When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
I have writing duties, but I think I can sum this place up pretty succinctly: the course got better, more interesting, more intricate and more fascinating to watch every day. Only the Old Course might be more interesting, but certainly not as fun for spectating because of sightlines.
Anyway, I was parked on the first hole Sunday, so that's where my images are fun. Your thoughts...assuming you aren't waiting to watch the tape delay coverage on NBC.
The International team has no margin for error Sunday and while the Captains didn't exactly think theatrically with their matchups, the course, improved weather and some juicy hole locations should provide fascinating golf.
MATCH 23 – K.T. Kim, International vs. Webb Simpson, U.S.
MATCH 24 – Dustin Johnson, U.S. vs. Charl Schwartzel, International
MATCH 25 – Ryo Ishikawa, International vs. Bubba Watson, U.S.
MATCH 26 – Bill Haas, U.S. vs. Geoff Ogilvy, International
MATCH 27 – Jason Day, International vs. Hunter Mahan, U.S.
MATCH 28 – Nick Watney, U.S. vs. K.J. Choi, International
MATCH 29 – Adam Scott, International vs. Phil Mickelson, U.S.
MATCH 30 – Matt Kuchar, U.S. vs. Retief Goosen, International
MATCH 31 – Ernie Els, International vs. Jim Furyk, U.S.
MATCH 32 – David Toms, U.S. vs. Robert Allenby, International
MATCH 33 – Aaron Baddeley, International vs. Tiger Woods, U.S.
MATCH 34 – Steve Stricker, U.S. vs. Y,E. Yang, International
In honor of today's cold and miserable weather, black and white shots from Saturday's third day of Presidents Cup play.
For Immediate Release...
Golf Channel Coverage from Australia Draws Nearly 1.3 Million Viewers, Beats All Previous Day One’s of the Event
ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 18, 2011) – Golf Channel’s Day One coverage of The Presidents Cup from Melbourne, Australia, is the most-watched day one in the event’s history, drawing nearly 1.3 million average viewers.
The household rating for the telecast (1.2 / 1,268,000) was up 88 percent from the last comparable round when the biennial event was played overseas (South Africa, 2003) and five percent higher than the previous best day one of the event, played in San Francisco in 2009. This record rating is especially significant given the 16 hour time difference between Melbourne and the East Coast of the United States.
The rating peaked at 1.5 when Tiger Woods teed off against a pairing featuring Adam Scott, who currently employs Woods’ former caddie, Steve Williams.
“This record audience is a real testament to the growing popularity of the game of golf around the globe,” said Golf Channel President Mike McCarley from Melbourne. “The fact that this U.S. television record was set from an event 16 hours away is an especially strong signal for the vitality of golf. We're hearing loud and clear from our passionate viewers that they love primetime golf.”
Brutal conditions but fascinating golf. A few quick observations...
- The Americans have acquitted themselves beautifully but I did see a few cracks today, with Nick Watney hitting way too many high approaches. He and partner Haas also laid up poorly on the short par-4 sixth whole Ogilvy and Choi played further back and both hit beautiful approaches.
- The pace of play could be justified at times because of the conditions, but it became appalling that the Baddeley-Day team was not asked to pick it up. Their slow play created a front nine logjam, most of it Day's doing.
- The 18th hole rough (note below Bill Haas photo on 18) is becoming increasingly tedious and worrisome if the matches come down to the last hole Sunday. The green is wild enough. Trying to control an approach into it from the fairway is enough challenge. Bomb and gouge is the play.
- I can't fathom what Captain Greg Norman is thinking by pairing Robert Allenby with Geoff Ogilvy in Saturday's foursomes. Ogilvy has been solid and appeared to have a nice bond with partners Schwartzel and Choi. Allenby hasn't been good. Foursomes is a sensitive format, requiring matching personalities and compatible games. Stick Allenby with another likely lost point, and try to win four points with your best combinations.
Four-balls, hot and high winds, Royal Melbourne...should be fun. I'm off to the links, but would love to hear what you are seeing.
The matches, all times ET:
5:35 p.m. ET -- Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, United States, vs. Ernie Els and Ryo Ishikawa, International.
5:49 p.m. ET -- Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods, United States, vs. Aaron Baddeley and Jason Day, International.
6:03 p.m. ET -- Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk, United States, vs. Adam Scott and K.T. Kim, International.
6:17 p.m. ET -- Bill Haas and Nick Watney, United States, vs. Geoff Ogilvy and K.J. Choi, International.
6:31 p.m. ET -- Matt Kuchar and Steve Stricker, United States, vs. Y.E. Yang and Robert Allenby, International.
6:45 p.m. ET -- Hunter Mahan and David Toms, United States, vs. Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel, International.
I am just enjoying this image way more than I should, but it's in every paper Down Under and my colleague JD Cuban got his own beauty that you may see in next week's Golf World coverage. This one is by Michael Klein of AP and posted at SI.com (go there to see it nice and big!):
A fun bit from the Choi-Scott v. Woods/Stricker blowout Thursday, courtesy of Bob Harig.
No gimme for Steve Stricker on a 2-footer?
"I was very surprised,'' Woods said. "Probably the best putter on the planet. I don't think he's missed one of those [since] coming out of the womb.''
And yet, Woods would be the first to admit that if there were any angst from that moment, if there was to be any motivation derived from such a perceived slight, it didn't happen.
From that point forward, the match of the day was a dud -- unless, of course, you're a fan of the International side, or Scott and Choi in particular, or perhaps in seeing Williams exact some revenge on his old boss (if you could even call it that).
I was stopped about ten times during day one of the Presidents Cup and asked to explain what the device was hanging around my neck. Longtime readers here know it to be FanVision, the incredibly cool televisions/leaderboards available at select major championships.
This week they're sponsored by Citi and for a $20 donation fans can pick them up at the entrance. All proceeds are going to Mission Australia, whose "vision is to see a fairer Australia enabling people in need to find pathways to a better life." I have no idea what that means, but it sounds fantastic. Especially if it takes the fan experience to a new level.
A glorious day with huge galleries and Royal Melbourne shining made for some great viewing. After first vowing to plant myself on a green, I opted to go with the fascinating Ogilvy-Schwartzel v. Haas-Watney match. Though it ended in a draw and both teams struggled at the finish, the energy combined with the genius of Royal Melbourne made for fun viewing.
A few images from the day, where the U.S. leads 4-2...
Golf Channel will be going live with tee times moving up 2 hours:
Due to the threat of inclement weather for day 2 of The Presidents Cup tomorrow (Thursday), tee times are being moved up two hours. Golf Channel has adjusted its schedule to continue to air live coverage of the event. Listed below is how Golf Channel’s schedule is now going to air on Thursday (all times Eastern), with Live From the Presidents Cup now starting at 4 p.m. ET, followed by live tournament coverage of day two now starting at 5:30 p.m. ET. CME Group Titleholders round one coverage is the same time as previously scheduled.
Let me know of questions, thanks!
Jeremy
1:30PM – 4:00PM Round 1 CME Group Titleholders (L)
4:00PM – 5:30PM Live From the Presidents Cup (L)
5:30PM – 12:00AM Day 2 Presidents Cup (L)
12:00AM – 1:00AM Live From the Presidents Cup (L)
1:00AM – 2:00AM Live From the Presidents Cup (R)
2:00AM – 3:00AM Live From the Presidents Cup (R)
3:00AM – 4:00AM Live From the Presidents Cup (R)
4:00AM – 6:00AM Round 2 Iskandar Johor Open (TD)
Note that Tiger makes the move while Stevie appears to not know what to do. Your deepest insights, please...
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
