Brush With Inevitability: Blair's Anchoring Review

It only took two weeks and we had our first player questioned about possible anchoring, though by the sounds of it the officials on-site were almost doing a review as a test case. But this will not be the last time a player has to review the tape.

Brian Wacker with the explanation from the PGA Tour's John Lillivas and Zac Blair's explanation for the 17th hole putt where his club brushed up against his shirt.

“I was a bit in shock when he even asked,” Blair said. “I was asking him, ‘What is he talking about?’ But I honestly don't know what to say, other than (that) I'm not even sure what happened until I guess I saw it. I definitely wasn't anchoring it on purpose.”

Randall Mell notes that this will be an ongoing issue with the new anchoring ban:

There’s going to be no way of knowing definitively if a club’s actually anchored to a player’s body, especially when players are in sweaters and jackets in cool weather.

This also explains why Charlie Rymer wore this hotel drape of a sweater this morning. He demonstrates the issue at hand on Morning Drive:

Video: 2016 Sony Open Thriller, Gomez Edges Snedeker & Blair

Here is Doug Ferguson's game story on the weird and wild Sony Open final round at the already refreshed Waialae (with more to come). You had a nice variety of playing styles, ages and backgrounds, lots of emotions and best of all, some terrific shots under pressure. And no shortage of sun, palm trees and blue Pacific.

Brian Wacker filed this background story on Fabian Gomez, who is almost assured now of representing Argentina in the Rio game thanks to his world ranking. And he says it's a dream come true for a man who came from little that would have pegged him as a future PGA Tour winner.

Gomez was born in Chaco, historically one of the poorest provinces in Argentina, and was introduced to the game through caddying. He didn’t pattern his swing by watching the players he was carrying for, though -- they were all high handicappers.

Instead, he honed his talents by playing against fellow caddies with the money he’d earned from caddying and also cutting grass (the latter paid more).

If you missed it, here are the final round highlights from PGA Tour Entertainment:

The full replay of Zac Blair's excellent shot from 280into 18 and his even better (humble) declaration (here is Wacker's PGA Tour note on the shot):

A New Look Waialae CC This Week And Beyond?

From the cascading, grand scale of Kapalua to lay-of-the-land (flat) Waialae, the one-two Hawaii swing offers a pair of distinct designs.

As we discussed on Golf Central today, Waialae arrives in sharp contrast to last week's venue. But going forward, the Honolulu course will begin to look different this year and beyond. This is good news for those who have scratched their heads wondering how the course could be a Seth Raynor design.

The PGA Tour's on-site advance man for the last eight years, John Lillivis, reports already seeing an improvement from the removal of 230 trees by architect Tom Doak. The removal has allowed for more sunlight and turf growth, leading the club to introduce tight mow around many of the greens according to Lillivas.

New hole locations have been restored on the 4th and 6th greens but probably won't be introduced this year to let the areas mature. Doak is reportedly planning many more changes to greens with Raynor's style in mind. The outcome will be fun to watch as its pretty clear Raynor's bold style was not incorporated at Waialae because of his lack of on-site time. Therefore, Doak will have to balance keeping the course fun, playable and enjoyable for members, while keeping it relevant in today's game. One that expects a challenge along with a certain bunker depth and style if a course wants to call itself a Raynor.

While Jimmy Walker is the defender, my longshot for the week is Peter Malnati, coming off a T6 at Kapalua, but if I were a betting man, I'd make Chris Kirk my choice if he's at a nice price. Yes, he's got new PXG sticks in the bag and may still be working out the kinks, but Kirk has posted only one over-par round there in 20 rounds played, with his 67.45 scoring average being the third lowest in the last thirty years of tour golf at Waialae. (I know this thanks to the crack work of Justin Ray and the Golf Channel Editorial Research Unit.)

As I noted in the Forward Press, coverage begins Thursday at 7 pm ET. (And don't forget the LAAC from Casa De Campo starts at 2 pm ET Thursday.)

