Ryan Palmer leads Phoenix Open
February 3, 2012
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP)—Ryan Palmer was back in his comfort zone with histrusted old putter model in the first round of the Phoenix Open, shooting a7-under 64 to take the lead Thursday after a partially completed first round.
“I pulled it out of the garage and was putting in my living room, then wentoutside in the backyard on my putting green, and I knew it was time to bring itback out,” the three-time tour winner said.
Holing seven birdie putts from 10-15 feet, rewarded for switching back tothe Odyssey putter after missing the cuts in his previous starts this year inthe Sony Open and Humana Challenge.
Golf fans and tournament offic… AP – Feb 2, 8:56 pm EST Ryan Palmer watches his approa… AP – Feb 2, 8:41 pm EST
As the sun sets, Ryan Palmer r… AP – Feb 2, 8:41 pm EST
Jonathan Byrd hits his approac… AP – Feb 2, 8:30 pm EST
Kyle Stanley looks over his pu… AP – Feb 2, 5:06 pm EST
Kyle Stanley follows through o… AP – Feb 2, 5:05 pm EST
Webb Simpson watches his tee s… AP – Feb 2, 4:53 pm EST
Rickie Fowler tees off on the … AP – Feb 2, 12:42 pm EST
Phil Mickelson tees off on the… AP – Feb 2, 12:42 pm EST 1 of 9 Golf Gallery
“I used the exact same putter the last two years, and of course had two ofthe best years of my career,” he said. “But toward the end of the year lastyear, around the BMW, I just got frustrated with not making anything, so Ithought I’d try something different, put a similar style head in play andactually had some success.
“But my first two weeks out here I could tell I wasn’t comfortable when I’dget over the short putts.”
Webb Simpson was a stroke back on the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale.
“It’s one of those courses that just fits your eye well,” said Simpson,the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 6.
The start of the round was delayed an hour because of frost, and play wassuspended because of darkness at 6:05 p.m. with 42 players unable to finish.Last year, frost and frozen greens delayed play nine hours during the week,forcing a Monday finish.
Palmer had 27 putts and hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation. He birdied thepar-5 15th after his drive landed in the middle of the fairway and rolled leftinto the water, and saved par on the short par-4 17th after also driving intothe water.
“I guess you could say I left a couple out there, but it was a great dayfor sure,” Palmer said.
He was 8 under after a birdie on No. 6, but had his lone bogey on No. 7,then finished the round with pars in Nos. 8 and 9.
Jarrod Lyle, Harrison Frazar, Derek Lamely, Kevin Na and Chez Reavie weretwo strokes behind at 66, and Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner and Spencer Levin alsowere 5 under. Watson and Levin had three holes left. Dufner, a playoff loserlast year, had five holes remaining.
Kyle Stanley opened with a 69, four days after a devastating loss in theFarmers Insurance Open. On Sunday at Torrey Pines, he made a triple-bogey 8 onthe final hole of regulation and lost to Brandt Snedeker in a playoff.
“It was just good to be out there,” Stanley said. “It was almosttherapeutic.”
He received warm cheers and words of encouragement from the fans.
“I’m kind of overwhelmed by it,” Stanley said.
Phil Mickelson had 24 putts in a 68, and defending champion Mark Wilson,coming off a victory two weeks ago in the Humana Challenge, was 1 under with twoholes left.
“I feel so good with the putter,” said Mickelson, who won the tournamentin 1996 and 2005. “It’s been a little while. It’s been a few years since theguys out here have seen me putt like this.”
Mickleson played alongside Dustin Johnson and the green-clad Rickie Fowlerin a morning group that attracted the largest gallery in the estimated crowd of77,053.
Fowler holed out from 68 yards for birdie on the par-5 15th after hittinghis second shot into the water in front of the green.
“As soon as I hit it, I knew it was how I wanted to hit it,” Fowler said.“It skipped behind the hole, and I could see it spinning right down thestick.”
Fowler shot a 69, and Johnson had a 68.
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Golf-Simpson surges into contention at Phoenix Open (Reuters)
February 3, 2012
* Simpson one off the pace after carding a six-under 65
* Palmer snatches outright lead late in the day (Updates at end of play)
Feb 2 (Reuters) – American world number six WebbSimpson used a red-hot putter to charge into contention inThursday’s frost-delayed opening round of the Phoenix Open inScottsdale, Arizona.
