The Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens

[Zeph]

Rough conditions on this first day. So far 48 balls have found the water in the Bear Trap hole sequence. It is somewhat comforting to see the best players in the world shank one into the water on a intimidating tee shot with water and wind in play.

Some player found his ball lodged up close to a tree next to the green. He hit it by standing backwards, back facing the green, swinging a club backwards with only the right hand. He did hit the ball, but only to knock it into the next tree towards the green.

[TourSpoon]

That player was Justin Leonard and of the two trees on that hole he hit both of them. I will be at the tournament tomorrow so I can report back on the conditions. I can tell you that the wind was honking making it difficult to drive on the highway.

[TourSpoon]

The wind was cranking today again. Shot of the day was Cabrera's hybrid on 16 from the rough about 190 out to 3 feet. Saw Fowler chip in on 8. I saw a few guys get bent over some shots that went awry. The last thing was that I met Johnny Miller on one of the tee boxes and then saw Frank Nobilo. Both couldn't have been nicer.

[walk18]

I like seeing these guys struggle. Gives them a taste of what the rest of us go through. How about Villegas? 15 over? What the hell happened to this guy lately?

[RichF]

Quote:

I like seeing these guys struggle. Gives them a taste of what the rest of us go through.

How about Villegas? 15 over? What the hell happened to this guy lately?

+1

However, Villegas' woes pale in compairon to Mike Weir :  22+ after 2 days and he officially lost his PGA Tour card yesterday...

[JetFan1983]

Originally Posted by Zeph

It is somewhat comforting to see the best players in the world shank one into the water on a intimidating tee shot with water and wind in play.

I agree, and I think the best part about this is all the microphones they've placed around the ponds of the Bear Trap. The clear and crisp sound of KER-PLUNK! when paired with HD quality television is great.

Originally Posted by Zeph

Some player found his ball lodged up close to a tree next to the green. He hit it by standing backwards, back facing the green, swinging a club backwards with only the right hand. He did hit the ball, but only to knock it into the next tree towards the green.

I didn't see this part, but -- assuming he used the same shot as I'm picturing in my head -- I pulled this off on my recent trip to Florida on one hole. I was able to get up and down for par. I had originally seen it done in a Lee Trevino golf lesson on Youtube (which I can't find a link for at the moment). Michael Breed I think also did a segment on this about a year ago. It's really useful when you have no stance. Practice it first, but its effective.

My friends were all trying to talk me out of it as I set up to the ball, but when I hit it to 5 feet and then made the putt, I think I got some respect for showing creativity.

[TourSpoon]

One thing that I noticed is that these guys all take an aggressive line in the Bear Trap holes.  There is no bailing out as most of them would chance the water for that precious birdie.  Yes the wind is cranking, but there is bailout room on the short left of these holes (think Jerry Kelly on 16 from his bad stance) where they could get up and down.  But for the first two days, they were shooting for the flags trying to make the cut.

[Thrash13]

I was happy to see Charles Howell III go out early and shoot a 67 today.  He went from T29 to T6.  I'm sure he will disappoint me tomorrow, but if he can shoot something around even par, he will get a big paycheck.  It looks like it's Rory's tourney to win or lose, but if he falls down, it's really anyone's ball game.  I'm looking forward to another grueling day tomorrow.

[Chas]

Originally Posted by Thrash13

I was happy to see Charles Howell III go out early and shoot a 67 today.  He went from T29 to T6.  I'm sure he will disappoint me tomorrow, but if he can shoot something around even par, he will get a big paycheck.  It looks like it's Rory's tourney to win or lose, but if he falls down, it's really anyone's ball game.  I'm looking forward to another grueling day tomorrow.

This is very good news to me as well, I've always liked the guy - classy, modest, nice action.  But I'm not gonna set myself up for disappointment either - OK, maybe just a little ....

[clubchamp]

Originally Posted by RichF

Quote:

+1

However, Villegas' woes pale in compairon to Mike Weir:  22+ after 2 days and he officially lost his PGA Tour card yesterday...

Mike Weir had a bad elbow injury and claims he is almost fully recovered. I think that he is probably never going to get back to what he was a couple years ago. In my opinion I think he will have to cut his schedule greatly or it might be near the end of his golf career. I wish him luck and hope he can recover

[uttexas]

Originally Posted by walk18

I like seeing these guys struggle. Gives them a taste of what the rest of us go through.

How about Villegas? 15 over? What the hell happened to this guy lately?

+1.  The tour schedule is set up so that these guys play in 70-80 degree perfect weather all year.  We usually only see them really struggle when its really windy at the British Open.  However, this year's weather pattern has been different, and we've seen players struggle with the elements at the Tuscon WGC and now at The Honda Classic with only nine players currently under par after the third round.

[mcfc_nick]

Rory hangs on from Yang by the skin of his teeth, G-Mac shows his class to with a round of 64 to boost him into the top 6

[Thrash13]

Congrats to Rory on the great win!  The course played like a major most of the event, and Rory grinded out a tough and hard-fought victory.  Yang definitely made him work for it down the stretch, but he ran out of holes.  McDowell and Luke Donald played well on the final day, and both will be a factor next weekend at Doral.

I was hoping CH3 would at least move up a little, but he still finished in a tie for 10th.  That's four top-14 finishes this season which is pretty solid, but I'd still like to see another victory or two.

I'm ready to see how things shake out in Doral next weekend.  It's going to be a hell of an event with a lot of hype surrounding it.

[TourSpoon]

YE made every knee knocker on the back nine making Rory sweat a little bit. Good to see a little drama with competing birdies on 15, 16, and 18.

[Stretch]

Good to see Yang playing well again. Erik said back in December that he'd started working with Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer -- don't know if that's still going on?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Stretch

Good to see Yang playing well again. Erik said back in December that he'd started working with Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer -- don't know if that's still going on?

I don't think so.

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by Stretch

Good to see Yang playing well again. Erik said back in December that he'd started working with Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer -- don't know if that's still going on?

Originally Posted by iacas

I don't think so.

I want to know who taught him how to putt.  He was amazing.

[alo1984]

I frigging hate Rory.  So disappointed with the results to this tournament.  And his hat looks way worse than any pants Ian Poulter ever wore.  He stole that hat from Shingo Katayama!