Andrew's World Vol. V

Well here we are a week after the Masters and the great triumph of Trevor Immelman, who became the first wire-to-wire winner since Seve in 1980. Every year the Masters somehow manages to create great drama and this year was no exception. At the start of Sunday's round Brandt Snedeker, Steve Flesch and Paul Casey were all in position to make a run for their first major victories and the green jacket. By the back nine all the aforementioned wilted under the pressure of claiming their first professional major, leaving the great Tiger Woods as the only golfer standing in Trevor's way. Well you know how the story ends, Tiger suddenly can not make a putt, and the dreams of his grand slam evaporate into thin air!......

Big props to Billy Payne, the Augusta National Chairman, who agreed to televise the Par-3 Tournament for the first time this year. Watching the cute offspring caddy for their dads at the Masters warmed this television viewers heart. I also liked the addition of past major champions who Augusta National invited to fill out the field for the Par-3, Charles Coody who made a hole in one, Paul Azinger and Wayne Grady.

Last column I commented on Brad Bryant who went 514 events without taking home any hardware. Well I did some more research and discovered that Bobby Wadkins went 713 tournaments in a long career on the PGA Tour without ever winning. Mike Mccullough went 405 events and Jim Dent went 403 to round out the top three...

Ever wonder who the iron men of professional golf are? Well I have and here are the top 5 to have played in the most PGA and Champions Tour events: Miller Barber 1,292, Dave Eichelberger 1,210, Arnold Palmer 1,053, JC Snead 1,033 and Jim Colbert who teed it up in a even 1,000 tournaments...

The most underrated golfer in the modern era is Billy Casper who had the misfortune to play in the era of Hogan, Nicklaus, Palmer and Gary Player. In his illustrious career Casper played in 556 events and won an astounding 51 times. Billy also placed in the top-ten an impressive 236 times! Maybe the lack of respect stems from the fact that Billy marched to the beat of his own drum, openly embracing his Mormon faith and carrying a lot of weight on his beefy physique. I would like to see this impressive player get his due props, but I will not hold my breathe waiting for the acclaim Billy Casper deserves...

The P.G.A. Tour returns to South Carolina to the Harbour Town links for the Verizon Heritage Classic. Harbour Town is a 6,973 yard par 71, designed by Pete Dye with extensive consultation from Jack Nicklaus. In years past, Harbour Town was a must play event for the top professionals, but with the absence of Tiger, Phil and Vijay, the tournament has been reduced to secondary status on the circuit these days. This is a shame considering what a great golf challenge Harbour Town presents and the impressive list of past winners: Jack Nicklaus, Payne Stewart, Nick Price, Greg Norman and Davis Love; all Hall of Famers who have captured the title and worn their red blazers with pride...

I love to watch golf but get annoyed with the commentary provided by the talking heads of the Golf Channel, CBS, and our good buddies at NBC. I am fed up with announcers and their lack of research. Time and time again we are reminded of the same stories and facts regurgitated ad nauseum for our supposed benefit, to increase our viewing pleasure. Next time you see Shingo Katamaya do not be surprised if the analyst lets us know for the 10,000th time that he contended at the 2,001 PGA Championship. Please tell me anything else but that... Maybe he recently won a Japanese four ball event! Any time Dean Wilson appears on television they always remind us that he was paired with Annika Sorenstam in Texas a few years ago. Ryan Palmer, Bob Burns, Rich Beem, Darren Clarke all beat Tiger to win a event, but surely they have done other things while maybe not as significant, but would still enlighten us to know. I do not mean to be too critical but c’mon guys do some reading of Golf Weekly or spend some of your precious time on PGATour.com...

Well fans it is always fun to write these columns, I hope you learned some more knowledge of the game we all love!

Andrew's World Vol. IV

Golf fans rejoice, I am back and have a lot to talk about. I've had software problems and was hoping that the editor would pen an article previewing the Masters, but alas the said piece never materialized as my editor spent the weekend in the dentist chair….The Masters begins with the annual par 3 tourney today and TV cameras make their debut in what should be a very interesting 9 holes. The winner of the par 3 has never gone on to capture the Masters. In 1990, Raymond Floyd had a three shot lead with four holes to play, but lost in a heartbreaking playoff to Nick Faldo.

