Mark Wilson Bests Jason Dufner on 2nd Playoff Hole at Waste Management Phoenix Open

Was the wait worth it in Scottsdale? It was for Mark Wilson as he beat Jason Dufner on the 2nd playoff hole to win the 2011 version of the Waste Management Open. His birdie on #10 capped a stellar weekend for the Wisconsin native as he was able to piggyback his beloved Packer's Super Bowl win last evening. Coupled with his previous Oahu win, Wilson stands atop all the early 2011 standings. With two wins he's now qualified for all of this year's majors and the WGC Match Play event.

The morning action began with Wilson holding a tenuous lead. Dufner made up two strokes in the last four holes to force the extra session with birdies on 16 and 17. Wilson and Dufner finished at -18. Fan favorite Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey spit the bit on the drivable par four 17th with a triple bogey 7. It was an expensive hole. Still, Gainey gained fans by virtue of his homemade swing with the Palmeresque lash in the finish and his solo use of two gloves on tour. This average golfer's glad he earned a good week's pay.  Final Full Field Scores.

What's next?  

The three top ranked golfers in the world, Westwood, Kaymer, and Woods head to the appearance fee fest known as the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.The quality of the Euro Tour fields are giving the PGA Tour a run for it's dinero. Expect to see more of the same in a game that's growing internationally while stagnating domestically.

Most everyone else heads to Pebble Beach for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am, aka the APBNPA. I think I injured a finger typing one of the longest tournament names. Defending champ Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson headline the entrants in a tourney that's sort of lost it's luster over the years. IMHO it's the quality of the celebrities playing, or lack thereof, that's caused the demise. Sorry Mr. Murray and Romano, it's time to step aside for Brooklyn Decker and the rest of her friends.   







Swing hard, look up.....

Calcavecchia Wins Waist Management Phoenix Open

Mark Calcavecchia, despite finishing 9 strokes behind the title event winner Hunter Mahan, captured the adjunct tournament, the Waist Management Open, with a final round 74, -7 total, and 250+ pounds at Thursday's weigh- in. Calc's 1st victory of the season proved he's still a force to be reckoned with as he approaches 50 and that "other" tour. Calc was quoted as remarking after his victory, "Hey, just walking 18 holes should count as a win. If it's hilly it should count as a major." Pre-tourney favorite John Daly was disqualified for having lost too much weight after his recent lap band surgery. There's no truth to the rumor though that Daly, Camilo Villegas, and Charles Howell III will be forming a separate tour for players under 135 lbs. By the way, Hunter Mahan captured his 2nd career PGA win in the regular event, finishing at -16. Final WMPO results.

Ice Cream! Get Your Ice Cream!

Make mine a double scoop with sprinkles. Who could fault the uninitiated from mistaking this pair for a couple of ice cream vendors. I'm no fashion plate and have no bone to pick with tour pro's ensembles, but does the likes of Puma, et al, expect these get ups to translate to public sales? Color me skeptical. What I'd really love to see is Calcavecchia in Fowler's duds. On second thought...

Til' next,