PGA Tour: Outlook for Europeans on Tour: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).The Tour heads 1,300 miles WSW this week, from Hilton Head Island on the South Carolina coast to San Antonio, deep in the heart of Texas, for the Valero Texas Open.
They've been playing the Texas Open at various courses in the San Antonio area for almost a century - Walter Hagen won in 1923 and champs since then have included Snead and Nelson, Hogan and Jackie Burke, Littler and Palmer, Trevino and Crenshaw, Price and Adam Scott.
Valero Energy has been the title sponsor for fifteen years and year in, year out, delivers among the very highest amount of financial charitable contributions to the community. So it makes perfect sense that the Tour in its wisdom rewards it with just about the crappiest date of the year; prize money has largely stagnated in the past decade and the strength of field will be the weakest since last autumn's RSM (McGladrey) Classic.
The course, TPC San Antonio (Oaks course), seems to be a bit Marmite for the pros though those that like it tend to love it!
Perhaps it wasn't quite ready for prime time when it opened for tournament play but it's now maturing nicely and hopefully the Tour might pair it with the WGC-MatchPlay in (relatively) nearby Austin. Meanwhile, from 2,000 miles away, it still seems bizarre that such a historic, well supported (by the sponsor and community) event has become the Tour's "ugly sister".
But it is what it is for this year and we'll get back to that soon.

2).Congrats to Wes Bryan for his wonderful win at the "RBC Heritage", much more than one half a trick-shot-artist duo with his brother George and likely on his way to a long and successful PGA Tour career.
Luke Donald runnered up there for the fifth time and his 7th Harbour Town podium in all, whilst Poulter finished T11 and received just about as much attention as the two leaders.
So everyone now knows that Poults needs another $31K in earnings this week to retain his Tour card for the remainder of the season. Whatever happens he'll likely get at least another half dozen starts this season, either via Past Champion status or sponsor invites so the focus should be more on what he needs to do to secure his card for the 17/18 season.

3).And what about the rest of the European contingent?
Some have exemption for next year already wrapped up, and are on track to fulfil their 15-tournament requirement:
Rahm, Rose, Garcia, Casey, Molinari, Knox, Donald, Laird, McDowell, Lowry, Lingmerth

4).Already exempt but not on pace to squeeze in 15 events:
McIlroy (5 tournaments played so far) and Stenson (6 played) are a long way down the FedEx rankings and need some high finishes to qualify for the Tour Championship . . . . which it looks as if they're banking on to fit in their 15 tournaments. Perhaps Rory will have some kind of sick-note pass but it's increasingly difficult to see where Henrik fits in his events. And Danny Willett is almost at the point of no return.
Watch this space on the three of them!

All the rest need to reach the FedEx Play-Offs (Top 125) to keep their cards:

5).Two of the most intriguing conundrums face Soren Kjeldsen and Rafa C-Bello.
Soren has started to hit his stride with a quarter-final finish at the MatchPlay, but frittered away FedEx points (and owgr points) with a final Masters round of 78 and missed playing Harbour Town which is a course he should be comfortable on. Prior to the Texas Open which he's playing, Soren is 62nd in the world and that would leave him out of The Players (unless he scores at least a T2 this week), US Open and Bridgestone - and this will mean he needs to start making important schedule decisions until his Fed Ex ranking, currently 100th, improves sufficiently to assure him a spot in the Play-Offs.

Rafa is in a similar spot, with only 8 tournaments played but assured of playing The Players, 3 x Majors and the Bridgestone. But he's languishing at 107th in FedEx points and falling fast.

6).We know about Poulter, he's at 124th in FedEx points; Padraig Harrington and Freddie Jac will also be eligible for Major Medical Extension which offers them a safety net, plus Harrington has a one-year career earnings freebie.

7).Which leaves this lot, listed with current FedEx position, and all struggling to be in the Top 125 at season's end:
Owen - currently 119th - Power (134th) Johnston (183rd) and Gonzo (194th), will only get another 6 to 8 starts apiece and Johnston will presumably lose one or two of those playing in Europe.
Whilst Cejka (127th) and Pettersson (206th) play a full schedule this season but clearly need to get their skates on. (Which Pettersson won't do.)

Meanwhile, Martin Kaymer's situation is intriguing as he's very close to regaining his card on "non-member" (phantom) FedEx points alone and perhaps he will and renew his exemption.
And Henrik Norlander has only qualified for 5 events, but has a play-off loss and, with luck and kind sponsors, could also qualify for next season.

