LPGA Pro of the Week - Week of 2/22/10

Known as one of the most famous women athletes in Japan, 24 year old Ai Miyazato’s ascent to the LPGA was much anticipated. Miyazato was an extraordinary junior player and was seen as the next big athlete in Japan, even as a teenager. She did not disappoint. She joined the Japanese Tour at age 18 and it did not take long for her to dominate. In her first three years on the JLPGA she gathered 12 wins and is still the youngest player to capture a JLPGA major championship at age 20. She now currently sits on 15 career JPAGA victories.

In 2005 she blew the competition away at the LPGA Q-School to gain her card here in the US on the LPGA. But it all wasn’t just hoorays, candy, and flowers; it was an uphill climb. She tasted small successes in her first 3 seasons, but was not able to cash in a victory. Her best money list finish in those first 3 years was 17th. But things changed in 2009. Miyazato got her first LPGA win in Europe at the Evian Masters, known as one of the biggest tournaments in the world. Her win there help capped her best LPGA season clinching her standing as 3rd in earnings.

Although Miyazato has yet to be victorious in an LPGA major, she has had some pretty good success in her career in the big ones. She has finished in the top 15 of each major at least once and has two T3 finishes (’06 LPGA Championship and ’09 Woman’s British). She is the torchbearer for Japan when it comes to bringing home a major in the LPGA, and I think her time is coming.

The forecast for 2010 is VERY good for Miyazato, considering she has already cashed in her 2nd career LPGA victory in the season opener in Thailand. She is looking to build off of her blistering final round that helped her sneak past tour vet Suzann Pettersen. Miyazato is also hoping she can do something in 2010 she has yet to do as a professional…win on US soil. She will no doubt get her opportunity, and by the way she played week one, she will be a force to be reckoned with as the season continues. This win was no flash in the pan; keep Miyazato on your radar all season long.

They Are and Always Will Be...

It's nothing like the 1980 Miracle on Ice, but on Sunday night the US hockey team defeated Canada on their home ice 5-3 in the Olympic Games. No it's not epic and it's not really that relevant, but to me it's just funny. This is a sport that over the decades has fallen from grace with most of America; a sport where in most of the US markets the teams are barely making money; a sport that is dominated by non-US players; a sport that is NOT the national sport of the US; a sport that IS the national sport of Canada. Yet, on the biggest world stage we once again showed that it doesn't really matter, we will always be the US and they will always have just enough French in them to fold and roll over. It's just another reason they are 'America's Hat.'

English Patience

Aside from my ineptitude of picking the bracket this past week, the big story at the WGC Accenture Match Play was the emergence of dominating young Euros, along with American struggles. Stewart Cink was the lone American in the event’s ‘Elite 8’ and was not able to advance any further. In fact in the ‘Sweet 16’ included only four Americans (Nick Watney, Brian Gay, and Ben Crane along with Cink). This group also included five young and talented Euros (Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald and Oliver Wilson), three South Africans (Reteif Goosen, Tim Clark and Charl Schwartzel), and even three Asian players (Ryo Ishikawa, Thongchai Jaidee and Jeev Milka Singh). Fan favorite and South American Camilo Villegas was the final member of this group.

The tournament started off with a bang as #1 overall seed Steve Stricker was upset by alternate Ross McGowan. In fact, by the end of day two there were no other #1 seeds left and only one #2 seed remained. When the weekend afternoon came around it was almost a European Ryder Cup-esque type ‘Final Four’ with Ian Pouler v. Sergio Garcia and Camilo Villegas v. Paul Casey. On there second 18 of the day on Saturday, the rain and winds picked up really affecting Sergio. Before you could even blink he was 6 down at the turn to Englishman Ian Poulter and his dreams were dashed 7 and 6 only three holes later. Villegas v. Casey, well that was a totally different story.

The two battled back and forth throughout the entire round, and they pushed each other so much they moved on to extra holes as the sun descended upon Tucson, AZ. The first few holes were closely contested and Villegas even pulled a rabbit out of his hat a few times to save himself. And on their 5th extra hole Villegas looked to have the match sewn up. After Casey missed a 12-foot par putt, Villegas had just a two and a half footer to move on to face Poulter. As dusk began to set in, this 23rd hole of the round was the final of the day…but not of the match. Villegas pushed the putt and the hole was halved, and the round had to be spilled over to Sunday early morning. It took only one Villegas hook off the 6th tee for Casey to prevail on the first hole of the day and the 24th of the match. So the stage was set for an all English final.

