Players Final Round '17: A Few Sunday Reads & Preview

/

If you were to dream up a leaderboard...this isn't the one. Never helps when one of the leaders gets you so excited about how life changing a Players win could be, even though it would be a career defining win for J.B. Holmes.

Q. Could you just talk to what winning a tournament of this magnitude would mean to you?

JB HOLMES: It would be great. You know, it's a golf tournament. It's a huge event, don't get me wrong, but in the end, it's just golf, and hopefully I can go out there and play well and win tomorrow, and if I do, my life is not really going to change. I'm going to load the car up and go to next week and play next week, and we'll live in the same house and I'm going to drive the same car. Don't get me wrong, I would love to win, and it would be awesome. Such a cool tournament, and to be able to lift that trophy would be amazing, but I'm not going to dwell on everything.

Well on that note...

It was a brutal Saturday for the stars. At Golfweek.com, I highlight some of the big numbers on a windy, nasty day for scoring.

Trying to figure out a winner is a tough task, notes Bob Harig in sharing player comments.

Sergio is lurking after a tough start and as Kyle Porter writes, the dramatics if he comes to 17 with a shot should make for fun viewing.

Pat Perez was a quote machine as usual, and Jeff Babineau profiled someone who is five back.

This is the 35th anniversary of the first Players at TPC Sawgrass, and Sean Martin has some fantastic memories from those who were there, including, Dodger fans, Vin Scully.

Ian Poulter is in a far different position than he was a few weeks ago, and as I write at Golfweek.com, at three back he has a chance to reposition his career. And buy more gifts for Brian Gay.

The Spanish language broadcast of Sergio's hole in one was fun, notes Alex Myers at The Loop with video.

Golfweek Staff explains the MDF's you saw on the leaderboard for the first time at the Players (Saturday cut).

Si Woo Kim with the shot of the day and maybe of his life. Wow:

Video: Hahn's Caddy Hits 17th Green...With A Ball Throw

/

The unofficial estimate is about 102-104 yards for this golf ball toss on to No. 17. Caddies traditionally hit a shot to raise some funds for the Bruce Edwards Foundation.

James Hahn's caddie, Mark Urbanek, instead threw a golf ball across the lake and onto the island green. I'm not sure how many would understand how impressive this feat is, but my rotator cuff hurts just watching:

@looper62 hand cannon to like 20ft on #17. 💪🏼🏝🔫

A post shared by Justin Ragognetti (@jragognetti) on May 10, 2017 at 10:36am PDT

 

WSJ: "How Pro Golf Became a Bromance"

/

Thanks to reader John for Brian Costa's WSJ look at the bromancing of professional golf after year two of the Casamigos Bakers Bay Challenge Presented by Wheel's Up.

He pulls together quotes from Arnold Palmer and Rory McIlroy the fine line between competition and a tour getting too comfortable, and includes this from Smiley Kaufman on the marketing side of their bromancing.

Kaufman said social media offers them “a huge opportunity” to appear relatable and likable to a wider audience. He described the Bahamas group almost as if he were talking about characters on a show.

“Rickie is the go-getter, the racer, the fearless kid,” he said. “Jordan’s the genuine, honest, Arnold Palmer-type of kid. Justin is the kid who’s always been successful at every level. And I’m just the one that likes to have a good time.”

New For 2017 Players: More VR, First-Ever Twitter Live 360 Video Of 17th Hole

/

Since last year's Masters and Players, progress on the Virtual Reality front has been pretty quiet. So it's encouraging to see the PGA Tour continuing to push the envelope with what sounds like produced (?) coverage using three VR cameras. For those without a Samsung Gear phone and VR headset there is some consolation: Twitter's live broadcast of 360 degree video will be its first ever.

The full press release:

Live virtual reality comes to THE PLAYERS Championship

Live virtual reality and 360 video coverage of the famed 17th hole at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass will be distributed globally during all four rounds of the tournament

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – The PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS Championship announced today that fans will be able to experience the twists and turns of the island-green 17th hole at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass through live 360 video and virtual reality (VR) during all four days of THE PLAYERS Championship from May 11-14.

The live VR experience can be viewed on Samsung Gear VR headsets on a global basis through the “PGA TOUR VR Live” app available on the Oculus store. For fans who don’t have a Gear VR headset, the 360 video stream will be available exclusively on Twitter and Periscope during all four days of the event. Using any smartphone, fans will be able to watch live, 360 video from the 17th hole during THE PLAYERS.  Fans can find the coverage starting on May 11 at twitter.com/PGATOUR or by following @PGATOUR on Twitter and Periscope.

The live VR experience is done in collaboration with Intel and will be produced with Intel True VR technology, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before with three concurrent VR camera positions during competition. One camera will be placed on the 17th tee, one camera on the walkway from tee box to the green, and one camera mounted in the water next to the island green.

