Russ Evans' Golf Blog
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic.
You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
"The Punishment Doesn't Fit the Crime"
1-25-2011
Last week, Padraig Harrington was disqualified from the Abu Dhabi Championship for a rules infraction during the first round of play. A TV viewer noticed that Harrington brushed his hand across the ball while removing his marker, and the ball moved ever so slightly. Harrington didn't replace his ball to the original spot, thus incurring a two-stroke penalty. But Harrington didn't asses himself a two-stroke penalty. The TV viewer sent an email to the European Tour notifying them of the infraction, and senior referee Andy McFee viewed the video evidence 50 times before concluding that Harrington had indeed moved his ball accidentally - by the nearly unintelligible length of one dimple. Because Padraig signed an incorrect scorecard he was disqualified.
This latest chapter in professional golf rules infractions comes just two weeks after Camilo Villegas was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard at the season opener in Kapalua after another TV viewer spotted him flicking away a piece of divot while his ball was still moving.
Neither Harrington nor Villegas should have been disqualified. Both men should have been assessed two-shot penalties, they should have ben allowed to re-sign their scorecards for the correct number including the penalty, and they should have remained in the competition - for Padraig the Abu Dhabi Championship, for Camilo the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
Unless every shot from every player in the field is televised (it's not), professional golfers are competing on an uneven playing field skewed towards penalizing the more televised players with stricter code enforcement. If a rules official sees a player on the course commit a rules infraction, he immediately notifies that player upon the completion of the hole in question. Swift action, allowing the player to adjust his score and sign the correct scorecard by round's end. The problem with viewers at home joining the rules official ranks is the time sensitive nature of singing a scorecard. By the time the message from the viewer gets to the player, it's too late: he's already back in his hotel suite ordering room service, his card long since singed for. What should have been a two-stroke penalty all the sudden mushrooms into expulsion from the competition.
Why not allow the player to return to the scorer's tent the next morning, adjust his scorecard appropriately, and remain in the tournament? There is already a precedent for this very process: in the event a ruling error is made by an on-course official, the player who was given incorrect rules advice is allowed to edit his scorecard at any point during the tournament before the competition closes (when the champion raises his trophy). Why not include players notified of rules infractions via home viewers under this umbrella?
The USGA's Mike Davis thinks perhaps a change is needed: "Players can know the rules, not know for sure if a rules infraction has occurred, and not have all the facts. With HD cameras now commonplace, picking up things even the human eye can't, these rulings are becoming more commonplace."
The time has come to revisit the DQ penalty for signing an incorrect scorecard. The punishment doesn't fit the crime.
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
"Tiger at the 2011 Honda Classic?"
11-22-2010
Regular Golf Exchange Radio guest Ron Sirak wrote this in the current edition of Golf World Monday:
"Golf's TV ratings were off in 2010 - even as ratings for nearly every other sport rose. The TOUR's current TV deal expires after 2012, and talks on a new pact will begin this year. Sources say Tim Finchem is under pressure to improve ratings before the Masters and is reaching out to Tiger Woods to play more than he normally does in the first quarter of the year. In recent years Woods' pre-Masters schedule has been Torrey Pines, WGC-Accenture Match Play, Doral and Bay Hill. Will he help the TOUR by adding an event: say Northern Trust, AT&T Pebble Beach, Waste Management Phoenix, or The Honda Classic? Stay tuned!"
This makes total sense to me. I have been speculating Tiger would play the 2011 Honda for quite a while now, ever since construction on his Jupiter Island home began. He wants to "repair" his public image? What better way than to play in more tournaments, let more fans around the country see him up close and personal. And what better place to start than his new hometown?
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
"Crazy Year"
11-16-2010
No doubt the 2010 PGA TOUR season will be remembered most for what didn't happen: Tiger Woods went winless for the first time in his 15 year career. His best finish was T-4, at both the Masters and U.S. Open. He also finished T-4 at the Australian Masters, the site of his last victory one year ago, just before the now infamous Escalade crash at Isleworth. Just a bit has changed since then, eh?
Watch out for Tiger in 2011. I have no doubt he will win again, and even regain his No. 1 ranking in the world at some point next season. But, he will never again be as dominant as he was these last 15 years. How could he? Too much has changed, both with him (professionally & personally), and everyone else for that matter. While Tiger's been regressing, the rest of his competition has been getting better. And now the No. 1 ranking is totally up for grabs on a weekly basis: not since 1997 have this many players been so close to being top dog. Next year Tiger will wrestle with Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Graeme McDowell and others in a modified version of hot potato, passing the ranking around. But that's next year... let's look back on 2010:
It was certainly a year buoyed by a Youth Movement: Rory McIlroy with a final round 62 to win his maiden event on TOUR at Quail Hollow; Anthony Kim bounced back from a winless 2009 to claim the trophy in Houston; Camilo Villegas did the same, atoning for a winless ‘09 with a victory at The Honda Classic; Jason Day won the Byron Nelson Championship; Dustin Johnson nearly won two majors, but settled for two other wins, the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am & the BMW Championship; Kaymer won one of those two majors DJ lost at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, in what might have been the most compelling tournament of the year.
But the Old Guard was also heard from: Paul Goydos shot 59 at the John Deere Classic; Stuart Appleby also shot 59 a couple weeks after that at the Greenbrier Classic; Mickelson picked up his third green jacket at the Masters; Steve Stricker & Ernie Els both won twice; and Furyk won three times, including the TOUR Championship, and added the Fed Ex Cup title and Player of the Year honors as well.
The Ryder Cup in Wales was the most thrilling it's been since the Miracle at Brookline in 1999. And the Americans nearly pulled off another miracle, thanks in large part to Rickie Fowler's amazing four-down-with-four-to-go comeback for a halve. Fowler's best finishes on the year were runner-ups in both Phoenix and the Memorial. He will win in 2011, maybe more than once!
Rickie nearly won $1 Million in Orlando on the final Sunday of the year. But his buddy Troy Merritt, another TOUR young gun via last year's Q-School, edged him thanks to a wedge to 18-inches. That Kodak Challenge 3-way playoff which also included Aaron Baddeley nearly took honors as most compelling playoff of the year, but it lost to stiffer competition: Jonathan Byrd's ace at the 17th hole in Vegas to win the Justin Timberlake Open. First time ever a TOUR event was won with a hole-in-one on the final swing.
Robert Garrigus became the first driving distance leader to win on TOUR since John Daly in 1995; Ian Poulter snapped a career winless drought with a win at the WGC Accenture Match Play; Justin Rose snapped a career winless drought with victories at the Memorial and AT&T National; Matt Kuchar won The Barclays en route to the money title.
It wasn't a great year for everyone: Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington and Vijay Singh all went winless. Will they bounce back the way both Kim & Villegas did this year, and win in 2011?
So many questions will be hanging like partially-punched chads over these next two months, until the first ball is in the air come January at Kapula.
Not all of these questions promise positive answers: How much of a blow will it be that Rory has decided against renewing his TOUR membership next year? Westwood again will not be a member, nor likely will Kaymer. That's three of the top 10 players in the world rankings only playing about a dozen times each on the strongest Tour in the world of golf. Not good. Especially not good considering the TOUR's next television contract negotiation will take place next year.
But it will work itself out, no doubt. And 2011 will be tremendous, just like 2010 was.
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
"Ryder Cup Prediction"
9-30-2010
The pairings for Friday's morning session are out. I'm surprised that Corey Pavin is benching Jim Furyk to kick things off. He's the hottest player in the world, fresh off a TOUR Championship victory which also netted him the Fed Ex Cup, and if anyone deserves to play all five sessions it's him. Pavin is also leaving Hunter Mahan on the bench. He played in all five matches two years ago at Valhalla, going undefeated. I'm also surprised Pavin has paired two rookies - Bubba Watson & Jeff Overton. And they've drawn a very tough matchup - Padraig Harrington & Luke Donald.
Going into the week I wasn't high on the American's chances, and even less so now. Europe is stronger one through twelve, and they're also on home soil in Wales. Unfortunately, with Pavin's questionable decision making already showing up, I'm feeling a European victory is in the making.
Europe 15, USA 13
Hope I'm wrong. GO USA!
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
"Dyeabolical"
8-16-2010
Before we get to the ruling controversy that will no doubt be the hallmark of this 92nd PGA Championship when we look back years from now, let me first state this: Sunday's final round at Whistling Straits was the single most scintillating day of golf we've witnessed this entire season. The amount of world class players who either led or were within just a shot or two of the lead at some point during the round was phenomenal: Nick Watney, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Zach Johnson, Camilo Villegas, Steve Elkington, Jason Day, Jim Furyk and of course eventual champion Martin Kaymer. Congrats to Kaymer by the way - the playoff with Bubba was awesome. Bubba birdied the first hole, then Kaymer birdied the second hole to pull even, and it all came down to No. 18, named "Dyeabolical" in reverence to course designer Pete Dye, where Bubba blinked first.
Unfortunately Dustin wasn't able to be a part of that playoff thanks to the two-stroke penalty he incurred on the 72nd hole for grounding his club in a fairway bunker. It was such an odd sight to see him hit that shot while hundreds of fans stood around him, many inside that bunker with him. Because there are so may bunkers (over 1,000 by most estimates) at Whistling Straits, if the PGA roped off all of them there'd be no room for patrons. The penalty was enforced correctly based on the rule the PGA had in place this week. Problem is that rule should have been changed. All of the bunkers outside the ropes, which are exposed to spectator traffic, should have been deemed waste areas instead of hazards. At the very least it's unfortunate that the PGA of America's walking official with the group, David Price, wasn't able to get over to Dustin before he played his shot to remind him his ball was indeed in a hazard.
But of course Johnson is a big boy, and should have thought to check with an official, or at the very least should have been mindful of the fact his ball was laying in sand of some sort, bunker or not, and thus avoided grounding his club. This doesn't make it any easier to swallow for millions of fans worldwide watching who no doubt feel DJ was robbed of a chance to win his first ever career major.
Maybe the fact that Dustin's T-5 finish at Whistling was still good enough to boost him into the top eight automatic qualifiers for the U.S. Ryder Cup team will soften the sting. Congrats as well to Bubba, who also played his way onto the team. Will Tiger Woods be donning red, white and blue in Wales? The entire golf world now waits with baited breath for that answer, as Corey Pavin will announce his four captain's picks on September 7. Tiger's T-28 finish at Whistling dropped him to 12th in the points standings. Pavin's easy way out could be to simply pick the next four players in the standings, in which case Tiger is in. I don't think he'll do that however. There's no doubt in my mind if Tiger wants to play, he will be on the team. And I think he wants to play.
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
Going Low
8-2-2010
When PGA TOUR journeyman Paul Goydos shot 59 at the John Deere Classic, common thought was the record tying score couldn't have come from a more unlikely person. Fast forward three weeks, and we have found a more unlikely person - a guy who hadn't won in four years, was ranked 159th in the world, needed a special exemption to keep his card this season, and was playing his 11th straight week on TOUR. Stuart Appleby won the Greenbrier Classic with a 59 in his final round, becoming just the fifth man in PGA TOUR history to go below 60. The Aussie finished 147th on the money list last year and needed a one-time career money list exemption to keep his playing rights. He had played 23 previous tournaments this year, missing 11 cuts and finishing in the top-10 just twice.
The same day Goydos shot 59 at the John Deere, Appleby was paired with Steve Stricker, who shot 60. Appleby also played with D.A. Points Saturday at the Greenbrier, when he shot 61. Should we keep an eye on Jimmy Walker, Appleby's playing partner during Sunday's 59? Maybe. Maybe all these guys need is to see others going really low and it rubs off. Perhaps that's why we've seen 59 popping up so frequently as of late: it took 24 years for Chip Beck to shoot the Tour's second 59, after Al Geiberger did it first in 1977. It took Appleby only 23 days to follow up Goydos.
It's beginning to feel like par is only a benchmark a handful of times a year, mostly at the majors. Appleby shot 59 at the Greenbrier the day after J.B. Holmes put up a 60 and Points shot his aforementioned 61. We also saw a 62 from Jeff Overton earlier in the week. Was the course too short? It was playing to just over 7,000 yards, which isn't long by PGA TOUR standards. But length isn't the biggest issue, as we've seen short courses (Harbour Town, Pebble Beach) give players fits. The issue is overall course setup - pin placements, width of fairways, bunkers, green speeds, rough height, etc. Rain is also a big factor in going low. Appleby's 59 came in very soft conditions, and two other 59's (Geiberger, Goydos) came under lift, clean and place rules.
We're accustomed to superstars holding the records in sports: Michael Jordan is the career scoring average leader in the NBA; Emmit Smith is the all-time career rushing leader in the NFL; Babe Ruth and later Hank Aaron set the career HR mark in MLB. That's what I find most interesting about the scoring records in golf. The names are not superstars. Jack Nicklaus never broke 60. Tiger Woods doesn't hold the 72-hole scoring record, Tommy Armour III does. Maybe that's why major championships are so important in golf, why debates over greatness start and end there. If we left it up to the record books, greatness wouldn't truly be great.
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
Disappointing
7-20-2010
Maybe I should blame the ridiculously early 4am television starting times. If not for that, I could have slept and perhaps wouldn't be so grumpy. But I'm ticked, and I'm going to rain on Louis Oosthuizen's parade. What an incredibly disappointing Open Championship! There wasn't much happening at St. Andrews that excited me: the weather was too big of a factor, giving one side of the draw (late Thursday, early Friday) a huge advantage; many of the biggest names (Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk) missed the cut; the world's top two players (Tiger Woods & Phil Mickelson) were non-factors; and another no-name wins a major.
A couple of tips for the Knee-Jerk-Reactionaries in the crowd:
-Stop calling Oosthuizen the "Real Deal"! I'm so tired of the golf world anointing the major champion of the moment as "a guy who could win many more of these over his career". Why can't we just be happy he had his moment in the sun and move on? For every Angel Cabrera (a guy who actually did surprise and repeat his major triumph), there are FAR MORE One-and-Dones: Davis Love III, Paul Lawrie, David Toms, Rich Beem, Mike Weir, David Duval, Zach Johnson, Ben Curtis, Trevor Immelman, Todd Hamilton, Michael Campbell, Shaun Micheel, Lucas Glover, Stewart Cink...and the list goes on. There's a reason Oosthuizen had only one previous win in nearly a decade as a pro. I refuse to believe he'll ever again factor in major.
-Stop writing Tiger off! I can't believe how many times I've read that Tiger is finished. At least wait until someone wrestles the #1 ranking from his hands before throwing dirt on his grave. I realize it's now been over two years since his last major victory, but twice previously he's had longer winless streaks, and bounced back both times in spectacular fashion. He might never again dominate his peers like he once did, but I still believe he passes both Jack Nicklaus (18 majors) and Sam Snead (82 total wins).
Believe it or not, I actually did find a few positives from the events in Scotland:
-Lee Westwood once again plays runner-up. This guy has become the surest bet in major championships over the last couple years - this marks his fourth Top-3 finish in the last five majors. And here's a twist - I'm betting on him to win multiple majors instead of the champion of the moment, and he hasn't even notched the first one yet. Look for him to follow a similar path as Harrington - contend, contend, contend, and then once he finally does break though, dude rattles of 3 wins in a 6 major stretch.
-Sergio Garcia. The reports of the Spaniard's demise have been greatly exaggerated. El Nino didn't put up an over-par round all week. No, he many never win his major, but he'll continue to play well on Ryder Cup teams for years to come. (by the way, think Colin Montgomerie isn't thrilled by the exploits from all his Ryder Cuppers at St. Andrews?)
-Rory McIlroy. Loved the way he bounced back from the second round 80 to post two sub-par rounds over the weekend and finish T3. Major stones - really encouraging to see from a 21-year old. He IS the real Deal.
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
Welcome to the Club
6-28-2010
Bubba Watson finally broke through for his first PGA TOUR win after four career runner-ups, besting Corey Pavin & Scott Verplank in a three-way playoff Sunday at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut. Watson showed a ton of fortitude, bouncing back to birdie No. 18 and get into the playoff after a double bogey at No. 17 dropped him one shot out. The birdie was a product of an incredible 396-yard drive that left him just 50 yards into the last, the same hole that Pavin had over 200 yards into playing just one group earlier.
Oddly enough, this marks the fourth week in a row on TOUR where the 54-hole leader by three strokes coughed it up in the final round. Previous to Justin Rose on Sunday in Connecticut, we saw Dustin Johnson (U.S. Open), Rickie Fowler (Memorial), and Robert Garrigus (St. Jude Classic) do the very same thing.
Here's the most ironic part of Watson's victory: he isn't the first, or even the second player from his High School to win on TOUR. Those distinctions go to Heath Slocum and Boo Weekley, also products of Milton in the Florida panhandle.
The thing I like most about Bubba's game is that he's a throwback - he shapes shots left-to-right and also right-to-left. He hits low knockdown shots and also towering balls that fall straight out of the sky. And his short game is much better than one might expect from a bomber who's led the TOUR in driving distance 3 of the last 4 years. Bubba will win more - MUCH more.
Watson's victory means 6 of the last 9 winners on TOUR have been first timers, including last week's winner at the U.S. Open in Pebble Beach, Graeme McDowell.
One more thing... Bubba just made the Ryder Cup team. If he isn't in the top 8 in points come September, Pavin will no doubt make him one of his captain's picks. How could he not, having seen Watson's brilliance up close and personal in that playoff. Speaking of the Ryder Cup, Freddie Couples should be another one of Pavin's captain's picks. He's won 3 times so far this year on the Champions tour, and he finished sixth at the Masters. Plus, he captained last year's victorious President's Cup team, so he's got the team mojo working for him, and would no doubt gel perfectly with the players, many of whom he led in San Francisco.
