day, King Louis could all do the trick.

Mac - sorry I don't know how to or where exactly it was but we both looked at each other and said "He can't do that". But seems he got away with it. Glad he lost.

Good friend of mine is a former rules man at R&A. He tells me some years ago they did experiment with allowing pros to tap down spike marks. Result as GPB suggests, and slowed play to a crawl. Attempted improvement did not work. Players are forever tapping down imaginary pitch marks - almost like batsmen tapping the wicket. Of course in matchplay they have to ask.

Seems like they could have just limited it to one mark per green, typical Rules Officials though, never keen to mess with that hackneyed old "tradition"

Billy Payne learning how to spell Rafa's name, no doubt, great to see him in for Augusta.

US vs non-US in each q-final. Ineresting. Very ineresting.

Old Chubby Cheeks Science Denier out then. Can see him dropping a great deal in the rankings this year, shot his bolt too quickly?

From Shotlink. Guess it's a pretty bad shot....
"Chris Kirk: Shot 1 191 yds to landscaping"

I wonder if Spieth and Michael Greller are on the outs? Not the same close relationship that we saw last year, on the surface anyway.

Poults off to a good start again in PR; taking advantage of the opportunity that Lukey has failed to grasp.

How is Jason Day not on the clock or whatever slow play thing they have now? He is playing ridiculously slowly.

Agreed Mac, Dawdling, to put it mildly.
Two Europeans in the last sixteen, two in the last four.

And DJ's arse just collapsed as usual.


No Americans in the last 4. Good run for them in a Ryder cup year.

That will be rubbish coverage for the final then. Was it Donald/Poulter or Donald/Casey when virtually no one turned up to watch?

Yup, 11 Americans in the final 16 - now all gawn. NBC will be thrilled . . . . . . .

Hoping for Rory vs Louis (sorry Rafa even though I picked you), they'll buzz round quicker than it takes Jason Day to play nine.

Bello has a terrific swing. Shame he can't quite put it together for 4 rounds. He's a player in all but results.

See 11.02 Saturday:

Both streaks are alive and well:

In store for the fifth consecutive non-American WGC winnier
And the fifth consecutive non-American PGA Tournament winner. Hopefully Poults can continue the streak in Puerto Rico . . . .

Sky Sports are trailing their coverage of the Masters. They showed the albatross on the second that completed the set on the par 5's. Apparently the ball was thrown to the crowd and collected by a businessman. But Augusta contacted him and have obtained the ball so that it sits in their collection. I wonder what they gave the businessman in exchange? Sky suggested a ticket for life, but I wonder? Interesting little story.

Hate to mention it, but it is clear how bad Rory's putting is compared to Day's.

Kwini

You know I love a weather update but it is looking a little dark and windy. What are the chances we see some play delaying weather?

Not according to the forecast, Mac, and no green blotches on the radar. But the wind could get stronger still.

Thanks kwini.


RCB chucking it away so far. Louis not having to do anything to get into a winning position.

I spoke too soon.

I blame Graeme McDowell for all this . . . . failed to take advantage when Day's back first started to spasm. Not Rory's poor play at all.

well kwini, Rory was lucky to win against Olesen..

RCBs putting not impressive either.

Pedro,
Re Rory/Thunderbear - It's OK, I'm just heavily biased!

Rafa will move into the Ryder Cup World Points qualification places regardless of this afternoon's outcome - quite the year he's having.

What is to blame is Rory's short game. His stats on the PGAT are poor in this area despite claims he is getting better.

But lets not have that argument again. What I hope is now clear to anyone who watched the match today is that Rory puts no pressure on his competitors from around and on the green.

At least Rory has now seen what the #1 players short game looks like close up. His goal should be to match that and not worry about bench press records. Even if you think his short game is ok right now, what you need to accept is that if he wants to start winning majors again he needs it to be excellent.

If he could just improve his putting inside 10ft he'd be fine.