“We are excited that THE PLAYERS Championship will host the PGA TOUR’s first live virtual reality production,” said Rick Anderson, PGA TOUR Chief Media Officer. “The PGA TOUR has experimented with virtual reality content for nearly two years. We tested Intel’s True VR technology on a live basis at the Genesis Open in February, and were very pleased with the quality. We decided that executing a live VR experience on one of the most dramatic holes in golf was something that our fans would love, and the fact that we are partnering with Twitter to deliver 360 video will offer tremendous scale.”

“The Intel True VR platform will provide golf fans with a new, immersive experience using our end-to-end solution. From our stereoscopic cameras at the iconic 17th hole to creating a PGA TOUR VR application for THE PLAYERS Championship, we work with our partners to create the best fan experience,” said David Aufhauser, managing director, Intel Sports Group. “Working with the PGA TOUR, as well as global distribution via Twitter and Periscope, gives us the ability to expand the Intel True VR experience to more fans.”

"The PGA TOUR continues to innovate for their highly-engaged fan base on both Twitter and Periscope," said Laura Froelich, Twitter's global head of sports partnerships. "Thanks to this collaboration, golf fans around the world will have exclusive and unique live access to the renowned 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.”

THE PLAYERS Championship marks the first time Twitter has distributed live 360 video during a major sports event. The announcement of this collaboration between the PGA TOUR and Twitter follows the live streaming relationship announced earlier this year.

This is a fun inclusion:

Twitter’s early round distribution of PGA TOUR LIVE coverage, viewable weekly at pgatourlive.twitter.com, has averaged almost half a million unique viewers each day, more than 70% of which are under 35 years old.

Don't worry virtually dead people--over 35!--they care about you too. I think.

Video: Getting Fit With Justin Rose

/

I believe now that Justin Rose is sleeping just fine after his heartbreaking Masters-playoff, as Brian Wacker wrote for GolfDigest.com before Rose and Stenson made a quick Zurich Classic departure.

Why?

Look how effortless it is for the man to explain his shoulder strengthening and body stretches with Morning Drive's Dr. Ara Suppiah. Get these two a golf fitness show!

Padraig & Sergio Agree To No Longer Revile Each Other

/

One columnist took bizarre exception to Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll keeping their wedding a private affair but the rest of us will be able to live peacefully ever after knowing that Sergio and Padraig are on "much better footing."

That's Padraig Harrington's quote to the Irish Independent, clarifying that love in air brought the former rivals back to a place where, well, a place.

"Sergio and I are on a much better footing," Harrington said in quotes reported by the BBC. "We've had a chat, because obviously there was a bit of an elephant in the room about what I said.

"I've got to say, Sergio made it very easy. He was exceptionally good about it. He already was well informed, which was nice.

"We have decided that we will look, going forward, at our similarities and the good in each of us rather than any other way."

Ahhhhhhhhhh...next thing you know Padraig will be offering Sergio one of the six cart-driving roles at the 2020 Ryder Cup. Then we'll know all is well between these two!

"García’s Masters triumph reveals the secret of sportsmanship"

/

The Guardian's Andrew Anthony nails down what was so satisfying about Sergio Garcia's Masters playoff win over Justin Rose.

He writes:

He could have started his familiar antics at that stage, snapping at his caddie, grumbling at the crowd, chucking clubs, remonstrating with the heavens, demonstrating that he was, as Padraig Harrington has said, “a very sore loser”.

But instead he accepted the possibility of defeat, made his peace with it, and realised life would go happily on if his Ryder Cup mate Rose emerged the winner. Suddenly the lavishly talented man who wilted against the iron character of Tiger Woods, and twice cracked as the grittier Harrington snatched major victories from his grasp, looked comfortable with – even happy for – his opponent. And finally García won.

Gamesmanship stems from a desire to avoid defeat at any cost. The secret of sportsmanship is that learning how to lose can also teach you how to win.

Ko's Caddie Still Worked One More Week Even After He Was Fired

/

Caddie-player foibles are one thing, but while we'd like to laugh at Lydia Ko trying to keep her caddies-fired pace up with her LPGA win total, the latest details suggest this is not a safe working environment.

Tim Rosaforte reports for Golf World on Gary Matthews' firing, which came before he guided Ko to a second place finish in the Lotte Championship.

"In all honesty, there is no communication in the whole camp. You never know anything or are told anything," said Matthews. "The agent [Michael Yim of IMG] called me on the Monday after Palm Springs and said, 'She needed a change, we’re going with somebody else, but you can caddie in Hawaii.'

"I’m like well, never in 19 years have I been fired, and I’m still working for the person. What was so strange for me, we worked unbelievably well in Hawaii, the communication and everything was just phenomenal."

Until it wasn't. Wow.

John Feinstein and I considered the Ko caddy situation on today's Golf Central:

Wesley Bryan's Impressive Rise Up The World Rankings

/

Kyle Porter at CBSSports.com does a nice job laying out Wesley Bryan's historic rise to No. 37 in the Official World Golf Rankings after his win at the RBC Heritage.

One month ago, Bryan was ranked No. 72. Three months ago, he was No. 134. One year ago, he was No. 364. At the beginning of February 2016, he was No. 1,127.

