Tiger’s Struggles Once Again Coincide with a Parity-Filled Stretch on the PGA Tour
The collapse of Tiger Woods – he hasn’t won a Golf Major since June 2008 – has led to immense parity in the sport. The last nine winners of golf majors? All 1st time winners. If you want to go back to 2009, 12 of the last 14 winners of Golf Majors were 1st timers.
2012 US Open: Webb Simpson – 1st Major
2011 Masters: Bubba Watson – 1st Major
2011 PGA Championship: Keegan Bradley – 1st Major
2011 Open Championship: Darren Clarke – 1st Major
2011 US Open: Rory McIlroy – 1st Major
2011 Masters: Charl Schwartzel – 1st Major
2010 PGA Championship: Martin Kaymer – 1st Major
2010 Open Championship: Louis Oosthuizen – 1st Major
2010 US Open: Graeme McDowell – 1st Major
2010 Masters: Phil Mickelson – 4th Major
2009 PGA Championship: Yang Yong-eun – 1st Major
2009 Open Championship: Stewart Cink – 1st Major
2009 US Open: Lucas Glover – 1st Major
2009 Masters: Angel Cabrera – 2nd Major
Look at the 4-year period from 2005-2008 – only four of 16 were 1-hit wonders. Check 2001-2005: eight golfers who won one Major and are still seeking No. 2 (naturally, that period coincided with Tiger’s first funk – a 2.5-year Majorless run). How about 1997-2000? Dominated by multiple-time winners, with just three 1-win wonders sneaking in.
Even going back to the early 90s, you had Faldo (six Majors) and in the late 80s you had Seve Ballesteros (five Majors) on the heels of Nicklaus (18 Majors) and Watson (eight majors) dominating the late 80s.
Now? Just a bunch of random dudes winning their first Major. I’m not giving up on McIlroy and Kaymer and the talented under 25 crowd – heck, Mickelson didn’t win his first Major until he was 33 – but where’s the dominant golfer on the tour?
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June 18th, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Oh, my.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Sorry about this but that’s going to be the best photo featuring Hoke and Urban together the world will ever see.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:48 PM
THIS ONE IS MUCH BETTER.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:49 PM
The next great golfers will be teeing off for UT (the real one, down Austin way) the next few years.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:49 PM
You have to watch them first to give up on them. And Tiger won a tournament last week. He’s not “back” but you’re wasting your time waiting for that to occur.
Great drama on the back 9 at the Open yesterday. Fun to watch. I hope there’s more West Coast Opens like that in the future. Enjoyed the late finish.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Which begs the question – why does there have to be one super dominant golfer on the PGA Tour?
June 18th, 2012 at 1:51 PM
This is the new “some guy named”.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Doesn’t Lee Westwood have like 10 Top 20 finishes in 15 events or something this year?
June 18th, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Also, I think the “one-hit wonders” are a product of what Tiger did during his dominant stretch. Everything changed. Golf layouts. Technology. Exercise. How pros practice. The psychology of golf. There are more resources and tools available now so that, what might have been journeymen golfers a decade or two ago, are now capable of competing as golfing elites.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Is this the first US open post?
June 18th, 2012 at 1:54 PM
surprised the Perkins waitress was not worked in to this post
June 18th, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Tiger started the year ranked 17th. He’s currently 4th. I’d say he’s not being given credit for making progress because people are looking for 2002 Tiger Woods again. He’s getting better this year. He was ranked 52nd in Week 41 last year.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Sucks that Dufner didn’t putt for shit.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Also, I think the “one-hit wonders” are a product of what Tiger did during his dominant stretch. Everything changed. Golf layouts. Technology. Exercise. How pros practice. The psychology of golf. There are more resources and tools available now so that, what might have been journeymen golfers a decade or two ago, are now capable of competing as golfing elites
where are all the yooung black/asian golfers?
where are all the michael jordan golf academies?
June 18th, 2012 at 1:57 PM
And by the way, I really only see one player on that list who truly qualifies as “some dude.”
June 18th, 2012 at 1:57 PM
“Tiger started the year ranked 17th. He’s currently 4th. I’d say he’s not being given credit for making progress because people are looking for 2002 Tiger Woods again. He’s getting better this year. He was ranked 52nd in Week 41 last year.”
Yeah, Tiger isn’t done working through some things. I have yet to move off my bet that he breaks Jack’s majors record.
But he needs to start the process by banging some worn out cooz again.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Golf will never grow in that direction.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Augusta National has gone from 6,925 yards at the end of the century to 7,435 yards now. A 500 yard change in ten years is a lot.
