Wake Me Up When You Win Something Important

It has been a few months (my last entry was in June) since I have written anything here, mostly because I haven't been playing too much golf, but also because nothing has inspired me enough to write anything until now.  Sure, the President's Cup was nice, but odd television coverage and a rather easy win by the United States team made for a pretty "uneventful event" so to speak. Darren Clarke's win at the British Open was gutsy and surprising. Although the PGA Championship was exciting, the match up of Keegan Bradley and Jason Dufner down the stretch was far from historic.  I'm guessing that in five years you will be hard pressed to remember either of their names.

Last year around this time, I wrote my first blog entry after watching the 2010 Chevron World Challenge.  Tiger Woods battled Graeme McDowell down the stretch and eventually lost in extra holes to the reigning U.S. Open champ.  On Sunday, after my Broncos dispatched of the Vikings in overtime (Tebow! Tebow!) I tuned in to the 2011 version of the event to catch Tiger and Zach Johnson battling it out on the last few holes.  Zach, who is almost a polar opposite of Tiger in terms of how they play the game, looked to have the advantage when both players laid up on the par-5 16th. Many people forget that Johnson got the better of Woods at the 2007 Masters when they were both in contention on Sunday during the pre-surgery, pre-scandal, pre-fallen idol years of Tiger history.  Johnson is thought to be the only player who has ever won the Masters after laying up on every par-5 for all four rounds.  His strong wedge game and putting skills allowed him to play those 16 holes in an astounding 11 under par that year.  Fast forward to Sunday at the Chevron. Both players had wedge in their hand for the third shot on 16. Advantage Johnson, who wedged on and drained a birdie putt to move one ahead of Tiger, whose birdie chance narrowly slid by the hole.

It appeared as if this was going to be another near miss for Tiger.  Johnson has proven to be reliable and unflappable in situations like this.  But Tiger pulled even by making a clutch deuce on the par-3 17th. On the final hole, Johnson answered by putting the pressure back on Tiger, sending his approach within 15 feet of the flag.  Tiger responded by putting his own shot to a cozy 6 feet.  After Johnson weakly missed his birdie try, Woods sank the short putt to win and broke out his familiar fist pump to the roars of the biased gallery.  Another major win for Tiger! Wait, did you say the Chevron World Challenge? Judging by the celebration, you would think he had just won another green jacket.

Someone tell Tiger this isn't the Masters. And aren't you supposed to wear black shoes with black pants?

What a great win! Tiger is back! - Wrong and Wrong.  Tiger beat a field of 17 other players at his own tournament.  On the very same day, Rory McIlroy won in Hong Kong over a field of 130 players and Lee Westwood won in South Africa, besting a small field of 12 that included Luke Donald (Ranked #1 in the world), Martin Kaymer (#4) and three recent major winners in Charl Schwartzel, Darren Clarke, and Graeme McDowell.   Tiger's win is certainly not any more impressive than either of those, yet they received little to no fanfare.  One tournament win in an unofficial event over a small and mediocre field does not mean that the comeback is complete.  One win in 749 days and 26 tournaments is unacceptable by the standards of any great player.

Tiger himself has always placed a special importance on majors. Until he shows that he can win another one of those, he can never be considered the same player he once was.  It has been well over three years since his last major win at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  Since then, he was beaten late in the 2009 PGA Championship by Y.E. Yang after blowing a two shot lead and shooting 75 on the final day.  He was a non-factor in the 2010 and 2011 Masters despite being near the lead and finishing tied for fourth in both tournaments.

Ah, but the golfing public has an obsession with Tiger Woods.  After all, how can I complain when I am guilty of writing this blog only when I want to complain about Tiger and Tiger lovers everywhere?  Despite the fact that I am openly critical of Woods, he does seem to make things more interesting, even if it does mean rooting against him. 

Golf fans need to step it up.  Can we try showing more interest in other parts of the game in 2012?  There should be some great majors, including the U.S. Open at Olympic Club in San Francisco and the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, home to the famous "War on the Shore" Ryder Cup in 1991.  In fact, the Ryder Cup itself returns to the United States in September at Medinah Country Club in Illinois.  As of this post, American golfers only hold four of the top 10 places in the World Golf Ranking - will that change in 2012?  How will Rory McIlroy defend his record setting U.S. Open win?  Will Lee Westwood, Adam Scott, Luke Donald, Steve Stricker or Dustin Johnson finally win a major?  I'm looking forward to the 2012 season, whether Tiger is dominant or not.

The List - My Golf Travels

I always thought it would be fun to create a "golf resume".  I'm not talking about putting together a list of skills, work experience, education, or career accomplishments (although I do have one of those).  I think every avid golfer should have a list - a summary of their golf travels that can be used to share their golf life with others and to help them re-live their own travels.  I have created mine and decided to share it with the world.

124 golf courses.  Some you will find rate highly as some of the greatest courses in the world.  Others you may never have heard of, and some that are so small they barely show up in most golf course directories.  One rule that I made is that I have to have played at least nine holes at each of these courses.  If I included golf courses I have simply been to, or visited for other purposes, my list might be double the size.

I would encourage all of my golfing friends to make their own list.  Just doing so made me think of memories, matches, partners, scenery, great shots, and great times.  If anyone would like their list to be posted on my blog, I will post them if they are sent to me at rsaturday@yahoo.com. I know there are people out there who have a bigger and better list than mine, but everyone should be proud of their own list and what each golf round has meant to them.

Some things I find interesting about my list.  I have only played golf in three states, although I believe that despite its Nevada address, Palms Golf Club in Mesquite might actually be in Arizona.  It is definitely right on the border.

I have played at several courses designed by the most famous historical architects

• Alister MacKenzie (Pasatiempo)
• Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (Spyglass, Mission Viejo, Valencia CC, Spring Valley Lake, LakeRidge and SCGA Members)
• Robert Trent Jones, Jr. (Poppy Hills, Coto de Caza North, Desert Dunes, Monarch, Spanish Bay)
• Pete Dye - (La Quinta Mountain, PGA West Stadium, Lost Canyons, Moreno Valley)

Several courses that have hosted some kind of relevant golf tournament worth noting.  I am positive there are some that I might have missed in this category.

• U.S. Open - Pebble Beach (5 times)
• PGA Tour events - Pebble Beach, Spyglass, Poppy Hills, Spanish Bay, Valencia CC (1995), PGA West Stadium Course, Torrey Pines North, Las Vegas National, La Quinta Mountain, Hesperia (1950's and '60's), Brookside (LA Open 1968). 
• Senior Tour events - Valencia CC, Coyote Canyon, TPC Las Vegas (Canyons).  
• President's Cup - Harding Park. 
• USGA Women's Am - Pasatiempo.
• Nike/Nationwide/Hogan/Buy.com Tour - Moreno Valley Ranch, Empire Lakes. 
• PGA Tour Q School Final Stage - La Purisima.
• The Skins Game - PGA West, La Quinta Mountain, Terra Lago.

I have given some of the courses special recognition by awarding them with various titles.  Read on to see
which courses hold a special place in my heart.

