PGA Tour: PGA Championship: Notes from the Ballwasher

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1).Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy!
Has Five Hour Furyk forgotten how to win? He experienced quite a drought in the late 2000's, rediscovered winning ways at the 2010 Transition (despite shanking down the 72nd hole and singeing KJ Choi's eyebrows on the way), and won squeakily at Hilton Head followed by a round full of fortitude to win the Tour Championship (and FedEx Play Offs). Now he's been in the driver's seat three times this year and parked in the wrong place each time.

2).Meanwhile, Keegan Bradley finally wins without a play-off but still due to the haplessness of another. Still not convinced that Keegs is the real thing. And nor is his local newspaper - the biggest paper in Bradley's Vermont had not one word of the golf in Monday's edition, not even the result. But he's secured his Ryder Cup place and it looks increasingly as if Furyk (so brilliant in the Presidents Cup in Melbourne but very dodgy in Ryder Cup play) will be hoping for a Captain's pick.

3).A perennial gripe about these WGC's - what incentive is there for the pros once they slip out of, say, the top twenty? There aren't many bigger admirers of Lee Westwood than me, but his weekend demonstrates that the WGC people have got their prizemoney structure all wrong. +14 was Westwood's weekend "effort" in finishing 70th, but he still took home $42K, only $30K less than two level par rounds would have earned him.
And then there's Jaidee, Crane and the vanishing Taniguchi who handed in sick notes, banked $40K and limped off to South Carolina.
Time for a cut (like The Masters, say, top 44 and those within ten shots) and lower paydays for the bottom trawlers. Spend that money instead on the leaders and create differentials worth playing for.

4).Didn't see much of the Bridgestone but really enjoyed the coverage of the Reno-Tahoe Open. A leaderboard full of characters and a worthy winner in JJ Henry. The four rookies on the USA Ryder Cup Team at the K Club, Zach, Wetterich, Vaughn Taylor and JJ have had mixed fortunes since their drenching in Ireland. Zach Johnson, of course, has gone from strength to strength, injuries have derailed Wetterich's career almost before it really started, Taylor has hit the buffers, but JJ has been like a journeyman freight train, chugging his way through the Tour season, consistently keeping his card for 12 years while supporting minor events, but never returning to the winners' platform. Until now.
Great to see Brazil's Alex Rocha getting in to the mix, four years early?, and pleased to see Romero back in the shake-up. Then there were the Open Champions: Daly tied with Leonard for his first top five since 2005, Hamilton in 8th, Harrington 19th, and Cink (talk about a slump) and Duval squandering chances of a decent payday. Seemed the modified Stableford format was very popular among the pros.

5).Very disappointing performances at the Bridgestone for those hoping for a Ryder Cup qualification. Given that Rose, McIlroy, Westwood, McDowell and Donald have their places secure, the best Bridgestone finish by the next ten contenders was T29 for Cabrera-Bello, Sergio, Kaymer and Poulter. Expect Davis Love to be quaking in his boots.

6).And look at the Europeans' form this year. Of the current owgr top fifty, the following have all lost more points this year than they've gained, indicative of their games being off the boil:
Donald, Westwood, Kaymer, Garcia, Poulter, Bjorn, Jacobson, Dyson, F'dez and Quiros. (While others such as Casey, Karlsson, Hansen, Luiten and The Mechanic have disappeared completely.) Is it too late to have another look at Carl Pettersson's eligibility?

7).But the Americans only have the long-term absentee Dustin Johnson, Watney and Toms from the top 55 with more points lost than gained, the rest (Mickelson possibly excepted) in decent to sparkling form.
There may be a turnround on the Carolina Shore this week, but I doubt it.

8).And so to Kiawah Island, home of the War on the Shore. (For accounts by those who were there, read your August Golf Digest - the most telling part to me was American disbelief at the amount the Europeans were drinking!)
Very few of those in the 156-man field for this week's PGA Championship have competitive form at Pete Dye's "Ocean Course", although some such as Rafa C-Bello, have played Junior competitions there.
But the WGC World Cup was played there twice, in 1997 and 2003, and these guys played well!
1997: 1st: Harrington (won with McGinley)
2003: 1st: Sabbatini and Immelman, with Casey and Rose runners up.

9).No Bernhard Langer or Hale Irwin this week, no Paul Broadhurst and no Steve Pate (come to think of it we didn't see much of him in the Ryder Cup either. Hmmmmm.), and hopefully no camo gear.

10).Weather will play a big part this week though; Pete Dye took a gorgeous ocean-side property, raised much of it above the dunes, and created a seaside target-golf monster, with almost all the course exposed to the elements but very few run-up areas in front of the greens. There has been significant rain these past few days and a steady diet of 10 - 15 mph breezes is forecast. Yorkshireman Kerry Haigh is responsible for setting up the course and he'll need all his skill to strike a fair balance, but he has an impeccable reputation and let's hope he lives up to it!

No idea who might win, but I fancy local-ish boy Dustin Johnson as best of the Americans. Otherwise I expect Ireland (North and South) and South Africa to contest the medals. For a rank outsider, how about Simon Dyson?

