The Ramifications of Sunday's Impressive Chevron Rating

The most impressive thing about the Chevron final round 2.7 rating, a smidgen higher than this year's Open Championship: the event was up against the NFL.

The most unfortunate ramification: it underscores the power of Tiger, likely inspiring the PGA Tour to lean on his star power, without digging a little deeper to improve the "product" for the long term benefit of the tour and the game.

Wentworth Said To Be Resting Comfortably After Latest Cosmetic Surgery

Thanks to reader Alan for this update on the redo of the Wentworth redo by Ernie Els. He's using some big words these days. Or the person making up his press release quotes is.

Ernie Els, who oversaw the changes but was against those made at the 18th, said: “To get this absolutely as we all wanted has required two bites at the cherry, but I think I speak for everyone in saying this ultimately is the best solution for this iconic finishing hole.”

The South African added: “I believe that in excess of 50 percent of players will take the new green on in two at next year’s BMW PGA Championship.”

Els and the design team have also placed a mound in between the first and second bunkers on the right of the hole and raised the right-hand side of the green.

Other changes to the West Course include the softening of the spine that runs through the 8th green, and a change in the type of sand used in the bunkers, for more consistency.

All of the work – bar the change in sand, which should be completed by the end of the year – has been completed and it is now a case of allowing the grass to mature.

Until the boys come back and shred the work to pieces!

2010 Q-School Wrap-Up

The scores are here but as far as stories go, Billy Mayfair may have been medalist but Joseph Bramlett was the favorite of on-site scribblers.

Mick Elliott (here), Steve Elling (here) and Adam Schupak (here) each had a distinctive take on Bramlett, the first man of African American descent to earn a card through Q-school in 25 yards. From Schupak's story, referencing the last black man to make it to the tour via the school, Adrian Stills:

Bramlett and his caddie, longtime friend Don Allio, were having a club sandwich the day before Q-School began at Orange County National when they each read the Golfweek story recalling Stills’ success.

“We both said, ‘Whoa, that’s a long time,’ ” recalled Allio. “I think it really hit home for him.”

Jeff Rude with miscellaneous observations from the last day, including some of the near-missers.

Helen Ross lists the 29 who earned 2011 cards, with some bio info and other fun facts about the fortunate graduates.

John Bush files these official PGA Tour notes. And here's the PGA Tour Productions highlight recap:

Westwood On Rory Snub: “Is this yet another case of protectionism by the PGA Tour or are they so desperate to win something?"

Brian Keogh tells us about Lee Westwood's Tweet explosion crying conspiracy over the PGA Tour membership's snubbing of Rory McIlroy for player of the year.

Westwood wrote: “Sorry, 140 letters is not going to be enough for this rant! Just seen Rickie Fowler has been given Rookie of the Year!

“Yes he’s had a good year but Rory McIlroy third in two majors and an absolute demolition of the field at Quail Hollow! Oh yes and on the winning Ryder Cup team! Please!

Okay you had me until the Ryder Cup part. Go on...

“Is this yet another case of protectionism by the PGA Tour or are they so desperate to win something?

“Wouldn’t have something to do with Rory not joining the tour next year? Maybe the PGA tour just employs the same voting process as FIFA! Come on, fair’s fair!”

Westwood seems to be laboring under the delusion that the PGA Tour's finest actually gave this ROTY vote that much thought!

GMac Overcomes Tragically Premature Stevie Williams Bib-Shedding To Take Chevron World Challenge

It may seem silly but after a couple of really dreadful years the Chevron at Sherwood produced an epic atmosphere and classic finish. Doug Ferguson with a fitting lead on the shocking conclusion that saw Graeme McDowell erase Tiger's large lead.

Tiger Woods delivered a vintage moment, dropping an 8-iron from the sky on the final hole Sunday inside 3 feet for what looked to be a sure victory.

Just not this year.

Steve DiMeglio noted this about the bizarro turning point that saw Tiger double bogey the easiest par-5 on the course without a penalty stroke.

Woods was shaky early on with the putter to quickly lose his four-shot cushion, but he didn't fall out of the lead until the 13th.

He took his hand off the club on a poor tee shot that went into the left rough, forcing him to lay up. Then came another poor swing, again letting the club fall from his hands, as his wedge sailed over the green. He chipped through the green, chipped back 6 feet long and missed the putt to make double bogey.

McDowell reached the green in two for a birdie, which was a massive three-shot swing.

