PGA Tour: Tiring of Firestone and Mile High Club in Reno: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Congratulations to Scott Piercy, last year's winner in the rarified Reno air and now off to Firestone CC and Akron, Ohio's "WGC Bridgestone Invitational" as RBC Canadian Open Champion. Travel plans changed at a stroke, or at least those strokes of the stumbling Dirt McGirt and Garrigus as they bogeyed their way to a podium finish rather than the Canadian club's gold they'd been in the driving seat to achieve.

2).Neither Piercy nor Garrigus have ever been close to my top 200 favourite golfers, but they both hit it a mile and have steadily improved their all-round game to become regular Top 25 finishers on Tour. Garrigus has apparently matured following his pot-headed mini-Tour career and this was his third runner-up effort of the year, while Piercy has moved on from being voted 6th cockiest player on Tour in Sports Illustrated.

3).Surrey's Gary Christian made the cut on the number but enjoyed a terrific weekend to claim a share of 10th place, with Brian Davis continuing his consistent season one shot further back. But disappointment for Greg Owen and Russell Knox whose success on Thursday and Friday was not matched at the weekend. What does it all mean?
~Davis: All but certain to qualify for the first three Play-Off tournaments.
~Owen: Certain to play Barclays and Deutsche Bank, but needs at least one top finish to have a chance to reach the BMW.
~Christian: Currently inside the Top 125 (118) and playing this week in Reno where another good finish would probably cement his Barclays place and go a long way to secure his "playing privileges" for 2013.
~Knox: Disappointing weekend and needs a miracle in Reno and/or Greensboro to be eligible for the Barclays. Q-School more likely unless he can start stringing four rounds together.

4).The calendar going forward looks like this:
Aug 2nd - 5th: Bridgestone and Reno.
Aug 9th - 12th: PGA Championship, no "opposite field' event.
Aug 16th - 19th: Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, NC.
Aug 23rd thru Sept 23rd: Barclays, Deutsche Bank, BMW, Tour Championship.

5).pgatour.com lists "Bert Wray" as the original architect of Firestone CC's South Course, venue for this week's WGC Bridgestone Invitational. A little research shows that Bert Way emigrated from Westward Ho! in Devon at Musselburgh's Willie Dunn's instigation shortly after Dunn began work on Shinnecock Hills. Way later finished 2nd in the 1899 US Open before he turned his hand full-time to course architecture. Firestone is just one of a number of well-regarded courses Way designed, primarily in Michigan and Ohio. Not sure how the course stood the test of time from the 1920's thru the 50's, but Robert Trent Jones stiffened it considerably in his late-fifties restoration and now plays at a stout par-70 7,400 yards for the pros.

6).Firestone is either a terrific test or a boring parkland course on steroids depending on which "expert" one listens to. It can appear one dimensional on TV with it's seemingly non-stop diet of look-alike 400+ yard par 4's, mostly dead straight. Although the Tour pros are almost unanimous in calling it "solid and classic" it's also slagged off for being "boring" and criticised for the PGA Tour's set-up, with special criticism reserved for the tee shots and canting fairways.
Whether one is tired of Firestone CC and its Bridgestone set-up or not, WGC status surely cries out for taking its show on the road.

7).Meanwhile, there's nothing boring about Jack Nicklaus's Montreux G&CC that hosts this week's "Reno-Tahoe Open". At 5,000 feet, the Touring Pros hit it further here than anywhere - last year's tee shots were reportedly the longest on Shot Link record. Not sure if some of the geriatric crew on hand this year will keep that distance up; over twenty golfers who originally "committed" to this week have bagged it and the alternate list is overstocked with Seniors who can't qualify for the 78-man field for this week's Champions Tour event. Wish they'd fill the field from the qualifying list rather than the retreads foisted on Reno.

8).But some top pros are here nevertheless, led by Padraig Harrington looking to sharpen his game for Kiawah's PGA Championship. Other "faces" who are looking to secure Play-Off berths include Appleby, Villegas, Weekley, Gay, Romero, DiMarco, Leonard, Cink and even a resurgent John Daly. Europeans Cejka, Chopra, Christian, Johnson and Knox are there, all with various objectives, but I fancy the chances of old-lag-type pros with course form, Rollins, say, Henry, Matteson, Perez or Vaughn Taylor. Tune in, even if just for the spectacle of the gorgeous Sierra Nevada.
And: Remember, this week signals a return to the "modified Stableford" scoring system.

9).Its a long way from Reno to Akron, as John Denver might have sung, and as Scott Piercy can tell you. Tiger Woods has a fantastic record here, seven wins and counting, and all eyes will presumably be on his driver. Whatever the constraints of his "gameplan" at Lytham, he has to unleash the driver at Firestone and, if he can only keep it in the short grass, he'll once again be the man to beat. It is well documented that the American Mid-West has endured a long, hot summer, but Akron has at least had some recent rain to keep the place from burning out completely.

