What can you say about Sunday's final round? It was horrendous golf, simply put. Oh, and my DVR stopped at 9pm or some reason as Havret had put it in the bunker at 18 and McDowell was walking to the 18th tee, so at 9:45pm I had to go to ESPN News to see what had happened. Nice. For all the arguments we have had about deeper fields in the Tiger era versus the studs in Jack's era, you can't tell me that this tournament doesn't add ammo to the side that says Jack's era had better closers?
To me, Ernie Els has to feel the worst today out of all the contenders. He made bogey from 99 yards on #14, missed a 3 footer for birdie on #15 and couldn't make either mid-range putt on #17 & #18. Oh yea, he made a mess of #10 too. Ernie's putter, which had shown signs earlier this year, was once again tentative in the big pressure cooker of a major.
Phil - I'm beginning to think Phil is never going to win one of these U.S. Open thingies. Just really frustrating. Every time Phil or Ernie seemed to be back in the mix on the back nine, they would miss a key putt or hit a poor shot. It was really maddening.
Tiger - His swing does look better, but he is clearly not back. I said "Bye-Bye" on Saturday after he got to +6 and then shook my head 3 hours later as he played the final 15 holes in 7 under. Still, 15 brilliant holes does not mean Tiger is the dominate player he used to be. Sunday's effort was very pedestrian. We are still waiting for that final round major comeback.
Dustin Johnson - I was rooting for Phil or Ernie to win, and then Dustin. A couple of poor swings early really killed Dustin -- but if you look closely, his putter is what really let him down. He missed numerous putts inside of 5 feet and 3-putted #7, #18 and possibly #16. Brandel Chamblee shows why he is the best analyst in the sport right now when on Saturday night, when everyone was gushing how Dustin could blow away the field, Chamblee pointed out how Dustin Johnson had struggled mightily in final rounds this year. Remember, he even took 74 to win at the AT&T earlier to win. Sickening to think that a 76 would have won it for Dustin.
Greg Havret - Thank goodness this guy didn't win it. A great performance and 2nd place will do wonders for his career and getting into future big events, but him winning would have been a travesty and Micheel-like.
McDowell - Will McDowell pull an Immelman and disappear from the stage after winning a major...or a be a force in the game for years to come? Admittedly, Immelman has struggled with injuries and McDowell could simply be on a hot streak, but I have been wrong before. I thought Immelman was going to be force. It hasn't happened.
Next up in the majors is the home of golf, St. Andrews. I have to tell you, I am not excited about this venue. Maybe it's because the last 2 times Tiger has won handily, but I just don't get that excited for this course. Carnoustie has produced the most exciting Opens to me over the last 15 years. Tiger is my pick again. Ernie will tease but ultimately get his heart ripped out by Tiger in yet another major.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Memorability of recent US Opens
Last night's epic* US Open final round got me to wondering - which of the recent US Opens were all that memorable anyway, and for what reasons were they memorable. The following chronicles my off-the-cuff remembrances of these events:
* - epically sleep inducing
(Ratings from one star to five stars)
2010: Pebble Beach - Graeme McDowell. The long-awaited return to Pebble. Lefty wows 'em Friday. Tiger wows 'em Saturday. DJ collapses and nobody wows 'em Sunday. McDowell survives. **
2009: Bethpage - Lucas Glover. Memorable for the heartbreak where Woods, Mahan, Lefty, Duval, Barnes all contend but cannot seal the deal. Memorable also for the pair of sneakers I wore to Friday's mud-caked second round, and consequently threw away after returning home.***
2008: Torrey Pines - Tiger Woods. Rocco Mediate. 19 holes of playoff excitement. Possibly best Open ever. *****
2007: Oakmont - Angel Cabrera. Another close-but-not-quite for Tiger, Furyk. I don't remember much of this so I'll give it **
