The Ogilvy's Are Heading To Australia

In his AP notes column, Doug Ferguson talked to Geoff Ogilvy about moving his family to Melbourne. The 2006 U.S. Open champion is looking to retain his card and attempt a unique schedule from the hole he still owns on Royal Melbourne's 14th hole (West). 

''It's a feeling more than anything,'' he said. ''Scottsdale is dreamy. We live a great existence. I know what I'm getting there. If we didn't move back, we'd be a six-and-six family. The kids get out of school, and they're bounced back and forth. It's not good for continuity.''

As for golf?

Ogilvy narrowly kept his full PGA Tour card last year and this season has been a struggle. He hasn't sorted out what kind of schedule he would keep, understanding it would involve long trips from Sydney to Dallas.

The immediate goal would be to play a heavy fall schedule and miss most of the West Coast swing to get acclimated to the move.

''And then we'll start working it out,'' he said.

USGA, Shinnecock Indian Nation Said To Be Near Deal

I hate to think how an event as intricately planned as the U.S. Open returning to Shinnecock Hills still hasn't crossed this t, but Bill Pennington of the New York Times says a deal is imminent.

Not mentioned in these stories, but there is the obvious--merchandise logos featuring a Shinnecock--and the not-so-obvious fact that the tribe helped build the course and was long part of its maintenance. 

Anyway it's all a little strange but good news: more parking spaces are opening up!

Instagram: Cruden Bay Sunset, Today's Massive Gator, Tiger Comes Out Of Trick Shot Retirement, Hilty Holes A Futbol

The gorse is in full bloom, the sun (was out) and it's Cruden Bay. What could be better?

Tonight's sunset over the links 👌🏻 📸 via @james_booth21 #crudenbaygc #crudenbaygolfclub #CrudenBay #linksgolfcourse #linksgolf #whyilovethisgame #scottishgolfpodcast

A post shared by Cruden Bay Golf Club (@crudenbaygolf) on May 29, 2018 at 2:44pm PDT

Nice cinematography on today's absurdly huge golf course gator...

Dinosaur. #🦖 #playtheballasitlies #golf #charleston #southcarolina @coloradogolfblog @golfgrinders @golfballed @golfballing @thegreenjacket @chsgolfies @charlestonsc

A post shared by Kris Smith (@unclesmitty19) on May 26, 2018 at 5:36pm PDT

TigerJam included Joshua Kelley doing his thing and the host dusted off his trick shot roots and joined in...

Dreams really do come true! When I was 12 years old, I was watching TV when @tigerwoods juggling commercial played. I remember grabbing my ball and wedge to run outside and try it myself. Not only has he always been my inspiration to play golf but also one of the biggest reason why I do what I do today. Thank you @tgrliveevents for the amazing weekend at #tigerjam 🐅🐐

A post shared by Joshua Kelley (@holein1trickshots) on May 29, 2018 at 2:00pm PDT

Max Hilty posted a story of raw footage for the grassy knoll set who thought this was not real...

First ever golf, soccer, b-ball combo 🤷🏻‍♂️?!! Big thanks to @charlycolver for the idea on this one 👍🏼 #ScTop10 @whistlesports @sportscenter @barstoolsports @golf_gods @15cek @houseofhighlights @taniatare63 @holein1trickshots @brodiesmith21 @ifyouhigh @worldstar @highlightsnetwork @awesomepeopledoingthings @dudeperfect @sportsnation @thegolfchannel #houseofhighlights #golfgods

A post shared by Max Hilty (@max_hilty) on May 29, 2018 at 3:40pm PDT

Captain Furyk Plans Pre-Open Championship Scouting Trip, But Who Will Show Up?

Ewan Murray considers Jim Furyk's plan for a pre-Open trip to the Ryder Cup venue and wonders if a repeat of Tom Watson's shockingly unsuccessful effort at Gleneagles is likely.

As Murray notes, going before the Open will test the strength of Team USA's now-vaunted bond, possibly leaving the captains to do the scouting on their own. But even Mr. Team USA and future captain Tiger should probably be getting in some links golf instead of some inland aerial play.

Tiger Woods traditionally appears at the Open course for practice from the pre-tournament Saturday but has already been named as one of the USA’s vice-captains. Woods retains hopes of making a playing appearance in France. Eyebrows would be raised if Woods puts his Open bid before his role within Furyk’s backroom staff.

Phil Mickelson routinely plays in the Scottish Open but there has been no confirmation yet relating to that, just as the John Deere cast list has been slow to emerge. Rickie Fowler won the Scottish Open the last time it was at Gullane in 2015. Justin Thomas, the world No 1, has committed to playing at Le Golf National in the French Open next month.

