Where were the Players at the Players Championship??
There are so many good talking points from this weekend's Players Championship that I do not know where to begin or how to write this post. So, I've decided that I am going to list some of the things that I found interesting about this past week's tournament.
1. Love III goes 65 - 83 with a 9 on his 36th hole.
2. Steven Ames in the same season loses 9 and 8 to Tiger in the Match Play and then wins the Players by 7.
3. Sticking with Ames, what about his grin?
4. Arron Oberholser having a 1 stroke lead in the 3rd round stepping up to 17 and playing 17 and 18 in 5-over.
5. Villegas' outfits.
6. Sergio's putting stroke or lack thereof.
7. 3 holes in 1 on 13.
8. Tiger finishing in the middle of the pack.
9. Pete Dye's killer design.
10. Moving the tournament back to May.
So let's use the comment section to discuss some of these interesting topics or feel free to add some of your own.
19 Comments:
As for Love, I think his two rounds at TPC pretty much summarized his career. He has shown such promise as well as tremendous underachievement throughout his entire career. I think his golf is definitely on its down side at this point.
Ames' grin was downright freaky at times. I couldn't tell whether he had a deformed mouth or just a really bad set of caps on his front teeth. Whatever the reason, he needs to keep those chompers under wraps. Sure, it's refreshing to see a smile, but that is too much.
Am I the only one who doesn't buy into the hype of Camillo Villegas? The guy is a good young player, but is he any better than Luke Donald? No. Paul Casey? Debateable, seeing that Casey plays the European Tour. Any other young player? I don't know. It seems like the media is trying to hype him more so than other young players for whatever reason. Could it be that he looks good and wears flashy clothes? When he wins a tournament, I'll give him the credit he deserves.
Sergio's putting struck...it stinks. For someone that is supposed to be an elite player, he has yet to show that he deserves such distinction. For the record, I have never been a fan of Sergio. He's the only one I actively root against. The only time he plays great is in the Ryder Cup, where, I will grudgingly admit, he has shined.
Tiger finishing middle of the pack? Give the guy a break. He had an off week. That's not unexpected, given that his father is seriously ill. We need to stop making such an issue out of whether Tiger has an off week. The nature of golf is that it's a fickle game. Everyone has off periods in their game.
As for TPC, all this talk of it being a "major" is rather ridiculous in my opinion. It has a great field, and that is certainly a consideration. But who out there can seriously claim with a straight face that TPC is anywhere on par with a tournament like the Masters or US Open or even the PGA? Even if it were close to those tournaments, there's no way it touches The Open Championship, which is far and away the most prestigious of the majors. Whether Americans want to admit it or not, the greatest of the majors is not played on our soil. The US Open is certainly a prestigious event, but it doesn't hold a candle to The Open, which had been plyed for more than a quarter century BEFORE the US Open began. So there's no way TPC is a major. It is a great tournament on the PGA Tour, much like Memorial.
can't really argue with your list of points...
except
Ames won by 6 not 7
there were 4 holes in one on 13...not 3...Leonard, Parnevik,Couples and Stenson...
would have thought the complete lack of any forward move by any challenger on Sunday was more noteworthy than the outfits of Vilegas...if Ames could play the last 8 holes in 5 under par...why did no one else....do they all believe the hype about this course...
16 is a very reachable par 5...eagle possibility...
17 is a wedge to a target that is 30 yards wide!!!....
a number of pins seemed to be placed at the bottom of slopes which allowed shots to be pitched almost anywhere on the green and geantly roll round to the hole...see 13....and 4....
very dull finish to a tournament...
I'm renting a condo at Sawgrass all next week. Any way to get out on the TPC course without paying $227 green fee?
Davis Love: I agree that he's over-rated. Both him and Couples. The American golf press is much too quick to attach the words 'great player' to these guys - they do this all the time. I don't care if they can hit a 2 iron 220 yards straight up into the air or if 'Freddy's a nice guy'. They haven't won enough majors to be called great.
Ames' grin: too many teeth in there.
Camillo Villegas: I've always thought it very odd that there is a tendency to praise players because women may find them attractive. Johnny Miller is particularly prone to this, even going so far as to comment on how a players blond hair will help their career! In the case of Fred Couples, when he was really big, the golf announcers would often refer to his nickname of 'baby-cakes' and allude to the idea that women liked his buns and that's where the name came from. I can't help thinking there's a homo-erotic undercurrent to all of this! Honestly, do I really need to know that his nickname is Freddy 'baby-cakes' Couples and the name comes from his shapely buns!?!? Maybe it's because the golfers spend a lot of time watching each others bodies (swings). For those that take these posts a little too seriously: this was written with humor not as a claim that you or the golf world is homosexual...take a deep breath.
