For all of you who enjoy watching golf today, you may not know it but in the late 50's and early 60's a CBS producer called Frank Chirkinien revolutionized viewing golf on TV. During his career he produced 38 Masters telecasts and he will also be remembered for being the man who introduced cameras on blimps to cover college football, and the producer of the first televised Winter Olympic Games in 1960.
Dave Skretta of AP says,Chirkinian introduced high-angle cameras and new angles, put roving reporters on the grounds, and made sure to capture the unique blend of sounds, the club hitting the ball, the ball falling into the cup ,that came to define modern golf coverage. He even changed the way scores were delivered, according to par rather than by total.
In February, Chirkinian was selected for induction to the World Golf Hall of Fame in the lifetime achievement category. He will be inducted posthumously on May 9th
Ben Wright was one the voices of the Masters, taking over in the tower at 16 vacated by the British legend Henry Longhurst who Chirkinian hired and loved as a broadcaster for many things including his dearth of words..Frank believed in letting the picture do the talking.
I first listened to Ben broadcasting back in the mid 60's when he walked with the players during the Piccadilly World Matchplay at Wentworth and those were in the days when Arnie and Jack and Lee etal were in the field. I met him and we became friends in the mid 80's when he came up here to be a guest commentator at the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey, and we have stayed in touch since..
Today I asked my friend Ben who has been a regular with me during the past 15 years on the Fairways Golf show to say a few words about his friend and golf partner Frank.. here it is,,
Bryan. Ben you and Frank are best of friends... How did that start ??
Frank became my greatest friend, but our relationship started anything but promisingly. I was appointed to the CBS TV team over his head by Bill McPhail, then president of CBS TV Sports, for the US. Matchplay Championship, sponsored by Liggett and Myers at the Country Club of North Carolina in August 1972. Apart from the time we were on air Frank hardly spoke to me that week. "The Ayatollah", as Frank was known by all and sundry, was ticked off about the appointment, which infringed on his authority. Worse was to come, however.
I returned to the US. for the first tournament of 1973, the Los Angeles Open, and had a nightmare journey. I left a New Year's Eve party in Cornwall in the early hours of the 1st of January and drove for eight hours to London's Heathrow airport. Alas, my over the Pole flight was delayed eight more hours, and I arrived at my hotel in LA at about 4am., to be told that rehearsal was at 10am. My Asian taxi driver spoke little English, and had never heard of Riviera Country Club. I arrived very late for that rehearsal, whereupon my associate producer Chuck Will told me to run to my tower at the par three 16th hole as quickly as I could manage.
Of course this involved running to the far end of the golf course, and I flopped into my seat quite breathless. Frank said, as soon as I had put on my headset: "Roll tape, now that the Limey bastard has condescended to join us". That tape involved a much speeded up record of my epic run!
I tried to explain the problems I had endured to get to LA, only to be told that I should have started out earlier from the UK. Frank would brook no excuse for tardiness, nor did he ever tolerate it throughout my 27 years of working for him - no matter who was the culprit. He then started the rehearsal by throwing me into the fray as the leader that Friday morning, Bruce Devlin, stepped to the 16th tee.
Poor Bruce hit his tee shot into the right hand bunker, skittered his second across the small green into the left hand bunker, and walked off with a triple bogey six to surrender a two stroke lead, and recede into the pack. "Now it is a new ball game", I said, whereupon Frank asked icily where I had picked up that expression.
"I picked it up from you guys", I replied. "You picked it up from us guys, did you? Well let me tell you something. You have been hired to talk like an Englishman. Now an Englishman talks with a plum in his mouth, and few people here understand a f...... word he says. But Limeys are supposed to be golf experts.One last word of advice to you Wright. If I ever understand another f...... word you say, you're fired!"
I was so upset that I asked to borrow my cameraman's Sky Guide, and called British Airways. But there were no First Class seats available that evening for London. So I stayed with Frank for 27 years! After the tournament finished he commended me for my work during the weekend, and the ice was broken. For the next 27 years Frank stood by me through thick and thin, and we became fast friends.
But Frank was just as loyal to all the CBS crew, despite his frequent outrageously ethnic insults. He meant no harm, and in fact was actually the most gentle and sentimental of men. And, having worked all over the world I have no hesitation in saying that he was far and away the best producer-director of golf for whom I ever laboured. In short, Frank Chirkinian was the father of televised golf, and its greatest and most innovative talent.
Ben Wright.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sabbatini's 5 shot lead 'no sure thing"
How many times have you seen a guy start Sunday with a substantial lead, only to end up being life or death to hang on by the end of the day.
Players always say they aren't going to change the game plan that got them the lead but inevitably the thought of protecting, playing safe combined with the chasing pack having the mind set that they have to go flag hunting often provides great drama.
