GolfWRX.com » BagChatter

Taking On Copperhead – Transitions Championship Preview

Scott MacLeod, via www.flagstick.com — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:29:18 +0000

It takes just one look down the fairways at the Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead course to realize it takes exceptional talent to conquer this course. On a cool and windy day in Palm Harbor, Florida yesterday the 7340 yards that makes up the PGA Tour’s Transitions Championship host golf course looked even more daunting.

And the players know it.

The best golfers in the world looked like they were grinding before a major as they hit balls yesterday. They seemed to know that miss-struck shots with weak ball flights will be of little use this week if they plan to hoist a trophy on Sunday and grab the winning check of $972,000.

Defending champion Retief Goosen was not even on site yesterday but that didn’t mean he was not preparing for a title defence. He was busy prepping on his own and testing some new KBS iron shafts.

Goosen looks to be in top form heading into the 10^th edition of this PGA Tour event. He already has multiple top-five finishes on tour this season and the difficult Copperhead layout (9^th toughest on the PGA Tour in 2009) is a great fit for his cerebral style of play.

Not to be overlooked as a rival for Goosen this week will be The Prince, Ryo Ishikawa. Prior to dealing with the usual throng of Japanese media following his every move he put on a clinic at the range, striping ball after ball effectively and predictably into the burgeoning breeze. Playing on a Sponsor’s Exemption for the 2^nd year in a row, Ishikawa won four events on the Japan Golf Tour in 2009. Unusually he finished only 71^st at the Transitions in his first appearance but with a year under his belt he might have better plan for tackling the layout.

Overall there is a fairly impressive field teeing it up here this week. It includes 10 of the top 25 players in the Official World Golf Rankings. World No. 2 Steve Stricker as well as Jim Furyk have games well suited to the course where steady play is very much rewarded.

Other highlights of the assembled field include Sean O’Hair, Vijay Singh, Stewart Cink, Luke Donald, and Kenny Perry. John Daly is also tipping it up but his random style of play is not the most conducive to winning on a course featuring tight, tree-lined fairways. The “anti-John Daly”, Justin Leonard, looked sharp and confident yesterday as well.

Padraig Harrington looked strong yesterday with all parts of his game. A t3 in Miami assures us he is in top form. He was his usual smiling self and apparently excited, for a number of reasons. Not only was he set to visit the White House today to meet President Obama, he also attended his first NHL hockey game last night.

In a week of firsts for Harrington, maybe it’s time for his first Transitions Championship as well.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Notes:

The Looks: Visit here to see a slideshow of practice range and tour van images captured Tuesday at The Transitions Championship.

Magnificent seven – Seven players have played in all nine Transitions Championships – John Huston, Billy Andrade, Brian Gay, Tim Herron, Lee Janzen, Billy Mayfair and Shaun Micheel. Only Gay and Janzen are scheduled to play in 2010.

The Shafts: Several players were seen testing the new higher spin True Temper steel prototype shafts yesterday. One who I spoke with said he wouldn’t consider putting the shafts in his irons this week due to the gusty conditions that are normally prevalent. As he said, “they just make the ball go up and up; great for some but just not for me.”

In The Vans: It was fairly slow around the equipment trucks yesterday. This far into the season many players have their gamer set dialled in. Of note was a new putter that Justin Rose was playing around with…but we promised not to say anything about it…yet.

A Beast: From the Black Tees, the 7340, par-71 Copperhead Course is rated at 76.8 with a slope of 144. There are elevation changes of up to 80 feet and more than 75 bunkers that protect the course.

