The Return of "Feherty"
The CBS funny man kicks off season 2 with guest Sergio Garcia
The Golf Channel has done well in recent years to expand its programming beyond tournament golf and Masters highlights. "The Big Break" and "The Haney Project" are two such frequently renewed programs that appear to be reaching wider audiences. Personally, I have grown a bit tired of these shows, but hats off to the Golf Channel producers for consistently injecting them with fresh ideas. "The Big Break" travels the globe to luxurious locales, searching for the next tour stars (male and female), while Hank Haney continues to bestow his sage golf instruction upon celebrity hacks. This season he'll take on four new pupils including boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard and portly chef Mario Batali. I'll probably tune in because I saw a preview of chef Batali's swing and I want confirmation that it's the worst known swing next to Sir Charles'. Yet what I'm really yearning for is the return of "Feherty."
Say what you want about the quirky Ulsterman, but David Feherty hit the nail on the head when he pitched the idea of a one-on-one golf show that cuts to the core of what makes professionals tick. I saw every episode last season and never once found myself tired with the material. Even guests I don't typically care for (Tony Romo, Ian Poulter, and Johnny Miller) came across as genuine and captivating. Chalk this up to Feherty's uncanny abililty to ask incisive, well-timed queries about life on and off the golf course; his self-deprecating humor, in small doses, also helps carry the interviews. The sit-downs with Tom Watson and Greg Norman at their respective mega-ranches were especially engaging, so too was the profile of Rory McIlroy (shot a week after he won the US Open) and Lee Trevino (Feherty's neighbor in Dallas).If you like the game of golf but find yourself searching for more substance, tune in tonight (The Golf Channel, 8pm) for what should certainly be a dynamite premeire. Sergio Garcia has been one of the most enigmatic golfers of the last decade plus. Just when you finally warm to him, he shoots his mouth off or tomahawks a five iron into a lake. Sergio's fire and flair is undeniable, but his propepnsity to play the "victim card" in recent years has made it more difficult to root for him. When he burst onto the scene as a 19-year-old at the 1999 PGA Championship he seemed destined for greatness. However, despite being one of golf's greatest talents, Garcia has fallen well short of fulfilling the lofty expectations unfairly heaped upon him. Only 32 years old, Sergio is now entering the prime of his career with a renewed sense of purpose and passion for the game. This is very promising for golf fans everywhere.
What I gather from the preview is that Garcia will open up to Feherty about why he took an extended break from the game, and how his much publicized break-up from Morgan Leigh Norman (Greg's daughter) broke his heart. They will also play some clay court tennis against one another. At its core, "Feherty" is a very real show, which is why I recommend you check it out. Watch tonight's episode and my guess is you'll walk away wanting to know more about Garcia or perhaps cheering him on the next time he is in contention. While admittedly not by design, Feherty captures the human element attached to the game of golf better than anyone in the business. For that reason alone, season 2 should be a smash. Check it out.
Top 10 Golf Scenes in Non-Golf Movies (#s 5-1)
Editor's Note: Thanks again to @hennemong for this contribution to the Pin Hunting blog. He gets all the credit for the idea and the content. Kudos to him.
We covered nos. 10-6 last week. This week it's the top 5. Enjoy!
5. Jackass
Whenever I pass a golf course and can get an easy honk off during someone’s takeaway, I still take advantage of the opportunity. I can’t help myself. When I’m on the course and it happens to me, it’s a win-win. I get a built in excuse for a bad shot and a guaranteed mulligan.
These people don’t take to the joke so well, and they are Tiger like in their reactions and blaming the horn for their bad shot. Nah, it couldn’t be the terrible set-up, bad grip, or reverse pivot that ruined your shot. It’s the air horn…
4. The Great Outdoors
Sandwiched between so many classic scenes, it’s easy to forget the Driving Range/Go Karts incident in the Great Outdoors. It’s after the water skiing debacle in Suck My Wake and before the hunt for the Sonar Guided Vermin, and The World Famous Paul Bunyan 96 oz Blue Ox Steakdinner scenes.
