Waggle Room: FanPosts

Betting's Legal in Europe, Right?

The Constructivist — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:25:12 -0000

As defending champion of the Evian Masters, Natalie Gulbis has the honor of playing with the LPGA's and LET's leading money winners, Lorena Ochoa and Gwladys Nocera. Gulbis, however, is slumping this season, with few signs of life Nocera doesn't have a history of playing well against the LPGA's best. So what do you think an interesting over/under would be on the total number of strokes Ochoa beats her playing partners by in Thursday's round? Over at Mostly Harmless, I threw out...8 Anyone willing to take the over?

A goal for Hurst or just cruising ?

courtgolf — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:26:31 -0000

Just looking at some money numbers on the Futures Tour - Vicky Hurst has 4 wins and $62,901. Beth Bauer has the single season money record with $81,529. Any two wins would give her at least $20,000 more and a new record.

Question is, would it be, in the words of "Crash" Davis (of "Bull Durham" fame) when he was told he could set the minor league home run record, a "dubious honor" ?

There are only 6 events left in this season, and she's pretty much assured of her LPGA card - so I'm wondering if she's watching the money list, building up a "war chest" for next year, or if she's just concentrating on her play and challenging herself to "just win, baby !"

She has won 4 of her 8 starts - the tour record for wins in a season is 9...not real likely.

The record for consecutive wins is 3 - possible to at least tie at her pace, and maybe break - but is it another "dubious honor" ?

What do you all think ? Playing to win ? Playing for the money for next year ? I think she's concentrating on her play and looking for wins to be ready to compete with the big girls next year.

Nadal, Spanish National Soccer Team on Garcia: "We're Going to Kick His A**."

turnover — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:56:44 -0000

(MADRID) - Sergio Garcia's 51st place finish in this years' Open Championship would, under normal circumstances, be disappointing. But given the athletic performances of several of his countrymen in recent weeks, it may actually be dangerous.

Two weeks ago today, Rafael Nadal won the men's singles final at Wimbledon, defeating world number one Roger Federer in what is already being described as the greatest match ever played. One week prior, Spain's National Football (soccer) Team captured the Euro Cup (2008 UEFA European Football Championship), defeating Germany in the final.

Garcia was among the favorites coming in to this weeks Open at Royal Birkdale, having lost the Claret Jug last year in a playoff to Irishman Padraig Harrington. Harrington defended his title today.

Garcia's performance at this years' Open is not sitting well in Madrid, where fans were hoping to keep their nation's winning streak alive.

Nadal, speaking on behalf of himself and La Selección, as Spain's national team is commonly known, minced no words when describing what awaits Garcia back home.

"We're going to kick his ass" Nadal said via an interpreter, as he carefully balanced two beautiful women on each arm. "His performance is unacceptable."

"The Inquisition? That was nothing." Nadal concluded.

According to a spokesperson, Garcia was halfway through a case of Michelob Ultra, and as such was unavailable for comment.

Possible history in the making

Bill Jempty — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:43:38 -0000

Not at the British Open, but the State Farm Clasic. Hee Won Han is -10 for 12 holes. The broadcast comes on at 1 p.m. Will ESPN have coverage of potential history? Han is playing the front nine.

Michelle Wie birdied the first two holes but has played par golf since.

Right now I plan to switch channels in less than 30 minutes unless something changes.

Han just parred her 13th hole of the day. She still has a chance.

LPGA State Farm Classic Auction

Mulligan Stu — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:54:54 -0000

While the LPGA State Farm Classic tees off Thursday, there's already a competition (of sorts) ongoing: The LPGA State Farm Classic Auction.

Lots of good stuff up for bid - Solheim Cup tickets, plus plenty of autographed items (caps, shirts, golf bags, balls) - and proceeds benefit various children's charities as well as the Golf Fore Africa program started by Betsy King.

Of course, you'll have to outbid The Constructivist for the Ai Miyazato autographed visor, and you'll have to outbid courtgolf for the Michelle Wie autographed shirt and cap. But you already knew that.

