The 2016 Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio is just five days away. The deadline for players to commit to the tournament has passed and the field is set. Some big name PGA Tour players are coming down next week to take on the difficult AT&T Oaks Course, but the biggest Texas golf star at the moment is MIA. In years past, the golf course has played firm and fast, with the South Texas wind playing a big factor in scoring. This year is shaping up to be quite different. We're expecting … [Read more...]
My 9 Most Memorable Golf Moments In 2015 So Far
Before we get going here talking about my nine most memorable golf moments in 2015 so far, I want you to know that yes, I do understand the actual golf season starts in October. But just to remind everyone, I hate the PGA Tour wraparound season, so I still consider it a calendar year golf year. So with that being said, half the year is in the books and it's been one hell of a golf season so far! Since January, when the Hyundai Tournament of Champions kicked off the 2015 golf year, we've … [Read more...]
15 Final Thoughts on the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay
Twenty-two hours ago, the leaders were making their way to the back 9 at the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay. I was sitting in the same spot on the couch as I am now, and as the next two exciting hours unfolded, one of the best golf tournaments would unfold in fantastic fashion. Jordan Spieth would hit his second shot on the 72nd hole to the center of the green and make birdie to take a one shot lead. Just one group behind, Dustin Johnson needed to make birdie to force a Monday playoff. It … [Read more...]
So Dustin Johnson is a Coke Head… (Reportedly)
Come on, don't lie. When you first heard about Dustin Johnson's self-described "leave of absence" from professional golf for the remainder of 2014, what did you really think? Did you really think he was taking time off on his own to "improve my mental health and well-being?" Or, did the "better equipped to fulfill my potential and become a consistent champion" get you? If you're like me, the first thing that went through your mind was "He got popped for something." So it comes as no … [Read more...]
Front9Back9 Golf Picks: The Masters
Ah yes, it's that time of the year. The azaleas are blooming, the birds are chirping, and Tiger Woods will miss his first Masters in 20 years while nursing a back issue. It's Masters Thursday and Arnie, Jack and Gary will be hitting the ceremonial first tee shot and then we can finally get into some real golf action. Frankly, I am tired of the hype already. Let's just get to playing some golf. The "experts" say this is the most wide open Masters ever. I guess because Tiger Woods is not … [Read more...]
Bubba Watson Bounces Back With Win at Riviera After Waste Management Collapse
Bubba Watson fired back-to-back 64's on Saturday and Sunday to claim his first win since winning the 2012 Masters. It was a good win for Bubba and one that he needed badly after collapsing in the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open with two later bogeys. Of course, Bubba will tell you he didn't technically "need" the win this week, but in my eyes, he definitely needed it. Dustin Johnson tried his best to get the win this week at Riviera C.C. after firing a final round 66, but … [Read more...]
Front9Back9’s Golf Picks: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
I haven’t given an update lately on my pursuit of domination in the PGA Tour Fantasy golf game. In all honestly, I am really sucking it up. My best week of golf picks was the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. In the overall standings, I am sitting in 1,920th place with a total of 2,594 points. The first place guy has a total of 5,144 points, so you can see I have some ground to make up. This week I am going to have a big jump. I have exchanged texts with my selected players this week … [Read more...]
Front9Back9’s Golf Picks: Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Have I mentioned before how much I hate the new PGA Tour wraparound season? It’s just stupid. First off, I could have sworn the new season started back in October with the Fry’s.com Open. Funny thing, we haven’t had a meaningful tournament since the Mayakoba in mid-November. And by meaningful, I mean something that counts towards PGA Tour Fed Ex Cup points. So for six weeks, we’ve had to watch the same “silly season” events we see every year. Memo to PGA Tour Brass: Either cancel the … [Read more...]
Front9Back9 Golf Picks & Predictions: Deutsche Bank Championship
The PGA Tour Playoffs move to TPC Boston this week and it's an understatement to say there is a lot riding on this tournament. It seems people are more interested in who is going to be the final four Captain's picks for the Ryder Cup then the fact $10 million is up for grabs in a few weeks. To be fair, the attention will probably shift more to the Tour Championship once Davis Love III makes his picks on Monday. But until then, the attention will be on the 5-6 players who are on the short … [Read more...]
Dustin Johnson Wins FedEx St. Jude Classic Before CBS Coverage Starts
I hate when the PGA Tour does this. I understand it, but I hate it. As coverage of the FedEx St. Jude Classic starts right now on CBS, I already know who wins. Why would I sit around and watch it for the rest of the afternoon like I had planned on doing. Tee times were pushed up and the guys are playing threesomes today all due to the fact thunderstorms are moving into Memphis later this afternoon. With the U.S. Open at Olympic Club starting next week, they can't take the chance of having … [Read more...]