Now add the weather into this equation. . The forecast is calling for clouds in the morning and scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. As a result, tee times will be between 8:55 and 10:55 a.m. with players going off both sets of tees and in groups of three. In addition the wind which has been the key factor here all week continues to blow, 25kph from the south today, and oh yes did I mention the Bear Trap...
So while it looks like Rory Sabbatini's to win as play gets underway today, it is by far no sure thing although he is putting beautifully with his new putter. His 66 was the lowest round for the second day in a row after his tourney record 64 on Friday.
Stephen Ames is even through 9 on his round today...T51 9 138 Stephen Ames 9 6* E color info 73 72 74 219
1 3 Rory Sabbatini -9 1 E color info 71 64 66 201
T2 2 9 Gary Woodland -4 2 -1 color info 71 68 68 207
T2 18 Y.E. Yang -4 1 E color info 68 71 67 206
T2 22 Jerry Kelly -4 1 E color info 71 67 68 206
T5 1 20 Matt Bettencourt -2 2 -1 color info 70 70 69 209
T5 1 34 Tommy Gainey -2 2 -1 color info 71 67 71 209
T5 1 97 Ricky Barnes -2 2 -1 color info 70 68 71 209
T8 4 63 Justin Leonard -1 3 -2 color info 70 71 70 211
T8 3 53 Kyle Stanley -1 2 1 color info 68 66 74 208
T8 2 43 Charles Howell III -1 2 E color info 71 71 67 209
Nationwide Tour
The field is just finishing round 2 in Bogota. The event will be reduced to 54 holes.The low-60 players and ties will make the 36-hole cut and advance to the final round scheduled to start in minutes..
The cut has fallen at E and only one Canuck, Andew Parr has made it. T19 Andrew Parr 3 F -3 65 74 -- -- 139
T66 Richard T. Lee SC 1 F 1 71 72 -- -- 143
T107 Chris Baryla SC 4 F * 5 72 75 -- -- 147
T122 Bryan DeCorso SC 3 F 7 75 74 -- -- 149 all missed the cut.
Here are the top 3 from the leader board
1 T8 Brenden Pappas SC -5 F * -9 67 66 -- -- 133
2 T8 Matt Every SC -4 F * -8 67 67 -- -- 134
T3 T8 Julian Etulain SC -3 F -7 67 68 -- -- 135
Bryan Angus
Players always say they aren't going to change the game plan that got them the lead but inevitably the thought of protecting, playing safe combined with the chasing pack having the mind set that they have to go flag hunting often provides great drama.
Now add the weather into this equation. . The forecast is calling for clouds in the morning and scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. As a result, tee times will be between 8:55 and 10:55 a.m. with players going off both sets of tees and in groups of three. In addition the wind which has been the key factor here all week continues to blow, 25kph from the south today, and oh yes did I mention the Bear Trap...
So while it looks like Rory Sabbatini's to win as play gets underway today, it is by far no sure thing although he is putting beautifully with his new putter. His 66 was the lowest round for the second day in a row after his tourney record 64 on Friday.
Stephen Ames is even through 9 on his round today...T51 9 138 Stephen Ames 9 6* E color info 73 72 74 219
1 3 Rory Sabbatini -9 1 E color info 71 64 66 201
T2 2 9 Gary Woodland -4 2 -1 color info 71 68 68 207
T2 18 Y.E. Yang -4 1 E color info 68 71 67 206
T2 22 Jerry Kelly -4 1 E color info 71 67 68 206
T5 1 20 Matt Bettencourt -2 2 -1 color info 70 70 69 209
T5 1 34 Tommy Gainey -2 2 -1 color info 71 67 71 209
T5 1 97 Ricky Barnes -2 2 -1 color info 70 68 71 209
T8 4 63 Justin Leonard -1 3 -2 color info 70 71 70 211
T8 3 53 Kyle Stanley -1 2 1 color info 68 66 74 208
T8 2 43 Charles Howell III -1 2 E color info 71 71 67 209
Nationwide Tour
The field is just finishing round 2 in Bogota. The event will be reduced to 54 holes.The low-60 players and ties will make the 36-hole cut and advance to the final round scheduled to start in minutes..
The cut has fallen at E and only one Canuck, Andew Parr has made it. T19 Andrew Parr 3 F -3 65 74 -- -- 139
T66 Richard T. Lee SC 1 F 1 71 72 -- -- 143
T107 Chris Baryla SC 4 F * 5 72 75 -- -- 147
T122 Bryan DeCorso SC 3 F 7 75 74 -- -- 149 all missed the cut.
Here are the top 3 from the leader board
1 T8 Brenden Pappas SC -5 F * -9 67 66 -- -- 133
2 T8 Matt Every SC -4 F * -8 67 67 -- -- 134
T3 T8 Julian Etulain SC -3 F -7 67 68 -- -- 135
Bryan Angus
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Ames in, Weir out at a windy Honda Classic..
