Yeah, I’m being a little unfair to the field. Haas is a former Fedex Cup Winner too. Whoever does emerge on Sunday will sure be thankful for it.
Barbasol Tourney
- Thread starter Tskware
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Yeah, I’m being a little unfair to the field. Haas is a former Fedex Cup Winner too. Whoever does emerge on Sunday will sure be thankful for it.
You’re cool. Haas has had some injuries the last two years, but a very good point that you mentioned that he’s a FedEx Cup champion.
I’m really pumped about the weekend. Crazy cool leaderboard at the Open. I’m a huge JB and Brooks fan, but it’s also cool to see Westwood and Spieth in the hunt also. I actually never thought Lee would ever contend again in a major. He’s one of the greatest players to never have won a major in my opinion.
100% agree on Westwood. He’s my sentimental choice to win at this point.
I may be in the minority but I also wish Monty had gotten a major.
This year they intentionally clustered all the amenities near the clubhouse and the lake around 9 and 18 and so that is where most of the fans are. If you take a long walk to the farthest holes from there, e.g., 3, 14, 15, etc the crowds get thinner.
GTFOH
Quite possibly the dumbest statement I’ve ever seen on catpaw, and that’s saying something.
As usual you miss the point.
Have you been to an Open course in person? I have.
If you played that course, and it was just a golf course, (no major championship, fans, etc) most golfers would think it was a rough looking course.
Scott Hoch said said he thought St Andrews was “the worst piece of mess I’ve ever seen...I think they had some sheep and goats that died and they just covered them over”
Uh, this was ST ANDREWS he was referring to.
I’ve been to Murifield, (2013 when Phil won) and if you just look at the condition of the these courses and take the Major championship part completely out, well, you would understand what I was referring to.
I’ve been and played across the pond multiple times. You’re just showing your ignorance on the game if you think champions is better than any course that a major has been played on over there. It’s not even the best course in central Ky.
In general I get the gist of what Kev is saying, but Portrush looks fantastic which isn't always a given at an Open venue, and there is a lot to be said about history/legacy when playing a course. I've played Valhalla a few times and I've never played a course in that good of shape. Some beautiful holes and great views. As an avid golfer, however, it's not one of the top 10 courses I've played when it comes to overall "experience."
Amazing how good the lower- mid tier of tour players are. Jim Hermann is the consummate "journeyman" pro and he's eating it up. Champions isnt the hardest course in the world but it ain't easy either. And to its credit those greens look perfect. To the person saying it is better than Royal Portrush. Just own it. That was stupid.
It’s really all sponsorship and access. Any Web.com regulars could win on the PGA tour. It’s all about timing and some of it is luck.
Love Champions, will be a member for as long as I live here, and proud that we landed a PGA event, but it is not Royal Portrush. That place looks awesome.
Crowd was really good yesterday, despite the heat.
Not sure the PGA cares about the really low scores (pretty certain they want birdies and eagles) but if they do, got a few suggestions:
1. They have played lift clean and place every single round, last year was so wet, they had no choice, but don't understand this year. It is never going to be firm dry and fast in central Ky in July, just not the environment. You let any set of pros have a perfect lie in the fairway every time and they will tear up nearly any course.
2. Move the tees up on 5 and 15 and play the course as a par 70, with two tough long par 4s, instead of two gimme par 5s. Last year, the average score per round was 70, and each of the par 5s played almost exactly to 4.5 stroke average, meaning the other 14 holes played to par. No. 11 at 570 yards is a pretty legit par 5 (saw one guy make an 8 there yesterday :scream
, but 5 and 15 are just too short.
3. Use tougher pin positions. Members were told last year that the PGA had a rule that the hole has to be surrounded by a 6' circle with not more than 2% break (IIRC). On 17, for example, they said they would not use the front left portion of the green because there were no acceptable positions. That is ridiculous, we play it there all the time, and it is hard for sure, but hell, these are PROS after all. Put the pin in the very back of no. 12, behind a huge hump (green falls off a cliff if you go long). Yesterday, 12 pin was right in the center of the green, one of the easier spots on the toughest green on the course.
Crowd was really good yesterday, despite the heat.
