Season #10

[SteveHorn]

Duncan! After 10 years of rating a course it has evolved into my opinon. All courses start with a perfect score of (10) and I deduct points from there. But for some reason I only deduct by .05 or .10 for things instead of .5 or 1 or something like that. Hard to explain, its weird and I know it. After doing it for this long I believe I figured out how it translates in the old school scoring method of A or B or lower. Biggest factors are layout, playabilty,looks and fun factor. Deductions can come for many things but I don't like many courses that toy with playability. Example unfair pin. Know matter where you put your ball if you miss the putt it ends up 30 feet away. Another rare example would be a course that has had its textures speed or length you can hit it messed around with so much that its impossible to score anything (have to hit the putt on normal as hard as you can to go a max of 30 to 35 feet)

[sandwedge]

Hey Steve, wondering how the season is going - updates on the points list and tournaments? I like keeping up with these seasons.

[SteveHorn]

sandwedge! I'll be posting another big update soon. I'm currently playing The AT&T National. After 2 rounds at Joshua Ridge I'm at (-9) two shots back of the leaders. I'm currently still in 1st place in points with (74). My lead was fairly large at one time but Gary Woodland has moved into 2nd with (68) points and Bubba Watson has (67) points. More to come probably after I play The Open Championship which is just a couple tournaments out for me.

[SteveHorn]

Here's my 2nd post, an updated list of results and points leaders. Comments welcome

ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS – (STANDARD)
Course – Carolina Cottonmouth – (9.7)
Winner – Zach Johnson – (-20)
VOLVO CHINA OPEN – (STANDARD)
Course – Defiant Heart C.C. – (9.6)
Winner – Steve Horn – (-17)
THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP – (SPECIAL)
Course – TPC at Sawgrass 2010 – (9.7)
Winner – Bubba Watson – (-20)
BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP – (STANDARD)
Course’s – Barton Creek – (9.55) & Debien Fields – (9.55)
Winner – Steve Horn – (-22)
BMW – PGA CHAMPIONSHIP – (ELITE)
Course – Pine Haven (East) – (9.75)
Winner – Paul Lawrie – (-14)
THE MEMORIAL – (ELITE)
Course – Muirfield Village 2011 – (9.75)
Winner – Bubba Watson – (-14)
FED EX ST JUDE CLASSIC – (STANDARD)
Course – TPC Southwind 2010 – (9.65)
Winner – Dustin Johnson – (-17)
U.S. OPEN – (MAJOR)
Course – Medinah Country Club #3 – (9.6)
Winner – Gary Woodland – (-19)
BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN – (STANDARD)
Course – Gut Kaden – (9.75)
Winner – Bubba Watson – (-20)
AT&T NATIONAL – (STANDARD)
Course – Joshua Ridge – (9.6)
Winner – Steve Horn – (-27)
ALSTOM OPEN DE FRANCE – (STANDARD)
Course – Links at Donofrio Bay – (9.65)
Winner – Peter Hanson – (-15)
ABERDEIN ASSET MANAGEMENT SCOTTISH OPEN – (STANDARD)
Course – Castle Stuart – (9.7)
Winner – Jason Day – (-18)
THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP – (MAJOR)
Course – Muirfield – (9.4)
Winner – Steve Horn – (-28)

#1 Steve Horn 108
#2 Bubba Watson 80
#3 Gary Woodland 68
#T-4th Adam Scott 51
#T-4th Lee Westwood 51
#T-6th Bo Van Pelt 48
#T-6th Brendon de Jonge 48
#T-8th Steve Stricker 47
#T-8th Dustin Johnson 47
#10 Matteo Manassero 46
#T-11th Louis Oosthuizen 44
#T-11th Rory McIlroy 44
#T-11th Zach Johnson 44
#14 Chad Campbell 39
#T-15th Pat Perez 38
#T-15th Phil Mickelson 38
#17 Charley Hoffman 37
#18 Peter Hanson 33
#19 Justin Rose 32
#T-20th Martin Kaymer 31
#T-20th Keegan Bradley 31

[sandwedge]

Joshua Ridge is a nice course - good to see the Tour got out to a classic track this season. One question though Steve - How did you not get the win at Pine Haven (East)? Is it as tough for the architect as it is for the rest of us? Thanks for the update.

[SteveHorn]

Sandwedge! I try to fit most of my courses in the schedule somewhere during any season. Pine Haven East can be difficult in any conditions. Thats true with several other of my designs but not all. I'll find out this week if the West course is as difficult as it's the host course of the RBC Canadien Open. Actually I prefer a course that can be a challenge. To me it feels more like a true accomplishment if you can shoot 3 under or better on a tough course. I love Davids designs but Muirfield is to easy. My last two rounds I was (-21) shooting 61,60 my two best rounds ever in a tournament back to back. I'm glad he's redoing it but I still wish Royal Birkdale would get an updated version.