As the rain continues to pour here early Saturday morning, the wind continues to blow in Palm Beach, Florida. Right now it is from the east at 30kph and will lessen to 20 this afternoon with a chance of showers, so another blustery day at the Honda..
All the more remarkable therefore, the 64 that Rory Sabbatini posted yesterday, he only took 9 putts on the back nine and 21 in total
“I knew the conditions were going to be tough, but crazy things happen,” he said. “(I) put the ball in the right spots a few times and make a couple of putts, and all of a sudden you stop worrying about everything and you just start trying to make some more birdies.I’m the most confident I’ve been with the putter in a really long time, so that’s a key factor for me right there.”
The 64 is three shots lower than any other score in the first two rounds and 8 ½ strokes below Friday’s field scoring average but it still wasn't good enough for the lead The wind died down in the afternoon and Kyle Stanley took advantage with his late tee time shooting a 4-under 66 for a one-stroke lead
The scoring average Thursday was 73.9, yesterday it dropped to 72.3 for a par of 70, and the cut fell at +6.
Stephen Ames made it at +5, 73,72... Mike Weir had a career worst 85 with 4 doubles and a triple .. 77 85 +22
When I am predicting who I expect to do well or win tournaments one of the things I always look for are guys in form and on the leader board below you can see why..
Stanley was in the top 15 last week, I have been writing about Schwartzel since the South Africa tour started at Christmas, Matt Kuchar, YE Yang, Spencer Levin, Gary Woodland and Lee Westwood have been all over leader boards so far this year.
1 1 6 Kyle Stanley -6 F* -4 color info 68 66 134
2 18 12 Rory Sabbatini -5 F -6 color info 71 64 135
3 1 41 Charl Schwartzel -3 F* -1 color info 68 69 137
T4 5 91 Ricky Barnes -2 F -2 color info 70 68 138
T4 16 40 Jerry Kelly -2 F -3 color info 71 67 138
T4 2 22 Stuart Appleby -2 F* E color info 68 70 138
T4 16 34 Tommy Gainey -2 F -3 color info 71 67 138
T8 1 8 Matt Kuchar -1 F* E color info 69 70 139
T8 6 33 Y.E. Yang -1 F* 1 color info 68 71 139
T8 12 16 Gary Woodland -1 F* -2 color info 71 68 139
T8 7 14 Spencer Levin -1 F* 2 color info 67 72 139
T8 1 -- Lee Westwood -1 F -1 color info 70 69 139
Nationwide Tour
It's not just raining here !! We have 4 Canucks in the field down in Columbia and I will give you their news as soon as they can get playing !!
BOGATA, Colombia -- Golf continued to take a back seat to the weather at the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open. An early afternoon storm dumped more water on the Bogota Country Club and forced officials to halt play Friday, pushing the completion of the first round into Saturday morning.
"To put it bluntly, the tub is full," said Nationwide Tour Tournament Director Jim Duncan. "The added rains today have overflowed it. Honestly, I think we've pushed the limit thus far to play as much as we have."
When play was stopped at 12:55 p.m. half the field had finished the opening round and the other half was scattered around the golf course. The lead groups had completed 13 holes, the last ones only a handful.
Overnight rains pushed the resumption of Friday's play back an hour in the morning to prepare the golf course. Play lasted a total of 4:20 before the rains returned. Thursday's opening day featured 7 ½ hours of delays and only 3 ½ hours of play.
The plan now calls for the first round to resume at 7:30 Saturday morning.Round two is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.
"Mathematically, 72 holes is out at this point," said Duncan. "Our goal is to finish 54 holes by Sunday. Our regulations do not allow us to play on Monday
Bryan Angus ( news and notes from pgatour.com )
All the more remarkable therefore, the 64 that Rory Sabbatini posted yesterday, he only took 9 putts on the back nine and 21 in total
“I knew the conditions were going to be tough, but crazy things happen,” he said. “(I) put the ball in the right spots a few times and make a couple of putts, and all of a sudden you stop worrying about everything and you just start trying to make some more birdies.I’m the most confident I’ve been with the putter in a really long time, so that’s a key factor for me right there.”
The 64 is three shots lower than any other score in the first two rounds and 8 ½ strokes below Friday’s field scoring average but it still wasn't good enough for the lead The wind died down in the afternoon and Kyle Stanley took advantage with his late tee time shooting a 4-under 66 for a one-stroke lead
The scoring average Thursday was 73.9, yesterday it dropped to 72.3 for a par of 70, and the cut fell at +6.
Stephen Ames made it at +5, 73,72... Mike Weir had a career worst 85 with 4 doubles and a triple .. 77 85 +22
When I am predicting who I expect to do well or win tournaments one of the things I always look for are guys in form and on the leader board below you can see why..
Stanley was in the top 15 last week, I have been writing about Schwartzel since the South Africa tour started at Christmas, Matt Kuchar, YE Yang, Spencer Levin, Gary Woodland and Lee Westwood have been all over leader boards so far this year.
