Short Game Wizard

wh IZARD!!!

I always think of the Who song "Pinball Wizard" (click on image above) when we're talking about Phil Mickelson, who birdied the 54th hole to get to 12-under and take a one-shot lead over Rod Pampling and Stephen Ames. Maybe it's because he's always described as the game's best short-game wizard. If Jake Trout and the Flounders were still around they would probably do a cover about him using that song.

Colonial

So I'm at the Colonial right now.

The two DFW tour stops are very different from the SHO. The Byron Nelson and the Colonial are EVENTS. What I mean is, during the weeks of those tournaments the entire community responds to the PGA Tour's presence. Many of those attend aren't necessarily golf fans but go to meet up with friends, hang out, and watch people (and occassionally golf). They're closer to the Rodeo than the Shell Houston Open. Think how much attention the rodeo gets while it is in town.

I think the SHO is getting there, though. That kind of community support doesn't happen overnight though and Houston is still getting used to the tournament being out in Humble, and it having a good field.

But both tournaments have a mystique about them that I doubt the SHO will be able to match. Hell, practically no other PGA Tour tournament. It's because of Nelson and Hogan. Byron Nelson sat by the final green and greeted players as they finished for years. It's his tournament.

While not as directly involved in the founding of the Colonial, this is and always will be Hogan's tournament. He won it five times. No one else has won it more than twice. From his statue by the clubhouse, to the Hogan memorbilia display, to the narrow ball-striker's paradise that is the course itself, his presence is unmistakeable. Not to sound over-dramatic, but it's almost spooky being here. It's feels like you could round a corner and run into him...white Kangol cap pulled low, cigarette in hand, with that famous steely glaze sizing you up. Chilling, but I AM a nerd that way.

"Y'all the State Champs!"

Okay, quickly, Byron Nelson bookend.


Thatch had a rough Saturday, shooting 2-over 72 to fall well back. He rallied on Sunday to tie for 7th, so good on him. Adam Scott of course, defeated Ryan Moore on the third playoff hole by draining a 48'7" putt for birdie. Coincidentally, that is the exact same length (down to the inch!) of putt that he made on the final green to win the SHO in 2007. It also marks the second consecutive year (don't forget Scotty V's mini-Crenshaw moment) that the Byron Nelson has had a memorable finish despite a lackluster field, so no complaining, Dallasites!

So this week is all about getting as much writing done as possible in time to cover the State High School Championships in Austin all next week.



Houston has a lot of horses in the race...from Montgomery 4A girls going for eight (8!) in a row, to Clements' Blake Redmond (left) defending his 5A individual title, to The Woodlands defending their 5A team title, to Cory Whitsett (right) trying to get the win that slipped away from him last year. I love covering high school golf but to be honest, I get the impression that a lot of the upper-tier talents have a lackadaisical attitude about. They play in so many quality tournaments that high school is kind of second rate. However, as take-it-or-leave-it they may feel about the actual tournament, you can see that they all really care about their teammates. Team golf is always fun to cover.


So who's the team to beat in Austin this year? I'd say the Dillon Panthers.

Seriously though. They should do a high school golf episode of Friday Night Lights, my favorite show. They already have showcased volleyball and soccer. We all know that bad boy halfback Tim Riggins plays because of that one episode where he got hustled by his alcoholic, deadbeat, Corpus Christi golf pro father. Did I mention this show is awesome? SO glad it's coming back. I imagine Dillon Golf Club being a lot like another small town golf course that I frequent. Suffice to say, Hallettsville Golf Club's most arresting architectural feature is the chain-link backstop behind the eighth hole.

Good luck at State, kiddos!