Canadian Open

What's in a Name?

Date Written: July 28, 2008

What in the world does the picture of Cher have to do with Chez Reavie winning yesterday's Canadian Open? Hang in there. Hear me out. I'm guessing that Chez's mother knew her son was going to be famous one day so she gave him a first name that people would instantly recognize...kinda like Cher. (And by the way, does anyone out there know if Cher actually has a last name?) Which brings up another question. Why does the media literally miss-pronounce Chez's name? They say it like it's spelled. Do they think, as an audience, we are unable to match his uncommon name to a tricky pronunciation? I've never heard an announcer explain why his name is not pronounced properly. His name is a common word in French. It is pronounced "Shay" which rhymes with way. "Chez" in French essentially means to be at home. Pronounced in English vernacular..."Chez" might be short for Chester, Chezman or Chezburger. It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes or a linquist to figure out that the kid must come from a French background. Is Chez's mother a Francophile? Does she have a sign over the porch that announces you are about to enter, "Chez Reavie?" I remember years ago, before he became famous, that "Goosen" was pronounced "Hoosen."

Finally, although I might be beating a dead cheval, (which, by the way, is French for horse), I think "Shay's" last name should properly be pronounced "Ra-vay" not "Ree-vee." Can anybody out there straighten out this French-to-English mess? Should I email his folks who live in Kansas to get a complete genealogical report? Or should I call the Mormons?

As long as I've got too much time on my hands, allow me just a few more moments to rant about politics before I get to the golf business at hand. This "pronunciation" issue is a comment on our collective laziness as a culture. We (TV being main culprit) have this lazy habit in this country of anglicizing names to suit our own understanding. I liken it to refusing to be a part of the larger world. The fervor that accompanies the argument that "English" is our "one-and-only" designated language represents a "dumbing down" of our potential. I think it would be a good idea to have at least 2 languages in this country, especially in the West...since we essentially swiped this half of the country from either the Indian's or the Mexican's. Maybe it would be a good idea to keep their language and some of their culture. It's a healthy idea too to be different and learn a foreign language during one's lifetime. Besides, I read recently that fifty (50%) percent of the surnames in California are now Spanish. Taking my argument to one last extreme, maybe we ought to learn Ebonics and Computer-ease so that, at the very least, we can relate to the next generation. There is no doubt that the "change train" is leaving the station. According to columnist, Frank Rich in the NY Times:

"Obama-branded change is snowballing, whether it’s change you happen to believe in or not."

O.K...I feel much better now that I've expressed myself. Now back to golf. In my next life I want a demeanor like Chez (however you pronounce it), a swing plane like Anthony Kim and bunker instruction from Mike Weir. Chez becomes the first rookie to win on the PGA TOUR in 2008. He's called, "The Little Unit" (5'9", 160 lbs) in Arizona where he went to college, in deference to "The Big Unit" Randy Johnson who pitches for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He doesn't have nearly the swing speed and plane of Mr. Kim, but he kept it down the middle and got the job done on a rough and tough Glen Abbey Golf Club course. His lay-up on the par-5, eighteenth to secure the victory proved that he's got a brain to go with his game. Read more about this 27-year old by clicking on the link below:

http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/mtt/reavie_chez00.html

Ten pool players were rewarded with a T-6 for their nationalistic zeal-pick of Mike Weir, he of magnificent up-and-down game. Amazingly, included in those ten who picked him were our three top leaders, Artie, Pat and C. B. Taco.

Onward to the next-in-a-series, over-hyped, WGC's...this one at Firestone in Akron...Tiger-less of course. This begs the question, "just how many World Golf Championships can there be in a year?" Can we have one every week? There's one World Series in baseball. One Super Bowl, one NBA Championship. Oh well. Hyperbole, so dominant within our popular culture, will be a subject for another day. More to the point, there's five Sabbatini-lovers, four Rose nose pickers, and only one No-Show...Davis Love III. Everyone else is in attendance because there's lots of cash involved.

Your faithful blogster,

The British Open

When Irish Eyes are Smiling...