Are you headed to Orlando this summer for the family's annual theme park vacation? Don't leave your golf clubs at home! I recently hit up Falcon's Fire Golf Club and it is a MUST PLAY. The award winning Rees Jones design features classic architecture and consistently immaculate conditions year round. Four sets of tees cater to golfers of all skill levels, and kids 16 and under golf for free after 3pm when accompanied by a full paying adult. And here's the best part: the course is located in Kissimmee just minutes away from all the major theme parks. Check out Falcon's Fire online here or call 407-239-5445.
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
Darts & Laurels
6-9-2010
DART: Shame on the USGA for not making the Memorial Tournament champion an automatic qualifier for the U.S. Open. This year, the unlucky winner happens to be Justin Rose, ranked 33rd in the world following his win at Muirfield Village on Sunday. The Open is still a week away, meaning there's another PGA TOUR event in Memphis before heading to Pebble Beach. The Masters awards a spot the very day before its tournament to the winner in Houston each year. The least the USGA could do is invite the winner of 4-time U.S. Open champion Jack Nicklaus' event to their major championship. The USGA also should have given an exemption to 1992 U.S. Open champion Tom Kite, who's competed in 33 Opens over his HOF career. Instead the spot went to Vijay Singh, and Kite missed qualifying for Pebble Beach by one stroke at Columbine CC in Denver on Monday.
LAUREL: Kudos to the SFPGA for their new initiative "Smiling for Life". PGA Professionals will be visiting various south Florida hospitals and teaching the game of golf to patients and staff. They kicked off the initiative May 5 with seven local pros visiting the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood. SFPGA Executive Director Geoff Lofstead says the long term goal is to expand the program throughout the south Florida section with as many as six hospitals. Great idea, nice work!
DART: From the "Where's the Justice" category... Broadcasting legends Walter Cronkite, Peter Jennings, Dick Schaap, Jim McKay, Tom Brokaw, and Bob Costas don't have one, but thanks to some questionable judgment on the part of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Selection Committee, the Clown known as Chris Berman now has his very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. First off, there are way too many Walk of Fame stars being handed out - well over 2,400 since 1956. By comparison, the World Golf Hall of Fame has only 131 members. Berman's been making himself bigger than the events he covers for years. He was the first in the unfortunate ESPN mold of "Look at Me" personalities, followed by jokes like Stuart Scott, Steven A. Smith, and Jim Rome. I can handle his idiocy on ESPN, where I can push the mute button or change the channel. But this is just too much. Memo to the people in Los Angeles: Stop encouraging the buffoon!
LAUREL: Kudos to the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints for auctioning off a championship ring to raise money for the Oil Spill Cleanup efforts in the Gulf. The team hopes to raise $1 million. I bet they'll get that and more.
DART: To the IOC if they choose anyone other than the team of Jack Nicklaus & Annika Sorenstam to design the golf course in Brazil that will host Olympic Competitors in 2016. This has got to be the biggest no-brainer in the history of mankind: The greatest male and female players the game has ever seen designing the venue that will host both men and women in the first Olympic Golf Competition in over 100 years. Where can I place a wager on this becoming reality?
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
Masterful
4-12-2010
At the risk of jumping to a day after knee jerk reaction, the 74th edition of the Masters was one of the greatest in tournament history.
We'll start with the champion, Phil Mickelson. Phenomenal play all week, especially his bogie-free 5-under-par 67 on Sunday. (His 5-under-par stretch through holes 13-15 late Saturday was also incredible) The unbelievably daring approach shot at No. 13 from the pine straw on Sunday, between 2 trees, will go down as one of his greatest swings ever - could have been The Greatest Ever, but Philly Mick unfortunately missed the 4-foot eagle putt, negating the value of the risk he took over Rae's Creek. (Lee Westwood also made birdie after laying up from nearly the same spot in the straw.)
Lost in all the hoopla of the "specialness" of the win for the sake of his ailing wife and mother (and it was quite a heart-warming story) is the fact that Phil's 4-day total of 16-under-par 272 is just 2 strokes off Tiger Woods' all-time tournament record 270 set in his 1997 runaway victory, and the fourth lowest total in the history of the Masters. This win gives Phil 3 green jackets and 4 majors overall, breaking him out of a pack of 18 players with 3 majors each, including contemporaries Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, and Vijay Singh. Phil is now in elite company - only 20 golfers in the history of the game have won 4 or more majors. This win, his first major since the meltdown at the '06 U.S. Open, also should exorcize those lingering Winged Foot Demons. Phil turns 40 in June and might be on the precipice of the greatest golf of his career.
Tiger was extremely erratic, had probably his C-game at best, hadn't played competitively in over 5 months, and still finished tied for 4th with K.J. Choi, just 5 strokes back of Mickelson. Pretty encouraging stuff, although you wouldn't have known it based on his post-round presser - he said the week was a failure because he didn't win. (Shouldn't his return to Buddhism make him more positive?) We will next see the Striped One at either Quail Hollow or The Players Championship.
Speaking of Choi, "The Sports Professor" Rick Horrow told us during his weekly Sports Business segment on Golf Exchange Radio that K.J.'s sponsors, namely SK Telecom, received an estimated $15 million worth of free advertising exposure thanks to the Korean being paired with Tiger all 4 days. Wonder if the brass at Nike are now kicking themselves for dropping Choi at the end of 2009?
Freddie Couples made it very interesting for 3-and-a-half rounds, nearly becoming the oldest ever major champion. Amen Corner ended his chances on Sunday, as he made bogie at No. 11 and a double at No. 12. But for a few early hours Sunday, the possibility born from Boom-Boom's front-nine 33 was incredibly intriguing. That, along with his 3 wins this year on the Champions Tour, make me think Freddie still has plenty left in the tank, perhaps maybe even a second career major victory.
Anthony Kim, who won the Houston Open last week, gave further credence to the tournament at Redstone being a good lead-in for the Masters with his final round 65 and third place finish. The Rees Jones design has been set-up the last few years to mimic Augusta National with light rough, perfectly manicured bunkers and shaved collection areas. Last year's Houston Open winner Paul Casey also had a fine showing at the 2009 Masters, finishing T-20. I have a feeling even more world class players will be teeing it up at Redstone in 2011.
I also have a feeling I'll be returning to Augusta National next year, making my first trip to the Masters since Trevor Immelman's win in 2008. Yes, CBS does a phenomenal job of covering the year's first major, but not even HD TV is a suitable substitute for the Real Thing!
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
The Name Game
3-16- 2010
I have a new favorite club in my golf bag: my Tour Edge “Exotics” 3-wood. Just put it in the bag last month, after a trip to the PGA Merchandise Show, and I absolutely love it! Nothing was wrong with my old 3-wood, a Ping “G5”, which sounds more like an airplane than a golf club, but I couldn’t resist the Tour Edge promise that I’d hit their club 20 yards further. They were right! My old Ping went about 230 yards, maybe 235 if I really got it pure. With this new Tour Edge, my so-so swings go 230 yards and I can send one 250 when I really flush it. The reason is Tour Edge’s unique design combining a titanium face with a tungsten sole, the first 3-wood ever to do so. Love the Tour Edge so much in fact, I’m thinking of adding the matching driver, which would jettison my old favorite club, a Callaway “Diablo” driver.
It’s all these quirky names that got me to thinking…How exactly do club manufacturers come up with new monikers for their merchandise? You walk into your local golf retailer, and you’re bombarded with names like “Baffler”, “Sabertooth”, “Launcher”, “Burner”, “Rapture”, and “Sasquatch”. Sounds more like a lineup of action heroes rather than golf clubs.
The names I like most are the clever ones, like TaylorMade’s “Rescue” clubs, which are rather fitting for their line of hybrids, traditionally easier to hit out of trouble than irons. The name has stuck so well that many people now refer to all hybrids as “Rescue” clubs, similar to how many people use “Coke” as a blanket term for all brands of cola, or “Xerox” for photocopies. Ping founder Karsten Solheim famously named his putter design “Answer”, but his wife took one look at the 6-letter tag on the side of the club and said it was too long, so he dropped the “w” and the “Anser” was born.
Where might club monikers go next? Are we far from seeing symbols as names, ala pop star Prince? Regardless, the most important thing with golf equipment continues to be performance, and no matter what catchy names are dreamt up, we’ll continue to buy the products as long as they play well.
A few more club notes:
-Phil Mickelson is believed to be the only PGA TOUR player whose putter loft is the same as his driver loft: 6 degrees, which is quite high for a putter (most tend to be between 2 and 4 degrees) and low for a driver (most tend to be between 8 and 10 degrees).
-Jerry Kelly is believed to play the lightest driver on TOUR. His driver head is only 430cc (most tend to be the maximum 460cc) and his shaft is only 44 inches long and weighs only 47 grams (most tend to be at least 45 inches in length and weigh 65-70 grams).
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
Heroes
12-30-2009
How can we hope to find something, when we're looking in the wrong place? This is how I feel about Americans as a whole, and our youth in particular, when it comes to celebrity worship. Tiger Woods' fall from grace (as well as my recent entry into fatherhood) has forced me to re-evaluate who and what I choose to glorify, and where I look to find role models.
I'm as guilty as anyone for placing athletes on a pedestal. I wallpapered my room in Michael Jordan posters as a youth, and, more recently, shelled out $200 for Tiger's signature golf shoes. Add to this my chosen profession of commenting on these athletes exploits in every form of medium, and I am surely walking one fine line of hypocrisy. But why? Why do we care so much about people who have no idea who we are and, more importantly, couldn't care less?
If there is any scintilla of redemption, it might be that I choose to admire those with some sort of athletic virtuoso versus "reality" TV stars who have no discernable talent other than the good fortune to be included in the cast. But somehow the fact that I root for Tiger, MJ, and Derek Jeter instead of Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian doesn't make me feel any better.
Bottom line is this: marvel at Tiger Woods for how he plays golf, but not for how he lives his life. There is a difference in hero worship and admiration of talent. We are better served to choose role models who first and foremost know us personally or have touched our lives in some way, and who exhibit qualities and values that we aspire to emulate. Our heroes should be parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, pastors, rabbis, and counselors. Kind of sounds like what Charles Barkley was lambasted for saying in those black-and-white Nike ads from the 90's…."just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids!"
This hero worship is part of what is dumbing down America. We now live in an age where presidents fornicate with interns in the oval office, governors use tax payer money to fly to Argentina visiting mistresses, and where world class golfers accumulate harems fit for a sheik. The "dumbness factor" is most evident in our entertainment. Television is flooded with these inane "reality" shows, such a joke that anyone would dare call it reality when the subjects are so clearly aware they're being filmed and therefore hamming it up. No wonder this country hardly manufactures products anymore: We export crappy entertainment and import everything else.
Perhaps I'm a bit cantankerous in the wake of Tiger's fall from grace. It is no doubt disappointing, and depressing, and a bit overwhelming. Actually make that REALLY overwhelming. The New York Post ran a Tiger story on its front page for 20 consecutive days, breaking the previous record of 19 set by the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I've certainly been disappointed by many of my peers in the media throughout this entire saga. Whether it be ESPN or Sports Illustrated or The Golf Channel or Golf Digest, it seems nearly every outlet has gone past simply reporting the story and delved into the brand of sensationalism that was previously reserved for the "Access Hollywoods" and TMZ's of the underworld.
But if we as Americans didn't consume it, they wouldn't be dishing it out, which brings us back to us! We now live in a country that has seen the average salary in professional sports double over the past two decades while wages of average workers over that same period hasn't kept up with inflation. We have created this giant mess of overconsumption, and the question now is how much farther will it be allowed to grow before the backlash? Or better yet, has the backlash already begun?
Listen to Russ Evans every Sunday morning at 8am on Golf Exchange presented by The Honda Classic. You can email him at revans@thehondaclassic.com.
Tiger's Wayward Drive a Temporary Setback
12-01-09
It is a sad day to be a Tiger Woods fan, but not for the reasons you're likely thinking. Yes, this entire car crash/domestic dispute/alleged affair saga is disturbing on many levels, and there is no doubt more to the story then we will ever know. But I find no fault with Tiger's decision to keep the matter a private one. Of course, with his reluctance to appear publicly, speculation runs rampant, and it's ridiculous for Tiger to label the media machine irresponsible when he's unwilling to set the record straight by way of public words. But it is certainly his right, both legally and morally, to keep the matter in-house and remain silent. If facts come out that prove he was impaired while behind the wheel, or there indeed was an act of domestic violence, I reserve the right to change my opinion on the entire sordid mess. But as of right now, it appears Tiger has committed no crime graver than failing to wear a seatbelt. And we must all keep in mind that as Americans, we are innocent until proven guilty.
However, where I do find fault with Tiger is in his decision to completely skip his Chevron World Challenge, which begins Thursday in California. It's obvious to me that his non-appearance at the tournament is an effort to further evade the media. He's cited injuries from the accident as reason he will not be playing. Do we have a situation now where Tiger is taking inconsistent positions? On Friday, Tiger's injuries were characterized as "minor" by his camp. Now all of the sudden the injuries are too major for him to attend an event he helped create and from which his foundation greatly benefits. I have no problem with him not playing golf. But, not appearing at all, even to host the event that raises millions of dollars for the Tiger Woods Foundation? Now I've got a problem. So the doctors said he shouldn't fly. Fine. How about you get someone to drive you out there, or take a bus, or a train?! Do whatever it takes to put on a smile and host the charitable event which bears your name. Take a picture with the Chevron CEO holding a giant sized check with multiple commas. Be there to present the eventual champion with the trophy. Why not? Without any more information from Tiger's camp, it looks like he's failing to honor his commitment simply to avoid fielding some very tough questions. Now, if indeed his injuries are too severe to travel even by auto or rail, then this point is moot. I understand that he doesn't want to make any public statements. Fine. Set the ground rules for the week by saying you'll only discuss the golf tournament you are there to host. Or simply issue a "no comment" to any questions containing the words "Elin", Escalade", or "National Enquirer". But don't desert your charitable foundation in its finest hour.
In regards to how this incident will affect his image long term, I'm in the camp that thinks it will have little impact. Need I remind you Kobe Bryant was accused of rape just five years ago? Chicken Littles came out from every corner predicting gloom and doom, and things have turned out just fine for the Lakers guard. They will as well for Tiger – as long as it is not proven that he in any way harmed his wife or was impaired while driving. Tiger has built a very commendable 15-year public history of doing the right thing. Certainly his image will suffer a bit here over the short term, but as soon as Tiger dons his next green jacket, all will be forgiven.
Where's the Validation?
11-02-09
With the end of this 2009 PGA Tour season comes an end to the entire decade of golf. It is amazing to me how many first time major winners broke through over the past 10 years, and haven't been heard from (by way of a follow-up victory) since!
The first man on our list is David Duval, whose last PGA Tour win was the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. "Double D" went from the #1 ranked player in the world to missing 42 cuts in 50 starts between 2003 and 2005. He made a valiant run this past summer at Bethpage, falling two strokes short of Lucas Glover and tying for second (along with Phil Mickelson & Ricky Barnes) at the U.S. Open, his first Top-5 finish since a T-4 at the '02 Memorial.
In 2002 Rich Beem authored perhaps the wackiest victory dance in PGA Tour history, an indescribable shimmy on Hazeltine's 18th green after sinking the winning putt at the PGA Championship. The only memorable highlight from the Texan since was his jump into a Nissan convertible celebrating a hole-in-one in 2007 at Riviera. He has finished outside the top 125 on the money list four times over the last six years.
The very next year, in 2003, Shaun Micheel, ranked 169th in the world, hit an unforgettable 7-iron to inches en route to claiming the PGA Championship at Oak Hill . '07 was his best season since, with three top-10 finishes and $1 million in earnings.
2004 was a career season for journeyman Todd Hamilton. He kicked off the campaign with a win at The Honda Classic, then just four months later bested Ernie Els in a playoff at Royal Troon to hoist the Claret Jug. Hamilton has only one Top-10 on Tour since. This season he made a run at his second in Augusta, before falling short and finishing T-15 at the Masters.
The list of men who Tiger Woods has finished second to in majors is short, and it includes Michael Campbell. The New Zealander edged the striped one for the U.S. Open in 2005. He has since been saddled with a slew of injuries, most notably to his shoulder, and hasn't come close to matching the brilliance we saw at Pinehurst.
The early candidates for next decade's Non-Validations include Trevor Immelman, Stewart Cink, Y.E. Yang, and the aforementioned Glover. No chance these men go an entire decade without at least one more win, is there?
American Golf Reigns Supreme
10-13-09
With the American's 5-point victory over the Internationals in the 8th edition of the Presidents Cup at Harding Park, it's the first time the USA has held both the Ryder and Presidents Cups simultaneously in almost a decade. No surprise who the three best golfers for captain Freddy Couples were: Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker, and Phil Mickelson…the guys who finished 1-2-3 in the Fed Ex Cup playoffs two weeks prior.
Tiger and Stricker were world beaters, rolling to a 4-0 record teamed together. Tiger extended his mark to a perfect 5-0 by waxing defending Honda Classic champion Y.E. Yang 6 and 5 in their singles match, clinching the cup with a birdie on the 13th hole in the process. (Tiger joins Mark O'Meara (1996) and Shigeki Maruyama (1998) as the only players to go 5-0 at the Presidents Cup, while the Woods-Sticker team becomes the first pairing in 30 years, since Larry Nelson & Lanny Wadkins at the 1979 Ryder Cup, to go 4-0 in team play.)
