Thursday At The Players

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Take the kids and military guests away and boy did the vibe change Thursday. It didn't help that the players were slogging through a 5:30 minute round, but I couldn't get over the difference between the two days. Personally, if I were a corporate sponsor of a tour event, I'd support more days that encourage family and military guests if it builds that kind of vibe. (Or how about lower prices? There I go again!)

But with more folks and more passion, the corporate hospitality areas become that much more coveted.  Take away the buzz, the place grows quiet and there isn't as much cache in spending on a "chalet."

Now that we have that important statement on corporate hospitality addressed, what about the golf?The scene at 17 Thursday morning (click to enlarge)

I hate to judge the course setup and architecture after just a day of tournament viewing, but it's painfully clear that the situation with rough still has not been properly addressed. You may recall there have been many debates over the years about Pete Dye's intentions and trying to bring the pine scrub and other hazards more into play by having less rough. We've been told that post-move to May, this has been addressed. I'm not feeling it.

Jeff Klauk, son of longtime and now retired TPC super Fred Klauk, tees off on 17 in his first Players (click to enlarge)Though the grass is kept at a lower height than the March Players days, it's still a penal 2-3 inches and fairway cuts appear surprisingly narrow.

Judging by Thursday's excellent scoring, it's not having much effect. Instead, the course still overemphasizes putting and downplays any kind of strategic placement. Not to take away from first round leader Ben Crane's round in any way, but he did have 14 one-putts. And as firm as it was despite a Wednesday night spritzing that eliminated some of previous afternoon's shine, the rough is still stopping balls from reaching trouble. It's most noticeable around some greens where apparently someone on Golf Channel suggested they are growing it at 3 inches, compared to 2 off the fairways. I hope to find out if that's true (doubtful).Trees down the right of No. 6 fairway

I'll try and get a few photographs to illustrate where short grass would make the course more interesting and more difficult (in a good way). But the image to the right shows that it's not just Augusta National resorting to small pines to penalize slightly off-line shots.

Tiger's 7-iron approach to 16 was a highlight (click to enlarge)I followed Tiger in the morning and saw his 7-iron approach that set up his 16th hole eagle. That prompted this stat from the ShotLink crew, working their tales off this week:

With his eagle on the par 5 16th hole, Tiger Woods has now played the hole in 38-under par for his career at THE PLAYERS. His next-best hole is the par 5 second, which he has played at 22-under in 45 rounds. Below is a chart showing how Tiger has played the different holes at TPC Sawgrass.

Par 3s: +25
Par 4s: +40
Par 5s: -88
Front 9: -3
Back 9: -20

As for No. 17, I'll get into the specifics later this week, but the atmosphere and videoboards make it an incredible place to hang out. And for all of the talk about how unfair the hole is, the ShotLink team shares this:

A total of 14 balls were hit in the water off of the tee on the famed 17th hole on Thursday. Interestingly enough, there were 18 balls hit in the water on the par 3 13th hole on Thursday.

More tomorrow on No. 17 and Friday night's media bash, the Commissioner's "Southern Style Pig Roast."

"Most time is lost on the greens."

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Watching the tepid pace of play during round 1 of The Players, I wondered if rangefinders would help. After all they were billed as a savior of the game a few years ago but have not made it to regulation PGA Tour play (they can be used in practice rounds).

Then I read Paul Kenyon's story on the Rhode Island Golf Association allowing them for use in competition. Their executive director, Bob Ward, about nailed the crux of the problem:

"I didn’t keep track, but I would estimate that at least 50 percent of the field (178 players) either had the devices or asked about them,’’ Ward said. ``I feel the only thing that will change is that the pace of play will speed up a little. I’m still not sure how much because I believe that most time is lost on the greens. It is putting that slows the pace of play. But if this helps with the pace of play, then it’s good.’’

Has anyone heard of any studies or stories documenting actual improvements in pace of play thanks to distance measuring devices?

Take That Brand Lady: PGA Tour Scoops Up Rejected LPGA Television Partner

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Thanks to reader Gene who noticed that the PGA Tour's new partner for the season opening event in Maui has been overtaken by the same folks who were rejected by the LPGA Tour not too long ago.

The press conference today included Tim Finchem and SBS's Sang Chun. Here's what Ron Sirak wrote about SBS ending its sponsorship of the LPGA's Maui event.

While the matter of Korean television rights for LPGA events might seem like a minor issue, it is not. The income from those rights is the tour's largest single revenue stream. And it is safe to assume the value of the LPGA in the Korean market will only grow in direct proportion to the success of Korean players on tour. Last year, both the U.S. Women's Open (Inbee Park) and the Ricoh Women's British Open (Jiyai Shin) were won by Koreans, who now number nearly 50 on tour. That Park was only 19 years old and Shin 20 when they grabbed their titles certainly bodes well for more major victories by Koreans—and better ratings.

The contract with J Golf, which has yet to be announced by the tour or the network, but details of which were obtained by Golf World, is a multiyear deal likely worth in excess of $4 million annually, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. That is up significantly from the $2.25 million SBS says it paid to broadcast 30 events in Korea this year. Asked if his company would continue to sponsor the SBS Open when coverage moves to J Golf next year, Sang Y. Chun, president and CEO of SBS International, said: "Absolutely not."

Chun, who said he was "disappointed, upset really" at losing the contract, said his feelings were "not about the money [but] about the way we were treated."

Tim Finchem says thanks!

“But he’s doing it in the wrong place.”

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A little behind I know, but on Monday Sarah Lyall filed this NY Times piece on the Trump-Forbes battle near Aberdeen, and there are a few new items, including some interesting scrutiny of the local hero by authorities. But the ultimate takeaway from the piece was this:

“I’m all for development and for people building golf resorts,” said one local resident, Bill Grant, 54, who spoke in downtown Aberdeen. “But he’s doing it in the wrong place.”

