PGA Tour: A Breath Of Fresh Air On Hilton Head: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).Well done, Sergio!!

2).Never thought I'd see the day, and certainly not at Augusta, not because the course wouldn't suit him, more because he'd seemed to make a career of talking himself out of a green jacket. We'll see Sergio next at The Players Championship next month, a tournament he likes on a course he loves. He'd love Harbour Town too - which brings me to:
TRIVIA:
Who's the last player to drive from a Masters win to a Harbour Town win the following week?

3).In their essay about Sergio's win, pgatour.com describes Augusta National as an "inland links" which I suppose is half right.
And this week the Tour heads to the coast, to Hilton Head Island's Harbour Town Links, which is not really a links, more an outstanding and very playable course, weaving between the remnants of a waterfront plantation and expensive homes until #17 and #18 take you out to the water and Calibogue Sound.
Harbour Town has undergone some changes over the last couple of years, intentional and inadvertent:
There was a course-wide reseeding two years ago and then Hurricane Matthew took out hundreds of trees last autumn. One imagines that the canopy of trees could have used some surgical thinning out, but nature doesn't work that way so not quite sure how the course's playability will have been affected.

4).It's one of Pete Dye's very first efforts but requires the accuracy and precision you've come to expect at TPC Sawgrass. Course specialists thrive here, but although Furyk and Donald have eight first and second place finishes between them, long hitters have fared well also with Davis Love a 5-time winner and Branden Grace getting to wear the faux tartan jacket last April.

5).Away from The Masters, the reorganisation of the Golf calendar has been increasingly in the news recently, as robopz has been updating us.
It now seems almost certain that the Florida/Mexico swing will be redesigned after the intense clustering of WGC's this spring. No idea yet what will become of the WGC-Mexico, perhaps it will retain this year's date - though why can't it switch with the "Honda"? But it looks as if The Players will shift back to climax the "Florida Swing" in two or three years' time. That would suggest a move of the WGC-MatchPlay, though where to I'm not sure. There are still conversations about the PGA Championship moving from August to May, but why would they want to move? There'll be more to come on this no doubt, and robopz will know what's going on before we read it in the press.
One of the more disingenuous complaints from Tour Pros is that they never have an off-season. But you can bet your life that if they took, say, a ten week hiatus in the autumn, unofficial "Silly Season" tournaments would creep in, with limited fields and guaranteed money. Just what the 21st Century versions of Fred Couples would hope for. Or they'd head east for appearance money in Europe or Asia. And there's nothing wrong with that. Just don't complain about a long season, you don't have to play.

6).No doubt The Masters' date is sacrosanct, and some golfers not otherwise exempt can adjust their schedules accordingly, including Sergio who can plan for the next 20+ years.
And this lot from the Top 12 last week will be "invited" back next year:
Already exempt: Rose, Schwartzel, Scott, McIlroy, Fowler, Spieth.
Now exempt: Kuchar, Pieters, Casey, Chappell, Moore, Matsuyama, Henley, Koepka.

7).It happens every year in just about every event but some players who were an integral part of the script for 63 holes come a cropper over the last nine and lose their qualification for next year.
For Westwood, McGirt and Hoffman, all of whom drifted at least three over par during their final holes, they could have used the ranking points as well as a Top 12 result.
Failure to hang on jeopardises their chances also of future Majors exemptions; McGirt is OK for 2017, and Westwood is in The Open but not the US Open. Hoffman's not in any, though; but this is historically a good time of year for him, so hopefully he'll be OK. Westwood needs at least one strong result and not being qualified for The Players won't help him at all.

8).The cast of characters has shifted hasn't it? Garcia, Rory and Rose may be constants, and Casey's in a good run of Nearly Man results, but Donald, Poulter, McDowell, Harrington, and even Westwood have largely been replaced by Hatton, Fitzpatrick, Willett, Wood, Rahm, Rafa and Pieters.
We read a lot about European Tour event world ranking points being subsidised, and they often are, and most likely to the long-term detriment of the Tour. But this week the boot is on the other foot, as this week's Harbour Town "RBC Heritage" field includes these entrants among the highest ranked in the field:
1st: Hatton, 16th in owgr rank
3rd: Willett, 19th
4th: Grace, 22nd
6th: Knox, 27th
7th: Rafa, 28th
8th: Molinari, 29th
10th: Fitzpatrick, 32nd
Kaymer, Lowry, McDool, Poulter and Donald are also in the field. Ooh, and Beef Johnston.

