Golf's Costume Contest

Sometimes it's hard to be a golf pro. When you meet someone for the first time and tell them you're in golf as a career one of the most common responses is "do you wear those funky clothes"? The stigma surrounding golf fashion is well deserved. After ditching neckties and knickers golf has toiled in 50+ years of the worst fashion in the history of sport. Pick the decade you think had the worst pop-fashion (the Golf Potato says the 1980's) and know, really know, during that decade golf styles were infinitely worse.

In light of today's holiday tradition we will take a look at those who still seem to be putting on costumes. Welcome to the 1st Annual Golf Potato Costume Ball!

Golfer: Ian Poulter Costume: The Claret Jug

No, that image of the oldest trophy in the game was not Photoshopped on to Poulter's pants. A few years ago he decided to disguise himself as the Jug during the British Open. That's like wearing the t-shirt of the band you're going to see, don't be that guy (PCU all rights reserved).

Golfer: John Daly Costume: Holy Cow Look At That Guy!

I don't even know where to start. What I really want to know is how bad is the shirt underneath the windbreaker? The outfit as is makes one want to wretch, but with the right shirt, it could be even more putrid.

Golfer: Jesper Parnevik Costume: Thrift Store

The airline lost his luggage and he made a quick stop at a Salvation Army buying only items with the 50% off colored tickets. At least that's what I hope happened to put this mess together.

There are plenty more out there. Comment with your entries for the 1st Annual Golf Potato Costume Ball! Happy Halloween!

2009 Mashies Pt.3

The finale! Three awards will finish this year off. One award for futility and two for excellence because in the Golf Potato's world the glass is two thirds full.

2009 Shank of the Year - Padraig Harrington, PGA Championship, Hazeltine Hole #8
One week removed from a massive pitch shot shank into the drink at the WGC Bridgestone (Shank of the Year runner-up by the way) Paddy provided us with an entire hole of shankerrific fun. Hackers of the world simultaneously rejoiced with cries of "Heck, I could do that". Here's the gruesome footage:


2009 Shot of the Year - Tiger Woods, WGC Bridgestone, 16th Hole, 3rd Shot
For the second year in a row Tiger takes the cake. Following a poor drive, Tiger punched out to 180 yards and hit an 8-iron into the par-5 16th. Yes it's as sick as it sounds. The shot took an epic duel between Woods and Padraig Harrington and blew the lid off it, with Harrington falling apart in it's wake.


2009 Tiger Woods Player of the Year - Tiger Woods Let's face it, the Player of the Year award should be renamed as such because the odds are he's gonna win every year. Even last year with an injury shortened season and double major winner in the form of Harrington, Woods had a legitimate case for 2008 POY. Here are the stats for 2009; six wins (lead the Tour), 68.05 scoring average (lead the Tour), over $10 million in winnings (lead the Tour), FedEx Cup winner and baddest golfer on the planet.

2009 Mashies Pt. 2

On with the show. Our next category deals with tournaments rather than players, more specifically the majors. Fans of the game such as myself gear our entire golf watching year around the four men's major championships. Sorry ladies but it's tough to get pumped about the Kraft Nabisco or the McDonald's; it's why I still care more about the Tour Championship than the FedEx Cup. So do you want the good news or the bad news first? Me too.

Worst Major of 2009 - The U.S. Open This was a really close race my friends. Closest vote in the one year history of the Mashies. The U.S. Open at Bethpage won out because in the end nothing really went right, other than tee shots. Zing! For starters this was one of the most anticipated venues to return to for a major championship because the first one was fantastic. The big story through the first three days, however, was that they had barely gotten two rounds in thanks to biblical rains and this thing might take until the PGA Championship week to finish. By the end of three rounds two guys had separated themselves from the field and unfortunately it wasn't Tiger and Lefty, it was Barnes and Glover. Oh yeah, Ricky Barnes, owner of maybe the worst swing in professional golf and Lucas Glover, the most well read player on Tour. Watch out ratings, here we come! There were moments during the final round that it looked like Phil might capture the most unlikely U.S. Open of his numerous bids, and for a second David Duval was on the cusp of making us all believers again. In the end though Duval got a terrible break in a fairway bunker, Hunter Mahan hit the greatest shot of his life only to have it springboard off the pin and lead to bogey and Phil did what Phil does in the U.S. Open.

