News
Bill Haas Wins Hope Classic
Bubba Watson began the day tied atop the leaderboard and finished the day tied for second a single shot behind winner Bill Hass despite shooting a 66 in the final round. Finishing on Monday due to a rain out earlier in the week, Mr. Haas birdied the final hole for his first Tour win at a tournament his father Jay won in 1988. “To win the same tournament I won is special, and then for me to get to see it—that’s really special,” said Jay Haas, who texted his son on Sunday night with a simple message: “Hit when you’re ready, and never before.” Winning finally fulfilled the expectations of the younger Mr. Haas has carried with him for the last 140 starts on Tour. “I’d been wanting to win from the first tournament I played, but it’s a process, and there’s a lot to it,” said Haas, a touted rookie in 2006. “It’s special, but I don’t know if it’s a monkey off my back. I know how hard it was to win, and I’m grateful.” Now the only expectation is when will he win again. It ain’t easy being blessed with loads of talent in a sport your father was pretty good at as well.
Bubba Watson began the day tied atop the leaderboard and finished the day tied for second a single shot behind winner Bill Hass despite shooting a 66 in the final round. Finishing on Monday due to a rain out earlier in the week, Mr. Haas birdied the final hole for his first Tour win at a tournament his father Jay won in 1988. “To win the same tournament I won is special, and then for me to get to see it—that’s really special,” said Jay Haas, who texted his son on Sunday night with a simple message: “Hit when you’re ready, and never before.” Winning finally fulfilled the expectations of the younger Mr. Haas has carried with him for the last 140 starts on Tour. “I’d been wanting to win from the first tournament I played, but it’s a process, and there’s a lot to it,” said Haas, a touted rookie in 2006. “It’s special, but I don’t know if it’s a monkey off my back. I know how hard it was to win, and I’m grateful.” Now the only expectation is when will he win again. It ain't easy being blessed with loads of talent in a sport your father was pretty good at as well.
Matt Kuchar knows what it's like being blessed with talent and saddled with expectations. Mr. Haas spent most of the day chasing him after a blistering eight birdies in eleven holes. Amazing how fast one can run and hide in this game, and yet fall back by only managing one birdie in the final seven holes. That was compounded by a par on the 18th hole instead of a birdie. “It’s a hole where you’re counting on making a 4,” Kuchar said. “I put myself in a difficult situation … but shooting 63 is fantastic. I wasn’t sure if I had that much in me today. It was a great round of golf.” Indeed it was, and while it wasn't quite enough to win, it was good enough to join Mr. Watson in second place.
Also in second place, for the sixth straight year on Tour, was Tim Clark who has yet to win an event in America. “I made a bunch of birdies, (and) you would think that I putted my eyeballs out, but I missed a lot of short ones,” Clark said. I've been intrigued by his ability to play so very well and yet never capture the trophy at the finish. I have to think the adage about keeping yourself in the thick of things regularly will eventually pay off in a win for Mr. Clark. He's too good a player not to have Lady Luck smile on him at least once. As with all things, time alone will tell. “There’s always going to be an exciting day with so many guys bunched in there, and I started to make some birdies on the back nine to get back into it,” Clark added. “When you know you have to make birdies, it makes things a little bit easier.” I'm not sure what that means exactly, since I believe birdies are required to win most events that are not Major Championships. But it makes for a good quote.
So now it's off to Torrey Pines, where a Tigerless tour will be joined by world number two player Phil Mickelson. Farmers Insurance Group got a discounted deal to host this tournament, as newly austere GM's Buick division decided low key played better than ostentation after the US taxpayers bought the company. What doesn't work so good for them is the fact they only had a couple of weeks to advertise the affiliation with the tournament. In this economy, and without it's biggest, brightest star, it will be interesting to see what kind of turnout the event garners. Ticket buyers and television audiences are the numbers to watch here. As for the TV numbers, should you choose to watch my advice is to mute the sound whenever Jim Nantz goes into one of his schmaltzy promo modes. I've begun to feel like I've been covered in sickly sweet syrup after he finishes one of those blurbs.
On another note entirely, Jim Thorpe has to turn himself in to Federal authorities by April 1 to begin serving a one year sentence for failure to pay his taxes, more than $2 million worth of taxes. That is a large mistake in mathematics. Apparently the "I misplaced a decimal point" defense didn't work so good. After the jail time he's got two years supervision and 200 hours of community service. During the time of his supervision he'll need to repay those taxes. I wonder how many exhibitions he'll need to play to raise two million bucks? Too bad he couldn't get a job with the Treasury Department, I hear you can forget to pay your taxes and still get a good job working for them.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos
|
- LIKE0
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
News
Four books for a springtime review
One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.
There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.
Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.
Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.
My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.
Decision: Buy It!
The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor
Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.
Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.
My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.
Decision: Buy It!!
Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal
Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.
One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.
Decision: Buy It!!!
Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie
Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.
Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.
My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.
Decision: Buy Them!!!!
- LIKE4
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT1
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK3
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
- LIKE19
- LEGIT5
- WOW2
- LOL4
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
19th Hole4 days ago
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
-
19th Hole1 week ago
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Scottie Scheffler had an interesting response when asked how he ‘quiets the noise’ following Players victory
-
Equipment2 weeks ago
Best driver 2024: The best driver for you, as recommend by expert club fitters
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Jon Rahm dealt fresh blow to hopes of qualifying for 2025 Ryder Cup
-
19th Hole4 days ago
Charlie Woods finds it tough going on American Junior Golf Association debut
-
19th Hole7 days ago
Why Kevin Streelman sought USGA approval to use this equipment tool as he leads Valspar after round one
Skip
Nov 3, 2012 at 8:15 am
Nice blog! very clean and easy to navigate.This is a very tmeily post. I started a new Word Press blog a few weeks ago and managed to get it ranking on page one on Google. I started getting comment notices via email right away and I was excited. I read a few and realized something smelled funny. I went into my WP admin area and saw that Akismet had blocked over 40 suspect comments. Thanks for posting this important information which I am proud to share with everyone I know.
Sakman
Jan 26, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Excellent write up
Sakman
Jan 26, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Congrats on the Win!