Midweek Musings

I shorted you guys yesterday, so put on another pot of coffee and settle in for the duration...

Players Post-Action Report - From Brian Wacker's midweek grab bag:

The text message came in unprompted from a player, one who finished in the top 25 last week at TPC Sawgrass. 

“I’d like to say I can’t believe the scores, but having played it I can’t believe they weren’t higher,” the player wrote. “They lost control of the golf course around 3 o’clock every day.” 

Meawnhile, Adam Scott gritted his teeth when talking about some of the severity of the changes made to the venue, specifically on the drivable par-4 12th. He also said he liked the tournament when it was held in March (he won it in 2004 when it was).

Fair enough, but some guy shot -10, and he had late tee times on both Saturday and Sunday.  No doubt the course was firmer than most years, but we also heard ad nauseum about the softening of certain areas....

This is to take nothing away from Si Woo Kim, who robotically dissected the Pete Dye masterpiece with automaton efficiency and a short game that was somewhere between Seve Ballesteros and Luke Donald.

Well, I think you just did with that pejorative adjective....  Seve is an artiste but the South Korean is robotic...  Hmmmm.... I'm gonna go with racism.

Still, the general consensus was that the course has become too penal and there are too many cooks in the kitchen with not enough input from players when making changes to the course that is the tournament of, well, the players. 

“The penalty [on 12] is too severe because there is nowhere to miss and leave yourself a chance,” mused one past winner there. “Soften it enough to let guys have a chance to display their skills there.” 

The tour also didn’t quite get the dramatic affect it was looking for on the hole. With water left and bunkers and rough right, only 39 percent went for the green off the tee for the week. Some of it was pin position, or wind, or green firmness, or all of it.

It was, in short, a dud. Don’t be surprised if adjustments are made moving forward.

 A couple of reactions....  First, this joint has been controversial from day one, and will continue to be so.  The players were aghast in the early 1980's when it opened, and there's been an endless series of changes from inception.  So the fact that out of the box the 12th hole didn't work isn't of huge concern....  But we also don't want to over-react if it's inevitably play softer next year....

Lastly, we need to know when this event will be played moving forward.  As Adam Scott notes, this event makes far more sense in March, regardless of what happens with the PGA Championship. 

As for the robotic winner, I guess that $1.9 million check hadn't yet cleared:

On the one hand, JAX-ATL is like a twenty minute flight, but does he seem robotic to you?

Prayers, Answered - Also from that Wacker guy:

Last week, Vijay Singh crept into contention at the Players Championship -- the PGA 

Alas, there's no date with the photo credit.

Tour’s flagship event -- before fading on the weekend. 

His legal battle with the tour, however, appears to just be heating up. Singh’s lawsuit against the organization, which has been in a New York court for four years, appears finally to be headed to trial. 

On Monday, Judge Eileen Bransten issued a decision favorable to Singh on motions that had been pending since last fall, denying in part the tour’s motion for summary judgment. 

“We can proceed to trial,” said Singh’s attorney Peter Ginsberg when contacted by Golf Digest.

Does CourtTV still exist?  Any chance they'd cover this live?  I'm beside myself with glee:

The three main aspects to the case, according to Ginsberg, center around their argument that the tour failed to consult the World Anti-Doping Agency as obligated when investigating Singh for violating its anti-doping policy, as well as statements made to the media by then-commissioner Tim Finchem and comments from tour vice president Ty Votaw. 

“For perhaps the first time the PGA Tour is going to be held responsible for its treatment of a professional golfer,” Ginsberg said when contacted by Golf Digest. “And for its improper administration of its disciplinary policies.” 

Votaw, when reached, said the tour had no comment at this time.

Yeah, they're gonna be squirming down in Ponte Vedra Beach.  This isn't the perfect vehicle for cleaning the Aegean Stables, but it's the only one available right now.  

Answers From Alan -  His weekly mailbag continues to amuse.....  OK, it's actually Alan that's amusing, but you take my point.  He opens strongly:

There's been a lot of Best Player Without A Major debate lately - how about a Worst Player With A Major reboot?! I vote Danny Willett. You? -Mark

(@mocycling) 

Given Willett's form at the moment, that seems like a logical choice. But he won some big-time tournaments before the Masters and at 29 still has plenty of time to regain his form. Among active players you'd have to include Lucas Glover, Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson in the discussion. (I consider Mike Weir semi-retired.) Among all modern players, Shaun Micheel has to be the guy.

OK, I get the bifurcation into active vs. retired, though I do think Keegs is a strong contender for both.  The real challenge with Keegs and Webb Simpson is the historical distortion of anchored putting, without which neither would be a major champion.

I also think Todd Hamilton deserves some respect for his copious lack of achievement, pushing Ben Curtis off stage.

I'll even go further and nominate for worst player with two majors Mr. Andy North.

