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V. Kmetz

  • Total Karma: 3
Remember this?
« on: May 05, 2020, 01:47:42 PM »
I share the sentiment of the headline; in my opinion, this was the closest Tiger or anyone else got to the professional calendar slam. .. He did have a better statistical finish in 2000 and 2005 across all four, but he was peaked out in this year, until this storm played "hourglass" with most of the field going into Saturday. What a horrid day; some the foulest weather in which I've ever seen professionals play.


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"The tee shot must first be hit straight and long between a vast bunker on the left which whispers 'slice' in the player's ear, and a wilderness on the right which induces a hurried hook." -

Paul Rudovsky

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Remember this?
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2020, 02:27:34 PM »
Absolutely remember it.  It was truly atrocious weather and Tiger got the absolute worst of it.  Interestingly, before that round he had a rep that he could outplay the field in any weather.


But in my opinion, Arnold was at least as close in 1960...finished 2nd and 1 stroke back of Kel Nagle at TOC in 1960 after capturing Masters and US Open at Cherry Hills
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Pete_Pittock

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Re: Remember this?
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2020, 02:54:59 PM »
no quite there, but I believe Greg Norman had the lead on Sunday in all four majors.
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Joe Bausch

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Re: Remember this?
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2020, 03:14:49 PM »
VK, I remember watching that round in the tough weather.  I think it was Shigeki Katayama that was crouched down behind some barriers and shivering.  I'd never seen anything quite like it.
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@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
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Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

V. Kmetz

  • Total Karma: 3
Re: Remember this?
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2020, 03:22:01 PM »
Quote from: Paul Rudovsky on May 05, 2020, 02:27:34 PM
Absolutely remember it.  It was truly atrocious weather and Tiger got the absolute worst of it.  Interestingly, before that round he had a rep that he could outplay the field in any weather.

But in my opinion, Arnold was at least as close in 1960...finished 2nd and 1 stroke back of Kel Nagle at TOC in 1960 after capturing Masters and US Open at Cherry Hills


--on the weather, I do remember the major immediately before this; when Sergio drew the enmity of NY/American crowds, first with his excessive fidgets over the ball but then the insinuation/complaint that Woods was given the favorable draw on Thu/Fri when the first two rounds had periods of humid rain and generally wet conditions; a protest that extended to the (then new) dual tee system...(this was the first year of that at the USOp)


--on Palmer, I would concede every bit as close...was this one of the first years that the PGA did not conflict with the OC?  As late as when they went to stroke play in '58 (?) they were played so close in the calendar as to prevent honest entry in both. Also in the running was the 1972 Nicklaus, who was denied by Trevino at the OC, after winning the Masters/US combo.
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"The tee shot must first be hit straight and long between a vast bunker on the left which whispers 'slice' in the player's ear, and a wilderness on the right which induces a hurried hook." -

Steve Salmen

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Remember this?
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2020, 03:35:48 PM »
It was the most incredible ovation I have ever seen.


It was the Sunday practice round of the 2002 Open at Muirfield.  There were not more than a few hundred spectators on the grounds.  I followed Billy Mayfair, Rocco Mediate, and Phil Mickelson from 14-18.  They finished their round and Phil signed several autographs.  One fan asked how much Rocco lost to him.  "Rocco lost a lot", Phil replied with a big grin.


I made the short walk to the first tee, where Mark O'Meara was waiting.  The crowd grew and grew.  It seemed nearly half the  spectators were near the tee as Tiger approached. We clapped for him, acknowledging his great achievements.  It was not a roar or even very loud at all, just pure respect for the golfer.  It kind of gave me chills.


They each hit 2 off the first tee and did not find short grass.  Somewhere buried, I have some pictures of that day.


I have not made it a secret on this site that Muirfield is my favorite course.  For those in the know, what would they do to set the golf course up for the Open?  It seems to be pretty similar for them and us.  Narrow the fairways, not cut the rough? 
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Tony_Muldoon

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Re: Remember this?
« Reply #6 on: May 05, 2020, 04:54:11 PM »
Steve I might be naive but...I don't believe they do a  lot to The Open courses for the Championship week.

In some ways they are easier, go really wide and the grass is trod down (and there's an army of spotters).. Also with no play beforehand the chance of finding a divot is reduced.   Arguably the wind tends to be less in July, but in a wet year the members get thick rough too...

TOC might be the exception. The course we play has the pins on the double greens set far apart, during the televised 4 days you can see play wait for the other group to finish before putting out.

Yes the on all courses the greens are a couple of feet faster than they would otherwise be, and the members might only play those tees once a year, but that's about it. Hence when the wind doesn't play its normal part the courses can be 'had'. 

I saw Tigers round and man he was fighting to keep it together but like Canute demonstrated, when nature is determined what can man do?
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2025 Craws Nest Tassie, Carnoustie.

David McIntosh

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Re: Remember this?
« Reply #7 on: May 05, 2020, 05:43:21 PM »
Spieth in 2015 must also deserve a mention. He won the Masters, the US Open then was a narrowly missed putt away from a play-off in the Open at St Andrews. A few weeks later he was second only to an inspired Jason Day at the USPGA at Whistling Straits. Quite a season.
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V. Kmetz

  • Total Karma: 3
Re: Remember this?
« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2020, 05:55:02 PM »
Absolutely on Spieth 2015...his pilot light has gone so completely out, I failed to remember the recent past.


It's interesting that in the magnificent 2000 Triple Crown season, TW was also rebuffed by the weather in the leadoff Masters...(which Singh won)...a mean, cold rain front moved through late on Saturday and caused suspension until Sunday morning...my memory is after poor first rounds, Woods was building something just as the storm came up on his back 9.
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"The tee shot must first be hit straight and long between a vast bunker on the left which whispers 'slice' in the player's ear, and a wilderness on the right which induces a hurried hook." -
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