PGA Tour: Seeking The Grand Slam: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

A busy time of year for moi, and a change of sport for a couple of days, so just a few thoughts to get the PGA Championship thread going:

1).Jordan Spieth goes for the Grand Slam this week, as Rory will do at the Masters, and Phil will also at the US Open - think I'd place my money on Rory to be the first, probably Phil will never do it, but it's a reminder as to how difficult it is to achieve. Palmer and Watson missed out on the PGA, Trevino had two of each, US Open, Open Championship and PGA but no Masters. Wonderful achievement to bag three nevertheless!

2).I'm not a fan of the changes to the Tour schedule and there are bound to be consequences, a ripple effect throughout the golf world (which, after all, is not 100% USA). It seems there's a hidden agenda in play, what with golf making an unnecessary intrusion into the Olympics, and the resultant dominos that are now falling and will continue to do so. I also fear what Pelley will do; the date of the BMW PGA is now in jeopardy, but where will it go? Perhaps the R&A will shift The Open back a fortnight, thus accommodating a summer's date for Wentworth? One possible benefit that Pelley could insist upon is keeping the Ryder Cup where it currently is - at a time when the Tour is starting downtime, but Europeans can play competitively in Europe.

3).One suspects that an "Asia" agenda is in play somewhere, just can't quite figure out how!
Regardless the Tour now has to cram in the:
WGC-Mexico
Arnold Palmer Inv
Players
Masters
WGC-MatchPlay
PGA Championship
Memorial
US Open
. . . . . . all in a 3-month span. Not to mention well-supported events such as "Honda", "Houston", "Quail Hollow", etc, that have loyal player followings. Something's got to give. If Pelley plays his cards right, Europe could be a big winner, if he overplays his hand, he could damage his Tour for years to come.

4).Quail Hollow has undergone changes since we last saw it, at last May's Wells Fargo - the first six holes have been almost totally redesigned, and the other twelve tweaked to bring them up to date. Nevertheless, Rory has a fantastic record there with his two wins and a play-off loss to Rickie Fowler. Would still expect course specialists to do well, including Lucas Glover who has a win, a runner up and other strong finishes. Hopefully the course will be allowed to stand on its merits without PGA set-up guys tricking it up - there are some super Par-5's and my favourite "short Par-4" on Tour, the 14th.

5).The owgr rankings this week saw Bubba wave bye-bye to the Top 50 for the first time in 7 years. While Charley Hoffman, after what seems like forever hanging around the rankings' second 50, all of a sudden is propelled to #20 on a string of fine play and nearly man finishes. Meanwhile, as suggested last week, Patrick Reed continues his slide down the rankings proving that playing every week wears even the young guns out.

6).Seamus Power squeaked into the FedEx Top 125 and could conceivably stay there this week even though he's not in the field. Will still need a good result at Greensboro and it may not be entirely certain that he'll make the field. Fingers crossed for him there.
And Henrik Stenson may have to play Greensboro too; he's only played 11 events so far this year, so still has to find four more. At 84th on the FedEx points list, he's not sure to go deep into the Play Offs so he probably has to play:
PGA, Greensboro and Northern Trust to reach Round 2 at TPC Boston.
Henrik being Henrik may choose not to do that, but hopefully a strong week at Quail Hollow will make that a moot point.

That's my lot, more on the Play-Offs and ramifications of FedEx points next week. Looking forward to seeing the changes at Quail Hollow - think they rebuilt all the greens and new greens are never as good as they're cracked up to be, could be on the firm side which is not necessarily a bad thing - and hoping Rory wins his 3rd PGA Championship.

Faldo is 100% correct. Jason Day's caddie should have handed him a wedge and walked away. What a nutty display of professional golf.

Yep! Agreed Shotrock, what on earth was his caddie doing

Bizarre from Day on 18. A tough day at the office for most.

I think Kisner's a bit of a hot head and don't think he'll be able to keep it together tomorrow. Stroud untested. I look for Matsuyama to win this.

What makes you think he is a hothead Shotrock?!

The final three holes today:

• 16 birdies or better
• 73 bogeys or worse
• 84 over par

That's why they call it the Green Mile.

A tweet from the European Tour

Perhaps that was a poor choice of words. I think he unravels pretty quickly.

