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PGA Tour Sleepers To Watch In 2013

Alex Myers — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:45:00 GMT

Our bold list of 13 lesser-known PGA Tour players we expect big things from in 2013.

J.B. Holmes 'close to 100 percent' after split day results in a 62

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 17:44:00 GMT

(Photo by: Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

CROMWELL, Conn. -- J.B. Holmes wasn't too pleased about having to stop mid-round Friday -- he was already four-under through eight, sitting in the middle of the ninth fairway when the lightning horn sounded. Then again, considering the year he's had, a rain delay barely registers on the adversity meter.

Only seven months removed from successful brain surgery to release pressure at the base of his skull, Holmes put together one of the most impressive rounds of his PGA Tour career with an eight-under 62 at the Travelers Championship -- leaving him one behind defending champ Frederik Jacobson, who he'll be paired with for the afternoon third round. An impressive feat without the history of major surgery; Holmes' Friday-Saturday dominance of the TPC River Highlands was amplified by the fact he played the second half of his round in considerably different conditions.

"It was a lot softer [today]," Holmes said. "The balls were backing up where yesterday it was just kid of holding, so it was a little bit different going in. You had long irons into the greens because your ball wasn't going as far."

Related: J.B. Holmes swing sequence

While having to end his day in the middle of such a good round was definitely not preferred, Holmes' first shot on Saturday -- a wedge shot that landed three feet from the cup on the par-4 ninth -- started his day nicely. "[The rain] made it where you could really go at the pins a little bit more." A tap in birdie closed out his front nine with a 30, which he followed up with a four-birdie, one-bogey 32 on the back.

"I played well yesterday, and I came out today and... hit the ball really well. I've hit it well everyday," Homes admitted, before realizing he's only played two rounds in the three days. "Didn't score very well the first day, but I've been hitting the ball really well since."

As one would expect, Holmes' started his 2012 season slow coming off of the surgery. But with two top-20 finishes in his last two starts, and now in the final pairing for Saturday's third round, he feels his game is almost back to 100 percent. "I'd say I'm pretty much there. Stiff neck when I wake up in the morning, stuff like that, but for the most part I feel comfortable."

With only a couple hours to reflect on the 62 before starting his third round, Holmes wasn't too concerned about the layoff. "This is my seventh year out here. I've done this before." Adding that he expects the course to be "a little bit better in the afternoon."

He then put it in perspective.

"I'm just happy to be out here."

-- Derek Evers
Follow @derekevers

Klauk to undergo first of three possible brain surgeries

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:30:00 GMT

You don't hear brain surgery associated with golf too often, but a second golfer on the PGA Tour will be forced to undergo brain surgery in less than a year's span.

Jeff Klauk will have one of three possible surgeries necessary to remove a "spot on the brain" that has caused epileptic seizures since 2006, as reported by the Florida Times-Union yesterday.

(Jeff Klauk with his wife Shanna after he won the Melwood Prince Georges County Open on the Nationwide Tour in 2008. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images)

Back in September, 2008 Ryder Cup and two-time PGA Tour winner J.B. Holmes underwent successful surgery to remove pressure on his brain. Holmes' recover was rather quick--the University of Kentucky grad has played in eight events in 2012, nine including this week's Valero Texas Open, and finished in the top 10 twice.

Klauk, who made $1.24 million in 2009, his rookie season on the PGA Tour with three top-10s and a T-14 at The Players Championship, told the newspaper that the first surgery taking place today will be more of an exploratory one, which will then be followed by at least one additional surgery to remove the brain tissue causing his seizures.

PGA Tour: Fantasy Fix: Valero Texas Open

Alex Myers — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

We discuss the ongoing post-Masters lull, General Tso's chicken, Kevin Love's untimely concussion, and of course, this week's PGA Tour stop.

J.B. Holmes takes another positive step in his comeback

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:51:00 GMT

After failing to reach the top tier of the putting surface from only 116 yards on the third hole of last week's Waste Management Phoenix Open, J.B. Holmes threw his club.

It was a sign of great frustration, obviously, and who could blame the guy? Here, after all, was the kind of vulnerable par 5 the long-hitting Holmes, a two-time winner of this tournament, usually tames with little difficulty. Now he'd have to struggle to make par, which he didn't.

