Your humble blogger is angry....really quite pissed. Cursory familiarity with time zones will make clear that I can only watch golf with the benefit of a reliable DVR. Unfortunately, Xfinity is not in that market segment. Their DVR does not recognize golf as part of a series, nor do they allow me to add more than 30 minutes to the end of a broadcast. They tell you that for sporting events the recording will extend automatically, but just like my nephew Ryan, they apparently don't consider golf a sport.
So, did I miss anything yesterday....
Rors Hears the Roars - I thought he looked different earlier in the week, as noted in Friday's post. But I didn't imagine this:
With eight birdies in his final 13 holes and five in his last six, McIlroy fired a tournament-low eight-under 64 for a three-stroke victory over Bryson DeChambeau atthe Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“He always makes it look easy when he is playing well,” said England’s Justin Rose, who joined McIlroy in Sunday’s penultimate group and watched his European Ryder Cup teammate pour nearly everything into the cup to outgun a star-studded leader board that featured Rose, Henrik Stenson, Rickie Fowler and the surging Tiger Woods.
With an 18-under 270 total, McIlroy, 28, won his 14th PGA Tour title after his previous four starts in the States this year were largely a bust with two missed cuts and two rounds under par. In the modern era, only Woods and Phil Mickelson had as many wins before the age of 30.
Well put, JR..... When he's on, and it's been quite the while, no one makes the game look easier.
Here's the skinny on that now-famous putting lesson:
He was with Brad Faxon, the PGA Tour veteran renowned as a Picasso with the putter.Their planned one-hour session went three hours and ended with a putting contest. First to five. The green was stimping 13. The wind was blowing 30. Faxon led 4-2.
“When you win Bay Hill this week, you have to tell everyone I beat you in a putting contest,” Faxon goaded him.
McIlroy drained three of his next four from 35 feet. The student gave the master a hug and said, “Now I’m going to say I beat Brad Faxon in a putting contest after I win Bay Hill this week.”
“I didn’t know whether he let me win just to give me a confidence boost, but we’ve joked about that all week,” McIlroy said in a quiet moment Sunday night after his win. “Maybe I can tell everyone now.”
Shall we duck into the deliberations of the sequestered Tour Confidential panel?
2. Improved putting no doubt powered McIlroy's play at Bay Hill, but he also noted Friday that he has "rediscovered my love for the game so much so I am even enjoying playing casual rounds of golf as well." What part of McIlroy's performance should his fans be most jazzed about?
Bamberger: Well, that's a huge statement, and Rory is often candid about these things. As a starting point, you can't do something at a world-class level without loving it. He and his father have been logging some rounds in South Florida and I think Gerry's unadulterated pure love for the game must have something to do with what Rory is describing.
Shipnuck: That was intriguing, because the last few years Rory seemed low-energy between the ropes. I ‘spose injuries and putting problems will do that. Per Mike's point, it was a blast watching Rory and Gerry together at the Crosby Clambake. Throw in the fact that he's happily married and finally a resident of the U.S. and it's clear that all is right in Rory's world. If he has a smile on his face at the Masters, look out.
The putting improvement was off the charts, as per Geoff:
Rory McIlroy entered the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard 124th in Strokes Gained Putting. He left Bay Hill 23rd in the category and also takes home a new red cardigan, a pile of cash and loads of confidence just two weeks from the Masters.
New normal, or does it regress to the mean? That's why, contra Xfinity and Ryan, it is very much a sport.....
If you're curious as to how Rory read that putt so well, Shack has video at the link that will remind you that he's seen that putt a time or two.
But if we view it all through the prism of April 5th-8th, could it be teed up any better?
Tiger Scat - I guess let's lede with those TC guys:
3. Tiger Woods mounted a Sunday charge at Bay Hill before coming undone with an O.B. tee shot on 16. As good as Woods's game has looked during this comeback, his driver has been a weakness (he ranks 148th in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee). Woods has already proven he can contend, but if he doesn't straighten out his driver, can he win?
Bamberger: Well, if Carnoustie is dry, yes, because he can driving-iron it to death. The other three majors will be more trying, but Augusta is wide open — in places — and you don't have to be so perfect with the driver there. Ordinary Tour stops, I don't know. All depends on where he plays.
