Your Friday Frisson

Lots to talk about today, so we'll give you lotsto talk about with your playing partners this weekend.

Zurich Zaniness - I didn't see any of it, as I was on the golf course yesterday afternoon., but the old guys seemed to hold up pretty well:

AVONDALE, La. (AP) — Chez Reavie and Lucas Glover teamed to shoot a 12-under 60 on Thursday for a share of the Zurich Classic lead with China's Zhang Xinjun and Dou

Zecheng. 

Reavie and Glover each had six birdies in the best-ball format, pushing through soggy weather early in the round before conditions cleared at TPC Louisiana. Zhang and Dou birdied four of their final five holes. 

Tony Finau-Daniel Summerhays, Chris Paisley-Tommy Fleetwood, J.J. Henry-Tom Hoge, Michael Kim-Andrew Putnam, Kevin Kisner-Scott Brown and Troy Merritt-Brendon de Jonge were tied for third at 62.

I didn't realize until now that the walk-up songs are only being used on the weekend.... The leaders will be arriving to the dulcet tones of Metallica's For Whom The Bell Tolls, assuming of course that they survive.  

Something else I didn't notice previously, a second team drafting from the retirement list, the pairing of Jim Furyk with David Duval.  The later explains:

And that could have been the extent of his season (save for his annual appearance at The

Open), but he was drawn to the idea of the team format at the Zurich, to the idea of playing with Jim Furyk, with whom he’s been friends for the past 32 years, dating to their days in junior golf. So Duval reached out, asking the U.S. Ryder Cup captain if he wanted to team up, for old times’ sake. 

“This was about being with a friend, reuniting, having our wives together for a few days,” said Duval, who estimated that he’s played more than 100 practice rounds with Furyk over the years. “Expectation-wise, I don’t know what they are for me. I don’t get to participate out here and compete.”

In a mean-spirited slight, they are omitted from this list of walk-up songs, so here's hoping that they make the cut and force two young guys to listen to Englebert on Saturday.  I don't especially like their chances in alternate shot, but miracles happen...

Ryan Lavner suggests another team event, though I'd argue that a hostage photo is hardly a major selling point:

AVONDALE, La. – The revamped Zurich Classic is already such a smashing success that it naturally leads to another question: Is there room for one more team event on the

PGA Tour schedule? 

“It’d have to be something unique and not really out there already,” Billy Horschel said.

Agreed, so it’s time for the PGA and LPGA tours to bring back a mixed-team event.

The two tours previously sponsored a team event for nearly 30 years, the JCPenney Classic, but it hasn’t been played since 1999. When the PGA Tour announced a “strategic alliance” with the LPGA two years ago, one of its core missions was to showcase the deep talent pool and lift both tours to new heights. There’s no better way to do that than to combine forces for an event – especially with the PGA Tour about to unveil a major schedule shakeup and reduce a portion of the fall season. 

The field here at the Zurich is proof that there’s a willingness among the players to try something new. 

The New Orleans-area stop has never been a must-play for Tour types; the tournament is hosted on a nondescript TPC course and sandwiched between the Masters and The Players during a slow part of the schedule. And yet this is the first time in seven months that all four reigning major champions are in the same event. It’s the strongest field the Zurich has ever had, and if the tournament offered world-ranking points – more on that later – the strength of field would be identical to the Genesis Open, which anchors the West Coast swing.

It's an appealing idea for sure, especially for the bump it would give the LPGA, but I estimate it's chances of happening at plus or minus zero percent.  This would be perfect for the silty season, but we no longer have the luxury of silliness....

I particularly like the idea of a Jordan Spieth-Christie Kerr pairing, as long as there are no microphones in the vicinity.

Shane Ryan gets way too confessional and attributes far too much significance to these ditties:

Some of the themes are a little more fun. Two of the oldest players, Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly, chose “As Good As I Once Was,” which has the perfect amount of self-

deprecating humor. Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson chose “Gold” by Spandau Ballet because of their Olympic feats (though I might have chosen this one to include Henrik, even though it might be the worst entrance song ever). 