9).Kuchar came from nowhere at Augusta to finish 4th and he holed out from an 18th hole Harbour Town bunker to beat Luke Donald to the RBC Heritage title a couple of years ago.
Snedeker's won here, Furyk twice and McDowell too. Two years ago Harbour Town saw Kevin Kisner's coming out party. After Furyk pipped him in a play-off, Kiz runnered up behind Fowler in The Players' play-off and then at The Greenbrier. He won eventually in a runaway just down the coast at Sea Island and seems to be running into form. I like Kooch & Kiz this week!

10).Matt Fitzpatrick reckons Harbour Town is his favourite among the courses he's played in the US and places Hilton Head top of his favourite places to come. Me too, and the place should look fabulous this week, with good weather forecast, just enough breeze to make things interesting, and a good field although clearly not the strongest. I'll enjoy it, hope you do too!

Picking up on your point 5). Kwini, I've looked at the schedule for the ET from the US Open going forward from an ET members perspective. The week after you have a run of 3 Rolex Series events, then the Open, possibly a week off, and then the WGC and PGA. Can't see the top players playing 5 in a row. One of those Rolex events will fall by the wayside for some players. Are there any conditions or bonuses attached to playing them all?

Inw,
Haven't caught up to the nuances of the Rolex Series yet, but I would have thought that any sliding of the FedEx Cup season forward a week or two would be highly beneficial to the European Tour. (And South Africa & Australia.)

PGA Tour has a yank about not competing with NFL and College "Football" but I don't see that upheaving (is that a word?) is worth the disruption, especially given recent ratings slide for "Football".
What they really seem to want is 4 or 5 months of rat-a-tat-tat great golf every week from The Players to the Tour Championship and lose focus on the rest of the Tour, perhaps including the WGC's. I don't think that works but somehow my credentials for Tour Commish were overlooked.

Just spent a week on Hilton head and went to the heritage practice on Tuesday.  Beautiful course -- much prettier in real life than on tv.  They say they lost 100s of trees in hurricane Matthew -- some parts of the island are still rebuilding.  Followed tyrrell hatton for a while (his manager says he's a future number one in the world and also confirmed that tyrrell rhymes with squirrel ! ). 
  It was kids day and they had a putting event in the afternoon.  Kids got to go onto the official practice putting green and spend a couple of minutes with one of the pros.   At least 6 pros were available and each of them greeted a kid, helped him/ her  attempt a couple of putts, posed for pictures etc and then moved onto the next young golfer.  The line of waiting kids and parents was huge but it was a sunny day, there was plenty of ice cream and everyone was happy.  All the pros involved seemed to enjoy it but the number one by a mile was Peter Malnati.  He was just great with every kid -- actually he looks like a big kid himself.  Terrific event.  Every child was given some kind of souvenir so they all went home happy.   
We played 3 times during the week -- George Fazio, Robert Trent jones and Arthur hill.   Fabulous courses -- had never been there before -- and we only encountered  one alligator !

Hi Plunky,
I had thought you were going later in the month, was going to drop you a PM. So I will anyway!

But will just mention that I think Peter Malnati is one pro above most others who really GETS IT!

Glad you had a good time . . . . .

I love the Heritage and Harbour Town links not least because it looks like a location from an episode of Scooby Doo

Seriously though if I ever do make it over for the Masters - and I hope to one day - I plan to stick around and head for the coast the following week.

PS What's an inland links?

Great tour stop - not been/played it, but on the list. Very high on the list!
I fancy Danny might now begin to play a bit. A returning Masters champion can rarely if ever have been so comprehensively undone by one hole, and the rest of his play was pretty good. There have been signs recently, and while I'm not forecasting a win this week I do reckon his form will tick up. Quality golfer, and good competitor.
Interesting to see the difference Matthew has made. As you say Kwini did appear to have become a bit too tight in places, but if Matthew has removed the right trees - it's a miracle!!
Euros on course played just once a year, or so they say? Makes it a bit creepy, but looks a real test. Plenty to keep an eye on this week.

wiretapper wrote:

PS What's an inland links?

I have heard Ganton described as an inland links and not a heathland. I suppose it could be anywhere where the sea has retreated and left sandy links like soil. Super, aren't you meant to know about geology?


I doubt ANGC counts as an inland links in the sense Ganton does.but Dr Mac and Bobby Jones have both said TOC was a massive inspiration when laying out the original course, although probably more in philosophy rather than landform. But hole 14 at ANGC could be on any of the great UK and Ire links courses.

Answer to trivia question is Langer.

RE the scheduling of Los Angeles, Honda, Mexico instead of Los Angeles-Mexico-Honda.

Unless there has been an update that I haven't seen, its supposed to be like than next year. Why? Because Keith Pelley got his knickers in a knot and doesn't want his Perth Super Six tournament and Mexico in back to back.

