Golf - classic or dud

like, I wouldn't bet that he'd never win a major again, because he has so many chances at it, but he's definitely racing against time

i don't think he can get the record now

wd consider a bet on him never winning another right now. otoh if he can get his head together and rebuild his game away from the glare of the fame monster - big "if", obv - he could be playing and winning for plenty long enough to completely eclipse Nicklaus. i think there's enough to his game that he could come back as good as he's ever been, but he's got a shitheap of obstacles to overcome first.

he needs rory to trash talk him again

i sort of feel the same way about this as i do about Jordan's comeback in Washington - the odds are so stacked against him, but if anyone could do it, it's him right?

His long game is so reliant on hulk-strength + torque = clubhead speed...his joints are saying "no, fuckit, ENOUGH." Gonna have to remake himself into Corey Pavin Mk 2...

but if anyone could do it, it's him right?

I don't see any reason why that's true.

because he's got such a ridiculous drive to improve and crush the competition unlike really any other golfer out there besides a few of the greats. i have the feeling that if it is even a little bit possible that he will find a way to do it.

then again, that competitive edge seems to have been lost in him as of late

ok now I'm convinced that Bee OK is one of your sockpuppets

put down the cliches, man

Tiger's got heart. Tiger wants it more. He will roar again. But can the young guns catch him?

there's something to be said for the idea that Tiger had the one of the greatest temperaments for the big tournaments and that it's quite possible that he can recover his mentality, if not his physique

The average age of people carrying clubs here in St Andrews has dropped by about 30 years in the past couple of days. Admittedly this is during the time when people are playing their yearly game of tennis, so maybe the oldies are doing that.

there's something to be said for the idea that Tiger had the one of the greatest temperaments for the big tournaments and that it's quite possible that he can recover his mentality, if not his physique

i kinda wonder if the whole house of cards falling down put paid to that mentality too, which must have been a construct of sorts.

but if anyone could do it, it's him right?

I don't see any reason why that's true.

― Mr. Patrick Batman (WmC), Monday, June 20, 2011 5:07 PM (1 hour ago)

because he's tiger fuckin' woods man, come on

he used to be

you're acting like he's just another guy - dude was awol for over a year and out of nowhere legit contends for the masters

the british will be at st andrews twice and pebble beach probably once in the next 9 years, plus augusta every year. he's not getting shut out for sure

idk if he'll come back as good as he's ever been - don't know if we'll see a golfer on that level for a few decades, who knows - but if he can even approach that level you can't count him out

we'll see who's closer to right as the years pass. Like I said, I think he has one more major, his '68 Comeback, left in him. Beyond that --

::shrug::

Hopefully he'll be wearing a black leather jacket when it happens...Serious question: Think he was watching yesterday?

He issued a "...wow! Congrats to Rory" statement before it was over.

I'm trying to picture him sitting there in front of the TV: "Oh, fuck--this is bad. This is not good." (I'm kidding--I think it's the best thing that could happen to him.)

that statement he made was definitely a suggestion by his PR agent, I have to imagine his real feelings were "I'm going to crush this kid"

that statement he made was definitely a suggestion by his PR agent,

explain to me how the fuck you know this

I have to imagine his real feelings were "I'm going to crush this kid"

The problem with that is that he hasn't beaten anyone the past two years. I think he'll love the challenge, but he's at a point in his career where he can hardly zero in on one guy. It's enough right now just to win again.

explain to me how the fuck you know this

obviously I don't but it didn't strike me as something he would have said in his pre-scandal days

The problem with that is that he hasn't beaten anyone the past two years. I think he'll love the challenge, but he's at a point in his career where he can hardly zero in on one guy. It's enough right now just to win again.

Yeah but what I get from him is that he has that Jordan-esque mindset, that his only goal is to crush the competition regardless of anything, even if it's not really plausible I can guarantee* you that's what he's thinking

*can't actually guarantee

I think R.Mc has one big advantage over Tiger -- Earl Woods didn't put a golf club in his hands when he was a baby.

