PGA Tour: Almost Heaven, West Virginia: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).Almost heaven perhaps, in John Denver's day, but almost hell now as unemployment and environmentally unfriendly land management has created a state, mostly scenically beautiful, but infused with the sense of economic hopelessness that makes it ground zero for the US's opioid epidemic and a poster child for the rural, poverty-stricken America that got the president it wanted.
But it's unlikely (presumably) that even trickle-down economics fans and climate-change deniers expected that trickle-down mountain streams would turn into raging rapids as historically torrential rains last June created widespread flooding, perhaps accentuated by deforestation as mining companies tore the tops off hillsides, which plunged The Greenbrier's corner of the State into a scene of watery devastation.

2).The Greenbrier is a yuuuge resort, dating back to the 1770's, developed with help from a British designer, as so many grand North American resorts were, a hundred years ago, by a railway company (which morphed into CSX Corporation). The resort gradually fell up on hard times in the 1990's until, through a series of transactions, (now West Virginia Governor) Jim Justice ponied up $20M of the wealth he'd developed in farming and mining to acquire and revitalise the place. It's now a year-round resort featuring golf, tennis, fishing, falconry (Kes?), poker and high end "real estate", advertised by the likes of Messrs Faldo, Watson (Bubba and Tom) and Mickelson.
By 2010, Justice had persuaded Timmy Finchem to bring the PGA Tour here, to play on a CB McDonald 1913 design, the Old White, which had previously hosted the 1979 Ryder Cup and 1994 Solheim Cup.

3).The only major sporting event in the State, "The Greenbrier Classic" had to be cancelled as the courses there were overwhelmed by the flooding; 23 people were killed, neighbourhoods were wiped out, and motorway bridges were washed away. In the middle of all this stood The Greenbrier resort, evacuated except for emergency workers and displaced families. No golf to be seen.

4).Fast forward to July 2017 and all is on schedule for the seventh running of The Greenbrier Classic; only two Americans, Stallings and Ted "The Wizard" Potter, have won as Appleby's 59 in 2010 led champions Blixt, Cabrera and Danny Lee into the history books.

5).Bubba Watson will once again be here, hoping to resuscitate a career that has hit the skids since winning Riviera almost 18 months ago and almost following it up two weeks later. Without a Tour top four finish since then, he's at risk of missing out on FedEx Play-Off qualification - other "notables" who still haven't secured Play-Off places include:
Zach Johnson, Harris English, Jimmy Walker, Ryan Palmer and Furyk.

6).Among Europeans in that boat are McDowell, Lowry, Kjeldsen and Harrington, all of them in Europe for the next fortnight, so not able to improve their position.

7).Last week's Quicken Loans tournament was a bit like watching a F1 race with the safety car out for 63 holes before the action suddenly sprung to life.
The leaderboard was musical chairs on Sunday with Aussie rookie Curtis Luck having a momentary lead, Martin Laird being tied, Rickie Fowler coming up fast until an untimely water-ball, Sung Kang missing a short birdie putt because he was discombobulated and drenched by a sudden downpour without his brolly, until finally Charlie Howell and Kyle Stanley crossed the line together - two superb ball-strikers with omni-present putting issues. In the circumstances either would have been a worthy winner, two golf junkies who don't quite have the short game to reach the next level - in this case Howell blinked and Stanley won for the second time.

8).Two things on that Sunday caught my attention:
*A sudden cloudburst caught the players unawares, most having believed the weather forecast and left umbrellas and rain gear in the clubhouse. What morons! Can't imagine Tour caddies not ensuring their "man" had at least a brolly.
*On the driveable Par-4 14th hole, the golfers on the green waved up Ogilvy's two-some, and Geoff promptly whacked his tee-shot into the drink as he complained he was being rushed. Surely the players are not obligated to accept the invitation when being waved up? We see that at the 15th at Hartford all the time, but it's pretty much standard practice there, but I can quite understand Ogilvy's complaint - 'course, he shouldn't have hit if he didn't feel ready, but that's hindsight.

