Jordan Spieth
Anything interesting happen in professional golf over the last few weeks? Actually, I wouldn’t know much other than Jordan Spieth set the record for most prize money ever, at somewhere around $22 million. He won the FedEx Cup Reset Cup. When I saw him play as an amateur at the age of 16 (picture) I was sure he was amazing, but had no idea anyone could rake in that kind of dough in prize money in one year.
Yes, a great year. Player of the year for sure. I have/had no interest in the Reset Cup.
Recently Comcast, or as I like to call them “Crapcast,” doubled my TV bill. That was the deciding factor in my cutting the cable and going to NO TV. None. No golf. Nothing. It has been quite nice.
Though I’ve attended and covered many professional “tour” events, I find it quite uninteresting to watch other people play golf, as good as they may be. I’ve watched many greats up close and personal including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Jordan Spieth, Fred Couples, Rory McIlroy, Chi Chi Rodriguez, John Duval (I know what I’m typing), Lee Trevino…. dozens of others.
The pros are great but after I watch them hit a few shots in person I realize one thing:
I’d rather play golf than watch other people play it.
There are some occasions where that’s not the case. The Masters? I’d rather watch it. British Open? Watch it. U.S. Open? Maybe. PGA Championship? Meh. Presidents Cup? Not interested. Ryder Cup? Okay, I watch that…
Where am I going with this drivel? This is a blog. I don’t have to go anywhere. As much as I’ve struggled this year with my game and my attitude, I’ve not watched much golf nor played as much. My last round, one of those nuggets the golf gods throw struggling golfers, might keep me in the game for a bit. Even par. Kind of like making a blackjack on the last hand in Vegas, that round will get me coming back, but golf hasn’t fooled me this time.
PGA TOUR
The Barclays
Dates: Aug. 27-30
Venue: Plainfield Country Club, Edison, N.J.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 2-6 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 2-6 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday Noon-1:30 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Kicking off the FedExCup Playoffs: The PGA TOUR 2014-15 regular season concluded last week after 43 events and the top-125 in the FedExCup standings earned their 2015-16 PGA TOUR cards and became eligible to compete in the Playoffs. 121 players are currently in the field this week, and the top-100 in the standings following Sunday’s final round will be eligible to compete in next week’s Deutsche Bank Championship near Boston.
Mahan defends: Hunter Mahan won by two shots for his sixth career PGA TOUR win.
Headlining the field: Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Jimmy Walker, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Zach Johnson, Patrick Reed and Robert Streb.
WEB.COM TOUR
WinCo Foods Portland Open
Dates: Aug. 27-30
Venue: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club (Witch Hollow Course), North Plains, Oregon
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 6-8:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 8-10 p.m. (Tape delay)
Saturday 7-9:30 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 7-9:30 p.m. (Live) / 5-6 a.m. (Monday replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Finalizing “The 25”: The top-25 on the Web.com Tour money list following Sunday’s final round will earn their 2015-16 PGA TOUR card. Players finishing 26-100 on the money list will be eligible to compete for 25 additional PGA TOUR cards in the four-event Web.com Tour Finals, along with players having finished 126-200 in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup standings.
Headlining the field: Patton Kizzire, Martin Piller, Dawie van der Walt, Peter Malnati, Smylie Kaufman, Wes Roach, Si Woo Kim, Kelly Kraft, Shane Bertsch and Abraham Ancer.
LPGA TOUR
Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic
Dates: Aug. 27-30
Venue: RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill (Senator Course), Prattville, Ala.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-6 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 5-7 p.m. (Live) / 5-6 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 5-7 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Henderson to be featured in “Rookie Spotlight” during Friday’s coverage: 17-year-old Brooke Henderson – who was granted LPGA Tour membership last week after winning the Cambia Portland Classic – will be featured in “Rookie Spotlight” during Friday’s second round coverage.
Hur defends: Mi Jung Hur finished four shots ahead of Stacy Lewis for his second career LPGA Tour victory.
Headlining the field: Stacy Lewis, Brooke Henderson, Lexi Thompson, Brittany Lincicome, Anna Nordqvist, Brittany Lang, Angela Stanford, Charley Hull and Cheyenne Woods.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Dick’s Sporting Goods Open
Dates: Aug. 28-30
Venue: En-Joie Golf Course, Endicott, N.Y.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Friday 6-8 p.m. / 4-6 p.m. (Streaming on Golf Live Extra)
Saturday 3-5 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 2-5 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 a.m. (Monday replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Langer defends: Bernhard Langer finished one stroke ahead of Woody Austin and Mark O’Meara for his 23rd career Champions Tour win.
