Jason Day Looking To Dethrone Rory's Claim As Best Player Who Could Believes He Could Be Better Than Tiger (And Is Dumb Enough To Tell A Reporter)

Looks like Australian Jason Day has been reading too many of his own press clippings, including this howler from the PGA Tour. From The Age on Nov. 27 (yeah, I'm a little slow).

Day has already claimed his own slice of US golfing history as the youngest player to win a PGA Tour-sponsored event when he won on the secondary Nationwide Tour in July.

"I had a really good amateur career," said Day, who emulated Woods' feat of winning a world junior championship, if not his three consecutive US Amateur crowns.

"Making five out of seven cuts on the PGA Tour (on sponsor invites) was pretty big at 18," he added.

"Winning at 19 and being the youngest on the PGA tour to win ever is pretty big.

Uh...it's called the Nationwi...ah forget it.

"At 19, Tiger didn't win a tournament as a professional.

And that has what to do with this?

"I'm just trying to mark myself up against him.

How about we just play a major first! Or win a PGA Tour event and then we'll try to compare. 

"Next year when I'm on the Tour somehow I've got to win two tournaments because that's what he won and I want to try and keep up with him."

What a good idea!

Day said winning a tournament boosted his confidence.

"At the same time the pressure builds up," he said.

"You're a 19-year-old kid, the youngest kid to ever win a PGA sanctioned event and the media is building you up like you're going to chase down Tiger next year which is a big, big ask for a 20-year-old kid on his first year out on the PGA Tour.

Take that Rory!

"I want to chase Tiger and my goal is to become the number one golfer in the world. That's been my goal since I was a little kid.

"If I work hard on what I need to, I'm sure I can take him down."

Oh but there's more. On whether he thinks Tiger could pick him out of a police lineup:

"He (Woods) watches a lot of golf. He has so much time.

"He played 16 events, what does he do with his time?

"He'd be aware of me, he'd be saying 'here's another kid coming up'

Well if he wasn't aware before, he sure is now.

"I just want to work really hard and take him down."

So glad you repeated it just in case the unbylined writer missed it the first time.

Day owns a house in Orlando just a lob wedge away from Tiger's mansion - at least till Woods relocates to his new spread under contruction.

He hasn't met the great man he plans to dethrone.

"He lives 10 minutes down the road but I've never come across him," he said.

"I must just knock on his door and have a coffee with him and let him know I'm chasing him."

My guess is Tiger doesn't drink coffee Jason. Maybe a carrot juice or some wheat grass.

Meanwhile, Nick O'Hern was asked about the comments. 

"I don't know Jason myself but from what I've heard and from what I've seen, he's a fine player," said O'Hern.

"One thing I've learned about Tiger though is you don't annoy the guy.

"If you do - look what happened to (Rory) Sabbatini and Stephen Ames."

Hey, at least they'd actually played on the PGA Tour and even entered majors, shoot, even contended in majors when they opened their mouths.

"When the market goes south, you can't support a golf course that costs who knows what - maybe $1.5 million to $2 million a year - to water and seed"

Regarding the status of Escena, the new Nicklaus course in Palm Springs, this Desert Sun story suggests that the shutdown is all Lennar's doing and a result of the sub-prime meltdown.

During an inspection of sprinklers by The Desert Sun on Tuesday, the fairways, roughs, tees and greens appeared not to be watered. Only the outlying landscaping appeared to have drip irrigation.

"When the market goes south, you can't support a golf course that costs who knows what - maybe $1.5 million to $2 million a year - to water and seed," said McCulloch, an avid golfer.

Marshall Ames, a vice president in investor relations with Lennar, said Tuesday his company is "very challenged to answer questions about individual communities."

I was in the desert Monday and drove around. I've never seen a nearly complete development essentially abandoned, so I pulled out my video camera... 

"If I'd have had full status somewhere, I definitely would have (turned pro). Now I don't know."

Steve Elling checks in with the two college players who were playing PGA Tour and LPGA Q-School as amateurs and considers where this leaves college golf.

"Since then the event venue has been for sale to the highest bidder."

Mike Clayton previews the Australian PGA and ponders the dynamics of choosing a host site. Thanks to reader Hugh for spotting this.

The players and their families love the resort, the locals have supported it in numbers Brisbane only dreamed about (even when Greg Norman was in the field) and whilst the course is not one of the best in the country it is a good test and the nature of professional golf all over the world is that commercial considerations are of fundamental importance when it comes to the choice of the golf course.

If you don't believe that, have a look at the courses the Europeans have chosen for the Ryder Cup. The last time a course was chosen on merit was in 1981 when they went to Walton Heath. Since then the event venue has been for sale to the highest bidder.

Golf Digest Best New 2007

Now posted at GolfDigest.com, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Doak's Sebonack takes the private category.

The Best New Public With Hot Beverage Cart Girls Over $75 goes to Virginia's Highland Course at Primland by Donald Steel and Martin Ebert.

Best New Public Where You Might Have To Change Shoes In The Parking Lot Under $75 goes to another Virginia course, Ed Carton's Spring Creek.