But that doesn't stop Pelley from scheduling Morocco and China in back to back weeks. And Valderama and HSBC in back to back week.

Maybe a $6.5 Million purse is attracting these top Euros rather than 2.5 Million purse in Morocco (with no spectators). I just looked at the Euro website and ticket info for this weeks touranment is "blank".

http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017030/eventinfo/index.html

Plunky: You must have been staying at the (Old) Palmetto Dunes resort on HHI. About 30 years ago, I went on a golf trip there for about 4 straight years. Loved that area.

Re: Malnati. Doesn't surprise me that he is good with kids. Seems very affable.

Yep. Palmetto dunes it is !  We can walk from our "villa" to the general store, the beach, the pool, and the Robert Trent jones course.   Took a couple of trips to Savannah and Beaufort but it was mostly golf.  Definitely hoping to come back -- it was snowing in Boston the day we left and we've had nothing but sunshine since we got here.  Remarkably, given the number of bunkers and water hazards, I only lost four golf balls !

Good shout on Langer, GPB; probably the closest Bobby Wadkins ever came to a Tour win. Won in England though!

Hope puligny is right about Danny Willett getting back to his best now that The Masters has been and gone. Too good a player to rest on any laurels. He's on his way.

McLaren wrote:

wiretapper wrote:

PS What's an inland links?

I have heard Ganton described as an inland links and not a heathland.  I suppose it could be anywhere where the sea has retreated and left sandy links like soil.  Super, aren't you meant to know about geology?


I doubt ANGC counts as an inland links in the sense Ganton does.but Dr Mac and Bobby Jones have both said TOC was a massive inspiration when laying out the original course, although probably more in philosophy rather than landform.  But hole 14 at ANGC could be on any of the great UK and Ire links courses.

Thanks

Eric Compton playing in Morocco. Hadn't heard anything of him a while - great to see he is still playing.

I think for so many golfers a major is their goal, so that when it happens the foot goes "off the gas" whereas those with goals of (say) 3,4,5 and above each one is merely a stepping stone.

Tiger being the obvious (relatively) recent example, never let up as his target was always Jack. Rory similar in that he always targeted multiple majors (Faldo's 6 and the slam I recall having been mentioned early on in his career), Gordon I suspect similar.

Not sure on Willett, I'd guess his goal was originally 1 and he's enjoyed the year of being the champ (and a dad) his re-focus will likely have been the defence of the jacket and the rest of the season will be likely to be an indicator of whether he has re-assessed long term goals. I don't personally see him as a multiple major winner, but would be happy if it worked out that way as I quite like him.

Sergio will be an interesting study, given how long it took him to get over the line. Far too talented to originally set himself a 1 major target, but now whether he basks in the glory of achieving one at long last or uses the psychological boost of closing out successfully to kick on (a la Phil Mick) will be an interesting watch.

DJ another one, although indications thus far are quite clear to me that his goal is more than 1 and his focus and application is probably right where he wants it to be, and no longer in the vodka bar in the clubhouse.

I'd be very interested to know how influential Wayne Gretzky is on DJ's career.
Gretzky was so immensely talented, yet never gave up for one shift, always wanted the puck, defined "winner" as well as rewriting just about every record in the game.
Yet he was never overtly obsessive about it off the ice, perhaps in the same way that DJ just wants to win every tournament but won't lose too much sleep if something doesn't necessarily go his way.
I reckon he'll win plenty more Majors simply because the only pressure he puts upon himself is to be the best he can, and the wins will pile up.

In 2016 I think Willett gained 80 OWGR points before the masters, 100 for the win, and then 75 for the rest of the season.

If we exclude his Masters win that is 155 owgr points for the year, does anyone who knows the OWGR system better have an idea of where that would rank you compared to others?

Just as an idea of how good/bad Willett was outside The Masters?

Kwini

What do you make of SB2K17?

Mac,
Just go on to the owgr website and you can drill down to whatever interpretation of Willett's (or anybody else's) record you wish.

As for SB2K17 - can't imagine for the life of me why that is of any interest to anyone whatsoever. It seems to be a media obsession. But why? Just don't care.


But I DO care that Shane Lowry has forged in to an early lead at the Heritage. He squandered an excellent Round 1 last week which is perhaps not surprising, but he's laying the foundation for a good week. Which he needs.

McLaren wrote:In 2016 I think Willett gained 80 OWGR points before the masters, 100 for the win, and then 75 for the rest of the season.

If we exclude his Masters win that is 155 owgr points for the year, does anyone who knows the OWGR system better have an idea of where that would rank you compared to others?