As for the vanquished Internationals, most thought (including this blogger) that captain Greg Norman's decision making was more than a bit off when he made Adam Scott one of his captain's picks. (Scott's world ranking has plummeted more than 50 spots over the last year thanks to his abysmal play) The leadership didn't get any better in San Francisco. It is an absolute joke that Norman's already been offered (an accepted reportedly) the captaincy two years from now at Royal Melbourne. Evidently the fact he's an Aussie trumps his unfortunate lack of leadership skills. Perhaps the Shark isn't even shook up over this loss. He has more important matters pending as his marriage to Chris Evert deteriorates. On the bright side, his Greg Norman private label wine was selling for $7 a glass at Harding Park, so that should help with the lawyers fees.
As for the venue, Harding got rave reviews as host. The players liked the course, and the setup was fair but challenging, with birdies and bogies lurking on every hole. But the clincher is how strong the Bay Area golf fans came out to support the festivities. Joining the San Francisco masses during the week were a number of luminaries, including Willie Mays, Bill Clinton, Charles Schwabb, Barry Bonds, Condoleezza Rice, and John Madden. This much is certain: Harding Park should host another PGA TOUR production sooner rather than later. It is easily one of the top five greatest public venues in our nation.
Congratulations to a number of local south Florida winners announced recently during the 2009 SFPGA Annual Awards: Public Merchandiser of the Year: Brian Symonds, Winston Trails GC; Private Merchandiser of the Year: Tom Dyer, Old Marsh GC; Resort Merchandiser of the Year: Tim Collins, Breakers Palm Beach; Assistant Professional of the Year: Lance McAllister, Mizner CC; Junior Golf Leader of the Year: Don Law, Don Law Golf Improvement Center; Teacher of the Year: Charlie DeLucca, International Links of Miami Melreese.
Fed Ex Cup 3.0
9-30-09
In its third year of existence, the Fed Ex Cup is closer to being what the PGA tour wants it to be: a proper culmination to the regular season which continues to be interesting until the final putt drops in Atlanta. This year, it was at least interesting into the back nine on Sunday. Steve Stricker, Sean O'Hair, and Kenny Perry all had the Fed Ex Cup lead at varying points of the Tour Championship's final round. However, when Tiger sank his putt at the 18th to post a runner-up finish to winner Phil Mickelson, most viewers had already known for well over an hour that Tiger would be cashing in on the $10 million first place prize.
Certainly this year's culmination was a huge improvement over 2008, when Vijay Singh simply needed to finish 72 holes to claim the cash, and 2007, when all Tiger needed to do was start the first hole at East Lake in order to be crowned FEC champion. No doubt the PGA Tour will once again tweak things for edition 4.0 next year. I suggest they start with the points system, which remains a problem. When Heath Slocum barely makes the playoffs in the second to last spot, and then vaults 121 positions to third overall after winning the first event, the bean counters need to go back to the drawing board.
As for the actual tournament in Hot-lanta, it was an impressive win for Phil, who really seized control of the tournament with a 66 on moving day before his final round 65 sealed the victory. Most would have to deem his 2009 campaign a success, especially considering his family situation. Three big-time wins at Riviera, Doral and East Lake. He is the co-runner-up Player of the Year, along with Y.E. Yang.
Now golf fans will move to the edge of their seats in anticipation of the upcoming Fall Series events. Either that, or they'll turn their attention to playoff baseball and pigskin and tune back into the PGA Tour sometime in January.
Solheim Cup Review
8-25-09
Congrats to the American Ladies for taking their third consecutive Solheim Cup this past weekend in Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms. For those counting at home, that now makes eight total USA victories in the biannual event's 11-match history.
Below are a few of my thoughts and observations from the weekend:
Michelle Wie! 3-0-1. One of only three Americans without a loss all weekend long. What a coming out party for the uber-talented 19-year old rookie. Nothing against the other women on her team, or all the other females on the LPGA Tour, but…cringing as I write this…Michelle doesn't hit the ball like a woman. There, I said it! The Big Wiesy is so much more athletic and powerful than just about all of her peers, that it's scary to imagine what she could become if she ever "figures it all out". We've been waiting for a performance like this for years! We can only hope that she uses this experience as a springboard from which to jump into a Hall of Fame career.
Can someone please tell Christina Kim to shut the hell up?! Her excessive celebrations were way over the line. There's being patriotic, and then there's just being downright unsportsmanlike. Enough already with the gyrations and endless screams! You're a golfer, not a barbarian! Have some respect for the game and your opponent.
Paula Creamer is likely destined to be this generation's female Colin Montgomerie: so good in team formats, so weak in majors.
Unless she's on the team once again two years from now (which is quote possible), Julie Inkster should be the next Solheim captain in 2011. What a class act for women's golf and the LPGA Tour!
Laurie Davies played her last Solheim Cup. The only woman on either side to have made appearances in all 11, doubtful she'll notch another to make it a dozen. Davies was three-up with three to play in her Sunday singles match, only to manage a half point push after butchering the closing holes. Not sure if it was nerves or diminishing skills, but whatever it was will not get her an invite in 2011.
The rest of the world's players need to be involved in some way. Less than half of the USA team has won this year on the LPGA Tour. Same goes for the Europeans. Where have most of the wins come from? Asia, for starters. South America as well (Lorena Ochoa). Perhaps taking a page from the men's book, have the rest of the world take on USA every other year, or reconfigure the teams so that North and South America face off against Europe and the rest of the world every other year.
What a GREAT golf town Chicago is! Over 100,000 fans attended the three-day event. Sad that there is no longer a PGA Tour event in the windy city EVERY year, and of course no LPGA Tour event at all. The Olympics will likely have golf as part of its program in 2016, and there's a very good chance those games could be in Chicago. What a great coincidence that would be!
Atlas Finally Shrugged
8-17-09
Ayn Rand wrote a book in the 50's titled Atlas Shrugged, the plot being leading innovators, in an effort to avoid being exploited by the government, go on strike to demonstrate that the economy and society would collapse without the efforts of the most productive. The novel's title is a reference to the mythical character Atlas, who was said to hold the weight of the heavens on his shoulders. Rand used Atlas as a metaphor for the brightest champions of innovation and industry who keep the world moving in its proper place.
Tiger Woods is the modern-day Atlas, the brightest talent on the PGA Tour, solely responsible for the quantum leap in prize money on Tour since his professional debut in 1996. He's also the only athlete alive that had always delivered in the clutch, 14 times leading after 54-holes at a major, 14 times delivering a victory the next day…until NOW. What happened at Hazeltine National GC on Sunday shocked everyone watching the CBS broadcast. Y.E. Yang, known in the states thanks only to his recent win at the '09 Honda Classic, bested Tiger by 5 strokes in their final pairing matchup to win the PGA Championship. Tiger notched his sixth career major runner-up in defeat. But he's not trying to reach Jack Nicklaus' 19 career 2nd place major finished, the number he's fixed on is Jack's 18 career major victories.
Tiger isn't supposed to wilt. He's always supposed to hit the shots at crunch time, execute when it matters most, and keep his perfect string for perpetuity. Perhaps now more than ever, it's evident Tiger Woods is human. No man executes flawlessly every single time he is asked to do so, not even the Greatest Athlete of All Time.
Adding to the surprise of Tiger's first blown 54-hole lead at a major was the player that did the defeating. Of the two men tied for second, two shots back of Woods entering Sunday, most thought Padraig Harrington would be the one to upset the king if Woods faltered. But a quintuple-bogie 8 at the par-3 8th hole did the defending PGA champion in. Instead it was Yang, who becomes the first Asian born player to ever win a major. He'll now return to PGA National in March of 2010 as not only the defending Honda Classic champion, but also the defending PGA Champion, the multiple connections in this story evident as PGA National is also the world headquarters for the PGA of America, parent outfit of "Glory's Last Shot".
Yang, at 110th in the world, becomes the 5th highest rankled player to ever win a major. Fitting as it always seems to be a relative "no-name" who pushes Tiger to the limit in major championships. Never has it been Ernie, Vijay, Mickelson or Harrington, instead those players who have either beaten Tiger or pushed him to playoff include Bob May, Zach Johnson, Rich Beem, Chris DiMarco, and Michael Campbell.
So Tiger goes without a major for the first time since the 2004 season, and he'll tee it up next at the Masters with nearly two years since his last major victory at Torrey Pines. Still in pursuit of Nicklaus' record 18, still the greatest the game has ever seen, but now with two more layers named "humanity" and "vulnerability" added to this story.
Perfect Storm Brewing for Hazeltine
July 31, 2009
Every PGA Tour season has its surprises, but it seems 2009 has provided more than its fair share. Stewart Cink winning the British Open? Many in the golf world thought Cink didn't have the stomach to ever close out a major victory. (including this blogger) Cink defeated a 59-year old Tom Watson in a playoff at Turnberry, Watson every bit as surprising as a 53-year old Greg Norman was last year at Birkdale…maybe even more so. Lucas Glover winning the U.S. Open? Here's a player that had only ONE career victory in six years on Tour, and that came in a Fall Series event at Disney World. Angel Cabrera is probably the least surprising major champion of the year, and he's a man we hadn't heard much from since his U.S. Open win two years ago at Oakmont.
Who could have predicted Tiger Woods would miss the cut at Bethpage? Only his second missed weekend in a major as a pro. Who could have known Phil Mickelson would miss nearly two months of action to be with his wife Amy, fighting breast cancer? (good to hear the prognosis for Amy and Phil's mother is bright) Who would have thought Sergio Garcia, beginning this season ranked #2 in the world, would still be winless now eight months later? Same goes for Vijay Singh, Camilo Villegas, Anthony Kim, and Adam Scott…all players who ended the '08 campaign in the world's Top Ten, all winless so far for 2009.
Perhaps the year's final major two weeks from now in Minnesota will provide us at least ONE story we might have expected. The PGA Championship, dubbed "Glory's Last Shot", is indeed Tiger's last shot (and Phil, Vijay, Camilo, Sergio, Anthony and Adam) at a major victory before the season–and decade–ends.
The PGA gets the short end of the stick when it comes to majors. No doubt it's the least heralded of the four, yet it has provided us many great stories in just the last decade alone:
1999: The two youngest players in the field 10 years ago at Medinah, Tiger and Sergio, dueling shot-for-shot over the weekend, ending in a one-stroke victory for Woods. This was Sergio's coming out party, and the site where he hit the miraculous 6-iron from behind an oak tree that he ran after, scissor kicking up the fairway. Sergio STILL hasn't come any closer to a major victory.
2000: Bob May was the first man to push Tiger to a major playoff. But during the extra holes, Tiger quickly distanced himself to notch his fifth major victory and third leg of the Tiger Slam. This was where Tiger introduced us to the finger pointing chase after a made birdie putt that has become so familiar today.
2001: David Toms and Mickelson dueling down south at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Toms' hole-in-one with a 5-wood was the biggest stroke in his one-shot victory in yet another runner-up finish for Lefty. But he'd get his four years later.
2005: Phil finally breaks through at the PGA, needing to go an extra day at Baltusrol to earn it. This was the year when Tiger, in the clubhouse and just one shot back of Mickelson on Sunday, decided he wouldn't fall into a playoff and left town for Orlando.
2007: Tiger puts the finishing touches on his second string of back-to-back PGA wins at Southern Hills. He flirted with a record setting 62 on Saturday, lipping out a birdie putt at the last to settle for a record tying 63.
Chances are good that the 2009 edition will be added to this list…or maybe we'll get another winner from the who's who list (at Q-school that is) and it will complete the most surprising season's collection of major champions since 2003.
Black Monday
6-23-09
After not feeling like a major for the entire weekend, the U.S. Open finally got compelling on Monday at Bethpage Black. Unfortunately for Lucas Glover, who played better than anyone else to claim the 109th National Golf Championship, his story BARELY cracks the top-5 when we look back on the week:
5. Glover. Sometimes nice guys really do finish first. Hard to believe this is only his second PGA Tour victory. (following the Funai Classic in '05) Lucas has a great Old-School swing, which means it's not picture perfect, but his rhythm is flawless and, most importantly, it is REPEATABLE. (plus his early wrist cock creates great lag at the top and speed on the downswing. He hits the ball really far and straight…he ranks #1 for the year on Tour in total driving) We are always quick to anoint every major winner of the moment as a guy who could very easily win 2 or 3 more, so I will temper my opinion on Lucas…but I really think he could have another major or two in him before he's done. No doubt he has at the very least another handful of wins ahead, as well as this year's President's Cup and maybe even next year's Ryder Cup.
4. Tiger Woods. Were it not for a two bogies and a double over his closing four holes of round one, he would have forced Glover to a playoff. I can't remember the last time I saw Tiger miss so many makeable putts. He was the only player in the field with three rounds in the 60s, despite missing more 10-footers than he made. Again, if he cleans up that opening 74 we're probably talking about major #15. The positive for Tiger moving forward has to be that his swing is EXACTLY where it needs to be, which is good news for a guy coming off reconstructive knee surgery just one year ago. The odd thing is that his putter now seems like the most unreliable club in his bag. But look for him to pick off one of the year's final two majors.
3. Crappy Weather. Weather played a HUGE part in deciding this five-day saga on Long Island. Bethpage didn't play anywhere near intended because of all the rain and soft conditions. To see guys (Glover and Mike Weir) putting up 64s like there was nothing to it in a USGA Championship is ridiculous. Players were stopping long-iron and hybrid approaches from 200-plus yards on a dime. Then you have the issue of a gross discrepancy from one side of the draw to the other: 36 of the 60 players making the cut (60%) came from the Thursday afternoon side of the draw, which meant those players hit no shots at all on Thursday, and played nearly two rounds of golf on a sunny Friday that was by far the best weather day of the week. That is a HUGE advantage. (Did I mention Tiger was the ONLY player from the bad weather side of the draw to crack the top-10?)
2. David Duval. Is this 2009 or 1999? Make no mistake: Double-D is BACK! It was SO GOOD to see the former World #1 in the mix in the final round of a major. The PGA Tour needs Duval back in contention on a regular basis. It was almost as if his natural golf instincts kicked in this week and he was back in top form, grinding out pars and going on birdie runs as if he had never left. Were it not for the HORRIBLE BREAK of a buried lie in the lip of a bunker leading to triple-bogie to start his Monday, he very easily could have been the winner. I'd like to see David lose a few more pounds and continue to re-hone that swing. This second place showing will lead to a victory on the PGA Tour very soon for Duval.
1.Phil Mickelson. Lefty is giving Greg Norman competition for most agonizing history in one single event. For the Shark, it was the Masters. Phil's personal purgatory has become the U.S. Open, where he again finished second for a record fifth time. (4 of those 5 coming in New York) I was incredibly impressed with Phil's performance this week. Considering his wife Amy's recent cancer diagnosis, simply making the cut would have been a huge accomplishment. Instead, he was in the mix the entire tournament, even at one point tied for the lead with five holes to go after a phenomenal eagle at #13. Obviously Amy's cancer is more important to Phil than anything else right now, but it's unfortunate that he can't keep playing golf over the next few months…he's playing very well and seemingly on the verge of getting back into the winner's circle in a major and thus COMPLETELY exorcising the Winged Foot demons.
Back at Black
06-09-09
Just as soon as Roger Federer tied his buddy for first among active athletes with 14 major/grand slam titles, Tiger Woods will jump ahead once again with number 15 next week at Bethpage Black for his fourth U.S. Open title.
How can he not win, considering how SHARP his game looked last week en route to his fourth Memorial title in Dublin, Ohio? Hitting all 14 fairways on Sunday for a final round 65? Birdies at the final two holes to win by one stroke over Jim Furyk? Chipping in for eagle at the 11th on Sunday just five days after he chipped in at the 18th to win the Skins Game on Wednesday? This is EXACTLY the formula needed to win a USGA championship, and Tiger goes to Long Island next week as the Double-Defending Champion (he won last year's U.S. Open, and he also won the U.S. Open the last time it was held at Bethpage Black).
I've said for years that the fewer drivers Tiger hits, the more he will win, and his course management at Muirfield Village was exactly that: driver sparingly (mostly on the par-5s) and a bevy of 3-woods and even some 5-woods and 3-irons (like on the 72nd hole, when he hit 3-iron off the tee, 7-iron to one foot for a tap in birdie…on a 450-yard hole).
The knee is finally 100%, and Tiger's game is as healthy as it's ever been. In fact, this was only the sixth time in his career Tiger hit every fairway in a round, and first since the 2003 Arnold Palmer Invitational. No doubt in my mind that Tiger notches his 15th major next week, and he'll probably pick off one more at either the British Open or PGA Championship to end the year. That means he'll enter 2010 needing only two more to tie Jack Nicklaus, and three to pass him.
I've been saying Woods is the greatest golfer of all time for quite a few years now. With deference to Jack, most others in the golf world have said wait until the numbers (18 majors & 73 total wins) back that up. Once the math is in place, nobody will be able to deny that assertion.
63 is the Magic Number
05-06-09
With Players Championship week upon us, I thought it was interesting to note that the lowest round ever shot at TPC Sawgrass is 63, the exact same number that serves as tournament scoring record for all four major championships. Amazing that nobody has ever managed a 62 in any of the majors as well as at the Players, and that all five events have the exact same single round scoring record.
