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Match Play Presents Early Intrigue, Often Unfulfilling Final Rounds

February 21, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

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This week’s WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Ariz., could be something really special.

Or it might not.

That’s the tricky thing about match play. When competition begins Wednesday with 64 of the top ranked players in the world, there will be all sorts of intriguing possibilities. A few times over the years, promise has even delivered. In 2000, Darren Clarke beat Tiger Woods in the final. Woods won in 2003 by taking down David Toms in the final and won again in 2004 over Davis Love III. Woods defeated Stewart Cink in 2008. Even last year, although an all-England final, Ian Poulter‘s victory over Paul Casey had its viewing strengths.

But then there was 2001 when Steve Stricker beat Pierre Fulke in the Sunday final. Or 2007 when Henrik Stenson beat Geoff Ogilvy. And who doesn’t remember Kevin Sutherland’s 1-up decision over Scott McCarron in 2002?

Because players are eliminated as the week wears on, it is always possible that by the time Sunday’s final match arrives, there is the possibility of a “Who’s He?” taking on “Who Cares?”

That makes match play events fascinating in that much of the intrigue often occurs early in the week, and the final days can drag.

 

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L.A. Confidential: Tour Takes Turn Down ‘Hogan’s Alley’

February 16, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

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It’s easy for golf to feel a little romantic about this week’s Northern Trust Open. By any name, it’s the old Los Angeles Open at Riviera Country Club.
This is the course that Ben Hogan all but made his own, turning it into “Hogan’s Alley.” In the 1940s, Hogan won the Los Angeles Open three times and finished second once.

Other winner’s over the years include Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, Ben Crenshaw, Fred Couples, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson.

Not bad.

And then there’s the real history.

Riviera is the club that was so Hollywood.

Famous members over the years include Humphrey Bogart, Glen Campbell, Peter Falk, Dean Martin, Gregory Peck, Walt Disney and Douglas Fairbanks.

Oh, yeah, O.J. Simpson once had a locker there, too.

 

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PGA Set to Host Another Pebble Beach Party for AT&T Pro-Am

February 09, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

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Yep, the PGA Tour is playing again this week. It’s the Pebble Beach AT&T National Pro-Am.

That means Pebble Beach. Cool. Great tournament. There is the celebrity/amateur thingy that was once very, very hip when Bing Crosby was the host, but now too many people wonder “who the hell is Bing Crosby?” and Bill Murray, George Lopez and Andy Garcia are the celebrity headliners.

Play will be slow and the weather most-likely lousy, but there may be no greater piece of real estate in golf than Pebble Beach.

Remember, they did play the U.S. Open there last year.

Graeme McDowell won it, but Dustin Johnson came close. That’s significant because Johnson did win the two Pebble Beach Pro-Am stops before that. So, despite the fact Johnson in June shot a final-round 82 to fall out of the hunt, he led after three rounds and also has been the winner at the previous two PGA Tour events at Pebble Beach by one shot over David Duval and J.B. Holmes last year and four in front of Mike Weir in 2009.

 

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Mark Wilson Wins Phoenix Open in Playoff

February 07, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

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Let’s hear it for the power of cheese.

One day after his beloved Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl, Wisconsin native Mark Wilson, who briefly wore a plastic Cheesehead as he played Sunday, returned to TPC Scottsdale Monday and won the frost-delayed Waste Management Phoenix Open, beating Jason Dufner in a playoff. Wilson, who in January won the Sony Open, became a four-time career winner by making a nine-foot birdie putt on the second hole of sudden-death.

Wilson has now won two of his last three starts and becomes this season’s first multiple winner.

“I think I’ve been a little bit better practicer,” Wilson said. “I’ve got a new green-reading technique that I learned from Dr. Greg Rose there at (the) Titleist Performance Institute, and then Ping has been really good with me working with my wedges trying to dial in the grooves just right. I spin the ball more than most guys, so the whole groove thing last year was supposed to be good for me, but I still was spinning it back too much from the fairway. So Ping has been working with me good. I’ve got some good equipment now, and just — but the putting really has been the big thing.

 

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Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview: PGA Party Continues

February 02, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

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Hunter MahanThe PGA Tour is enjoying a nice little run right now.

This week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open could very well keep it going.

Two weeks ago the Bob Hope Classic produced a feel-good story: Venezuela native Jhonattan Vegas, who first learned the game hitting rocks, brought a big smile and excitement. It was followed by last week’s popular win by Bubba Watson, in an exciting dual with Phil Mickelson.

Now, it’s time to party.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open is loud, wacky and usually pretty interesting. The tournament traditionally draws the largest galleries in golf with a week-long attendance of some 500,000 attending what is called “a golf tournament wrapped in a social event.”

Mickelson, No. 4, is the only player among the world’s top 10 in the field, but other headliners will include Dustin Johnson, defending champ Hunter Mahan (pictured) and last week’s Farmers Open winner Watson.