Roman Craig beating balls on the range with a horrible reverse weight shift (slice much, Elwood?), and Chet Ripley in what I must assume is a super charged go-kart as he is more than keeping pace with Buck and Ben on the track…
3. Casino
I would not want to gamble in a golf match against Joe Pesci. I bet his handicap is sneaky high and he actually has a pretty good swing (even with a persimmon wood, as seen in this clip). In a movie where the f-bomb is dropped about two and a half times a minute, there are sure to be a good dozen in this scene…
2. I Love You Man
I Love You Man is actually a pretty funny movie that may have gotten lost amongst some of the crap that’s come out of the Apatow & Friends camp of late. This scene really is a worst nightmare type of scenario for a golfer who likes to keep pace. I’m obsessed with not holding up the group behind me, and I can definitely relate to the “Rate of play” guy in this clip…
1. Navy Seals
Chaz Sheen, Mike Biehn, the black president from 24, and a bunch of other “that guy” actors take a break from rescue missions into Lebanon to hit the links for a bachelor party. Backed by The Boys are Back in Town by Thin Lizzy (they sound like a poor man’s Bon Jovi meets KISS), it’s a solid couple of minutes any bachelor party golf attendee can appreciate…
This Week in Golf Copywriting - Daily Deal Sites
From Caddyshack to The Legend of Bagger Vance, many films feature stories about golfers attempting to achieve eagles on the course. Become the lead actor in your own 18-hole saga with today's deal from the Blackhawk Trace Golf Club at the Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort. For $189, you'll play your way through five rounds of golf on this new renovated greenway. This A-lister experience also includes ten one-hour golf clinics with an experienced instructor (a $1,095 combined value). Whether your swing style resembles Happy Gilmore's or Roy McAvoy's, you'll find the perfect challenge on this par-72 course that spreads across 6,901 yards of scenic Bloomingdale. Schedule your tee times on any day of the week, because these golf outings are bound to be blockbusters.
Sadly, this is what happens when you're forced to just jam out one deck of copy after another for deal sites like Groupon or Living Social.
From Caddyshack to The Legend of Bagger Vance, many films feature stories about golfers attempting to achieve eagles on the course.
If you've seen either one of these movies, you know that they're not about the protagonist "attempting to achieve eagles." What does that even mean? One is about a kid with a five-Coke-a-day habit looping at a country club, winning the Caddy Day golf tournament, and (spoiler alert!) burying a putt for Al Czervik to win $80K from Judge Smails. The other is about the Fresh Prince of Bel Air appearing out of the ether to help Will Hunting get his golf swing, and more importantly, his life back together...oh drama!
Become the lead actor in your own 18-hole saga with today's deal from the Blackhawk Trace Golf Club at the Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort.
This logic is a stretch. Has anyone ever thought of themselves as an "actor" golfing in their own "saga" when banging balls around a local muni? The guys I see playing are in jean shorts, trying to get away from their wives for a couple hours to catch a buzz off of a few Budweisers. The only saga they're playing in is the one they're returning to at home after their round: laundry, chores, mowing the lawn.
Now with that said, props to the copywriter for saving this at the end. He/she rammed that movie analogy all the way through this piece, regardless of the bumpy start. I'm just not sure using the movie analogy was the right direction in the first place.
Your 11th Hour Half-Baked WGC-Accenture Match Play Bracketology Preview Extravaganza - Part 2
Picks in bold
Gary Player
Quick note: This bracket is jam-packed with young talent and recent major champions (3 of the last 4 major winners in here)
#1 Rory McIlroy - NIR
v.
#16 George Coetzee - ZAF
I love Coetzee! He was referred to by one of the commentators in Dubai as “a chubby chap.” That made me chuckle. Also, he looks like a South African Spaulding Smails. Sadly, it’s his first appearance. Rory, at the ripe old age of 22, has made three appearances with his deepest run into the quarterfinals in ‘09. Also, Mac hasn’t lost a first round match. Just too much for this chubby chap to overcome.