8).OK, enough of that.
Seeing Paul Dunne and Ollie Schneiderjans playing so well last weekend got me to thinking about a happy coincidence for the amateurs who played so well in the 2015 Open at St.Andrews:
Jordan Niebrugge finished T6 that day (with Garcia, Rose & Willett as it happens), but his path has been uneven since turning Pro. But this weekend he finished T3 in a Canadian Tour qualie, argaubly his best result for over a year. He' has an invite to this week's Texas action.
Ashley Chesters was T12, and he scored his best Pro result so far in Morocco with an 8th place finish.
Schneiderjans was also T12, and his T3 at Harbour Town was his best Tour result.
While Dunners was in the final TOC group only to slide to T30 and we know that he was beaten by Eddie Molinari in Morocco's Trophee Hassan.
Romain Langasque slipped to T65 at St.Andrews but who wouldn't bet on him breaking through in the next 18 months?

9).In the seven years that the "Valero Texas Open" has been staged at the Oaks Course, some trends can be seen among the winners and close contenders. Length has served pros well, as usual, but Ben Curtis won five years ago and Luke Donald finished 13th in his only trip so far.
Last year's winner, Charley Hoffman is 43 under par, 29 strokes better than his closest pursuer. Summerhays has finished in the Top 15 the past four years, while 2011 winner Brendan Steele and Texan Ryan Palmer have consistent records here.
Patrick Reed was second last year but he's been in a funk for months, while Matt Kuchar has a consistent record here but blows very hot and ice cold right now. Local boy Jimmy Walker has been up and down but won in 2015, so it would be no surprise to see any of those mentioned grab the "W".
I kinda like Kevin Chappell to break through soon and he's struck form after a slow spell - my one-and-done for this week and I like him each way.

10).Ian Poulter obviously needs a good week and we'll be hearing about him incessantly - hopefully into the weekend. But Kjeldsen also is at a crossroads and, especially with a breezy forecast, could be a live outsider.
Whilst Seamus Power, Cejka, Freddie Jac (2nd here once), Gonzo, Owen and Beef need all the help they can get.
Golf Channel describes the "Valero" as "the dead spot of the spring calendar". Very unfair that it's (been?) dropped to that level in my opinion, so I hope for a great week, for the players (COYIJP) and sponsors.

Good notes Kwini... One small thing. Norlander has so few starts because no status and technically has only qualified for one event. He got a sponsor exemption (SE) into the RSM last fall and had a great T2 finish there. That got him into the Sony. But his next 3 starts were all on SE's. Going forward, SE's or Monday qualifiers are his only way into events unless he earns STM or gets another t-10 finish or something. .

Kwini... Texas Open status. Can't say as I know exactly why, but the Texas Open has been the "little sister" of the 4  current "regular" Texas events ever since I got involved in the 70's.  It finally got out of its Fall position and out of often being the alternate event to Ryder or Presidents Cups and  into the Spring back in  2009. Since then it's been the Spring tournament they move around when they piece together the schedule. It may have an opportunity though if Houston can't get a quality sponsor pretty quick. It might be in line to get Houston's spot the week before the Masters, then Houston could become the "movable piece"

Thanks robo,
Yup, realised that about Norlander, hence the non-member note; hopefully he'll get some invitations but no trace of him for the past ten weeks, since Pebble Beach. Not even on the web.com circuit. He's disappeared even worse than his ASU teammate Reed.


I see Jimmy Walker's "mono" has been rediagnosed as Lyme Disease. That's what derailed Tim Simpson's life, let alone his golf career. Hope Walker fares better than Simpson did.

Someone else worth watching for this week is Branden Grace - he had a decent Masters and last week's T11 was his best finish in a full field event since last year's PGA. And Tom Hoge for a complete longshot. There, that's about half the field.


EDIT: Just saw your second post: I think it was quite content with its autumn place when those events were part of the acknowledged regular season and the pros clearly liked Oak Hills. Seems they lost out with the Fall Series and never recovered. La Cantera couldn't've helped.

Interestingly​, Texas Open really found its niche while at La Cantera. The course wasn't any great thing, but it was awesome for fans who could park onsite at Fiesta Texas, and a lot of the tour's young families liked it for the same reason. Resort was first rate as well. Valero really elevated that event and it was a great party for the local fans. It was already making obscene charitable contributions even as a Fall series event.

The event has never really reproduced that same "hometown feel" since it moved to the TPC. But the resort there is freeking incredible. Players love the facilities. I have been a pretty harsh critic of the course though and still mostly am as I feel it was about as poorly used the land and has as little of a "Hill country" feel as it possibly could have. But I will give it this much, the Greg Norman bunkering is an absolute sight to behold. Fantastic in that regard.