It would almost seem like Jason isn’t aware of something like this or the fact that most major courses have seen dramatic increases in size and difficulty in the last ten years to slow down big hitters like Tiger, opening up the field.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Is this the first US open post?
ratio of us. open posts to EUROPEAN SOCCER posts:
300 to 2
June 18th, 2012 at 1:58 PM
And by the way, I really only see one player on that list who truly qualifies as “some dude.”
I’m assuming you are talking about Yang, but I’m willing to group Glover in that category.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:59 PM
No kidding. Dude shot what…70-71-71-72 or something like that? Hit lots of fairways and greens.
June 18th, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Why does golf need a dominant player, McIntyre? The ratings for this US Open were through the roof without one.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Yeah. He’d probably qualify as well.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Golf will never grow in that direction.
but am i crazy or wasn;t that a lot of the tiger appeal in the late 90s?
June 18th, 2012 at 2:01 PM
sorry I parroted you, ritty
June 18th, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Because that is what the fans who grew up A.M.J (after Jordan) need now to enjoy sports: Brands. There has to be a Yankees, or a Lakers that win the majority of the time because they are it. The quality of an event or season is not measured on actual play, execution, and strategy. It’s all about eyeballs, ratings, who’s now. It’s the same people who say “the ______ league is better when ______ is good.”
June 18th, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Sucks that Big Ern didn’t putt for shit at the end. I was pulling for him to win.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:02 PM
US Open drew a 6.6 — they gotta get rid of Sunday rounds and make it finish on Saturday. Why go agaisnt the NBA Finals?
June 18th, 2012 at 2:03 PM
so now Top 20 finishes = dominant? is that across the board in all sports, or just golf?
June 18th, 2012 at 2:03 PM
Rodney Ruxin.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:03 PM
what about the number one and number two players in the world who were conspicuously absent from the weekend’s proceedings?
the fields were a LOT shallower then.
and kaymer? cmon naw. dude’s been MIA since march 2011 after winning his major.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:03 PM
why does there have to be one super dominant golfer on the PGA Tour?
Makes it easier on reporters who don’t follow golf to write things about golf when required.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:03 PM
what other sports feature 144 teams/players gunning for one victory?
June 18th, 2012 at 2:03 PM
Yup. I’m about as casual as it gets when it comes to golf but I was glued to the back 9 of yesterday’s Open. It was a great finish. I’ve never seen a pro golfer hook a shot like Furyk did on 16. You just knew that was the end for him. McDowell gave it a good run on 18 though.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:04 PM
NBA ratings plummet! Golf ratings soar!
June 18th, 2012 at 2:04 PM
US Open ratings were up twenty something percent for the final round with Tiger out of contention early.
NBA Finals game three ratings were down.
Golf needs a lockout.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Glover and Yang are the weak links on that list. Cink is a shell of himself. Darren Clarke was late to the party but had a distinguished career.
The rest of that list is studs.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Why in the name of God does JMac insist on posting about golf??? Get someone else to do it please…someone who knows what the f they’re talking about!
June 18th, 2012 at 2:05 PM
if we’re comparing this era of golf to a previous generation, yes…there’s no hogan/snead/nelson or nicklaus/palmer. if anything, this era reminds me of nicklaus/watson/trevino/seve/shark/johnny miller/tom weiskopf/etc era where there was a definite elite class spreading the wealth.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:05 PM
This.
And I enjoy watching golf now that I play it regularly. I don’t give a shit if Tiger is in the hunt or not. Watching professionals make, what I consider the toughest game to play, easy is enough for me. The people that “need” a dominant golfer are the same front running idiots that Fox invented the glowing puck for. Fuck them.
And it also makes me realize I would have shot 150 on that course.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Hunger Games?
June 18th, 2012 at 2:06 PM
Olympic Sports. Golf should only be on TV once every four years.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:06 PM
Wasn’t Rory supposed to be the next owner of the field? Just goes to show how absurd Tiger’s dominant run was.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:07 PM
i would pay to see a track event with 144 lanes. that’d be awesome.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:07 PM
this right here.
i have no idea what rory’s problem is…dude couldn’t finish outside the top 5 if he tried for six months before this.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:08 PM
He was in typical I shot 8 under on a Sunday at the Open 39 fucking years ago form yesterday.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:08 PM
When I need golf talk, I go to Spencer.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:08 PM
GMac looks like he crushes beers. Who cares if there is no dominant golfer — the level of play is absurdly high.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Oh my God that is just what Obama wants.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:08 PM
I don’t think you have to describe that as dominant, but elite works, and yes, golf isn’t like the other sports. That’s the point. The FedEx Cup has tried to capture this, but hasn’t really caught on.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:09 PM
meanwhile..
June 18th, 2012 at 2:09 PM
and kaymer? cmon naw. dude’s been MIA since march 2011 after winning his major.