#8 Kyung-tae Kim – KOR
v.
#9 Anders Hanson – SWE
Take the other Hanson brother here. Despite a 1-5 match play record, his last appearance on US soil was a third place finish at the PGA Championship. A bit more compelling than Kim’s couple wins on the Japan Tour. My “blah” pairing in the Player Bracket.
#4 Sergio Garcia – ESP
v.
#13 Miguel Angel Jimenez – ESP
The Spanish Armada! The Mechanic is the oldest man in the field this week and likely the only one smoking a tightly wrapped Cuban (how does he get that through customs!?). Garcia played well last week at the Northern Trust (a final round 64!), but not well enough for me to trust him—even against elder, cigar-breath competition.
#5 Keegan Bradley – USA
v.
#12 Geoff Ogilvy – AUS
Keegan, along with Phil, lost in the playoff to Bill Haas last week at the Northern Trust. He’s also making his first appearance against a cagey veteran with an impressive WGC Match Play record. Geoff’s won this event twice and was a runner-up once. You can talk yourself into Bradley, but you’d be wrong. Make it rain with Ogilvy all day.
#2 Jason Day – AUS
v.
#15 Rafael Cabrera Bellow – ESP
UPSET ALERT! You wanna get nuts!? Let’s get nuts! Bellow’s notable win was the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year so he’s suckled the teat of victory. Day, on the other hand, has a lot of game but didn’t get it to translate during his first tour start at Riviera. I like Day and think he’s a very good player, but like Ben Crenshaw said whilst wagging his finger at the Ryder Cup: “I’ve got a feeling about this.”
#7 Simon Dyson – ENG
v.
#10 John Senden – AUS
Another relatively boring pairing. If you’ve never heard of Dyson, let me assure you, he doesn’t suck. Eleven wins in Europe (including the Irish Open last year) isn’t a bad resume. Senden’s only won the illustrious John Deere Classic in his career; one victory does not a match play favorite make.
#3 Charl Schwartzel – ZAF
v.
#14 Gary Woodland – USA
Gary Woodland!? Great porn name. This is his first appearance and he’s overhauling his swing. Schwartzel’s never lost a first round match in his three appearances. Oh, and by the way, he won last year’s Masters if you forgot. Schwartzel’s going to chop some wood in round 1.
#6 Ian Poulter – ENG
v.
#11 Sang-Moon Bae – KOR
I honestly thought that the Secretary General of the United Nations was in the field. Until I realized that I was thinking of Ban Ki-Moon. Whew! Poulter is a beast in match play. He won this event in 2010 and took down the Volvo World Match Play Championship last year.
Sam Snead Bracket
#1 Lee Westwood – ENG
v.
#16 Nicolas Colsaerts – BEL
UPSET SPECIAL! Westwood is the English version of Goosen. He looks good on paper, but he will SCREW you in this event. Westwood’s never advanced past the second round here. That said Westwood was T2 in Dubai at the Desert Masters. Colsaerts intrigues me. Not that I have any inside information on the guy. I’ve read that his game could suit this course. Don’t waffle, go with the Belgian and impress your friends.
#8 Robert Karlsson – SWE
v.
#9 Fredrik Jacobson – SWE
Karlsson’s match play record isn’t that great (2-6). The two things he has going for him are familiarity with the course (Jacobson’s last appearance in 2005 was at another venue) and getting out of the first round in his last two appearances. Not terribly convincing information, but Jacobson's not an inspiring pick either. Go with recent form.
#4 Nick Watney – USA
v.
#13 Darren Clarke – NIR
This match intrigues me. Young gun vs. Old vet. By thinking that only The Mechanic would be smoking a stogie this week, I forgot to mention Clarke’s penchant for the tobackey. Clarke hasn’t been here since 2007. However, he did win last year’s British Open. Watney has a respectable match play record, reaching the third round the last two years, and has the game to go even deeper. Expect a tightly contested match with Watney eeking it out.
