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WGC-Accenture Match Play Power Rankings: Euros Lead Ranks

February 23, 2011   B.J. George   No comments

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Graeme McDowellAs March Madness draws near, this week’s PGA stop will give you a little taste of the bracket format that makes college basketball so exciting. The World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championships is one of the best tournaments outside of the majors, pitting the top 64 available players in the world rankings.

This will easily be the best field thus far in 2011, and it will be particularly interesting to see the top 5 players in the world all in the same location for the first time since Tiger Woods was unseated as No. 1.

We’ve decided to break this week’s power rankings down a little differently due to the match play format. This week we’ll dissect players’ chances by where they’re seeded.

From the top group (seeds 1-4), here are the three that have the best chance:

1. Graeme McDowell — Last time we saw McDowell in a match play format, he was closing out Hunter Mahan to retain the Ryder Cup for Europe. He’s playing in the same half of the bracket as defending champion Ian Poulter, but McDowell is arguably the best player in the world right now.

2. Rory McIlroy — McDowell’s fellow countryman hasn’t finished outside of the top 10 in six starts and holds a 4-2 all-time record at this event. McIlroy has a difficult draw that includes a possible matchup with Martin Kaymer. It would be a coin toss at that point, but I like McIlroy’s game a slight bit more at the moment.

3. Martin Kaymer – Rounding out the European trifecta of favorites, the No. 2 player in the world could very well be the only No. 1 seed to advance beyond Friday. As a Ryder Cup rookie, the German lost just once in four matches. With a potential matchup looming, Kaymer or McIlroy won’t be making the semifinals, but whoever escapes the Player bracket will be a heavy favorite come Sunday.

 

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Mickelson in Contention at Phoenix Open

February 05, 2011   FanHouse Newswire   No comments

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Phil MickelsonSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Phil Mickelson was locked in concentration over a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th, the some 20,000 onlookers mostly quiet on the amphitheater hole except a fan who screamed “Tiger would make it!”

Playing partner Bill Haas heard it, but Mickelson was oblivious to the slight, perfectly striking the putt that drew a thunderous cheer when it dropped in.

“It’s Saturday of the Phoenix Open. It’s always fun,” Mickelson said. “There’s a lot of people out here. I don’t think there’s a shot I wanted to make more, other than a major championship, than that putt on 16. I wanted to make that so bad.

“To see that go in with the crowd right there was a great feeling.”

The birdie and another on the short par-4 17th helped Mickelson close within four strokes of leader Tommy Gainey halfway through the frost-delayed tournament.

“There’s a lot of golf left,” Mickelson said. “Even though it’s Saturday — it feels like it’s the third round — but we’ve only played two, so we’re halfway through and to be within a few shots, it’s where everybody is trying to get to.”

 

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Phoenix Open Power Rankings: Mickelson Primed for Success

February 02, 2011   B.J. George   No comments

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Phil MickelsonThe Waste Management Phoenix Open is one of the few PGA events that has the feel of an NFL game or a NASCAR race — not to confuse the two demographics, but both atmospheres have very similar qualities. Huge crowds will again be in attendance, despite weather so cold the pro-am was canceled.

TPC Scottsdale’s par-3, 16th hole is the most exciting hole in golf with bleachers surrounding tee to green. It will serve as the Kodak Challenge hole for the week, which gives it an unneeded boost. Sit back and enjoy the party in Arizona, and keep an eye on these players.

The favorites for this week are familiar names who have started strong in 2011:

1. Phil Mickelson — After a strong performance at Torrey Pines, Phil heads to another course that he loves. With two wins and nine top-10s at this tournament, he is the favorite to win this week. The former Arizona State player will need to tighten up his game off the tee, but his short game looks to be in order.

2. Dustin Johnson — Any personal issues that Johnson might have been experiencing when he withdrew a few weeks ago are not affecting him. He was near the top in every major statistical category last week and finished with a final-round 66, which included no bogeys. With top-10s in both starts this year, it would be a surprise if he didn’t make it three.

3. Hunter Mahan — Last year’s winner should be primed for a title defense. Mahan entered Sunday’s final round last week in the last group, but a double bogey on the opening hole set the tone for day and he finished the Farmers T6. His win in Phoenix a year ago was highlighted by only 12 missed greens the entire week. If he can continue to hit his driver well, expect him to have a lot of birdie opportunities.


4. Rickie Fowler — He came within one shot of winning here in just the sixth tournament of his rookie year. Fast-forward one year and the young star continues to look for that first Tour victory. Fowler didn’t play as well as his T20 finish last week would indicate. Following his 65 on the easier of the two Torrey Pines courses, Fowler shot 2 over for the remainder of the tournament, but he should feel pretty comfortable this week.

5. Jhonattan Vegas — It’s probably a bit premature to be including Vegas in the short list of favorites, but the rookie has earned it. The Venezuelan entered the 72nd hole last week just one stroke out of the lead and a realistic opportunity for back-to-back wins. The most impressive aspect of his performance was his calm and confidence in a high-pressure home stretch. The FedEx Cup points leader looks like he belongs.

 

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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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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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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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Golf’s Storylines for 2011: Tiger’s Major Rebound, PGA Tour’s Health in the Mix

January 03, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

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Back from a short winter nap, the PGA Tour returns to Hawaii this week to start another season, bringing with it an assorted shopping list of questions, needs and challenges.

After play begins Thursday at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, the new season will drag out for more than 11 full months. If history tells us anything, the long grind will produce new chapters to old stories, fresh faces, surprise winners, disappointing losers, great shots, miserable meltdowns and a fair share of ambivalence.