They teed it up following the one hole playoff, and Poulter, clad from head to toe in faded pink, got off to a great start building a four up lead on the second nine of 36 holes. But after he gave up two coming down the stretch of that nine, his lead was down to just two up after the first 18 holes. After a quick break the two went right back at it for the afternoon 18. Poulter again was hot out of the gates winning the first two holes and building a lead that wouldn’t get any closer than two up. When it was all said and done Poulter birdied the 16th hole to clinch up a 4 and 2 victory and the championship. Villegas took care of Garcia in the consolation match 5 and 4 giving the Colombian 3rd place.

This victory marked the 11th career win for the young brash Englishman, and his first win the US. Going unbeaten in six matches and seven rounds in the matter of five days is an incredible feat of good play and patience. It shows the kind of player he is becoming. Poulter has been close in majors finishing 13th or better in all four majors at one point in time, including a 2nd place finish at the 2008 Open Championship. He will be ready to roll at Augusta in April, and as it looks more and more like Tiger will not be a part of ‘The Tradition Unlike Any Other,’ Poulter is just as much of a favorite as anyone else. Congratulations to Ian Poulter on a big win in the US, and judging by the results of the Accenture Match Play, the US will have their hands full in the Ryder Cup.

PS – Congrats to Cameron Beckman on his 3rd career victory in Mexico at the Mayacoba Classic.

PPS - I know Tiger came out of hiding this week, to piss on Accenture's parade in Tucson. But I just don't have the energy to address this situation at the moment. All's I will say is that the apology seemed semi-heartfelt, and I know he just wants it all to go away.

LPGA Pro of the Week - Week of 2/15/10

Everyone knows Michelle Wie right? Well if you don’t you really haven’t followed much about golf let alone Woman’s Golf. Widely known as one of the biggest disappointments in ladies golf history, Wie has finally turned the corner in her game and more importantly her life. Growing up in Hawaii poised to be the biggest star in the game in just her young teens; Wie was pressured with burdens no one her age should have faced.

For much of her early life she was always the best. At age 10 she qualified for the Woman’s Amateur Pub Links championship. Three years later at age 13 she became the youngest ever to qualify for the Kraft Nabisco and US Woman’s Open. In both circumstances she also made the cut. A year later in 2004 she was given a sponsor’s exemption to play on the men’s tour in the Sony Open in her home state of Hawaii. Although she missed the cut, Wie fired a 68 in one of the rounds, which to this day is the lowest score for a female in a PGA event.

But when she turned pro at age 15 in 2005, her career took a huge step back. At that time she was seen as the Tiger Woods of woman’s golf, with huge expectations. Her camp (parents, agent, etc) had a bigger plan in mind, wanting her to focus on playing in more men’s events. She participated in the John Deere Classic and 84 Lumber Classic on the PGA Tour later failing to make the cut and finishing near the bottom in both events. She also played in all of the big LPGA events, although she was not a member of tour because of the 18-year-old card requirements. Although she finished 3rd, 5th, and 3rd in three of the woman’s majors in 2006, all of these expectations seemed a little too much for Wie. She failed to win any time she teed up and fell into a downward spiral.

Rock bottom hit in 2007 where she performed miserably on the men’s Tour in the Sony Open again, but even worse she withdrew nearing the end of her round in the LPGA’s Ginn Tribute due to a wrist injury. Her withdraw came into question because she was on pace to shoot an 88, which if she carded, due to an LPGA rule would have banned her from tour for a year. More poor finishes in 2007 made it seem like Wie’s career would just be one of those unfulfilled potential stories. But after a small hiatus from golf Wie came back refreshed in 2008 and 2009.

