Children's Miracle Network Classic Smack Talk Thread - Possible Spoilers!!!

[Rye]

Inside the course: Disney's Magnolia and Palm Courses

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Fast facts: Magnolia Course
Original architect Joe Lee (1971)
Course superintendent Scott Welder
Number of PGA TOUR events as host venue 31 (including 2009)
Course ranking Ranked 49 (out of 54) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2008
Par value 72
Yardage history 7,516 yards (2005-present)
  7,200 (2002-2004)
  7,201 (2001)
  7,243 (2000)
  7,190 (1979-1999)
Grass Bermudagrass (tees, fairways, greens, rough)
Tournament Stimpmeter 11 ft
Sand bunkers 107
Water hazards 15
 

Fast facts: Palm Course
Original architect Joe Lee (1971)
Course superintendent Scott Welder
Number of PGA TOUR events as host venue 31 (including 2009)
Course ranking Ranked 54 (out of 54) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2008
Par value 72
Yardage history 7,010 yards (2007-present)
  7,015 (2004-2006)
  6,957 (2002-2003)
  7,193 (2000-2001)
  6,967 (1998-1999)
  6,957 (1996-1997)
  6,941 (1972-1995)
Grass Bermudagrass (tees, fairways, greens, rough)
Tournament Stimpmeter 11 ft
Sand bunkers 95
Water hazards 10
 

Course origins
Scott Welder is the first, and only, golf course superintendent at Walt Disney World Golf Resort, having begun his career at the course in 1971 when the facility was built.

The first and second rounds will be played on both the Palm and Magnolia courses. The third and fourth rounds will be played solely on the Magnolia course. Named after the more than 1,500 magnolia trees that surround it, the Magnolia course was designed for big hitters and has all the earmarks of a golfer's paradise. Elevated tees and greens, rolling terrain and water on 10 of the 18 holes. The par-3 sixth hole pays tribute to Mickey Mouse with a bunker shaped to form his silhouette. 

The Walt Disney Golf Resort complex was named by GOLF Magazine to its 1998 list of "Silver Medal Resorts." This course has elevated tees and greens, and was built on rolling terrain. The Palm Course was ranked 61st by Golf Digest on its 1992 list of "Top 75 Resort Courses" in the U.S. Locals consider it to be the toughest of Joe Lee's Disney course.

[NewJerichoMan]

Mr. 125 going into the final week is none other than David Duval.  Duvie through up a 76 today, tied for next to last.   

I'm pretty sure all his exemptions are gone.  That means Q School is a-coming or he can skate by doing a Daly for at least the next 3 years. 

Later,
David

[Jaylasvegas]

I need Duval to miss the cut and Riley to make the cut

[SBR67]

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1939581,00.html

Stephen Ames wins in playoff at Disney

Stephen Ames was munching on sliders and drinking a few beers at his coach's house Saturday night when he realized that he needed all the help he could get to make his final round of the year a special one.

So at the place where the entrance gates declare "Where Dreams Come True," Ames figured he should give it a shot.

"I wished for 64," Ames said, "and I got that 64."

Ames won his second title in three years at the Children's Miracle Network Classic on Sunday, edging George McNeill and Justin Leonard in a playoff to become the oldest winner in the tournament's history.

The 45-year-old Ames was calm and cool on greens that were too slick for most of the field on a sun-baked day at Disney World. The Canadian finished with an 8-under 64 for the clubhouse lead, watching as McNeill (67) and Leonard (67) failed to pass him.

It was the first win of the year and fourth career victory for Ames, including The Players Championship in 2006. This time, he had a few extra people in the gallery.

Among those who followed him on the back nine was his 10-year-old son, Ryan, who provided a little extra motivation walking up to the 18th tee needing a birdie.

"He said, 'Dad, you need to hole this,"' Ames recalled. "I said, 'All right, I'll try my best.' It was a very casual round. It's Mickey Mouse, come on."

Ames got some help.