The Best New Public Remodel, Lester George's restoration of The Greenbrier, beats out in stunning fifth place position, the horrid Industry Hills, aka Misery Hills, oh, wait, it's been rebranded as Industry HIlls GC at Pacific Palms Resort. I think the rebranding put it in the top 5.

Best New Private Remodel, goes to Gil Hanse, Brad Faxon and Jim Wagner for their revitalization of TPC Boston, edging out Rees Jones remodels of Bellerive and Atlanta Athletic Club as well as Jack Nicklaus's work at Ohio State.

And Best New Canadian goes to Muskoka Bay by Doug Carrick.

Stephen Szurlej's exclusive photos of the winners are posted, but other than the aerials of Sebonack I wouldn't waste your time unless you want to see a bunch of TPC Boston ground views from behind greens guarded by lakes. Not as horrific as his photo of Rustic Canyon when it won, which actually was taken by a blind ground squirrel. However, considering how easy the two courses are to photograph (I know, I'm biased) and considering the landscape photography work of folks like Lambrecht, Dost, Brown, the Henebry's, Cuban, Furore and Scalletti, Golf Digest should farm this assignment out.

While not award winning, at least some of these images give you a sense of why TPC Boston edged out some tough competition. 

"I wouldn't mind that."

Thanks to readers Adam and Jon for catching Tiger's appearance on CNBC to plug the latest swollen spatula from Nike. You can see the video here, but be warned, lots of lame questions from giggly anchors.

I loved that Tiger pointed out how this latest ugly thing you won't find in his bag "sounds a lot better."

Eric Pfahler writes up the interview but mysteriously leaves out a key, key comment.

While other professional sports have standardized equipment, golfers have lots of leeway, though there is some debate about using a standardized golf ball.

“I don’t see how we could get the entire industry to (believe) and go with that,” Woods said. “There would be some serious fighting going on if that was the case because that’s what separates us from other sports.

“It could happen. Augusta threatened to do it, but they just lengthened the golf course so we’re playing from downtown Augusta. We’ll see what happens down the road.”

Whatever technological advances there are in the future could change the game even more, Woods said.

“Seven years, our entire industry’s changed,” Woods said. “How’s it going to be 15 years from now? I don’t know.” 

But this kinda key answer was left out, as you'll see on the video.

Asked about a ball rollback:

"I wouldn't mind that."

Works for me!

"I think it's the two best rounds anybody has ever played"

Really neat to see Todd Demsey make it back to the PGA Tour. And super news for Colt Knost: no Nationwide Tour event to conflict with Masters wee...oh wait, scratch that thought.

Pete McDaniel profiles the final round hits and misses.

Medalist Frank Lickliter is quoted by Steve Elling:

 Lickliter, a two-time tour winner, led a large group of tour-card retreads, thanks to opening with consecutive 62s, the lowest 36-hole total in tour history had this been an official event.

"It's unofficial, but nobody's ever done it before, which counts for something," he said. "It's not quite Neil Armstrong on the moon, but it's up there."

Lickliter, who has declined comment after every round this week because he didn't want to derail his concentration, was asked if his opening 36 marked the two best rounds he's ever played. He took a drag on his cigarette and paused for moment.

"I think it's the two best rounds anybody has ever played," he said.

No doubt, it's impressive to fire back to back 62's, but really, if you are the medalist of an event, it's not The Show.

Golfweek's Ray McCarthy featured notes and this rationale from Lickliter for ignoring the press all week:

 “Hogan didn’t talk to the press,” he said.

Moribund Legends Of Golf Finally Returning To Team Format

Apparently they wanted to wait until everyone had completely forgotten what a great event it once was to restore the format that only launched the Senior Tour. Bill Fields reports the news.

Seriously, how could it possibly take so long?
 

Strange Bedminster Fellows?

Another USGA-related beauty from Golfweek's Forecaddie:

The Man Out Front was hanging around the Bada Bing in "Joisey" a few weeks back when he ran into an intriguing "meeting" at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster; U.S. Golf Association president Walter Driver, incoming prez Jim Vernon, director of competitions Mike Davis and, later, the USGA's new chief business officer, Peter Bevacqua, were busy touring the place in carts with The Donald himself.

The Forecaddie has heard rumblings that Trump actually has considered leaving the golf course in his will to the USGA (with money set aside for operations) in exchange for a commitment to stage a U.S. Open there in his lifetime. 

So gang, if you are the USGA, would you take such an offer? 

And are they really strange bedfellows at this point?  

"His massive pool was adjacent to the house and the shark logo shone through from under the water."

His massive pool was adjacent to the house and the shark logo shone through from under the water.

Thanks to reader Hugh for this book excerpt from Dion's Kipping's Caddie To The Stars, Hanging with Norman, Baddeley, Tiger and the Gang.

Final Round Q-School Watch

Pete McDaniel at Golf Digest has the fifth round hits and misses, setting up the storylines for Monday's final round. And of course you can monitor the final day at the PGA Tour's official site.

Steve Elling profiles Brad Isles who won't be getting his Tour card, but nonetheless is just happy to be playing again. 

