Thanks to a breakout 2017-18 season that included his first PGA Tour victory, climbing into the top 100 in the Official World Golf Rankings and spending most of the year in the top 20 in FedEx Cup points, Andrew Landry was in the right place for consideration to play in this weekend’s QBE Shootout.

The QBE, hosted by Greg Norman in Naples, Florida, is one of those “silly season” events where PGA players can have fun and significantly enhance their bank balance without much stress. Only 24 players — 12 two-person teams — get to play in the 54-hole tournament.

Most of the big names don’t participate because they don’t need the money and prefer down time with family around Christmas. Consequently, QBE organizers wind up putting together some unusual teams as they work their way down the money list.

Landry, who has had a slow start to the 2018-19 season, jumped at the opportunity to play competitively one final time before opening the 2019 portion of his season in the Tournament of Champions. He wound up being paired with Englishman Luke Donald, a former world No. 1 attempting a comeback.

Donald, now No. 547 in the OWGR, reached the top of the rankings in 2011 when he was both the PGA and European Tour Player of the Year, and the leading money winner on the PGA Tour. Poor play and injuries, the latest a herniated disc in his back, have plagued Donald for several years.

When he and Landry tee it up Friday, it will be only Donald’s third tournament since April. He missed the cut in two European Tour events played last month but was said to be pleased with his play and how his back held up.

Despite the fact that he and Donald are the longest shots in the field at 33 to 1, Landry is excited about the opportunity. They have played a few practice rounds together over the years and have been paired a couple of times in PGA Tour events.

Format for the tournament is scramble on Friday, modified alternate shot on Saturday and best ball on Sunday. With just 12 teams in the field, Landry should get some TV time — Golf Channel 12:30-3:30 Friday, 12:30-1:30 Saturday and noon to 1 p.m Sunday, and NBC 1:30-3:30 Saturday and 1-3 on Sunday.

Highest ranked players in the event are No. 5 Bryson DeChambeau (paired with Kevin Na), No. 9 Tony Finau (paired with LPGA star Lexi Thompson) and No. 17 Bubba Watson (paired with Harold Varner III). Defending champions are Steve Stricker and Sean O’Hair.

Easily the most intriguing pairing is Finau and Thompson, the only female in the field. Despite the fact she has to play from the men’s teams, they pulled a
shocker by finishing fourth last year.

Favorites on the betting line, meanwhile, are Kevin Kisner and long-hitting rookie Cameron Champ, who has quickly become a player to watch because of his booming tee shots.

Though the odds are seemingly against him and Donald, it’s a no-lose deal for
Landry. He’ll collect a significant check, get to sharpen his game in a competitive format and have an opportunity to enhance his profile. And, of course, crazy things can happen in partnership play.

CHIP SHOTS

Mark Eddingston of Nederland recently bagged his seventh hole in one.

Playing at Beaumont Country Club, Eddingston sank a 7-iron tee shot on the 145-yard, fourth hole.

Witnesses were Jim Arisco, Jason Landry and Jay Baklik …

There was another hole in one of note recently, although not on the local scene.

Playing with Fred Couples and his nine-year-old son Charlie, Tiger Woods aced the 210-yard, second hole at Madison Club in LaQuinta, California. He used a 5-iron …

Tiger’s hole in one was notable, not because it was his 20th but because it was his first in 20 years. Considering the thousands of players who have celebrated aces since Woods last did in 1998, it pretty much underscores how much luck is involved …

Cap Hollier of Groves, who nearly made a hole-in-one earlier in the year on the 330-yard, par-4 11th at Babe Zaharias, nearly did it again last week, slamming his tee shot to within 6 feet. He rolled in the putt for an eagle …

The Super Saturday 2-ball at Zaharias ended in a sweep for the team of Keith Mullins, Joe Gongora, Larry Foster and Charles Leard. They finished minus-3 on both sides …

In the Friday 2 ball at Zaharias, the team of Earl Richard, Gene Jones, Ron Mistrot and their ghost player won the front with minus-2. On the back, the team of Gongora, Don MacNeal, Harrel Guidry and a ghost tied with the foursome of Mullins, Tom LeTourneau, Craig Castille and Dwayne Benoit at even …

Format for the Thursday Senior 55 plus game was three best balls with full handicap. The team of Kenny Robbins, Hollier, Lee Bertrand and Bob Barnes won the front with minus-8. Minus-12 won the back for Richard, Gary Fontenot, Bertrand and Carl Hudman.

Closest to the pin winners were Rick Pritchett (No. 7) and Mullins (No.12) …

The Wednesday DogFight at Zaharias was played in a 2-best ball format. Taking the front with minus-3 was the team of Mullins, Gerald Huebel, Mike Rodgers and Don Duplan.

On the back, there was a three-way tie. Finishing at plus one was the team of Bim Morrow, LeTourneau, Larry Johnson and Jeff Rinehart, the foursome of Ed Holley,  Ron LaSalle, Keith Marshall and Charles Perez and the team of Butch Cross. Pritchett, Foster and a ghost player.

Closest to the pin winners were Huebel (No. 2), Hollier (No. 7), Gongora (No. 12 and LeTourneau (No.15).

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Golf news should be emailed to rdwest@usa.net.

 

**CORRECTS that Hollier did not make a hole-in-one this year**