"We didn't join the playoffs to lose money for our caddie scholarships"

Considering that the lone consolation prize in the Western Open's demise was a promised increase in Evans Scholar revenues, this came as a surprise in John Hawkins' Golf World game story:

Tournament director John Kaczkowski took a glass-half-full overview of the event, but WGA President/CEO Don Johnson said, despite a weekend rally at the box office, he expected his organization's bottom line for charity wouldn't equal that from the Western. "We didn't join the playoffs to lose money for our caddie scholarships," Johnson said. "But we had no choice." (Some WGA officials believe, conversely, that taking the tournament to new cities might actually increase contributions to the caddie scholarship fund.) If it hadn't acceded to tour demands and joined the FedEx Cup process, the Western would have been consigned a death slot, one week before or after the U.S. Open. That's because the Fourth of July slot for 2007 had been awarded to Jack Vickers and the International. Remember Jack Vickers and the International? Might not be only the commissioner and the players who are growing apart.

Phil Speaks!

...about his various neurotic club tinkering tendecies exclusively to Mark Lamport Stokes scores an exclusive with Phil to talk about his various neurotic club tinkering tendencies.

Castle Stuart Photos

Posting will be light the next few days while I'm traveling (I know, I know, who goes out of town during Super Bowl week!?). In the mean time... 

If you enjoyed the YouTube videos on the making of Scotland's Castle Stuart resort (here, here, here and here), below are some grow-in photos courtesy of Gil Hanse, who is co-designing the course with developer Mark Parsinen. You know the deal, just click on the photos to see them.

The 215-yard par-3 17th hole viewed from 16th green. Tee is to the right. 17th plays along clifftop into prevailing wind. Shots can be fed down from the left side while the direct line needs to carry bunkers. (click to enlarge image) 

Manmade sand and heather ridge separating 16h green from 17th tee. (click to enlarge image) 

View from left rough on 16th hole looking towards plateau green. 16th is a driveable 305 yard par 4. Hole plays downwind with slopes feeding balls from the right with a deep tightly mown hollow protecting the front left of the green. (click to enlarge image) 

Short par-3 11th viewed from above on the 18th fairway. Tee is out of view to the left. Hole plays 145 yards. (click to enlarge image) 

Par-5 6th hole, 580 yards, view of the approach taken from second shot area. Green is long and narrow and best approach from in front of or over the deep centerline fairway bunker. (click to enlarge image) 

The driveable par-4 3rd. Plays in the opposite direction as the 16th. Green is on a peninsula jutting into the estuary.  (click to enlarge image)
 

Clifftop par-4 7th hole, photo taken from leftside of the landing area.  (click to enlarge image)

View of the approach to the par-5 second hole with dune bunkering along the coastline. (click to enlarge image)

Proving He's No Monty, McEvoy Demonstrates Perspective, Wisdom

Lewine Mair reports on the mature insights and realistic perspective of the now former amateur golfer.

Peter McEvoy, the former Walker Cup captain, does not exonerate himself from blame when he accuses amateur officialdom in the UK of "negligence."

Though he believes that the golf on offer to the elite squads in GB and Ireland is nowadays on a par with that at an American university, he worries that there is no educational process going hand in hand with the sport. "Negligence," said McEvoy, "is not too strong a word in that we are requiring people to play full-time in the knowledge that there isn't room for them all to make a living. We're helping to eliminate everything else from their lives."

McEvoy points to how more and more youngsters are seeing the elite programmes as an option to university in that they can sign on for a single year. In contrast, someone like the 22-year-old Rhys Davies, who was playing in the Walker Cup at the weekend, will have spent four years at his American college.
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McEvoy feels duty-bound to remind these young men that they are taking a risk. "What," he asks, "will they do with themselves if they pick up an injury or lose interest?"

Let The Practice Begin!

Stan Awtrey says they're rolling back the tarps and letting the boys take a little BP. He also reviews other past tournaments that have had green health issues.

Glimpses of East Lake's Greens

Atlanta-based photographer and new blogger Rob Matre has posted 42 images of East Lake's greens. Frankly, I expected much worse. Yes, a few of the greens look horrific, but many others only appear to have minor issues on the out edges.

More offensive is that blinding bunker sand, but that's just me.

Poor Sergio...

After collecting win No. 60 on the PGA Tour, Tiger Woods:

Q. Stricks said he was pretty sure when you made your putt on 12 you looked back at them to make sure they were watching.

TIGER WOODS: No, I didn't do a Sergio (laughter).

