Monday Morning Golf Recap

Trent1/25/2016 2:45 PM

Tournament Details

Name: CareerBuilder Challenge

Dates: January 21st – January 24th, 2016

Golf Course(s):

– La Quinta CC – La Quinta, CA | Par 72 7,060 Yards

– PGA West (Nicklaus) – La Quinta, CA | Par 72 7,159 Yards

– PGA WEST TPC Stadium Course | Par 72 7,113 Yards

– PGA West (Tournament) | Par 72 7,159 Yards

Purse: $5,800,000

2015 Winner: Bill Haas

Tournament Recap

Duf Daddy! Back in the winner’s circle! Finally. We all missed Duf. We all still miss Fat Duf but Dad Bod Duf winning tournaments will have to do for now.

And, if this picture is any indication, we might be seeing Fat Duf sooner rather than later

Or maybe that’s because he has his top button buttoned and his neck is gasping for air. Here’s to hoping Duf puts on enough weight where it’s no longer possible to button that top button. Anyway, it felt good to watch Dufner gets his first PGA win in two years. He’s kinda been out in the wilderness for a couple years since winning the 2013 PGA Championship. He lost a bunch of weight and got divorced from Amanda (this still hurts). And no, I will not be posting any pictures of Amanda in this blog because fuck her. She dropped Duf like a bad habit and took his dog after he stopped winning so she doesn’t deserve the publicity. If she tries to come crawling back to him now that he’s winning again he has no choice but to laugh in her face and then obviously take her back because she is super duper hot.

As far as the tournament goes Dufner was in control for most of it. Or at least it felt that way. Phil Mickelson threatened occasionally with his ridiculous chips around the greens (more on this later) and so did Canadian Adam Hadwin from time to time. It wasn’t until David Lingmerth* shot a 62 on Saturday did it look like Dufner might have some competition at the top. But even then, Jason held a two-shot lead over the field heading into Sunday so it looked like he just needed to play steady, hole a few birdies and take home the trophy. He did that but Lingmerth continued to charge. After shooting that insane 62 on Saturday he followed that up with a 65 on Sunday. Dufner shot a 70 on Sunday. That put them both at -25 for the tournament. You know what that means! #FreeGolf. Dufner bested Lingmerth on their second playoff hole after Lingmerth put his approach in the water. Duf Daddy closed it out with a par and captured his 4th PGA Tour victory. Here’s to hoping Slick Willie took Dufner out to a local strip joint to celebrate.

This is going to be a great year in golf. Tough to follow the spectacular year that was 2015 but all the pieces are there for 2016 to be awesome as well. We’ve got the young guns playing well, Mickelson’s newish swing appears to be fine and now Duf is in the mix. Tiger who?

*This might sound weird but Lingmerth has the weirdest body shape on tour. He’s got these super short arms and the lowest center of gravity these eyes have ever seen. There isn’t a person on the planet who could push David Lingmerth over. Even if they wanted to.

Dufner’s scorecards

Shot of the Week

It couldn’t be anything else. Jason Dufner’s par save on no. 17 on Sunday. Casual chip from the rocks. How? How did he do that? He didn’t sink it for the birdie but he gave himself a guaranteed par and it basically won him the tournament because it kept him in it. Bogey that and Lingmerth probably takes home the trophy at -25 in regulation. Just awesome.

Other candidates for SOTW (basically every shot Phil chipped around the green this weekend)

Here’s Phill chipping in on Saturday at the par-4 10th.

Here’s Phill chipping in on the Friday on the par-5 4th.

This would’ve been the SOTW had it not been for Dufner almost sinking it from the rocks. Any other week and this is it. Phil hitting the flag stick on the par-4 8th and moon walking it back into the cup. The best shot amongst a lot of great shots from Lefty this weekend.

Nailed it

Fan of the Week

Jordan Spieth’s drive in Abu Dhabi hits a spectator right in the ass and the announcers have a field day with it. “He’s gonna be standing at the bar tonight” is a great line.

Random shit

Rickie And His Joggers Get A Win At Abu Dhabi

Uh oh! The guy wearing joggers and high tops won a tournament! I’m seriously hoping Rickie wears his new look to Augusta National in April. Please please please. I’m actually really glad Rickie stepped up and won this tournament. For awhile there Ian Poulter’s name was near the top of the leaderboard and I couldn’t stand to write about him winning because he sucks. He sucks a lot. This win for Rickie will jump start the, “Is it now a Big 4 between Rory, Spieth, Day and Rickie?” conversation in a big way. Fine with me. All that means is it’s yet ANOTHER awesome young guy in a sport that is currently full of awesome young guys. If people wanna put him up there then go ahead. Regardless, this feels like the year Rickie “finally” (he’s 27. Rory and Spieth have fucked up the major championship curve for everybody) gets a major. Remember when that poll was released last year that said Rickie was one of the most overrated players in the game? LOL.

Let’s Talk About Bryce DeChambeau For A Second

Have you heard of this kid? If you haven’t then there’s a good chance you will. He played in Abu Dhabi this weekend. He’s 22, goes to SMU, wears a Ben Hogan-like hat, is a physics major and he calls himself “The Golf Scientist” Now right off the bat, I wanna hate the guy. I wish I didn’t feel that way but it is what it is. My first response is always to be skeptical. Anybody who gives themselves their own nickname can’t be fully trusted. But then the more I read about him the more interested I get. He thinks about the game in a way that I’m not sure we’ve seen before. His clubs are different than everybody’s. He’s analytical in a way others aren’t. Golf needs as many interesting characters as it can get and Bryce is interesting. Now of course all of this doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well. You can call yourself The Golfing Scientist and be thoughtful about the sport you play but if you don’t win then nobody will give a shit. He’s a guy to keep an eye on at least.

I Want One Of These Rider Things

That’s all I got. I just want one. I’m tired of walking.

(thanks to @wearegolf for passing along the video)

JOHN DALY WATCH

Looks like our man is headed out to the Qatar Masters #gripitandripityall