Players as a major: the PGA Tour is working the angle that if you repeat something enough maybe people will start to believe it. The fifth-major idea was repeated a mind-numbing number of times on the network and golf channel coverage. The network coverage included lengthy segments that interrupted play and went on-and-on about how special this tournament is and how it is considered by so many to be the 'fifth major'. These segments were direct copies of the Masters coverage, showing the drive up Magnolia Lane with misty pictures of all of the great holes and dramatic spots on the course. The segments always have one or more of the players announcing 'Welcome to our championship the player's championship', getting all misty-eyed for the camera. You've got to admit, they lay this on a little thick don't you think? It's about as subtle as a baseball bat to the forehead.
I think that if you took the seventeenth hole out of the picture, you'd have a difficult but fairly ordinary golf course that's very similar to other courses on the Florida swing. The TPC is Bay Hill with slightly narrower fairways, pot bunkers, mounds and railroad ties. The design is always the same, easy par 5 somewhere near the end where eagle can be made followed by tough long par 4 18th with water down the side and trouble all around the green.
There are four majors, we don't need a fifth. Even though the list of majors has changed in the distant past, there is absolutely no reason for it to change now or in the foreseeable future.
On 1,2 &4 - What golfer hasn't done this?
#3 - Big teeth
#5 & 6 - Latin flare, good eye candy for the ladies but I don't think the temperment can sustain great golf.
#7 - Lucky 13
#8 - Dad and Pete Dye
#9 - Augusta should take the hint and listen to the Bear and Arnie
#10 - Dryer in May, therefore even tougher.
One further talking point. The incident with Faldo/Sabatini and Sabatini's wife. Sometimes I find myself agreeing with Sabatini (the slow player should be the one on the clock and not the group) but surely you have to show some respect to your fellow players, especially one of the games legends in Faldo. Great comeback by Faldo I must say on the 'Keep Up' t-shirt worn by Sabatinis wife.
1. Love III goes 65 - 83 with a 9 on his 36th hole.
Love was thinking about driving his American Chopper that he received from his wife...instead of a little white ball.
2. Steven Ames in the same season loses 9 and 8 to Tiger in the Match Play and then wins the Players by 7.
The antithesis of Steve Scott and Ryan Armour...Lose big to Tiger in match play, and then punish the field a month later. Armour and Scott played tough against Tiger, and have nothing to show for it, maybe a Nationwide (Nike) Tour Win. I am still waiting for you Steve Scott. Free Steve Scott!
3. Sticking with Ames, what about his grin?
Ames will walk next week with a Fixodent patch on his hat. Don't worry.
4. Arron Oberholser having a 1 stroke lead in the 3rd round stepping up to 17 and playing 17 and 18 in 5-over.
One word. Gonzaga.
5. Villegas' outfits.
Don't try Villejas, eat some tortilljas. The evoloution of pastel and bright colors in golf fashion....Duffy to Jesper...to Ian Poulter to Sergio...to Darren Clarke (what a poser). You need to respect the pastels and leave them for easter eggs. Ohh Camillo, my girlfriend needs her shirt back.
6. Sergio's putting stroke or lack thereof.
Sergio's systematic approach is painstaking to watch. Sergio needs to learn some lessons from the (John) Daly Planet. Grip it (once) and Rip It. No thoughts.
7. 3 holes in 1 on 13.
I heard about that...too bad a real life version of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 for the PS2 was actually transpiring. Pretty impressive statistic. Can we expect 4 holes in one at 16 this year at Gusta?
8. Tiger finishing in the middle of the pack.
Tiger is hiding in the Woods staring down another Green Jacket. Just waiting to pounce.
9. Pete Dye's killer design.
Respect to PD, a course where a jumbotron behind a hole can be placed (17). I respect bringing baseball statistics jumbotrons to the game. Adds character to the hole and the game. Respect.
10. Moving the tournament back to May.
I guess I can still get tickets. I wonder after watching the 300 commercials for tickets, if I will actually contemplate buying some.
11. 5th major?
Not even a chance. Once a waiting list is established for The Players I might consider. Wait, what was the # again for tickets??? He he.
osUltimate
Hello fellow bloggers,
Have not posted this week so here is just a tip - i tried the site http://EmptyTeeTimes.com and played a local course for about 1/2 price. I will try again this week. Thanks for the bone SandTrapper! Hale
OK...one at a time...
1. I went from thinking I was a genius for picking DLIII on my fantasy golf to wondering when the DLIII memorial Rumage sale and Picnic is gonna be held.
2. Isn't golf the greatest game ever...on any sunday...
3. Thats the grin of a winner - I haven't seen a commanding performance like this since David Toms at the '05 Match Play.
