Tiger On 71 At Firestone: "I didn't do anything well"

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Oddly, today's 71 at Firestone may be a sign for Tiger fans that their man is working his way back, as he posted a 71 while feeling like he didn't have one facet of his game working. A few weeks ago is this a 75?

Bob Harig reports from the WGC Bridgestone and includes this quote from Tiger:

"It wasn't just the driver, it was just everything,'' Woods said. "I didn't hit it good in warmup. Sometimes it's just warmup and then you go out and hit it great on the golf course. That wasn't the case today.''

Firestone Defended! It's Adored, It's Great, Only One Disagrees!

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As longtime readers know, the WGC Bridgestone at Firestone is not my favorite tournament of the year. I'd watch some but I remain under strict doctor orders not to turn on the television only to see the scintilating, ball plugging on greens, back-and-forth fairways.

It seems Alan Shipnuck kindly pointed out in SI/Golf Plus that the event is boring because of the limited field format, the lack of "World" in a world championship always staying in Akron, and the course itself. He was correct on all points. The event is uninspired and would be #1 on my list of tournaments that could disappear tomorrow from the PGA Tour schedule and outside of Akron, few would be distraught about such a development.

Well, Bob Dyer has come to Firestone's defense, grilling every player who came into the press center and just about anyone else he could talk to about why Firestone is sheer brilliance. The Beacon-Journal columnist even claims to have made Shipnuck back down! The power of the pen!

McIlroy says the players love the Bridgestone “because of the atmosphere, because you’re guaranteed four days of golf ... [and] it’s on a great golf course.”

This from Sergio Garcia, who ranks 10th on the career money list with more than $36 million in winnings: “I love the golf course. It is definitely one of the best we play all year.”

Winning money does make one a design expert.

“This venue just goes to show you that you don’t need elephant burial grounds out there to make a golf course fair, difficult and enjoyable.”

So I guess it’s safe to conclude that, if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, this fellow from SI needs to borrow Mr. Magoo’s glasses.

OK, Mr. Shipnuck, what’s your beef with Firestone? Not enough windmills and waterfalls?

“A golf course is highly personal, what people like and what they don’t,” he said by phone from Dallas, where he was working on a feature story. “It’s like looking at a painting or some other piece of art.

“To me, Firestone is a nice championship golf course. As Tiger likes to say, ‘It’s right there in front of you.’ But to my eye, a lot of the holes look the same, and the terrain is not super interesting.”

But as someone who has fallen asleep many times watching golf at Firestone, I can attest to its strength as a nap-inducer. Coma-inducing, really.

Soon, he began to backpedal.

“That critique is more about the purpose of the World Golf Championships. ... It says it right there in the name: It’s supposed to be a ‘world’ event, and yet they almost never leave the United States, and they never really even move around the United States, at least as far as the Bridgestone and [the Tucson tournament] go. ...”

“It’s not a knock on Firestone so much as I think it’s a failure of the vision of the World Golf Championship.”

Well, that claim doesn’t exactly square with your previous assessment of Firestone as the most “boring” golf course you’ve ever seen. But I guess it’s pretty tough to hold your ground when you’re a minority of one.

Only one person finds Firestone boring!

Well, there was Jack Nicklaus, too...

Roundup: Dustin Johnson's Leave Of Absence

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Steve DiMeglio reports on Dustin Johnson's departure from the tour for an indefinite time citing "personal challenges." The decision also means Johnson, arguably America's most consistent player this year, will not be playing the Ryder Cup.

Rex Hoggard on that part of the equation:

Johnson, 30, was finishing up one of the most consistent seasons of his career, having won his opener last November in Asia, and he was fourth on the FedEx Cup points list. He would also have been one of the favorites for next week’s PGA Championship following his tie for 12th at the Open Championship and his fourth-place finish at the U.S. Open.

Bob Harig explains that the Ryder Cup spot will not be chosen by the captain, but instead, by the points list. Patrick Reed is currently the next player not already eligible.

Sam Weinman notes that a photo of Johnson and fiance Paulina Gretzky was removed from her Instagram account. Johnson was holding a beverage.

A photo posted by Gretzky on Monday showed Johnson caddying for her with a drink in his hand. Gretzky has since taken down the photo from her Instagram account.

"By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfill my potential and become a consistent champion," Johnson said in the statement.

The PGA Tour's statement is, as expected, free of names, information or any other clues as to what this is all about.

Statements from PGA President Ted Bishop and Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson:

“Obviously we are disappointed Dustin Johnson will not be playing in the PGA Championship or be a part of the 2014 Ryder Cup squad at Gleneagles. Having spent time with Dustin at the last two Ryder Cups, we know he’s an amazingly talented young man capable of winning Major Championships and becoming a Ryder Cup staple for the next two decades. We wish Dustin the best and look forward to his return.”
-- PGA of America President, Ted Bishop
 
"We will certainly miss Dustin Johnson at Gleneagles, and we wish him the best. As one of the longest hitters in the game with an undefeated record of 3-and-0 at Medinah in 2012, he has clearly been an asset for the United States team. That said, the United States is a team with an abundance of talent. I am looking forward to teeing it up alongside those players in the PGA Championship at Valhalla, and finding out along with everyone else, which players qualify for the team based on points."
-- 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, Tom Watson