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...]
The Golf Nut Podcast 003: Jordan Spieth Dominates the 2015 Masters
In episode 003 of The Golf Nut Podcast, we'll recap what turned out to be a dominating performance by Jordan Spieth in the 79th edition of The Masters and talk about what is in the future for Spieth, as we know it all on The Golf Nut Podcast (or not.) Let us know your thoughts on the tournament and if you think Jordan will turn out to be the next big thing in golf! The Golf Nut Podcast on Twitter Front9Back9 Golf Blog on Twitter Subscribe to The Golf Nut Podcast on iTunes … [Read more...]
2015 Masters Recap: Jordan Spieth Wins in Dominating Fashion
I don't know about you, but when I was 21 years old, all I cared about was which bar had the best happy hour specials and how many ladies were going to be there. I certainly wasn't flushing long-irons into Augusta National par-5's and draining clutch par putts to hold onto a lead at The Masters. What Jordan Spieth did over the last four days at The Masters was truly something special. At 21 years old, he becomes the second youngest player in Masters history to add a Green Jacket to his … [Read more...]
Valero Texas Open Announces Big Name Player Commitments
The Valero Texas Open is just about a month away and already some big name players have committed to teeing it up in my hometown this year. First, Phil Mickelson has decided to give TPC San Antonio another chance after pulling a muscle last year and withdrawing from the tournament in the third round. I've lost a lot of respect of Phil over the course of 2014. He didn't play very well throughout the year and his bad season was capped off with a horrible Ryder Cup experience where he let the … [Read more...]
Front9Back9 Fantasy Golf Picks: Farmers Insurance Open
Well I have not been faring all too well with my fantasy golf picks recently. Last week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, I only managed to score 174 points, good enough to drop again in the league standings. With my team of Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Hunter Mahan they managed to really let me down, so I am back this week to seek redemption and score some fantasy golf points. The Course The famed Torrey Pines is the host of this week's Farmers Insurance Open. I … [Read more...]
The Five Pairings I Hope to See for Team USA
The Ryder Cup is less than two days away and we'll get our first set of pairings on Thursday. There's so much speculation out there on who should be paired together. I think there's at least one players who is tough to pair with - Patrick Reed. I'm going to be watching him closely this weekend to see how he plays. He's a very streaky player and I think we'll see how the pressure gets to him, but I think I have found someone to pair him with. Here are five potential pairings I hope to see … [Read more...]
Chip-In’s & Chunks: Billy-Ho Comes Back, Keegan WD’s, Mickelson Quits and Rory 4-Putts
Chip-In’s & Chunks is a weekly feature that lays out the good and the bad from the weekend of golf. Do you have something I missed that should be included? Let us know below or let us know on Twitter @Front9Back9. Another FedEx Cup playoff tournament has come and gone. We’re on to Atlanta and the TOUR Championship, where $10 million is up for grabs and nobody cares about the winner unless the winner is also the FedEx Cup winner. This past weekend had several great chip-ins, but also … [Read more...]
Phil Mickelson is a Quitter and We Should Stop Rooting for Him
Phil Mickelson is a quitter. Bottom line. And all the people who are fooled by his "thumbs-up" and "smiling good-nature" should really step back and reevaluate why you even root for this guy. He's not the person you really think he is. Phil withdrew from the BMW Championship after his piss-poor 76 on Friday. No injury. No emergency. Just a WD because his primary goal right now is the Ryder Cup. He even said as much in his statement released Saturday morning: My primary goal is to rest … [Read more...]
Phil Mickelson Has No Bucket List Golf Courses. What About You?
As an avid golfer, I undoubtedly have my own personal list of bucket list golf courses in which I strive to play before kicking it. If you are an avid golfer like myself, then you likely have your own bucket list of golf destinations. If you’re Phil Mickelson though, there is no course on the planet that is on his bucket list. Not one. Last week during the Deutsch Bank Championship in Boston, The Boston Globe conducted a survey of around 100 PGA Tour players and asked what golf courses … [Read more...]
