Filed under: U.S. Open

NEW YORK — We all tinker. Tennis players try to stand in a new spot to return serve, or to go through a new routine before a toss. Golfers are notorious for tinkering, their search for the magic nugget. Usually, it just turns them into Nervous Nellies.
And whatever we find usually lasts, what, four weeks?

“Sunday,” Toni Nadal said.

Sunday?

“Yes Sunday, the day before the tournament.”

That’s when Rafael Nadal changed the grip on his serve, under the guidance of his coach, Uncle Toni. And just like that, it has made for the most amazing transformation. Just a week and a half ago, Nadal slid his hand over a little on his racket handle, and as a result, he now has one of the biggest serves on tour.

A few weeks ago, he played in Cincinnati in hot weather on fast courts, perfect conditions for power. But he was not serving like this.

Rafael Nadal has found the Holy Grail. A weekend-warrior didn’t find it. Not you. Not me, of course. Rafael Nadal, the best player in the world.

Snap, just like that, he has reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open without losing a set. Without losing his serve. Not once.

?

Permalink?|?Email this?|?Linking?Blogs?|?Comments

Continue reading here:
In Adapting Game, Rafael Nadal Reaching New Levels of Greatness

Read more.

Filed under: PGA, FedEx Cup

A year ago, it still looked easy for Tiger Woods.

He came to the BMW Championship at Chicago’s Cog Hill and shot a third-round 62 to build a seven-shot lead to take into the final day.

He then closed with a 3-under 68 for an eight-shot victory over Jim Furyk and Marc Leishman.

It was Woods’ sixth victory of the 2009 season, and propelled him to the FedExCup title and its $10 million bonus.

He has not won on the PGA Tour since.

“It felt like we had a tournament within a tournament,” Furyk said. “Tiger was seven ahead. He was kind of running away. It was kind of a tournament for second place.”

At least something about the week was interesting.

More than Woods’ victory, last year’s BMW is remembered for the cruelty it dispatched to Brandt Snedeker.

With 30 players advancing from Cog Hill to the season-ending Tour Championship, Snedeker, playing in the final group with Woods, walked to the 18th green needing only a bogey to assure he advanced. He then missed a 12-foot par putt followed by a shocking misfire from three feet that caught the left lip of the cup and came out. Snedeker was so stunned that he missed the next two putts and took triple bogey.

“I can’t believe I did this,” Snedeker said. “I just made a mess of it.”

That allowed John Senden to capture the 30th spot by less than a half-point over Ian Poulter, two players who were hardly clutch down the stretch. Senden had a 90-yard wedge to the green at the 15th and chunked it so badly that it traveled only 50 yards. Two holes later, he nearly hit a bunker shot over the green and into the water to make double bogey.

Senden finished with 1,532.41 points. Poulter, who hit his approach into the water on the 18th, wound up with 1,531.95 points.

---

---

But a lot has changed this year. Tiger is still looking for his first win since last year’s BMW, and now his hopes for qualifying for the Tour Championship look slim. Will the world’s No. 1 golfer finally get a win? What you need to know about Cog Hill, plus who’s hot and who’s not are all in this week’s FanHouse Roundtable.

?

Permalink?|?Email this?|?Linking?Blogs?|?Comments

Excerpt from:
BMW Championship Preview: Playoffs Keep Rolling

Read more.

Filed under: Ryder Cup

Corey Pavin talked about gut feelings when it came to picking the Ryder Cup team. A prevalent one on Tuesday was nausea.

Pavin didn’t have it, but a lot of people were bent over after hearing that Tiger Woods made the team.

Take some Dramamine and get over it, folks.

Pavin had no choice. Woods earned his way onto the team, and not just because his presence assures that the National Enquirer will stake out the U.S. team hotel.

Tiger was easily one of the four best Americans who failed to qualify based on points. The only reason not to pick him was personal, and Pavin did what coaches in every sport always do.

He went with the player who gives him the best chance to win. If you think J.B. Holmes would do that more than Tiger, allow me to suggest your objective opinion went out the shattered Escalade window about 100 mistresses ago.

I know mine did, and I don’t apologize for enjoying Tiger’s misery this year. The guy earned it.

I’m not saying forget what Tiger did. And I’m sure not saying forgive. That’s up to his ex-wife, not any one of us.

?

Permalink?|?Email this?|?Linking?Blogs?|?Comments

View original post here:
Stop Wailing: Corey Pavin Makes Right Call in Choosing Tiger

Read more.