This writer's favorite Masters occurred in 1987, the year Larry Mize hit the chip shot which a stunned Greg Norman can only watch as he dream is denied one more time…….What do Aaron Olberholser, Lee Janzen, Rocco Mediate, Lucas Glover, and Fred Couples have in common? They prefer to play golf a-natural, which is gloveless. Bob Estes was in this group until last week in Houston, he donned a glove for the first time in his professional career…..
I am a big fan of opposite tournaments on the P.G.A. tour, which allow veteran pros the opportunity to compete on the big circuit. In Puerto Rico, longtime journeymen Joel Edwards, Phil Taturangi, Mike Heinen, Dan Forsman and Willie Wood all made appearances in what has become a rarity for older non-exempt professionals….

I have been watching a lot of the European Tour this year and have enjoyed seeing our overseas brethren ply their trade. The commentary is quite different in comparison to the often extremely chatty talking heads we have become accustomed to listening every weekend on the PGA Tour. During a telecast, the announcers often lapse into intervals of silence which sometimes last for as long as 30 seconds! The European Tour players have a very bold style of fashion unlike the majority of bland cookie cutter fashions favored by there PGA Tour counterparts. Argyles and plaids are commonplace, as are brightly colored trousers featuring bold hues: orange, canary yellow, and fuchsia!

Commenting on fashion, I have to mention Woody Austin who must be color blind or he never looks into the mirror prior to leaving for the golf course. Woody, the former bank teller, used to sport those hideous Tabasco shirts featuring what seemed like hundreds of little Tabasco bottles. At the Zurich, I noticed he had a tri-color shirt with palettes that didn’t quite match. Other players who have committed fashion faux paus include Craig Barlow who wears high-water khakis and Duffy Waldorf's shirts with colors patterns that hurt the naked eye!....

Greg Kraft captured the Puerto Rican Open in his 378 event on tour, which must have seemed like an eternity to the veteran touring pro. Dr Dirt a.k.a. Brad Bryant broke through in his 515th professional event at the Disney Classic. I did some research on PGATour.com and complied a list of the top 5 pros who have made the most starts without a win: Skip Kendall 394, Marco Dawson 353, Brett Quigley 315, Jay Willamson 302, and Harrison Frazer 282……

Chris Couch, the former golf prodigy from the University of Florida, has fallen on hard times. In 2006 he won the Zurich Classic and some $1,356,731 and the following year he made $355,386 and fell to 153rd on the money list. In 2008, he has made 1 cut and banked a whopping $1,693 in official money and Chris was not given a sponsor's exemption in New Orleans. Well Chris I hope things improve for you in 2008, looks like things can only get better for you.

I hope everyone enjoys The Masters this week. You can follow the tournament and watch live coverage at www.masters.org

Andrew's World, Vol. III

Well the Florida Swing is over and what a exciting four weeks it has been! First Ernie Els returns to the winner circle, then Sean O'Hair triumphs, and Eldrick drills a 24 footer on the 72 hole to win Bay Hill. Then we get to see Geoff Ogilvy win at Doral holding off Vijay, Furyk, Goose, and King Tiger, and add a second World Golf Championship trophy to his mantle.

The Tavistock Cup has really become a big deal to the PGA Tour. The Golf Channel televises the interclub 4-ball matches between Isleworth and Lake Nona. The roster of players participating in this event is impressive. Some of the best European touring pros and of course Mr. Woods.

I would like to share a story with you I recently read in the magazine section of the New York Times about two African American sisters from Bradenton, Florida. Ginger and Robbi Howard are 13 and 12 respectively, and are considered two of the best junior prospects in the United States. Ginger has won a astounding 83 tournaments and Robbi who plays left handed, has 62 trophies in her collection. Their father sacrifices all of his time and money in the pursuit of his daughter's dream of playing on the LPGA Tour. You can check out these very talented prodigies at gingerandrobbi.com.

