***Buick Invitational Live Thread***[Golf Ping]

The Golf Channel, PGA.com and various print sources ^ | January 23, 2008 | Golf Ping List

[Zuben Elgenubi]

2008 Buick Invitational

Mickelson Fit for Play at Buick
By Associated Press - January 23, 2008

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The Buick Invitational will have the Nos. 1 and 2 players in the world, after all.
 
After three days of bed rest and antibiotics for respiratory problems, Phil Mickelson said Tuesday he was feeling better and will play in the pro-am Wednesday at the Buick Invitational, paving the way for him to make his '08 debut at Torrey Pines. He also has a practice session planned with swing coach Butch Harmon.
 
"I'm feeling much, much better," Mickelson said. "I'm happy about that and looking forward to working with Butch to make sure everything is in order for this week."
 
Mickelson has not played since winning the HSBC Champions in China in November. He suspects the respiratory problems, which included shortness of breath, stemmed from either cleaning up debris outside his San Diego County home after the wildfires, or something he picked up in Asia during a two-week stint last fall.
 
Mickelson is a three-time winner of the Buick Invitational, ending Tiger Woods' six-tournament winning streak in 2000 and last winning in 2001 in a playoff.
 
Woods is the three-time defending champion.
 
Related Links:

• Full Coverage - Buick Invitational
  
• GOLF CHANNEL Airtimes

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Please understand it's difficult to keep up a ***Live Thread*** for four days in a row. The season begins with the Buick International, at Torrey Pines on Thursday January 24, 2008.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

There are only 34 Rules Of Golf.

Email me if you want on the Golf Ping List.

Visit PGA.com, an excellent site.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Here's a nice link to the Torrey Pines SOUTH COURSE. The map is interactive and one can inspect individual holes.

[mdittmar]

I thought I was a Golf nut,but your just crazy man;)

[GSWarrior]

I hope the players bring their winter coats.

[mdittmar]

P.S. I’m taking April 10-13 off work;)

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Let's start the match on hole #1 at Torrey Pines South.

Tough starting hole. Long par-4 and into the prevailing sea breeze, which creeps up the coastal cliffs usually by mid-morning. Bunkers left and right off the tee, semi-elevated, bunkered green --both a common feature in this Rees Jones renovated Torrey South. Stay on the left side off the tee for a better angle to the green, which is slanted to favor a faded approach.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I thought I was a Golf nut,but your just crazy man;)

Look whose already posting to a thread for a tournament that begins tomorrow. Heh heh.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Live Torrey Pines weather reports from the Weather Underground.

[Professional]

Can I make an early nomination for Phil Mickelson as the PGA whiner of the year?

He has really become such a sissy the last couple few years.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

P.S. I’m taking April 10-13 off work;)

Oooooo, that is a good tournament. I've been there for the event eleven times but not in person since 1985. Missed that great '86 finish and, quite truthfully, I'd trade all 11 for one live 1986.

Well we don't want to highjack the Buick Invitational so early in the thread, so back to Torrey Pines we go. Should be a good matchup of Tiger and Phil. Tiger has made his mark on this tournament, winning in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Looking this year for the four-peat.

Phil has won in 2000 and 2001.

[Rummyfan]

Tiger's back this week!

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Tiger won in 1999. But lets not forget he almost missed the cut that tournament and then shot a weekend record score of 62-65 and he won in style.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Can I make an early nomination for Phil Mickelson as the PGA whiner of the year? He has really become such a sissy the last couple few years.

You can nominate who or what you wish, Professional, but you cannot improve your lie.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

He OWNS the Buick

[Professional]

But they said winter rules?

Had my first round on Sunday, feel pretty good about where my game goes this year. Ended at best ever 7, think I’m going to hit 3 by summer.

Having 3 clubs of everything helps right?

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I just noticed the links in the primary post do not work. Hmmmm. Let me set them up again.

Full Coverage - Buick Invitational

GOLF CHANNEL Airtimes.

I hope that fixes it.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Had my first round on Sunday, feel pretty good about where my game goes this year. Ended at best ever 7, think I’m going to hit 3 by summer. Having 3 clubs of everything helps right?

I used to start off play with 3 Bloody Marys, too. It wasn't until later in life that I could drink 7 during the round. Of course, by the end of the round, the 14 clubs really did look like 42.

Keep up the good work, in all seriousness. A 3 puts you in a very narrowly defined group.

[mdittmar]

I’m not going,just watching on T.V.

