PGA Tour: The Players: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Well done to Tyrrell Hatton, great win at Bay Hill which continued the run of non-American winners - Day, Leishman, McIlroy, Molinari, Hatton.
This was also an Open Championship qualifier and Keith Mitchell (for the second year running), Danny Lee and Dahmen get to battle the traffic at Royal St.George's in July.

2).For the second week running, the course set-up seemed to make scoring unnecessarily tricky given the prevailing weather conditions. A war of attrition, but not necessarily the most attractive golf for the TV viewer to enjoy.
Hopefully the set-up at TPC Sawgrass will enable the world's best to play their shots.

3).Scott Piercy made news for all the wrong reasons last week and now Tour Commish Monahan has expressed disappointment "in the lack of judgment used" and "that it has been addressed with Scott directly". Good thing Monahan didn't say "he knows better" because Piercy clearly doesn't. But his sponsors do, thankfully, tho' any Tour punishment will be kept unpublished - unless he starts missing tournaments, from which we might draw our own conclusions.
Personally, I'd like to have seen his "invitation" to Bay Hill revoked, but no such disapproval reported from the API.

4).Interesting graph from princedrac's twitter account this week showing the top ten owgr points-getters at The Players:
Four Americans: Woods, DLIII, Furyk, Couples
Three Aussies: Elk, Scott, Shark
Nick Price
Sergio & Langer
A good week, of which there haven't been many recently, will see Garcia can jump from 2nd to 1st, ahead of Tiger.

5).That's reflective of an international honours board with eight of the last twelve winners being "overseas" players.
And first-timers at TPC have a tough time too - after Jerry Pate won on the course's debut in 1982, only Hal Sutton and Craig Perks have won trophy on their first trip. Leading "rookie" last year was Eddie Pepperell who stormed home in 3rd place - but he's busy trying to figure out how you get dq'd three times in less than 2 years.

6).This week looks like the exact halfway point of the pre-Play-Off PGA Tour season, the 23rd event out of a total of 46. About 50 pros have already won enough FedEx Points to assure them a tee-time at the Northern Trust, Round 1 of the FedEx Cup Play-Offs.
Not many are Europeans: McIlroy, Hatton, Rahm, Hovland.

7).And only Fleetwood among other Europeans is comfortably placed, for now.
Those who have struggled this season so far, but are exempt at least through next year, include McDowell (79th), Casey (93rd), Lowry (140th), Molinari (168th), Donald (assuming he takes another earnings exemption - 172nd), Garcia (179th), Willett (181st), Stenson (197th), Wallace (202nd), Rose (205th),
While this lot, all not yet exempt for 2020/21 have it all to do: Straka (82nd), Norlander (84th), Knox (90th), Fitzpatrick (100th), Noren (107th), Rafa C-B (120th), Poulter (128th), Cappelen (130th), Laird (158th), Ventura (175th), Power (201st), Bjerregard (224th), Lewis (227th), plus 3 or 4 others on more tenuous status.

8).But one or two American "faces" are also struggling, with these three less than half-way to a Play-Off goal about 400 pts:
110th: Spieth
111th: D.Johnson
213th: Koepka

9).The Florida "Swing" has a musical chairs of dates next year, starting with Bay Hill, then The Players, followed by "Honda". No word yet on how Valspar fits in, but hopefully retains its fourth slot in Florida.

10).Finally, the Top 64 in the owgr's after The Players will qualify for the WGC-MatchPlay in Austin in a fortnight's time.

Any Valspar Notes will be added here next week.

Are any of the players going to be mic'd up?
If so, it will be interesting to hear what they say. I believe the TV coverage is not what we usually get, but I hope it's better than the Rory thing.
I would also bet there's going to be breakdowns in the social distancing thing. Fist bumps.
If I could have a wager - I'm not because it's not a major and the bookies aren't open and I don't do online gambling - I will go with Sungjae Im to "continue" his form

For Team USA Ryder Cup

Changed to 6 automatic qualifiers and 6 Captain Picks

Top 6 right now (rounded to nearest hundred)

1. Koepka (5700)
2. DJ (3900)
3. Reed (3500)
4. Woodland (3400)
5. Xander (3400)
6. Webb (3200)

Simpson has a significant lead (550 pts) over #7 Justin Thomas

INW, I think GMAC and Rickie said they would be OK with getting MIC'd.

