PGA Tour makes a useless change

The PGA Tour has approved changes to the way the FedEx Cup will unfold next season basically guaranteeing the winner will be crowned at the Tour Championship. This is coming in response to how the first two years unfolded. Two years ago Tiger Woods had such a big lead he could skip the first playoff event and this season Vijay Singh basically clinched it by winning the first two of four playoff events. They've also changed the points reset by moving it from the beginning of the playoffs to the Tour Championship and making the playoff events worth four times more than the regular season events.

Basically they've made a pretty shitty playoff system shittier in a different way.

John Daly is a Trainwreck

This isn't new news I suppose. However every now and again people need to be reminded. I'm all for second maybe even third chances when someone screws up, but this guy is simply an idiot. There are few players on tour that actually posess the amount of raw talent John Daly does, which makes this whole thing so sad.

Daly hasn't held a PGA Tour card since 2006 when his exemption for winning the 2004 Buick Invitation expired. He did manage to play in 17 PGA Tour events last year making a dismal five cuts while earning a paltry $56,000. Let's not forget the umpteenth divorce and the night he spent in jail back in October after being found drunk off his ass at North Carolina Hooters.

Daly is playing in playing the Aussie Masters this week then the Australian PGA next week both of which he received sponsors expemptions for. Amazingly Daly fired a final round 62 at the Hong Kong Open last week to finish in 17th, boosting his terrific World ranking to 692nd. Although Daly is still a draw most places he goes, there's a sentiment on tour and among fans that his act is getting a bit tired. I for one wouldn't go out to watch a former PGA and British Open Champion grind his way through what would likely be a shitty round of golf.

It's time for Daly to get his shit together or I'm guessing he won't be around much longer.

GM's problems mount

I've never been one for Buicks. In fact, I'm pretty sure they suck. Taking that thought even further I'm pretty sure all GM cars are awful. Could that be a reason the company is in so much perile? I'm sure this recent economic downturn is mainly to blame, but when you produce a shitty product, what do you expect.

I'm sure Buick doesn't want to lose Tiger Woods, but how on earth would they even be able to pay him? With that, the car giant and golf giant are parting ways at the end of this year. Tiger's deal with Buick was worth somewhere just south of 7 million and given their current situation GM can't afford to shell out that kind of cash. Apparentlyy they're "cost-cutting". Might be a good idea.

Tiger is better than Buick anyway. Why the fuck would he ever have associated his name with such a shitty car to begin with. I'm sure any other manufacturer would have dished out the money. I'd be shocked and extremely upset if I ever saw Tiger Woods driving down the street in a fucking Buick.

Making an Impact

The top 25 players from the Nationwide Tour were recently awarded their PGA Tour cards for the 2009 season, which got me thinking. How well does this new crop of players have to do to outshine the class from last year? The answer I inevitably came up with was, pretty damn good.

When Chez Reavie captured the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey this summer it was the first victory from the 2007 Nationwide class, but there is more to this class than the sole Reavie win. 11 of the graduates ended up qualifying for the Playoffs and played for the Fed Ex Cup. Three of those players made it to the BMW Championship which was the third of the four playoff events. Although Reavie was the only player to win, his play for the majority of the season was only average. Nicholas Thompson recorded six top 10's, eleven top 25's, 21 cuts made and was the leading money winner of the class ($1,869,329). Marc Turnesa also won albeit during the fall series at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open which put a nice finishing touch to the season for last years class.

Now a new class of Nationwide graduates will tip in up next year in hopes of making an impact on the tour as some of last years class did. Matt Bettencourt was the winner of the money title on the Nationwide in 2008 earning just under $450K. He captured the season ending Nationwide Tour Championship and the $180 grand that went with it. Look for him to try and get out of the gate quick as he finished of the season strong. Among the other 24 players, there are a few that shouldn't be overlooked. Darron Stiles, who finished seventh on the money list has PGA Tour experience and makes alot of birdies. His problem is he still has too much inconsistency in his game. If he can cut down on that he may have what it takes to make it finally out there. Australian Greg Chalmers finished 8th just behind Stiles and also has experience out on tour. Although he's never won on the PGA Tour he does have a T-2 and earned just over a million dollars during the 2000 season. Arjun Atwal is another of the graduates with tour experience. You may remember him losing the 2005 Bellsouth open in a playoff. That season he earned just under a million so he's hoping 2009 sees a return to his 2005 form. Bubble boy Ricky Barnes will finally have full time status on tour. Should he somehow manage to find the game he had to beat Hunter Mahan 2&1 to win the US Amateur at Oakland Hills in 2002 then he could be really successful. Just look at how the runner-up's career has progressed.

Getting, and keeping your PGA Tour card seems to be a real struggle at the best of times for the graduates of the Nationwide tour. However in recent years they've been getting better and even winning. Who knows what's ahead for this next class, but if they want to be compared to last years class, they'd better perform.

Tiger or Harrington from a completely non-bias perspective

Who's going to come away with the 2008 player of the year award? Let's list the nominees. Kenny Perry, Tiger Woods, Camillo Villegas, Vijay Singh and of course, Padraig Harrington.

