The Golf Watch

Toms sits this major out

I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk this week about David Toms' absence from Birkdale...or in general.  Toms is sitting this week out, opting to stay at home in Shreveport with his family. 

Scott Rabalais of The Advocate reports that due to Toms' back, he now requires round-the-clock supervision (I hope this is an exaggeration).  Toms indicates that time is finally starting to catch up with him, especially after this last strech of playing nine of 11 weeks from the Masters to the Travelers:

I feel like I’m 41 years old...I was exhausted and wanted to take some time off. I figured if I did that I wouldn’t be prepared for the British Open, and I didn’t want to go there if I wasn’t prepared to play my best.

Can you believe that Toms is 45th in the Ryder Cup standings?  He was always the one player during singles play you could count on for a point.

Toms withdraws from Match Play, first concession in tournament history

David Toms withdrew earlier today from the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship citing back pain. He felt the pain during his match yesterday against Zach Johnson, which he won 2 and 1, and decided to call it quits before he even got to the range this morning. Since Toms won yesterday, he still collects earnings from the tournament, as if he had lost in the second round.  Interestingly, this is the first time in tournament history that a player has conceded a match.  Aaron Baddeley, who Toms was supposed to play today, will go up against Tiger Woods in the third round.

Toms, Kim let go of caddies

David Toms and his caddy Scott Gneiser have been together for more than eight years, but Tim Rosaforte writes that they have decided to part ways.  PGA Tour rookie Anthony Kim has picked up Gneiser for this week's Deutsche Bank Championship after parting ways with his caddy, Ron Levin, after the final round of The Barclays.  Toms will use Justin Leonard's former caddy, Brent Everson this week. 

Toms still struggling with back injury

According to Jim McCabe of the Boston Globe, David Toms is struggling with two bad disks in his back again.  Toms took two months off last summer to rest the ailing back, but the pain has returned.  "I haven't had a problem all year," he said.  "Talk about your bad timing."  Toms missed his second cut of the year last week at The Barclays, and dropped to 27th in the FedEx Cup standings.  He will need to have one good finish in the next two weeks in order to ensure that he will play in the Tour Championship.   

Toms with nine top-20 performances this year, no wins

David Toms has been in contention all year with nine top-20 finishes, but still has not been able to find the winner's circle.  Toms is in the hunt once again this week at the Travelers Championship, after shooting a 5-under 65 to tie him for the second round lead with Jay Williamson.  “I put a lot of pressure on myself to win golf tournaments.  So I have been a little bit disappointed this year.  But I played a lot of real solid rounds.  I’m in good position for this tournament," said Toms in an interview with Mike Ritz of The Golf Channel after his round.  The 12-time PGA Tour winner is currently 20th in the world golf ranking.