Oak Hills was such a fantastic Tillinghast venue, it's a shame there wasn't the room to expand it and keep it up with the times. But the real reason they got out of there was the surrounding area. Unfortunately it has become somewhat the epicenter of gang activity and crime which was so prevalent then. Much better in that regard now. Still probably my favorite course in all of Texas to play though. Just a wonderful track if you can hit em straight... :-)

Yes, My comment about La Cantera was in reference to the fields it attracted - never visited Austin or S.A. when I lived in TX (nor Houston, sorry . . . . !) so obviously no idea about the ambiance. Think one of their tournaments was the first time I'd ever seen Anthony Kim in action.

The first attempt at the Tour Championship was held at Oak Hills wasn't it? Some fellow called Watson won it.

Kaymer doesn't need FAUX FEX pts to get his card back. All he has to ask for (and presumably be able to count to 15 events) and he can get his PGAT Tour Card for the 2017-18 season and 2018-19. That Players Championship and US Open he won in 2014 is good through the 2018-19. If he can manage to play 15 events.

Although in no immediate jeopardy, Harrington's spot inside the Top 50 money winners could be vulnerable come August 2018. He is probably better off taking his money exemption this August than trying to fulfill the rest of major medical.

Thanks GPB,
I wasn't sure whether Kaymer could just re-up at any time, or whether he had to ratify his exemptions by requalifying. Happily it looks like he's in good shape whatever the criteria. He said last year that there was nothing wrong with taking a "year off" to celebrate, give himself a breather, and it looks like that's what he's done. But perhaps he's lost his sharpest edge because all this remarkable consistency has failed to yield a win, or much that looks like being a win. He needs that Top 50!

As for Harrington, I looked at that and reckon he's OK. If you look at who's behind him, you have to go all the way down to JB Holmes in 59th place, or perhaps even to Pat Perez in 63rd, to reach 10 guys who could individually be feasible to catch him. Ain't going to happen so Padraig should roll the dice and take his "Medical"!

Darren Clarke took up PGATour membership in 2014 after not having membership in 2012 and 2013 which was an option after the 2011 Open Championship win. (Not that he was successful).

Unlike Kaymer, Clarke was able to count to 15 tournaments.

And BTW...no matter what happens this week, Poulter has conditional status clinched for the remainder of the year, which is a lot better than Past Champions status.

GPB,
I think you read way too much into Kaymer's departure from Tour Membership. Not everyone thinks the "Big" Tour is the be all and end all, or even the best Tour.
For once it's kinda nice to see someone taking advantage and having it both ways. But now he has to deliver and, as noted, his consistency is not turning into High finishes and wins. That needs to change at the big events coming up.

kwinigolfer wrote:GPB,
I think you read way too much into Kaymer's departure from Tour Membership. Not everyone thinks the "Big" Tour is the be all and end all, or even the best Tour.
For once it's kinda nice to see someone taking advantage and having it both ways. But now he has to deliver and, as noted, his consistency is not turning into High finishes and wins. That needs to change at the big events coming up.

Kwini.... IMO it's pretty difficult to read too much into Kaymer's departure. I certainly agree that the "Big" Tour isn't for everyone, and it wasn't for Kaymer early on in his career either. He could have taken membership in 2011, but waited until 2012. I thought that was a ballsy move of his at the time, and felt if that's the way he feels, then he's clearly doing the right thing.  But the issue I have is once a player makes a commitment to a Tour they need to make at least a reasonable effort to live up to it. IMO Kaymer clearly didn't, or at least didn't until it was too late by late entering the Wyndham.  He had to have known there were "issues" with his schedule by the completion of the Open, and there was time and events available to fulfill his commitment.   But he chose to come back to Arizona and sit out the two events he could have entered before the WGC Bridgestone instead.  

My bottom line:  Fine Martin, do what you want to do. I have exactly ZERO issues with him if he chooses not to take up PGAT membership again. But if he does, he needs to live up to the terms.  By the way... EXACT same thing I'd say about Patrick Reed the other way....

But as far as Kaymer's "form"... I dunno if one should be concerned or not. He's just NOT a consistent week in and week out player, never really has been. Even in 2014, his wins in the Players and U.S. Open were almost completely out of the blue.  Going into the Players that year he looked a lot more like a player that would be struggling to make a cut on that course and against that field, but then he wins the thing.   If Kaymer misses half his cuts and only posts "middling" finishes the rest of the way, I wouldn't be surprised.  Nor would I be surprised if he wins 1 or 2 of the remaining big events this year.  Nor do I think it really concerns him much either way.