But of one thing you may be certain: If the sole survivor from the War of 1991, Jose Maria Olazabal, plays as he did 21 years ago, there'll only be one winner!

A thin line of storms approaching, hopefully they'll move on by. Could be a bit blustrous for a few minutes though.

Does anyone know what the best final round in a major is? Both poults and rose must be getting close if they can keep going.

USA getting a reality check today.....................

Strangely, im not ruling out Petersson yet..............Rory looks imperious though and Poulters putting is magic

Is peterson a yank or a european?

I think he is a yank. They can have him

I don't think Poults needs a Captain's pick . . . . . .

Perhaps he'll select David Lynn instead.

Poultry!!

Poults is tearing it up. Not looking good for Diggers prediction he'll be outside the top 50 this year.

Not many players with as many good finishes in the majors this year.

McLaren, 63, Johnny Miller scored a 63 to win a US Open and I'm sure there's been other 63's in the final round.

Oakey, Peterson is officially Swedish, but lived in America most of his life. I've got the fat Bar Steward at 100/1 each way.

He is a us citizen these days SR. pledged his allegence and all that

That may well be true, but officially he represents Sweden.

He feels american though. I think he will have a dilema very soon . Because he is becoming a top golfer and he may start thinking about the ryder cup but i am not sure the americans will recoignise him as a choice

mysti

All he had to have done was join the european tour.

Mclarean that would only get him into the european team not the team he clearly would rather play for

Oakey, he's got dual citizenship, and the PGA have him down as as a Swede.

I doubt he could just flick nationality simply because it suits him and a Ryder Cup agenda.

I don't think he's good enough for either team really, but if he did qualify on merit I presume it would be for Europe based upon his nationality being Swedish at the start of the points process.

If he wanted to play for the septics, I think he would officially call himself an American, and that would start by having the stars and stripes next to his name and not the Scandinavian cross.

SR He feels american, he wants to be one. Its not about flicking nationality to suit an agenda.

He has allready become an american citizen. He said after his 2nd place at the sony- That that was his first top 10 as an american! But the PGA of america doesnt see him as an american- because they have a rule saying to represnt america in golf you have to have been a citizen before your 18th birthday.

He doesnt have a choice about what he has next to his name- its the PGA's choice not his- thats his problem

Anyway- Looks like Rorys,

Good charge from poults but i think its over

Then he can't represent America in the Ryder cup then can he? End of discussion. He looks about 50 but is only 35. Disgrace to the human race.

yeah the decision he has to make is if he wants to play against a team he clearly would rather be in and start playing in europe or forget any ryder cup aspirations.

If he felt really strongly he could allways appeal to the PGA's better nature or take them to court. And he would probally win an all. Because the ruling is discrimintary as all other sports do not operate this way, But i doubt he has that motivation in fairness

I doubt he'd live long enough to contest it. He makes shane Lowry look like Kate moss

Kate moss looks good at the moment(In the closing ceromony)

One of my old neighbours SR

RE Pettersson and the USA Ryder Cup Team

Current RC rules are that a naturalized citizen MAY play for the U.S. Ryder Cup team IF he was naturalized before his 18th birthday. Pettersson became a U.S. Citizen early this year... so he can not be eligible.

Opps... didn't see this posted above... nevermind...

yeah i mentioned that rob

mystiroakey wrote:yeah i mentioned that rob

yeah... I just saw that... oops..

If David Lynn finishes in the Top 4 he'll earn a trip to the 2013 Masters. Among other things presumably.
What an achievement.

Pretty good effort from Keegs, we were worried about burn out for him in late june but he seems to be back on form. This years fedex winner I fancy. You heard it hear first.

Rose for the fed ex- heard it here first

This is what I call winning a golf tournament . . . . . . . .

outstanding from McIlroy today, absolutely outstanding, his putting has been very very good (hasn't missed anything from inside ten feet) and when that happens there's no stopping him.

Superb performance

well done Rors.. 2nd Major and many more to come

Another NI major, ada boy Rory!!

Luke Donald in with the equal second bast round of the tournament.
Does that define him in Majors?????

there's another of those testing putts made easily on the 17th. It must give you so much confidence knowing that if you knock it to within ten feet you'll sink it...

kwinigolfer wrote:Luke Donald in with the equal second bast round of the tournament.
Does that define him in Majors?????

so he has done it again then. Unbelivable , he is like clockwork in majors. Luke you need a shrink and more practise at the majors pre tourny.

Kwini

I am not sure it is a question worth us answering as Donald has probably had his time at the top. He has not improved his general play this year and has probably got worse in the majors. What will define him in the majors is being on of only two number ones never to win one.

Mac- If donald doesnt win one i will be suprised- He constantly prooves what he can do on major set ups with his final rounds. He also shows how consitant he can be week in week out, He just needs a change in his approach to the majors

incontinentia wrote:Another NI major, ada boy Rory!!

Was about time! We haven't seen a NI major win in almost 13 months!

mysti

Winning a major is about handling the pressure not shooting a good round when you are about fifteen shots from the leader.

so you think i dont realise that?

whats your point pal?

wow, just wow! this kid is special

Wow that was very impressive.