#5 Tiger Woods – USA
v.
#12 Gonzalo Fdez-Castano – ESP
Woods’ record is an eye-popping 32-8 with three wins here. Fdez-Castano’s record? 0-0. Against any other player with at least a dusting of experience, I’d pick against Tiger, but there’s simply too much stacked against Gonzalo to mount a serious threat.
#2 Webb Simpson – USA
v.
#15 Matteo Manassero – ITA
Manassero is an intriguing pick based on last year’s run. He took down Steve Stricker and Schwartzel before getting bounced by eventual champ Luke Donald. Webb despite making his match play debut does, however, have two top 10s in his first three starts this year. Here again, if you want to play it safe, you go chalk with Simpson. I like the Italian Stallion.
#7 Alvaro Quiros – ESP
v.
#10 Martin Laird – SCO
Both guys have 0 wins. Laird’s season has been less than stellar. Going on recent form, you’d fancy the big-hitting Quiros here.
#3 Bill Haas – USA
v.
#14 Ryo Ishikawa – JPN
The belle of the ball, Bill Haas, will try to carry the momentum at Riviera to Tucson. Ryo is an experienced player in this event (eight WGC event appearances, 2-2 match play record). I feel like this match will be one of those letdown performances from Haas with Ishikawa surprising everyone.
#6 Justin Rose – ENG
v.
#11 Paul Lawrie – SCO
Both players have been solid of late. Rose with a top 20 at Riviera and Lawrie winning in Qatar. I don’t have a good feel for either of these guys. Rose is 5-6 and Lawrie is 4-4 in this event. Rose could be a thorn in my side, but I’ll go with my gut here.
Your 11th Hour Half-Baked WGC-Accenture Match Play Bracketology Preview Extravaganza - Part 1
Why the same? Because this is a tournament where truly anything can happen. No one knows a damn thing about who will/can win. Sure, you can pick chalk like Obama filling out his March Madness bracket, but it’s only going to make you look like a complete and total shill. That’s why we can quickly breeze through these picks without any serious consideration. It’s a crapshoot. Pure and simple.
What Do I Need to Know About the Course?
Do the words “Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain” mean anything to you? If you said “POMPOUS!” you’d be right. Also, it’s the fourth time it’s been here. It’s a long track, but doesn’t necessarily cater to Bowser-type players as witnessed by Luke Donald’s victory last year.
Bobby Jones Bracket
This is going to be a bitch trying to help you follow along as I try to navigate through each bracket via the written word, so bear with me.
Picks in bold.
#1 Luke Donald - ENG
v.
#16 Ernie Els - ZAF
Your match-up du jour on Wednesday. The Big Ern clocking in at #16. That’s like Duke getting into the NCAA Tourney through a play-in. So sad. Fact is, Luke Donald aka Bishop Donald Magic Putting Wand (what!?) has too much going for him. His defending champ status coupled with his great match play record (16-6) will be too much for Ernie and his career sub-.500 record (10-11). This is simple math, people. Don’t overthink it.
#8 Jason Dufner – USA
v.
#9 Peter Hanson – SWE
Am I a communist for picking against Jason Dufner and the great US of A? I mean, besides the fact that he has “Duf” in his name, it’s also his first match play appearance. Mmmm, Bop! I’ll take the Hanson brother.
#4 K.J. Choi – KOR
v.
#13 Kyle Stanley – USA
I’m going against my previous advice and picking the guy with two first names (unless Choi is also a first name in Korea, I don’t know). When in doubt, never pick the guy with initials in his name. He’s hiding something. Stanley probably feels like he’s played a whole tour season already. He’s battle tested. Choi was something like T37 (don’t have time to look it up) last week.
#5 Brandt Snedeker – USA
v.
#12 Ratief Goosen – ZAF
Ratief has SCREWED me in this event too many times. I see that name, get all misty-eyed about his past greatness, and pencil in a guaranteed “L” in my bracket. Don’t go on name recognition here. Besides, Sneddy’s got a “W” this year. Golf rubes may get swayed by seeing the Goose on the board, but I know better than to pick him. Still not sure, Sned Ryerson is American. Do it for your country.