Won a WGC event in late 2011. 13th in the world.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:10 PM
How staggered would the starting points of an inside land to outside lane have to be? It would be like a whole lap difference.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Tiger has set a tough standard for the young guys. Once they have their “I’ve arrived” moment, we don’t expect them to slip too far, or ever miss the cut.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:11 PM
Rory doesn’t have the psychological makeup. When TIger is playing well, he wants to bulldoze the golf course and eat all of his opponents.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:11 PM
Well, simple math would tell you that a Top 20 finish in a tournament with 144 golfers is roughly the top 14%…which equates to making it to the final 4 in 30-team sports.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:14 PM
13th in the world my ass…golf rankings are built to inflate guys like kaymer.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Cleet gets it. Sports should be enjoyed for its unpredictability.
The golf in the last few years has been very good, especially at the majors.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Him mocking the 17 year old for changing his goals of having the lowest amateur score to actually winning the tournament was a thing of beauty. What a cock.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:16 PM
And does golf really give a shit about attracting the casual fan? Seems to me that there’s a much broader portion of the country that watches the big 4 sports, where golf has more of a niche market.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:16 PM
Also missing from the list:
James Bond.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:17 PM
golf has a nice niche market with golf addicted executives that provide a ton of financial support.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:17 PM
Speaking of golf, spent the weekend in San Diego without playing Torrey Pines. Huge mistake.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:17 PM
Surely, there was a post on this today. Oh, there wasn’t? SHOCKED FACE
June 18th, 2012 at 2:18 PM
Him mocking the 17 year old for changing his goals of having the lowest amateur score to actually winning the tournament was a thing of beauty. What a cock.
Well, fatty did fail at actually being the low-am.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:18 PM
shoulda hit up coronado too.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:19 PM
I would pay double if George tried to move his Frogger machine across the track during the race.
/Hyena
June 18th, 2012 at 2:20 PM
JMac’s bosses have a large advertising deal with the PGA. I guess him constantly dumping on the sport serves to hold up that unbiased claim.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:20 PM
i let this kind of stuff slide because HE SHOT EIGHT UNDER ON SUNDAY AT OAKMONT IN THE US FUCKING OPEN. if that achievement doesn’t deserve a certain amount of golf-related arrogance, im not sure what does.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Wally, forgot to give you a tip of the hat for your explanation of the Texas gear for the amateurs in the Roundup. Well explained.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Well, I hit up the Hotel Del Coronado. Family trip. Wife implied I was not to bring my clubs. I did drive up to Torrey though and looked around. It was so hard to watch a bunch of Japanese dudes tee off #1 and think I could have been playing with them.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:21 PM
mentioned this earlier, but spieth had no pressure on him. hossler was in contention to WIN the us open…not low amateur.
had WAY more pressure on his shoulders than spieth did.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:22 PM
Nah. I blame his woman hips.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:22 PM
Yikes.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:23 PM
except that last putt. that thing never had a chance.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:23 PM
THAT’S the adjective i was looking for all weekend. thank you.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:23 PM
But, Johnny’s career was a MASSIVE disappointment after his vaunted round at Oakmont. He’s perilously close to a one-hit wonder…
June 18th, 2012 at 2:24 PM
I know. I could understand her reasoning until I actually saw the golf course. Then was genuinely upset. Though, it was actually a great trip. First time to California. San Diego is pretty freaking awesome.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:24 PM
i wanna know what the deal was with all the shitty bunker shots this weekend…the only guy hitting them consistently well was hossler and the kid’s fucking 17.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:24 PM
/ TBL
// trying to fit into a topic I know nothing about
June 18th, 2012 at 2:26 PM
he was even wearing on my gf when we were watching it last night. dude is so fucking smug.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Built like a young Tim Herron.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:26 PM
I saw a lot of fried egg lies. I think it was the sand itself.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:27 PM
The worst is when he says something is an easy putt. Oh yeah, it’s a 16′ putt but it’s straight up hill. This is an easy putt.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:27 PM
please stop…johnny miller one hit wonder? dude hit the flagstick 10 times in the 1971 tuscon open. he won 8 times in 1974 and finished 2nd and 3rd in the masters and british in 75 (3 more wins that year)…dude has two majors and 25 PGA wins despite having one of the worst putters in the game’s history.
methinks underachiever is a little harsh.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Furyk looked like me on 18 when he skidded that one out of the bunker straight across the green into another bunker.
he then didn’t look like me when he dropped the next one close to the pin.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:28 PM
I’ve been watching golf for twenty years, could someone tell me if Andy North has ever won a US Open?
