PGA Tour: The FedEx Play-Offs: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Whatever anyone thinks about the 2018/2019 schedule, the fact remains that the PGA Tour's efforts to monopolise the year's golfing calendar culminate these next three weeks in the FedEx Play Offs and, at latest count, 121 of the 125 leading FedEx Points earners over the past 10 or 11 months get to play for $gazillions.

2).I'm inclined to agree with Eamon Lynch writing in GolfWeek that it would be nice if the PGA "Tour worried about what golf fans want to see, and not football fans".
But money talks and has usurped sports in every corner of the world so why should golf be any different? Perhaps FedEx will deploy their immense resources somewhere else one day, but for now we're stuck with this year's schedule.
Or at least until they decide that the NFL's "Pre Season" should also take precedence and the FedEx Play-Offs will occur before, or perhaps simultaneously with, The Open Championship?

3).FedEx Champ Justin Rose has already lamented the changes and clearly other leading pros are reviewing their seasons in light of the "compressed" series of big events.
The one comment that should resonate with the Tour is Jack Nicklaus's reflection of what made the Tour what it is, the series of "community" events staged around the country, and which are slowly being superseded by the series of mega tournaments thru'out the year - it's not clear yet whether the smaller events, and last week's stop in Greensboro could be a case in point, have regressed from "endangered species" to potentially "extinct", but the threat is there.
And, what an irony that the Tour incessantly trumpets the "charitable contributions" generated by the Tour (which helps protect the Tour's tax status), but renders expendable those events, especially in Texas, which annually makes the largest of those contributions.

4).But this is America, or at least the Big Tour, and it is what it is.

5).The Play-Offs have lost a tournament since last year, and the "Northern Trust" will now be shared by the Boston and New York markets, which in itself reminds one how ludicrous it is that NYC only gets half a Tour event per year.
125 golfers qualify for the Northern Trust, and the leading 70 in FedEx Points at close of play Sunday advance to Medinah in Chicago and the "BMW".
Then 30 move on to Hotlanta, whose event has morphed into a handicap tournament which is just about the most absurd thing in sporting history. Almost as bad as ending football games on penalties. (Rumours here that the NRA plans to take the Tour Championship over and initiate a shotgun start.)

6).I won't try to explain the handicap system as I still can't wrap by brain around it, but suffice it so say that pgatour.com describes it as offering "more drama, simplicity". You be the judge.

7).The big FedEx beneficiaries over the years have mostly been the usual suspects, but worth noting their accumulated "bonus pool" goodies nevertheless. The Top 12 have all piled up $10mil or more. $K:
28,275: Woods
15,900: McIlroy
15,247: Furyk
14,665: Spieth
14,508: Rose
13,758: Stenson
12,298: Snedeker
11,645: Horschel
11,475: Bill Haas
11,272: Singh
11,145: Thomas
10,557: Dustin Johnson
Followed by Stricker, Mickelson, Kuchar, Donald, Day.

7).Among those named above, it is quite possible that Messrs Haas and Donald will reappear, not in these Play-Offs but in the KFC series which begins on Thursday week for the leading 75 "Korn Ferry" players and #126 to #200 on the FedEx Points table. I wonder if Alex Noren will participate?

8).With 55 golfers destined to be eliminated after the Northern Trust, their next chance to tee it up on Tour will be the second week in September, in West Virginia's Greenbrier Resort. Followed by:
Sanderson Farms, Jackson, Mississippi
Safeway, Napa Valley, California
Las Vegas
Houston
Far East limited field money grabs
Bermuda (opposite field event the same week as the WGC in China)
Mayakoba, Mexico
RSM, Sea Island, Georgia

9).Sergio Garcia tees it up this week, needing a good result to move on. I'll defend Sergio to the hilt until he goes over the edge, which he seems to have done temperamentally these past few months. Will he sit himself down and take a time out, a la 2010? Or will the Tour do it for him? Both the European and PGA Tours need to be more transparent about discipline and hopefully the European Tour will publish any sanctions against Sergio and, also, of course, Thorbjorn Olesen.  

10).Off for a couple of days of tennis, a little easier for me to figure out than these Play-Offs.

I'd be fine with getting castigated for it, but can you be penalised for it?