Yet the reaction was also a sign of great encouragement -- a sign that Holmes, five months after brain surgery to repair defects in his cerebellum, is inching his way back toward normal. Forget all the talk about the surgery lending him a new perspective on life. Holmes gets all that. He also gets that he is a professional, a proud one at that, which means he is focused on returning to the player he was before, and as quickly as possible.

"It's no fun playing bad," said Holmes, 29, who tied for 45th in his first 72-hole finish since last July. "I'm not hitting the shots I normally hit."

PGA Tour: Fantasy Fix: Waste Management Phoenix Open

Alex Myers — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

We discuss the Kyle Stanley's collapse, this week's PGA Tour stop, and make a prediction for Super Bowl XLVI.

PGA Tour: Fantasy Fix: Farmers Insurance Open

Alex Myers — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

We discuss NFL kickers, the greatest comedy of all time, Bubba's new wheels, and of course, this week's PGA Tour stop.

GW Monday: Is Q School about to change?

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:32:00 GMT

From the Dec. 12 issue of Golf World Monday:

For all the angst it has caused since it began in 1965, PGA Tour Qualifying School has also been a gateway of dreams and an on-ramp to bigger things. Survive the stress, earn a card -- the rest was up to you. It's no surprise, then, that news of the potential demise of this enduring institution after 2012 has created a lot of chatter.

Brendon Todd was recently medalist at Q School.

The PGA Tour is considering changes that would stop Q school from being a direct path to the PGA Tour. Currently, cards go to the top 25 on the Nationwide Tour money list (the class of 2011 is shown) and 25 from Q school.

Instead, all 50 PGA Tour cards would be determined through a three-tournament series comprised of Nos. 1-75 on the Nationwide Tour money list and 75 players (Nos. 126-200) who didn't qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs. Q school would be only for earning status on the Nationwide Tour.

Several factors are behind the potential shake-up, including the PGA Tour's attempt to obtain a new sponsor for the developmental circuit after Nationwide departs next year and the fact that players with Nationwide Tour experience have retained their PGA Tour cards at a much higher percentage than those without it (87 percent vs. 13 percent in the last six years).

Related: Five historic Q School grads

Still, during that same period J.B. Holmes, Anthony Kim, Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson and Rickie Fowler (among others) went from college to Q school to PGA Tour success. The success of those young stars, a couple of whom the tour utilizes in its marketing, will make it difficult to completely end Q school as we know it.

-- Bill Fields

(Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Still recovering, Holmes forced to withdraw from Shark Shootout

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:15:00 GMT

The comeback of J.B. Holmes from brain surgery was put on hold Monday when the PGA TourÂ¹s longest driver called tournament host Greg Norman to withdraw from the Franklin Templeton Shootout.

Feeling that he wouldn't be competitively ready, Holmes pulled out saying he didn't want to disrespect the event. He had surgery for Chiari malformation of the brain on Sept. 1 at John's Hopkins University Medical Center. Doctors just cleared him to hit driver last Friday.

"I'm not a guy who likes to quit, but I physically I havenÂ¹t been able to walk 18 holes and with five rounds of that, I donÂ¹t know where I'd be," Holmes said. "I'm just not ready. It stinks to say that, but when you get right down to it that's as simple as it gets."

Holmes was scheduled to play with Kenny Perry. They finished second in 2009. The tournament will replace Holmes with Scott Stallings, rookie winner of The Greenbrier Classic.

"If I could have been cleared earlier it might have been different," Holmes said. "I understand people would have been understanding but it still would be on national TV. I don't want to hit some shots that are normally not possible, but with the situation we're in now are possible."

-- Tim Rosaforte

J.B. Holmes has successful brain surgery

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:10:00 GMT

J.B. Holmes is out of surgery and resting at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore after a 90-minute operation Thursday morning to relieve pressure on his brain. Dr. George Jallo, a neurosurgeon and specialist in Chiari Malformation, told Holmes' family that the surgery was a success.

"Everything went great," said Holmes manager, Terry Reilly. "There was significant pressure on the base of the skull. It was a lot tighter than what they thought from the MRIs. The doctors feel like it's really going to help him."

Holmes has complained of vertigo-like symptoms since the Players Championship in May. He is expected to return to competition in three months.

-- Tim Rosaforte