Sizing up the TV coverage from the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial ... and away we go.
Every tournament on the PGA Tour has a type of player that seems be best suited for the specific layout. At Colonial, one of the oldest stops on tour, ball-strikers have usually thrived on a course that was once home to one of the great ball-strikers in the game -- Ben Hogan.
On Sunday at the Colonial, another one added his name to the Wall of Champions, as David Toms wiped the memories of his playoff defeat at the Players away, and went on to win on one of his favorite courses.
"The last time he won was when he was 39, so he's never never won in his forties," said CBS's Jim Nantz, before going down Toms' resume. "This is a veteran U.S. player with great pedigree. He won ten years ago at Atlanta Athletic Club, where the PGA Championship will return this year. We're also talking three Presidents Cups, three Ryder Cup teams. You look at the pedigree of David Toms, and he really does fit the pedigree of a Colonial champion, doesn't he?"
At that point, you actually assumed Nantz was going to ask the more important question that's been kicked around for a while now: does David Toms deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, with his current credentials?
It's a valid question. But instead of asking something that's been a hot topic of late, we were left listening to Nantz and Faldo answer a question we all knew the answer to.
More follows ...
Shocker! Slow play on the PGA Tour
During Sunday's final round, CBS's cameras caught Paul Goydos and Mark Wilson on the 14th hole, a whole two holes ahead of the second-to-last group of Stuart Appleby and John Senden.
"This is the group ahead of Senden and Appleby," Nantz noted. "They're on 14, while the other group behind them is a full two holes behind them."
"Well, they'll be on the clock very quickly once they walk off the hole," Faldo said. "
"Well, neither of these players is particularly quick," said Kostis. "They were pretty much in position until Stuart's tee shot [on 12]."
So Senden and Appleby are now both considered slow players? If this list keeps growing, every player on the PGA Tour -- sans Rory Sabbatini -- will be considered slow on the course.
Senden a great player?
CBS's on-course crew of Peter Kostis, Ian Baker-Finch and Gary McCord talked critically about John Senden's putting. While most wouldn't know Senden from John Merrick, the three commentators said the Aussie would be a household name ... if he just knew how to putt.
"He's just not feeling it with the putter today," said Ian Baker-Finch, after Senden missed another 8-footer.
"If he could putt with the way he strikes the ball, from tee to green ... man, he would be a force." Kostis said.
"Yes, Peter, he gets very, very frustrated with it, too. It really just holds him back and keeps him from getting up to the next rung on the ladder," said Baker-Finch.
Gary McCord's suggestion for Senden's struggling putter? "I'd get him to start using the belly putter like fellow Aussie Adam Scott, because he's too good to be fumbling around on these greens."
Based on the glowing reviews for the oversized stick, you'd think everyone on tour would be using one.
The truth about Colonial
With massive storms ripping through the Dallas-Fort Worth area this week, players had to contend with some big wind gusts throughout the week. The need to keep the ball low on the course led to an interesting discussion between Ian Baker-Finch and Nick Faldo.
"The wind funnels up and down the holes here at Colonial, and if you get the ball above the trees, anything can happen. We've been sitting at 17 all day and have seen disaster from almost every group," Baker-Finch said.
"The thing is, Ian, is that it isn't a bump and run golf course. You still got to flight it and carry the bunkers and the false fronts on the greens. It's not like you could just play a total ground game."
"That true, Nick. Normally in the wind, like at a links style course, you can bounce the ball around, but here you must fly the bunkers as well."
Janet Jackson Georgianna Robertson Reese Witherspoon Jordana Brewster Laetitia Casta
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