Thursday Threads

It suddenly got quiet out there, really very little to kick around as await kick-off at Torrey....  I'm just the messenger.

These Kids Today, The Girl Kind - I meant to include this in yesterday's Distaff Dispatches, but since lately I've had the attention span of a mollusk...  There is surprise at this decision in some quarters, though not too much from your humble blogger:

Australia's reigning US Women's Amateur champion Gabi Ruffels has become the first high-profile golfer to decline an invitation to play the Augusta National Women's Amateur in April. 

Ruffels, the younger sister of professional golfer Ryan Ruffels, qualified for the Augusta event that precedes the Masters when she became the first Australian to win the US Women's Amateur Championship last year. 

But the Augusta event runs against the first professional women's major of the year – the ANA Inspiration – and Ruffels has decided to tee up in that event in California from April 2-5. 

"Yeah it was a really tough decision, but I think we all decided ANA would be the best," Ruffels said.

Alternative title:  Great Moments in Passive-Aggressiveness.   From the poobahs at Augusta National, of course... I remain in awe of their game, unable to make their gesture to the ladies without bigfooting the LPGA and their first major.  Because, you know, there was simply no other weekend on which they could schedule this event.

I have no opinion on the decision of this or any other player, they of course need to decide where to peg it for themselves.  But note the world class arrogance of those in green blazers, just assuming that the rest of the golf world would conform to their needs.  

But I've further thought that the event itself might lose a little luster after the novelty expired.  They had a great inaugural event, a popular champion and a great set-up that generated back nine heroics just like that other event they hold, so no problem there... 

It would be quite the delicious irony if more girls made the same call as Gabi, lending their support to the folks that have actually contributed to women's golf for an eternity.  Augusta National's embrace of the ladies is, in contrast, rather late and half-hearted (remember, only one tournament round is played on the hallowed grounds).

Predictions Are Hard - Especially when you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer....  ESPN's Michael Collins offers some predictions for 2020, and some aren't laugh out loud ridiculous...But just some...  I'll focus on those related to the Open Championship to demonstrate my point:

Tiger Woods wins another major. 

It'll be the last one of the year: The 149th Open. (Oh, you still forgot that's the last one, didn't you?) Too bad it's not 2021, because it would be even more iconic if he did it at St. Andrews. But that's next year.

There have been a number of folks predicting this, so no shame there.  I would be the other direction, based on weather and prior history at the venue. but that's why there's horse racing...

But further on in the piece comes this:

We will have a winner for worst venue for The Open. 

Some of Royal St. George's past winners: J.H. Taylor, Jack White, Reg Whitcombe, Bill Rogers, Ben Curtis ... hey, wake up! At least Tiger gives it some class by winning.

Is Sandwich a bad venue?   It's got that rep, dating back at least to Jack's quip that Open venues go South the further, well, South one goes....It's the one current rota course I've not made it to, so my reaction is necessarily second hand.  I do know many folks that enjoy it greatly, but it's a quirky track with many blind shots and other eccentricities, the kind of thing professional golfers tend to hate.

But it's that list of past winners that offends, because it's disingenuously incomplete.  While Sandwich has delivered those unimpressive Champion Golfers of Year, would you have any interest in knowing who else has won there?  Oh, let's see, there was Harry Vardon, twice as it so happens.  Also Walter Hagen, again twice, as well as Bobby Locke, Henry Cotton and Greg Norman.  

But the real curiosity is that first name on the list, one of the giants of our game in its formative years:

John Henry "J.H." Taylor (19 March 1871 – 10 February 1963) was an English professional golfer and one of the pioneers of the modern game of golf. Taylor is considered to be one of the best golfers of all time. He was a significant golf course architect. Taylor helped to found the British PGA, the world's first, and became respected for his administrative work. He also wrote two notable golf books.

Anyone that could put J.H. Taylor, who won five Open Championships in the same list as Ben Curtis has little business offering his opinion on our game.  

He also had this bit that intrigued me:

This will be the year Adam Scott turns heel 

He's had two caddies that were, well, aggressive. Tony Navarro got into a scuffle with a fan at the 2008 U.S. Open while on Scott's bag. Then there was Steve Williams, who isn't quiet. Nobody sees Scott's behavior. This is the year people see it.

Does anyone know what he's talking about?  I can't remember any murmurs about the Aussie's behavior.  On the contrary, I've always assumed that one reason he' so underachieved is that he's too nice a guy...  Of course, I just violated my own advice, crediting an insight form a guy that thinks J.H. Taylor was a turn-of-the-century Tour rabbit.

Oh, and Michael's not finished doubling down on stupid:

The R&A finally changes the name of its major to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Open. 