4. My freind, who shall remain nameless, played in the NCGA Ams with him a ferw years ago. Apparently he's got a water problem. I guess it only applies to fresh water, since it didn't seem to affect him at Pebble.
5. I'm sick of this guy - so he's Columbian, so he dresses in the latest fashions. It's not like he's Horatio Alger and he pulled himslef up by the bootstraps to become a professional golfer. Trust me, this kid grew up with silver spoon in his mouth. Or should I say pearly-cocaine-white/crude-oil colored spoon. Yes, that is a drastic generalization, but I'm sick of this canonization by guys like Johnny Miller - to me, it seems like self propgandizing at the expense of others, "look at me, I dig these young foreign kids, too"
Whatever.
6. Speaking of Johnny Miller - if I was Sergio, I would just avoid gettting into the hunt at tournaments broadcast on NBC. That shit can't be good for you mindset.
7. Pin placements were too easy.
8. Just this once, could we please give the poor guy a break, his old man is just about to kick for christ's sake.
9. Still the best design of any new course on tour (to me these are courses built after 1980), but I think it was Johnny Miller who said on sunday that the over-seeded, souped up rough diminshes the players options and if it was just a little thinner we'd see all kinds of crazy trickery and craftiness. OK, so occasionally Johnny has a good point or two.
10. See above...
3. Steven Ames...I wouldn't go out with him.
5. Camillo is HOT!!
6. I'd date Sergio. Maybe I could help him with his putting.
I don't know whats the problem with most of you...Racism? Insecurity perhaps? Yes I am talking about Villegas, the guy can be good looking or whatever I don't care...being good looking doesn't give you three top 3 finishes. The guy has been an excellent player so far, and saying that is just a fashion thing is kind of dumb.
I think that finishing the first day T 107, second day T 52, third day T 12 and last day T 3. Thats not easy, especially if you come as an alternate, and don't play any practice round. Someone calls you wednesday morning and tells you that your Tee time is tomorrow morning, when you are just sitting in your house for a 3 weeks brake. And No I don't think he did this because the clothes he wears. I saw the guy in the Nationwide and wore the same clothes, give him a brake and let him dress however you want, don't let your masculinity be affected. Confidence guys, come on.
To Osultimate, man Tortillas are mexican the guy is from Colombia. People eat tortillas in Mexico not in South America. So take some general culture classes. I wouldn´t say is racist, is just dumb. Thats what any average Joe from a town with 1000 people would say. It's like telling a chinese guy to go and eat some sushi. (people that knows in what world they live understand what I am talking about)
And now with you Oldbattler..."Or should I say pearly-cocaine-white/crude-oil colored spoon." Are you Osultimate best friend? Hehe guys did you missed all your classes back in High School? Did you finish High school? Cocaine is produced in Colombia and it goes straight to Europe and the United States where people use it. In Colombia people don't do cocaina. Bizarre? Maybe, but thats the way it is. Cocaine is made in Colombia and sent to the world were people like you two guys can use it. So I don't know if you are jeallous about Villegas, he plays good and he doesn't do cocaine. And if he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth that's certainly not his fault. And that doesn't make it any easier, you still have to work your way up for beating Chris' Di Marco record at the U of Florida. And the other thing, most of the oil is in Venezuela, is a country next to Colombia, but not Colombia. Look in a map.
Last thing, yeah Tiger came in the middle of the pack...Man that guy is good, he can't finish top 10 every time he plays specially when his father is dying.
Garcia couldn't handle the pressure, Davis Love III neither, Vijay neither, Furyk the same way...Ames did.
Good for Ames, good for Villegas and good for all the players that are being the topic because that means they are doing good. So next time someone writes an article don't do it with jealously, maybe golf and picking up girls just wasn't your thing.
Had to make a comment...we couldn't end on that last one. This post had it all: great comments from the regulars, some chump advertising, and anonymous comments about how someone's opinion is bunk.
My "opinions"...or bunk fodder:
Oberholser had a rough two final holes in his third round, but his playing partners were fading as well, and not helping the cause. Always tough to play well when your playing partners are spraying it. Ever notice with your foursome how the scores tend to sway the same direction despite the conditions?
Poor Villegas. The guy wouldn't get all this grief if the commentators weren't fawning all over him every five seconds. True, he is asking for it with those outfits, but he has to please a sponsor, and that style of dress seems to be the trend for non-Americans (and Howell), just as the checkered pants were the trend decades ago. I'm not saying the style is right, just saying it is a trend. As for Villegas, he hasn't irritated me in interviews, is gracious towards the veterans, and truly seems to love to play golf. It is the commentators that are creating the hate...just as they have for Wie (reflected in past posts). Although the 10 million didn't help her cause.