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

Ernie Els Wins CA World Golf Championship

Eric Schuster — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:00:42 +0000

I watched the clocks move ahead an hour at 2 AM Sunday morning. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, it was 3 AM. No one told Ernie Els apparently, as he turned back the clock at least six years Sunday afternoon. That's how long it has been since Mr. Els stood in front of the cameras holding a very large trophy. A final round 66 completed a journey that feels like it's gone on forever. Perhaps it's something about turning 40? Who knows. I watched the final pairing on Sunday mostly to see Charl Schwartzel, the 25 year old South African who has won twice this year on the European tour. I learned that Mr. Schwartzel has some very serious game, and that somehow Mr. Els turned back time. I think it was the 25 ft par save on the 14th hole that restored Mr. El's shaky confidence, not restored so much as firmed it up, while slapping the youngster upside the head and awaking him to the reality that he was trying to win for the first time in the USA and beat a legend in the process. Just a tad too much reality. From that point on Mr. Schwartzel began having issues and wound up with a final round 70, four shots behind and alone in second place, for his second top 10 finish in a World event this year.

Mr. Els played with a confidence I haven't seem him display in a long long time. The victim of too many real life intrusions on a personal level, his professional life suffered in mediocrity. I know my thoughts were usually centered on, gee whiz remember how good Ernie Els used to be? I wonder where he left his game? Thoughts I'd bet he entertained more than a couple of times over the years. When nice guys lose their greatness and become just very good they become the recipients of many sighs and shakes of the head coupled with a lot of remember whens. That stuff starts quietly in the background but eventually folks are doing that when the ex-great enters the room rather than when they leave the room. It's got to claim rent some large space inside one's psyche. I certainly hope this is the beginning of a resurgence for Mr. Els. I really enjoy when he plays well, mostly because of how easy he makes the game appear. Hopefully whatever demons owned the inside of his head can be more easily crowded into a corner and silenced while he returns to playing golf the way he's played in the past.

Take a good look at the leaderboard now that the tournament is complete. Count off the top 10 names. How many do you recognize? Seriously, toss out the two Americans ( I bet some might not even know them very well), and Mr. Els along with Padraig Harrington. What's left are names we'll all be knowing soon enough. In addition to Mr. Schwartzel is a young German player who may be the best player you know nothing about, Martin Kaymer the European Tour rookie of the year in 2008 when he won twice. In 2009 Mr. Kaymer also won twice, in back to back events, and finished third on the Order of Merit, all before turning 25 years old. Mr. Kaymer may be kicking everyone around sooner rather than later. I highly suggest you remember the name. Alvaro Quiros, the oldest of these three at 26, can hit the ball off the planet. That might be an exaggeration, but not by a lot. He has three top 10's around the world this year alone. Paul Casey is another name in that short list, despite the Ryder Cup flap his mouth created, this is another man who has a whole lot of game.

As for the two Americans on the list, Matt Kuchar is the name most fans will remember from his promising amateur career. After joining the professional ranks Mr. Kuchar kind of lost his way, but this year has been markedly different. He has three top three finishes including this event thus far in the season. Bill Haas finished T6 and won earlier this year at the Hope Classic. Has been lacking consistency to this point in the season, which is not surprising given his youth. Put the games of Mr. Kuchar and Mr. Haas up against the three young Euros and the Euros win in a knockout. Golf is the winner, when there are so many talented young 'uns in the game the entertainment value goes way up for golf fans everywhere. We shall be fortunate to live in interesting times.

No Easy Win

Scott MacLeod, via www.flagstick.com — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:36:02 +0000

Ultimately Charl Schwartzel helped pave the way for an Ernie Els (68-66-70-66-270) victory Sunday at Doral but that does not mean the win was not a hard fought one. Before he even arrived at the CA Championship and worked his way into a head to head duel with fellow South African, he had a lot to overcome.

Winning just once in the last five years, there have been a lot of distractions that have justifiably kept Els from paying full attention to his golf game. Family matters such as his son Ben’s Autism and personal health issues (knee) tend to put golf on the backburner, especially for somebody who had already accomplished so much in his career.

