At the Tournament of Champions, low numbers abound for most of the field, as the greens continue to be very soft and receptive, and the winds have yet to pick up at Kapalua.
Robert Garrigus Leads
Robert Garrigus has a one shot lead at -14 over steady Carl Pettersson. Garrigus shot an amazing 63, which is -10 on the par-73 track at Kapaula. His back nine was completed in 31 shots, six under the par of 37 for that side. Garrigus hit ALL of his greens in regulation and had a putts per green in regulation of 1.556. Both stats are truly off the charts.
Bubba Watson Shot Encore
Bubba Watson hit the same shot he hit yesterday on #18, but was a few yards farther out. He hit driver off the deck for his 2nd shot again, carving it with the shape of the hole and nearly reaching the green again from roughly 315 yards. Despite a less-than-stellar chip, Bubba still made birdie. He’s -3 for #18 in two days so far.
Camilo Villegas Disqualified
While watching the first round live, I remember the shot Camilo Villegas hit from a divot. The ball rolled up the hill close to the green, stopped, then rolled back down to him. While the ball was rolling back to him, he brushed away some loose pieces of grass and dirt from his divot. I thought it was odd that he’d mess with the ground while the ball was rolling right toward him. The ball rolled right over, if not within inches of where he brushed away the loose impediments.
By rule, that action is illegal. Villegas did not penalize himself for moving loose impediments which could effect a ball in motion. By not penalizing himself, he turned in an incorrect scorecard and was disqualified. Ouch. Tough thing to have to swallow on your 29th birthday. That birthday present was delivered by a fan who called in the violation.
| Hyundai Tournament Of Champions Leaderboard |
| 1 |
R. Garrigus |
F (-10) |
-14 |
| 2 |
C. Pettersson |
F (-6) |
-13 |
| 3 |
J. Byrd |
F (-5) |
-12 |
| T4 |
E. Els |
F (-9) |
-10 |
| T4 |
S. Stricker |
F (-6) |
-10 |
| T4 |
F. Molinari |
F (-6) |
-10 |
| T4 |
J. Furyk |
F (-5) |
-10 |
| T8 |
D. Johnson |
F (-7) |
-9 |
| T8 |
B. Crane |
F (-3) |
-9 |
| T10 |
I. Poulter |
F (-5) |
-8 |
| T10 |
B. Lunde |
F (-5) |
-8 |
| T10 |
B. Haas |
F (-3) |
-8 |
| T13 |
J. Day |
F (-7) |
-7 |
| T13 |
G. McDowell |
F (-5) |
-7 |
| T13 |
M. Kuchar |
F (-3) |
-7 |
Villegas is now a TaylorMade player
This was a sticky issue back in August 2010 when word got out that Camilo Villegas was switching from Cobra/Titleist to Taylormade. Camilo’s contract wasn’t up yet, and such announcements are not supposed to happen while the player is still under contract.
I’m not up to speed on the status of a law suit between Cobra and TaylorMade, but the word today is that this deal is now done. Camilo Villegas is officially a TaylorMade tour staff player.
Camillo Villegas, a long time Cobra/Titleist guy, will be joining the Taylormade-adidas tour staff starting in 2011.
Villegas, 28, will play TaylorMade® clubs, a TaylorMade ball, wear TaylorMade headwear, wear a TaylorMade glove, use a TaylorMade staff bag and wear adidas Golf footwear. More details on the relationship between Villegas and TMaG will be revealed on September 9.
Currently Camilo is ranked 25 in the world, but ranked #1 with the lady golf fans…
I like the new fashions of these new guns on tour. For one, they’re bringing more attention to the sport and they’re also creating entire product niches and markets with the white belts, fancy belt buckles, pastel and neon colors, diva sunglasses etc.
I only wish I was the brilliant one who coined the descriptive phrase “metrosexuals on tour” in reference to the Phoenix Open. That came from a forum thread over on The Golf Space. I’d already come up with my own name for the tournament, which I thoroughly enjoyed by the way. “Battle of the white belts.”
We have Rickie Fowler in contention, wearing some very killer but slightly feminine Puma gear. Those amazing Puma Cell Fusion shoes he was wearing are the same ones I’m reviewing right now. Stay tuned. Winner Hunter Mahan was sporting a white belt and cool sunglasses which looked to be a combination diva/Elvis style. No sideburns though unfortunately. Camilo Villegas was completely decked out in what I’d call “tightie whitie.” His whole outfit was white and fit very tightly. Ya gotta have the body for that kind of getup, like me. Right.
Other quotes… Hmm. “Battle of the flat bellies” (except for Mark Calcavecchia) or the other good forum quote: “put on ice skates and they would have fit in with the Olympic Men’s Figure Skating competition.”
I think these guys are cool. I’m really looking forward to the next few years on tour to see how they develop.
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