As the guys play out the Tavistock Cup in what has been an ideal Florida spring, (my colleague of many years Alan Ashby said during the Jays win over the Phillies yesterday, " I can't remember a spring training with more perfect weather than we have had this year, low 80's every day, clear blue skies..") I have a few thoughts on a pretty dramatic Sunday in golf.
* official world ranking click http://www.officialworldgolfranking.com/rankings/default.sps?region=world
* Ernie broke our hearts again yesterday, 2 ahead at -14 with a 4 footer for birdie on 16, missed, wild tee shot to the right on the par 3 17th resulting in bogey, then another 4 footer for par at 18 which missed the cup completely "pulled it a little".
Bogey bogey finish to miss out on the 6 man playoff by a shot, his chance to make it to the Masters on his own merit likely gone although he is playing at Arnie's then at the Shell in Texas to try to get that win which will put him in the top 50, he is 62 right now, he hasn't missed since 1994. I think it is likely he will receive a special invite from the Masters Committee if he doesn't win his way in
* By the way don't blame Steve Sands for the awkward interview he was asked to do minutes after Ernie had blown the tourney and was obviously in shock.Take it from me, it is the producers who demand the interview and they are looking for shock reaction and they got it. It sickened me and millions of others to treat such a classy gentleman like that, but didn't surprise me.
* Congrats to Luke who is back at #1 on a great 7 iron in the playoff to within 6 feet for the birdie and the win.
* tough luck for the Goose who was in the lead after 3 rounds with a bad back. He could barely swing yesterday, limped in with a 75 well down the field when a top 5 would have got him to Augusta. He is hoping the needles he will get in his bulging discs on Wednesday will do the trick as they did for Freddie and Vijay..
* Yani Tseng continues to be the best player on the planet. The world #1 shot 4-under 68, beating Na Yeon Choi and Ai Miyazato of Japan for her 2nd win of this young season at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup
* It's been almost 2 years since Lorne Roberts (68) won on the Champions tour, so it was nice to see him win the Toshiba yesterday, by 2 shots at -8. Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer and Calc were all at -6. Rod Spittle 75 T29 and Jim Rutledge 71 T55 were well back.
* Tiger is playing with Justin Rose as part of the Albany Club in the Tavistock and is just fine if you were asking. There are 4 clubs in this little 2 day charity raiser being played at Lake Nona G&CC in Florida, and they are all unreal, fabulously expensive.. Here are links to them all.
The Albany Club http://www.albanybahamas.com/
Lake Nona Golf & Country Club http://www.lakenona.com/home/
The Queenwood GC http://www.queenwood.co.uk/
The Isleworth GC http://isleworth.com/
* Charlie Wi took a 13 yesterday at the Transitions, including three shots careening off of trees onto the driving range.
* Rory and Luke will not play now until the Masters.
* Ryo Ishikawa has thought it over and has decided to take special temporary membership on the PGA Tour, which allows him to accept as many sponsor exemptions as he wants for the rest of the 2012 season.
The 20-year-old was runner-up in the Puerto Rico Open two weeks ago. In six events this year, he has earned $582,471, more than enough to be a special temporary member. Non-members can play no more than 12 times on the PGA Tour.
The next goal for Ishikawa is to make as much as the player who ends the year at No. 125 on the money list. That would allow him to become a full member next year. He has invites to play at Arnie's and the Masters..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
No comments:
Post a Comment