Brandon Harkins and Lanto Griff, about whom I know nothing, chose Drake’s “Started from the Bottom” in what I like to think is a winking nod to their own low status among the field. Justin Thomas and Bud Cauley, chose the Lion King song. The choice of “Working for the Weekend” by D.A. Points and Kyle Thompson makes for a clever golf pun. And the silver medal for funniest choice goes to Cody Gribble and John Peterson, who went with George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” because who doesn’t get worked up to a competitive frenzy frenzy with … a melancholy saxophone solo? 

And we have to recognize the bizarre choices, too: Keith Mitchell and Stephan Jaeger opting for the obscure synthy techno song “Pizza Guy,” and Tony Finau’s rolling with “Do Wa Ditty,” which, per the PGATour.com’s Mike McAllister, he apparently chose without consulting his partner, Daniel Summerhays.

But the best moment of the day was provided by the Henrik Stenson-Justin Rose pairing, though you have to know your golf history:

Justin Rose isn't afraid to show a little skin. 

With his ball half-submerged in the pond during the Zurich Classic's opening round, 

Henrik's partner is no delicate Rose....

Rose and partner Henrik Stenson surveyed the scene before making the fateful decision: Rose was going for it, even if it meant ditching his trousers for the shot. As he undressed pondside, Stenson blocked the cameras in jest, pretending to guard his teammate's modesty. 

"My partner showed me what you've got to do," Rose said of Henrik Stenson. "Remember Doral? He's not scared of taking his pants off, so he said, "get in there."

Our reference is of course to the time when Henrik went Full Monty for us:

I'm only sorry that Fanny had to see it...

Shack v. Brandel - Given his time zone advantage, it's rare that I get to an item Before Geoff, but such was the case with Brandel's recent offering.  You know it's going to end well for Brandel, beginning with the quote at the top of Shack's website:

Rough grass is of no value for protecting danger points; it has no effect in keeping people straight, but merely prolongs the length of time players are in the danger zone.

ALISTER MACKENZIE

Geoff also adeptly plays the irony card:

Irony isn't his thing, otherwise Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee might even find it funny that he's dusting off his sticks for a competitive comeback with the hope of playing the Old Course during this year's Senior Open Championship (John Strege reports).

Yet the same analyst who so eloquently lamented the disappearance of Alister MacKenzie design features at Augusta National just seven years ago, who advocated bifurcation regularly not long ago in hopes of allowing for classic designs to matter, now blames Alister MacKenzie's design philosophy for a range of things, including potentially "damaging" the modern professional game. 

In quite the contradictory column, Chamblee says elite players would return to smaller driver heads and spinning balls to shape the balls into...ribbon like fairways lined with thick rough. Except MacKenzie--supported by rogues like Bobby Jones and Ben Crenshaw--had the audacity to channel the Old Course and spread that who whole fun/width/strategy message.

And also continues his imagery hot streak:

It's really quite a bizarre article from Brandel,one in which he presents but mostly fails to make arguments to support his case.  The callout of MaKenzie surpises because his design philosophy of width has been embraced by the current generation of minimalist architects, including, Coore/Crenshaw, Doak, Hanse and others.

Certainly there's a case to be made that we should give elite players less room given the increased driving distance and lower spin rates from modern drivers and golf balls.  But the premise that by narrowing playing corridors would induce players to voluntarily choose higher spinning balls and smaller clubheads is delusional.

Bubba, An Appreciation - I've always had a soft spot for Bubba, and I'm not really sure why.  Partially it's because he plays a different game than anyone else out there...  But personally as well.  He's an awkward sort fumbling his way through the world, for sure, but he seemingly tries to stretch himself and apologizes readily when he misfires.  

It turns out that one of my favorite players, no mancrush jokes, please, feels the same.  First, about how he plays:

When I first played with him, I thought he was having a laugh. I couldn’t see how

anyone could play the way he does. I mean, he hits 30-40-yard slices off the tee. Even now, after playing with him maybe 100 times, it still surprises me how far he can hit that slice. He plays the game like no one else does today. It’s incredible. Yet he knows exactly what he is doing. He seems to have that huge right-to-left ball flight under control. And he never hits a “normal” shot. That would be boring for him. 

Maybe the most remarkable thing about Bubba is that he plays the way he does with equipment that is designed to hit high draws. Ask just about anyone on tour and they will tell you how hard it is to shape shots with the modern ball. But Bubba does it anyway. I think that is why his swing appears so extreme. He is really trying to move the ball as far as he can. He’s a long-hitting Corey Pavin, who was maybe the best shot-maker on Tour 20 years ago.

