Woods: pin high on 17 in two

[Matt_Ward]

Jim Nugent:

If you get an opportunity check out Tiger's comments from the Tuesday press conference he gave. The great man himself said getting there in two would not be possible PROVIDED conditions (downwind and roll) were not available.

Things can change quite quickly when certain weather conditions prevail.

I should know -- I was with Tiger's group for both holes on Friday's second round.

[Lance Rieber]

I think tiger is an incredible talent.  He can hit shots that most tour pros dream about.  The only thing I can't stand is how the tv commentators gush all over him.  I know that tigers highs are usually higher than others but they make his lows to be so much more dramatic than others. Bobby Clampett is the the worst.  When tiger was lining up his putt on two in the second round, he was going on and on about how focused he was and how he has never seen this look and on and on....(he of course 3=wheeled it and bogeyed the next two) They also make such a big deal about Tigers cut drama on Friday.  I think it is incredible that he hasn't missed one as a pro but they were giving him so much credit for focusing on making the cut but my question is if he is so great at focusing and grinding how the hell did he get 7 over in the first place?
Lance

[Bruceski]

Lance,

95% of the viewing public only cares about Tiger Woods. Maybe some watch for Phil Mickelson and John Daly, also. Otherwise, to the average viewer the rest of the PGA Tour boils down to a bland 30- or 40-something guy in funny clothes with an okay physique and a knack for hitting the shit out of an immobile, little white ball (see Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, or Rich Beem).

Bobby Clampett and the rest of the blabbering TV sycophants know this, so you're going to be limited to TigerVision until the day he retires. If only Vijay Singh had any personality the networks wouldn't be so vulnerable to Tiger not being in contention. When he isn't the ratings fall like a Led Zeppelin.

To the PGA Tour and all its supporting entities (CBS, ABC, and NBC), Tiger Woods is the only thing that matters. They wish they could just give him a flat salary just to show up to more events.

[Paul Richards]

Didn't John Daly actually REACH it in two yesterday?

And then his putt with his lob wedge missed the hole by about 5-feet to the right?

I was watching without out sound and that's what appeared to happen anyways.

 

[Brad Klein]

Clampett on Tiger Friday was so embarassing - about "the look" in his eyes, "time to make a statement." Mindless. If anyone has been a sucker for personal motivational cliches, it's this guy, evident in all of his blabbering. And then his claim about a Tillinghast design feature (Baltusrol's 18th) with the fall away greens. Complete and utter nonsense at every turn.

[TEPaul]

When Tiger Woods is in a tournament he is the primary story. If the fans primarily feel that way the networks covering the event always will too.

"The look in his eyes"? I think that's interesting. Don't you think it's interesting to see the look in the eye of the second coming of Christ when he hits two awesome shots green high to a hole that's only been reached twice before and get completely screwed?  

Hell, I'm interested in "the look in the eyes" of a number of those tour pros. I even mentioned it to one of my closest friends the other day as we sat watching the PGA and he said it was interesting looking into the eyes of Lee Westwood because it was like looking into the eyes of a pig----eg all you can see is the back of his head. (there's nothing in there)  

[Bruceski]

Yes. Daly reached in two. I think he might have hit an iron on his second shot. He putted with the wedge.

[Mike Hendren]

The game has changed in almost unfathomable ways.  

Only the PROFESSIONAL game has changed, or maybe not -   Nicklaus and Weiskopf both shot 63 at Baltusrol (25 years ago at the U. S. Open, perhaps?) in the first round of a major there.  

Notwithstanding the cry of the cognoscenti, the sky is not falling.

Mike

[Bruceski]

Right down to his putting with a wedge, the entire hole basically sums up John Daly and why he's so eminently likable and UNIQUE. The only think missing was a cigarette in his mouth and a Diet Coke at his feet while doing it.

He truly is the "anti-Tiger". Seeing the two of them play next to each other as partners in the Battle at the Bridges was a picture in contrasts like no other. And it was quite apparent how much they like each other!

[Jim Nugent]

Right down to his putting with a wedge, the entire hole basically sums up John Daly and why he's so eminently likable and UNIQUE. The only think missing was a cigarette in his mouth and a Diet Coke at his feet while doing it.

He truly is the "anti-Tiger". Seeing the two of them play next to each other as partners in the Battle at the Bridges was a picture in contrasts like no other. And it was quite apparent how much they like each other!

JD looks a whole lot heavier than he did ten years ago.  Wonder how slimming down some might affect his game.

[Brad Klein]

TEP,

Clampett said that about Tiger and "the look in his eyes," as I recall, on the 2nd hole Friday, moments before he 3-putted from 7-feet.

[tonyt]

So #17 is a long monster.

And Tiger drives it into the rough and has to actually use a bit of that forearm juice to knock his iron out of the gunk and over the green.

[Don Herdrich]

that was #18 in the rough.......he blew 2 iron over the 17th from the middle of the fw......

[Patrick_Mucci]

Yesterday, John Daly hit a 3-iron from 280, to an uphill green and hit it in two.

Today, Tiger hit it just over with an iron, although I don't know which one, but, if the hole had been 700 yards long, he would have easily gotten there with a 3-wood.

If the USGA, PGA and R&A don't comprehend that distance means nothing to these fellows and that lengthening courses is a futile pursuit, more and more courses will be ruined, many at their own hands.

The ball and equipment need to be dialed back.

[Tom_Doak]

It's amazing to me that they can do those things, and yet, it's nice to see them hit 3-woods and 2-irons to a green for once.

I guess this means that courses will have to be 9000 yards long.

[Bruceski]

A week before the tournament Tiger Woods was asked about #17 and he quickly replied "3 shot hole". Was he lying? Why would he lie?

[Craig Sweet]

A week before the tournament 17 and the other 17 holes were playing long and wet from recent rain.  Obviously, by Saturday the course was getting dry, fat and firm. Add a little downwind breeze and boom goes the dynamite!

[Craig Sweet]

Opps, did I say dry and fat?

[T_MacWood]

"If the USGA, PGA and R&A don't comprehend that distance means nothing to these fellows and that lengthening courses is a futile pursuit, more and more courses will be ruined, many at their own hands."

Pat
Has Baltusrol been ruined?