Best Major of 2009 - The British Open Odd to have the best major of the year be one that Tiger missed the cut but it happened. After the first round the fans of major championship golf gave Tom Watson a hand for shooting 65 and sharing the lead. This was great because odds were now Tom would make the cut and have a few seconds on Sunday as he walked up the 18th to get an ovation from the crowd for having played all four days despite fading into a distant finish. Then a miracle happened, Turnberry turned back the clock to 1977 and Tom Watson was leading coming into the 72nd hole. I have never heard or answered the question "can he do it?" so often in a three day stretch. Let's face it, the story was phenomenal and despite the fact that Tom basically fainted over the par putt on the last hole this was as compelling a major to watch as any I have seen. Stewart Cink's birdie at the 72nd hole is unlikely to ever get the credit it deserves, nor will his first major victory. Cink is an immensely talented player, to the point that his winning a major championship came as no surprise to fans of the game. His win, however, will be forever drowned out by the clamor for unthinkable history to be made and what almost was.

Golf Potato 2009 Mashies Pt.1

Even with a few events still to play out I think it is safe to start doling out some awards. The year end awards handed out by the Golf Potato will forever be known as Mashies. There is no acronym, just a play on potato serving options and obsolete golf clubs. Mashies are not all for excellence either, some are awarded for futility and indifference as well. With that being said the first Mashie for Wittiest Award Title goes to the Golf Potato for us of the word Mashie! I'm stunned! I gladly accept this award on behalf of myself. A moment please...thanks, just needed to gather myself before presenting the rest of the Mashies.

First category is Male/Female Young Spuds of the Year - These two Mashies are awarded to the break through performers of the year that are either in their rookie season or cannot legally drink alcohol in the United States.

2009 Female Young Spud of the Year - Jiyai Shin Shin has three victories and cracked the $1.6 million dollar mark so far this year. As it stands right now she leads the Rolex Player of the year race thanks to being 4th in birdies, tied for 1st in putting and tied for 2nd in driving accuracy.

2009 Male Young Spud of the Year - Rory McIlroy Okay, this will be the last time I say this for 2009, but oh my McGod this kid is my hero. All he did was win the Dubai Desert Classic, finish top ten at the Masters, T-3 at the PGA and he's just turned 20! He is currently edging out Martin Kaymer for the top spot in the European Tour Order of Merit. Like the Tiger Woods of Northern Ireland this kid has been under a microscope since before he could read. And like Tiger he is delivering on the promise at an early age.

Next we have the Comeback Players of the Year.

2009 Female Comeback Player of the Year - Catriona Matthew This was a no-brainer. Matthew had her 2008 season cut short by trying to play while five months pregnant! Just a few months removed from popping the kid out she won the HSBC Brasil Cup in late January of '09 and then the Women's British Open. Hi Mom!

2009 Male Comeback Player of the Year - Phil Mickelson Wait, didn't Phil have a good 2008? Yes he did, with two wins and over five million in earnings it was right around all of his non-major years as far as quality. Phil actually gets the award for his "comeback" within the 2009 season. After claiming two early wins Phil left to tend to his wife who was diagnosed with breast cancer. Lefty came back and almost won the U.S. Open and then left again only to have his mother diagnosed with the same disease. A second "comeback" for the FedEx Cup Playoffs ended with a win at the Tour Championship and second only to Tiger Woods in the FedEx Cup.

Stay tuned for the Best and Worst Majors, Shot of the Year, The Annual Tiger Woods Player of the Year Award and many more...

Golf Potato Gets It Right At Least Once!!

So we won the President's Cup...Yeah! With a lead of any sort going into the singles I think retaining the cup was pretty much a forgone conclusion. What we all were really interested in were my predictions for the singles matches, right? My predictions turned out to be like Sex Panther; 80% of the time they worked, every time. Actually six out of twelve I picked the winner and I feel extra credit is in order for calling two halved matches, disregarding of course, that they were ultimately different matches than I had predicted. The Golf Potato did get one match dead on: Tim Clark over Zach Johnson 4&3. Nailed it! Do I know my pint sized South Africans or what?!

