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NOW ON GOLFWEEKTV: Hate to be Rude: Butch Harmon
Jeff Rude’s “I Hate To Be Rude” column appears on Golfweek.com on Friday, the same day as his video show of the same name.• The lesson in Trevor Immelman’s 8-over-par 78 in his first round after winning the Masters? Nothing affects concentration like fatigue does.
The South African showed signs of being both physically and mentally tired in that EDS Byron Nelson Championship first round. A snap hook out of bounds, leading to a triple bogey at 15, was one hint. “Out of gas” was one Immelman phrase. “Real tired” was another.
Only thing his game needs now is rest. Even soaring confidence is no match for a spent body and mind.
• One doctor who has worked with numerous PGA Tour players says he emphaticallly believes Tiger Woods’ left knee problems in recent years are directly related to the kind of left hip issues that have plagued many golfers.
Though the physician hasn’t examined Woods, he says he has seen many cases where the scar tissue that builds up in the left hip leads to back and knee injuries. “My guess is 80 percent of guys who have back problems have a left hip issue,” he said.
He has treated such cases with Active Release Technique (ART), a hands-on soft tissue treatment that removes scar tissue in muscles to improve function.
• Woods will miss probably two scheduled starts because of his second left knee surgery in six years. That means other players will have a better chance of winning the Wachovia Championship and that The Players Championship will lose some pizazz.
With the world No. 1 out more than a month, let’s hope there is another effect – that more people will focus on the brilliance of Lorena Ochoa.
• Some trophies are bigger and more dangerous than others. Scott Verplank got a fancy motorcycle for winning the EDS Byron Nelson Championship last year. He rode it only once, though, because he suffered burns on a leg. He was wearing shorts, not the usual biker wear.
“That was the end of my motorcyle career,” Verplank said. “But it’s a pretty cool trophy.”
• That wasn’t the only “trophy” he received. Peggy Nelson last year gave him the fedora worn by her late husband Byron, the tournament namesake. Verplank says he has it in safe keeping and plans to give it back. But already he’s had the Nelson brim longer than the year a Masters champion gets to keep the green jacket.
• Verplank’s Nelson victory, by the way, was one of the most touching victories of the hundreds I’ve seen on Tour. He grew up idolizing Nelson, took lessons from him, attended the tournament as a kid, has a mother who volunteered every year and received 30 or so hand-written notes from Nelson over the years. Those notes have been artfully put together in a frame.
Verplank’s victory was Tour’s feel-good story of the year if Todd Demsey getting his Tour card after a couple of brain surgeries wasn’t.
• Who’s the best Tour player you couldn’t pick out of a lineup? I’m not sure, but I know John Mallinger should be on the short list.
• D.A. Weibring hung out at the Nelson on Tuesday and Wednesday and looked something like an expectant father. He worked the range getting feedback on his $10 million renovation of the Four Seasons TPC at Las Colinas. Player reaction was positive, particularly with regard to the superb conditioning. Bottom line is this: An improved, immaculate course and a new date in coming years (late May the week before Colonial) will help bring back good fields.
The most striking thing about the renovation was not the new, watery 18th but Weibring’s passion. He put his heart and soul into the project, largely out of respect to the late Nelson.
• Had one of the best interviews I’ve ever had the other day. The talker was someone who couldn’t talk as a kid – Ken Venturi, who went from stutterer to golf champion to someone mentored by both Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan to television analyst.
Goose-bump quote from Venturi: “When I was a kid, I made every decision based on whether it would make my parents proud. When I played as a professional, I made every decision based on whether it would make Byron Nelson proud.”
• Tommy Armour III hosted his sixth annual sushi party Monday night at his house near the Nelson course. He throws the bash for visiting players, equipment reps, friends and, among others, an endless stream of Dallas-area lovelies. This year’s bash featured a light show in front and back of the house.
Asked which of his parties was the best, Armour replied, “They’re all good.”
It would be hard to find an argument.
Posted: 4/25/2008
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