1 1 6 Kyle Stanley -6 F* -4 color info 68 66 134
2 18 12 Rory Sabbatini -5 F -6 color info 71 64 135
3 1 41 Charl Schwartzel -3 F* -1 color info 68 69 137
T4 5 91 Ricky Barnes -2 F -2 color info 70 68 138
T4 16 40 Jerry Kelly -2 F -3 color info 71 67 138
T4 2 22 Stuart Appleby -2 F* E color info 68 70 138
T4 16 34 Tommy Gainey -2 F -3 color info 71 67 138
T8 1 8 Matt Kuchar -1 F* E color info 69 70 139
T8 6 33 Y.E. Yang -1 F* 1 color info 68 71 139
T8 12 16 Gary Woodland -1 F* -2 color info 71 68 139
T8 7 14 Spencer Levin -1 F* 2 color info 67 72 139
T8 1 -- Lee Westwood -1 F -1 color info 70 69 139
Nationwide Tour
It's not just raining here !! We have 4 Canucks in the field down in Columbia and I will give you their news as soon as they can get playing !!
BOGATA, Colombia -- Golf continued to take a back seat to the weather at the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open. An early afternoon storm dumped more water on the Bogota Country Club and forced officials to halt play Friday, pushing the completion of the first round into Saturday morning.
"To put it bluntly, the tub is full," said Nationwide Tour Tournament Director Jim Duncan. "The added rains today have overflowed it. Honestly, I think we've pushed the limit thus far to play as much as we have."
When play was stopped at 12:55 p.m. half the field had finished the opening round and the other half was scattered around the golf course. The lead groups had completed 13 holes, the last ones only a handful.
Overnight rains pushed the resumption of Friday's play back an hour in the morning to prepare the golf course. Play lasted a total of 4:20 before the rains returned. Thursday's opening day featured 7 ½ hours of delays and only 3 ½ hours of play.
The plan now calls for the first round to resume at 7:30 Saturday morning.Round two is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.
"Mathematically, 72 holes is out at this point," said Duncan. "Our goal is to finish 54 holes by Sunday. Our regulations do not allow us to play on Monday
Bryan Angus ( news and notes from pgatour.com )
Friday, March 4, 2011
Weirsy on his way out of the Honda, now for plan B..
After what Lorne Rubenstein who is walking with Mike Weir called" one of the wildest 9 holes he has seen him play" on his way to a first round +7 77, Mike is now at +14, and is +7 on today's round with 2 bogey's and a triple on his front nine and a double so far on the back.. He is playing #13 and the projected cut is at +4..
This was Mike's last chance under his medical exemption to qualify from the money list but it won't be the last you see of him by far.. He has options. As for the majors, he plays the Masters for life as the 2003 champion and will try to qualify for the US Open and the Open Championship.
He can play the Fry's.com as a past champion, our Canadian Open and others on sponsor's exemptions, he can use an all time money list category and he has made just enough to finish in last year's top 150 which means he will be an alternative for many events but will have to wait to see who drops out to get in.
Many have given up on Weirsy and Lorne has said this week after watching and talking with him that he doesn't know if he will ever play top notch golf again.
Onr thing I do know, I think we all do is that Mike Weir has complete faith in himself and is confident he will sort his game out and return to the form that made him a legend here in Canada
Bryan Angus
This was Mike's last chance under his medical exemption to qualify from the money list but it won't be the last you see of him by far.. He has options. As for the majors, he plays the Masters for life as the 2003 champion and will try to qualify for the US Open and the Open Championship.
He can play the Fry's.com as a past champion, our Canadian Open and others on sponsor's exemptions, he can use an all time money list category and he has made just enough to finish in last year's top 150 which means he will be an alternative for many events but will have to wait to see who drops out to get in.
Many have given up on Weirsy and Lorne has said this week after watching and talking with him that he doesn't know if he will ever play top notch golf again.
Onr thing I do know, I think we all do is that Mike Weir has complete faith in himself and is confident he will sort his game out and return to the form that made him a legend here in Canada
Bryan Angus
More wind in store for round 2 at the Honda, where par is good !!
Par for the pros at PGA National in Palm Beach is 70. On a very blustery first day only 8 players broke that number.
Par is all relative. I remember the great Christy O'Connor surveying the wind and rain swept links at St Andrews from under his tam on the first tee, turning to a spectator that had offered him some encouragement and saying, " I'll take 5 over 77 right now and just go back to the clubhouse for a wee dram "
Fred Couples in 'teaching lessons from a pro' said that par for Tiger on most PGA tour courses was not 72, but 68 because he expected as part of his course management to birdie the 4 par 5's.. ( that was the old Tiger )
Yesterday's par was really 73.8 and the wind is blowing again today so expect more of the same..