Simpson, the highest-ranked player in the field, sankseveral putts from between 12 and 15 feet on the way to asix-under-par 65 in relatively calm conditions at the TPCScottsdale.
The 26-year-old mixed seven birdies with a lone bogey at thepar-four sixth to finish a stroke behind compatriot Ryan Palmer,who snatched the outright lead late in the day before play wassuspended in fading light.
Americans Derek Lamely, Kevin Na, Chez Reavie and HarrisonFrazar, and Australian Jarrod Lyle, carded 66s while SouthAfrican Trevor Immelman, the 2008 Masters champion, opened witha 67.
Frost had delayed the scheduled tournament start by an hourand 42 players will have to complete the first round on Fridaymorning when temperatures are forecast to dip even lower.
Simpson, who ended a career-best season on the PGA Tour lastyear with two victories and second place in the money list, wasdelighted with his performance on the greens.
“The thing that kind of held me in there all day was myputting,” he told reporters after totalling only 27 putts. “Imade a bunch of putts, so I’m excited about that. The one on 17was the longest, maybe 20, 25 feet.”
Simpson, who teed off at the par-four 10th, rocketed up theleaderboard with four consecutive birdies from the par-four17th.
JUMP START
“That kind of gave me a good jump start in the first round,”he said. “Only blemish was at number six. I really didn’t feellike I hit a bad shot, I hit a chip that released a lot morethan I thought it would. Other than that, it was solid.”
Asked whether it felt strange being the highest-rankedplayer in the field, Simpson replied: “I’m getting used to it,but I don’t think about that stuff that much.
“I’m just a believer in you can climb up as quickly as youcan go down, so I don’t pay attention to it that much.”
Phil Mickelson, winner of the Phoenix Open in 1996 and 2005,needed only 24 putts on his way to a four-birdie 68.
“I feel so good with the putter,” the American left-handersaid. “It’s been a few years since the guys out here have seenme putt like this.
“I’m looking forward to continuing this streak and hopefullygetting in contention for the weekend because I feel reallyconfident on the greens.”
American world number nine Dustin Johnson and compatriotKeegan Bradley, winner of last year’s PGA Championship, alsostarted out with 68s.
It was not a day to remember, though, for former worldnumber one Vijay Singh, who carded a 76, and 2009 British Openchampion Stewart Cink, who battled to an 83. (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing byFrank Pingue and Patrick Johnston; To query or comment on thisstory email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Mickelson sues to find source of ‘defamation’
February 2, 2012
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)—Phil Mickelson filed a lawsuit against an Internetservice provider in Canada to learn the identity of a person who has beenposting “vexatious statements” that the four-time major champion says is adeliberate attack on his reputation.
“I’m all for freedom of speech, but I won’t tolerate defamation,”Mickelson said Thursday after his opening round in the Phoenix Open.
In his lawsuit against Videotron S.E.N.C in Quebec Superior Court, Mickelsoncited comments posted on Yahoo! Sports from Nov. 11 to Nov. 12, in which one ormore persons under the pseudonyms “Fogroller” and “Longtitude” makestatements that allege, among other things, that Mickelson’s wife had an affairand that he fathered an illegitimate child.
Mickelson says he is a victim of defamation. He is asking the court to forceVideotron to identify the person so Mickelson can “stop the dissemination offalse and wrongful statements … and obtain reparation for the prejudicealready suffered.”
The motion was filed in Montreal on Jan. 25.
Mickelson attorney Glenn Cohen said Videotron did not oppose the request forsubpoena, and he expects the information shortly.
Whether the case has wider implications for anonymous postings on theInternet is not Mickelson’s concern.
“If we can stop one person, then it’s one less person who can get away withthis,” Cohen said. “Maybe it will have a chilling effect. I don’t know. Ifother people are victims of this and want to take up the mantra, that’s fine. Itwas a very narrow decision Phil and I made to discover this person’s identityand stop it.”
Mickelson first filed a complaint Nov. 21 in San Diego County superiorcourt, which authorized him to subpoena information from Yahoo! Inc. That led toidentifying “Fogroller” as a Montreal resident, with Videotron as the Internetprovider.
