2012 Northern Trust Open Discussion Thread

[mvmac]

Are we going to have ANOTHER player lose a multiple shot lead this Sunday?  The Tour moves on to LA where Freddy is making his 2012 PGA debut.  Here are some Notables in the field this week

• World No. 1 Luke Donald makes his 2012 PGA Tour debut this week at Riviera. This event has been feast or famine for him in recent memory; in 10 starts here since 2002, Donald has recorded five top-15 finishes along with four missed cuts.

• Jason Kokrak will look to build upon a strong performance at Pebble Beach last week. Rebounding well after three consecutive missed cuts, Kokrak led the AT&T; field in greens in regulation, finished T-2 in birdies and sixth in driving distance en route to a T-9 finish - best among Tour rookies.

• Fred Couples will be making his 30th career start in this event. When Couples first teed it up at Riviera CC in the 1982 Los Angeles Open, Tom Watson came from behind to defeat Johnny Miller in a playoff for the title.

• Group 2 golfer Greg Chalmers will hope that recent form trumps past experience this week. In four NTO starts since 2002, Chalmers' best finish has been T-55. He is off to a solid start in 2012 though, particularly around the greens, ranking fifth on Tour in sand save percentage, seventh in total putting and ninth in strokes gained putting.

• Those looking for a "safe" option for their Group 1 selection this week should consider K.J. Choi . The 2011 Players champion has never missed a cut at Riviera, including three top-10s in the last four years. Choi has a 69.93 career stroke average in this event; only Fred Couples and 2001 champion Robert Allenby have a lower stroke average across more rounds at Riviera CC.

• In recent years, creating birdie opportunities has been a key metric for overall tournament success here, as each of the past six NTO champions finished the week in the top 10 in greens in regulation. This bodes well for Bubba Watson , currently second on Tour in GIR and coming off a strong T-5 showing in Phoenix two weeks ago.

• FedEx Cup points leader Kyle Stanley will look to continue a strong sophomore campaign in his first start since winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Stanley's well-rounded game is evident, as he ranks in the top 10 on Tour in driving distance, greens in regulation percentage and birdie average while carding 10/15 rounds this year in the 60s.

• South African Tim Clark will be making his first start in nine months after an elbow injury sidelined him for most of the 2011 season. Clark, who had surgery on the elbow in August, has had prior success in this event, posting three top-15 finishes in seven career starts.

• Jeff Overton will also be returning from injury, albeit a more minor one, as a bad wrist forced him to withdraw in Phoenix two weeks ago. He will look to a hot putter to help tame the poa annua greens of Riviera; Overton currently ranks fourth on Tour in total putting and has made 76 percent of his putts this year from 5-10 feet, currently the best on Tour from that distance.

• Bryce Molder has leaned on a strong short game in posting three top-15 finishes in five starts this year, and will need it again this week as he battles the kikuyu rough around the greens at Riviera. Molder has gotten up and down when it counts, though, ranking second on Tour in scrambling and compiling a 68.67 final round stroke average.

Some comments from Luke Donald on how he plans to stay #1 in the world

Quote:

“That might have changed some people’s perception, the fact that with my game I was able to get to No. 1, not being a modern-day power player,” Donald said on the eve of his 2012 PGA Tour debut at the Northern Trust Open.

Donald believes the fact that he got so much mileage out of his short game changed Tour dynamics.

“I think, perhaps, that might have changed people’s perspective on how they practice and what they need to work on,” Donald said.

Since the PGA Tour Player of the Year award was established in 1990, Donald is the second shortest hitter to win the honor (based on driving distance ranking). Jim Furyk was the shortest, winning it two years ago.

Donald ranked just 147 ^th in driving distance last year, and he wasn’t all that straight, ranking 57 ^th in driving accuracy, but he was first in putting (strokes gained), eighth in scrambling and may have been the best player in the world with a wedge in his hand, ranking first in approach shots from 100-125 yards.

“I certainly am not the best ball striker,” Donald said. “I’m not best off the tee, but with a good short game, I was able to get to the top of the world rankings.”

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by mvmac

Are we going to have ANOTHER player lose a multiple shot lead this Sunday?

Or with a positive spin, "From how many strokes back will the winner come on Sunday?"

[Beachcomber]

I'd like to see Patrick Cantlay do well.  He is the top-ranked amateur in the world right now and only in his Sophomore year at UCLA.  He is playing on a sponsors exemption... The kid can play and he grew up in Orange County and knows the course well.  So I like his chances to place in the top 25.  Would be great to see him have a breakout weekend and finish higher...

