Blogs
AT&T National 2nd Round Recap Video: Tiger Woods Leads
by Ryan Ballengee
on Jul 3, 2009 10:58 PM EDT
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Spotlight Hole: Congressional's Par 3 10th
by Ryan Ballengee
on Jul 3, 2009 4:21 PM EDT
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A view of the 10th hole from green level
As you know, I like to find one particular hole at each tournament that I go to and spend a good amount of time watching groups pass through. It helps give me a sense of the tournament field and how they're playing, but also helps me to experience the tournament by being surrounded by a single gallery.
I had my fiancee here with me today - her first tournament ever - so I wanted to find a fun hole for her. She also wanted to see Anthony Kim roll through, so we picked the par 3 10th hole.
On the card it plays 218 yards. It's a downhill hole, though, so it plays closer to 200 yards. The green is guarded in front by the pond that guards the 18th green on three sides. There are three separate areas to the green. The left half of the green is own its own and guarded by two deep bunkers over the back of the green. There is a front right section that is delineated by a backstop that players can use to get the ball close to a pin there - but they must beware of challenging the water. Finally, a back right shelf is unprotected but tough to carry.
From greenside on 10, the fan can get a good view of both greens which makes for an optimal viewing spot. There was a good crowd at the green. With the pin tucked back left today, it was probably the most accessible pin on the green. The gallery was rewarded with several birdies.
Behind the manual scoreboard at 10 - the letters are initials of players shown
One in particular was fun. Ryan Moore hit a great approach to the green - within maybe five feet. As Moore put the ball for birdie, a kid shouted the menacing "Get in the hole!" The ball dropped for birdie and Moore pointed to the kid with the finger gun before he picked up the ball so as to say, "That's for you."
The hole is a good beginninger to the second nine, but reminds the player that the rest of the side really lacks drama and pizazz until 18. Catch it on TV if you can this weekend.
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2009 US Women's Open Grouping & Tee Times
by Ryan Ballengee
on Jul 3, 2009 3:57 PM EDT
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The USGA released the groupings and tee times for the US Women's Open, which is next week at Saucon Valley CC in Bethlehem, PA.
Here are some of my favorite groupings:
- Karrie Webb, Australia; Pat Hurst, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Ai Miyazato, Japan
- Song-Hee Kim, Korea; Katherine Hull, Australia; Angela Stanford, Saginaw, Texas
- Irene Cho, La Habra, Calif.; Tbd Tbd, Far Hills, N.J.; A-Katherine Perry, Cary, N.C.
- Paula Creamer, Pleasanton, Calif.; In-Kyung Kim, Korea; Lorena Ochoa, Mexico
- A-Alexis Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla.; A-Jessica Korda, Bradenton, Fla.; A-Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii
- Morgan Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla.; A-Maria Jose Uribe, Colombia; Jane Park, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
- Jiyai Shin, Korea; Amanda Blumenherst, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Inbee Park, Korea
We have all of the groupings and tee times after the jump.
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A Good Weekend for Scoring Ahead at the AT&T National
by Ryan Ballengee
on Jul 3, 2009 12:24 PM EDT
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The bunched leaderboard at the AT&T National suggests two things: the best players in the world are largely on their games and that there may be more fireworks on the course than off of it this Indepdence Day weekend.
Anthony Kim kicked off the festivities early yesterday by shooting a course record 62 at Congressional. As defending champion, Kim is clearly comfortable at this golf course - perhaps a sign of good fortune for the US Open in two years' time. It may be an ever better sign for the present. Kim has not registered a top ten finish since the season opening Mercedes Benz Championship. He did finish T16 at the US Open and T11 last weekend in Hartford. His game is showing signs of good form.
Tiger Woods responded in kind to his friend's great round. Woods fired a very solid 64 in which he may have had his best putting display of the 2009 season. Inside of 15 feet, Woods was nearly automatic. His driving was good enough to put him into position to attack a fairly soft Congressional course.
Some lesser known players scored very well on day one, as well. Bryce Molder and DA Points were both in with 64 yesterday. Molder is continuing to build off of his runner-up finish at the St. Jude Classic, where Brian Gay went wire to wire. Points' season has been up and down with back-to-back top 10 finishes in the Florida swing, but has six missed cuts in 17 starts. He is begging for consistency.