10).Europe hasn't celebrated a winner here since Darren Clarke beat Jonathan Kaye and Tiger in 2003, though runners up since this stop became a WGC include Phillip Price, Rose, Westwood, Harrington and Donald. No doubt if Steve Williams were to win again it would equal his greatest ever triumph, but if Woods can hit some fairways it would be a brave punter to bet against his hstory here.

Apologies.
Stupid mis-use of word "bias" by moi.
No competitive bias of course, just lumping all the lesser known Internationals, like Goosen, Pettersson, Laird etc together, then the Americans in the later groups. Must be some disappointed sponsors, if nothing else, but the only way to respond is on the scorecard and good that some of them have succeeded in that. So far anyway.

Surprised at Mahan having a poor day after a decent start.
And Tiger looks like he's throwing shots away. Very surprised at that.

Biased?

But back to golf ... Furyk would be a GREAT addition to our Ryder Cup team (IMO).

Luke will need to be laser sharp off the tee the next 3 days. Taking bets.

Tiger better get some putts to drop if he wants to play here like we all know he can.

Shotrock

I did not get a chance to see todays play, do you reckon tiger is out to win or just to tune up for the PGA?

Eagle for Harrington!
About time, but hopefully he can go out tomorrow morning and really set 'em alight.
Russell Knox going very nicely, Christian not so much.

I reckon Furyk and Stricker would normally be certain Captain's Picks, but still feel Phil must be giving Love fits, Mahan too if he doesn't buck up his ideas. The young guys (Keegs, Rickie, Haas, Sneds, Dustin) are going to have to play their way into the qualifying spots.

Mac - Tiger IMO absolutely trying to win this thing. Will he do it? Big hill to climb.

I don't see a major in his future until 2013.

Great seeing Woods struggle. Shame there isn't a cut.

Outstanding from lee slattery and encouraging rounds from Donald, sergio and Westwood too.

I bet he'll win next week Shotrock!

Re: ryder cup - Based on the current team qualified, I'd pick poulter and colsaerts for sure, would be a really strong team.

LastD,
Agreed, Let's hope that's how it works out unless someone on the outside wins this week or next and makes a compelling case.

Time for Hanson and Lawrie to show some form, though, as well as Sergio and Kaymer.

Another heater in Akron today, should be perfect conditions for more low scores at Firestone. Forecast for the weekend not quite so sunny:
Saturday: warm, breezier, front approaching.
Sunday: warm, gusting winds, storms in the offing, could be severe.

Would think the PGA would take a dim view of it if golfers were stuck at the WGC Bridgestone for an extra day . . . . . . .

International riff-raff get going at 8.40 a.m. EDT, Americans and galacticos depart starting about 9.20 a.m.

All except Thingchai Jaidee who may be injured, or may just be fed up with playing golf with Scott Piercy.
Anyway, field down to 77 from the original 78.

McLaren wrote:

Does anyone else feel like they should watch the olympics instead of the WGC?

Agreed. Cannot take my eyes off the Olympics!

Current strategy is follow Olympics on BBC Live Text, switch on CTV for any competition I'm interested in, catch what WGC I can watch all the Reno-Tahoe later.

My American friends have no idea what it's like to follow Olympics on TV properly as they've never had the chance to do it, unless they are close to the Canadian border or travelled to Britain to see how it's done.

Vermont makes the BBC News at last. Haven't we all wanted to do something like this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19112837

PS: This wasn't me.

Kwin - They way they are broadcasting certainly works for the American networks, but I would like to see more and different sports!

Athlete of the games thus far -- Bradley Wiggins simply put a beat down on the individual TT -- he's right up there IMO.

Can't wait to see Bolt run.

Sr,
Worst thing is, they don't set out a programme to say what they're going to cover when.
My dear wife stayed up 'til 11.00 p.m. last night to watch some swimming finals, saw one or two but no info on when the rest were going to be on. Right grumpus when she had to get up for work at 4.30 a.m.; fortunately she'll be able to watch the Live coverage today on CFCF.

But, let's face it, British sports fans and American sports fans, by and large, want something completely different from their sport - and I think I'll leave it at that!

PS: How was Teugega?

PPS: Rory and RCB off to nice starts, Tiger opens with a dropped shot, three over in his last four holes - and I've been reserving him for this week all Fantasy season!

Kwin - Teugega next Wednesday, Newport possibly Tuesday ... and Thendara today! Man, life is good.

Sr, Very envious! Hit 'em straight!!