(I’m not even halfway through one bracket and I’m regretting writing this)
#2 Adam Scott – AUS
v.
#15 Robert Rock – ENG
BELLY PUTTER ALERT! Can’t pick Scott due to his broomstick. And Robert Rock already bested Tiger in Dubai this year. Rock beats Adam “Scissors” Scott.
#7 Bo Van Pelt – USA
v.
#10 Mark Wilson – USA
Wisconsin-native Mark Wilson. Again, Wisconsin-native Mark Wilson. When you’re wearing Packers colors at tournaments, you’re ok with me. Go Sconnie or go home.
#3 Dustin Johnson – USA
v.
#14 Jim Furyk – USA
UPSET SPECIAL! DJ hasn’t won a match here (0-3). Furyk looked good at the Presidents Cup last year. Go with Sam the Eagle from the Muppets and never look back. Ca-CAW!
#6 Thomas Bjorn – DNK
v.
#11 Francesco Molinari – ITA
Molinari seems like the interesting, sexy pick here. But sexy picks won’t get you anything but another check in the loss column. Take the Bjoring pick with Bjorn.
Ben Hogan Bracket
#1 Martin Kaymer – DEU
v.
#16 Greg Chalmers – AUS
The name Chalmers bores me. Also, Kaymer was likely built in some German lab. The guy is a stone-cold killer. He lost to Donald in the final match last year, and yet, he won the last WGC event in November. What does it mean? Well, it means something…take Zee German!
#8 David Toms – USA
v.
#9 Rickie Fowler – USA
Toms won in ’05 which doesn’t mean anything except for an inflated match play record. Fowler will distract the conservatively dressed Toms with some loud monochromatic outfit. It’s all we can really predict at this point. Don't feel too bad for Toms, he goes home to this.
#4 Matt Kuchar – USA
v.
#13 Jonathan Byrd – USA
The least intriguing all-USA matchup in the field. It’s the battle of the bald. Two guys that look like they have hair and then doff their cap to reveal not much of anything. I’m going with Kuchar based solely on the fact that he’s clinging to more of his last few follicle remnants than Byrd. I appreciate that type of commitment. It says a lot when you need to commit to a 225-yard carry or crucial putt.
#5 Bubba Watson – USA
v.
#12 Ben Crane – USA
Bubba’s rolling in the General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard. Jumping into that rig on a daily basis has to pump your nads somethin' fierce.
#2 Steve Stricker – USA
v.
#15 Kevin Na – USA
I’m going to show my hand a bit here. But I really like Strick in this event. Strick would have an overall better match play record if he didn’t have Tiger sucking the life out of him at the Ryder and President’s Cups. Try to follow me here, but if they re-made "Airplane" and Tiger was playing the role of Capt. Murdoch (Kareem Abdul-Jabber), I'd be Joey asking why Tiger "takes plays off" and has "Stricker carrying him up and down the course." Does that make sense? Na bores me.
#7 Louis Oosthuizen – ZAF
v.
#10 Aaron Baddeley – AUS
King Louis won the 2010 British. That’s all you really need to know about this guy. Baddeley is a pretty face. This is my “Meh” matchup of the round. Don’t have a feel on either of these guys. I’ll take Badds for no reason whatsoever. Ok, here’s one. His record is 4-3. Louis is 0-2. Meh.
#3 Graeme McDowell – NIR
v.
#14 Y.E. Yang – KOR
Yang was the first Asian golfer to win a major. Well, first male Asian golfer. The LPGA, on the other hand, might as well pick up and move to Korea. McDowell won the 2010 US Open with some panache. I have a man crush on him. I won’t deny it.
#6 Hunter Mahan – USA
v.
#11 Zach Johnson – USA
Mahan’s kinda heating up. Played well at the Presidents and has been in contention in a bunch of previous starts, and stuff. Also, he has his own logo (we’ll get a post about that another time).