Wacky comparison that, given that Corey was the shortest hitter out there, and Bubba is...well, not short.

But also personally:

It’s safe to say that, from a distance at least, not many people in golf are quite sure what to make of Bubba Watson.

He certainly has a “love him or hate him” sort of image, which is something I have always found both understandable and unfair. I know Bubba better than most guys on

Tour – we share the same management – so I am pretty well qualified to analyse his quirky personality. I’ve spent a lot of time with him and played many practice rounds in his company. 

At first, I must admit, he was a little strange to deal with. Bubba tends to hold himself back until he knows you are genuine. But once he makes that realisation, he is fantastic to be around. He’s witty and quick with the banter. And he loves playing golf more than he loves doing anything else. 

Still, you have to take the time to get to know him. There is some effort involved. I took that time and made that effort, to the point where I realised that I really liked him. I defend him to anyone who doesn’t feel that way and I really enjoy playing with him, whether in practice or competition. The joy he exhibits playing golf is part of his genius. He has so much fun, even when it might not look as if that is the case.

Remember the famous players' poll that had Rickie as the most over-rated Tour player?  Bubba was next in line, which I though had it exactly wrong.  Overcoming his upbringing to win two majors and a slew of Tour events, makes him, to my mind, the biggest overachiever out there.

I Blame Trump -  Or perhaps it's the Russians...  But far too many golfers behaving badly, though they've mostly been offshore:

Two foursomes were reportedly involved in a golf course brawl that involved weapons and resulted in broken bones. And if you guessed this ugly incident stemmed from slow play, you guessed right. 

According to Birmingham Live, police responded to the fight on Friday at Greenway Hall Golf Club in Stockton Brook (England), racing onto the course in golf carts to keep things from getting worse. However, a Staffordshire Police spokesperson said "bones had been broken" by the time they got there.

That's bones, plural?

Other Golf Course Risks - Yanno who else has been acting like animals on golf course... Yup, actual animals.  Josh Sens provides a how-to guide for dealing with such risks:

The Hazard: Geese 

How to Handle: When dealing with an angry, airborne goose, one thing to do is duck. That's not for wordplay purposes. It's to avoid getting pecked, or whacked by wings or webbed feet. Don't drop to the ground, though, Levin says. You want to appear at least somewhat threatening, even if you're feeling like a wimp. Look the goose in the eye and, above all, don't panic. No running. No screaming. No swatting. No swinging. It'll escalate the situation. “Staying calm is pretty good advice for any encounter, animal or human,” Levin says. Save the duck, duck goose jokes for later.

 This advice seems sound, unless you're not acting"

The Hazard: Mountain lions 

How to Handle: Look big and very much alive, Levin says. Throw a beer can. Climb on top of a golf cart. Wave your golf club. If attacked, fight for your life. “Do not play dead,” Levin says. “You'll be dinner.”

Remember, you don't have to outrun the mountain lion, you only have to outrun that other members of your group.

Short Takes - Zurich isn't the only team event for professional golfers:

LPGA Tour star Stacy Lewis is expecting her first child

It's the 21st century, so we know now what causes that.

Now for the hard part:

Have New Course, Need Sponsor: Memorial Park In, GC Of Houston Out

As the Houston Open tries to remain on the PGA Tour schedule where it's been since 1946, Golf Club of Houston is out as the host venue. 

The Houston Business Journal's Jack Witthaus reports on the potential move to the downtown muni going forward. (A Memorial Park change in operator to the Houston Golf Association has been proposed.) 

The move to Memorial Park would return the PGA Tour to a course it last played in 1963. Even if no sponsor is found for 2018, let's hope this leads to a long term goal of saving the event and carrying on the Houston Golf Association's efforts to refurbish the Houston city courses.

It's curious how this is playing out.  Their schedule slot the week before The Master has already been promised to San Antonio, and the schedule needs to contract by 3-4 events.  Gotta be hard to sell the sponsorship opportunity amid the smell of death.

Mark your calendars, The Big Cat has announced his schedule:

No surprise there.... One assumes that he'll also go to Jack's place, I hear word that he's had some success there, and that will be it until Shinnecock.  One would like to see him go to some new venues, but that's not his style.

Have a good weekend.