Robert Allenby Perseveres! “If I hadn’t come here, I’d have been running away."

There are real heroes in life who persevere through disease, discrimination, pain, misery, poverty and things outside of their control.

And then there is Robert Allenby!

Oh forget that he provided multiple explanations for his bloodied face and hurled multiple accusations a year ago, dragging some folks and the image of Hawaii into the mud, while still insisting to this day that he was probably drugged, the victim of a senseless crime targeting world famous pro golfers.

But this Rosa Parks of the PGA Tour has found the will to return to Honolulu, kicking off what will be his final year on the PGA Tour barring a big reversal of form.

Dave Shedloski at GolfDigest.com on Allenby's comments to the media, where the Australian golfer risked straining his rotator cuff to pat himself on the back for his moment in heroic courage.

“There’s been a lot of thoughts about it over the last year. A lot of good things, a lot negative things about this. There has been more negative than anything. That really was the whole piece to the puzzle of coming here is to dilute all the negative stuff. Hawaii is such a beautiful place. I didn’t want people to think I wasn’t going to come back here because of what happened. I enjoy being here. The weather is perfect. The golf course is always perfect. People here are always so awesome and so friendly. Sony is a great sponsor. Why not support a great tournament?

The bar for achievement has never been lower.

Just what the folks at Sony wanted to hear!

“Last year was last year. The whole thing about coming here is putting last year behind me. It’s about coming here and hopefully playing well. And if I don’t play well I think I still achieve a lot by coming here.”

Update on 2016-01-13 06:38 by Geoff

**From Brian Wacker's PGATour.com report, Allenby suggests he's been wronged by the media, not his inconsistent storytelling.

“I lost a lot of confidence in my myself from last year with what happened here. I didn’t want to be out in public but I had to be because I had to do my job. The media definitely humiliated me and it was a very hard thing to overcome.

“My life itself probably hasn’t changed but maybe my reputation has changed. It’s been tarnished though false reporting.”

And in case Bill Cosby is out and about in Honolulu this week, Allenby has a plan, reports Doug Ferguson.

He had dinner at the hotel with friends and already has his dining plans laid out for the week.

''Room service and (hotel) restaurant,'' he said.

Forward Press: Sean McDonough & Dye's Dominican Masterpiece

Other than a 1994 Shell's Wonderful World of Golf featuring Fred Couples vs. Ray Floyd, Pete Dye's Casa de Campo design hasn't been seen much on TV. Until this week.

In this week's Forward Press, I chatted with ESPN's Sean McDonough about the difficulty of working a golf broadcast featuring an almost entirely unknown field. That's the case at this week's Latin America Amateur Championship, brought to you by the Masters, USGA and R&A where a Master berth is up for grabs.

Also included are some embeds of fun "Teeth of the Dog" preview videos, including Dye reading writings about what he has said (at times) of his beloved design.

Other viewing tips include the Sony Open and a Caddyshack airing scrubbed cleaner than a Golden Globes telecast. Enjoy.

2016 Kapalua Overnights: Best In A Decade

Certainly it's nice to see that all of the young-gun hype and interest in Jordan Spieth's potentially historic trajectory is attracting viewers, though I'd contend it's even nicer to see Hyundai finally get improved ratings after a so-so run that likely ended after the 2016 Tournament of Champions. (However, the rumor mill suggests they are primed to be continuing on in a different PGA Tour event.)

Saturday's rating is probably the most impressive given the competition from an exciting NFL game.

From Golf Channel PR:

Golf Channel’s coverage of the PGA TOUR’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions posted Best Overnight Ratings in a Decade:

· Final Round Overnight Rating of .70 is Golf Channel’s “Highest Overnight Rating Ever” at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. This more than doubled the Overnight Rating for 2015 of .34 (+106% vs. 2015)

· Golf Channel’s Final Round Overnight Rating (.70) was +35% from the overnight for any previous telecast of this event on Golf Channel (2007-16) and +52% from any prior Final Round at this event on Golf Channel (2007-16)

· World No. 1 Jordan Spieth’s 8-shot victory had significant television competition, including coverage posting a .60 Overnight Rating (6-8 p.m. ET) vs. Sunday’s late NFC Wildcard Game and posting a .81 Overnight Rating (8-10 p.m. ET) opposite the Golden Globes. Coverage peaked from 9:30-10 p.m. ET at .87.
 
