Zach Johnson: Beware the sick golfer

The first full-season event of the year reminds me of the first week of school. Walk out to the practice areas, which are compact and conveniently located at Waialae Country Club, and it’s packed with players, caddies, reps and the rest of the Tour circus, exchanging hugs and bro handshakes.

The vibe is chill but enthusiastic. Most the rookies aren’t hard to spot because they’re the ones with their eyes wide open and taking in the scene. Everyone is chatting happily and smiling.  After all, it’s the start of a fresh year and just look around — you’re in paradise.

The rookies and the veterans are all raring to get their seasons started. Twenty of the thirty who managed to play–and walk–54 holes on Monday and Tuesday to complete the wind-plagued Hyundai Tournament of Champions are also in the field at the Sony Open. They didn’t get much rest, either, since they were required to play in the pro-am on Wednesday. (continue reading…)

Scarlet fever: the US team struts its stuff in practice.

Keegan has gone for full colour coordination here — notice the red-trimmed shoes. That’s admirable attention to detail, and it marks him out as a team player. Plus, the Ivy League dandy look is very on trend.

Furthermore: (possibly NSFW)

Conor Nagle

The new BFFs

Since this was meant to be published yesterday, I’ll keep this concise and try to add to what you’ve already read and know. I was posting a bunch of my real-time opinions and analysis on Twitter. You know, like Tiger stepping out of the Port O’ Potty and not receiving a standing ovation like he did in 2002 for the same movement — the important details.

“I got a few claps, though,” Woods quipped after posting a scrappy three-under 68. (continue reading…)

I’m not sure what exactly I was trying to find on YouTube, but in the process I came across the below interviews from the Open Championship, where I worked as a presenter for @The Open Live, the official behind-the-scenes online broadcast of the championship.

I started with the one I liked better (not the player, silly), which was Zach Johnson, fresh off his second victory on the PGA Tour in 2012 at the John Deere Classic. (continue reading…)

Tiger fist-pump...for the win?

The last twosome — Graeme McDowell and Adam Scott — has just teed off, but the atmosphere has been buzzing with anticipation here at Royal Lytham &St Annes since early this morning. It’s already been a hectic day with the usual excited nervous energy that comes along with the final round at a major championship. What’s more, look at the names on the leaderboard. We’ve got Adam Scott (and Stevie Williams), Graeme McDowell, Brandt Snedeker, Tiger Woods, Zach Johnson and Ernie Els in the final three groups.

As we’ve seen with all the dramatic finishes this season, NO LEAD IS SAFE.

(continue reading…)

Zach and caddie Damon Green pay tribute to Damon's dad who last battle to stomach cancer 10 days ago

Just landed in Columbus for Jack’s tournament, the Memorial, this upcoming week — that’s right, after a two-week hiatus, I’m back on Tour. Woot!

While I was packing and hustling to catch my flight, I watched the last nine holes of the duel between Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner, who was gunning for his third win in four starts, at Colonial. It might as well have been match play since the rest of the field was too many strokes back to catch the duo. Turned out to be an intriguing finish in more than one way. (continue reading…)

After a very long hiatus, welcome (back) to this special edition of Balls in the Air, where I size up my Fantasy Golf picks of the week, featuring guys to watch (or not), and interesting story lines and tidbits from behind the scenes.

The usual poker-faced Dufner reacts with extra gusto on the 72nd hole in Dallas

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been OVER A YEAR since I last did a “Balls in the Air” post. I started to neglect Fantasy Golf, and when you’re on tour every week, there’s more work (obviously) than sitting at in my apartment behind my computer.

By the way, I started to get the shakes yesterday (Wednesday). It’s the first time this season that I’ve missed TWO CONSECUTIVE Tour stops. I’m sure everyone out there is missing me oh-so-dearly! Don’t worry, I’m fine, I hear the first few days of the shakes are bad, but if I can get through Friday, I’ll be OK. (continue reading…)

One for the family!

Matt Kuchar never seems to stop smiling. It’s nearly impossible to tell if he’s just made bogey or birdie because he has a perma-grin that kind of reminds me of the Joker. Don’t let the “aw, shucks” persona fool you, though. He clearly has the killer instinct to take down his opponents — not just on the golf course, but also on the ping pong table and tennis court — and win the biggest title of his career, The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s flagship event, often dubbed as the “fifth major.” (continue reading…)

Rickie? Nope.

Wow, has Rickie Fowler shrunk? Nope, it’s not him — it’s one of many fans dressed in Fowler’s traditional Sunday all-orange. The above picture is Ryder Sutcliffe, 12, of Jupiter, Florida, waiting on the second fairway during the final round of the Players Championship. (continue reading…)

Na says he can't hit a putt outside 2 feet if he doesn't line it up...

It’s no secret Kevin Na, the 54-hole leader at The Players Championship, is one of the slowest players on the PGA Tour — if not the slowest — but he is well aware of his problem and the criticisms.

He’s been under even more scrutiny than usual this week given his position on the leaderboard, but he’s handled it with candor, bearing his demons to the media (and the world) and throwing in some self-deprecating humor. That makes it hard not to sympathize with the difficult he has “pulling the trigger,” which causes him to back off the ball and go through his pre-shot routine more than once countless times throughout a round. (continue reading…)