Perry won three times on tour this year to claw his way onto the Ryder Cup team, which he insisted was his goal the entire time. I wonder how many times the player of the year has won the John Deere Classic and played in only one major. I'm sorry Kenny Perry fans, but this is completely unacceptable. Who gives a shit about the John Deere Classic and a guy who withdrew in the only major he played in after an opening round 79? No chance Perry wins.

Camillo Villegas finished the season off like a demon winning his last two starts, which both happened to be playoff events. However, prior to these two wins (the first of his career) Villegas hadn't really done a whole lot else. He wasn't awful in the majors (MC, T9, T39 & T4) but had only 8 Top 20's in 22 starts. Outside of those two huge season-ending wins, he was just okay.

You could make a case for Vijay in 08. After a couple of so-so seasons the past couple of years, Singh rebounded to win the 2008 money title and picked up three wins. His major performance was less than average though, being cut in the British and PGA Championship respectively. He did manage 12 top 20's in 23 starts and won the FED EX Cup winning two of the four playoff events. The Money title, three victories and FED EX CUP victory all mean Vijay should merit some consideration. Not my pick.

Padraig Harrington is going to garner serious consideration after he exploded this year by winning the British Open and followed it up with a win at the PGA Championship. Even though he played only fifteen events on the PGA Tour, he finished 8th ont he money list and also had a T-3 at the Northern Trust, two T-4's at the St. Jude and Zurich Classic respectively and a T-5 at Augusta. Harrington had the best record at all four majors in 2008, but did he play in enough events? Just a question that some may ask, though his performance is tough to overlook.

Tiger Woods finished second on the PGA Tour money list. He played but a mere 6 events. He won the Buick, the WGC Match Play, Arnie's Event and of course the U.S. Open. Some may argue Tiger didn't play enough of the season to win the Player of the year award, which I think is idiocy. The man played, and won the U.S. Open with a torn ACL and stress fracture in his leg. Let's not forget, he also finished 2nd in the Masters with those same issues. Simply put, he's a super-human freak. There is no one else in the World, ever, who would have made that putt to get into the playoff at Torrie Pines. One back with one to play in the playoff, needing birdie to force extra's, he does it. I would have loved to see him healthy and finish this season, it may have been a joke. My vote goes to Tiger. It will always be so.

In case you're not aware, I'm completely bias towards Tiger Woods with respect to pretty much everything. That being said, he'd still get my vote as he's simply better than everyone else.

Rocco gets my comeback player of the year award simply because Davis Love III is a complete douche.

Chez Reavie gets my Rookie of the year award, as he won my National Open and wears Quagmire apparel, which is badass.

More to come...

J.P. Hayes is an idiot

HAHA, El Paso Touring professional J.P. Hayes has made the news after admitting to the PGA that he'd used a prototype, nonapproved golf ball during the second stage of Q-School.

Hayes evidently had his caddie throw him a ball from his bag that he played two shots with before realizing it wasn't the same he'd been using since the start of the round. He took the appropriate two-stroke penalty, then realized later it was a non-conforming ball. He reported it and was subsequently disqualified even though he was in position to advance to the final stage and likely obtain his 09 card.

Hayes had earned over $7,000,000 dollars in his career on tour and is probably a little more than pissed he's likely going to be teeing it up next year on the Nationwide tour.

I wonder if he fired his Caddie for his choice of ball.

Being on the Bubble

Yes, in this very first of many likely half assed posts we're going cliche. As it turns out, it really is crunch time on tour. With only two events remaining on the schedule players on the bubble looking to finish inside the top 125 and retain their card in 2009 have little room for error. There are a couple of notable names near the bubble who are going to have to grind it out these two weeks or else may be looking at relegation to Q-School or the Nationwide tour.

Davis Love III is currently sitting 115th ($867,237) and a month ago it looked like he might have to rely on his career earnings position to stay on tour in 2009. However, two top tens and an eleventh place finish last week have vaulted Love into this pretty safe position. On top of that, he is playing again this week, so it's unlikely he falls too far if any.

David Toms is surprisingly sitting in 124th position ($799,144) and isn't playing this week, or likely at all from here on in. He's battled injury and inconsistency the past couple of seasons. No need to worry here though. His multiple wins on tour have him exempt through 2011.

2006 Ryder Cup team member Vaughn Taylor is on the outside looking in right now sitting in 129th ($761,783). Taylor turned heads winning twice early in his career and looked poised for big things. However he's trended the wrong direction this season and needs a couple of strong finishes coming home. Incidently I believed Taylor was a sleeper pick in my golf pool this season and he's pissed me off week after week with his inconsistent play, particularly on weekends.

There are a host of other players on the outside looking in who need big finishes as well as those on the bubble hoping to hang on and not have to grind out six grueling days at Q-school next month. Either way, and whoever gets in it should be two great weeks with elation for some and disappointment for others.

Tune often for as much lame information and poor grammar anytime here where I'll most likely spend most of my time making fun of poor play, bad shots and terrible performances in general. That, and anything Tiger Woods related as it'll become fairly evident I have quite the man-crush.