If scoring is any more difficult at the Bridgestone today, no-one told RCB: -4 for the day after 12 holes, one shot behind Furyk.

Sounds like Jaidee withdrew due to a sprained ankle - no word yet as to his fitness for Kiawah.

Meanwhile, of all the daft things. After the drunken Aussie rower got done for $2,500 worth of damage, countryman Matt Jones, fighting you'd think for his pro career after a lousy season, exitted Reno-Tahoe with a dq after failing to sign his scorecard. I tell you, some people . . . . !

c'mon paddyyyyyyyy!!!

oh paddyyyy!!!

c'mon roryyyyy!!!

Padraig must love this: Four bogeys stink, but four birdies in nine holes shoot him up fourteen places!
And there's another one! Birdie!! Only one par so far, definitely not boring.

Europe doing much better today in the Bridgestone, Colsaerts in with a 68 after a rotten start and RCB going like a train.

Furyk could be on the cusp of Ryder Cup qualifying if he keeps this up, with Mahan struggling this summer.

yeah, padraig seems to really go for it today! Good for him, i bet he enjoys it.
jb also going like a train today...
super belllllo!

Poor round from Tiger... According to the shot tracker on PGA tour, he just hit it to 5 ft for birdie and walked off with bogey. Nice...

RCB is making a RC statement to Ollie! Good for him.

I think Furyk has made every RC/PC since 1997 on merit. It is looking like he wants to continue that streak. A win will not put him in the top 8, but it will be close.

I am glad he is stepping up.

And Japanese golfers continue their futility against World Class fields.

Fujimoto at T48 is best thus far.

Separation at the top now with Furyk, RCB and King Louis three or more shots ahead of 4th place.

Not sure what to make of Tiger, three wins this season but much more inconsistency than we are used to seeing. Don't fancy him next week but wouldn't bet against him being a bit better focussed when FedEx's money is on the line.

Tiger Woods has not had two consecutive top 10's on the PGAT since the Fire Hydrant.

He can still change that this week.

I appreciate there is no cut at the bridgestone, but can someone please explain to me how the bridgestone is part of a strategy to play in the ryder cup yet the US open is not?

What do you mean, Mac?
Or are you referring to Paul Lawrie??

Golf Boys update:
With all but Mahan still slogging up and down the Firestone rough, they're a collective +18 so far in Round 2.

Scoring so far this afternoon no match for this morning's efforts.

kwini

Yes, I was referring to Lawrie. Do you not think playing here makes his decision to miss the US open even more odd?

Mac,
Not at all. It's not borne out by his recent form but would say that Lawrie was quite entitled to avoid Olympic, just as some avoided Lytham.
But: He needs a top twenty finish this week or he'll lose ground he can ill afford to relinquish.

Remember, and I know we'd think he rated himself a top player, but US Open only offers the cut to less than 40% of the field, a decent cheque to only about 20%.

Some good groups for next week's PGA . . . .

Kwini

In this week of all weeks I would have thought the concept that you challenge yourself to compete with very best was particularly sentient. Do you reckon a true athlete shirks the chance to test themselves?

Lawrie clearly has a very small minded view of the world, which I find a very frustrating attribute in anyone.

On a lighter note, I make that 5 of team GB in the top 12. Could Rory be playing himself into his first decent showing in a major this year?

I think I am right in saying you have been to Kiawah kwini? Do you think it will play like the typical parkland test r-mac enjoys or is there a little too much wind for that to be the case?


PS Kwini

How far are you from here;

http://www.cabotlinks.com/

Don't you think it depends what your objective is?

It's comparitively rare for Europeans to eschew opportunities to play in American Majors, relatively commonplace for Americans to avoid The Open.

Doesn't make either position correct, just highlights the stupidity of having three Majors and three WGC's in the US; spread them, at least the WGC's, around the World and things will start to change.


Point of interest going in to Round 3: The two leading Americans are the two who grew up most "adjacent" (as Richie Benaud would say) to Akron, Furyk from Pittsburgh and Dufner from Cleveland.
The closest resident out of all the players who have won a 100% FedEx event in the past 12 months, Ben Curtis who lives 15 minutes away!, is the only one not qualified.

PS: No idea how the PGA will set up at Kiawah; their course set-up guy is Kerry Haigh from, I think, the Doncaster area, very highly regarded. Haigh, not Donkers. (Though I LOVE Doncaster racecourse.)

Stupidity of having 3 majors in the US? Seems to be working thus far -- golf certainly doing just fine, who wants the change?

I have a solution -- once again, get off the wallets and invest in a tournament opposite Augusta. Risk/reward. Not complicated at all -- but filled with uncertainty and not for the faint of heart.

Of course you wouldn't see the issue Shotrock as you have it your way at present.