Date Written: July 21, 2008

The headline in the NY Times read, "Steadiness Beats Sentiment as Harrington Prevails." Half the crowd where I live was rooting for Greg Norman at The Open. But everyone I talked too was tickled by Paddy's smile. While the rest of the world of professional golfers "grind" there way to stardom or the poor house, Paddy does it with a smile. His key key to victory? Stay in the moment! Here are his words:

"You know, one of the keys to playing well on Sunday is you don't ever get into the consequences of what you're doing." I did that very well today. I never at any stage -- or if I did for a second or two, I stopped myself -- started to think about what it means to win a second Open, defend an Open, win two majors."

Another quote gleaned from a postgame interview with Greg Norman stuck out at me too:

"A lot of people should take stock no matter how old you are. If you really want to chase something and chase a dream, you can go do it."

Well, yes and no, Greg. I would have qualified his quote to include the words, "within reason." From my vantage point, the world is filled with too many "wanna-be" golfer's who think they "have game."

Kenny Perry stayed home and played well (T-6) at Milwaukee and took additional, unending shit for not showing up at The British. Until he wins a major, he's not going to convince me that he's got more than just a one-dimensional game. Anthony Kim played well enough to suggest he'll win
"a biggee" one day. Too bad he finished with three straight bogies.

One commentator during the telecast said that Tiger doesn't watch golf on TV. How does he know that? Does he (the announcer) spend time in Tiger's house? I think Tiger watches TV, just like the rest of us. I think he was lying on his couch with his knee propped up under a bunch of soft down pillows, watching and wishing he was at Royal Birkdale. Three-over wins it??? Come on! Tiger's human, he's competitive, he's as curious as us other mortals. I can only imagine him salivating at what might have been....potentially his fifteenth major win.

Nationwide Notes: Reigning U.S. Amateur champion Colt Knost shot a 10-under 62 Sunday to cap a four-shot victory in the Nationwide Tour's Price Cutter Charity Championship in Springfield, MO and earn his 2009 PGA Tour card. He earned $108,000 for his second win of the season and jumped from 20th on the money list to second. "The Colt" just happened to make two straight eagles in the middle of his round.

In yet another example of the "The Dumb Rules of Golf," click on the link below to read how Michelle Wie was disqualified at this week's LPGA event:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-golf20-2008jul20,0,6218850.story

Best finish in our pool belonged to Jan Jones who picked up a million (double money) with her astute (T-3) pick of Stenson. John Manocheo had Jimmy Furyk and enjoyed a generous payday with his T-5. And Big Ernie, who barely made the cut, shot 141 over the last 36 holes to justify the faith of ten of youse. One more major to go kiddee's. Lord Arthur's lead stretched to about eight hundred grand ahead of Pat Moloney, who jumps into second place. Corn Beef Taco is just a tad behind Pat in third. Canadian Open on tap this week. Ten "homies" love the Weir-wolf.

John Deere Classic

Very Perry

Date Written: July 14, 2008

The headline from the PGA Website calls it, "The Summer of Perry." For yesterday's John Deere win, I would have opted for the headline alliteration, "Perry Putts Perfectly." They (whoever, THEY are), say there's no such thing as a bad putter on tour. So I'm thinking that based on Perry's success this year, he's gotta be high up on the putter rankings. Wrong! Kenny's average of 29 putts per round puts him in 64th place. So now I ask myself, how else can we statistically explain this extraordinary run he's having so far this year, ($4.3 mil)? So campers...here they are, his overall stats: He's 2nd in scoring (duh), 9th in G.I.R., 13th in proximity to the hole, 27th in driving distance, 46th in scrambling and 104th in driving accuracy percentage. But we all know that winning and losing comes down to putting...especially on the last nine holes on Sundays. Yesterday, he made a bunch of crucial, par-saving putts and eeked out an overtime win. He's definitely on a roll...got his Kaintucky, 3-plane swing in gear. He's now won three times this year, (The Memorial and Buick, as well as yesterday's John Deere), finished 2nd at the AT&T Classic and T-3 at the Bob Hope. And for good measure, don't forget that he contended at The Players until a disastrous fourth round.

