2012 Aussie Open

[BHoover]

Settling in for some primetime viewing on Golf Channel. Looking forward to catching views of the Lakes GC in Sydney.

What does the GCA group think of the Lakes? How does it compare to the Melbourne Sandbelt courses, and other courses in Australia?

[David_Tepper]

Brian H. -

Here is a link to Geoff Shackelford's blog today on the Aussie Open:

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2012/12/5/getting-in-the-mood-the-australian-open-at-the-lakes.html

DT

[RJ_Daley]

I've just looked in on the broadcast as well.  You gotta really tip your hat to Watson for making a big effort and now playing though feeling fluish lousy.  You could hear in his interview that he is way under the weather, yet he is there to support the tournament.  
And then there are those 3 Aussie's that had travel trouble and hired a private jet to get to the location from a nightmare journey from Japan, where they were trying to qualify for something.  

The bunkering and waste areas look a bit out of place, although I certainly don't know the native terrain characteristics to say it is actually out of place.  Would someone say this location is inland Myrtle Beach-like, perhaps like New Caledonia Club or True Blue, by Strantz?  

BTW, I just heard some between action banter between the whole group of commentators, including IBF, and they didn't pull any punches supporting the ban on the long putter, and excoriating the ruling bodies for not acting sooner.  They also took on the distance factor on the ball and implements.  While they are being broadcast on TGC, I don't think any editorial restraint or pressure is on these outspoken Aussie's to tell it  the way they see it.

Now, can anyone do a viewer call-in to wind them up on the changes at TOC?   

[Scott Warren]

The course is in a "sandbelt" area of Sydney, built on metres upon metres of pure sand, so the exposed areas you see are entirely native material.

And the waterways that give the course its name, connect to a series of ponds and wetlands that connect to Botany Bay.

The dry, brushy vegetation is common in the area. I am not sure if it is the same Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub that we have over the fence at Bonnie Doon.

Most importantly, it's a hell of a fun golf course to play.

[BHoover]

The Lakes looks fantastic on television. I've never been to Sydney (or anywhere else in Australia, unfortunately) but the weather and the course seem to be great. I also hear that the women aren't bad either. 

Scott, I hope you don't me saying that, as an American, I think you are one lucky SOB to be able to play courses like I only experience through television. I've also seen the pictures of the newly renovated Bonnie Doon, which also looks fantastic.

[BHoover]

Did anyone just catch Robert Allenby bitching about the course? He hit it through the 10th green and made some sarcastic remark about "well-built greens" and the Lakes being "at the top of the list of the worst courses I've ever played."

I take it that he and Geoff Ogilvy might not see eye to eye on their respective views of the Lakes? Didn't those two almost come to blows last year after the President's Cup?

[Scott Szabo]

If I heard correctly just a moment ago, Robert Allenby muttered something along the likes of "this is one of the worst courses we play all year".  Wonder how the rest of the field feels.

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

I think I just heard Robt. Allenby, say after he hit his shot from a waste bunker into a bunker rear of the green, "... put this at the top of the list of the worst courses I've ever played".  Is he being ridiculous?  Looks pretty cool to me.

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

If I heard correctly just a moment ago, Robert Allenby muttered something along the likes of "this is one of the worst courses we play all year".  Wonder how the rest of the field feels.

Jinx.

[Tom Fagerli]

If I heard correctly just a moment ago, Robert Allenby muttered something along the likes of "this is one of the worst courses we play all year".  Wonder how the rest of the field feels.

Apparently Robert's attitude adjustments and removal of negativity that he blabbered about in an aired interview don't work for the Lakes.

[Scott Warren]

Just to make Allenby's whingeing seem minor in comparison, Marc Leishman and James Nitties' caddies had a fist fight on the practice green before play, with claret spilt.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/golf/caddies-word-war-gets-nasty-20121206-2aybx.html

EDIT - Daily Telegraph has more detail, with Nitties' caddie saying it was Leishman's caddie mocking Nitties' game a few nights ago at the casino that kicked it off.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/golf/caddywhacked-bagmen-trade-blows-on-putting-green-at-australian-open/story-fndedlnk-1226531624181

[Anthony Butler]

Just to make Allenby's whingeing seem minor in comparison, Marc Leishman and James Nitties' caddies had a fist fight on the practice green before play, with claret spilt.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/golf/caddies-word-war-gets-nasty-20121206-2aybx.html

EDIT - Daily Telegraph has more detail, with Nitties' caddie saying it was Leishman's caddie mocking Nitties' game a few nights ago at the casino that kicked it off.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/golf/caddywhacked-bagmen-trade-blows-on-putting-green-at-australian-open/story-fndedlnk-1226531624181

Scott, as Roy and HG might say... "they're bringing back the biff to the wonderful game of golf".

With regard to Allenby, I watched that interview, but he needs to first look in the mirror when it comes to negativity... I spoke to him about 5 years ago at TPC Boston after he shot 67 to finish 8th at the Deutsche Bank. When I asked him what he thought of the course, he said "next question" and he wasn't smiling. While it's certainly not in the Top 5 courses in the Boston area, I'm not sure how well you can perform when you're constantly bashing your place of work.

Frankly, I'm surprised he even plays in Sydney after the incident during the final round of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney a couple of years ago...

[Josh Stevens]

Would not take Allenby too seriously - we don't.  Decent golfer but a few stubbies short of a six pack in the brains department.

The Lakes is a strange place.  Very tight peice of land, housing on all sides, freeway cutting it in half, and aeroplanes almost knocking your head off.  It is not a place you go for peace and quiet.

