How It’s Done: Andres Gonzales at the Greenbrier Classic

PGA TOUR ROOKIE ANDRES GONZALES demonstrates the chip-and-run shot to perfection on the 15th hole of Old White at The Greenbrier Classic. Gonzales, self described as “half man, half amazing,” went on to card a 69 on Thursday but slipped to a 74 on Friday to miss the cut.

Gonzales is perhaps best known for his one-way Twitter conversation with Tiger Woods. It began this way:

“@TigerWoods my name is andresgonzales and I am a rookie on tour. I like elephants.”

Tiger was his idol growing up. Now Gonzales wants to be friends. And perhaps play a practice round with the 14-time major winner. A tweet in June:

“@TigerWoods qualified for the open today. Hate to say I don’t need a roommate because my family is coming. But I would be up for a p. round.”

And on July 2:

“My wife is at my sister’s bachelorette, so I found a different party. I need a date. I doubt you’re here but it’s worth a try...@tigerwoods?”

So far, no Tiger. No matter, the 28-year-old rookie is having fun.

Webb Simpson and Brendon de Jonge are tied for the 36-hole lead at The Greenbrier Classic. 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman is one shot back. Phil Mickelson missed the cut.

−The Armchair Golfer

Rory McIlroy in Command at Augusta

RORY MCILROY WILL TAKE A four-shot lead into the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. McIlroy fashioned a solid 70 on Saturday while his closest pursuers failed to mount a charge. Patient and poised, McIlroy birdied three of the final six holes to put himself in position to not only win his first major, but to do it in dominating style with a wire-to-wire romp through the world-famous former nursery.

But it’s not over.

The Irish phenom must survive a pressure-filled Sunday to earn his spot along the game’s greatest champions at America’s most exclusive golf club. Those who hope to have something to say about the outcome include the quartet at 8 under that trail McIlroy’s 12-under total. They are 2009 Masters champion Angel Cabrera, Charl Schwartzel, K.J. Choi and Jason Day.

Adam Scott and Luke Donald are another shot back at 7 under. Bo Van Pelt is alone in eighth at 6 under.

Carding a 74, Tiger Woods lost all the momentum from his exciting Friday charge up the leaderboard. His putting woes continued after the flash of the old Tiger. Whereas the putter used to save Tiger time and again, now it’s the most troublesome club in the bag. This isn’t new. I first noticed putting problems on Sunday’s back nine in 2008 when Trevor Immelman won. It happens to all the greats.

Keep an eye on that Cabrera character, especially if McIlroy stumbles on the way to Butler Cabin. Angel slipped into Kenny Perry’s Green Jacket two years ago and swiped the U.S. Open trophy from Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk at Oakmont in 2007.

But Rory will do it if his mind is right on Sunday. I don’t know how he could look more ready.

−The Armchair Golfer

Golf Fix: 100th South African Open

IF YOU’RE A GOLF nut who can’t get enough golf on the tube, my tip is the 100th playing of the South African Open, this week’s event on the European Tour and Sunshine Tour. (The PGA and LPGA tours, of course, are idle. The Asian Tour is playing its season finale, the Black Mountain Masters, which is televised throughout Europe, Asia and Australia.)

Played at Durban Country Club, the South African Open field includes South African golf stars Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Tim Clark, Trevor Immelman and Louis Oosthizen, the current British Open champion. Thursday’s first round was delayed by heavy rain and will resume on Friday.

Dating back to 1903, the South African Open is one of the world’s oldest golf championships. (The oldest, of course, is the British Open, or The Open Championship, as non-Yanks call it.) Gary Player has won his homeland’s tournament 13 times. Player’s first victory came in 1956, the last in 1981. Fellow South African Bobby Locke won nine times from 1935 to 1955. Els has four South African Open titles. Goosen, Immelman and Clark have two wins apiece.

Els assessed his year and chance this week in his online diary.

“I came out of the blocks pretty fast and won twice in March during the Florida swing,” Ernie wrote, “but after the US Open my game went off the boil and it’s been a struggle to get things back on track. But, as I’ve said in my last few updates, during the last month or so there have been signs that the hard work I’ve put in has started to pay off. If I can roll the ball well on the greens this week, then I can finish the year on a high note and hopefully win my fifth national championship.”

2010 South African Open TV Schedule

All U.S. TV coverage is on Golf Channel.

Friday, 12/17
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM ET

Saturday, 12/18
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM ET

Sunday, 12/19
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM ET

−The Armchair Golfer

(Image: Harry Lime/Flickr)