In 2009 she finally jumped into the winner’s circle at World #1 Lornea Ochoa’s Invitation in Mexico. This marked her first career professional victory, and the start of a very promising season. Wie really did not have an overly successful major season in 2009, but had her most profitable season since become a pro. She made 17 of 19 cuts winning once and accumulating over $900,000 in earnings landing her at 14th on the money list. Wie was also a member of the winning 2009 US Solheim Cup Team where she was a dazzling 3-0-1.

Wie is gaining back that respect among the media and more importantly her peers. She seems to be more comfortable with her game, and more relaxed on where she is at in her career. Even more importantly she seems to be having fun playing the game, something that seemed to leave her in those down years. Now at age 20 those expectations are coming back slowly but surely. She is now ranked 10th in the World Rankings and is knocking on the door for that first major championship. I’m not sure if it will happen in 2010, but with all she has gone through, when she does get that big major win, it will be well deserved.

34.375% Ain’t Bad…It’s Horrendous

Thank God nobody reads this blog or I’d no doubt be swimming in a pool of derogatory comments towards my awful picks for the first round of the Accenture Match Play. 11 for 32…if this was my batting average I’d be ecstatic, but unfortunately it’s my results on something I like to think I am a pseudo-expert. It was not at all a good day for Jimothy and frankly I’m a bit embarrassed. I know this isn’t the NCAA Tournament where the difference between #1 and #64 is exponential, but c’mon, my performance was atrocious.

The Good: There really isn’t much I can say, but I’ll give it a shot. My champion and runner-up are still in the mix. Rory McIlroy and Sean O’Hair both semi-bailed me out as they cruised to victory and keeping a glimmer of redemption for my bracket. Also, as I predicted a number one seed went down…just not the guy I predicted. Good job Strick, way to defend that #1 overall seed.

The Bad: There is absolutely too much to name, but I will at least highlight the lowlights. Michael Sim. Okay I went out on a limb with this #9 seed and got burnt, but if he could’ve gotten by Ryo Isikawa, he would’ve had a #16 seed today. Henrik Stenson. I in no way could’ve seen an illness for the reigning Players Champion. He played one hole and quit…nice heart Henrik. But I’ll give you a pass for proving me right when I picked you as champ back in 2007. Ryan Moore. I assumed a guy who has had major success in match play format in his past would shine in this event. I assumed wrong. Basically every upset I picked didn’t happen and damn near every favorite I picked went down. LaMichael James thought I had a bad day yesterday.

If the forecast for Round One was dark and gloomy with heavy rain and lightning; I’m hoping Round 2 is steady drizzle. Guys that can help me today are Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Geoff Ogilvy, and Sean O’Hair. If somehow these six guys can win, it would actually be a pretty good day for me, but with the way my soothsaying is going, I wouldn’t want to be any of those players.

2010 Accenture Match Play Event - My Bracket

2010 Accenture Match Play Bracket

I know its tough to see, but above are my picks for this weeks WGC - Accenture Match Play. No Tiger, No Phil, No Problems. This is a chance for young up and comers and relatively unknown foreign-born players to make their mark. In my 2010 Tour Preview I picked Rory McIlroy to win this event, so I will stay with that prediction. The big surprise on my bracket is my selection of Austrailian #9 seed Michael Sim to the final four. I have previous winner and reigning Players Champion Henrik Stensen as consolation champion and American Sean O'Hair as the finals runner-up. I'm very excited for what I call the February Frenzy!!!

Leaving ‘Em in the ‘Dust - in’ Monterey…Again

For 25 year old Dustin Johnson, Pebble Beach Golf Links in Monterey California is more than just picturesque views and breathtaking scenery, it is his personal winner’s circle. In 2009 ‘DJ’ won the 54-hole rain shortened AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and as a defender in 2010, he captured some of that same magic. With his mammoth drives and iron shots Johnson skated around Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hills, and Monterey Peninsula courses to the tune of 18 under par thru three rounds. But in the end it was clutch putting that led to him kissing the crystal trophy on Valentine’s Day.

As the final round began, DJ and Tour veteran and good guy Paul Goydos shared an impressive 4-shot lead over big hitting JB Holmes and old collegiate sensation Bryce Molder. Johnson continued his onslaught of Pebble with eagle at the par 5 sixth, but as they turned home things began to tighten up. A few bogeys from DJ gave Goydos the lead and opened the door to the rest of the field including 2001 World Number One David Duval. And then the 14th hole happened and changed the entire outlook of the tournament.