Filed under: PGA, FedEx Cup

Say this for the PGA Tour’s FedExCup: it’s very interesting, even if the reasons are all unexpected.

Although only two tournaments now remain in the postseason playoff series after Charley Hoffman’s butt-kicking victory Monday evening in the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston, the storylines keep coming like campaign promises.

Wow! Hoffman, 33-year-old journeyman with one previous career victory, a player who once missed 16 consecutive cuts on the developmental Nationwide Tour, blew away the field with a final-round 9-under 62. He finished 22 shots on the happy side of par, five strokes in front of runners-up Geoff Ogilvy (66), Luke Donald (69) Jason Day (71). He zoomed from 59th to second on the FedEx points list, positioning himself nicely for a run at the $10 million bonus that goes to the winner.

This week’s BMW Championship in Chicago, with the field cut to 70 players, will begin with Matt Kuchar on top of the FedEx points list, followed by Hoffman, Steve Stricker, Day and Donald.

Never had Hoffman finished in the top 10 of a major championship, a World Golf Championship or a FedExCup event. But on Monday he ran off four straight birdies early to erase a four-shot deficit, took command by holing a bunker shot on the 13th and cruised to an easy win.

“I mean, the playoffs that’s what you try to do,” Hoffman said. ” I wasn’t even close to anything for the most part starting the week or starting the playoffs — mid 70s and just trying to advance into next week. Last week, if I missed the cut last week who knows if I’m even here. Played decent last week and just got it going this week.”

And then there’s Tiger. And Phil. And all sorts of other interesting angles.

---

---

?

Permalink?|?Email this?|?Linking?Blogs?|?Comments

See the article here:
Charley Hoffman Injects More Drama to FedExCup, Ryder Cup

Read more.

Filed under: PGA, FedEx Cup

NORTON, Mass. (AP) — Charley Hoffman was rolling in so many putts he lost track of how many birdies he made Monday. His final stroke on a Labor Day masterpiece was his 11th birdie, more than enough to win the Deutsche Bank Championship.

The question is whether it was enough to make him a last-minute pick for the Ryder Cup.

Hoffman ran off four straight birdies early to erase a four-shot deficit, seized control by holing a bunker shot on the 13th and closed with a 9-under 62 on the TPC Boston for a five-shot victory over Geoff Ogilvy, Jason Day and Luke Donald.

Tiger Woods had three rounds in the 60s for the first time this year. He closed with a 69 to tie for 11th, and kept his No. 1 ranking in the world when Phil Mickelson imploded again.

Mickelson needed only to finish fourth to become No. 1 for the first time in his career. Instead, he took two double bogeys on the back nine and shot 76 to tie for 25th. A month ago, Mickelson had an equally good chance at Firestone and shot 78.

Even if he doesn’t make the Ryder Cup, the FedEx Cup is looking pretty good for Hoffman.

He was No. 59 in the standings and arrived at the TPC Boston wanting to make sure he advanced to the third round of the playoffs next week outside Chicago. He wound up a winner, moving to No. 2 in the standings. That assures him a shot at the $10 million bonus, and puts him in all four majors next year after not playing any of them this year.

---

---

As for the Ryder Cup? U.S. captain Corey Pavin will make his four selections Tuesday morning in New York. The frontrunners are Woods, Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink, with no one standing out as the fourth choice.

Pavin had said earlier in the week that no one should assume a good week at the Deutsche Bank would put him on the team.

Hoffman, oozing California cool with his blond locks flowing from under his cap and kelly green pants to match his shoes, made a strong impression with his game and his words.

?

Permalink?|?Email this?|?Linking?Blogs?|?Comments

Go here to see the original:
Charley Hoffman Wins Deutsche Bank Championship; Tiger Finishes T11

Read more.

Filed under: Giants , Padres , Rockies , NL West SAN DIEGO — My theory about the Colorado Rockies is, they’re too dumb to know better. When their playoff hopes seemingly are dead, the Mile High Gang dons stubborn ignorance like it’s a fleece coat.

Read the rest here:
Another Rocktober? Colorado Not Smart Enough to Doubt It

Read more.

Filed under: PGA, FedEx Cup

NORTON, Mass. (AP) — This FedEx Cup might be remembered as much for the winners as who didn’t get to play.

One week after Jim Furyk was knocked out of a tournament for oversleeping and missing his pro-am time, Chad Campbell was disqualified Saturday at the Deutsche Bank Championship when officials realized he never registered for the tournament.

“Just can’t believe you make a mistake like that,” Campbell said.