Win Catapults Stricker to Fourth in World Golf Rankings
A few months ago, I wrote an article asking which American golfer had the best chance to become #1 if Tiger Woods continues his fall from grace. There was one person on my list that I pretty much wrote off and Steve Stricker proved me wrong today. The win today at The Memorial Tournament gave Stricker his tenth win of his career, along with $30 million in earnings. The win also catapulted him to the top ranked American golfer in the world, jumping over Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar to move … [Read more...]
Front9Back9’s Golf Picks & Predictions: Arnold Palmer Invitational
This is the final week for the Winter series in Fans of Devil Ball Fantasy Golf. I pretty much was horrible. I am currently in 75th place going into the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week. Next week at the Shell Houston Open the Spring series starts, so it all starts over again, so I plan on winning the Spring. This week at Bay Hill the big dogs are in the field again. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and the rest of the gang are all looking to get their games in tip-top shape since The … [Read more...]
Nick Watney Gets Revenge on the Blue Monster
Two years ago, Nick Watney was one golf ball revolution away from taking Phil Mickelson to a playoff in what was then known as the WGC-CA Championship. This year, besides the tee shot in the water the 18th hole on Saturday, Nick Watney was in full control of his game. On Sunday, he drained a birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win the WGC-Cadillac Champioship. The birdie was technically not needed, but knowing Dustin Johnson had piped it down the middle behind him, he knew if he holed the putt, … [Read more...]
February Madness: WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship
We are less than three weeks away from NCAA March Madness, so what better of a way to get my bracket picking skills oiled up then picking the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship bracket. I found a good challenge over at GolfWeek.com, which is giving away some good prizes. Unlike NCAA March Madness, I will only have one bracket for the Golf Week Match Play Challenge. As we all know, anything can happen in the first round, and there are some very intriguing match-ups that can go either … [Read more...]
Front9Back9’s Golf Picks & Predictions: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
I'm stuck with a dilemma right now with my golf predictions for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. On one hand, Dustin Johnson is a two-time champion here at Pebble Beach and then played the U.S. Open pretty well right up until the weekend. On the other hand, how can I look past Phil Mickelson this week who is practically smirking at me daring me to pick him. I also said a couple days ago I was benching Phil for a bit. So what is one to do? With my "A" team pick this week, I am … [Read more...]
Maybe Dustin Johnson Is NOT My Idol After All
In the third round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions last week in Maui, Natalie Gulbis was seen following Dustin Johnson on the back nine on Saturday. When asked if her and Johnson were an item, she laughed it off and said "I will let Dustin handle our PR." Reports have been leaking out over the last few days that Dustin had to withdrawl from the Sony Open and fly back home to South Carolina to fix things with his actual girlfriend after the Natalie Gulbis reports started surfacing. … [Read more...]
Front9Back9’s Top Golf Stories of 2010
It’s that time of the year again. Yes, the time of the year when everyone starts putting together their “top 10” or “best stories of the year” articles. So with 2011 only a few weeks away, I have compiled my list of Top Golf Stories of 2010, complete with Tigers and Irishman and Youngsters galore.. So here you go, Front9Back9’s Top 10 Golf Stories of 2010. 10.) Grooves debate- The groove change in 2010 was by far the biggest equipment change in many years on tour. Phil Mickelson … [Read more...]
Tiger, Phil, Jim… Take a hike
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk, please take a hike. It's 2011 and you are no longer needed. That is the message PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem conveyed in his final teleconference of 2010. Well to be fair, that wasn't exactly what he said. It was more along the lines of: I've never in my tenure seen so much buzz and interest about rookies and young players creating exciting performances. Finchem continues to say the buzz has led the PGA Tour to believe they need to focus … [Read more...]
Well, well, well… Look who’s at the top…
Somebody by the name of Tiger Woods, that's who. Sure it's only the first round, and Tiger has had flashes of good rounds this year, but Woods shot a first round 65 today in his annual Chevron World Challenge, the limited field golf tournament which benefits his foundation. With the 7-under round today, that puts him atop the leader board with Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell one back at 6-under. The next closest group is 3-under with Dustin Johnson and Stewart Cink. It's a good first … [Read more...]
Golf Picks & Predictions: PGA Tour Player of the Year
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour released the finalists for the 2010 Player of the Year honors. While I agree with four-of-the-five nominees, there is one I don't think should be on the list. The five players listed have never been named as the Player of the Year, all because of some dude named Tiger, who has won the award ten times in the last 13 years. So while all five of these players are great, there is one player who deserves it most. And the nominees are: Ernie Els- Two wins in 2010, … [Read more...]