As for TV Announcing:

https://twitter.com/RyanLavnerGC/status/1270062027692822531

I like Rahm this week too, don't think Colonial sets up well for Rory. Look for Webb Simpson to contend

Darkhorse : Scottie Scheffler

Twitter rumor mill is buzzing that Tiger might play Hilton Head next week. Apparently his yacht is headed to St Simons Island (somewhat close to HH). But someone on twitter pointed out that there is a Junior Golf Tournament at St Simons this weekend, and Charlie could be playing (Charlie is 11 yrs old)

kwinigolfer wrote:

McLaren wrote:I might of mentioned this before, but didn't I predict double dipping was going to become almost impossible quite a few years ago now?

Some people on here still feel hostile towards me for saying it.

Not that it bothered me. :whistle:

That was before the Tour gerrymandered its schedule!
This year will be especially difficult, but it's still possible. But only for those playing well - strugglers face a long road ahead.

Who's hostile? Not towards you Mac, surely??!!

As we know, I am a snowflake. Go easy on me.

McLaren wrote:I might of mentioned this before, but didn't I predict double dipping was going to become almost impossible quite a few years ago now?

Some people on here still feel hostile towards me for saying it.

Not that it bothered me.

Mac... I actually think the ET keeps making it easier and easier by continuing to lower their minimum... The ET requirement now is basically 3 events plus a cup.  

BUT...(there's that word)... I think it's becoming increasingly more difficult for any player to dual tour unless he's going to basically commit to the PGA tour almost full time while playing at or near minimum on the ET.   There's just so few players good enough to spot all those full time PGA tour grinders 8-10 extra events to make their nut.   Only thing I can see to change that would be ET and PGAT getting together on some co-sanctioning of four or five ET events.  (And who knows, from the sounds of it that just might be in the offing in the next few years)

Camilo Villegas's daughter has brain cancer

https://twitter.com/RyanLavnerGC/status/1270797548895088640

robo

Yeh my argument was always that unless you were Rory good it would be almost impossible to get enough points as an ET player playing part time on the PGAT compared to full time PGAT players. I forget what all the tour minimums are but it will be difficult to match even the 125th guy on the fedex rankings if you play half the events they do. The lower end of the PGAT is still full of very good players.

A non elite World Class European Player has to be willing to play 30+ tournaments a year if he wants to keep his card on both tours (but mostly PGATour).

We have documented rank/file European after European who find a purple patch, get their PGATour card and think they can play minimum PGATour events and think they can retain their card. They have to be willing to play 22-25 PGATour events to have a fair reasonable chance of getting into the FEX 125 when the full time players are playing 25-30 events.

Players like Olesen, Gonzo, Lowry, Kaymer, Kjeldsen have all tried to play elite schedules and either failed to make the Top 125. A couple of players have even failed to get the requisite number of events. (Kaymer x2, Olesen).

Perhaps we should give them a benefit of doubt with the US immigration polices. I am not familiar with them. If they are a factor, maybe the players and their agents/representatives need to do their homework be pragmatic with their chances.

McLaren wrote:robo

Yeh my argument was always that unless you were Rory good it would be almost impossible to get enough points as an ET player playing part time on the PGAT compared to full time PGAT players.  I forget what all the tour minimums are but it will be difficult to match even the 125th guy on the fedex rankings if you play half the events they do. The lower end of the PGAT is still full of very good players.

Absolutely... The rules don't apply to the Rory's, but even he understands that to maximize success on the PGAT, he must devote most of this tournament play there.   

And you're spot on about the lower end PGA tour guys. It's not that they're necessarily great players, but too many are way too good to spot them a third or even half a seasons worth of extra events to make top 125.  As Roger Maltbie might say, "it's not a fair fight".

It was taken as me slighting European players but it was only ever meant as a realistic assessment of how unlikely it is to gain enough fedex points when some players are playing double what you play.

Live golf on TV. One thing the players won't have to do is shout fore. Doesn't seem to be common in normal PGA events.

McLaren wrote:It was taken as me slighting European players but it was only ever meant as a realistic assessment of how unlikely it is to gain enough fedex points when some players are playing double what you play.  

Yep... It really is a numbers game.  There's roughly 200 exempt players on the PGA Tour.  I have little doubt another couple dozen ET members could be within that 200 if they played the PGA tour full time.  There's already probably 60-70ish non-Americans already in that number.