And when it is finally over, there will be a handful of stories, players and issues that shape the year and impact 2011′s place in golf’s history book.

Here’s 11 for ’11.

1. Tiger Woods — Old news or a new start?

Woods went winless in 2010, the first shutout of his professional career, because of a number of reasons — including bad golf.

The swing can be rebuilt. He’s done it before. The work with new coach Sean Foley, which began in August, should be ready to pay dividends by the time Woods makes his season debut (probably late this month in San Diego).

But can Woods, who turned 35 last week (Dec. 30), again show the mental toughness and confidence that distinguished him on the way to 14 major championships and almost six consecutive years as the world’s No. 1 player?

Woods remains four behind Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18 major championships and the march that once seemed destined now makes for a good debate.

 

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Monday Movers: Ernie Els Rules South African Open Again

December 20, 2010   B.J. George   No comments

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Ernie ElsStock Up

Ernie Els

The smooth-swinging Els won his fifth South African Open title Sunday by one stroke over Retief Goosen. His first win in this tournament came 18 years ago, which speaks of his longevity in the game. Despite opening with back-to-back 65s, Els’ best round might have been his third. After opening with three bogeys through his first five holes, he finished with seven birdies and maintained his lead over Goosen entering Sunday.

Player of the Year Honors

The Golf Writers Association of America announced its Players of the Year on Friday. The Male Player of the Year went to Graeme McDowell over Jim Furyk and Martin Kaymer in the award’s closest race. Bernhard Langer took home the senior version after winning back-to-back majors and five Champions Tour events in 2010. Yani Tseng, who won two LPGA majors this year, was named Female Player of the Year with 69 percent of the vote. All three players are first-time winners and will be honored at Augusta next April.

 

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Looking Back at the 2010 Golf Storylines, On and Off the Course

December 16, 2010   Mick Elliott   No comments

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Tiger WoodsIf golf 2010 reminded us of anything it was that seasons are often remembered not as much by what was accomplished as they are by the moments that made people pay attention.

There are news stories and then there are newsmakers. Although easily confused, the two are as different as a hook and a slice. News is the result of proficiency and production. Something happens. It is created by events, challenge and adversity.

Making people look is always interesting, but not always an accomplishment.

Because no season in memory so blurred the lines as 2010, somebody has to sort the laundry.

NEWSMAKER — Tiger Woods

Never has so many words been written and said about a golfer who did not win a single event.

Everybody knows why. Woods’ tumble from his lofty perch became news, but the reasons that caused it were all self-inflicted wounds.

The rest of the story: There’s a little National Inquirer in everybody.

NEWS STORY — Lee Westwood

The 38-year-old Englishman replaced Woods as the world’s No. 1 ranked golfer. Considering almost six years had passed since anyone could make a similar claim, that’s news.

Westwood won only once on the PGA Tour in 2010, but finished second in both the Masters and British Open. And after coming back from being sidelined for almost two months, he immediately starred in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory and added a victory in South Africa.

The rest of the story: Now, let’s talk about a major championship.

 

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Golf’s Power Shifting From U.S. to Europe; PGA Tour Feeling the Heat

December 14, 2010   Mick Elliott   No comments

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The Europeans’ recent domination of men’s professional golf in 2010 is going be an ongoing topic heading into next season.

You know the reasons. England’s Lee Westwood is the world’s new No. 1. The Europeans have seven of the world’s top 11 players compared to four Americans. Europe won the Ryder Cup. Young stars Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Martin Kaymer of Germany are declining to play full time in the U.S. next year, committing to the European Tour.

More and more Americans are making appearances overseas — at the expense of PGA Tour events.

“The golf courses and the tournaments and the players on the European Tour are definitely catching up to us,” admitted PGA Tour veteran Billy Mayfair.

In golf’s big picture, could that be a good thing?

Hall of Famer Greg Norman, who has proven to know a lot about business success, believes it.

“I think it’s great for golf, to tell you the truth,” Norman said. “When I was overseas and all this was taking place with the change in the No. 1 player in the world and the Europeans winning the Ryder Cup, I thought, you know, this is just the shot in the arm that the game of golf needs.”

Golf has seen similar shifts before. The Americans owned the world game with Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Lee Trevino. Europe followed with Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and Ian Woosnam, to hold an upper hand in the 1980s and early ’90s. Then the American regained control.

“Now it’s swinging back again,” Norman said.

What’s interesting, however, is how many of the young Americans see the power shift.

Or, actually, how they do not see it.

“I can’t speak for anybody else, but for me personally, I see them as people,” Bubba Watson said. “I don’t see them as Europeans or from other countries. I just see them as golfers.

“Some guys beat me, who cares where they’re from. I’m from Baghad, Fla,. Nobody is around going, ‘You’re from a weird place,’ you know. So I just see it as some great golfers beat me no matter where they come from.”

If Norman’s predictions are true, Watson might be wise to pay just a bit more attention.

While visiting China recently, Norman was asked to address the Tourism and Golf Forum.

“They want 30 million golfers in China in the next years, and there’s three million now,” Norman said. “When you think there’s 24, 25 million golfers in the United States and it’s been that number for decades and decades, imagine when China comes online in 20 years down the line.

“And then when China comes online, you’ve already got the Koreans doing extremely well. The development of the game of golf in Malaysia and Indonesia and Vietnam and Cambodia, to a degree, is just starting to skyrocket. And then you bring in India.

“So you got pretty much 50 percent of the world’s population just starting to get into the game of golf. So when you start looking out into the future, it’s extremely healthy. “

 

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