Memorial Meltdowns

Well, that certainly got ugly down the stretch, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Travelin' Joe Passov was hospitalized with chest pains as a result.  We likely won't catch up with Joe and the Tour Confidential gang for a day or two, but the only time he doesn't consider Adam Scott the dominant player of this generation is when Bubba plays that role, and yesterday they both spit the bit.

ESPN's Bob Harig used this lede for his game story:

Kevin Na graciously congratulates the winner.

The look on Jack Nicklaus' face spoke volumes early Sunday evening at his pride-and-joy golf course and tournament. It suggested mild disgust, perhaps frustration, and maybe even, "Geez, I would have whipped these guys." 

Nicklaus, the 18-time major winner, watched helplessly as a couple of high-profile major champions squandered a chance to win his Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, followed by the sudden-death playoff participants making a mess of the 18th hole.

 John Strege captures the sense of unreality down the stretch:

Hard to believe this shot went awry with the Hoganesque finish.

The week, for the PGA Tour, took a turn south when the FBI arrived in search of the game’s leading man in the absence of Tiger Woods. 

It only got worse when resuscitation efforts by Bubba Watson and Adam Scott went awry, chaos ensued and the Memorial Tournament was won by a man who snapped his driver in anger on the 72nd hole on Sunday 

“What,” a perplexed Jim Nantz of CBS Sports asked at one point, “has happened in the last hour of this golf tournament?”

 Though this conclusion from Strege seems quite overwrought:

What was happening was affirmation that the LPGA Tour, for once, had a better week than the PGA Tour, Mike Whan, the prohibitive and perennial underdog, prevailing over PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem. 

Whan, the LPGA commissioner, began his week by announcing that the Wegman's LPGA Championship would become the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2015, played in the vicinity of New York City (Westchester Country Club) and for a significant boost in prize money. 

Then down in Atlantic City on Sunday, the LPGA hit the jackpot again, with another marquee winner, Stacy Lewis, in a year-long succession of them. To boot, Lewis’ second victory in a month carried her back to No. 1 in the Rolex Ranking.

I root for the LPGA as much as anyone, but c'mon John.   The LPGA was on Golf Channel opposite the Memorial and we have to assume, as per usual, that exactly no one was watching.  Yes it's another in a series of great performances by attractive players, and the deal with the PGA of America was a reflection of that.  I also very much like the move to Westchester Country Club, and not just because it's virtually next door to Unplayable Lies World HQ.  It's a storied venue that the PGA Tour has abandoned because one gut doesn't like it, but should suit the ladies just fine.  And it has the added benefit of being in a media market of some size...

But this game we play is awfully difficult, and closing out matches or tournaments can often be a difficult process, as Jack himself noted on the broadcast.  Golfers know way more failure than success in their careers, and it's not the worst thing for us to see the best in the world struggle.

In other wrap-up, here's the video of Scott Langley's putt hanging on the lip on No. 16 yesterday.  Alas, it's about the only thing that went right for the young man all day:

I've often rolled my eyes at the swing analysis on golf telecasts, but this one was really quite interesting.  The video will not embed, but do click through if you missed Peter Kostis comparing Bubba's swing to a certain tournament host's.

One last note about playoff loser Kevin Na, whose comments in the broadcast booth and after his disappointing loss were notably gracious.  We can all relate to the roller coaster of emotions, the long two-hour wait, the gradual realization that he had probably won and then the sudden jolt of Matsuyama's birdie on No. 18 to force the playoff.  Who amongst us could take those hits to our system and be ready for sudden death?  But fortunately there was a consolation prize, per Rex Hoggard:

As consolation prizes go,Kevin Na was more than happy to take the high road following his runner-up finish at the Memorial Tournament. 

Despite losing to Hideki Matsuyama on the first playoff hole Sunday at Muirfield Village, Na’s runner-up showing was worth 38.4 World Golf Ranking points which will be more than enough to vault him into the top 60 and qualify him for this month’s U.S. Open.

Avoiding today's 36-hole Sectional Qualifying is not nothing, and well deserved.

And let me add an Unplayable Lies Order of Merit to Na or his caddie for, you know, actually knowing the rules.  His drop on the other side of the lateral water hazard in the playoff is how one does it.  I'm speaking to you, Rory.