Ernie himself says he did not have a real focus in his golf game. “Well, you know, I think — let me answer this one correctly. I don't think the motivation was lacking. I just think that I went about it the wrong way, you know, I was almost chasing my own tail a little bit. You know, I was not looking after the smaller things. Meaning that just my normal mechanics in the game, the basics; I wasn't looking after that.”

That all changed this week when Els say he says he got the right mental focus. “I’ve had a tough run. It’s just great,” he said immediately after the winning putt was holed. “I thought my game was in good shape, I just wanted to prove it for once.”

The result was a brilliant performance at the WGC-CA Championship where it seemed it was not the 40 year-old distracted Ernie Els that showed up to play but the highly motivated and confident 22 year old version we were introduced to at the Open Championship back in 1992.

For most of the final round Els fought back and forth and with Schwartzel, not only his countryman but also his house guest the last couple weeks. The fate of the tournament was up in the air until the 14^th hole on Sunday when Els made a long putt to save his par after spending the balance of the 460-yard hole in the trees. That conserved his lead of a single stroke.

That lead would grow and Schwartzel hopes of a PGA Tour win to add to his five European Tour titles would dash on the very next hole. On a relatively innocuous par three both players struck their tee shots into bunkers. Subsequently Schwartzel would blast his sand shot into the hazard Els occupied on the other side of the green, eventually making a bogey while Els got up and down for his par.

When Schwartzel missed his makeable birdie putt on #16 that would have got him back to one stroke down to Els the final tournament result was all but sealed.

Els had a comfortable walk down the 18^th hole, on his way to his 17^th PGA Tour victory, one embraced heartily by the crowd on hand.

“…this means so much,” Els said afterwards in the media room. “I didn't think it was ever going to happen again, you know, but to come out here, and I mean, I've always loved playing here in Miami at Doral.”

With his win Els moves back into the top 10 in the Official World Rankings and 3^rd in the FedEx Cup standings.

Will this win put the thought of finally winning at Augusta in Els’ mind? We hope so and I am sure he would love to add to his major win total but like the 40 experienced player he is, he has it all in perspective.

“Yeah, but, you know, two years ago when I won, I got all carried away and thought, you know, I was going to win Augusta. This time I just want to take this in. It's great. But next week I'm going to work hard again. I've got to really get these things that I'm working on, get it really even drilled out a bit more and really be comfortable with it and get my ball flight perfect for Augusta.

I've got a couple more tournaments to play before that, so I would like to play well and then when Augusta comes around, it comes around. It's just another tournament.”

At least that is what he says now. We’ll see how that changes when he arrives in Georgia.

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

Full Speed Ahead At Doral

Scott MacLeod, via www.flagstick.com — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:09:22 +0000

The quality of the field won’t be in question this week at the TPC Blue Monster at Doral (but the new name still seems to trip as it leaves my tongue). Save for Tiger Woods (personal issues) and Ryo Ishikawa (high school graduation, really), 68 of the best players in the world are on hand in Miami for the World Golf Championships – CA Championships.

What could be an enigma is just who is the frontrunner.

Many will look to defending champion Phil Mickelson but after repeatedly being chosen as the marked favorite each week that he has played this year, he has done nothing but disappoint.

And no offense to Alistair Presnell; I am sure he earned his spot among the world elite but even a keener like me had to scramble to the event media guide to discover even what country he hailed from.

So where does that leave us with the other 66? Thoroughly confused I say. This tournament might just fall into the hands of anybody in the field. Heck it could be Presnell adding the title to his 2010 win portfolio that includes the Celebrations Victorian PGA Championship.

Yes, I could point to Camilo Villegas with a win, a tie for third, and a tie for 8^th in his only three Tour appearances this season but he might be an easy target.

For my money I am going to stay focused on Oliver Wilson. The Augusta State product appears to be playing solidly with top-20 form at The Honda Classic and a 3 & 1 record at the Match Play. He also finished tie for 5^th here last year, with a smooth 66 on Sunday.