Robert Lusetich wrote this about McDowell's two dramatic birdie putts on No. 18, including the first in regulation when Tiger looper Stevie Williams had presumably shed his caddie bib.

But what was most unforgettable after a scratchy back nine from both men was that Woods gave McDowell his best shot — a perfect 8 iron to three feet on the last — but, maybe for the first time, it wasn’t enough.

Instead, McDowell rolled in his 20-foot birdie putt, forcing a playoff, which he won by making another audacious long birdie putt then watching as Woods couldn’t answer him from 15 feet.

“Those are probably two of the greatest putts I’ve made,” said McDowell, whose confidence from winning the U.S. Open and closing out Europe’s Ryder Cup victory is still evident.

“They’re the kind of putts you make them and you really can’t believe it afterwards.

“I mean, they were the stuff of dreams. 2010 has been the stuff of dreams. “It’s been that kind of year.”

Bob Harig on whether the week was still a positive one for Tiger.

Perhaps most remarkable of all was to hear Woods talk about being proud in defeat. Inviting Rory Sabbatini to his new digs in Jupiter, Fla., would seem more likely.

"It was a great week even though I didn't win," Woods said. "I'm proud of today even though I lost."
Why?

"Because I putted awful starting out. I missed three short putts, which I don't do. Then I lost my swing in the middle part of the round, and pieced it back together again piece by piece. I was proud of that. I was very committed coming in, and hit some really, really good shots coming in, which was good.

"If anything, I thought that's when there might be a breakdown, but I was very pleased that I was able to put that back together then."

Tiger is back! Tiger is back! Declare (some of) the SI/golf.com guys. And some aren't so sold.

Jim Herre, managing editor, SI Golf Group: I don't think you can make a judgment one way or another off the result of an exhibition against 17 other players, but losing a four-stroke lead on Sunday does not bode well.

Alan Shipnuck, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: Tiger's biggest edge was his head. No one was tougher, or believed more. Yang and the 72nd-hole miss at the Barclays chipped away at that. Now that edge is gone. Getting it back is more important for Tiger than any swing tweak.

Mark Stevens's official PGA Tour notes included this:

• Woods had never lost a lead of three strokes or more as a professional.

And the video of McDowell's big putt on 18, with Stevie already having put away the bib, apparently assuming this wasn't going in...




Final Round Q-School Scenarios

You can follow Monday's action here before Golf Channel signs on, but to get ready check out Sean Martin's look at the variety of players staring down a tour card. And Brian Wacker reminds us of Brandt Jobe's long road back from a freak accident that has him on the verge of returning to the tour.

Farrell Evans offers "ruminations" on several players, including Geoffrey Sisk, who he once caddied for.

Sisk finished 50th on the Nationwide tour money list this season, so he's fully exempt on that tour for next year. He came to Q-school with hopes of getting back on the regular tour, but he felt overwhelmed by Orange County National's Crooked Cat (7,493) and Panther Lake (7,223) courses. "The courses are just too long for me," Sisk says. "When you're hitting hybrids into greens and some of the younger guys are hitting 7-irons into the same greens, it's tough to compete." He shot a three-under 69 on the Crooked Cat course on Sunday, but two opening 75s all but ended his chances of getting into the top 25.

"Any year you win the Australian Open you're going to have to look back and think it is a pretty special year."

Brent Read reports on Geoff Ogilvy coasting to his first Australian Open win and how it salvaged a tough year.

It was Ogilvy's ninth victory worldwide and came at the end of a year he himself described as "rough". Not surprisingly, he hastily re-evaluated his year in the wake of yesterday's victory.

"I didn't enjoy golf that much this year because of how I was playing," Ogilvy said. "I came into a bit of form (on the US PGA Tour) late - just kind of ran out of tournaments. Any year you win a golf tournament is exciting.

"Any year you win the Australian Open you're going to have to look back and think it is a pretty special year."

John Huggan used the occasion to remind us of Ogilvy's place in the game as a throwback with quotes like this:

“Two important aspects of golf have gone in completely the wrong direction,” he maintains. “Most things are fine. Greens are generally better, for example. But the whole point of golf has been lost. Ben Hogan said it best. His thing was that you don’t measure a good drive by how far it goes; you analyse its quality by its position relative to the next target. That doesn’t exist in golf any more.”

Ask what is the most enjoyable aspect of the game that has earned him well over $22m on America’s PGA Tour alone and Ogilvy will tell you that it is the subtle shaping of shots using out-dated balata balls and old-fashioned persimmon woods. For him, such sessions are almost spiritual in nature and a soothing contrast to the increasingly Neanderthal crash-bang-wallop quality of the golf he is forced to endure while “at work.”