Leonard rimmed out a 16-foot putt for the win in regulation, even beginning to pump his fist in celebration only to watch the ball spin away. He twice left putts short when he was eliminated on the first playoff hole - also the 18th.

"To be this close and not be able to pull it out is disappointing," Leonard said. "Obviously, I thought I made it by my reaction. I was surprised it didn't go in."

Ames also caught another break.

After McNeill saved par on the first playoff hole despite landing his tee shot between the trees, he had a 6-foot putt on the 15th to force a third playoff hole. McNeill struck the ball right on the line, but it trickled around the edge and popped off to give Ames the win and the $828,000 first-place prize.

"It made a full 360," McNeill said. "It went down in the hole, and then it spit back out."

There were other rallies that didn't end up on the leaderboard.

Sunday was the last day for players to secure a tour card for next year. Only those who finished the year in the top 125 on the money list are guaranteed full status. The next 25 will at least get conditional status and be able to enter more than a dozen tournaments.

For as much back and forth as there was throughout the week, in the end, there wasn't a lot of movement.

Former world No. 1 David Duval already had lost his full status by missing the cut. Robert Garrigus also missed the cut and was knocked out of full status for next year.

Jimmy Walker and Nicholas Thompson were the only two players to move inside the top 125 after beginning the week outside. Walker finished at No. 125.

"It's tough. You can't do anything," Walker said. "You just have to sit back and relax. Not relax, you can't relax. But I did all I could do."

There were plenty others who cut it close.

Rich Beem shot a 68 to finish at 10 under for the tournament. The 2002 PGA Championship winner finished at No. 122 for the season.

He admitted the pressure to perform this weekend got to him in the first two rounds. He talked to his coach Friday night and said that helped him find his swing.

"I must say it was about as odd as I've ever felt thinking about it. I never expected myself to feel the way that I did," Beem said. "When somebody tells you that you can't do your job next year when you know you're so close, that's not such a good feeling."

After turning in his scorecard, Beem stood behind the 18th green watching a monitor with the projected money list. His name flip-flopped twice, and he had to walk away. He later walked into the media center to check the minute-by-minute standings.

"I'm sweating," he said. "But things look good."

Ames is going to have to rework his schedule now, too.

He wasn't planning to try to play at the next year's first event in Maui. That just happens to be the place the Ames family vacations every winter, and they were planning to leave a few days before the tournament.

Looks like they'll need a new itinerary.

"I always tell Gary Player golf always gets in the way," Ames said. "I don't want to play golf. I want to sit on the beach and relax."

Now he'll get to do both.

[NewJerichoMan]

I need Duval to miss the cut and Riley to make the cut

You got half of it.  Only Nicholas Thompson and Jimmy JJ Walker played their way into the top 125.  Article on Duvie:

"I do believe David Duval when he says he's probably not going to q-school.  I don't believe him, however, when he says his game is back. Of course, Duval's definition of back might not be that of anyone else's.  That's Duval.  He's a different sort of cat.

But it's hard to argue with results. At some point, no matter how well you're hitting the ball, that's what ultimately tells the story. And for Duval, they just weren't there. Not before the U.S. Open, where he finished in a tie for second, and not after it.

Duval missed seven of his last eight cuts, including the final event of the Fall Series, last week's Children's Miracle Network Classic, where he shot rounds of 76 and 73 -- his ninth and 10th rounds in the 70s in his last 11 rounds dating back to the Buick Open, the lone event he made a cut in since June and sixth and final cut made of 2009.

Where does all that leave Duval? Without a PGA TOUR card after finishing outside the top 125 on the money list.

"I feel that the overall picture of the year, I feel like it was mostly successful," Duval said after Disney. "I talked a lot early on in the year about coming back, building the confidence back that I had for so long, and I feel like for the most part I did that."

Confidence is one thing, playing well is another. Not that Duval is entirely out of options. He'll have plenty of sponsor's exemptions in 2010. "I'd like to think that the relationships I've built up for 14, 15 years out here with the events I go to year in and year out would show me a little love if I need it," Duval said."


Later,
David