For previous rounds, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions kicked off the New Year by posting “Highest Overnight Rating Ever” on Golf Channel (2007-2016):

· Thursday night’s First Round coverage posted a .33 Overnight Rating (+27% vs. 2015) from 6-10 p.m. ET.

· Friday night’s Second Round coverage posted a .40 Overnight Rating (+25% vs. 2015) from 6-10 p.m. ET, peaking at a .49 Overnight Rating from 8-8:30 p.m. ET.

· Saturday’s combined coverage on NBC and Golf Channel posted a Round 3 Overnight Rating of .74 Metered Market Rating (NBC 4-6 p.m. ET: .95; Golf Channel 6-8 p.m. ET: .52) and is “Highest Overnight Rating” for any 1st, 2nd or 3rd round at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, matching ESPN’s coverage of the 2nd Round in 2006 (.74).

· NBC’s coverage of Round 3 (.95 Metered Market Overnight – 4-6 p.m. ET) is the “Highest Overnight Rating” for any telecast from this event in the last 10 years (2007-16). Coverage peaked at a 1.10 from 5:30-6 p.m. ET

· Golf Channel’s coverage of Round 3 (.52 Overnight Rating – 6-8 p.m. ET) is the “Highest Overnight Rating for Round 3” on Golf Channel (2007-16) and the best 3rd Round at this event on cable since ESPN’s coverage in 2005. Going into Sunday, this was also the “Highest Overnight Rating Ever for Any Round” of this event on Golf Channel (2007-16). Golf Channel’s coverage peaked at a .63 from 7:30-8 p.m. ET.

Spieth Becomes Second To Post 30-Under In PGA Tour Event

But go easy on the Tiger comparisons...

Doug Ferguson's game story covers the resounding season-opening win by Jordan Spieth, who beat Patrick Reed by eight strokes. Spieth became only the second player to post a 30-under total or better in a 72-hole event, and tied Woods for most PGA Tour wins by 22.

Spieth won his seventh title in his 77th start as a pro. Woods won his seventh PGA Tour event in his 38th start, and he had 18 wins in his first 77 tournaments.

"Nowhere near," Spieth said on how his record stacks up with Woods. "I don't think there's any reason to compare. It's awfully early. We're excited about where we're at to start our career. What Tiger has done, I can't imagine ever being done."

The breathless nature of the Spieth enthusiasm is mostly warranted, but the Woods comparisons bothered John Strege a bit.

A more appropriate question: Wouldn’t it be better simply to enjoy Spieth for what he is, fresh air in an often fetid sporting world (to wit, the Bengals-Steelers game Saturday night) and a reason to look forward to watching how the story unfolds in a sport too frequently capable of curing insomnia?

The highlights:

Update on 2016-01-11 17:53 by Geoff

**Brian Wacker posts random observations and comments on the week, including this from Spieth regarding an apparent love-hate relationship with social media.

“I struggle a bit with social media. Trying to quiet the noise there, just people that just want to make comments -- so I've just gone away from looking at any comments on Instagram, Twitter. People just want to say stuff just to say stuff. … I have as high expectations as anybody else. So, if I'm not reaching my own, I'm going to be upset with myself. I'm not going to let other people’s expectations take the best of me.”

Worth noting for Spieth fanboys: Jordan said this is the best putting week he's had on the PGA Tour to date, Alex Miceli reports.

Alex Myers with seven staggering stats from the week.