Mickelson wants the Quebec court to demand that Videotron supply him withall information of the person using the Internet protocol address who firstregistered under the “Fogroller” pseudonym on Dec. 16, 2008, and of the personusing the IP address that posted the statements about him.
The person was using an email address of fogroller(at)yahoo.com at the timeof registration. An email sent to this address by The Associated Press wasreturned as undeliverable.
———
AP Sports Writer John Nicholson in Scottsdale, Ariz., contributed to thisreport.
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Tour Report: Interview: Phil Mickelson (PGATOUR.com)
February 2, 2012
'The environment is unique'
Prior to the 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open, Phil Mickelson addresses the media at TPC Scottsdale.
Mickelson on year, Torrey, SB XLVI
Miralle/Getty ImagesMickelson was critical of Torrey Pines North and says he plans to re-do the course.
By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM
Phil Mickelson hasn’t exactly gotten his 2012 season off to a fast start with a tie for 49th and a missed cut at last week’s Framers Insurance Open, a hometown event for the San Diego, Calif.-native who said he’s willing to re-design Torrey Pines’ North Course — for free.
In his Wednesday press conference at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Mickelson expanded on that, and more. The highlights:
On where, at age 41, and on his way to World Golf Hall of Fame with 39 PGA TOUR wins, including four majors, Mickelson gets his motivation at this point in his career: “I love to compete. I’m excited about this year. I’m ready to play. I don’t know what happened last week,” he said. “My practice sessions have been really good. Bringing it from the practice session and bringing it out on the golf course, that’s my challenge right now. My putting feels terrific. I felt it was the last physical part of my game that needed some work, and it feels great.”
On his proposal to redesign Torrey Pines North: “It has been a dream of mine to turn that golf course into what I know it can be,” Mickelson said. “The first goal is to make it playable. It’s got to be playable for everybody. It’s a daily golf course, municipal golf course. Everybody has got to go out and enjoy it. The other thing is that the character is not being brought out right. The character of the canyons and the beauty of that place has not been pulled into the golf course. It’s been separated. The canyons are on one of the side of the golf course and then there’s been no integration.”
On what changes Mickelson will make: “The character that we bring out will try to enhance the natural beauty that’s already there,” he said. “Kind of a rough canyon look, if you will, where I’m going to make the hard holes harder, but I’m going to make the easy holes easier. I want guys having fun on some of these holes. The second hole is going to be moved up. We pretty much have it mapped out how we want to make it. I know the guys are going to love it because it’s going to be playing well. That’s the first goal.”
On who he thinks will win Sunday’s Super Bowl between the New York Giants and New England Patriots: “Not sure yet,” MIckelson said. “That’s an interesting game. You look at it and you think, gosh, the Patriots look like a better team, but the Giants seem to beat them all the time.”
Miralle/Getty Images Mickelson was critical of Torrey Pines North and says he plans to re-do the course. By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM Phil Mickelson hasnât exactly gotten his 2012 season off to a fast start with a tie for 49th and a missed cut at last weekâs Framers Insurance Open, a hometown event for the San […]
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TOUR Insider: This week is all about ‘The Coliseum’ (PGATOUR.com)
February 2, 2012
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—A trip to the desert in February is always nice.
Scottsdale offers blue skies, lots of sun and great golf. TPC Scottsdale provides a dramatic finish to the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the Thunderbirds have raised millions of dollars for charity.
That’s all very nice but let’s get real. This week is always about the 16th hole.
“The Coliseum.”
It’s an otherwise nondescript 162-yard par-3—except for the fact it’s completely enclosed with grandstands seating 30,000 people who yell and cheer and boo depending on the quality of the shot.
It is absolutely intimidating. There is a fear factor for the players. The fear of embarrassment.
And don’t think all the clever comments are ad-libbed. The gallery is carefully orchestrated. Cheat sheets are handed out so fans can get very personal. You hear the names of player’s pets yelled out, their high school mascot is invoked.
Wikipedia hits must dramatically increase this week as the 16th-hole fans do their homework.
Players actually get their first taste of the 16th on the 10th hole. The green sits some 25 yards away and the overflow of gallery and noise can be disturbing.
At the 16th hole, players expect loud outbursts and know they are coming. Those same outbursts can catch some players off guard while playing the 10th.