[Professional]

Narrowly defined group...

Kids don’t know me, another guy knows my wife better, declining income, nothing but golf clothes.

Ryan Moore is from my area, hope this year he’s fully healthy lives up to his potential. He did well at the Bob Hope, looking good. Would be nice to see some more names at the top of the leaderboard to challenge Tiger to another level.

[GRRRRR]

YAY!! Great Idea Z! Let’s see how we do...live threads for the majors and other significant tourneys???

G

[andyandval]

I'll be here when the tourney starts bump.

[ThreePuttinDude]

A 3 puts you in a very narrowly defined group.

Did someone say Three ?

[Baynative]

This is the first real event of the season. The top guns will be there and the talent pool eager to knock them out is deep and hungry. Just look at the score for the four slots taken by MONDAY QUALIFIERS- 6 and 7 under!.

I'm watching the young guns to; Anthony Kim, Kevin Na, Ryan Moore - and let's not forget Jason Day who . There is some real hunger out there for FedEx points and a statistical qualification for the Masters before April. That takes top 50 in World Ranking or Top 40 in Tour money.

An interesting threesome on day 1 will be George McNeill who got his card through Q-School and will be the outsider playing with Ryder Cup buddies Woods and Furyk.

[Baynative]

I wish this site had an edit function. That last post was real jumble. I hope someone figured out the meaning of my riddle.

[cleveland gop]

I’m starting to line up my excuses for April 10-13 too. Maybe we can start a thread on that beforehand.
Has anyone kept up on the Aussie Open? I actually woke up about 4:15 and watched some of the Federer/Blake match. When he won the second set, I went back to bed.

[cleveland gop]

I hope ETW puts the Kelly Tilghman thing to sleep for good. Of course he isn’t at fault, but if he just appears on the telecast with her and she apoliizes AGAIN, then maybe everyone can let this go.
And it’s good to see Vince Celleni back at TGC. Cleveland born and raised done good.

[Hot Tabasco]

Tiger's back this week!

Stop yelling or else the name that should not be mentioned will show up and spoil the thread.........

[Rummyfan]

And he’ll probably own the US Open this year too!

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Ryan Moore is from my area, hope this year he’s fully healthy lives up to his potential. He did well at the Bob Hope, looking good. Would be nice to see some more names at the top of the leaderboard to challenge Tiger to another level.

Excellent suggestion. Washington State is home? No wonder you are out playing. In SW Ohio, it's like 15 degrees right now. Might take the scope out tonight, tho. Anyone catch the moon occulting Mars this past week?

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I’m not going,just watching on T.V.

Yeah, me too. Those passes are very precious anymore. Heck, every year it looks to me as if they allow another 10K people in.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

YAY!! Great Idea Z! Let’s see how we do...live threads for the majors and other significant tourneys???

I actually liked the way GOP_Raider handled the college football threads this past season. Perhaps we'll have a thread that will compile all four majors one thread.

[Professional]

It’s frosty cold, dry right now, had been really wet. I’ve picked up skiing so I have something to do during the off season. For a few years I just played regardless but that was stupid, didn’t get a chance to get a rest from it physically or mentally. Last year I joined a CC, that has helped the game being able to practice and play as much as I want. Got in about 120 rounds last year.

[Professional]

I’m headed to Maui in March, can anyone recommend a couple nice courses while I’m there?

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Phil: "Hey Tiger, what say you we get Kelly Tilghman out back and give her a wedgie?"

[Zuben Elgenubi]

A 3 puts you in a very narrowly defined group. Did someone say Three ?

LOL. Good to see you again, 3PD.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Good catch on the qualifiers shooting so well. Have you played the El Camino course?

Ryan Moore's name is coming up more and more (no pun intended) during conversations with my golf partners. Anthony Kim needs a little more seasoning, I think. But he really catches fire. The qualification for the Masters is driving the bunch but my view is that the FedEx cup's groundrules will be altered a bit this year. Maybe three tournaments instead of four and penalties for no-shows. I think only two guys moved up statistically last season, so in my mind, it was sorta a bust.

No riddle at all, I'm tracking you perfectly. LOL.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

And he’ll probably own the US Open this year too!

That's right, Rummyfan, because the Open will also be played at Torrey Pines South.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

120 rounds a season? Only in my dreams. Santa's good to you.

