2012 Humana Challenge (Bob Hope) Discussion Thread

[mvmac]

The tour's back on the mainland and Philly Mick is making his first start of '12.  I'm looking forward to more good play from Charles Howell.  And it seems like a new name to the tournament isn't the only change, Humana Challenge will be 4 rounds instead of the usual 5.

Check out these Power Rankings for this week's tourny

Quote:

After a 47-year run with Bob Hope's name attached to this week's PGA TOUR stop, the organizers of the annual shootout in the California desert inked an eight-year agreement with Humana and the William J. Clinton Foundation to emphasize wellness. While Hope's legendary contributions to the game and Coachella Valley will be honored all week, the event is now known as the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation.

Two months after the deal was finalized last April, it was announced that what was a 90-hole tournament since its inception in 1960 will be reduced to a traditional 72-hole competition beginning on Thursday. The pro-am element was retained and retooled. The pros will be paired with just one amateur for each of the first three rounds and will not partner with the same amateur more than once. The final round will be limited to professionals only.

The set of courses employed for the tournament has also been reduced to three for the first time in tournament history. Palmer Private at PGA West will continue as host and is joined again by PGA West's Nicklaus Private and La Quinta Country Club. (SilverRock's Resort Course was included from 2008-2011 but has been removed from the rota.) All are par 72s and have ranked among the easiest tracks perennially on the PGA TOUR.

It's been 13 years since Palmer Private served up the third 59 in TOUR history courtesy of David Duval , and scoring has never ballooned. In the last four years alone, there have been four 61s (all in 2009) and 14 62s at this event. Therefore, while it's expected to be dry all week, it's going to rain eagles and birdies. A combination of guys that hit a high number of greens in regulation will share the final leaderboard with fearless putters.

Power Rankings: Humana Challenge

Rank Player Comment Bill HAAS Clearly comfortable in La Quinta. He's made the cut in all seven appearances, five of which have resulted in top 25s. He won here in 2010 and lost in a playoff last year. Has an active streak of 20 consecutive rounds in the 60s with an average of 67.15. Martin LAIRD Took a week off following his solo second at Kapalua where he led the field in putting and birdies. Started the final round here last year two strokes off the lead but faded to finish T22 with a closing 74. Ranked 19th on TOUR in birdie average in 2011. Bo VAN PELT Making his 2012 debut. Ended last year with five top-11 finishes in seven starts, including a win in Malaysia where he led the field in birdies. Has ranked inside the top 10 on TOUR in total birdies in six of the last eight years. Placed T5 here in 2009. Charles HOWELL III T2 at the Sony Open, his sixth top-5 at Waialae. Wielded a new putter albeit the same model (due to his gamer getting bent during travel) and still ranked eighth in Strokes Gained-Putting. Inside the top seven on TOUR in scrambling the last two years. Kyle STANLEY En route to a T23 at Waialae, he feasted tee-to-green, leading the field in driving distance and finishing T10 in greens hit. That skill set will match up better in the desert this week. In 2011, he ranked 30th on TOUR in greens hit and sixth in total birdies. Matt KUCHAR One of three runners-up here in 2010; also finished T7 last year. Arguably best known for his overall consistency and knack for avoiding bogeys, he also ranked 26th on TOUR in Strokes Gained-Putting and 15th in birdie average in 2011. Kevin NA Struggled at Waialae where he hit 25 greens but still required 65 putts. Perhaps the mojo will return this week where he's posted top 10s the last two years and has a string of 10 consecutive rounds in the 60s. Phil MICKELSON The two-time champ (2002, 2004) and all-time money leader here is back after a four-year hiatus. He's made the cut in each of his last seven appearances, the first six of which were top 20s. First start anywhere since the Singapore Open in November. Brian GAY Carded four sub-par rounds en route to a T6 at Waialae. Ranked T10 in greens hit and had only five bogeys all week. Placed T5 here a year ago, led the field in fairways hit, ranked third in putting and T4 in birdies. Top 20s the previous two years, too. Carl PETTERSSON His best finish in six appearances is a forgettable T35 in 2006 but he arrives on the coattails of a share of second place at Waialae where he ranked T3 in greens hit and T7 in birdies.

