When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
We can enjoy this one because (A) for once the phrase "hit a birdie" is actually accurate, and (B) the goose is fine, with maybe just a brief ego bruise (but he or she doesn't know that she made all of the national highlight reels), (C) Tiger made birdie.
A Tiger Woods drive at the 2018 Honda Classic striking an Egyptian goose.
WATCH a Tiger Woods tee shot at Honda interfere with a goose: https://t.co/4ZAwwOTRh8 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/l12zoo4UiP
— Golfweek (@golfweek) February 25, 2018
The embarrassingly slow Kevin Na, who should be put on the clock daily, given penalty shots regularly and run off of the PGA Tour until he makes an effort to speed up, scored a few points in countering cricketer Kevin Pietersen's heckling. Yes, the "tap-in" was three feet on a Sunday where big money was at stake.
But in this Instagram post, screen captured just in case he decides to edit out the hilarious lie, suggests that Na's group was "on pace all day" and "waited, if anything," and therefore his antics were unfairly criticized.
Naturally, as someone who was at the Genesis Open, I and approximately 30,000 witnesses can attest to the Na group falling a hole behind by the 7th tee only to briefly catch up thanks to a 10th tee back up. They again fell behind by the time I saw them again at the 14th tee, if not earlier.
You have to love the honesty and respect Patton Kizzire (74-78) has for his elders and in particular, Tiger Woods.
From Bob Harig's ESPN.com account at the Honda where Woods fired a second round 71.
Kizzire, 31, is the only player who has won twice this season, but of course nothing could quite prepare him for what he faced the past two days at PGA National.
For the first time in his career, he was grouped with Tiger Woods.
"Extremely nervous," Kizzire said of his opening tee shot Thursday morning at the Honda Classic. "I didn't feel like I was actually holding the club. It was a rough start. Any time I'm uncomfortable, I'm learning something. It was a great experience for me."
Two fun moments from the opening 36, where Woods demonstrated improvement, writes Dan Kilbridge for Golfweek: a fun PGA Tour Instagram caption for the geese watching Tiger and that beautiful iron shot on the brutal par-3 17th:
The 17th is the most difficult hole of the day. Don't tell Tiger.
A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour) on
In his return to PGA National, Tiger Woods opened with an even par 70 in breezy conditions with greens under criticism from players for a lack of grass (Randall Mell reports).
Bob Harig's story for ESPN.com covers what was again, mostly positive, with one rough hole mixed in along with a less-than-pretty day statistically.
In Tiger's previous two starts, he noted and observers like myself confirmed that his iron play was needing work. While the sample size is small, GolfChannel.com's Ryan Lavner noted this from the round one ShotLink data:
The more telling stat was this: His proximity to the hole (28 feet) was more than an 11-foot improvement over his first two starts this year. And also this: He was 11th among the early starters in strokes gained-tee to green, which measures a player’s all-around ball-striking. Last week, at Riviera, he ranked 121st
While a mysterious sport like golf can't always be summed up in stats, this kind of nugget is not only practical to Tiger, but to media and fans wanting to quantify progress. It's all a reminder that the PGA Tour's investment in ShotLink has often been underestimated in its magnitude, as is the tireless effort of the ShotLink crew and their volunteers each week.
Tiger's wheeling himself right back into the PGA National fray and as Dan Kilbridge reports for Golfweek, there wasn't much to this new normal to say in advance of a 7:45 am tee time with Patton Kizzire and Brandt Snedeker.
There was, however, what sounded to me like an admission that his fused back, while making him pain free, may be complicating his feel for certain shots.
“I can’t create the same angles I used to be able to create naturally,” Woods said. “Obviously I’m fused, so it’s a little bit different and I’m starting to learn what it feels like under the gun. Some of the shots I like to play, they’re not the same as they used to be and that part I’m going to have to learn. It’s not something that I’m used to because I’ve never felt like this, but this is the new norm.”
Tiger Tracker had some interesting observations on Tiger's Pro-Am round, which sounded similar to low-key approaches he took at Torrey Pines and Riviera, but with some stingers thrown in this time.
Kara Duffy of the local CBS affiliate detailed Tiger's impromptu meeting with Stoneman Douglas high student Kevin Shanahan, who is again volunteering at the tournament and who was introduced to Tiger by caddie Joe LaCava.
On Wednesday, the caddie for Tiger Woods got wind that Shanahan is a student there. Moments later, the golf great called him over during warm ups at the driving range, and what may have been a minor exchange in his mind, meant the world to Kevin.
“It was really a majority of me thanking him because I thought, ‘oh my God I’m getting this signed by Tiger Woods,’ but it really felt like he talked from the heart,” Shanahan said. “It didn’t feel scripted, it felt like it really came from him being sincere and saying, ‘I’m really sorry that you’re going through this,’ and it made me feel awesome!”
