Rory: "I’ve not quite put in the time over the last few days for obvious reasons"
/That quote after Rory McIlroy's opening 74 in round one of the PGA Tour Playoffs reinforced just how much these playoffs mean to the top players and their backers: outings, talk shows and partying must not be set aside for the playoffs.
From the Press Association piece posted on The Guardian website:
“I’m not quite on my game. I’ve not quite put in the time over the last few days for obvious reasons,” he said on Sky Sports. “I’m going to go and have some lunch and then work on the range, work on a few things, and try to catch up on some practice I’ve missed out on over the last week and try to be ready for tomorrow.”
I know what you're thinking, Rory should have gone fishing in the East River like Bo Van Pelt did (Jason Sobel with that head-spinner).
Or maybe Rory's preparation was just right considering the schedule that now awaits for him after an exhausting stretch recently concluded.
Bob Harig did a nice job running down the silliness of the schedule and highlighted something regarding Brandt Snedeker, who has been trying to regain his elite form and make the Ryder Cup team. If Snedeker does become a Captain's selection and plays all playoff events, he will end up playing 10 of 11 weeks. (At the warmest time of year, on some tough courses, under high pressure.) Yes, there are tougher jobs and NFL players go at it 10 weeks at a time in a more physical sport. Nonetheless, 10 of 11 high-pressure weeks is not a recipe for golfing success.
As Harig lays out, something has to give.
Last year, the four playoff events were broken up by an off week in the middle. But the PGA Tour made the inane decision to play them all in a row as a nod to the Ryder Cup, placing an off week between the Tour Championship and the biennial event in Scotland. Good for the 13 or so players who will play in Atlanta and get a week off prior to the Ryder Cup. Not so good for the 70 who will (likely) play three in a row and another 30 who qualify for the Tour Championship.
Oh, there are bound to be defections this year. Undoubtedly, there will be a big-name player or two who skips the Deutsche Bank Championship or the BMW Championship. If it's not bad enough that the playoffs consist of four straight weeks, consider that the BMW in Denver starts just three days after the Deutsche Bank ends on Labor Day Monday.
Commissioner Tim Finchem admitted this week that he is not a fan of playing four in a row. "We like the break week," he said. "Regardless of the Ryder Cup."