The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic used to be a big stop on the PGA Tour. Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller, Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson have all claimed the title since Hope put his name on the event. The problem is, with all the available money these days and the ability for top pros to pick and choose their events, most of the big names avoid the Hope because they don't want to deal with 90 holes, slow rounds and, well, obnoxious celebrites.Can you blame them?
This week is no different, with zero of the top-15 in the world playing after Anthony Kim had to pull out because of a shoulder injury. What does that leave the golf fan with? Birdies. Lots and lots of birdies.
Pat Perez got very close to that sacred number of 59 on Wednesday, opening his tournament on the back nine of the PGA West Palmer Course with six birdies and an eagle for a nice 28. His turn didn't disappoint, as Perez birdied two of his first four holes to move to 10-under for the day, needing just three birdies in his closing five holes to go David Duval on us all.
A bogey on the par-3 fifth hole basically doomed his chances, but two closing birdies had the 32-year-old leading the tournament ... by one shot!
Mike Weir and Bubba Watson both shot 62, six guys shot 63 and three guys were at 64. Most of the time the birdie-fests are avoided by the big names, just because guys like Tiger Woods train themselves to hit around the pin, not at it. When playing Augusta, you have to find yourself in the right position on the green, and that isn't always aiming down the stick from 195 yards.
The tournament continues today on the Golf Channel from 3-6 PM ET, and if you tune in, you might get to see Alice Cooper. Win-win if you ask me.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-26-2009 @ 5:11PM
ppirquet@aol.com said...
I would like an explanation as to why the announcers at the Bob Hope Classic on Sunday afternoon, kept saying that the first putt of John Merrick on the 18th green, was for a birdie and when he missed it they said "Too bad, it's only a par !" Did they forget that he went in the water with his second shot and therefore ended up double-bogeying the 18th? What were they thinking for Heavens Sake? There is no way that he got a par. If they scored it as such, it is quite wrong and someone down the line is bound to be out of pocket. I found it to be extremely annoying that they all seemed to forget that he went in the water with this second shot. Please explain.
Reply
1-26-2009 @ 5:13PM
Shane Bacon said...
It appears he did make par on the last hole.
http://www.pgatour.com/players/02/79/33/scorecards/2009/r002.html
He could have hit his tee shot in the water, dropped, knocked the next one on the green and two-putted for a par. I'm assuming that is what happened.
Reply
1-26-2009 @ 10:47PM
ppirquet said...
Merrick hit his drive on the final hole, the 18th, at the Bob Hope, into good position on the fairway. He then his his second shot into the water short of the green. Now he is hitting shot no. 4 after dropping a new ball, he misses the green and lands in the rough near the green. Now he hits shot No. 5 about 10 feet passed the hole. He misses the first putt, shot No. 6 and sinks the second putt for a 7. Double bogey not par.