Mike Weir started in a gale on the back nine yesterday where he made 5 bogey's and a double in 6 holes but finished with 2 birdies. He staggered in with 77 and is +2 today through 7 as I write. Lorne Rubenstein is walking with Mike and you should read his blog by clicking on Lorne Rubenstein on the right side of this article. Mike missed 6 putts from inside 5 feet !!
Stephen Ames had a very creditable 73.
In many cases like the par 3, 186yd 17th, the toughest ranked hole on the day 12 players found a watery grave and several others went wading, par is actually stealing a shot on the field.
Of note the leader Spencer Levin has some local ties as he was the 2007 Canadian Tour Player of the Year and he also won the Porter Cup which is a Buffalo/ Niagra Falls area tournament that Jack Armstrong's wife has been running for years. Remember this Californian is in great form right now. He lost last week in Cancun in a playoff with Jonathan Wagner and was in the top 12 both weeks before.
Keep your eye on the really great ball strikers like Sean O'Hair and John Senden and of course Justin Leonard the little wind player from Texas in these conditions
Here is the leaderboard (play underway in round 2)
1 2 Spencer Levin -3 11:30am* color info 67
T2 5 6 Matt Kuchar -2 8* -1 color info 69
T2 7 41 Sean O'Hair -2 7 -2 color info 70
T2 17 Stuart Appleby -2 12:24pm* color info 68
T2 46 Charl Schwartzel -2 12:51pm* color info 68
T2 32 Kyle Stanley -2 1:09pm* color info 68
T7 2 59 John Senden -1 11 -1 color info 70
T7 13 74 Cameron Tringale -1 5 -2 color info 71
T7 44 Jeff Overton -1 12:51pm color info 69
T10 1 37 Chris Couch E 11* E color info 70
T10 1 51 Carl Pettersson E 9* E color info 70
T10 1 72 Justin Leonard E 9* E color info 70
T10 10 27 Rory Sabbatini E 8 -1 color info 71
T10 8 34 Y.E. Yang E 8* 2 color info 68
T10 1 68 Roland Thatcher E 11:30am color info 70
T10 1 136 Ricky Barnes E 11:57am color info 70
T10 1 23 Matt Bettencourt E 12:33pm* color info 70
T10 1 -- Lee Westwood E 12:33pm color info 70
T10 1 73 Hunter Haas E 1:00pm color info 70
Nationwide Tour
BOGOTA, Colombia -- Overnight rains, a soggy golf course and hovering afternoon storms caused a major disruption in the first round of the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open, where only half the field managed to get started. There were 7½ hours of delays, compared to just 3½ hours of actual play.
When darkness settled on the Bogota Country Club course, Darron Stiles was at 4-under par through 13 holes and leading by one. Australians Matthew Giles and Ewan Porter, South Africa's Garth Mulroy, Tommy Biershenk of South Carolina and India's Rahil Gangjee were at 3-under and had all played at least 10 holes after several starts and stops.
Canucks
Richard T Lee is just in T26 E 71
Chris Baryla T56 +1 72
Andrew Parr and Bryan DeCorso haven't played yet
Bryan Angus
Par is all relative. I remember the great Christy O'Connor surveying the wind and rain swept links at St Andrews from under his tam on the first tee, turning to a spectator that had offered him some encouragement and saying, " I'll take 5 over 77 right now and just go back to the clubhouse for a wee dram "
Fred Couples in 'teaching lessons from a pro' said that par for Tiger on most PGA tour courses was not 72, but 68 because he expected as part of his course management to birdie the 4 par 5's.. ( that was the old Tiger )
Yesterday's par was really 73.8 and the wind is blowing again today so expect more of the same..
Mike Weir started in a gale on the back nine yesterday where he made 5 bogey's and a double in 6 holes but finished with 2 birdies. He staggered in with 77 and is +2 today through 7 as I write. Lorne Rubenstein is walking with Mike and you should read his blog by clicking on Lorne Rubenstein on the right side of this article. Mike missed 6 putts from inside 5 feet !!
Stephen Ames had a very creditable 73.
In many cases like the par 3, 186yd 17th, the toughest ranked hole on the day 12 players found a watery grave and several others went wading, par is actually stealing a shot on the field.
Of note the leader Spencer Levin has some local ties as he was the 2007 Canadian Tour Player of the Year and he also won the Porter Cup which is a Buffalo/ Niagra Falls area tournament that Jack Armstrong's wife has been running for years. Remember this Californian is in great form right now. He lost last week in Cancun in a playoff with Jonathan Wagner and was in the top 12 both weeks before.
