European Tour - BMW PGA Championship

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They should've called it the KFC PGA Championship this year... Yesterday the anchoring ban, today is the fried chicken saga, plus the McIlroy-Horizon/GMac stuff, no one seems to care that there is a big golf tournament going on this week at Wentworth... And on top of that, some of the top ET golfers don't seem to care either: Oosthuizen, Schawartzel, Hanson, Stenson, Harrington, all gone by the way side...

Hoping for some good golf from tomorrow anyway and hopefully that will get people interested again...

super_realist wrote:They also might find it hard to find a fundamentalist church in Europe.

Because being proud of having a personal relationship with God is bad thing.

GPB wrote:

super_realist wrote:They also might find it hard to find a fundamentalist church in Europe.

Because being proud of having a personal relationship with God is bad thing.

Of course it is. why would it be anything else. It's a preposterous claim.

Whatever the reason for not travelling, it's the tournament's loss and, not incidentally, the player's loss also too - I'm actually enjoying seeing a few more young Americans, Uihlein, Kemmer, Pinckney, Koepka, etc, playing in Europe.

Hopefully one or two of them will get to the very top of the sport and remember the good times, the experiences they enjoyed and the variety of golf that helped them become a better player. Many of the 40- and 50-somethings did that and no doubt it has helped them.

It's a tremendous tournament and a very good stepping stone for such players Kwini.
Looking forward to the BBC coverage tomorrow, if they still have it that is...........

super_realist wrote:

GPB wrote:

super_realist wrote:They also might find it hard to find a fundamentalist church in Europe.

Because being proud of having a personal relationship with God is bad thing.

Of course it is. why would it be anything else. It's a preposterous claim.

FTR, that is an opinion, and not a fact.

And how is it bad?

super_realist wrote:It's a tremendous tournament and a very good stepping stone for such players Kwini.
Looking forward to the BBC coverage tomorrow, if they still have it that is...........

Highlights each evening only this year.

Is it just me... or does Rory look like Beldar in that knit cap of his

http://static.seekingalpha.com/uploads/2009/1/9/saupload_6a00d8341d19f453ef00e554039c8d8834_800wi.jpg

No it's not an opinion. There isn't a shred of evidence that anyone has a relationship with God, none, ever, they merely think they have a relationship with what they imagine god to be, none of them can demonstrate that they actually do. It's the adult equivalent of a childs blanket. Is that a good thing to admitting to having?

It's bad because there is no good reason to "have a relationship" or hold a belief in god. None whatsoever, and it's got even less relevance in sport.

You should care whether what you believe is true, not just that it makes you feel good.

Thank goodness the likes of Watson and Simpson don't like it over here, we don't need them ruining already dreary interviews with their credulous comments.

Diggers wrote:So when Poultry said last week he was going to step up and go to Wentworth what he actually meant was he was going to go to Wentworth and miss the cut.

Ha ha ha. I think the peacock has been well and truly plucked.

Skydriver wrote:

super_realist wrote:It's a tremendous tournament and a very good stepping stone for such players Kwini.
Looking forward to the BBC coverage tomorrow, if they still have it that is...........

Highlights each evening only this year.

For Christ's sake. I don't normally like watching golf, but this tournament is normally a joy to watch.

Here Super, I think there might be a couple of threads left in maybe say the recipes section that haven't benefited from your views on religion you'd better pop in and enlighten them.

Hibbz wrote:Here Super, I think there might be a couple of threads left in maybe say the recipes section that haven't benefited from your views on religion you'd better pop in and enlighten them.

Ha ha.

Back to the golf.
Is Manaserro ever likely to be a top player? As the horrid football cliche goes, he doesn't seem to have trained on. A few decent performances here and there, but no trees pulled up.

Yes, s_r, we all benefit from travelling, sportsmen especially one would think. Sounds like Shotrock had a fine old time in Bonnie; and no doubt Dornoch and the rest were pleased to see him and his mates. Travel makes the world go round, except for those who are perfectly content to stand still.

Fine finish by someone who really needs a good tournament, and that's your fat friend Shane Lowry. Hasn't he played well here in the past?
And no sheep stereotypes please, but very pleased to see Phillip Price in with a terrific 69.

kwinigolfer wrote:Yes, s_r, we all benefit from travelling, sportsmen especially one would think. Sounds like Shotrock had a fine old time in Bonnie; and no doubt Dornoch and the rest were pleased to see him and his mates. Travel makes the world go round, except for those who are perfectly content to stand still.

Fine finish by someone who really needs a good tournament, and that's your fat friend Shane Lowry. Hasn't he played well here in the past?
And no sheep stereotypes please, but very pleased to see Phillip Price in with a terrific 69.