Headlining the field: Bernhard Langer, Jeff Maggert, Kenny Perry, Mark O’Meara, Jay Haas, Marco Dawson, Kevin Sutherland, Joe Durant, Woody Austin and Lee Janzen.
EUROPEAN TOUR
D+D Real Czech Masters
Dates: Aug. 27-30
Venue: Albatross Golf Resort, Prague, Czech Republic
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 5-7 a.m. / 9-11:30 a.m. (Live)
Friday 5-7 a.m. / 9-11:30 a.m. (Live)
Saturday 7-11 a.m. (Live)
Sunday 6:30-11 a.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Headlining the field: Victor Dubuisson, Eddie Pepperell, Thorbjorn Olesen, Peter Uihlein, David Horsey, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Bradley Dredge, Gregory Bourdy and James Morrison.
Ranking
8-17-15 |
Name |
Events Played |
| 1 |
Jordan Spieth |
56 |
| 2 |
Rory McIlroy |
46 |
| 3 |
Jason Day |
39 |
| 4 |
Bubba Watson |
45 |
| 5 |
Justin Rose |
52 |
| 6 |
Jim Furyk |
42 |
| 7 |
Dustin Johnson |
40 |
| 8 |
Rickie Fowler |
53 |
| 9 |
Henrik Stenson |
52 |
| 10 |
Sergio Garcia |
49 |
| 11 |
Zach Johnson |
52 |
| 12 |
Adam Scott |
42 |
| 13 |
Louis Oosthuizen |
46 |
| 14 |
Jimmy Walker |
53 |
| 15 |
Matt Kuchar |
54 |
| 16 |
Hideki Matsuyama |
53 |
| 17 |
Brooks Koepka |
56 |
| 18 |
Patrick Reed |
57 |
| 19 |
J.B. Holmes |
46 |
| 20 |
Branden Grace |
57 |
| 21 |
Martin Kaymer |
55 |
| 22 |
Shane Lowry |
52 |
| 23 |
Billy Horschel |
57 |
| 24 |
Phil Mickelson |
44 |
| 25 |
Chris Kirk |
51 |
| 26 |
Danny Willett |
56 |
| 27 |
Paul Casey |
52 |
| 28 |
Brandt Snedeker |
52 |
| 29 |
Bernd Wiesberger |
59 |
| 30 |
Bill Haas |
53 |
| 31 |
Marc Leishman |
51 |
| 32 |
Kevin Na |
53 |
| 33 |
Robert Streb |
51 |
| 34 |
Ian Poulter |
48 |
| 35 |
Lee Westwood |
54 |
| 36 |
Kevin Kisner |
57 |
| 37 |
Ryan Palmer |
48 |
| 38 |
Anirban Lahiri |
54 |
| 39 |
Gary Woodland |
51 |
| 40 |
David Lingmerth |
57 |
| 41 |
Thongchai Jaidee |
62 |
| 42 |
Jamie Donaldson |
55 |
| 43 |
Ryan Moore |
48 |
| 44 |
Russell Henley |
53 |
| 45 |
Charl Schwartzel |
60 |
| 46 |
Charley Hoffman |
53 |
| 47 |
Keegan Bradley |
54 |
| 48 |
Victor Dubuisson |
50 |
| 49 |
Francesco Molinari |
60 |
| 50 |
Marc Warren |
58 |
| 51 |
Webb Simpson |
49 |
| 52 |
Hunter Mahan |
53 |
| 53 |
Brendon Todd |
57 |
| 54 |
Danny Lee |
65 |
| 55 |
Byeong Hun An |
54 |
| 56 |
Tommy Fleetwood |
61 |
| 57 |
Steven Bowditch |
65 |
| 58 |
Joost Luiten |
54 |
| 59 |
John Senden |
55 |
| 60 |
Andy Sullivan |
57 |
| 61 |
Miguel A Jimenez |
50 |
| 62 |
George Coetzee |
56 |
| 63 |
Graeme McDowell |
51 |
| 64 |
Ben Martin |
55 |
| 65 |
Luke Donald |
52 |
| 66 |
Kiradech Aphibarnrat |
59 |
| 67 |
Alexander Levy |
59 |
| 68 |
Matt Every |
52 |
| 69 |
Scott Piercy |
41 |
| 70 |
Matt Jones |
53 |
| 71 |
Cameron Tringale |
59 |
| 72 |
Soren Kjeldsen |
57 |
| 73 |
Stephen Gallacher |
57 |
| 74 |
Alexander Noren |
19 |
| 75 |
Justin Thomas |
54 |
| 76 |
Richie Ramsay |
47 |
| 77 |
Brian Harman |
59 |
| 78 |
Brendan Steele |
52 |
| 79 |
Russell Knox |
57 |
| 80 |
Pablo Larrazabal |
54 |
| 81 |
Chris Wood |
47 |
| 82 |
James Morrison |
57 |
| 83 |
Harris English |
55 |
| 84 |
Daniel Berger |
49 |
| 85 |
Tyrrell Hatton |
55 |
| 86 |
Rafael Cabrera Bello |
57 |
| 87 |
David Howell |
60 |
| 88 |
Tim Clark |
40 |
| 89 |
Tony Finau |
54 |
| 90 |
Jason Bohn |
50 |
| 91 |
Cameron Smith |
33 |
| 92 |
Hiroshi Iwata |
53 |
| 93 |
Jason Dufner |
45 |
| 94 |
Eddie Pepperell |
50 |
| 95 |
Shawn Stefani |
46 |
| 96 |
George McNeill |
48 |
| 97 |
Graham Delaet |
49 |
| 98 |
Kevin Streelman |
56 |
| 99 |
James Hahn |
53 |
| 100 |
Troy Merritt |
52 |
| 286 |
Tiger Woods |
25 |