June 18th, 2012 at 2:28 PM
I refuse to believe this.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:29 PM
two actually…and if it makes you feel any better he’s considered the worst multiple major winner of all time.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:29 PM
How is it fair that they let him use Sergio Garcia to take his putts? I don’t get the tour rules, man.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:29 PM
So, I realize that Miller wasn’t a one-hit wonder since he has 2 majors and 25 wins. But, he was good for about a total of 6 years.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:30 PM
if we’re talking all-time hot streak, unstoppable, pin seeking machines…johnny miller’s up there with anyone. when he got on a roll, the field got the fuck out of his way.
funny enough, he said he buried fields like he did because he was so scared of his putter acting up and destroying his lead. if anyone knows the signs of choking, it’s johnny.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:31 PM
I’d love to see Mickelson and Miller duel from 3′.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:32 PM
seve and faldo weren’t good much longer…if longer at all.
johnny miller makes sergio look like ben crenshaw.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:32 PM
that’d be one helluva gambling game.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:33 PM
I didn’t realize that North only won 3 tournaments and 2 of them were US Opens.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:34 PM
There have been like 76 guys with 2+ majors. Off them, about half are alive, at best. Others are playing and guys like Jack aren’t going to sit in the booth weekly.
There are only a few actual candidates for top golf announcers. Miller is fine and validated enough to sit there and say whatever he wants.
Faldo on CBS is really good breaking down elite players and Sunday strategy but not as strong in all areas as Miller.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Clearly the, Peter North >>>> Andy North
June 18th, 2012 at 2:35 PM
shit, I know he’s not a major winner, but Dustin Johnson just put one across the hole leaving 5′ left going back.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:35 PM
Ben Hogan was known to not hit at flags b/c he hit so many. SICK.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:35 PM
*Then
June 18th, 2012 at 2:35 PM
i was really enjoying zinger in the booth on thurs and friday…he needs a weekly gig.
tho, his political bullshit might be an issue.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:35 PM
johnny miller makes sergio look like ben crenshaw.
How does he make him look like a Republican?
June 18th, 2012 at 2:37 PM
moe norman and george knudson would see who’d hit the most fairways and GIR’s and pick their balls up when they got to the greens. love the old ballstrikers hating on putting…their bitterness makes me laugh. i bet they all sneer if you say you loved seve or arnold palmer.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:38 PM
But, Johnny’s career was a MASSIVE disappointment after his vaunted round at Oakmont. He’s perilously close to a one-hit wonder…
25 wins (8 in one year), 2 majors…one hit wonder indeed
June 18th, 2012 at 2:39 PM
true story…johnny miller threw a live grenade into an abortion clinic waiting room.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:39 PM
A sweet golf tourney would be two-man teams. One guy hitting it to the green. The other guy having to putt. They could decide who chips.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:40 PM
true story…johnny miller threw a live grenade into an abortion clinic waiting room.
He’s hardcore.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:41 PM
“I can’t wait to read Jason McIntrye’s nuanced take of this weekend’s US Open.” – No one
June 18th, 2012 at 2:41 PM
oh i like this. gimme lee westwood and steve stricker.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:42 PM
sergio and luke donald would murda them.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:45 PM
My fictional tournament:
Day One; Both players play aggregate. Both scores add up.
Day two; Player A long game; Player B short game. 1 round between them.
Day Three: Inversed; Player A short game; Player B long game.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:46 PM
I’d pay two bits to see Ernie Els and Dorf vs. Stewart Cink and Spencer096
June 18th, 2012 at 2:46 PM
How about once a round you get to have Mickeltits take a chip for the pairing? Like a lifeline.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:46 PM
I see. Any Tennis Majors on his resume?
Damn. I had 12:24 in the pool for when Tibble denigrated a top-15 (and now top 5) ranked player in the world.
Webb Simpson to golf is like Chris Bosh to basketball, only without TBL trading him after a poor first round, then saying he loved him all along after the 68 in round three.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:49 PM
I’d like to see one round where a tour player gets to replay any shot/putt they don’t like. Ernie putting up the hill yesterday showed exactly how fun that would be to watch their error correction.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:49 PM
before – where are all the good players other than tiger?
after – who are all these dudes winning majors?
June 18th, 2012 at 2:50 PM
give them mulligans?
June 18th, 2012 at 2:50 PM
oohh, I likey this. well done.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:50 PM
for about 9 holes on Friday Tiger looked like his old self…
June 18th, 2012 at 2:52 PM
It’s that no fucking salary cap, man… that’s why there’s such parity, just like baseball. Get a salary cap, shorten the season, lock the players out of the clubs, and contract the Pirates. That’ll fix it.
Also… a bunch of randoms? Bubba Watson, Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Stewart Cink.
I assume you just hate golf because you don’t have any thrilling missed lay-up stories for us?
