You have to think the one with all the ingredients to win this week’s first LPGA Tour major is Yani Tseng.  She has won three of her first five LPGA events in 2012 and missed a playoff in both of the other by a smidge.  She is number one in the world by a solar system having won 35 titles world wide in her young career.

At age 23 she is already plying her way into the LPGA Hall of Fame with five majors to her credit, including a win here in 2010, and ten other LPGA wins.  She has a scoring title and two player of the year awards in just five years on tour.   A combination of one more major and two more LPGA wins and she will reach the mark to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame.

The entire top 50 in the world will be at Mission Hills so there are plenty of quality players who could throw some chalk in Yani’s batter.  Na Yeon Choi, the #2 player in the world, Suzann Pettersen, a fierce competitor and probably the best athlete on the tour, Stacy Lewis, the defending champ, Ai Miyazato,  whose knee socks are always in a final group, and South Korea’s Jiyai Shin bulldog tough with a major and 8 LPGA wins to her credit.

Yani displayed her displeasure at not repeating in 2011 (Beth Ann Baldy)

Having said all that this tournament, with a winning score often double digits under par and a reachable par five finishing hole, has sported some real drama and been the break through major for a number rising stars.  Stacy Lewis won her first major here with a steely final round performance in 2011, Brittany Lincicome eagled the final hole in 2009 to grab the title, and feisty Morgan Pressel had the game to win in 2007.

But if you are looking for an American to break through I think it is going to have to been one of the young-ins.  Lexi Thompson is only 17 and will be playing in her first major as a pro and she has the length to humble this course.  Jessica Korda at 19 won the Women’s Australian Open at the iconic Royal Melbourne in February, and Michelle Wie, having finished her studies at Stanford, says she is ready to put full attention to reaching all that potential we have been discussing for the last 8 years.

In the end someone will have to work Yani Tseng over with a rolling pin to grab this trophy because with twelve wins last year and five already by April she has a head of steam that is going to be hard to staunch.  Unlike Annika before her, Yani is no maven in the kitchen, but I think when it comes to finding the winning recipe for this Kraft Nabisco she has pantry shelves of experience that make her the master chef.

March, 2012

This week’s tour stop is a tribute to Arnold Palmer, the guy who put professional golf in the money by selling his charisma to the TV media back in the early sixties.  The players today have reverential respect for path he created and playing in his tournament each year is a way of showing it.

The Bay Hill Resort and Country Club is Arnie and Winnie Palmer personified represented in the informal, tranquil, and confident atmosphere that pervades the place.  A walk through the resort reveals hallways and rooms full of Arnie memorabilia.  Photos with the King, entertainment personalities, and the top pros of every era make you feel like you are walking through Arnie’s study in Latrobe.  Food is good, I recommend the Belgian Waffle, and everything about the place-the health club, outside recreation areas, eating facilities, and meeting rooms-are top shelf experiences without any attitude.

The golf course has a lot of Arnie’s hand in it-originally designed by Dick Wilson in 1963 but tinkered with endlessly by Ed Seay and Arnold ever he took ownership of it in the early 1970’s.  To win here demands thoughtful course management and shot execution.  Not a brute in length, this course continually challenges the players to make good decisions especially if the wind is up.

Arnold’s Invitational attracts a strong and diverse field-representing 16 countries, with over a third of the field under the age 30 and 25 players 40 years or over. Fifteen different major winners and eight of the top ten on the 2012 PGA Tour money list are here including Justin Rose, Brandt Snedeker, Hunter Mahan, and Bill Haas, as well as Tiger and Phil.

Over the years drama has been part of this event.  Walking down the right center of the 18^th fairway about 170 from the green you cannot miss the bronze plaque that commemorates the spot from which Robert Gamez, a rookie on the tour, holed a seven iron in 1990 to steal yet another championship from the clutches of world #1 Greg Norman.  Then there is one Phil, two Ernies, and any of the six wins Tiger has had at this place-four straight from 2000 to 2003.

For much in the field this is a home game since so many international and American golf pros call Isleworth or Lake Nona their home.  Bay Hill would be a place they can play on a regular basis.  Sleeping in one’s own bed or in one of the suites at the resort means it is not far from the morning coffee to the weight room or range for pre-game prep.  Seems to me it should be an easy day at the office for many of them.

Bay Hill is a comfortable tour stop to play and a wonderful win to have on your golf resume.  It is something special in a professional golfer’s career to shake Arnies hand and accept the unique sword trophy presented as the winner.  Even to superstars like Phil, Ernie, V.J., and Tiger this is a piece of hardware they cherish having in their trophy case.

March, 2012

As the media is apt to do these days, they are anxious to crown the next greatest player in the world and it has been apparent for a while that young Rory McIlroy was most likely to fit that bill.  After a major disappointment in the final round of The Masters last year, Rory, at the tender age of 22, came back to lap the field and win his first major by eight shots at Congressional at U.S. Open in June. With a crowd of Europeans at the top of their games challenging Luke Donald’s hold on the top position, it just seemed like a matter of time until Rory broke free from the pack and claimed the #1 spot in the World Golf Rankings.