The names that have reached 63 in one of the five events reads like a who's who of golf: Johnny Miller at the '73 U.S. Open at Oakmont; Jack Nicklaus at the '80 U.S. Open at Baltusrol; Tiger Woods at the '07 PGA Championship at Southern Hills; Nick Price at the '86 Masters; Greg Norman at the '94 Players, en route to a 72-hole scoring record of 24-under par. (Norman is the only player who's shot 63 at three of the five events…also doing so at the '96 Masters and '86 British)
If we do someday see a 62, where will it most likely be?
Numbers-wise, if we're going strictly off where 63 has occurred most often, and then argue that that probability of a 62 is highest where 63 has occurred the most, then the answer is the PGA Championship, where it's been shot 10 different times…Raymond Floyd, Gary Player, Brad Faxon, and Mark O'Meara some of the others who've done it at "Glory's Last Shot" along with Tiger. (Only twice at the Masters and Players; four times at the U.S. Open; seven times at the British Open)
Numbers-wise part two, if we argue that the probability of shooting 62 is greater if a player starts on a course with a par of 71 or 70 versus 72, then the answer is the U.S. Open, where 70 has been par 34 times and 71 has been par 12 times over the last 50 years. In that same time span, dating back to 1958, the PGA Championship has been played on a par-70 25 times, and 12 times for a par-71, while the British Open has been played on a par-71 18 times, and 10 times for a par-70. The Masters and Players Championship are always contested on a par-72 layout.
I'm not betting that the first 62 will come at either the PGA or U.S. Open, and I also don't think we'll see the first 62 at the Players Championship, considering Pete Dye's diabolical stadium course design is exacting, requiring precise play and rewarding only perfect shots.
So that leaves the British Open and Masters, and I'll place my bet on the course in Augusta. The Masters is one of two events, along with the Players, that's contested on the same course every year. Familiarity breeds comfort, and comfort breeds low scoring. I also think the players are finally learning the tricks of the recent renovation (lengthening) of Augusta National, evidenced by all the low scores we saw last month at the '09 event, including a 65 from Chad Campbell. (Campbell's 65 could have easily been a 63 if he makes par at each of the last two holes instead of bogie, and a birdie at either 17 or 18 would have been 62)
But just because I think it will come at the Masters doesn't mean it can't happen this week at the Players, or later this year at one of the final three major championships. Happy Record Hunting Boys!
Almost Legendary
4/15/09
As it was, with Angel Cabrera defeating Kenny Perry on the second hole of a sudden death playoff to win his second career major and first green jacket, this year's Masters Tournament was the most exciting edition in five years, since Phil Mickelson's Sunday back-nine 31 overtook Ernie Els in 2004. But this Masters had the potential to be SO MUCH MORE…unforgettable…one of the best ever. Unfortunately it fell short in that regard.
Mickelson and Tiger Woods were paired together in Sunday's final round for the first time since 2001. There is NOTHING golf fans yearn for more than a pairing of these men on a final round Sunday in a major. They are the world's two greatest golfers, and seeing them stare each other down in a premiere event, playing their best golf, would likely eclipse any major drama we've seen thus far from them or anyone else. So the golf world got what it's been asking for, and Tiger and Phil nearly came through on the promise of a Legendary Showdown.
Both men started the day trailing leaders Perry and Cabrera by seven shots, meaning if either had come back from the deficit to win if would have matched Gary Player for the second largest comeback EVER in Masters history. Through 16 holes, that historic possibility was still alive. Phil went out in 6-under-par 30 for the front nine, with Tiger right behind after a 3-under-par 33. Both men were playing FLAWLESS golf through the first half of their rounds. Phil tied a Masters record with six birdies on the front, and Tiger matched Phil's birdie at #2 while also eagling the other par-5, #8. By the time they turned to the back-nine, even though the entire rest of the field was at that point on the course, including the final pairing of Perry & Cabrera, the tournament was ALL ABOUT the interplay between Woods and Mickelson, which was just about to enter Amen Corner.
Phil's momentum was stunted with a double bogie at #12, but despite that, when Tiger birdied #16, both men were a 10-under-par for the tournament, just one shot behind Perry who lead at 11-under (Perry was through 10 holes to that moment). What then transpired from that point tore down all the excitement and fervor that had been building to a crescendo for the last four hours. Tiger couldn't hit the fairway at #17, missed the green right, and made bogie after missing a 10-foot par putt. Meanwhile, Phil had four-feet for birdie, and his putt never sniffed the hole. So Phil went to #18 at 10-under-par, still trailing Perry by one, with Tiger now at 9-under-par and two back. At #18 Tiger drove into the trees as Phil drove into the sand. Both men made bogie, and after this unbelievable story had been unfolding and gaining steam all afternoon long, suddenly their round was done, and the cold, harsh reality that neither would be winning the green jacket became painfully clear. (Phil posted at 9-under-par, Tiger posted at 8-under-par, and by this point Perry had moved his lead to 12-under).
At this moment, I suddenly shifted my disappointment to focus on the NEXT BEST STORY, which was a 48-year old Kenny Perry winning his first major championship and becoming the oldest man ever (just 16 months shy of the Champions Tour) to hoist major championship hardware. And again, though 16 holes, this looked as if it was probable, with his lead at two strokes over Cabrera and Chad Campbell after a birdie at the final par-3. But Perry, as we know, went on to bogie both #17 and #18, dropping him into a three-way playoff that has to be THE MOST ANTICLIMACTIC sudden death the PGA Tour has ever seen.
At the risk of stealing Cabrera's thunder (which has definitely been the case already), the golf world raised up to an extremely heightened, frenzied excitement, and then came crashing straight down to a depressed disappointment, running the full gamut of emotions, within the span of one Easter afternoon.
My heart goes out to Perry. He is a incredibly likeable guy, and one very good golfer. But not great, as he admitted afterward, and he will likely never get that major championship to top off his career…the Ryder Cup victory last year in Louisville will have to suffice.
I was very much impressed that Phil was able to challenge Tiger, and actually outplayed him score-wise (67 to 68). This is a very good sign for Mickelson fans, and anyone who hopes to see more showdowns like this between #1 and #2…Phil is getting better at staring Tiger down and going toe-to-toe, shot-for-shot with him.
As for Tiger, this is yet another opportunity for the haters to mention he has never come back from a 54-hole deficit to win a major. That trend WILL NOT CONTINUE! Tiger is the greatest golfer the game has ever seen, and he will at some point win a major coming from behind…it's only a matter of time.
We can only hope that the opportunity for a Legendary Showdown presents itself again for Tiger and Phil, and that next time both men do a better job of closing the deal.
Greatest Competitor of All Time
3-30-09
It's gotten to the point that I feel as if I can't find the words to properly articulate how PHENOMENAL Tiger Woods is. I've run out of adjectives! What we are treated to each and every time Tiger tees it up is simply EXTRAORDINARY. It's more than extraordinary. It's extra-extraordinary!
What Tiger did Sunday in Orlando, winning his SIXTH Arnold Palmer Invitational in what has become such a familiar scenario, overcoming a five-stroke final round deficit, sealing the victory with a CLUTCH 15-foot birdie putt at the last, is simply AMAZING! But he accomplishes the SUBLIME so often, that it has become hackneyed. Don't let yourself fall into that malaise—nobody else in the golf world can do what he does. He is THAT MUCH BETTER that everybody else.
Do you realize what Tiger is? He is THE ONLY ATHLETE IN SPORTS TODAY WHO OVERDELIVERS ON THE HYPE! Nobody else currently competing in sports today can even come close to the hyperbole that accompanies them: Not Kobe Bryant, not Lebron James, not Alex Rodriguez, not Peyton Manning, not Roger Federer… NOBODY…except Tiger Woods.
You might want to debate that statement, and say Tiger's not truly an ATHLETE. Fine. Your loss if that's how you choose to view him. Let me instead remove the ATHLETE term from the equation, and dare you to argue this: TIGER WOODS IS THE GREATEST COMPETITOR THE SPORTING WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.
Phil Needs Tiger
3-16-09
First off, kudos to Phil Mickelson for notching his first ever career WGC title Sunday at Doral. His short game stats for the week were PHENOMENAL: leading the field with the flatstick, averaging just 24.75 putts per round, with four chip-ins for good measure. Coupled with his win last month at Riviera, this is now Phil's sixth straight year winning at least two PGA Tour events, longest active streak. And Lefty is now as close to the Number One World Ranking as he's ever been.
Now to the real crux of the situation: Phil needs to take down Tiger Woods in order to truly, once-and-for-all validate his game. There are still WAY TOO MANY doubters out there (and I am one of them) who say Phil is nowhere near the caliber player that Tiger is. If Phil does indeed overtake Tiger at Numero Uno, many will greet the news mockingly, noting it took an 8-month layoff for Tiger to relinquish the crown. And there is credence to that argument. Had Tiger been the one leading the Doral field in putting, and made four chip-ins on the week, he'd have run away with the title by at least a half dozen strokes. For Phil, he barley holds on to eek out a one-shot win over Nick Watney, needing the aforementioned 27-year-old to miss a birdie attempt at the last before the victory was sealed.
With Phil there is always that chance that he'll falter in the end. He isn't the inevitable proposition that Tiger has become through 65 Tour wins and 14 majors. When we look at Phil, we think…aren't the GREATEST OF ALL TIME supposed to be more dependable than this?
Perhaps it is Phil's legacy to always be remembered as the Boston Red Sox to Tiger's New York Yankees. Clyde Drexler to Tiger's Air Jordan. Name the metaphor, for Phil it's all about being the Bridesmaid. But Arnold Palmer and later Tom Watson both played second fiddle to Jack Nicklaus for years, and still both of those men will go down in golf history as some of the greatest of ALL TIME. Somehow it's different for Phil. Do you really think Mickelson will be remembered even as one of the DOZEN BEST players to ever tee it up? Top twenty maybe? The stats say he's better than that. His 36 career Tour victories have him tied with Hall-of-Famer Lloyd Mangrum for 12th place on the all time list. He will be safely inside the top ten just a couple of years from now.
Mickelson has only once defeated Woods when both men stared each other down on a final round Sunday. Actually, it was a final round Monday, Labor Day to be specific, at the Deutsche Bank in Boston in 2007. The other, more memorable final round pairing came at Doral in 2005. Tiger was one better than Lefty that day, as has been the case most of the time. Sad that both of these duels took place at less than premiere events. Not that WGC or Fed Ex Playoffs fields are chopped liver, but then again they aren't MAJORS. Tiger and Phil have only played together in the last pairing in the final round of a major ONCE. It occurred at the 2001 Masters, when Woods shot 68 to win while Phil's 70 left him in solo third. That's it. All the other times, all 13 of them, it was Rocco Mediate or Bob May or Chris DiMarco feebly battling Tiger down the stretch. And for Phil, his major victories have come over lesser names like Thomas Bjorn and Tim Clark. Sure, Ernie and Freddie were also in the mix during those Masters titles, but they're no Tiger Woods.
There is no shame in being second best to a man that most say will be remembered not only as the finest golfer of all time, but rather the greatest competitor in the history of sports. But isn't it odd that a generation's second best player is so often considered so second rate?
Tiger Is Back!
02-20-2009
After 8 months away from the game, Tiger Woods will FINALLY make his much anticipated return next week at the WGC Match Play. The conspiracy theorists are already out in full force, hypothesizing that Tiger is rushing his return in order to promote Accenture, one of his biggest sponsors and the title namesake for the Arizona based Match Play event. Make NO MISTAKE…Tiger would not be coming back unless he thought he could win. And the numbers at Match Play favor him. He's the defending champion, and he's won three of these over the last 7 years. Plus, he holds three USGA Junior Amateur titles, along with three more USGA Amateurs, all conducted under match play. So clearly Tiger has excelled in the format over his career. It would not shock me at all to see him hoisting the hardware next week in Tucson.
The more interesting topic for me, as it relates to Tiger's return, is forecasting when and where he might finally pass two of the game's greatest names: Jack Nicklaus' 18 Major Championships, and Sam Snead's 82 career PGA Tour victories. Tiger currently sits at 14 majors and 65 total Tour victories, which means 2011 will be the BIG YEAR. Here's the math:
Over the last four years, dating back to 2005, Tiger has won 25 of the 58 Tour events he's entered. That is a 43% winning rate. Over that same four year span, Tiger has won 6 of the 14 majors he has entered, which is also a 43% success rate. And we can likely expect Tiger to hold somewhere near that figure moving forward. (Possibly even exceed that number….John Smoltz boasted of a faster fastball AFTER he had Tommy John surgery, so athletes typically come back from major surgeries stronger than ever!) Assuming he plays in his regular 15-16 events per year, including all four majors, both win number 83 and major number 19 will come in 2011.
In case you're wondering where the majors are in 2011, the answer is Augusta National (Masters), Congressional (U.S. Open), Royal St. George's (British), and Atlanta Athletic Club (PGA).
NBA Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley will be the subject of a new Golf Channel reality series titled The Hank Haney Project: Charles Barkley, which debuts on March 2. Haney, who is Tiger's swing coach, will attempt to correct what many in the golfing world consider to be the UGLIEST swing around. I DESPISE reality television, BUT even I will be tuning in for this one!
Speaking of the Round Mound of Rebound, Sir Charles gets KUDOS from me for the PHENOMENAL apology he offered up Thursday night on TNT in his first public appearance since his December 31 DUI:
"Clearly, everybody knows I got a DUI. That's unacceptable. That's 100% my fault. I let my family down, I let TNT down, and I also clearly let the NBA family down. David Stern, who I think is the greatest commissioner in sports. All I can say is that it will never happen again, and I'm deeply sorry. I screwed up, I embarrassed everybody in my life, and that's not cool at all. I will never again get behind the wheel after I've been drinking."
WOW! That is a MAN-SIZED apology, and I appreciate Charles being sincere and accountable. A-ROD, Pacman Jones, Kobe Bryant, and all the other idiots who've ever offered WEAK public apologies should be taking notes…to truly appear sincere, you must first BE SINCERE!
Coming From Behind
02-09-2009
Each of the first four PGA Tour events of 2009 were won by the 54-hole leader, making final round Sundays somewhat anti-climactic so far this season. Thankfully that trend ended this past weekend at the Buick Invitational, won by Nick Watney, who trialed John Rollins by 5 strokes entering Sunday's play. There's something very special, maybe even Heroic, about the Come-from-Behind Victory. Tiger Woods is frequently reminded (and even criticized) about the fact that he has yet to come from behind to win a major. Not enough credit is give to him for never having surrendered a 54-hole lead in a major.
Another streak that ended this week at Torrey Pines: the last 13 winners of the Buick had been major champions, including Tiger six times and Phil Mickelson three. That of course is not the case with Watney, whose only other career Tour victory was the 2007 Zurich Classic. But…Watney will win major championship before his career is over. He is that good. Some are comparing him to Davis Love III, while others are saying young Nick, a Fresno State product, is a new-age version of Payne Stewart only longer. Both are very lofty assessments.
This is an awesome three-week stretch on the PGA Tour. The Buick Invitational was held at Torrey, which hosted last year's U.S. Open. This week's AT&T National Pro-Am is at Pebble Beach, which has hosted four U.S. Opens, most recently in 2000. (and the USGA's premiere event returns to Pebble in 2010) And next week's Northern Trust Open will be held at Riviera, which hosted the 1948 U.S. Open won by Ben Hogan. It's the first time in the HISTORY of the PGA Tour that three consecutive tournaments have been held at former U.S. Open venues.
The way the world ranking points currently stand, it is VERY conceivable that with a victory before Tiger returns later this year, Sergio Garcia will become the new #1 Ranked Player in the World. Sergio has already committed to play in this year's Honda Classic, March 2-8 at PGA National Resort & Spa. Might Palm Beach Gardens be the site where the new World #1 is crowned?
Speaking of Sergio, he is among the growing number of players who have carved out their own "Sunday Color Niche". Of course Tiger heads this list, having cornered the market on RED for the better part of a decade now. Sergio and Phil seem to like BLACK on final round Sundays. (I'm sure in Phil's case, it's due to the slimming effect) And Camilo Villegas is donning WHITE on Sundays. He was wearing all-white with a gray cap during the final round at the Buick. Both of his wins last year came in all white, with one minor variation: he wore a yellow belt and yellow shoes to accent the ensemble at the BMW Championship, while the very next week at the Tour Championship he was wearing an orange belt and orange shoes.
Where's the New Bombers Paradise?
01-20-2009
With two tournaments now in the books so far in this brand new PGA Tour season, it's interesting to see who has won and where. Geoff Ogilvy took the title in the season opening, winners only Mercedes Benz Championship in Maui. Kapulua is traditionally considered a bombers paradise, with fairways averaging over 50 yards in width, the widest by far all year, and the greens roughly 8,000-9,000 square feet. Ogilvy is perennially one of the longest hitters on Tour, averaging well over 300 yards per poke.
Zach Johnson won last week in Honolulu at the Sony Open. Waialae Country Club couldn't be more different from Kapalua. A tight, shotmaker's course where the fairways rarely get wider than 20 yards and the greens average about 3,500 square feet. Johnson is known as one of the Tour's medium to shorter length hitters, but is always near the top of the greens-in-regulation stats.
Both Ogilvy and Johnson are former major winners, and considering that Geoff just won at a long hitter's playground, you'd think he's probably won The Masters, as we've heard for years that only bombers can hang at Augusta. And you might also think that since Zach prevailed at a shotmaker's course, he's likely been victorious in a U.S. Open, since the accepted axiom is that only precise iron play from point to point will suffice in USGA events.
