Sergio Garcia now needs to keep his mouth shut and try to do something he hasn’t done so well lately: win a golf tournament. At the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England, Garcia made a comment yesterday about serving Tiger “fried chicken” when he jokingly said he’ll have him over for at night during the U.S. Open. It was clearly made in jest, but you just can’t say that. I’m not a big fan of Tiger; to me he’s pretty arrogant and he bends the rules as closely as you can without cheating, and even that’s debatable. But that comment is unacceptablt anywhere. It’s the same thing Fuzzy Zoeller said before the Masters dinner a while back. Sergio needs to stop talking. Tiger just keeps pulverizing him on the golf course and Sergio looks really stupid. He needs to apologize again if asked about it, and just focus on golf. He has a lot of work to do if he wants to ever contend for a major or even win a PGA tour stop. I was kind of on Sergio’s side a little bit during the earlier controversy. Tiger’s drop during the Players when his ball went into the water on 14 off his tee shot was very questionable. There has been talk that the drop was not legal. Still, Sergio is out of line and needs to shut up. It’s got to be embarrassing to mouth off like he does and then look at his results head to head with Tiger. Tiger just destroys the guy on the golf course. It’s no contest. Time for Garcia to be quiet and play golf, though this controversy might not go away for a little while.
Rule 14-1B implemented by the USGA and the R&A yesterday will make it illegal to anchor a putter beginning January 1, 2016. It’s in place now and the PGA and the players just need to comply with it. I don’t totally agree with the decision, but we don’t need a split by the PGA from the USGA or lawsuits by players. That would be overboard. It’s done. Time to accept it and adjust if you anchor. There are other methods for using the long putter or the belly which are legal. You can still use them if you don’t attach the putter to your body or the long one to your chin. You can put your right hand on your left arm if you’re a right handed putter. That’s a pretty good compromise. It’s not hard to not anchor a long putter. I use a belly and I don’t anchor it. I like my putter and it works fine. The adjustment can be made. It’s time to just suck it up and abide by the ruling.
This week:
The Crowne Plaza Invitational
Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas
Defending Champion: Zach Johnson
Purse: $6,400,000; Winner’s share: $1,152,000
TV:
Thursday: Golf Channel: 3-6 PM ET/ 2-5 CT; Friday: Golf Channel: 3-6 PM ET/ 2-5 CT: Saturday: Golf: 1-2:30 PM ET/12-1:3o CT; CBS: 3-6 PM ET/2-5 CT; Sunday: Golf: 1-2:30 PM ET/12-1:30 CT; CBS 3-6 PM ET/2-5 CT.
Weather:
Sunny, mid-to high 80’s Thursday and all weekend. Friday has 18 MPH winds so that could be interesting.
Key holes on Colonial:
7,204 yards, Par 70
No.3
A 483-yard, par four, this is the beginning of the three-hole stretch called the “Horrible Horseshoe,” the three most difficult holes on the course. The long dogleg left requires a perfectly placed tee shot around a large tree and bunkers. A long approach shot makes birdies rare. This ranks as the second most difficult hole on the course. Par is a good score here; birdie is a bonus.
No.4
A 241-yard, par three has an elevated green that is difficult to hold. This hole is the only par three that has not yielded a hole in one in the 62 year history of the tournament. Birdies are rare as well.
No.5
A 481- yard, par-4, this is the hardest and most famous hole at Colonial and the last hole of the “Horrible Horseshoe.” The tee shot must be precise as there is a ditch to the left and a river to the right. Even a good tee shot leaves a long, narrow approach. Par is very acceptable here.
N0.9
A 407 yard, par four. An attractive, difficult hole that can lead to some big numbers. You must hit it straight off the tee and avoid a pond that is guarding the front of the green.
No.12
A 440 yard, par 4, this is the hardest hole on the back nine. The fairway is a dogleg left and requires accuracy and length. The approach must negotiate a tightly bunkered green and usually a head wind.
N0.16
A, 192 yard, par 3,. The par threes on the last three holes of the tournament are usually key scoring or survival holes,. A good tee shot is required to stay below the hole. Could lead to some dramatics here.
No.18
A 441 yard, par 4. You need a draw off the tee here on this dogleg left with trees capturing wayward shots. A lake protects the left side of the green. Great drama here on Sundays usually.
Contenders:
Boo Weekley:
Boo’s been playing well all season and has been very close to breaking through. He’s 17th on the tour in driving accuracy and 10th in greens in regulation. He hits it a long way. If his putter is clicking, he’ll be right there on Sunday.
Ben Kohles:
Young guy who is a fantastic player. He dominated the Web.com Tour last year winning twice and moving up to the regular tour. He’s done pretty well this year and is 21st in driving accuracy on the tour. This course really requires accuracy to win the tournament. A player who can draw the ball well has a good shot. Like this young player.
Justin Leonard:
A native Texan, Justin has won three times in Texas on the PGA tour, all three times at San Antonio. As a matter of fact, he’s a native of Dallas and knows the course very well. Like his chances to capture the title.
Kevin Streelman:
This guys tour stats are off the charts; 22nd in driving accuracy, 23rd in greens in regulation, 28th in scrambling and 19th in strokes gained putting. Won at Tampa. I’ve been struggling with Kevin and this other guy on who’ll win this week. Really had to flip a coin, I like both of them a lot at Colonial, but I’m going with a Georgia Bulldog.
The Winner:
Harris English:
Finished tied for fifth last year and shot a 67 on Sunday. He’s been playing well all year. Like the fact that he did so well last year in his rookie season. The statistics point to Streelman, but I’m going with the guy who has a good resume’ on this course.
Like Rocco Mediate to win the 74th Senior PGA Championship this week at the 6,959, par-71 Bellerive Country Club course in St. Louis. Golf Channel carries it 12-3 PM ET/ 11 AM-2 PM CT Thursday and Friday and NBC has coverage on Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 PM ET/2-5 CT. Fred Couples, John Cook and Tom Lehman are not playing this week due to other conflicts, but Schwab Cup leader Bernhard Langer is in the field and he’ll be a factor. He’s so consistent.
Like Nicolas Colsaerts to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England. Colsearts is a bomber–he leads thr PGA Tour in driving distance averaging 304.7 off the tee– and has all the talent to win big in Europe and maybe the U.S.. Star-studded field with Rory, Greame McDowell, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Ernie competing.
The Crimson Tide plays LSU @ 2 PM ET/1 CT on CSS. Should be a good baseball game. Alabama playing very well right now and defeated Auburn yesterday, 6-3. LSU is an excellent team. ‘Bama gave No.1 Vandy all they wanted up in Nashville last weekend. Vandy took two of three, but the games were wars.