The real end result of the President's Cup is that of interest and entertainment. The team match-play format is still compelling and the Solheim Cup and President's Cup were this fan's two favorite events to watch this year.

The Sunday singles list and previews provided by PGATour.com with the Golf Potato's predictions. I will be so bold as to not only pick the winner but the final score; watch out kids, it's getting crazy in here.

Sunday's Singles

CAMILO VILLEGASCareer record:0-3-0 overall, 0-0-0 singles
vs.
HUNTER MAHANCareer record:3-4-1 overall, 0-1-0 singles
Match time: 12:10 p.m. ET (9:10 a.m. local)Analysis: Villegas has played in three matches but has yet to win in his Presidents Cup debut. Like the Colombian, Mahan sat out Saturday afternoon's Four-Balls so both should be rested. Granted, the American hasn't won a Singles match in the last two Cups, but his consistency should win out. Golf Potato Says: Mahan 4&2

ADAM SCOTTCareer record:7-10-2 overall, 1-2-0 singles
vs.
STEWART CINKCareer record:8-7-2 overall, 2-1-0 singles
Match time: 12:21 p.m. ET (9:21 a.m. local)Analysis: Scott got off to a good start with Els in picking up a Foursomes victory, but he hasn't won in three matches since. On the other hand, the normally steady Cink has only contributed a half point in his four matches. But the erratic play that has marked Scott's season -- and made him a controversial Captain's Pick -- could be exposed in Singles while the fiery Cink, who is 2-1 in Singles, has the opportunity to turn his Presidents Cup around. Golf Potato Says: Cink 5&4

MIKE WEIRCareer record:13-9-1 overall, 3-1-0 singles
vs.
JUSTIN LEONARDCareer record:8-11-3 overall, 1-3-0 singles
Match time: 12:32 p.m. ET (9:32 a.m. local)Analysis: Weir was extremely steady in his two Four-Ball matches with Els, both of which resulted in victories. He's 3-1-1 in Singles at The Presidents Cup, too, including a win over Tiger Woods two years ago, so he will be hard to beat. Leonard will always been remembered for that putt he made at Brookline to win the Ryder Cup in 1999, but his record overall in Singles is 1-4-2. Go figure. Golf Potato Says: Weir 2&1

ROBERT ALLENBYCareer record:7-12-3 overall, 1-2-1 singles
vs.
ANTHONY KIMCareer record:2-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 singles
Match time: 12:43 p.m. ET (9:43 a.m. local)Analysis: Allenby is one of the game's premier ball-strikers, but his putter has been suspect this year. He does have a winning record at 2-1-1 this week, but he'll be the lone ranger in his match on Sunday. Kim appeared to regain some of his fire in Saturday afternoon's Four-Ball win with Jim Furyk, so he could be tough. Who can forget his Ryder Cup Singles match with Sergio Garcia where the American was so focused he didn't realize he'd closed the Spaniard out? Golf Potato Says: Halved

GEOFF OGILVYCareer record:3-5-0 overall, 1-0-0 singles
vs.
STEVE STRICKERCareer record:9-5-0 overall, 1-1-0 singles
Match time: 12:54 p.m. ET (9:54 a.m. local)Analysis: As good as the Aussie is, this has all the makings of a lopsided American victory. Stricker was on fire in his Four-Ball match Saturday afternoon -- making six birdies, including four straight on the front nine. Stricker has a chance to become just the third player to go undefeated at The Presidents Cup, and the way he's playing, don't bet against him. Don't forget, though, that Ogilvy has twice won the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, so he knows what he's doing. Golf Potato Says: Ogilvy 1up

