They’re off and running. Four professional golfers who have called Tucson home…got off to a nice start on their prospective tours. Former U of A stars Rory Sabattini and Nate Lashley, and Rincon/University High grad Michael Thompson all made the cut during last weeks Sony Open in Hawaii. George Cunningham had a nice result in the Bahamas on the Korn Ferry Tour…finishing fourth…his highest finish yet on that tour.
Jim Furyk, the former U of A All American, who played on the national championship Cat’s squad…turns 50 this year…and if he wants…can start playing on the Champion’s Tour. He doesn’t turn 50 until May, so he would not be able to play in the upcoming Cologuard Classic in Tucson in February. Earlier this week he said that he will sprinkle in only a few tournaments on the senior circuit, while concentrating his time on the regular PGA Tour. Only Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have won more money that Furyk on tour. Last year he passed the $70,000,000 mark.
Dan Pohl, PGA Pro
Be sure to listen this this week (January 18th, 8 am, ESPN/Tucson, 1490 am) to the Golf Arizona Show. We’ll have former PGA great and U of A grad Dan Pohl on the show. Pohl won two PGA tournaments and almost had a third…losing in a playoff to Craig Stadler in the Masters in 1982. Pohl was a very consistent scorer and money winner, winning the Vardon Trophy in 1987, as well as playing that year on the Ryder Cup team. Pohl went on to have a successful career on the Champions Tour and then in the broadcast booth. He was an on course commentator for NBC and currently hosts his own radio show in Phoenix.
Slo No Mo
The PGA is changing its pace of play, effective at the RBC Heritage the week of April 13th. While it’s not so evident during television broadcasts…players are becoming increasingly testy over methodical players (ie Bryson DeChambeau, JB Holmes) and the PGA is listening.
The biggest change is to time and punish individual offenders rather than groups. There will also be an observation list, which won’t be made public…and penalties for “excessive shot times” for players who take more than 120 seconds to hit a shot. Players who can’t beat the shot clock will be docked a stroke. The European Tour is even taking a more aggressive approach, fining slow pokes as much as $50,000.
