Marino reacts to missing eagle putt, while Wilson and Kuchar watch the ball
Another Sunday, another PGA Tour Confidential. We even had a cameo last night from Brad Faxon — basically, because he disagreed with something I said.
In this week’s edition, the SI Golf Group discusses Mark Wilson’s win at Waialae (is it refreshing to see shorter tracks like Waialae and contenders who actually hit fairways?), leaderboard watching, the best in the world competing at Abu Dhabi this week (and overshadowing the Bob Hope Classic), golf’s lack of an off-season and the LPGA denying Alexis Thompson’s petition.
Guess what? We didn’t bring up Tiger’s name once the entire night! /high-five! Here’s an excerpt from last night’s banter:
Michael Bamberger, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: Waialae is one of my favorite courses on Tour. Easy on the spectator, beautiful, sensible. Just lovely, and a course that gives players like Paul Goydos and Mark Wilson a chance.
Stephanie Wei, contributor, SI Golf+: I played Waialae years ago in college. I remember liking it, and after this week, I know why — all the dogleg lefts were perfect for a draw! But I found myself falling asleep a few times when I walked with rookie Nate Smith’s group the past few days because so many holes look the same. There’s a stretch on the back nine — 14, 15, 16 and 18 — that are ALL dogleg lefts. I mean, switch it up a bit! Some players called it a “bunter’s paradise.” Sets up great for shorter hitters, especially those who hit draws.
Brad Faxon, eight-time PGA Tour winner: I am not in Confidential this week, but the fade or dogleg right holes (5, 6, 9, 12, 13) make it seem pretty balanced to me! Also, just because a hole dog legs in one direction doesn’t mean the shot has to bend that way.
Morfit: I noticed Rickie Fowler, who hits a draw, didn’t bother to play this year after last year’s forgettable performance. Ryan Moore is also not a huge fan of the way the course fits his game.
And another bit from our chat on the Thompson/LPGA controversy:
Van Sickle: What’s the harm? Somebody played well enough to quality and you tell them they can’t. How is that fair? Lexi might be able to file a restraint of trade action against the tour, which is preventing her from earning a living even though she clearly is qualified.
Evans: Whan is probably doing the best thing by his tour, but it’s too bad for Alexis and her family. Women’s tennis has done well by letting teenagers play.
Wei: The ladies that got through Q-school are only guaranteed 9 starts (or 8 if they cancel Tres Marias, which looks like is going to happen). I keep going back and forth w/ the controversy because it isn’t the LPGA’s job to parent. They should let rising stars play, but maybe the parents shouldn’t be subjecting their daughters to the pro ranks at such a young age. Lexi will have plenty of playing opportunities. She’s going to Australia for two events in February. She’ll get through the Monday qualifiers. With the six sponsor exemptions, international events, U.S. Open and British Open (if she qualifies), that’s plenty.
Go here to read the discussion in full and chime in with your thoughts in the comments below.
Do you like watching the pros play on old-school shorter courses (as opposed to the bomb-and-gouge ones that have become the norm practically)? Do you think pros in contention should keep an eye on the leaderboard? Is golf’s off-season too short? Which tour is more talented, the PGA Tour or the European Tour? Do you enjoy celebrity pro-ams on the Tour? Should the LPGA give 15-year-old phenom Lexi Thompson more opportunities to play tournaments?
At the top the PGA and European tours are roughly equal (and which is better really depends on the weak).
The PGA tour depth though from the guy ranked about 10th -15th in the field on down is IMNSHO significantly better.
too short an off-season? what? when is that meme going to die?
they got 3 months off. i haven’t watched a tournament since the playoffs. and i don’t count nonsense like Tiger’s tournament or whatever as real tournaments. when was the last week of the playoffs–September? come on. are players still complaining? that’s ridiculous. and how many guys don’t even play until Florida anyway? if players are still whining about this, i’m really starting to think they’re all stuck-up crybabies.
let’s let A. Gonzales in to some tournaments, he’d appreciate it more than anyone.
the LPGA is dying for more tournaments, and these guys are crying about too long of a season. insane.
OK, I forgot about the fall leg but still, nobody plays in those. (Jonathan Byrd did fine carrying his momentum over a two-month break.) Players still get a lot of time off if they want it. I see no reason for this to be even in the discussion anymore.
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I don’t care if the course is short or long, I just want visually interesting and the Sony course is pretty boring.
Since it’s reported that the Thompson camp is happy with Whan’s decision, why is the golf media still second guessing it? Lexi will get plenty of starts this year. It was reported that Whan also said money list qualifying will be reviewed and potentially changed. In other words, this is the 2011 decision. I’m sure that if Lexi has another great year, there will be other petitions and decisions in 2012.
Also, for the benefit of your cohorts at SI, professional tennis has instituted age limits. Since ya’ll are supposedly journalists, I’ll let you research the exact details of the policy. Figure skating also has age limits.
As for the qualifying comment, Lexi is being given the opportunity to Monday qualify. The petition did not ask for LPGA membership, it asked for additional sponsor exemptions. So instead of being given a spot, Lexi (and other talented teens) can now qualify. The LPGA may have another Tadd Fujikawa story — not that it worked out so well for Tadd… but it was a great story at the time.