Check it out.

Can swing coaches actually play the game?

Bogie Man — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:00:55 -0000

I often wondered what would happen if 4 of the most well known and successful swing coaches were to tee it up. Who would win?

If they were to televise it would it generate ratings? Would you watch?

How about if they were playing alternate shot with one of their best students? What would those pairings look like?

Phil and Butch or Pelz?

Hank with Tiger (obviously)

David with Michelle Wie (Maybe there's a better choice out there.)

Leadbetter and ???

Poll

If Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, Dave Pelz, and Hank Haney were to tee it up for 18 holes of stroke play, who would come out on top?

Tired of "asterisk" talk ?

courtgolf — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:32:54 -0000

I don't know about you, but I am VERY tired of the media bitching and moaning about Tiger not being at Birkdale this week. Topics like "should the winner have an asterisk by his name ?" and other nonsense from guys who get paid to write about golf and should know at least a little about the game just show that they really don't know much about their job.

All these guy do is play to the ignorance of the Tiger Woods faddists. (probably not a word - but you get the idea) These are the people who seem to think that Tiger invented the game and the PGA Tour didn't start until 1996.

Here's an idea - try to learn the game first, THEN pay attention to TV ratings. Tiger has won The Open Championship three times in 11 tries as a professional. He doesn't win ALL the time, as we could be lead to believe with all this blather about the tournament not being worth watching because "the great one" isn't there.

No player is bigger than the game - and one of these days, all the marketers and media people are going to learn that lesson.

Big Names in Women's Golf Step Up

The Constructivist — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:34:41 -0000

Interesting week in the world of women's golf, eh? With Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam taking some time off before the LPGA's European swing, Paula Creamer got her 7th career victory in Toledo, Suzann Pettersen got her 9th in Dublin, Yuri Fudoh broke the billion-yen barrier in career winnings when she became the JLPGA's 1st repeat winner of 2008, and Vicky Hurst got her 4th Futures Tour victory of the season. So whose win do you think was the biggest--and why?

Poll

Who among the biggest names in women's golf had the biggest win of the week?

The British Open Poll

Mulligan Stu — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:20:55 -0000

Phil MIckelson says the best players will come to the fore at the Open Championship:

“I think the best players will come out on top. There will be an opportunity for the good players to separate themselves through shot-making and scoring around the greens.

"Around the fairways and around the greens some people will be able to attack the pins rather than just hack the ball out. That gives the more skilled players a chance to showcase their talents.”

The way Phil is driving the ball, he's more like to come to the "Fore!" than to the fore. But if he hits 60 percent of the fairways, he's in the mix. The Open is not a tournament Mickelson has ever thrived in, however.

But since I agree with Phil about the best players coming to the top, I'm picking Tiger Woods to win. Yes, I know he's not playing, but I figure that in spite of that serious drawback, picking Tiger makes more sense than picking Phil. I'd love for Mickelson to prove me wrong about that, though.

In the poll below, throwing out the "someone else," I'd go with Garcia. And I always like Justin Leonard in this championship, when he's playing well, because he combines great wind player with putting chops. He's come close a couple times. (ed. - As Bill "Two Gloves" points out in comments, Leonard has come so close that he's actually won the thing, back in '97.)

Poll

Who's going to win the 2008 British Open?

Wie gets late tee time ???

courtgolf — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:55:09 -0000

Ok - I'm stumped - Wie and 16 others are even par - they made the cut right on the number. Traditionally, the highest numbers go out first - but all the Evens are going out last on #10.

They are going out in threesomes - front and back on Saturday - which means they are expecting bad weather. (60-70% probability according to NOAA) No problem there - it happens in the Summer.

So - why are they sending out the highest scores late instead of putting the closest players to the lead out latest so they will be playing in the same conditions ? The only thing I can come up with is...drum roll please...Michelle Wie and TV. They want her on TV at the same time as the leaders. If she went out early, they would have to have crews on hand to record her, then come back later for the leaders.