GPB wrote:And BTW...no matter what happens this week, Poulter has conditional status clinched for the remainder of the year, which is a lot better than Past Champions status.

Not sure that matters in Poulters case... IMO any event where they would get down to "conditionals" to fill their field are events that would be more than happy to give him an SE anyway.

I hope Ian just takes care of business this week. But if he doesn't... it's going to be interesting to see how he approaches his schedule the rest of the way. Last year it appeared he was playing a lot more aggressive than usual USA schedule in the Spring before finally taking the time off for the foot. IMO it would be better for him to forget there's even any such thing as the Euro Tour unless or until he has his PGAT status for next year settled.

The only clue from Kaymer is that he actually said that he wanted to "enjoy" his success of 2014 and, to paraphrase, "I've deserved it".

And, if "he's just NOT a consistent week in and week out player", how come he hasn't missed a cut in well over a year, and has scored owgr points in 28 out of 29 of those tournaments. Who can match that consistency?
What he hasn't done is WIN! And actually hasn't got anything better than a couple of T4's in that time. In fact his consistent accumulation of owgr points has merely lifted him from 47th to 45th in that time.

That's why I say he needs to get sharp and win, consistency at that level doesn't do the job.

robopz wrote:Not sure that matters in Poulters case... IMO any event where they would get down to "conditionals" to fill their field are events that would be more than happy to give him an SE anyway.

IMO, getting into a tournament with Conditional Status than getting into a tournament via a sponsors exemption.

No quid pro quo (whether Real or imagined) would exist between Poulter and the sponsor. No extra schmoozing would be expected.

And somewhat agree about Kaymer. IMO, he thought he could cruise to the BMW Championship and fulfill his 15 tournament commitment.

And Oleson also thought he could cruise to the Playoffs a few years ago.

Oleson got into a car accident and then lost his form. Golfers are people too . . . . . . . .

Thanks Kwini, I knew he'd been playing better of late, but hadn't realized he was playing that consistently. Kind of out of character actually, its not so much that he hasn't been a cut maker in his career, but I guess my impressions were formed by watching him back up or fail to fire on weekends. Surprisingly, Kaymer has entered the weekend T-10 or better on the PGAT only 13 times in his career. He won the two times he had the lead, but backed up 9 of the other 11 times. He won his PGA from outside the top-10 going I to the weekend.

GPB... Job #1 for Poulter would be just to get in the events, doesn't really matter how. And doubt schmoozing with​ sponsors would bother him at all, in fact my impression has always been he somewhat enjoys "holding court".

Also... i believe Olesen "technically" fulfilled his 15 event commitment for 2014. If i recall correctly, he was entered in the Wyndham which would have been his 15th, but got caught up in the new ET reg that he was required to play his home country event in Denmark that week. So the PGAT exempted him that final event. Thus he would have been eligible to compete in 2015 if he'd qualified to do so.

kwinigolfer wrote:Oleson got into a car accident and then lost his form. Golfers are people too . . . . . . . .

And finished T6th at the Masters a week after the accident.

GPB wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:Oleson got into a car accident and then lost his form. Golfers are people too . . . . . . . .

And finished T6th at the Masters a week after the accident.

Yes, After The Masters! And his form after that was lousy for a few months, only one Top Ten for the rest of the year.
But that was actually 2013 - Olesen's fate was pretty much sealed in 2014 by the time Greensboro came around - 173rd in FedEx.


Up and running in San Antonio.

It was late March of 2013 when Oleson was int he accident. He finished T6th in the Masters a week after the accident.

But it was 2014 when Oleson was a PGATour member. And he only played 14 tournaments. Yes, he could have played Wyndham as his 15th event, but his ET obligations made him play the Denmark tournament.

But there was only about 30 other PGAT tournaments that he could have played to fulfill that 15th tournaments.

IMO, he just naturally assumed that he would make the playoffs to get his 15th tournament.

kwinigolfer wrote:Olesen's fate was pretty much sealed in 2014 by the time Greensboro came around - 173rd in FedEx.

Yep... Olesen knew he was in effect playing for his PGAT future at the PGA that year....