The List

The Elite (14)
Pebble Beach Golf Links - Pebble Beach, CA *Most Historic, Most Memorable, Most Beautiful*

Pasatiempo #11

Spyglass Hill Golf Course - Pebble Beach, CA *Most Difficult*
Poppy Hills Golf Course - Monterey, CA *Best Public Course*
The Links at Spanish Bay - Monterey, CA
Pasatiempo Golf Course -Santa Cruz, CA *Most Difficult Greens*
Harding Park Golf Course - San Francisco, CA
PGA West Stadium Course - La Quinta, CA
La Quinta Resort Mountain - La Quinta, CA *Best Desert Course*
TPC Las Vegas (Canyons) - Las Vegas, NV *Best Vegas Course*
Torrey Pines Golf Course (North) - La Jolla, CA
Cascata Golf Club - Boulder City, NV *Most Extravagant, Best Condition*
Pelican Hill Golf Club South Course - Newport Coast, CA *Best Local Getaway*
Pelican Hill Golf Club North Course - Newport Coast, CA
Valencia Country Club - Valencia, CA *My Personal Favorite, Best Design*

Private Golf Courses (16)
Big Canyon Country Club - Newport Beach, CA *Best Private Club*
Dove Canyon Country Club - Dove Canyon, CA
Coto De Caza Country Club - Coto De Caza, CA
Mission Viejo Country Club - Mission Viejo, CA
Yorba Linda Country Club - Yorba Linda, CA *Most Underrated Private Club*

Los Coyotes Country Club - Buena Park, CA

Yorba Linda CC

Marbella County Club - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Mesa Verde Country Club, CA - Costa Mesa, CA
Seacliff Country Club - Huntington Beach, CA
Lomas Santa Fe Country Club - Lomas Santa Fe, CA
Woodland Hills Country Club - Woodland Hills, CA
Sunset Hills Country Club - Moorpark, CA
Antelope Valley Country Club - Palmdale, CA
Crystallaire Country Club - Llano, CA
Spring Valley Lake Country Club - Victorville, CA
Southshore Golf Club - Las Vegas, NV *Unknown Gem*

Notable Resorts or Golf Courses (13)
La Purisima Golf Course - Lompoc, CA
Bayonet Golf Course - Fort Ord - Seasisde, CA
Terra Lago (Formerly Landmark Golf Club) - Indio, CA
Monarch Beach Golf Links - Dana Point, CA
Bali Hai Golf Club - Las Vegas, NV
Presidio Golf Course - San Francisco, CA *Best Urban Course*

Presidio Golf Course

TPC Valencia - Valencia, CA *Most Overrated*
Lost Canyons Golf Club - Simi Valley, CA
Brookside Golf Course (Number One) - Pasadena, CA
Industry Hills Zaharias - Industry, CA
Industry Hills Eisenhower - Industry, CA
Oak Valley Golf Club - Beaumont, CA *Most Underrated*
The Golf Club at Rancho California (SCGA Member's Course) - Murrieta, CA *My Lowest Score*

Los Angeles Area Golf Courses (16)
Vista Valencia - Valencia, CA *Most Times Played*
Robinson Ranch - Canyon Country, CA
Elkins Ranch - Fillmore, CA *Best Cheeseburger, Most Secluded*

Elkins Ranch

Lake Elizabeth Golf Course - Lake Elizabeth, CA
Olivas Park - Ventura, CA
Buenaventura - Ventura, CA
Simi Hills - Simi Valley, CA
El Cariso - Sylmar, CA
Hansen Dam - Pacoima, CA
Knollwood - Granada Hills, CA
Marshall Canyon - LaVerne, CA
Los Verdes - Palos Verdes, CA
Whittier Narrows - Rosemead, CA
Chester Washington - Los Angeles, CA
China Lake Naval Air Station - China Lake, CA *Boondocks Award*

Orange County/Riverside (35)

China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station

Oak Creek Golf Club - Irvine, CA
Rancho San Joaquin - Irvine, CA
Strawberry Farms - Irvine, CA
Tustin Ranch Golf Club - Tustin, CA
Los Serranos North - Chino Hills, CA
Los Serranos South - Chino Hills, CA
Anaheim Hills - Anaheim Hills, CA
San Clemente Municipal - San Clemente, CA
Shorecliffs - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Casta Del Sol - Mission Viejo, CA
Costa Mesa Los Lagos - Costa Mesa, CA *Best Value*
Costa Mesa Mesa Linda - Costa Mesa, CA
Tijeras Creek - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Talega Golf Club - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club - Mission Viejo, CA
Moreno Valley Ranch (Mountain 9, Valley 9, Lake 9) - Moreno Valley, CA
Eagle Glen Golf Club - Corona, CA
Green River Orange Course - Corona, CA
Trilogy Golf Club - Corona, CA
Cross Creek - Temecula, CA
Redhawk Golf Club - Temecula, CA *Most Unique Design*

Redhawk

 

Empire Lakes Golf Club - Ontario, CA
SCPGA Golf Course - Beaumont, CA
Coyote Hills Golf Club - Fullerton, CA
Diamond Bar - Diamond Bar, CA
Westridge - La Habra, CA
Willowick - Santa Ana, CA
El Dorado Park - Long Beach, CA
Skylinks - Long Beach, CA
Meadowlark - Huntington Beach, CA
David L. Baker - Fountain Valley, CA
Mile Square - Fountain Valley, CA
Cypress Golf Course (extinct) - Cypress, CA
Quail Ranch - Moreno Valley, CA

Desert Dunes - Note the Bending Flagstick

 

Hesperia Golf Club - Hesperia, CA

San Diego (5)
Carlsbad Crossings - Carlsbad, CA
Mission Trails -San Diego, CA
Coronado Island - San Diego, CA
Meadow Lake - Escondido, CA
Pala Mesa - Fallbrook, CA

Palm Springs (5)
Desert Dunes - Desert Hot Springs, CA *Windiest*
The Golf Club at La Quinta (Formerly Trilogy Golf Club) - La Quinta, CA
Desert Falls - Palm Desert, CA
Heritage Palms - Indio, CA

Northern California (4)

Bodega Harbor Golf Links

Franklin Canyon - Hercules, CA
Bodega Harbor Golf Links - Bodega Bay, CA
Chardonnay Golf Club Shakespeare Course - Napa, CA
Coyote Canyon Tournament Course - San Jose, CA

Nevada/Utah (10)
LakeRidge Golf Course - Reno, NV
Las Vegas National Golf Course - Las Vegas, NV
Rhodes Ranch Golf Club - Las Vegas, NV
Badlands - Las Vegas, NV *Worst Design*
Royal Links - Las Vegas, NV *Coolest Design*

Entrada at Snow Canyon

Revere at Anthem (Lexington) - Henderson, NV
Silverstone - Las Vegas, NV
Oasis Palmer Course - Mesquite, NV
Palms Golf Club - Mesquite, NV
Entrada at Snow Canyon - St. George, UT *Best Scenery*

Par-3's and Miscellaneous (6)
Lake Forest Golf Center - Lake Forest, CA *Best for Beginners*
Vista Valencia Chica - Valencia, CA *My First Golf Round*
Bixby Village Golf Course - Long Beach, CA
Hyatt Newporter - Newport Beach, CA
Driftwood Golf Course (closed) - Huntington Beach, CA *Wackiest*
Angel Park Cloud Nine Golf Course - Las Vegas, NV

So, that's it.  My history as a golfer.  In creating this list, I realized that there are so many courses that I have always meant to play, yet for some reason, I have never made the tee time.  Look out Torrey Pines South, Rancho Park, Half Moon Bay, Paiute, Primm, Trump National, Maderas, and La Costa - you're next to make "The List".

Rory McIlroy - The Anti-Tiger?

It was only three years ago when Tiger Woods finished off Rocco Mediate at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  The win marked Tiger's 14th major championship victory, and moved him to within four of Jack Nicklaus, whose 18 titles are the most in history.  Since that day, there have been twelve majors.  Many would have predicted that Tiger would have caught Jack by now, but there are very few who would have guessed that he would come up completely dry. Yes, an "oh-fer" for Tiger in the last 12 majors.  Tiger is a polarizing figure. You love him or you hate him, but the bottom line is that he makes golf interesting to the masses.  Since Tiger's personal problems, swing changes, and his knee injury, there has been a void.  The golf world has seen nobodies like Charl Schwartzel, Loius Oosthuizen, and Lucas Glover win majors since that memorable day.  No Tiger versus Phil, or Jack versus Watson, or Jack versus Palmer rivalries.  Nobody at the top of the world rankings who anyone REALLY tunes in to see - Luke Donald? Lee Westwood? Martin Kaymer? Certainly, they are good players, but I don't know a single person who is waiting to see how Matt Kuchar is going to do at the British Open in a few weeks.

But something odd happened at Congressional Country Club last weekend.  A new star has emerged.  Someone shot 16-under par at the U.S. OPEN and his name was not Tiger?  He won by eight strokes?  Are you sure it wasn't Tiger?  We may have found the next in the line of "one namers" - Arnie, Jack, Seve, Tiger, and now....Rory?  Although it may be too early to say that Rory McIlroy is among golf's elite, he certainly has created quite a buzz.  At only 22 years old, he was the youngest U.S. Open winner in over a century.  He did more than just win on the golf course, he seemed to earn the respect and admiration of the gallery at Congressional and golf fans all around the world.