The fact is whoever wants to win the championship and the (USD) $1.53 million that goes with it, will have to go low. With no cut there is seemingly one gear necessary at Doral – full speed ahead. Reference Mickelson’s winning tally of 19 under par last year.

This may be the (TPC) Blue Monster but unless a hurricane blows, its teeth should be rather dull. The normal winds will try and protect the course but flattish putting surfaces and soft conditions expected due to rain will make this a shooting match of the highest accord. It sets up a birdie-fest with plenty of lead changes a distinct possibility.

One place you might see that is on the 16^th hole. The short par four (372 yards) allows players to cut the corner to get close to the putting surface. According to ShotLink, 48 percent of the field actually went for the green off the tee in 2009, making it a great spectator hole. Ultimately Soren Hansen was the only player to successfully reach the surface. He did so in the final round and went on to make birdie.

There are still more than a few chances for disaster over the 7,334 yards (full course length – could be set up shorter) , including 11 water hazards, that makes up Doral so be sure to throw a few votes the way of a couple steady guys who know how to use the flat stick. Steve Stricker is an obvious one but also look to see Jim Furyk break out of his recent funk. He has proven in the past the he knows how to make birdies at Doral and the winner will need them in bunches.

Notes:

-The Kodak Challenge hole this week is the 8^th, a mid-length par 5 of 560 yards where eagles are a distinct possibility. Three of them were made last year. See www.kodakchallenge.com to keep up on scoring.

- The course record is held by Stephen Ames of Canada at 61.

-The most difficult hole is still the 18^th. The 467-yard par four closer usually plays into the wind and gave up only 11 birdies to the field in 2009

—-

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

A Gator Snaps Up A Honda (Classic)

Scott MacLeod, via www.flagstick.com — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:11:05 +0000

-Villegas Wins 3^rd PGA Tour Title-

It was a crazy week for Camilo Villegas with a very happy ending. After rushing home to Columbia to help kick off the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open Presented by Samsung, a new event on the Nationwide Tour, he scrambled into Palm Beach Gardens with great PGA Tour expectations.

His hopes were met today as the former Florida Gator player stormed to victory at the 2010 Honda Classic on a golf course that gave fits to his fellow pros. It is the 3^rd win for Villegas who had shown fine form in his first two PGA Tour events of the season. Only a missed short putt kept him out of the World Championships – Accenture Match Play final two weeks ago where he eventually finished 3^rd. He followed that up with a tie for 8^th at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

It is strong streak of play, totally uninterrupted by the jaunt home to Columbia. In the media room yesterday, after finishing as the 54-hole leader, Villegas says he actually found a little inspiration in the journey. “Going back home and getting a little bit of time with my people in Colombia with a lot of American players that went to go play the first Nationwide Tour being played there was awesome. It was awesome to hear all of those great comments about my country was pretty exciting. So was it a long trip? Yes. But at the end of the day, it gave me a little — it gave me a little something, a little positive something that I think it's helped for this week.”

He might want to make a trip home every week if that is what it takes to play like he did today.

He got out of the gate quickly with a clean 32 on the front nine that included three birdies. It looked like Anthony Kim might be a factor after making birdies on three of his first four holes but a bogey on the 9^th seemed to stall any momentum he had built. By the time he had played the tenth hole Villegas’ lead ballooned by 6 shots.

Camilo had leaned hard on his Scotty Cameron putter through the early holes of the day, making significant length par and birdie putts. It would betray him early in the back nine, though, when he missed a few short conversions on 11, 12, and 15 that shrunk his lead to three.

He steadied the ship and played smartly after that, letting opponents make the mistakes as they tried to chip away at the lead. They failed to gain any ground on the leader, and by the time he reached the 18^th tee he had four strokes to play with. It made for a joyous march down the last hole in front of a very supportive crowd as he wrapped up the win and $1.008 million dollars with the perfect exclamation, a birdie. It is the ideal warm-up for next week’s World Golf Championships – CA Championship just down the road at Doral.

