Golf

[cp176]

What a great matchup today. Hope they play the course and don't get caught up in playing each other.

[Thunder]

Well, after day 3, if I told you I didn't want to see Smylie give Spieth a good run for his money, I'd be lying to you.

[Northern Star]

Colossal idiocy from Speith going to his driver on 17, seemingly forgetting what a bad idea it was last year and history repeated itself, along with a double bogey on 18.

[Thunder]

Spieth with two in the water at 12, giving Danny Willett a two shot lead. Wow.

[Northern Star]

Spieth with two in the water at 12, giving Danny Willett a two shot lead. Wow.

 

How do you take a 7 on a par 3?

[Thunder]

How do you take a 7 on a par 3?

 

Well I do all the time, so it's certainly conceivable.

[Northern Star]

Well I do all the time, so it's certainly conceivable.

 

I did a par 3 course once, can't even remember my score. I think I was averaging six per hole probably. But I'm not a world class professional golfer.

[Bellhorn04]

How do you take a 7 on a par 3?

 

Number 12 at Augusta is an easy place to do it. The green is very shallow and the winds swirl quite a bit. There have been many disasters there over the years.

[Bellhorn04]

I had to change the channel when Spieth hit the second one in the water. Golf is a cruel game. I hope he can bounce back from this.

 

Danny Willett played a hell of a round though, he's a worthy champion.

[a700hitter]

It is called choking and it was on full display for everyone to see yesterday. Some baseball fans don't want to believe that professional athletes choke, but they do. Every golfer knows about choking and every golfer chokes, except for Jack Nicklaus (a golfing god).

[a700hitter]

Spieth is in fine company:

 

Jordan Spieth’s choke at the Masters was bad, but these five were worse:

 

By Matt Bonesteel April 11 at 9:44 AM

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Jordan Spieth’s 12th-hole disaster on Sunday at the Masters will go down as one of the bigger collapses in major-championship history, but when you consider some of the other major choke jobs of yore, it actually doesn’t look that bad. These five might be worse.

[Boswell: After repeat bid falls flat, what’s next for Jordan Spieth?]

1. Greg Norman, 1996 Masters

Spieth has much to overcome if he wants to wrestle the biggest choke ever award away from Norman, who led the 1996 Masters by six strokes after 54 holes yet lost to Nick Faldo by five after a final-round 78.

 

2. Scott Hoch, 1987 PGA Championship and 1989 Masters

Spieth will consider himself lucky if he goes his entire career without choking twice at a major, which is exactly what Hoch did. In 1987, Hoch three-putted from inside 10 feet on the 18th hole; a two-putt would have put him into the playoff with Larry Nelson and Lanny Wadkins. In 1989, Hoch missed a two-footer on the first playoff hole, which would have won him the green jacket. Faldo again was the beneficiary. Hmmm.

And the saying “Hoch as in choke” was born.

 

3. Jean van de Velde, 1999 British Open

Van de Velde led by five strokes entering the final round and by three strokes entering the 18th hole, a lead so large that his name already had been engraved on the Claret Jug. And then...

 

He ended up in a playoff with Paul Lawrie and Justin Leonard after his misadventure and lost to Lawrie by three strokes.

4. Arnold Palmer, 1966 U.S. Open

Palmer led Billy Casper by seven strokes at the turn of the final round, his second U.S. Open title and perhaps the all-time U.S. Open low score in sight. But things quickly unraveled and Palmer ended up needing a tough up-and-down par from the rough on 18 just to force the playoff, which he lost after another choke: He led by two shots after nine holes but went bogey-bogey-double bogey on holes 13-15 and lost by four shots.

5. Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie, 2006 U.S. Open

The lefthander was gunning for his third straight major title and had a one stroke lead entering the 18th hole. He needed just a par for his first U.S. Open title Montgomerie was in the same boat. But Mickelson made the ill-fated decision to trust his driver and ended up hitting the roof of a hospitality tent. Montgomerie, who had just hit a 60-foot putt for birdie on No. 17 and was in the middle of the fairway after his drive, but his second shot found the rough. He and Mickelson both double-bogeyed, handing the title to Geoff Ogilvy.

.

[Bellhorn04]

It is called choking and it was on full display for everyone to see yesterday. Some baseball fans don't want to believe that professional athletes choke, but they do. Every golfer knows about choking and every golfer chokes, except for Jack Nicklaus (a golfing god).

 

There's no question that choking is an integral part of golf. Nicklaus's ability to not choke was almost inhuman.

[a700hitter]

There's no question that choking is an integral part of golf. Nicklaus's ability to not choke was almost inhuman.

And it is the reason why the other golfers have such reverence for him.

[Northern Star]

I want footage of Weiskopf scoring 13 at the 12th in 1980.