McIlroy did it all in a manner that we are not used to seeing.  Tiger has a presence and an intimidating air about him.  He has always been private, short and stoic with the media, and sometimes bordering on arrogant, even when he was just a 21 year old winning The Masters for the first time.  Rory was open, engaging, and talking candidly about the collapse he suffered at The Masters a few months ago.  On the course he looked like he was out for a walk in the park - relaxed, enjoying himself, yet confident.  Tiger stalks the golf course intensely and sometimes angrily.  He did not give canned answers and cliches as Tiger typically does.  He won people over with his honesty and good nature.  Other players like last year's winner Graeme McDowell, were quick to root for him and to compliment his demeanor and character.  When was the last time you heard a tour player gush about wanting Tiger to win?  There were no fist pumps or miraculous shots that are Tiger trademarks.  Rory just cruised, hitting 62 of 72 greens in regulation.  He made only three bogeys and one double-bogey in four days.    

In 2010, Rory was quoted as saying he wanted a piece of Tiger at the Ryder Cup, which apparently fired up Woods quite a bit.  My new wish is for Tiger to get healthy, get his game back on track, and to see these two go head-to-head at the top of the golf world. Although there are some obvious similarities in the two, I see a lot of things that make McIlroy "The Anti-Tiger".

Tiger:  Born and raised in Southern California, land of sunshine, beaches, movie stars, and gang riots.
Rory:  Born and raised in Northern Ireland - land of fog, castles, the IRA, and Guinness.

Tiger: Complexion of a bronzed god.  Chiseled physique.

Any resemblance?

Rory:  Complexion of mayonnaise.  Reminds you of the cowardly lion from Wizard of Oz.

Tiger:  Main sponsor - Nike - a global giant
Rory:  Main sponsor - Jumeriah - whatever that is

Tiger:  Sunday attire - Bright red - reminds you of blood, passion, and intimidation.
Rory:  Sunday attire - Light blue - reminds you of clouds and cotton candy.

Tiger:  Sees Jack Nicklaus as a bulls eye, shuns Memorial tournament with regularity
Rory:  Openly befriended by Jack Nicklaus, and thanked him for his advice

Tiger:  Robotically gives answers to press room questions.
Rory:  Speaks from the heart about collapsing in The Masters.

Tiger:  Hair is closely trimmed - all business
Rory:  Curly locks reminiscent of Bobby Clampett or Danny Noonan.

Rory  - Noonan

Tiger:  On-course f-bombs "F**k!"
Rory:  Aww shucks.

Tiger:  Self-proclaimed sex addict.
Rory:  Seemingly chaste.

Tiger:  Agent - IMG, sports powerhouse.
Rory:  Agent - Some guy named Chubby Chandler.

Tiger:  Father Earl Woods grooms Tiger from a young age to become a professional golfer.
Rory:  Father Gerry stands to win a bet of 200,000 Pounds if Rory wins a British Open before 2014.

Tiger:  Tiger Woods Foundation and First Tee
Rory:  UNICEF


Most important comparison!
Tiger:  14 majors, 623 weeks as number one on the world golf ranking
Rory:  1 major, 0 weeks as number one on the world golf ranking

I will give McIlroy credit for what he did at Congressional. It was an amazing display of golf and a historic victory.  He also gave people a reason to be excited about golf again.  Even casual fans of golf were talking about this kid over the weekend.  As incredible as it was, we should not be so quick to anoint Rory as the game's next great hero.  Love him or hate him, there really is only one Tiger Woods, and Rory has a long way to go before he can claim his resume is that good.  The British Open should be interesting.  Royal St. George's awaits.

Readers:  Have any Tiger and Rory comparisons of your own?  Leave your comments below!

San Clemente Municipal

I got a text from my friend Sweet Pete late on Friday night.  Peter lives in San Clemente, blocks from the course and we are always talking about going to play the local muni. For some reason, we never seem to hook up, but I suddenly found I had no plans on Saturday and his 2:30 tee time sounded just perfect.

Peter and I usually play to about the same handicap.  Peter is one of my best friend's wife's sister's husband, in other words, my friend's brother-in-law.  We were to be joined by Chicago Bill, who had grown up with my best friend's wife.  We have a tradition of playing in a foursome around Christmas every year (see Holiday Golf - Meet the Brookside Butcher) but he was in town for a spring vacation.  Bill has always shown that he has a lot of golf ability. This time, however, we got to see him at his full potential.  When we play at Christmas, Bill generally hasn't played for months because it is the middle of winter where he lives.  In addition, he has been playing us with his backup set of dusty clubs that only leave his parents' garage once a year.  He had his gamers with him this time.

The weather was perfect on the first tee, warm, about 70 degrees with a slight breeze.  The great thing about San Clemente Municipal is that it is set on the bluffs a few miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.  The air is usually fresh and the vibe is very relaxed.  We picked up a fourth player on the first tee and off we went.  On the third tee, we finally discussed what types of games we were going to be playing for the day.  I suggested baseball, a great game for three players that involves the division of nine points for every hole.  There are a few possible combinations in this game.  If each player ties, they each get three points, or 3-3-3.  If one player has the low score (par for example) and the other two are one behind (bogeys) then the scoring goes 5-2-2.  There is also a 4-4-1, a 5-3-1, and the deadly 9-0-0, which means that one player has beaten both the other players by at least two strokes (birdie and two bogeys for example).  Since there are 81 points possible per side, we generally play for a small and friendly amount, such as $.25 per point.  We also decided to play $1 skins, and after some grumbling, my partners gave me credit for the skin I won on the first hole with a par.  Little did I know, this was the ONLY skin I would win all day.

An ocean view from behind #15 green

Another funny thing happened on #3 that was a topic of conversation all day.  Peter has a brand new Taylor Made R-11.  Yes it has that odd but intriguing white paint job, and it is one of the hottest clubs on the market and the tour today.  Our fourth player, a total stranger, could not resist and nervously asked Peter if he could try his driver.  Peter was a little uncomfortable about it but handed it over to him.  After all, it was cherry new and he just spent about 300 smackers for it.  The guy teed it up and put an ugly swing on it, topping the ball and taking a four inch divot, sending the drive dribbling about 60 yards down the left side of the tee box.  In his recoil, Peter swears that the guy smacked the club on the ground in disgust.  When we were in the fairway waiting for the green to clear, Peter turned to me and asked me if I had seen what happened.  He also asked me if I would have let a stranger try my club if I was in his shoes. I know better. I once let my FRIEND try my Biggest Big Bertha back in the day and he put the ugliest sky mark on the TOP of the club near the toe.  Every time I addressed it from that moment forward, I had to think of his ugly mug and the tee shot that went about 100 yards high and about 40 yards long. Never again! Try my putter, try my irons, my wedges, that's fine, but not my brand spanking new driver.  What is the etiquette?  Who is out of line in that situation?  The guy who oversteps his bounds or the guy who is selfish and won't share his toys? Discuss!

San Clemente's greens gave me trouble all day.  They had been aerified about three weeks ago and I could tell that there had been some recent verti-cutting on most of the surfaces.  Putts were coming off a little bit bumpy but the worst part was that the greens seemed to all be different speeds.  I generally play well at San Clemente and putting is usually a big part of that, but on this day I was having a tough time getting the speed.  However, I did not make things easy on myself, as I found that my poor iron play left me area codes away from the hole on many birdie putts.  I didn't make a birdie all day and I had several three putts.  On a short course like San Clemente, those short iron and wedge shots need to be close to the hole to have lots of birdie chances and make easy pars.

Bill took all nine points from us and four skins on Hole #5.  I made a mess of the hole and made bogey.  Peter had his own adventures and also made bogey while Bill played the hole to perfection and made birdie.  Although I was not playing well, I was holding it together until it all started falling apart at Hole #8.  I hooked an awful drive up against a tree and had to punch out 30 yards.  I still had over 200 yards to the hole on this par-4 and wound up making triple.  I was the only player to hit the green on the par-3 ninth hole.  With a chance to win a few skins on the line, I managed to leave a 40-foot downhill birdie putt 10 feet short.  I missed the par putt and the wheels were officially off of the wagon.  Needless to say, I got drummed in our betting games.  Bill shot a 37 on the front side, Peter shot a 40 and I shot a disgraceful 45.

