2012 McGladrey Classic Discussion Thread

[mvmac]

The tour moves to Sea Island, home of numerous tour players, most notably Ryder Cup captain Davis Love.  How's Davis copping with the Ryder Cup collapse?  Check out this article by Rex Hoggard

Quote:

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – In the 17 days since the U.S. Ryder Cup team blew the largest lead on home soil, Davis Love III has tried to fill every waking moment with distractions.

Some would call this busy work, but on Wednesday at Sea Island Resort Captain America seemed to be coming to the realization that he was just postponing the inevitable. Bidding time until the quiet moments caught up with him and the doubts began dropping like so many European putts on that September Sunday in Chicago.

“Still not sleeping well,” he admitted when asked if the second-guessing had subsided or just started.

From his captain’s picks to his Sunday pairings Love has heard all the Monday morning quarterbacking, all the doubts, all the instant analysis that can make one of the most enjoyable jobs in golf seem ruthlessly thankless.

So in retrospect where, in Love’s opinion, would he have taken a Medinah mulligan?

“You sit there and go if I'd have just put the pin left on 17 on Sunday rather than right, would that have made a difference?” Love allowed.

That’s right, pin positions, of all things. Macro meet micro.

“If I could do something over again, it would be more getting guys thinking about Sunday’s singles and maybe the pins needed to be easier or harder,” Love said.

As for his pairings or captain’s picks Love leaves that to the pundits and revisionist.

For those who suggest that Love should have pressed harder for Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson , who were undefeated in team play, to play Saturday’s afternoon fourball session he points out that those were the same people who questioned sending the American duo out early on Sunday.

For Love the second-guessing is more esoteric and personal. For a captain that didn’t leave a single detail overlooked it is now the details that haunt him when the distractions subside.

“Maybe I should have had (sports psychologist) Bob Rotella there . . . had him sitting there,” Love said. “Maybe I needed him in the locker room, OK; we're four (points) ahead. What do I do now?”

In Love’s defense he was playing without a script at Medinah. An American team hadn’t headed into Sunday’s singles with such a commanding lead (four points) since 1981(10 ½-5 ½) and there is no “prevent defense” in the captain’s playbook.

Midway through Ryder Cup week Love realized he needed to play the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open , and last week’s Frys.com Open and any other event that would allow him to hide in the moment and avoid micro-analysis.

But it was only a momentary reprieve. For those who know him the type “A” personality that made him such a good fit as captain now precludes him from moving on, at least entirely.

As for the critical analysis from the media masses and beyond Love knew coming in it was part of the gig, like custom golf carts and walkie-talkies.

“I signed up for that,” Love said. “We thought (1997 captain Tom) Kite was one of the best captains we'd ever played for and he just got hammered for the way he did everything. Tiger and Justin (Leonard) and I played bad, didn't get any points. So it was all Tom's fault. So I understand that.”

But then dealing with external doubt was never going to be a problem for Love, he’s been to enough Atlantic Coast Conference football games to know it is the nature of leadership. Dealing with the internal demons, well that’s something else. If the devil is in the details it is more than a little ironic that Love always comes back to the big picture.

“I wouldn’t change anything about the week except a point (the European margin of victory),” he said.

Even more telling, however, was Love’s reaction when asked if he would take the job again.

“I don’t know,” he sighed. “I don't think we could put any more into it than we did, other than a couple putts lipping out for them and a couple putts lipping in for us and we'd have won.”

With that he was off to play Wednesday’s pro-am at Sea Island. For five hours he could concentrate on his own putting, and that’s a start.

[David in FL]

Jonathan Vegas follows up a birdie on 5 with a cold shank off the 6th tee. I'm sorry, but how I love to see a tour pro do something like that every now and then! :-D

[mvmac]

The Sea Island boys are playing good.  Looks like perfect scoring conditions, not a lot of wind, soft greens.

[walk18]

So I looked up what it would cost to play there, because I'd sure as hell love to and that whole coastal area is beautiful. You have to stay to play at sea island, the cheapest room is 400+ per night, then the golf is $250-300, not including caddie. So you're looking at $700 plus to play there. That just kind of pisses me off. Then you see the commercials for real estate there where you have to have many millions to even think about living there. Damn right I'm jealous.

[MEfree]

What a round by Tommy Gainey today...-10 thru 16 with 2 finishing pars for a bogey free 60.  With only 1 top 10 all year, he is in good position to pick up his first win ever after starting the day 29th.  Furyk, Love or Toms will need to finish with some birdies to steal it away.

[Jmdmbike]

Yeah, it'd be great to see Tommy Gainey win this tournament. He's cashing a big check whatever happens. Great to see!

[David in FL]

VERY cool!

[mvmac]

Here's what Gainey had in the bag this week

Callaway RAZR Fit Driver, 10.5*

Callaway FT-I Tour FW, 15*

Callaway RAZR X Forged Irons, 4-PW

Callaway Forged Wedges, 50, 54 + 60

Callaway Odyssey Backstryke Blade Putter

Callaway HEX Black Tour golf ball

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by mvmac

Here's what Gainey had in the bag this week

Callaway RAZR Fit Driver, 10.5*

Callaway FT-I Tour FW, 15*

Callaway RAZR X Forged Irons, 4-PW

Callaway Forged Wedges, 50, 54 + 60

Callaway Odyssey Backstryke Blade Putter

Callaway HEX Black Tour golf ball

any idea what his 14th club was?

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by MEfree

any idea what his 14th club was?

It's an Adams hybrid, not sure what model, will post when I find out

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by mvmac

It's an Adams hybrid, not sure what model, will post when I find out

Thanks...different manufacturer, but his set is similar to mine with 4 wedges, 10.5 driver, 3w...I`m currently carrying a 5w (18.5) but have thought about going to a hybrid (which I had with my old set)