[Bellhorn04]

One thing that surprises me a little is that women's golf doesn't do better financially. It goes without saying, but these girls can seriously play. There is no lack of eye candy (Sexy Lexi Thompson for example). And if you appreciate things like behavior and attitude and sportsmanship (sportspersonship?) you will not see any better examples. They smile a lot and hardly ever make a fuss like the men do. At the end of every round they hug each other and all the caddies.

 

The other amazing thing about women's golf is how dominated it is by the Korean girls. Funny how a nation can be so good at one particular sport.

[Bellhorn04]

Congratulations to Dustin Johnson on his first major championship win. Very well deserved. He paid his dues with some very tough losses in previous majors. He also had to overcome a bizarre ruling situation yesterday.

[Kimmi]

Congratulations to Dustin Johnson on his first major championship win. Very well deserved. He paid his dues with some very tough losses in previous majors. He also had to overcome a bizarre ruling situation yesterday.

 

Golf needs to go with robot officials.

[Bellhorn04]

This is shaping up as a great British Open.

[cp176]

Stensen's win today was masterful. Phil was brilliant.

[Bellhorn04]

Stensen's win today was masterful. Phil was brilliant.

 

That was one of the great days in golf history. For two guys to elevate themselves above everyone else like that and duke it out for 18 holes, for them to shoot 63 and 65 on such a difficult course, was something to see.

[Bellhorn04]

The man of the moment in golf is Justin Thomas. He came into this week's Hawaiian Open having won 2 of his last 3 events, and started off with a cool little 59 followed by a 64. Not a big guy at all but hits it a mile thanks to some insane clubhead speed.

[Kimmi]

The man of the moment in golf is Justin Thomas. He came into this week's Hawaiian Open having won 2 of his last 3 events, and started off with a cool little 59 followed by a 64. Not a big guy at all but hits it a mile thanks to some insane clubhead speed.

 

For you.

 

[cp176]

The man of the moment in golf is Justin Thomas. He came into this week's Hawaiian Open having won 2 of his last 3 events, and started off with a cool little 59 followed by a 64. Not a big guy at all but hits it a mile thanks to some insane clubhead speed.

 

Justin Thomas is one of my favorite young players. Barely stays in his shoes when he swings the driver. Eventually - keep your eye on Patrick Rogers

[Bellhorn04]

For you.

 

 

Natalie Gulbis, yes, she's one of the alltime golf hotties. I have a sister-in-law who thinks Adam Scott is the hottest male golfer. Another sister-in-law who's very fond of Nick Faldo.

 

There are a lot of very attractive female golfers these days, that's for sure. It's a happening sport.

[Kimmi]

Natalie Gulbis, yes, she's one of the alltime golf hotties. I have a sister-in-law who thinks Adam Scott is the hottest male golfer. Another sister-in-law who's very fond of Nick Faldo.

 

There are a lot of very attractive female golfers these days, that's for sure. It's a happening sport.

 

Well I'm glad you have attractive golfers to look at to make the sport more enjoyable.

 

Believe it or not, I can get into golf when I have the time and decide to sit down and watch it. It's been a while since I've watched though. I enjoyed it when I did.

[Thunder]

Justin Thomas is one of my favorite young players. Barely stays in his shoes when he swings the driver. Eventually - keep your eye on Patrick Rogers

 

I'm totally in love with JT. I like everything about him: the way he plays the game, his personality, how approachable he is in person, everything.

 

And while we're talking about hot females in the golf world, how about Brooke Henderson??? I would attach a picture but I'm on my phone right now...

[cp176]

I'm totally in love with JT. I like everything about him: the way he plays the game, his personality, how approachable he is in person, everything.

 

And while we're talking about hot females in the golf world, how about Brooke Henderson??? I would attach a picture but I'm on my phone right now...

 

Lexi Thompson - Cheyanne (sp) Woods etc.,etc. There are some very bright and very attractive young ladies playing out there these days. They are really really good players as well.

[Bellhorn04]

Lexi Thompson - Cheyanne (sp) Woods etc.,etc. There are some very bright and very attractive young ladies playing out there these days. They are really really good players as well.

 

Also Alison Lee.

[cp176]

Also Alison Lee.

 

Absolutely - I'm a guy so I have to admit that I like looking at the Natalie Gulbis pics but I really do appreciate what I consider the "real" beauty some of these other gals have. A combination of real strength and beauty. There are also some great stories out there. Just had dinner with a man who caddied in a tournament for Althea Gibson back in the late 70's - the end of her playing days. Women like Gibson and Zaharias were unique in their day. Athletically at the top of their food chain.

[Bellhorn04]

A major shout out to Stacy Lewis.

 

Before this week's LPGA event she announced she would donate her entire winnings from the tournament to the Harvey relief effort. Then she goes out and wins the tournament, her first win in several years, and she's donating $195,000.