Mac - You're simply bringing truth to power! The numbers don't lie.

And speaking of numbers and top Europeans, Justin Rose off to a fine start in the Lone Star State.

Shotrock wrote:Justin Rose off to a fine start in the Lone Star State.

Honma executives on suicide watch.

Ha! And Shane will have to go red tomorrow (I suspect) to make the cut. Don't blame the pairings!

Isn’t it the same course Rose won on two years ago?

I fear for his mental health if Super ever sees these celebrity first tee introduction videos.

Although I am not sure if BDC getting fat will trigger him more?

Kevin Na not looking too good. Back issues?

My hunches stink. Spieth playing like a contender.

Varner with some BLM motivation? Would not be surprised.

Rory, meanwhile, doing what Rory does. 63 is mighty impressive.

I wasn't a major Spieth fan when he was at the top of his game but for some reason I find myself really rooting for him to return to his best. I think part of it is realising his game was actually somewhat unique and interesting to watch.

Danny Willett is 145th in Driving Distance.

Ahead of Langer, David Frost and Olin Browne,

https://www.espn.com/golf/leaderboard

It's a shame if Willlett is struggling again because his swing looked so nice when he won the BMWPGA last year.

another strong field in Hilton Head.

114 of the players in the RBC Heritage next week have won a PGATour tournament.

That is the most 2000.

Hey... Where are the new notes from the ballwasher?

Interesting finish shaping up. Rory surprisingly nowhere to be found.

Enjoyed following it, despite CBS's best efforts to not show important shots...

Good to see Justin Rose back amongst it

I think cbs were going for a new record in fewest shots shown. It was painful. I muted sky and listened to the BBC 5 live commentary.

Looks like the Euro and Challenge Tours are getting an earlier start than expected.

https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/news/articles/detail/european-tour-and-challenge-tour-to-resume-in-austria/

McLaren wrote:I think cbs were going for a new record in fewest shots shown. It was painful. I muted sky and listened to the BBC 5 live commentary.

skeleton staff at Colonial. (wonder why that was necessary)

Personally, after 12 weeks with no golf, I was just glad to see some. Wonderful performance from Daniel Berger and Colin Morikawa. Berger now has 28 consecutive rounds at Par or better.

Morikawa has 22 consecutive "cashes" in OWGR and 21 consecutive cuts made on the PGATour.

As of now.... Tommy Fleetwood is showing on the commitment list for next week's Travelers, along with 15 of the OWGR top-17. Adam Scott & Tiger the 2 not committed.

EDIT:  Well nevermind.... Fleetwood has just been removed from the field.  Other ET players still showing committed are: Garcia, Charl, Casey, Poulter, Grace, Oosthuizen, Rose, McDowell, Wallace, Luke, McIlroy, Fitz, Rahm, Willett, Cabrera-Bello, Shane, Fritteli, Bjerregaard, Knox

McIlroy gets stuck into the international players who were unwilling to quarantine in order to play on the resumption of the PGAT.

Rory McIlroy wrote:“If I were in their shoes and I was asked to come over to the United States and shelter in place or quarantine for two weeks before these tournaments, I would have done that, because if you really care about your career and care about moving forward, you should be here,” world No. 1 Rory McIlroy said. “We all have the means to rent a very nice house in a gated community in Florida. It's not a hardship for two weeks to come over and quarantine.”

https://www.golfchannel.com/news/rory-mcilroy-international-players-should-have-traveled-and-quarantined-tour-events?utm-tags=golf2408000


I get his point and he is probably correct. Although Westwood gets a mention in that article I don't think Westwood was really the target of Rory's comments. Westwood is hardly at the stage in life where he needs to go chasing every event he can play in. I suspect he was having a pop at players like Fleetwood and Fitzpatrick (although we know how much he needs his home comforts).

I too see Rory's logic. I also think that's part of the reason he's #1 in the world.

1:05 p.m. -- Shane Lowry, Keith Mitchell, Pat Perez


Good to see the PGAT recognizing Shane's status and pairing him with 3 time PGA tour winner Pat Perez.

McLaren wrote:1:05 p.m. -- Shane Lowry, Keith Mitchell, Pat Perez


Good to see the PGAT recognizing Shane's status and pairing him with 3 time PGA tour winner Pat Perez.

Ehh, its Perez that should be chuffed to be grouped with Lowry. Shane is twice the player Perez is.

