Confidentially Yours

The preceding post took us in a far too serious direction for this blog.  So let's see if we can have some fun with this week's Q&A with the Tour Confidentialistas, using the same call and response format we unveiled here:

1. Phil Mickelson starts his year with an impressive T2 at Abu Dhabi, but he had the lead on Sunday and mucked up the 13th hole with a double-hit, triple bogey from a bush. Everyone loves Mickelson’s go-for-broke style, but would he win more if he took a more conservative approach?

The Professionals' Opinion:  All over the friggin' yard.  Some yes, some no, with a gratuitous Manny Ramirez reference thrown in for good measure.

My Take:  Yes.  Next question.

2. Rory McIlroy got slapped with an after-the-fact, two-stroke penalty for an illegal drop on Friday. A competitor's caddie reported it. McIlroy called the rule, about having to take complete relief, "stupid," but blamed himself. Are all of these arcane rules an integral part of what makes our game great, or are they an unnecessary impediment to enjoying and growing the game? Further, do you have a problem with the other player's caddie calling the incident to the attention of the officials?

The Professionals' Opinion: Mostly integral as opposed to unnecessary, as the point is made that most amateurs don't let the rules interfere with their enjoyment of the game.  Travelin' Joe provides a rant to the contrary that isn't particularly well grounded.  The penalty for Joe should be summary termination, and his job should be offered to the highest bidder.

My Take:   We've actively plowed this particular field in recent days, so you shan't be surprised by my belief that the rules are the rules, deal with it.  Am I the only one that doesn't find the rules of golf all that complicated, especially in view of the unlimited number of crazy situations that come up on a golf course?  Equally important, since most of us play variants of match play, the only thing that matters is that your opponent and you agree on the drop or other issues involved.  As for Rory's peer group, is it too much to expect that a professional, i.e., one who has chosen to avail him or herself of the opportunity to play a game for a living, actually know the rules (or, in the alternative, how to stand with arms folded awaiting the arrival of the rules official)?

3. Patrick Reed set a PGA Tour record by starting with three consecutive 63s while Zach Johnson challenged by shooting 62 on Sunday. Do you enjoy watching birdie-fests like this or do you prefer events where par matters?

The Professionals' Opinion:  General agreement that an occasional birdie-fest, especially early in the season, is not an offense to the golf gods and can be allowed.

My Take:  I think that's right, and Gary Van Sickle makes the important point that what matters most is that a tournament be competitive.

I'd add one further point, which is that I think there's a general boredom with Tour events, because they all pretty much look alike.  The events need more differentiation from each other, which could be accomplished through more interesting venues, varying the set-up conditions or using alternative formats.  They used to play the International at Castle Pines under a modified Stableford format, which was a welcome change from the monotony of one 72 hole stroke play event after another.  Because of the altitude (and of course all their time in the gym), the boys were driving it inconceivable distances and, because of the Stableford, shooting at every pin.  With the International gone (another count in my indictment of Commissioner Ratched Finchem), wouldn't a Stableford work great at the Humana?

4. President Bill Clinton, a passionate golfer, hosted the Humana for the third-straight year. If you were PGA Tour commissioner, who would be your dream celebrity tournament host?

The Professionals' Opinion: Fortunately George Lopez went unmentioned.  Van Sickle nails it again in noting that Frank Sinatra, Jack Lemmon and Dean Martin are unavailable.  About the best anyone can come up with is Bill Murray (who I must note used to play at Pebble with...wait for it...Scott Simpson), and isn't that shtick getting just a little bit old?

My Take:   Please, haven't I suffered enough?  How about we make the golf interesting, and leave it to the professionals?  Anyone who disagrees should be tied to a living room chair and forced to watch the entire Saturday broadcast from Pebble Beach.  I guarantee that will cure any lingering interest in this subject.

5. Tiger Woods returns to action this week at Torrey Pines, one of the three PGA Tour venues where he’s won eight times. (Bridgestone and Bay Hill are the other two.) He’s also won seven times at Doral and five times at the Memorial. What does it mean that almost half of Tiger’s 79 Tour wins have come at the same handful of venues?

The Professionals' Opinion:   Mostly variants on the theme that he plays a limited schedule and plays where he likes, including the Travelin' One's note that "When Tiger likes what he sees, the other guys are playing for second."  Good line, but the job's still up for grabs.

My Take:  Those win counts at his favorite course are impressive, but get a load of this fact cited by Mark Godich, "Even if you throw out all of his victories at those five venues, he'd still rank in the top 10 in career PGA Tour victories."  That's dominance.