Posted on 08/04/2009 2:16:45 PM PDT by cleveland gop
My favorite week of the golf season(other than the majors of course)has FINALLY ARRIVED!!!! The world's best make their annual appearance in my back yard, if you consider 30 miles close that is!!!
Firestone Country Club(the South Course)is the scene for an event that actually dates back to 1962. The classic, straightforward design provides very few tricks, but creates an opportunity for low scoring which lots of touring pros love to see.
The field of 79 players, encompasses all 5 worldwide tours(PGA, European, Japan, Austrilasian and the Sunshine(South Africa)contains 17 of the top 18 top ranked players in the world.
Six-time winner Tiger Woods leads the field, along with Masters Champ Angel Cabrera, US Open Champ Lucas Glover and Open Champ Stewart Cink. Others that always provide great action include major champs Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Davis Love, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Ben Curtis and youthful studs like Camilo Villegas, Anthony Kim, Danny Lee are sure to give us some weekend highlights!!!!
Now for a little history. Like I said before this event has its roots that date back to 1962 when CBS created a made for TV event called the Rubber City Classic. Only 4 players, in a match play format participated in the event. Only major championship winners played, and if there was a multiple major winner the next best player was selected.
Of course golf already had a worldwide appeal led by Gary Player and within a few years more players were invited to Akron and in 1976, the World Series of Golf was created. The best of the best played every year, the field consisting only of players who won events on tour in the previous 12 month period.
If there are 2 things I could keep the same it would be to keep the World Series of Golf name and to keep the field limited to the way it was back then, anywhere between 40-48 players.
Anyway, in 1986 NEC attached itself to the tourney and until 1998, nothing much changed, until 1999, when the World Golf Championships concept was created with 4 yearly events, this one being the third of the 4 events.
With that the field size was changed allowing for a more worldwide appeal. Now, along with winners of selected tournaments from each of the 5 worldwide tours, Ryder and President Cup members are also part of the field, bringing the total size of the field to around 80.
This is a no-cut event. Everyone who starts the event finishes it and is guranteed some money.
So does Tiger make it back-to-back and win his 7th title in Akron? Or does Phil after another long layoff gets a win for the family?
http://www.pgatour.com http://www.cbssports.com http://www.weather.com
TV AIRTIMES---ALL TIMES EDT
THURSDAY/FRIDAY(8/6-7)ON GOLF CHANNEL 1:30PM-6:30PM and 8:30PM-12:30AM(REPLAY)
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY(8/8-9)ON GOLF CHANNEL 11:30AM-1:30PM and 9:30PM-12:30AM(CBS REPLAY)
ON CBS....2:00PM-6:30PM
Golf pingee....
I’ll let ya’s know when I’ll be there in person!!!!
People always talk about how Tiger likes to take the week off before a major. But what I think a lot a people miss is that unlike a regular PGA event there is no Pro-Am and no extra corporate activities that Tiger has to assume and with it being a ‘no-cut’ event Tiger doesn’t have the extra pressure of thinking about going home early. And all the best players are going to be at Akron as well. Thus they won’t have any advantage over Tiger being better rested.
Finally by winning last week not with his best stuff, it was the best thing that could have happened to Tiger: the glory of victory but the reality of imperfection.
Can you go on the website and throw some stuff. Remember, being as computer stupid as I am I can only do so much, especially when I’m on my cellphone, like I am now.
For those I’m pinging now, feel free to post anything to liven up the thread and I’d appreciate it very much.
One last little tidbit that I left off the history of the event. There have been 2 instances when Firestone South was not used for the event.
The first time was 1995, when the South course was going through extensive renovations so the tourney was played across Warner Road on the North Course.
The second, in 2002, was done in an attempt to move the tournament to different courses around the nation to try to boost interest and percieved low ticket sales, Tim Finchem moved the event to Sahalee Country Club near Seattle. Craig Parry won the event. Thereafter there was such a backlash by many of the players who loved playing Firestone that the next year they were back at Firestone......
Some of the past great champions of this fantastic tournament include......