“It is a whole new level of fun,” he says. “Using a wooden driver, you have to hit it well for the ball to go anywhere. The difference between a good hit and a bad one is about 40 yards. With a modern driver you can hit the ball anywhere on the face really. The difference is only about five yards. Only afterwards, when I think about it more, do I get depressed by all of that.”

Wild Sunday Open Thread

Geoff Ogilvy has already won the Australian Open but we can't see it here in the states because of a full line-up that includes a meaningful finale at the Chevron World Challenge for Tiger, the Nedbank in South Africa, the LPGA Tour Championship and the second-to-last round of PGA Tour Q-school. Let me know what you see.

It's Not Just Golf Writers Who Have A Man-Crush On Rickie Fowler

His peers voted him PGA Tour rookie-of-the-year, which Doug Ferguson suggests was a mistake considering Rory McIlroy won a tournament and finished 3rd in two majors.

Rickie Fowler won the award over Rory McIlroy, Puerto Rico Open winner Derek Lamely and Alex Prugh. McIlroy not only won Quail Hollow, he was third in two majors.

Fowler was a rookie in the purest sense, fresh out of Q-school at age 21. He had two runner-up finishes, at the Phoenix Open and Memorial, and was selected for the Ryder Cup team. In his singles match, he won the last four holes to earn a halve that gave the Americans a chance to win until Graeme McDowell won the final singles match.

Fowler was the youngest rookie of the year since Tiger Woods won the award at age 20 in 1996.

"It's pretty cool," Fowler said. "I guess I'm one year behind Tiger, but looking to try and make up some ground. It's been a lot of fun."

Great White Shark Now Kvetching About The Greens

From an unbylined report courtesy of reader Tom, following Greg Norman's 70 to put him 13 back of Geoff Ogilvy.

"They're too slow for me," Norman said. "I'm a fast-green putter and I can't get the right line or the speed with them, so you're always fighting and you've got to hit the ball too hard to really get comfortable.

"They've got so much undulation, they can't get them too much quicker. If you got them any quicker, balls would be rolling into the water and balls rolling off the greens.

The 55-year-old Norman said the greens were not fit for an Australian Open.

"It's a problem if you're going to have a golf championship here," Norman said. "For the members, it's not. For the members, you're going to have to keep them pretty slow for them or they'd never get around here. But obviously someone's feeling good with it."

How dare them for not taking Greg's preference for fast greens into consideration!

“It’s between rounds that golf is hard."

Bruce Young quotes Geoff Ogilvy following a 67 and heading into the Australian Open final Sunday, where he holds a five stroke lead over Matt Jones.

On overcoming a bogey finish to the round:

Ogilvy was happy with the day despite the final hole bogey. “It is never nice to finish like that whatever you are shooting. I am well over it now though. I rushed to the range as we saw some rain coming to hit a bucket of balls. Normally I would not rush to the range in a left to right wind but whilst the feeling of that shot was in my head I wanted to get it out of my head. I hit a 20 or 30 nice ones and it is gone."

It must be nice!

When it was suggested earlier by Greg Chalmers that there was little likelihood of him going backwards tomorrow Ogilvy responded, “Hopefully not – if I play like I did today then I don’t think I will but golf is a funny game and if it is wet like it is right now (rain arrived at close of play today) then you never know what is going to happen. Obviously I am in a decent position after three rounds and if I can do it again tomorrow then I will be alright by the end hopefully.

“It’s between rounds that golf is hard,” he said responding to the question as to how much he will think about tomorrow. “I am sure I will think about it a couple of times. It would be abnormal to stop yourself thinking about it but I am sure I will sleep ok tonight.”

Tiger Has Clubs, Needs Membership

Bob Harig on Tiger's upcoming move from Orlando to Jupiter and ramifications for his current club, and interestingly, his game.

Going forward, Woods will have some decisions to make about where to play and practice on Jupiter Island.

"The problem is, I don't have a place to play yet," he said. "I have to figure that out. I've got a nice practice facility in the backyard [at his new home]. As far as playing holes ... I don't have any holes to play. That's kind of an up-in-the-air deal. I'm trying to figure that out now. There are so many good places down there."

Woods does have several options, including The Medalist Club (designed by Greg Norman), The Bear's Club (a facility built by Jack Nicklaus) and the McArthur Golf Club in nearby Hobe Sound (where Nick Price has an interest).