Much like the formality of signing a scorecard at the end of a round, PGA Tour players must register when they get to a tournament before it starts. Campbell arrived Tuesday evening, practiced all week and even played Friday, opening with a 1-over 72.

He just never signed up.

Campbell was No. 83 in the FedEx Cup standings, needing to move into the top 70 to advance to the third round next week in Chicago. He would have played Saturday afternoon in the strongest wind.

“It’s a sad thing,” said Mark Russell, the tour’s vice president of rules and competition. “I’m not at all pleased with it. But it’s a regulation that you’ve got to register when you arrive on site. And if you don’t before your competition round, the regulation says you’re ineligible from competing in the tournament.”

Several players were stunned to hear the news, including Furyk.

?

Permalink?|?Email this?|?Linking?Blogs?|?Comments

Originally posted here:
Chad Campbell Forgets to Sign Dotted Line, Booted From Deutsche Bank

Read more.

Filed under: PGA, FedEx Cup

NORTON, Mass. (AP) — Jason Day and Brandt Snedeker played in far different conditions and wound up with a share of the lead Saturday after two rounds of the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Tiger Woods kept his playoff hopes alive with a 6-under 65. One day after he bogeyed four of his first six holes, he birdied four of his first seven to not only make the cut, but give himself thoughts of winning. He was seven shots behind at the halfway point.

Snedeker went from the rain of Hurricane Earl to breezy conditions Saturday morning for a 7-under 64. The wind gained strength throughout the afternoon, and Day did well to post a 67 to join him at the top of the leaderboard.

They were at 12-under 130 and had a one-shot lead over FedEx Cup leader Matt Kuchar (65) and Charley Hoffman (67).

---

---

?

Permalink?|?Email this?|?Linking?Blogs?|?Comments

Go here to see the original:
Jason Day, Brandt Snedeker Survive Weather to Share Deutsche Lead

Read more.

Filed under: PGA, FedEx Cup

NORTON, Mass. (AP) — Tiger Woods didn’t miss many shots and didn’t make any bogeys on his way to a 6-under 65 that kept his playoff hopes alive in the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Woods was three shots below the cut line going into the second round Saturday. He birdied four of his opening seven holes to eliminate any concerns about missing the cut. When he finished with one last birdie, Woods was in the middle of the pack and starting to think he had a chance to win the tournament.

The wind that arrived in the middle of his round — at times with big gusts — could make scoring harder in the afternoon. Woods is No. 65 in the FedEx Cup playoff standings. He needs to be in the top 70 to advance to the third round next week in Chicago.

---

---

?

Permalink?|?Email this?|?Linking?Blogs?|?Comments

Continued here:
Tiger Woods Fires Second-Round 65 at Deutsche Bank

Read more.

Filed under: PGA, Golf Odds and Ends, FedEx Cup

The PGA Tour Playoffs roll on to the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston this week. The top 100 players on the FedExCup points list are in the field, and only 70 will advance to the BMW Championship next week.

Last year at the Deutsche Bank Championship, Steve Stricker (pictured) pulled off a late push to win the tournament with style, finishing with a final-round 67 after sinking two clutch putts for a one-shot victory.

Arriving on the 17th hole, Stricker was one shot back of then-leaders Jason Dufner and Scott Verplank. Stricker proceeded to hit his approach shot to within 15-feet on 17, and then stuffed the birdie putt to take the lead.

Then on the par-5 18th Stricker nailed a drive straight down the middle of the fairway, pounded a hybrid approach shot 234 yards and through the green. His chip shot came to rest within a few feet of the cup, leaving Stricker a tap-in to win.

The victory moved Stricker to a career-high No. 2 world ranking and allowed him to eventually finish third in the FedExCup. “It’s been a lot of fun,” said Stricker, “It’s a lot of fun getting in contention like that, and it’s even more fun when you can pull it off like I did today.”

And then there was Padraig Harrington.

---

---

The three-time major champion held the lead at 16 under when he made the turn, then came apart. Paddy made bogey on 10 and double-bogey on 12 , both resulting from poor drives that incurred penalty strokes.

This year, Tiger Woods is on the bubble for next week’s BMW Championship and a hurricane could swoop in and knock the whole tournament off its feet. How will the storm affect the tournament? What must Tiger do to qualify for the BMW? The answers, and of course, our winner picks are all in this week’s FanHouse golf roundtable.

?

Permalink?|?Email this?|?Linking?Blogs?|?Comments

View original post here:
Deutsche Bank Championship Roundtable Preview

Read more.