Plenty has been written about Kenny's decision to NOT play the U.S. Open and The British, so I'll not re-hash his thinking...much. Suffice to say, he's sticking to his guns with his schedule. From what I've gleaned, he likes to play on courses he likes, not play on courses that don't suit his game and he'd rather not play in cold weather. On the other hand, Jerry Kelly (who is as passionate about Wisconsin as Perry is about Kentucky), gets into The British Open as a second alternate and says, "I'm excited to play. I was not going to pass up this chance to play The British even though I consider the Milwaukee Open my fifth major." As the gamblers say, "Go Figure."

Smarter people than I are also questioning Perry's logic. Peter Dawson, British Open Chief said:

"I can't pretend I understand Kenny Perry's decision," stated Dawson. "He's having a great run and we are very sorry he's not here. I find it disappointing. You're not going to win majors if you don't enter and I think the history books show that majors are what you are remembered for."

In our funky, fantasy pool, Denny From Iowa, Bob Bruce and John "Vegas" Manocheo had Kenny to win and collected his prize money of three quarters of a million for their choice. By my count, there are now six pool players who have picked three winners this year. At this stage of the fantasy race, that is amazing. In Bob Bruce's case, he leaps into fourth place. Denny and John move up a couple of spots off the deck.

Double money on tap this week in The British. Alas and Alack dept: Poor Matt Kendrick figured Tiger as a "shoo-in" at Royal Birkdale. I heard Tiger's gonna go over to Matt's house and watch it with him from his couch...explaining to him how he would have played each shot and offer to buy him dinner at Despo's just in case he loses.

Ten of youse think this will be Big Ernie's week and six think Sergio's gonna play back to last year debacle.

Final note: 40 year old Rick Price won the richest Nationwide event ever to clinch a spot on the PGA Tour next year. Rick has been a fixture at Q-School... he's been there nineteen (19) times! Talk about perseverance.

A T & T

Terrific Talent, Bad Belt Buckle

Date Written: July 7, 2008

Superlatives are flying around the golfing planet today. Words like superstar, national treasure, face-of-the-future. All to explain Anthony Kim's solid, second victory of the season at the Tiger-less AT&T. Add to the accolades: Nick "The-Stick" Faldo thinks that the kid has a game to match the remaining two major venues, Royal Birkdale and Oakland Hills.

Methinks it's a bit early in the historical game to liken Kim to that other good young player of ten years ago, but he seems to be learning fast. A great, one-piece swing and an attitude that can only serve him well. One of the commentators on the telecast suggested yesterday that he's the best young player NOT to have won a major. That kind of dialogue used to be reserved for Charles Howell, III, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and Adam Scott. I'm rooting for Kim. Young, smallish, from L.A., Asian background. It's obviously clear he has talent, but the best thing is, he's putting that talent to work. My only complaint is his fashion choice of over-sized, sometimes, diamond-studded belt buckles. Talk about tacky.

More about Kim from more-qualified experts:

"Anthony's got such a good looking swing," playing mate, Dean Wilson said. "He hits the ball solidly all the time and hits it hard. He's excited about playing. He plays hard. He wants to be in the limelight. He craves that, as a matter of fact. He's got exceptional skills and I think we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg with this kid, he's got real talent.

Fred Funk, who first met Kim when he was 15 years old and already hitting it 320 yards, agreed.

"He's fearless and he's got tremendous length for a little guy, and he's just got that arrogance, cocky attitude that you need to have when he's in the position that he's in, and he's got the game to back it up," Funk said. "So that's all that really needs to be said."

Mark O'Meara was heard to say that young Mr. Kim's swing is better than his good friend, Tiger's at this age 23.

Three of us pool-players had the good sense to pick Robert Allenby in Tiger's Tourney. One lousy shot kept us from second place and a pile of dough.

Onward to The Tractor (John Deere) Open...being played somewhere in the Heartland that was last seen floating away from the recent floods. Nine Tim Clark's this week.

Finally, from the LA Times:

"Without Woods, the crowd at Sunday's final round of the AT&T National at Congressional was down about 7,000 to 30,000, according to the Washington Post. And Saturday's third-round crowd of 22,311 was down about 15,000 from last year, according to the Baltimore Sun.

In a word: bad. The overnight ratings for Sunday's fourth round of the AT&T National on CBS were down 48%, from a 2.9 to a 1.5. The third-round overnight ratings were down 35%, from a 2.0 to a 1.3."