You'd probably figure on both those things…and you'd be wrong.
Ogilvy's major victory came at the 2006 U.S. Open, and Johnson's the following year at the 2007 Masters.
Head scratching anomalies then, that both men seemingly won on major setups not suited for their games? Not really. The reality is that what we've been told for years about these two majors isn't very relevant anymore. Since Augusta National began adding length and making other adjustments shortly after Tiger Woods' first green jacket in 1997, the course has become a much more demanding test, more closely resembling U.S. Opens of the past. Conversely, since Mike Davis began setting up U.S. Opens for the USGA, the players have come to regard the event as a much fairer test that more regularly offers scoring opportunities, not so much preserving par as is once did. A perfect example of this was Davis' use of multiple tees on many holes last summer at Torrey Pines, even turning the 430-yard par-4 14th into a drivable 280-yarder for Sunday's final round.
So as we look forward to this year's majors as well as the highly anticipated return of the world's greatest player, we consider both these new rules for the majors as well as the venues hosting them in 2009. The U.S. Open returns to New York's Bethpage Black. The last time it was held there 7 years ago, Tiger was the champion. It's been four years since his last win at Augusta, while he is of course fresh off his most recent Open win last year.
Though we once thought Tiger's game was tailor made for Augusta, it now seems more fit for America's Championship. Once his career is complete, Tiger will have won more U.S. Opens than green jackets.
Economic Pinch Sparing Nobody
12-29-08
As we make our way into 2009, we are met with the news that the US economy is now OFFICIALLY in a recession. But hasn't this been the case for quite some time now? Most will trace the slump back a couple of years to the burst of the real estate bubble in late 2006, but I would argue the downward trend had earlier origins, perhaps even dating back to the turn of the century, with the collapse of numerous dot.coms and the proliferation of cooked books scandals. (Which means we have ancestors like Enron, Tyco and WorldCom to thank for initiating this current economic mess)
The reality today is that our financial system is quite BEARISH, and thus most are tightening their purse strings. (Unless of course you've won 26 World Series titles, in which case you've just spent $424 million dollars on three free agents) Anywhere else you look in sports, the inflated costs of commerce is causing a PINCH:
The NFL announced it will cut 150 jobs league-wide, and the Super Bowl still has television commercials available, less than two months out from the Big Game! Attendance is down at Bowl Games in college football, and the Arena Football League announced the suspension of the 2009 season. NASCAR is losing sponsors, forcing teams to fire employees and reduce the amount of drivers/cars. Manufacturers like GM and Chrysler are cutting spending nearly in half, and the downturn is even leading some teams (Dale Earnhardt Inc. & Chip Ganassi Racing) to merge in an effort to weather the storm. Many NBA teams are struggling, including the Nets, who've temporarily shelved plans to move to Brooklyn, and the Hornets, who continue to see attendance dwindle, mirroring tourism numbers in New Orleans.
And then we come to GOLF. General Motors announced a reduction in the number of courtesy cars available at PGA Tour events next season. The PGA Tour has reduced its number of events in '09 by one to 46, while the LPGA Tour has seen a five tournament decrease in its schedule for next season. Locally, ADT Securities ended its long-running sponsorship of the LPGA event at Trump International Golf Club, and the National Golf Foundation reports rounds played are down 8 percent year-to-date in Palm Beach County.
YES, our economy is struggling. BUT…do any of us doubt that we'll eventually pull out of this mess? This is the GREATEST COUNTRY ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET! In just over 200 years, we've become The World Power. It will get better, I have no doubt.
So what should you do?
HEAD TO YOUR NEAREST MUNI, AND TEE IT UP! You'll be doing yourself and the economy both a favor!
Hello Michelle
12-10-08
LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens received an early Christmas present last weekend: Michelle Wie will be a full-fledged, card-carrying member of the LPGA Tour in 2009. For an organization that just last month saw the retirement of it's greatest player ever (Annika Sorenstam), this news couldn't have come at a better time.
Wie finished in 7th at Q-School, meaning that after seven years as a part-timer, needing sponsors exemptions to gain entry into tournaments, Michelle will now be able to enter ANY event she wants to, and AS MANY events as she desires. Considering how well she fared in years past playing an ala carte schedule (in ‘06 finishing in the top-5 at three of four LPGA majors), I have no doubt that given a full schedule of 20-25 events, Michelle will win at some point on Tour in 2009.
Farewell, Annika
11-21-2008
This weekend at Trump International Golf Club is where it will all come to an end. Hoping it's on Sunday, but even if it is today (Friday), it makes no difference: Annika Sorenstam is the GREATEST female golfer of ALL TIME.
You want numbers? 89 career victories worldwide, including 72 on the LPGA Tour. 10 career major wins, and a round of 59.
But her career is more than simply numbers. Teeing it up against the men in 2003…. Dueling the world's greatest male golfer (Tiger Woods) in career majors, and even texting him after her tenth in 2006 to boast that she had taken the lead….Playing in the Skins Game and out-driving Fred Funk, who donned a pink skirt on the very next hole. And the list goes on and on….
And speaking of lists…and you know how I LOVE a list…I give you Annika's Top Five career "moments"…or perhaps "milestones" might be a better term. Anyway, here they are:
5. Three U.S. Women's Open Titles
Annika has become synonymous with the U.S. Women's Open. She began her career with consecutive Open titles in ‘95 and ‘96. She then went 10 years until winning again in 2006 at Newport CC—iconic because it's where the very first ever U.S. Open was held. And she needed to go an extra 18-holes on a Monday playoff. It was the last of her 10 LPGA major titles.
4. The Career Grand Slam in 2003
She nearly pulled off the single-season Grand Slam in 2003—but finished second at the Kraft Nabisco and fourth at the U.S. Open. But she did complete the career Grand Slam, winning the McDonald's LPGA Championship and then holding off Se Ri Pak by one stroke at Royal Lytham to win the Women's British Open, becoming only the sixth woman ever to complete the feat.
3. World Golf Hall of Fame Induction in 2003
2003 was Annika's watershed season. She played in a PGA Tour event, won two majors, completed the career Grand Slam and helped Europe win the Solheim Cup in Sweden. The year was capped off with induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame...at the age of 33.
2. Mrs. 59
Annika began the second round at the 2001 Standard Register Ping in Phoenix with eight consecutive birdies and ended with a 13-under-par 59 – the only women ever to go below 60 in LPGA Tour history.
1. Teeing it Up with Men at the Colonial in 2003
She became the first woman in nearly 50 years to play in a PGA Tour event. The four-month build-up after announcing her intention to play created a media frenzy. She shot 71 on Thursday, followed that up with a 74 on Friday and missed the cut by just a handful of strokes—but that's not the point. In that moment she became an icon, and a one-name athlete – ANNIKA. It transformed her. She elevated her own reputation and also that of women's golf.
New World Order…Part Two
Official World Golf Rankings as of 11/10/08
- Tiger Woods
- Sergio Garcia
- Phil Mickelson
- Vijay Singh
- Padraig Harrington
Thanks to his victory yesterday at the 2009 European Tour season opening HSBC Champions in Shanghai, Sergio Garcia is the new #2 player in the world rankings.
He's won three times this year worldwide (Players Championship & Castellon Masters the other two victories). He's also come in second three times this season, including the PGA Championship.
Is Sergio the second best player in the world?
New World Order
Oct. 29, 2008
Official World Golf Rankings as of 10/27/08
- Tiger Woods – 14.73 points
- Phil Mickelson – 8.46
- Sergio Garcia – 7.75
- Vijay Singh – 7.62
- Padraig Harrington – 7.44
This is the highest world ranking of Sergio's career. (previous best of four)
It's also Tiger's lowest points total since 2005.
Which of these five players is least likely to win a major in 2009? (HINT: my choice is left-handed)
MJ Should Take After JT
Oct. 22, 2008
Justin Timberlake just concluded his inaugural year hosting the Las Vegas PGA Tour stop, an exercise he will repeat at least four more times according to the contract. The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (a bit long winded) drew its best field since Tiger Woods won in 1996: Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Hunter Mahan, Zach Johnson, Rocco Mediate, Chris DiMarco, and Chad Campbell to name a few. It will easily end up being the best field of the seven event Fall Series. And there's no doubt JT is the biggest reason. Stars like to be around other stars.
Why not encourage more events to adopt a superstar host? It would increase exposure, and thus boost the field and level of play. George Lopez was fired after hosting last year's Bob Hope Chrylser Classic, so there is an opening in Palm Springs. Arnold Palmer will host the 2009 Hope, celebrating the 50th anniversary of his win at the inaugural Hope back in 1960, but it's just a one-time deal. For 2010 and beyond, Michael Jordan should assume the helm!
It makes perfect sense! Michael is a complete golf nut. He can't get enough of the game, loves the competition, and has a very good understanding for its history. And he's the BIGGEST name in sports! Can you imagine MJ hosting the 2010 Bob Hope?!?! Maybe then Tiger would play Palm Springs for the first time since the 90's. And if the Hope isn't a right fit for Michael, then some other Tour event…maybe in Chicago, maybe in North Carolina. Or maybe MJ could host The Honda Classic! He just bought adjoining lots in Jupiter's exclusive Bear's Club, so we know he'll eventually be a local.
The possibilities are endless, and not just for MJ. At one point in the 70's, Jackie Gleason, Bing Crosby, Glen Campbell, Bob Hope, and Andy Williams all had their own PGA Tour stop. Why not Jack Nicholson, Alice Cooper, Samuel L. Jackson, Carson Daly, and Mario Lemieux? If the PGA Tour hopes to compete with the big boys on the sports block (NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR) this is the best way to take that next step into their echelon.
Tiger Who?
Oct. 7, 2008
If there is one thing we've learned since Tiger Woods went down for the remainder of the season following the U.S. Open in June, it's that the wonderful game of GOLF is bigger than any one person…the greatest to ever tee it up included. (To be perfectly honest, I don't think I truly believed this to be the case four months ago, but I do now)
Just look at the myriad storylines that have sprouted up SINCE we lost the Great One until 2009:
Padraig Harrington did his best Tiger impersonation by winning back-to-back majors at Royal Birkdale (British) and Oakland Hills (PGA).
Boo Weekley, Anthony Kim, Kenny Perry, J.B. Holmes and company became the new American Heroes via their 5-point victory over Europe in the Ryder Cup at Valhalla. The victory also afforded captain Paul Azinger more buzz and notoriety than at any other point during his storied 20-year professional career.
Former World Number One Vijay Singh experienced a career resurgence with three victories (WGC Bridgestone Invitational, The Barclays, and Deutsche Bank Championship) to secure the Fed Ex Cup championship and a COOL $10 Million.
University of Florida alum Camilo Villegas, who up until this point was more famous for his Gator headcovers and bulging biceps, won the final two events of the Fed Ex Cup season (BMW Championship and The Tour Championship) to finally live up to all the expectations born from his ridiculous athleticism and potential. And now look at the new youth-infused World Rankings, which include 28-year old Sergio Garcia ranked fifth, 23-year old Kim ranked sixth, and the 26-year old Colombian heartthrob ranked seventh.
Perhaps even more interesting than the players who factored into storylines over these last four months are a few other names who had virtually nothing to say in the way the season ended up, namely Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Trevor Immelman, and Ernie Els.
Now, as we look ahead to 2009, the most intriguing question is no longer "How will Tiger look once he returns?" as it was just four months ago. Now the burning question is "How will Tiger fit back into the story once he returns?" The story of course now includes all of these new names, none of which will be going away anytime soon.
USA Back On Top
Sept. 21, 2008
So I was off by one-half point.
A few thoughts from the Ryder Cup weekend...
Paul Azinger is a GENIOUS.
Anthony Kim is the new Ryder Cup King.
Boo Weekley is a FREAK…and I love it.
J.B Holmes hits the ball farther than anyone I've EVER seen.
Kenny Perry should run for Governor of Kentucky…he'd win in a LANDSLIDE!
Ian Poulter was the best player on EITHER team…phenomenal captain's pick!
Nick Faldo should get very little blame for this loss…it belongs squarely on the shoulders of Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, and Lee Westwood.
Ryder Cup Prediction
Sept. 16, 2008
Paul Azinger has assembled the perfect mix of veterans and youth.
Anthony Kim and Kenny Perry lead the way with 4 points apiece.
Phil Mickelson and Stewart Cink don't wilt in match play as in years past.
Boo Weekley's country boy sentiments endear him to the Kentucky fans, becoming an adopted son in Louisville.
Tiger Woods is missed, but mostly by the fans and media…not so much the team.
The Americans snap Europe's 3-match winning streak.
USA 16, Europe 12.
Gator Nation Alive and Well
September 8, 2008
In case Florida's 26-3 win over Miami wasn't enough for Gator Nation, the sports weekend saw even more Florida domination with Camilo Villegas' first career victory at the BMW Championship. This breakthrough has been years in the making for the 26-year old Colombian, having come so close numerous time over his first three years on Tour: 2nd to Tiger Woods at the '06 Ford Championship; runner-up to J.B. Holmes at the '06 FBR Open; and 2nd to Mark Wilson via playoff at the '07 Honda Classic. Fitting that the former Gator All-American would break through at such a prestigious event, on of the three WGC's…only thing bigger would be a major, and you can bet Camilo will add that to the resume before he turns 30 on January 7, 2012.
Villegas is the 12th player under 30 to win on Tour in 2008, and it's quite an impressive dozen, including Holmes, Trevor Immelman, Sean O'Hair, Anthony Kim, Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, and Andres Romero.
Furthering the Gator domination Sunday in St. Louis was former Ft. Lauderdale resident Dudley Hart, whose final round 65 was good enough for a solo second place finish and a cool $756,000. The runner-up showing also guaranteed Duds a trip to Atlanta in a few weeks for the Tour Championship.
Some of the surprising names not heading to East Lake: Padraig Harrington, Geoff Ogilvy, Boo Weekley, Brandt Snedeker, and Stephen Ames.
Among the nuggets Golf Exchange buddy Tim Rosaforte gleamed from his recent Anthony Kim interview: Anthony's a fast food junkie, whose favorites include McDonald's Happy Meals and Taco Bell burritos. He consumes a rather Phelpsian 6,000 calories a day; his favorite television show is Entourage, and his dream is to make a cameo on the HBO hit, much like fellow Entourage fan Phil Mickelson did last season; Kim is developing plans to build a multi million dollar mansion in Dallas within the year, and he's taken so much to his adopted Lone Star state that country music now dominates hi I-pod.
Finally, congratulations to Jupiter resident and Bear Lakes regular Brett Quigley on the birth of his second child Lucy. When Brett's first daughter Lillian was born last year just before the Masters, she was given Augusta as a middle name. No such thing this time around, however…Bellerive just doesn't have the same ring.
Year of the Playoffs
August 25, 2008
We should have had an idea the season would be full of overtime golf the very first week at Kapalua, when Daniel Chopra bested Steve Stricker in extra holes at the Mercedes Championship. In the wake of the marvelous playoff we saw Sunday at The Barclays between Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia, the 11th playoff of the season's first 34 weeks, I give you another List: Top-5 Playoffs on the PGA Tour in 2008.
- 1. Tiger Woods & Rocco Mediate at the U.S. Open: Two words…Nineteen Holes! Not only was the phenomenal Monday back-and-forth between Tiger and Rocco the best of 2008, it's among the best playoffs in the history of the PGA Tour.
- J.B. Holmes & Phil Mickelson at the FBR Open: After hometown hero Mickelson belted a 320-yard drive on the 18th, Holmes stepped up and completely pummeled a poke 360-yards, setting up the tournament-clinching birdie. Tough to one-up Philly Mick in his own backyard, but Holmes did.
- Vijay Singh & Sergio Garcia at The Barclays: Talk about one-upping…Sergio drops a 27-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole, forcing Vijay to make his 26-footer or go home. Singh sinks it, and wins on the very next hole with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 17th. Great news for the Fed Ex Cup playoffs…after a lackluster opening weekend, a playoff to end the first event really gets things humming for the playoffs week-2 in Boston.
- Sergio Garcia & Paul Goydos at the Players Championship: The only one-holer on the list, primarily due to the great build-up from the first three rounds: "Everyman" Goydos, the week's feel good story, taking on "young stud" Sergio. Goydos rinsed his tee-shot on the island green 17th, opening the door for Garcia's par to win it, his biggest career victory to date.
- Adam Scott & Ryan Moore at the Byron Nelson Championship: After Scott and Moore matched each other shot-for-shot over the first few extra holes, Scott sinks a 60-foot bomb of a birdie putt to notch his second Lonestar State title.
One final thought on Vijay: This latest victory is his fourth win at The Barclays (formerly the Buick Classic) and 33rd career PGA Tour victory overall. He's already in the Hall of Fame, but consider this…just since turning 40, Vijay has amassed 21 wins including a major. For his career, Davis Love III, who many consider a borderline HOF'er, has amassed 19 victories including a major. What Vijay has accomplished AFTER reaching the Big 4-0 is HOF worthy.
Lastly, with Football Season right around the corner, I must state for the record my predication for the 2008 Florida Gators: 11-1 regular season, with the loss coming to Georgia in Jacksonville, which unfortunately keeps them out of the SEC Championship. Likely bowl date with Ohio State, Michigan or Iowa in either the Sugar Bowl (best case scenario) or Capital One Bowl.
That's what my head says, anyway. My heart says they get by the Bulldogs, win the SEC Championship, and play USC for the National Championship January 8 at Dolphin Stadium!