His play the last 8 months has been phenomenal as he has methodically built his resume as one of the most competitive forces in the game of golf.  On the European Tour in 2011 he had 2 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds, and 12 top tens out of 19 events winning over 4 million Euros and finished second in their Order of Merit. In his last 11 events he has been fifth or better 10 times.  Last week at the World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play he won a heart stopping match against his British rival Lee Westwood in the semis before losing in the final to Hunter Mahan and missing his chance to claim the world number one.

With this week’s Honda Classic he once again had the opportunity to claim that top spot if he could pull off a win against a tough field on one of the most penal courses they play all year.  His play all week was on form and he came into the final round with a two shot lead and a simple mission-make pars and make someone come from behind and catch him.

As is only fitting it was Tiger Woods who made the noise, coming from miles back in the final round shooting an 8-under 62 with a statement birdie-eagle finish to post 10 under and become the leader in the clubhouse.  When the Tiger roar subsided, McIlroy stood on the 14th tee with a two shot lead facing a formidable five hole stretch which includes the fabled “Bear Trap” that has doused the dreams of many would-be champions over the years.

Rory played the final five holes with the patience and resolve of a seasoned veteran getting up and down for par three times from more than a bit of bother.  His short game has been his salvation all week, leading the field in scrambling at 83% with 20 out of 24 up and downs when he has missed the green.  Today in particular he did not miss a single putt inside of 10 feet.  A routine par on the last hole gave him a two-shot victory at 12 under par and moved him to the top spot in the World Golf Rankings.

The next two months include a World Golf Championship at Doral, Arnie’s Event at Bay Hill, The Masters, Jack’s Memorial Tournament, and The Players Championship against all the top players in the game.  Rory will have his work cut out for him trying to consolidate his grip on the top spot.   Given his resolve and performance since last April’s Master’s meltdown I think there is a good chance he will weather that storm.

March, 2012

I am pretty sure Keegan Bradley got a text from Ponte Vedra late Sunday afternoon summoning him to the principal’s office.   After watching Keegan repeatedly drool on his Tommy Hilfiger shirt over the last nine holes Tim Finchem had to be concerned about stemming the rash of young players projecting lugies during PGA broadcasts.  This is a sport where they have shoved the chain smokers into a closet forcing them to hide their butts in their palms while on camera.

Keegan is bad enough with his shpilkus pre-shot routine-it brings back bad memories of Sergio’s 47-Waggle days.  But the spitting is downright gross.  Either they need to outfit Keegan with a Hilfiger drool bib and a spittoon on his golf bag or get him to learn to do his business behind a tree before he picks his club.  If the young kids pick up on this there won’t be a dry place for the Canadian Geese poop on the fairways of courses in the northeast.

Other than that the Northern Trust Open at Riviera was Survivor Pacific Palisades in Soft Spikes.  Following the horde of contenders on the back nine was like watching the hockey coaches try to tip toe to the bench in their leather loafers after the Zamboni Machine has done it’s due diligence between periods.  The chilly temperatures, encroaching gum trees, and some seriously punitive George Thomas bunkers left a pile of dazed guys lying flat on their backs staring up at the bottom of the Jumbo-Tron.

In the end it was Mickelson and Bradley’s improbable birdies on eighteen-there were only eight all day on the finishing hole and two of them came in this last group-that forced a playoff with the Fed Ex Cup Champ Bill Haas.  The playoff was decided on the short and treacherous tenth hole when all three players, knowing it was going to take a three to end the drama, tried to drive it on the green but put themselves in some serious bother.  Haas went for the croquet up and down pitching away from the hole and then buried a side-slinging 43-footer for the birdie and the win.

Finchem has to be pleased with the Sunday drama his sport has provided these last few weeks, but I think he will be considering adding the Emily Post Handbook to the welcome pack for the players next year.

February, 2012

I a sure Phil got all giddy when he heard he would be playing the final round on Sunday  at Pebble Beach with Tiger.  At this point in his career the only thing that matters to Phil is winning majors and beating Tiger head-to-head.  He had little concern with the fact that he was six shots back of Charlie Wi at the beginning of the day, his total focus would be on outplaying Tiger in the second to last group of the day.

It turned out to be less of a Duel at the OK Corral and more of a Massacre at Little Big Horn.  Phil shot 64 to Tiger’s 75 and won for his 40th time on the PGA Tour and his 4th time at Pebble Beach.  To paraphrase what Nick Faldo said on the broadcast, if it had been match play Phil torched him 7 & 5-it was over coming off the 13th green.

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This was vintage swash buckling Phil right from the beginning.  He went on a birdie-par-birdie-birdie-eagle run starting on the second hole on his way to shooting 31 on the front side.  Tiger self destructed with three bogies in a row on 7, 8, and 9.  You could have put a fork in him by the time he made the turn.