Perhaps the real question: with three to four practice rounds, how much scouting becomes too much scouting? Especially since Europe will still have a huge home course advantage in the local knowledge department.

U.S. Open's Two-Hole Playoff Came After Talking To Stakeholders, With Excitement In Mind

Still not a fan here of a two-hole aggregate playoff, which is in play for the first time at this week's U.S. Women's Open and in two weeks at Shinnecock Hills, especially given the success three-hole aggregate playoffs have enjoyed in other championships.

I was reading the 2018 U.S. Open media day transcript and was interested in Executive Director Mike Davis's explanation, which emphasized the desires of stakeholders (TV?) and the probability of more excitement in two holes versus three. Davis said the main premise was to finish on Sunday and proceeded from there.

We also looked at it saying, we looked back in data and really the data suggested that whether it's three holes, which is our Women's Open used to be or believe it or not our U.S. Senior Open when we first went from 18 holes we went to a four hole aggregate, and that did seem to take a little too much time and sometimes it got to the last hole and it was already over. So we thought that by having two holes, that there would be more excitement, but it wouldn't necessarily be one shot over. And frankly, think about this week. If we needed, if we have a tie after 72 holes, we're going to play the par-3, 17th. Wonderful par-3. And then that great finishing hole 18. Next year at Pebble Beach, 17 and 18. How iconic are those holes?

Certainly iconic. But starting on a par-3 following decades of hearing about the importance of deciding a championship as important as the U.S. Open with a full-round makes two holes feel incomplete.

Video: Shinnecock Hills Third And Fourth Flyovers

Lengthened for the 2018 U.S Open, the par-4 third is named Peconic and unless into the wind, should play fairly short for today's players given the turbo boast that awaits in the landing area.

Here's the 2018 description:

Similar to No. 2, the prevailing southwest wind would be favoring the player and from the left. A new tee not only adds 22 yards to the hole; it is farther to the golfer’s left, and the fairway was also tightened on the left to make the angle of the dogleg more pronounced. The fairway is still relatively generous at 33½ yards at the 300-yard mark. A bunker on the right of the drive zone is unlikely to be in play, unless the wind reverses course.

Here is what PJ Boatwright wrote for the 1986 U.S. Open:

Bordering the left side of the hole is Shinnecock's equally famous neighbor--the National Golf Links of America. This is a big, straight-away two-shot hole. The fairway in the drive zone has been narrowed to 30 yards. The key to the hole is an accurate tee shot because the green is relatively large and open in front. Shinnecock's greens are, in general, not severely contoured. This one, hower, has more than its share of ripples, and there is a demanding hole location in the back right.

The flyover:

The fourth was lengthened 30 yards to 408 in 1986 and 1995, but will play 475 this time round.

Boatwright in 1986:

We constructed a new tee that added about 30 yards on this hole. That means the fairway bunker on the right, which could have been ignored, is now very much in play. The green is slightly elevated and relatively small. It will require a well-played short iron shot. The green has been enlarged at the right front to provide a tough hole location behind a bunker.

Here is the USGA description for 2018:

The tee shot and approach shot will typically play into a hurting or right-to-left wind on this hole that has been lengthened by 40 yards. The left side has been brought in so the fairway measures 32.5 yards wide at 300 yards out, which also brings the fairway bunkers into play. The preferred angle of approach is from the right side of the fairway, with the exception of a hole location on the right side of the green. The slightly elevated green has some subtle movement.

The 4th hole flyover:

And finally, between holes 3 and 4, this is the ad appearing in the 1995 program:

Everett Pulls NCAA Upset, Team Match Play Draw Not Full Of Many Surprises

The 152nd ranked player who'd never won a college event birdied the first hole of sudden death to win the NCAA men's individual golf title. Broc Everett of Augusta's upset win over Auburn's Brandon Manchedo comes in contrast to the final 8 teams headed to match play, where Duke's fine play surprised.

Kevin Casey of Golfweek on Everett's improbable win. He's a senior playing in his last event and picked a nice time to finally win. 

As Ryan Lavner notes for GolfChannel.com, the win is also a huge boost to Augusta, a program that has fallen on hard times since it's glory days the last time the NCAA's were at Karsten Creek.

Everett broke down the day on Golf Central:

Team Match Play begins with quarterfinal action on Golf Channel from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. ET, followed by semi-finals from 4-8 pm ET.

Team Match Play Quarterfinal Matchups:

Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M
Duke vs. Texas
Texas Tech vs. Alabama
Oklahoma vs. Auburn

Texas made the most valiant effort to get to match play and with two seniors making clutch birdies on the last hole--both Walker Cuppers--they should prove formidable, writes Golfweek's Brentley Romine.