2006: Winged Foot - Geoff Ogilvy. Memorable most for the brutality of Winged Foot and for Lefty's tee-to-tree-to-tent-to-bunker 72nd hole goofups. Also, don't forget Monty's 18th hole screw-ups. ****
2005: Pinehurst - Michael Campbell. He played the best...but the Goosen/Gore collapses sure did help. **
2004: Shinnecock Hills - Retief Goosen. Memorable for the 71st hole Lefty goofups, though Goosen played damn solid. Memorable also for the Sunday 7th hole debacle. ***
2003: Olympia Fields - Jim Furyk. Also starring Stephen Leaney. Grind. Fail. *
2002: Bethpage - Tiger Woods. First Bethpage open. New York goes nuts for Tiger and Lefty. The USGA makes the 10th fairway almost unreachable. Solid stuff all around. ****
2001: Southern Hills - Retief Goosen. Mark Brooks was also involved. Most memorable for Goosen's 72nd hole three-jack. Don't forget Stewie Cink's earlier three-jack that cost him a shot in the playoff. **
2000: Pebble Beach - Tiger Woods. As compelling as a 15 shot victory can be. ****
1999: Pinehurst - Payne Stewart. GREAT finish involving Tiger, VJ, and Lefty. Stewart made the putt when the others did not. Proof that the Open could be held at non-stuffy, non-private club venues and be compelling theater. *****
* - epically sleep inducing
(Ratings from one star to five stars)
2010: Pebble Beach - Graeme McDowell. The long-awaited return to Pebble. Lefty wows 'em Friday. Tiger wows 'em Saturday. DJ collapses and nobody wows 'em Sunday. McDowell survives. **
2009: Bethpage - Lucas Glover. Memorable for the heartbreak where Woods, Mahan, Lefty, Duval, Barnes all contend but cannot seal the deal. Memorable also for the pair of sneakers I wore to Friday's mud-caked second round, and consequently threw away after returning home.***
2008: Torrey Pines - Tiger Woods. Rocco Mediate. 19 holes of playoff excitement. Possibly best Open ever. *****
2007: Oakmont - Angel Cabrera. Another close-but-not-quite for Tiger, Furyk. I don't remember much of this so I'll give it **
2006: Winged Foot - Geoff Ogilvy. Memorable most for the brutality of Winged Foot and for Lefty's tee-to-tree-to-tent-to-bunker 72nd hole goofups. Also, don't forget Monty's 18th hole screw-ups. ****
2005: Pinehurst - Michael Campbell. He played the best...but the Goosen/Gore collapses sure did help. **
2004: Shinnecock Hills - Retief Goosen. Memorable for the 71st hole Lefty goofups, though Goosen played damn solid. Memorable also for the Sunday 7th hole debacle. ***
2003: Olympia Fields - Jim Furyk. Also starring Stephen Leaney. Grind. Fail. *
2002: Bethpage - Tiger Woods. First Bethpage open. New York goes nuts for Tiger and Lefty. The USGA makes the 10th fairway almost unreachable. Solid stuff all around. ****
2001: Southern Hills - Retief Goosen. Mark Brooks was also involved. Most memorable for Goosen's 72nd hole three-jack. Don't forget Stewie Cink's earlier three-jack that cost him a shot in the playoff. **
2000: Pebble Beach - Tiger Woods. As compelling as a 15 shot victory can be. ****
1999: Pinehurst - Payne Stewart. GREAT finish involving Tiger, VJ, and Lefty. Stewart made the putt when the others did not. Proof that the Open could be held at non-stuffy, non-private club venues and be compelling theater. *****
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
U.S. Open Preview
To me, there are 9 clear contenders, plus I am adding in Cink to make it an even 10.
* Phil
* Furyk
* Westwood
* Els
* Harrington
* Goosen
* Donald
* Tiger
* VJ Singh
* Cink
To me, the prohibitive favorite is Phil. But we know Phil always disappoints when so much is expected of him. Therefore, I am sticking with my pre-season pick, Padraig Harrington. Despite not having a ton of form and coming off of knee surgery, Paddy has played Pebble well in the AT&T, is a grinder, and has one of the best short games in the world, a much needed skill set on the small set of greens at Pebble. Also remember this, Paddy won the British Open with a bum wrist. Maybe he slides under the radar again with his questionable form and recovering knee.
