Early Greatest Game Review

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greatestgameeverplayedthe.jpgBill Huffman in the East Valley Tribune looks what makes a golf movie work and he reviews The Greatest Game Ever Played, with quotes from the film's participants that would make the marketing department proud:

We met — which is how you phonetically pronounce Ouimet — Paxton during a party prior to the screening. Paxton knew one member of our foursome of amateur critics from their past days at Whispering Palms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

"It’s a movie that (golfers) will appreciate, and women will love,’’ said Paxton, who is better known as an actor for his roles in such films as "Apollo 13,’’ "Tombstone,’’ and "Weird Science."

We also met Frost, whose previous claim to fame came as a writer for the hit TV series "Hill Street Blues.’’ Frost said the movie was a "time machine" dating back to when "the athlete was a role model, which is not always the case in America these days."

Both Paxton and Frost were center-cut with their explanations of what to expect. Now, the question became, did the chemistry of the actors and plot in "The Greatest" work in a way that left people as moved as they were after watching "The Rookie?"

Well, one of our foursome did cry — and clap! — at the conclusion. But the best comment came from the other female member of the foursome, who said of "The Greatest": "If it came down to buying a movie ticket or renting the DVD, I’d wait for the rental."

 

Love's Mistaken Lift

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The misunderstanding in the Love-Cink v. Weir-Immelman morning foursome play provided an interesting dilemma. Love thought he heard Weir suggest that the 1-2 foot putt was good, but Weir merely said that Cink had hit a great shot.  Love picked up the ball. Weir protested, Immelman suggested it mean loss of hole. Captains were called in. Gary Player looked like he just woke up from a nap.

The PGA Tour official seemed perplexed, so guess who came to the rescue? That's right, the USGA's Tom Meeks.

He correctly ruled that because it was clearly a misunderstanding, Love could replace the ball with no penalty. Meeks cited Rule 18. Reader Blue Blazer emailed to suggest the ruling was correct, the rule cited by Meeks may not have been the right one.

2-4/3  Player Lifts Ball in Mistaken Belief That Next Stroke Conceded  

Q. In a match between A and B, B made a statement which A interpreted to mean that his (A’s) next stroke was conceded. Accordingly, A lifted his ball. B then said that he had not conceded A’s next stroke. What is the ruling?

A. If B’s statement could reasonably have led A to think his next stroke had been conceded, in equity (Rule 1-4) A should replace his ball as near as possible to where it lay, without penalty.
Otherwise, A would incur a penalty stroke for lifting his ball without marking its position — Rule 20-1 — and he must replace his ball as near as possible to where it lay.


TNT Knows...Drama?

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presidents cup.jpgSince I can't watch the Presidents Cup without wondering if Tiger's goatee is a tribute to Waiting For Guffman's infamous Corky St. Clair, I thought I'd track an hour of TNT's coverage.

In between plenty of commericals, plugs for TNT drama/NASCAR, blimp shots (that's of the blimp), a Jim Huber pre-packaged tribute to Jack and Gary, and my favorite, a graphic on "Presidents Cup Lefthanders," TNT showed us the following from 1-2 eastern:

27 putts
3 drives
16 approach shots or par-3 tee shots
5 chips

52 total shots in one hour of coverage. Not sure how that stacks up with other networks. 

Oh, and I loved it when we saw Jack Nicklaus looking at the grass (probably trying to ID the variety), whild Bob Murphy told us that Jack was "pondering his thoughts."

Oh, and the first foursome took 2:20 to finish the front nine. And that's the short nine at RTJ GC.

Gore and Arizona

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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."

Presidents Cup Day 1

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presidents cup.jpgHard to get behind the U.S. team if they don't tattoo American flags to their cheeks! I mean, where's the patriotism with these guys?

 Seriously, here's the game story on the first day of Presidents Cup play. Rivetting it was. So exciting was it that I realized, if this were the Ryder Cup, no way the doctors let David Toms play. Too much stress. Presidents Cup? Eh, why not, who cares?

Here's a story on Toms as well as Jim Furyk, who was injured on day one but says he'll be fine.

If you have absolutely nothing to do, here is the Captain's post round press conference.  

Why Is It That...

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presidents cup.jpg...American teams can never color coordinate? Maybe the red hats are a tribute to Donald Trump's favorite golf hat color.

And why is that the player wives are walking in the fairways with their husband's matches?  Oh right, family is one of the PGA Tour's core values. I forgot, sorry.

Course looks great. Love how the cameras can't quite pick up the white bunkers, turning them into white blurs. So natural. 

 

Humorless Americans?

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Robert Lusetich in the Australian News:

Leave it to Peter Lonard, that plain-speaking sage from south-west Sydney, to dissect the cultural dichotomies between the International team and the US at the Presidents Cup.

"The main difference is that we don't get our knickers in a twist if someone calls us arseholes," Lonard said yesterday.


 

Presidents Cup Eve

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presidents cup.jpgYes it starts on Thursday, part of the Tour's quest to not be like the Ryder Cup (well, and get another TV day). As for previews, Steve Keating of Reuters has the pairings. The Mickelson-DiMarco v. O'Hern-Clark match looks like it could be good one, though everyone will be watching Woods-Couples v. Scott-Goosen.  Meanwhile, Golf World's Brett Avery previews the teams.  And Doug Ferguson offers notes following Wednesday's practice round and press conference.

As for the to-autograph-or-not-to-autograph spat, no one asked the Captains to clarify as far as I can tell. Instead lots of dreary questions asking for comparisons between the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup and other boring stuff. By having the players do joint press conferences, it turns into one big rally killer session.

Speaking of Bickering...

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Jim Achenbach reports on Mitch Voges and his shady behavior at the U.S. Senior Amateur yesterday.

I rank the 36 holes I played with Voges in the 1991 U.S. Amateur qualifier at Calabasas as one of the slowest and days of golf I ever played. Not only because I played decently and didn't qualify, but because Voges and his son/caddy gave new meaning to slow and annoying golf course gamesmanship antics. Voges went on to win the Amateur that year.

Another reminder that the USGA should have banned the long putter.