Behind #12 green - my ball is in the foreground.

The back nine was no better.  I hit a great approach shot about 15 feet behind the hole to a tucked pin on #10.  I three putted after an aggressive birdie try, leaving me steamed.  The next two holes are the easiest on the course - 488 and 483 yard par-5's back to back.  I hit a great drive on 11, and totally stymied myself by hitting my second directly under a tree on the left side of the fairway.  I was 60 yards from the green, with tree branches blocking my ideal trajectory.  I could not go under the tree because a deep bunker fronts the green.  I decided to go over with a super nuked flop shot, made it over the branches but came up way short into the bunker.  I hit a bad bunker shot, chipped on, and made double bogey.  Ouch.  On 12, I hit another good drive, a perfect layup to about 60 yards to a back pin.  This shot is right in my wheelhouse, and I like to play a low spinner that usually takes a big hop and checks nicely.  Vokey Spin Milled grooves are the only way to go.  I hit what I thought was a perfect shot, the ball landing 15 feet short of the flag, but to my dismay there was no "check check" and the ball rolled over the green, across the collar and nestled up right against the rough.  I did manage to make par, but I had to work awfully hard for it.

I missed a 5 footer on 14 for par, left a 15 foot birdie putt short on Hole 15, and then I made my worst mistake of the day.  Hole 16 is the most challenging hole on the course.  The hole measures 405 yards and is a sharp dogleg left.  You can cut the corner, but there is out of bounds on the left.  You want to hit your ball as close to the corner as you can without going in.  You must also drive your ball over a ravine, which isn't far, but still visually intimidating.  In addition, the fairway has a steep downslope in the landing area which makes it difficult to get the ball up to a somewhat blind and elevated green.  Well, I hit a big hook and ended up in the out of bounds area.  After making triple, I was mentally checked out for the last two holes.

Bill played well, but had a bad back nine and shot a 76 or 77.  Peter shot around 82 and I fired an embarassing 90.  I won one skin, (the first hole) Bill won 10, and Peter won 5.  Two were left on the table.  I lost the baseball game by a wide margin.  I have played San Clemente maybe five times and I think I have shot in the 70's three times.  90 was an awful score there.  I am not sure I was mentally into the round from the start.  I probably took the course too lightly and was not concentrating from shot to shot, which is something that I tend to do from time to time.  Maybe it was the perfect weather and the picture taking that threw me off.  I'm definitely not feeling comfortable with the new Callaway X-22's in my bag. Or, maybe I'm just a bad, bad golfer?

San Clemente will be in great shape for a municipal course weeks once the greens are completely finished healing from aerification.  This little gem is one of the best golf values in Orange County and I would highly recommend it to value driven players out there.  This is a great track to play when you are looking for a mellow day out on the links where having fun and the weather sometimes seem more important than the numbers on the scorecard.  I know that despite my hideous play, I enjoyed my day.

A few years ago, the course got a new clubhouse building, pro shop, and restaurant.  I never realized how nice the restaurant and bar really were.  Called "Irons in the Fire", the 19th hole had a nice bar, plenty of seating for dinner or lunch, 4 flat screens, and even an outdoor fire pit.  There was a birthday party on the balcony but we stopped inside for a small dinner.  I paid for Bill's tab to take care of my debt, and we enjoyed a light dinner that was very tasty, especially Peter's Hawaiian style steak.  We watched the Canucks beat the Bruins only 18 seconds into overtime of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals and I headed home, licking my wounds.  I feel a rematch coming.....SOON!

A perfect day in San Clemente

Sweet Pete in the trees

Hole #14, a short, narrow, and uphill par-4.

Ahhhh Talega - Late afternoon match and course review

If you have lived in Orange County for the last 10 years or so, you might remember the local cable commercials for the budding, mega-supreme, premium housing development and neighborhood in San Clemente called "Talega".  Each commercial would wax poetically about a blissful way of life and would end with the female voice-over artist saying "Ahhhhhhhh Talegahhh". I can't argue that living in Talega or anywhere in South Orange County isn't a great way to live, but the commercials seemed a little ridiculous at times.

Luckily for golfers, the housing development came with a championship caliber 18-hole golf course.  It  opened for play in 2001 and was designed by Schmidt-Curley with help from Fred Couples himself.  Over the years it has seen a number of different owners and management groups, but it has always been a beautiful property.  I had a chance to tee it up at Talega on May 23rd, which was a picturesque Monday afternoon.  My friend and Talega employee Nick Gomez called me at 2 pm to see if I would be interested in a last-minute super-twilight round.  I hemmed and hawed over rushing to make the 30 mile drive from my Tustin bachelor pad to deep behind the Orange Curtain in South County, but decided to get out of the house and give it a go.  After all, a round of golf with Gomez always ends up producing a few good laughs.

I arrived at Talega around 4pm.  Nick greeted me at the parking lot after coming from the driving range, which oddly is quite a distance from the clubhouse and the rest of the golf course.  I paid my green fee and we were off and running.  Nick is a very good player, a former junior college player who is still active in competitive golf and probably carries around a one or two handicap.  He also plays the course regularly so any match we were going to have was going to require some serious adjustments.  He decided to give me four strokes per side, which I felt was pretty fair, and I was adament about playing from the blue tees, which would negate his length advantage.  We decided to play a straight 18-hole match and allowed our favorite "press when pissed" option for a friendly yet undisclosed amount.

On the first tee, I told Nick that I wanted to try out a Scotty Cameron Laguna 2.5 putter that I had purchased from eBay about a year ago but never had used during a round.  I had always wanted one of these because they closely resemble the old Ping MyDay design that I used to roll the rock with in the late 90's.  I had one MyDay that was about 33.5 inches and I putted great with that club for years.  One day I slightly tweaked it somehow and it never was the same for me.  I tried other MyDays from Ping but they never looked or felt as sweet as my old gamer.  I was hoping the Scotty Cameron copy would somehow bring the magic back.    I reserved the right to switch back to my latest standby, a Taylor Made Rossa that I have been using for the last three years or so.  Nick agreed to my terms.

Talega's 7th Hole -183 yards.

I started off hitting the ball very well.  I had a 15 footer for birdie on number one but using the Laguna I blew it 5 feet by the hole and ended up missing the comebacker to make bogey.  Hole #2 is a shortish par-5 at only 495 yards.  I laid up and hit a nice wedge to about 10 feet behind the hole but my birdie putt didn't even sniff the cup.  After I missed I started looking at the grip of the Laguna.  I had one of my golf pro buddies put a new grip on it for me but when I put my hands on the club, the face was wide open.  I showed it to Nick and he agreed that it was not right. Note to self: always re-grip your own clubs!  I three putted 3 and 4 and decided to bury the Laguna for the day.  Despite bogeying three of the first four holes I was still in the match because Nick got off to an equally slow start.  I think I even had him down a hole or two at one point on the front nine.  I turned at 39, not a bad score for me.

On the back nine, I got to see an awful lot of scenery.  I had been striping my driver pretty much all day but as the day wore on I found myself in some awkward places.  On 11, I drove my ball right to the right edge of a fairway bunker.  I had no stance whatsoever because the face was so steep, so I had to slap it down the fairway using a bundled up stance and swing.  My drive trickled through the fairway on 13 and ended up right at the base of a tree.  I had to punch this one out off of a hefty root.  On 15, I had a severe downhill lie with the ball below my feet.  I played a great hybrid shot out of there to put me in a great position for my third shot into the par-5.  Nick is insensitive and found my misfortunes to be comical (as I would if HE were hitting the rescue shots) but I get the sense that he was impressed by my scrambling ability.

The match was getting heated on the back nine and we both played some UGLY golf coming home.  On the 296 yard 14th we were both about 70 yards out after our drives.  It was a pivotal hole because I had gotten behind after chopping my way through the first few holes of the back side.   I was down and I had some stroke holes coming so I knew I could flip the script on this match very quickly.  I used my 52 degree Vokey for this shot and when the ball left the club I thought it was all over the stick.  I called for it to "be right" but it flew the flag in the center of the putting surface - about 20 yards too long and into the rough.  Nick got a good laugh at that one but wasn't looking so happy when he did the same exact thing but worse only moments later!  I believe we both made bogey so no harm was done, but I wasted an opportunity to get back in it.  I made things worse by hitting an awful iron shot on the long par-4 16th and a woeful tee shot on the par-3 17th that landed in a fried egg in the greenside bunker.  The real fun came on #18.