Just as an idea of how good/bad Willett was outside The Masters?

Mac, you posed this question a couple weeks ago. How many times do I have to answer it

https://www.606v2.com/t65361-pga-tour-remembering-arnie-at-bay-hill-notes-from-the-ballwasher


Here it is again (most of it anyways)

Right now, the 100 pts Willett earned for winning the Masters is worth 57.61. Willett currently has 196.44 net points. Assuming Willett missed the cut at the Masters in 2016, he would have 138.83 net points. Divided by 50 tournament gives Willett and average 2.7766.

Its simple arithmetic, not advanced calculus or even differential equations. I don't want to give you the complete answer so I will let you look up where 2.7766 would rank in the current rankings.

http://www.owgr.com/ranking

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.

Sorry GPB.  :doh:

I will leave that stuff to OWGR :Hero: like yourself.

Anyway, as was probably mentioned last week at 2.77 Willett is probably getting into majors and WGC's so still ok if not quite where he would see himself at his best. Hardly a DC style crash after a major win.

Mac,
Danny still has four years of Major exemptions left; the WGC options will fritter away unless he remains in the owgr Top 50 (other options available).

GPB wrote:
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.  Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.

Teach Mac to fish and he'll berate you for trampling on the undeniable rights of fish, or fishing rods, or waders whilst Super tells you why he hates the teacher!



Have a good long weekend, those of you that get them!

"Have a good long weekend, those of you who get them!"

Not for us; and I hope not for super either.


PS: Luuuuuke! Russell Henley in the mood again - he's a wonderful putter, almost to the standard Luke was a few years ago.

Super, just go to work, Easter has been cancelled. Joseph finally confessed.

Christ, When did Donald last lead a tournament?

Poulter doing OK. Would a top ten do him for the season?

super_realist wrote:Christ, When did Donald last lead a tournament?

He's a specialist around here. Ya know Sergio's win last week will, I think make a lot of players kick on with renewed belief. I'd say Westwood will come out of the blocks like a train at the US Open. Poulter's woken up for a start...

Poulter has to wake up, otherwise he's going to have to sell that gauche mansion and get his Ferarri's onto a container ship.

Poulter needs a solo 12th or better ($149k) to fulfill the requirements of his major medical ($144,669).

BTW...here are the Zurich teams that were announced earlier this week

Jason Day – Rickie Fowler
Justin Rose – Henrik Stenson
Justin Thomas – Bud Cauley
Bubba Watson – J.B. Holmes
Patrick Reed – Patrick Cantlay
Daniel Berger – Thomas Pieter
Tyrrell Hatton – Jamie Donaldson
Jimmy Walker – Sean O’Hair
Russell Knox – Kevin Streelman
Louis Oosthuizen – Branden Grace
Brooks Koepka – Chase Koepka (Brooks little brother)
Charley Hoffman – Nick Watney
Luke Donald – Jamie Lovemark
Jason Dufner – Patton Kizzire
Steve Stricker – Jerry Kelly
Billy Horschel – Matt Every
Smylie Kaufman – Harold Varner III
John Peterson – Andrew Loupe
Seung-Yul Noh – Byeong Hun An
Kevin Kisner – Scott Brown
Hudson Swafford – Harris English
Chris Kirk – Brendon Todd
David Hearn – Graham DeLaet
Freddie Jacobson – Willy Wilcox
Steve Marino – Will MacKenzie
Michael Thompson – Tim Wilkinson
Jason Bohn – Carl Pettersson
K.J. Choi – Charlie Wi
William McGirt – Robert Garrigus
Steven Bowditch – Boo Weekley
Tony Finau – Daniel Summerhays
Fabian Gomez – Jhonattan Vegas
Cody Gribble – Jim Herman
J.J. Henry – Tom Hoge
Mackenzie Hughes – Nick Taylor
Si Woo Kim – Sung Kang
Peter Malnati – Mark Wilson
Ben Martin – Ben Crane
Troy Merritt – Robert Stre
Rod Pampling – John Senden
Brian Stuard – Chris Stroud
Russell Henley – Blayne Barber
Zac Blair – C.T. Pan
Brian Harman – Johnson Wagner

In addition, I have heard that Hideki is team up with Hideto Tanihara

http://www.pgatour.com/news/2017/04/10/zurich-classic-teams.html

Bit unfair on Hatton, who is on a nice roll, to get lumped with Donaldson.

