OFFICIAL: 2008 Northern Trust (Nissan) Open Thread

[immts007]

JD is playing on the weekend! It's been a while.

I'll be watching him and Phil.

[Shindig]

I learned important things about golf from five pros during my trip to the L.A. Open today.

Side story first: When I had barely begun to play, some of my friends told me that no one of my build - 5'8 - 5'9, not very heavy - would ever be a great golfer. I've since found this to be false, but I still prefer to watch players of my build when I see a tournament in person. My goals today were to see Ryuji Imada, Anthony Kim, and Charles Howell III. I saw Imada's second shot on the 9th until the end of the 9th, which I mistakenly assumed was his last hole. I then walked back to the 9th see and saw Anthony Kim play the hole. Then I hung out for a while and followed Howell's group for 18 holes.

From Ryuji Imada, I saw firsthand just how powerful a player of my size can be with a graceful swing. If he and I had been playing a scramble on hole 9, *I* would have had a seven-iron left to the green from his drive, unless I'm totally remembering it wrong. I remember thinking that. I'll be thinking of him on the long shots next time I play.

I watched Anthony Kim play his last hole, the 9th. Even though he hit it farther than other members of his group, he opted to lay-up instead of going for the green from a bad lie in a fairway bunker. He hit his layup shot while the group ahead was still on the green, leaving it well short of the green. Since he knew the rest of his group would be going for the green, he called out ahead and told them he's laying up before entering his pre-shot routine and hitting the shot, which didn't go quite as he intended. He didn't let it bother him, or so it seemed. When he was waiting near the ball, waiting to hit to the green, he was still smiling. This shows me the importance of a positive attitude. He seemed like someone who might have a conversation with a fan at that point. I have no idea whether I should have tried. Every time I see players talking to folks outside the ropes at events in the past, it turned out to be a family member.

From Charles Howell III, I learned the value of never giving up. There were some points today where it looked like saving par would be impossible and he managed to do it. A great case in point is 18, his 9th. His drive found the trees on the right. He had a shot for his second shot, and it clipped a tree and fell. He managed to get up and down from there. If he hasn't been hanging out with his buddy Tiger, he sure fooled us. I'll be thinking of him on the short shots the next few times I play.

With regards to Luke Donald, I learned that I need to pay close attention to who I'm watching in a tournament. The last time I saw him (TWC), I commented that he and his caddy look alike. This time, I found out halfway through the round that there was apparently an attractive woman following him for the tournament, but I didn't see her until most of the way through their second nine.

In briefly chatting with Ben, I learned that even really good golfers can enjoy watching the PGA Tour. So that's one fewer fear of lower scores on my list.

[g-funk13]

64 today for Phil. -10 for the tournament. Birdied 17 and the super difficult 18th coming in.

Holy *&%$! I STAND corrected. . . I left home for work after the bogey, and man did he turn it on!

[Eore]

I'd love to see that. But he had a couple great rounds last season, only to crater shortly afterwards.

its not looking great....but he made the cut.....so i'd love to see him FINISH a tournement

[g-funk13]

Boy did he catch fire on Friday! Philski is on the move!

[nandoal28]

Huge week for Phil! Most years when Phil plays well, he wins at least ONCE before the Florida swing. He needs to win this week.

Thanks for listening PHIL

[Wisco-Kid]

Kudos Phil, Kudos.
Nice Job.

[immts007]

Yeah, this is pretty cool.

Phil looks like he is in his best physical shape in years. Am I wrong?

[nandoal28]

Yeah, this is pretty cool.

No Phil lost alot of weight over the off season.

Just think Phil could have two tourneys under is belt If he could of made anything on the back 9 @ the FBR, and Holmes does make that 10 footer back up the hill to forces a Playoff.

[ezmoney5150]

Did anybody notice the course condition at Riviera? It kind of looked a little burned out. Especially around the greens. Maybe I just never paid that much attenion to it.

[hawkeye]

Did anybody notice the course condition at Riviera? It kind of looked a little burned out. Especially around the greens. Maybe I just never paid that much attenion to it.

i certainly noticed. had a nice raw feel to it. Looked a lot different - colourwise - than the many times i've knocked it round Riv....on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007!