Also, what would happen if a player removed waterproofs mid round and carried on with just shorts on? Would he be kicked out of the tournament? Golf needs to let players wear shorts, no need for them to wear trousers.
Then we could have a laugh at Wood's sparrow legs.

Super

You do marathon or long distance running, that produces ghastly looking legs.

McLaren wrote:Super

You do marathon or long distance running, that produces ghastly looking legs.

Depends on your technique and what sort of training you do Mac, but then like most things, you know nothing about it. Saying that marathon running produces ghastly legs is like saying that all footballers legs are the same. Please refer to Peter Crouch and Roberto Carlos

Anyway, we're talking about how skinny Woods legs are, not mine and his legs are hilarious given how built up the rest of his body is. No wonder he's had problems.

You don't need to know about marathon running to observe that the participants have horrible scrawny little legs. Ghastly is accurate.

Mac, there's a wide range of leg shapes in running just as there are in many sports. Does Murray have the same legs as Djokovic? No, but they do the same sport. So why would you expect all marathon runners to have the same legs?  Why are you just ignoring that not all footballers have the same legs as I mentioned? just as not all marathon runners have the same legs and not necessarily scrawny either.

Woods however has RIDICULOUS legs for someone with his upper body, and people question why he's had such bad knee issues?

I imagine that you have legs like 2 out of bounds markers. White and stick thin.

super_realist wrote:I've always wondered what is to stop two faster players simply moving on from a slow player, playing ready golf and finishing the hole. He's soon get the message if the other guys are walking off the green and he's still going through his pre shot routine on the fairway.

Also, why would anyone think that taking longer over a shot gets better results? Surely it just builds tension, indecision and uncertainty. Pick your target, hit the shot.

The trouble was here that Tommy Fleetwood still had to putt so it was more than disrespectful to him. I’m sure both he and Justin Thomas would have walked to the next tee given the chance.

Also, can't they re-emply the moronic crowd who shout "bababooey" etc at these events to heckle slow players?

Another fine day at Liberty National, and hopefully the course will have dried out to play firm and fast. A little wind too please.

Sergio is among a gaggle of golfers presumably watching play with more than normal interest, currently lying 73rd in FedEx Points and needs some help from guys like Troy Merritt, Stuard and a couple of others to squeak into the Top 70. Imagine that wouldn't normally concern him in the least, but you'd think he might be keen to play Medinah, scene of his coming out party vs Tiger in the 1999 PGA.

Super

In all honesty I have no idea what runners legs look like, I was just winding you up. What is weird is that you seem to keep track of what various athletes legs look like, I hate to jump to the obvious but do you have a leg fetish?

Is Rory the perfect distance (for him) back to win this, just out the pressure and able to shoot a -6 or something and cause Reed to falter?

Now we are making fun of players legs? Sheesh we must be bored. Too bad the ET canceled that shot clock Masters fiasco so we coud stay engaged...

super_realist wrote:Also, can't they re-emply the  moronic crowd who shout "bababooey" etc at these events to heckle slow players?

Watching the coverage tonight I'm sure I just heard someone shout "Chaka Khan"

https://golfweek.com/2019/08/11/golf-pga-tour-reviewing-pace-of-play-policy-amid-bryson-dechambeau-controversy/?utm_source=smg&utm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=home-hero


Come on PGA Tour: What took you so long?
#Eddie!

Com’on Reed, you need to win next week also to make the Prez Cup team!

Nevermind

GPB wrote:

pedro wrote:Com’on Reed, you need to win next week also to make the Prez Cup team!

For the record, Even if he wins, Reed doesn't crack the Top 8 of the PC team, and only the top 8 make the team on merit.  If he does win, he will most likely be either #9 or #10 or possibly #11.  Woodland needs a solo 18 to stay ahead of Reed for the #9 spot, and Finau would need a Top 8 finish to stay ahead of Reed.

#12 according to the PGA Tour.
Which is precarious if #13 Woods picks himself.

Kwini, My projections were completely wrong. Forgot about double points this year.

McLaren wrote:Super

In all honesty I have no idea what runners legs look like, I was just winding you up. What is weird is that you seem to keep track of what various athletes legs look like, I hate to jump to the obvious but do you have a leg fetish?