Kapalua: Some Incredible Jordan Spieth Stats To Ponder

You know you're doing something right in golf when you're matching Tiger Woods records, and after opening up a 5-stroke lead in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, Jordan Spieth is proving last year was only the beginning of a special career. (Rex Hoggard goes with the Tiger angle here, Brian Wacker noting some player comments that are starting to sound like the hopelessness that Woods instilled in his competition.)

First, the round highlights from PGA Tour Entertainment.
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And the near albatross on 18:


Doug Ferguson reports that Spieth intends to go after the Kapalua/TOC scoring record Sunday and why not considering his -24 start and final round scoring?

Courtesy of the gang at ShotLink who are at their best when working with a mix of history and performance. Spieth if giving them plenty to chew on and they've delivered some eye-openers.

Even more remarkable considering his blew his first four 54-hole leads.

Winners have historically torched the par-5s at Kapalua but a 3.92 scoring average and the other two gems listed below (with a round to go!) borders on the silly, especially since he's not one to overpower par-5s.

And this is impressive at any golf course, but one with greens as big, contoured and difficult as Kapalua? After being for essentially a month?

Robert Allenby's Returning To The Site Of His Alien Abduction

Soak up the fun at Kapalua. Because following an opening week of stars, humpback whales and what looks like another impressive Jordan Spieth performance, the Sony Open will deliver us back to reality with an OK field and...Robert Allenby.

You may recall last year's lavish tale inspired by having watched one too many Taken movies. You know, the one that unraveled and included Allenby criticizing the woman who found him bloodied before giving her a gift before ultimately being loosely traced to a strip club.

Doug Ferguson reports that Allenby returns to the scene of it all next week on a one-year all-time money exemption. The vital recap for those who tried to block out the bad memories.

A Hawaii man was arrested a month later for using Allenby's credit cards to buy gift cards, jewelry and clothing. Owen Harbison was sentenced in August to five years.

Allenby stood by his story, saying the media blamed him when he was the victim. He says he suspects someone slipped a drug in his drink because he had total memory loss during a 2½-hour window from leaving the Amuse Wine Bar and being woken in the park.

Golf Channel cited unidentified sources in a strip club that Allenby was at Club Femme Nu and ran up a tab of $3,400. Honolulu Police Det. John McCarthy said the report was not true, and the police investigation showed Allenby was never in the strip club.

Allenby made only six cuts on the PGA Tour the rest of the year.

The Age included this report with Allenby's life changing advice for us all, minus the caveat that this only applies to people with big mouths, weird attitudes and a propensity for bar bickering.

"I'm very cautious, there's no question about it. Most important thing is you never leave a glass of wine or any drink unattached anywhere. And that's probably the best advice I could give anyone in the world because it's not a pleasant experience – especially the outcome of what could happen."

Padraig Loves A Good -140 Degree Cryo Bath

After opening with a 70, the second oldest player in the 2016 Hyundai Tournament of Champions credits quick recovery from a knee injury to baths. Really, really cold ones.

Jim McCabe of Golfweek.com with Padraig's explanation for his quick recovery.

Besides the proper rehab, Harrington also utilized a cryo bath that reached unnatural temperature levels and helped him recover from the surgery faster.

But as with many things Harrington does, the bath was unique.

“I do six minutes at -140 degrees because I'm used to it,” Harrington said of the air bath where he did approximately 20 sessions in a 12-day period. “So, that's a pretty long time. Most guys are at three minutes. But it, basically, when you're working out, it boosts your testosterone. That's what it does. And it helps your recovery from injuries.”

Rickie's High-Tops Met With Disdain, Pity And Some Praise

I feel like the only thing missing from the look is a pair of legwarmers and maybe a little 80s 'do. Which is better than some reactions, which said the boots looked like he was wearing court-ordered tracking devices.

Judging by the comments in this Golfweek.com round-up, I'm not alone when looking at Rickie Fowler trying to bring hi-tops to golf.