JACK NICKLAUS(1976)
TOM WATSON(1980)
CRAIG STADLER(1982, 1992)
CURTIS STRANGE(1987)
JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL(1990,1994)
GREG NORMAN(1995, 1997)
PHIL MICKELSON(1996)
DAVID DUVAL(1998)
DARREN CLARKE(2003)
STEWART CINK(2004)
VIJAY SINGH(2008)............OK, OK!!
TIGER WOODS(1999, 2000-01, 2005-07)
That always works!!!!
WELL DONE!!!
Obozo can kiss my health care ass ping.
I’ve been listening to Hugh Hewitt’s show this hour. He had on some guests who think we’re staring at 10-15% inflation rates by late 2010-11.
And that’s without Stupidcare.........
rofl
Hole in one
Unreal.
2 of my favorite moments......
2000—Tiger Woods is the run away winner of the NEC invitational, beginning the 4th round with a 10 shot lead. The only question was would he break the tournament record of 259 for the 4 rounds. As play was going on at just about 4PM, a small but powerful thunderstorm hit the area. Why do I remember that? Cause we didn’t bring any rain gear and got freaking soaked.
Thinking the delay would be a long one, we left. Of course within a mile of the course it was sunny and dry, but the rain kept falling and caused about a 2 and 1/2 hour delay. Under normal circumstances play wouldn’t have finished cause there wasn’t enough daylight left in the late August day(up until 2005 this event was played AFTER the PGA Championship so it was the last week of the month).
All the players who would of not of normally finished decided to play it out no matter what. The issue was decided and frankly everyone wanted to get the hell out of town on Sunday night. What happened afterwards is still replayed in many highlight films. With sunset already past Tiger stands on the 18th fairway and is looking into a crowd(and watching on TV those stands were still full)that lit the backdrop with lighters and cellphones that was reminisent of any closing of a concert. So Tiger takes his second shot and sticks it within 2 feet of the hole, crowd going nuts with him. With camera flashes coming from all directions he finishes things off and ties the 259 record in winning by 12 shots.
The very next year, 2001brought the epic 7 hole playoff between Tiger and Jim Furyk. On the first playoff hole(18)Tiger was in position to win with a par putt as Furyk who put his 2nd in the greenside bunker, couldn’t get out with his third shot. With Tiger set 6 feet for his par, Furyk had to make his shot out of the bunker. Of course he does, sending the crowd(I was sitting in the stands behind that bunker)into a frenzy. Of course with most people staying put no one really knew what was going on when play went to the adjacent 10th then the 17th. I can remember announcements being made and scores put on the scoreboard to let us know what was happening. By the time they played 18 again the playoff reached its 4th hole. By the time it ended, they played 18 a total of 5 times that day with Tiger eventually winning for the 3rd consecutive year.
The other good thing about that year. Because of expected thunderstorms(which never did come)they pushed tee times up and played off of 1 and 10 holes. Even with the playoff, they finished up around 3:30 or so. So I get in my car, go home and watch it again!!!
ping
It is less 20 miles to the Players Championship(the so called 5th major) from my place.
Hope you have fun this weekend.
I tried to watch the Women's British Open and they are all bloody awful!
There should be a rule they can't wear pants either. Just sayin’...
What little I watched was brutal!!
They need to be wearing skirts and sexier tops......
I was just watching Golf Central and for the PGA next week 3 of the 4 par 5’s will play at MORE THAN 600 YARDS!!!!
Oh my goodness!!!
The plan is to go out to Firestone on Saturday. There may be major issues weatherwise though....
Tomorrow and Friday are fine. Upper 70’s with little chance of rain. Saturday could bring heavy rain and thunderstorms with Sunday turning hot and humid with highs reaching the mid 90’s.
I’m here on course, NOW!!! Been hanging on 1 watching guys teeing off.
Els/Singh about to start now....
I know what yer wondering. How did I get my cellphone in?
Stuck it in my hat!!!
I’m wearing my Tillman jersey with blue shorts and hat..... At 19:00 there will be a ceremony honoring the miliary services on the 16th green. I’ll be there and hopefully they’ll show it on TV later.
Weather looks good. Rain is holding off, for now.
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