"That's where the course should be heading, not to provide 15-under."

Thanks to reader Mark for pointing out the tantrum by architect John Darby over a tee move forward and a subsequent course record at the New Zealand Open. Michael Donaldson wrote:

The hole, which is guarded by water and has a green that slopes away from a hill protecting one side of it, delivered some huge scores on Thursday after only 31% of the field hit the green with their tee shot and the average score was 3.6.

It was just as tough on Friday with only a third of the field able to stop the ball on the green, although putting was slightly easier and the field averaged 3.3 shots.

Yesterday, officials reduced the length of the hole from 167m to 152m and moved the tee slightly to the left where the green was more visible rather than being partially obscured.

As a result, more than 70% of the players hit the green and the scoring average came right down to 3.0.

Fowler shot a 10-under par 62, including a par three at the 16th hole.

"It's a great shame it can't be a course record because some of the holes were played off the women's tees, not the championship tees," Darby told the Sunday Star-Times.

"We designed the whole hole to be played, not part of it. That green is entirely appropriate from that [167m] tee."

The PGA disputed that claim, saying the course record would stand as it was common practice to move tees and pin placements throughout a tournament.

And the painful takeaway quote from Darby:

"We designed this course in the tradition of great opens and great links courses, to be played to par off the championship tees. That's where the course should be heading, not to provide 15-under."

Meanwhile, if you didn't catch John Huggan's column on Donald Trump, he wrote about Darby's design as precisely what the world needs less of and noted this about the "controversy." 

Just the other day, in fact, a young Australian professional, Michael Sim, called Darby on his design of the par-3 16th hole at the Hills when they played together in the New Zealand Open's pro-am. So perplexed was Sim - coincidentally, he was born in Aberdeen - by the position and angle of the green relative to the tee, that he spent at least ten minutes debating both with an increasingly-harassed Darby. The conversation did not go well, apparently.

All Darby had to offer was that he had tried to create a "defensive hole" between two birdie chances. For "defensive", by the way, read "stupid". Last Thursday, the field averaged 3.6, and at one point in the afternoon only one golfer out of 21 managed to hit the green.

Here's what I find most interesting about this little saga: that Darby takes it personally when someone goes low on his course.

And that is the essential difference between an architect creating something fun and interesting, versus something utterly boring.

The architects interested in strategy do not want to put golfers on the defensive. They want to encourage risk taking with reward for those taking a chance.

The architects interested in protecting par, protecting their ego and in general preventing great players from occasionally making a birdie, can easily accomplish their goal if they so choose. However it sure is boring to watch and most certainly boring to play. 

Gulbis Heir Apparent Misses Q-School Cut

Dave Seanor reports on the good, bad and beautiful from LPGA Q-school, where Australian Anna Rawson, who was looking to fill the void left by Natalie Gulbis's decision to possibly shed the hottness brand, missed by one shot.

Golf, Drugs And Denial

It occurred to me in reading John Paul Newport's WSJ column summarizing the latest on drug testing in golf that the people who touted the sport's nobility really sound more and more absurd as you hear doctor's quoted about the potential benefits of performance enhancing drugs.

'Clearly a golfer doesn't want to develop the physique of a Division I linebacker. That would be detrimental," Dr. Yesalis says. "But a 170-pound player could use low doses of steroids or a testosterone cream to help him add 15 pounds of lean, flexible muscle to his body. Please tell me how that wouldn't help him to hit the ball farther."

In such low doses, Dr. Yesalis said, steroids would have negligible if any effect on a golfer's ability to concentrate or stay calm -- another contention frequently made by those who argue that golf and doping are inherently incompatible.

I found this surprising. So much for my argument about testing to protect the children. Sort of: 

Nor would they necessarily be detrimental to the golfer's long-term health. Synthetic hormones like human growth hormone, or HGH, which also would be banned under the Tour's testing protocols, are routinely prescribed by doctors for middle-age people looking to build or retain strength.

For golfers, one of the prime benefits of low-dose steroids or HGH would be to let them practice longer. Long sessions at the range produce microtears in the body's tissues. Especially as players get older, slow recovery from these sessions is an obstacle to performance. Banned drugs could speed up the recuperation.

And...

The tradition of golfers playing by the rules and even calling penalties on themselves is undoubtedly one of the game's grandest and most admirable attributes. But given the increasing sophistication of every other aspect of player performance these days, from advanced physical and mental-game training to precise, technology-aided club fitting, how long can it be before at least a few players give in to the temptation of better living through chemistry? If they haven't already.

The Wit And Wisdom Of Bobby Clampett, Vol. 497

It warms my heart to learn that our friends Down Under are getting to experience the profound announcing insights of Bobby Clampett on the Sun City coverage. From reader Mike, two Clampett gems:

"I love the strategy on this hole. The fairway is only 17 yards wide."

Either hit the fairway, or do not the fairway. Such strategy! That's really something to be tout.

But my favorite:

"Designing courses is like duck's soup.It's a piece of cake if you've got a great piece of property."

Yes, that's so...not true. But don't let that discourage you Bobby from continuing to say what's on your mind.