2011 PGA Championship Round Three Thoughts

Written by: Tony Korologos | Sunday, August 14th, 2011
Categories: European Tour • PGA Championship • PGA Tour • Pro Golf
Tags: PGA Championship

It was almost more entertaining reading the comments around the social networks about the third round, than the 3rd round was itself. Many media, fans and players are critical of the course and the leader board it has produced. That leader board features some relative unknowns which I think will hurt the ratings quite a bit.

Leaders

Brendan Steele and Jason Dufner share the lead going into the final round at -7. I watched them both closely on Saturday and both didn’t seem to feel many nerves. That is likely to change during the final round, when those who lack experience in those situations tend to melt down.

In The Mix

One shot back is HP Byron Nelson Championship winner and rookie Keegan Bradley. I watched Keegan closely at the Byron and I’m quite impressed with his maturity for being a rookie. And that win at the Byron was impressive, as the conditions were possibly the toughest of the entire PGA Tour season. The winning score was -3. What a story it would be for a rooking to notch two wins in his first year, one being a major.

Veterans Scott Verplank and Steve Stricker are definitely in striking range at -5 and -4 respectively. Stricker is capable of going very low, as he proved in his first round 63.

A large group is still in the mix at -2 which includes David Toms, Charl Schwartzel, Robert Karlsson, Adam Scott and John Senden. Should the leaders drop back a bit, which is likely, this group could easily produce a winner.

PGA Championship final round TV schedule

2011 PGA Championship Round Three Leader Board

Written by: Tony Korologos | Sunday, August 14th, 2011
Categories: Champions Tour • PGA Championship • PGA Tour • Pro Golf • Tiger Woods
Tags: PGA Championship

POS	Player	R1	R2	R3	TOT	TO PAR
1	Brendan Steele	69	68	66	203	-7
1	Jason Dufner	70	65	68	203	-7
3	Keegan Bradley	71	64	69	204	-6
4	Scott Verplank	67	69	69	205	-5
5	Steve Stricker	63	74	69	206	-4
6	Anders Hansen	68	69	70	207	-3
6	D.A. Points	69	67	71	207	-3
8	David Toms	72	71	65	208	-2
8	Charl Schwartzel	71	71	66	208	-2
8	Robert Karlsson	70	71	67	208	-2
8	Adam Scott	69	69	70	208	-2
8	John Senden	68	68	72	208	-2
13	Ben Crane	71	72	66	209	-1
13	Nick Watney	70	71	68	209	-1
13	Luke Donald	70	71	68	209	-1
13	Spencer Levin	71	70	68	209	-1
13	Brendon de Jonge	68	72	69	209	-1
13	Lee Westwood	71	68	70	209	-1
13	Jim Furyk	71	65	73	209	-1
20	Hunter Mahan	72	72	66	210	0
20	Francesco Molinari	72	71	67	210	0
20	Alexander Noren	70	72	68	210	0
20	Matt Kuchar	71	71	68	210	0
20	Bill Haas	68	73	69	210	0
20	Phil Mickelson	71	70	69	210	0
20	Ryan Palmer	71	70	69	210	0
20	Sergio Garcia	72	69	69	210	0
20	Scott Piercy	71	68	71	210	0
20	Brandt Jobe	68	69	73	210	0
30	Bill Lunde	71	71	69	211	1
30	Brian Davis	69	73	69	211	1
30	Kevin Na	72	69	70	211	1
30	Gary Woodland	70	70	71	211	1
30	Simon Dyson	68	72	71	211	1
30	Trevor Immelman	69	71	71	211	1
30	Mark Wilson	69	71	71	211	1
37	K.J. Choi	70	73	69	212	2
37	Ian Poulter	74	68	70	212	2
37	Bubba Watson	74	68	70	212	2
37	Johnson Wagner	71	69	72	212	2
37	Jerry Kelly	65	73	74	212	2
37	Jhonattan Vegas	70	68	74	212	2
43	Chris Kirk	72	72	69	213	3
43	Bryce Molder	74	69	70	213	3
43	Matteo Manassero	68	74	71	213	3
43	Robert Allenby	72	70	71	213	3
43	Harrison Frazar	72	69	72	213	3
43	Charles Howell III	72	68	73	213	3
43	Yuta Ikeda	73	68	72	213	3
50	John Rollins	72	72	70	214	4
50	Kyung-Tae Kim	73	71	70	214	4
50	Mike Small	73	71	70	214	4
50	Miguel Angel Jimenez	69	73	72	214	4
50	Johan Edfors	71	70	73	214	4
50	Robert Garrigus	70	70	74	214	4
56	Kevin Streelman	73	71	71	215	5
56	Ricky Barnes	69	75	71	215	5
56	Rory Sabbatini	73	69	73	215	5
56	Davis Love III	68	71	76	215	5
60	Zach Johnson	71	72	73	216	6
60	Andres Romero	72	70	74	216	6
60	Seung-yul Noh	71	70	75	216	6
60	Ross Fisher	71	69	76	216	6
64	Rory McIlroy	70	73	74	217	7
64	Padraig Harrington	73	69	75	217	7
66	Michael Bradley	70	74	74	218	8
66	Y.E. Yang	71	73	74	218	8
66	Rickie Fowler	74	69	75	218	8
66	Peter Hanson	71	71	76	218	8
70	Pablo Larrazabal	70	73	76	219	9
71	Edoardo Molinari	75	69	76	220	10
71	Ryan Moore	75	69	76	220	10
73	Sean O’Hair	71	73	77	221	11
73	Shaun Micheel	66	78	77	221	11
75	Paul Casey	72	72	78	222	12