Photo in the papers today of 18 month-old Rory swinging his first club after his dad bought him his first set. Tiger was 3 when his dad started him.

http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2011/06/20/article-1308607215490-0026939F00000190-1779_223x335.jpg

Yeah, there's a clip, from Ulster TV, I imagine we'll all be seeing a lot of in the next few years of him being interviewed and then pitching balls into a washing machine(!), which is how he used to practice.

"I guess this is the question that everyone has - seeing a McIlroy/Day/Sergio rivalry is going to be nice"-frogsbs

Which one of these is not like the other? I'll give you a hint: paella.

No fucking way does Garcia belong in a discussion with those other two.

belongs in it as much as tiger on 21/06/2011

well I'm hoping his putting game is going to get better

belongs in it as much as tiger on 21/06/2011

― the waitress and the frogbs (darraghmac), Tuesday, June 21, 2011 9:40 AM (10 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Same with Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer and Tom Morris Jr. Not sure your point.

funny old round of golf today... played along with very amiable retiree from RSA, scratch golfer and all round nice person. very pleasant way to spend a sunday afternoon, playing golf and getting the inside view on apartheid-era pro-am golf

doesn't really capture the majesty of the happenstance but w/e

nice, any insights you'd like to share?

got a $25 gift certificate to a sporting goods store and thinking about buying a new putter (first one in 20 years)

http://dsp.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pG01-5620343dt.jpg

no really stunning insights tbf, standard stuff about how he couldn't get a handicap because he wasnt allowed to compete in medals and he played on sand greens because the courses didn't have equipment to maintain actual greens. said he was scratch/+1 throughh the 70s and 60s. just a nice coincidence that of al the people you could be partnered with on a wet sun in glasgow...he's probably far and away more interesting (and nice) than 2 nd place.

what's the deal with the milled face on those putters?

re: putter

encourage overspin?

oh and thanks for RSA story, thought at first you were playing with a white guy

should this be the Open thread?

could be.

still playing a lot of golf. hopefully going to play here this weekend
http://www.gaileslinks.co.uk/

anyone betting on the open? mcdowell is about 30-1 in some places, looks worth an e/w.

Good man, thanks for the tip!

Dad basically called me a pussy the other day for not wanting to play in 100º heat.

Can't wait to get the phone call from the Burns Park Clubhouse that I need to go collect a body from the 14th green.

I love it when it gets super hot cos it means the course nearest to me is completely deserted unlike the last 5 times I've tried to play in the last 2 weeks where I've had to walk in before the 10th due to slow fucks playing in fucking 4 balls in front of me!

Looking v tricky at The Open. I actually played Lytham a couple of times over a decade ago. Didn't really like it much tbh Too many blind shots for me. Greens way smaller than they seemed on TV.
Rocky start for Rory. +1 after 3 holes and facing a 12 footer for par on the 4th.

is ryan moore wearing... a hoodie?!

just put

5 e/w on poulter 50-1
5 e/w on mcdowell at 25-1
5 e/w on ricky fowler at 66-1 (who has just birdied)

paddy power paying out for places on the top 7.

Long odds on Poulter. Has he been off the boil/ an issue with links golf?

kinda off the boil i think

Thomas bjorn -5 after 18. Be surprised if anyone tops that today. Luke donald even through 12. Lol British Summer (half the players in wooly hats)
Re garda's bets - think those are v good odds on fowler top7. Gmac been a bit meh this year and managed a 9! last week.
God if only sergio could putt.

Poulter needs a par for a 69, so looking good Garda. And he got it. -1 after 18.

yeah been keeping a loose eye on it despite few minor faffs in work/life all day, poults at -1 sitting pretty. fowler slipped back which is a shame, but still well in it really at level par. if even one of those came through could make a nice few quid.