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?
I still hear from Big Wave Betty. And even had a note from Mountaineer after the Open Championship.
Ahhhh. Who would ever have believed we would look back on Bill and Hill as “the good ole days”?!
Anyone else having reception problems?
Oh man, those abused pet commercials really tear my heart out.
WOO HOO!
Padington Bear and Tigger in the last group!
Returning to TiVo mode.
Returning to TiVo mode for real.
Tiger is shootin lights out w/ his irons...........just wow
Tiger is 5 under at the turn........
Don’t forget that a certain #1 player in the world knows this course like the back of his hand....
I wish anyone in the gallery that yells “It’s in the hole!!’ would get hit by lightning.
Amen!
Especially when they’re at the tee on a par 5!
>>>Especially when they’re at the tee on a par 5!
Those people I want to find and personally pummel them into unconsciousness with a wet carp.
Holy hot irons, batman!
Unbelievable!
just damn.....but somehow we knew that shot was comin
and then Paddy did that
Stewart will be KICKING himself after they post Padraig’s score.
Poor Paddy.
can’t go w/ the “poor Paddy”
that’s golf and he himself boo boo’d
Well, sure.
But that’s one big ol’ boo boo to carry into next week.
All his interviews will now be about his “collapse”.
Tough week coming up.
one hole ain’t a collapse....it’s golf and he should stand on the balls of his feet and say so....that will let today release and allow tomorrow to build
That’s a big 10-4 on that!!
So stupid, and I heard it all day yesterday when I was out there!!
Hey!! Fill me in as to what happened to Padraig. Did he triple 16? Or did he mess up 15 and 16?
I was following on ESPN while at a church carnival playin blackjack....
And yep, Stewart being -8 at one point will regret stumbling coming home.....
Ouch!!!
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