June 18th, 2012 at 2:53 PM
No, pretty sure I said replays. They’re like do-overs, bro.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:53 PM
meet the winning women’s team of the minority college golf championships!
it’s a shame that golf’s not more readily available to kids…it’s a great game for them to play and gets em outside. no idea how to rectify this tho…
June 18th, 2012 at 2:53 PM
30 days until Royal Lytham & St Annes
CAN’T.WAIT.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:54 PM
The King in the North > Peter North >>>> Andy North
June 18th, 2012 at 2:54 PM
im liking tiger a lot there.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:54 PM
Someone said something about the comfort level of Tiger with a friend (Furyk) ruined his momentum. I summarily dismissed it at someone trying to draw a stupid conclusion, but then again, he just had that look Friday. I didn’t see him Saturday, but I guess playing bad could have made him lose his mental edge… or vice versa.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:55 PM
tiger had the look, had the focus, had the fairways found…he didn’t have the distance control with his irons or putter.
he’s made so much progress tho, im very excited.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:55 PM
Las Vegas, I imagine.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:56 PM
David Toms looks like he’s 70 years old. He looks like Roger Sterling after the heart attack with the twins.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:57 PM
give them mulligans?
Carey Mulligans?
/was oddly attracted to her in Wall Street 2
June 18th, 2012 at 2:57 PM
im liking tiger a lot there.
Westwood finally breaks through
June 18th, 2012 at 2:57 PM
I saw him miss a few putts/shots on distance the first couple rounds, but man, he just unraveled.
I can’t imagine the mental grind (and Simpson agreed, saying he can’t imagine how Tiger won 14) in the majors, having to be so locked in every single shot.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:58 PM
Pats self on back.
#Humblebrag
June 18th, 2012 at 2:59 PM
Someone said something about the comfort level of Tiger with a friend (Furyk) ruined his momentum. I summarily dismissed it…
Dismissed. They could resurrect Earl and Tiger wouldnt say hi to him during a round.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:59 PM
dude is so fucking smug.
i would rather listen to johnny all day rather than one second of jack fucking nicklaus. i cannot stand that asshole.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:59 PM
helps when you’re the best putter in the world by miles…dude used to make everything he looked at precisely when he needed it.
June 18th, 2012 at 2:59 PM
not enough smedium jets shirts or t-bagging your buddies.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:01 PM
whoa.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:02 PM
You called it? Nice.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:03 PM
yea…he called it before he took it back and switched to westwood. what a humbleasshole.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:03 PM
i would rather listen to johnny all day rather than one second of jack fucking nicklaus. i cannot stand that asshole.
Jack is 10x more smug than Johnny. People just let it go, because he’s Jack Fuckin Nicklaus.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:03 PM
I’d agree Tiger avoided the hissy-fit theaterics of Augusta and 2011.
He was just a bit off on the weekend. He needs to learn to win from behind in a major. He can’t front-run and expect the field to collapse now like in the past.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:04 PM
Yea, i did over here. Can’t find the thread which i did, though.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Jack is 10x more smug than Johnny.
Well, he won 9x more majors.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:06 PM
there’s a story trevino likes to tell of trevino, weiskopf and some others were bullshitting on the driving range when nicklaus shows up. trevino calls to jack, asks him to come over and tell a story and nicklaus responds “sorry lee, i would but i have a tournament to win.”
or like he said to his son during the 1986 masters after hitting his shot on 16. jackie says “be right”…jack picks up his tee, not even looking at the ballflight and says “it is.”
SMUG AS SHIT.
but again…he’s jack fuckin’ nicklaus.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:07 PM
I told you that in confidence, damnit. No one would have found that tweet saying i changed it to Westwood on Friday. Serves my dumbass right.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:09 PM
but again…he’s jack fuckin’ nicklaus.
yes he it. but i he is so up his own ass, its grating.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:09 PM
Such a shame jpq isn’t around to defend Jack. He’d have a nice 3 paragraph rant ready.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:11 PM
i feel like benedict arnold right now…im such a fucking traitor.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:11 PM
It’s always fun witnessing the epic pissing matched between him and bulldog about Jack and Tiger. True form of entertainment. Those kids get all worked up over the topic.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:12 PM
i think he’d agree with what we’re saying…that he was so good his smugness is somewhat deserved.
and shit, what jack put up with in the 62 us open from those mouthbreathing appalachian inbreeds gives him more than enough excuse.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:13 PM
i don’t read it as being up his own ass, i read it as him longing to have the physical ability to go and kick these pussy ass spoiled kids asses around like he knows he could. a lot like jim brown without the domestic violence.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:14 PM
i cant type, good god
June 18th, 2012 at 3:17 PM
At the Memorial a few years ago, Jack had the bunker rakes spaced out more and several golfers started complaining about their lies in the bunkers. Jack’s response: “It’s a hazard.”
