2014 Tour Championship | Wei Under Par

Sep

14

2014

Should the Ryder Cup captain’s picks be selected after the Tour Championship?

By Stephanie Wei under Ryder Cup

American Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson announced his wildcard picks in a glitzy press conference in New York City the day after the conclusion of the Deutsche Bank Championship. Just a day earlier, Billy Horschel had the chance to tie clubhouse leader Chris Kirk with a birdie on the par-5 18th, but he chunked his second shot into the hazard guarding the green (and it was so bad that it almost came up short). That probably didn’t give Watson the best impression of Horschel.

However, less than a week later, Horschel redeemed himself with a two-shot victory over Bubba Watson at the BMW Championship. That likely caught Watson’s attention, but unfortunately, it was a few days too late. Or maybe it wouldn’t have. After all, he didn’t pick Chris Kirk, who played alongside the world no. 1 Rory McIlroy over the weekend at TPC Boston and came out victorious at the DBC. So perhaps it still wouldn’t have been enough to sway Watson (though it should’ve)

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#2014 FedExCup, #2014 Ryder Cup, #2014 Tour Championship, #Billy Horschel, #Chris Kirk, #East Lake Golf Club, #Gleneagles, #Hunter Mahan, #Keegan Bradley, #Rory McIlroy, #Ryan Palmer, #Webb Simpson

Sep

14

2014

Horschel bags bushel of bucks, wins Tour Championship, FedExCup

By Stephanie Wei under FedExCup

#455459112 / gettyimages.com

When Billy Horschel was younger, he would have strange dreams and they’d come true. For instance, when he was 10 years old, he dreamt he would get hit in the face with a baseball bat. It ended up happening. As he walked up the 18th hole, Horschel told his caddie Micah Fugitt that earlier this year he had a dream he would win the FedExCup.

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#2014 FedExCup, #2014 Tour Championship, #Colin Swatton, #East Lake Golf Club, #Injuries, #Jason Day, #Jason Goldsmith

Sep

11

2014

Rory defends remarks on Tiger, Phil (*Update)

By Stephanie Wei under FedExCup

#455267308 / gettyimages.com

In his pre-tournament press conference at East Lake on Wednesday, Rory McIlroy was asked whether the fact that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson had failed to qualify for the Tour Championship symbolized a changing of the guard. The world no. 1 replied, “No,” but he pointed out that Woods and Mickelson, the two faces of the game over the last two decades, were simply getting older. He also stated that they were “getting into sort of the last few holes of their career.”

Rory only declared the obvious reality and added that he would be dealing with the same issues that go along with aging in 20 years. Last I checked, Tiger and Phil aren’t 25 anymore. Tiger is indeed injured.

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#2014 Tour Championship, #Controversy, #East Lake, #Phil Mickelson, #Rory McIlroy, #Tiger Woods

Sep

10

2014

Ryder Cup practice match: Spieth/Zach vs. Rickie/Walker

By Stephanie Wei under Ryder Cup

Spieth teeing off no. 1

I was headed to the practice area late Wednesday morning at East Lake to chat with players and look for a good story on the eve of the Tour Championship. Well, sometimes the most fun ones are the kind you just happen to stumble upon. In other words, you’re at the right place at the right time.

That’s what happened today. I stopped to talk with Ryan Palmer’s caddie James Edmondson, who was waiting for his player on the first tee. As Palmer was teeing off, Rickie Fowler strolled up, then Jimmy Walker and Jordan Spieth.

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#2014 Ryder Cup, #2014 Tour Championship, #Gleneagles, #Jimmy Walker, #Jordan Spieth, #Rickie Fowler, #Zach Johnson

Sep

10

2014

Rory’s quote is one for the agers (#TigerandPhil)

By Stephanie Wei under FedExCup

#455167868 / gettyimages.com

With Rory McIlroy fixed atop the world rankings and Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson failing to qualify for the Tour Championship, it might be symbolic of a changing of the guard in professional golf.

In his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday morning, McIlroy wouldn’t say that exactly, but he did acknowledge that the two veterans, who have served as the faces of the game for nearly the last two decades, are getting older and more injury prone.