It was more the disparity between a muscular top half and the legs of a pre-pubescent boy and the observation that this can't be conducive to long term muscular/skeletal health when you swing your golf club like a mad axeman.

I remember a few years ago I had a go at his "team" for allowing him to get in the position to be so easily injured and I was told to shut up because "don't you think he has the best team behind him who know all about how best to train" Obviously they didn't, or Woods chose to ignore it.

Put simply on 9C's arrival on the scene there wasn't any fitness involved in golf, so no one knew the best way to train, and Woods has clearly surrounded himself by yes men and idiots because he's single handedly shortened his career by training so poorly.

Don't care about the Prez Cup, just think it could be "interesting" if Reed made the team. Projections for those who care:
https://twitter.com/VC606/status/1160722761079250946

I know my golf viewing habits will get criticism from kwini and the others who like watching a lot of golf but last night reminded me why watching golf is such a frustrating exercise, and why I often don't bother watching it. The person who wins is inevitably the person you really didn't want to win.  We had Rahm, Rory, Spieth, Sneds, Rose, Scott, Ancer and even Varner 3 in contention (which is more "favourable" golfers than usual) and still Fatprick Reed comes out on top. 

pedro wrote:Don't care about the Prez Cup, just think it could be "interesting" if Reed made the team. Projections for those who care:
https://twitter.com/VC606/status/1160722761079250946

And Tiger will conveniently have a back injury which means he doesn't have to make a call on picking himself.

With Reed getting his 7th win yesterday, there are now 4 players with at least 7 PGATour wins and 1 major under age 30. (Reed joins Spieth, Thomas, and Koepka).

Rory just left that club a few months ago.

I think there has only been 18 players total that had 7 wins and one major before age 30

Tiger
Jack
Arnold
Els
Watson
Rory
Player
Sarazen
Jones
Nelson
Casper
Ballesteros
JDay
Wadkins
Thomas
Spieth
Reed
Koepka

Surprised Faldo is not in that group.

Thanks for the info.

Faldo only had one PGATour win before age 30.

He was 30 yrs old and 1 day, when he won his first Open in 1987

Two withdrawals so far from the BMW in Chicago:
Kevin Na - injured.
Steve Williams - divorce from Jason Day now final. David L'utterus now caddying for J'Day.

What if you include ET wins?
Kaymer? Immelman? Langer? Lyle? Ollie?

pedro wrote:What if you include ET wins?
Kaymer? Immelman? Seve? Langer? Lyle? Ollie?

European Tour wins only count in Europe, you should know that by now.
Witness CBS lamenting how long it's been since Danny Willett last won - just a few months ago actually CBS, by two strokes from some geezer named Reed.
Oh well . . . . . . !

kwinigolfer wrote:https://golfweek.com/2019/08/11/golf-pga-tour-reviewing-pace-of-play-policy-amid-bryson-dechambeau-controversy/?utm_source=smg&utm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=home-hero


Come on PGA Tour: What took you so long?
#Eddie!

Let’s see how long it takes them to review the policy.
Read, read a book, read again, line up, read again, line up again, read another book, ask a friend, line up again, re-read, ask a friend, throw something in the air, line up, hit it, miss it. Sheesh, didn’t commit.

McLaren wrote:I know my golf viewing habits will get criticism from kwini and the others who like watching a lot of golf but last night reminded me why watching golf is such a frustrating exercise, and why I often don't bother watching it. The person who wins is inevitably the person you really didn't want to win.  We had Rahm, Rory, Spieth, Sneds, Rose, Scott, Ancer and even Varner 3 in contention (which is more "favourable" golfers than usual) and still Fatprick Reed comes out on top. 

I'd say Reed was a far more preferable winner than at least 5 of the 8 you named there

kwinigolfer wrote:

pedro wrote:What if you include ET wins?
Kaymer? Immelman? Seve? Langer? Lyle? Ollie?

European Tour wins only count in Europe, you should know that by now.
Witness CBS lamenting how long it's been since Danny Willett last won - just a few months ago actually CBS, by two strokes from some geezer named Reed.
Oh well . . . . . . !