In 2012, our expert will be publishing his list of players who didn't quite make the top 10 for that particular week. Here are Rob Bolton's six other players for the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation:

Michael Thompson One of the TOUR's most underrated putters. Finished T6 at Waialae and ranked fifth in Strokes Gained-Putting and T2 in birdies. (Also had an eagle.) Three top-six finishes worldwide dating back to a solo third at The McGladrey Classic.

Spencer Levin Tumbled outside the top 10 at Waialae with a closing 72 after just two bogeys in his first 59 holes. Since joining the PGA TOUR in 2009, he's ranked inside the top 35 in greens hit every year. Also second and third in total birdies the last two.

Anthony Kim The La Quinta High School product returns for the first time since sharing third place here in 2008. Forever known as one of the most aggressive iron players, he's also ranked inside the top 60 in Strokes Gained-Putting in each of the last four years.

Brendon de Jonge Coming off a T10 at the Sony where he carded a field-low 62 in the second round. In four years as a PGA TOUR member, he's ranked no lower than 35th in birdie average, but continues to struggle shutting the door while in contention.

Harrison Frazar He's opened with consecutive top fives. It's the third time he's turned that trick; the last occurring in October 2005. He's not happy with his putting but he led the Sony in putts per GIR and birdies. Three top 10s in 12 starts at the Humana.

Johnson Wagner The Sony Open champ is coming off consecutive top 10s for the first time in his career. Ranked T10 at Waialae in greens hit and third in Strokes Gained-Putting. He's 2-for-4 at the Humana with a T13 in 2007.

[Beachcomber]

Here are a few other notable players that are in the tournament: Dustin Johnson Camilo Villegas Zach Johnson David Toms

[mvmac]

Greg Norman will be paired with Prez Clinton on Saturday The two are known to be buddies and since Clinton is helping run the tournatment he asked Norman to play

Quote:

President Bill Clinton will compete in the pro-am portion of the Humana Challenge on Saturday alongside good friend Greg Norman, the PGA Tour confirmed. The group will tee off at 10:20 a.m., local time on the Private Palmer course at PGA West.

This is Clinton’s second start at the former Bob Hope Classic. In 1995, he became the first sitting president to tee it up in a PGA Tour event, doing so with presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush. Clinton shot 93.

Clinton is one of four ex-presidents to compete in the event, including Dwight Eisenhower.

Scott McCarron will be the other professional in the group. He will play with Humana CEO Mike McCallister.

The two are known to be buddies and since Clinton is putting his support behind the tournament, he asked Norman to play

Quote:

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Greg Norman hadn’t played the Bob Hope Classic since 1986, and he had no plans to return to the Palm Springs desert’s venerable tournament until Bill Clinton changed his mind.

“I got a phone call I could never say no to, and there’s no question about that,” the Australian veteran said Wednesday. “We had a very frank conversation about the opportunities and the format and how the tournament can be resurrected. … The Bob Hope was such an iconic event. We hate to see events like that disappear.”

After several slow years threatened the future of this famed pro-am, the tournament is back in full swing with a new name, a slicker format and an improved field.

The Humana Challenge might have lost Hope, but it gained Clinton - who’s at least from a town called Hope.

After gaining its first title sponsor in four years, the tournament dropped its fifth day of competition and eliminated one venue from its traditional four-course rotation. The field also features far fewer amateur playing partners to annoy the pros, and the purse grew to $5.6 million.

The changes are designed to attract bigger names to an event that’s been skipped by many players in recent years - even by Anthony Kim, who went to high school in the valley - in favor of a week off or lucrative paydays overseas.

So far, the Humana field is much healthier: Phil Mickelson will start his season here Thursday, as will world No. 8 Dustin Johnson and No. 11 Matt Kuchar.

“Pretty much everything about coming out here, I really enjoy,” said Kuchar, who usually prepares for most seasons with a few weeks in the desert before the two opening Hawaii tournaments. “This year I felt like the offseason was extra short, and I decided to start my year here instead of in Hawaii, and I’m real excited.”

The tournament also forged a new partnership with the Clinton Foundation, which returns a presidential feel to an event once played by Dwight Eisenhower and Gerald Ford, both close friends of Hope. Clinton will play with Norman on Saturday, and his foundation will spend the week promoting healthy lifestyles to the Coachella Valley fans.