Starting with the 11th hole, the course moves away from the 16th. The gallery and the noise diminish until you begin moving back toward the east beginning on the 14th hole. Every step brings you closer to the Coliseum. The noise increases as you walk. It’s easy for your mind to wander and begin anticipating the 16th and what lies ahead.
Once players exit the 15th green they cross a bridge and enter a tunnel underneath the grandstand that is both dark and claustrophobic. Just as your eyes get used to the low light you emerge on the other side and you have to squint into the daylight. The first thing you notice is how green everything looks, how crowded the corporate chalets are and how loud the gallery is.
I once walked next to Fred Couples under the grandstand and as he emerged on the other side the fans starting screaming, “Freddy, Freddy, Freddy!!!”
I asked Couples, “Do you think they are screaming for you or me?”
It was so loud I’m not sure he heard the question but Couples shot me a look which implied a severe lack of judgment on my part.
That might be the theme of the 16th. Try to avoid bad judgment. It applies to the gallery, players and media.
DESERT MIRAGE: Desert golf can play tricks on the eyes. The fairways at TPC Scottsdale are overseeded with rye grass, which provides a bright ribbon of green that’s offset by the pale yellow tinge of dormant bermuda rough. At first, the contrast makes the fairways look narrow when they are actually generous. One caddy walked 25 paces from rough to rough telling his player, “You have more room out here than it looks.”
THUNDERBIRD PRIDE: The Thunderbirds have the nicest uniforms of any organization on the PGA TOUR. Members wear navy blue velour shirts with a turquoise necklace and silver concho belts. Very cool. I have thought of joining The Thunderbirds just for the uniforms. Plus the head of the organization is formally addressed as “The Big Chief.” How nice would it be to have “The Big Chief” as your title on business cards, or for your wife to refer to you in that manner?
AND MY PICK IS … I like Phil Mickelson this week because he played so poorly in San Diego. The logic here? It’s called “regression to the mean.” If a career .300 hitter bats .400 in April, he’ll likely hit .200 in May. The reverse is also true, so when Phil plays bad one week, he plays great the next. He went to school at Arizona State, his brother is the golf coach there and Phil used to live here. Mickelson should be ripe for a win.
Fred Albers is a course reporter for SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio and is inside the ropes this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. For more information on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio, click here.
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Tour Report: FedExCup Update: Back for seconds (PGATOUR.com)
February 2, 2012
Poroy/Getty ImagesMark Wilson is again looking to pick up his second victory of the season at TPC Scottsdale.
FEDEXCUP: Complete Standings | January notes | This week’s movers | Weekly leaders | More
By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM
The PGA TOUR takes its annual stick to Scottsdale this week for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. A year ago, Mark Wilson picked up his second victory of the season in a frost-delayed event, putting himself atop the FedExCup standings for the first of a TOUR-leading 12 consecutive weeks.
Wilson kept a position inside the FedExCup top 10 until the final week of the 2011 regular season. More importantly, he’d set himself up for a good run in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. Wilson, one of five players to win multiple events during the 2011 Regular Season, played his way into a top-15 FedExCup standing heading into East Lake. Reigning champion Bill Haas claimed the FedExCup last year after traveling to East Lake at No. 25 in the standings.
Each of the five players with two Regular Season victories in 2011 qualified to play at East Lake, giving themselves a chance to pick up the TOUR’s richest prize. A single victory, worth between 250 and 600 FedExCup points, goes a long way toward helping a player secure a good position in the Playoffs. This does not, however, guarantee a spot at East Lake. In fact, 14 players who won TOUR events last year did not qualify for the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.
It’s better to double-up if at all possible. This week’s field features the last three winners of January — Wilson, who won this year’s Humana Challenge, Johnson Wagner and Brandt Snedeker — as they look for their second victories of 2012 and a fantastic early-season position in the race for the FedExCup.
FRESH STARTS: Five players inside the top 30 in the current FedExCup standings had yet to earn a single FedExCup point by the end of January 2011. Current FedExCup leader Johnson Wagner, Sean O’Hair, John Mallinger, Jeff Maggert and Scott Piercy are off to quick starts in the 2012 race after spending 2011 playing catch-up.
MORE NOTES:• 24 of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings are scheduled to tee it up at TPC Scottsdale.
• Both playoff contestants from last week (Snedeker and Kyle Stanley), as well as both from last year’s Phoenix Open (Wilson and Jason Dufner) are in the field.