Right, people can now stop bleating about the run of 1st time major winners...

Here's a thought - could there be bonus OWGR pts for blow-out wins (by 5 let's say)?

Great bounce back from poor form not so long ago.

Dear Golf - We own you - Sincerely, Northern Ireland


Seriously, Rory gets my vote for golfer of the year right now. Comeback player goes to Tiger. Heck of a performance -- more to come I'm sure.

Bubba fading as the year goes on.

Simpson not exactly likely to scale those heights again, and hasn't done all that mush outside the us open this year.

Ernie doesn't need to prove anything, but still not that hitting the top all that often and had a slight stumble when he got within a whisker at the transitions.

McIlroy great win at the honda and now the most mind blowing performance since the last time he won a major by 8 shots. Remember, he also had an incredible run of top 5's until his missed cuts in june.

And the former number one keeping up his poor major form.


So Shotrock has it spot on, McIlroy is the best player of the year.

Not sure I'm buying the argument just yet, is the best player of the year really someone who went T40-CUT-T60 in the first three majors and has only won twice so far since Jan 1st? Although admittedly there's no standout candidate, given that all four major winners have had lulls along the way.

I posted this after the Open on Kwini's thread, we might or might not find a contender here:

NedB-H wrote:One of the ways to tell who's had a good year at the end of the four majors is to see who's had the best combined score through all of them. These are the guys who have played 72 holes at all three majors so far in 2012. Kuchar probably the biggest surprise I would think, along with the sheer number of players still in there:

Scott: (-4) 844
McDowell (-2) 846
Kuchar (E) 848
Westwood (+3) 851
Furyk (+4) 852
Harrington (+4) 852
Poulter (+6) 854
Dufner (+7) 855
Mahan (+9) 857
Woods: (+9) 857
Watney (+12) 860
Jacobson (+13) 861
Z Johnson (+14) 862
F Molinari (+14) 862
Stricker (+15) 863
Fowler (+16) 864
Bradley (+24) 872

On the Europeans-at-the-PGA debate - I think the point is probably weakened somewhat by both of those European wins being in the last few years, after a long drought. But, I also think it's worth noting that Europeans still tend to struggle generally at the two rotating US majors, the US Open and the PGA. And if you take out Harrington, a multiple major winner, and McIlroy, surely a future multiple winner, the only two courses Europeans have won on in 40 years are Pebble and Whistling Straughts. My theory is that there's a home advantage when the majors are on standard, parkland courses which suit the PGA Tour players who've grown up on similar. In tournaments on more unusual style courses, the playing field is levelled a bit. Which suggests Kiawah might be a bit kinder to European players than a lot of places. My tip for European to watch would be a scrambler, probably Poulter.

Post-PGA, Kuch, Westwood, Mahan, Watney and Fowler invalidate their claims. The final update is:


Scott: (-6) 1030
McDowell (-4) 1032
Poulter (+2) 1038
Harrington (+3) 1039
Woods: (+7) 1043
Dufner (+8) 1044
Furyk (+8) 1044
Stricker (+12) 1048
Jacobson (+16) 1052
Bradley (+20) 1056
F Molinari (+20) 1056
Z Johnson (+26) 1062

Obviously none of the major winners feature, but what's interesting is that none of the top 4 guys have won anything at all this year, the first Winner being the three-time one at five. I suspect if it was anyone else, three wins and that major record would have people calling that guy the year's best player... I reckon it probably comes down to one of Woods or McIlroy anyway, though if McDowell or Scott can get a win or two by Christmas they'll have had nearly as good a 12 months.

Ned

Lets wait and see what the points gained in 2012 looks like after they publish tomorrows OWGR. Rory will be pretty close to the top I bet.

McLaren wrote:Ned

Lets wait and see what the points gained in 2012 looks like after they publish tomorrows OWGR. Rory will be pretty close to the top I bet.

He and Tiger both Mac!

American Ryder Cup Team Automatic Qualifiers:

Woods
Watson
Dufner
Bradley
Simpson
ZJohnson
Kuchar
Mickelson

Next 4:

Mahan
Stricker
Furyk
Fowler

Can't honestly see why he'd go beyond those 12.

I really can't stand the plastic paddies being so silly about a few tatty munchers winning majors.

It's not because they are Irish that they have won, just that they played better than the rest.

Great tournament though.

super_realist wrote:I really can't stand the plastic paddies being so silly about a few tatty munchers winning majors.

It's not because they are Irish that they have won, just that they played better than the rest.

Great tournament though.

I get what you're saying S_R - I guess NI players having won four of the last 11 majors would appear as a statistical anomaly when the population is only circa 1.8million or to put it another way, considerably smaller than say Houston. But I agree, I don't think their talent has that much to do with their nationality, although there may be something in the coaching and junior golf development. I'm not aware what it's like in other countries, so can't say for certain.

Regardless of all that, a fantastic win for Rory - a peerlesss performance. It's what I expect from him in a season, periods of good form, the ability to dominate a tournament or two, but also spells during which he under-performs.