9).There's a weak field at The Greenbrier but some guys with "previous" are there, including Bill Haas, Webb Simpson and Kisner. Patrick Reed seems to be playing every week these days; he's scored Top 25's in seven of his last eight efforts, climbing about 50 FedEx places in the process and will surely beak through soon or wear himself out. Possibly both.
Europeans in town include Luke Donald, on a course which should suit him, and Seamus Power who once again had a nice tournament going last week before a disappointing Sunday - of the 13 cuts he's made this season, his worst round of the week (and in some cases second worst too) has come over the weekend. Evidently a promising player, but really needs to play solid golf for four days if he's to fulfil his early tournament promise.

10).Who will find "Almost Heaven" this week, in the winners' enclosure? I kinda like Kisner and 2015 winner (so defending champion) Danny Lee, whilst two rank outsiders worth a tanner each way might be Willy Wilcox and 2012 winner, and subsequent invalid, Ted Potter, a porky left-hander with masses of innate ability but lousy luck with injuries.

Nice Preview Kwini, as always.

Re: Bubba...currently well within the Top 50, he should get an invite to Bridgestone. And of course, with a B-Stone invite comes nearly guaranteed FEDEX points which might be the difference between him getting into the Playoffs, and therefore, someone else not getting into the playoffs. He already has 92 FEX points from the WGCs this year, without those FEX pts, without those FEX points, he would ~143rd in the FEX ranking.

Still expecting 375 FEX pts to be the bubble #125 number.

Patrick Reed has to play a lot events to get the PGATour releases to play the requisite events to keep his EuroTour Card. Although he will probably be bounced from the Playoffs early, so that might open a couple of tournaments for him.

Cheers GPB, Am wondering where you celebrated Canada Day?

Good point about Patrick Reed, but was quite impressed with him up close and personal at Hartford where we got to see him play a couple of trouble shots. Very competitive, and good to see.

Nothing sinister in this week's weather, chance of storms but no serious stuff likely.

Chamblee rattling Champions Tour officials' cage about Langer's putting style. Or was his angst a trojan horse for complaints about someone even more "conflicted"?

Kes - you got me there! Not a dry in the house just at the thought of it! N'a then lad!
Ogilvy - how many times of all of us hit when not ready/thinking about something else? Never draw attention to you're own schoolboy error!
I'd like to see Reed come storming through over the next few weeks. Good to see someone more prop than 10 etc in our beautiful game.
I gather Poulter was suitably impressed with JSB who missed by 2. Has subsequently made himself unavailable for an England team to go to US for US Am qualifying.
Oh and is that really a tanner or a tenner ew?
Great write up.

Definitely a tanner, puligny, my tips are never worth more than that.
Tried reading an autobio by Barry Hines's brother last year - almost impossible to get through . . . . and I didn't make it. (I was going to allude just to Billy Casper, but thought some might get the wrong idea.)

Hope your JSB is getting good advice; but lucky lad to be playing Riviera.


They'll be off at The Greenbrier in a minute or two - should be reasonable weather thru'out, but thundershowers this evening could disrupt proceedings.

I celebrated Canada Day with some good ole Midwestern Sweet Corn, fresh home grown tomatoes, and a cheeseburger, and couple of beers from a Wisconsin Beer manufacturer.

Just like I did on the 4th of July!

Just read a tweet that Bones Mackay will be working for Golf Channel as a foot soldier at Birkdale. Pretty sure the backpack with the microphone etc. weighs less than a Pro's staff bag.

GPB wrote:I celebrated Canada Day with some good ole Midwestern Sweet Corn, fresh home grown tomatoes, and a cheeseburger, and couple of beers from a Wisconsin Beer manufacturer.

Just like I did on the 4th of July!

Just read a tweet that Bones Mackay will be working for Golf Channel as a foot soldier at Birkdale.  Pretty sure the backpack with the microphone etc. weighs less than a Pro's staff bag.

The bag gets lighter as the round wears on for some of them as the various toys get thrown out!

GPB - Proper celebration! Leinenkugel?