• Along with Arron Oberholser, who is making his first start since 2009, Ian Poulter will make his season debut this week.
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Stanley, Mickelson eager to play at Phoenix Open
February 2, 2012
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (AP)—Kyle Stanley and Phil Mickelson look forward to freshstarts Thursday in the Phoenix Open. Mark Wilson will want to savor somepleasant memories on his return to the Valley of the Sun.
Stanley was eager to get back on the course after a devastating loss atTorrey Pines on Sunday when he had a triple-bogey 8 on the final hole ofregulation and ended up losing to Brandt Snedeker in a playoff.
“That’s the beauty of it,” Stanley said. “I think we’ve got to rememberthat the year has just started, so I have probably 27 or 28 events ahead of me,and the process doesn’t change, the mindset doesn’t change. I’m playing greatgolf right now.
Golfer Bubba Watson drives off… AP – Feb 1, 5:31 pm EST Golf Gallery
“I’m just trying to focus on the positive things I did last week. I mean, Iplayed some really good golf.”
Mickelson missed the cut at Torrey Pines, shooting 77-68 in his hometownevent a week after opening the season with a tie for 49th in the HumanaChallenge. He won at TPC Scottsdale in 1996 and 2005.
“I don’t know what happened last week,” Mickelson said after his pro-amround with former NFL star Emmitt Smith. “I’m going to put it as something I’mgoing to shrug off because I know that my practice sessions have been reallygood.
“I was able to take it a little bit better to the course today. I hit a lotof good shots today, and bringing it from the practice session and bringing itout on the golf course, that’s my challenge right now.”
Snedeker is trying to look ahead, too.
“The great thing about the PGA Tour and golf is as great as last week was,come Thursday morning it’s not going to matter a bit,” Snedeker said. “It’s anew golf tournament, a new course, and I’ve got to get my mind ready to play,and I feel like my game is really good, so I’m excited about teeing off tomorrowmorning.”
Wilson, the Humana Challenge winner in his last start, won last year in aMonday finish, beating Jason Dufner on the second extra hole in thefrost-delayed event.
“Last week was the first time I’ve ever had a week off after a win,”Wilson said. “So, I was able to soak it up and enjoy answering all the emails Igot from friends and family and enjoy time with the family and just sort of easeinto this week. It was a welcome thing to do there, to have a week off.”
The 37-year-old Wisconsin native, one of the tour’s shortest hitters, isdone tinkering with his game.
“I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel every week like I was when I was30,” the five-time tour winner said. “I don’t do that anymore. I just do thesame things over and over again.”
Wilson and Snedeker will play the first two rounds with Sony Open winnerJohnson Wagner. Mickelson will play alongside ninth-ranked Dustin Johnson andRickie Fowler.
Sixth-ranked Webb Simpson also is in the field along with FedEx Cup championBill Haas, PGA winner Keegan Bradley, Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar andtwo-time winners J.B. Holmes and Vijay Singh. Simpson and Johnson are the onlyplayers in the top 10 in the world ranking in the field.
Holmes is making his second start since having brain surgery in September.The 2006 and 2008 Phoenix winner had structural defects in the cerebellum, thepart of the brain that controls balance. He missed the cut at Torrey Pines,shooting 76-69.
“It was great to just get back at it last week. Hopefully, I can improve onthat,” Holmes said. “I didn’t play that great, but it was just nice to getback out there and get back in the swing of things.”
DIVOTS: Watson turned heads Wednesday when he pulled into the players’parking lot behind the wheel of the first “General Lee” from the “The Dukesof Hazzard” TV show. Watson paid $121,000—including fees—for the 1969 DodgeCharger at Barrett-Jackson’s recent Scottsdale auction. “Lee 01” jumped over apolice car in the series’ first episode. … Fred Couples, in the field on asponsor exemption, withdrew Wednesday because of illness. He was replaced by KenDuke. … Nick Watney withdrew Tuesday, also because of illness. He was replacedby Jarrod Lyle. … Three-time winner Mark Calcavecchia, rookie Harris Englishand former Arizona State players Jeff Quinney and Matt Jones also receivedsponsor exemptions. … Hunter Mahan, the 2010 winner, is skipping thetournament to play in the Qatar Masters.