Last year’s Honda Classic winner Rickie Fowler also stopped for a photo with the teen.
H/T to Alex Myers for spotting the latest gem for the slow play files: a cricketer mocking last weekend's Genesis Open slow play and in particular, prime culprit Kevin Na. As we know, the PGA Tour embraces slow play and seems to think that as every other sport on the planet tries to speed up, apparently this kind of nonsense will fly.
Retired English cricketeer Kevin Pietersen is my kind of guy, he’s trying to save the rhinos and he’s openly mocking Kevin Na taking over a minute to hit a tap in putt last week at Riviera. Do I need to point out that it’s not a good look for golf when athletes in other sports are openly mocking golfers for taking too long? Or, in the case of the former cricketeer with 3.6 million followers, filming a follow up how-to video?
SERIOUSLY, Kevin Na?!?!
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) February 18, 2018
That Is A Tap In, MATE! pic.twitter.com/YMmNT6m5H7
And his follow-up how-to for Na:
Hey, Kevin Na - THIS IS HOW LONG A TAP IN SHOULD TAKE! 😂😂
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) February 21, 2018
Helluva setting here at @TrumpGolfDubai! pic.twitter.com/YvL2yqmxrp
Love him or wonder about him, Bubba Watson is now a three-time winner at Riviera, joining elite company and solidifying his place as a genuine LA golf legend. He's now the PGA Tour's second-winningest lefty, still 32 wins behind Phil Mickelson. He also reached the win that would set retirement in motion, but quickly shot that down following play. Doug Ferguson's AP game story with all of the details.
A few of the fun wrap-up stories capture what turned out to be a more bunched Riviera leaderboard than normal and a very typical ending where the leader emerges convincingly. Eamon Lynch for Golfweek on that topic and Adam Schupak at Golf.com on Bubba's wacky week.
Other than a few hiccups at the third, sixth and ninth holes, Watson plotted his way around Riviera in the appropriately caution fashion. The hole-out at the 14th all but sealed the tournament just moments after the leaderboard suggested a four man playoff was looming.
And because it's Bubba, there is a story behind the madness. G.C. Digital with the story.
PGATour.com's Mike McAllister with a roundup of the week and some nice notes and stats from Bubba’s win.
Slow play and players not finishing the round at Riviera may finally get a hard look via a reduced field size, reports The Forecaddie.
Tiger turns up at the Honda this week and I assess his Riviera and upcoming prospects for Golfweek's Monday weekly edition.
Rory McIlroy says his T-20 did not reflect how he played, reports Will Gray.
Jordan Spieth leaves Riviera bullish about his game after a backdoor top 10. Gray reports for GolfChannel.com.
Martin Kaufmann takes issue with some of Ian Baker-Finch's Sunday commentary related to Patrick Cantlay and celebrates the latest technology tool rolled out by CBS.
The full final round highlights:
An even numbered year aligns nicely for 2014 and 2016 Genesis Open winner Bubba Watson, who, as I note in my five dream scenarios for Sunday's final round, is chasing elite company as a three-time winner of this event. Only Macdonald Smith and Lloyd Mangrum have won four Los Angeles Glen Campbell Nissan Presented by Countrywide Northern Trust Genesis Opens.
Watson, who played Friday's celebrity game, will never live down Tracy McGrady's blocked shot but he did put a great spin on it.
Doug Ferguson's round three game story.
Today’s @genesisopen final round grouping featuring @bubbawatson & Patrick Cantlay is the first ever reunion since this epic moment in handshake history. pic.twitter.com/4ANx2S1ze9
— Geoff Shackelford (@GeoffShac) February 18, 2018
Multiple sources are confirming on deep background that the Genesis Open will carry on with the likes of Spieth, McIlroy, Johnson and Thomas making the weekend and still very much able to make a run at leaders Cantlay, McDowell and Saunders.
With a stellar weather forecast, firm, fast greens and some clever architectural problems to solve, organizers decided to forge ahead even after Tiger Woods posted a second round 76. My Golfweek report on a bad day for Woods on the greens, with his irons and the driver, where the misses weren't as bad but brought in the left side of the course.
For all the cute kids and their parents who came out to see a legend, there were more yahoos than normal on Friday and it gave Rory McIlroy a headache, notes The Forecaddie.
While some major star power is lurking dangerously, co-leader Graeme McDowell is one of the more exciting stories of the weekend. Eamon Lynch's Golfweek game story sets up what should be a fun weekend.
The confluence of mega-stars and the strongest field of 2018 brought out the people, but if you watched any of round one you know Tiger-Justin-Rory got most of the eyeballs.
The three certainly didn't disappoint from the perspective of providing memorable shots--Tiger with two all-time recovery shots on the 5th and 9th holes--but each had their issues too.