ERNIE ELSCareer record:16-11-2 overall, 3-2-0 singles
vs.
SEAN O'HAIRCareer record:1-2-1 overall, 0-0-0 singles
Match time: 1:05 p.m. ET (10:05 a.m. local)Analysis: Even though O'Hair is a rookie, this could be an interesting match. The American caught fire on Saturday when he and Phil Mickelson teammed for a win in Foursomes and a come-from-behind tie in Four-Balls. Els has a 3-1 record this week with two wins in Four-Balls, so he's obviously playing well. Not to mention, the Big Easy has the experience and a 3-2 mark in Singles, to boot. Golf Potato Says: Els 3&2

RYO ISHIKAWACareer record:2-2-0 overall, 0-0-0 singles
vs.
KENNY PERRYCareer record:7-8-0 overall, 2-1-0 singles
Match time: 1:16 p.m. ET (10:16 a.m. local)Analysis: It had to happen -- old vs. young, the 49-year-old Perry against the 18-year-old Ishikawa. Perry sat out Saturday afternoon so he could rest for Sunday's competition. Ishikawa has shown flashes of brilliance this week, but he obviously has little experience in single match-play competition. Win or lose, Sunday's match will be a learning experience. Golf Potato Says: Perry 2&1

TIM CLARKCareer record:5-7-2 overall, 0-2-0 singles
vs.
ZACH JOHNSONCareer record:4-4-0 overall, 0-1-0 singles
Match time: 1:27 p.m. ET (10:27 a.m. local)Analysis: The South African Clark has been one fiesty competitor this week, even though his record (1-2-1) doesn't reflect it. He hit the shot of the day to win Friday's Four-Ball match, and he knows how to come up big in match play -- he beat Woods earlier this year at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. Johnson has split his four matches this week. At the Accenture Match Play in 2006, he took third place; otherwise, his singles record in match play events is spotty. Golf Potato Says: Clark 4&3

Y.E. YANGCareer record:2-0-1 overall, 0-0-0 singles
vs.
TIGER WOODSCareer record:17-11-1 overall, 3-2-0 singles
Match time: 1:38 p.m. ET (10:38 a.m. local)Analysis: On paper, it's the juiciest match-up of the day, with Woods likely chomping at the bit to gain some revenge after losing the PGA Championship when Yang rallied to beat him on the weekend. Woods was carried most of Saturday by teammate Steve Stricker -- including the Four-Ball match when they beat Yang and Ryo Ishikawa -- but he produced heroics when needed to win Saturday morning's match. Woods, however, has lost his last two Singles matches at The Presidents Cup. Golf Potato Says: Woods 3&2

VIJAY SINGHCareer record:16-15-2 overall, 1-4-2 singles
vs.
LUCAS GLOVERCareer record:2-6-0 overall, 0-1-0 singles
Match time: 1:49 p.m. ET (10:49 a.m. local)Analysis: Singh didn't exactly come to Harding Park in top form, but he's yet to lose this week (two wins, two halves). Singles have not been his strong suit in this event, though. Glover, meanwhile, has lost all three of his matches with partner Stewart Cink, but he did play bogey free in Saturday afternoon's Four-Balls. Golf Potato Says: Singh 5&4

RETIEF GOOSENCareer record:11-9-3 overall, 3-1-0 singles
vs.
PHIL MICKELSONCareer record:14-13-10 overall, 1-3-3 singles
Match time: 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. local)Analysis: This will be a rematch of the 2003 Presidents Cup when Goosen beat Mickelson 2 and 1. Goosen should be well rested, having sat out Saturday afternoon's Four-Balls. But he's yet to win a match this week. Mickelson, meanwhile, has yet to lose one, and he's been the most consistent performer of any player at Harding Park, winning three matches with three different partners. Golf Potato Says: Mickelson 4&3

ANGEL CABRERACareer record:3-6-3 overall, 1-0-1 singles
vs.
JIM FURYKCareer record:15-9-3 overall, 4-1-0 singles
Match time: 2:11 p.m. ET (11:11 a.m. local)Analysis: Cabrera has yet to produce a point in three matches, but he also struggled at the 2005 Presidents Cup before halving his Singles match against Phil Mickelson. To no one's surprise, Furyk has been solid this week, winning five out of a possible eight points. Before losing to Retief Goosen two years ago in Montreal, he had not lost in Sunday singles. Add his Ryder Cup record, and he's 8-2-1 in singles. Golf Potato Says: Furyk 1up