June 18th, 2012 at 3:19 PM
did you see the thing on jack’s 62 open win? they showed the rakes they used back in the day at oakmont to create the bunker furrows…GOOD GOD. today’s tour players should consider themselves lucky they can use high lofted wedges with better grooves and balls because back in jack’s day, that shit would’ve KILLED em.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:19 PM
i don’t read it as being up his own ass
its even trickles down to his prick son. when the memorial was on a few weeks back, the asked lil jack about the course. to which he replied ,”phh, of course its the best, my dad designed it.”
smug cloud!
June 18th, 2012 at 3:20 PM
The Open looking great. Cant wait. I think the PGA ends the same time as the summer olympics so that is really going to miss the spotlight.
Too bad they couldnt of had Golf in this olympics and used Birkdale and Lytham.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:20 PM
the nicklaus’ are the mendelbaums of golf.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:21 PM
i lolled.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:21 PM
Merion Country Club next year…can’t wait to go.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:23 PM
Those rakes are called furrowed rakes. IIRC he uesd 1/2 inch furrows which increases the difficulty but not obsenely. He wanted to ues 1.5 inch furrows but (despite Memorial not having to cede to it) the tour advisory board pleaded with him not to. The furrows do diminish the escape factor and remove skill, so he’s since gone back I believe.
A player told Jack at Memorial… “Jack with the thick rough and the deep bunkers, there’s nowhere left to hit it”. He goes “just the fairways and the greens.”
June 18th, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Too bad they couldnt of had Golf in this olympics and used Birkdale and Lytham.
Wentworth would be awesome. I love that course, especially after the changes they made three years ago.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:25 PM
jack was fuckin’ awesome. after seeing that special, id kill to see the dude in his early 20′s…good god he could mash it.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:26 PM
i have no idea what rory’s problem is…dude couldn’t finish outside the top 5 if he tried for six months before this.
rory, like all the irishmen, loves to celebrate his wins too much and forgets to keep working on his game.
dumbass…
June 18th, 2012 at 3:27 PM
Merion is going to play a lot easier than Olympic. USGA will try to make Pinehurst extremely difficult the following year to balance things out.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:29 PM
He’s spent the last year following that tennis player girlfriend around the world. It’s ridiculous.
/women weaken legs!
June 18th, 2012 at 3:29 PM
You’d be surprised…I’ve heard rumors about what they’re going to do for next year.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:29 PM
Is that really it? Is there evidence that he’s been slacking off? I know he’s been in some magazines lately which showed off his increased muscle mass and said how much harder he’s working…???
June 18th, 2012 at 3:29 PM
merion might play harder than you think…they can’t really add much length so they’re going to go overboard with the narrow FW’s/heavy rough for defense.
pinehurst, after the renovation, is gonna be AWESOME.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:31 PM
pinehurst, after the renovation, is gonna be AWESOME
Pinehurst is one of my favorite Open courses. Almost impossible to stick those greens.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:33 PM
Merion is going to play a lot easier than Olympic. USGA will try to make Pinehurst extremely difficult the following year to balance things out.
It might be opposite. Davis (Head of USGA) is on record saying they are going to let Pinehurst play pretty much as is from the Coore/Crenshaw renovation. He said scores will be whatever they turn out to be.
FYI, the removed the rough mostly there. Extended the fairways and the fairways abruptly turn into a sandy/waste ish area. The turtleback greens remain Pinehurst’s defense though.
I cant speak knowingly about Merion at all outide of the Hogan win.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:34 PM
Also, at Pinehurst, I think they are playing the USGA Womens Open the week after the men’s tournament. So they gotta be careful how they handle the course so it can be sustained for 2 weeks of championsip play.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:35 PM
i remember pinehurst more for campbell’s win than payne/phil…which is why im looking forward to a return. good god was campbell’s win awful.
i think a better question would be which open venue do people NOT like? olympia fields? bethpage’s weather? shit…given the choice between winged foot, oakmont, shinnecock, pebble, pinehurst and olympic, im not sure i could pick a clear winner.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:36 PM
coolest flagsticks anywhere…the wicker baskets.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:36 PM
That is what I heard as well. Not much more room for expansion in Ardmore, so just make it more challenging. Also heard the bunkers are going to have some interesting placements.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:36 PM
I will pay a sniper to take out every “get in the hole” jackass at these tournaments
June 18th, 2012 at 3:39 PM
I did know about the teardrop flags. Philly you can steal me one of those, that’d be appreciated.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:39 PM
i think a better question would be which open venue do people NOT like? olympia fields? bethpage’s weather? shit…given the choice between winged foot, oakmont, shinnecock, pebble, pinehurst and olympic, im not sure i could pick a clear winner.
Of the Opens I’ve seen, Bethpage is the clean winner in my book. Looking forward to Chambers Bay and Erin Hills. Don’t know much about those courses. As far as major tournament venues, Whistling Straights can die a slow death. Looks like it’s going to be a regular on the PGA Championship.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:41 PM
Oakmont.
