Big Break VII

Shades reminded me that the Big Break VII was on last night. I've not watched much of this series, but this new season is a "reunion show" that features Shades' pal, Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey. Since it was that or the Oscars, I figured I'd give it a look.

What a joke.

This is what the Golf Channel spews as entertainment for golf fans? First, it is more "reality show" than golf, which makes me sick. Second, it is pretty clear that at least half of the players are flat out no good, or at least not good enough for the grand prize (an exemption on the Nationwide, LPGA, or Champions' Tour, depending on who wins). The show features 16 "players" half men, half women. The first 30 minutes of the show was the drama surrounding who would be partnered with who. Here's a thought... "who the hell cares?" From there, they did three challenges to "seed" the teams. Ok, this was starting to make sense.

Challenge 1 was the "break glass" challenge. They stick a small plate of glass about 20 yards away from a teeing area, and the players needed to hit a shot that would break the glass. I admit, this was cool... because I COULDN'T DO IT. I can't hit the ball that low with control, so I thought this was a neat skill. That said, some of the women actually topped their shots. Ugh.

Challenge 2 was a stinking "closest to the pin" shot from 180 yards. Granted, the wind was pretty strong, but out of 16 players, no one hit what would be an impressive shot. A few of the women flared out woods that were just awful. One of the men hit a damned duck hook with a 4-iron, right into the lumber yard. Shades' friend hit a respectable enough shot to 30 feet... One guy tried to hit a cut driver to be a show-off. I mean, this was a joke. Hell, the old lady hit a full-bore driver and didn't carry a sand trap. If I want to watch an old lady hit a driver 180 yards, I'll just wait until Joel comes down during the Colonial weekend in May. Heyyo!

Challenge 3 was a "lob shot" challenge. The players had to hit their shots from behind some tallish (not tall) wooden structure with a door in the middle (so they could walk through the door to see where the ball ended up... sigh). About 1/3 of the players HIT THE DAMNED DOOR with their shot. Are you kidding me? The best shot was to about 4 feet, hit by one of the women. A lot of them flew way too long. This is "golf entertainment?"

Here's the deal... If I am going to watch golf on TV, I need to watch competition that doesn't look like me, Shades, Joel, and the rest out there slashing around the course. The actual quality of the golf counts. This is why I avoid watching the old men and young women. I am sure all of these players are decent in their own right, but based on what I've seen so far, I can't imagine any of them having a chance of success on any of the Tours they looking to get exemptions into.

UPDATE 2/25/07

Ok folks, here is the first of what will hopefully be weekly updates. As I said, with this week's update the Gossett Rule is being invoked. As you know, the Gossett Rule applies to PGA Tour players who have not earned a dollar on Tour. Those players have as their "money ranking" score the last player on the list, plus one. If you look at the money list here, you'll see that Grant Waite is currently at the bottom of the money list, ranked 215th. Thus, this week any PGA Tour players who have not earned a dollar are ranked 216. Interestingly, these are some of Jeff's best picks.

The players affected by the Gossett Rule are:

Olin Browne
Brad Faxon
Jonathan Kaye
Hank Kuehne
Justin Leanord
Scott McCarron
Craig Perks
Patrick Sheehan

Once these players make a cut (assuming they do) they will be off the Gossett Rule schneid.

On with the rankings... what a shock... Defending champ 'da bandit' is in the lead.

Krust, Tev and World Match Play

Looks like Tev and Krust could gain a few points going into the full weekly scoring updates with Chad Campbell, Trevor Immelman and Geoff Ogilvy in the final 4 of the World Match Play. Krust has the first 2. Meanwhile...All I have going for me is that Gut-check finally made a cut and then proceeded to do his best Eric Axely impression by moving backwards on "moving day". Atta boy Gut-check. Way to match the rest of "Team Shades" play as of late.

WGC Leaderboard?

Does anyone know the link for the match play leaderboard? I can't find it. I have the Cancun leaderboard link up on the sidebar.

Updates, Trades, Gossett...

Starting next week we will try to have an update up after each tourney. With the trade window opening on March 5th, we want to make sure everyone has the most current data available to inform their trading decisions.

Also, beginning with the next update the David Gossett Rule will be in effect. As you know, the Gossett Rule simply states that if a player has not yet made a cent on Tour, their "ranking" will be defined as the lowest currently ranked player plus one. So, let's say that Justin Leanord continues to hit the golf ball like a 12 year old girl and continues to miss cuts and there are 190 players on the PGA Tour Money List... his ranking will be 191. Speaking of which, does anyone have Leanord's address here in Dallas? I'd like to pay him a visit.

Do you know what these are?

It's not as dirty as you think. Click HERE to find out what these are.

JG WD's From Nissan Open

JG or MG, please give us an update. We know the big guy has been struggling the last few weeks. We hope he's ok and it's nothing serious that bothering him.

My only thought is that it must be the pressure of the FPGP on him and it's taking its toll.

WTF?

Who the hell woke up Rocco? He's en fuego.

You're gonna use this guy in your new ad?

UPDATE 2/11/07

Here is a slightly more meaningful update, current through Pebble Beach. There are still a good number of players who are not factoring in yet though, so take this with a grain of salt. That means you, Excal.



Don't worry Krust... still a full season to break though into the positive numbers.

Do you have this guy?

If not, then the 2007 FPGP could be over for you before it even really began. Matt Kuchar started at 241 on the FPGP 2007 money list. Should he complete his Top 10 finish at Pebble Beach, then anyone with Kuchar may well have 200 points by him alone. And that my friends is good news for New Tex, Da Bandit and Vic. Should they finish the 2007 FPGP in in the top 3, one could look at their smart selection of the guy who can't help but always smile, Matt Kuchar.

Hammerin' Hank Kuehne

Not only did I get word from New Tex that Hank could be out of commission until later this year, but this is the news I found on him:

Hank Kuehne, who struggled with back problems last year and had a hip operation during the off-season, has begun dating tennis star Venus Williams. Kuehne was served with divorce papers during last year's Pebble Beach event, five months after the birth of his son, Henry III.

What shit luck for that guy. No not dating Venus, but the divorce papers during and event and back problems to boot. UGH! That might explain his shooting 69 - 76 - 78 back in the 2006 Pebble Beach event.

My only question is where was this information in December, just 2 months ago? It's pretty sad when the FPGP blog is one of the more informative and entertaining sites on the freakin' internet(s). And still, nowhere can you find any information that he will be out until later this year, if anything golf related at all. Even the best golf pubs can't write a story that doesn't in some way include Tiger Woods, and that's not a knock against Tiger but rather golf journalists.

Thanks Veej!

Thanks for that 64 yesterday Vijay... it was just what the doctor ordered... combined with Garrigus' collapse on the back nine, my little weekly fantasy team overcame a huge lead by Shades' team...

All square Shades... 2-2.

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Next full FPGP update will be next week...

Dear Axley and Na,

I appreciate you making the cut at the FBR. I really do. But there is no excuse for shooting over par on so-called "moving day" when 95% of the field is under par. I understand that Davis Love III is one of the few of you over par for the day, but that is not an excuse. When you are in your 40's, make a cut and shoot over par on "moving day" as a guy who has won a major, then you might be able to get away with it.

Sincerely,
Shades
FPGP Member

Golf Anyone?

If any of y'all are interested...

Shades is going to come down to Dallas for The Nelson in April, and Excal is coming down in May for The Colonial. If anyone is interested in coming down for the tourneys, watching some great golf, playing some shitty golf, drinking too many beers, and eating too much red meat, let me know... we have more than enough room at the house.