Part 2 will be up in the wee hours tomorrow morning. Just in time for you to have no reason to read it! Enjoy!
Haas-ta La Vista Baby! Your Northern Trust Open Recap
The Belly Putter Victory Count is 1 in 2012
In what will likely be a trend for Pin Hunting this season, we will note when an owner of a belly putter wins an event in 2012. So congrats Billy Haas. And a special congratulations to your Billy Barule Belly Putter. You certainly, TERMINATED, Phil and Bradley in the playoff.
And here I thought, stupidly, that we’d get through the season without seeing one of those dastardly things win anyone a tournament this year. Snedeker and his BEAUTEOUS putting stroke were on display in San Diego. Kyle Stanley won in Phoenix. And Phil, who has dabbled with the belly putter, dazzled us at Pebble burying everything in sight. It was a good run of hot non-belly putter action, until Haas put his broomstick on display burying a 45-footer to win in a three-way playoff. Alas.
Onto the action. But first, a caveat. I must admit, I didn’t catch the final three holes and playoff because my father had the GUMPTION to drive down from Wisconsin and take my wife and I out to dinner. And in truth, I took an extended nap throughout most of the afternoon. So I really didn’t see much. Nevertheless, you can get your fill of the fourth round by simply clicking “Play” on the video below.
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See? Now you’re all caught up.
Now, what do we make of Bill Haas?
First, he is clutch city in playoffs. Nary a year ago, he bested Hunter Mahan in a playoff at the Tour Championship which also secured his victory (if you can call it that) in the FedEx Cup. Oh, and he walked away with a total payday of $11.44M. Decent day’s work if you can get it.
Second, his swing coach is the brother of Butch Harmon…Billy Harmon (you can’t make this stuff up!). I’ll give Billy credit. He’s forged a player with an enviable all-around golf game. Take a silky smooth, casual swing, include a battle-tested short game (see his 80-foot chip on the first playoff hole that left him a 3-foot putt and peep his par-saving chip against Mahan in the Tour Championship when his ball was partially submerged to keep the playoff going), and finish it off belly putter impervious to pressure, he’s got it all.
Donald Duck
I’ll leave you with this. My wife (who only watches golf to get to sleep) asked me on Sunday if Luke Donald was playing. Instantly, I said “Yes.” But then I thought, wait…is he? I didn’t hear his name at all.
The #1 player in the world, and defending Accenture Match Play Champion, fired the following at Riviera: 70 (-1), 72 (+1), 71 (E), and GACK 78 (+7).
This week he will defend his match play crown at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club (POMPOUS) in Arizona with a first-round duel against Ernie Els. Obviously a first-round exit will raise eyebrows on Donald’s 2012 prospects.
Our Top 10 Golf Scenes in Non-Golf Movies (#s 10-6)
Editor's Note: Firstly, thanks to @hennemong for his contribution to the Pin Hunting blog. He gets all the credit for the idea and the content. Kudos to him.
I had a couple rules for this list:
1. Full on golf movies like Tin Cup, Caddyshack, and Happy Gilmore have too many scenes that could qualify so I tossed them out. The Legend of Bagger Vance and the Greatest Game Ever Played are thrown out on principle and they don’t have any good golf scenes either. Will Smith as Baggar Vance is off the charts hilarious though in the unintentional comedy department.
2. The clip must be available on youtube to be ranked.
Honorable Mentions…
There’s Something About Mary – I couldn’t find a good clip of the driving range scene, just the aftermath when Matt Dillon drops the classic line about working with retards.
Uncle Buck – It’s been far too long since I’ve seen this movie, and the scene where Buck hits some punch shots at Bug is always a classic.