With the form he has shown of late, Camilo Villegas might just be ready to snap up that title as well.

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Flagstick Golf Magazine, (www.flagstick.com)

In the Bag – Courtesy www.cobragolf.com

Driver: Cobra S9-1 (10.5)

Fwy: Cobra Speed LD FST (15.5, 18)

Hybrid: Titleist 909H (24)

Irons: Cobra Pro CB (5-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled (54, 58, 60)

Putter: Scotty Cameron by Titleist Circa ‘62 No. 6

Ball: Titleist ProV1

The PGA Tour Comes East

Scott MacLeod, via www.flagstick.com — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:48:13 +0000

When the PGA Tour arrives on the American East Coast, it becomes a countdown to something we all covet – the playing of The Masters.

The arrival of the world’s premier tour in Florida this week for the Honda Classic is not only a sign of great major golf to come, but also affirms that the larger majority of North Americans will be able to hit the links soon as well.

Unfortunately for the Honda Classic it has had a less than glamorous life as an also-ran within the Florida Swing. This year though, it is shaping up to be quite an event. Strangely enough the surprise champion from last year, Y.E. Yang of Korea, might just be part of the reason.

If you look through the online PGA Tour directory of players you will find Mr. Yang’s name on the bottom of the list. It’s alphabetical, of course, but as far as recognition is concerned it was likely the same position he held for most North American golf fans as 2009 dawned.

Yang had played a full season on the PGA Tour in 2008 but struggled his way to 145^th on the FedEx Cup points list. To say he was an underdog heading to the 2009 Honda Classic is a HUGE understatement.

But by the end of the tournament last year the now 28 year-old Yang was a hot topic and was crowned as the new face of male Korean golfers in America. He joined 7-time PGA Tour winner K.J. Choi as the only Korean born winners on the Tour.

A winner on both the European and Japanese Tour, Yang confirmed he had a future in golf on a worldwide stage later in the year with his heart-stopping hybrid shot that ripped the PGA Championship out of the hands of Tiger Woods.

Heading into this week’s tournament Yang looks prepared to put up a strong defense of his first PGA Tour title. He is coming off his best round of the year, a 65 on Sunday at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, that propelled his to 3^rd place.

This week the field is solidified by the occurrence of the World Championships – CA Championship set to follow at nearby Doral next week. And it will have a strong international flavor. Among the players taking to the PGA National Resort & Spa Champion Course this week will be Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, and Padraig Harrington – all currently ranked among the top ten players in the world.

2010 tournament winners Ben Crane, Ryan Palmer, and Bill Haas will also tee it in Palm Beach Gardens, all vying for the $1.008 million first place prize.

Also keep an eye on Ernie Els, who is playing a home game as a Palm Beach resident, along with notables Sergio Garcia, and Rickie Fowler – hot from his 2^nd place showing in Phoenix. Also watch for Robert Allenby who has not won at the Honda but finished inside the top 5 each year of the last three. He also lives nearby.

All the contenders will have to have their game in top form to take on the PGA National Champion Course. With the wind already blowing hard off the ocean this week the 9^th hardest course on the PGA Tour in 2009 (of 51 played) demands the best of their skills. At 7158-yards and playing to a par of just 70, peril awaits, even beyond the famous “Bear Trap”. The trio of holes at #15-17 was the 4^th toughest three-hole stretch on tour last year, relative to par.

As usual Golf Channel will broadcast the early rounds while NBC picks up the weekend coverage. Sirius XM Radio has eight hours (12-8 EST) of coverage each day.

Equipment Notes:

- Watch for Golf Bag Pics at GolfWRX.com

- Several players are reported to have changed to graphite irons shafts this week

- Ryan Palmer is trying the TaylorMade SuperFast driver and might make a switch to play it this week.