Always known as one of the most difficult par 5’s on tour the 14th at Pebble winds thru the pines and has the trickiest green on the course, and it showed its bite on Sunday. Duval started the struggle with a three-putt bogey, but that was nothing. Goydos and Johnson stood in the fairway as they witnessed Molder chip it back to his feet twice in-route to a quadruple bogey nine taking him straight out of contention. Not to be outdone in futility, Goydos chipped over, around, and thru the 14th green resulting in a matching nine removing him from contention and making it a three horse race.

Duval was first to post 15 under par and waited patiently for the surging Holmes and the leading Johnson. The first bullet was dodged for Duval, as the long-hitting Holmes was unable to birdie the par five finishing hole and posted a matching 15 under. But behind Holmes, DJ bogeyed the 17th to fall into a 3-way tie for the lead, but bounced back with a blistering drive down the middle of the 18th fairway. As Johnson reached the greenside bunker in two, Duval’s best chance to win was to hope DJ would not get up and down and force a 3-man playoff. Johnson put it inside 3 feet out of the trap and cleaned it up to secure his second straight win at Pebble.

For Duval, although he didn’t win, it is just further confirmation that he is on his way back. I don’t imagine he will ever duplicate his success in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, but with his runner-up performances at Pebble and Bethpage in the 2009 US Open he has made himself re-known. That 2nd in the Open has even gotten him invites to all the majors, including another crack at a green jacket. As for Johnson, this win has affirmed that he is one of the most exciting young players on Tour. He has ascended to 23rd in the World Rankings and seems to be picking up steam. A major may be in his future, and it could be sooner than we think as the 2010 US Open will be at a place he’s pretty darn familiar with…Pebble Beach.

LPGA Pro of the Week - Week of 2/8/10

Okay fine, here’s the profile all you pervs in blogland were waiting for. Ranked 59th in the world American LPGAer Natalie Gulbis, for better or worse, is one of the most recognizable faces on the ladies Tour. Diagnosed with maybe just a slight case of Anna Kournikova syndrome, she is known primarily for being the hottest little treat on the LPGA Tour. But there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Natalie. She may have an odd putting stance and a dippy-hitch in her golf swing, but there’s no denying that she’s got game.

Natalie grew up in Sacramento, California where she played high school golf, but found a way to graduate at age 16 where she went off to college at the University of Arizona. She only spent one year in Tucson and decided to turn pro in 2001 at the age of 18. She made 27 starts in her first full season in 2002, and through the 2006 season she had been known for being the best player on Tour without a victory. But that changed in 2007 where she won on international soil at the Evian Masters, one of the biggest non-major tour stops.

To date this victory is still her only LPGA win, although she has had many close calls. Natalie has also found small success in major championships. She has recorded at least one top 10 in each of the four majors in her career, topped by a 3rd place finish in the 2006 Kraft Nabisco. But she is still waiting to win the big one. In 2009 she battled injury and had her least profitable season only making 12 starts and recording just over 220,000 in earnings, although she was a member of the winning Solheim Cup team.

Natalie’s image and beauty is one thing that has kept her place in golf and formed her place in pop-culture. She had her own reality show on the Golf Channel recording her day-to-day life at her Las Vegas home. Natalie has also made many other TV appearances on hit shows like CSI Miami and Celebrity Apprentice. The forecast for Gulbis’ Tour success in 2010 is very unclear. I think if she is healthy and ready to play she has the game to have a very profitable season. Unlike Kournikova, Natalie has the talent and more importantly, the want-to to cash in on another victory or even her first major.

Steve's Super Sunday

Most of Sunday’s focus in the sports world was in Miami for the greatest sports spectacle of the year…The Super Bowl. Although my brother Jim called the big game I kept one eye on NBC’s first golf telecast of the season at the Northern Trust Open from famed Riviera Country Club in LA. With much of the early talk of the week stemming from Phil’s wedge or now referred to as ‘Groove-gate’ the real issue became the rain that battered SoCal for the first couple of rounds. Although play was never washed out, the rains came and made for muddy and slow conditions. And when all was said and done a new number two player in the world was named.