Dead Solid Perfect - Since it’s a golf movie (though lesser known and made for TV) and there are not any good youtube clips, this remains an honorable mention. It stars Randy Quaid as a struggling tour vet ala a modern day Kenny Duke. Who knew Cousin Eddie had a pretty damn good golf swing? He comes a bit over the top, but that swing would be the bell of the ball at theLake Tahoe celebrity event if Quaid was relevant enough to get an invite…
(Editor's Note: I'd be remiss if I didn't include a personal fave of mine from "Sideways." Everyone mentions the "I'm not drinking Merlot" comment, yet forgets this little gem. I love everything about this scene. Thom Church being "Golf tip guy". The guys hitting into them and yelling "Hurry up!". The bemused look from Giamatti and Thom Church when they look to see who hit into them. It's all good.)
10. Goldfinger
It’s tough to find a complete clip as the match is a few minutes at least, but you get the idea. Goldfinger is Ballesteros-esque in his gamesmanship, but Bond is up to the task. Side note, is that Fanny Sunesson on Goldfinger’s bag?
Watch clip (sorry embedding disabled by youtube)
9. Swingers
This was probably an obvious choice, but it’s still funny. You have to give them credit for at least attempting to be honest in adding up their scores…a rarity for hackers these days…
8. Animal House
We’ve all seen this movie so many times by this point that certain scenes have lost their charm. This is not one of them. Check out the form by Otter on this tough knock down shot with a persimmon wood – a short, compact takeaway and he accelerates through…
7. Falling Down
This may seem a bit over the top if you haven’t spent time around private country club golf. Sadly, there are plenty of cranky old bastards like this who get riled up at the slightest change in their routine…
Watch clip (embedding disabled)
6. The Departed:
Alec Baldwin at his best right here. It’s a short clip that’s really only one swing, and he needs to work on that chicken wing left arm finish, but it is golf related and Baldwin gets off a nice blast to Matt Damon…
(Editor's note: The top 5 scenes will be revealed next Sunday. Guesses are welcome. Stay tuned!)
Have We No Sympathy for our Nation's Caddies!?
The media's made of point of noting that Phil is commuting to Riviera this weekend. He's been shuttling back and forth on a private jet to San Diego County to have some good ol' fashioned home cooking served up by Amy, strike that, served up by the Mickelson Family in-house chef.
From RealClearSports:
As in previous tournaments at Riviera, Phil is commuting from his home in Rancho Santa Fe, north of San Diego, maybe 100 miles away by private jet. He drives to the Palomar airport a few miles from his residence, zooms to Santa Monica's airport in 20 minutes or so, then gets shuttled another 5 or 6 miles to the course.
"I get to sleep in my own bed,'' Mickelson explained, "and I get to see my girls. I get home faster than (caddie) Bones McKay gets to his hotel."
I'm sorry, but if you have access to a private jet, the "commute" home isn't that much of a sacrifice. It's not like Phil's driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the I-5 listening to drive time sports radio with the rest of the proletariat.
I think if anything, we should commend his caddy. While Phil's taking a chauffered car to a G5, Bones leaves the course, grabs dinner alone at a nearby Benihana and calls the Super 8's Room #15 home for the weekend.
(Phil Mickelson's caddy, Bones McKay, likely place of residence during this week's Northern Trust Open)
Phil curls up on his 1,000 count Egyptian sheets and Bones is flipping through basic cable channels on a glorified military cot. We talk about income inequality in this country, but won't we think of our nation's caddies!?
TaylorMade with a Great Ad in SI's Swimsuit Issue
Simple. Contextual. And a spicy little double entendre to boot.
In the Northern Trust Open, We Trust - Your Preview
“The golf season moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” –Ferris Bueller’s caddy
The start of the PGA Tour season has been shot out of a cannon. We’ve now seen three straight tournaments where the winner has overcome at least a six-shot deficit in the final round: Mickelson, Stanley, Snedeker. And this week, they’re paired together. And no, we’re not calling them “The Comeback Kids” like they did over on pgatour.com.