Update on 2016-01-08 14:58 by Geoff

**GolfPunk talks to PUMA Golf's Footwear head Grand Knudson who explains this was all Rickie's idea that his team executed and as the online magazine notes, a bit of a nod to the past. If unintentional:

Here are his ankles and feet at yesterday's Hyundai Tournament Of Champions in Hawaii. The high-tops are evident but what you have to look closer to see is he's also wearing a pair of tracky bottoms that form a sort of ghetto fabulous modern plus four.

Buddies Tournament! Celebs Dragging Name Pros To Pebble?

It's still a tad early to declare the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am field the best ever (the tournament director is), but the improvement is already noticeable.

The reason for more stars is interesting: celebs drawing in their buddy golf pros. Ron Kroichick reports:

Celebrity impact: Watson will play for the first time since 2007 because one of his good friends, actor/producer Mark Wahlberg, is playing. That prompted Watson to request a pairing with Wahlberg. Done.

Similarly, soon after American League MVP Josh Donaldson signed up, fellow Alabaman Jason Dufner, the 2013 PGA Championship winner, hopped aboard. Steve Stricker, a 12-time tour winner, will make his first appearance in 10 years — because he wants to play with country singer Toby Keith, a friend.

“It’s kind of turned into a buddy tournament,” John said.

Spieth Commits To Kapalua For Life (As Long As He's Eligible)

As long as there is a Tournament Of Champions in Hawaii--somewhat of an if as you know from reading my Forward Press chat with Mark Rolfing--Jordan Spieth will be there every time (assuming he's eligible).

Jay Coffin on the two-time major winner from 2015 speaking to the golf writers in Maui about how his off-season numbers crunching revealing a need to improve his under-120-yard efforts.

And this:

Whether it’s the beginning of a new season or the continuation of an old one, Spieth is at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions looking to finish one spot higher than he did in 2014 when he finished in second place - a shot behind Zach Johnson.

Spieth acknowledged that he was more than a little miffed sitting at home last year watching his buddies playing in a tournament on a beautiful course that he didn’t qualify for.

“This is one that we strive to make each year, and if I am eligible to play in this tournament and I’m not, I hope every single one of you (in the media) calls me and bashes me for it,” he said.

Steve Burkowski's Golf Central report from the day and the entire press conference follows:

Forward Press: We Have A Tournament Of Champions Again!

In the first GolfDigest.com Forward Press installment of 2016, I speak to Mark Rolfing about the state of the Hawaii swing, how Kapalua has evolved as a venue with different winds, and his battle with cancer.

Full TV times are listed and do note, it's a tricky one this week with NBC handling early coverage before handing off to Golf Channel.

But as we discussed today on Morning Drive, the real fun this week is in having a Tournament of Champions with an almost full field. Even better, all of those who qualified for one of the more elite clubs on the planet--winners of a PGA Tour event the prior year--are showing up in Maui, sharing on social media what fun they're having, and...did I mention, showing up?

While it's not going to put the full kibbosh on concerns about the Hawaii swing's leadoff spot on the schedule against the NFL Wildcard weekend, we can at least go into this week focused on seeing an elite field, as the TOC should be.

Not included in the column is the latest picture re-posted by GolfDigest.com's John Strege, this one of Jordan Spieth and sister Ellie enjoying some snorkeling.

Membership Closes In Annual World Top 50 Club

There's something increasingly absurd about the year-end World Top 50 Club. Not that it's the fault of the Official World Golf Ranking. Or even the precious algorithm guiding year-end standings that carry entirely too much meaning by qualifying people into majors and other events.

It's always seemed strange to be handing out passes for major championship field spots for the previous year's top 50. They also secure $300,000-or-so in guaranteed appearance money for the coming year, all because the calendar switched to a new year January 1st.

Yes, people need to plan schedules and make travel plans at some point, but I don't get why this New Year's Eve mythical milestone of world top 50 status is still used by events such as the Masters. The idea of rewarding folks in such a substantial way while restricting others, all for finishing the year one one side of the top 50 line, just seems like an outdated notion.

Nick Menta reports on those who slipped in and those no longer with access to the club. And then there's Tiger down at 416th.