Keep your eye on the really great ball strikers like Sean O'Hair and John Senden and of course Justin Leonard the little wind player from Texas in these conditions
Here is the leaderboard (play underway in round 2)
1 2 Spencer Levin -3 11:30am* color info 67
T2 5 6 Matt Kuchar -2 8* -1 color info 69
T2 7 41 Sean O'Hair -2 7 -2 color info 70
T2 17 Stuart Appleby -2 12:24pm* color info 68
T2 46 Charl Schwartzel -2 12:51pm* color info 68
T2 32 Kyle Stanley -2 1:09pm* color info 68
T7 2 59 John Senden -1 11 -1 color info 70
T7 13 74 Cameron Tringale -1 5 -2 color info 71
T7 44 Jeff Overton -1 12:51pm color info 69
T10 1 37 Chris Couch E 11* E color info 70
T10 1 51 Carl Pettersson E 9* E color info 70
T10 1 72 Justin Leonard E 9* E color info 70
T10 10 27 Rory Sabbatini E 8 -1 color info 71
T10 8 34 Y.E. Yang E 8* 2 color info 68
T10 1 68 Roland Thatcher E 11:30am color info 70
T10 1 136 Ricky Barnes E 11:57am color info 70
T10 1 23 Matt Bettencourt E 12:33pm* color info 70
T10 1 -- Lee Westwood E 12:33pm color info 70
T10 1 73 Hunter Haas E 1:00pm color info 70
Nationwide Tour
BOGOTA, Colombia -- Overnight rains, a soggy golf course and hovering afternoon storms caused a major disruption in the first round of the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open, where only half the field managed to get started. There were 7½ hours of delays, compared to just 3½ hours of actual play.
When darkness settled on the Bogota Country Club course, Darron Stiles was at 4-under par through 13 holes and leading by one. Australians Matthew Giles and Ewan Porter, South Africa's Garth Mulroy, Tommy Biershenk of South Carolina and India's Rahil Gangjee were at 3-under and had all played at least 10 holes after several starts and stops.
Canucks
Richard T Lee is just in T26 E 71
Chris Baryla T56 +1 72
Andrew Parr and Bryan DeCorso haven't played yet
Bryan Angus
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Rick Todd on his star pupil.. Chris Baryla ... Weir and Ames are at the Honda.
I haven't spoke with Chris this week but when I looked at the fields for the PGA tour's Honda and the Nationwide's event in Bogota I saw he was listed in both, and I feared the worst after the tour made it's first priority list shuffle of the year on Monday
The PGA Tour shuffles the priority list five times a year. Good play is rewarded, poor play is punished. Chris has missed the cut in all 5 outings this year after finishing 11th at Q school.
He now finds himself 50th on the priority list, Matt McQuillan (No. 44) and David Hearn (No. 36)
Canadian Rick Todd was Baryla's coach for 4 years at UTEP..I spoke with him about Chris's slow start..
Rick : Chris has MC in his first 5 outings. What do you see as the problem thus far ??
I think the major problem for Chris is just feeling comfortable out on tour. What I mean by this is you have new city, don’t know where to stay and eat. Most of all you have a Golf course you have never played and getting to see it 1 time before you play on Thursdays is a big adjustment.
Is he the best golfer you have coached ?
Chris is by far the best I coached at UTEP not only for talent but course management and a great golf IQ which goes along way in this game.
You watch all of our Canucks and you see Weirsy struggling right now. If he asked you for advice what would you say ?
Yes, Mike weir has been struggling but he has had this injury for longer than I think he has let on. I would tell him keep working hard and it will all fall into place, he is not DONE!!!! To good a person and player worldwide
How did a Scarborough guy end up as the golf coach at UTEP ?
This is where college golf started for me back in 1983 where I came on a scholarship. The opening came back 12 years ago and after playing all over the world I decided to take this job spend more time with my family and cut down on the travel, only flying a couple of hours instead of 24 hours flying time to places in Asia, took a toll on my body I have 1 Canadian in my program as of right now his name is Luke Ovenden from the Georgetown area, first year here and on the travelling team and playing quite well right now. Always looking for Canadians to come south to play golf
Thanks Rick...Baryla, Bryan DeCorso, Richard T. Lee and Andrew Parr will be our Canucks in Bogota.
PGA Tour.
Meanwhile Stephen Ames and Mike Weir are in the field at the Honda at PGA National in Palm Beach. Matt McQuillan was an alternative but did not make the field.
Westwood (2) Donald (3) and McDowell (4) are in a very strong field, with the a lot of the European guys playing here (States) until the WGC event next week at the Blue Monster at Doral.
Neither Martin Kaymer nor Tiger Woods are in the field..
Event: Honda Classic
Where: PGA National Resort and Spa, Champion Course (7,158 yards, par 70) in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Purse: $5.7 million; winner's share: $1,026,000.
Television: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday 2-5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday noon-2 p.m) and NBC (Saturday-Sunday, 2-5 p.m.)
Last year: Colombia's Camilo Villegas won his third PGA Tour title, finishing at 13 under for a five-stroke victory over Anthony Kim
This Nicklaus designed course has arguably the 5 toughest finishing holes on tour, and the "Bear Trap" are the par 3 15th, par 4 16th and another par 3, 17th all playing over water usually into a tough wind..
