PGA Tour: Mexico, Puerto Rico and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Great win by Adam Scott at Riviera. Definitely one of my favourite golfers to watch, and his double act with one-time caddie Tony Navarro was pretty entertaining. In the end the difference was the way he and Rory handled their respective brain farts on #5.

2).Interesting comment last Sunday from pedro: "I've never seen Rory climbing out of a hole that he's dug himself." There may be examples (his PGA at Valhalla comes to mind), but not many for sure - Harry Diamond needs to learn how to pick Rory up if he's not capable of doing that himself.

3).The pros always talk so well of Riviera, they very seldom bring the course to its knees, and not sure why it doesn't host more Majors. The course looked fab last week.
Though I still feel that #10 is an over-rated "short Par-4", especially when the green is baked as it was last weekend. Don't see why the Tour set-up guys can't make that green a bit more forgiving. But then: TV loves its train wrecks.

4).Over the wall to Mexico City for many of the world's best this week, though a disappointing turn-out by some elite players must surely give some pause. Chapultepec gets good reviews, but is it the long-term answer for this WGC?
And the journeyman cousins are in Puerto Rico, still recovering from the hurricanes of 2017. Interestingly, the top 8 players, as measured by this week's owgr placings are all non-Americans. Bizarre. More than any time in recent memory, I reckon some well known pros will miss out on the Top 125 this year, and they shouldn't be feeling that PR or the Dominican is beneath them to play - kudos to McDowell last year on that note.

5).The Patrick-Reed's-a-cheat kerfuffle was re-energised this week by Brooks Koepka (he must have quite the gripe, not sure why!) and Peter Kostis.
This follows January's Golf Digest which featured the follow-on from "Undercover Tour Pro" with Undercover Caddie.
And the lead-off article asked "Do these guys (pros not caddies, not necessarily anyhow) cheat?"

6).The conclusion was "Not really", with the caveat "guys often make unintentional mistakes that rarely happen twice".
"Well, save for one international guy. Just an absolute nightmare when it comes to law-breaking."
Any ideas who he's talking about??

7).Three years ago, the Undercover Tour Pro also addressed cheating and zoomed on on players who mis-mark their ball, one bloke in particular: "Ask any player about cheating and they'll all tell you the same name."
The culprit also uses a long putter: "He wears baggy shirts but I could tell he was anchoring. After the round I refused to sign his card . . . . . " which was eventually signed by an official.
Point is, if such shenigans are in the semi-public domain, as is the Kostis piece with Reed for instance, why doesn't the Tour, any tour, take action, send the offender down and publish the findings? I don't ever remember that happening. Oh well . . . . . . Wonder why they picked out Cam Smith for sanctioning but none of the others who have had their say?

8).Meanwhile, Garcia and Westwood are each playing their 61st World Golf Championship, without either having a win to show for it. Plenty of cash though, no doubt.
Sergio's record includes:
2nd: 1(!)
3rd: 3
Total Top 5: 8
Total Top 10: 17

lw1's record:
2nd: 3
Total Top 5: 5
Total Top 10: 10

9).NBC TV takes over network broadcast duties until CBS returns for The Masters.
Not sure what changes will show up in NBC's coverage, but I can't think that CBS's turnover of Nobilo (too many careless mistakes, as always in his commentating), Love and Immelman de jour (I like Trev, can't abide Mark) are a noticeable improvement on Kostis and McCord. Without significantly reducing the geriatric feel.
Meanwhile, the Gogels, Oberholsers, Walls, Beams, among others, get overlooked - though I imagine Wayne Riley would be a bar stool too far.

10).When they return, the pros will visit:
Honda
Bay Hill
The Players
Valspar
before heading to Texas for the WGC-MatchPlay

No cheating allowed.

super_realist wrote:
They only changed it to six years so the 150th Open was at St.Andrews.

Why are you repeating that again? Kwini already made the point and you have now twice tried to point it out to him, even after being told he was aware of that fact.