What to Expect from the Commentary Box
Expect Nantz and Co. to prattle on about dead celebrities who played these very same holes. It’ll likely be the only time this year you year the name “Peter Falk” aka Columbo. I pity the kid watching this weekend having Nantz tell him about how Humphrey Bogart lost his virginity on the ninth green. Or how Gregory Peck sent back his Tom Collins in the clubhouse because it was “too cold.”
Don’t be surprised if CBS cuts away from the action on Sunday to show Tiger tending to his garden or hitting sand shots in his backyard or whatever he’s doing on Sunday. I mean, what will they do to attract the average golf fan? Show actual golfers in contention!? CRAZY TALK.
What to Expect in the Gallery
Oh, you thought the galleries at Pebble Beach were pretentious!? Well, do I have an encore for you! Pacific Palisades, the POMPOUS suburban enclave of La-La Land, will have its own fair share of John G. Douchenheimers walking the grounds in Footjoys and polo shirts (but in this case, actual polo shirts). Pacific Palisades median income? Roughly $168K. And who said golf was exclusive?
Holes of Note
But first, you want to play this course? Scram plebian! Members only. No greens fees to publish here.
#1 (Par 5, 503 yards): One of the easiest par 5s on tour. More on this later.
#10 (Par 4, 315 yards): Called “one of the best tenth holes in major championship golf” by Jack Nicklaus. Short but challenging. If you’ve got the power, you can try your hand at driving the green (protected by bunkers on 3 of 4 sides).
#12 (Par 4, 479 yards): Expect many a mention of “Bogey’s Tree.” A tree named after Humphrey Bogart. Yup, that’s all folks.
#18 (Par 4, 475 yards): Awesome, awesome, AWESOME finishing hole. Iconic. You'll find a great breakdown of this hole here. A picture says a 1,000 words.
What to Expect on the Leaderboard
No Tiger Woods. Move on Tiger-only fans. Nothing to see here.
The field contains a nice little pupu platter of four of the top ten players in the world and 14 different major champions.
Expect to see a lot of low numbers on the first hole: ranked the easiest golf hole on Tour in 2011.
Who We Like
We picked Phil as one of our three players to watch last week. This week? No one pops out at me.
Luke Donald: Kind of a no-brainer here. The world #1 should get a shout this week, despite a field chock-full of players with winning pedigrees. Only black mark against him is missing the cut last year.
Kevin Na: You can’t dismiss his consistency. Na has been T5 in each of the last two events and shot 66, 69, 70, 70 at Pebble.
Dustin Johnson: Steve Bamford (@golfbetting) makes a compelling, well-researched case for DJ:
I feel a little for Dustin Johnson who is often misconstrued as a battering ram of a bomber who has the perfect game for resort courses. Look at the facts though and little more could be further from the truth. DJ is actually a brilliant ball striker whose power fade is absolutely perfect for Riviera. When his putter is compliant he is a very difficult to man to beat on a classical golf course. Well I have news for you the reader, he found his putter at Pebble Beach last week so it's time to jump on board the South Carolina resident who finished 2nd to Darren Clarke in the toughest of conditions at Sandwich last year. Another fact worth bearing in mind this week is that Johnson is no lover of Bermuda putting surfaces and in fact comes alive on Bent and Poa Annua greens, so this week's combo will suit him down to the ground. Previous Top 10 finishes at Riviera is an important factor so 10th (09) and 3rd (10) fit the bill perfectly. His CV is also littered with top finishes on classical and technical courses which link to Riviera like: Torrey 3rd (11), Pebble Beach 1st (09 & 10), TPC Four Seasons 4th (09), Muirfield 4th (11), 5th Whistling Straits (10), 1st Plainfield (11), 4th Boston (09) and 1st Cog Hill (10). Johnson is one of those rare American talents for me, i.e. a young star who has the ability to win a Major Championship. Riviera provides the perfect blank canvass for D.J. to highlight those abilities this week.
TV Listings (all times EST)
Thursday: Golf Channel, 3-6pm
Friday: Golf Channel, 3-6pm
Saturday: CBS, 3-6pm
Sunday: CBS, 3-6:30pm