As I said, we play "press when pissed".  Needless to say when I reached the 18th tee, I was a bit steamed.  So, I put the press on.  I had to win the hole to come out dead even, if we tied the hole, I would lose two ways, but if I lost the hole, I would lose four ways.  After some chit chat on the tee about something completely not related to golf, Nick hit a nicely placed tee shot that avoided a huge bunker in the middle of the fairway and also laid up short of a huge lake looming in the distance.  I knew I needed a good tee shot.  Now, it isn't really like me to choke, but I hit my drive off the heel of the club.  A grounder to third base that traveled a grand total of about 40 yards.  I did not pass the forward (ladies) tees and of course I had to withstand the usual jokes (golfers know what I'm talking about).  I could not reach the green from where I was so I tried to rip it down there as close as possible and hope for a miracle.  However, I ended up rolling my ball through a bunker about 100 yards from the green and just onto the grassy lip at the top of the steep face.  As we reached my ball, Gomez was delighted.  Here I was, hitting my third shot, ball sitting about waist high, 100 yards out, water on the entire left side of the green with bunkers and junk to the right.  Channeling Al Czervik from Caddyshack, I offered odds.  "Nick, 500 to 1 I hit the green from here?"  He hesitated like he was going to take the long odds but declined. "OK, how about 100 to 1?  I'll put down a buck. Easiest dollar you will ever make."  Again, he declined after some debate.  So, I decided I would just go for broke regardless.  I choked up on a 19 degree rescue club and literally took a baseball half-swing.  It was more like chopping wood with a hatchet than taking a golf swing.  I made really solid contact and the ball came out starting at the flag with a little draw.  It actually landed on the putting surface but barely rolled through the green and stopped on the collar just before reaching the lake. Nick could not believe the shot that I had just pulled off and we laughed because if he had taken one of those bets, he would have been shaking in his spikes as my ball slowly rolled inches away from me collecting on those long odds.  Unfortunately, I made bogey, which was no help, and I lost four ways.  

Talega's 11th Hole - Dogleg Left Par-5

Course review - I have played Talega several times in the last five years and I have always had mixed feelings about the course conditions.  Courses that charge $80 weekday and $100 weekend at rack rates should usually be in prime condition.  Orange County courses have the advantage of being in an affluent area where people can afford to pay those types of green fees.  However, I know of a lot of OC golfers who would rather travel to areas like Corona or Temecula to play a course in spectacular condition at 50-65% of the price.  In past years, I have seen Talega's greens suffering from turf loss, patchiness, and an overall poor look.  In my latest round, I felt that the greens were very much improved.  They certainly had better color, were much more smooth, and rolled true.  However, I do feel that in order to reach that elite level of golf course, that they need to speed up their greens just a touch.  I would say that they were rolling in the 8.5-9 range on the Stimpmeter, which isn't bad for a public course, but Talega would benefit from getting them up to around 10+ in my opinion.  The fairways, tees, and bunkers were mostly in great shape.  I was a little surprised to find an awful lot of grass overgrown in one of their bunkers on the back nine, but that was a relatively small detail issue.

Overall, the golf experience was wonderful. The views at the course are incredible. Many holes on the back nine providing vistas and elevated vantage points that provide golfers with a chance to soak in the rolling hillsides of San Clemente.  One benefit of the location is that there are typically not a lot of players late in the day.  As a twosome, we played in just under three hours and we weren't rushing one bit.  If you are looking for a quick super-twilight round on a really nice course, this is your place.  The fresh air and the peace and quiet are well worth the green fee of $45 after 4pm during the week.  In the summer, players should be able to play all 18 holes if they are quick enough.

The course is a very fair test of golf for golfers of all skill levels.  The design has a good mix of long and short holes, and offers birdie opportunities in many places while also putting up a strong defense on several difficult holes.  Water comes into play on at least six holes, including the two challenging par 3's on the front side.  At 6600 yards, 71.1 rating and 129 slope, the blue tees are just about right for most players.  The tips jump up to 6900 yards and the extra yardage adds to the difficulty of the shorter par-4s and the par-5's.

I have not spent much time at Talega's restaurant or bar, but I have heard good things about their Signature Grille.  Sunday Brunch is supposedly excellent.  In the shopping center that is basically connected to Talega's parking lot, there is a great little restaurant and bar called Sundried Tomato Cafe.  They offer a buy one, get one free on beer if you bring a Talega Golf Club scorecard.  I enjoyed calamari with curry aioli, and I think Nick had some sausage penne, which were both delicious.  Stop in for a nice place to relax, settle your bets, and unwind after your round. 

I have a feeling I may be seeing more of Talega this summer.  Ahhhhh Talegahhhh.


 

Masters Drama - My Favorite Moments

It always seems to sneak up on us every year.  It's April, the azaleas are in bloom, and The Masters is upon us.  Every true golfer loves the Masters.  Most will say that they enjoy the traditions, the history, the champions, and the romantic setting of Augusta National.  To me, The Masters has always been special because of one thing - the layout of the back nine.

There are few courses that golf fans get to know as well as Augusta National.  We closely watch the very best of the world attempt to tame it every year on television.  While we are sitting in freeway traffic, playing golf alone at twilight, or in our beds at night, we dream about how we would play each hole coming down the stretch, and imagine hitting all the shots.  There isn't a single one of us who hasn't done a Carl Spackler from Caddyshack: "Tears in his eyes I guess as he lines up this final shot...a Cinderella boy, out of nowhere, a former greenskeeper, is about to become, the Masters Champion."

When Bobby Jones and Alistair MacKenzie put their time into creating this great event and golf course, there is no way they could have predicted what a masterpiece it would become.  Nor could they have ever imagined all of the miraculous shots that have been pulled off over the years that have formed Masters everlasting memories.  Here are a few of my favorite holes, my favorite memories, and some classic shots that have found a permanent home in golf lore.

Hole #10 - Camelia - This hole produced an early golf memory for me in 1989.  Nick Faldo and Scott Hoch would finish the tournament tied and headed to #10 for the start of a sudden death playoff.  Faldo was hot after shooting a closing 65 to tie Hoch, who had missed a makeable 4-footer on 17 that would have given him the win in regulation.  Left with only a two-and-a-half foot par putt, Hoch played the ball outside the hole, completely gassed it through the break, and blew it four feet by the hole.  Although he was obviously shaken by missing such a short putt for the greatest win of his life, he calmly made the four-footer coming back. However, he went on to lose the playoff and the green jacket to Faldo, who made a 30-foot bomb on #11 to win his first of three Masters titles.  Unfortunately for Hoch, this mistake would follow him for the rest of his career, as he never won a major and was often referred to as "Scott Choke".

Hoch after the miss

Hole #12 - Golden Bell - One of the most scenic holes in all of golf, this short par-3 measures out to only 155 yards on Sunday.  The hole is magical because of its tiny landing area for the Sunday hole location, the carry over Rae's Creek, the shaved bank short of the green, the Hogan Bridge and swirling winds.  The green is also located in a place where only the players and caddies are allowed, creating a dramatic stage and allowing the player a rare chance to be alone with his thoughts before charging down the stretch run.  If you have read my blog, you know that one of my favorite golfers in the 1990's was Fred Couples.  Despite a ton of success on the regular tour, he had never won a major.  In 1992, he was as hot as anyone entering the event, winning twice on the PGA Tour.  On Sunday, he held a three shot lead in The Masters going into #12.  His tee shot came up woefully short of the green, and started its decent down the slope toward the water.  Balls simply do not stop short of the water on this hole.  But on this day, Freddie's Maxfli did, somehow hanging up in the short grass only a foot or two from making at least a double-bogey.  Couples looked astonished when he finally reached his ball.  He gingerly set up on the bank, afraid that any tremor would send his ball off of whatever was holding it up.  He chunked a wedge up to a few feet and canned the putt to make par and avoid sure disaster.  He wound up cruising for the rest of the back nine and took home his one and only major championship.

