Capelle On Golf

PGA Championship Coverage

Harrington for Player of the Year
Padraig Harrington has won two majors and has another four top five finishes in PGA Tour events this season, making him a strong candidate for Player of the Year. While Woods sole major was won in dramatic fashion, Harrington deserves points for winning his two majors from behind with clutch shotmaking, something Woods has yet to do. While Harrington is the logical favorite for POY, he would be an absolute lock if he were to win one of the four FedExCup events.

If Woods had become injured from an accident, the case for extrapolating his surgery shortened season might make a little sense. But, considering that he brought his injuries upon himself, it doesn’t seem right to give POY to someone who played in only six PGA Tour events.

Harrington
Northern Trust – 3t
Zurich Classic – 4t
Masters – 5t
US Open – 36t
Stanford St. Jude – 4t
British Open – W
PGA – W

Woods
Buick Invitational – W
WGC – Accenture – W
Arnold Palmer - W
WGC – CA – 5
Masters – 2
US Open – W

Sergio Garcia’s Latest Learning Experience
Garcia opened his final round at the PGA with a birdie and an eagle, at which point the 28 year old Spaniard looked like he was destined to win his first major title – a feeling that grew stronger as he continued to make one key putt after another. With three holes to play, Garcia was four under for the day. He led Ben Curtis and Padraig Harrington by a shot. Then the wheels came loose.
16 – After a perfect tee shot he hit his second into the lake and had to scramble to make bogey.
17 – He hit a beautiful 5-iron, but lipped out a five foot birdie putt.
18 – His relatively easy bunker shot came up 10 feet short to the right. After Harrington sank his 15 footer, Garcia missed.
Over those last three holes he lost a shot on each to Harrington to lose by two. Hopefully he can turn the pain of another lost major into a host of titles some day. He’s certainly paid his dues. Meanwhile, he just witnessed Harrington win three majors in the last 13 months, two of which could have easily been his.

Ben Curtis Gets No Respect
Thanks to the rain delay, Ben Curtis was forced to play 36 holes on Sunday. He held the 54 hole lead, and was in position to win with four holes to play. Then he buckled, playing them in two over to finish two back of Harrington. Maybe it was the pressure or perhaps he was tiring from such a long day on a long, hard, wet course. And maybe he suffered a bit because his gallery, which one announcer estimated at 150 people, had deserted him. In any case, Curtis looks cool under pressure, he’s won a major, he’s got a new and improved swing, and he nearly won his second major at age 31. Maybe this guy can play some, and maybe the golf world will wake up some day and give him some respect.

Phil Mickelson’s Disappointing Year
Phil Mickelson had a pretty good year in the majors by most players’ standards. He opened with a top 10 at the Masters (5t) and closed with another at the PGA (7t). In between he placed18t at the US Open and 19t at the British Open, giving him his third Top 20 Slam. For an elite player like Mickelson, who’s majors count has been stuck at three for ten majors now, 2008 was a disaster. It’s time he rethink his approach. He should dump Dave Pelz and hire Dr. Bob Rotella, Harrington’s guru and the author of the recently published Your 15th Club. That’s the club Phil needs, not another souped up wedge or any more of Pelz’ ill conceived strategies.

The South Americans are Coming
Camilo Villegas tamed the Monster with rounds of 67-68 over the weekend while bagging 12 birdies to finish 4t, his best in a major. The 26 year old Columbian’s other top ten was a 9t at this year’s US Open.
Andres Romero, who won his first tour event this year, recorded his fourth top 10 in a major in his last eight starts. He tied for seventh with Mickelson and shot a 65 on Saturday, the tournament’s low round. The 27 year old Argentinean with an interlocking grip (like Woods and Kim) also tied for eighth at this year’s Masters.

Robert Karlsson’s Bid Fails
Sweden’s Karlsson was five over par for the championship after 60 holes of play. If he had maintained that position over the final 12 holes he would have completed the Top 10 Slam in the majors, making him the only player to do so in 2008. Unfortunately he played those holes in +3 to finish in a tie for 20th at +8.

J.B. Holmes and Sean O’Hair
Third round leader J.B. Holmes opened with a triple bogey, after which I recall seeing him play just one more shot on his way to an 81, dropping from first to 29t. Sean O’Hair shot 73 and ended up tied for 31st. The golf gods evidently don’t approve of them using their caddies to line up putts any more than yours truly.