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PREVIEW-Golf-Stanley returns to PGA Tour after Torrey nightmare (Reuters)
February 2, 2012
Feb 1 (Reuters) – Kyle Stanley never contemplatedpulling out of this week’s Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdaleeven after his agonising loss at San Diego last week.
The big-hitting American led by three shots playing the lastat Torrey Pines before an ugly triple-bogey eight brought himundone.
He was eventually beaten in a playoff by Brandt Snedeker butdecided to stick to his original plan and play this week.
“I was going to play here this week whether I won or not,”he told reporters while preparing for Thursday’s opening round.
“It’s been on the schedule for a while. I’m playing well, sonothing has changed and nothing is changing. I’m just going tokeep doing what I’m doing.”
Stanley, whose late collapse was sparked when his third shotat the par-five 18th spun back into a pond guarding the front ofthe green, has been overwhelmed by messages of sympathy from hispeers.
“It’s been great,” said the 24-year-old, who has yet to winon the PGA Tour. “A lot of players have had a lot of nice thingsto say.
Snedeker, who clinched his third PGA Tour victory, acceptedthat his triumph was largely overshadowed by Stanley’smisfortune.
TEMPERED CONGRATULATIONS
“Everybody feels for Kyle, and I think it’s probably morethe story this week than me winning with the way that Kyle lost.So it’s been kind of a weird thing to deal with,” Snedeker said.
“But that’s the great thing about the PGA Tour. As great aslast week was, come Thursday morning it’s not going to matter abit. It’s a new golf tournament, a new course, and I’ve got toget my mind ready to play.”
Snedeker is making his sixth start in Phoenix at a venue hehas always enjoyed.
“I love this golf course,” said the 31-year-old fromNashville. “I had the lead here a couple years ago, then had abad Sunday, and I’ve had a couple of top 10s but I feel likethis golf course sets up really well for my game.”
American world number six Webb Simpson and ninth-rankedDustin Johnson head the field where twice champion PhilMickelson will try to reignite his 2012 campaign after missingthe cut last week.
“I don’t know what happened,” Mickelson said after competingin Wednesday’s pro-am competition. “I’m going to put it down assomething I’m going to shrug off because I know that my practicesessions have been really good.
“I hit a lot of good shots today, and bringing it from thepractice sessions out on the golf course, that’s my challengeright now. My putting feels terrific. I felt it was the lastphysical part of my game that needed some work.”
American Mark Wilson defends the title he won in a playofflast year at the TPC Scottsdale after the tournament spilledinto a fifth day because of frost delays. (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing byJulian Linden)
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Tour Report: Fantasy mailbag: FedExCup points (PGATOUR.com)
February 1, 2012
By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM Fantasy columnist
To steal a portion of a line from "The Shawshank Redemption," I’ve learned one immutable, universal truth about fantasy golf since I first connected with it four years ago: There is no such thing as a finite number of formats for our game.
As most that play fantasy golf already know, Yahoo!, which partners with PGATOUR.COM, offers what is arguably the most popular option. In its free online game, points are awarded based on scoring per round and top-three finishes at the conclusion of the tournament. While the list of golfers available isn’t comprehensive — five of the 132 in the field of this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open are not included in any of the three groups — the PGA TOUR status (or lack thereof) of all of the golfers is irrelevant. You plug in anyone you want up to 10 times per season.
Other formats like my 19-year-old home league use a battled-tested points breakdown per finish. Victories are assigned the highest value. Playoff losses come next, then top fives, top-10s, top-25s and cuts made. Variations apply tournament to tournament and league to league, but like Yahoo!’s game, PGA TOUR status does not influence the scoring system.
Salary games are self-explanatory but they’ve been known to cause some confusion as professional non-members are not included on the PGA TOUR money list. Furthermore, earnings in World Golf Championships are excluded from the non-member money list. This is why I always advise using the money list for both members and non-members with earnings in the WGCs included. All league disputes can be settled there.
While Yahoo!’s formula, homegrown points systems and actual earnings are three of the trackable measurements used across our landscape, a new option was introduced just six years ago, and it has a pitfall unless you provision for it. I’m referring to FedExCup Points.