Chip-In’s & Chunks: An Aussie Wins, Pace of Play Sucks, and Phil WD’s
Chip-In’s & Chunks is all about the good and bad in the game of golf from the past week. Do you have something to add? Let us know on Twitter @Front9Back9 , Facebook or Google+. Chip-In's (the good) Steven Bowditch Wins Valero Texas Open Luckily it was a tough day for every golfer at TPC San Antonio on Sunday. It's not often you see a player pick up a victory in a PGA Tour event with a final round 76. Bowditch overcame gusty wins and a long golf course to score his first PGA Tour … [Read more...]
My Solution for PGA Tour Pros Withdrawing in the Middle of a Round
I was on the 12th hole yesterday with my group of Trevor Immelman, Will MacKenzie and Josh Teater when I heard over the radio Phil Mickelson had withdrawn from the Valero Texas Open. Something about a pulled oblique muscle was the initial reason being talked about over the radio. Sure enough, word spread quickly around the course because over the next two holes, I had at least five spectators ask me if it was true Phil had withdrawn. In all honestly, Phil was setting up this WD perfectly … [Read more...]
Phil Mickelson Really Does Look Mentally Fatigued
As I sit here and stream the U.S. Open on my computer at work, I can’t help but notice how bad Phil Mickelson physically looks on the course right now. To me, he really does look tired and worn out. I could be totally wrong and it could be the tough course and conditions that are wearing him down—6-over through 17 holes can do that to you – but I think about his past health issues and wonder if that has anything to do with his withdrawal two weeks ago at The Memorial and his poor play. Phil … [Read more...]
8 Players To Watch at Olympic Club
Everyone else is making their list on which players to watch next week during the U.S. Open at Olympic Club, so I thought what better a time to make up my list. Here are the eight players I think are the most compelling to watch next week in San Francisco. 1.) Tiger Woods Are you surprised Tiger Woods is on my list? Coming off his win at The Memorial, Tiger should be primed to add another major victory in his pursuit to track down Jack Nicklaus’ major championship record. Or, just … [Read more...]
Front9Back9’s Golf Picks & Predictions: The Masters
If my fiancé wants something done this weekend, well it’s going to be slow going. If someone calls to go play golf, it will probably be the only time I will say no. The only thing I wish more is I was in Augusta watching the tournament live. I’m not so I have to resort to watching it in HD. Oh well, here are my picks for the 75th Masters. Tiger Woods- Who knows what Tiger is going to do at Augusta this week. For some reason I just can’t seem to pick against him, especially this week. … [Read more...]
Packed Leaderboard, Big Names Head Into Final Round in Houston
Phil Mickelson likes to play the week before The Masters so he can practice hitting the shots he will use at Augusta next week. Coming into this week he said he didn't know how well he would contend in the Shell Houston Open because the course was not set up to play the "Augusta" type shots. So much for that thought process I guess. Mickelson's 63 tied the course record and put him in a tie at the top of the leaderboard with Scott Verplank. The final round is shaping up to be a great … [Read more...]
Front9Back9’s Golf Picks & Predictions: WGC-Cadillac Championship
Well it's that time again,time to make my golf picks and predictions for this week. The WGC-Cadillac Championship is on the schedule which means the big dogs are teeing it up. I need a big week so I can move up the board in fantasy, so I am not holding back anything this week. Tiger Woods- Yes I am picking Tiger Woods. He needs a win and needs a win bad. Tiger has won on this course six times, but the last came in 2007. Just in case the reports are true that Tiger was erratic in … [Read more...]
Did Anyone Catch How Upbeat Tiger Woods Was After His Match?
The first day of competition is in the books at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, and Tiger Woods choked it away on the 19th hole by hitting it in the brush, while Thomas Bjorn put it in the middle of the fairway. It's hard to play from the desert behind cactus and thorn bushes even when you are Tiger Woods. I guess he now has more time to "figure things out" for the rest of the week. He wasn't too happy after the round expressed his displeasure on air to Roger Maltbie, saying he's … [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...]
Bubba Watson Wins Big in San Diego
Tiger Woods is further off than anyone thought and Phil Mickelson made a damn good effort, but in the end it was Bubba Watson who birdied the 18th hole on Sunday to give himself a two shot cushion, which ended up being enough to get his second PGA Tour win. Mickelson hit his tee shot in the rough on the 18th hole and was forced to lay up. From the CBS camera angle behind Phil, it seemed he may have had a shot to go for the green, but in the end had to lay up, and then was forced to try and … [Read more...]