Questions for the Commish

SI's Farrell Evans presents nine questions for Commissioner Tim Finchem going into his annual Tour Championship press conference (early over-under on Finchem's MBAspeak: brand, 12 mentions, platform, 6 mentions, brand platform: 2).

It would be a miracle if the assembled scribblers ask just one of the questions suggested by Evans.

Oh, and someone get him few dozen free balls, because this question just can't be allowed:

Will you do something with the golf ball and driver technology and the golf courses to encourage shot-making and less muscle-packed golf? 

Elling's Final Disney Notes

Forgive me, catching up here, but if you didn't see it, Steve Elling offered all sorts of interesting notes and quotes in his Monday Disney wrap up. He includes some interesting numbers regarding the newly lengthened Magnolia course (yes it played easier).

Beem Unplugged

Rich Beem, after round 1 of the Funai Classic talking about the rules and the Wie incident before a rally killer stepped in:

Q. Throughout history golfers have been penalized, DQ'd for signing incorrect scorecards. I'm just wondering in the Internet age, do you think that rule is a little archaic now?

RICH BEEM: Actually there's a guy I played golf with on Monday. I played with a guy who's a member of the R & A on Monday. Everybody knows what we shot, on the Internet, TV, everybody. But the rules of the game are you've got to sign your scorecard, and it's not that difficult. I mean, to be honest with you, I think the instance where it happened at the British Open a couple years ago, I don't think that's fair. I think you ought to be given your opponent's scorecard, not your own, but that's how they do it over there, it's a little bit different. You're in charge of your own scorecard and it's not that difficult to write down 18 numbers in a row about what you shot and then sign your scorecard, double check it, end of story. There's been some tragic instances in the past, but I don't think it's archaic. I think it's part of the game, and you ought to be able to do that.

Q. What about some of the other rules like the direction you take a drop?

RICH BEEM: There's so many rules, we can sit here and talk about rules but we're not going to because it's silly and I'm going to go eat here soon.

There are some rules out there the funny thing is that the rules are made by guys, the governing body, USGA, and I'll say it out loud, a lot of these guys can't break an egg, they're not players. They don't understand the rules they have in place, or some of them are outdated and some of them don't make common sense. Like the rule that happened to me at the PGA where I swept debris on the green but I was only this far off, but yet if you're on the green you couldn't do it. So they changed that rule, so that's my rule, I'll take credit for that.

There's a lot of rules that don't make sense. But that's what they like to do. They like to sit around and drink scotch and come up with new rules or old rules and don't want to change them, I don't know. It's their prerogative, man.

Q. You talked about the whole new approach with the putting. Is that because of the change in putters, or were there other changes you made or adjustments putting wise?

More On Magnolia Lengthening

Doug Ferguson looks at the Disney-Magnolia course lengthening:

The Magnolia Course has been stretched to 7,516 yards, the latest tournament that figures the most viable way to challenge the best players is by making a course longer.

"They just don't get it," Frank Lickliter said Wednesday. "Grow the rough. Tighten the fairways."

 Soggy fairways have made the course play even longer — and perhaps tougher.

I think they ought to just continue the player walkways from the tee right to the green.That'll put a premium on accuracy!

Ferguson noted that Tiger has put his new Nike driver in the bag, which early buzz says will make him even longer off the tee. If that's possible. Tiger had this to say about the course:

"More than the length, it's the fact that every ball is backing up," Woods said. "Every ball picked up mud. That's the hardest thing in the world. You can have length, and you can have longer shots to the green, but if you don't have a clean ball, it makes for a very difficult golf shot." 

I haven't been paying attention, but are they even going to be playing this weekend with a hurricane moving in? 

PGA Tour Driving Distance Watch Vol. 4

Back to 26 players averaging over 300 yards after dropping to 24. 30 over 300 yards is still very much within reach.

The PGA Tour topped 289 yards for the first time, with the tour average at 289.1 yards.

Just a friendly reminder (again): in 2004, 14 players averaged over 300 yards. 9 players averaged over 300 yards in 2003.  John Daly was the only player averaging over 300 yards for the 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 seasons. 

Hoggard On World Golf

Golfweek's Rex Hoggard looks at other Tours going global as the PGA Tour's World Championship events are played largely in the U.S.

Donegan On Tiger's Rivals

The Guardian's Lawrence Donegan offers a stinging appraisal of Tiger's rivals. He's really looking forward to the battle for the top spot in women's golf.

Tait on WGC's

Alistair Tait of Golfweek says the WGC's have failed to live up to their promise and that the other tours are getting shortchanged because most of the events are played in the U.S.

Greensboro's Status

This AP story looks at the Greater Greensboro event's potential to remain on the Tour schedule and includes this how-did-he-keep-a-straight-face quote from Sergio Garcia.

"The Fall Finish, it is important to all of us, there's no doubt about it," Garcia said.  No doubt.

Skins Funk

Fred Funk playing the Skins Game? What, Paula Creamer said no?

George Archer R.I.P.

George Archer passed away Sunday. Mark Soltau has a nice tribute at GolfDigest.com.

Gore and Arizona

Greg Hanson in the Arizona Daily Star writes:

The most meaningful accomplishment in UA golf history, connected to those who played for the Wildcats, could be Annika Sorenstam's ascension as the world's leading female player.  But it is not.
 
You might choose to nominate Jim Furyk for his victory at the U.S. Open, or Don Pooley for winning the U.S. Senior Open.

How about Eric Meeks' triumph at the 1988 U.S. Amateur, or that of Ricky Barnes at the 2003 U.S. Amateur?

 Close, but no.

 

Today in Idaho, former UA golfer Jason Gore is playing in the Nationwide Tour's Boise Open, which, if you are asking for perspective, is the triumph of his career as a man and as a golfer.

Not to quibble, but uh, Jason Gore transferred and led another school to an NCAA title.

That might explain why Hanson called on the former golf beat writer for a quote instead of UA coach Rick LaRose to back up the assertion that it's the "most meaningful moment in UA golf history."

The Gores of Toronto

Lorne Rubinstein looks at the Gore family history and their connection to Canada, with plenty of photos.

Callahan On Els

Golf Digest's Tom Callahan profiles the rehabing Ernie Els.

Tour Driving Distance Watch Vol. 2

Thanks to reader Steve for reminding me to check the updated PGA Tour driving distance stats. On August 29, this site speculated that we might see 25 players finish the season averaging over 300 yards this year despite the first half of the season having been played under water.

Well, that was August 29 and there were 17 over the 300 mark. On September 5 it climbed to 20 over 300 yards.

After the 84 Lumber Classic, the drive to 300 continued with 24 players reaching the 300 plateau. Will Mackenzie and Jason Allred are closing in on 300, and if Dennis Paulson, Tag Ridings, J.J. Henry and Geoff Ogilvy would just hit the gym a little harder ;), we could see 30 players over 300 for 2005.

I point this out to remind you that we've heard how laws of physics and the "S Curves of invention application" would take hold and that we would no longer see significant jumps in driving distance.

Ah but you say, what's a few more yards? 3, 4, yards, that's not significant! Perhaps at this poing with things so far gone. But just remember, in 2004, 14 players averaged over 300 yards. 9 players averaged over 300 yards in 2003. Optimization works!

John Daly was the only player averaging over 300 yards for the 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 seasons.

Oh and one more bit of perspective: Dan Pohl led the Tour in 1980 at 274.3 yards. In 1995, Pohl's total would have landed him 16th in overall distance average. In 2000 Pohl's 274.3 would have been 84th on the list. And his 274.3 would put him 195th on this year's list, ahead of only nine others.