"This way they can rub elbows with a lot of different players, hear them tell stories and get to see them under different circumstances."

Stan Awtrey says the Tour considered moving the Super Bowl to TPC Sugarloaf, but decided to stay at East Lake and it's dead greens.

Tour player Robert Allenby was not sympathetic to the club's troubles. "They've had all year to prepare and to say it's not ready is pretty disappointing, especially for a major event. We've come down to the final event and it's a non-event. It could be Mickey Mouse. Who knows what the greens are going to be like?"

Wow, can't imagine why his caddy quit on him.

And this from the Tour's Henry Hughes: 

With no competition permitted, the pro-am format has been altered. All 30 players — including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson — will be required to take part in at least one portion of what's being called an "Ultimate Tour Clinic."

"In a typical pro-am, you spend the day with one guy," Hughes said. "This way they can rub elbows with a lot of different players, hear them tell stories and get to see them under different circumstances."

Yes, circumstances where they are dreading the day even more than a typical pro-am. 

Tiger Is One Last Good Week From Adding More Deferred Compensation He Does Not Need

Bob Harig says it's good for the FedEx Cup that Tiger Woods is leading, and while I understand the logic ratings-wise, is anyone else finding it hard to get excited about the prospect of Tiger or Phil adding a droplet of cash to their swollen portfolios? At least with Steve Stricker you have someone who $10 million will mean something too.

To put it another way, would the FedEx Cup be more interesting if the format allowed more players, including some underdogs, to have a chance of winning it all this week? 

"I've never seen such naked courage on a golf course before."

Mike Aitken reports on the thrilling U.S. Walker Cup win at Royal County Down.

If GB&I couldn't, in the end, overcome the handicap of enduring a 4-0 whitewash in the morning foursomes, it hardly seemed fair to summarise their 5-2 fightback in the singles as heroic failure. The determined and sure-footed quality of the home side's golf at the end perhaps deserved better than losing 12-11. As Peter McEvoy, the former captain of GB&I, observed: "I've never seen such naked courage on a golf course before."

Oh I don't know, have you seen those streakers at the Open Championship?

There is also this Craig Smith story on the USGA's official site, these notes and John Mummert's images from the day.

Update on 2007-09-10 14:01 by Geoff

The Principal says Trip Kuehne and Lloyd Saltman represented America with class but that, not surprisingly, Colt Knost and Dustin Johnson put on a sportsmanship and spitting exhibition that did not exactly impress.

Reason No.37 That Your Personal Trainer Should Always Be Close By...

...or your Pilates instructor, or your HeartMath guide or your...no, the agent wouldn't pick up the bag.

Bob Harig explains how having his trainer watching came in handy for Robert Allenby after his caddy quit mid-round.

"One torture is substituted for another."

Reader Jack Sprat correctly notes that with the greens demise at East Lake comes the Tour's makeshift clinic/pro-am, where "one torture is substituted for another."

Sounds like a great chance for the boys to interract with MBA types...

Wednesday pro-am
Despite the cancellation, tournament officials have scheduled activities for Wednesday to bring a unique and worthwhile experience to pro-am participants.  All 30 players in THE TOUR Championship field will honor their commitment to the pro-am by participating in a Q&A session in the morning, followed by the “Ultimate TOUR Clinic,” in which amateurs will cycle through three stations with PGA TOUR professionals for tips and instruction in driving, chipping and putting.  The day will conclude for amateurs at a luncheon and additional Q&A session with the TOUR players.

And just in case you boys thought you might fly back to Atlanta on Wednesday...think again, that's a morning clinic!

On a serious note, if the concept of playoff pro-am's was in fact one of Phil's beefs, this will not exactly make him more agreeable, will it?

Wait, no, Phil loves corporate America and interacting with pro-am types. I don't know what got into me.

"Now there's room for everybody else to pile on. The timing could not have been worse."

Steve Elling looks at the odd manner in which the PGA Tour notified players about the East Lake greens and has this from Jim Furyk:

 "My thoughts?" veteran Jim Furyk said Sunday morning, weighing his words carefully as he looked at the player advisory posted on the Cog Hill locker room bulletin board. "It's very poor timing. There's already a lot of rumblings and negativity about how things have been working out already.

"Now there's room for everybody else to pile on. The timing could not have been worse. Those are my thoughts."

"Another innovation is the fact that the old Western Open has a new set of wheels."

