Round 3: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
February 11 2012
9:05 pm
Notes from inside the ropes
By Fred Albers, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Sunday’s last two pairings provide an interesting contrast. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have combined to win 110 PGA TOUR events. Ken Duke and Charlie Wi are still looking for their first wins. If you want an early indicator as to how Woods is playing, watch the par 5s. Woods has played 11 par 5s this weekend and is 8-under par over that stretch. Pebble Beach offers a pair of par-5 scoring chances in the first six holes and gives Woods and Mickelson a chance to make an early move on the leaders.
You have to love Ray Romano’s enthusiasm. The comedian was grinding to make the cut in the Pro-Am and when he rolled home a natural 3 at the 17th, Romano figured he had qualified for Sunday. The celebration was premature as Romano immediately topped his drive into the ocean on the 18th and had to ride his professional all the way home, hoping for par or better. Steven Bowditch caused some anxiety when he hit his second into the fairway bunker, but then got up and down for birdie and Romano’s ticket for Sunday had been punched. With arms raised in victory, Romano walked to the grandstand and shouted, "We made the cut … and by we … I mean him." Romano pointed to Bowditch and walked away happier than a kid on Christmas.
With Tony Romo playing off a zero handicap, he and Tiger Woods were longshots to make the cut in the Pro-Am but they have qualified for Sunday’s round. Romo made five natural birdies on Saturday including a sporty 100-yard bunker shot to tap-in distance at the 15th that earned a round of applause from Woods. "It was just a normal bunker shot, just concentrate on contact," said Romo, while Woods rolled his eyes. Romo admitted he did not pack enough clothes, not expecting to play a Sunday round, but said he had a connection for some "TW" sportswear.
It was an interesting hypothesis on Thursday. It was thought that players who competed at Pebble Beach in the opening round had a big advantage. The weather was perfect on Thursday but deteriorated on Friday and Saturday. Pebble Beach is most exposed to the elements and catching the difficult course on a calm day was a huge advantage. How did that theory play out? Of the top 11 players, three played Pebble on Thursday, three played at Monterey Peninsula in the opening round and five played at Spyglass Hill. So much for theories.
Fred Albers is a course reporter for SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio and is inside the ropes this week at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. For more information on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio, click here.
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Lucky Tony. It really means a great deal for any of the celebs/athletes to have another day added to the week of fun happenings, and why not?
Would absolutely love to see Romo in a TW shirt…maybe red also? Or at least a TW cap?That would put a smile on everyone’s face. Just hoping. If this tournament wasn’t so crucial to TW’s burgeoning roars this year, it would be cute to have a Cowboy’s hat on his head, also. That would be fodder for the media! Go boys!
After watching this event for the first time{and possibly last} I certainly can understand why tiger doesn’t play in it more often, If I was him …would have stayed in the middle east and collected the $3m and played dubai…big chance of win after abu bhabi. this p/beach tourny will do his golf no good at all… to me he looks like a fish out of water at the moment; surprissed CRANE & watson didn’t accept for this circus… looks right up there ally. totally pi$sed off this event.
I know, agree. Note though, Tiger’s son had a birthday the first week in Abu Dhabi, and wouldn’t want to stay there 3 weeks; possibly had business or just preparation to do over here. Whatever, I’m glad he’s in the US and practicing like crazy for Accenture in 2 weeks.
HOPE MCILROY COMES THRU TOMORROW; he certainly didn’t look like this great superstar most people are predicting… he can’t afford anymore crashes on his resume. hate to see it effect his love live as well… If he can’t perform under pressure maybe caroline will be taking a look at tiger. he’s single and there were good reports about his performances outside the course. he is very lucky westwood can’t putt or this tourny would be over. cheers.
SHAUN when people post on here that tiger is finished… I expect them to come up with names that are taking over between now + the next 2 years.{he’s finished now o/k name them now} the top 9 on your list have been here long enough to compete with him now and the top 3 are the ones that have this chance…out of the rest I think stanley is the top man. that being said I can see tiger westy giving these younger ones a hard time for a few years yet and they are old enough to be there fathers.WHEN I look at your list I see a lot of talent but not a lot of mental strength and thats the most important ingrediant for success tiger ..westy ..ernie..had this at a young age.Mcilroy has all the skill but iam not convinced about the mental side.cheers
mcilroy chokes on a sat an sunday again 21 putts for the first 9 holes
Hao you’re old and yesterday’s news. Rors left with his tail between his legs, as did his girlfriend a few weeks ago. A match made in heaven. Har De Har Har. Notice Rors wore black and red today? Wannabee
None of you ruffians are playing, so cease making boasts of other’s performancrs as if they were your own. Any player you label as “weak” wpud reign down on you with fury if you played them, as they most likely would me. As for the overanalysis, save it for people who actually know of what they speak.
Ever have a bad round? Though the way you criticizers speak, a better question would be have you ever had a good round?