Paul Casey's first appearance at the AT&T National was very much anticipated given how he has played around the globe this season. An opening 75, though, may dash his chances of impressing the crowd in the nation's capital.
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Vijay Singh's New Putting Grip
by TheGreenBlazer
on Jul 2, 2009 6:35 PM EDT
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When it comes to the putting grips of the game's top players, there should be no surprises nowadays. Vijay Singh reinforced that notion at the AT&T National on Thursday by debuting a cross-handed grip on his belly putter with a dash of claw. Don't be surprised if he adds a SuperStroke prototype to the mix next week.
Vijay has made more putting grip changes than perhaps anyone in the game. Now he has decided to combine every grip change he has ever made.
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A Sobering Preview of the 2010 LPGA Tour Schedule
by Ryan Ballengee
on Jul 2, 2009 11:33 AM EDT
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A couple of days ago, we found out that the LPGA Tour's Kapalua LPGA Classic tournament will not be held this year after the resort was unable to find a title sponsor. The tournament was held last year (and signed through 2012) under the pretenses that Kapalua would be able to find a title sponsor this season.
Further, last week's Tour stop - the Wegmans LPGA up in Rochester, NY - is not certain that they will return next season. Given the increased tournament fees that the LPGA Tour is imposing upon all of its tournaments, Wegmans is only willing to continue as a sponsor if they are able to maintain the same level of charitable giving it has done for the better part of four decades now.
Rochester could become just another addition to the list of tournaments pronounced deceased on the LPGA Tour schedule since 2007. Beth Ann Baldry has the numbers in her piece on the end of the Kapalua event.
Since 2007, the LPGA has lost seven tournaments. Six more are sponsorless, including this year’s China LPGA, an IMG-run event scheduled for the week after the now-defunct Kapalua.
Baldry's piece calls into question the negotiating strategy of the Tour. She indicates that Wegmans LPGA officials only began serious negotiations with the LPGA Tour this past week.
"We’ve had all year to talk about this," said Tournament Director Linda Hamilton. "We wanted to run the event and not be distracted. We just said we’re not going to do it (now). And we didn’t."
It is almost as though the sense of urgency is absent from the Tour.
Mission 2010 - Commissioner Carolyn Bivens' gamble to have many tournament contracts expire simultaneously - is blowing up in her face as we speak. It seems that on a weekly basis that new rumors surface about the demise of another LPGA Tour event.
Rumors persist that several Tour players are looking to get cards on other LPGA Tours around the globe - including in Japan and Korea. Getting cards for those Tours will secure more playing opportunities next season.
Paula Creamer already skipped out on one of the few domestic LPGA Tour stops in 2009 to take part in a JLPGA tour major championship. Perhaps that was a sign that Creamer would be willing to commit more time there next season. Given how the shoes keep dropping for the LPGA Tour, it may also be a sign of acquiesence. Creamer will need the JLPGA Tour next season.
Consider the 2009 events that have either been pronounced dead, moved to next season for economic issues, in peril, or operating already without sponsors.
Dead: SBS Open at Turtle Bay, LPGA Corning Classic
Without Sponsors: Phoenix LPGA International, China LPGA, LPGA Tour Championship
In Peril: Michelob Ultra Open, Wegmans LPGA, Jamie Farr event in Toledo
Moved: Bell Micro LPGA Classic
Then, consider that the Tour's signature event - the LPGA Championship - has no host course or presenting sponsor.
All told, there will be 28 events played on the LPGA Tour this season. The number of events next season is guaranteed to go down by at least one for 2010. In the worst case scenario from the information above, there could be another four casualties and reduce the schedule to 23 events. Consider that there are several other events which are looking at renegotiation for next season and the armageddon scenario for Commissioner Bivens is a Tour that presents a schedule with a number of events in the teens.
Not too long ago - under the guidance of then Commissioner Ty Votaw - the LPGA Tour schedule featured nearly 50 events. Votaw co-opted the scheduling to concentrate the number of events into the thirties and eliminate tournaments in very small markets. Events like Rochester and Corning were long standing events that survived that cut. Corning will not survive this next round of imposition. Rochester may not want to survive.
