June 25…
“FYI the night game is one of the best in the season! Let’s all get hammered!”
-John Frost
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With scheduling issues necessitating John Frost to play his Masters qualifying round alone and unsupervised, the Tour braced for the inevitable controversial result.
“I like the idea of the pressure being put on Frost to carry the burden alone and having to live with his choice to be a teller of truth or a deceptive opportunist.”
–Gerry Vaughan on John Frost playing his qualifying round alone, and unsupervised.
“If he came out and didn’t play well, that was going to be a waste of his time, and if he did come out and he did play well, nobody was going to believe him.”
–Patrick Bird on John Frost’s surprise decision to pull out of the Qualifier.
“I thought he would have filled out a scorecard at least. But you know, if he’s unwilling to drive down here just to get the scorecard, then what can you do.”
–Clint Crump
“I think having to tell the truth was weighing heavily on his head. I don’t know his motivation, I don’t know how John Frost thinks. But I think the important thing is, he’s capable [of pulling shenanigans] because we’ve seen it. [But] maybe he’s grown up a little bit, maybe he’s matured, maybe he’s found some respect for the Tour and his fellow golfers.”
–Gerry Vaughan
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July…
A 4-way tie for first had the commissioner shaking in his boots at the thought of the logistical nightmare a 4-man playoff would trigger. But when the Vargas group’s scores were tallied the unprecedented playoff was averted and Walter Vargas found himself Masters champion for the 2nd time in his career. Travois Gordón became the first defending Masters champion to finish last.
1. W. Vargas
T2. D. Vargas
T2. T. Joe
“The current #1 has 20 strokes on some people. We are all men. Let’s play like men damnit!”
-An aggravated Walter Vargas on (what else) the handicaps.
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“Can someone start a fire in the surrounding area the night before? It makes for more captivating pics for the website. Bird, you busy saturday night?”
-Rene Quiroz, who failed to qualify for the Masters, missing the tournament for the first time
in 4 years.
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“Seems like a distant memory given everything in my life that has occurred since.”
– defending champion Travois Gordón on his performance in 2014
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“I just woke up.”
-P-Jay Fidler, a last minute replacement, as he walked up to the 1st tee
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“I like that start for Nik.”
-Tour Champion Marty Witt after Nik Freitas’s poor tee shot on the first hole.
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“Get ready for another 100.”
-Doug Vargas after his tee shot on the first hole.
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“If this tee doesn’t work, I swear I will take out all the tees and stab you with them.”
-Doug Vargas, unhappy with the tees his brother Walter had given him.
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“I’m so glad I didn’t have to go get my clubs.”
-John Mann, at first in a 4-way tie for the win, after finding out they had been bumped from first after the next set of scores were calculated.
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“I never heard ‘F this hole’ so many times.”
-defending champion Travois Gordón on his group’s day.
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“This is my home course and I just feel comfortable here even not having golfed in forever. [I] feel like I can just come out here and put together a decent round. I’m surprised that I won, really.
It’s awesome.”
-2015 Masters champion Walter Vargas
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“Who’s complaining about handicaps now, Walter?”
– Travois Gordón after Walter Vargas’s win.
“Makes the website exciting and worth reading again for all!”
-Walter Vargas after reading about his Masters victory.
“It just feels good that Travis went from first to last in a year. That’s just amazing. I don’t think that’s ever happened.”
-Walter Vargas
Martin Witt’s improbable win at Devil Ball netted him his first win in the tournament and 9th career victory. His clutch bogey on the final hole of the championship round saw him defeat elite players Chris Moawad, Doug Vargas, and Nik Freitas, straight-up with no handicaps.
1. Witt
T2. D. Vargas
T2. Freitas
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“Sorry, won’t be able to make it. Will be attending 40th birthday on Saturday. I know I will be getting shit faced that night making it almost impossible to manage an early wake up Sunday morning. Just keeping it real.”
