Master Index of Archived Threads


P.G.A.

Frayed Knot Aug 20 2006 05:10 PM

I know Tiger's almost certainly going to win anyway ... but can someone on the front page of the leader board at least threaten to challenge him?!? Time after time the rest of the field fails to come up with an even semi-low round which allows Tiger to shoot a methodical, couple-under par and waltz away with another championship. Nicklaus's 18 Pro Majors is the goal Tiger's shooting for (and will probably reach) but the odd stat is that Jack also finished 2nd 19 times in majors (plus a handful of 3rds). When Tiger doesn't win he's only occasionally been in the top 10 (only 2 or 3 top 5s) which I'm having a hard time explaining. Logic tells me that the tour has much MORE depth today than in Jack's day due to the wider appeal of the sport and the greater number of European, Asian, and even African & South American players. But all that extra depth has yet to produce a player capable of even making Tiger sweat on a Sunday much less actually come from behind and beat him the way Jack had at various times with Trevino, Miller, Watson, Player, etc. Those players "stole" more than a few from Jack, while Tiger, although he's lost a few on his own - usually by having stinker rounds on Thursday or Friday, he's not had one stolen from him yet, and only rarely has he even been threatened.

Edgy DC Aug 20 2006 05:26 PM

That Tiger Woods has reached this level again is astounding. Somebody is on top of the game like only a few ever have been, and at a younger age than most, but decides to change his approach, drops from the top player to merely one of the top players for around five years. He nonetheless steadfastly defends his changed approach, and, since missing the cut at a major after hs father's death, is seemingly again in his own stratosphere.

Edgy DC Aug 20 2006 05:40 PM

And he bunkers it on 13 flashing back a screwup there years ago, but no, he keeps his head and blasts it to within three feet.

Frayed Knot Aug 20 2006 05:50 PM

]That Tiger Woods has reached this level again is astounding Agreed. It's just that, when 8-10 players are at or within within a couple of shots of the top, the odds are that at least one or two of them would eventually crank off a good enough round and at least put some pressure on him on Sunday. But, major after major, NO ONE ever has during this era and he winds up cruising to the finish line. If he's great that day, he wins. And if he's merely decent that day ... well he wins anyway because no one has ever made him go low to win one. The vaunted 'Tiger Intimidation Factor' (assuming it even exists) can only explain so much. The few times he's come close and not won was due to him closing at the end from a start where he was too far away early to realistically catch the winner. Where's this era's Johnny Miller shooting a 63 on Sunday to win the US Open? When is someone gong to pull of Tom Watson and chip into the hole in a 30-mph Monterrey Penisula wind on the 17th with Jack watching nearby? How 'bout someone do a Nick Faldo impression and shoot a Sunday afternoon 6-under at Augusta?

metirish Aug 20 2006 06:06 PM

Has Tiger ever come from behine on Sunday to win a major, IIRC he has not and some TV guys use that to say things like well he's never tested on Sunday..that's hardly his fault though.

Frayed Knot Aug 20 2006 09:34 PM

]Has Tiger ever come from behine on Sunday to win a major I don't believe he has, no - which is part of why he matches are frequently boring; either he's out of it entirely or running away with it ... hence the lack of 2nd & 3rd place finishes compared to Jack even as he's winning at a quicker pace.

metirish Aug 20 2006 09:36 PM

Yeah I think Jack had more second place finishes that first place

Edgy DC Sep 05 2006 03:09 PM

metirish wrote: Has Tiger ever come from behine on Sunday to win a major, IIRC he has not and some TV guys use that to say things like well he's never tested on Sunday..that's hardly his fault though. Well, he pulled it off this weekend, major or no.

cooby Sep 09 2006 09:34 AM

Dear Michelle Wie, Please go away. Sincerely, Me

Frayed Knot Sep 09 2006 01:10 PM

Wie doesn't neccesarily need to go away. But both she and the folks who are promoting her need to stop acting as if she's already got an impressive string of accomplishments behind her to the point where competing on the upper rung is merely the next logical step. Simply because these companies are willing to sponsor you and hand you exemptions into men's tournaments (even though you've yet to win a women's touney) doesn't mean you should always take them.

Rockin' Doc Sep 09 2006 01:52 PM

Annika Sorentam is the best female player in the world, not Michelle Wie. Until she Wie beat Annika Sorenstam in an LPGA tournament, at least once, then maybe she could try taking on the men on occasion.

cooby Sep 09 2006 03:29 PM

You know, I don't think the fact that she is trying to butt in on the men's circuit is what bugs me so much, but that when she can't do it she acts like the child that she is. What next, the senior tour? Maybe she can beat out some of the old guys. Like you two said, beat some girls, then go try it. Though I am just old fashioned enough to admit that I think that the PGA should be men only. And the JayCees. And the Key Club, etc, etc.... And horrors, the clergy (PS, I strongly suspect her parents are behind it moreso than Michelle)

Frayed Knot Sep 09 2006 04:35 PM

I wouldn't really have a problem with her competing against the men if it was something she had actually earned. I should say that in a few of the PGA tourneys she's played in she has earned her way in. There's an early season tour stop in her native Hawaii each year which is sparsely attended by a lot of the top Florida-based players (leaving more than the usual number of spots open) and she legitimately earned her way in via local qualifiers. But in a number of these others she's getting in via the "sponsor's exemption", a loophole that allows the sponsoring company to invite in a handful of players who, for various reasons, didn't qualify on their own. Nothing wrong w/using a sponsor's exemption - many men use it too - but there is a limit on how many you can use and the reason she can get one almost on demand is, of course, because of her looks plus the hype surrounding her so-far nascent career. And again, simply because you CAN attract all that attention doesn't mean it's the best idea to do so. Nothing wrong with setting your sights high honey. But don't treat the women's tour like it's some inconvenience in your way as you yap about shooting to play on the Ryder Cup team.

cooby Sep 09 2006 05:02 PM

That's the thing, her behavior is very unattractive and I can't believe she could possible attract any fans, let alone respect, acting like that. If she wants to play with adults, she'd better act like one, at least in public and in the papers. Compare her to Anna Kournikova, who can look astonishingly beautiful, and yet, though she never won a major singles tournament, nobody minded because she didn't whine about it. Boo Michelle Wie, Boo!

Willets Point Oct 10 2006 04:25 PM

All purpose golf thread. We'll probably need it. They play a lot of golf.

metirish Oct 10 2006 04:33 PM

I hear a lot of Yankee players are hitting the golf courses this week.