McLaren wrote:

super_realist wrote:
They only changed it to six years so the 150th Open was at St.Andrews.

Why are you repeating that again? Kwini already made the point and you have now twice tried to point it out to him, even after being told he was aware of that fact.

Kwini suggested that TOC may now move to six year cycles and that Portrush might sneak in somewhere in the next few years again, something I pointed out was unlikely to happen. I think it's you who misunderstood what he was trying to say.
Can you see the R and A moving away from their current model?

super_realist wrote:

McLaren wrote:

super_realist wrote:
They only changed it to six years so the 150th Open was at St.Andrews.

Why are you repeating that again? Kwini already made the point and you have now twice tried to point it out to him, even after being told he was aware of that fact.

Kwini suggested that TOC may now move to six year cycles and that Portrush might sneak in somewhere in the next few years again, something I pointed out was unlikely to happen. I think it's you who misunderstood what he was trying to say.
Can you see the R and A moving away from their current model?

Regardless, it would make the "playing field" far more even if TOC was on a 6-year rotation.

Right now we have Muirfield & Lytham being leap-frogged, and presumably Troon in 2023 is an Ayrshire place-holder until the R&A can be sure that Dicktator Drumpf will not be in the White House when Turnberry regains its rightful place.
The R&A presumably taking their cue from the WGC which used to be at Drumpf's place at Doral. Good.

Will Trump leaving office effect whether or not his course should hold the Open? Even when he leaves it will still be the case that he is a cruel racist buffoon.

McLaren wrote:Will Trump leaving office effect whether or not his course should hold the Open? Even when he leaves it will still be the case that he is a cruel racist buffoon.

When have the R and A ever cared about stuff like that?

kwinigolfer wrote:

super_realist wrote:

McLaren wrote:

super_realist wrote:
They only changed it to six years so the 150th Open was at St.Andrews.

Why are you repeating that again? Kwini already made the point and you have now twice tried to point it out to him, even after being told he was aware of that fact.

Kwini suggested that TOC may now move to six year cycles and that Portrush might sneak in somewhere in the next few years again, something I pointed out was unlikely to happen. I think it's you who misunderstood what he was trying to say.
Can you see the R and A moving away from their current model?

Regardless, it would make the "playing field" far more even if TOC was on a 6-year rotation.

Right now we have Muirfield & Lytham being leap-frogged, and presumably Troon in 2023 is an Ayrshire place-holder until the R&A can be sure that Dicktator Drumpf will not be in the White House when Turnberry regains its rightful place.
The R&A presumably taking their cue from the WGC which used to be at Drumpf's place at Doral. Good.

Totally agree Kwini, I'd actually prefer the rotation to be equal, TOC doesn't deserve it more frequently, even more so because it's the worst course to hold a major on. It's neither a challenge,  nor is it photogenic for the spectator or viewer.

They won't do it though because they are a pathetic organisation.

McLaren wrote:Will Trump leaving office effect whether or not his course should hold the Open? Even when he leaves it will still be the case that he is a cruel racist buffoon.

Mac,
Back a few years when Cadillac (super's favourite) was the WGC title sponsor, they declined renewal of their contract, and no-one else wanted to stage an event at Doral, because Drumpf dominated the entire affair, at the expense of attention typically reserved for sponsors.
You may also feel that whatever his odious traits may be, it is merely a reflection of the country where such a person could be elected president.
Still, he's addressing the coronavirus this evening, hopefully to report that he's contracted it and things aren't looking good - for him anyway.

Methinks you paint with too broad a brush, Kwin. Trump certainly not a reflection of the majority -- who did NOT vote for him -- but he was elected due to our silly electoral college system. Trump's approval ratings are setting low records for sitting presidents.

I am all on board with the idea that what a country votes for is a reflection of the people in it. Just look at brexit, for years we knew the English were casually xenophobic and someone (pig botherer in chief) was stupid enough to ask them what they thought about it.