PGA Championship Round One Thoughts

Written by: Tony Korologos | Friday, August 12th, 2011
Categories: European Tour • Golf • PGA Championship • PGA Tour • Pro Golf • Tiger Woods
Tags: PGA Championship • Phil Mickelson • Tiger Woods

I don’t pass up an opportunity to golf with my dad, especially at his fantastic club Hidden Valley CC. So yesterday when the email rolled in with an invite I hit record on the DVR to record round one of the PGA Championship and flew out the door. When I left Tiger Woods had played 5-6 holes and was -3. It was looking like he was in control of his game. I was amazed when I got back to find out that he’d apparently completely lost that control and finished with his worst ever opening score in a major championship, 77. Some how TW had lost 10 shots to par after I stopped watching. Wow.

The quote below is very telling. It seems Tiger has no control over his shots at this point. I’m sure this isn’t good news to his swing coach Sean Foley.

“My shots don’t shape like they used to. I don’t shape the ball as much. I went ahead and, as I said, just played by feel and I just hit it, aimed too far right and it didn’t move. And a lot of fades out there did the same thing. I aimed left for a fade and it doesn’t move, it moves about a yard or two and I’m used to having it cut a lot more than that. And my draw used to move a lot than that as well.” ~Tiger Woods following first round of 2011 PGA Championship

Steve Stricker posted a major championship record tying 63 yesterday. I’d sure love to see him win a major. Stricker is certainly one of those who could qualify as “current best player who hasn’t won a major.” I just wonder if he can keep it together all weekend. Typically super low rounds aren’t followed up by another.

Rory McIlroy should have dropped away from that tree root yesterday. Round two is underway as I write this and his wrist is wrapped as he has some tendon damage. Judging from his swings, he’s a bit worried about it but he’s still hitting some great shots.

I’m very surprised by the performance of Jerry Kelly who shot a 65 yesterday (2nd) and Shaun Micheel shooting 66. What is it with Micheel and the PGA? Just plays well in this event?

Phil Mickelson was quite outspoken about his low opinion of the design work on the course by Rees Jones, namely the very long par-3 holes. He was saying that these holes were fine for tour play, but too hard for the average golfer. Strangely though, some of what he said was removed from the transcripts from the event. Hmmm. Phil is still in it, shooting a +1 71.