Reasonable ?

Other theories ?

http://www.jfocc.com/pairings/Sat.html

Let the sleepwalking begin

courtgolf — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:29:30 -0000

Looks like Michelle Wie will make the cut - by a single shot. She's finished even par for two days and there are 76 above the cut line. It's mathematically improbable that the cut line would move to -1 and knock her out.

She's at the bottom of the barrel looking up. Basically no chance to win - 16 shots behind Paula Creamer and 11 behind Eun-Hi Ji. It's going to take an effort that she hasn't shown in over 2 years to finish high enough to make a decent dent in the $100,000 she'll need to be fairly confident of a Tour card next year - in 2 and a half tournaments.

SO - does she tank the rest of the weekend to guarantee an early tee time on Sunday for the earliest possible exit to get to England for the Women's British Open Pre-Qualifier ?

OR - does she play as hard as she can in an attempt to make as much money as possible - then head across the pond with minimal sleep and preparation for the Pre-Quali on Monday - then hop on board the jet to get back for the State Farm - again on minimal sleep and preparation ?

OR does she play hard and skip the Pre-Quali on Monday in order to give some sort of proper preparation for the State Farm because someone finally got through to her and convinced her that this year's WBO isn't worth another year of media pressure, minmal tournament play, jerking around Stanford, and more importantly, jerking around Nike, who I am pretty sure is getting tired of her abuse of their investment.

Poll

What will Michelle Wie do this weekend ?

Should the engraver get to work?

Bill Jempty — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:12:42 -0000

The LPGA is in Toledo for the Jamie Farr Classic and guess who is -2 and tied for the lead through 5 holes? The Korean Golf Queen aka Se Ri Pak, a five time winner of the Farr. If this was any other tournament or golfer, you would say there is a lot of golf left. There is, but the early signs from Toledo say Se Ri may well may have a 6-Pak when play finishes late Sunday afternoon.

Big Break winner

courtgolf — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:40:04 -0000

Ok - the show ended last night - but I don't want to blow the ending for those of you who haven't seen the first airing or any of the 43 reruns since last night.

So HURRY UP !! I got questions - but if I ask them now, they would ruin the ending - and I hate it when it happens to me.

Besides - that's a really cool car that ___________ won. I want to get a ride when she shows up in Prattville for her big LPGA prize.

(oh - the "chick" in "The Crying Game" is really a guy !) :-P

Is Kenny Perry the hottest player in the world at present?

Bill Jempty — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:59:49 -0000

Ryan at GNN thinks so, and I respect Ryan's opinions. I'll make the case for another golfer.

In their last 8 events(or the beginning of May) compare Perry vs Player X from the LPGA-

P- 49, 15, 2, 46, 1, 24, 6, 1, or a total of 144 average finish 18th

X- 3, 2, 2, 32, 18, 3, 19, 11 or a total of 90 or average finish 11.25

I think player X is hotter than Perry. She has been playing with a injury this year, that's limited her practice time too. Whereas Perry's eight tournaments involved no majors, X's streak contains two. Three of her four top three finishes came in tournaments Lorena Ochoa played in also. Want to take a guess who this former major champion is? One of her nicknames is 'The Little Giant'.

The constructivist will have the answer in two seconds flat.

I'll make it easier for everyone else. Ron Sirak noted clueless golf writer wrote in 2005 that she was an improbable major champion like Birdie Kim. Incredible? A major champion is someone who hasn't been out of the top 15 money winners since 2004? Who was in the top 20 when she won her major. Mr. Sirak really should assigned to write about amateur golf tournaments in the Dakotas before the LPGA.

Is JJ the hottest player in the world right now? Without a database of all the tours from the USA to Katmandu to Europe to whereever, I can't say for certain. However the stats say JJ is as hot or hotter(Average finish over the last 3 tournaments for the two of them only gives Perry a slight edge of 10.33 to 11 and JJ played in a major during that time.) than Perry at this time.

