Loose Ends

Ski conditions are such that there's no need to rush up to the mountain early....Aren't you a lucky bunch of readers but just remember this when we get back to pegging it.

Honda Stuff - We could have a spirited debate about who is the best golfer on the planet, but there seems little doubt who the hottest golfer is:

Fowler got back to work last week in Florida after his big disappointment in the Phoenix

Open and shot the course record at The Medalist (66). The next day, he went an hour north to The Floridian and shot 60 to break the course record held by Justin Thomas.

He set a more obscure record Friday with his 4-under 66 to build a one-shot lead over Jimmy Walker. Fowler became the first player to go bogey-free over the opening 36 holes in the Honda Classic since it moved to PGA National in 2007. 

"That's a big accomplishment around this golf course - not just one day, but back-to-back," Fowler said. "So pleased with how I've managed my game."

It's just a hot streak, isn't it?  He's just in that place where you know you're going to play well, though it's all, as the man said, small potatoes for another five weeks.

The bogey-free streak is an oddity, but it's worth a quick look at this recovery shot that kept it intact.  Rickie of the jungle indeed....

And here's a rather unusual golf story:

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – PGA Tour player Jason Bohn suffered a “mild” heart attack following the second round of the Honda Classic and was listed in stable condition and resting at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center on Friday evening, according to the PGA Tour. 

The Tour confirmed through Bohn’s agent, IMG’s Justin Richmond, that Bohn experienced chest pains after finishing his round at PGA National on Friday afternoon and went directly to the on-site medical center, whose staff in turn recommended that Bohn get in an ambulance to the nearby hospital. Tests confirmed he’d had a mild heart attack. Further tests are scheduled to be conducted Saturday.

Bohn, 42, is in his 13th season on the PGA Tour, having won twice and made more than $15.7 million in career earnings. He told Golfweek on Wednesday that he had been feeling very sick of late, falling ill on the eve of the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He was diagnosed with two strains of the flu as well as bronchitis.

Did you watch any of it?  Props to NBC which quite noticeably upped their game this week from the dreadful CBS broadcasts of the West Coast Swing.  They used shot tracker liberally but to great effect, and while the Scotttrade plugs wear thin, it remains a net positive.  They also added a target graphic on a number of holes, very helpful on a typically feature-less South Florida course.

And as a fan of fun golf nbames, you know I'd latch onto the two young South Africans making their way onto tour, Dawie Van Der Walt and Tyrone Van Aswegan.  Does anyone have just two names anymore?  Can't wait to hear Sir Nick mumble his way through those....

It had seemed to me that Rory was going to play altogether too much golf in the run-up to Augusta, but perhaps it's only half as much as it initially seemed.... Have a nice weekend, Rors.

Ryder Ruminations - By now you know the story and have seen the photo.... For those just returning from interstellar travel, Jack and Barbara hosted a dinner for Ryder Cup hopefuls.  Here's the pic:

I think we can all agree that if Jack invites you to dinner, you go....  But folks will have their fun with the confab, such as this observation about Phil and Jamie Lovemark:

Lovemark's like, "Best! Night! Ever!" Phil's like, "This kid better not ask me for my autograph."

See that's why there's horse racing, because wouldn't itt have been funnier if Jamie Lovemark were the saying he better not ask for an autograph.

Duf just told Keegan he's regretting that third bratwurst.

Now that's unnecessarily hurtful for the newly-slimmed-down Duf... But more importantly, what's Keegs doing at a party for Ryder Cup hopefuls?  Was he Duf's Plus One?

Other folks there for unclear reasons included Ben Martin, Brian Harmon and the aforementioned Keegs and Jaime.... It appears the ability to fog a mirror was the standard applied.

Now, this helps us win...how?

Sigh - What do you do when you possess possibly the best golf hole in the world?  OK, that's a somewhat subjective category, but where would you start your list of the best Par-5's on the planet?  I know, the way overrated 18th at Pebble would garner many votes (whereas both the 14th and 6th are better golf holes), but no one could list five without naming the 13th at Augusta National.

It's the ultimate risk-reward hole, and it isn't unpleasant to look at either, though the effort to control the azaleas is a bit much.  So, back to my question, you'd of course change it....because you can.

Augusta National Golf Club's 13th hole is arguably the most famous par 5 in golf, and certainly, one of the most recognizable holes in the world. And now it appears headed for what will undoubtedly be one of the most scrutinized facelifts in golf history. 

Golfweek has learned Augusta National is close to a deal with its neighbor, Augusta Country Club, to purchase land that borders its 12th green and 13th tee. No changes are planned for the par-3 12th, but the club is looking to push the 13th tee back about 50 yards. The dogleg-left par-5 currently plays 510 yards. 

Currently, Augusta Country Club's ninth hole sits just behind Augusta National's 12th green and 13th tee. In addition to paying for the land -- a price tag believed to be $27 million -- Augusta National would offer to hire someone to redo Augusta's ninth hole, according to Golfweek's report. The move is also being done to add a service road back there and more of a buffer between the two courses.

Why?  What exactly is wrong with it as currently configured?

It's a classic Par-4 1/2, but it works because of the sharp dogleg on the tee shot.  But it's hole on which the player simply has to make a four to keep up with the field, and that brings risky shots into the equation (see: Mickelson, Phil).  

Now we'll get to see the best players in the world....laying up.  I can't contain my excitement.  Who knew Zach Johnson had that kind of influence?

OK, I was about to move on, but Shack just posted on the subject, with these amusing negotiation details from Alex Micelli:

The anticipated purchase price of the parcel is believed to be $27 million and they have offered services to an architect to build a new ninth hole for Augusta Country Club. 

However, a source indicated that getting to that price was not easy, with a low initial offer of just $1 million from ANGC and a counteroffer of $50 million from ACC.

The eventual back and forth of offer and counteroffer left some residual bad feelings around town, the source told Golfweek.

Does anyone remember the Masters where Tiger was almost hit by a ball from ACC while on the 12th green?

I'm officially depressed, so we'll leave things here.