The tournament’s revival is welcome news to those fans who had grown dissatisfied with the decline of an event that traditionally featured movie stars rubbing elbows and trading swing tips with the world’s best golfers.

“It’s going to bring more people out, and having President Clinton a part of this event is drawing way more attention than it’s ever had,” said Kim, who’s sleeping in his childhood bed this week because his parents still live in the area. “No disrespect to Bob Hope or anybody else, but I see this tournament getting better and better every year.”

After 52 years as a five-round event played over four courses, including the last eight years as the only remaining five-day event on the PGA Tour, the tournament dropped back to a four-round format this year. Players mostly hated the extra day of competition, citing the grind as just one reason many top stars stayed away.

[tristanhilton85]

I'll be there this weekend... it should be a lot of fun...

The last time I was there was in high school when our golf team carried the scoreboards.

[Yukari]

Show you how much the "experts" know.  Phil is doing his usual train wreck.  I am not sure he'll even make it to the weekend.

[Chilli Dipper]

Originally Posted by Yukari

Show you how much the "experts" know.  Phil is doing his usual train wreck.  I am not sure he'll even make it to the weekend.

The tournament has a 54-hole cut, so technically, everyone will be playing on the weekend.

But yeah, Phil looked rusty today; he probably hasn't spent much time playing since the Presidents Cup. La Quinta is the most difficult of the three courses, though, so we'll see if he can rebound at the PGA West courses the next two days.

[WWBDD]

The Palmer course is aesthetically beautiful and looks like it would be a blast to play.

I imagine I'd be bouncing my ball off a few of those crags.

[Beachcomber]

Looks like Dustin Johnson withdrew from the tournament.  I heard he had knee surgery this off season... Could he be out for awhile??

[quote] LA QUINTA, Calif. --  Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from the Humana Challenge midway through his second round, citing back pain.

Johnson withdrew Friday after playing the first nine holes at La Quinta Country Club.

The world's No. 8 player was the highest-ranked competitor in Palm Springs this week. He shot an even-par 72 on the Palmer Course on Thursday.

Johnson had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in November, and he hadn't walked 18 holes until Thursday. He said his lower back is extremely stiff and painful.

Johnson also skipped the PGA Tour's first two events of the season in Hawaii, but he says he'll play the Farmers Insurance Open next week at Torrey Pines. He's a two-time winner at Pebble Beach. [/quote]

[WWBDD]

Everybody else is shooting out the lights ... but TGC chooses to interview Phil at 1 under.

[TourSpoon]

The courses are spectacular, but watching Crane play is painful. Is it just me? I just want someone to put him on the clock for slow play.

[colin007]

forget the stupid clock, what does it matter unless they start docking these clowns 2 strokes for slow play???

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by colin007

forget the stupid clock, what does it matter unless they start docking these clowns 2 strokes for slow play???

You are right. They would only have to do it a couple times.

[mlf16507]

Who has won the most golf tournaments since the start of the 2011 season?  Not Tiger,Not Phil,Not Luke--The answer is Mark Wilson!!

2012-2 out of 3 for CHEESEHEADS!

[Beachcomber]

Mark Wilson with a nice win. Solid tournament. I like the changes they made and hope bigger names will participate next year.

[WWBDD]

Originally Posted by mlf16507

Who has won the most golf tournaments since the start of the 2011 season?  Not Tiger,Not Phil,Not Luke--The answer is Mark Wilson!!

2012-2 out of 3 for CHEESEHEADS!

Huh ... Steve Stricker, Johnson Wagner and Mark Wilson.

[mlf16507]

Originally Posted by WWBDD

Huh ... Steve Stricker, Johnson Wagner and Mark Wilson.

Sorry-Steve Striker also won 2 in 2011 and 1 in 2010.   Mark Wilson won 2 in 2011 and 1 in 2012 Johnson Wagner only won 1 in 2011(Mayakoba)   The Cheeseheads are better than I thought. Too bad the Packers lost.  Looks like G-I-ants did what the Packers last year-win on road all the way to Super Bowl

[WWBDD]

Sorry ... I misread that as start of 2012 season.