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

Hunter Mahan Claims Phoenix Open Win

Eric Schuster — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:21:53 +0000

Back to back bogey free 65's by Hunter Mahan got him his second tour win, a $1.06 million payday, and that trophy which may have been modeled after headgear worn by Natalie Portman in Star Wars. Who in the world designs these things? Mr. Mahan has always struck me as the kind of guy who can go lower than anyone on any course on any given day. Prediction: he'll be the guy who shots the first 58 on Tour. He may not win with a 58, but he is perfectly capable of going that low when he gets one of those rounds going. Getting into the "zone" required to pound par to a pulp seems to be easier, and occur more often, for him than anyone else playing today. Holing a 15 foot birdie put on the raucous 16th hole put him back into the lead at 16 under par. When you can do that, and admit to enjoying the crazies who make the 16th one of the most identifiable holes in all of golf you are one cool customer. Ask Ian Poulter. He missed a seven foot birdie there, and was pelted with boos and chants of U-S-A, after which he appeared to flip off the gallery. I have to admit, the subtlety of his reaction was something to behold. A very casual move, unmistakable yet constrained. Not the projected response from missing a birdie of that length in front of a bunch of drunken crazies, something much more demonstrative seemed in order.

Rickie Fowler finished a stroke behind Mr. Mahan, alone in second place. It was the second time the 21 year old phenom from Oklahoma State has finished second in his short professional career. His bio very clearly states he 21 years old, so why can't I look and him and think anything but how did the 12 year old get on the course? Except for the eyebrows, Mr. Fowler could very conceivably pass for someone too young to drive. He sure can play golf. Given the limited experience in the world of professional golf, it's hard not to envision Mr. Fowler hoisting one of these odd looking trophies and cashing a million dollar check very soon. He's got some flair, which is nice to see at a time when golf could use a little, ok a lot, of flair.

Ryan Moore, part owner of Scratch Golf Co., probably would like to replay the 11th hole for the final three rounds. Mr. Moore played the 11th five over par for the week, with a par, a bogey and two double bogeys. Three bogeys and a par would have put him in a playoff, and four pars, well, you do the math. I know one has to get over stuff like that or it makes sanity an issue, but in order to do that there has to be some time to contemplate what could have been had one not played that hole wearing Bozo the Clown shoes. I wonder if he suffers from nightmares in which the 11th hole repeated stomps him like a bug? I think it would be interesting to find out what it is about that hole that ties him up and leaves him on the train tracks waiting to get run over? I know I have certain holes on all the courses I usually play which just whack me mercilessly time after time. Even knowing it's a head trip doesn't mean it's not a real issue.

Phil Mickelson had another disappointing week leaving him oh for the west coast. Not what I expected from Mr. Mickelson coming into the year.

So now it's on to the east coast and the rain that seems to have fallen all winter. Heck they even had freezing temps not so long ago. Should continue to be an interesting unpredictable year.

The Cowboy Way

Scott MacLeod, via www.flagstick.com — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:17:35 +0000

When prospective golf team members prepare to head to Oklahoma State a few things are certain – 1. They are already studs in the golf world at an amateur level. And 2, when they get through with their time in Stillwater they likely have a promising career ahead of them as a touring professional.

That theory was once again proven Sunday at the Waste Management Phoenix Open as a trio of Cowboys graced the top spots including the victor, Hunter Mahan. Mahan captured his 2^nd PGA Tour victory with fellow OSU alum Rickie Fowler and Charles Howell III in close pursuit.

Mahan faced trouble early on in the final round as a cracked driver had to be replaced but in the end that club did come through for him, as well as a more important one, the flat stick, on his way to a final round of 65. That helped him to push past a crowded leader board on his way to a winning score of 16 under, one better than what phenom Rickie Fowler could must from his impressive 21 year-old skill set.

On a day when many a player contended it was Mahan who stepped up and separated himself while others seemed to fail at critical moments. The 27-year old California native surged forward with a remarkable second shot on the 13^th hole. The pinpoint 2^nd shot of more than 250 yards on the par five set up an eagle that made all the difference in the end. Follow up birdies on 14 and 16, where he made flawless strokes set the table for the victory.

