PGA Tour: Ian Poulter - Overachiever or Underachiever?: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).With the PGA Tour season still in its infancy, and golfing galacticos in Abu Dhabi, in Palm Desert or still in hibernation, two people who can't get out of the headlines made news again last week with resumption of rhetorical love/hate between Ian Poulter and Johnny Miller.
Once the "Johnny miller why don't you come and interview me live and say that stuff straight to my face . . . . Was you watching a different channel" twitterage over inferences that Poults was a drama queen had been resolved, they get in to it again over whether IJP is an "overachiever" (Miller) or an "underachiever" (Poults).

2).Not the first time of course that Poults has taken umbrage at Miller's commentary - it was just three years ago that Miller was scorning Poulter's "ball striking" whereupon the player responded by forwarding Miller the Genworth stat's for the E.T., which showed him leading the ball-striking way.

3).Miller was a great player, probably a better golfer than his two-Major record would suggest: watched an old film once of him striping long irons on the Harbour Town range - left-handed!
A genius, at least until he reached the putting green. But he has made his fortune from broadcasting and Steve Eubanks' piece, linked here, is revealing and interesting:

http://www.pga.com/news/eubanks/miller-feud-fizzling

I liked Azinger's zinger from the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah, calling Miller "the biggest moron". Then, backtracking, he offered that what he meant to call Miller was "the biggest Mormon".

4).Perhaps because he tends to favour American golfers, or perhaps it's that he prefers to take cheap shots and Europeans won't take it, it seems to be guys like Casey, Poults and Westwood who take exception these days.
But perceptions about "achievement" are interesting, what do you think about Poults?

5).Has he overachieved to have two WGC titles in his locker, not to mention a hatful of other titles outside America? He also has three highly creditable runners up finishes in The Open and The Players (possibly unlucky there, getting caught in some nonsense in Round 3 and losing strokes) and an Amex WGC.
Or should he have done more, on the PGA Tour at least? He's yet to reach the Tour Championship despite having an enviable record of consistency including not having a missed cut since September 2011.

6).He's been consistently outstanding in the Ryder Cup, but has seldom contended in Majors, his runner-up to Harrington and his flash of front-nine brilliance at Kiawah notwithstanding. His PGA Tour record is:
Tournaments played: 149
Cuts made: 115 (77%)
Top 25's: 57 (38%)
Top 10's: 26 (17%)
Top 3's: 8: (5%)

7).Was Miller right about Poults's "ball striking' (total driving plus greens in reg)? Miller tends to forget there's golf outside the States except for Ryder and Pres.Cup jollies, so in his myopic eye he's right. Poulter's Tour rank these past eight years has been mediocre at best:171st in his first year (2005) and since then: 29th, 185th, 194th, 164th, 174th, 118th and 131st.
Not exactly anything to Tweet home about. But his European Tour record has been consistently better. Perhaps an undue proportion of "Tour" outings are on more difficult courses than for the average player? Quite probably.

8).What's the Poulter outlook looking forward then? He'll continue to play the biggest tournaments so that his chances of winning are somewhat diminished. (Hartford suits him down to the ground, though.)
Unless he wins, he's not likely to play enough to prosper in the FedEx Play-Offs. But he'll still be a MatchPlay genius, the Piggott-, Woods-like will to win, especially at Ryder Cup level will cause him to stand apart. And continue to be a golfing enigma.

9).Ross Fisher and David Lynn embark on their PGA Tour odyssey this week, at the "Humana Challenge", where they'll be joined by Messrs Davis and Owen (bad missed cuts for both last week) and Martin Laird (who?). Laird finished 14th last year, but how much rust has crept in to his game? We'll see soon enough, but The Laird needs a good finish or five, or he'll be watching the Majors on TV.
Very good to see Brett Quigley and Lucas Glover back in action.
Difficult to have strong feelings about likely winners here, but perhaps unwise to ignore the most recent form of Tim Clark, my very lukewarm fancy who has two second-place finishes here.
But if Russell Henley (Snedeker-like?) putts like he did last week he may win 25 times this year.

10).And the Champions Tour season revs up this week, only in first gear as the "Mitsubishi Electric Championship" has just forty runners, many of them there by invitation rather than merit. But that didn't diminish the quality of shot-making three years ago when Watson just edged out Couples.
All the Russell Henleys in the world couldn't compete with that exhibition.

Conditions should be perfect for scoring again today as the early Round 2 starters get their day's work going.

Leaderboard dominated by Americans, with a couple of Aussies, Badds and Snakey, the only interlopers.

Poor day overall from Team GB, Davis (68) leading the way from David Lynn and Laird (blowing a super start with a double bogey, bogey on his 3rd and 4th par fives) who shot 69's.

Owen at even par and Ross Fisher struggling to +2 (74), good/bad for 144th.