If the Chicagoans weren't fired up, this John Maginnes piece from PGATour.com ("Playoff format overcoming criticism") ought to get Western Open fans riled up:

But the old Western Open changed its stripes this year. The inaugural BMW Championship brings a new name, as well as a new face to this historic event. From the stark white trimming of the corporate tents and grandstands to the expo village filled with vintage cars, this tournament has a new look. In typical BMW fashion, the tournament has taken on a sleeker, more modern, tone while keeping its traditions and history close. Another innovation is the fact that the old Western Open has a new set of wheels.

On Sunday, it will fill up the tank and head south where it will set up shop in St. Louis. On the even-numbered years the BMW Championship will alternate between the city with the arch and Indianapolis, returning to Chicago in between.

See that change stuff is progress.

Issue Of FedEx Cup Scheduling Intensity Resolved!

Well, this year anyway.

Does anyone remember something like this happening before? It is hard to imagine that keeping thirty players and a pro-am off the East Lake greens could make that big of a difference, but it's admirable of the Tour for trying everything it can to ensure good uh, Super Bowl conditions. A ban on spikes would have been nice too.

From the PGA Tour:

Practice rounds restricted, pro-am canceled at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola to ensure best possible playing conditions for tournament

Course closed to public until Thursday, tickets to be honored

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2007 – As a result of severe heat and drought in the Atlanta area this summer, the bentgrass putting green conditions at East Lake Golf Club, site of next week’s TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, have suffered.  In order to present the best possible playing conditions for THE TOUR Championship, the final event in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, tournament officials and the PGA TOUR have restricted the players’ practice rounds and canceled Wednesday’s pro-am.

“We are working diligently to improve and present the golf course in the best condition possible for next week’s tournament,” said Henry Hughes, executive vice president and chief operating officer, PGA TOUR.  “While restricting players’ practice rounds and canceling the pro-am is not an ideal scenario, we felt this was the best decision in order to allow us a few more days to prepare the greens for the event.

“The weather has improved this past week, and the forecast is for continued good weather through Wednesday, allowing for additional growth and recovery of the bentgrass.  Despite the challenges, we are confident that THE TOUR
Championship will provide an exciting, dramatic culmination to the FedExCup season.”

Tickets
With the course closed to the public until Thursday, all Tuesday and Wednesday tickets will be honored Thursday through Sunday.  The tournament will staff the general parking lot at Turner Field to exchange spectators’ tickets, as well as add additional volunteers and staff to the admission gate on-site.

All Tuesday and Wednesday tickets that are marked “Clubhouse” or “Delta Crown Room Championship Club” will be honored; however, those will be exchanged for GROUND tickets.  These tickets were only sold on a weekly basis, and therefore, those purchasers will also have a ticket that they can use for Thursday - Sunday.

Restricted practice rounds
Players will not be permitted to practice on the greens at East Lake Golf Club, although they and their caddies can walk the course Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, hit drives on par 4s and par 5s and approach shots on par 5s if they do not reach the greens.  The driving range, putting green and short game practice area at East Lake Golf Club will be available to players all week.

Wednesday pro-am
Despite the cancellation, tournament officials have scheduled activities for Wednesday to bring a unique and worthwhile experience to pro-am participants.  All 30 players in THE TOUR Championship field will honor their commitment to the pro-am by participating in a Q&A session in the morning, followed by the “Ultimate TOUR Clinic,” in which amateurs will
cycle through three stations with PGA TOUR professionals for tips and instruction in driving, chipping and putting.  The day will conclude for amateurs at a luncheon and additional Q&A session with the TOUR players.

East Lake greens, Atlanta weather
The strain of grass at East Lake Golf Club is Crenshaw creeping bentgrass. It was introduced in the Southeast in the 1990s and offers a superb putting surface most of the year, but when temperatures reach the 90s, the greens can be susceptible to more diseases, shorter roots and dry spots.

During the month of August, Atlanta reported record temperatures of 90-plus degrees for 28 days, including 10-straight days with temperatures reaching or exceeding 100 degrees.

The average daily high in Atlanta in August was 96.5 degrees, compared to a normal average of 87.9, and the average daily low was 75.2, compared to a normal average of 69.9.  New high-temperature records in Atlanta were set
on nine days last month.  The area experienced 25 consecutive days without rain, and year-to-date rainfall is at 20.90 inches, a deficit of 17.84 inches compared to average rainfall totals.

Plans for 2008
Although weather patterns may improve in future years, the PGA TOUR has reached an agreement with East Lake Golf Club to replace the bentgrass greens with Bermuda grass before the 2008 TOUR Championship.