Lets consider the rest of my contenders:
*Phil - The best outcome in my mind. It would give Phil his coveted National Open major and put him 1/2 way to the Grand Slam with the home of golf ahead, the most likely course in the British rota he could win. As I said above, Phil confounds and I will be rooting for him, but I have my doubts.
* Furyk - 2 wins already this year and a former Champ, he doesn't need to be long to contend on this track and his good iron play and accuracy bode well for his chances if he is on his game.
* Westwood - Although possibly the most consistent player in the world right now, I don't like his ability to close the deal in the big events. Sure, he won last week, but he didn't really 'close', if you know what I mean. Thanks Mr. Garrigus! He is playing so well, he will top 10, but I don't like his chipping game enough to make him my pick this week.
* The Big Easy - 2nd place in 2000 and 2 wins himself in 2010, this would be the 2nd best scenario to me after Phil. I still don't know if Ernie can shake his demons coming down the stretch in a big event. I would pick Ernie if conditions were supposed to be blustery, but I hear the winds will be tame.
* Goosen - Was having a solid start to the year before breaking his toe, horsing around with his kids a couple of weeks prior to the Players. Despite the layoff, managed a top 15 in Memphis on a difficult track. Not sure he can keep it straight all 72 holes, but 2 wins makes him a contender.
* Donald - I know. His recent solid play was on the European Tour, but winning breeds confidence and he has been building it of late. Played decent at Torrey Pines a few years back before hurting his wrist. I don't think he can actually win it, but his accuracy bodes well on a track that isn't a monster.
* VJ Singh - Yes, VJ Singh. Has been fighting injuries all year, but is close according to him and I believe him. Just when you want to count VJ out, he bounces back. He has a good record in the AT&T here and doesn't need to make a ton of putts to go 20 under par. Don't say I didn't tell you so.
* TW - Anyone who doesn't think Tiger can't put it together in an event that rewards patience is simply letting the last few months cloud his vision of the last 12-13 years. Will he blow away the field? No. Will he contend? I am saying Yes. The best story for the regular sports guy. I am not the regular sports guy but it would be huge globally.
* Cink - Admittedly, he was the last on my list, but despite doing nothing since Turnberry, I feel like he is a U.S. Open player and is due for a good week out of nowhere.
* Phil
* Furyk
* Westwood
* Els
* Harrington
* Goosen
* Donald
* Tiger
* VJ Singh
* Cink
To me, the prohibitive favorite is Phil. But we know Phil always disappoints when so much is expected of him. Therefore, I am sticking with my pre-season pick, Padraig Harrington. Despite not having a ton of form and coming off of knee surgery, Paddy has played Pebble well in the AT&T, is a grinder, and has one of the best short games in the world, a much needed skill set on the small set of greens at Pebble. Also remember this, Paddy won the British Open with a bum wrist. Maybe he slides under the radar again with his questionable form and recovering knee.
Lets consider the rest of my contenders:
*Phil - The best outcome in my mind. It would give Phil his coveted National Open major and put him 1/2 way to the Grand Slam with the home of golf ahead, the most likely course in the British rota he could win. As I said above, Phil confounds and I will be rooting for him, but I have my doubts.
* Furyk - 2 wins already this year and a former Champ, he doesn't need to be long to contend on this track and his good iron play and accuracy bode well for his chances if he is on his game.
* Westwood - Although possibly the most consistent player in the world right now, I don't like his ability to close the deal in the big events. Sure, he won last week, but he didn't really 'close', if you know what I mean. Thanks Mr. Garrigus! He is playing so well, he will top 10, but I don't like his chipping game enough to make him my pick this week.