FedEx Cup 3.0

With time to digest this years' version of the golf "playoffs" I find the taste in the back of my mouth growing more bitter by the day. After watching the newest edition of the of the points system yet again culminate in somebody winning a tournament and yet not claiming the largest prize I still wonder about the validity of this whole thing. I still don't believe Padraig Harrington when he says "At dee enduv yore cah-rear dayer gone-a ask humany FedEx Cuups didya wiin? An be keeeepin an aye out fore dahnew why-et goff balls in evry box o' Looky Chahms!" I can't see history caring about the number of FedEx Cups you win and here's why;

The Misnomer: To call these "playoffs" is a joke because there is nothing playoff about them. Playoffs don't have points systems and they certainly don't allow for someone to not win the finale and yet still take home the trophy. The model was based off the wrong individual sport, car racing, and not say tennis. Under this years' revised system we still saw a scenario in which Tiger actually didn't even need to play any of the playoff tournaments and still would have finished third in the points heading into the Tour Championship. With the reset and enormous favoritism towards the top five point earners Woods still would have won the Cup and the bonus money for not playing a playoff round and finishing second, as he did, in the Tour Championship. That's like letting a football team skip the playoffs, go directly to the Super Bowl, lose, and still walk away with the Vince Lombardi trophy. The system also afforded Jim Furyk a shot to win the Tour Championship and thereby win the Cup despite the fact that he hadn't won a tournament all year. That's like calling a band the Lone Rangers, it makes no sense. Let the points system determine a seeding order, but the "playoffs" need to be single elimination i.e. match play. I've heard the argument that Tiger may lose in the second or third round if it were match play and no one would watch from there on out. I would. For the same reason I would still watch a Wimbledon final even if Federer gets bumped early in the tournament. They don't cancel a tournament because they didn't get who they wanted in the final and it's no less exciting if the quality of play is there. Plus if you want a putt on the last hole to be worth ten million dollars (which is what Tim Finchem has prayed for for three years now to no avail) the odds are definitely better with a match play format. Speaking of the $10,000,000 here's my next problem with the FedEx Cup...

The Money: That's all this thing is about. There is no prestige that can be built from cold hard cash in an individual sport. The four majors and probably the Player's could be contested for zero dollars and they would still have the strongest fields and highest viewership. Bobby Jones didn't get The Masters going with much more than a few invitations and the chance to play against the greatest golfers of the day. It's the Green Jacket the players play for, not the money. The guys on Tour want to win those tournaments because they can define a career, not for the lion's share of the purses (which consequently aren't much bigger than a regular tournament). Plus the way the system is set up it the FedEx Cup works out to be more of a performance bonus than anything else. With all the problems surrounding sponsorship for events it becomes sort of a big step back to award a bonus to someone for playing well all year. How did you feel when the boys with the largest yearly earnings at AIG gave themselves bonuses? Granted, the AIG boys performed poorly and got the bonuses, but the slap in the face must leave a similar sting to those events that may not have the money to press on with certain players not in their fields. Tiger made ten million and change during the season and then received a bonus of the same amount for his efforts thanks to the Cup. One of the tournaments Woods won to help earn the original ten million, The Buick, is disappears after this year. Hmmmmmm.

Solution: Version 4.0 needs to be what the PGA settles on because there is no tradition being generated from an ever changing system. If the PGA won't here my plea for match play then the field should be whittled down to 125 players at the beginning of the "playoffs" for a stroke play format. The low 90 scores play the weekend of the first event and the other 35 are cut. The next playoff event is played but the cut is made Friday based on the low 70 aggregate scores over the first 108 holes. Get it? The format continues this way with a winner of each tournament but the FedEx Cup being decided by the lowest total of strokes throughout the playoffs. This way it forces the players to play the events rather than considering to maybe skip one or two because their points are such that they can afford to do so. It also makes for a much more likely scenario that either a single putt or penalty stroke could determine the FedEx Cup winner. If you want to reward consistent play make them keep all the strokes and the player with the best "playoff" run will end up with the top prize.