Shipnuck: You don't have to be perfect but you do have to hit a lot of them. That drive on 16 today was shocking — talk about The Big Miss. The strength of Tiger's game used to be his head, but he admitted that bad swing was the product of a mental error. Throw in the fear he displayed on the 72nd hole at Valspar and I think the driver will be too much of a liability for him to overcome at the Masters.
Wood: Yes. The way the ball goes now, there are honestly only a handful of holes (if you hit it as far as Tiger does) where you HAVE to hit driver. If he finds a shape he can depend on, he can absolutely win.
OK, he's finished T2 and T5 in consecutive weeks, so of course he CAN win. I liked Bambi's answer, because I also think it won't likely happen at Augusta. I like him at Shinny as well, both because of the course as well as the additional two months of play and practice.
The misses remain alarmingly big, especially since not all are with driver. He's also having trouble getting to the clubhouse, not surprising given the time away.
This Golfweek item breaks down the numbers:
1. Tiger is relying heavily on his putterEvery golfer experiences year-to-year performance fluctuations in his game, but as can be seen in the chart below Woods’ year-end strokes gained averages in the ShotLink era, along with his averages so far this season, show his driving and iron game are well below his former levels.
The graph above didn't quite fit, but you'll get the point.... There will inevitably be bad and average weeks of putting in Tiger's future, and he'll need to compensate somewhere else. There's more analysis that's worthy of your time....
But the strong putting has been mostly achieved on the Bermuda greens of Florida. This, however, may surprise many:
“I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t really thought that much about it, especially this week. I’ve been grinding and focusing on this week, trying to win this thing and now the tournament’s over, I’ll start to make some changes for Augusta, what kind of equipment setup I’m going to go with, some things I want to do with my swing. As crazy as this may sound I haven’t putted on bent grass in two years.”
Other interesting comments from the man as well, including his explanation of the OB tee shot on No. 16. He was clear that that was "on him", though I'm of the belief that all 69 yesterday were "on him".
The Professor Professes - A strong week for Bryson DeChambeau, whose upright swing takes some getting used to. But see if you can parse this explanation of his back issue?
Well it was the QL and that really got inflamed for me. It was because my quadratus lumborum wasn’t working, my iliacus, longissimus thoracis, they were all kind of over working, if you want to get technical on that. But they weren’t working very well and I overworked them. Pretty much my lower right back was hurting and I rested it. How about that?"
If there's a cure for Tiger talking about his glutes not activating, this is it.... But rest was a brilliant prescription, I'd have never come up with that.
When an Irishman Tells You You're Over-served.... - Rory expressed this concern early in the week:
"There was one guy out there who kept yelling my wife's name," said McIlroy, who shot 67 on Saturday to pull within two shots of leader Henrik Stenson. "I was going to go over and have a chat with him. I don't know, I think it's gotten a little much, to be honest. I think that they need to limit alcohol sales on the course, or they need to do something because every week, it seems like guys are complaining about it more and more."
Well, as long as he was yelling Erica, and not Caroline. The TC panel took on the limiting of booze sales as well:
Bamberger: I like the idea of fans acting like grownups and golfers. Fans should police other fans. The proper response to an idiotic comment is, "Not here, sir." (It's never a ma'am.) Some of the comments yelled in Tiger's direction today were embarrassing.
Shipnuck: I don't share Michael's faith in humanity so, by all means, limit the alcohol. Beyond that the PGA Tour needs to invest in a significant number of trained, full-time marshals *outside* the ropes, to deal with/eject the yahoos. It's not the players' job.
This seems to be an increasingly common feature of life on tour.... Though I think we can all agree that Mike's program is charmingly naive....
Back From The Dead, Again - With Bay Hill unavailable, I watched the conclusion of this:
A tournament that built its foundation on nostalgia was gamely represented on Sunday by Laura Davies, who has contributed to the game’s history.
Davies, 54, threatened to turn back the clock in the Bank of Hope Founders Cup, which pays homage to the LPGA's past of which she is a part, but ultimately she was bettered by Inbee Park, who has simply reset the clock.
When Davies had pulled within a shot of the lead, Park birdied four straight holes on the back nine at the Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix to win by five, her 19th LPGA victory. Davies, Ariya Jutanugarn and Marina Alex tied for second.