* The Big Easy - 2nd place in 2000 and 2 wins himself in 2010, this would be the 2nd best scenario to me after Phil. I still don't know if Ernie can shake his demons coming down the stretch in a big event. I would pick Ernie if conditions were supposed to be blustery, but I hear the winds will be tame.
* Goosen - Was having a solid start to the year before breaking his toe, horsing around with his kids a couple of weeks prior to the Players. Despite the layoff, managed a top 15 in Memphis on a difficult track. Not sure he can keep it straight all 72 holes, but 2 wins makes him a contender.
* Donald - I know. His recent solid play was on the European Tour, but winning breeds confidence and he has been building it of late. Played decent at Torrey Pines a few years back before hurting his wrist. I don't think he can actually win it, but his accuracy bodes well on a track that isn't a monster.
* VJ Singh - Yes, VJ Singh. Has been fighting injuries all year, but is close according to him and I believe him. Just when you want to count VJ out, he bounces back. He has a good record in the AT&T here and doesn't need to make a ton of putts to go 20 under par. Don't say I didn't tell you so.
* TW - Anyone who doesn't think Tiger can't put it together in an event that rewards patience is simply letting the last few months cloud his vision of the last 12-13 years. Will he blow away the field? No. Will he contend? I am saying Yes. The best story for the regular sports guy. I am not the regular sports guy but it would be huge globally.
* Cink - Admittedly, he was the last on my list, but despite doing nothing since Turnberry, I feel like he is a U.S. Open player and is due for a good week out of nowhere.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Fun with USGA Groupings
You know the drill...the USGA always has a little bit of fun with the pairings for the Open. Here's my interpretation of some of them:
10:44 a.m.: Tim Clark, K. J. Choi, Mike Weir - this grouping will boost periscope sales because you'll have to look over the gallery to be able to look down at these guys
10:55 a.m.: Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Robert Allenby - you might think I'd just say 'Aussies' here. Well you're wrong. This is a heartthrob, an Open Champion, and a jackass. Ha!
11:06 a.m.: Matt Kuchar, Justin Leonard, Scott Verplank, - most boring threesome ever.
10:44 a.m.: Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, Angel Cabrera - no snarky comments here - this is just an awesome pairing for different styles of play.
11:17 a.m.: David Frost, Kaname Yokoo, Eric Axley - can we get some FROSTWINE for the lovely Mrs. Axley please?
11:28 a.m.: Nick Watney, Hunter Mahan, Ricky Barnes - ooooh...rematch of the 2002 US Amateur.
4:47 p.m.: Ryo Ishikawa, Rory McIlroy, Tom Watson - "get off of my lawn!!"
Seemed to me there weren't as many sideslappers as in recent years.
Very excited for the greatest golf tournament in the world - albeit with the ridiculously late weekend finish times. Damn you, NBC.
10:44 a.m.: Tim Clark, K. J. Choi, Mike Weir - this grouping will boost periscope sales because you'll have to look over the gallery to be able to look down at these guys
10:55 a.m.: Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Robert Allenby - you might think I'd just say 'Aussies' here. Well you're wrong. This is a heartthrob, an Open Champion, and a jackass. Ha!
11:06 a.m.: Matt Kuchar, Justin Leonard, Scott Verplank, - most boring threesome ever.
10:44 a.m.: Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, Angel Cabrera - no snarky comments here - this is just an awesome pairing for different styles of play.
11:17 a.m.: David Frost, Kaname Yokoo, Eric Axley - can we get some FROSTWINE for the lovely Mrs. Axley please?
11:28 a.m.: Nick Watney, Hunter Mahan, Ricky Barnes - ooooh...rematch of the 2002 US Amateur.
4:47 p.m.: Ryo Ishikawa, Rory McIlroy, Tom Watson - "get off of my lawn!!"
Seemed to me there weren't as many sideslappers as in recent years.
Very excited for the greatest golf tournament in the world - albeit with the ridiculously late weekend finish times. Damn you, NBC.
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