Last time I was in Maui was 1980 or so and stayed at the Westin in Wailea. There was a Blue Course there that was pretty tough. At the time, I was playing Spalding Executives with wood drivers and forged irons.

Not sure if the Westin is still there but it was a very nice course. I also played up in the NW portion of Maui (Kanapali?). The courses were really jammed with vacationeers and most of them were real hackers as I recall. I don't remember the course, so the round was not memorable.

[Rummyfan]

Exactly!

[Professional]

I’ve heard the ball goes a long way there, harder surfaces and all. In W Washington, you’re lucky to get a decent roll even during the summer, pretty soft fairways.

I see the Torrey Pines course for the US Open is going to play about 7600 yards, that is some serious length! Most of the par 4 are 450-470.

I’ve played Chambers Bay here in WA, and that is 7600 from the tips, designed for a US Open. Very nice course, right on the water, but the greens will need some time. CB was rated by many as the best new course in the country last year. Dupont around here also opened, and has now made Tacoma as good a golf area to live as anyplace in the world. Better yet, you can play most courses 9 months of the year, and the fees are between 30-70 bucks.

[Professional]

I can’t beleive that Stricker is world number 3, talk about a comeback and all. Duvall is the guy most would like to see, make a comeback. How do you go from being that good, to that bad??

[Professional]

Chambers Bay Golf Course - Robert Trent Jones Design

http://www.chambersbaygolf.com/layout10.asp?id=173&page=3342

Opened June of 2007 to great fanfare

[GOP_Raider]

Well, with the fact that there were, what, 28 college bowl games, I figured it would have been more efficient to have one big long thread for all the bowl games and a separate one for the title game.

But maybe one thread for each major would work???

(Although I don’t have a limited cachet of Elin Nordgeren-Woods pics on hand, so that might curtail any efforts I could bring to this). :)

[budwiesest]

As a Lefty myself, I really enjoy watching Mickelson. I've pulled off a few 'rescue' shots myself.

The Golf magazine offered a tip on fixing my slice that was a real gift.

Essentially, gripping the club in the last few fingers of the front hand, while keeping the middle and index out of the grip made a HUGE difference for me.

As a ball-player, I had many a first baseman covering his 'jewels' from line drives headed over the bag. Translating this power to a golf swing came with issues.

Hitting a ball long and staight makes this game much more enjoyable. I'm going to go out soon and hit another bucket just to insure I wasn't dreaming. It worked with wood and aluminum, btw.

[cleveland gop]

I checked the tee times and didn’t see Stricks listed. Am I blind or did he take this week off.
Is there anyone that is playing as well as he is? Number 4 IN THE WORLD!!! Talk about a comeback.

[GRRRRR]

oh gosh..NOT HIM!!!

ROID RAGE!!

[GRRRRR]

Anything in Maui is super...seriously, try the PUBLIC Course near Lahaina...CHEEP!

[Professional]

Yes, starting a hole with a decent tee shot is much more fun. I’ve taken golf very seriously the last 4 yrs or so, and if I had to start all over again, would only have two woods, being a driver and a 7 wood.

The driver I’d spend a great deal of time finding, using a launch monitor, trying as many clubs as I could get my hands on, and different shafts for sure. I swing very hard, fast, and while I currently have a stiff shaft with a mid kick, would have no problem/ego in buying a medium flex shaft. I was told shaft is 60% of the equation, and I really believe that now. My driver I hit between 270 and 325.

My 7 wood during the summer goes about 230-240, and is as easy to hit and accurate as a tennis racket. 23 degree loft makes em easy to hit, and straight. Perfect club for a tight or short par 4, or a really long par 3. At that distance, didn’t need a 3 or 5 wood, though this year I’m trying a tour exotic 5 wood to see if I can’t get some par 5s in two, and maybe get just a bit more length on the tricky or short 4s.

Golf books really do help, bought a whole bunch at discount book stores, and the tips on everything sink in after a while, make good sense, teaches you how to fix your game on your own. Without the books, would really need a pro, since some of golf is physics that seem to defy logic...

Don’t know about anyone else, but golf magazines, compared to books, I find completely worthless. Also, they just endlessly tempt you to buy stuff or tinker too much with your swing.

[Rummyfan]

Duvall is the guy most would like to see, make a comeback. How do you go from being that good, to that bad??

It's a very fine line between shooting 66-67 and shooting 72-73. Duval had good club pro scores at The Hope, one or two over. That's a far cry from shooting a 59 in the final round. I just don't think his heart is in it any more.....