–Rene Quiroz
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“It’s hard to believe that it’s been, what, [10] years on Tour? We all have kids, and sometimes you gotta make a decision. You know, you miss a soccer game here and there, and I did plenty of that, [but] it’s like, daddy needs his day too.”
–Chris Moawad on his Devil Ball start, the 90th tournament start of his MGM career, placing him 3rd on the all-time list, 4 back of charter members Armen Grigorian and Tim Joe.
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“Of course P-Jay likes this tournament because he rides my back all the way to the championship round, and then when I’m tired, that’s when he takes advantage.”
–Walter Vargas after hearing this is the only tournament P-Jay Fidler has never missed
in his career.
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“I never thought I’d win Devil Ball. None of these I ever think I’d win, and now I’m finally winning.”
-Martin Witt after winning the 2015 Devil Ball Shootout
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“All goes up in smoke now.”
-Clint Crump following the end of the best ball and devil ball portion
“We need a birdie or a beer. Both begin with a ‘b’.”
–P-Jay Fidler at the turn
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“But oh so heavy.”
–Tim Joe to P-Jay Fidler after Fidler remarked that the devil ball was lighter.
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“I feel like I played 27 fucking holes.”
-Chris Moawad after his rough day on the course
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“Oh, he went straight to hell at the end. He lost his [mind], it was so hard. The last 2 holes he was just babbling.”
-Martin Witt on teammate Nik Freitas’s first Devil Bal experience.
“I wish Travis was here so I could rub it in his face.”
-Marty Witt following his win.
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“In Crocs!”
-an incredulous P-Jay Fidler on Marty Witt’s victory
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“Amazing and hilarious! Congrats Witt. A grown man who wears crocs in this day. That’s some confidence right there.”
–Rene Quiroz
Nick Freitas (beginning to fade): The thing that gets me is how shitty quality of the devil ball.
Patrick Bird: Maybe Willy J will consider getting a better type.
Martin Witt: If you think that crap ball hasn’t factored into his diabolical scheme of hatred, you’re an idiot.
August…
5-time champion Walter Vargas missed the Survivor Challenge for the first time in his career due to an elbow injury, swinging the door wide open for a new champion (Moawad notwithstanding). Despite a 4th straight year of declining attendance there was still drama and excitement. Doug Vargas, who came into the tournament with 3 straight runner up finishes, finally bagged his first win of 2015. He became the first golfer not named Walter or Chris Moawad to win the Survivor since Gerry Vaughan (2007).
1. D. Vargas
2. Mann
3. Freitas
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“Feel better Wally.
Now, if somebody can Tonya Harding Moawad maybe we can open this bitch up.”
–John Mann
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“Some victory lap. More like a stumbling around the track.”
-Patrick Bird on 2014 Player of the Year Travois Gordón missing another tournament.
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“It’s a little bit more pressure I think now, because it’s just gonna be more intense because everybody’s gonna be fighting for that spot. Hopefully Moawad will have a bad shot early on. It only takes one bad shot, and you’re done.”
–Clint Crump when asked if the confidence level of the field went up with news of Walter Vargas’s withdrawal.
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“It’s weird. 8 out of 9. What’s the deal with that because there’s not any other tournament that’s like that. It’s hard not to imagine maybe there’s a little mischief going on.”
-John Mann on the dominance of Walter Vargas and Chris Moawad at the Survivor.
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“People know Wally’s got his weird little swing and his weird little short game. Of a lot of clownish tournaments, the Charly comes to mind, this one is definitely closer to the clown level of competition. But I think that’s why people love it, and also there’s that voyeur factor to find out who’s gonna be the first man out.”
-John Mann on the appeal of the Survivor, despite the dominance shown by Moawad/Vargas.
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“I actually don’t notice when Walter’s here or not, for any tournament.”
-Gerry Vaughan when asked if he felt his chances to win improved with the absence of 5-time champion Walter Vargas.