Since 2007, PGA TOUR members have been chasing the FedExCup and its riches. In addition to earnings for making a cut, members receive FedExCup Points. They are accrued in 37 tournaments over the course of 33 weeks. The top 125 qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs beginning with The Barclays, this year scheduled for Aug. 23-26 at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course.
The pitfall you ask? Take a read of this brief email that arrived in my in-box on Monday:
Just curious why Ryo Ishikawa did not get any FedExCup points for the Farmers? Thanks. — Brent
Well, as I alluded to above, the hook to being eligible for the FedExCup is that golfers must be members of the PGA TOUR. Ishikawa is not a member. While he’s credited for a T13 and $96,666.66 in non-member earnings, he does not receive FedExCup points.
If you’re in a similar format that uses FedExCup points as a value indicator, I encourage you to simply assign the value awarded to those with whom your golfer tied. In Ishikawa’s case, it’s 54.22 (see here). If a non-member finishes alone in a position, refer to the FedExCup points distribution chart.
If you’re in one of these games and your ownership denies the option to assign matching FedExCup point values to non-members, it’s important to remember that non-members that win PGA TOUR events have 60 days thereafter to accept membership. If accepted, he will then become eligible for FedExCup points, but they are not awarded retroactively.
After Graeme McDowell won the U.S. Open in 2010, he accepted TOUR membership with the intent to attempt to qualify for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. He went 2-for-3 in his starts as a member and finished a distant 198th in the ranking. He’s a good example of a guy that earned midseason value in a fantasy format for which he was ineligible at the start of the year.
Indeed, salvation lies within, or at least it can.
What jersey should Mayfair wear?
There’s always a lot of great moments at the crowd-filled 16th at TPC Scottsdale, but it’s always just a little louder when Phoenix native Billy Mayfair steps up to the tee wearing a local jersey.
In the second round in 2009, Mayfair teed it up wearing a Tim Hightower No. 34 Arizona Cardinals jersey, sending the crowd into a frenzy:
Caryn Levy/PGA TOUR
In 2011, Mayfair teed off in the second round wearing a No. 42 Pat Tillman Arizona State jersey. He went on to birdie the hole (watch it here) after sinking a long putt:
Petersen/Getty Images
What should Mayfair wear this year in the Waste Management Phoenix Open? Diamondbacks? Suns? (And, as reader Tom pointed out below, we forgot Coyotes). Is there something else? Leave your thoughts below.
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Woodland progress with new coach taking time
January 31, 2012
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)—Gary Woodland was irritated that he couldn’t dobetter than a 70 on the North Course at Torrey Pines. It wasn’t much better onthe South Course, where a 72 allowed him to make the cut on the number, and a 74in the third round wasn’t enough for the 54-hole cut.
Then again, he realized it might take time for him to adjust to a new swing.
“I’m changing the whole path of the swing,” Woodland said. “I’d like tobe ready for Augusta.”
Woodland already has gone through substantial changes off the course. Whenhe left agent Blake Smith at Hambric Sports, he also wound up losing his swingcoach—Randy Smith, the agent’s father. He left Kapalua at the start of theyear and flew to Las Vegas, where he spent six straight days with Butch Harmon.
That he wants to be ready for the Masters would indicate an overhaul. Harmonsays that isn’t the case.
“He’s been pretty one-dimensional,” Harmon said Tuesday. “We’re gettinghim to move the ball around, change his trajectory a little, change the setupand the path of his swing and get more of a variety of shots, which he needs tohave. We knew he wasn’t going to be very good last week. Finally, the last nineholes things were starting to click. But it’s going to take a while.”
Harmon said Woodland is hitting the ball an extra 15 yards—“I know that’shard to believe,” he said—to the point where he had to switch the model ofhis golf ball. Harmon liked the short game but is working on lower thetrajectory of his wedges.
“The kid has a chance to be the best player in the world,” Harmon said.
Asked if he knew it would be a big project, Harmon said, “I still don’tthink it is.”
“The physical side is easy,” Harmon said. `It’s the mental side, thebelief in what he’s doing. He’ll have to work on that. He’s good on the range.He’s good in practice. But he reverts to his old stuff in tournaments because hedoesn’t trust it.”
Harmon, who has cut down on his stable of clients over the year, now workswith Woodland, Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney and Phil Mickelson. Asked who was theshortest hitter from that group, Harmon said, “Me.”
