PGA Tour: WGC - Mexico Championship: Notes from the Ballwasher

1).I'm not a fan of PGA National, and consider holes #15 & #17 to be gratuitously penal, but the "Honda" frequently produces a compelling finish and really enjoyed last week's action complete with the 5th Play-Off in this years' past seven tournaments.Well done Justin Thomas, and he's piling up "W"'s relentlessly. Another nearly week from Luke List and great finishes too from Fleetwood and Noren.

2).It was interesting to read v2 reports of Radar going ballistic at Webb Simpson's slow play - still don't know for sure if he and Tommy were put on the clock, but it couldn't have helped as Fleetwood promptly registered bogeys on #14 and #15. The Tour doesn't have this put-on-the-clock policy quite right with the very real likelihood of the innocent party being unwittingly (by the TOur) penalised. That's happened in the past, most egregiously with Garrigus vs Na at Valspar a few years ago, Harrington and Woods at Bridgestone even further back. I hope the Tour is using its ShotLink data to punish the slowcoaches, wherever they come from, but haven't seen any evidence.

3).Not sure what to make about Justin Thomas having a go at moronic spectators - media here says "just wait until the Ryder Cup", but not sure there's ever been too much evidence of such disruptions, in Europe at least - nothing like the guff that Montgomerie etc had to endure @ Brookline for instance. More important things to worry about at the RC, like putting one's ball on the tee on the first hole.
Having grandstands just about overlooking tees and greens surely doesn't help at places like Phoenix (even money Spieth won't return) and PGA National.

4).Golf Channel made the very interesting observation about the USGA's decision to switch from an 18-hole play-off to a 2-holer. How will they select the holes so as not to unduly favour a particular style of golfer? It was argued that The Players has it just right, a 3-hole play-off starting at #16 (reachable but potentially penal Par-5), #17 (Par-3 which we all know) and the demanding Par-4 18th.
Clearly the sudden death 18th hole at Glen Oaks (Northern Trust last August) was criticised as a hole with a sharp dog-leg Par-4 where Dustin Johnson could carry the water on the inside of the elbow almost with impunity, but competitor Spieth couldn't and had a considerably more difficult (water on the left, trees on the right) drive. The USGA needs to find a proper balance, which will be a toughy with just two holes.

5).WGC - Mexico saw fine performances by many Europeans last year:
Fleetwood (2nd)
Fish, Rahm (T3)
Pieters (T5)
McIlroy (T7)
Hatton (10th)
No Rory this year, and others missing include Day, Koepka, Matsuyama, Stenson.

6).Interesting debuts this week on the WGC stage, especially with Shanker Sharma, Dylan Frittelli and Chris Paisley bringing their sparkling early-season form to Chapultepec. Haven't a clue about a likely winner other than to state the bleedin' obvious that Top 4 are looking very strong. I'll probably be going with Rafa C-B is my one-and-done for the week - just a hunch, poor result here last year, but hoping he can turn some largely decent form into a good result.

7).No "Opposite Field" event this week following the devastation of Puerto Rico - it seems to be being replaced with a two-day Pro-Am with a few generous PGA & LPGA pros offering their services. Hope the Puerto Rico Open is back on next season's calendar; its absence this year is an important miss for the Tour's rank and file, but they'll be queueing up to play in the Dominican Republic in 3 weeks' time.

Are players too frightened to go to Mexico, or is it a passport issue?

super_realist wrote:Are players too frightened to go to Mexico, or is it a passport issue?  

Teachers providing security this week.

With approximately $46K for last place, there's certainly incentive to make sure passports & visas are current for re-entry. Field about 10 fewer than last year.

And The Masters field continues to look as if will be be about six golfers short of last year.

Good luck with your RCB shout Kwini, I backed him at the Honda after he kept popping up on leaderboards the previous couple of weeks without quite putting 72 together. Steered clear this time as I’m wondering if his form bubble has peaked for the time being. Will be watching Paisley closest of the debutants, still can’t shake the feeling that he’s a journeyman coming off a hot streak, but if there was ever a WGC to suit a short straight guy this is probably it, if his swing’s still fresh from a few weeks off. Will keep an eye on Luiten too, flatters to deceive in the big events normally but a decent finish last year and a win two weeks ago. Not confident on Fish but he seriously needs a big result, he’s played twice in two months in 2018 after deciding to double dip again, which is brave to the point of madness.

I'm looking to see the ET guys really step it up in these tournaments - for all the promising showings by newish guys over the past couple of years, there are no "W"'s to show for them. When the trophies are handed out it's Rory (used to be anyway) & Rosey, Sergio & Stenson.

No way to that article in the tweet below https://twitter.com/kyleportercbs/status/968592830221385730?s=21

I wonder who everyone thinks is better?
I'd put DJ first, Spieth second and Thomas third; but would think Justin Rose will beat them all at Augusta!
Who knows??!!