As for Sergio, scary as it may seem, he was putting better at the Players than any tournament this year. If you watched Thursday/Friday, he was sinking everything. Then, of course, the national coverage begins, and he misses a couple of three-four footers for the fan to say,"Good lord, Sergio, I could make that." Say what you will, but I think he will do very well at Augusta, and I think his putting is far better than it used to be...at least for the week of the Players. I should note that improving from being last on the tour in putting is not exactly a feat, so my prediction for the Masters may be (as I predicted earlier) bunk.
They had to move the tournament in May. This is a horrible time of year. The Bell South will be moved to May as well (I mean it was snowing on the course last year, for God's sakes). The rough will be cut more, and Sawgrass will play closer to how it was intended to be played.
On a side note, the only tournament that has a better field that the Players is the Open Championship. Should it be a major? No. If there were no majors right now, and they had to pick four majors, would I consider it? Yes.
1. Couldn't handle the pressure. Great player, but he just wanted to finsih the second round. You could see that he didn't focus again. Just wanted to finish.
2. Most of the players on the tour are like that, very inconcistent. I think that Ames maybe won TPC because he felt humilliated by Tiger.
3. Not a nice smile...But not important.
4. Rounds have 18 holes. Having a certain score at 16 doesn't say anything at all. Look at Goosen he almost finished with Perez, Furyk and Villegas. But the ball didn't go to the lake because of luck...
5. Villegas is one of the most promising players on the tour, he can turn to be a star. His golf says more to me than his outfits, still a long way to go; but I'll say he is on the right track.
6. Sergio felt the pressure. All the media asking him if this was finally gonna be the important tournament that he'll win.. Man you could see his face of "don't say that". The media can certainly put a lot of pressure on players. Same with Vijay with the home town thing.
7. Nice Shots.
8. Tiger can't finish top 5 every tournament. He had a tough weak, still the best player in the world.
Villegas is the real deal, who cares what the guy wears when he is playing...last time I checked he was on the PGA Tour not in Europe for Fashion Week...so we should all be looking at his golf game....the kid can flat out play, Johnny Miller and everyone else are talking about him, just like they are JB Holmes and Bubba Watson..because they have talent and their style of play is going to be the way golf is played going forward....Give the guy a break, he has talent, and he deserves the attention, he is playing lights out golf...
Couldn't agree more with spinman13. Villegas knows how to play, he bombs the ball and handle the pressure better than some guys that've in the tour for a while. Villegas and J. B. Holmes are gonna be winning majors in a while. Not sure about Bubba. So when someone wants to criticize the way he dresses they should go to a fashion channel or a to a fashion blog. Here is golf, Look at Jesper, wearing a tie and made a hole in one...Who cares about a tie if he can shot it like that.
dear little lesson,
you hurt my feelings, so now, i am going to grab my books, go to class, and take a lesson in being little. it makes me feel good that you actually read my comments and their randomness and pokes at the current post. i did not post that comment to spur your post, i post for the love of the game, and to get closer to Morgie P. He-He. Respect.
Sorry for your disappointment.
osUltimate
Dear Osultimate:
I am glad that you've decided to pick up your books and learn some general culture. Being a cultured person is always interesting and I am pretty sure it will help you with Morgie P. I am glad you post your comments for the love of the game. Thats what this blog is all about. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings I just wanted to let you know that tortillas are mexican, and Mexico is one country, Colombia is not a city in Mexico or anything. Is just another country where people don't eat tortillas.
Villegas and Jesper are sponsored by J. Lindeberg. Those are the clothes they wear. And if Villegas shirt will fit yout girlfriend, man she is huge. Go to school as I told you and you might pick up a skinier one.
Cheers,
TIGER interview was sorry. Creampuff all the way. No news.At BellSouth they are still talking about Davis Loves bad round. For god sakes move on. Most commentary sucks except for Miller.
Golf has never been a sport that I have followed very closely, but when I see a player that I believe has true potential, then I like to keep an eye on them. Camilo Villegas is one of those promising players. True he hasn't done anything really tremendous yet, but who's to say he will not. His apparel is quite interesting. I believe it suits him. Does everyone remember Payne Stewart? His dress habits were a bit far-fetched, but people still loved him. Whether it was for his style or his golf skills, people's heads were turned in his direction. MAny of you may think, "Oh this is just some 20 year old girl that has a crush on Villegas and is supporting him just for that reason." True I am very attracted to Villegas, but there are many girls who share the same feelings. I recently saw him on the final round in Memphis, TN at the FED EX St. Jude Classic. He had a few tough holes, but I have been around golf long enough to be able to tell that this boy has potential and he hes a promising career ahead of him. Instead of being negative about the publicity he gets for his looks and fashion sense, one should hope he does well and makes a great golfer out of himself. I hope the best for Villegas.
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