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BEGAY HONORED: Notah Begay has been selected for the Charlie Bartlett Award,given by the Golf Writers Association of America to a professional golfer forunselfish contributions to improve society.
Begay is the only full-blooded Native American to win on the PGA Tour. Hefounded the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation in 2005 to battle the epidemic ofchildhood diabetes and obesity among Native Americans. He has raised more than$3.2 million in three years through his charity golf event.
Over the last three years, the foundation has reached more than 10,000children in 11 states through golf, soccer, health and wellness and grantprograms. The largest grant was to the San Felipe Pueblo in New Mexico to buildthe tribe’s first recreation center.
Begay will be honored April 4 at the GWAA’s annual awards dinner in Augusta,Ga.
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MICKELSON AT TORREY: Phil Mickelson might get a chance to redo Torrey Pines— the North Course, anyway.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Tuesday that Mickelson has offered towaive his design fee if given a chance to refurbish the North Course. Thenewspaper said he met with Mayor Jerry Sanders during the Farmers Insurance Openlast week and is putting together a preliminary proposal on how to renovate the55-year-old course.
The South Course is the more famous of the two and hosted the 2008 U.S.Open. Rees Jones beefed up the South before the Open, and Mickelson—no fan ofJones’ work—has been among the loudest critics.
Lefty is a three-time winner at Torrey, all before the South was redone.
The North Course is about 600 yards shorter and played three shots easierduring the tournament last week. But the views are just as stunning,particularly the par-3 sixth that drops straight down with the Pacific as abackdrop.
Mickelson’s first full design was at Whisper Rock in Scottsdale, Ariz.
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EYE ON ELS: Ernie Els has gone to a belly putter to see if he can improve onthe greens. He also went to an eye doctor.
Els, who ranked No. 181 in putting last year on the PGA Tour, has consultedwith Sherylle Calder, an eye specialist who also works with the Springboks, AllBlacks and England rugby teams to help with hand-eye coordination, concentrationand other visual performance aids.
“We’ve been working on some good stuff to do with my eyes, and I can see alot of positives for me at the moment,” Els wrote on his website. “To use acliche, she has literally opened my eyes about putting again, and it has helpedbring back good memories of what I used to do when I was one of the best puttersin the world in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“If my putting properly comes around, I can start winning golf tournamentsagain.”
Els is at No. 59 in the world and has to crack the top 50 after Bay Hilltoward the end of March to secure a spot in the Masters. The first step is tostay among the top 65 for two more weeks and get into the Match PlayChampionship.
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WORLD MONEY: Lee Westwood was No. 10 on the 2011 world money list compiledby “The World of Professional Golf” annual, making him the only player tofinish in the top 10 the last three seasons.
Luke Donald was atop the world money list for the first time at just over$9.7 million, followed by U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy at about $7 millionand Webb Simpson at just over $6.5 million. The other six players were MattKuchar, Nick Watney, PGA champion Keegan Bradley, K.J. Choi, Gary Woodland andMartin Kaymer.
Only three players made the top 10 in consecutive seasons—Westwood, whofell from No. 2 to No. 10; Donald, who went from No. 4 to No. 1; and Kuchar,steady as ever in going from No. 6 to No. 4.
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DIVOTS: Tiger Woods earned $137,041 at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.Throw out the majors and World Golf Championships, and it was his highestpaycheck from an official tournament since he made $148,929 at the 2010 DeutscheBank Championship. … Ian Poulter, whose wife gave birth to a boy last week(their fourth child), is making his season debut in the Phoenix Open. Alsoplaying in Phoenix is Arron Oberholser, trying to return from hand surgeriesthat have kept him out of golf since 2009. … Scott Piercy and Chris Kirk, bothof whom are in the Phoenix Open, have not missed a tournament this year.Jhonattan Vegas and Michael Bradley also played the first four events, but theyare taking this week off. … Luke Donald stopped by the PGA of Americaheadquarters Tuesday to collect his trophies for the Vardon Trophy and thepoints-based player of the year award.
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STAT OF THE WEEK: Americans have won the first four events on the PGA Tourschedule for the first time since 2001.
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FINAL WORD: “I think the players should have less say. We’re not experts atfiguring out how the tour works. We’re experts at hitting golf shots.”—Stewart Cink on the debate over proposed changes to the Nationwide Tour andQ-school.
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