Mr. Grant explained that the dunes tend to suffer from the notorious haar, a thick fog that pours in from the sea. “You cannot see your hand in front of your face, and if the wind goes calm it can stick there for days,” Mr. Grant said. “If you were playing golf, you would need a homing device to find your ball.”

It's amazing that in a world where so many projects with great potential struggle to get financing, while something with a well known hazard potentially detrimental to revenue and reputation is apparently ignored. The Donald is just that convincing I guess.

"Yeah, I've found that hunting zombies and carjacking a Ferrari in South Beach is a lot tougher in real life than it is in video games, too."

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Jay Busbee with that killer line to this revelation that Rory McIlroy is finding the real TPC Sawgrass much more difficult than the video game version he knew before this week.

Rory McIlroy, who knows a thing or two about both real golf and the video kind. He kills time between tournaments by playing Tiger Woods '09, and just this week got his first live taste of Sawgrass, a course he's completely mastered --he once shot a 54 over 18 virtual holes -- on the game. His verdict, according to Reuters:

"It's a lot different. You get up to holes like 11 on the computer and you can drive it up to the big tree on the right, which is like 150 from the green, I had a good drive yesterday and was still hitting a five wood in, it is not quite like it is on the Play Station," he told reporters.

Yeah, I've found that hunting zombies and carjacking a Ferrari in South Beach is a lot tougher in real life than it is in video games, too. (Tip: neither one is recommended.)

Wednesday At The Players

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A lovely breeze combined with a lively atmosphere made it quite enjoyable to tootle around the TPC Sawgrass.

The Wednesday Caddie Competition lived up to the hype, with a huge gallery turning out to add to the caddie misery experience.

After walking off of the 16th green, players arrive at the net protected tee and greet some less fortunate souls who are thankfully given a front row seat by the tour. After a wait, the players leisurely swing away at the 17th green, which, contrary to some claims is not as large as portrayed (3,900 square feet and steeply contoured, it plays very small). All you can think is, the tempo won't be so fluid tomorrow. Enjoy it while you can!

Will MacKenzie, looper (click on image to enlarge)Following their practice shots, the players move over to the left side of the tee where another set of blocks are placed. A tip jar allows players to make a charitable donation. Some loopers on the range later said the haul was around $4000 and that the PGA Tour matches the number.

Great up-to-date info on the incredible video screens keeps fans involved in the caddie competition (click to enlarge)The caddies begin their preparation, some taking practice swings, others moving over to the side to loosen up a bit, though most have probably taken a few swings earlier in the ridiculously slow practice round.

Before teeing off, player heckling is a given. While I was watching, only Will MacKenzie actually lugged his player's bag from tee to green, a tradition that doesn't seem to be too closely adhered to by other players. (Granted, that would be an embarrassing reason to WD...strained lower back caused by caddie competition luggage toting.)

Vijay's caddie, Chad Reynolds. Not the scoreboard info for fans (Click to enlarge image)As for the overall scene, the overall atmosphere--and here comes the first dreaded major reference--is major-like. For a Wednesday it was remarkably festive out on the course, all highlighted by the action on 17.

The amenities, presentation and overall convenience factor for fans is second to none once you are on the property. (Apparently the city of Ponte Vedra Beach hired a lunatic to time their A1A signals. Nor do they apparently have any traffic control officers on the payroll. And that's the last time I'll bitch about traffic, tonight.)

Most striking thing of all. There are kids everywhere. Having fun. Enjoying golf.

The players seemed more friendly than normal, doling out balls and autographs. Apparently most schools just take the week off, or, in the case of Teacher Of The Year Mr. House's second grade class, they get their own standard bearer.Mr. House's second grade class gets the royal Players treatment. (Click to enlarge)

Either way, it's great to see and probably the reason there is such a festive feel at The Players.

 

 

Writers Infiltrates PGA Tour Headquarters; Finds No Sign Of Duplicitous Behavior

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Thomas Bonk gained entry into the west wing of PGA Tour headquarters where Tim Finchem and most of the vice presidential army pushes paper crafts arfully worded memos and religiously reads GeoffShackelford.com (#1 in city in Florida, four months running!) PGATOUR.com.

Inside the West Building is where you find Finchem's office, down a carpeted hallway, past a flotilla of dark brown wooden office furniture and rows of metal cabinets. Photographs of smiling players cover the beige walls.

The green-carpeted Executive Suite is the biggest office in the building, as it probably should be. At the end near the window, two sofas and two chairs surround a coffee table. And at the other end of the office, Finchem's horseshoe-shaped wooden desk fronts a phalanx of six chairs that face him.

Is that one chair for every VP making over $1 million?

There are two computers on the credenza. A huge, flat screen television hugs on the wall. An armoire rests against the opposite wall, a striped dress shirt hanging on the outside.

Besides dozens of golf clubs leaning against the wall, other mementos are all around, most prominent among them a couple of dozen photographs of Finchem with presidents and golf's elite. There are also golf bags from four past Presidents Cup events -- a Finchem invention, just like the three-year-old FedEx Cup.

From the looks of things, Finchem runs a buttoned-down ship, at least judging from the buttoned-down dress shirts that are part of the dress code. Ties are required, except this week, because it's tournament time. But even on casual Fridays, golf shirts aren't allowed. Finchem walked in at a brisk pace. He was wearing a red golf shirt (Dress codes aren't for commissioners).

In all seriousness, I finally figured out how to look like an important tour staffer: Carry leather "padfolio" under arm, light blue oxford, dark slacks, designer shades. You can gain entry anywhere on the property with that look. Anywhere!