Ernie Knows How Laszlo Feels
August 18, 2008
Once in a generation, if we're lucky, we get to witness otherworldly talents who transcend their sport and rewrite the record books. My grandfather had Babe Ruth, Joe Louis, and Jesse Owens. My father witnessed Hank Aaron, Jack Nicklaus and Mark Spitz. And now I have the fortune to come along during the era of Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods…and Michael Phelps. The previous three men I've known of for quite some time, but the later is a phenomenon who I had HEARD of, but not until last week did I truly UNDERSTAND.
Phelps is a freak of nature every bit as dominant as Tiger and MJ. He just rewrote the Olympic record books, winning EIGHT Gold medals in Beijing, setting SEVEN world records, and touching countless lives with his grit, determination, and ridiculously-superb talent. And just as LUCKY as we all are to live in his era, that's exactly how UNLUCKY all of his competitors are to be competing in his era.
Ernie Els knows EXACTLY what it feels like to be Hungarian swimmer Laszlo Cseh. Throughout Ernie's Hall-of-Fame career, he's won more than 60 tournaments worldwide, including 16 on the PGA Tour, three of those being majors. He would have won even more were it not for Woods. Els has finished second to Tiger six times on the PGA Tour, and three more times oversees…twice in Dubai alone. Remember Tiger's phenomenal, not-of-this-world season in 2000, when he won NINE TIMES, including the final three majors of the year…all in record setting fashion? Guess who was runner-up to Tiger in TWO of those majors? Ernie. He finished second to Woods in both the U.S Open at Pebble Beach and the British Open at St. Andrews. Were it not for Tiger, Ernie could have had his own "Season for the Ages" in 2000.
Now fast forward to 2008. Phelps enters this 29th Olympiad with a perfectly drafted plan to win eight gold medals, something that had never been done before, and he proceeds to turn Beijing's Water Cube into a personal playground, complete with "The Star Spangled Banner" playing on a continuous loop. But he needs foils to play the villain to his shining hero. Enter unlucky men like Laszlo Cseh. Three times last week the Hungarian swimmer turned in lifetime-best performances that shattered the current world records, and three times he emerged with SILVER, playing a mere second fiddle to the smoldering luminary that is Phelps.
For every Tiger Woods, there needs to be men like Els, Phil Mickelson, and Vijay Singh. For every Michel Phelps, foils like Cseh, Milorad Cavic, and Ryan Lochte must exist. How else would we truly understand the sheer greatness of the ALL-TIMERS, if not for other Hall-of-Fame level talents that PALE in comparison by their sides?
The Pad Piper
August 11, 2008
How did we not see this coming…AGAIN?!?! Padraig Harrington has become a 12-year, overnight sensation. Perhaps we should have seen the writing on the wall during his first career major in 1996 at Royal Lytham, where the precocious 24-year old rookie finished T-18, just a year removed from aiding GB&I to a Walker Cup victory over the Americans at Royal Porthcawl. A dozen years later, he's only the fifth man currently on the PGA Tour with at least three career major championship victories (a sure bet for HOF induction)…and all three within the last 13 MONTHS! Nobody's had a better year than Paddy…Barack Obama, Berkshire Hathaway, and The iPhone included!
The drama on the back nine Sunday at Oakland Hills was PHENOMENAL! Harrington and Sergio Garcia were in a constant back-and-forth, jockeying for every inch, with Ben Curtis just one group behind and also in the mix.
This was the greatest SINGLE DAY at a major of all time. Because of the weather in Detroit, we had half of the Championship play out before us during a 12-hour span on Sunday, beginning with the third round, culminating with a head spinning final round, the leading man changing by the moment: J.B. Holmes, and then Curtis, and then Garcia, and then Harrington, back to Sergio, and finally back to Harrington, who was the star of this production with back-to-back 66's, including a 32 on his final nine…just as he did at Birkdale.
Sergio was able to match Harrington most of the way, but the Irishman was one shot better than the Spaniard at each of the last three holes: his up-and-down for par from the sand at the 16th while Sergio made bogey after rinsing his approach; after Paddy stuck his tee-shot to seven feet at the par-3 17th, Sergio followed it up with an even better swing, tucking his ball within five feet. Paddy putted first, and sank his birdie putt while Sergio's burned the left edge; and after both men's drives drifted right at the home hole, Paddy was able to save par while Sergio carded yet another bogie, providing the final margin of two strokes.
Garcia wasn't hanging his head after his third career runner-up showing in major, and rightfully so. His tone was much different than it was at Carnoustie just a year ago, no longer blaming everyone and everything but himself for the shortcoming…at peace with the reality that his best simply wasn't good enough on this particular day, but that there will be plenty more days to come. He now sounds like a man who will notch that major victory, and likely at some point very soon. I'm toying with the notion of wagering on El Nino during the majors in 2009—he's come so close so many times, the golf gods MUST be ready to grant him his due.
Right about now, you'd be hard pressed to find many answering anything other than "PADDY!" when asked who is the second best player in the world next to "you-know-who"...and for good reason. Harrington has proven that his talent, especially his short game, is legit, and solid enough to withstand the immense heat that majors apply.
There were only eleven players who made the cut at all four majors this year. Paddy's cumulative score of +7 was far-and-away the best aggregate of the bunch, 14 strokes ahead of the next closest, Robert Karlsson (+21). Phil Mickelson (+22) was third, followed by Andres Romero (+27), Retief Goosen (+31), Paul Casey (+33), Stuart Appleby (+34) and Jim Furyk (+34), Mike Weir (+37), Robert Allenby (+40), and Justin Leonard (+42).
This is now the second straight major with Europeans finishing 1-2. At Birkdale it was Ian Poulter playing the bridesmaid. This week was Sergio's turn. European Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo must be ecstatic over the way his players have performed down the stretch this season, the proceedings at Valhalla now just five weeks away. With Tiger Woods out, the Euros have not only the momentum, having won five of the last six of these, but they also have the best player.
Thanks to all who participated in the PGA Championship online contest. Below are the final results:
- DGold: 194. Appleby (15), Goosen (24), Jacobson (24), Els (31), Cink (100).
- Dan: 200. Stenson (4), Mickelson (7), Els (31), Leonard (58), Perry (100).
- Colin: 230. Sergio (2), Els (31), Baird (42), Kim (55), Perry (100).
- Kelly: 286. Sergio (2), Furyk (29), Kim (55), Westwood (100), Choi (100).
- Fbern: 294. Mickelson (7), Furyk (29), Leonard (58), Mahan (100), Perry (100).
- Russ: 315. Furyk (29), Poulter (31), Kim (55), Westwood (100), Perry (100).
Surprisingly, nobody picked Harrington again, just like a month ago during our British Open contest. Perry, Els, Furyk and Kim were the most popular picks. DGold gets a $25 Chili's Grill and Bar Gift Certificate for winning. I get a lump of coal in my stocking for coming in DEAD LAST!
Shaky Flatstick
Aug 5, 2008
Despite his win Sunday at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, Vijay Singh is not out of the woods yet. Nick Faldo said it best during the CBS broadcast: "If Vijay were making anything with his putter, he would be winning this tournament by 10 shots." It's obvious that Vijay is tormented by the flatstick, and he's been going through this for years. And this week it was even worse…he missed a putt from 18-inches for GOSH SAKES!!! That his putter was SO BALKY makes this win that much more impressive. It was his pinpoint iron play and above average driving that carried Singh to his first victory in nearly 18 months. BUT, make no mistake, The Big Fijian is NOT a favorite going into Oakland Hills for the final major of the year. As Ian Baker-Finch astutely pointed out during the coverage, all three of Vijay's major wins came with a standard length putter, and nobody has ever won a major with anything but a standard length – no bellies, no long putters, nothing but the pure and classic short stick…and that trend will not be changing anytime soon.
As for Phil Mickelson, who bogeyed three of the final four holes to lose by two strokes, we can add this latest disappointment to his jumbo-sized laundry list of back-nine Sunday meltdowns. Although this time wasn't quite as dramatic as Shinnecock in '04 or Winged Foot in '06, Lefty again showed us that his swing gets awfully tight when it's winning time, and that driver face tends to stay open, creating a slice that more times than not finds the left rough, or worse, OB. Just like I mentioned with Vijay, don't even think of putting Philly Mick on your list of favorites entering Oakland Hills.
Ironically, Mickelson (2005) and Singh (2004) are the last two players to win the PGA other that Tiger Woods, meaning the Wannamaker trophy will be kissed by a stranger next Sunday in Detroit.
So who are the favorites to be kissing Wanny next week, in "Glory's Last Shot"? I give you my Top-5 List: Most Likely to hoist the hardware at Oakland Hills in the 90th PGA Championship:
- Kenny Perry – he's still the hottest golfer in the world, placing first among all active players (that means not including Tiger) in money, Fed Ex Cup points, and scoring average. His all-around ranking is sixth, AND he has a boatload of confidence right about now. Kenny appeared on The Golf Exchange this past Sunday, and he told me that even were he to win the PGA, he still thinks Tiger Woods deserves player of the year honors. I disagree. A major championship for Kenny, combined with a strong showing over the four-week long Fed Ex Cup playoffs, would equal a POY trophy for the drag racing Kentuckian. By the way, in regards to his hot rods, he told me it's all about Chevy – Camaros, Chevels, and Super Sports.
- Anthony Kim – The 23-year old two-time winner ranks SECOND in the PGA Tour's all-around category, meaning his game has ZERO flaws. He hasn't missed a cut since April. Add to that his strengthened psyche following victories at Quail Hollow and Congressional (two major worthy tracks), not to mention a 7th place finish at the British Open, and you've got a man poised to break through for his first career major championship.
- Ian Poulter – Just this year, the brash Brit has placed second in a major (Birkdale), finished top-20 in three other top-tier events (two WGC's and The Players), and ruffled the collective feathers of the entire golfing cognoscenti by proclaiming he's the second best player in the world (next to you-know-who). It's been a hectic seven months for the 32-year old, who is unbelievably still searching for his first career PGA Tour victory. It very well might come this week. By the way, Poulter will join Pat Rooney Jr. and myself this coming Sunday, August 10, at 8:20am on The Golf Exchange.
- Lee Westwood – Another Brit, and one who is possibly playing the best golf of his entire career. He finished one shot out of a playoff on Sunday at Firestone, just as he did in June at Torrey Pines in the U.S. Open. Westwood's driver is incredibly hot, as he's possibly the ONLY player in the world who can consistently hit it 340-yards plus straight down the middle. The only question with Lee is his short game, which has always been the weakest part of his repertoire. If he can chip-and-putt in Detroit the way he drives it off the tee, he could win by a half dozen shots.
- Jim Furyk – Many are predicting that this PGA Championship will end up as the toughest ever. With "The Open Doctor" Rees Jones tweaking the Oakland Hills setup, "Glory's Last Shot" could look a lot like a USGA production, meaning even par will be sacred. Enter "Mr. Even Keel" Jim Furyk, who might be most comfortable when it's all about avoiding trouble versus firing at pins and setting scoring records. I've said for years, ever since Furyk broke through at Olympia Fields in the '03 U.S. Open, that he wouldn't be another one-and-done the likes of Shaun Micheel/Steve Jones/Todd Hamilton/Michael Campbell/Ben Curtis/Rich Beem. He will notch another major victory at some point before he's done, so why not this week in Detroit?
Just like we did for the British Open last month, anyone who'd like to enter the PGA Championship online contest is more than welcome to do so. Only change is that we've cut the number in half, from ten to five. Simply post your TOP FIVE picks (players you think are most likely to win the PGA Championship) on this blog NO LATER than 7:30am Thursday (the first tee time at Oakland Hills), and you're entered. We'll tally up the totals based on where players end up (1 point for win, 2 points for second, etc….and 100 for a missed cut), and the contestant with the lowest total wins a $25 Gift Certificate to Chili's Grill and Bar.
Good Luck….and enjoy the PGA Championship!
Irish Eyes Are Smilin'
Jul 21, 2008
Padraig Harrington is now #3 in the world rankings following his second straight British Open victory Sunday at Royal Birkdale. Is he really the third best player in the world? I say why not? He's the only man besides Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to win multiple majors over the last 5 years. And he's broken through on US soil as well, with victories at The Honda Classic and The Barclays. Does this constitute the new "Big 3"? Adam Scott is now fourth in the rankings, Ernie Els fifth. I don't think either of them belongs in the top group, although Geoff Ogilvy, now #6, I would say belongs with Woods, Mickelson, and Harrington in a "Big 4".
Another question: will Harrington go on to win other majors besides the British, ala European predecessors Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros, or end up being a one trick pony the likes of Aussies Peter Thomson or, ironically, Greg Norman?
By the way, Paddy's 5-wood to four feet from 249-yards at the 17th Sunday was the best shot of the year, besting Phil's wedge from the left rough, over trees at Colonial and Tiger's 3-wood to the 13th at Torrey Pines.
As for Norman, this was a phenomenal week from the 53-year old. He might go down in golfing annals as the most star-crossed champion ever, with all the countless heartaches, specifically at The Masters. But this loss cannot go under the same category as all the others before, because the expectations were simply not there at the week's outset. Norman will also, by the way, go down in those same annals as one of the best drivers of the ball in the game's history, combining length and accuracy, right next to Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead and Kenny Perry. He again showed us this past week.
Moving forward, the Shark's T3 at Birkdale now makes him the odds on favorite for the Senior British Open this coming week at Royal Troon.
Thanks to all who participated in the British Open online contest. Below are the final results:
- Dan: 327. Stenson (3), Furyk (5), Stricker (7), Els (7), Leonard (16), Immelman (19), Mickelson (19), Garcia (51), Mahan (100), Singh (100).
- Russ: 346. Furyk (5), Els (7), Kim (7), Allenby (7), Leonard (16), Choi (16), Garcia (51), Westwood (67), Rose (70), Ogilvy (100).
- Colin: 386. Furyk (5), Karlsson (7), Els (7), Kim (7), Mickelson (19), Romero (32), Garcia (51), Montgomerie (58), Weekley (100), Ogilvy (100).
- Fbern: 486. Els (7), Kim (7), Scott (16), Mickelson (19), Mediate (19), Garcia (51), Westwood (67), Cink (100), Weekley (100), Singh (100).
- Geoff: 580. Stenson (3), Els (7), Ames (7), Romero (32), Garcia (51), Kaymer (80), Cink (100), Weekley (100), Wilson (100), Jimenez (100).
Surprisingly, nobody picked Harrington, although I know I didn't because of his wrist injury going in, and I suspect most of you probably had the same reservations. Everyone picked Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia. Dan gets a $25 Chili's Grill and Bar Gift Certificate for winning. We'll do the same thing for the PGA Championship next month, so start handicapping the field for Oakland Hills.
Finally, I saw The Dark Knight Saturday night, and I would encourage EVERYONE to go check it out. It was PHENOMENAL. No wonder it broke the opening weekend record with $155 Million. Christian Bale is a very good Bruce Wayne/Batman, as we saw in the first installment Batman Begins in 2005. (although his strained, deeper voice while playing Wayne's alter ego is still grating) BUT, what makes Dark Knight so much better than the first is the performance from the late Heath Ledger as The Joker. He was the best part of the film, and at times I forgot I was looking at Ledger and just saw him as The Joker. He truly made the villain a scary character. Aaron Eckhart was a nice addition the cast as Harvey Dent. The only beef I have is Maggie Gyllenhaal playing the part of Rachel Dawes instead of Katie Holmes, a major downgrade from Begins.
These two movies are head-and-shoulders above the previous collection of corny Batman flicks, with the likes of Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, and George Clooney. I can't wait for the next one.
LIST: 10 Most Likely to Win British Open
Jul 16, 2008 -- 2:04pm
As I've stated before in this space, everyone loves a list, and golfers are no exception. With that I give you my Top-10 most likely to hoist the Claret Jug on Sunday evening at Royal Birkdale, keeping in mind the world's greatest golfer (Tiger Woods) and the world's hottest golfer (Kenny Perry) are both stateside.
- Ernie Els: if there's one man that epitomizes suffrage at the hands of Tiger Woods, it's the Big Easy. Throughout his career, Ernie would have won five additional tournaments were Tiger not in the field, including the 2000 U.S. Open and 2000 British Open. So Els has the green light for the remainder of the 2008 season, including this week. And keep in mind Ernie's comfort on links courses, where he's won once already (2002 at Muirfield), and had NINE other top tens. That's the most British top tens of any active player, three more than Tiger Woods in second.
- Justin Leonard: talk about a comeback. At one point in early 2007, Justin had missed six straight cuts and 8 out of 11. Fast forward 12 months, and he's since won twice, including the Stanford St. Jude Championship last month. Because of his low drawing ball flight, Leonard's best chance in majors each year comes across the pond, where he won in 1997 at Royal Troon.
- Geoff Ogilvy: when Ogilvy's on top of his game, he's the second best player in the world next to Tiger. Better than Phil, Ernie, Vijay, or Sergio. He's got more shots than the last three, and he's mentally tougher than Mickelson. There's no doubt Geoff will add to his lone career major win (2006 U.S. Open), as he thrives in the biggest events (three of his four career wins are WGC's or majors).
- Justin Rose: this pick is all about "Horses for Courses". The Englishman finished T4 ten years ago at Birkdale, as a 17-year old amateur. We've been waiting for this wiry talent to break through ever since, and not just as the Order of Merit Champion. What better spot to validate his game than West England?