The European Tour, Champions Tour and the LPGA are off this week
Bryan Angus
The PGA Tour shuffles the priority list five times a year. Good play is rewarded, poor play is punished. Chris has missed the cut in all 5 outings this year after finishing 11th at Q school.
He now finds himself 50th on the priority list, Matt McQuillan (No. 44) and David Hearn (No. 36)
Canadian Rick Todd was Baryla's coach for 4 years at UTEP..I spoke with him about Chris's slow start..
Rick : Chris has MC in his first 5 outings. What do you see as the problem thus far ??
I think the major problem for Chris is just feeling comfortable out on tour. What I mean by this is you have new city, don’t know where to stay and eat. Most of all you have a Golf course you have never played and getting to see it 1 time before you play on Thursdays is a big adjustment.
Is he the best golfer you have coached ?
Chris is by far the best I coached at UTEP not only for talent but course management and a great golf IQ which goes along way in this game.
You watch all of our Canucks and you see Weirsy struggling right now. If he asked you for advice what would you say ?
Yes, Mike weir has been struggling but he has had this injury for longer than I think he has let on. I would tell him keep working hard and it will all fall into place, he is not DONE!!!! To good a person and player worldwide
How did a Scarborough guy end up as the golf coach at UTEP ?
This is where college golf started for me back in 1983 where I came on a scholarship. The opening came back 12 years ago and after playing all over the world I decided to take this job spend more time with my family and cut down on the travel, only flying a couple of hours instead of 24 hours flying time to places in Asia, took a toll on my body I have 1 Canadian in my program as of right now his name is Luke Ovenden from the Georgetown area, first year here and on the travelling team and playing quite well right now. Always looking for Canadians to come south to play golf
Thanks Rick...Baryla, Bryan DeCorso, Richard T. Lee and Andrew Parr will be our Canucks in Bogota.
PGA Tour.
Meanwhile Stephen Ames and Mike Weir are in the field at the Honda at PGA National in Palm Beach. Matt McQuillan was an alternative but did not make the field.
Westwood (2) Donald (3) and McDowell (4) are in a very strong field, with the a lot of the European guys playing here (States) until the WGC event next week at the Blue Monster at Doral.
Neither Martin Kaymer nor Tiger Woods are in the field..
Event: Honda Classic
Where: PGA National Resort and Spa, Champion Course (7,158 yards, par 70) in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Purse: $5.7 million; winner's share: $1,026,000.
Television: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday 2-5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday noon-2 p.m) and NBC (Saturday-Sunday, 2-5 p.m.)
Last year: Colombia's Camilo Villegas won his third PGA Tour title, finishing at 13 under for a five-stroke victory over Anthony Kim
This Nicklaus designed course has arguably the 5 toughest finishing holes on tour, and the "Bear Trap" are the par 3 15th, par 4 16th and another par 3, 17th all playing over water usually into a tough wind..
The European Tour, Champions Tour and the LPGA are off this week
Bryan Angus
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
A look at world #1 Martin Kaymer off the course..
I thought since many of you don't know much about our new World #1 Martin Kaymer, you would enjoy a little insight in an exclusive interview he gave to my pals at europeantour.com
New World Number One Martin Kaymer speaks to europeantour.com about his life away from the course and how his life is starting to resemble his favourite TV show.
Now you are becoming increasingly famous, is your life becoming more like your favourite TV programme – Entourage?
My manager Johan Elliott gave me the series when I was recovering from my broken foot. Once I started, I got hooked and love the show. It’s funny and obviously crazier than our life but there are similarities. It’s very funny and I just hope they make more episodes.
How about on the big screen – do you have a favourite film?
I really like Men of Honour. When I was in Germany recently I watched Gladiator. That was a good film. And I would like to watch Braveheart but my caddie tells me I might struggle with the English! I started watching Se7en with Brad Pitt and had to stop watching after about half an hour, not because I was too scared, but because I struggled to understand so I’ll have so watch it in German.
You have a new Play Station – are you any good?
I bought one a few weeks ago and when my brother and a friend came over to Phoenix we played almost every night, taking each other on with Fifa. My girlfriend is also pretty good.
Talking of football, you are a fan of Köln and have the team badge on your bag?
They are struggling a little at the moment near the bottom of the league but it is only halfway through the season and hopefully I can get to see them play sometime soon. I started supporting them when my Dad took me and my brother to a game maybe 15 years ago and I have supported them ever since. The first five or six years I was not so into it as I was doing my own things and was actually playing soccer for their rivals at Düsseldorf. But the last few years I have got to know some of the players at Köln and I support the team as much as I can and hopefully when I am home in Germany I can watch a game. I love the atmosphere at the matches, it is incredible.
How good were you at soccer?