/more Johnny Miller US Open memories
June 18th, 2012 at 3:42 PM
erin hills was pretty sweet…had the us amateur last year where kelly kraft beat that pussy patrick cantlay, who couldn’t find a wide fairway with a fucking 8i.
chambers bay looks sweet too.
id prefer a quick death so we don’t have to see it every five years like we are now.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:43 PM
pine valley needs a us open just so dan hicks can tapdance around “the devil’s asshole.”
June 18th, 2012 at 3:43 PM
Oak hill, please..
/rochester represent
June 18th, 2012 at 3:43 PM
I’m going to a wedding at Oakmont on Saturday
June 18th, 2012 at 3:43 PM
If I remember it, will do so next year.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:43 PM
If I remember it, will do so next year.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:44 PM
holes in one for everyone!!!
June 18th, 2012 at 3:48 PM
That whole 2003-05 period, outside of Phil’s first Masters, was really bad. When Chad Campbell and Charles Howell III were considered the future of the PGA Tour
June 18th, 2012 at 3:48 PM
I’d propose a five course rota. My top 4 and then mix in a new place every 5th year.
Yes
Olympic Club, Lake Course Birdies possible at end, Primetime
Pebble Beach Golf Links Iconic holes although I’d debate the merits of the entire 18-holes, also, primetime viewing
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club Definitive links course in USA
Oakmont Country Club Toughest test in golf. One place I like to see the USGA flex on the players
No
Congressional Fuck this place, crazy routing, weird ending
Winged Foot Not fun to watch, at all
Oakland Hills Too penal
Baltusrol If not in NY, it’d be forgotten
Bethpage Long and Boring
Torrey Course is so weak compared but I like the Sunday primetime finish
Southern Hills Don’t like the course themselves
Merion Don’t like the course themselves
June 18th, 2012 at 3:50 PM
/shudders
my god…CHIII. so sad, so sad. another gem from leadbetter!
June 18th, 2012 at 3:51 PM
winged foot’s gotta be on there because of the history…pebble’s great and all, but once a decade is enough.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:52 PM
Payne Stewart’s putt to win the US Open was the ballz. Top 5 shot of my lifetime, easy. Dead less than a few months later. He was my favroite golfer at the time. I couldnt believe when they cut in the radio to talk about his plane gone wild.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:54 PM
Which is why I’m SO thankful for this current era. AKA the opposite of this entire post. No one dominant but at least 20 (and counting) uber-talented guys that can win at any course on any given week.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:54 PM
Its not a major-worthy course but its still a good couse: Atunyote, up here at Turning Stone Casino. Tiger’s played up here for Notah Begay’s charity tournament and its hosted tour events. 7,000+ yard course. I dont play golf but ive seen it. Gorgeous
June 18th, 2012 at 3:55 PM
Phil’s my fav (I golf lefty) so I was gutted. That putt was unreal though. How many guys make that putt today? 3 or 4?
June 18th, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Well, we could add Pinehurst (omitted in error), and give you either a Bethpage/WF combo. So that’d be 6 plus two wild cards, you could have a US Open at Pebble every 8 years. No need to validate some of the lesser courses. That 2nd tier I illustrated are so, so, so far removed from the first tier.
I’d rather add some Tour courses like Muirfield, Quail, etc to the rota before going back to them.
June 18th, 2012 at 3:59 PM
what else is on there?
yall have so much more viewing than i do, but in my lifetime, id put the top 5 as…
1. tiger’s chip 16 in the 2005 masters
2. shaun micheel’s approach on 18 to beat campbell
3. paddy’s 5w on 18 at birkdale
4. tiger’s 3i from the bunker at hazeltine on saturday at the first pga at hazeltine that beem won
5. phil’s shot thru the trees at the players/phil’s shot thru the trees at colonial/phil’s shot thru the trees at augusta
June 18th, 2012 at 3:59 PM
Payne Stewart’s putt to win the US Open was the ballz.
/pours one out for fellow Mustang
June 18th, 2012 at 4:01 PM
i like your idea…i feel like all the non-us open rota courses should be pga champ courses. instead, the pga would rather go to newly designed courses that just don’t measure up like whistling straits and valhalla.
muirfield and quail hollow are both in line for PGA’s tho, so maybe i should lay off.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:03 PM
Payne was gutted back at Olympic the prior year, so for him to hang in at Pinehurst was great. I think at Olympic he split a fairway on 17 or 18 on Sunday, it went into a bad divot, and it cost him.
Before leaving the range Sunday at Pinehurst, he took 3 shots from divots, just in case. Sure enough, it happened and he hit a good shot.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:07 PM
I think Whistling Straits is validated as a PGA Championship venue. It’s just terrible real-world architecture and a waste every other day of it’s existence when the event isnt there.