Sorta agree Mac ... BUT the majority of UK citizens (that voted) voted for Brexit (correct me if I'm wrong here) and the majority of US citizens (that voted) voted for Clinton. I understand the reason for the Electoral College system for a United States 100+ years ago, but not now IMO!

Shotrock wrote:Methinks you paint with too broad a brush, Kwin. Trump certainly not a reflection of the majority -- who did NOT vote for him -- but he was elected due to our silly electoral college system. Trump's approval ratings are setting low records for sitting presidents.

But unfortunately the adults in the room, from both sides of the aisle, are letting him get away with it, some court circuits changed for a generation (or two) and all sense of presidential decency, decorum and protocol has disappeared. As has any opportunity of saving the environment. And it's looking increasingly as if he'll be re-elected. Who's going to stop him?
My children and my children's children will be paying for his tax cuts as the deep chasm of income inequality plumbs new depths every day. Four more years and all entitlement programmes will be gone forever.
Screw the poor, screw minorities, and screw the world. And no-one cares!

McLaren wrote:I am all on board with the idea that what a country votes for is a reflection of the people in it. Just look at brexit, for years we knew the English were casually xenophobic and someone (pig botherer in chief) was stupid enough to ask them what they thought about it.

How stupid. It's the same people in the country who have voted in Tory and Labour governments.
If one party is in dissaray and hapless like Labour currently are, it's not the fault of the public that they aren't in power.
It's a reflection of Labour, not the voters.

super_realist wrote:

McLaren wrote:I am all on board with the idea that what a country votes for is a reflection of the people in it. Just look at brexit, for years we knew the English were casually xenophobic and someone (pig botherer in chief) was stupid enough to ask them what they thought about it.

How stupid. It's the same people in the country who have voted in Tory and Labour governments.
If one party is in dissaray and hapless like Labour currently are, it's not the fault of the public that they aren't in power.
It's a reflection of Labour, not the voters.

And for "hapless like Labour", you could send that comment 3,000+ miles west and say "Hapless like Democrats".

Italians Dodo Molinari and Lorenzo Gagli removed from the Oman Open field.

I blame Trump.  and not the Seven "Adults" that debated last night in South Carolina.

BTW, Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg is playing on the Asian Tour this week, in the New Zealand Open.

GPB wrote:Italians Dodo Molinari and Lorenzo Gagli removed from the Oman Open field.

I blame Trump.  and not the Seven "Adults" that debated last night in South Carolina.

BTW, Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg is playing on the Asian Tour this week, in the New Zealand Open.

Yup, I added that (Eddie & Gagli) to the ET thread.

GPB,
Bernie will get absolutely crucified when his record (and his wife's) comes up for scrutiny. And most of the rest are worse than him - one possible exception. But that candidacy is not going anywhere.

Any candidate really worth their salt would not attend these debates, rather like Drumpf in 2016. I'd vote for Phil Scott!

kwinigolfer wrote:

GPB wrote:Italians Dodo Molinari and Lorenzo Gagli removed from the Oman Open field.

I blame Trump.  and not the Seven "Adults" that debated last night in South Carolina.

BTW, Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg is playing on the Asian Tour this week, in the New Zealand Open.

Yup, I added that (Eddie & Gagli) to the ET thread.

GPB,
Bernie will get absolutely crucified when his record (and his wife's) comes up for scrutiny. And most of the rest are worse than him - one possible exception. But that candidacy is not going anywhere.

Any candidate really worth their salt would not attend these debates, rather like Drumpf in 2016. I'd vote for Phil Scott!

Sanders seems like the American Corbyn. Yanks are even less likely to vote for that type of candidate than the UK. A landslide for Trump.

kwinigolfer wrote: I'd vote for Phil Scott!

He's from the Dark Side?

pedro wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote: I'd vote for Phil Scott!

He's from the Dark Side?

I don't know! But he's a truck-racing republican governor, who does a pretty good job.