The back nine was more full-Phil-ment.  After Tiger holed it from the green side bunker on 12, Phil drained a long one to save par.  After a perfect drive, he took the spin off a dexterous knock-down nine iron and rolled it to within two feet of the Clark Kent pin position on 13.  On the pivotal par 5 14th Phil cozied a sand wedge to five feet for another birdie after Tiger took out a camera man airmailing the green on his way to another bogey.  One more bit of magic on 15 when Phil short-sided himself into the right bunker, blasted to 38 feet, and made another bomb across the green to keep his bogey-free round in tact.

The only un-Phil-like moment of the day was at 18 where, with a two shot lead and one hand on the trophy, Phil listened to Bones and hit 4 iron, 4 iron, wedge to four feet and made an exclamation point birdie to cap off a scintillating 64.

This was another one for the Mickelson family scrapbook.  Pebble holds a special place in his heart because Phil’s grandfather used to travel down from his home to caddy there a few eons ago.  Somehow the 15 cents a round his grandpa used to make seems to pale compared to $1.2 million filling up the Mickelson piggy bank and another tiger pelt for the study.

February, 2012

The View From Above (expandingknowledge.com)

There is something delightfully playful about the colorful silks of the hang gliders that will be suspended over Torrey Pines at this week’s Farmer’s Insurance Open in La Jolla, California.  These characters look like they are really having a good time as they take in the stunning vistas, beautiful sunshine, and an aerial view of some of the top players in the world plying their craft.

Tiger, who has won at this place more times than we can count, will be skipping the event to pad his money market account with a three million dollar appearance for playing in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in the Arab Emirates this weekend.  But the other favorite son of San Diego, Phil Mickelson, will be on hand along with Ernie Els, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, Nick Whatney, Rickie Fowler and a host of others as the PGA West Coast Swing shifts into second gear.

Maybe the most interesting story this weekend is the return of J.B. Holmes to the tour after brain surgery this fall to correct a Chiari Malformation that was impinging on his spinal cord resulting in dizziness, headaches and problems with balance and coordination. He actually went through two surgeries and a length convalescence but is about 85% which means he still hits it about 15 yards past most of the gorillas on the tour.  This man has moxie and his return will be a welcome sight to all of the fans who watch the tour regularly.

Rocco will be back at the site of his famous duel with you-know-who in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  His form has been sketchy since his last win in 2010 at The Frys.com Open, but you know he will be chatty and entertaining as he basks once again in the glory of his effort in that Monday playoff for our national championship.

The 18th At Torrey Pines South (whosyourcaddie.net)

Don’t miss the sights, flights, and sounds of another garden spot in California.  TV coverage is on Golf Channel Thursday and Friday afternoon and CBS over the weekend from 3 to 6 pm EST.

January, 2012

Mai Tais at check-in, breakfast on the beach, metronomic turquoise blue surf, and seas of stunning black lava…..there is a reason the wives of Champion Tour players won’t let their husbands miss the Tournament of Champions event that begins the season at the Hualalai Golf Course of the Four Seasons Resort on the Big Island in Hawaii.  It is no exaggeration to say that this place is like tranquility in a bottle.

The Champions Tour  (a.k.a. The Apostle Tour) begins the year-long Charles Schwab Cup competition every year with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship.  The limited field event includes all the Champions Tour winners from the last two years as well as the guys who won Senior majors the last five years.

The field is stocked with Hall of Fame faces you rooted for the last 30 years including John Cook, Tom Lehman, Apostle Player of the Year and the Charles Schwab Cup winner, Freddie Couples, the ageless Tom Watson, Bernard Langer, and so many more.  The Golf Channel broadcast is in prime time Friday, Saturday, and Sunday so there is no reason to miss this.

The Hualalai Golf Course is a spectacular Nicklaus design on the Kona Coast of the Big Island in Hawaii.  The course was dug out of the black lava landscape created by centuries of volcanic eruptions.   The scenic vistas on this course alone are worth the price of admission.  Nicklaus used the natural up and down flow of the land to route a very interesting layout of holes lined on both sides with acres of black lava that give it a distinctive character you will not forget.

Number 18 is an opportunistic finishing hole for someone with nerve

At 6600 yards the course is not a killer-past winners have been 20-under or better over three days.  Being a resort course, Nicklaus provided wide driving areas and generous access to the green settings.  But there is plenty to contend with if the wind is up and you don’t control the trajectory of your ball.  Balls forced to wander by the wind that end up on the lava are treated harshly-you would need a sherpa guide to retrieve the ball.  The putting in particular is a real challenge when you have a three-flap wind buffeting your pant legs.

(Click here to read the Moegolf review of the Hualalai Golf Course)

Pure serenity…everywhere you look….

The real attraction for these players and their families is the Four Seasons Resort itself.  This is a seven-star resort on a scale of five.  Of all the Four Seasons Resorts I have ever been to this is by far the nicest and that is saying a lot.  The accommodations, dining, pool, beaches, health club, and golf course are as fine as you will see anywhere in Hawaii.  But the best part is that this is all presented in an informal atmosphere without pretension.  The people who work there are genuinely engaging, gracious, and concerned about your every care during your stay.

It is worth watching this weekend just for the David Marr post-round interviews from the greenside couch.  No matter their score, these guys will be stress free from their week in this small piece of paradise.

(Photos from http://www.fourseasons.com)

January, 2013