The increasing number of LPGA Tour events outside of the United States suggests that the Tour is interested in expanding globally. They are looking to follow corporate title sponsors that want to invest in the LPGA Tour, but on their terms. The LPGA Tour has never been in a position of strength to dictate where and when tournaments are held. They have been forced to follow the money around the world.
Now, their players may well have to do the same. For all of the talk about LPGA Tour events in India and the ravaged Dubai, the players may have to chase international playing opportunities outside of the LPGA Tour schedule. The notion of a global LPGA Tour may well become a reality, but not on the terms that Daytona Beach was hoping to have the power to define. After all, among the events most in peril, only one of those is not a domestic event.
In a time when women's golf has a deeper talent pool than ever, the domestic Tour that showcases it may well have never been in more peril. Women's golf may well become a more global enterprise than men's golf. But, it may do so because of scarcity of opportunity - not an abundance of it.
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Golf's Greatest Test: Take The Three Club Challenge
by Ryan Ballengee
on Jul 2, 2009 12:03 AM EDT
7 comments
A number of years ago, my cousin and I used to go golfing pretty regularly. I beat him often enough - he didn't play much - that he told me that I should take him up on a challenge. The challenge was that he would get to play with all fourteen of his stix and I would get to pick any combination of three that I had. Then we would see who would win in stroke play.
In honor of the red, white, and blue, I figured I would solicit from you (1) the three clubs you would pick for the Three Club Challenge and (2) why you would pick those clubs. This has nothing to do with ESPN Golf Schools or their three club teaching tour. I just think this will be a fun little argument.
I'll get it started. I would pick a driver, 7 iron, and pitching wedge. I would want to take advantage of my length off of the tee and play a little bomb and gouge golf. The 7 iron is my go to club when I need to get out of a bind. The wedge could get me home from 110 yards and in, as well as double as my putter.
Check out this Flickr discussion on the subject for some other inspiration. The Sand Trap engaged in chatter on the five club challenge, but that's not good enough for me.
Presuming that course length would fit your skill level, what would you go with and why?
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Fantasy Crystal Ball: AT&T National
by Ryan Ballengee
on Jul 1, 2009 7:43 PM EDT
4 comments
Check out the Waggle Room Fantasy Golf sponsors - 14stix.com and GolfStakes.com! Golf Stakes can help you score your round on your iPhone device in any variety of golf games!
This weekend, the nation will be celebrating the completion of the Declaration of Independence. We'll be celebrating with BBQs, lots of beer, and blowing stuff up with fireworks. In the nation's capital, we'll also be celebrating at Congressional CC (for the last time until 2012) while the PGA Tour plays Tiger Woods' AT&T National.
Woods is not the defending champion of his own event - rather, Anthony Kim is. He has struggled with poor play, some injuries, and other issues this season. It is not expected that he will be able to defend his title succesfully, though he did show some signs of life at the US Open and the Travelers Championship.
The only other champion in the history of the event is KJ Choi. He has been having a marginal 2009, but has come out nicely from the three event stretch in March and April where he missed all of the cuts. Pass on him, too.
Frankly, you'd be a fool to not play Tiger Woods. And I sure think that Paul Casey has a great chance this weekend. Casey is having a career year in 2009. He hasn't played in this event before, but seems ridiculous to think he will not do well on a major caliber course.
I'm going to keep riding the Hunter Mahan train. He has finished top 15 in the history of the National and has been playing well of late. Along the same lines, I like where Ryan Moore is going with his game.
Another player with a good record in the National is Jim Furyk. He has finished in 3rd both years and Sal Johnson notes that his caddy Mike "Fluff" Cowan is a member at Congressional. Furyk will keep it going.
Congressional is a ballstriker's course and Robert Allenby is one of those few pure ballstrikers on Tour. Sure he can't putt worth a lick, but he's bound to be a force this weekend. Likely, he'll disappoint on Sunday like at Southwind.
I would pick Ernie Els if he were in the field since he won his second US Open here in 1997. So, Colin Montgomerie was my backup. Then it was Tom Lehman. So then I circled back and tried to pick a South African. Instead, I'm going with Charley Hoffman.
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