Week In Review, July 30-August 5: Corey's Back?

Ah, the Ryder Cup tension is already building, perhaps because the American squad drops off considerably after the first 6 spots. Before we get to those comments though, Corey Pavin's win in Milwaukee elicited some interesting comments about certain CBS commentators and their delicate dance around the technology issue (they aren't bought and paid for, no sirree!):

Josh Hoisington:  "Back to Feherty and McCord (and the other CBS people), they sure had a lot of nice things to say about Corey, and in many ways, I think it really made the center of discussion (other than Corey himself) turn to the negative side of technology development. I mean, every last announcer lamented how the technology took away some of the fun of watching Corey, didn't they?"

JPB: "when will the Tour and CBS figure out that ratings and therefore advertising dollars might go up if more people watched and more people might watch performances like Pavin's. Well, they probably won't. But yeah, to see more shotmaking and more shotmakers in contention would be nice."

Ryan: "I wondered where FEHERTY was going right after Corey holed his last putt. David mentioned the modern era equipment, then was interrupted by Corey's welcoming kiss from his wife. Just wished we could have heard where FEHERTY was going with that lead in."

The state of American golf is getting plenty of attention as the Ryder Cup race appears wide open and the final team likely to include some surprising upstarts.

Ryan again: "JJ Henry, Zach Johnson, Brett Wetterich and John Rollins, these guys right here might surprise everyone, who expects them to do anything? True underdogs with nothing to lose,.........if we trounce on Europe with this make-up.......then the stacked teams from the past are not the answer. Especially with Captains picking their friends (Watkins and Strange) and lets not forget what a strange ass beating we took on that roll of the dice."

NRH: "still cringing from Trump in the Opening Ceremonies at Oakland Hills. Hope that doesn't mean they'll throw Richard Branson or Michael Flatley at us for revenge. I'd settle for David Brent."

Bill: "The Nationwide Tour should be called the D-Tour, its not producing golfers, just bomb n gouge artists. As equipment has grown leaps n bounds over the past 10 years, Nationwide venues have not been required to keep up. There all like Hoylake now, iron chip and putts, or drivable par 4's, four at the Omaha event, Numbers 4, 5, 9, 14. So much for Finchem and his Bozos growing the game on the Nationwide Tour, its basically been abandoned of integrity for years."

JT: "If there was the depth of talent available it wouldn't matter what point system was used, you would end up with 10 very good players regardless. The European Team will have 10 strong players at 1-10. A ROW team would have the strongest 1-10 of all three teams Forget any point system at all, just go ahead and pick 12 US players and by the time you get to the spots 9-12, the pickings get slim. On the contrary, do the same for Europe and ROW and when you get to spots 9-12, picking gets tough as there are too many to choose from."

Matt: "Funny how it used to be Europe that was strong at the top with no depth at the end, now it will be the U.S. I don't think the "unknowns" like J.J. Henry or Rollins will come through in the clutch like no-name Euros like Philip Price, Howard Clark, Philip Walton, etc. They're too rich and unaccustomed to real pressure, playing for all that easy money on the PGA Tour."

And Lefty offered this alternative points system and list.

I brought up the subject of Tiger and his love of courses where everything is "right in front of you." You all had some interesting replies.

Matt: "I agree that Tiger probably uses that 'pat' answer to his advantage - he is obviously much brighter than the scribes he deals with - but there is something about a golf hole (or course) that shows you what you have to do and dares you to come do it...the twelfth at Quaker Ridge or the eighth at Oak Hill come immediately to mind. Not that holes like that don't have subtlety, but they beckon 'I am straight, long and fair - come get your birdie, if you dare'..."

Jeff Pollner: "It makes absolutely no sense to say the Old course is your favorite and then say you wished you played more courses like the Medinah setup. Tiger is the one guy with the pull to get some changes made - and it's not like he has to whine about it; all he could have to do is drop a few comments like, 'I would be willing to change my schedule around to play more quirkier, classic courses' and most tournament committees would meet that night to see what could be done."

And finally, ReverendTMac: 'right there in front of you' = 'one way to play the hole'. Not the most compelling formula for repeat business. I agree with Mike that there's nothing wrong with the occasional hole on a course being like that, but when it's the course itself...yawn."