2014 Frys.com Open Discussion Thread

[mvmac]

2014-2015 PGA Tour season opener, the Frys.com Open at the Silverado Resort and Spa (North) in Napa, Calif.
The course will play as a par-72 measuring 7,203 yards for the event.

Jimmy Walker will be in the field to defend his 2013 Frys.com Open victory, where he won by two strokes over Brooks Koepka at CordeValle Golf Club for his first PGA Tour win. He’ll be joined this week by 2014 Ryder-cuppers Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan and Lee Westwood.

Arnold Palmer's grandson Sam Saunders, now a full-fledged PGA Tour member, will be in the field.

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/jason-sobel/saunders-makes-pga-tour-own-accord/

Quote:

When the subject arises, Saunders doesn't become defensive or feign guilt for his serendipitous fortune. He instead turns to some good-natured sarcasm.

“Well, I’ve played in 22 PGA Tour events,” he says. “Qualified for one U.S. Open. So let me check the math: 22 minus 1 – yeah, that’s 21 sponsor’s exemptions.”

The unsubtle intimation is that he’s received 21 tournament starts, the critical reason for which was his status as the son of the daughter of a legend.

But that narrative ends this week. A graduate of the Web.com Tour, the 27-year-old Saunders will compete in the season-opening Frys.com Open as a full-fledged PGA Tour member, finally emerging from that long-standing stigma.

No luck was involved. Nothing was handed to him. Being related to the man affectionately known worldwide just as Arnie didn’t get him to this point.

“I love him, I still talk to him, but I did it my way,” Saunders beams. “Nobody can take that from me. I earned it. This wasn’t a free chance.”

Quote:

There are times, though, when the grandfather will dish out some golf-related advice for the grandson – with varying degrees of reaction.

“I listen to all of it,” Saunders says. “Some of it doesn’t make sense to me at the beginning, but in time I understand what he means. Sometimes it isn’t what I want to hear; sometimes it doesn’t apply to me. He doesn’t want me to be exactly like him. He wants me to develop my own style and a system for myself that works. I know what I need to do on and off the golf course to be successful for myself.”

As he embarks on his initial foray as a PGA Tour member, Saunders will still be mostly known for that family lineage. But he will also carry with him the knowledge and pride that unlike other exemptions throughout his career, this one wasn’t handed to him. He earned it.

[David in FL]

Thank goodness. I didn't think I could go another week without real golf on tv!

[mchepp]

@mvmac have you played it since they redid the course?

[flopster]

Anyone going? I think I may go sunday.

[sgt1372]

Anyone going? I think I may go sunday.

Was thinking about it but I decided against it because: 1) it costs $35-45 just to get in, which doesn't include the cost of food, drink and souvenirs, 2) you have to park about 6 miles away at Napa Valley College and then wait to take the shuttle to get to Silverado, which means will take at least 1/2 hour and maybe longer just to get there from the parking area, 3 ) apart from a few familiar faces, most of the top ranked pros won't be there and 4) I know it's not the same thing BUT it's being shown on TV.

[mchepp]

Anyone going? I think I may go sunday.

I used to go when it was at CordeValle but Napa is too far for me.

[sgt1372]

As I already mentioned, I'm not planning on going to the Frys BUT I would like to go the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Tournament at Harding Park in SF on April 27-May 3rd.  Should be a lot of big name players there.

They're currently offering a 2 for 1 discount for weekly grounds passes for just $99 - Offer expires 10/31.  Pretty good deal since they are charging $20-40 online and $30-50 at the gate for just one day's pass.  See: http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/cadillac-match-play/tickets.html

I don't have anyone else to go with and would like to split the 2 for 1 weekly pass offer with someone else.  If anyone is interested in doing that, please PM me no later than 10/31.  Thanks!

[joekelly]

Sang Moon Bae tearing it up wtih. Kuchar and Matsuyama nearby. Saturday

is nearly over.

[Mr. Desmond]

And for golf  fashionistas, Jimmy Walker will not wear Iliac Golf Apparel this year ... received that in an email ... Walker will wear Footjoy garb...

[fortunato51]

Wraparound season is over saturation...what a yawner this tourney is

[iacas]

Bae is doing his best to give this away.

[joekelly]

Update.  Bae did not give it away. Bae wins Frys at -15.

[Crim]

Wraparound season is over saturation...what a yawner this tourney is

I still like having the opportunity to watch PGA golf if I'm so inclined. However, I was not so inclined this weekend and it doesn't sound like I missed much.

[vancouvergolfer]

Was thinking about it but I decided against it because: 1) it costs $35-45 just to get in, which doesn't include the cost of food, drink and souvenirs, 2) you have to park about 6 miles away at Napa Valley College and then wait to take the shuttle to get to Silverado, which means will take at least 1/2 hour and maybe longer just to get there from the parking area, 3 ) apart from a few familiar faces, most of the top ranked pros won't be there and 4) I know it's not the same thing BUT it's being shown on TV.

35-45$ to watch professional golf is a steal for us Canadians. I would be jumping all over that deal. i think its one of those things you take for granted being able to see these events all the time. I would have loved to have gone out and watched this event.

basically what i'm saying is I am very jealous of you guy's who get the option of watching these guy's tee it up live.

[billchao]

Here are some of Sang-Moon Bae's stats from the win, from pgatour.com:

Here's a breakdown of Sang-Moon Bae's putting statistics at the 2014-15 Frys.com Open:

Stat

Rank

Value

Field average

Strokes gained: putting

44th

.231

---

Putting inside of 10 feet

T45

86.30 percent

85.71 percent

Putting outside of 10 feet

T45

.00 percent

---

Longest putt

334th

14 feet, 6 inches

---

Average distance of putts made

50th

69 feet, 9 inches

72 feet, 3 inches

Bae ranked inside the top 10 in several key approach statistics including first in strokes gained: tee-to-green and third in scrambling.

Here's a breakdown of Sang-Moon Bae's strokes gained: tee-to-green statistics at the 2014-15 Frys.com Open:

Stat

Rank

Value

Field average

Strokes gained: tee-to-green

1st

+3.160

---

Greens in regulation

T6

75 percent

66.12 percent

Proximity to hole

4th

28 feet, 5 inches

34 feet, 4 inches

Fairway proximity

T10

25 feet, 10 inches

29 feet, 9 inches

Scrambling

3rd

77.78 percent

58.67 percent

Putt for dough? I don't think so.

http://www.pgatour.com/statsreport/2014/10/13/bae-wins-despite-not-making-a-putt-outside-15-feet.html