Oh yes I'm talking Jeong Jang.

"Big Break X"

Mulligan Stu — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:51:21 -0000

The finale of "Big Break Kaanapali" airs tonight on the Golf Channel, Sophie vs. Kim. And the network has already sent out a press release touting the next version of the show, "Big Break X: Michigan."

"Big Break X" will feature two-person teams facing off throughout. The teams will be boy-girl:

"Big Break X: Michigan," scheduled to premiere Oct. 7, will feature new skills Challenges to test every phase of each competitor’s golf game. Teams will be comprised of individuals boasting amateur and professional tour accolades, and whose connections range from married or dating to friends or ex-significant others. The winning pair will earn a PGA TOUR exemption for the male and an LPGA Tour exemption for the female.

What the Golf Channel leaves out is the identity of the players. Hmm, co-ed teams in which the partners have some sort of significant connection ... could this mean the return of the brother-sister act of Benoit Beisser and Laura London?

Anthony Kim- The new Tom Weiskopf?

Bill Jempty — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:50:51 -0000

Ryan at GNN wrote this morning-

Anthony Kim has picked up the second win of the season - both in events somehow associated with Tiger Woods.

Kim's two wins are Wachovia at Quail Hollow and the AT&T at Congressional. I was puzzled by how these were two events associated with Tiger.

Ryan made the association through the fact Tiger won Wachovia. I find this kind of weak, to be honest.

The post made me think. Is there anyone who had won at both these golf courses? A hardcore golf fan(Raise your hand if you're like me), who doesn't get their facts from AP's Doug Ferguson, would know Quail Hollow and Congressional at one time hosted the now defunct Kemper Open QH from 1969-1979 and Congressional from 80-86, and then for 2005.

Has anyone won the Kemper Open at both those courses. I didn't need to check a golf book, to know the answer was no.

Tom Weiskopf came the closest. He won at QH in 1971, 73, and 77 and was a distant 2nd at Congressional in 1981. Tom had quite a good record at both courses, top 20 every time at Congressional and 2 second place finishes besides his wins at QH.

I mentioned this to Ryan, plus some small comparasions between Kim and Weiskopf. They're both being tempermental, they both winning two times in a year early in their careers. I joked if Anthony would ever skip out on a Ryder Cup team like Weiskopf did in 1977.

Then a little further investigation found this- Weiskopf won the 1995 Senior Open. At where else? Congressional! So Kim and Weiskopf do have a link.

Will Kim go on to be 2nd four times at Augusta? Will he rack up wins in or at Greensboro, Canada, Royal Troon, Colonial, Torrey Pines? We'll have to wait. But will Anthony skip the Ryder Cup to go moose hunting in Canada?

BTW, Weiskopf has won on all the non-major golf courses that he and Tiger Woods have both competed on. They are Doral, Torrey Pines, and Quail Hollow.

Tiger Woods: The Competition Will Determine His Place In History

Real Man — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:51:40 -0000

The competition determines a champion. It also determines the greatness of a champion. What would Larry be without Magic, Ali be without Frazier, and the Yankees be without the Red Sox, just to name a few. While certainly not his fault, Tiger has no Magic, Frazier, or Red Sox.

A recent study by a college student showed that pro golfers shot higher scores when Tiger Woods was in the tournament than when Tiger was not in the tournament. If this isn’t the definition of choking, I don't know what is.

This study should come as no surprise to anyone who regularly watches the PGA tour. Nearly every weekend when Tiger is in the hunt, the golfers ahead of him give away strokes faster than a massage therapist during a happy ending. Most of the time we watch golfers well in control, gradually give away strokes until Tiger, who looked like he was out of the tournament, finds himself in the lead. Many times Tiger is shooting a poor or very average round. It’s the other golfers who come back to him.

It’s almost a foregone conclusion that Tiger is never out of the tournament – not only because Tiger shoots himself back in to the tournament after a poor round or two, but more often because the other golfers shoot themselves out of the tournament.