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“Thanks for telling me that. I wasn’t thinking about that. Now I’m stressed out.”
-Nik Freitas after being told that with each hole he avoids elimination he gains Player of the Year points on the absent and current #1 Martin Witt.
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“It didn’t shoot up because I know Moawad’s here, and he’s bigger kryptonite for me.”
-John Frost on his confidence level after hearing Walter Vargas was a non-starter.
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“Need a putter?”
-Chris Moawad to Doug Vargas (who had forgotten his putter), after Tim Joe was eliminated on the first hole
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“Is there a cap on playoffs?”
–Chris Moawad after John Mann and Gerry Vaughan headed to a triple playoff on the 5th hole. The triple playoff was just the 2nd in tournament history.
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“I got kids at home waiting to go to the movies, fuck!”
-Doug Vargas after John Mann and Gerry Vaughan headed to a triple playoff.
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“It’s easy to hate Moawad.”
-Gerry Vaughan after Chris Moawad’s near hole-in-one on the 3rd hole.
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“Chris, how does it feel to know that everyone is rooting against you?”
-John Mann as Chris Moawad and Doug Vargas headed to a playoff.
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“This is good news. If Chris is out, we all have a chance.”
-John Frost as Chris Moawad and Doug Vargas headed to a playoff.
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“That was gonna be great ‘til it wasn’t.”
–Chris Moawad after his tee shot on the 5th hole took a bad bounce after hitting something in the fairway. Moawad would eventually land in a double playoff where he would be eliminated.
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“When you have so many trophies, you don’t want it as much.”
–John Mann on Chris Moawad’s struggles on 6 and eventual elimination.
“I gave up fantasy football this year to play this fucking tournament so I better win.”
–Doug Vargas heading to the final hole against John Mann.
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“Well, now a TRUE golfer is gonna win. Someone with a TRUE golf swing is gonna win this event.”
–Eventual champion Doug Vargas, prior to the start, on the news of his brother Walter’s withdrawal.
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October…
In just his 9th career start Ed Quiroz wins the MGM Tour’s club championship, pulling the “double” with best net and gross. Quiroz set a new course record for pars and matched the back-9 course record. With half the field missing, the Tour’s club championship suffered its worst attendance since 2009.
1. E. Quiroz
2. Witt
3. Gordón
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“You know, we could maybe just play nine holes and start later if you want. I think Sylmar is still under curfew that early in the morning.”
-Gerry Vaughan on the location of this year’s Tour Championship
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“Holy shit. Doug’s here before me?”
–Chris Moawad
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“I think that’s unfair of John Mann. He was never in Vietnam. I don’t know how he would know what that stare would be.”
-Gerry Vaughan when told John Mann had described Vaughan has having “that Vietnam vet 200yd stare” before withdrawing mid-round in last year’s Tour Championship.
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“By ‘cold’ he means vagina.”
-Chris Moawad after hearing Clint Crump withdrew due to a cold.
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With rain prior to the round, John Frost’s absence drew notice from those in attendance:
“It’s just disappointing. [A] Tour veteran and someone who comes out and is very competitive and uses every advantage to his advantage. For him to flake out just because a little weather is weak. It’s just disappointing.”
-Gerry Vaughan
“We’ve seen it before. He’s a pussy when it comes to rain.”
-Travois Gordón
“He needs to look into some of those waterproof maxi-pads.”
-Martin Witt
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“No matter how your day goes just know that your opening drive
was further than Chris Moawad’s.”
-Marty Witt to Tim Joe
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“Fuck!!! I was dreading he would win before me!! Good for that skinny fuck. I’m proud of him, I guess. I’ll hug him later.”
-Rene Quiroz, when told his brother won the Tour Championship (his first major and just his 9th career start).
For the first time in his career, Martin Witt was named Player of the Year. His impressive season included 2 victories (Griffith, Devil Ball), 5 top-3’s, and a runner-up finish as defending champion in the Tour Championship. Like 2013, Doug Vargas entered the Tour Championship ranked #1 but was unable to hold his lead, finishing runner-up for Player of the Year for a 5th time.