I was watching a bit yesterday in a pub in Edinburgh and I noticed it said Lowry in the corner. Who was playing was a slender, tall looking chap with a beard. Bloody hell I thought, Lowry's taken me on my word and gone on a fitness regime, alas they just got the caption wrong, next shot was Billy Bunter playing a shot into the green

guys- this is Lowry's time, a victory here would be the ideal start to his push for a Ryder cup spot next year.

Darren Clarke leading the Northern Ireland entry. Probably the only one to make the cut.
Wonder what the odds of that were?

I still hate that final hole.

Are more players from the 1999 Euro Ryder Cup Team going to make the cut vs the 2012 Ryder Cup Team?



Ollie, Monty, Clarke, (plus Sergio and Westy) are going to make the cut. Jarmo might make the cut. That might make 6.

Rory, Poulter, Luke, Justin, GMac are below the cutline. Hanson didn't play.

So long as Tom Lehman with his big feet and his god doesn't make the Colonial cut . . . . .

Jarmo's in. Think Lawrie missed.

It's a poor performance by some of Europe's best, GPB - but the golden oldies did OK - Jimenez, Price, Bjorn and McGinley as well as those you mentioned.

Should be a great weekend's golf . . . . . with much better weather. Super event.

Good to see Jiminez back.

robopz wrote:OK anybody... WHO is Eddie Pepperell... ?

Pepperell is an exciting new talent I've been looking forward to watching play. He was on the fringes of Walker Cup teams the last few squads but was more of a GB&I B teamer so to speak, great start to this week, looking forward to seeing him play the weekend. Looks very level headed going by his interiew, reminds me a bt of Tom Lewis. Good to see some new talent coming through.

Pepperell is quite famous compared to... Jason Levermore!?
He's apparently an Essex club pro who had to qualify to play this week and who only played a handful of events in his life on the ET, with his only ever small prize money won 2 years ago here at Wentworth when he finished T50.

Well, missed this, but on Thursday he had an ace at the par 3 2nd hole, which according to ET's twitter at the time should've won him a £100,000 BMW (currently driving a 9-year old Renault)!! But later in the day, when play was suspended, they told him that he actually didn't win the car... not sure why, but he must've been gutted.

Still, yesterday he finished birdie-birdie-birdie and he's T14 just 4 off the lead...

Looks like much better weather and better scoring this morning...

Talking of exciting talents, what a return to rude good health for Miguel
Time for Doon to remind us also that there are three Scots up there, great round from Ramsay.

Looks a much nicer day . . . . .

Coetzee finally to win a European Tour event? Possibly the best player on the European Tour without a win?

Wonderful course ... and crowds ... and weather holding up ...

Me, I'm off for a Memorial Day sweeps 18 hole event then to the Shore. Lots to look forward to!

Cheers, SR, it is a great event...
Impressive follow up for Uihlein after last week's win...

FORZA ITALIAAAAA!!!

What are the odds for a Molinari 1-2....?!

My Spanish is probably about as good as Tiger's so perhaps Viva Espana will do?
But Canizares is up there with a nice armada lurking: Miguel, Pablo, Sergio and their gunship Alvaro making a welcome return to the leaderboard-ish.

Big tournament for Westwood methinks, as well as Franny and Eddie. This would be a tremendous feather in Worksop Man's hat.


Sr,
Enjoy your weekend Sr; is there any shore still there?

Robo:

Some insight from Eddie Pepperell in his blog:

http://eddiepepperell.wordpress.com/

He could have a career in journalism if his blog is indicative of writing.

Kwin - Ocean City, NJ ... surprisingly spared from the storm last Fall. Lucky.

Worksop in first and sixth right now . . . . . .

Mark Foster looks a right miserable Bar Steward. Cheer up man. You're leading.

Terrible crash by Franny the last couple of holes...

Worksop 1-2 now...

Love watching golf at Wentworth, majestic setting, great course for rewarding good play - and penalising the player who gets "out of position".

Can someone post a link to the US Open qualifier in England Tee Times on Monday?

Go on Shaaaaane!!!

bogey-bogey for Worksop...

GPB wrote:Robo:

Some insight from Eddie Pepperell in his blog:

http://eddiepepperell.wordpress.com/

He could have a career in journalism if his blog is indicative of writing.

Thanks for the link... and WOW you were right... Great little blog...

Guess who's Mr. Popular at Wentworth...?

Spoiler:

Nice to see some signs of life from Alvaro Quiros.

GPB wrote:Can someone post a link to the US Open qualifier in England Tee Times on Monday?

When I went last time all that I found out was hundreds of draw sheets left at the entrances to the course. I had no idea who was competing. The exemptions also include the winner of the PGA Championship currently being played and top 60 points leaders from the World rankings, which could also be influenced by tomorrows result. So I don't think they will have time to complete a list.
But here is a link that gives a hint. Click

I'm never wrong wrote:

GPB wrote:Can someone post a link to the US Open qualifier in England Tee Times on Monday?