There are many other interesting story lines from day one, but I can’t possibly cover them all. Comment in your thoughts.

2011 PGA Championship Round One Leader Board

Written by: Tony Korologos | Friday, August 12th, 2011
Categories: European Tour • PGA Championship • PGA Tour • Pro Golf • Tiger Woods
Tags: PGA Championship • Phil Mickelson • Rory McIlory • Tiger Woods

2011 PGA Championship Round One Leader Board

1	Steve Stricker	-7	63
2	Jerry Kelly	-5	65
3	Shaun Micheel	-4	66
4	Scott Verplank	-3	67
T5	Brendon de Jonge	-2	68
T5	Matteo Manassero	-2	68
T5	Davis Love III	-2	68
T5	John Senden	-2	68
T5	Bill Haas	-2	68
T5	Brandt Jobe	-2	68
T5	Anders Hansen	-2	68
T5	Simon Dyson	-2	68
T13	Bob Sowards (CP)	-1	69
T13	Adam Scott	-1	69
T13	Stewart Cink	-1	69
T13	Brendan Steele	-1	69
T13	Brian Davis	-1	69
T13	Miguel Angel Jimenez	-1	69
T13	Mark Wilson	-1	69
T13	Trevor Immelman	-1	69
T13	D.A. Points	-1	69
T13	Ricky Barnes	-1	69
T23	Gary Woodland	E	70
T23	Jason Dufner	E	70
T23	Luke Donald	E	70
T23	Nick Watney	E	70
T23	K.J. Choi	E	70
T23	Robert Garrigus	E	70
T23	Alexander Noren	E	70
T23	Pablo Larrazabal	E	70
T23	Jhonattan Vegas	E	70
T23	Robert Karlsson	E	70
T23	Rory McIlroy	E	70
T23	Camilo Villegas	E	70
T23	Michael Bradley	E	70
T36	Ross Fisher	+1	71
T36	Phil Mickelson	+1	71
T36	Peter Hanson	+1	71
T36	Spencer Levin	+1	71
T36	Keegan Bradley	+1	71
T36	Bill Lunde	+1	71
T36	Jim Furyk	+1	71
T36	Steve Marino	+1	71
T36	Johan Edfors	+1	71
T36	Johnson Wagner	+1	71
T36	Y.E. Yang	+1	71
T36	Justin Rose	+1	71
T36	Ryan Palmer	+1	71
T36	Charl Schwartzel	+1	71
T36	Jason Day	+1	71
T36	Matt Kuchar	+1	71
T36	Lee Westwood	+1	71
T36	Zach Johnson	+1	71
T36	Jonathan Byrd	+1	71
T36	Ben Crane	+1	71
T36	Sean O’Hair	+1	71
T36	Scott Piercy	+1	71
T36	Seung-yul Noh	+1	71
T59	John Rollins	+2	72
T59	Tetsuji Hiratsuka	+2	72
T59	Andres Romero	+2	72
T59	Angel Cabrera	+2	72
T59	David Toms	+2	72
T59	Paul Casey	+2	72
T59	Charles Howell III	+2	72
T59	Stuart Smith (CP)	+2	72
T59	David Horsey	+2	72
T59	Chris Kirk	+2	72
T59	Brian Gay	+2	72
T59	Martin Kaymer	+2	72
T59	Sergio Garcia	+2	72
T59	Hunter Mahan	+2	72
T59	Robert Allenby	+2	72
T59	Harrison Frazar	+2	72
T59	Francesco Molinari	+2	72
T59	Steve Schneiter (CP)	+2	72
T59	Kevin Na	+2	72
T78	Kevin Streelman	+3	73
T78	Charlie Wi	+3	73
T78	Martin Laird	+3	73
T78	Alvaro Quiros	+3	73
T78	Padraig Harrington	+3	73
T78	Scott Stallings	+3	73
T78	Bo Van Pelt	+3	73
T78	Mark Brooks	+3	73
T78	Brad Lardon (CP)	+3	73
T78	Yuta Ikeda	+3	73
T78	Mike Small (CP)	+3	73
T78	Hiroyuki Fujita	+3	73
T78	Rory Sabbatini	+3	73