As I noted for Golfweek, Tiger's driving gets all the attention but it was the iron play that let him down, while on the greens the contrast between Thomas and McIlroy is telling.
Others had similar takes, including James Corrigan at the Telegraph who labeled McIlroy's putting lousy. At GolfChannel.com, Will Gray has all of the details on the day, including Tiger's bizarre early morning lost ball at the 11th.
Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay lead with afternoon 66's reports Eamon Lynch at Golfweek. That's a particularly strong showing for Cantlay given that his two previous professional appearances here were missed cuts.
Cantlay told a really swell Masters-related story during a long and insightful press session. The Forecaddie shared it at Golfweek.com.
As for the crowds, attendance figures are no longer attempted by touranment director Mike Antolini shared this when queried:
We've nearly doubled ticket sales from last year and demand continues to build in large part due to our terrific field, including Tiger. Today's crowds were strong and we expect them to grow even larger as we enter the weekend. It's great to see the fans come out to Riviera to experience the Genesis Open.
Tiger's first round highlights followed by the overall first round best of, courtesy of PGA Tour Entertainment.
All systems are a go as Tiger Woods returns for the first time since 2006 to play a PGA Tour event at Riviera.
His memories are mostly good here, as are his Riviera stats. But there was that unfortunate last appearance in 2006 (WD, illness) and other issues that kept him away from what is now the Genesis Open run by his foundation.
I write for Golfweek about the unusual relationship Woods has had with the course and everything that has changed since his last appearance.
Given where he was a year ago--not able to attend even basic tournament functions--that we're at this place a year later is a credit to his doctor and Tiger's renewed focus. Couple that with a stellar field and it should be a fun week.
In other Woods news, Golf Channel's Tim Rosaforte says Woods has not decided on his next start, with a looming Friday the deadline for next week's Honda Classic.
It's way too early for this to be a thing, but Jordan Spieth's early season struggle on the greens in Scottsdale and now at Spyglass is worth watching.
Of note, Spieth's struggling on short putts, which, if nothing else should reassure you that even the best putter on the planet can struggle with the flatstick.
From Brentley Romine's Golfweek report on AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am play:
Then there was Jordan Spieth, a week removed from missing the cut at the Phoenix Open, who opened in even-par 72 on Spyglass as his putting struggles continued.
Spieth, who said Wednesday that he was in a “minor slump” on the greens, needed 32 putts to get through his first round. He did miss just three fairways and four greens while only carding one bogey, but he also holed just one birdie putt. He is tied for 98th going into Friday’s second round at Monterey Peninsula.
It's always fun when Phil Mickelson talks these days--an increasingly rare opportunity for the press--so enjoy Dave Shedloski's GolfDigest.com item on Lefty's improved distance but less-than-appealing driving accuracy numbers (213th). Because you know there's a theory behind it all!
But it’s a change you can’t see. No, he is still swashbuckling Phil. But perhaps the new iteration won’t have to be so gosh-darn entertaining. Which would make him eminently more competitive.
An offseason leg-strengthening program might soon pay dividends. Always enamored with the long ball, Mickelson is averaging 305 yards off the tee, 13 yards longer than his driving average in 2017. He ranks 39th on tour in that category. His clubhead speed, he said, has increased four miles per hour, and his ball speed is up significantly, too.
“My legs were always very passive in my swing, and now I’m able to get more of a whip effect and push off the ground,” he explained. “It’s increased the speed right away. From a biomechanical standpoint, I’ve always had plenty of upper body speed, including the hands, but I was weak using my legs for power.”
And why is this cause for encouragement?
“The two areas that I’ve been weak in over the last five years and have held me back are driving and short putts, and I believe they are both becoming strengths,” he said. “If that’s the case, then I’m going to have a good year. I believe what I’m doing is going to make a huge difference.”
Mickelson opened with a 69 at Spyglass Hill.
As the world's best superintendents and their teams converge on San Antonio for this week's Golf Industry Show, one product many are told they need: bunker lining.
These expensive products, which follow the unsuccessful effort of previous products to prevent sand contamination, are sadly expected now for courses that absolutely should be spending on other products or personnel. A hazard is a hazard!
In 2017, two high profile incidents involving Branden Grace and Charley Hoffman involved the players struggling to take a stance, they claimed because of the liners. Both, coincidentally, faced "fried egg" lies. Both were granted relief to the consternation of millions.
The Forecaddie obtained the PGA Tour's "hard card" for local rules and other rules-related information available to players each week and reports on the new language preventing relief from the liners.
Purported to be in the Monterey Peninsula for the AT&T Leadership Conference coinciding with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, former president Barack Obama brought the sticks along. Just in case the Cypress Point invite comes. Or? Could he be a last minute pro-am fill-in?
Stephen Ellison reports for the Bay Area's NBC affiliate.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
