Where they are golfing this week..March 31 2011

Note.. Later today I will post an interview with Chris Baryla about his year so far and his preview of the Masters..

PGA Tour


Event: Houston Open
Where: Redstone Golf Club, Tournament Course (7,457 yards, par 72) in Humble, Texas.
Purse: $5.9 million; winner's share $1,062,000. :
Canucks David Hearn got in as 1st alternative. Chris Baryla lost out in a 5 man playoff


Defending Champ: Anthony Kim beat Vaughn Taylor with a par on the first hole of a playoff
 
My notes.. Kaymer, Donald, McDowell, Woods all MIA this week, but Westwood and Mickelson are here. Redstone GC is apparently a good prep for Augusta with big undulating greens. I have a feeling about Westwood this week. He has been playing well this year, but his putter has been letting him down. He was 2nd at Augusta last year to Phil and has been in the T15 the last 2 trips to Redstone. He's been off the last 2 weeks with his family, but you can be sure he is going to get that 1st major soon, why not next week. That process starts with a good performance here. He is paired with Mickelson and Anthony Kim


LPGA Tour


Event: Kraft Nabisco Championship
Where: Mission Hills Country Club, Dinah Shore Tournament Course (6,738 yards, par 72) in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Purse: $2 million; winner's share $300,000.
Canucks : Alena Sharp, Stephanie Sherlock

Defending Champ: Yani Tseng won the major championship for the first of her three 2010 tour titles, beating Suzann Pettersen by a stroke.

My notes.. Heard the guys on the Morning Drive the new GC simulcast talking about how important it is for Tiger or Phil to win or be in it at the Masters to jump start this 2011 season because for them it is all about ratings and those 2 are all the public care about.. Now I  understand that from an American point of view, certainly not mine..They said the same thing about Paula Creamer or Michelle Wie winning the Kraft Nabisco for the sake of the LPGA, and I do agree with them about this tour. This endless stream of tiny Asian girls winning week in and week out is doing nothing to promote or ppopularize women's golf in North America or around the world with the exception of South Korea and Japan. It is simply up to Creamer, Wie, Gulbis etal who can sell this game to re double their efforts until they can start to win on a regular basis or I am afraid the LPGA will continue to be a non factor on the big stage of pro sports..

Champions Tour


Event: Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic
When: Friday-Sunday.
Where: Fallen Oak Country Club (7,054 yards, par 72) in Saucier, Miss.
Purse: $1.6 million; winner's share $240,00
Canucks; Rod Spittle Jim Rutledge

Defending Champ: David Eger won the inaugural tournament for his first Champions Tour title since 2005, beating Tommy Armour III by a stroke.

My notes.. 3 past Masters Champs in this field Craig Stadler, Ian Woosnam and Larry Mize all of whom can play next week at Augusta if they want and I go back and forth on this issue. Being a traditionalist I know they are not going to contend, especially with the changes to Augusta National, but I still get a kick watching to see if for example Gary Player, whose win there in 1961 made such a huge impression on me, can shoot his age, or see him hole a long putt or hit that 4 wood from 180 yards in tight .  On the other hand I realize they are taking up spots for current pros and it is sad to see the likes of Arnie going around in 83, when in his prime he brought Augusta to it's knees !!

Arnie and Gary are gone from playing the Masters now, but the memories they gave us all will never be gone..What the heck, let the old boys play !!


European Tour

Trophée Hassan II

Golf du Palais Royal and Golf de L’Océan,Agadir,
Morocco
Defending Champ  Rhys Davies

Notes.. Rhys Davies is relishing defending a title for the first time as a professional when he returns to the Trophée Hassan II this week, albeit at a different venue from the one where he launched a hugely successful rookie season on The European Tour. The Welshman triumphed at Dar Es Salam Golf Club in Rabat, Morocco, 12 months ago, finishing on 25 under par 266 – the lowest 72 hole score on The European Tour in 2010 – to beat Louis Oosthuizen by two shots.

This year the Tropée Hassan II has been relocated to the magnificent Golf du Palais Royal and Golf de L’Ocean in Agadir, and Davies cannot wait to get his title defence underway

Along with Davies there are quite a few Euro tour regular guys like Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke, Phillip Price etal in the field.


Canadian Tour

Florida Winter Qualifying School

Start Date: March 29th-April 1st, 2011
Host Course: The Dunes
Location: Weeki Wachi, Florida

14 Canadians in this Tour qualifier. Some of the most recognized players in the world have joined the Canadian Tour ranks by coming through a Tour qualifying school. The Canadian Tour holds three qualifiers a year (winter, spring and fall), with the likes of Mike Weir, Chris DiMarco, Craig Parry, Steve Stricker, Jason Bohn and Arron Oberholser earning Tour membership over the years.The top 25 Canadian Tour graduates have amassed more than $400 million and won over 98 PGA Tour titles, proving the Canadian Tour is an ideal North American playing experience to prepare players for the next level.

Bryan Angus ( with research and notes from CanTour and Europeantour.com)