Listen, everybody calls their championship the Open. The U.S. Open, to people in the U.S., is the Open. The Canadian Open, to people in Canada, is the Open. Everyone else calls it the British Open and they get mad. Just for spite, the R&A finally starts calling it by its full and proper name.

Remind me, Michael, in the unlikely event you actually know the answer, but which one came first?  Just to be clear, Michael, when they named it The Open Championship, it was the only one.  

State of the Torrey - Since we'll all probably tune in, hey, no football, you might have interest in Geoff's thoughts on the condition of Torrey Pines:

Torrey Pines Update: Tougher, Way Fewer Trees, Same Architectural Humdrum

As a pair of Farmers Insurance Opens and the 2021 U.S. Open are set for Torrey Pines, the stakes are high for Tiger Woods in pursuit of win no. 83 and who-knows-what-major-

number next summer. The conditioning struggles of 2008 are long gone and a pricey new irrigation system will continue to ensure sound turf conditions as long as superintendent Rich McIntosh is around.

For the 2020 Farmers, you will see some scarring left over from the two-hole-at-a-time irrigation installation method of last summer, but the courses are in otherwise excellent condition, with the North sporting more stout rough (and pretty narrow landing areas). With disease and beetle issues claiming a tragic number of Torrey Pines, the property has better views but is lacking a little something without the native tree for which the facility is named.

Also on tap will be our first look at newly configured elements on the 4th, 9th, 10th and 17th holes.

The 4th features a reshaped landing area designed to remedy issues from the 2008 when balls would not stay in the fairway under faster, firmer conditions. The shaping of the new work is quite good, fitting the hole better to existing landforms and presenting a more intimidating looking hole. How the balls react and where they finish, is still to be determined.

The most dramatic work from last summer can be seen at the par-4 17th, long a bit of a snoozefest for a penultimate hole and now hugging the canyon edge. It will force a decision between laying back and leaving an uphill 200-yard approach or hitting driver to get less club in. A huge risk that I suspect most players will not take, but at least it’s there and we’ll see just how aggressive the world’s best will get.

It's really quite shocking how drab this course has always been.  You'd naively think that if you built a course (or two) on bluffs over the Pacific Ocean, that you'd feature said ocean in your routing and design.  But the original routing went to pains to keep you at a distance from the briny sea, and it took Rees Jones to at least allow the golfer to sense its presence on a handful of holes.  

I almost missed this item on Golf Magazine's course raters' thoughts on the joint.  First, to the question of it being over-rated:

Sho Tobari (Panelist since 1990; has played 56 of the World Top 100): A little too high. Beautiful scenery and location, but not much strategic routing. I like the South Course and I play both courses often, but they don’t give me the sensation of playing courses of the highest echelon. They place is closer to 30-40 in my ranking.

Jeff Lewis (Panelist since 2003; has played 97 of the World Top 100): Torrey’s ranking is extremely high. It’s hard not to get a kick out of walking in the footsteps of our heroes when certain venues routinely host huge, televised events. One of the most unique aspects of being a golfer is that anyone can play the U.S. Open, Open Championship or PGA Championship courses without needing special access. But it’s those two components that often lead to overrated golf courses hosting big events and having pretty views. Check and check, in Torrey’s case. I would say it should probably be in the 60s or 70s of the Courses-You-Can-Play ranking.

As well as this Q and A:

Originally designed by William Bell in the late 1950s, the North and South courses have both been renovated since, the South by Rees Jones, the North by Tom Weiskopf. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each course? And if you had carte blanche, what changes, if any, would you make?

Lewis: I would love to see some photos of the originals, but I suspect that there has never really been anything to work with there. The post-war period through the emergence of Pete Dye is what we call the Dark Age of golf architecture. We could wipe it all away and not lose much of anything. Great courses have central hazards: bunkers, streams, barrancas, whatever. They combine decision-making and execution. Torrey North and South generally have their fairway bunkers on the sides and are mostly pretty straight. Bland is the best word. I would imagine that a redesign that created more strategic interest with more aspects with which to contend in the line of play would be a big plus.

C'mon, tell us what you really think about the Trent Jones era...

Cheap Shots - Just because we can:

Chambers Bay is much better than you remember - Fair enough, but it would almost have to be.

Callaway Chrome Soft family will be more different from each other than ever before to better meet the needs of different players - But, for the time being, not for those who insist that the core  be in the center of their golf ball.

Phil Mickelson is moving to Jupiter, where he’ll have famous golf neighbors - I just hope he's not expecting to get comped at Woods Jupiter.

What’s the biggest difference between pros and amateurs? - These days, two commas.

The program that eliminates cheating and sandbagging at your golf course for good - Great. Next do something hard, take on vanity handicaps.

Lexi Thompson back to work in Boca after helicopter ride with Greg Norman - Please tell me he wore a shirt...