When last we met, the CIMB Classic was unresolved and headed to a Monday playoff. In case you missed it, Ryan Moore beat Gary Woodland on the first playoff hole to take the title.
If you did miss it, that’s understandable. Depending on how you count them, there are between three and five “major” tours (PGA TOUR, European Tour, LPGA, Champions Tour, and Web.com Tour) and a number of slightly lesser tours. On any given week, several of them, if not all of them, hold events, vying for our attention.
Next week, for example, the LPGA Tour heads to Japan for the Mizuno Classic at the Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Shima-Shi, Mie. The PGA Tour will make a stop at Sea Island, GA, for the McGladrey Classic. Having just concluded their season, the Champions Tour is on hiatus until Q-School opens Nov. 19 (yes, the Champions Tour still has a qualifying school). The big event of the weekend, however, will be the penultimate tournament of the 2013 European Tour season, the Turkish Airlines Open, where those in the running for the Race to Dubai hope to improve their positions in the standings while Tiger Woods and others just hope to make away with a whole bunch of euros.
I guess what I’m trying to say, is that there is a lot going on, even in the last couple months of 2013. The Woods-Chamblee fiasco is into its third week, another “cheater” has been identified, and one more tour has wrapped up its season. Here are those stories and more in HtL.
Hole #1: You Could Have Been More Diplomatic, Dad
Apparently, it took Brandel Chamblee’s son to convince him that perhaps he went too far in accusing Tiger Woods of being “cavalier” with the rules (ie., “cheating”). The feud continues to simmer, and has even had some incitement added by Rory McIlroy. I think this has the makings of a lovely little soap opera. [Link]
Hole #2: This Week on Tour
Dustin Johnson had to rally from one shot down with six to play to outpace the field in the WGC-HSBC Champions. The long hitter played his last 11 holes in 7-under, a stretch that included an eagle on the par 4 16th. Johnson finished at a tournament record 24-under, besting runner-up Ian Poulter’s 21-under. Other notables in the high quality field included Graeme McDowell (3, -20), Sergio Garcia (4, -18), Justin Rose (5, -16), Rory McIlroy (T6, -15), and Phil Mickelson (14, -12). [Link]
Hole #3: Couples Takes Championship, Perry Wins Cup
Freddy Couples got his first win of 2013 (aside from the Presidents Cup) at the season ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. Kenny Perry, however, won the big bucks by winning the season’s points race. [Link]
Hole #4: Golf Helps Kids with Autism
A town in New York and an occupational therapist are using golf as a way to help children with autism learn coordination, motor, and social skills. The best part is that the kids just think they are having fun. [Link]
Hole #5: Rule 16-1a
Simon Dyson was disqualified from the BMW Championship for tapping down a spike mark on the line of his putt. Despite the opinions of many of us in the Forum, sources report that Dyson will not likely face any additional punishment, such as expulsion from the European Tour or even a fine. Since he’s not a repeat offender, he will probably get the benefit of the doubt. However, he may get a good talking to in private. [Link]
Hole #6: Broncos’ Fox Has Health Issue on Course
Denver head coach John Fox was spending the Broncos bye week relaxing at home in North Carolina and playing a little golf. Fox began feeling light-headed on the course Saturday and was subsequently taken to a hospital. The coach will get a little longer break from the team than he was planning on as the valve replacement surgery that he had planned to put off until the end of the season will now take place during the next week. [Link]
Hole #7: Poor Boogie
While this is not truly a golf story (unless you except that “boogie” is an alternate spelling of bogey), there’s just something about the headline and the photo of the dog that makes me laugh every time. And since the New York Marathon was today, this seems appropriate somehow. [Link]
Hole #8: W Now a Golfaholic
Wondering what former president George W. Bush has been up to lately? It turns out to be a lot of golf and a lot of painting. [Link]
Hole #9: The Last Race
Tiger is scheduled to be back in competition this week in Turkey for the Turkish Airlines Open. The event is the final event of the European Tour’s regular season before the wrap up in Dubai. Henrik Stenson is in good position to win the race, but several others are still within shouting distance. [Link]
As to one of the reasons why I don’t watch the G-channel is because of guys like Brandel. He has an inflated sense of self-importance, and that sense of self-importance permeates everything he talks about. He has some underlying feeling of jealousy towards Tiger.
Dr D’Angelo