- Anthony Kim: he's the hottest player in the world not named Kenny Perry, with two wins over the last two months. He's got the most complete game of any player under thirty, ranking 41st or higher in every major statistical category, for an overall ranking of fourth. Let me say that again: He's 23-years old, and he ranks FOURTH in the PGA Tour's overall category! Can you say "BOATLOAD of majors" before he's done?!?!
- Sergio Garcia: hard to have any meaningful list nowadays without Sergio's name, although there are still chinks in the armor, namely his flatstick. When Sergio's putter is on, he's one of the world's five best players (ie: 2008 Players Championship). When his putter is cold, it's an ENTIRELY different story (ie: 2004 U.S. Open, 2004 Masters, 2005 British, 2006 British, 2007 British, etc.) The million dollar question is: which Sergio will we see this week at Birkdale?
- Jim Furyk: hard to believe Furyk hasn't broken through yet for a second major win following his performance at the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields. There will be a second, because he's no Ben Curtis/Todd Hamilton/Steve Jones/Shaun Micheel. There have been a few close calls, including runner-ups at two of the last three U.S. Opens (Winged Foot & Oakmont). Add to that Jim's three career fourth place finishes in the British (including 1998 at Birkdale), and he's a smart choice this week.
- K.J. Choi: I can't imagine Choi going without a major victory in his career, and times starting to tick for him: he'll be 39 next spring. He had his best ever finish in the British last year, with a T8 at Carnoustie. Look for him to improve on that showing this week.
- Robert Allenby: another guy who will no doubt get that major victory before he's done. Times not ticking quite as incessantly for Rob: he's still just 37. It's been a stellar year so far, with twelve top-25s in all, placing him 11th on the money list at $2.2 million. But still no wins, although he's come VERY close: fourth at both The Honda Classic and Wachovia, third at the AT&T National, and T2 by way of playoff in Memphis. Birkdale could very well be the site for his crowning achievement, for both the year and his career.
- Lee Westwood: he's the hottest player in the world not named Kenny Perry or Anthony Kim, with eight top tens already on the European Tour. And don't forget Westwood was one single stroke out of the playoff between Rocco and Tiger at Torrey Pines. Besides, I can't have a top ten list for the Open at Birkdale and include just one Englishman, so Westwood's the pick to join Justin Rose over Casey, Poulter, or Dougherty.
The Pink Choker
Jun 30, 2008 -- 12:36pm
At the risk of stealing the much deserved limelight from 19-year old Inbee Park, who on Sunday at Interlachen became the youngest victor ever in the U.S. Women's Open, Paula Creamer again showed us she doesn't yet have the fortitude to win the big events. Just this year, she left 6-foot putt at the 18th short against Annika at Turnberry Isle, and now this: a 5-over par 78 in the final round to finish tied for sixth, six shots behind Park. After this latest setback, Paula's in danger of losing the moniker "best player never to have won a major", much like Sergio Garcia lost it a few years back after countless squandered major opportunities, only to regain it after his victory this year at the Players. He too still must prove he can get it done in one of the four biggies.
This is for sure: Creamer will never get over the major hump if she keeps trying to convince herself that they're like any other event. They're not like all the others, they're much bigger, and they require players to step up to the greater spotlight, something Paula has yet to do, evidenced by her career final round scoring average in majors of 75.
Kudos to Annika Sorenstam, for making her final swing in a U.S. Women's Open the most memorable one: a perfectly struck 6-iron from 200 yards that found the bottom of the cup for an eagle at the par-5 18th. As I've stated before in this space, Annika is the greatest women ever to lace up the golf spikes, and she's proven it more so in this event than any other, with three wins, including her very first ever as a pro in 1995, joining the very short list of other greats like Laura Davies, Walter Hagen, Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino to accomplish the feat. (By the way, Inbee is now on that list as well)
Annika will be missed, and with the absence of Tiger Woods over the golf season's second half, there's no doubt that the winding down of her stellar career leading up to November's ADT Championship at Trump International will be the biggest story.
Kudos to Kenny Perry for getting the job done HIS WAY. The "job" being making this year's Ryder Cup squad, and "his way" being playing in the events that best suit his game. With two wins and counting, and now a third place standing on the season money list, this is possibly the greatest year ever from a player 45 or older, right there with Nicklaus's 1986 (Masters) and Fred Funk's 2005 (Players Championship). Best thing is, Kenny's season is only halfway over. Can't wait to see him playing for Team USA in his home state at Valhalla, which is the second biggest story of the season's second half.
And finally, kudos to Royal Palm Beach resident & Bear Lakes member Justin Hicks, who shot a final round two-under 69 to win the Nationwide Tour's Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic, his first professional victory. You might have heard of Justin before this week: he was tied for the first round lead at the U.S. Open two weeks ago in San Diego. It's fitting his first career win would come at Gretzky's tournament: Justin's a former hockey player from Michigan. And the golf/hockey karma was on his side this week at the Great One's event: he was assigned locker number 99.
Ranking Tiger's Majors
June 18, 2008
With the news that Tiger Woods will undergo a second surgery on his left knee, this time to repair a torn ACL suffered while playing in the 108th U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, I have an even loftier respect for his incredible 91-hole victory over Rocco Mediate. Considering Tiger was playing on one knee, and dealing with the immense pain of two stress fractures in his left leg, I not only think this victory was the greatest of any among his 65 career wins, but I now think this is the greatest victory ever in the history of golf. The only other moment that might overshadow it? Ben Hogan's miraculous win at the 1950 U.S. Open just one year removed from a car crash that nearly killed him. Whether you rank Hogan ahead of Woods or visa-versa, the fact remains, what Tiger accomplished at Torrey further adds to the already impressive catalog of unforgettable moments that make him the greatest athlete of all time.
Depending on exactly when Tiger returns to the course in 2009, he could have as many as 12 more months left to add to the most dominating decade in golf history. Torrey was his twelfth major championship of the 2000s, further adding to a record he's had since his win at Medinah in the 2006 PGA Championship, which was his 10th, one better than Walter Hagen's 9 majors in the 1920s, two better than Jack Nicklaus' 8 majors during the 1970s. Outside the world of golf, Martina Navratilova authored the most dominating decade with 15 grand slams in the 1980s. Steffi Graf won 14 grand slams in the 1990s. On the men's side, Roy Emerson won 12 slams during the 1960s, Pete Sampras won 12 (although no French Opens) in the 1990s. Because he will miss the British Open and PGA Championship this year, Tiger has 4 more majors left in this decade to chase Navratilova's incredible mark.
Until then, reminiscing on his past 14 triumphs will have to suffice. With that, I give you my rankings of Tiger's 14 career major championship victories:
- 2008 U.S. Open – Torrey Pines GC, La Jolla, CA (71/7,643)
Tiger wins in his first event back following 2-month layoff due to knee surgery, struggling with pain from stress fractures, and further exacerbating the knee with a torn ACL. Five-day marathon ending with a par on the 91st hole to defeat Rocco Mediate in a sudden death playoff. Tiger becomes only player ever to win both a major & PGA Tour event at same venue in the same year on two separate occasions. Also becomes only the second player ever (Nicklaus) to compete the career grand slam three times. - 1997 Masters – Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA (72/6,925)
Tiger's "Hello World" moment. Set's tournament scoring record of 18 under par 270, also margin of victory record, 12 shots over Tom Kite. His reaching par-5s in two with wedges leads to the "Tiger Proofing" of course, when Augusta National adds 365 yards over the next five years. - 2000 U.S. Open – Pebble Beach GL, Pebble Beach, CA (71/6,846)
Tiger sets scoring record of 12 under par 272, 15 shots better than Ernie Els and Miguel Angel-Jiminez tied in second, which sets margin of victory record. Wins in same year Nicklaus plays in his final U.S. Open. Becomes only third player ever (Hogan, Nicklaus) to win both a major & PGA Tour event at same venue in the same year. - 2006 British Open – Royal Liverpool, Liverpool, England (72/7,258)
Tiger's first major championship victory following his father's death three months earlier. Victory also followed his first ever missed cut in a major in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. Hit only one driver all week long, sacrificing length with 3-irons, leading the field in both fairways hit and GIR. - 2000 PGA Championship – Valhalla, Louisville, KY (72/7,167)
Tiger wins a playoff vs. Bob May. Scene for one of his most famous putts, a right-to-left breaker that he chases after with a pointing finger. He sets the scoring record in relation to par at 18-under. - 2000 British Open – St. Andrews GL, St. Andrews, Scotland (72/7,115)
Tiger sets the scoring record in relation to par at 19-under, winning by 8 shots over Thomas Bjorn, a new record for margin of victory. Completes the career grand slam with the win. - 2005 Masters – Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA (72/7,290)
Tiger ends the longest major drought in his career, winless in 10 straight following his 2002 U.S. Open victory. Scene of his most famous shot, a miracle chip-in from behind the 16th green on Sunday, when the ball stops on the lip for a brief moment before tumbling in. Defeats Chris DiMarco in sudden death playoff. - 2002 U.S. Open – Bethpage State Park (Black), Farmingdale, NY (70/7,214)
Tiger's first major championship win on a par-70 layout, in the first ever major at a municipally run public course. USGA sets attendance records that stand for 6 years until the 2008 Open at Torrey Pines. - 2007 PGA Championship – Southern Hills CC, Tulsa, OK (70/7,131)
Tiger shoots a 63 on Friday to tie the lowest ever round in a major championship history, lipping out a putt at #18 for 62. Becomes the only player ever to win back-to-back PGA Championships twice in a career. - 2005 British Open – St. Andrews GL, St. Andrews, Scotland (72/7,279)
Wins same year Nicklaus plays in his final British Open. Second career victory in British Open at St. Andrews. With the win, completes the career grand slam for a second time. - 1999 PGA Championship – Medinah CC, Medinah, IL (72/7,167)
In what becomes a fabulous back-and-forth duel between two young guns throughout the week, Tiger edges 19-year old Sergio Garcia by one stroke. Win helps him regain player of the year honors, which he also won in 1997, after Mark O'Meara took the title in 1998. - 2002 Masters – Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA (72/7,270)
Augusta National further "Tiger Proofs" the layout, adding an additional 285 yards after initially lengthening the course by 60 yards following Tiger's 1997 victory. Doesn't stop him from becoming first player since Nick Faldo to win back-to-back green jackets - (Tied) 2006 PGA Championship – Medinah CC, Medinah, IL (72/7,561)
Tiger ties his own scoring record in relation to par at 18-under. Defeats Shaun Micheel by 5 shots. - (Tied) 2001 Masters – Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA (72/6,985)
Tiger wins by two strokes over world #2 David Duval.
Simply the Best
June 16, 2008
Tiger Woods has never had to work this hard for any win. He not only had to go extra holes at Torrey Pines in the 108th U.S. Open, but an extra ROUND. In the end, after 91 holes of golf over 5 grueling days, all on a bad knee that is clearly not healthy, what is clear is that Tiger is not of this world. As my esteemed Golf Exchange co-host Pat Rooney Jr. says, there must be a contract with the devil.
That Roco Mediate was the man that pushed Tiger to this limit was not the point. The point is Tiger ALWAYS delivers, no matter what is expected of him. He needed a birdie at 18 on Sunday to make the playoff? No problem. He did exactly that. He got up-and-down from 100 yards away in the right rough, capped off with a right-to-left 12-footer that bumped more than once on its way into the cup. He needed to then come back the very next day and play 18 more. And then when 18 wasn't even enough, he went one more extra hole until the job was finally finished, never once considering defeat.
The distinction that sets him apart is almost entirely MENTAL. There are probably a dozen other guys on tour that have as many shots as Tiger, but none of them believe as strongly in their skills as he does. Tiger's mental toughness is so much greater than anyone he faces, that it almost isn't fair. He's managed to transcend the physical and make it a contest of will and determination, and in the end he ALWAYS wins. It's exactly what he did this week. Physically, he shouldn't have won this tournament. His knee is 75% at best, and that was on Thursday, before he went through 5 days of intense ballistic impact on a damaged joint. Because of that bad knee, Tiger never once hit the driving range after a round during the tournament, something that kept him from correcting swing flaws. Instead he immediately retreated to his room to ice down the sore knee. His only practice all week long were the few swings on the range prior to each round to get loose. That makes this win even more impressive.
For the last few years, ever since Tiger began quickly approaching Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major victories, the question has been: Best Golfer of All Time? But now, after this victory, his third U.S. Open and 14th major overall, the question must now become: Best Athlete of All Time?
There's no doubt Tiger can't be compared to his peers playing today, whether it's Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Vijay Singh, or Roger Federer, Kobe Bryant, and Alex Rodriguez. He's just that much better than any of them, regardless the sport. We must instead sift through the annals to find names that truly stack up, like Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, and Muhammad Ali. And I think his name belongs at the top of that short list.
If Tiger decides to allow his knee a full recovery and thus forgo playing in his own AT&T National three weeks from now at Congressional, we won't see him again until the British Open. But whenever it is that he does once again tee it up, don't take for granted one second what it is we're watching: The greatest ATHLETE of all time, perfectly melding mind and body to perform at the highest level that any has ever performed in sport. PERIOD.
Tiger Is Back!
June 9, 2008
Finally, Tiger Woods is returning to the golf course! This is quite possibly the most anticipated comeback since Michael Jordan ditched his cleats for a #45 jersey. The last time we saw the striped one was at Augusta, where he limped his way to a second place finish behind Masters champion Trevor Immelman. The very next day he went under the knife, and we'll see how the arthroscopic surgery on his left knee went starting Thursday at Torrey Pines in the 108th U.S. Open.
Along with all the talk about Tiger's return is Phil Mickelson, coverboy on last week's GolfWorld U.S. Open preview, and for good reason: Philly Mick is a native San Diegan, he's won countless junior events at Torrey, not to mention three Buick Invitationals, and he still lives just up the road in Rancho Sante Fe. Considering Tiger's shaky bill of health, Phil is a no-brainer as favorite entering the year's second major.
But, I do have one note of caution: in most cases when the pre-event hype is impossibly large, the ensuing payoff usually disappoints. We need not look back much farther than one month to see a litany of disappointments strewn all across the American pop culture landscape: from Big Brown to Indiana Jones to Kimbo Slice. The point is, I wouldn't be surprised if neither man is hoisting the trophy on Sunday. Instead, we're more likely to see the first regional qualifier win since Michael Campbell in 2005. This year that list includes Carl Pettersson, Bart Bryant, Fredrik Jacobson, Nick Watney, Davis Love III, Rich Beem, Mark O'Meara, Steve Marino, Matt Kuchar, Jesper Parnevik, and Pat Perez, who oh-by-the-way graduated from Torrey Pines High School.
Speaking of Tiger and Phil, the duo again topped the list of highest earning American athletes, released last week by Sports Illustrated. Tiger checked in at #1 for a fifth consecutive year. His 2007 earnings were $127,902,706….and we know he needs that extra $706. Mickelson came in second with $62,372,685. Lebron James, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Kobe Bryant rounded out the top 5.
I can't help but notice that Tiger & Phil aren't the only big time rivalry in full bloom among individual sports. Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam have won 9 of this year's first 15 LPGA events. No doubt their back-and-forth jostling will continue all the way through the ADT Championship this November at Trump International. And Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal just played in their FIRST of what will likely to be FOUR Grand Slam finals this season. Just hope Roger can muster more of a fight at Wimbledon than the joke of an effort he put forth in Paris on Sunday, in what was the most lopsided men's final in over 30 years.
Big time KUDOS to Tony Romo and Justin Timberlake for breaking 100 at Torrey Pines on Friday. The Dallas quarterback tamed the 7,643 yard track with an incredibly low 84, while JT barely got the nod with a respectable 98. Make no mistake: there will be dozens of PGA Tour pros shooting 84 later this week at Torrey, and we might even see a few scores in the 90's as well.
If you're wondering how the other two players fared, NBC's Matt Lauer shot an even 100, while John Atkinson, the 38-year old cancer survivor from Nebraska, carded a 43-over-par 114, which is no doubt better than what this 31-year old healthy blogger would manage on the USGA setup.
We've become accustomed to an incredibly high level of quality in both content and production from the superb sports documentaries on HBO, so it is with great pleasure that I anticipate the cable network's first foray into golf, with this week's Back Nine at Cherry Hills: The Legends of the 1960 U.S. Open. HBO's plugging of the program goes like this: "Jack Nickalus. Arnold Palmer. Ben Hogan. In 1960, three men in distinctly different stages of their lives played a round of golf for the ages." I will be glued to the couch for this one, and I already know the ending! The program airs at 10pm this Wednesday night.
Lastly, a note regarding my performance on the mound Saturday at Roger Dean Stadium, as I threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Jupiter Hammerheads took on the Dunedin Blue Jays on BankAtlantic baseball bank night.
In front of a packed house, I stepped up to the rubber, took a quick look over to first base (I almost stepped off…the runner was taking a very big lead), into the wind up, and the pitch...great zip, waist high, just off the plate to the left. The catcher caught the ball with ease. Had Eric Gregg been the ump (he of the INCREDIBLY liberal strike zone-just ask Livan Hernandez) it would have no doubt been called a STRIKE. Don't believe me? Here is photographic evidence:
Love the fact that "Budweiser" is directly behind me in HUGE lettering on the scoreboard...how appropriate…we consumed a beer or ninety-seven in the private suite that night.
Thanks again to the fine folks at Roger Dean Stadium and BankAtlantic for hosting the entire Honda Classic crew! A FABULOUS time was had by all.