I am outside the norm in that I like Valhalla. I fully intend to attend the next major there. The rest of the PGA Championship courses, WOOF.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:08 PM
i thought southern hills was a phenomenal venue for the pga. that was one of my favorite tourneys of the decade.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:08 PM
Personally, Constantino Rocca’s insane bomb of a putt to make it a playoff in the ’95 British will always be up there.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:08 PM
good call.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:09 PM
Okay it says Valhalla in 2014. I’m there. Whistling Straits would be better served as a US Open venue, but there’d be concerns of it’s readyness in June. So the PGA makes more sense.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:10 PM
spencer – i don’t know that it’s def b/c of drinking, but it seems that he has a lot in common with Darren Clark. Very likeable player, who works hard, but doesn’t naturally possess that killer instinct.
Jack, Hogan, and Tiger all had a bitter side to them that contributed to their dominance. i think Rory is more similar to Arnie, which isn’t a bad thing.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:11 PM
The long players took Southern Hills apart with irons off the tee. That’s my knock against it. I’d be open to it, as the design is not tricked up, per se.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:17 PM
ill…i never mentioned drinking, but id agree rory’s got some of arnie’s personality. id liken him more to agassi in tennis…rory’ll get his head on straight in his 30′s and always be mentioned amongst the elite with intermittent periods of dominance that could’ve been even greater.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:18 PM
4. tiger’s 3i from the bunker at hazeltine on saturday at the first pga at hazeltine that beem won
so impressive… the 6i in the Canadian would be my 4a.
top bunker shots?
June 18th, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Here’s my top five shots I’ve seen. Some could be greater per se but a lot of this is based on the stakes, execution and my rooting interest at the time.
Payne Stewart putt to win 1999 Us Open
Faldo’s 2 iron on 13 – 1996 Masters
Woods Torrey Pines putt to get to playoff
Phil’s putt to win 2004 Masters
Corey Pavin 4 wood at 1995 US Open
June 18th, 2012 at 4:19 PM
ill…i never mentioned drinking
sorry, that’s what i was alluding to.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:19 PM
I prefer Southern Hills for US Open because of weather. The heat in August has too much effect when they play there in August.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:20 PM
i hope steve lowry’s from pebble a couple years ago is on that…hanging lie, sunday going toe to toe with vijay, pebble with amateurs…that bunker shot was as tough as it got and lowry, a no-name journeyman, pulled it off.
best one ive seen other than tiger’s. luke’s from the 2011 masters was pretty fucking great too.
best of all time, and i don’t think there’s video of this on the internet, is seve’s FW from a 240 in a bunker in the 1983 ryder cup.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:21 PM
nice…lowry’s bunker shot was at 6.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:23 PM
tiger’s bunker shot at the canadian open is overrated in my opinion because…a) it was the canadian open and he’s tiger fucking woods and b) didn’t even count as a GIR.
/wanking motion
June 18th, 2012 at 4:24 PM
Rory’s swing is not exactly airtight. It can get long and that invokes lack of control. He also only has one type of iron shot. Full bore. He lacks a 3/4 shot. Presently, there will be gaps when that swing or make-up fails him. His putter is not iron-clad either.
When on though, his overall game has proven he doesn’t need much else. It’ll be a conondrum for him to debate whether to tinker with his swing (I dont think he should). Just needs to practice putting more.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:24 PM
great one.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:25 PM
rory = greg norman?
June 18th, 2012 at 4:26 PM
Azinger, Inverness, 1986 has to be up there.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:28 PM
Sandy Lyle at 18 in 1985? at Augusta to 8 ft.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:29 PM
you mean tway at inverness? don’t remember any of azinger’s shots there but only seen the final round replay.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:29 PM
i hope steve lowry’s from pebble a couple years ago is on that
yes, and he hadn’t shaved all week. looks like he’s coming off a bender and was like, “fuck it, i got this sho.”
June 18th, 2012 at 4:30 PM
Rory as Norman is not too far off. Kind of like Norman but with positive mojo. He’ll probably win more majors but less tour events.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:32 PM
i was rooting for him to fold the entire tournament (love vijay) and i remember him hitting that shot and converting to his side instantly. “fuck it” describes it PERFECTLY.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:36 PM
hale irwin playing the yellow ball another highlight.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:39 PM
You are right. Tway won with the holeout at Inverness over Norman in 86. Azinger beat Norman at Inverness but not on a holeout.
Norman just got done dirty by everybody.
June 18th, 2012 at 4:54 PM
no love for Bandon Dunes as an Open venue?
June 18th, 2012 at 5:52 PM
i love bandon for an open or PGA venue but didn’t mention it because it’s too spread out to handle the crowds. it’d be great on TV and for the golf, but struggle with spectator’s aspect.