T78	Steve Elkington	+3	73
T78	K.T. Kim	+3	73
T93	Stephen Gallacher	+4	74
T93	Ian Poulter	+4	74
T93	Bubba Watson	+4	74
T93	Thomas Bjorn	+4	74
T93	Sean Dougherty (CP)	+4	74
T93	J.J. Henry	+4	74
T93	Fredrik Andersson Hed	+4	74
T93	Ernie Els	+4	74
T93	Anthony Kim	+4	74
T93	Brandt Snedeker	+4	74
T93	Rickie Fowler	+4	74
T93	Rich Beem	+4	74
T93	Bryce Molder	+4	74
T93	Graeme McDowell	+4	74
T93	Cameron Tringale	+4	74
T108	Ryan Moore	+5	75
T108	Edoardo Molinari	+5	75
T108	Jeff Overton	+5	75
T108	Jeff Sorenson (CP)	+5	75
T108	Webb Simpson	+5	75
T108	Marty Jertson (CP)	+5	75
T108	Charley Hoffman	+5	75
T108	Ryuji Imada	+5	75
T108	Dustin Johnson	+5	75
T108	Retief Goosen	+5	75
T108	Geoff Ogilvy	+5	75
T119	Craig Stevens (CP)	+6	76
T119	Vijay Singh	+6	76
T119	David Hutsell (CP)	+6	76
T119	Gregory Bourdy	+6	76
T119	Louis Oosthuizen	+6	76
T119	Tom Gillis	+6	76
T119	Thomas Aiken	+6	76
T119	Fredrik Jacobson	+6	76
T119	Raphael Jacquelin	+6	76
T119	Jeff Coston (CP)	+6	76
T129	Mike Northern (CP)	+7	77
T129	Faber Jamerson (CP)	+7	77
T129	Wenchong Liang	+7	77
T129	Tiger Woods	+7	77
T129	John Daly	+7	77
T129	Jerry Pate	+7	77
T129	Aaron Baddeley	+7	77
T129	Jamie Donaldson	+7	77
T129	D.J. Trahan	+7	77
T138	Brendan Jones	+8	78
T138	Arjun Atwal	+8	78
T138	Rob Moss (CP)	+8	78
T138	Dan Olsen (CP)	+8	78
T138	Jose Maria Olazabal	+8	78
T138	Larry Nelson	+8	78
T138	Darren Clarke	+8	78
T138	Robert McClellan (CP)	+8	78
T146	Rocco Mediate	+9	79
T146	Richard Green	+9	79
T148	J.B. Holmes	+10	80
T148	Scott Erdmann (CP)	+10	80
T148	Lucas Glover	+10	80
T148	Heath Slocum	+10	80
T152	Daniel Balin (CP)	+11	81
T152	Tommy Gainey	+11	81
154	Todd Camplin (CP)	+12	82
T155	Ryo Ishikawa	+15	85
T155	Brian Cairns (CP)	+15	85

Tiger to play in PGA Championship

Written by: Tony Korologos | Sunday, July 31st, 2011
Categories: PGA Championship • PGA Tour • Pro Golf • Tiger Woods
Tags: PGA Championship • Tiger Woods

Yesterday Tiger Woods’s agent Mark Steinberg announced that Tiger would be playing in the 2011 PGA Championship. As expected, the golf media went nuts and is still going nuts about this “news.”

Use your brains folks. It stands to reason that if Tiger is healthy and ready enough to play the lesser WGC Bridgestone Invitational next week he’d certainly be playing in the PGA Championship.

That being said, following Tiger’s performance this coming week at the Bridgestone I can definitely see some pontificating in the media about Tiger’s state of readiness for the PGA Champ and I’m sure I’ll do the same.

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