As a real golf fan, it’s discouraging to see such a lack of competition. We long for a challenge to Tiger. Golf could be so much more exciting. How good would it be for the fans and the game of golf for some other golfer to stare down Tiger, gut it out, and win?

Golf is in serious need of some men with balls. We need a real man to step up, handle his nerves, and play up to his potential. We need a man who can do that consistently. Right now, there are no real men in golf.

Who's the big draw in Arkansas ?

courtgolf — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:47:20 -0000

Should be fun to hear the galleries today at the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship Presented by John Q Hammons, where the biggest name in the field isn't Paula Creamer or Morgan Pressel or Natalie Gulbis or even US Open champion Inbee Park.

How about this ? The biggest name in the field this weekend is...(drum roll please)...Stacy Lewis...playing in just her second LPGA event as a professional. The first was last week's US Women's Open where she finshed T-3. (so technically THIS is her first official LPGA start since the US Opens are not PGA or LPGA events - they are run by the USGA)

Lewis, a former U of Arkansas golfer, is going to hear the Razorback "Sooo-eeee PIG" call all day - unfortunately, the tournament directors put Lewis off in the first group of the tournament - 7:15 this morning, so her round won't get much more than a highlight glance when TV coverage starts. Hopefully, she'll have another good tournament and we'll see her and her gallery on the weekend broadcasts.

When Tiger's away...nobody plays ??

courtgolf — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:26:33 -0000

Somebody's got some 'splainin' to do. This week we have a great golf course, a host who can't attend, and a huge sponsor who is putting up a very big purse. The guy who would probably win the tournament he is laid up, leaving a very big check up for grabs. Add to that a July 4th weekend in the nation's capital with one of the best fireworks shows and celebrations anywhere - great family time. (hint hint Mr Family guy...aka Phil "hide behind the kids" Mickelson)

PERFECT ! Here's a chance to pick up some big time dollars and a lot of Fed Ex Cup points normally reserved for one Tiger Woods. Who could ask for anything more ?

Apparently almost everybody ranked in the top 10 on the money and Fed Ex Cup points lists has something better to do. Just two, count 'em, TWO members of the top 10 (6 more from 10-20) are on hand for the AT&T National, hosted by Tiger Woods. Ryuji Imada (6) and Anthony Kim (10) are the two top tenners.

Must be saving their energy for the John Deere Classic. Oh wait - Team Phil is probably over in England measuring and mapping every square inch of Royal Birkdale trying to decide if he really needs a driver OR a three wood to make room for a 6th wedge at The British Open.

T-Joh on the Cover of the Rolling Stone

Mulligan Stu — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:28:04 -0000

Well, on the cover of Golf World anyway. The issue that arrived in the mail today is the issue covering Tiger Woods' surgery, and also includes the magazine's coverage of the recently completed U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. On the cover is Tiffany blurbage:

TIFFANY JOH
A lot better
than she thinks

The blurb refers to Tiffany's tendency to, ahem, "downplay" her abilities. You can read the article here.

The queen of self-deprecation was at it again, trying out new material at the 32nd U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. Tiffany Joh swears her game is never more than one swing away from ruin. ...
As often happens with Joh's tales of woe, there was a problem of truthiness to contend with: specifically all those red numbers beside the San Diego native's name on the leader board. An eagle and 36 birdies in 116 holes? The calligrapher can't get credit for all of them.

The article's author, Ryan Herrington, says more about the T-Joh in a blog post titled "Joh is more competitive than she lets on."

He concludes his Golf World article thusly:

Does Joh's pessimistic outlook inhibit her competitiveness? Some wonder how good Joh could be if she thought she was any good. Arguably, though, they are missing the point. No matter how low her expectations, Joh never stops trying to win. And isn't that the true sign of a champion?

He also passes on a haiku Tiff wrote that was included in the USGA media profile:

Haikus are easy
but sometimes they don't make sense
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