Still, give him his due ... leading after 3 rounds. Look for him to be tested early.

That's fair enough! The signs on 16&18 weren't good at all

He was solid enough until he hit the green mile, he looked like he lost a little belief after that. It's not easy for Hideki either, he's got to be exhausted mentally. It's going to be a thrilla in manilla rather than runaway imho tomorrow. Unless Justin Thomas lights it up that is.

Rory is now considering taking some time off again. the Playoffs.

He is getting as bad Jason Day.

Might as well give the Play-Offs a miss if that's what it takes.
Big difference between Day and Rors - three Majors for a start.
But imagine he'd have to get a pass from the Tour and can't see why they'd do that.

GPB is right Rory always seems to be using injury as an excuse now! He needs a new caddie as simple as that!

So who do we think is going to win and what score will do it!

Matsuyama, -10

sirbenson wrote:So who do we think is going to win and what score will do it!

Kis Baby! -8

Though would be thrilled to see Louis bring it home.


Long ago, in 606 days, a certain poster, seldom seen on v2, used to keep a special eye on Chris Stroud as he always seemed to reserve his best performances for late season, snatching the victory of his Tour card for another year from the jaws of web.com (or whatever it was then) misery.
It's more of a mystery why he's played so badly recently than why he's contending. Good player.

I think Hideki has more fire power to deal with the closing holes, Hideki -9 me thinks.

Hideki would be where the smart money goes. Then Louis. Then Kisner or Stroud. Will be on a 6 hour car ride so won't be seeing much of it!

Where is Bo Van Pelt gone?

I think Van Pelt is semi-retired. He had arm surgery a couple of years ago, and still has exemptions remaining, but read somewhere that "desire" may be a factor also.

Another long-term absentee, Brian Davis, will be teeing it up at Greensboro this coming week.

Pretty good scoring from the early starters, Poults having another solid week and happy to see DJ making a few birdies. But Lowry seems to have gone walkabout since his Friday fiasco on #17. Shame.

Top 15 after Round 3 had a grand total of ONE Major, none in the US.
Another first-time Major winner, or will Louis do the business?

Mcilroy has had under par rounds in his last 10 final rounds in majors...just another indication how often he is nowhere near contending in majors

Anyone but Grayson Murray to win here! Jeez

‪Shaky start from Matsuyama

Molinari leading European so far.
Jordan Smith leading GB&I - fine debut for him.

Yeah two very makeable putts missed early doors from Hideki, my -9 prediction looks way off now, could be -7. Still think Hideki tho.

Yeah, no Grayson Murray please  

Jordan Smith looks like a great prospect kwini. He was in the Sky studio a little while back, they had him on the simulator. Looks like a very solid golf swing. I can see him and Tyrrell Hatton win on the PGA Tour.

Patrick Reed on the charge! Been a very weird year for him...I do think he has overplayed once again

Great pars on 3&5 from Kisner

This has been a terrible major. What's worse is the production quality from the US feed is atrocious.

Huge error from Kisner on 7

Rickie on the charge!

Hotting up a bit now, Super drive from Rickie to set up an eagle chance and Patrick Reed

Wow! Huge putt from Thomas

Hell of a par from kisner

How come when I hit it in the trees it doesn't bounce into the middle of the fairway?!?!

JT

Or roll in when it's on the edge of the hole haha

Its all kicking off now, great putt from Hideki & great from JT. We're into the back 9 of 2017's final major, who wants it most?

Don't they all want it?!

They do indeed, and with so many on -7, it's wide open. Some great golf being played now.

Exciting stuff!

Hideki's done. JT looking good, unless Franny can birdie the last two.

JT's trophy to lose - with massive smears of luck all over it.

kwinigolfer wrote:JT's trophy to lose - with massive smears of luck all over it.

And now he's chipped in!

This final round has been hugely fun

What an eagle from Louis, this is mental.

JT not looking completely comfortable, if Reed finishes 3-3 I think he'll be in a playoff at worst.

Brilliant Fromm Hideki!

Reed lowest round of the day so far at -5, Hideki righting the ship.

I dont understand why they had to put in bermuda rough everywhere? It's unpredictable so makes it a bit of a lottery. Was there any real reason? Like conditions this time of year etc?

Too easy perhaps?