Not bad. I was pretty successful and at 15 I had to make a choice as I was at the same level for both sports. I was as good at soccer as I was golf but chose golf. I played a little for Düsseldorf and for my home club next to my house. I was picked out by scouts in trials and it was great. I was getting successful but chose golf and focused on that.
You also like cars as we are often seeing you driving around in the desert and taking cars off road – why the passion there?
My favourite car is a BMW M3. I enjoy that especially in Germany where you can go a little faster than anywhere else in the world. I have a Mini Cooper as well which is quite cool. I enjoy it and when I have time I like to do test driving and learn more about the cars. When I was at school and you have to go on work experience, I worked for a car company and really got into cars and learning more about them. It is an interest of mine. I prefer off-road to the track though. I have been out in the desert with a BMW driving instructor and he taught me how to drive on sand, with less air in the tyres. It’s a lot of fun.
Have you given up go-karting now?
I have been back once, three months after the accident, but I drove like a little girl I was so slow and it was more embarrassing than fun. That was more than a year ago. Maybe I’ll give it another go.
It’s also been reported you like rock-climbing as well?
I have been a couple of times in Germany – in Cologne and Dusseldorf – and I never knew it was so tough. I also had a go in Abu Dhabi last year on the Tuesday and after four hours, my fingers were still hurting. We always do it wrong by trying to show our strength and pulling ourselves up with our arms and biceps rather than using our legs. It’s a fun sport.
What’s the next extreme sport for you then?
In Phoenix there is one huge mountain called the Camelback and I would like to do some hiking there. I have heard it is dangerous, not really a walk but a proper climb. I am planning on this when I am back in Scottsdale. My girlfriend has done it so if she can do it, I am sure I can!
Bryan Angus
New World Number One Martin Kaymer speaks to europeantour.com about his life away from the course and how his life is starting to resemble his favourite TV show.
Now you are becoming increasingly famous, is your life becoming more like your favourite TV programme – Entourage?
My manager Johan Elliott gave me the series when I was recovering from my broken foot. Once I started, I got hooked and love the show. It’s funny and obviously crazier than our life but there are similarities. It’s very funny and I just hope they make more episodes.
How about on the big screen – do you have a favourite film?
I really like Men of Honour. When I was in Germany recently I watched Gladiator. That was a good film. And I would like to watch Braveheart but my caddie tells me I might struggle with the English! I started watching Se7en with Brad Pitt and had to stop watching after about half an hour, not because I was too scared, but because I struggled to understand so I’ll have so watch it in German.
You have a new Play Station – are you any good?
I bought one a few weeks ago and when my brother and a friend came over to Phoenix we played almost every night, taking each other on with Fifa. My girlfriend is also pretty good.
Talking of football, you are a fan of Köln and have the team badge on your bag?
They are struggling a little at the moment near the bottom of the league but it is only halfway through the season and hopefully I can get to see them play sometime soon. I started supporting them when my Dad took me and my brother to a game maybe 15 years ago and I have supported them ever since. The first five or six years I was not so into it as I was doing my own things and was actually playing soccer for their rivals at Düsseldorf. But the last few years I have got to know some of the players at Köln and I support the team as much as I can and hopefully when I am home in Germany I can watch a game. I love the atmosphere at the matches, it is incredible.
How good were you at soccer?
Not bad. I was pretty successful and at 15 I had to make a choice as I was at the same level for both sports. I was as good at soccer as I was golf but chose golf. I played a little for Düsseldorf and for my home club next to my house. I was picked out by scouts in trials and it was great. I was getting successful but chose golf and focused on that.
You also like cars as we are often seeing you driving around in the desert and taking cars off road – why the passion there?
My favourite car is a BMW M3. I enjoy that especially in Germany where you can go a little faster than anywhere else in the world. I have a Mini Cooper as well which is quite cool. I enjoy it and when I have time I like to do test driving and learn more about the cars. When I was at school and you have to go on work experience, I worked for a car company and really got into cars and learning more about them. It is an interest of mine. I prefer off-road to the track though. I have been out in the desert with a BMW driving instructor and he taught me how to drive on sand, with less air in the tyres. It’s a lot of fun.
Have you given up go-karting now?
I have been back once, three months after the accident, but I drove like a little girl I was so slow and it was more embarrassing than fun. That was more than a year ago. Maybe I’ll give it another go.
It’s also been reported you like rock-climbing as well?
I have been a couple of times in Germany – in Cologne and Dusseldorf – and I never knew it was so tough. I also had a go in Abu Dhabi last year on the Tuesday and after four hours, my fingers were still hurting. We always do it wrong by trying to show our strength and pulling ourselves up with our arms and biceps rather than using our legs. It’s a fun sport.
What’s the next extreme sport for you then?
In Phoenix there is one huge mountain called the Camelback and I would like to do some hiking there. I have heard it is dangerous, not really a walk but a proper climb. I am planning on this when I am back in Scottsdale. My girlfriend has done it so if she can do it, I am sure I can!
Bryan Angus
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