On a day when PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem announced his tour would oppose the USGA’s proposed ban on anchored putter, and on a day when Matt Kuchar won his second huge tournament in less than 10 months, the PGA Tour bit a fond farewell to the West Coast for the the 2013 FedEx Cup season.
Yes, the tour will be back in California later this year at the Fry’s.com Open near San Jose, but that will be part of the new wrap-around season for the 2014 FedEx Cup. The eight West Coast events of 2013, played in Hawaii, California and Arizona, and now finished. The tour move to Florida, where many pros begin their preparation for the Masters.
So what did we learn from the West Coast swing this year? First, Tiger and Phil are anything but fading away. Both scored impressive victories that have to have the folks at the Masters salivating over the prospect of a Woods-Mickelson showdown at Augusta National.
Matt Kuchar continues to climb into the status of elite player (AP photo)
Second, we do have to take Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker seriously as challengers for pretty much any tournament they play. Kuchar now has a Players Championship title and a World Golf Championship title in the last 10 months. Snedeker has a Tour Championship, a FedEx Cup title and a torrid start including a win at Pebble Beach this year. What is there not to believe here.
From this point forward there will be no more talk of players getting off to fast starts or coming off of solid off-seasons. We will hear talk of players getting ready for the Masters and getting their games into shape for Augusta National and the rest of the majors.
So long West Coast Swing. We’ll see you again in 2014.