Not sure the PGA cares about the really low scores (pretty certain they want birdies and eagles) but if they do, got a few suggestions:
1. They have played lift clean and place every single round, last year was so wet, they had no choice, but don't understand this year. It is never going to be firm dry and fast in central Ky in July, just not the environment. You let any set of pros have a perfect lie in the fairway every time and they will tear up nearly any course.
2. Move the tees up on 5 and 15 and play the course as a par 70, with two tough long par 4s, instead of two gimme par 5s. Last year, the average score per round was 70, and each of the par 5s played almost exactly to 4.5 stroke average, meaning the other 14 holes played to par. No. 11 at 570 yards is a pretty legit par 5 (saw one guy make an 8 there yesterday :scream
, but 5 and 15 are just too short.3. Use tougher pin positions. Members were told last year that the PGA had a rule that the hole has to be surrounded by a 6' circle with not more than 2% break (IIRC). On 17, for example, they said they would not use the front left portion of the green because there were no acceptable positions. That is ridiculous, we play it there all the time, and it is hard for sure, but hell, these are PROS after all. Put the pin in the very back of no. 12, behind a huge hump (green falls off a cliff if you go long). Yesterday, 12 pin was right in the center of the green, one of the easier spots on the toughest green on the course.
[QUOTE="Tskware, post: 8098944, member: 1714"
Crowd was really good yesterday, despite the heat. [/QUOTE]
"Decent" crowd up until noon...after that there weren't 30 people around any given hole, and some holes didn't even have a marshal. The Southland parking lot had maybe 100 cars in it at 12:30 p.m.
The heat was a factor, definitely. However, Lex has done a pathetic job overall of promoting this event.
It will be interesting to see if they keep the tourney here after the contract expires. They still have a lot of work to do.
Crowd was really good yesterday, despite the heat. [/QUOTE]
"Decent" crowd up until noon...after that there weren't 30 people around any given hole, and some holes didn't even have a marshal. The Southland parking lot had maybe 100 cars in it at 12:30 p.m.
The heat was a factor, definitely. However, Lex has done a pathetic job overall of promoting this event.
It will be interesting to see if they keep the tourney here after the contract expires. They still have a lot of work to do.
Love Champions, will be a member for as long as I live here, and proud that we landed a PGA event, but it is not Royal Portrush. That place looks awesome.
Crowd was really good yesterday, despite the heat.
Not sure the PGA cares about the really low scores (pretty certain they want birdies and eagles) but if they do, got a few suggestions:
1. They have played lift clean and place every single round, last year was so wet, they had no choice, but don't understand this year. It is never going to be firm dry and fast in central Ky in July, just not the environment. You let any set of pros have a perfect lie in the fairway every time and they will tear up nearly any course.
2. Move the tees up on 5 and 15 and play the course as a par 70, with two tough long par 4s, instead of two gimme par 5s. Last year, the average score per round was 70, and each of the par 5s played almost exactly to 4.5 stroke average, meaning the other 14 holes played to par. No. 11 at 570 yards is a pretty legit par 5 (saw one guy make an 8 there yesterday :scream
3. Use tougher pin positions. Members were told last year that the PGA had a rule that the hole has to be surrounded by a 6' circle with not more than 2% break (IIRC). On 17, for example, they said they would not use the front left portion of the green because there were no acceptable positions. That is ridiculous, we play it there all the time, and it is hard for sure, but hell, these are PROS after all. Put the pin in the very back of no. 12, behind a huge hump (green falls off a cliff if you go long). Yesterday, 12 pin was right in the center of the green, one of the easier spots on the toughest green on the course.
As will I, and I agree. I think 5 and 15 should be par 4's. Nobody is laying up on 5 and Hass and Herman hit 6 iron and 8 iron on 15 yesterday. That is ridiculous.
30 Under probably going to win that tournament. The course should be allowed to defend itself a little better IMO.
"Decent" crowd up until noon...after that there weren't 30 people around any given hole, and some holes didn't even have a marshal. The Southland parking lot had maybe 100 cars in it at 12:30 p.m.
The heat was a factor, definitely. However, Lex has done a pathetic job overall of promoting this event.