How did it stop there?

Hole 13 - Azalea - To me, this is the greatest risk/reward hole in all of golf.  The hole itself is a reachable par-5 and can be played in a number of different ways.  Most long hitters will choose to hit a going hook off of the tee to take advantage of the dogleg left and a severely sloping fairway.  If this is executed correctly, the player has a short distance to the green for his second shot, but usually has to contend with the ball being slightly above his feet.  Tee shots that do not catch the slope often end up on the top of the hill at the bend in the dogleg or through the fairway into pine straw.  This area still leaves the player within range of the green, and gives them an elevated view of the target, but the shot is usually from much farther out and there are trees to contend with as well.  The green is fronted by Rae's Creek and protected by two large bunkers in the rear.  Shots that end up behind the hole are tricky because the green slopes severely from back to front and towards the water.

There are several great memories I have from this hole.  Curtis Strange dropped from contention after duck hooking his ball over Rae's creek into no-man's land left of the fairway.  Tiger Woods once snapped a club against a tree when he hit his second shot from the pine straw in a final round.  But the most incredible shot ever hit at #13 may have been during last year's final round.  Phil Mickelson drove his tee shot into the pine straw, 187 yards from the hole.  Phil seemed to be stymied by a pine tree only six feet in front of his ball.  Phil is one of the most imaginative golfers in the game, and is well known for his willingness to take a gamble on the golf course.  But could he? Would he? He shouldn't! He wouldn't, would he? He did.  He picked out a small window and sent a blazing 5-iron toward destiny.  The ball hit a little short but hopped up on the green to give Phil a three foot chance at an eagle 3!  He would miss the putt, but still made birdie.  His playing partner and close pursuer Lee Westwood was quoted as saying that the shot was miraculous and it seemed as if it turned the momentum in Phil's favor.  He swept through the rest of the back-nine in style and claimed his third green jacket. 

Splitting the uprights

Hole #16 - Redbud - Many birdies have been made at at Redbud in the final round of the Masters.  The hole location is often tucked close to the water, but is accessible by a sloping green that will often move well placed tee shots very close to the hole.  However, the small bowl in the front of the green makes long lag putts and chipping from the back of the green very difficult.

During his win for the ages at age 46 in 1986, Jack Nicklaus thrilled the patrons by almost holing out from the tee.  He famously stared down the shot as his caddie and son Jackie told the ball to "be right".  Jack responded simply with "it is" and the ball spun back to only a few feet from the cup.  After a thunderous ovation, Jack made the birdie, which ended up being the difference in a one shot victory over Tom Kite and Greg Norman.

However, one greater moment came in 2005 when Tiger Woods provided us with one of the most dramatic shots in golf history.  Faced with a 25-foot chip shot over a steep slope with a severe left to right break from left of the green, most would have said Tiger would be lucky to walk away with a par.  Starting the hole, Tiger had a one shot lead over Chris DiMarco, who appeared to be in great position to even the score after landing his tee shot comfortably in the center of the green.  Tiger aimed well left of the hole, his chip checked up after taking a bounce, and began bending slowly toward the hole.  As the ball took the slope, it gained momentum and rolled toward the cup.  The crowd rose to its feet and Tiger stalked the ball as it started slowing down, creeping dead in line with the heart of the hole.  The camera zoomed in on the ball as it hung on the lip perilously, showing the Nike swoosh almost as if it was a commercial.  The ball seemed to hesitate and finally dropped, sending the crown into a frenzy and Tiger into an awkward celebration.   Stunned, DiMarco made his par, but left the hole two strokes behind when it looked like he was about to tie the score.

Woods wound up winning his fourth Masters title in a playoff after he lost his lead by bogeying 17 and 18.  In another stroke of bad luck, DiMarco's birdie chip on 18 hit the bottom of the flagstick and caromed 10 feet away.  He made the putt to force the playoff, but could have easily trumped Tiger's miracle if the chip shot had dropped.

Tiger's miracle chip and the Nike One pausing on the lip

Hole 18 - Holly - After all of the great scoring opportunities on the final nine at Augusta, the finishing hole is one where par is almost always the goal.  "Holly" starts out with a narrow chute of trees surrounding the tee, is severely uphill, and bends slightly to the right.  Tee shots too far to the left will end up in deep fairway bunkers with a poor angle to the green.  Shots too far to the right may catch dense trees and pine straw.  Players who hit driver risk reaching the bunkers or spraying one to the right.  Laying up with a fairway wood avoids trouble, but leads to a very long second shot.  The green is well protected with bunker long and left and several tiers that make putting no picnic.  Add thousands of patrons surrounding the putting surface and you have one treacherous and dramatic setting.

There are a few honorable mentions on my list for #18.  Sandy Lyle made par in 1988 from a difficult lie in a fairway bunker to edge Mark Calcavecchia by one stroke.  Phil Mickelson made a famous 15-foot putt here in 2004 to cap off a beautiful back-nine and capture his first major and first of three green jackets.  The birdie putt put him one stroke ahead of Ernie Els, who shot a 67 in the final round to come up just short.

My favorite memory of #18 came in 1998.  Mark O'Meara had been a fixture on the PGA Tour for many years.  He was always a solid player, well respected on Tour, had a good all-around game but never seemed to break into that top echelon of players that would be considered perennial major contenders.  It always seemed strange to me that O'Meara and Tiger Woods were such good friends given their place in the PGA Tour universe and the fact that they are 15+ years apart in age.  However, the fact of the matter is that in the late 1990's they played a lot of golf together where they lived in Windermere, Florida at Isleworth Country Club. Tiger won the Masters in 1997, giving him a 1-0 advantage in majors over the 15 year veteran.  In many ways, I think Tiger's win fueled O'Meara, and playing 2-down auto Nassaus with the greatest player in the world on a regular basis certainly has to help your game as well.

The 1998 Masters was a wild one.  David Duval lit up the back nine, making birdies a 11, 13, and 15 and he stood on the 16th tee with a three shot lead.  He bogeyed to open the door for Fred Couples, who had eagled 15, and O'Meara, who hung around long enough to keep himself in contention.  After along string of 10 holes without a birdie, O'Meara came alive.  Most of the attention was on Couples and Duval but O'Meara birdied 15 and 17 and stood on the 18th tee tied with both players.  O'Meara hit a solid approach shot on 18, stopping 18 feet from the hole.  Couples found trouble, reaching the fairway bunkers, and winding up in the greenside bunker after his approach.  He blasted out to four feet, setting up what looked to be a sure three way playoff.

Duval was waiting in the Butler cabin with Jim Nantz and Masters Chairman Jack Stephens, who famously told him: "Don't worry, David. Nobody ever makes that putt."  And nobody expected him to make it, not Couples, not Duval, not Stephens, not me, and not even O'Meara.  But amazingly, O'Meara drained it! O'Meara later would admit that he was extremely nervous as he stood over the putt and felt that he had hit it too hard.  As it neared the hole, he felt it was tracking and it rattled into the jar dead center.  O'Meara looked as surprised as anyone in the state of Georgia.  He punched his fist into the air, embraced his caddie and later took the green jacket from his good friend Tiger Woods.

O'Meara claims the Green Jacket

Which hole will provide the scenery for a heroic act in 2011?  If Masters history is any indicator, it could be any one of them.  One thing is for sure, there will be drama.

Couples Close, but Badds is Badder

I've been raving and reminiscing about Fred Couples, Riviera, and all of the great moments I've had involving the Nissan/Northern Trust Open over the years.  But Freddie did it again.  He wowed us all by posting another top-10 finish at age 51.

On Friday, Couples set the tournament on fire by firing a 66 and taking the 36-hole lead.  He hung in there on Saturday, shooting a 70 to wind up in the final threesome on Sunday, one stroke behind Aussie Aaron Baddeley and tied for second with local Diamond Bar native Kevin Na.  Baddeley shot a 67 on Saturday to take the lead from Couples and set the stage for a highly anticipated fourth round.