The Golfweek boys have very different views on who will win the match play portion.

Lavner isn't happy that this year's first and second ranked teams are playing in the quarters (OSU v. A&M), arguing in a GolfChannel.com column that once again the national rankings and season-long efforts count for nothing in match play.  

If you were wondering why play seemed slight faster than last week's women's championship--key word seemed--turns out they handed out some slow play penalties in this year's event. Though players in some cases were never warned and as Lance Ringler writes for Golfweek, the NCAA Championship time par system differs from regular season policies.

One thought for the next coaches meeting: using a coach as a rangefinder target for a par-5 layup shot on national TV isn't the best look. Especially on a playoff hole taking 30 minutes to play:

Lift And Clean Coming? Tropical Storm On Top Of Already Wet, Weakened Turf Doesn't Bode Well For U.S. Women's Open

Randall Mell paints a pretty bleak picture for course conditions before the heart of a tropical storm hits 2018 U.S. Women's Open host Shoal Creek. The USGA may have to break precedent and play lift, clean and place, a move possibly telegraphed by a rare pre-tournament apology for already so-so turf conditions. A rough spring was cited as the reasoning. 

Players are enjoying the Nicklaus design but saying the course was already unable to take on much more water before the pre-hurricane season storm strikes.

Kerr played 18 holes in a practice round Monday in mist and light rain. The course was soggy, with close to 3 inches of rain having fallen over the last week. There is more rain forecast for late Monday and early Tuesday, with Alberto’s passing. The USGA’s meteorologist said anywhere from 1 to 3 inches could fall during the storm.

“Frankly, I don’t think this golf course can take much more water,” Kerr said.

Instagram: Tiger Tests Shinnecock, Wolff's Pinseeker, Korda's At Shoal Creek And Stanford White's Clubhouse Then And Now

Tiger Woods saluted veterans while taking in a pre-U.S. Open practice round at Shinnecock Hills.

Here today at Shinnecock, and grateful every day to the men & women who sacrificed their lives to give us our freedom and allow us to do what we love.

A post shared by Tiger Woods (@tigerwoods) on May 28, 2018 at 4:40pm PDT

Matthew Wolff and his intriguing golf swing are working well for Oklahoma State hit the flagstick on 18 Sunday and his instructor was pretty excited about it. 

my boy @matthew_wolff5 hitting pin on 18 from 240 today💦💦

A post shared by George Gankas (@georgegankasgolf) on May 27, 2018 at 4:28pm PDT

The Korda sisters were all smiles Monday at Shoal Creek, host of the 2018 U.S. Women's Open.

It might be a 🌧 Monday at the #USWomensOpen, but when you’re playing with your sister, it’s still all 😃! 📸USGA/Darren Carroll

A post shared by United States Golf Association (@usga) on May 28, 2018 at 11:58am PDT

Stanford White's Shinnecock Hills clubhouse then and now. Who moved the flagpole?

For those of you partial to color/Kodachrome, I’ve got you covered, too. #usopen #usga #shinnecockhills #shinnecockhillsgolfclub #golfcoursearchitecture #whyilovethisgame

A post shared by Shinnecock 2018 (@shinnecock2018) on May 25, 2018 at 9:37am PDT

Through Colonial: PGA Tour's Driving Distance Average At 294.8 And Where That Number Ranks Historically

We all can see where players are hitting the ball and why--bicep curls!--so it's always fun to see where today's linebackers rank with the engineers of the past. If nothing else, the stunning increase this year theoretically means the governing bodies will have to act based on past commitments.  Theoretically.

Note the PGA Tour driving distance average through the Colonial this year versus past years if you are looking for perspective on the influence of pilates, core work and lean protein diets.

Year       Tour Average At Colonial Time

2018       294.8

2017       289.2

2016       288.1

2008      283.2

1998       269.0

So we're up five yards from where we were last year at this time, a year the USGA and R&A said showed the first spike in some time. Maybe all of the mowers on the PGA Tour have been sharpened? Lowered? Infused with special oils to make the ball run more?

Oh, and traditionally the average goes up as the weather gets warmer. 

Forced By PGA Tour Rule To Turn Up At Colonial Instead Of Wentworth, Justin Rose Wins

As James Corrigan detailed a few weeks ago (thanks reader Scott), Justin Rose wanted to play at Wentworth in support of the European Tour. 

But he skipped out on that tour's signature event for a Colonial to fulfill the PGA Tour once-every-four-years clause. He ruled out the Deere and Wyndham due to Scottish Open and Ryder Cup priorities, and it turns out, wisely chose to play in Fort Worth where he found the iron game that had been less than stellar in 2018.