It was only the ET Tour Finale. You can’t expect golf experts to have heard about that.

Davie wrote:

McLaren wrote:I know my golf viewing habits will get criticism from kwini and the others who like watching a lot of golf but last night reminded me why watching golf is such a frustrating exercise, and why I often don't bother watching it. The person who wins is inevitably the person you really didn't want to win.  We had Rahm, Rory, Spieth, Sneds, Rose, Scott, Ancer and even Varner 3 in contention (which is more "favourable" golfers than usual) and still Fatprick Reed comes out on top. 

I'd say Reed was a far more preferable winner than at least 5 of the 8 you named there

I actually like Reed too.

pedro wrote:

Davie wrote:

McLaren wrote:I know my golf viewing habits will get criticism from kwini and the others who like watching a lot of golf but last night reminded me why watching golf is such a frustrating exercise, and why I often don't bother watching it. The person who wins is inevitably the person you really didn't want to win.  We had Rahm, Rory, Spieth, Sneds, Rose, Scott, Ancer and even Varner 3 in contention (which is more "favourable" golfers than usual) and still Fatprick Reed comes out on top. 

I'd say Reed was a far more preferable winner than at least 5 of the 8 you named there

I actually like Reed too.

I pretty much like 'em all, but Patrick Reed was a deserving winner, whoever you like; outplayed everyone who challenged his lead.

I'm thinking Seve is the Ballesteros GPB noted in his list.

And why not include web.com wins in the list, too?

Shotrock wrote:I'm thinking Seve is the Ballesteros GPB noted in his list.

Thanks - thought it was Javier..

DeChambeau has instagrammed a pledge to do all he can to speed up his pace of play. Not that he was pushed or anything.

Eddie Molinari published all the bad times from recent European Tour seasons, including one by his brother. Perhaps it would be healthy if someone did the same for the PGA Tour - and the web.com as well if you like.

Shotrock wrote:

And why not include web.com wins in the list, too?

Not sure the list would be any longer.

kwinigolfer wrote:

pedro wrote:

Davie wrote:

McLaren wrote:I know my golf viewing habits will get criticism from kwini and the others who like watching a lot of golf but last night reminded me why watching golf is such a frustrating exercise, and why I often don't bother watching it. The person who wins is inevitably the person you really didn't want to win.  We had Rahm, Rory, Spieth, Sneds, Rose, Scott, Ancer and even Varner 3 in contention (which is more "favourable" golfers than usual) and still Fatprick Reed comes out on top. 

I'd say Reed was a far more preferable winner than at least 5 of the 8 you named there

I actually like Reed too.

I pretty much like 'em all, but Patrick Reed was a deserving winner, whoever you like; outplayed everyone who challenged his lead.

Judging him solely for his golf, Reed was certainly a deserved winner. I'm not sure he deserves half the stick he gets.

Robo has informed that I missed about half of the qualifiers, most of them from the dark ages.

Here is the complete list and their birth year

1892 - Walter Hagen
1899 - Leo Diegel

1902 - Gene Sarazen
1902 - Billy Burke
1902 - Bobby Jones
1904 - Denny Shute
1908 - Horton Smith
1908 - Paul Runyan
1910 - Jimmy Demaret

1911 - Johnny Revolta
1911 - Ralph Guldahl
1912 - Byron Nelson

1921 - Cary Middlecoff
1929 - Arnold Palmer
1929 - Dow Finsterwald

1931 - Billy Casper
1935 - Gary Player
1936 - Bobby Nichols
1939 - George Archer

1940 - Jack Nicklaus
1947 - Johnny Miller
1949 - Tom Watson
1949 - Lanny Wadkins

1953 - Craig Stadler
1953 - Jerry Pate
1957 - Seve Ballesteros
1958 - Hal Sutton

1969 - Ernie Els

1971 - David Duval
1972 - Justin Leonard
1975 - Tiger Woods

1987 - Jason Day
1989 - Rory McIlroy

1990 - Patrick Reed
1990 - Brooks Koepka
1993 - Jordan Spieth
1993 - Justin Thomas

GPB wrote:Robo has informed that I missed about half of the qualifiers, most of them from the dark ages.

 It's an advantage to have access to the data to be able to sort them out easier...