Early on Sunday, it appeared that the magic synergy between Freddie and Riviera was working in his favor once again.  He started birdie-birdie-birdie on the first three holes, including a chip-in from the base of the hillside on Hole 2 and took a two shot lead.  But the wheels starting coming off on Hole #6, where Couples seemed to have caught a case of "the rights". He missed the green on the par-3 sixth to the right, causing him to make bogey and followed up on the seventh with a blocked tee shot that started a slide down the leaderboard.  For the rest of the round, he seemed to miss many shots short and to the right, including critical tee shots and 12 and 16.

On the par-4 seventh, he found the deep rough to the right of the fairway, and was forced to punch out.  The recovery shot found a fairway bunker on the left side, and nestled close to the lip.  He blasted out with his third shot but came up woefully short of the green.  On his final approach, he hit a low pitch shot that appeared to be on line but checked up surprisingly quickly.  He was left with a two-putt double bogey.  To make matters worse for Freddie fans, Baddeley holed a difficult putt from the fringe to make birdie and cause a three shot swing to take a three shot lead.  After the round, Couples was quoted as saying that he never felt right for the rest of the day after his second shot on the hole, suggesting that he had tweaked his perpetually bad back with a violent swing from the cabbage. 

Couples started the final nine three strokes behind but hit a good drive on the short but devilish 10th.  His drive wound up right at the front of the green, but a tucked hole location in the back of the green made the approach difficult.  To get close to the hole, Fred had to flop a high pitch shot near the fringe to the right of the green, flirting with a ridge and possibly the bunker.  He did the unthinkable, and seemed to somewhat scoop his shot, which squirted short and to the right and caught the edge of the bunker.  What was a potentially easy birdie wound up being a bogey and probably sealed Freddie's fate for a comeback.  Baddeley made a steady birdie to put himself five ahead of Fred.

Baddeley would open up the door a bit at 12.  He drove into the right rough, and his second clipped a tree limb and fell into the worst possible place - the barranca.  He gouged out to the left fringe but did not get up and down and wound up with a double bogey.  After a birdie on 11, Couples parred 12 and found himself only two behind.  This hole was quite reminiscent of the 1992 tournament, where Davis Love III took a big lead into12 only to relinquish it with a triple-bogey to set the table for a Fred Couples victory that year.

In 2011, it was not meant to be.  Baddeley holed a long, twisting putt on 13 to seize the momentum back.  With a bad tee shot on 16, Couples sealed his fate, falling four behind.  A bogey on 18 pushed him even farther down the leaderboard.  He finished in a tie for seventh, five shots behind Baddeley, who carded a 69 to capture his third PGA Tour victory, and his first since the 2007 FBR Open.

For Baddeley, this victory comes at an ideal time.  The President's Cup will be held at Royal Melbourne this year, making the event extra attractive to Australian players.  International Team Captain Greg Norman is known for being a mentor to Baddeley, and must be rooting for him to make the team on his own merit.  After winning the Australian Open in 1999 and 2000, Baddeley was hailed as the most promising golfer to come out of 'Down Under" since Norman himself.  Now 29 years old, "Badds" has had a somewhat disappointing career so far, winning only twice on the PGA Tour until he ended his three year drought at the Northern Trust.

Freddie missed a chance at history.  At 51 years old, he would have been the second oldest player to win a PGA Tour event, bested only by Sam Snead, who won the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open at at age 52.  For the galleries of Riviera, they had a chance to see their old favorite contend once again.  Although the Couples magic petered out on the back-nine Sunday, he still gave us all a thrill.  I wouldn't be surprised if he makes another run in 2012, and has multiple wins on the Champions Tour this year. 

Nissan Open Memories - Part 2

With the 2011 Northern Trust Open at Riviera starting in just a few days, I decided to finish my stories about my favorite memories attending the tournament.

Freddie's Alley - Riviera Country Club is well known as "Hogan's Alley" thanks to the success that golf legend Ben Hogan had at the site.  But another player dazzled the Riviera fairways and galleries during more recent years.  Armed with his laid back attitude, wry smile, and smooth golf swing, Fred Couples hit his peak of popularity in the early to mid 1990's.  "Boom Boom" was known for aggressive play, long drives, and for being one of the most affable players around.  Freddie won 15 PGA Tour events in his career.  Eight of them came between 1990 and 1994, including his only major championship victory at The Masters in 1992.  Californians from Pebble to San Diego. and L.A. to Palm Desert seem to have adopted Couples as one of their own.  His style and personality just make him feel like one of us. His success at Riviera has made him an absolute crowd favorite, even to this day.  Couples has often been quoted as saying that Riviera is one of his very favorite courses.  Given his track record, it is easy to see why.

The facts - Couples has twelve top-10 finishes in this event in his career.  In 1990, he would fire an 18 under par 266 to win the tournament, besting Gil Morgan and my perennial favorites Peter Jacobsen and Rocco Mediate, who tied for third.  His second win at the Nissan came in 1992, beating Davis Love III in a playoff.  Amazingly,   Fred was also the runner up in 1993, 1994, and 1996, losing to Tom Kite, Corey Pavin, and Craig Stadler, respectively.  That means he finished either first or second in five out of seven consecutive years.  You simply do not see players with that kind of record on any given course or tournament.

For me, it all started in 1989 at my first Nissan Open.  I was there for the final round and got my first glimpse of Couples as he tied for 7th that year. My favorite and most memorable day watching Freddie happened in 1992 during the third round of the tournament.  Entering the back-nine, David Love III was at four or five shots ahead of Couples and the rest of the field and appeared to be cruising.  On #12, Love opened the door.  He hit his drive into the trees on the right of the dogleg-right hole.  Trying to reach the green, he nicked a tree branch and his ball fell into the deep barranca that crosses the fairway.   My dad, who never cared much for David Love, was tickled when he barely advanced his third shot from the cabbage.  He finally escaped the hazard, but came up well short of the green, chipped on, and ended up making a triple bogey.  Luckily, we were there to witness the turning point of the whole tournament.  One shot behind now, this time it was Couples drove his ball deep into the trees down the right side of #13.   It looked like he was in jail but he spotted an alley and moved the gallery out of his way.  We stood behind Couples and had a great view of the shot.  There was a small window between branches where he could shape his shot and he needed a fade to reach the green.  To our amazement, he hit a low, scorching punch-slice that perfectly missed all of the branches and skipped up onto the putting surface. The crowd went bananas and the shot left us with our jaws wide open.   Couples went on to shoot a 64 that day, taking the lead from Love on the back nine with birdies at 16 and 17.  During the final round, the crowd was clearly rooting for Couples.  At the Nissan is very common to hear chants of "Freddie, Freddie, Freddie" and to hear a lot of hooting and hollering after every long drive or holed putt by the man.   The event went to a playoff between Love and Couples, which was won by Fred on the second playoff hole.   I remember Love commenting after the tournament that he clearly felt that the crowd was against him and that he didn't enjoy the gallery's antics.  Welcome to "Freddie's Alley".

Freddie at the 18th

Chasing Kevin Burton - In 1997, I worked for a little place called The Greens at Park Place, a very unique golf concept called a putting course.  I was the Golf Manager, and was in charge of running events, managing the front-line staff and basically helping my General Manager with merchandising, sales, the membership, and whatever else he needed me to do.  His name was Erik Rogers and he taught me a lot about the golf business.  Erik was a very personable guy who loved the game.  Before coming to run The Greens, he was a PGA Apprentice at Redhawk Golf Course in Temecula, where he knew a young golfer named Kevin Burton.  Kevin was an aspiring tour player, and Erik introduced me to him one day.  Kevin is a quiet family man from Idaho, which made him very likable.

Burton - 2010

PGA Tour Q-School was at La Purisma on the California Central Coast in 1997.  Kevin was in position to earn his PGA card when the El Nino rains of 1997 washed out the final round.  I remember watching the Golf Channel's coverage of the event with Erik on our television at The Greens as they were they live when the final round was canceled.  Kevin was one of the players seen on TV celebrating, and Erik was thrilled at the good fortune of his friend.  He had made the PGA Tour and was about to embark on the dream of his lifetime.