Donaldson is a "Zurich" Amabassador

GPB - thanks for that re Poulter

Just realised there was an imposter on the official practice putting green on Tuesday !  When we got there a young man dressed in black was introducing himself to a few spectators, telling them this was his first PGA tournament, how nervous he was etc.  Seemed like a pleasant guy, he thanked people for coming out to watch the event, made a couple of putts and wandered off.  We saw him introduce himself to Wil McGirt and a little while later we saw him introduce himself and a female companion to Boo Weekley.  But when we checked the list of players, he's not there.  I assume by now he is enjoying the well-earned proceeds of a lucrative wager !

Be_the_ball wrote:

super_realist wrote:Christ, When did Donald last lead a tournament?

He's a specialist around here. Ya know Sergio's win last week will, I think make a lot of players kick on with renewed belief. I'd say Westwood will come out of the blocks like a train at the US Open. Poulter's woken up for a start...

Westwood will have to get into the US Open first, before he comes steaming out of port - more like the Isle Of Wight Ferry otherwise.

Very nice from Poults - He doesn't have a spectacular record here but you'd think it was the perfect place for his game if he can keep his head together.

Shane making a mess out there. Danny Boy not much better.
Come on lads, if Lukey can do it, so can you!

Shane's Mrs had a baby girl just over a month ago and he was saying he hasn't been practicing a lot lately ...

kwinigolfer wrote:
Westwood will have to get into the US Open first, before he comes steaming out of port - more like the Isle Of Wight Ferry otherwise.

Hadn't realised he wasn't already qualified, but yes that that would be a requirement alright!

Luuuuuke!

Be_the_ball wrote:Shane's Mrs had a baby girl just over a month ago and he was saying he hasn't been practicing a lot lately ...

Still got plenty time to eat though demonstrably, it's a wonder he could find his peni5 to impregnate Mrs Lowry in the first place. What a horrible thought.

He must be thinking of such a delightful occurrence every time he plays the 9th hole; regardless, it'll be an early wake-up call for him Saturday.

Crappy field for next week's Texas Open; one of the Tour's best sponsors and most rewarding charitable largesse and the Valero Texas Open get the worst date on Tour. How can that be? Back-to-back with the WGC:MatchPlay would help enormously.

Surprised at some of the MC's, Fitzy & Willett must be still celebrating the Blades promotion. Surprised to see Rafa miss too.

Super, you need help

After barely missing a cut for two years, Rafa is on a two-cut-missed streak.
Take a break Rafa.

Promising first couple of days for Beef; this is where he needs to press home his opportunity this weekend. Big deal. Though he may not fully appreciate that.

Luke Donald's hair cut is weird.   When did that happen ?

Plunky wrote:Luke Donald's hair cut is weird.   When did that happen ?

Was thinking the exact same thing. And: WHY did it happen?
Still, if it improves his golf, perhaps it's a good thing. If faintly ridiculous for a middle-ageing man.

Hopefully it'll grow out in time for San Antonio - might be a good couple of weeks for him. Perhaps McDool also.

Scarily,  Mr.P says that if this haircut works for Luke this weekend then he'll get the same cut and see if his game improves.   I don't like to tell him that he doesn't have enough hair for this to even be an option.

Be_the_ball wrote:Shane's Mrs had a baby girl just over a month ago and he was saying he hasn't been practicing a lot lately ...

I didn't know Lowrys Mrs was a golfer?
http://www.lpga.com/players/brooke-pancake/98249/overview

Heard that Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer are teaming up and playing the Zurich in two weeks.

In case you've forgotten, the PGATour is requiring most of its members who did not play 25 or more tournaments last year to play a "New" tournament in 2017.

A "New" tournament defined as one he hasn't played in the last five seasons (Not including WGCs or Majors)

Spieth has never played Zurich before, so that will be his new event. Rory is playing Hartford as his new event. J-Day played Los Angeles as his new event.

Stenson is also playing Zurich as his new event (teamed with Rose).

72 of the Top 125 Money earners played 25 or more events, notables including Kuchar, Snedeker, Reed, Knox, Jacobson, Thomas, Berger and Walker.

Notables who did not play 25 events:

Some interesting pairs; Spieth missed the cut last time he played N.O..

Should be another pristine day for the lads at Harbour Town, but not too many pancakes at the Hilton Head Diner for Shane, as he's off in the second group out. Moving Day very important for Beef, Pouts & Lukey; Shane too.

Thanks Kwini, So Zurich won't be Spieth's new event.  My mistake.  

Spieth doesn't have too many options left as his new event.

He has played Texas, Charlotte, Players, Nelson, Colonial, Memorial, Quicken, Greenbrier, Deere, and Wyndham

I think he has three choices left, Memphis, Hartford and Canadian.

Edit: Ryan Palmer really needs a good week. He is 201st in FEX and he has no All time Top 50 money exemption in his back pocket.