LIST: TOP 50 GOLFERS OF ALL-TIME
May 30, 2008
Everyone loves a list, and golfers are no exception. The NBA compiled an all-time top-50 list for their 50th anniversary, and extended it by 10 players 10 years later on their 60th. ESPN released a top-100 list at the turn of the century, and sports fans have become accustomed to Forbes' annual ranking of athletes' incomes, both inside and outside the lines.
Although golf fans are nearly unanimous in placing Nicklaus, Woods, Palmer, Player, Nelson, Jones and company in their personal top-10, rarely have lists been compiled that went beyond that lofty upper echelon. Where to place the Faldos and the Crenshaws and the Trevinos? Who ranks higher: Mickelson or Singh? Did Hale Irwin's career exploits outrank Raymond Floyd's?
Below I have compiled an all-time top-50 list of golfers. You'll notice Tom Morris, neither Young or Old, made the cut, nor did turn-of-the-century players like Henry Cotton or James Braid. It's hard enough trying to ascertain career values of post-depression era players such as Armour and Hagen and Sarazen, where little to no video documentation exists, that I decided not to extend the rankings any farther back than that. So you'll notice a shelf life of fewer than 100 years to all the names below.
While the top-20 was relatively easy to determine, much of the bottom half was more difficult, and at some points amounted to hair splitting. There are only a dozen men who have ever won more than a half dozen majors, while the list of those with at least two is nearly 100 players long. Once you've had a chance to digest the rankings, let me know the following: Who did I put too high? Who is too low? And who did I forget?
1. Tiger Woods (64 PGA tour wins, 10 International wins, 13 majors)
2. Jack Nicklaus (73 PGA tour wins, 11 Inter. wins, 18 majors)
3. Ben Hogan (64 PGA tour wins, 9 majors)
4. Gary Player (24 PGA tour wins, 110 Inter. wins, 9 majors)
5. Byron Nelson (52 PGA wins, 5 majors)
6. Sam Snead (82 PGA tour wins, 7 majors)
7. Walter Hagen (44 PGA tour wins, 11 majors)
8. Arnold Palmer (62 PGA tour wins, 11 Inter. wins, 7 majors)
9. Bobby Jones (13 total majors including 6 amateur titles)
10. Gene Sarazen (39 PGA tour wins, 7 majors)
11. Tom Watson (39 PGA tour wins, 8 majors)
12. Lee Trevino (29 PGA tour wins, 6 majors)
13. Nick Faldo (9 PGA tour wins, 32 International wins, 6 majors)
14. Seve Ballesteros (9 PGA tour wins, 78 International wins, 5 majors)
15. Harry Vardon (7 majors)
16. Peter Thomson (6 PGA tour wins, 46 Inter. wins, 5 majors)
17. Hale Irwin (20 PGA tour wins, 45 Champions tour wins, 3 majors)
18. Raymond Floyd (22 PGA tour wins, 4 Inter. wins, 4 majors)
19. Billy Casper (51 PGA tour wins, 9 Champions tour wins, 3 majors)
20. Greg Norman (20 PGA tour wins, 69 International wins, 2 majors)
21. Cary Middlecoff (40 PGA tour wins, 3 majors)
22. Bobby Locke (15 PGA tour wins, 59 International wins, 4 majors)
23. Phil Mickelson (34 wins PGA Tour wins, 2 Inter. wins, 3 majors)
24. Jimmy Demaret (31 PGA tour wins, 3 majors)
25. Vijay Singh (31 PGA tour wins, 23 International wins, 3 majors)
26. Julius Boros (18 PGA tour wins, 3 Champions tour wins, 3 majors)
27. Tommy Armour (25 PGA tour wins, 3 majors)
28. Horton Smith (32 PGA tour wins, 2 majors)
29. Nick Price (18 PGA tour wins, 19 International wins, 3 majors)
30. Ralph Guldahl (16 PGA tour wins, 3 majors)
31. Larry Nelson (10 PGA tour wins, 19 Champ. tour wins, 3 majors)
32. Johnny Miller (25 PGA tour wins, 2 majors)
33. Ernie Els (16 PGA tour wins, 44 International wins, 3 majors)
34. Payne Stewart (11 PGA tour wins, 5 Inter. wins, 3 majors)
35. Doug Ford (19 PGA tour wins, 2 majors)
36. Jack Burke Jr. (16 PGA tour wins, 2 majors)
37. Sandy Lyle (6 PGA tour wins, 18 International wins, 2 majors)
38. Tony Jacklin (4 PGA tour wins, 25 International wins, 2 majors)
39. Ben Crenshaw (19 PGA tour wins, 2 majors)
40. Curtis Strange (17 PGA tour wins, 2 majors)
41. Bernhard Langer (3 PGA tour wins, 58 Inter. wins, 2 majors)
42. Lloyd Mangrum (36 PGA tour wins, 1 major)
43. Tom Kite (19 PGA Tour wins, 9 Champions tour wins, 1 major)
44. Henry Picard (26 PGA tour wins, 2 majors)
45. Craig Wood (21 PGA tour wins, 2 majors)
46. Hubert Green (19 PGA tour wins, 4 Champ. Tour wins, 2 majors)
47. Dave Stockton (10 PGA tour wins, 14 Champ. Tour wins, 2 majors)
48. Colin Montgomerie (35 International wins, 7 Orders of Merit)
49. Mark O'Meara (16 PGA tour wins, 2 majors)
50. Lanny Wadkins (21 PGA tour wins, 1 major)
Phil Being Phil
May 27, 2008
On Sunday, Phil Mickelson nearly lost at Colonial in the same manner he gave away the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot and the 2007 Nissan Open at Riviera: left-of-left drives on the 72nd hole. But this time, Phil saved the day with an incredible wedge shot from 140-yards out of the rough, over trees just yards in front of him, daring the water on the left and bunker fronting the green, stopping 9 feet from the hole. He went on to make the birdie putt and win by one stroke. CBS' Nick Faldo said on the broadcast that "it's the best shot of the year, no matter what happens between now and the Tour Championship". Hard to argue with that, although I do take exception to what Faldo said next: "I don't think even Tiger has that shot in his bag". Tiger has the shot, but even Tiger might not have tried it in that instance, likely instead opting to pitch out to the fairway and play for par and extra holes.
There's no doubt Phil is the most daring player in the game today, taking risky chances that pay off as many times as they blow up. He'll never win as many tournaments or majors as Tiger, especially considering the gambling way he operates. But what we saw on Sunday in Fort Worth is EXACTLY why Phil is considered the current day Arnold Palmer, a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants risk taker, while Tiger is compared to Jack Nicklaus, a more calculating and cerebral player who's widely considered by many the greatest golfer of all time.
Phil joined Ben Hogan (1947) and Sam Snead (1950) as the only men ever to win at Riviera and Colonial in the same year. Make no mistake about it: This made-for-the-highlight-reel win makes Lefty the favorite for the U.S. Open in two weeks at Torrey Pines.
Speaking of Colonial, Tim Clark picked up $536,800 after finishing one shot behind Phil in a tie for second, the sixth career runner-up showing for the diminutive South African who's still searching for his first victory on the PGA Tour. Clark's career Tour earnings now stand at $10,677,209, and he's the only player EVER to earn more than $9 million without even a single win. For comparison's sake, Tom Watson earned $10,004,299 in a hall-of-fame career that spanned 30 years and 39 victories, including eight majors.
This is EXACTLY what's wrong with the PGA Tour today! Where's the urgency for guys like Clark to win? He's just one example in a slew of grossly over-paid, mediocre players sucking on the all-too benevolent bosom of the Tour. Stewart Cink has made $23,559,072 in his career, ninth on the ALL-TIME money list. NINTH!!!! This is the same guy who just this year cheerfully lost 8-and-7 to Tiger in the Match Play final and also melted down the stretch at PODS, squandering a 54-hole lead with a 74 on Sunday to finish—you guessed it—SECOND!!! Cink has only four career victories, and none since 2004. And HE has earned the ninth most amount of cash in the history of the PGA Tour?!? ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!
Thankfully the greats of the game have more than money on their minds, otherwise we wouldn't have seen Phil's tremendous gamble on Sunday. Here's to the win-or-nothing mentality that guys like Woods and Mickelson and Sean O'Hair ('07 Players) show on a week-in and week-out basis.
Lastly, I will toot the horn for my esteemed Golf Exchange co-host Pat Rooney Jr., who teamed with Ibis neighbor Greg Poore over the weekend to finish second in the Fifth Annual PBCGA Mid-Senior Four-Ball at McArthur GC in Hobe Sound. (Second's okay for forty-something amateurs with children, mortgages and honey-do lists…not so much for touring pros)
Even more memorable than the duo's runner-up 74-69 showing in the first flight was Poore's 4-iron at the 180 yard par-3 17th that found the hole during Saturday's first round, the ONLY ace of the tournament. There is absolutely no doubt that Pat is the REAL golfer of the radio show. I just hope some of that mojo exhibited by the 2-handicapper rubs off on his co-host's golf game.
Annika is Best Ever
May 21, 2008
My first thought upon hearing Annika Sorenstam's retirement announcement last week was: Where does she fit among the all time greats in women's golf? The answer: NUMBER ONE! At only 37 years of age, in just 14 professional seasons, Annika has amassed 72 career victories, including 10 majors. It took Kathy Whitworth 24 years to win 88 times, and Patty Berg needed 26 seasons to collect 15 major victories. There's no doubt Annika could hold every major career milestone were that a priority for the soon-to-be bride.
The only real tough question is which of her numerous feats ranks first…is it the 59 she shot at the 2001 Standard Register Ping? (still the only 59 EVER shot on the LPGA Tour)….or maybe it was making the '95 U.S. Women's Open her first ever career victory ….NOPE. The only possible answer is the 2003 Colonial, when she teed it up against the men and missed the cut by ONLY four strokes. In becoming the first women to play on the PGA Tour in nearly 60 years, she not only raised her exposure level by quantum leaps…she did the same for the LPGA Tour. It's no coincidence that now five years later, the tour is arguably the healthiest it has EVER been. Annika's the biggest reason, and she's the best female golfer of all time.
Speaking of Annika, she and Lorena Ochoa have been in the same tournament six times so far this season. On all six occasions, one of the two has won, most recently last week in Clifton, New Jersey, where Lorena took the Sybase Classic for a third consecutive year. For the record, Ochoa has won five of the six tournaments in which both women have teed it up against each other, including the year's first major in Rancho Mirage at the Kraft Nabisco. Annika's lone victory over the stretch was her win at the Michelob Ultra Open two weeks ago.
Want another stat that FURTHER proves the ENORMOUS chasm that sits between the dynamic duo and everyone else on the LPGA? Lorena's six wins this year have come in only nine starts, the second best beginning to any season in LPGA Tour history. Annika holds the all time record for fastest to six wins, doing it in just 8 starts in 2005, en route to a 10-victory season.
This rivalry is the BEST currently in all of sports, not just golf. Too bad it will only last for another six months.
With all apologies to Mark Teixeira, Pedro Martinez, and Vladimir Guerrero, Terry McNamara might be the biggest free agent following the 2008 season. McNamara, who's been on Annika's bag for nearly a decade, is widely considered the best caddie on the LPGA Tour. Word on the street is demand's so high for his soon-to-be available services, he'll jump to the PGA Tour in 2009. One possible destination? The Ping bag of Palm Beach Gardens resident Mark Calcaveccchia, who just gifted his longtime looper Eric Larson to 22-year old uber-striker Anthony Kim.
Nice to see Morgan Pressel shook out of her missed cut funk, snapping the string at three straight with last week's runner-up finish at the Sybase. It was only her second top-10 of the year in 10 starts, sub-par by any standards, especially for an up-and-comer who arrived with her Kraft Nabisco win last season. It's time she starts heeding her grandfather Herb Krickstein's advice, offered last month at the Stanford International Pro-Am: She'll need to work much harder if she wants to be among the world's best. Translation: That means more time on the range, less time taping commercials and toying around in her Mercedes sports coupe.
Even though I'm a DIEHARD GATOR, I was still rooting for Ryuji Imada, a UGA grad, to break through for his first career win last week in Atlanta. I find it amazing that he found himself in EXACTLY the same spot he was EXACTLY one year ago, a playoff on the 18th hole at TPC Sugarloaf to decide the AT&T Classic. Only difference: Last year he lost to Zach Johnson, this year he bested Kenny Perry, who for the second consecutive week failed to convert a final round final pairing into victory. But unlike Perry's abysmal final round 81 two weeks ago at Sawgrass, last week he was done-in by bad luck, hitting the ONLY tree within 50 yards of the 18th green, his ball ricocheting straight left more than 30 yards into the water. It was eerily similar to the bad luck Charles Howell III encountered in the 2005 Buick Invitational, hitting the flagstick at 18 on Sunday, his ball bounding backwards into the lake. He went on to bogie the hole and lose by three strokes to Tiger Woods. Had the ball stayed in the hole for an eagle-3, Chucky Three Sticks would have forced a playoff.
As for Imada, he joins the very distinguished group of men who authored their first career win by way of a playoff. The short list includes Jack Nicklaus (over Arnold Palmer at the '62 U.S. Open), Vijay Singh (over Mark Wiebe at the '93 Buick Classic), Ernie Els (over Colin Montgomerie & Loren Roberts at the '94 U.S. Open), and Tiger Woods (over Davis Love III at the '96 Las Vegas Invitational).
Anyone else think the par-5 18th holes at both TPC Sugarloaf and Torrey Pines are incredibly similar to each other? Great reachable, risk/reward par-fives with water just left of the green, and bunkers just behind to the right. Most approach shots finding the sand on both holes result in birdie putts from outside of 15 feet, as players are terrified of hitting their blasts over the green and into the water. We can only hope the 18th at Torrey for this year's U.S. Open will emulate the DRAMA Sugarloaf's 18th has produced recently, with the aforementioned back-to-back playoffs the last two years.
And we now know that the chance for such DRAMA will be possible, with USGA course setup man Mike Davis confirming just this week that 18 will remain a par-5. There was talk it might be switched to a long four. Davis has also divulged that the par-4 10th hole, which plays to 416 yards during the Buick, will be drastically shorter for the Open. The USGA will move the players forward by three sets of tees to the 311-yard distance from the golds, normally reserved for women with single digit handicaps, continuing a trend of drivable par-4's started at Winged Foot in '06. Here's hoping the 10th comes close to deciding the championship the way the 300-yard 17th did last year at Oakmont, when Jim Furyk hit driver there on Sunday for the first time all week, made bogey, and lost to Angel Cabrera by a single shot.
Lastly, a note on Camilo Villegas, as I'm contractually obligated to mention a Gator in every blog. (not really, but why not?!) The jacked Colombian finished solo third at Sugarloaf to pocket $374,000, marking his seventh career top-5 in just over two years on tour, which includes a 3rd at the '06 Players and a 2nd at the '06 Ford Championship. His first career win cannot be too far away, perhaps within the next month. He plans to tee it up at both The Memorial and St. Jude before heading west to San Diego for the Open. Don't be surprised it he notches that maiden victory by Father's Day.
Sergio's Defining Win?
May 13, 2008 -- 12:30pm
No, it's not a major, but it's close…very close. And it pays better….as in $1,710,000. That was what Sergio Garcia's check read Sunday night in Ponte Vedra, shortly after the 28-year old bested 40-something journeyman Paul Goydos on the first hole of sudden death at the 35th Players Championship. It's Sergio's first win in three years, a span that included 53 PGA Tour starts.
The Spaniard had been touted for years as "best player never to have won a major". He earned the moniker sometime shortly after scissor-kicking his way to second behind Tiger at the 1999 PGA Championship. He held the title for so long, without fulfillment, that he actually lost it to the likes of Stuart Appleby, Adam Scott, Rory Sabbatini, and, most recently following his Charlotte win last week, Anthony Kim. Ironically, this Players win might actually restore that top billing to the man recognized as the game's best ball striker, pound-for-pound. Speaking of which, his stats for the week were extremely impressive, leading the field in both fairways hit and greens in regulation (77% & 78%, respectively)….but the MOST impressive part of his victory was the putting, especially the 7 footer for par on the 72nd hole to get into the playoff. Considering all the heartache his flat stick has brought him over the years, Sergio can only hope his brilliant work on the greens this week stays with him at Torrey Pines, Royal Birkdale, and beyond. In this blogger's humble opinion, Sergio's best chance at a major title will come at the British.
The winds in Ponte Vedra on Sunday gusted to 40 mph, so conditions were understandably tough. But didn't some of those final round scores seem RIDICULOUSLY high: Phil Mickelson, Jerry Kelly, Daniel Chopra and Ben Curtis all carded 78's; Adam Scott and Davis Love III both shot 80; Billy Mayfair shot an 81; and Jesper Parnevik carded a 13-over 85!
Perhaps most disturbing? The first group off at 8:20am on Sunday, Troy Matteson and Tommy Armour III, seemingly hell bent on getting out of dodge before the rains came, got around in a combined 161 strokes, all in under three hours!
Sergio's win now puts the season-long number of twenty-something champions on Tour at 9….two more than the number from ALL of 2007. One possible reason? More tournaments are up for grabs, with only two men currently capable of putting up multiple victory seasons (Tiger & Phil). Gone are the years when Ernie, Vijay, Retief, Furyk and company would collect wins in bushels, which means more opportunities for everyone, including twenty-somethings, to pick up W's.
Case in point: Singh won NINE times just 4 years ago in 2004, en route to $10 million in earnings and Player of the Year. The Big Fijian is still looking for his first win this season, which is now 21 tournaments old.
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