In 1997, Erik invited me to go with him to the Nissan on Thursday.  Kevin was playing in his third tour event,  that year and had kicked us down a couple of "Player Guest' tickets.  I had never before known anyone who had played golf on the PGA Tour, so I was quite intrigued by the experience.  Our plan was to follow Kevin for 18-holes.  Erik wanted to be there for moral support and to see how he would navigate the challenging Riviera track. Erik suspected that Kevin would play well at Riviera.  His game was suited for more difficult golf courses because he was a straight hitter, good with his irons, and typically a good putter.  He was not the type of player who would go really low on any given day, but he was more likely to play steady and grind out four solid rounds.  He had also played in the Nissan Open once before in 1995, finishing in the money as a Monday qualifier.

Kevin teed off at #10 that day and we caught up with him around the 12th green.  He was playing with Brett Quigley, nephew of famous Senior Tour player Dana Quigley, and Kelly Manos, who was a local qualifier and professional from Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach.  Manos had a few fans in attendance who made the drive from Orange County like we did, but for the most part, we had a front row seat on every hole.  Kevin played fairly well, hitting a lot of greens but seemed to have trouble putting.  He missed a lot of birdie opportunities throughout the day and his frustration was clear when he acknowledged us for the first time as he walked off of #8.  After missing a short birdie putt, he saw us as he proceeded to the 9th tee. He shook his head at us then put his head back down to get back into the game.  He hung in there and ended up shooting a 70 on the day, a score that could have been much lower.  He ended up making the cut and cashing his first PGA Tour check of the year later that week.  It was really cool to watch someone I knew play inside the ropes.  Although I was only an acquaintance, I was rooting hard for Kevin to succeed.  Living and dying with every shot was tough. I can only imagine what it must feel like for wives or family members when they watch. 

This event and the whole season for Kevin made quite an impression on me.  Erik would update me basically daily about how Kevin was doing on tour, and it was a struggle.  He only made only about 10 cuts and only two of the checks he cashed were over $10,000.  His overall earnings that year were $78,534 and he finished 178th on the official money list.   Although he lived out a dream by playing a full season on the PGA Tour, he found himself in a difficult position.  What a lot of people don't realize is that PGA Tour players pay for their own expenses.  Hotels, airfare, and caddies are not free.  It costs an awful lot of money just to play in 26 events.  For a player like Kevin who didn't have any major sponsors and who didn't make a lot of cuts in his first year, he probably lost money on the year.  To make things worse, he was too low on the money list to qualify for the Tour in 1998 and did not finish high enough to even guarantee status on the Nationwide Tour. 

Over the years, I have gained a great deal of respect for those guys who are grinding it out year after year and making a living at this game.  There are many golf fans who think making the big show is some kind of gold mine, but it takes an awful lot of talent and an awful lot of heart to make it out there year after year.  Watching Kevin was a mixture of happiness for seeing a guy live out his dream, but also a lesson.   When you work at a golf course, it seems like every day you encounter someone who thinks they are going to make it on the PGA Tour the Senior Tour.  What they simply don't know us how elite PGA Tour players are.  With Kevin, we're talking about a former California State Open Champion,  four time Idaho State Champion, six time Rocky Mountain Section PGA Player of the Year, etc.   I always feel like telling them all about Kevin's story.

Luckily, Kevin has prospered in making a life out of golf.  He became the head coach of the Boise State golf team in 2005 and has had a lot of success running that program.  It couldn't have happened to a better golfer or a nicer guy.  

Rooting for the Underdog - Riviera is known for being a true test of golf.  If you look at the list of champions over the last thirty years, you will not find many "nobodies".  For every Ted Schulz, T.C. Chen, and Kirk Triplett, there are two or three Fred Couples, Phil Mickelsons, and Corey Pavins.  In other words, the best of the best seem to win at Riviera.  But over the years, my dad and I developed a long list of lovable underdogs who we couldn't resist rooting for.

Rocco Mediate - When I first saw Rocco in 1989, I had never heard of him before.  He was a guy who had never won a tournament or finished very high on the money list. My dad and I took an immediate liking to him because he seemed like he was having a great time out there on the course.  He seemed very appreciative of the fans, and just looked like a guy you would get paired up with at the first tee of your local course.  This isn't the Rocco we know today.  He was once a little chunky, and the first time we saw him he looked like he slept in his golf clothes. He was a complete nobody at the time, but his personality just made him impossible not to like. To top it off, Rocco played great at Riviera. from 1990-1994 Rocco had four top-10 finishes including a tie for 3rd in 1990.  He has finished in the top 20 eight times in the last 20 years, despite many of those years suffering from a severely injured back.

Bob Estes - Poor Bob.  In 1995 he fired a 66 in the second round to put him one shot behind Kenny Perry and Corey Pavin going into Saturday's round.  My dad and I followed this threesome for much of the day.  Corey Pavin may be the SECOND most popular player at Riviera, behind Freddie, of course.  Pavin is a local, having played his college golf at UCLA and producing a stellar amateur record in Southern California.  It is very common to hear "Go Bruins" from members of the gallery whenever Pavin is within earshot.  As he played his way through the course, the crowd was clearly heavily in favor of Pavin.  After each tee shot or holed putt, the spectators would loudly applaud in support of Corey.  Estes, on the other hand, had no fans.  Bob isn't the most colorful of players.  He doesn't have a flashy game or recognizable style in any way.  He really is your typical nondescript PGA Tour player.  But to us, he seemed like a nice enough guy, and we felt bad that he was getting virtually no support out there.  So, we took it on ourselves to become the Bob Estes cheering section.    I clearly remember the players walking past us after holing out on 14.  Pavin supporters were very vocal, but my dad and I both let out our own versions of  "Go Get 'em, Bobbaayyy" as he passed us inside the ropes.  It almost seemed as if he heard us, and felt encouraged by the support.  We will never know for sure.  Estes shot a 70 that day and Pavin shot a 68. Corey would go on to shoot 67 in the final round to win the tournament.  Bobby faded with a 73 on Sunday and came in 14th.

In 1999, a very similar situation took place.  Estes again found himself in the final pairing of the day on Saturday, this time playing with Ernie Els and Davis Love III.  Els was at the peak of his popularity in 1999, having already won the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997.   Love also had a strong following at the time due to his PGA Championship win in 1997 and previously strong record on the tour.  Estes held a one shot lead starting the day but a number of players passed him with low rounds.  Els and Love both shot a 68, Tiger Woods shot a 65, and Ted Tryba's magical 61 dusted Estes and his 72 on the day.  After a long day of not playing particularly well, Bob came to the 18th tee looking tired and somewhat dejected.  Once again, there we were, feeling sorry for him, feeling that he deserved better, and we let him know we were there.  Els teed off to a lot of cheers and applause.  Love, who was known for being a long hitter, launched one to the delight of the crowd.  Estes stepped up and hit third, playing modestly to the middle of the fairway.  Other than a courteous golf clap from the patrons, there was virtual silence, except for two guys.  "Atta Boy, Bob!" - "Nice Shot Bobbayy!".  We got a lot of funny looks that day from people who weren't sure why we were rooting so hard for the unheralded Bob Estes.  The answer is simple, we love rooting for the underdog.  Els wound up winning that year and Bob finished 7th.  If I ever see him again,  I will root for him all the same.  

A Few Other Likable Underdogs - Phil Blackmar.  How can you not love a 6'7" professional golfer?  Big Phil was always easy to spot lurching around the green like Herman Munster, and we loved seeing a big guy like us out there. Duffy Waldorf was famous for his ugly multi-colored hats but he also lived in my home town of Santa Clarita and played a lot of golf at Valencia CC.  Bob Burns was an up and coming professional when we both worked at Valencia CC when I was a high school kid.  Watching him inside the ropes was always a treat for me. Before he made the tour, he once lent me his golf cart and a towel when my idiot friend hit me in the head with his putter, opening a bloody gash behind my left ear, but that's a story for another time.   There always seemed to be random Japanese players in the field every year.  We took a liking to Yoshinori Kaneko.  He always seemed to be very intense on the course and a group of a dozen photographers would follow him wherever he would go.  He actually finished 3rd in 1992.  We liked Omar Uresti just because of his name, and I never met a golf fan who wasn't intrigued at least a little by TC "Two-Chip" Chen.

Bob Burns

Phil Blackmar