The Golf Watch

This is why Tiger Woods winning at Jack’s place is so important

This is not meant to be condescending, but it's doubtful that a comeback win from Jonathan Byrd would have warranted front page on ESPN.com.  If I were editor, I would have kept the Rodger Federer win up all day and then replaced it with a picture from Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

But we forget sometimes how important Tiger Woods really is to the casual golf viewer.  With the Phil Mickelson and John Daly storylines next week in Memphis, things couldn't be shaping up any better for Bethpage in two weeks. 

Memorial ratings down 31%

Thomas Bonk of the LA Times reports that CBS struggled in the ratings department on Sunday at The Memorial.  The network drew a 1.8 rating, down 31% from last year's 2.6. 

This is puzzling to me.  Rod Pampling was the third round leader last year, and Matthew Goggin led after three days this year (both led by three strokes heading into day 4).  Was last year that much more appealing?

Perry moves up to 5th in Ryder Cup standings with win at Memorial

You have to figure that when Kenny Perry retires from the PGA Tour, he will have fond memories of the Memorial Tournament.  In 1991, Perry won his first title at Muirfield, and this year, the win has surged him to fifth in the Ryder Cup standings, making him almost a sure-thing for the team competition in his native Kentucky. 

Think about it--Mike Weir made the President's Cup team last year when he was ranked 20th in the standings.  Team captain Gary Player knew how much it would mean to him, the fans, and the pick payed off with his surprise win over Tiger Woods. 

Even if Perry isn't in the top-10 when the final decision is made after the PGA Championship, how could Paul Azinger think otherwise?

Muirfield's greens are good, but best in the world?

After day one at the Memorial, everyone is talking about the greens and their spectacular condition.  They are running 15 on the stimp, and according to Justin Rose, are the "purest greens." Robert Allenby went out on a limb and said during his post round interview that they are the best he has ever played:

The greens are absolutely perfect.  The greens are the best greens I have ever putted on anywhere in the world, right now. You can take Royal Melbourne, you can take Augusta, these are the best.

Larry Dorman of the New York Times chronicles day one, and obviously, the topic of the day, the speed of the greens.

Aussies remain in control at Memorial

Before the beginning of his third round, Rod Pampling was asked by CBS's David Feherty why the Aussies are performing so well this week.  Three of the top six players on the leaderboard are Australian.  "I think it's the golf course," said Pampling, who leads the Memorial by three strokes.  "Obviously it's playing hard and fast and a lot of us grew up on that....we've all jelled at the right time." 

Aussies on top of leaderboard at Memorial

Three of the four top players on the leaderboard at the Memorial are Australian.  Adam Scott, Rod Pampling, and Aaron Baddeley are all 10-under-par or better.  "I think it's great seeing the Aussies doing well.  You sort of always pull for the Aussie guys because they are your fellow countrymen.  I think it's great to see the guys up there," said Aaron Baddeley at a news conference earlier today. 

Mickelson's withdraw "sucked air out of Dublin"

Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch writes that "as word spread that Mickelson had withdrawn, you could almost feel the air being sucked out of Dublin."  Since this was the first time Woods and Mickelson would be competing in the Memorial in five years, Hunter explains that "you can understand how everyone might get a little carried away over this."  Read the full commentary here.

Lowest first round scoring average

With favorable conditions on Thursday, players went low at the Memorial.  In fact, Thursday was the lowest first round scoring average in tournament history at 71.  First round co-leader Sean O'Hair said on XM Satellite Radio, "It's going to get tougher...if we have dry conditions, it is going to get pretty nasty out there."

BREAKING NEWS: Johnson withdraws from Memorial

On a day where Phil Mickelson and Michelle Wie have withdrawn from tournament play, two more players can be added to the list.  Zach Johnson was carted off the sixteenth hole ten minutes ago due to illness.  Kelly Tilghman of The Golf Channel reports that Johnson has the same strep throat illness that Tiger Woods has been recovering from.  Johnson was three-over-par and had triple-bogeyed the par-5 fifteenth hole.  In addition to Johnson, Lucas Glover withdrew earlier due to injury.  Glover was one over par through eight holes.

Holmes, Allenby play with OSU band

According to Todd Jones of the Columbus Dispatch, J.B. Holmes and Robert Allenby played the 18th hole at Muirfield with the Ohio State band marching behind them playing the OSU fight song.  Jones writes, "Nearby, players who normally require quiet to play this fickle game just went about their business on the putting green as if nothing was amiss."  As Holmes headed to the clubhouse, the band played the song "Who Are You?" by the Who.  Read Jones' blog here.