At the same time the leading contenders, Y.E. Yang and Rickie Fowler, while playing splendidly, made key mistakes that would assure Mahan the $1.08 Million prize and easily his best finish of the year.

Yang rolled into contention on holes 10 through 15, playing them in a collective six under par, but made a crucial mistake of driving into the water on hole #17 where he eventually posted a bogey. His final round of 65 got him to 14 under par and a final position of 3^rd.

Fowler, the new face of a generation of young pros, still had an opportunity on the last hole to tie Mahan but he had let a great opportunity pass him by on the 15^th hole. The long-knocker laid up from 231 yards on the par five. A simple par stalled the momentum he had gained by birdies on #13, and #14, something he would fail to regain.

All is not lost however; Fowler proved he has the ability to contend and has given himself a remarkable number of opportunities in just a few PGA Tour appearances. He will just need a couple average finishes through the rest of his season to secure his card for next year. That is likely not even on his mind as he expects to win and has not shown any reason as to why he would not before 2010 draws to a close.

This time though, he must defer to his fellow Cowboy, Mahan, who went lights out on the weekend by posting back-to-back 65’s. “Great players win and I want to be a great player,” he said immediately after the round.

As the 1999 U.S. Junior winner, the top collegiate player in the nation back in 2003 ,and subsequently showing his ability on the PGA Tour as a winner and member of Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams , all Mahan now needs to make his dream of greatness come true is to keep winning.

So far he has just the 2007 Travelers Championship to add to today’s victory but clearly he is capable of more.

Fans expect nothing less from this Cowboy, and like just about every OSU golfer before him – he demands even more from himself.

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

Phoenix Rising To Roar

Scott MacLeod, via www.flagstick.com — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:12:21 +0000

The biggest celebration of golf on the planet is in full roar. More than 500,000 golf fans will head to the Waste Management Phoenix Open this week, creating an electric environment unlike any other in golf.

While a lot of focus will be on those spectators, inside the ropes even more excitement is brewing as the PGA Tour settles in to the 2010 season, with many story lines unfolding.

Seven of the top 10 players from the FedEx Cup standings will be at the TPC Scottsdale, making this a star-studded affair. While just three of those players (Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer) are ranked in the top eight in the world, it still makes for a strong contingent vying for the (USD) 1.08 Million first prize.

Undoubtedly, Ian Poulter, coming off his win last week at the Accenture Match Play, will garner a lot of attention as he tries to win his second PGA Tour title, and Phil Mickelson returns after a week of personal time, but the player to watch might just be J.B. Holmes.

With wins here in 2006 and 2008, and a number of strong finishes of late, you can expect Holmes to repeatedly bring the crowd to its feet. His immense length helps him to overpower this par 71; 7214-yard layout where he can pick apart the average length par fives and reduce many of the par fours into three-shot holes on a regular basis.

Of course Holmes will need to make plenty of birdies as there is never any shortage of them at TPC Scottsdale. With the course record of 60 shared by three men (Phil Mickelson, Grant Waite, and Mark Calcavecchia) you know you will have to go low here to complete.

Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish created a compelling course full of opportunities, rewards, and potential disasters at The Stadium Course and it provides plenty of entertainment value. It is part of what makes this event a spectator favorite.

In 2009 Kenny Perry became the oldest winner in Waste Management Phoenix Open history. At age 48 years, 3 months, and 21 days he defeated Charley Hoffman in a playoff. He will return to this event for the 23^rd time this year in defense of the title and should not be counted out. Over those years he has made the cut 17 times and been inside the top 10 six times.

Additional players to watch include three-time champion Mickelson, adopted local resident Michael Sim of Australia, as well as Ryan Moore and Matt Kuchar who both tied for 6^th here in 2009.