 

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Point/Counterpoint: Arnold Palmer Flies; John Daly Complains

February 01, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

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Arnold PalmerFanHouse Golf Writer Mick Elliott runs through a point/counterpoint on the last week of happenings in golf:

Fact: A man who allegedly took a woman hostage during a Friday bank robbery in suburban Washington, D.C., was shot and killed by authorities.

Observation: Good.

Fact: Playing in the opening round of last week’s European Tour event in Bahrain, Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez angrily broke his putter in two, picked up his wedge to use on the greens and made three straight birdies.

Observation: Would you expect anything less from the Most Interesting Man In The World?

Fact: Flying enthusiast Arnold Palmer (right) piloted his first aircraft in 1956. On Sunday, now 81, the golf legend made what he proclaimed his final flight as a pilot. With his license now expired, he will not seek to have it renewed.

Observation: Wait a minute. Arnold Palmer needs an airplane to fly?

 

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Bubba Watson Edges Phil Mickelson to Win at Torrey Pines

January 30, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

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Bubba WatsonSAN DIEGO — With a 5-under final-round 67 Sunday at Torrey Pines, Bubba Watson won the Farmers Insurance Open — his second PGA Tour title — by one shot over Phil Mickelson and put the PGA Tour on notice.

He’s serious.

“It just shows that I can do it,” Watson said. “I did it twice now. I’m only like 50 behind Phil and 80 behind Tiger, so they better watch out.”

Watson, no malice intended, is seen by many as something of a golf goof ball. The 32-year-old self-taught player from the little Florida Panhandle town of Bagdad, likes to post Internet videos featuring trick shots and comedy. One of his favorites is a wedge shot from out of a tiny loving cup, over a swimming pool and into a sand pail.

He also has posted a “Happy Birthday” tribute to Ellen DeGeneres, and, last December at the Shark Shootout, dressed as Santa Claus to sign autographs after finishing play.

 

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Bill Haas, Phil Mickelson Lead; Collection of Talent Strokes Away at Torrey Pines

January 29, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

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SAN DIEGO — Phil Mickelson and Bill Haas are 12 under par and share the lead going into Sunday’s final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Anthony Kim and rookie Jhonattan Vegas are within three strokes as the sun-splashed week heads to the finish line.

What could possibly be wrong with a tournament like that?

Funny you should ask.

Sitting adjacent to Torrey Pines golf complex is the Scripps Clinic. When a visitor to the medical center arrived this week for a scheduled doctor’s appointment, she was confounded by signage in the parking lot that announced “NO ACCESS FOR FARMERS.”

Clinic officials are now aware of a coming petition demanding that in the future they accept the area’s farm workers for treatment.

 

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Phil Mickelson Stabilizes on, Off Course

January 28, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

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SAN DIEGO — After 19 PGA Tour seasons, 46 professional victories, four major championships, more than $60 million in career earnings and a public image that can pull more heart stings than Hallmark, Phil Mickelson should be a whole lot easier to figure.

But then he wouldn’t be Phil.

Few — in any — people in golf have ever done unpredictability bigger and better than Mickelson. Start with the fact that he’s a natural right-hander who plays golf lefty.

Over the years, Mickelson has lost events he should have won, and won others in which he probably should not have even been in contention. He has been heroic, steady and good. He has been his own worst enemy. He has been lampooned for talking too much about things he should not and applauded for insight and opinions on important issues inside the game. He has gambled and won, gambled and lost.

 

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John Daly Comes Full Circle at Torrey Pines

January 27, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

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John DalySAN DIEGO — A year ago in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, John Daly retired from golf.

He shot 79-71 in the opening two rounds and said enough was enough.

“I’m done,” a forlorn Daly announced as he loaded up his tournament courtesy car to exit stage right. “Just can’t play like I used to. … I’m tired of embarrassing myself.”

Anytime John Daly worries about embarrassing himself, you know things have gone really bad.

Daly, however, has proven to be many things, one of the best being resilient. If he hasn’t killed himself over years of reckless, wild-child behavior, then he’s not going to pull the plug on golf.

And now look. Thursday at Torrey Pines, Daly shot a 5-under par 67 and is three shots back of first-round leader Sung-hoon Kang’s 64. Rickie Fowler and Alex Prugh shot 65 and rookie Chris Kirk 66.

“I mean, you get frustrated,” Daly said after being reminded of last year’s knee-jerk announcement. “You know, this place means a lot to me. You think about winning here and stuff like I did in ’04, and you see Tiger plays here every year. The top golfers play here every year, that says something. It’s a special place.”

The fact Daly did win this event in 2004 is a reminder of how good his golf could be.

Besides the “grip it and rip it” length that became Daly’s signature, he has hands soft as clouds and the short-game ability that comes with it.

 

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