Brennan's Blog - The Memorial Tournament

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:26:24

After a two week stretch at home in Dallas it is time to move North for The Memorial Tournament. Mike showed some positive signs the past few weeks and I really felt that he played better than his past results. Last week was a week where he just didn't score very well but really didn't play all that badly. His iron play over the past few weeks has been very good so now it's just a matter of time to put everything together. On tour the difference between par and 4 or 5 under is very minimal, couple shots or putts to fall.

As I write this week's report I am stranded at the airport in Dallas waiting for a flight to Columbus. I am actually being sent to Dayton, OH and then going to drive down with a few of the guys from Dallas who are also on their way to Columbus. This week's event has always been in the upper echelon of tour events, mainly because it is Jacks event. The golf course is great but I think having Jack invite you to play is a great honor and that is why the field is usually very strong. I know Jack was one of Mike's favorite players growing up so he really values this event. He also has a pretty good track record around there which only helps to come back year after year.

I got to play in the 1988 US Junior Amateur at Muirfield Village and got beat by Phil Mickelson in the first round of Match Play. Speaking of Phil I would like to wish Amy all the best with her recent diagnosis of breast cancer. I have been through a family member going through cancer with my father many years ago now and hope for the best for her. I see that Phil is going to play the next few weeks so that is some good news! It is not an easy thing to deal with but let's hope everything works out well for her. I thought it was a great gesture for everyone to wear pink last week as a tribute to her and to let her know that everyone is pulling for her!

A few years back Jack decided to use these rakes that had pegs that were farther apart than normal and longer than most rakes. This causes some large ruts in the sand when you raked the traps. The ball would sit down in the grooves of the sand and make it very difficult to put any spin on the ball. It was also very challenging out of the fairway sand traps which are normally quite easy to play out of. After a lot of complaining they have gone back to the standard rakes and the grooves will no longer be there. I guess it was an experiment that failed but to be honest I didn't mind it; makes the bunkers a little more penal then they are now. The rest of the course is in great shape from what I hear. The only changes they have made is to level out the front of the 11th and 18th greens to make for additional pin positions. Last year there were several players who putted the ball right off the green on 18; it was a little bit unfair. I think these two changes are very good as the front pins on these greens are two of the most difficult on the course.

The rough is thicker than last year's so hitting the fairways is going to be a must. They are quite wide so if you drive it well then it will be very possible. I'm glad to see Tiger back out for only his 7th tournament of the year. The tour could really use a full schedule of tiger to keep the ratings up and keep the focus on golf as other sports are winding down!

Congrats to Steve Stricker and his caddy Jimmy Johnson on a great win! It was only a matter of time for him to win as he has been so close all year and the more times you are in position the better your odds get.

As far as the playoffs go I have to say I am a bit surprised that Detroit won the first two games of the series. I really thought that this was Pittsburgh's year after the lessons they learned last year. It usually takes a tough loss like last year to really teach the young guys a lesson and I thought this year would have been the case. I am afraid they are in a tough hole now as the well oiled machine they call the Red Wings is on a roll. I don't know how Chris Osgood can be so average in the regular season then look like Marty Brodeur in the playoffs! My hat goes off to him as I think he has elevated his game to a new level which he seems to each year in the playoffs. I really don't like the Wings but have to respect them as they are good year after year and they keep getting these guys in later rounds of the draft that contribute! Maybe the salary cap will go down significantly in the next few years and they will have to move Zetterberg or Datsyuk. Or better yet, how about Nic Lidstrom demands 8 million a year and the Wings can't afford to pay him so he gets traded to Dallas? That sounds kind of nice I must admit! Anyway let's hope Pittsburgh can mount some kind of comeback so that we get a few extra games to watch. I don't like to see the hockey season coming to an end!

Congrats to Joe Nieuwendyk on being named the GM of the Stars. I think it was a great hire after last year's difficulties. Someone please tell me why we signed Shawn Avery to a four year deal?

Enough hockey talk, back to this week's event. Let's hope we can get everything together this week and try to win this event, Mike has been close on several occasions and I know this one would mean a lot to him!

As always, thanks for the support
Brennan