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“Last night was probably a bad choice to go large [at Octoberfest].”
-Doug Vargas after finishing 7th in the Tour Championship, costing him Player of the Year.
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“This is getting ridiculous. I’m gonna fucking be so pissed off on the drive home, I’m gonna be cussing and yelling at myself. This is gonna hurt more than when I lost Rookie of the Year, and I was upset for a week when I lost that.”
-Doug Vargas after losing Player of the Year, finishing runner-up for a 5th time.
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“Only two golfers showed up for every tournament? Sorry. Maybe a point system that more heavily favors just showing up like kids’ sports today. But we’d need something that deters Chris.
I’ll get back to you.”
-Gerry Vaughan following the final rankings
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December…
With the only winners of this event – Walter Vargas, Chris Moawad, Armen Grigorian – absent, a new winner was guaranteed in this year’s Tournament of Champions. Ed Quiroz, in just his 3rd start of the year, made history by becoming the first golfer to win the Tour Championship and Tournament of Champions back to back.
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1. Quiroz
T2. D. Vargas
T2. Fidler
4. Frietas
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“We’ll see how it goes. I feel like I haven’t swung a club since 2012.”
-P-Jay Fidler on his first appearance in the Tournament of Champions since 2012.
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“It’s actually really nice. I’m checking out the first hole and it’s actually too nice for some of these guys.”
-Ed Quiroz on his first impressions of Terranea
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“I’m becoming a professional sandraker.”
P-Jay Fidler, picking up the bunker rake, after Tim Joe’s comment that Fidler’s shot out of the sand was like a professional’s.
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“Driving in I was like, whatever happens today
I’m stoked, just because it’s a beautiful day, playing an incredible golf course.”
-Nik Freitas
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“I wish they can all come out here and take a look to [remind themselves] what the prize is for winning [a tournament]. People come 2 or 3 strokes short, if they just saw this they could spend a little more time focusing [on their game].”
–Doug Vargas on those who don’t regularly make the cut for the Tournament of Champions.
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“I’m just excited to be holding this big cup. I’m admiring the cup right now. It’s a beautiful day, there’s the ocean, but this trophy is taking the cake.”
-Ed Quiroz
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“This is inspiring. I wanna win again so I can come back. I wanna play here all the time. There’s nothing like it. It’s a great reward. You feel like a champion.”
-Doug Vargas on the Tournament of Champions
2015 Season Birdie Club
Chris Moawad (3) – Manhattan Beach Championship
Doug Vargas (2) – Charly Classic, The Masters
Tim Joe (2) – Manhattan Beach, The Masters
Gerry Vaughan – Manhattan Beach Championship
P-Jay Fidler – Charly Classic
Martin Witt (2) – The Masters, Tournament of Champions
Birdie Pool Earnings: T.Joe ($19), Moawad ($10), Vargas, Fidler ($5 each)
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A Review and Salute to the Champions of 2015:
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Manhattan Beach Championship: Clint CRUMP
Charly Classic: P-Jay FIDLER
Hooters: John FROST/Chris MOAWAD
Match Play Invitational: Nik FREITAS
Griffith Observatory Championship: Martin WITT
The Masters: Walter VARGAS
Devil Ball Shootout: Martin WITT
Survivor Challenge: Doug VARGAS
Tour Championship: Ed QUIROZ
Tournament of Champions: Ed QUIROZ
Player of the Year: Martin WITT
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QUOTE COUNT:
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Doug, 18
Chris, 15
Nik, 15
Gerry, 13
Mann, 12
Frost, 11
Marty, 10
Travois, 10
P-Jay, 9
Walter, 9
Clint, 8
Bird, 7
Rene, 4
Ed, 2
Tim, 1
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The MGM TOUR will return January 2016