The Golfweek recap with news and notes on the one-off Fort Worth Invitational, saved by a host of sponsors before Charles Schwab takes over next year.

David Dusek with the winner's bag.

Round four highlights:

Kevin Na posted an opening 62 and closing 61. His highlights from the 7th 61 in Colonial history:

Instagram Trophy Roundup: Rose In Plaid, Molinari At BMW, Lee At Volvik, Broadhurst's Senior PGA, Davis In Nashville

Justin Rose gets the plaid jacket given to all former Fort Worth (Colonial) Invitational winners, plus a trophy that requires its own car to transport.

🏆 No. 9 for @JustinPRose99 😃 #LiveUnderPar

A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour) on May 27, 2018 at 3:28pm PDT

Eduardo Molinari has a permanent ice sculpture to commemorate a win he characterized in bold terms.

Words from the Champion 💬 @chiccogolf #bmwpga #rolexseries

A post shared by European Tour (@europeantour) on May 27, 2018 at 10:58am PDT

Minjee Lee won the Volvik Championship and for that she receives a Frank Lloyd Wright charcuterie board! 

#LPGAWinnerSelfie with 2018 #VolvikLPGA Winner, @minjee27!!

A post shared by LPGA Tour (@lpga_tour) on May 27, 2018 at 4:14pm PDT

Paul Broadhurst takes home his second Senior major title, gets the oldest and best trophy in senior golf and gets to show off his wrist tape tan line.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🏆 Congratulations to Paul Broadhurst on his @seniorpgachamp victory, his second senior major title after the 2016 Senior @theopen. The 52-year-old Englishman won by 4️⃣ shots having started the day 2️⃣ behind.

A post shared by Golf World (@golfworldmag) on May 27, 2018 at 3:52pm PDT

Cameron Davis takes home the most creative trophy of the week for winning the Web.com Tour's Nashville Open. I suppose a steel guitar wouldn't have quite worked the same.

“Things have changed a lot. I went from having conditional status and being lucky to get a start out here ... to get this, it’s pretty sweet.” @cam_davis77 moves to 14th on the #webtour money list with his @nashgolfopen victory.

A post shared by Web.com Tour (@webdotcomtour) on May 27, 2018 at 2:51pm PDT

Don't Try This At Home Files: Pieters Snaps Club Around (His) Neck

Actually, don't snap a club around anyone's neck, kids. 

Good to see he's mellowing with age.

From round four of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

First, the Sky Sports version...

❌ SNAP! 🙈 Credit: @skysportsgolf 📹 • • • #thomaspieters #europeantour #bmwpgachampionship #pgachampionship #bmw #wentworth #rolex #rolexseries #golf #golfing #golfers #golflove #golflife #golfishard #angry #fail #angrygolfer

A post shared by golfgeardirect.co.uk (@golfgeardirect.co.uk) on May 25, 2018 at 11:14am PDT

Lerner with the nice pun on Golf Channel's coverage...

Video: Shinnecock Hills Second Hole Flyover

At 252 yards for this year's U.S. Open, this uphill, typically downwind long par-3 is one of the more subtly artful and not-so-subtly difficult one-shotters around.

In 1986, P.J. Boatwright noted the small approach added to players land the ball short of the green, 226 yards away: 

A very strong a par-3, uphill to a green that is appropriately large. Normally, we isolate greens on par-3 holes with rough. In this case, because the hole is so long, we left a strip of fairway in front of the green so that players can bounce the ball onto the green. This is only fair because the hole is likely to play downwind.

The aerial showing the entire fairway drenched in rough!  Fairway was installed by 1995:

The flyover today:

For full coverage of the 118th U.S. Open Championship, visit usopen.com.

NCAA Men's Finals Preview: Who To Watch, How Will Karsten Creek Change?

If you want a little audio primer, Golfweek's on-site team kicks around all of the key elements heading into Friday's first round of NCAA men's team and individual stroke play

Ryan Lavner of GolfChannel.com sets up the main storylines from the week.

Lance Ringler breaks down the field Sagarin style, presenting the final rankings list that goes right out the window once tee shots are hit. 

Karsten Creek's 17th hole has been lengthened 100 yards for the men's competition and as The Forecaddie notes, this probably wasn't necessary given how hard the hole plays at any yardage. The rest of the course will not see rough cut during the pre-match play competition. Some long days are ahead.

They tried "walk up" music for the practice round today that blared as players hit their tee shots. The spectators, had any been present, might have been entertained. 

You only get one shot!!!! Rock Chalk! pic.twitter.com/wjldBgzVh5

— Kansas Men's Golf (@KUMensGolf) May 24, 2018