It will be interesting to see if they keep the tourney here after the contract expires. They still have a lot of work to do.[/QUOTE]Did I hear they renewed the tourney for 5 years?
^
yes, signed a K until 2023
Barbasol set a record for eagles in one tournament going back to 1990, something like 114. Really ought to consider playing it as a par 70. Was an exciting finish though, although Kraft basically gave it away with bogeys on 16 and 17. But c'est la vie . . .
yes, signed a K until 2023
Barbasol set a record for eagles in one tournament going back to 1990, something like 114. Really ought to consider playing it as a par 70. Was an exciting finish though, although Kraft basically gave it away with bogeys on 16 and 17. But c'est la vie . . .
All that does is just change the total...doesn't change the difficulty of the course. They're still going to hit fairways and greens out there like they are playing a video game.
It's always good to see a long time journeyman win, and this was no exception. Herman has a good story.
Exactly, fans whether they are from Lexington, KY or Podunk, USA, know it is a watered down field and no star power. Not having someones favorite golfer in the field for them to come out and follow, it will never draw big crowds. Which is also exactly why it only had (or scheduled to have) 2 hours coverage on TV and that being on Golf Channel, not CBS.
Set the record for most Eagles by 18, like it barely broke the record.
Set the record for most Eagles by 18, like it barely broke the record.
Not only the eagles record as a whole, but also the eagles record by one person. I agree they need to do a par 70, but they also need to juice that rough up no matter how much the members ***** and firm the greens up too. Never seen so many shots out of the rough land so softly. It wasn’t even really a penalty missing the fairway and that’s the only thing that keeps the pros from tearing a course up every week.
Agree, but that’s not going to help attendance. Nobody was sitting at home Sunday and thought “man, I’d love to run down to Nicholasville and watch the final round. Too bad the rough isn’t an inch longer or I’d be there.”
Don't disagree, but as I said earlier, July in Ky is always going to be hot, humid with soft conditions, you could hire Jesus Christ as course supt and that is not going to change. Play it in May or better yet, October, and you would see an entirely different look. But I understand, it is what it is, an off event. That being said, I saw some really good golf.
I never said anything about attendance, don’t think they can do much to improve that other than get an old washed up Tiger after he realizes he can’t compete anymore (lol). I was simple referring to the low scores.
Not sure where u get soft from hot and humid. They could absolutely make the greens much firmer and not so receptive (assuming Mother Nature cooperates as well).
Well, it isn't a watered down field, and given there were 5 former major winners plus a FedEx champ in the field made it a solid list. Having the local boy in contention helped as well. This isn't some hack scramble...it is only 1 of 40+ events on the tour, and they are playing for a nice check plus benefits.
"Big crowd" is relative to the event, but unless Lexington does a better job going forward of promoting this, it isn't going to get better.
It paid a third of the British Open to the winner. About half of what a nonoffset regular tour event would pay. The winner got $630,000.
Yes, I know.
It also got Herman a 2 yr exemption, PGA Championship, Maui, points.
Nobody is arguing the benefits the winner gets. So stop with that angle. Be honest, the winner of the tournament is more or less the tallest midget so to speak. Exactly how many top 25 ranked players in the world was there ? Hell top 50 ? And next week, how man will be in the field ?
The guys playing in it are very talented players, it is obvious, but if you do not admit it is a less than stellar field then you are just doing what you do in GYERO, and arguing for the sake of arguing and to be on the other side of the debate.
The guys playing in it are very talented players, it is obvious, but if you do not admit it is a less than stellar field then you are just doing what you do in GYERO, and arguing for the sake of arguing and to be on the other side of the debate.
There are many other tournaments where the field is lacking in star power due to where they fall on the schedule. The John Deere rarely draws big names but has great crowds. The lack of promotion is definitely the biggest problem. I also think a move to late September or October might help turnout.
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Going to be hard to drawn big names when you are going up against The Open Championship and the organizers and sponsors of the Barbasol know this.
Of course.
FWIW, the winner Jim Herman was 16 under on the par 5s for the week (16 holes total, or an average of birdie every par 5), and 10 under for the other 56 holes. Really ought to consider par 70 last year, no. 5, a par 5, average score was 4.3