But still, up there with Kingston Heath in terms of making the best of a limited situation (but not in same league as KH).  Lakes are all natural, sand is pure and stripping out all the trees takes it back to the place I used to know 25-30 years ago - raw and windswept.

And it is very very very windy.  The Southerly Buster in Sydney is a monster, puts the Fremantle Doctor or the hot Melbourne Northerly to shame - simply cannot cut greens fast as they blow off, and so some undulation is needed to keep it interesting.

Fun course, if you can handle the 747's.  Only downside is Kikuyu, no idea why they left it there other than perhaps to make a short course play long -bad bad bad decision.  Good on the Doon for ripping it out.

[David_Tepper]

Play of the 4th round is currently suspended due to the high winds. It is howling!

[Matthew Essig]

Play of the 4th round is currently suspended due to the high winds. It is howling!

According to weather.com... Winds of 38mph, gusting to 50mph.

[BHoover]

Pretty impressive that, on a day when the wind seemed to literally blow away the rest of the field, a 53-year old won (Peter Senior) and a62-year old had the low round of the day (Tom Watson).

Is Tom Watson the greatest bad-weather golfer of all time?

[Ivan Morris]

Unknown to his parents, he would to get dressed in his school uniform but take the bus to the golf course, change into his golf clothes, practice until three, change back into school clothes, get the bus home, change into more golf clothes and his mother would take him to the course to practice until dark. The now 53-year old, turned pro in 1978 when he was 19. In vicious, windy conditions today the now, 'old man' Peter Senior won the Australian Open for the second time - 23-years after his first win in 1989! With that ungainly action and suspect broomhandle putting stroke, Peter shows that a big heart makes up for a lot of technical deficiencies. Tom Watson struck another blow for elderly golfers with a best of the day 69 but despite what Americans might think, Christy O'Connor Senior is the greatest wind player of all time. Tom Watson might be the purest ball striker (apart from Moe Norman - who doesn't count because he wasn't a consistent, championship contender.)

[Kris Shreiner]

Ivan,

Nice story on the school days of Peter Senior! The lad was dedicated, that's for sure. With respect, Christy O'Connor Senior may be a fine wind player, but at the Major championship level, he's not even close to Watson. Brian's query addressed greatest "bad-weather" player, which also involves more than just wind. Tom has to be right at the top of that post-hickory list and certainly so in the modern era (1980 on). Seve comes to mind as someone who was a tough mudder and Paddy Harrington has rough-conditions mettle, though his form has been off of late.

Ball-striking alone doesn't translate into a great bad-weather golfer. You need: a steel-trap mind, grit, ball-flighting ability and the controlled touch of a blacksmith/watchmaker to score on those days. Few can handle the demands, especially when coupled with MAJOR tournament pressure. With zero Open Championships( or any other true Majors) to his credit, how can O'Connor Senior be held in Tom's class? Remember too, that Tom is an American-born golfer(albeit from windy Kansas) , not one even born into the significantly-stiffer, daily overall conditions that GB&I golfers regularly face since the day they first take up the game.

Cheers,

Kris

[Mike_Clayton]

Ivan

You missed the best part of the Senior school bus story. His mum found out and gave him the 'just wait until your father gets home' lecture.

His dad got home, called Pete into his room and asked if it was true.

Pete owned up.

'Well you seem to be pretty good at golf so just keep working hard at it - and don't dare tell your mother what I just said'

And whilst his swing doesn't look so pretty it is in no way technically deficient. Put it on the video and you will find he does an awful lot of things really well.

[Ivan Morris]

Thanks, Mike - I knew that bit of the story too but didn't want to hog it. Of course, you are right about Senior's ungainly swing - it doesn't have to look pretty. Plenty of good-looking swings aren't worth diddley! Keep up the good work, Mike, I lend and ear and watch out for your insightful pronouncements all the way from Downunder. I plan to be there in 2014. Look out for me!   

[Mike_Clayton]

Ivan,

Great - be sure to stay in touch.

[JSlonis]

Pretty impressive that, on a day when the wind seemed to literally blow away the rest of the field, a 53-year old won (Peter Senior) and a62-year old had the low round of the day (Tom Watson).

Is Tom Watson the greatest bad-weather golfer of all time?

Watson is without a doubt the BEST bad weather golfer that I've ever seen.  There really isn't a close second.

One of Watson's exceptional bad weather rounds came at The Memorial Tournament in 1979.  I think it was the 2nd round.  A weird storm front hit Muirfield Village with steady rain, winds gusting to 30 mph and wind chill factor below 20*.  Watson posted a bogey free 69 on a day when the field average was 79 and 42 out of 105 players didn't break 80.  I recall seeing an interview a few years ago with some players in that field and they still say Watson's round that day has to be one of the greatest ever played.

[Chris Kane]

Absolutely no question that Tom Watson is a truly great player in the wind. However, he teed off in the second group yesterday at 6.56 - he played most of his round in calm conditions. 

The course he played was at least 4-5 shots easier than what the middle and top of the third round leaderboard had to contend with.

[BHoover]

Absolutely no question that Tom Watson is a truly great player in the wind. However, he teed off in the second group yesterday at 6.56 - he played most of his round in calm conditions. 

The course he played was at least 4-5 shots easier than what the middle and top of the third round leaderboard had to contend with.

I'm not arguing that he played before the worst of the weather rolled in. But for a 62-year old to have the low round of the day is still impressive. But you're right, Peter Senior's even par 72 was probably more impressive.

[Dane Hawker]

Allenby should be told not to enter next year.

Looking forward to the PGA this weekend