When I went last time all that I found out was hundreds of draw sheets left at the entrances to the course. I had no idea who was competing. The exemptions also include the winner of the PGA Championship currently being played and top 60 points leaders from the World rankings, which could also be influenced by tomorrows result. So I don't think they will have time to complete a list.
But here is a link that gives a hint. Click

Thanks INW. I had found that and also gone to the Walton Heath home page. No info. I don't know why the USGA and related Golf Associations want to make this information like a cryptic scavenger hunt.

Lowry poised for a big push tomorrow.

A lovely day out at Wentworth today - wind and temperature a little variable, but the rain held off and the sun was out most of the time.

My party decided to watch groups come through rather than follow anyone around, so we made camp in a couple of places in the opening holes and then the closing few (most of this viewing from the 18th grandstand).

Highlights and other observations:

* Most players were hitting drivers off the first [presumably because of the wind], but the best shot I saw was Tommy Fleetwood's fleet 3 wood. Right down the middle with a pinch of draw.
* Liang Wen-chong made a couple of bombs with the putter at both ends of the course. Uphill birdie at 2, fantastic eagle at 18. He played his approach from way up the fairway; didn't know he was particularly long, so was wondering if that was his 2nd or 3rd when spotting his ball via binoculars.
* Sergio played a couple of interesting chips on those same holes. After we saw a stream of players safely hitting the green on 2, the Spanish Armada group of Gonzo and El Sulko both missed - short and long respectively. Sergio had a downhill chip from a rather uninviting lie. Played quite low and it rolled some way past as he was ordering his ball to "sit". Both he and Gonzo got up and down though, Garcia greeting his par with a fist pump. Not sure what club he played off the green on 18, a hybrid or a wood though. Was a short chip, so I was quite surprised that he managed to control the distance so well.
* Most impressive approach shot on the notorious 18th that I witnessed was probably Anders Hansen's. He was wa-aaaay back. Looked about level or even further back from the first of the 2 bunkers at the corner. Was surprised when he was sizing up his shot with a wood in his hand. That's a damn scary shot - even for this spectator visualising it when crossing the fairway earlier in the day! Anyway, huge pity that he had a good chance for eagle but went on to 3 putt.
* Got caught by the sea of humanity following Westwood whilst we were trying to go in the opposite direction (so we gave up). Very difficult to see anything when stuck in that sort of scrum. Not sure I like the "Miami Lee" look of shades and stubble; probably the Florida influence?
* Price of refreshments bordering on outrageous!
* Seems much better with park and ride system rather than cars clogging up the estate / crossing the course all the time.

incontinentia wrote:Lowry poised for a big push tomorrow.

That's what he requires to get out of bed.

Sky,
Sounds a great day! All a bit more of an event the only time I went . . . . .
Think Westwood started the stubble look after he cut his face diving and couldn't shave.


s_r,
Crane and scaffolding more like.

Some decent early scores being posted - sure Westwood would prefer a day when par is a good score.

some disgusting and intolerant comments there. he won't need a crane and scaffolding to hoist the trophy later on that's for sure.

He actually spoke quite well in an interview yesterday.

Slightly off topic but has westy had his teeth altered im sure he has had some modifications carried out?Tv remote will be busy later switching between the golf and F1.
Always good to see someone like Pepperill getting a run great experience.Slattery also started off with a bang yesterday.However if I was a betting man Westwood looks like the winner.

I think it'd be great for Westwood to get this one done. Not only because it'd be the biggest feather in his Euro Tour cap... but it might help to reverse his confidence void in finishing off majors....

And Uihlein... wow.... moved up to T6, at least temporarily as I write. I'm impressed when anybody wins like Peter did last week, but come on... the BMW PGA ain't a field of Madsen's and Tullo's. This is the real deal. Hope he keeps it rolling... but either way, fantastic week for him and if nothing else proves to him, and everybody else, he belongs... EDIT: Sheesh... coverage just started here in the states... 5 birdies in a row, currently T2... wow.

dynamark wrote:Slightly off topic but has westy had his teeth altered im sure he has had some modifications carried out?

Lee got new (or improved) gnashers just prior to the 2011 season... didn't he?

PeterU is growing into a fine player indeed... unfortunately for his immediate plans, only a win here would push him into the US Open teritory, although he still has the other deadline in a couple of weeks...

I remember 5-6 years ago, some people used to say that N. Fasth was among the best players who didn't win a major, not sure what happened to him though, seems to be a bit of a common trend with Swedish players, going through big ups and then big downs... Really going for it this week though...