The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) celebrates its 30 anniversary in 2008, as the premiere junior golf circuit in the country. The inaugural event, called the Rolex Tournaments of Champions, was held at Inverrary Country Club in Lauderhill Florida. The roster of players who competed included future touring pros: Mark Brooks, Andrew Magee, Jim Gallagher Jr, Mark Calcavecchia, and Jodie Mudd. The final round featured the same exact pin positions of the Jackie Gleason, held earlier at Inverrary that year and won by Jack Nicklaus who closed with 5 birdies. Willie Wood took the AJGA title shooting an impressive 69, good for a four shot victory.

The following players scare me when they take their hats off, Stewart Cink, Brendan Pappas, Steve Flesch and Jonathon Byrd. Not to be too critical but a sunburned face and a ghostly white chrome dome really is very disturbing. I wonder if those guys wear their hats when they are at home?

In a 360 degree turn lets discuss the hirsute members of the tour, who sadly only count one pro amongst their ranks, Charley Hoffman. Remember days of yester-year when a few touring pros favored the look of long hair? Here is my top 5 all time list of the longest hair to grace our beloved Tour: Emlyn Aubrey, Bill Glasson, Nolan Henke, Pat Bates, and David Peoples.

Question: Are they actually going to play the Skins Game this year and will you watch? I will not because the concept is tired,un-inspiring, and just plain tedious. Last years snorefest featured bland Brett Wetterich, snide Stephen Ames, Milquetoast Zach Johnson, and Fred Couples who never seems to have another commitment around Thanksgiving. The novelty of the skins game lays in the promise of making upwards of a years salary in a two day event. Now that our heroes are making millons and are flying around the world in private jets, the charm of the Skins Game is long gone. If the tour is interested in reviving this format, they need to create some controversy. Remember when Tom Watson accused Gary Player of cheating and they had a vicious argument? I want to see hostile pairings featuring guys who do not like each other. Bring back Tiger but pit him against Rory Sabbatini, Ian Poulter, and Greg Norman. I want to see Tiger play against guys who do not like him and are jealous of his success!

Do you read the money list like a broker would the stock market? I do and here is the list of 3 pros who led the bottom of tour money for 2007: Jerry Smith, Jim Rutledge, and Jacob Van Zyl. Smith played in 19 events and made $63,335 in official money for the year. To put this in perspective, 58 year old Tom Watson played in only 2 events last year and made 64,350. So Jerry, I hope you have a better year in '08.

Well golf fans it has been fun and hope you have learned a few more useless facts ,and enjoy the Zurich Classic this week!

Andrew's World, Volume II

Retief Goosen is singing the blues. The Goose has fallen to 31st in the World Rankings and is rolling the ball like he is using a broom as a flatstick. Davis Love is another decorated veteran who is determined to improve his status on Tour. DL3 has competed in 70 straight majors and is currently on the bubble for Augusta. I am rooting for Love and Colin Montgomerie (also on the outside looking in) on their quest for Augusta.

I love watching Golf Channel presentations of classic tournaments of days gone by. Jack wins his third and last British Open in 1978 at the birthplace of golf, St. Andrews. I really dig the fashion of those days: tri-colored golf shoes and argyle sweaters. There was an impressive list of players the Golden Bear vanquished on his way to the claret jug in '78: Seve, Johnny Miller, Hale Irwin, Lanny Wadkins, Isao Aoki and ultimately Simon Owen all fell as King Jack reigns supreme and captures his 15 major championship. The Nationwide Tour, formerly know as the Hogan Circuit, celebrates its 19th year in existence. The inaugural class graduated 5 players to the big show. Those golfers are Mike Springer, Jim McGovern, Dick Mast, Ed Humenik and the still active Jeff Maggert. Speaking of Maggert, remember when he hit himself attempting a sand shot at Troon in 04? Equally unexplainable, how did Todd Hamilton beat Ernie, Steve Elkington, and Frenchmen Thomas Levet in a 4 hole playoff? If I remember correctly, Els had a relatively easy putt to win and missed, resulting in his demise.

