Quick 2011 Players Roundup
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Cameron Morfit suggests that K.J. Choi is a horse for tough courses.
"He plays good, focused golf on tough courses," said Andy Prodger, Choi's caddie for a dozen worldwide victories. "I put it in his head that he was going to win this week because he's been playing very well."
Coming into the Players Championship, where his best result was a tie for 16th place in 2006, Choi had tied for third in New Orleans, tied for eighth at the Masters and tied for sixth at Bay Hill. Said Steve Bann, his Australian swing coach for the last six years, "A win was coming."
Bob Harig focuses on David Toms' decision to go for No. 16 in two. Ironic since Toms famously laid up on a par-4 in his most famous win, the 2002 PGA.
Toms had 233 yards to the front of the par-5 16th green, the one that has a pond to the right of the putting surface. It is a birdie hole, and at worst Toms should have made par.
"When he got up to me, he said, 'Do you like 2-hybrid?'" Gneiser recalled. "I said, 'I like it.' With a 1-shot lead, I'm thinking just get it left of the green, chip it down. And if K.J. doesn't make birdie we've got a 2-shot lead."
But Toms did not catch it solid, the ball drifting to the right and into the water. Instead of a possible birdie, it led to a bogey. Instead of a 1- or 2-shot lead, Toms and Choi were tied.
"And now I'm second-guessing myself," Gneiser said.
Toms put it on himself.
I was standing behind 16 green and just assumed he would lay up because of the hanging lie, which never really shows up very well on television. And when he took a full swing, well...it was a shocker.
When they returned this year, the group came outfitted in black t-shirts with its lyrical name printed on front. They wore ‘em every day, following their new favorite player all over the course, ignoring all social mores about cheering loudly for a non-superstar and keeping hygiene issues to a minimum.
“We’re probably a little rank,” Page admitted after four days in his shirt. “We’ve been wearing these since Thursday.”
Gene Wojciechowski wasn't too inspired by the "Champions Tour Lite" Players.
This is the supposed "fifth major," but the guy who won it hasn't cashed a tour victory check since the 2008 Sony Open. The guy he beat, David Toms, hasn't won on tour since the 2006 Sony. And the guy who finished third, Paul Goydos, hasn't won since the 2007 Sony.
PlayStations for everybody!
Choi turns 41 this Thursday. Toms is 44. Goydos is 46. It was like the Champions Tour Lite.
In fact, Toms actually mentioned that a win here Sunday would have given him a five-year exemption on the big boy tour -- almost long enough, he said half-kiddingly, to get him to age 50 and the Champions Tour.
David Whitley, on the other hand, kind of liked it
It’s understandable that golf wants to push fresh, young faces. But being a geezer myself, it was heartening to see guys born during the Johnson Administration show they still have it.
Toms hadn’t won a tournament since the 2006 Sony Open. Oddly enough, Choi’s last win was the 2008 Sony Open. Goydos’ last win was the 2007 Sony Open.
By far the biggest win among them was Toms’ 2001 PGA Championship. His interest in golf waned until his son started playing. Carter Toms thinks like a 13-year-old golfer.
“He’s watching Rickie Fowler and all those young guys,” his dad said. “And dressing like them.”
It’s okay to dress like them, but Carter should still watch how his dad operates. Especially on an exacting course like Sawgrass, where guile and experience count as much as talent as swagger.