[SteveHorn]

OK ! I've reached my players season cut. After the first 37 tournaments if you have zero top tens you can't play in the final 10 events. Last season two big names missed the cut Tiger Woods & Keegan Bradley. This season both those players easily made the cut. Notables who missed this seasons cut are Ernie Els, Angel Cabrera, Davis Love 111, Stuart Appleby and Y.E Yang. A total of 128 players had at least 1 point to qualify for the rest of the season.
Here is the current top twenty and Tournament Results

RBC CANADIEN OPEN – (STANDARD)
Course – Pine Haven (West) – (9.65)
Winner – John Senden – (-21)
WGC BRIDGRSTONE INVITATIONAL – (ELITE)
Course – Firestone South – (9.6)
Winner – Bill Haas – (-17)
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP – (MAJOR)
Course – Oak Hill – (9.45)
Winner – Ben Crane – (-14)
WYNDAM CHAMPIONSHIP – (STANDARD)
Course – Whispering Ridge – (9.4)
Winner – Migual A. Jimenez – (-18)
THE BARCLAYS – (ELITE)
Course – The Platinum Course at Stoney Hills C.C. – (9.75)
Winner – Branden Grace – (-19)
THE DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP – (ELITE)
Course – UpState C.C. – (9.6)
Winner – Steve Horn – (-25)
THE OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS – (STANDARD)
Course – Cougills Keep G.C. – (9.6)
Winner – Ian Poulter – (-14)
THE B.M.W. CHAMPIONSHIP – (ELITE)
Course – Abernathy Estates – (9.55)
Winner – Steve Stricker – (-21)
POS NAME POINTS
#1 Steve Horn----------------132
#2 Bubba Watson------------100
#3 Steve Stricker--------------75
#4 Gary Woodlland------------68
#5 Brendon de Jonge----------67
#6 Rory McIlroy----------------64
#7 Matteo Manassero---------63
#8 Chad Campbell-------------59
#T-9 Lee Westwood-------------58
#T-9 Pat Perez-------------------58
#11 Dustin Johnson------------54
#12 Zach Johnson--------------53
#T-13 Keegan Bradley------------52
#T-13 Bo Van Pelt----------------52
#15 Adam Scott----------------51
#16 John Sendin---------------46
#17 Louis Oosthuizen---------44
#18 Spencer Levin-------------41
#19 Peter Hanson--------------40
#20 Charley Hoffman----------39

I have a pretty good lead over Bubba but there's alot of points avalible in the final 4 or 5 events. I don't think anyone else can catch me unless they have an incredible final 10 tournament finish. If I do hold on it will be my 3rd overall championship and first since season #6

[SteveHorn]

Season # 10 is coming to its end soon. I'm playing the HSBC-WGC Champions tournament currently at the fantastic (IMO) and difficult collaboration course Mill Creek. The field has been cut again to the top 80 for this tournament. There's no cut inside each tournament for the final 4 events. After this tournament the field will get cut again to 60 for the DP World Championship of Dubai, then 40 for the Tour Championship, then 20 for the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. Major Champions automaticlally qualify for all these events regardless of total points.
There's 103 points left total for the winners of these last 4 events. So mathematically alot of players are still alive but it would be like hitting the lottery for most of them. There hasn't been much movement in the top so my lead is good but far from comfortable. The courses are tough coming up so I hope I can hold on and win this championship.

70’ OPEN DE ITALIA – (STANDARD)
Course – Glendale C.C. – (9.6)
Winner – Steve Horn – (-21)
ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP – (ELITE)
Course’s – Autumn Winds – (9.4) Arcadia Bluffs – (9.9) The Old Course St Andrews – (9.35)
Winner – Aaron Baddeley – (-19)
THE PRESIDENTS CUP
Course – Muirfield Village 2011 – (9.75)
TEAM USA (15 AND ONE HALF POINTS). TEAM WORLD (12 AND ONE HALF POINTS)
FRY’S .COM OPEN – (STANDARD)
Course – Desert Shores – (9.4)
Winner – Dustin Johnson – (-21)
SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN OPEN – (STANDARD)
Course – The Communities Course – (9.7)
Winner – Jason Day – (-19)
THE BMW MASTERS – (ELITE)
Course – The C.C. at Terra Cotta Plantation – (9.7)
Winner – Ben Crane – (-24)
TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN – (ELITE)
Course – Gleneagle – (9.75)
Winner – Phil Mickelson – (-16)

POS--- NAME------- POINTS
#1 Steve Horn usa 142
#2 Bubba Watson usa 104
#3 Steve Stricker usa 86
#4 Matteo Manassero 72
#5 Gary Woodland usa 70
#6 Rory McIlroy 70
#7 Brendon de Jonge world 69
#8 Lee Westwood 69
#9 Dustin Johnson usa 68
#10 Pat Perez usa 65
#11 Zach Johnson usa 63
#12 Phil Mickelson usa 62
#13 Chad Campbell usa 59
#14 John Senden world 58
#15 Bo Van Pelt usa 54
#16 Ben Crane 54
#17 Spencer Levin usa 53
#18 Keegan Bradley 52
#19 Adam Scott world 52
#20 Louis Oosthuizen world 51
#21 Charley Hoffman usa 51

[bryce]

Steve,
Looks like you have quite a big lead heading down the stretch! I'm behind (time wise) in my current season, but I am also in the lead on the money list, barely over Adam Scott. I just won my first ever British Open by shooting a final round 66 at Murfield to win by 3. Good luck on winning the season, and close it out strong!

Doron

[sandwedge]

Steve Stricker always seems to make my top 5 every year. In fact, he kind of has the proto type game to decipher the AI in the game. I have got to say I enjoy these season replay posts being a stats guy. You get to see how the courses we have stack up to each other and also how the AI players perform. Not to mention you have a rooting interest in seeing the poster pull off the season victory - and in regards to another post, with a points system that is fair and competitive! Looks like a lock for you Steve this year unless you spill some beverage on the keyboard or mouse next week! I hear Bubba is thinking about having someone stop in during your round to do just that