Remember the old CBS bit profiling young up and coming players called The New Breed? I would like to nominate Aussies Jason Day, Nick Flanagan and the slightly older John Mallinger and Steve Marino as the young guns on the Tour. I guess you could make arguments for Kevin Na, Anthony Kim and the photogenic Camilo Villegas for inclusion into this club also. Villegas is featured in a commercial for a device which is supposed to increase swing speed by utilizing a weighted stick as a training aid. The infomercial claims that this apparatus will allow its user to swing the club with the same swing speed that the Colombian generates, allowing you to strike the ball a country mile! But they never mention that Camilio has like a 31 inch waist and biceps the size of baseballs and no matter how many times I swing this heavy pole, I will never hit the ball like Villegas! All of the commercials I see always claim their product or device will grant you the ability to play the long ball. But isn’t the old cliché "drive for show, putt for dough" usually true? I would rather putt like Ben Crenshaw or even Loren Roberts, than drive the ball long distances. But Roberts missed the most important putt in his life at Oakmont in '94 at the 72 hole, a fairly easy 4 footer and the glory of being U.S. Open Champion. Well… I guess it's never easy to make a putt of any length to capture a major championship; Doug Sanders, Ed Sneed, and Scott Hoch all missed short putts to lose the biggest title they almost won. Ironically the men who benefited from their misses were Jack Nicklaus, Fuzzy Zoeller, and Nick Faldo, all of whom went on to win more majors.

Ever notice that one brother is always a much better player than their siblings? Tommy and John Jacobs, Dave and Mike Hill, Lanny and Bobby Wadkins, Curtis and Allen Strange, David and Danny Edwards, Tom and Curt Byrum, Jim and Jeff Gallagher and Kevin and David Sutherland. Sometimes the universe rights a wrong and the roles reverse on the Senior Circuit; at least they have in the case of John Jacobs, Mike Hill, and Bobby Wadkins. Does anybody know how many hours we have left until Augusta?
-Andrew

Honda Classic Day Two

Brian Davis continued his solid play, getting around P.G.A. National in 67 strokes. Brian, a little known Englishmen, arrived in South Florida playing very poorly. His best finish this year was 26th at the Bob Hope Desert Classic. Matt Jones, also relatively unknown, was a graduate of the Nationwide Tour last year and turned in a 3-under 67.

Dudley Hart who is back on Tour after sitting out last year on a medical exemption, fired a 66 to continue his solid play this year. Hart, a college teammate of Chris DiMarco and Pat Bates, has all ready banked $323,000 this year, good for 49th on the money list. Ben Crane, also on a medical exemption this year, is tied with promising Californian John Mallinger.

Ernie Els is in search of his first win in the states in a long time. The Big Easy posted 3-under, tied with several players: Robert Allenby, Joe Durant and Argentinen Jose Coceres. Jose who lost in the playoff last year, won twice in 2001 but hasn’t hoisted up a trophy since then.

First round leader Luke Donald returned to Earth and could only muster 4-over, sliding all the way to 12th place. First round contenders Tim Wilkinson and Jimmy Walker had rounds over par and barely made the cut as also did the reclusive Davis Love III. Rich Beem, David Duval, Fred Funk and defending champion Mark Wilson all have the weekend off. Having spent several years wintering in West Palm...okay I was caddying for hackers to pay the rent... I would recommend hanging out at the Breakers and enjoy the beach!

Honda Classic Day One

The Honda Classic kicked off the Florida Swing on Thursday morning. Conditions were extremely tough, very windy and a cool breeze made scoring very difficult at P.G.A. National. Last year's event, won by Mark Wilson, was the third highest winning score on Tour behind only the Masters and U.S. Open. The majority of the field shot over 70, but a few players managed to post low numbers. English professional golfer and accomplished oil artist, Luke Donald turned a magnificent 6-under 64. Brian Davis also British, shot a year best to date 65. Slow start this year for Brian who is sitting a dismal 145th on the money list, banking a measly 52,000...

Australian Matt Jones was in third after posting 66 ahead of Ernie and Kevin Sutherland, lefty Tim Wilkinson, Brett Quigley and Nationwide graduate Jimmy Walker.