Either way, didn't happen for him. Players go hot and cold and lose or regain form for different reasons.  But this discussion was about PGA Tour eligibility, and as far as I'm concerned, if the PGAT felt at the time Olesen had made enough of a good faith effort to meet the terms of his membership by granting him the waiver on that 15th event... then that's good enough for me. Hope to see him more over here someday... member or non-member... whatever works best for him.

Not quite clear how he "just naturally assumed he would make the playoffs" when his high-water FedEx mark for the season was 170th. Danes might not have a BIG Tour but they're not thick.

To be more constructive, an STM leading to taking a year's Tour membership can just be a matter of international golfers keeping their options open. If they play well, great. If not, or if the Tour is not to your liking, get out.

It's rare that a player completely upheaves his life and goes all in on the PGA Tour - Parnevik was successful and Gonzo did it, with disappointing results, but PGA Tour golf and American life are not for everyone. Cejka, Davis, Jacobson and Owen have made themselves plenty of money, but hardly become a golfing force. And the PGA Tour membership criteria is utterly (rightly so) unforgiving, magnified when you're doing your business outside your cultural comfort zone.

I think Rafa could be struggling to keep his card this year, and Willett obviously. Next year you have Fleetwood, Hatton etc. But if they sign up does it indicate they're going whole hog, all in for PGA Tour action, or are they just taking the available option? Never quite clear as far as I'm concerned.

It was early in the year when Oleson played the "elite" bare minimum PGATour schedule (like Rory, Stenson, Rose), assuming that he could get his last couple of tournaments in the playoffs.

When it got down to nut-crunch time, he was out of weeks. He left himself out of options when it came down to the Denmark/Wyndham tournament. IMO, Its not that hard to play 15 PGATournaments. There is at least one tournament, almost every week from early January to late August. IMO, there was no good faith effort for Oleson to play 15 tournaments.

Quite likely. So what?
Same this year w/Willett.
And probably Kaymer in the past.
No problem with that from moi.

GPB wrote: IMO, there was no good faith effort for Oleson to play 15 tournaments.

I thought there was. From the Memorial through the PGA, he played every PGAT event he was eligible for except 3. And one of those he played in Europe. It looks like he was counting on the co-sanctions, and no doubt missing 3 of them really hurt but I thought he gave it a very reasonable effort. But again, I look to the way the PGAT handled it. I'm not aware of them making a similar waiver for any one else before or since, and I don't believe they would have done so unless they were convinced he'd made a reasonable effort. They know a helluva lot more what's going on with these guys than we do.

IMO Kaymers situation is different, he clearly did not make the kind of effort like Olesen did.

Kwini... I understand guys figuring out mid stream they just can't do it and pulling plug on dual membership, it happens. No issue on that front with me either. But I'm not so good with a guy going into it and taking membership just to keep his options open. IMO taking membership is a commitment to accept the terms. If you don't plan to make a reasonable effort to keep that commitment, then don't make it. An exempt member is given all kinds of advantages a non member doesn't get in picking and choosing his events. It's just not right by any measure to accept those advantages, then reneg on the commitment that got you those advantages in the first place. $hit happens and sometimes players can fall short, but the effort has to be there.

If you think Kaymer made no effort, just watch Danny Willett!

Now, Scoring is good in San Antone, Branden Grace leading the way from Willie Mac and John. Huh.
A nice opening round of 68 by McDowell, but a shockingly bad start from Poulter, +3 after five holes.

Nice to see Freddie Jac off to a decent start after his injury - he's another with a fine Valero track record.

kwinigolfer wrote:If you think Kaymer made no effort, just watch Danny Willett!

That looks to be quite true. Could be seeing some reg changes sooner than later...

Another back surgery for Tiger... Sheesh

robopz wrote:Another back surgery for Tiger... Sheesh

Maybe Mac will donate his spine.

Ah but they are saying it is successful this time!

robo,
Is that Texas Back Institute in your neck of the Woods or is it the place in Plano?
Interesting on their website there's a reference to Jason Day:
"Jason Day . . . . . . may be nearing the end of his career due to a golf swing that is taking its physical toll on his back."

No good news about IJP: +3 as he makes the turn. Perhaps scoring was a little better in the morning?


Davie makes a great point.
It looks as if he's hired a different surgeon this time - hope this guy does a better job, previous efforts have summed up the "Pay through the nose for health care in America for inferior outcomes" impression that statistics suggest.

Oh dear ben curtis! I reckon id give him a game.

Kwini... It's apparently the one in Plano.

TW's back deal has now gone way past my experiences as I didn't need a fusion. But I can say this much about it. With me and everyone I've ever talked to with similar surgeries as I had... It seems like either they get it, or they don't... It's a WIN you're fixed, or LOSE you're not. Not much in between. Wish the guy the best, but I just dunno...