Poulter v Chamblee in a bar brawl. Who ya got? #AskAlan #YoureWelcome -@PaulMahoneyGolf 

I can see it now, both of them swinging their purses and grasping for handfuls of hair. I'm taking Poults in this slapfest, mostly because Brandel would be so worried about protecting his TV face he'd surely run out the back door in an act of capitulation.

I'm reminded of the famous Kissinger remark about the Iran-Iraq war....

What did you think of the landscaping job Poults did before his drop on 18? –Scotty (@ScottyGMan23) 

It was bad optics but perfectly legal, per Decision 23-1/6 of the Rules of Golf, which states, "it is permissible for a player to remove loose impediments from the area in which he is preparing to drop his ball." Pine needles count as a loose impediment, though in this case they were so ground up by pedestrian traffic it looked like Poulter was getting big handfuls of dirt. Gotta give him credit for knowing the rules, which in this case led to a much easier shot.

I think we're just shocked when these guys actually know the rules.... But isn't this a rule that should be reconsidered?  In the specific instance, Poults' relief came with a one-shot penalty, so we can argue  whether the broom clean condition was appropriate.  But I'd hate to see a guy get, say, line-of-sight relief from a TIO, and also get a guaranteed clean lie...

Is Ryder Cup growth making fans more partisan and less respectful of European players? Sergio and Poults still get mid-round abuse #askalan -@SimonCrunden 

No, it's the beer.

Don't ignore the powerful properties of a well-placed ampersand.....  But the crowd's embrace of Sergio at Augusta seems to have escaped this questioner.

How motivated are players to make the Presidents Cup? Both U.S. and International players. #AskAlan -Scottie (@scotticons)

The Internationals certainly are. The Prez Cup has become a good show, and Aussies, South Africans, Koreans, South Americans and others have a ton of motivation to try to end the American dominance. The top U.S. players used to complain about burnout, given that they have to play in the Ryder Cup during even-numbered years. But as the teams have gotten younger most of the kvetching has gone away, and the competition is so fierce to qualify for either Cup that a spot in the Presidents has become more coveted. Plus, the Yanks appreciate the more laid-back, convivial vibe the Prez offers compared to the stress-fest of the Ryder Cup.

There's nothing wrong with the Prex Cup, except if you expect it to morph into the Ryder Cup.  Though folks forget that it took about fifty years for the Ryder Cup to become the Ryder Cup....

But it's hard to untangle cause and effect here, as one reason it's remained laid-back is that the other guys haven't put up much of a fight.

How many more wins does Poulter need to be considered a future captain for the Ryder Cup? -@TheBogeyTrain 

None. His playing record is already vastly superior to the likes of Paul McGinley, who was an inspired choice and a great captain. Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood make sense for the next two teams so look for Poulter to tangle with Phil Mickelson in 2024 at Bethpage, which will be utterly epic.

More wins?  What's the guy ever won....  But Alan is correct that he's a mortal lock for a captaincy just for Medinah.

I'm actually a little worried that Bethpage could get out of hand.....

Last Dance at Las Colinas -  For those concerned about the future of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the arc of Byron Nelson's event should be sending up flares.  

The good news is that this week is the last time the event will be played at the venue that traditionally is voted the worst on Tour by the players.  Combine that with the fact that most of today's players can't spell Byron if you spot them the "B' and the "Y", makes it a depressing spectacle indeed....

We're left with silliness like this:

Jordan Spieth's Dallas-themed shoes for the Byron Nelson scream "Texas Forever"

They certainly make me scream something....

Then there's this:

Fans at the AT&T Byron Nelson won't have to leave the hotel to work on their short game this week

Hey, if keeps one child off that golf course....

Next year this event is slated to move to a new Coore-Crenshaw course at Trinity Forest, which has good advance buzz.  Let's hope that helps revise this link to the Tour's history, because contraction's a comin'.....

I won't be watching, but Brian wacker tries his hand at handicapping:

WHO I LIKE THIS WEEK

The AT&T Byron Nelson gets one last lap at Las Colinas before moving to a new venue, Trinity Forest, next year. Still, it’s in Texas and when in Texas I tend to lean toward Texans. Jordan Spieth missed the cut last week, but Las Colinas should be comforting -- he was in the final pairing a year ago before tumbling to 18th. Ditto Ryan Palmer, who has enjoyed some success there the last few years. If there’s a darker horse to keep an eye on, it’s Kevin Tway, who hasn’t been so dark with three straight top-five finishes in his last three starts.

Notice a missing Texan?

I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t see Jimmy Walker again until the U.S. Open a month from now. The reigning PGA champion looked exhausted after finishing six-over par at TPC Sawgrass, where he tied for 56th after breaking broke par just once during a mostly hot and humid week. Walker is having some difficulty in the sun with the medication he’s taking for Lyme Disease. Fatigue has been a problem all year for the 38-year-old,who has just one top 10 this year, and that came in a limited-field event in Maui. …

Let me just note that I received this week an incendiary  rumor that concerns Mr. Walker, making it an awkward time for him to experience low energy.  It's a rumor of the kind that I would naturally reject out-of-hand, except that it comes from a very credible source. 