During the last couple of practice sessions on the putting green I tried the technique Jordan Spieth sometimes uses on shorter putts. He will actually look at the hole and execute his putting stroke. He’s not looking at his golf ball or having his head/eyes down in the stroke. Conceptually it is not that odd. Think about foul-shooting in basketball. The shooter is looking at the basket, not the ball. Well maybe anyone but Shaquille O’Neal. No idea what he was ever looking at.
It was weird trying this technique. I made the first one. It felt strange and was very odd to see the hole, then have the ball appear in my field of vision, let alone being on the proper line and then going into the hole.
I’d say using this technique I was making a large percentage of the putts in short range. I was surprised to make as many as I did without even looking at the ball. I suppose that means my stroke is fairly pure and consistent, even when I’m not looking at the ball.
Will I put this in play? Nope. I make a lot of putts and I’m very confident in my putting. No need to mess with something that isn’t broken.
Someone should have told that to Tiger Woods.
Naturally the press has gone into a complete Spiethgasm. Let’s face it, we haven’t see a player this good since Tiger Woods and the numbers prove it. By his 22nd birthday yesterday, Spieth had racked up five PGA Tour wins including two majors, the 2015 Masters and the 2015 U.S. Open. He’s already a lock for PGA Tour Player of the Year. When Tiger Woods was 22, he had six victories to his name, but only one major championship, the 1997 Masters.
For 15 years we’ve countlessly read and heard the nauseatingly repetitive debate in the press and on social media as to whether or not Tiger Woods would break Jack Nicklaus’s major championship record of 18. Woods has been sitting on 14 since 2008 and there is no part of his current game which would lead us to believe he will win even one more, let alone five more.
So the discussion has moved to Speith. At this early age he is already one major ahead of Tiger and unfortunately, that same discussion has begun: “Will Jordan Spieth break Jack Nicklaus’s major championship record?” Puhlease. Let’s not put the golf cart in front of the golfer. Even if he won two majors every year it would take him eight more years to tie Jack. So many things could happen between now and 18 majors for Spieth.
In my sick and twisted mind I thought it would be great to produce a top ten list of ways Spieth could guarantee failing to break Jack’s record. Someone had to do it. But 10 wasn’t enough.
Drumroll please… Top 15 ways Jordan Spieth can guarantee failing to break Jack Nicklaus’s major championship record:
#15: Retire early
#14: Baseline shifts
#13: Switch to an inferior golf club sponsor
#12: Unhealthy love affairs… with launch monitors
#11: Drop F-Bombs in front of small children
#10: Trash his body
#9: Treat the press and fans like crap
#8: Become a PR and brand puppet
#7: Become “Ranger Rick,” hitting flawless and perfect golf shots on the range but not being able to take them to the course
#6: Focus too much on “release patterns” and not enough on knocking a golf ball in the hole
#5: Focus too much on “traj” and not enough on knocking a golf ball in the hole
#4: Focus too much on “spin rates” and not enough on knocking a golf ball in the hole
#3: Fire swing coach and hire new one. Break swing down completely and rebuild it from scratch to “get better”
#2: Fire new swing coach and hire a newer one. Break swing down completely and rebuild it from scratch to get better… again.
#1: Fail to activate glutes
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