Did somebody absolutely "make" Ogilvy hit his tee shot? Can't imagine a professional of his experience would fall back on the rushed excuse.

Shotrock wrote:GPB - Proper celebration! Leinenkugel?

Did somebody absolutely "make" Ogilvy hit his tee shot? Can't imagine a professional of his experience would fall back on the rushed excuse.

Not saying it was an "excuse", more: What is the protocol? And: Can you just say, "B0ll0cks, I'm going to hit in my own good time, when I'm ready"?

Don't know what they'd been doing in previous rounds but you'd think he and his caddie might have been prepared.


Meanwhile, DLIII skipped last week's US Senior Open, presumably so that he might be refreshed for The Greenbrier!
As Stricker did also, the better to be ready for next week's John Deere . . . . . . .

Good start, again, by Seamus Power . . . . . Finish it off this time please.

Can't blame DL3 so far..
Is the Love-child carrying his clubs this week?

Don't know what the Love-child output is, but DLIV is playing, just about to finish his round, about +2. Perhaps he'll get his act together the rest of the way and they can both qualify for Birkdale?

Early withdrawal by Grayson Murray - no owgr points for you this week, Grayson. And, no, Asian & European Tours don't get owgr points for withdrawals either.

Hunter Mahan three shots better than anyone else in the p.m. "wave" - early days, but good to see.

kwinigolfer wrote:Early withdrawal by Grayson Murray - no owgr points for you this week, Grayson. And, no, Asian & European Tours don't get owgr points for withdrawals either.

Hunter Mahan three shots better than anyone else in the p.m. "wave" - early days, but good to see.

I actually had to look Gayson Murray up, he looks every bit as stupid as some of his comments.

Interested anyone? I reckon the grips are huge..

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/associated-press/set-irons-used-trump-auction

Shotrock wrote:GPB - Proper celebration! Leinenkugel?

Did somebody absolutely "make" Ogilvy hit his tee shot? Can't imagine a professional of his experience would fall back on the rushed excuse.

Just plain ole Miller Lite. I am no snob when it comes to beer

I was weaned on Miller High Life back in upstate NY when in High School. 18 was the drinking age back then.

Also an upstate NY'er here (more central New York, Kwini and I were neighbors for some time!)

Never took to Miller. Perhaps because I was partial to and worked for the local brewery. (Now called Saranac, UC or Matt's back in the day)

I went to High School in Oneonta, about 20 miles South of Cooperstown. Pretty much the epitome of central NY.

UC was the object of derision at OHS

Never understood the black/white nature regarding beer. It's either great or it's awful to some -- no grey area. UC still a favorite of mine. Easy drinking.

I grew up in Utica, a bit further north.

Nothing not to like about Cooperstown, if you can afford it.
Used to love our annual road trip to play Leatherstocking - pro there was a crotchety old sod, Ted Kroll's brother I think!


Obvious leader @ The Greenbrier, Bogota's Sebastian Munoz, out in front by four from Ben Martin (where's he been?) and, no surprise, Danny Lee.
Same old song for Gonzo, missing the cut. The Donald, Owen and Power just getting underway.

I spent a lot of summer weekends on Otsego Lake when I was going to High School. I had friends who had a cabin on the Northeast portion of the lake (near the State Park) and Mom had friends who had friends on the Southeast side of the lake. Sailing, fishing, waterskiing and swimming. It's the source of the Susquehanna River (of Three Mile Fame). I had a summer job as busboy at one of the popular Cooperstown restaurants, right on Main Street.

Otsego Lake is a much colder lake than Lake Carmi in Vermont where I spent my pre-teen summers

Munoz takes the Greenbrier lead into the weekend, with Greg Owen, The Donald and Gonzo beating a hasty retreat.

Well done to Seamus Power (first out of the stalls on Saturday) for making the cut - now comes the hard work, to make it count. Very hard work. Cejka and Lingmerth the only other Europeans still around.


Not the greatest field in the world for next week's John Deere Classic, but not that bad either.

The usual (European) suspects are there, plus Kisner, Bubba, Zach, Ryan Moore, Harman, etc.