Remember, three rounds before the cut is made, but we should reckon on that cut being -8, maybe even -9, so all five British golfers need some improvement.

Other noteworthy scores include Parnevik and Weir at -5, both previous winners here-ish, but both coming off lengthy spells on the injured list.
And Russell Henley must thing this Tour lark is pretty easy, seven birdies and an eagle on his scorecard.

Wonder if Rory is thinking about adding a tournament in the States since he played so badly in Abu Dhabi. Phoenix would be a great place for him!

Looking at San Diego, the field includes, Woods, PMick, Bubba, Keegan, Sneds, Dustin, and Colsaerts making his PGAT debut as a PGAT member.

GPB,
I see the commitments but can't for the life of me find the confirmed runners and riders on pgatour.com.

Looks like Davis, Fisher, Laird, Lynn and Owen at least from Team GB, plus Jonas Blixt, Cabrera, Colsaerts, Karlsson and most of the best Aussies.

Wouldn't it be helpful if pgatour.com would post the San Diego field?
All we get is an inane little blurb "First Look" illustrated with Lindsey Vonn's ex that says Woods, Johnson, Watson, Bradley, Colsaerts, Stanley, Stallings and Gainey will be there - not even any confirmation that Snedeker will "defend" his title.

Anyway, that lot's in the future and there's lots of pitch and putt left to play this week.

Would still bet on the cut in the Palm Desert to be at -9 but imagine the golfers would feel they need to reach -10. That means for Team GB:

David Lynn (and Karlsson) needs a 66 to be safe.

Ross Fisher (& Mickelson) needs a 67

Martin Laird (& Bill Haas) needs a 68

Greg Owen (and Tim Clark) needs a 69, and:

Brian Davis (and the other Englishman, Harris) needs a 70.

Parnevik and Weir regressed yesterday, no surprise there, and the lead is just at -14 going into Round 3, plenty of time for a couple of low weekend rounds from deep in the field to earn a big payday.

The winner? Who knows!

Kwini, If Castro wins, will this be his first?

Leff,
It would indeed.
Nothing to do with his golf, but Robbie Castro is widely considered the wittiest Twitter out there!

Greg Owen in with a fine round of 68, so Mansfield Man makes his first cut of the season.
And the harsh reality of the PGA Tour will hit David Lynn as he makes his way southwest to San Diego.
Davis, Fisher and Laird still fighting the good fight.

What a run Brian Stuard is having, -11 with 2 remaining!

Another with a chance to win for the first time.

And what a run Mike Weir is having in quest of his first cut for 18 months: -9 after 13 holes: 59 watch?

Almost certain the cut will be at -10: a remote possibility it could creep to -11. Incredible.

So Rob Karlsson and Brian Davis miss out, and Fisher and Laird have it all to do, especially Fish.

Confirmation that the same five Team GB crew go again next week, Davis, Fisher, Laird, Lynn and Owen, with Gary Christian first alternate.

Weir is still a bubble boy.

Hope Phil makes the cut. He is playing next week at Torrey Pines. We will be there on Fri and Sat. Not sure about Sunday evening as my 6-year-old daughter is in a play.

I can't believe how much effort Weir is making to miss the cut!

Syracuse 70, Louisville 68

Enjoy it Leff, Not a bad field with Woods, Mickelson and plenty of other "faces".

Dream over for Mike Weir - too bad.

And: I got razzed on here a fortnight ago for forecasting a good year for Scott Stallings - five shot lead, I see!


Great win by the 'Cuse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very popular in this house!

Glad Phil M stays for tomorrow.

Alice Cooper looked good enough to a pro.

Syracuse goes to ACC next season. That will be 3 HoF coaches in one conference.

I'd bet just 2 x HOF coaches - can't see Boeheim taking the jump. Perfect time for him to step down and hand over to Mike Hopkins (not Bernie Fine).

Very happy for Ross Fisher, three birdies in his final four holes to make the cut by one.

Anyone else getting any life out of pgatour.com?
golfchannel.com has every player that's teed off so far at even par for the day.

Perhaps europeantour.com should take over??

Shoot out in the desert, but who's going to win the fistful of dollars?

Stallings in pole position but Sweden's David Lingmerth and Gay Brian might have the best chance of the chasing posse.
Lingmerth six under par after nine holes and something like 61 or 62 will get him close - a big step towards keeping his card though.

kwinigolfer wrote:Anyone else getting any life out of pgatour.com?
golfchannel.com has every player that's teed off so far at even par for the day.

does it really matter? -24 leading after 3.5 rounds and even Michael Bradley in dead last is -8

must be one hell of a pitch and putt. when do they get to putt through the windmill?

kwinigolfer wrote:Anyone else getting any life out of pgatour.com?
golfchannel.com has every player that's teed off so far at even par for the day.

Perhaps europeantour.com should take over??