The human roller coaster ride Steve Stricker held on and was victorious at ‘Hogan’s Alley’ to move past the two time defending champion Phil Mickelson for second in the World Rankings. This also makes him the top rated player who is actively playing at the moment as Tiger continues with his sexual healings. Stricker played catch-up to Tour long-baller Dustin Johnson for much of the tournament as Johnson blistered out of the gates with a 64 and 67; including an ace on Friday. But DJ’s 74 on Saturday coupled with Stricker’s 66 led to a six shot advantage for Steve entering the final round.

Sunday was a minor struggle for the 42-year-old from Wisconsin, but he was able to stamp his name on the trophy with putts when he needed them. The finally healthy Luke Donald finished two strokes back in second while Johnson and big hitting JB Holmes finished in a tie for third. Phil Mickelson was in contention entering the weekend, but a 71 and 73 dashed all of his hopes at a 3-peat at Riviera leaving him with a T45.

This victory marked Stricker’s 8th career win his 4th win within the calendar year. Between all of his 2009 wins and World Golf Ranking Stricker was obviously already a part of ‘The Tradition Unlike Any Other.’ But the unfortunate thing right now is that Steve is in that group of players who have not won a major, and although winning at ‘Hogan’s Alley’ is extremely special, I think he’d trade in this Super Sunday for one in the second week in April. But you never know, with the way he’s playing, Stricker just might be ready for a Green Jacket fitting.

LPGA Pro of the Week - Week of 2/1/10

Currently ranked 10th in the Rolex Rankings American LPGAer Angela Stanford has come into her own over the past couple of years. At 32 she has become a veteran on the Tour, but before 2008 she had compiled only one Tour victory, and that came all the way back in 2003 at the ShopRite Classic. Stanford turned pro in 2000 and like so many current ladies on the LPGA Tour was a member of the Future’s Tour. After one year there where she tasted victory, she hopped aboard the big girl’s Tour.

Stanford was a successful junior player growing up in Fort Worth, TX where she compiled a very impressive resume. She stayed at home to become an even more successful collegiate player at TCU where she was a 4 time All American, 1999 WAC player of the year, and 9 time tournament winner. As mentioned above her professional career has been a little more of a slower ascent.

Stanford has had small success in major championships amassing five top ten finishes in her career including a 5th place finish in the ’09 LPGA Championship. Her biggest major moment came in the ’03 US Women’s Open at Pumpkin Ridge where she finished 72 holes tied atop the leaderboard with Hilary Lunke and Kelly Robbins. In the playoff Robbins faded and on the 18th green Stanford sunk a 30ft putt from off the green to momentarily tie Lunke. But not to be outdone the unlikely Lunke drained a 15 footer to take the championship. To this day this was Stanford’s best shot at major glory.

In ’09 Stanford found the winner circle again in the SBS Open at Turtle Bay and also made her 3rd Solheim Cup team appearance. She was part of the winning US team where she won her Sunday’s single match. The forecast for 2010 seems to be a pretty bright one for Stanford. She’s looking to build upon her two most profitable years on Tour with a career year. I don’t know if she will win her coveted major championship in 2010, but I wouldn’t count her out.

How Phillip Got His Grooves Back

Finally! Some controversy on the PGA Tour that has nothing to do with Tiger getting down with one of the chicks from his band of merry sluts. As many of you who keep up with the Tour know that in 2010 the PGA Tour passed a rule prohibiting ‘square grooves’ or ‘U grooves’ on clubfaces. These grooves have been known to produce excess spin making shots out of the rough stop on a dime, almost eliminating the penalty of a wayward tee-shot. The rule shows that ‘V-grooves’ are now the only acceptable kind of groove…until the weasel of all weasels found a loophole.
I have bitten my tongue when it comes to my disdain for Phil, but I’ll let it be known that I am not at all a Phillip fan. I audibly laughed when he bounced a driver off the hospitality tent at Winged Foot in the ’06 Open on his way to a crippling triple bogey. I was in the stands at the 16th green at Pinehurst in ’99 when he yacked a four footer on his way to losing to Payne Stewart, and I loved it. For years I have enjoyed Phil hitting the ball all over God’s creation in route to big numbers. But I will admit on Easter Sunday in ’04 I was with everyone else rooting for Lefty to win in Augusta, as it was better for the game if he was a major champion. I feel the same way when it comes to Sergio.

My dislike of Phillip stems from his reputation on the Tour along with his reputation amongst the public. Fans (and my brother from another mother Jim Nantz) love Lefty, and there’s no denying that, but the players as a whole…well let’s just say he isn’t well embraced. And that has come to the forefront this past week at the Farmers Insurance Open when Tour journeyman Scott McCarron basically accused Mickelson of cheating by using a Ping wedge with U grooves. It was apparent that the piece of equipment in question was not illegal, but was very, and I mean very, unethical.

Years ago The Karsten Company (Ping manufacturer) sued the PGA and won in regards to outlawing their old ‘Eye 2’ irons because of the U grooves. Basically the ruling stated that these clubs could not be prohibited from play. This court order created a loophole from the new rule on tour concerning clubface grooves in regards to Ping Eye 2 irons. Enter Phillip.

Golf is a competitive sport, and like any other sport a competitive advantage is key. It’s tough for me to totally blame Mickelson for using this club, in fact just to know that the use of this club was not illegal shows he’s on top of his game; but I still see it as extremely unethical. I know what most of you are thinking. You’re saying to yourselves, ‘I don’t understand what the big deal is. He found a loophole and took advantage. Don’t hate.’ I also know that this is a new generation in the world of golf, but you still always have to remember the cornerstones in which golf was formed. It is a ‘gentleman’s game’ that stresses honor and integrity. It is a game where you are required to impose penalties on yourself, even if no one else saw the infraction. That is why what Phillip did was such a big deal.

This week at the Northern Trust Open Mickelson will not be slicing thru the kikuya rough at Riviera with his Ping Eye 2 wedge. This is obviously a proper decision based on the outrage that ensued following play this past week in San Diego. Also, McCarron apologized to Phil face to face in private and it was accepted. I’m sure this incident will blow over relatively quickly considering Tiger’s impending return to play will dominate the golf press in the possible near future. Also, I’m predicting redemption for Lefty. In a week of turmoil, I’m predicting he’ll rise to the occasion and successfully defend in Los Angeles.

This whole controversy, for whatever it is, will jump-start Phillip’s season with a trip to the winners circle. A ‘groove’ he is more than happy to talk about.

San Diego Legal

There is a pending investigation among officials in the LaJolla, CA area in regards to a competitor who was so accurate that his tournament G&R numbers at Torrey Pines were at 87.5%! The officals felt like no player should perform the way Benny Crane did at Torrey this past weekend. In order to defend himself against all accusations Crane wanted best possible attorney representation for the case and when made the call out East for famed TV power lawyer “Denny Crane.”

All joking aside tour veteran and previous two-time PGA Tour winner Ben Crane opened up a can on Torrey Pines Country Club to the tune of 13 under to claim his third career victory at the Farmers Insurance Open. Crane was able to hold on to his one stroke lead on the inward nine over Tour rookies Michael Sim, Alex Prugh, and long hitting Ricky Fowler along with two previous rookies of the year Brant Snedeker and Marc Leishman. But it was made perfectly clear on Sunday by Crane’s flatstick, that it was his tournament.

Crane has always been known as one of the best putters (and slowest players) on tour, but on Sunday he was just stealing. He rolled in a 40+ footer on the 6th and not to be outdone by himself drained a 50+ footer on the 11th,. And as he stood on the 11th green with a wiley smile that is when the cops should’ve been called. Although he continued to roll putts in left and right, the chase was on. Michael Sim (’09 Nationwide POY) was a player who made a name for himself at Bethpage in the Open (T18), made an even bigger name with his strong play at Torrey. Q-Schoolers were also in the mix: Alex Prugh finished with a second straight top 5 and the orange pant clad youngster Ricky Fowler amazed with his resilience.

But in the end, it was the perfect crime for Crane. Stealing putts all the way to Augusta National in April. Crane will make his 3rd career Masters appearance, and with his short game and accuracy, he just might have the game to make the biggest heist of his career…A Green Jacket. Congrats Benny Crane.