Nothing like the European sporting summer.
Up early to follow the Lions, then straight over to action closer to home, the TDF of course, golf from Portstewart, tennis from London SW, the Lords Test, charades in Hamburg and dodgems in Austria.

So much action that I completely missed Seamus Power's nice start at The Greenbrier - five birds in his first 13 holes, three bogeys and that's the recipe for climbing the leaderboard. Looks like his putter has been on fire; now he has to close it out.

The Greenbrier not attracting much interest or excitement so far, but some interesting stuff beneath the headlines:

More poor play from Bubba Watson - is he losing it?
A fine Round 4 (64) from Phil.
Alex Cejka exploding into life.
Seamus Power even par for the day after 6 holes - would think he needs at least a (2-under) 68 to improve his Saturday position, much lower than that to approach the season-long Top 125.

Disagree Kwin -- this tournament shaping up for a competitive finish.

Bubba losing it? Perhaps he's taking directions from Rory: Miss the cut, then win the Open Championship.

Sr,
I wrote that 3 hrs ago!
In primary reference to traffic on this thread.
Big difference between Bubba and Rory is that Rors is still competitive, Bubba's becoming "ceremonial". Interesting that he's teeing it up next week.

(PS: Moira playing this week . . . . )

Thought Dunn was done! Thx for update.

Precisely why I'm picking Rory to win the Open Championship.

First PGA Tour win by a Xander - the new Mister X? Nah . . . . . . .

Didn't see it following him, but the TV image of Jamie Lovemark bears more than a passing resemblance to Jerry Pate, other than Pate's sparsely populated barnet.

No reschauffele for him...

I think it was Ashton, Gardner & Dyke who first gave us the Resurrection Schauffele . . . . . .
Whilst 10cc offered the Wall Street Schauffele . . . . . . .

Fine effort for xander - not many out of the blue "W"'s this year, but that's certainly one of them.

If you're going music then there was Boz Scaggs with Lido Schauffele and of course The Boss with The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Schauffele

All probably wasted on young Xander.

Grayson Murray is surely in pole position to receive the Tour's D1ckhead of the Year award, but here's an interesting article which throws some light on his "issues":

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/ryan-lavner/social-media-social-anxiety-grayson-murray/?cid=rr_editorial_p1

Not sure that I come away from this article with any more sympathy for him, and certainly not for his father, but I'm usually more interested in the back stories than the headlines, and this is insightful, even if you come away from it musing over the Law Of Holes:
"If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."

Murray is committed to go again this week, at the John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities, having withdrawn after two Greenbrier holes last Thursday. It would be good if he disabled his twitter account first.

He's quoted as saying "no one works harder than me", yet he's a fat git.

And talking of "fat gits":

Interesting reports coming out of USGA Towers that the Republican candidate for POTUS threatened to sue the USGA if the Women's Open were removed from his course in Bedminster, NJ. Play begins this week, whether the USGA likes it or not.

The R&A would be crazy to give an Open Championship to Turnberry if that story, as yet unconfirmed, is true.

Scott Piercy has withdrawn from The Open, replaced in next week's field by Anirban Lahiri; no reason yet reported for Piercy's w/d, but with him you never know, probably doesn't have a passport, and would rather play the Barracuda close to home in Reno.

"Alternates" priority list headed now by Tony Finau, followed by James Hahn and the in-form Danny Lee.

Piercy could play both Birkdale and Reno.  They are two weeks apart in the schedule. And Piercy did play Troon last year and Mexico this year, but those passport jokes never get old, do they?

=============

First Bones and Phil got a divorce.

Now Golf Digest is reporting that Chubby and Westy are getting a divorce.  Westy is leaving for IMG

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/lee-westwood-leaves-longtime-agent-chubby-chandler-for-img?mbid=Social_Twitter_GolfWorld

Well it is true that compared to other large countries Americans do have a laughably low level of passport ownership.

I suspect the percentage of Americans with passports surpasses the number of Chinese with passports.