McLaren wrote:1:05 p.m. -- Shane Lowry, Keith Mitchell, Pat Perez


Good to see the PGAT recognizing Shane's status and pairing him with 3 time PGA tour winner Pat Perez.

Don't understand the angst over Shane's pairings.  Shane is a good player no doubt, but he just doesn't show up on leaderboards over here too often and as such hasn't gained much of a following.  He's only got 5 top-10s here in the last three seasons + this one.  That's just not the kind of thing that's going to get anybody into feature pairings, especially in a chalk field like this.

I was just messing. I should have used some sort of smiley.

robopz wrote:

McLaren wrote:1:05 p.m. -- Shane Lowry, Keith Mitchell, Pat Perez


Good to see the PGAT recognizing Shane's status and pairing him with 3 time PGA tour winner Pat Perez.

Don't understand the angst over Shane's pairings.  Shane is a good player no doubt, but he just doesn't show up on leaderboards over here too often and as such hasn't gained much of a following.  He's only got 5 top-10s here in the last three seasons + this one.  That's just not the kind of thing that's going to get anybody into feature pairings, especially in a chalk field like this.

The fact he's the current Open champion doesnt give him sufficient profile?

incontinentia wrote:

robopz wrote:

McLaren wrote:1:05 p.m. -- Shane Lowry, Keith Mitchell, Pat Perez


Good to see the PGAT recognizing Shane's status and pairing him with 3 time PGA tour winner Pat Perez.

Don't understand the angst over Shane's pairings.  Shane is a good player no doubt, but he just doesn't show up on leaderboards over here too often and as such hasn't gained much of a following.  He's only got 5 top-10s here in the last three seasons + this one.  That's just not the kind of thing that's going to get anybody into feature pairings, especially in a chalk field like this.

The fact he's the current Open champion doesnt give him sufficient profile?

No. Should it? Ask Zach Johnson how that works. Either the public takes to you or not so much. Feature pairings are based on immediate past champions, fan favorites and flavors of the month.  I like Shane and think it would be great to have him in a feature pairing, but I understand why he's not. 

All Shane has to do is play better OVER HERE way more often. Then the situation takes care of itself. I think people here would really take to him if he would just show up on leaderboards more.

Once again, he was the Champion golfer of LAST year.

But, you miss a cut and you play with the mulletted Pat Perez. That will teach Shane.

Usually a big fan of RM but not sure im behind what the headlines say he said about people being at home. I've not listened to it though.

McLaren wrote:I was just messing. I should have used some sort of smiley.

I should've known. You're such a rascal.

Wow. So Shane's major champion prestige counts for nothing and is overruled by airy fairy nonsense like "flavour of the month" and "fan favourite", I see. No wonder USA is a nation in steep decline.

Inco

The PGAT is all about TV ratings and a well manicured product. If the SB2K20 frat group gets more views they get the premium spot.

Although I am surprised Shane doesn't have a bigger following in the US regardless of how he has played over there. Any scot or Irishman well tell you every second yank can't tell you about their celtic great great great grandfather quick enough.

I too am surprised considering Shane has such a pleasant demeanour and is so engaging with fans.

incontinentia wrote:I too am surprised considering Shane has such a pleasant demeanour and is so engaging with fans.

I don't know if it was just a UK response but after the atmosphere at portrush last year and how big a part of that Shane was I know he is one of the players I would aim to watch if attending an event or watching it on TV.

McLaren wrote:Inco

The PGAT is all about TV ratings and a well manicured product. If the SB2K20 frat group gets more views they get the premium spot.

Although I am surprised Shane doesn't have a bigger following in the US regardless of how he has played over there. Any scot or Irishman well tell you every second yank can't tell you about their celtic great great great grandfather quick enough.

No doubt... Feature pairings are about what the audience wants. If catering to that is a crime, then PGAT is guilty as sin. (Not that they're always that great at getting MY favorites though...)

By the way.... did I ever tell you how my family tree runs back to Robert the Bruce? 

Robo- how do they assess what crowds want, are there surveys or any sort of empirical data?

Robo

I have no issue with the featured groups. I am one of the Tiger gen golf millennials that pretty much only watch for the popular players. If Tiger is in the field I would be happy to watch him exclusively unless a JT or a Rory is in contention.


Also, sounds like you are way more Scottish than me, half my family aren't even Scottish. :(

Spieth has four putted already. His head is minced.