To me Thomas is number one right now, followed by Rahm, then The Black Hole and then a very distant 4th would be Rev Boredan Spieth.

Would be good to see Rose win at Augusta, seems a top bloke.

DJ-Thomas-Rahm-Spieth is the clear order for me

kwinigolfer wrote:I wonder who everyone thinks is better?

Eldrick Tont

DJ is the best for sure. JT seems more streaky (despite his impressive W ratio). Also think DJ will successfully defend this week.

super_realist wrote:Are players too frightened to go to Mexico, or is it a passport issue?  

Only one qualified American not playing and he hasn't played since Week 1 this year. He is injured.

I am putting my DraftKings hopes on Chan Kim this week. A Korean-American who has been playing the Japanese Tour. 3rd in their Order of Merit who got into WGC Mexico via a loophole because one of the Top 2 Japanese OOM (Kodiara) qualified via the OWGR Top 50.

Hope you guys are getting out yer shovels and clearing the pavements and streets. 15C here today . . . . . . . . "winter storm" on its way and we could be stuffed like the rest of you by Saturday.

15 C is pretty toasty Kwini.

JT has 7 wins in 31 starts, thats pretty impressive. I doubt anyone can rival him for form. Probably best in the world at present. Heard DJ on the NLU podcast, came across pretty well. Though most have done on that podcast.

super_realist wrote:15 C is pretty toasty Kwini.

That's a scorching summer day in Scotland

Pretty good weather in Mexico City for the WGC - nice and warm, mostly dry, could be a bit breezy today but calmer through the weekend.

Bubba allegedly hitting 252 yard 6-irons; wheels up!

beninho wrote:JT has 7 wins in 31 starts, thats pretty impressive. I doubt anyone can rival him for form. Probably best in the world at present. Heard DJ on the NLU podcast, came across pretty well. Though most have done on that podcast.

I imagine they had to speed up his speech a bit, he's so dull I'm surprised he doesn't send himself to sleep.

GPB wrote:

super_realist wrote:Are players too frightened to go to Mexico, or is it a passport issue?  

Only one qualified American not playing and he hasn't played since Week 1 this year.  He is injured.

I am putting my DraftKings hopes on Chan Kim this week.  A Korean-American who has been playing the Japanese Tour.  3rd in their Order of Merit who got into WGC Mexico via a loophole because one of the Top 2 Japanese OOM (Kodiara) qualified via the OWGR Top 50.

Chan Kim WD prior to tee off with a wrist injury. Sorry GPB.

Also see that Matsuyama has postponed his return to action by a week - to Bay Hill.

Fantastic start from Chris Paisley, so much of a non entity that the PGA don't even have a picture of him.

Good Scots name, hope he supports St.Mirren. So far, so good anyway.
Fleetwood putting like a drain.

If you'd ever been to Paisley Kwini, you'd do everything you could to dissociate yourself from it. Utter toilet.

Good old fashioned course this, didn’t watch much of it last year.

Bubba has just driven a hole that is 387 yards and ended up on the green. Admittedly a dog leg - his 11th - the actual 2nd

Interesting leading four in the 4.48 EST snapshot: Paisley, Rafa, King Louis, Shanker. Price against that lot?

kwinigolfer wrote:Interesting leading four in the 4.48 EST snapshot: Paisley, Rafa, King Louis, Shanker. Price against that lot?

What the devil happened to the most hated man on tour?

super_realist wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:Interesting leading four in the 4.48 EST snapshot: Paisley, Rafa, King Louis, Shanker. Price against that lot?

What the devil happened to the most hated man on tour?

Sergio's doing alright.
I'm happy to report.

I was referring to Rev Gerry Watson

NedB-H wrote:

GPB wrote:

super_realist wrote:Are players too frightened to go to Mexico, or is it a passport issue?  

Only one qualified American not playing and he hasn't played since Week 1 this year.  He is injured.

I am putting my DraftKings hopes on Chan Kim this week.  A Korean-American who has been playing the Japanese Tour.  3rd in their Order of Merit who got into WGC Mexico via a loophole because one of the Top 2 Japanese OOM (Kodiara) qualified via the OWGR Top 50.

Chan Kim WD prior to tee off with a wrist injury. Sorry GPB.

Pffffft. Unbelievable! Went to the casino and won $200 playing Poker and came home to see Oosty leading (he is also on my DK team). I was thinking KA-CHING....and I kept scrolling the leaderboard and not finding Chan King. Then see at RotoWorld that he had WD. Sigh

GPB wrote:
I was thinking KA-CHING....

Don't know him. Is he in your fantasy team as well?

Sam Horsfield going along nicely at the Tshwane Open in Pretoria - looks as if he has a sponsors invitation into Bay Hill in a fortnight's time.

