Man, it's coming at me fast and furious...I can barely keep up with all the important developments in the golf world. Admittedly, important is a relative concept...
Upon Further Review - Golf.com has a slideshow of golf quotes, including this little smirk from our Phil:
OK, I enjoyed the laugh but I keep thinking about that chaotic finish to the PGA (I know, get a life). And do“Hey, Rory. You mind if we hit up?”--Phil Mickelson to Rory McIlroy after McIlroy teed off on the 18th hole of The Barclay pro-am Wednesday.
you want to know what I've concluded? Sorry, I didn't catch that...
I've come to belive that Phil and Rickie screwed up. Perhaps that's a tad harsh, but I believe they erred and should have not played the 18th hole in the dark. Let's go to the videotape... as they're waiting on the 18th tee Rory rolls in his birdie putt on No. 17, giving him a two-shot lead. That means that Phil and Rickie needed eagle on No. 18 to have any chance....
OK class, do you like their chances of making eagle better:
- In the dark of night, or:
- In the light of day on freshly-rolled greens.
Now you might argue that that increases Rory's chance of making birdie, and you'd have a good point. But perhaps sleeping on the lead offsets that a bit, but you'd have to conclude that he ain't making worse than par even playing by flashlight.... so I'd shoot craps (an analogy to which Phil will no doubt relate) and stay alive overnight.
Hashtag Humor - These crazy kids today.... It seems the grounds staff at Ridgewood did more than have a little fun with our Phil, they created one of these newfangled hashtag crazes, #Phil was here. Want to see some examples of the genre? I thought so:
Here's one:
Personally, I wish they'd put a little more effort into the Photoshopping, though perhaps that's part of the charm. This next one is far better on that score and they certainly found a photo with an interesting facial expression, but it's disturbing all the same (and will no doubt accelerate attrition amongst my female readership):
You Got a Problem With That, Shack? - Our Shackelofrd is a Southern California boy, so factor that in as we look at his two posts on his travel plans to The Big Apple. First up is this rather curious deal between the PGA Tour and Liberty National. From the press release:
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – At a flag-raising ceremony today overlooking the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty, PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem officially announced Liberty National as host site for The Presidents Cup when it is next staged in the United States, in 2017. The announcement is part of a 25-year partnership between Liberty National and the PGA TOUR, which will bring up to 10 PGA TOUR events to the venue over the course of the agreement.
Ten events, UGH!!!! Haven't we suffered enough? As Shack reminds, Liberty National was voted the second worst course on Tour in a recent poll of players (actually in the linked piece it appears to be the worst, edging out Dove Mountain). Shack posts the entire press release, for which the only conceivable logic being he feels he has too many readers, but this little gem can't be overlooked:
One of the world’s most picturesque golf courses, Liberty National is located along the Hudson River in Jersey City, N.J., with striking views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Manhattan skyline. The golf club fittingly opened on July 4, 2006, and is guided by the vision and leadership of former Reebok Founder/Chairman & CEO Paul Fireman, currently chairman of Fireman Capital Partners, and his son Dan Fireman, managing partner of Fireman Capital Partners. Designed by U.S. Open Champion Tom Kite and esteemed golf course mastermind Bob Cupp, Liberty National has been the proud host to the first event of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs, The Barclays, in 2009 and 2013.
Esteemed golf course mastermind? I've heard of grading on a curve, but this is many order of magnitudes beyond that. The good news for Mr. Cupp is that ten events likely means ten renovation projects...
Geoff comes back to the well to remind us of all the golf heading for the Apple, as per this list:
2016 PGA Championship Baltusrol Lower
2017 Presidents Cup Liberty National
2018 U.S. Open Shinnecock Hills
2019 PGA Championship Bethpage Black
2020 U.S. Open Winged Foot
2022 PGA Championship Trump National Bedminster
2024 Ryder Cup Bethpage Black
That's in addition to the Barclays annual rota of Ridgewood, Plainfield, Liberty National and Ferry Point (and at least one more visit to Bethpage). But there's also the ladies at Westchester for their new event in conjunction with the PGA of America, as well as a Women's Open at Trump's place in Bedminster in 2017.
Geoff, fuggedaboutit and move on.
Are You Ready for Some Football? - Playoff fever, catch it! Obviously the playoffs provide a rousing coda to the season, and become a can't-miss event. Except, you know, for the fact that guys skip them when it suites their purpose... Earlier we discussed a few Euros taking this week off so, in the interest of fair and balanced reporting, I'm pleased to report that Rory expects to play in the BMW next week at Cherry Hills.
However, it's his reasoning that's the story here:
When discussing his upcoming schedule, McIlroy said he's "90 percent" to play in the BMW Championship, the third leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs that's being held this year at Cherry Hills CC. Part of his motivation for being in Denver? The Broncos."One of the reasons why I want to go to Denver, as well, is the Broncos play the Colts on Sunday night," a smiling McIlroy said after seeing his three-tournament winning streak come to an end at the Barclays. "So I want to go to that first game of the season."
Let's hope they finish on time, so Rory can get to Peyton's Place in time for kickoff. Me, I just want to see the driving distances at a mile of altitude...
Hat Tricks - The NBC guys had a presser in anticipation of resuming their broadcast duties. Johnny had some choice comments regarding Tiger's lost "explosiveness," which seems to be his word of the day. Chamblee also piled on, so he's not getting back on Tiger's Christmas card list any time soon. But all of that isn't important right now, as Alex Myers performed a great public service by exhuming this old Johnny Miller photo with quite the NBC peacock on his head:
You know this one is going into the permanent archive to be trotted out from time to time. Johnny, what were you thinking?
David Being David - We link to David Owen more than anybody save Shackelford, and for good reason. He's actually two separate writers, let's call him Dr. David and Mr. Owen. Dr. David writes the definitive history of Augusta National and the Masters and long New Yorker pieces on Askernish and the yips.
But today we have Mr. Owen in the building, the guy that covers the Muny beat for Golf Digest and blogs on ridiculous playoffs and barbecues at his home course. Today it's how to use a golf cart cupholder as an amplifier or some such nonsense. And, of course, it turns out that the human skull can perform the same function and provides the justification for this picture of the obviously self-conscious David:
Give it a look-see, as we like like sending hits David's way.
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