PGA Tour: The John Deere Classic: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).No argument with Nick Watney winning last week's AT&T National Invitational; -1 after 45 holes, -12 for the next 27, better than anyone else could muster up in 72 holes. "Young Gun" Rickie Fowler disappointed once again, three over par for the same 27 crucial holes.

2).And Watney pretty much clinches his spot on Fred Couples' Presidents Cup Team; he's now third in the qualifying rankings behind Kuchar and Stricker. Mickelson, Bubba and Dustin Johnson will likely join them, while Fowler now ranks 21st, Tiger Woods 23rd. Not much homefield advantage though for Greg Norman in Melbourne as he only has two Aussies (Day and Scott) in the top ten qualifying positions. High time for Allenby, Badds and Ogilvy to get their proverbial skates on.

3).Why does the PGA Tour persist in bigging up great old-style courses and dumbing them down for touring pros? Last summer, in a five week span, this happened at Toronto's St George's where Carl Pettersson shot a third round 60, the Old White Course at The Greenbrier, site of Appleby's winning 59, and Greensboro's Sedgefield where Atwal blasted a 61 on his way to a 20-under par win. Now last weekend at Aronomink where Adam Scott was thrilled with his third round of 66 until he realised there were 62's, 63's, 64's to be had. All very well playing Donald Ross classics but Betsy Ross could have come up with something more challenging than Saturday's set-up.

4).But good things come to those who wait - even Mike Weir, who happily made his second cut of the year, albeit almost six months after his first.

5).The American sporting press spends much of its time covering things because of what they wish would happen, not those that are happening. Hence their big stories this summer: The NFL strike which of course they need to finish by the time you read this; the NBA lock-out, ditto; Tiger's will-he, won't he play and when; the Williams Sisters etc. Let's help them on the Tiger saga. What do you think of this book for his return in the next year?
3/1: Firestone
10/1: PGA
100/1: Greensboro
100/1: Las Vegas
20/1: Disney
20/1 HSBC Champions if qualified.
10/1: Koala Open or other such appearance fee laden rinky-dink event Down Under.
2/1: Tiger's Chevron benefit.
3/1: San Diego

6).Tiger won't be in the Iowa/Illinois "Quad Cities" this week supporting the John Deere Classic, site of one of Tiger's earliest appearances as a PGA Tour member - he led into the final round only to be beaten by The Grip, Ed Fiori! But two top tenners are here, Steve Stricker, going for his hat-trick of wins, and Jason Day rewarding the folks who gave him his first Tour start.

7).And Champion Golfer Louis Oosthuizen will be on hand, a somewhat curious spot to launch his defence amongst a veritable plethora of Open Champions; King Louis plays with Day and Stewart Cink, ahead of Hamilton, Daly and Duval. Kudos to the tee-time guys for coming up with those groups!

8).As well as Stricker, and Todd Hamilton, local boys trying to make good this week include Jerry Kelly, Mark Wilson, DA Points and loyal Iowan Zach Johnson.

9).The Champions Tour are playing at Pebble Beach. Every so often a bright spark launches the idea of a Senior Ryder Cup, but Europeans are just not competitive in the world of Senior Golf, Bernhard Langer of course excepted. Even USA vs the Rest of the World would struggle to compete. Price and Frost sure, Peter Senior is enjoying a strong season, McNulty still putts like a dream, and Joe Ozaki has his moments, but Europeans over fifty seem to have better things to do, or just have Senior careers which have fizzled. The European Senior Tour players seem to have fun, but they seldom compete strongly in Majors.

10).No Nationwide business this week but the ladies are in Colorado, at The Broadmoor, for the US Women's Open. British competitors include Ms's Davies, Matthew, Morgan, Reid and Stupples. Ooh, and Lindsey Wright.

Nice touch . . . .

Appearance fees are a slippery slope and as Kwin suggests need to be managed properly. It give the organizers of an event the opportunity to virtually "guarantee" some gate, which is essential for those taking the financial risk of the event.

Being a professional golfer, however, is NOT easy -- to get the point where you are earning appearance fees means you've dedicated countless hours to a game and have certainly made some lifestyle compromises to get there.