If the USGA was doing the groupings for WGC-Mexico, they'd've probably had Fleetwood, Henley & Paisley in the same threesome. And Fisher (or Fowler), Rose & Woodland in another?

More Reps is getting more reps, committed to play at least another 72 holes this month, signed up for the Valspar and Bay Hill.


I thought he exceeded expectations at "Honda", but would think that any clamour for a Ryder Cup place is a touch premature.

On a serious note on NMR. Although I think his driver swing looks absolutely terrible, he looks like he's dropped a fair bit of timber and doesn't look so ridiculous as a golfer as he used to. Having less bulk may just protect his fragile body from injury. Can't help thinking though that his tiny brain and massive ego and his desire to drive it further (and swing faster) is going to be his ultimate undoing.

Thing is, super_, he doesn't need to, but it's just a macho thing that he's got to ignore the quality of his game and go back to the gym - as he told all and sundry he was going to do this week.

He led the Honda field (and Perkins) in proximity to the hole by more than a foot, and had the highest measured swing speed. Next step is to turn that into a contending score, not just pump more lbs.

I saw an interesting interview with Joe Miller (long drive champ) and he was remarking about how the regime of NMR and McIlroy has been instrumental in all their injuries.

Makes sense that someone who swings as fast as him (150mph) can remain injury free but those guys aren't doing it right in the gym and are suffering. Perhaps fitness in golf is just too new and the people who have given them their gym plans don't understand it in regards to golf well enough.
I'm always told that they've got great advisers for this sort of thing, but if they've managed NMR so bad in his private life, who's to say they know what they're doing in the gym?

McIlroy was bursting out of his shirt at the Honda, looked ridiculous and didn’t seem to do him any good. Surely he realises that he hit it just as far before he got addicted to the gym, and if there is an extra five yards to be gained it’ll make sod all difference to his game anyway. Only have to look at Aphibarnrat flying high on the leaderboard this week. And Rahm, while no doubt doing the odd bit of gym work, had a definite paunch on him.

Barnrat is a disgrace. Good golfer, but he won't last long at the level he's playing at. He looks like a 45 year old unemployed, alcoholic, sky watching, sofa dwelling,  fast food eating benefits cheat. To think he's only 28 is actually quite tragic.

Ross Fisher with the best round on the course in the early going - T3 last year, and must be fancying himself again this week.
Curious that, if he putts well on poa annua, why doesn't he play some California events?

NedB-H wrote:McIlroy was bursting out of his shirt at the Honda, looked ridiculous and didn’t seem to do him any good. Surely he realises that he hit it just as far before he got addicted to the gym, and if there is an extra five yards to be gained it’ll make sod all difference to his game anyway. Only have to look at Aphibarnrat flying high on the leaderboard this week. And Rahm, while no doubt doing the odd bit of gym work, had a definite paunch on him.

I would guess that Rory started going to the gym to improve his golf, but now he does it for the look and the buzz. No surprise in the instagram generation.

kwinigolfer wrote:Thing is, super_, he doesn't need to, but it's just a macho thing that he's got to ignore the quality of his game and go back to the gym - as he told all and sundry he was going to do this week.

I would love it, love it, if Tiger was a reader of this forum and he dropped the gym comment into his interview just to wind up super.

I'm happy for him to keep going to the gym. Helps with his self destruction. It's even better than Rory is such a gym bufty too, because NMR will feel he must do more work there.

Sergio wins the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year for the 2nd time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laureus_World_Sports_Award_for_Breakthrough_of_the_Year

That won't please our resident Owen Jones ,Mac.

NMR = Naked Mole Rat

????

GPB wrote:NMR = Naked Mole Rat

????

Need More Reps - 9C's Standard response to not playing well, often accompanied by "but I'm having fun out there" said with the sincerity of an air hostess's smile.

So it could be NMRBIHFOT

super_realist wrote:Barnrat is a disgrace. Good golfer, but he won't last long at the level he's playing at. He looks like a 45 year old unemployed, alcoholic, sky watching, sofa dwelling,  fast food eating benefits cheat. To think he's only 28 is actually quite tragic.

Camilo Villegas didn't last long.

Not sure any amount of gym work would be enough to protect your back from Camilo’s putt reading

In all fairness NMR’s gym work benefitted him in his younger years. He just started to overdo it around 7-8 years ago.

The Valspar Championship may be something of an ugly duckling for the Florida Swing, but fields seem to improve every year.

No DJ, Thomas or Rahm, and Matsuyama and Koepka are crocked, but 7 of the Top 13 will be in town including past Champ Jordan Spieth, plus a healthy dose of Europeans, with Seamus Power in line as first alternate, incl:
Casey
Donald
Fish
Fitz
Sergio
Harrington (18-hole course record holder)
Lowry
McDowell
Rory
Poults
Rose
Stenson