Rory really messed up 18 against G'Day. Such a short par4 for a finishing hole but they both messed up off the tee. Wind against so Rory knew eagle wasn't on the cards - but he needed birdie to have a chance. Both hit irons off the tee and both got trouble. Neither could find the green with second so even birdie was realistically off the charts - even then Day hit an average chip and left Rory a chance but WTF was that 3rd shot?

OK G'Day holed a decent putt to win it, but Rory just didn't put him under any pressure at all at the sharp end of the match

Projections

J-Day is going to #1 whether he wins or loses the final.
Rory is going to remain #3 whether he wins or loses the consolation match.
Oosty is going to either #10 (wins) or #11 (loses).
RCB is going to be either #36 (wins) or #41 (loses)

Should they win Puerto Rico:

Poulter: #53
Finau: low 70's

Looks like RCB is going to knock Oleson out of the top 9 Ryder Cup spots.  

Poulter will get inside the Top 20 on World Points should he win Puerto Rico.

As an "opposite field" event, if Poulter wins, would the winner still get the usual 2 year exemption?
Edited it as I've looked at the leaderboard

YES!!!
Plus a ticket to the PGA and next year's TOChampions (provided they find a sponsor, presumably).

Poults needs a closing birdie to have any chance, very important even if he doesn't win.

Thanks

T3 for Poults, which is good but disappointingly just one shot out of a Finau/Marino play-off.
Good week though.

5 or 6 years ago, Steve Marino was regarded as one of the best players who never won on the PGATour.  He was part of the Tuesday practice money matches with Phil Mickelson.

Nice to see him in contention at Puerto Rico.

Poulter's T3rd should put him 62nd in the OWGR.

Lots of injuries and lots of cheeseburgers for Stevie Marino . . . . . . . .
Should probably have won Martin Laird's Bay Hill title.

I think Rory just has trouble reading shortish putts - how often does he bring JP in? And does it do any good?? Certainly not as if he has a yippy stroke, not that I can see anyway.

Finau finally finishes first.
Marino closing in on the most-money-won-without-a-tournament-win title.

Wish they'd show more of the Consolation Match - emotion seems to be drained from the Final.

Kwini

It is amazing how often he doesn't really challenge the hole from inside 20 feet, so you could well be correct about him not reading the greens very well.


Day about a hole off the pace so far. Such a terrible player to watch. He is playing well and I am sure he is an ok guy but he negates all entertainment with his playing style.

Day reminding me more of Tiger every time I see him. Incredible short game and amazing temperament.
Unless McIlroy can sort out putting, he's not going to challenge at Augusta.

While I don't think anyone could be surprised at the high finish for Poulter in this watered down field event, I'm stunned Steve Marino actually finished as high as he did. He has a game that's never held up to any pressure.

I think Rory will be just fine come Augusta.

Off topic ... but if you ever get a chance to ski at Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, by all means go! I have never had a more pleasant skiing experience.

Sr,
Is that the same resort that they used to just call Park City or is it a different mountain? Stayed in Park West about 35 yrs ago, skied there, Alta, Snowbird and "PC" - Park City was hopping then, imagine it's a different scale entirely now.

Was at a party at CLake a few wks ago, can't imagine it's ever been open earlier. No news on Bard turning Pro.

Kwin - That IS an early opening for Cedar Lake! I can remember playing in an opening event there the weekend of the Kentucky Derby. Hope Bard gives it a run.

I'm guessing Deer Valley is a 20+ year old resort, and it is just outside of Park City (a mile or so from the center of town). No snowboarders allowed at DV, which is just fine by me since they generally scrape the heck out of the hill, board out of control too often, and "rest" by lying down wherever they please. DV also limits ticket sales so you never have to wait more than 2-3 minutes for a lift. (I never even waited that long.) Known as "country club" skiing by the locals, and shorter on challenging runs than Alta, I can tell you it was plenty diverse for me and I can't imagine anyone this side of Franz Klammer being disappointed. Real estate prices on DV and in PC rivals the Hamptons. Slopeside rentals still affordable, however.