If true, Mr. Walker has bigger issues than his golf game.... and, segueing back to an item above, it could be one excruciatingly awkward team room at Liberty National.

Nothing To See Here... - I guess this is good news:

Rory McIlroy suffered a “low-grade response” to the rib injury he suffered earlier this

year but did not experience any new injuries last week, it was reported Monday. 

McIlroy told reporters during The Players Championship that he was having the MRI to determine the cause of the back pain he suffered during the tournament. 

Ewan Murray of the Guardian posted via Twitter: “Rory McIlroy MRI confirms no new injury but “low grade response” to rib problem from earlier in year.” 

McIlroy finished T-35 at The Players, finishing 2-over for the event.

You know what else has been pretty low-grade recently?  Of curse you do....

Tullamore Interruptus -  The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel apparently understands the role of a local press, presenting a five-part series on the creation of Erin Hills, which you might have heard will be hosting a small tournament next month.

Part I is here, and it's a deep dive into the history of a very unique piece of property:

Bob Lang, a Delafield businessman, had signed an option the previous fall to buy a cattle farm in the Kettle Moraine. He fell in love with the land, carved by glaciers during the 

The newspaper ad that started it all.

Ice Age, the moment he laid eyes on it. 

Now, as he stood on one of the most famous golf courses in the world, it occurred to Lang that his land was better, more dramatic. Outside of a few holes bordering the ocean, Pebble Beach had nothing on the hundreds of acres he would soon own in the shadow of Holy Hill. 

Why couldn’t he build a U.S. Open golf course on it – one that would be affordable and open to the public?

I've only read the first installment, and already there are many twists and turns.  Included therein is the fact that Tom Doak did the first prospective routing for the property, which of course was not built.

In the aftermath of Chambers Bay, there is profound trepidation about this site hosting the Open.  The folks that have played there Have noted that it's a difficult golf course to walk, but I've not gleaned much as to how it will play for the lads.

I'll dive in on the remaining installments and blog as time and circumstances dictate.  But props to the local paper for seeing the story and allocating the resources.

PGA Pontifications - Cara Robinson interviewed LPGA Commish Mike Whan and new PGA majordomo Paul Levy as a promo for this week's KPMG LPGA M-O-U-S-E event in Chicago....   A couple of those random musings you so crave....

First, in a world of Martha Burke and club membership issues going viral, how is it that the PGA of America didn't feel compelled to hold an event for those with two X-chromosomes until 2015?  Misogyny, but of course....

They hit a home run out of the box with Westchester Country Club, and I was fine with Sahalee last year.  But Olympia Fields is dreadful, and worst of all it's a two-year package.  It makes good sense for the LPGA to be in Chicago, somewhat abandoned by the big tour.  But surely a better venue could be found....

Lastly, Cara asks about the PGA Championship's putative move to May.  Levy makes a blindingly obvious point, that they're going to do what's in their best interest and not the PGA Tour's.  Yes, let's not sacrifice a major, even the obvious fourth of four, to the wretched FedEx Cup....  That said, they've been studying it for 18 months and need another six months...  So, to paraphrase an old joke, sounds like we're just haggling over the price.

Wedge Goodies - I'm not a gearhead nor do I play one on the Internet, but I did take note of these new wedges from the disruptive PXG:

With an ever-expanding posse of pros playing its gear, PXG announces Tour-validated

0311T forged wedges are now available to the public. Each head is CNC-milled to precise specs from 8620-carbon steel. "I've always wanted to design an entirely milled wedge, but it's a time consuming and expensive process," says Mike Nicolette, senior designer, PXG. "With Bob Parsons' support and commitment to exploring new processes and materials, we've been able to develop a collection of milled wedges that are nothing short of incredible."

They look really sharp, but then again perhaps I'm not an unbiased observer, since I've fallen hard for these odd-looking weapons:

Takes some getting used to the look, but they rock.

Now part of what intrigues me is that I've never understood their numbering scheme, which I guess doesn't matter if you have only one set of irons.  They seem to agree, as they've imaginatively named their wedge grinds:

The 0311T employs the same groove pattern as the company's forged 0311 wedges in the 46° to 52° lofts, while a more aggressive pattern has been added to the 54° to 60°. In addition, PXG's signature tungsten weighting helps increase MOI. Players can choose from four sole designs—Sugar Daddy, Romeo, Zulu and Darkness. Currently played by Lydia Ko, the Sugar Daddy is an all-purpose wedge that can handle a variety of playing conditions, the narrow-soled Zulu (Zach Johnson's gamer) is best for firm conditions, the wide-soled Romeo (Ryan Moore's go-to club) is suitable for open-face shots in soft sand or high rough, and the wide-soled Darkness (company founder Bob Parsons' favorite) has a larger head for added forgiveness.

Hello Darkness my old Friend.....  But can we think of anyone less in need of a sugar daddy than Lydia?