P.G.A. National, designed by George Fazio was given a face lift by Jack Nicklaus in 1990. The 15 hole, aptly named the bear trap, is a 228 yard nightmare that claimed 28 balls to their watery graves on Thursday. Boo Weekley, who lost in a playoff last year, opened up with a even par and gave a, interview to the Golf Channel. I would like to tell you what Boo said but I can't understand a word that comes out of his mouth. Scrolling down my blackberry while viewing the scores, I came across David Duval 2-over. Not that you would know he is there, the announcers ignore the struggling former #1 player who continues to disappoint in his comeback. Duval's struggle proves how tough professional golf can be. Rounding out the bottom are veteran Billy Andrade 79, Duke graduate and P.G.A. board member Joe Ogilivie came in with an 80 and Stadler Junior, who turned in 81.These guys are planning their weekend away from the course and Palm Beach is great place hang out!

Andrew

Andrew's World

I love to read other writers who write columns about meaningless trivialities which have no impact on our daily lives. Nothing better than celebrity gossip of Rush and Molloy or the self importance of the news according to Mike Lupica, or the words of Peter Vecsey, who has entertained me for 25 years as the mouthpiece of the N.B.A. If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery then I am guilty as charged! So in honor of these fine gentlemen I present to you Andrew's World a tribute the P.G.A. Tour's useless facts, hyperbole,and speculation So here I go… …..

Greg Norman who has been invisible for like three years on the Tour, is suddenly ubiquitous, a term not associated with the Shark in recent years. We see him in Mayakoba kissing Chrissy and then Commander Tim bestows the Aussie with the Presidents cup captaincy! Speaking of Miss Evert, the glamorous duo were reported house hunting in Palm Beach and hopefully one with a nice tennis court no doubt.

Word is Chrissy has gotten Norman to start playing tennis. Speaking of the biannual drama, made for television Presidents Cup, do you actually believe Fred Couples is the right man to lead the team? By the way nobody ever asks why Boom Boom is always single, I wonder why he and lovely Thais broke up? Steve Lowery is a example of the old adage if you stick with something long enough, you will prosper in the end. I remember his early days on tour when he was a bottom feeder, dew scraper, qualifier who wouldn’t give up. You know he has really has a flair for the dramatic with the double eagle at the International and his 3 wins all came in playoffs. The victims are in order Rick Fehr, David Duval, and Vijay! You gotta like a guy who grips the club down to the shaft.

Highly touted Aussie Nick Flanagan had a top ten finish at Mayakoba after a 5-over 75, good stuff there Junior.

Justin Leonard is off and running in his quest for the Ryder Cup and that’s a good thing. However I will never forget that 3 iron from 240 yards away at Whistling Straits that came up short and opened the door for Vijay to win the Wannamaker Trophy in a playoff. I hope the affable Texan can forget that shot next time he has a chance to win a major.

Speaking of Texas, do you wonder if Chad Campbell, the pride of Port Arthur will ever win a triumph at one of golf's big four? You know he almost had one except Shaun Micheel hit that fantastic 7 iron at Oak Hill on that sunny afternoon in Rochester, N.Y.

Strange but true coincidences: Robert Gamez hit a 7 iron at Bay Hill to victimize the Shark. Returning to Greg, I can't help myself, his first strange but true golf shot wasn’t struck by Bob Tway from a bunker on the 18 at Inverness. Norman lost his first tournament on the P.G.A. Tour in a playoff at Bay Hill to little known Mike Nicollete. Nicollete who retired from golf in 1988, dropped a bomb similar to the length of the eagle putt that Tiger made to crush J.B. Holmes. Would you watch Tiger work out and practice this week at home? I would -does that make me weird, or just plain honest?

I would like to say goodbye to Joey Sindelar who turned 50 this year. Great gig that Champions Tour with a 3 day work week with no cut. Joey won his hometown tournament, the now defunct B.C. Open. Sindelar won in 1985 and had a hole in one Sunday, which accompanied a roar from the gallery heard several counties away! Good luck Joey and thanks for the memories.