D.j.Trahan Posts -- FanHouse

Monday Pin Placement: Kenny Perry Got Lucky 13 For His Dad

Posted: Feb 2nd 2009 1:30PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA

Every week, Monday Pin Placement will run as a wrap-up of the weekend's action, with a little commentary mixed in. This past weekend, FanHouse was out at the FBR Open, a tournament known more for its party atmosphere than its golf.

Kenny Perry Nearly Made Me Emotional -- On Friday, Kenny Perry walked in the press room after a smoldering 63 that got him back in a tournament that he nearly shot himself out of on Thursday with a 1-over 72. When he started chatting, it was the same old story you get from any golfer. "I made birdie here, I missed an eagle putt there, I felt I hit the ball solid, it was a good day for me around the greens." Yawn. We've heard all that before, Kenny.

What I wasn't ready for was this. Perry started talking about his ailing father and how he felt he needed to play good golf just keep his father alive.

Winners and Losers From U.S. Open Week

There hasn't been a big golf tournaments of memory where I heard more casual golf fans say things like, "I can't peel myself away from golf, this is great TV."

People that normally think golf is more pointless than a Matthew McConaughey movie were glued to the television like their uncle was in contention, even playing hooky to see if the pool boy could actually hold off the titan.

Here are the winners and losers from a week that will be remembered in U.S. Open history for as long as people play blade irons.

Winners

Tiger Woods -- If he had been 100 percent healthy, the interest level would have dropped tremendously. Instead, the bum knee made Tiger actually, gulp, human. We saw him wincing, yelping, pouting and in the end, prevailing. It might not have been the sexiest performance of his 14 major wins, but it was definitely the most thrilling. The next time anyone doubts Tiger Woods, think back to June 12-16, 2008. The man really can do it all.

Rocco Mediate -- He lost and it was disappointing for anyone that loves an underdog sports story, but could you have picked a more perfect foe to battle Tiger? Gracious, quirky and a little abnormal, Mediate threw every pitch he had at Tiger and still couldn't strike him out. He might not have won a trophy this week in San Diego, but he made us all realize how much fun true competition can be.

Handicapping the U.S. Open Leaderboard

I really can't remember the last time I've found the U.S. Open more enjoyable. A tournament that usually has people looking like the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, the course has been fair and the players have appreciated the set-up.

Also, it never hurts when Tiger Woods, after eight weeks off from competitive golf, is one shot back, making fist-pumping eagles and shooting a completely alien five-under 30 on the back nine yesterday.

You've had Phil Mickelson do things that, well, don't surprise you from Phil, Ernie Els bring form to the U.S. Open that we haven't seen since Brett Favre was winning a Super Bowl and even a caddy--spectator fight!

Before you tune in to coverage this afternoon, check the list of players in the top-10, their current position, some facts about them and the FanHouse odds on them winning.

FanHouse U.S. Open Media Guide, Page 15

Posted: Jun 11th 2008 6:37PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA

We've come to the end, so enjoy your last (extended) installment of the FanHouse Media Guide.

D.J. Trahan -- CUT -- At 27, he's one of the better golfers on tour nobody's heard of, winning the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic earlier in the season. His dad recorded 13 career aces, which makes me hate Poppa Trahan 13 times more than I hate a normal person.

Jonathan Turcott -- DNP -- A terrible start to the year, Turcott didn't cash a check in his first five Nationwide tournaments. A little better of late, Turcott has made six of his last eight cuts.

Kevin Tway (a) -- DNP -- Son of 1986 PGA Championship winner Bob Tway, Kevin can hold his own, winning the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2005. A freshman at Oklahoma State, Kevin will have dad on the bag to help out around Torrey Pines.

Scott Verplank -- t-7 -- A trivia question to stump your buddies, Verplank is the only American golfer to record a hole-in-one in Ryder Cup competition. Also, in a fit of lunacy, said the Bryon Nelson Championship is a "fifth major" after he won in 2007. In unrelated news, the Augusta National golf committee still won't allow me a spot in the Masters because they don't consider the "Lakeside Fourth of July Scramble" a professional golf victory.

