PGA 2011: 10 Lessons We Learned at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions
The year's first PGA tournament is in the books, with the surprise victory going to Jonathan Byrd in a playoff victory over Robert Garrigus.
Although it is only one tournament, perhaps a few things can be taken from the results of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
Perhaps 10 things?
The field for the tournament is one of the smallest of the year, as it makes up the winners from last year's events. And not all the winners play. Only 32 players teed it up on Sunday. Thus, it is difficult to read too much into this first event of the year.
However, with a little effort, here are 10 things we learned from the season's first tournament
10. Almost Anyone Can Win on Any Given Sunday
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Much like 2010, 2011 will be filled with winners that have never won before, guys we've barely heard of or both.
The first tournament of the year was won by Jonathon Byrd, hardly a household name. Byrd did have a somewhat okay year in 2010, including his miraculous hole-in-one win at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open.
In that win Byrd became the first player in the history of the PGA to win a tournament with an ace. That win, of course, got him into this event.
In addition to the win in 2010, Byrd did have three other top-10 finishes, although he missed the cut in nine tournaments for the year.
The point being, almost anyone on this tour can win at any time, especially in the events the big names choose to bypass.
9. Golf Courses Will Have To Do Better Than the Plantation Course in Kapalua Did
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I'm not sure about you, but I've seen enough of professional golfers destroying golf courses over the past few years.
This year is off to a bad start for those of us who are hoping golf courses can stand up to these guys a little better and show their teeth somewhat.
Garrigus and Jonathon Byrd both shot 24 under par, and Graeme McDowell was only one back at 23 under par. In fact, 19 golfers were 10 under par or better.
This is on a golf course that measured 7,411 yards. Golf courses need to be toughened up. Length is no longer a measurement of difficulty. These guys are simply too long in the modern game.
Too many of the golf courses on tour are manicured to perfection. Most golf courses are too worried about showing how pretty they are and how great their fancy mowers can cut. They need to focus on toughening these things up.
Birdie after birdie is not entertaining golf. Why do we love the U.S. Open and the British Open? Because the golf courses tend to beat the golfers, that's why. Courses like the Plantation Course need to take notice.
8. Don't Count Ernie Els Out Yet
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Much like the beginning of 2010, Ernie Els has made an early statement in 2011: Don't count him out.
After one of his better years in sometime in 2010, Els seems poised to take his strong play into the new year as well.
Even though Ernie only ended up in a tie for 17th, it was the 64 he shot in the second round that was the statement maker. It was the low round of the tournament and proved again that Els can tear up a golf course at any time, anywhere.
The 41 year old is set to have another strong year on tour.
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7. Europeans Ready To Dominate Again
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The Tournament of Champions has, of course, a small field; this year only 32 players teed it up. Of those 32, there were five Europeans in the field. Three of the five finished in the top six (Graeme McDowell, Carl Pettersson and Ian Poulter), and the other two in the top 15 (Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari).
Although this is only a small sample, it is worth noting. The Europeans had a fantastic year in 2010 from winning events on the PGA Tour, to winning in Europe, to winning the Ryder Cup, to having the number one player in the world (Lee Westwood).
The European players seem poised to continue their great play of 2010 right into 2011.
6. Long Hitters Don't Always Tear Up Long Courses
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A good example of this would be Bubba Watson. The big-hitting American finished toward the bottom of the small field and was one of only five players who didn't have at least one round in the 60's.
5. Matt Kuchar May Win the Player of the Year Award He Should Have Won in 2010
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Matt Kuchar had the best year on the PGA Tour in 2010, yet somehow the point system used by the PGA had Jim Furyk on top of the standings, giving him the award.
Common sense didn't prevail, but perhaps in 2011 the American can remedy the mistake. Kuchar's 18 under par and sixth-place finish is a good start.
4. Byrd Can Win a Tournament the Old-Fashioned Way
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Another thing we learned from this first event of 2011 is that American Jonathan Byrd can win a golf tournament in a slightly more conventional way than he did last year.
Byrd's win in 2010 at the Shriner Hospital for Children Open was, of course, one for the ages. Byrd became the first player in history to win an event with a hole-in-one.
It came in the Las Vegas event in early October on the third playoff hole.
His win on Sunday was also in a playoff, but no such dramatics were needed from the 32 year old.
3. Do We Really Need January Golf?
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This tournament, dramatic as it was, does make one wonder if indeed January golf is really needed. Golf is perhaps the one sport that doesn't really take a break.
Everyone needs a break. I'm not talking about the golfers here, as they can give themselves breaks whenever they want throughout the year. No. I'm talking about the fans.
It is asking a little too much of golf fans, even the most die hard, to follow this sport 12 months a year. How many fans actually tuned in this weekend? It would have to be a small number. With the NFL playoffs going on, do we really need January golf?
Too much of anything is not good. Golf needs to take January off. If I was running the PGA I'd clear the calendar from mid-December through mid-February.
But money talks, and this is unlikely to happen.
2. Graeme McDowell May Be the Best Golfer In The World Right Now
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We also certainly learned that Graeme McDowell is playing some extraordinary golf right now. The Northern Irishman missed a 10-foot putt on the final hole that would have gotten him into the playoff with Byrd and Garrigus.
McDowell, who just a month ago chased down and beat Tiger in heroic fashion at the Chevron Classic, is on top of his game. The U.S. Open winner a year ago, McDowell has shown the capability to step up and beat anyone.
He was the true hero for Europe in its Ryder Cup triumph over the U.S., and handled the pressure of winning the final match like a pro.
McDowell will challenge the top four in the world (Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods, Martin Kaymer and Phil Mickelson) in 2011.
1. We Learned Nothing?
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Let's be honest; we're grasping for straws here. In the whole scheme of things, this tournament will have little impact on what will unfold in the 2011 season.
The fact is, we're trying to read more into this than there really is. It was the first tournament of the year with a field of only 32.
Sure, some interesting stories developed, but will they be the stories we remember at the end of the year?
Unlikely.
However, for good or for bad, the 2011 golf season is off and running. Let's hope this is the last tournament of the year that someone shoots 24 under par.
Don't bet on it though.
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