If you exclude conscription I would guess that close to 80% Chinese people have never been more than 60 miles away from their home. I think it goes for Russia too.

BTW...I can travel a 1000 miles in any direction and not leave the country. I have let my passport expire, I really have no use for it anymore.

Not a fair comparison when China aren't a first world country for most of the people who live there. Same with Russia.

I was thinking about comparisons with Australia and Canada as the usual excuse is that "we have everything here, why would we need to travel" yet they have higher ownership of passports.

Is it that America are more isolationist and insular or just that American employees get terrible holiday entitlement? Do they believe the myth that America is #1 or do they genuinely have no interest in seeing other countries?

I'm not having a go as such, just wondering why.

Hope to use mine next week, can't wait! Best thing about Vermont is that it's so close to Quebec!

Wonder how long the Chubster will keep his outfit going? He's knocking on a bit now, and you'd imagine Westwood would want to maintain active representation well into his fifties. Perhaps there's a sense of lack of succession planning.

You said "large countries", Russia and China are two of the biggest.

And Canada has "everything"? really? Does it have a tropical beach?

The Golf Digest article said Fitzy just left ISM too.

Quebec has Barbados, can't beat it.

If Fitz & lw1 have left, Danny Boy can't be far behind, all from the same neck of the woods (no, not that one).

super_realist wrote:Is it that America are more isolationist and insular or just that American employees get terrible holiday entitlement? Do they believe the myth that America is #1 or do they genuinely have no interest in seeing other countries?

I'm not having a go as such, just wondering why.

It's probably a combination of some of those things and a few others, Supes. The sheer size and scale means that all types of holidays are available within the States and within a reasonable travel distance. I remember attending induction for new employees on my first day here. I was feeling a little miffed after discovering I was losing 5 sick days but soon realized I shouldn't bring it up when my new colleagues were only getting 13 days for holiday and sick time combined.

GPB wrote:You said "large countries",  Russia and China are two of the biggest.

And Canada has "everything"?  really?  Does it have a tropical beach?  

The Golf Digest article said Fitzy just left ISM too.

I hadn't realised that Fitz left Chub months ago.

1GrumpyGolfer wrote:

super_realist wrote:Is it that America are more isolationist and insular or just that American employees get terrible holiday entitlement? Do they believe the myth that America is #1 or do they genuinely have no interest in seeing other countries?

I'm not having a go as such, just wondering why.

It's probably a combination of some of those things and a few others, Supes. The sheer size and scale means that all types of holidays are available within the States and within a reasonable travel distance. I remember attending induction for new employees on my first day here. I was feeling a little miffed after discovering I was losing 5 sick days but soon realized I shouldn't bring it up when my new colleagues were only getting 13 days for holiday and sick time combined.

13 days? That is pathetic. I get 33.

As for not leaving America, I just don't know what type of person wouldn't be interested in seeing other countries, obviously getting 13 days holiday makes it difficult but surely it's only a minor problem to overcome. No wonder that many of the golfers are complete ignoramus when they finally do get abroad (Gerry Watson).

Reminds me of Ian Rush when he went to play for Juventus. "It's like being in a foreign country"

Mind you, many British (mostly English) football players are terrible at plying their trade abroad too. No wonder they are crap at football.

I thought Chubby sold out a few years ago. Recall reading that deal involved him continuing as the 'face etc' but not the owner?

He sold 75% of the business to a group of investors in 2010. Appears to have paid off a former business partner and a loan from the business as well as funding for future investment.

As usual, it's pretty inane to "generalize" about Americans (and passports in specific) without really cutting the data by income, education and geography. Among those people that work for my company (60+) and my network of friends and family, passport ownership as well as overseas travel is (from my observation) 90%+.

As income and education levels drop, expect a lot less international travel and passport ownership (which is far and away the primary reason to even get a passport, which last I checked costs about $115+).

13 days for both vacation (holiday) and sick time? Not the norm for new hires in our industry, which my company needs to match. That combined number is 22 for new hires, work 5 years and add 7 days.

Still, point well taken.

Interesting non-correlation between hours worked and productivity...