And youthful sensation Ricky Fowler will have the company of peers (age-wise at least) this week. The 4-spot Monday Qualifier was lead by two amateurs, the highly touted Phil Francis and the lesser known Braxton Marquez. Expect Francis, who transferred from UCLA to ASU, to possibly make his presence known.

Notes:

For the ninth straight year The Thunderbirds (tournament hosts) will honor the men and women who actively serve in law enforcement, fire prevention, and the Armed Forces by inviting them to the tournament free of charge, including an accompanied guest.

The top rookies in the field include Fowler, Matt Every, Graham Delaet, and Derek Lamely.

There will be players in the field representing 13 countries.

–

This report provided to GolfWRX.com by Flagstick Golf Magazine (www.flagstick.com)

Ian Poulter Captures Matchplay Championship

Eric Schuster — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:50:47 +0000

“It’s been a long time coming. Five or six years of hard work, coming over to change my residency, to be living in America, to finally win over here … it means everything. And it’s just so pleasing to be able to finally say now I’m a winner on the PGA Tour.” The words of Ian Poulter after smacking Paul Casey around the yard in the 36 hole World Match Play Championship final. Finally playing as well as he dresses, Mr. Poulter capped off his week in style, winning the all England final 4 and 2 in a match that really wasn't that close. For Mr. Casey this is the second thumping in as many years he's endured in the finals of this event.

Despite the fact he's won 8 times in Europe and owns a 5-2 Ryder Cup record Mr. Poulter is more famously know for his mouth and his fashion sense. Remember when he intimated he was on a level with one Tiger Woods when he was playing well? Hmmm. At least as brash as some of the clothes he designs and wears. “For me it’s a business, and one that I’m very passionate about,”Mr. Poulter said. “And I take pride and care on how I present myself on the golf course. And a lot of people haven’t really seen it that way over the last few years.” Indeed they haven't, the Union Jack pants created a minor ruckus as I recall, but then I haven't heard him refered to as the "Peacock of the Fairways" as Doug Sanders was known in his prime. Style is good on the golf course, as is having a great short game.

I always find it difficult to get terribly excited about this event most years, given that this is an Olympic year made it even harder. Despite the fact more TV time is taken up with commercials or Bob Costas there is still something oddly fascinating about curling during prime time. While match play has been the mainstay of amateur golf for as long as golf has been played, it's not television friendly. In an age where we all have an attention span lasting as long as it takes to hurtle down a ramp on really long skis, fly into the air down a mountain, and land upright, match play takes forever and three days to be played. Most of that time is consumed with walking from shot to shot. No Virginia it's not a hockey game, its a prescription for insomnia.

The excitement for the week, at least in the golf world, was Tiger Woods' public statement on Friday. For those not familiar with 12 step recovery programs, making amends is a big part of the recovery process. What Mr. Woods accomplished Friday was making his public amends to those people who only know him from his very public life. Nervous and unsettled only made the delivery that much more believable. That was the real TW ,not the corporate logo but the person himself for perhaps the first time in years in front of the cameras without the armor that golf provides him. It took a lot of courage to stand up and make a public apology. He didn't have to, after all the guy can isolate himself as well as anyone in the world because he has the cash to hire several regiments of protection, but he did and I applaud him for taking a step on the way to recovery.

Ernie Els made the news with his comments that Mr. Woods was selfish for holding his public apology session during the World Match Play Championship. Shut up Ernie! The guy made you richer than you ever imagined and you feel the need to bash him as selfish? Why, because he draws more attention than you? Get over yourself. We've all witnessed the most spectacular crash and burn ever, from king of the world to sleazy tabloid idol and you need to smack him again? Maybe I'm a tad sensitive because I am all too familiar with failings that have been called those of a moral degenerate among others things. I know the illness and disease of addiction and the devastation brought into the life of the individual and their family. It's pain, discomfort, a lot of soul searching, but treatable over time. Cut the man some slack, and be grateful it's not you in his position.