I kind of like the take Watchestoomuchgolf had on it... the way these 7 wins including 1 major before age 30 "young guns" come in starts and stops thru the generations.... He broke the above list into periods based on birth year...  I added a few more to it

Pre 1900: 2
1902-12: 10  (11 years)
1913-28: 1 (16 years)
1929-36: 5 (8 years)
1939-47: 3 (9 Years)
1949-58: 6 (10 years)
1959-68: -- (10 years)
1969-75: 4 (7 years)
1976-86: -- (11 years)
1987-93: 6 (7 years)

Amateur Brandon Wu has had quite a summer

Qualified for both the US Open and Portrush

Placed 4th in the Pan American games on Sunday, and low round in the first round of US Amateur today

According to pgatour.com, the Top 23 in FedEx Points are assured of a ticket to East Lake's Tour Championship, provided, in the case of CHIII, he plays 72 holes at Medinah.
So:
Fleetwood (24th)
Lowry (25th)
Molinari (34th)
Poults (43rd)
McDowell (64th)
Rafa C-B (67th) . . . .
. . . . have work to do.

Full projections as to how much work is necessary for all the 48 golfers:
https://www.pgatour.com/news/2019/08/12/scenarios-fedexcup-playoffs-top-30-bmw-championship-tour-championship.html

"assured" as in a synonym of "guaranteed"?

I can easily come with a scenario where DeChambeau is not safe at #20. Stars would have to somewhat align. If the Stars perfectly align, I can see Leishman at #16 not being safe.

That said, I think the players from #28 to #43 are as compressed as it ever has been. Only 129 pts separate #28 Oosty and #43 Poulter which is the equivalent of solo 24th

PGATour chart says Spieth needs a 9th place finish. I think there is a reasonable chance that is not good enough.

Check Datagolf projections to make the Tour Championship and to win the Tour Championship

Their models think Rory is the betting favorite to win the FEDEX Cup.

https://www.datagolf.ca/fedex-cup-prediction

Miracle at Medinah:
We're baaaack!
Signed: Rory, Rosey, Frankie, Poults, McDool.

They're baaaack: Oh sh1t:
Signed: Phil, Phuryk, Tiger (maybe), Keegs, Webbo, Dustin, Kooch, Sneds.

Kwin - Are you talking about that every other year exhibition event thing?

Also, I'm sure it's a relief for the Greens Superintendent that peabrain Garcia won't be inside the ropes to damage those pristine greens and fairways.

Shotrock wrote:Kwin - Are you talking about that every other year exhibition event thing?

Also, I'm sure it's a relief for the Greens Superintendent that peabrain Garcia won't be inside the ropes to damage those pristine greens and fairways.

You missed out the bunkers . . . . . . Shame.

Remember, the "every other year exhibition event thing" is only a thing when Europe win.
Otherwise it's known as the Ryder Cup.

PS: Love Chris Hayes' Thing 1 and Thing 2 . . . . . . ..

GPB wrote:"assured" as in a synonym of "guaranteed"?

I can easily come with a scenario where DeChambeau is not safe at #20.  Stars would have to somewhat align.  If the Stars perfectly align, I can see Leishman at #16 not being safe.

That said, I think the players from #28 to #43 are as compressed as it ever has been.  Only 129 pts separate #28 Oosty and #43 Poulter which is the equivalent of solo 24th

PGATour chart says Spieth needs a 9th place finish.  I think there is a reasonable chance that is not good enough.

I noticed how close it was in that area too... It could be a wild one.

It was McIlroy that called it an exhibition event.

Missed this but Dave McNeilly has parted ways with Matt Wallace, not a huge surprise given the verbal abuse Wallace has hurled at him this season. Although the BBC article quotes McNeilly being very diplomatic about the situation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49322272


Could there be a potential hook up between McIlroy and McNeilly?

US Amateur goes into Match Play portion today, but not before there was a 27 player playoff for the last three spots.

Already Eliminated from the playoff is Jovan Revula, Ernie Els nephew (winner of the 2018 British Amateur).

A few Euros did make the Match play including Mattie Fitz's younger brother, Alex and Irishman James Sugrue, the 2019 British Amateur winner,