PS... Seems like the Dr's site has crashed... Probably getting more traffic right now than they've ever seen.

Hard to imagine Tiger will play again in a competitive manner, and you have to wonder if he is having further surgery to ensure he can function in everyday life never mind play pro sports.

McLaren wrote:Hard to imagine Tiger will play again in a competitive manner, and you have to wonder if he is having further surgery to ensure he can function in everyday life never mind play pro sports.

don't know what to think Mac, except that in his own words he still seems intent on trying to get back out there... http://www.tigerwoods.com/news/2017/04/20/225438912/tiger-undergoes-successful-back-surgery-to-alleviate-pain/

This is a youtube clip of the actual procedure (simulation), at the very least I would expect he will lose some mobility.

https://youtu.be/waal6ysBxco

robopz wrote:PS... Seems like the Dr's site has crashed...

Just like Tigers back... perfect match.

COYIJP:
Poults is off in the first group off at 8.10 a.m., 2.10 p.m. at Stoneham.

What a boost it would be to his season if he could shoot a 67 or possibly 68 to make the Valero cut, especially if he goes on to the Top 35 finish he likely needs to recover his card for the rest of the season.
Good luck to him; it'll be breezy, possibly favouring the early starters and you'd think he needs to get off to a flying start. Unlike Thursday.

Fatprick Reed is claiming his poor play of late is due to incorrect lofts and lies on his clubs! He can't seriously think that, can he?

Maybe Willett should check if his club heads have been put on the right way round.

Mac,
I put these notes up partly in response to your ongoing derision of Pros playing two or more Tours - any comment or perspective?

Barring a miraculous Back 9 for Poulter, he will have Cat-30 status for the remainder of the year, just behind Willy Wilcox on the pecking order.

That should get him into the following tournaments on merit

Zurich (already registered)
Memphis
Greenbrier
John Deere
Barbasol
Reno-Tahoe

Possibly Travelers and Wyndham

Poults is +2 with four to play - the final two holes are birdie holes so needs to go two-under (at least) the rest of the way, and pray that the wind gets up this afternoon.
Ironic that the best round of the day in progress is by Bud Cauley who's playing with IJP.

Ironic? How is that? Cauley has to be grouped with someone.

Because IJP played with Wes Bryan last Sunday.

Very profound.

Well, it's all history now; looks as if Poults played pretty well today, but let down by his putter both rounds, 2.6 strokes lost to the field just on the greens.

Good rounds out there, and Martin Laird is taking advantage as he moves into the top ten.

Meanwhile shortly after missing the cut, IJP tweets this

https://twitter.com/IanJamesPoulter/status/855469515718701057

not sure if he was serious or he was tr0lling the tr0lls

McLaren wrote:Fatprick Reed is claiming his poor play of late is due to incorrect lofts and lies on his clubs!  He can't seriously think that, can he?

Maybe Willett should check if his club heads have been put on the right way round.

Patrick Reed is four over par for the day with just a few holes to go and outside the current cut-line.
Better check his clubs again. A bad workman . . . . . .
(No word as to whether Danny Willett has taken Mac's advice.)

Andrew Johnston should make the cut to give him the chance to beef up his FedEx points ranking - he needs to take advantage this weekend.

If the cut drifts to +1, we'll have a big field ( possibly well over 80) for Round 3 and a ton of MDF's.
Not really good news for blokes like Beef & (hopefully) Gonzo who'd benefit from a smaller field and no risk of missing out on Round 4.

Lots of birdies in the evening at TPC San Antonio, many of them by Gonzo, so happy to see him playing to his standard of four or five years ago.

Patrick Reed goes home to tweak his clubs again, but 76 golfers grouped within 8 strokes, so should be a great weekend. Seamus Power makes it on the number and, like Johnston, has a great chance to do himself some good.

For some unfathomable reason, the 76 survivors at the Valero will play Round 3 in threesomes, rather than pairs, teeing off the early starters at 9.40 a.m. CDT, right when a front is expected to introduce the strongest winds of the week so far to San Antonio.

Lots to play for for the European golfers who remain, and Martin Laird in contention in T10th place, tied with the "Redneck Swede", Carl Pettersson whose season I just wrote off in Note 7 above. Most intriguing sprint up the leaderboard yesterday was by Gonzo - has he found something in his game, or is it just a one-round mirage? Hopefully the former and he'll finally show the Tour what he's made of.