However golf is a global sport and for the sake of equity a major which takes place in Asia, Australia or South Africa would balance things out a bit.

America has far too much influence on the game, and that Finchem, like Sepp Blatter wants shooting.

Looking a bit at the modified stableford vs 'normal' systems in Reno. Only minor differences in standings at the top of the leaderboard, but there are a couple of examples which show what the difference can be. And as usual, you'd only have to look as far as Harringon to find something out of the ordinary... Padraig and Cejka, both finishes 2 rounds in 142 strokes, yet one is T23 while the other missed the cut. One difference is that Paddy had 17 pars in 2 rounds vs 28 for Cejka... Not the best strategy going for safe pars, need to do a bit of gambling in Reno...

Sr,
It was the totality of six out of (essentially) seven (as so many miss the HSBC) that I was on about as I actually wrote. No point in not accepting that 3 out of 4 Majors are in the US, it is what it is.
But, you're right, more than high time for some BIG European sponsors to say enough is enough and shift a couple of WGC's abroad.


pd,
Good week in Reno for Open Champions!
Daly, Duval, Hamilton, Harrington, Leonard, Cink, even near-misses Romero and Appleby all playing the weekend and all needing a big week, perhaps Harrington and Romero excepted.
Felt sorry for Villegas last night, he can't get anything to go right and he's on his way to Q-School unless he has a big "Fall".
Gary Christian on course for The Barclays, Russell Knox a long shot and will thus be down to his final half dozen tournaments to save his "Card".

Tom Lewis starts his lonely 3rd Round trek in half an hour; conditions won't be easy Saturday with more wind as a front approaches.
Weather Sunday could be stormy, especially early on and Round 4 play may see some funky scheduling. Monday's forecast is fine, but can't think too many of these golfers will be anxious to stay in Akron an extra night.

Oops,
Lewis not so lonely after all - there's been another withdrawal following Jaidee's disappearance, not sure who yet, and the tee-times have been redrawn.

Taniguchi has vanished completely, he certainly started the tournament...

pd,
That's what I thought but he's been removed from the original field!

The mysterious case of the disappearing Japanese golfer, off the course as well as on!

He's still in the PGA where he's teeing it up with RCB and Sabbatini.

Super - You're right, I don't have a problem with the way things are but nor do I really care about which venue or country tournaments are held in.

Do you really think, in the name of "equality" the green jacket boys at Augusta are going to stop running their invitational tournament in Georgia to satisfy the global game as you call it?

No one makes Donald, Westwood, Els, Furyk or any professional attend any tournament in America. If there's "too much" American influence surely there's an opportunity to run bigger, better tournaments opposite any event in America and attract top players away from the current ones.

Talk, as we know, however is cheap -- it's money that will change the machine.

It's a bit strange, when someone withdraws, retires, is DQ'd, etc, their name is still kept on the leaderboard at the bottom (like Jaidee's), but Toru Taniguchi has been taken off completely this morning. He had rounds of 72-78 first two days (+10)...

EDIT: ...well, at least in Golf Channel's leaderboard he appears now as WD. Hope his neck is ok, he suffered a neck injury a while ago (had to WD frm Accenture last February)... Or maybe he just thought he missed the cut and left last night , don't know....

Maybe he just didn't fancy playing with Rickie Fowler - his Ryder Cup goose is looking pretty much cooked unless he can conjure up a miracle next week. Unlikely to be a DLIII pick, one would think.

Horrendous putting in Rounds 1 and 2 from Ernie Els.
How horrendous?
He took four more putts on Thursday/Friday than Tiger Woods.

Better today so far - how soon before Ernie's back to a normal-length putter?

After two days spent in his shadow, His Grace must've realised that there's no point in looking up to him anymore and is marching ahead on his own now... Great start from him today.

I see that shot tracker has a WD space at the bottom with no name attached. Toru-san must've run away over night and now no one on PGATour can remember his name....

Speaking of horrendous ... Westwood stinking the joint up. +7 through 7. No way to warm up for a major.

This could be golf's version of Where's Waldo?

Toru Taniguchi was supposed to play with Rickie Fowler today. Tom Lewis was supposed to lead the field in a one-some after Jaidee WD.

But Toru has disappeared nearly completely from the Bridgestone Website. Not on the scoreboard, not listed in the field.

There is a reference to him here

http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/tournaments/r476/field-qualify/

Stricker, Steve - 2011 The Presidents Cup, 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions

Taniguchi, Toru - 2011 Bridgestone Open (designated)

Toms, David - 2011 ThePresidens Cup

Where's Waldo?

wow I actually have a fantasy pick doing well-- way to much sport on at present for me to be religiously following this event. But come on Dufner!