Camilo Villegas -- t-26 -- The Sand Trap has a pretty good outline on why people love Villegas, I just haven't landed on board yet. He has never won a PGA Tour event but continues to finish high enough at the end of the year to retain his card. Oh, and he's really strong looking.

Nick Watney -- CUT -- A win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last season was his first on tour, but he's having more trouble in '08. He's only missed two cuts, but he isn't finishing his rounds, breaking 71 just once all year in the final round.

Bubba Watson -- t-5 -- Maybe my favorite golfer on tour, Bubba hit a drive in 2006 398 yards. Watson's wife Angie played in the WNBA and is an inch taller than him. He's struggled some this season, carding only one top-10 in 16 starts.

Boo Weekley -- t-26 -- His two wins on tour came at the same event, the Verizon Heritage. Was asked once what season it was, and answered "deer." I haven't found online evidence that Boo is a member of Mensa, though I have a hunch.

Mike Weir -- t-3 -- Weir has made seven of nine cuts at the U.S. Open and five top-10s, a stat that is pretty definitive of the caliber of player he is. A tie for second at the Memorial two weeks ago has Weir in top form heading to a tournament some feel he could win despite his length.

Lee Westwood -- t-5 -- Westwood hasn't had a top-10 finish in a major since 2004, but he did make the cut in all four last year and in the Masters earlier this season. According to Wikipedia, he supports a soccer team named the "Nottingham Forest" which even my weird brain can't believe is true.

Brett Wetterich -- CUT -- The 2006 Byron Nelson champion hasn't had a great year, with his best finish a tie for 36. His dad started teaching him golf at age 2, the same time my parents were finally figuring out what to call me.

Dean Wilson -- t-30 -- Wilson is one of those guys that without checking, you know was born in Hawaii. A winner of the now deceased International in 2006, Wilson has made six cuts heading into the U.S. Open.

Jeff Wilson (a) -- 59 -- Wilson, 44, won the Southern California Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship with rounds of 67-66-73 and finished third in the Santa Barbara City Championship before heading to U.S. Open qualifying.

Oliver Wilson -- CUT -- I've never heard of this guy, but he's got an awesome homepage and he drinks Sugar Free Red Bull. Nobody believes me that Red Bull is good for you, but Wilson drinks it and is third on the European Tour Order of Merit so it must do some good.

Casey Wittenberg -- t-36 -- Pretty interesting, Wittenberg shot a four day total of 296 at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, the second best score ever by an amateur. Playing well on the Nationwide Tour, he's currently 13th on the money list.

Tiger Woods -- WON -- Honestly, what else can you say? The U.S. Open starts tomorrow people and we get to see Tiger play for the first time in ages.

The U.S. Open

Australia's Geoff Ogilvy gestures on the fourth green during a practice round for the US Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego on June 11, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

U.S. golfer Jim Furyk watches his tee shot on the second hole during a practice round for the 108th U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 11, 2008. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Adam Scott of Australia watches his tee shot on the seventh hole during a practice round for the 108th U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 11, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Adam Scott of Australia smiles at the seventh tee during a practice round for the 108th U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 11, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Adam Scott of Australia hits a shot on the sixth tee during a practice round for the 108th U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 11, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Adam Scott of Australia (R) gestures as golf instructor Butch Harmon (C) and fellow golfer Rocco Mediate (L) of the US look on, on the third green during a practice round for the US Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California on June 11, 2008. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Adam Scott of Australia watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during a practice round for the 108th U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 11, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Adam Scott holds a camera on the fourth fairway during a practice round for the 108th U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines June 11, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Adam Scott of Australia hits a shot on the sixth tee during a practice round for the 108th U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 11, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES)

Reuters