Interestingly, Golf.com didn't have room for that story on their home page. Shame on you, lads, leaving a five-day old Roy Williams story up instead.
The Davies story was interesting, for sure, but how about Inbee finding the magic yet again after a long layoff.
But of even greater import to my readers is this sad note:
Lydia Ko loves the Bank of Hope Founders Cup and its celebration of the game’s pioneers, and that made missing the cut Friday sting a little more.
With a 1-over-par 73 following Thursday’s 74, Ko missed the cut by four shots.
After tying for 10th at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in her last start, Ko looked to be turning a corner in her quest to find her best form again, but she heads to next week’s Kia Classic with more work to do.
“I just have to stay patient,” Ko said. “I just have to keep my head high.”
It was just the fifth missed cut in Ko’s 120 career LPGA starts, but her fourth in her last 26 starts.
You want data? Viewer discretion advised, it's not pretty:
Ko came to Phoenix ranked 112th in driving distance, 121st in driving accuracy and 83rd in greens in regulation. She was sixth in putting average.
Cristie Kerr saw the struggle playing two rounds with Ko.
“Her game’s not in good shape,” Kerr said. “She seemed a little lost.”
She's contracted Luke Donald disease, and from those numbers a serious strain thereof.... I don't want to say it's the glasses.... but it's the glasses.
Pictures of the Day - Just some photos that I liked.... Red is definitely not this guy's color, except when it is:
The cardigan is a lovely touch, though I'm wondering why the old B&W umbrella....
Good on the USGA for posting this photo to celebrate Bobby Jones' birthday:
But is it really too much trouble to tell us where it's from?
Time To Be Wasted - Any of you have too much time on your hands? Gotcha covered:
Alright, Masters fans, got the itch yet?
The first major of the year is just a few weeks away, and if you've got the itch, the good people running the event are here to help you scratch it by making every final broadcast from 1968 onward available on YouTube.
Yes, you can get all the "Yes Sir" action you want from the 1986 broadcast, you can scroll back to watch Gary Player win at 42 years old in 1978, or you can watch a young kid named Tiger Woods polish off his first victory in record-setting style. All you have to do is check out the Masters YouTube page. It's all right there.
Those TC's guys have seen a few Masters, let's see where they'd start:
6. No DVR necessary for this one: the final round of the last 50 Masters is now available on YouTube. Which three Sundays are you re-watching first?
Bamberger: I only wish Art Wall in ‘59 was among them. Goalby in ‘68. Watson in ‘77. Nicklaus in ‘86.
Shipnuck: ‘97 was amazing in the moment but is kinda dull on rewind. Phil in ‘04. 2011 because it was batshizz crazy with eight guys having a share of the lead. Tiger in ‘05. Nicklaus in ‘86.
Art Wall? Good one, Bambi! 2004 was about as crazed as it gets, but most that tune in to '05 will be shocked to be reminded that after that chip-in on No. 16 he made two ugly bogeys to sqander it.
Anyone else?
Wood: Nicklaus in ‘86, Woods in ‘97, Hogan in ‘53 (I cheated, but I want to watch Hogan play).
Dethier: Gimme ‘86, and gimme ‘87 too (sorry, Greg Norman). And then I'll take ‘05, just to watch Tiger's chip-heard-round-the-world in real time.
Zak: Here are some contrarian responses: 2017 — yes, last year — was phenomenal and I re-watched a lot of it Saturday. 2010 for Anthony Kim getting a little freaky naughty on the back nine. Then I'll settle down with a little 2003 playoff between Mike Weir and Len Mattiace, just to remind myself that sometimes this game does funny things.
Sens: Nicklaus in ‘86. Faldo in ‘96 (partly for Norman's darkly fascinating collapse and partly for Faldo's pitiless pursuit). And I have a soft spot for Crenshaw's emotional win in ‘95.
You guys are all fired. I do love Sean's mention of '03, because that was the first year after the lengthening (ruining?) of the golf course, and the two shortest guys on the planet ended up in that ugly playoff.
But I'm shocked that there's no love for 1975... Jack vs. Tom and Johnny, with the bear tracks on 16 green? No one?
No comments:
Post a Comment