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| Though we reported Lee Westwood had decided to skip the FedEx Cup playoffs, instead choosing to enjoy an extended vacation with his family, we have learned the top Euro duffer is listed in the published field for next week's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles on the European Tour, according to EuropeanTour.com. |
Our View: Westwood's web site still lists a three-week break into early September. However, on Monday the Golf Channel's Tim Rosaforte mentioned Westwood might return next week, though he failed to indicate the venue. If he does in fact return from vacation, Westwood is still eligible to play in next week's Deutsche Bank Championship and could jump back into the FedEx playoff. We'll track the situation and keep you posted.
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| Anthony Kim required medical attention during his opening round at The Barclays today, apparently stung by a bee that hampered his health, according to the PGA. |
Our View: Kim still finished with a respectable 1-under-par 70, but he could have gone lower without the problems. He was at 2-under after three holes when the bee made it's move, thus he it may be fair to wonder if he could have scored better. Kim, who is allergic to bee stings, admitted that he was "lethargic afterwards" but still banged balls on the range following his round.
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| Earlier in the week we reported Bob Estes, ranked 124th on the qualifying FedEx Cup rankings, was not listed as a member of the field with cause or explanation. Today we learn Estes is getting married this week, and thus he is not in attendance, according to Golf.com. |
Our View: Seems like a reasonable explanation, and at 124th going in, the chances of survival were slim regardless.
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| Paul Casey rebounded from a disappointing performance at the Wyndham Championship last week to post one of the best rounds on the opening day of The Barclays, carding a 5-under-par 66. |
Our View: Casey is motivated by a desire to test his skills as a PGA Tour regular, rumored to be pondering a move to become a full-time Tour patron next season. He is also looking to get on the roster for the Euro squad in this year's Ryder Cup, thus today's round is of great benefit.
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| Hunter Mahan had the sticks working in his favor today, recording a course-record 9-under-par 62 at the Ridgewood Country Club in the opening round of The Barclays. |
Our View: Mahan was at the top of his game in ideal conditions today, hitting 11 of 14 fairways, 15 greens in regulation, and utilizing just 23 putts to finish the round. If he can keep it going, he will make a strong bid for consideration from captain Paul Azinger for one of the four remaining spots on the US Ryder Cup team.
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| Jose Maria Olazabal told reporters of intentions to play competitive golf before next month's Ryder Cup, according to SportingLife.com. "[Olazabal] is back practicing and hoping to enter a tournament before the Ryder Cup," said manager Sergio Gomez (incorrectly identified as Sergio Garcia in the Sporting Life article). |
Our View: An assistant captain for the Euros, Olazabal has been battling rheumatism all year and hasn't played since failing in a British Open qualifier bid on June 30th. Gomez indicates his condition has improved and he is no longer medicated to treat the condition. Assuming Ollie doesn't play again on the PGA Tour this year, he'll likely start 2009 on a Major Medical extension, affording him 12-13 starts to make about $750K.
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| In an interview with reporters from The Golf Channel this evening, Phil Mickelson confirmed his intent to attend and play in all four of the FedEx Cup Playoff tournaments, starting this week at The Barclays. |
Our View: Mickelson is hoping to ramp up his game towards the Ryder Cup, but it would be fair to suggest his failure in winnning another major tourney this season could be serving as motivation as well. Taking the FedEx Cup, a grueling test of endurance and overall golf prowess, would ease the pain of those disappointments, and thus it seems Lefty is ready to accept that challenge.
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| Reports from Ridgewood Country Club, home of this week's Barclays tournament, indicate Ernie Els has been spotted on the practice range with an unknown support brace on his left arm and may be hampered by an unreported injury, according to ESPN.com. |
Our View: Jason Sobel of ESPN is the reporting party, blogging live from the course. He spotted Els on the range and noted he spent an extended period of time there with the brace in full view, though Sobel seems uncertain on if the device is for medical reasons or possibly a swing training device.
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| While we expect the difficulty of the greens to rule the day at this week's PGA battle at The Barclays, Kenny Perry reports the field has discovered a little-known fact that is helping the putting cause, according to ESPN.com. During practice round interviews, Perry stated, when asked about the putting conditions at the course, "Well, I have the secret out there and if I tell you, everyone is going to know. You know, the ridge that runs through the middle of the golf course? It's true, everything breaks away from the ridge no matter where you are." |
Our View: We will see if Perry can put it into practice, for his fall since earning three wins over four tourneys has been well documented. He has yet to compete with a top field this season and we believe, even with the revalation about the ridge, that he may struggle.
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| We have learned veteran Bob Tway has officially withdrawn from this week's PGA stop at The Barclays, according to Jason Sobel of ESPN.com. |
Our View: Sobel is onsite at Ridgewood Country Club and blogged about Tway's decision to withdrawal within an hour of the announcement. Sobel notes Tway withdrew to head down to Pinehurst, N.C. That's where his son, Kevin, who plays at Oklahoma State and reached the field at the U.S. Open earlier this year, made it into the match play portion of the U.S. Amateur. Essentially, Dad is potentially giving up two paychecks to see his boy. At 119th on the points list, a made cut this week would have ensured Tway of a spot in next week's Deutsche Bank Championship; now, he's probably done until the Fall Finish.
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