[Shindig]

I'd like to see Patrick Cantlay do well.  He is the top-ranked amateur in the world right now and only in his Sophomore year at UCLA.

Cantlay's playing with Jamie Lovemark in the first two rounds. I'm sure that will make for some interesting conversations.

[Titleist695mb]

personally i think the come from behind wins are going to come to an end this week. but probably return very soon to the tour. call me crazy but i have Bubba winning this week! haha like you said first he finds ways to make birdies. if he can do that i feel he will win. but if he gets too aggressive then look out... lots of bogeys out there to be made at Riviera

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by Shindig

Cantlay's playing with Jamie Lovemark in the first two rounds. I'm sure that will make for some interesting conversations.

Ha, I didn't see that they were paired.  That would be a pairing to watch.

[Shindig]

Ha, I didn't see that they were paired.  That would be a pairing to watch.

For the first two rounds, they're one group away (once before, once after) from Danny Lee, who is serving as the eldest of his group (Ryo Ishikawa, Jordan Spieth).

[Ben]

Got my ticket for tomorrow. So excited! Following Day/Garcia/Couples' back nine in the morning. Then Donald/Scott/? for their entire afternoon round!

[Titleist695mb]

Originally Posted by Ben

Got my ticket for tomorrow. So excited! Following Day/Garcia/Couples' back nine in the morning. Then Donald/Scott/? for their entire afternoon round!

DAMN!? your a lucky man... have fun at the tourney sounds like you are following some good groups. so nice to see Freddy back on the PGA tour

[Ben]

Yeah, I really wanted to watch Day and Luke and since they are on different time draws, it worked perfect. Then I get to see Sergio rip through the ball and my childhood idol Freddy in the same group. Wow! Even more good fortune as I was stuck between choosing Luke or Scott and they're in the same group. I really lucked up with the pairings! I couldn't ask for better guys to follow. Plus, Phil is in the group right behind Luke...

The only thing that would have made this better, I were out there playing as well! Oh well, I'll have to wait to try again next year...

[Old1964]

Happy for Phil Mickelson. He has been through a lot in the last couple of years. Glad to see him hitting the ball better.

He got the advice to keep more flex in his back leg. Does anyone know what that does to the golf swing?

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Old1964

Happy for Phil Mickelson. He has been through a lot in the last couple of years. Glad to see him hitting the ball better.

He got the advice to keep more flex in his back leg. Does anyone know what that does to the golf swing?

Probably depends on your body type. A lot of top female players (no slight against Phil - maybe he's really flexible) on the LPGA Tour have little to know change in their back leg and they do okay. Tseng sure does okay. This is based on photos and videos on the internet.

[Titleist695mb]

Originally Posted by Ben

Yeah, I really wanted to watch Day and Luke and since they are on different time draws, it worked perfect. Then I get to see Sergio rip through the ball and my childhood idol Freddy in the same group. Wow! Even more good fortune as I was stuck between choosing Luke or Scott and they're in the same group. I really lucked up with the pairings! I couldn't ask for better guys to follow. Plus, Phil is in the group right behind Luke...

The only thing that would have made this better, I were out there playing as well! Oh well, I'll have to wait to try again next year...

well hey enjoy the tournament man, when you get back let us know what the best shot is that you saw? one that maybe we couldnt see on tv or something?

[k-troop]

Interesting comments by Luke.  I was shocked to find out last year that he was #1 on tour in par-5 scoring average (through maybe September--don't know if he finished in that spot), even though he rarely strokes an eagle putt.

[Titleist695mb]

Originally Posted by k-troop

Interesting comments by Luke.  I was shocked to find out last year that he was #1 on tour in par-5 scoring average (through maybe September--don't know if he finished in that spot), even though he rarely strokes an eagle putt.

yea not a long hitter but guess thats what you get for being a great wedge player and not really ever getting in trouble huh... think we would all love to hit the ball like that!?

[darkhunter139]

Glad Phil is doing well! Looks like he might be in store for a pretty good season.

[Zeph]

It's difficult to get too excited about Phil, knowing he will play well for a week or two then fade away and miss the next cut. When he's playing well, it looks like the easiest thing in the world. I really like his swing tempo, especially the transition from backswing to downswing.

[darkhunter139]

Phil just holed out on the 17th for an Eagle.