NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES
The PGA Championship leads the majors in 63s with 11. There have only been two 63s at the Masters, four at the U.S. Open, and eight at the British Open. Two reasons include the PGA of America’s penchant for reasonably fair course set-ups and tournament venues more akin to what U.S. PGA Tour pros see on a week-to-week basis.
PHILLIN’ GROOVY?
Phil Mickelson just got dropped from Rees Jones’s Christmas list with this (justified) bromide:
“If you look at the four par-3s here, it’s a perfect example of how modern architecture is killing the game, because those holes are unplayable for the members. You have water in front of you and a bunker behind and the player has no avenue to run a shot up,” he noted laconically. “It’s a good reason why the number of rounds on this golf course are down among the members and it’s a great example of how modern architecture is killing the participation of the sport because the average guy just can’t play it.
As an aside, that’s the difference between Pete Dye, a strategic architect whose difficult test at Sawgrass still draws so much praise since players can – except for 17 – steer away from the trouble, and Rees Jones, whose flavorless, penal architecture style underwhelms everyone except New Yorkers and Medinah members who like bragging about how much their courses make people’s heads ache. But I digress…
MAKE HIS A DOUBLE
The only other time Tiger had three double in one round (other than perhaps at the Blue Martini bar in Orlando or something) was in 2007 during the final round at Bay Hill.
SCOOPS AND SCUTTLEBUTS
Sources I personally rate as “extremely reliable” opine that Bethpage may become a PGA of America venue and get a PGA Championship, perhaps as early as 2020, and a Ryder Cup. That explains the Oakland Hills 2016 U.S. Amateur and the 2020 U.S. Open bid. “The math works, doesn’t it?” said a second extremely reliable source. Expect further word later today, and remember that Cybergolf said it first. Hat tip to my source coming soon…
ROARING (RORYING) IN PAIN
The post round MRI showed Rory McIlroy with a strained tendon in his arm. He is taped up and headed out on the course as we go to press. Ten years from now, he might have broken his arm. “You gotta play hurt?” Well also “You Gotta be Careful!”
CAN YOU BEAT TIGER??!!
Look at this Tiger shirt pic!!!!
Someone just made an enemy or two in Team Tiger.
WHY GOLF FANS HATE GOLF ON TV VOLUME XXL
How could live television not show Stricker’s putt for 62???!!! And Tiger wasn’t even on the course so they can’t use that as an excuse??!!
YOU DO THE MATH
Comparisons to 2001: Here are some interesting comparisons from the first round of the 2011 PGA Championship versus the 2001 PGA Championship, also played at the Atlanta Athletic Club …
22 — Rounds under par in the first round in 2011
55 — Rounds under par in the first round in 2001
35 — Rounds at par or better in the first round in 2011
69 — Rounds at par or better in the first round in 2001
73.11 — Scoring average in the first round in 2011
71.28 — Scoring average in the first round in 2001