Right now, the No. 1,127 golfer in the world is a guy by the name of Daehyun Kim. So how does one go from outside the top 1,100 in the world to the No. 37 golfer who will now be invited to all the WGCs, the Players Championship and all the majors?

Great stuff here on Bryan's move from outside the top 1000...

Ko Fires Another Caddie, This Time After 2nd Place Finish

/

Giving Michelle Wie a strong run for player with a penchant for firing luggage handlers, Lydia Ko is splitting with bagman Gary Matthews after just nine events.

More impressively, after Ko had her best start of 2017, finishing second in this weekend's Lotte Championship.

Beth Ann Nichols reports for Golfweek.

And I think I speak for us all in wishing the next caddie the best of luck later his month when Ko returns at the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout.

The move by the world No. 1 also comes not long after Ko moved from instructor David Leadbetter to Gary Gilchrist, and from Callaway to PXG.

Meanwhile Cristie Kerr picked up win number 19 in the Lotte.

Meet The PGA Tour’s Biggest Social Media Point-Misser To Date: Grayson Murray

/

Golf has been very fortunate to have players use social media largely for the purposes of highlighting sponsorships, thanking tournaments and sharing little glimpses into the life of a tour pro. The LPGA's players were ahead of the curve and remain so, while PGA Tour players have caught up in some regards.

So while I saw some of the chatter on my feed, it wasn't until G.C. Digital put together the musings of Grayson Murray, world no. 155, that I realized we have our first Grade A, All-Conference PGA Tour Social Media Point Misser.

Though Murray's vowed to take a leave from Twitter following the hate he received for questioning the world ranking standing of foreign players--even when one made the semi-finals of the WGC Dell Match Play--Murray inexplicably crossed a line I never thought I'd see a player cross: his idea of a jab back at Ben An was to question the path he took to the tour, even though An is exactly 100 places higher on the world ranking list and certainly far more accomplished as the youngest U.S. Amateur winner...ever. 

Here is the full list of offending Tweets, which ends with a profession of love for the President.

And An's reply:

I'm not a fan of the PGA Tour fining players for merely being ignorant, nor do I support the secrecy of fines. However, Murray's disrespect for his peers and general need for attention certainly warrants a deduction from his PGA Tour account, or however that works. Though given his missed cut streak, there may not be sufficient funds. At least he opened with a nice round in Houston!

Day WD's From Match Play To Be With His Cancer-Stricken Mom

/

After walking off at the seventh hole in his match against Pat Perez, Jason Day walked into the Austin Country Club clubhouse and requested to meet with media.

Through understandable tears for someone who lost his father to cancer, Day announced that he was withdrawing from the WGC Dell Match Play to be with his mother Dening Day. She is undergoing treament at Ohio State's James Cancer Hospital for lung cancer, with surgery scheduled Friday.

Here was Day making the announcement:

Here is a fun recent memory of Dening, who is no doubt going to fight hard.

Karen Crouse filed a superb story on Day and the role Dening played in raising him to be a champion golfer.

“With everything that went on, for me and my sisters to come out pretty normal on the other side, I think a lot of that has to do with our mom,” Day said.

Continue reading the main story

From his father, Day, 28, learned to play golf and fear failure. From his mother, he learned how to work as if failure were not an option.

On the eve of Australia Day in January, the tide of productivity had gone out in Day’s homeland, scattering workers to near and far vacation destinations. The national holiday fell on the last Tuesday of the month, and a sizable portion of the country’s work force opted to take a four-day weekend, leaving few hands on deck during Monday morning business hours at a shipping company in this port city.

Is Grillo The Heir Apparent To Sergio (In Club Throwing)?

/

The artist's reluctance suggests an apprehension that never plagued the Picasso of petulance and Rembrandt of rage, Tommy Bolt.

Let's face it, Rory McIlroy has unleashed some gems but his heart never seemed committed to club throws.

With Sergio Garcia now engaged and seemingly mellowed out from his best works, could Emiliano Grillo be positioning himself as our next great hope?

From Bay Hill courtesy of Skratch and en route to a quadruple bogey reports Golfweek's Kevin Casey.


The justification for the toss which, in this reviewers mind, showed originality and flair.

Talk! Mickelson On Feherty, Tirico On Callaway Live

/

A couple of fun talk shows air this week, starting with part one of Phil Mickelson on Feherty, Monday night March 6th (9 pm ET).

Still buzzing from having just attended the monthly Rancho Santa Fe chapter meeting of the Arthur Fonzerelli Society, Mickelson talks Masters and Ryder Cup in part one.

A preview of this comments on Tiger Woods:

On Tuesday at 9 pm ET and streaming permanently thereafter, NBC Sports' Mike Tirico sits down with Callaway Live host Harry Arnett to discuss his new gig as primetime Olympic host and his love of golf.

Great news: Tin Cup is airing twice on Golf Channel during the mid-morning hours, so you won't have a reason to skip Tirico! Last week's season three opener guest was Jim Furyk.

A preview: