GolfBlogger - A Daily Golf Blog Live From Michigan

Golf Is Everywhere: Ugly Lamp EditionSeptember 22, 2018Golf is everywhere: I spotted this perfectly hideous golf themed lamp at a local thrift store....
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Field Set for 2018 Senior LPGA Championship At French LickSeptember 21, 2018 Field Set for 2018 Senior LPGA Championship presented by Old National Bank Five World Golf Hall of Fame Members Highlight 81-Player Field The field for the second-annual Senior LPGA Championship presented by Old National Bank has been finalized. Major champions and Hall of Famers highlight the field of current and past LPGA stars who will compete from October 15-17, 2018 at the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in Indiana. The senior major championship will be held over 54 holes for a total purse of $600,000, where Trish Johnson (England) will be defending her 2017 title. The event will be televised live on Golf Channel from 4-6 p.m. ET during the three competition days. Of the 81 players competing for the 2018 Senior LPGA Championship title, five have received one of golf’s highest honors – induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Dame Laura Davies (class of 2015) won four major titles – the 1987 U.S. Women’s Open, the 1994 and 1996 McDonald’s LPGA Championship and the 1996 du Maurier Classic. She has notched 86 professional wins around the world, including 20 on the LPGA Tour and 45 on the Ladies European Tour (LET). Davies is considered the most successful British female player of all time, winning the LET’s Order of Merit seven times and representing Europe a record 12 times at the Solheim Cup. Earlier this season, Davies won the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open conducted by the USGA. Betsy King (class of 1995) did not win her first LPGA event until her seventh season on Tour. But that breakthrough opened the flood gates, as King went on to notch 34 victories, highlighted by three Nabisco Dinah Shore titles, two U.S. Women’s Opens and one LPGA Championship. King, who played on five U.S. Solheim Cup teams and captained the team to victory in 2007, is just as well known for her charitable endeavors. Her Golf Fore Africa charity brings clean water to impoverished areas of Africa, and numerous LPGA professionals are involved in the organization’s work. Juli Inkster (class of 2000) will be making her debut at the Senior LPGA Championship after missing the inaugural event because she was broadcasting the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open on FOX. Inkster became the first LPGA rookie to win two major championships in one season – the 1984 Nabisco Dinah Shore and the du Maurier Classic. Inkster is a 31-time LPGA Tour winner and seven-time major champion and is one of seven golfers to have completed the Career Grand Slam. She is also a nine-time member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team, and the captain of the victorious 2015 and 2017 teams; she is set to captain a record-setting third time in 2019. Hollis Stacy (class of 2012) gained golf stardom at an early age when she captured the 1970, 1971 and 1972 U.S. Girls’ Junior titles, a consecutive-wins streak that still stands. Her professional career was just as potent, as she counts the 1977, 1978 and 1984 U.S. Women’s Opens and the 1983 du Maurier Classic among her 18 career LPGA wins. JoAnne Carner (class of 1982) From 1956 to 1968, “Big Mama” (as she’s now known), was the most dominant woman in amateur golf and accumulated five U.S. Women’s Amateur titles. Carner turned pro and joined the LPGA in 1970 at the age of 30. She played full time between 1970 and 2004 and participated in 635 events, making 532 cuts and finishing in the top-10 256 times. She won 43 times, including two LPGA majors, the U.S. Women’s Open in 1971 and 1976. Three times she was named Player of the Year and five times she was awarded the Vare Trophy. King, Inkster and Carner have also been enshrined in the LPGA Hall of Fame, with those honors coming in 1995, 1999 and 1982, respectively. Including Davies, King, Inkster, Stacy and Carner there are 19 LPGA major champions slated to compete in the 2018 Senior LPGA Championship: Inkster (7), King (6), Davies (4), Stacy (4), Jan Stephenson (3), Brandie Burton (2), Carner (2), Jane Geddes (2), Donna Andrews (1), Helen Alfredsson (1), Jerilyn Britz (1), Pat Hurst (1), Christa Johnson (1), Cathy Johnston-Forbes (1) Jenny Lidback (1), Martha Nause (1), Liselotte Neumann (1), Nancy Scranton (1) and Catriona Matthew (1). Of the 19 major winners, nine were U.S. Women’s Open champions. Stacy won the U.S. Women’s Open three times (1977, 1978, 1984) while King won the U.S. Women’s Open back-to-back years in 1989 and 1990. Major champions Matthew and Geddes will also be making their debut at the senior major championship in 2018. In addition, the field includes Legends Tour champions Trish Johnson, Laurie Rinker and Lorie Kane, who all have won a tournament on the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort. Suzy Green-Roebuck and Kathryn Young-Robyn each received sponsor’s invites from French Lick Resort to compete in the senior major championship. There will be a qualifier held at The Pete Dye Course on Thursday, October 11, with the top two finishers gaining entry to the Senior LPGA Championship and rounding out the 2018 field. Practice rounds will begin on October 10th. The tournament will again benefit Riley Children’s Foundation, which is connected to Riley Children’s Hospital, the premier children’s hospital in the region. French Lick Resort is also host to the Donald Ross Classic at French Lick Resort, a Symetra Tour tournament held on The Donald Ross Course. Stephanie Kono won the 2018 title in July. *Full field is attached. About the LPGA The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla., the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing more than 30 countries. With a vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while the Symetra Tour, the official development and qualifying tour of the LPGA, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. Additionally, LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The LPGA demonstrates its dedication to the development of the game through The LPGA Foundation. Since 1991, this charitable organization has been committed to empowering and supporting girls and women through developmental and humanitarian golf initiatives, such as LPGA*USGA Girls Golf. Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via www.LPGA.com. Join the social conversation at www.facebook.com/lpga, www.twitter.com/lpga and www.youtube.com/lpgavideo, and on Instagram and Snapchat at @lpga_tour. About French Lick Resort French Lick Resort is a $600 million historic restoration and casino development spread dramatically across 3,000 scenic acres. It encompasses both the French Lick Springs Hotel and the West Baden Springs Hotel, which have been fully restored to their original sophistication and luxury, combine for 689 rooms and are located about one mile apart. The casino, built adjacent to the French Lick Springs Hotel, opened in 2006. West Baden Springs, with its spectacular massive dome, opened in 2007 after having not been used for its original luxurious purpose since 1932. Other facilities and amenities at this world-class golf resort destination include two spas with a 36 treatment rooms (they continue to offer the Pluto Mineral Springs bath), over 51,000 square feet of gaming space, 165,000 square feet of meeting space and a variety of dining and entertainment options. Free shuttle buses serve golfers and visitors from around the world. Visit www.frenchlick.com....
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Golf Themed Mouse and MousepadSeptember 21, 2018Golf Themed Mouse and Mousepad Ridiculous Golf Item of the Week...
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Forest Akers West Hosting GAM Junior Invitational Championship Saturday and SundaySeptember 20, 2018Forest Akers West Hosting GAM Junior Invitational Championship Saturday and Sunday EAST LANSING – Forest Akers West, home to the successful Michigan State University golf teams, is hosting the top junior boy and girl golfers in the state for the 6th GAM Junior Invitational Championship presented by Pepsi Saturday and Sunday. The field of 88 golfers, 48 boys and 40 girls, will play 36 holes of stroke play over the two days to determine a boy and girl overall champion as well as winners in the 15-and-under division. The players were invited by the GAM based on performances in a variety of state and national competitions in 2018. Forest Akers has two golf courses, East and West, and both were redesigned by Michigan State alumnus and highly regarded golf course designer Arthur Hills in 1992. The West plays from 5,278 yards to 7,013 yards with five tee positions and hosts the Big Ten home competition for the Spartans. The players in the field are familiar with the Forest Akers properties, which have hosted several GAM junior events as well as high school state championship tournaments over the years. Learn more at golf.msu.edu. Jasmine Ly of Windsor, Ontario, returns to defend her championship among the girls last year. She shot a final-round 69 a year ago for a two-day total of 143 and an eight-shot win over Danielle Staskowski of Clarkston and Mikaela Schulz of West Bloomfield. Staskowski is also in the field again this year. The boys’ defending champion, Parker Jamieson of Lansing, is no longer eligible having moved from the junior ranks on to college golf on the Michigan State men’s team. He shot 69 for 141 last year and topped Nick Krueger of Spring Lake, who shot a closing 68 for 142. Krueger is back in the field this year. Among the many notable players in the field this year are GAM Junior Stroke Play winners Tyler Hurtubise of Essex, Canada, and Lilia Henkel of Grand Rapids, and GAM 14-and-under Match Play winners Joe Murdock of Ada and Jolie Brochu of Goodrich....
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Under Armour Storm Golf Rain SuitSeptember 20, 2018 Under Armour Storm Golf Rain Suit Winter brings rain and cooler temperatures to many locales, so a good rain suit is always in order. This features:UA Storm technology repels water without sacrificing breathability Lightweight. 100% waterproof construction with fully taped seams 10K/10K Rating Mesh lining for greater breathability...
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PGA TOUR Championship PreviewSeptember 19, 20182018 TOUR Championship Dates: September 19-23, 2018 Where: East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga. Par/Yards: 35-35–70/7,385 yards Field: Top 30 in the FedExCup standings 2017 champion: Xander Schauffele Purse: $9,000,000/$1,620,000 (winner) FedExCup: 2,000 FedExCup points to the winner Format: 72-hole stroke-play Twitter name: @playofffinale Facebook: www.facebook/TheTOURChampionship FedExCup and the TOUR ChampionshipThe TOUR Championship is the last of four events of the FedExCup Playoffs and the finale to the PGA TOUR season for the 12th consecutive season since the FedExCup Playoffs were introduced in The top-125 players on the final PGA TOUR Regular Season FedExCup points list (following the Wyndham Championship) qualified for THE NORTHERN TRUST (won by Bryson DeChambeau). The top-100 players on the FedExCup points list following THE NORTHERN TRUST qualified for the Dell Technologies Championship (won by Bryson DeChambeau). The top-70 players on the FedExCup points list after the Dell Technologies Championship advanced to the BMW Championship, contested at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa. (won by Keegan Bradley) The top-30 players following the BMW Championship qualified for the TOUR Championship. Prior to the start of the TOUR Championship, a “points reset” will take place, giving all players in the field a mathematical opportunity to win the FedExCup title. The top-five players are in the most advantageous position and would claim the FedExCup with a victory at East A look at the 2017 TOUR Championship Xander Schauffele, who entered ranked No. 26 in the FedExCup standings, shot a final-round 2-under 68 to come from behind and claim his second PGA TOUR victory at just 23 years, 10 months, 30 days. With the win, Schauffele became the first PGA TOUR rookie to win the TOUR Championship and to win a FedExCup Playoffs event. The win was Schauffele’s second of the season, having captured A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier earlier in the year. Schauffele was named the PGA TOUR’s Rookie of the Year shortly following the TOUR Championship. Justin Thomas, who entered the week ranked No. 2 in the FedExCup standings, started Sunday’s final round five strokes back of leader Paul Casey, but fired a 4-under 66 – marked by five birdies and one bogey – to finish his round tied with Xander Schauffele for the TOUR Championship lead. Thomas’ FedExCup fate was determined by Schauffele’s score on the 18th hole. After Schauffele made birdie on the final hole to win the TOUR Championship, Thomas solidified his title as 2017 FedExCup champion. East Lake Golf Club Established in 1904, East Lake is the oldest golf course in the city of Atlanta. East Lake was the home course of World Golf Hall of Fame member Bobby Jones, and much of its clubhouse serves as a tribute to his accomplishments. Since 2004, East Lake has been the home of the TOUR Championship, the final event of the FedExCup Playoffs. The TOUR Championship was first played at the course in 1998. In 2016, the front and back nine holes at East Lake were reversed for the TOUR Championship, providing significantly more drama on the finishing holes from past years. The final five holes, in particular, have more potential for lead changes and provide more risk-reward opportunities, with the 18th hole a challenging but gettable par 5 rather than a long par 3. 2018 FedExCup Notes The top five in the FedExCup standings entering the TOUR Championship are in the most advantageous position and will win the FedExCup with a victory at East Lake GC. Top 5 in the FedExCupRank Player Wins Top-10s Events1 Bryson DeChambeau 3 9 252 Justin Rose 2 10 173 Tony Finau 0 11 274 Dustin Johnson 3 11 195 Justin Thomas 3 9 22 Bryson DeChambeau – No. 1 (2,000 points) If he wins the TOUR Championship, he wins the FedExCup Has a reasonable chance of winning with a top-6 finish Can finish as low as 29th and still have a mathematical chance of winning Thanks to three victories this season (the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, THE NORTHERN TRUST, Dell Technologies Championship), Bryson DeChambeau enters the TOUR Championship at the top of the FedExCup standings. DeChambeau is joined by Dustin Johnson (4), Justin Thomas (5) and Bubba Watson (8), as one of four players to capture three victories this season. DeChambeau closed with a 4-under 68 to finish second at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, three strokes behind Rory McIlroy. The solo runner-up finish represented his second in 56 starts on the PGA TOUR and moved him inside the top 20 in FedExCup standings for the first time this season. In his second start at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, DeChambeau made birdie on the second playoff hole (No. 18) of sudden death to defeat Kyle Stanley and Byeong Hun An for his second career victory in his 62nd career start. The victory pushed him inside the top 10 in the FedExCup standings. At 24 years, 8 months, 18 days, Dechambeau became the fourth youngest winner in the Memorial Tournament history behind Hideki Matsuyama’s 2014 win and Tiger Woods’ 1999 and 2000. DeChambeau won the first two FedExCup Playoffs events (THE NORTHERN TRUST and Dell Technologies Championship) to become the sixth player to win back-to-back FedExCup Playoffs events (Billy Horschel, 2014) and joined Vijay Singh (2008) as the only players to win the first two Playoffs events. His two-shot win at the Dell Technologies Championship extended his lead in the FedExCup standings over Dustin Johnson and marked his fourth PGA TOUR win in his 70th career start, the fewest by any player to get four wins since Rory McIlroy (50th start). DeChambeau has recorded top-10 finishes in 9 of 25 starts this season, five of which were top-3 finishes. This is DeChambeau’s first trip to the TOUR Championship after finishing 49th in the standings last season. Year Final Rank Began Playoffs TNT Dell Tech BMW Champ TOUR Champ2017 49 40 CUT (48) T30 (44) T33 (49)20189 1 (1) 1 (1) T19 (1) Justin Rose – No. 2 (1,800 points)If he wins the TOUR Championship, he wins the FedExCup Has a reasonable chance of winning with a top-3 finish Can finish as low as 9th and still have a mathematical chance of winning Justin Rose’s 2017-18 season started off on a winning note when he claimed his second career World Golf Championships title at the WGC-HSBC Champions. Rose came from eight shots back on the final day to win with a closing 67, shooting an inward 31 to beat overnight leaders Dustin Johnson by two shots. The eight-stroke come-from-behind victory was better than any previous comeback in Rose’s career. Paired with eventual-winner Rory McIlroy, Rose closed with a bogey-free 67 to finish alone in third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, where he led the field in birdies (24) and returned to the top 10 in the standings. Rose’s three-stroke win over Brooks Kopeka at the Fort Worth Invitational marked his second win of the season. The victory moved him to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings, matching the highest previous position of his career (spent one week at No. 2 following his win at The National in 2010). Rose entered the FedExCup Playoffs fourth in the standings and reclaimed his position in the top five with a solo-second result at the Dell Technologies Championship one week after missing the cut at THE NORTHERN TRUST. He followed it up with another runner-up finish after a sudden-death playoff with Keegan Bradley at the BMW Championship. The second-place finish was his ninth top-10 of the season and moved him to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings and No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time of his career. Year Final Rank Began Playoffs Rk TNT Dell Tech BMW TOUR Champ2007 16 21 T14 (22) CUT (23) T5 (16) T11 (16)2008 114 762009 85 91 T41 (80) T54 (85)2010 15 5 T15 (4) CUT (10) T21 (13) T15 (15)2011 5 43 T6 (27) T68 (34) 1 (3) T20 (5)2012 6 12 T46 (15) CUT (22) T16 (24) 2 (6)2013 10 7 T2 (5) T16 (7) T33 (9) 6 (10)2014 11 17 T30 (20)35 (26) T4 (11)2015 8 5 T16 (8) CUT (13) T13 (12) T2 (8)2016 51 47 T31 (45) T57 (50) T24 (51)2017 9 30 T10 (24) T10 (17) T2 (8) T10 (9)20184 CUT (6) 2 (3) 2 (2) Tony Finau– No. 3 (1,520 points)If he wins the TOUR Championship, he wins the FedExCup Has a reasonable chance of winning with a T-2 place finish Can finish as low as a 2-way tie for 3rd and still have a mathematical chance of winningThe only player in the top-five of the FedExCup standings without a win, Tony Finau collected 11 top-10 finishes, tied with Dustin Johnson for the most this season, on his way to a breakout year. Finau started the season with two runner-up finishes in his first three starts. He placed second to Brendan Steele in the season-opening Safeway Open and captured the runner-up result with a T2 at the Genesis Open, where he held a share of the 18-hole lead. After suffering a high-ankle sprain while celebrating a hole-in-one during Wednesday’s Par-3 Contest, Finau finished T10 in his Masters debut. His six-consecutive birdies on holes 12-17 in a final-round 66 were one shy of the most in tournament history (7 – Steve Pate/1999, Tiger Woods/2005). Finau began the third round of the U.S. Open 11 strokes behind then-leader Dustin Johnson and shot a third-round 4-under 66. He entered the final round tied for the lead and posted a 72 to finish At the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie, Finau finished T9 to collect his third consecutive top-10 finish in a major championship and ranked second for the week in greens hit (54 of 72). During THE NORTHERN TRUST, Finau added his third runner-up finish of the season to propel him from No. 12 to No. 4 in the FedExCup standings. The second place finish was his first top-five result in the FedExCup Playoffs. Finau led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (12.562) and Around-the-Green (+7.800) at The Ridgewood Country Club. Finau maintained his position inside the top five with a T4 at the Dell Technologies Championship and a T8 at the BMW Championship last week. This is his second consecutive appearance at the TOUR Championship, with a T7 finish last year to end his season No. 19 in the FedExCup standings. Year Final Rank Began Playoffs TNT Dell Tech BMW Champ TOUR Champ2015 43 39 T16 (32) CUT (41) T47 (43)2016 45 45 12 (37) T24 (38) T66 (45)2017 19 26 T54 (35) T65 (39) T7 (24) T7 (19)201812 2 (4) T4 (4) T8 (3) Dustin Johnson – No. 4 (1,296 points) If he wins the TOUR Championship, he wins the FedExCup Has a reasonable chance of winning with a 2nd place finish Can finish as low as a 3-way tie for 2nd and still have a mathematical chance of winningA 19-time winner on the PGA TOUR, Dustin Johnson extended his streak of winning at least once a year to 11 straight—the current PGA TOUR record—thanks to three victories this season. After a T2 finish at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions to begin the season, Johnson captured the Sentry Tournament of Champions for his second win at Kapalua. Johnson added four more top-10 finishes (T2/AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, T7/WGC-Mexico Championship, T10/Masters Tournament, T8/the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide) before collecting his second victory of the season at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in dominant fashion. Johnson holed his approach shot from 169 yards at the 72nd hole to win by six strokes. The win at TPC Southwind saw the return of Johnson to the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking. The following week Johnson collected solo third at the U.S. Open to return to the top spot in the FedExCup standings, a position he held for five weeks. By winning the RBC Canadian Open by three strokes over Whee Kim and Byeong Hun An, Johnson earned his 19th PGA TOUR victory and third of the season. He became the first player since Tiger Woods (2005-09) with at least three wins in three consecutive seasons. Starting the FedExCup Playoffs in the No. 1 position, Johnson finished T11 at THE NORTHERN TRUST to move back to No. 2. The following week, Johnson recorded a T7 finish at the Dell Technologies Championship to maintain the No. 2 spot in the standings. A T24 finish at the BMW Championship moved Johnson back to the No. 4 position in the overall Johnson is making his 10th consecutive appearance at the TOUR Championship, with his best finish at East Lake a solo-fifth in 2013. He entered the 2017 TOUR Championship in the No. 4 position in the FedExCup standings and finished T17 at East Lake to end his season No. 4 in the standings. Year Final Rank Began Playoffs Rk TNT Dell Tech BMW TOUR Champ2008 134 117 CUT (134)2009 14 15 T15 (20) T4 (10) T20 (11) 27 (14)2010 5 11 T9 (6) T57 (16) 1 (2) T22 (5)2011 4 19 1 (1) T42 (2) T65 (2) T23 (4)2012 8 26 T3 (8) T4 (6) T6 (7) T10 (8)2013 13 16 CUT (22) T27 (23) T62 (30) 5 (13)2014 30 6 DNP (14) DNP (22) DNP (30) DNP (30)2015 7 7 T9 (6) T44 (8) T7 (7) T5 (7)2016 2 2 18 (3) T8 (3) 1 (1) T6 (3)2017 4 4 1 (1) T18 (3) T33 (3) T17 (4)20181 T11 (2) T7 (2) T24 (4) Justin Thomas – No. 5 (1,280 points) If he wins the TOUR Championship, he wins the FedExCup Can finish as low as a 2-way tie for 2nd and still have a mathematical chance of winning Has a reasonable chance of winning with a 2nd place finish Justin Thomas collected his first win in his second start of the season at the inaugural CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. In the first playoff of his career, Thomas defeated Marc Leishman on the second extra hole. The win moved Thomas to No. 3 in the FedExCup standings. Thomas went on to capture his second win of the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season at The Honda Classic in a playoff over Luke List. Thomas defeated List, the 54-hole leader, with a birdie-4 on the first extra hole. The victory helped Thomas reclaim the No. 1 spot in the FedExCup standings, which he held for eight weeks and secure his second-consecutive multiple win season. In back-to-back starts, Thomas finished second in the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship to Phil Mickelson and fourth in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Thomas converted a three-stroke lead after 54 holes into a four-stroke win at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational for his first World Golf Championships event title and third win of the season. The victory marked his ninth career PGA TOUR win and became the fifth player and youngest of the five to win the FedExCup, a major championship and a World Golf Championships event (Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods). Thomas entered the FedExCup Playoffs second in the standings, he retained his position in the top five of the FedExCup standings with T8 result at THE NORTHERN TRUST and followed that up with a T24 finish at the Dell Technologies Championship, which moved him to No. 5 in the standings. His T12 finish at the BMW Championship was good enough to remain in the top five. Thomas is making his third consecutive appearance at the TOUR Championship, with his best finish at East Lake a solo- second in 2017 when he captured the FedExCup title. Year Final Rank Began Playoffs TNT Dell Tech BMW Champ TOUR Champ2015 32 36 T16 (30) T56 (35) T13 (32)2016 12 10 T10 (8) CUT (14) T32 (12) T6 (12)2017 1 2 T6 (3) 1 (2) T47 (2) 2 (1)20182 T8 (3) T24 (5) T12 (5) FedExCup Champions 2007 – Tiger Woods 2008 – Vijay Singh 2009 – Tiger Woods 2010 – Jim Furyk 2011 – Bill Haas 2012 – Brandt Snedeker 2013 – Henrik Stenson 2014 – Billy Horschel 2015 – Jordan Spieth 2016 – Rory McIlroy 2017 – Justin Thomas TOUR Championship and FedExCup Notes Here is a year-by-year look at FedExCup champions and their performance throughout the FedExCup Playoffs in the years they won: FedExCup Champion THE NORTHERN TRUST Dell Technologies Championship BMW Championship TOUR Championship2017 Justin Thomas T6 Won T47 2nd2016 Rory McIlroy T31 Won T42 Won2015 Jordan Spieth CUT CUT T13 Won2014 Billy Horschel CUT T2 Won Won2013 Henrik Stenson T43 1 T33 Won2012 Brandt Snedeker 2nd 6th T37 Won2011 Bill Haas T24 T61 T16 Won2010 Jim Furyk DNP T37 T15 Won2009 Tiger Woods T2 T11 Won 2nd2008 Vijay Singh Won Won T44 T222007 Tiger Woods N/A T2 Won Won There are four past FedExCup champions (Tiger Woods, Billy Horschel, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas) at East Lake this year. Thomas has the opportunity to become the first back-to-back winner of the FedExCup. Thomas, McIlroy and Horschel can join Tiger Woods (2007, 2009) as the only two-time winners of the FedExCup. Cameron Smith, at No. 51 heading into the FedExCup Playoffs, came from the furthest in the standings to reach the TOUR Championship this year with Playoffs finishes of T3, 3 and T65, respectively, to reach the season-ending event. Players who moved inside the top 30 at the BMW Championship In the 12-year history of the FedExCup, 34 players have played their way into the TOUR Championship via the BMW Championship, with two performing the feat this year:Player FEC before BMW BMW FEC currentKeegan Bradley 52 Won 6Xander Schauffele 41 T3 18 Rookies in the FedExCup Playoffs Eight rookies finished the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season ranked within the top 125 in FedExCup standings and earned their first start at THE NORTHERN TRUST. Of that group, four advanced to last week’s BMW Championship, with only Aaron Wise moving on to the TOUR Championship:Player FEC prior BMW FedExCup currentAaron Wise 27 T16 21Austin Cook 31 T29 38/eliminated at BMWKeith Mitchell 68 T45 67/eliminated at BMWPeter Uihlein 81 T38 64/eliminated at BMWSatoshi Kodaira 77 Eliminated at Dell Eliminated at TNT Eliminated at TNT Eliminated at TNTTyler Duncan 108Brandon Harkins 94Sam Ryder 114 Rookies to qualify for the TOUR Championship since the inception of the FedExCup in 2007:Year Player FEC Finish2018 Aaron Wise TBD2017 Xander Schauffele 3rd2017 Patrick Cantlay 29th 2016 Emiliano Grillo 11th2016 Si Woo Kim 17th2015 Daniel Berger 11th2013 Jordan Spieth 7th2012 John Huh 29th2011 Keegan Bradley 20th2009 Marc Leishman 20th2008 Andres Romero 28th2007 Brandt Snedeker 20th First-timers at the TOUR Championship There are six players in the field who are making their first trip to East Lake in 2018: Player FEC StandingBryson DeChambeau 1stCameron Smith 10thFrancesco Molinari 13thTommy Fleetwood 19thAaron Wise 21stPatton Kizzire 30th Perks of finishing inside the top 30 in the FedExCup standings One-year invitation to:THE PLAYERS Championship, Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, The Open Championship World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship Other invitationals: CIMB Classic, CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, CareerBuilder Challenge, Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Charles Schwab Challenge and the Memorial TournamentAdditional Player Notes Tiger Woods After an impressive comeback season that includes two runner-up finishes (T2/Valspar Championship, 2/PGA Championship) and four other top-10 results, Woods returns to East Lake for the first time since 2013. Woods’ solo-second finish at the PGA Championship moved him from No. 47 to No. 20 in the standings. Woods has one TOUR Championship title at East Lake to his credit (2007) as well as four runner-up results. Woods owns at least a share of several tournament records at East Lake:Tied for the lowest 9-hole score: 28/7-under, back nine, second round, 2007 Most Birdies: 28, 2007 Best Birdie-Eagle streak: (B-B-B-B-B-E), Nos. 13-18, third round, 2007 (shot 63) One of two multiple winners of the TOUR Championship: 1999, 2007 (Mickelson: 2000, 2009) Margin of victory: 8 strokes, 2007 Most runner-up finishes: 4/2000, 2004, 2005, 2009 Keegan Bradley Bradley earned his first PGA TOUR victory in six years (2012/WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) with a playoff win over Justin Rose at the BMW Championship. The victory propelled Bradley from No. 52 to No. 6 in the standings and garnered his first trip to East Lake since 2013. Brooks Koepka Opened the 2017-2018 PGA TOUR Season with a T2 finish at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions. After taking four months off with a wrist injury, Koepka posed a runner-up finish at the Fort Worth Invitational in May in only his fourth start back from injury. Koepka became the first repeat winner of the U.S. Open since Curtis Strange in 1989 with his win at Shinnecock Hills. In his 100th start on the PGA TOUR, became just the fifth player to win the U.S. Open and PGA Championship in the same year. Bubba Watson Watson recorded his 10th career PGA TOUR win – and first since the 2016 Genesis Open – in his 279th PGA TOUR start with a two-shot victory at the Genesis Open. He went on to collect two more victories this season at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and the Travelers Championship. Watson recorded a T7 at the Dell Technologies Championship remain inside the top 10 of the FedExCup standings. Watson’s three wins is the most in one season. He secured two wins in 2011, 2014 and 2015. Xander Schauffele Following a T3 to finish at the BMW Championship to qualify for his second-consecutive TOUR Championship, defending champion Xander Schauffele became the third player in the FedExCup era to return to East Lake the year after winning the title. Schauffele jumped from No. 41 to No. 18 in the standings. In 2017, Schauffele also entered the BMW Championship outside the top 30 until a T20 result vaulted him from No. 32 to No. 26 in the standings. Schauffele’s season has been highlighted by two runner-up results (THE PLAYERS Championship, The Open Championship) and four other top-10 results. Misc. Notes In 2019, the TOUR Championship will be contested August 21-25, 2019 at East Lake Golf Club for a 16th consecutive time and 19th visit all time. With the PGA TOUR moving up the 2018-19 schedule to conclude in August, the FedExCup Playoffs were reduced from four events to three and the Dell Technologies Championship in the Boston area was removed from the 2019 schedule to accommodate the changes. THE NORTHERN TRUST will remain the first FedExCup Playoffs event and continue to welcome the top 125 in the FedExCup standings when it returns to Liberty National Golf Club in 2019. The Playoffs field will then be trimmed to the top 70 for the BMW Championship, which will be staged at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago. The top 30 will once again return to Atlanta and East Lake Golf Club for the TOUR Championship....
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Ally Challenge Wrap UpSeptember 19, 2018Ally Challenge Wrap Up This past weekend’s Ally Challenge marked the return of professional golf to Warwick Hills, the previous site of the long-running Buick Open. The PGA TOUR Champions event is the first regular men’s event in Michigan since the 2009 demise of the Buick Open. I specify “regular men’s” because in the intervening years, Michigan has hosted four Senior PGA Championships (considered a Major), a Senior US Open, the US Amateur, and for several years, two LPGA events (The Meijer Classic and the Volvick Championship). Next year, the PGA TOUR comes to Detroit, and the LPGA adds a tournament in Midland, sponsored by DOW. There also are currently two LPGA developmental league events (The Symetra Tour). The inaugural Ally Challenge was won by Paul Broadhurst, who shot a 15-under 201 to win by two. Brandt Jobe was runner up, while Tom Lehman and Mark O’Meara finished in a tie for third. Broadhurst started the day one back. A birdie on the first got him into a tie in the lead. Birdies on five, six and seven gave him a two shot lead. A bogey on the eleventh brought him back to Mark O’Meara, who was playing excellent golf and was in hot pursuit. Birdies on twelve and thirteen gave him a two shot lead again. On his way to the final round 6-under 66, Broadhurst rolled in seven birdies. His best work, however, was perhaps his par at the fourteenth. Broadhurst’s drive was offline, and trees stymied his approach to the green. “I got fortunate on 14,” Broadhurst said. “I really didn’t know how to play the second shot, no idea. And just at the last moment and looked and I thought, well, maybe I could squeeze it through that gap in the trees. And it was a bit of a Seve shot, but it was a shot that I’ve got to play. I haven’t got any option really than to chip it in the trap.And then it would have been a tricky bunker shot. So that was a big four to make there.” The dagger in the heart of Broadhurst’s pursuers came on the final hole. a very long drive was followed by a sharp iron to the green. The birdie putt went in, giving him a two shot lead. Broadhurst is two-for-Michigan in 2018, having also won the Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor. We should grant him honorary citizenship, or a key to the state or something. The quality of the play was terrific. While the field was composed of “seniors” (50+), the players were not not laying up. The desire to win does not go away. No one should be surprised. Fifteen major champions teed it up at Warwick Hills, along with 10 former Buick Open winners. World Golf Hall of Fame members Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Sandly Lyle, Colin Montgomerie, Vijay Singh, and Mark O’Meara were present. In addition, there is a long list of names that fans of a certain age will remember: Woody Austin, Mark Calcavecchia, Darren Clarke, Chris DiMarco, Paul Goydos, Jay Haas, Lee Janzen, Jerry Kelly, Tom Lehman, Rocco Mediate, Jesper Parnevik, Corey Pavin, David Toms, Kirk Triplett, and Scott Verplank among others. Fred Couples clearly was the fan favorite, drawing a crowd on each hole. Local favorites included Tom Gills of Lake Orion and Tom Werkmeister of Grandville. Gillis finished 73rd and took home $1,400. Werkmeister, a Michigan Golf Hall-of-Famer, finished T46 and took home $7, 200. All of the players I came into contact with were exceedingly gracious. I saw many signing endless autographs — many of which were requested by kids, a sight which surprised me, since most were too young to remember the prime playing years of the players. The players also stood for endless interviews from local media. Here’s a good one with Bernhard Langer. I do not know what tournament organizers expected in terms of attendance, but Tournament director Chris Coffman seemed pleased to announce that some 60,000 tickets were sold for the week. Billy Mayfair, the 1998 Buick Open Champion noted that he thought it was a huge crowd. Ally is a bank holding company with its headquarters in Detroit. It began life as the General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), which was founded in 1919 to help customers finance their automobiles. The company was re-branded in 2010 as Ally Financial. It went public in 2014. Thus, in a very real sense, the Ally Challenge is the successor to the Buick Open: Same city (Grand Blanc), same course (Warwick Hills), same sponsor family tree (Buick is a GM product; Ally is a GM offspring). Ally put on a really good production at Warwick Hills. There were plenty of public grandstands, lots of informative signage, plenty of food and beverage stands, very helpful and friendly volunteers, and other necessary facilities. In addition, the Ally Challenge offered an on-site “Fan Zone,” where spectators could enjoy a Biergarten, food trucks, a golf simulator, miniature golf, an inflatable bounce house for kids and other activities. Presenting sponsor McLaren health had an educational pavilion, and a health scavenger hunt activity. Tournament week also featured a community concert by Big and Rich and a 5K run. Concert goers and 5K run participants got a complementary ticket for their troubles. I think that such activities are key for second-tier tournaments. People will go to a regular PGA TOUR event to see the world’s best players. LPGA and PGA TOUR Champions events (not to mention the Web.Com and Symetra Tours) need to sell an entertainment package that includes the world’s best players. (Just to be clear, the LPGA and Senior Tour players still are the world’s best and could thrash any of us amateurs.) The Ally Challenge did a pretty good job selling entertainment: food, beer, music, and so forth. I think there’s room for more. The club also was very accommodating. Warwick Hills members seemed to have gone out of their way to make the Ally Challenge a success. Course conditions were immaculate — the best I have seen all summer. Put Warwick Hills on my list of Michigan courses I need to play. Warwick Hills’ routing seems ideal for spectators. There is a hub of holes that includes parts of 1, 8, 9, 11, 16, 17 and 18 where a spectator could take in a great deal of the action without walking very far. That hub also included the large grandstands on the 17th, the Biergarten and the Fan Zone, where spectators could get a variety of food and drinks. More food and drink booths were behind the grandstands on the 17th. On the final day, I noticed a series of interesting little ceremonies taking place on the first tee. With each group of players, a pair of “honorary observers” were announced. Photos were taken with their assigned players and the observers then presumably followed the group around inside the ropes. I mean to ask about that, but got distracted by other things and didn’t remember until I was processing photos. I presume that they were big donors, VIPs with the sponsors, club members or some combination thereof. The PGA TOUR Champions and Ally currently have a three-year agreement. There was some discussion at the tournament that it might be scheduled next year in August. I look forward to it. 2018 Ally Challenge Final Results and a photo gallery follow.POS PLAYER TO PAR R1 R2 R3 TOTAL MONEY1 Paul Broadhurst -15 67 68 66 201 $300,0002 Brandt Jobe -13 65 71 67 203 $176,000T3 Mark O’Meara -12 71 64 69 204 $132,000T3 Tom Lehman -12 67 67 70 204 $132,000T5 Gene Sauers -11 72 67 66 205 $82,667T5 Rocco Mediate -11 70 69 66 205 $82,667T5 David Toms -11 67 70 68 205 $82,667T8 Bob Estes -10 68 71 67 206 $52,800T8 Billy Andrade -10 68 70 68 206 $52,800T8 Joey Sindelar -10 70 67 69 206 $52,800T8 Bernhard Langer -10 70 67 69 206 $52,800T8 Jeff Maggert -10 66 68 72 206 $52,800T13 Fred Couples -9 69 73 65 207 $37,000T13 Dan Forsman -9 73 67 67 207 $37,000T13 Jeff Sluman -9 69 71 67 207 $37,000T13 Marco Dawson -9 70 69 68 207 $37,000T17 Billy Mayfair -8 69 73 66 208 $26,657T17 Kirk Triplett -8 72 67 69 208 $26,657T17 Bill Glasson -8 71 67 70 208 $26,657T17 Kenny Perry -8 70 67 71 208 $26,657T17 Esteban Toledo -8 66 69 73 208 $26,657T17 David McKenzie -8 67 69 72 208 $26,657T17 Tom Byrum -8 69 66 73 208 $26,657T24 Scott Dunlap -7 70 69 70 209 $19,120T24 John Huston -7 68 70 71 209 $19,120T24 Jesper Parnevik -7 70 68 71 209 $19,120T24 Vijay Singh -7 66 71 72 209 $19,120T24 Gibby Gilbert III -7 70 68 71 209 $19,120T29 Corey Pavin -6 69 72 69 210 $15,450T29 Jerry Kelly -6 72 69 69 210 $15,450T29 Woody Austin -6 72 69 69 210 $15,450T29 Scott Parel -6 68 71 71 210 $15,450T33 Doug Garwood -5 72 70 69 211 $12,900T33 Glen Day -5 71 70 70 211 $12,900T33 Joe Durant -5 69 70 72 211 $12,900T33 Scott McCarron -5 71 63 77 211 $12,900T37 Colin Montgomerie -4 69 72 71 212 $10,600T37 Jerry Smith -4 68 72 72 212 $10,600T37 Tommy Armour III -4 70 70 72 212 $10,600T37 Kent Jones -4 71 69 72 212 $10,600T37 Lee Janzen -4 67 71 74 212 $10,600T42 Loren Roberts -3 70 72 71 213 $8,800T42 Duffy Waldorf -3 71 71 71 213 $8,800T42 Wes Short Jr. -3 70 71 72 213 $8,800T42 Olin Browne -3 70 68 75 213 $8,800T46 Mark Walker -2 72 71 71 214 $7,200T46 Darren Clarke -2 71 72 71 214 $7,200T46 David Frost -2 69 73 72 214 $7,200T46 Tom Werkmeister -2 72 70 72 214 $7,200T50 Tommy Tolles -1 72 72 71 215 $5,300T50 Scott Verplank -1 72 70 73 215 $5,300T50 Jay Haas -1 71 71 73 215 $5,300T50 Dudley Hart -1 73 68 74 215 $5,300T50 Stephen Ames -1 73 68 74 215 $5,300T50 Gary Hallberg -1 72 67 76 215 $5,300T56 Fran Quinn E 73 73 70 216 $4,100T56 Jay Don Blake E 72 71 73 216 $4,100T56 Paul Goydos E 70 73 73 216 $4,100T56 Mark Calcavecchia E 70 71 75 216 $4,100T60 Mark Brooks 1 70 75 72 217 $3,400T60 Blaine McCallister 1 73 70 74 217 $3,400T60 Ken Tanigawa 1 71 73 73 217 $3,400T63 Larry Mize 2 75 70 73 218 $2,900T63 Scott Hoch 2 72 71 75 218 $2,900T65 Mike Goodes 3 73 73 73 219 $2,069T65 Steve Pate 3 72 74 73 219 $2,069T65 Kevin Johnson 3 74 71 74 219 $2,069T65 Tim Petrovic 3 72 73 74 219 $2,069T65 Chris DiMarco 3 72 73 74 219 $2,069T65 Carlos Franco 3 70 73 76 219 $2,069T65 Paul Claxton 3 68 73 78 219 $2,06972 Tom Pernice Jr 5 76 72 73 221 $1,52073 Tom Gillis 7 78 70 75 223 $1,400T74 Sandy Lyle 8 73 75 76 224 $1,280T74 Todd Hamilton 8 74 73 77 224 $1,28076 Robert Gamez 11 79 77 71 227 $1,160 ...
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Team Europe Chrome Soft Golf BallsSeptember 19, 2018Team Europe Chrome Soft Golf Balls If you’re a fan of Team Europe in the Ryder Cup, you can show your allegiance with these Chrome Soft Team Europe golf balls. Callaway’s Chrome Soft balls feature:Increased Focus and Visibility Fast Ball Speeds & Low Spin Off The Driver Distance & Control Through The Bag Pinpoint Greenside Control Ultra-Soft Feel...
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PGA Tour Championship Winners and HistorySeptember 18, 2018The final event of the PGA Tour season the Tour Championship has since 2007 been the final event in the FedEx Cup playoffs. When it debuted in 1987, the PGA Tour Championship featured the top 30 players from the year’s money list. The tournament took place in November, just after the corresponding event on the European Tour. The event finalized the money list for the season. Since 2007, the Tour Championship has been staged in September as part of the four tournament FedEx Cup playoffs. Thirty players still qualify for the event, but qualification is based on FedEx Cup points accumulated during the regular season. The math of the event is rigged to ensure that a top-five player who wins the final event also wins the FedEx Cup. Still, it is mathematically possible for one player to win the tournament and another to win the season title. In 2008, the Tour Championship was won by Camilo Villegas, while Vijay Singh won the FedEx Cup. In 2009, Phil Mickelson won the Tour Championship, while Tiger Woods won the FedEx Cup. In 2013, with the new wrap-around season, the Tour Championship marked the end of the PGA Tour season. What used to be the “fall” and “silly seasons” now are the beginning of another PGA TOUR season. A complete list of PGA TOUR Championship Winners follows:...
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Callaway Stars and Stripes Golf BallsSeptember 18, 2018Callaway USA Golf Ball Fans of Team USA in the Ryder Cup may be interested in Callaway’s Stars and Stipes edition of their Chrome Soft balls. In addition to the logo, they feature:Fast ball speeds & low spin off the driver Distance & control through the bag Pinpoint greenside control Ultra-soft feel Forgiveness...
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Bandon Trails Golf Course Review And AppreciationSeptember 17, 2018Bandon Trails Golf Course Review And Appreciation Bandon Trails at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Grade: A+ Teacher’s Comments: A masterful blend of links and woodland golf. Of the courses at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon Trails was for this Michigan golfer the most familiar. Unlike its seaside sister courses (Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes and Old MacDonald), Bandon Trails is cut through woodlands of spruce and cedar. The course also features water and marsh and significant elevation changes. But while Bandon Trails looks like a Northern Michigan course, it plays like its sisters with its fast, hard and sandy, closely cropped fairways. Similarly, wind is a factor, although it is somewhat mitigated by the trees and hills. In Bandon Trails, architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw created a beautiful, interesting and playable course. For me, it was a tossup as to whether Pacific Dunes or Bandon Trails was my favorite course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. The first hole cuts across the crestline of a grassy dune, which also is where the second begins. By the third hole, however, players are fully immersed in forests of cedar and spruce. Bandon Trails lives up to its name, winding through the Oregon coastal woodlands, over dunes, and past some marsh and ponds. It is a beautiful and peaceful walk through the woods. In Bandon Trails, Coore and Crenshaw created a course that looks entirely unforced and natural. My favorite hole at Bandon Trails was the par four seventh. Playing uphill, it has a large landing area to the left, and a long bunker complex along the right side. Angle away from the right bunkers off the tee — there is plenty of room to the left. The large bunker on the left is deceiving. It looks as though it should come in play, but that is unlikely. It is 316 yards from the back tees, and 278 from the green tees. The average player doesn’t have the chops to reach it. It gets in your head, though. The left side is also the best approach to the green. It is wider at the front, then narrowing to the back, with bunkers right and on the left rear. For spectacular, there is the fourteenth hole. As you exit the thirteenth, a cart is waiting to drive you a short distance up a steep hill to the next tee. It’s the kind of steep downhill shot that’s a hallmark of Northern Michigan golf — although those typically are par threes. This hole is driveable, but misses close will put a player in an awkward position. On the western edge of the fourteenth’s teeing area, lies a marker which designates the spot where Mike Keiser was first shown the property which would become Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. It is a spectacular view, and even with the golf course now showing its fairways, it is easy to imagine what inspired Keiser. Elevation changes can be significant at Bandon Trails, as with the sharp downhill drop on the fourteenth, or the slowly climbing sixteenth. Water and/or marsh come into play on three holes. Fairways at Bandon Trails generally are wide and inviting; the greens are large and open to a ground game. From the tips, Bandon Trails measures 6, 788 yards and plays to a 73.6/130. The green tees measure 6, 248 and played at 71.1/128. One step up, the Gold Tees come in at 5, 751 and play to a 68.7/122. Bandon Trails is not a particularly long course, and all things being equal, the hard-and-fast conditions serve to shorten it up a bit. As with all the courses at Bandon Dunes golf resort, conditions at Bandon Trails were unique to my golf experience. I really don’t have a reference point. The ground is sandy and hard. The grass is cut impossibly short and the distinction between fairway and greens often is negligible. Balls run forever. Conditions, however, are incredibly consistent. I think that, of courses built on that sort of ground, with that sort of weather, Bandon Dunes must score an A+. I have had the good fortune to play two other Coore and Crenshaw courses: Barton Creek’s Cliffside course in Austin (Read the Barton Creek Cliffside course review at the link.) and the par three course at Bandon Dunes, Bandon Preserve. I think all three are wonderful and look forward to playing another of the duo’s creations. Perhaps Coore and Crenshaw will be hired to build a new course here in Michigan. Bandon Trails is justifiably ranked on both Golf Digest and Golf magazine’s lists of the top 100 golf courses. This Bandon Trails golf course review was first published September 17, 2018 based on a round played in July 2018. A Bandon Trails photo gallery and course tour follows: ...
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The Ryder Cup: The Complete History of Golf’s Greatest CompetitionSeptember 17, 2018 The Ryder Cup: The Complete History of Golf’s Greatest Competition Coming in October — just in time for the Ryder Cup — is an updated edition of this history of the biennial competition. From the publisher’s description: A book for sports fans everywhere, The Ryder Cup is the definitive history of this exciting and prestigious global sporting event—now updated to include the 2016 competition. Fiercely fought every two years, the Ryder Cup pits teams from Europe and the US against each other in a sport usually associated with individual play—and with national pride at stake. This beautifully illustrated and fully updated book tells the story of this great tournament, from its humble beginnings in 1927 when Great Britain played the US for a trophy provided by seed merchant Samuel Ryder, to the postwar dominance of the American team, to the introduction of European golfers in the late 1970s, to the struggles of today, including the Team USA victory in 2016. Along the way, it looks at each of the Ryder Cups, and features the great players, pairings, captains, and courses. ...
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Golf Tournament LogisticsSeptember 16, 2018Golf Tournament Logistics A lot of planning and logistics go into running a golf tournament. There are hundreds of jobs that need to be done, from managing parking (including shuttles from parking — usually at local schools — to security to concessions, player transportation, course marshals, sign carriers, sanitation, maintenance, communications, television crews and associated requirements, and countless others I could not begin to list. The media room alone is a logistical nightmare. Two copiers, a couple dozen computers, work stations with power and internet connections, endless supplies of food, hundreds of printed pages of interview transcripts, tee sheets, and lots of cranky reporters (I am NOT cranky. I am grateful to be here). One small example of the logistics involved is the daily pairings guide book. This 34 page, full color pamphlet needs to be updated every night to reflect the previous day’s scores, the player positions and the new tee times. Between the time when play ends late the previous afternoon or early evening and when the gates open the next morning, the information needs to be compiled and edited, layouts completed and many thousands of copies printed. The Pairings Guides are a smallish thing, in the grand scheme. but are, I think, indicative of just how much planning and foresight go into running a golf tournament. When I attend a well-run tournament, whether it is the US Open, a PGA Tour event, the LPGA or this Champions tour competition, I am amazed at how well it all goes....
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Saturday At The Ally ChallengeSeptember 15, 2018I spent Saturday at the Ally Challenge, the new PGA TOUR Champions event at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, Michigan. It was an enjoyable day with good (if hot) weather, and plenty of good golf to watch. A big selling point of a Champions Tour event is the opportunity to see players from the recent (and not so recent) past still competing, albeit on a different scale. I daresay most golf fans of my age would recognize and appreciate the players in the Ally Challenge field. Among them: Fred Couples, Rocco Mediate, Mark Calcavecchia, Bernhard langer, Corey Pavin, David Toms, Vijay Singh, Lee Janzen, Darren Clark, Mark O’Meara, Jay Haas, Scott Verplank, Kirk Triplett, Jerry Kelly and Larry Mize. At the end of the day on Saturday, Scott McCarron, Tom Lehman and Jeff Maggert led the tournament at -10. Mark O’Meara, Tom Byrum, Paul Broadhurst and Esteban Toledo all were a shot back at -9. McCarron got into his tie for the lead with birdies on the last three holes of the day, including a chip-in on the last. Lehman birdied the 18th to get to 67 for the day (5 under). Maggert shot a second round 68 for his share of the lead. Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club served as the host of the Buick Open from 1958 to 1969 and then from 1977 to its demise in 2009. The field of this year’s Ally Challenge features several players who were Buick Open Winners: Kenny Perry, Vijay Singh, Rocco Mediate, Tom Pernice, Jr., Billy Mayfair, Woody Austin, Fred Couples, Larry Mize, Dan Forsman and Scott Verplank. Buick Open runners up in the field include Woody Austin, Chris DiMarco, Esteban Toledo, Tom Lehman, Tom Byrum and Corey Pavin I have no idea what Ally Challenge organizers were expecting in terms of attendance, but it seemed to me that crowds were good for a first year event. Some of that may have to do with the ancillary events, such as a 5K run, a community concert by Big and Rich, a Junior clinic and some other non-golf activities. In the “Fan Zone,” the Ally Challenge sported a Biergarden, food trucks, a golf simulator, hole-in-one contest , McLaren health pavilion and other not-necessarily-related-to-golf activities. It’s a good idea to turn a golf tournament into a community event. More photos from Saturday at the Ally Challenge follow:...
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Golf Is Everywhere: Dollar Store EditionSeptember 15, 2018Golf is everywhere. I spotted this golf game at a local dollar store....
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Senior LPGA Brings Second Major to French Lick Resort this OctoberSeptember 14, 2018Senior LPGA Brings Second Major to French Lick Resort this October French Lick has a long history supporting women’s Golf French Lick Resort, even from the earliest days of the LPGA Tour, has had a love affair with Women’s Golf. It began in the 1950’s and grew into an admiration and respect for the Legends who helped shape the LPGA Tour. This year, the Senior LPGA Championship presented by Old National Bank will be held Monday, October 15th through Wednesday, October 17th and promises to be an exciting event. Juli Inkster returns to the championship and Trish Johnson tries to win back to back titles and her 3rd consecutive event at the Pete Dye Course. This will also be the second senior women’s major of the year as Chicago Golf Club hosted the US Senior Women’s Open in July. The Inaugural event drew World Golf Hall of Fame Members, Pat Bradley, Laura Davies, Betsy King, and Hollis Stacy, plus players who accounted for 339 LPGA Tour Wins, and 43 LPGA Major Championships. The history of women’s golf at French Lick Resort kicked off in 1958 when the Sheraton Corporation hosted the French Lick Open for the fledgling LPGA Tour. Louise Suggs triumphed in that event over Marlene Hagge. Suggs went on to win 61 events in her career, and was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1979. In the years that followed, Betsy Rawls and Mickey Wright picked up wins in the LPGA Championship hosted at the Donald Ross Course in 1959 and 1960. Both Rawls and Wright were named to the World Golf Hall of Fame as well. Suggs, Rawls and Wright were also 3 of the 6 original members of the LPGA Hall of Fame. Having hosted one of the earliest PGA Championships in 1924, the LPGA Championship in 1959 and 1960, and Senior PGA Championship in 2015, it seemed only fitting that that French Lick be involved in the Inaugural Senior LPGA Championship. Although many years had passed since those early championships, French Lick embarked on a path in 2013 that would lead the Resort to be instrumental in creating and hosting the Inaugural Senior LPGA Championship at the Pete Dye Course. The Legends Tour, led by 27-time LPGA winner Jane Blalock, was looking for new venues to continue to grow the Senior Tour for the women of the LPGA. French Lick stepped up in a big way and Chairman of the Board Steve Ferguson entered into an agreement with the tour to host a 54-hole championship on the newly-opened Pete Dye Course and compete for a record $500,000 purse to be divided among 58 of the greats of women’s golf. That event was won by Canada’s Lorie Kane. Kane stated: “I don’t know if I consider myself a Legend, but I am totally honored to win this event” Year two, despite a second round, 9-under par 63 by Sherri Steinhauer, Laurie Rinker triumphed in a 2 round rain shortened event. Juli Inkster made her Legends debut in 2015 and won the title. She launched her bid for a repeat in 2016, however, England’s Trish Johnson matched her down to the wire and won a 6-hole sudden death playoff. Feeling the need to further grow golf opportunities for the senior women, and following talks with the LPGA and Commissioner Mike Whan, Steve Ferguson again stepped up to the plate and was instrumental in forming the first-ever Major Championship for Senior Women; The Senior LPGA Championship. Old National Bank, who had been a title sponsor of the Legends Tour event here, followed suit and was named the presenting sponsor. The field was expanded to 81 players and the purse set at $600,000.00 The stage was set for a historical event as the Golf Channel was brought on to do live television coverage all 3 days of the 54-hole event. The event was contested in July of 2017, and it was again, Trish Johnson who triumphed. When accepting the trophy, Johnson said: “People ask me what is my favorite course, and I always said St. Andrews, but I have to say, this place has certainly taken over”. The event designated Riley Children’s Hospital as the benefit Charity and over $200,000 was raised the week of the tournament for the cause. The Champions Trophy, an elegant silver 38” masterpiece, was named in honor of Steve Ferguson for his effort in making the event a reality. Visit www.frenchlick.com. via Kevin Frisch...
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GolfBlogger.Com is a daily golf blog featuring golf news, golf course reviews, golf equipment and golf book reviews, golf lifestyle, golf fitness, golf history, Michigan golf news and reviews, photography, cigars, food and beverages, the PGA Tour and the LPGA with essays and musings.

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