Also the pgatour ipad app seems screwed up. Their scoreboard can't handle a tournament being played on different courses.

Slowride,
I don't think you could have known that when I originally posted.
robopz posted the reasons for their continual snafus last week - it's just exasperating when they advertise something they don't deliver.

Can Stallings maintain his lead?

Gay last won in 2009, and Howell in 2007.

3 x 62's out there already - Gay needs to reach that at the very least, probably Howell also.

But Stallings has stalled - can he get it back into gear??!!

Stalling dropped a stroke. Now 4-way tie with one hole left for Howell and 2 holes for Stallings.

Are the Howellers on their way back?
Oops, Cink in the sink.

61 top ten, 13 second places, only 2 wins.

C'mon Chuck, this is yours.

Oh Chuck, gave up birdie on the 18th.

Stallings started well on the 18th. He just needs a birdie to win this. Quite likely, I think.

Not any more - too much Horlicks last night.

Car crash tv, he's got to get up and down to make the play off now

Why now Stallings?

Remote chance he can chip it?

Sad, sad, Stallings. After a nice tee shot, finishing with a bogey and not even in the play-off.

Three left as Stallings exits with his caddie stage left.
As they used to say in our English text books: Exeunt. (Always sounded very rude.)

He blew it on the par 5 sixth, I think not making birdie there affected him and he started noticed guys creeping up on him.

Yup.
Cold in those Poconos Grumps?

Hoping Chuckie wins it but no confidence at all!

With the Swede out, it's Gay vs Howell now.

Bit weird Kwini, had snow in the week and this weekend we were in the 40s. Supposed to drop into the teens and singles this week but I'm not sure if I trust those slack jawed, bumbling, yokels with the forecast. Still not warm enough to play golf so anything above freezing is a bonus. How about you? Frozen in?

Advantage Gay after the 10th tee shot.

It's been years since either of these guys have won. Do you think they remember how to? Charles Howel ill will be after that approach.

Fabulous approach by Gay. Hole out from the bunker needed

Unless Chuck can pull a miracle, this will be another victory for Gay.

Blimey, still not lost his turn. 2 putts for Gay?

Finish in style Brian, put Chucky out of his misery

EDIT: Well done, great 10th hole.

I speak Yank temps now; I find myself having to convert C to F to work out what people are on about now. Gees, hope you have some winter warmer to get you through that Kwini.

Well done Brian Gay.
Chuckie, Oh Chuckie!

Grumps, cumulative forecast highs Monday thru Thursday add up to 15 degrees. Fahrenheit!

Finishing in 2nd place for the 14th time, Charles!

Interesting for any New Zealanders out there that Gay receives coaching help from Grant Waite. Remember him? Never the same player after Tiger's miracle shot on Glen Abbey's 18th a dozen or so years ago.

Whats with the odd Phil Mickelson press conference?

http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/8863956/phil-mickelson-hints-big-course-changes

There are a few more reports of his cryptic message.

Might Phil upsticks to Switzerland/Monoco (low/no tax) and play the Euro tour?? (a bit of a fantasy but hey)

Any of you US based fellas heard any more on this??

Going to Russia with Depardieu perhaps?

Anyway Phil, this is what us Europeans have endured for decades. All that "giving back" stuff is just BS then, or?

Who knows with Phil, but I've been predicting for ages now that he'll find a way to join the European Tour for a season or two.
Not very impressed with his taxation arithmetic, but maybe now is the time.

Played quite well this week after getting over the flu on Thursday - he's also due his annual win!

Surely Phil could just move to Florida as a lot of golfers do as their taxation is pretty favourable?

I am sure that he may have changed but I always got the impression that he was a bit of a reluctant traveller.

"Drastic changes" doesn't sound like just moving to Florida?

Anyway, I am surprised Phil comes out so clearly on this subject. If I was him I'd be very careful I didn't alienate my fan base.

pedro,
Perhaps he is talking directly to his fan base . . . . . . . .

You can be sure that most golf followers are just as anti-tax as the PGA Tour golfers themselves, not to mention the media.

But I see no reason for bringing it up - even if asked. If he wants to move somewhere else or try the European Tour, why not just use other arguments - sports or family for instance? Nobody (or very few at least) will feel sorry for somebody who earns 50-100M a year, especially not sport stars. Although golf is traditionally an elitist sport, I guess less so in the US than in Europe - just baring in mind how many actually play the game in the US. For sure Lefty isn't lefty though...

With that being said, I'd welcome him playing here on the ET.

well unless he moves to a taxhaven like jersay, monaco or switzerland i doubt he would earn considerably more playing on the euro tour other the pga tour..

But arnt you taxed based on where the events are rather than just your residnecy?

I dont know enough about all this.. But it will also depend on results.. I suppose it is alot easier to win on the Euro tour- I would give him 4 wins straight away!

He could register as a corporation in Ireland and pay only 12.5%...