Re: The Golf Thread (III)

[Henry]

Have a hard time believing  some of the drives. Bubba flew one 398 yards. It didn't roll along, just flew so long...

It's hard to think of a player who DOESN'T bomb it 300+ yards these days. That's one area where Tiger has come back to the field big time. 10-15 years ago he used to be on average 40-50 yards longer than everyone barring John Daly (and he had no idea where the ball was going most of the time), now Tiger is about average with the rest of the field, and he's never been the most accurate of drivers so length alone can't bail him out anymore.

Ironically, one of the shorter hitters these days is Spieth.

[tricycle]

When I see some of the long drivers these days, and the rumoured issues players like Dustin Johnson have with drugs, it's hard not to get worried about Gary Player's comments regarding PEDs.

FWIW, even Spieth gives it a big rip when needed. Just not in the Johnson-Watson league.

[JGK]

Tiger and Ernie was the rivalry that never quite happened. In any other era I reckon Ernie would be considered one of the top ten players of all time, although he did/does lack a certain ruthlessness. Maybe a bit TOO relaxed.

And Floppy PHIL and even Vijay to the mix and the 00s were pretty high quality.

[Fred Nerk]

Will 'JisonDy' be the first Australian to win more than one major since the Shark?

I had to tear myself away just as he was teeing off on the 10th....put it on record, avoided the temptation to look up the result, played it back, and the bloody recording cut out just as he was practice-swinging on the 18th. Still haven't seen the last hole. Bloody Foxtel!

[Lindsay no.2]

Well played Jason Day. Really glad for him - seems like a decent fella. Didn't think he had the game to avoid making a big mistake in the final round, but every time Spieth applied some pressure he was able to hold it off or indeed counter it with his own great play.

It also appears that the presence of a WAG doesn't destroy the sporting ability of every Aussie then Mr Healy. Although call me old school but I thought the competitors should have been given time and space to complete their hand shakes and exchange pleasantries on the green before the family et al appeared on the scene.

[tricycle]

They all love Lahiri now. In 2008, when Jeev finished T9 in the PGA championship, nobody in the press rooms batted an eyelid. Just some rubbish small articles... Bindra won India's first individual Olympic gold the same time.

Good to see Grace going well again. His breakout season in 2012 was bloody impressive.

[tricycle]

Bloody hell, Davis Love the Third won.... Tiger top 10 too.

[WideWally]

Jason Day - in fair form at the moment.









And what about Brian Harman?
Two holes-in-one during the same round.
Only the third golfer to do this in PGA tour history.
And until today, he had never hit an ace on the PGA tour.

[tricycle]

Jason Day, eh? Handy player.

I know I have form for destroying golfers' form, but think Fitzpatrick will reach this level in due course...

[horace]

Jason D is damned useful...10 under on a high wind day...making the others look like club golfers by comparison...the lad has elevated

[skully]

He's 40 m from the green on his final hole. If he can chip in (yes, I know, if "Ifs and buts"...) he'll make a rare 59.

[tricycle]

[skully]

A tap in?

[lardbucket]

Gimme.

[Lindsay no.2]

Outside of Jason Day ripping it up I've been enjoying the Solheim Cup immensely. Anyone else had a look at it?

Some really exciting matchplay golf on display, all played out very competitively and in good spirit. Until...a horrendous piece of sportsmanship by Europe this morning that really put a sour note on proceedings. Really, really out of order and so bad that I found myself for probably the first time ever in my life being in a position of wanting the USA to win something. That's how bad it was. Now that they've won it I don't exactly feel delighted for them but I kind of feel that a weird sort of justice has been served (even though that is unfair on 11 of the European players who had nowt to do with the indicent concerned).

Not only was the piece of sportsmanship really bad but the ensuing mealy mouthed justification of it by the team captain was criminal too. Heat of the moment bad calls although unpalatable and nasty are kind of more excusable in fast moving, aggressive games but things like this just shouldn't happen in golf where honour and fair play is right at the core of the game itself. Black mark on Petterson and Captain Koch, I hope they get censured for their part in this.

[tricycle]

Not sporting, clearly. But it is the duty of the player to ask permission whether the putt is conceded. Even something as little as eye contact. It's a bit President's cup rather than Ryder cup, anyway, with the Asians dominating the scene so much.

The Italian open was fantastic. Would say easily the best tournament of the ET season so far. Last time Bjerregard was in contention, leading after 54 holes in Leopard's Creek, he scored an 89 on Sunday. Finished T3 tonight. And Kaymer does not let slip 54 hole leads.... yet twice this year

[skully]

Hearty congrats to Jason Day on becoming only the 3rd Aussie World Number 1 golfer and the youngest of the trio (Norman and Scott) to achieve it.

[Big Dog]

Hearty congrats to Jason Day on becoming only the 3rd Aussie World Number 1 golfer and the youngest of the trio (Norman and Scott) to achieve it.

Good effort considering his recent health problems.

[WideWally]

Yes. Congratulations to Jason Day, our new number one golfer in the World.


Did I ever mention that he went to the WideWallyWorld International School?

Yes. Apparently about two dozen times.

[lardbucket]

An Australian at number 1? What is going on?

[Lindsay no.2]

Not sporting, clearly. But it is the duty of the player to ask permission whether the putt is conceded. Even something as little as eye contact. It's a bit President's cup rather than Ryder cup, anyway, with the Asians dominating the scene so much.

The Italian open was fantastic. Would say easily the best tournament of the ET season so far. Last time Bjerregard was in contention, leading after 54 holes in Leopard's Creek, he scored an 89 on Sunday. Finished T3 tonight. And Kaymer does not let slip 54 hole leads.... yet twice this year

Well Pettersen has now admitted her guilt in the matter (whether through genuine remorse or part of a PR campaign to try and claw back a modicum of respect and maybe to avoid risking being treated as a total pariah by her fellow players on tour)...

Pettersen added: "I was trying my hardest for my team and put the single match and the point that could be earned ahead of sportsmanship and the game of golf itself. I feel like I let my team down."

"I have learned a valuable lesson about what is truly important in this great game."

A shame it had to come to that for her to understand the values and spirit that golf revolves around but I guess it was only a matter of time until golf's heart was put to the test in one of these matchplay tournaments. They have become increasingly jingoistic and partisan over the last few years and as such sportsmanship is put under immense strain. I think it's time they were dialled down a tad and the players asked to remember that the spirit of the game should be over and above winning and behaving like a chump.

[tricycle]

Hunter Mahan with 5 birdies finished 5 over. A triple, 2 doubles among them.

Morgan Hofmann's in the shit.

[tricycle]

Westwood's given up his PGA tour card and is moving back to the UK to be in the vicinity of his kids...

Brilliant for the European Tour, and hopefully his career too. Retrospectively, the US move clearly didn't work.

[tricycle]

Classic finish to the President's cup. Shame about Lahiri's miss...

USA leading 14.5-13.5 now. Grace leading by 2 holes with 2 to play, and Haas one up with 3 to play.

[tricycle]

Grace wins... player of the tournament with 5 wins from 5.

Down to the last two holes. Internationals need to win both to win the cup.

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