Elite pro golf on TV

[Craig Sweet]

Chris, are you saying because he lives there he has a right to bitch about the course being soft from a lot of rain? In my opinion he's simply a pampered soft ass guy that parlayed his one shining moment into a deal with murdering thugs from SA.


It's funny, but the kid from small town Montana endured a long flight across the Pacific, arrived in a rain storm, didn't see the course until round one, and didn't complain...he sucked it up and won.   I'm not sure why pro golfers, and many on this board can't accept that weather is a huge part of your golf round...it ain't always going to be perfect conditions.


Target golf is easy...easy for everyone in the field. Maybe the 54 Hole Tour had reduced his competitive spirit?

[Rob Marshall]

What was his one shining moment? The Players or the British?

[Chris Hughes]

Chris, are you saying because he lives there he has a right to bitch about the course being soft from a lot of rain?

You think he "lives there"?

In my opinion he's simply a pampered soft ass guy that parlayed his one shining moment into a deal with murdering thugs from SA.

Your opinion and $5.14 will get you a vente mocha at Starbucks.  The PGA Tour has been partnering with "SA" for many years and continues to do so.  Just google "Harold Varner Saudi" and see what comes up, first of seven links still prominently displayed on PGA Tour website.  Hey, where were you on 911?

It's funny, but the kid from small town Montana endured a long flight across the Pacific, arrived in a rain storm, didn't see the course until round one, and didn't complain...he sucked it up and won.   

He seems like a high quality kid, but what he did or did not say is not relevant.

I'm not sure why pro golfers, and many on this board can't accept that weather is a huge part of your golf round...it ain't always going to be perfect conditions.

Are you seriously in the dark about how the conditions were dumbed down due to a ladies event being held simultaneously?

Target golf is easy...easy for everyone in the field.

Yes.  The winners (a guy ranked outside top-1000 and a part-time pro shot) shot a combined 35-under.

Maybe the 54 Hole Tour had reduced his competitive spirit?

Obviously not...

Craig, what's this "2025" thing all about?

[Craig Sweet]

Actually Chris you said his home is there....in Australia.


"Dumbed down" is pretty sexist Chris.   But perhaps it didn't rain at all and you are right, uh?


Ryggs?,,,,He just wrapped up his collegiate career (very fine career) and joined the DP tour a few months ago. Pretty hard to be ranked after a couple of tournaments..

[Mark Pearce]

Are you seriously in the dark about how the conditions were dumbed down due to a ladies event being held simultaneously?

I'm "in the dark" as to how conditions were dumbed down.  Can you enlighten me?

[Chris Hughes]

Actually Chris you said his home is there....in Australia.

...but I didn't say he "lives there", and therein lay the rub.  Cam lives 10,000 miles away in Ponte Vedra.  Australian touring professionals who have reached the highest levels of the game (like Cam) invariably relocate to the United States, usually Florida.

For those who are playing a full PGA Tour schedule, and living in Florida, the elite Aussie events generally aren't a consideration due to logistics -- but because Cam is playing a LIV sched, he does have the "flexibility" to travel to Oz and spend time with family, while he supports the Australian Tour (this was his 4th in a row).

"Dumbed down" is pretty sexist Chris.   


Oh cry me a river...


But perhaps it didn't rain at all and you are right, uh?


Oh it rained, on an already waterlogged (dumbed down) golf course.

Ryggs?,,,,He just wrapped up his collegiate career (very fine career) and joined the DP tour a few months ago. Pretty hard to be ranked after a couple of tournaments.


Luke Clanton (amateur, still in college) is OWGR #90 after 8 events.  Ryygs has now played 12 events w/ OWGR points and to his credit has gone outside #2000 to #318...good for him!!  FYI, he played the Australian PGA the week before so "the travel distance" didn't impact his ability to "get a practice round" moreso than any other player.

Bottom line, were the conditions fiery/firm/fast as the course is designed to play (vs. the point & shoot target-golf that happened) Ryygs wouldn't have had any chance  (strictly a comment on and function of lack of experience, not ability).

Hey what's up with the 2025 thing you keep referencing?

[Niall C]

"Dumbed down" is pretty sexist Chris. 

There's a lot on this thread that has gone right over my head but this comment just baffles me. How is dumbing down sexist ?


Niall

[Chris Hughes]

Are you seriously in the dark about how the conditions were dumbed down due to a ladies event being held simultaneously?

I'm "in the dark" as to how conditions were dumbed down.  Can you enlighten me?

Sure:


"...Kingston Heath was being prepared in a softer manner so as not to humble the women’s field or All Abilities contestants – many of whom would struggle with rock-hard greens because they can’t spin the ball as much as the men."


https://www.australiangolfdigest.com.au/australian-open-2024-analysing-the-main-talking-points-from-this-years-championship/

https://x.com/mikeclaytongolf/status/1863440489405628626

[Craig Sweet]

Niall...."We're gonna dumb this down cus' you're girls"......ouch.   Ranks right up there with "dumb blonde".  Sexist.

[Chris Hughes]

Niall...."We're gonna dumb this down cus' you're girls"......ouch.   Ranks right up there with "dumb blonde".  Sexist.

Are you criticizing Golf Australia for preparing the course in a manner which would not embarrass the women?


2025?

[Craig Sweet]

Chris, your assumption that the women "would be embarrassed" to play a more difficult course is sexist. Let them decide.


Besides, I don't recall Golf Australia saying anything about "dumbing down" the course for anyone.  But I did hear several people complain about days of rain making the course soft and slow. 


By the way, in the long history of the Aus. Open why has this issue of dumbing down not come up before?

[Chris Hughes]

Chris, your assumption that the women "would be embarrassed" to play a more difficult course is sexist. Let them decide.

Golf Australia made that assumption, not me.  (see below)

Besides, I don't recall Golf Australia saying anything about "dumbing down" the course for anyone. 


They literally did exactly that.  (see below)


But I did hear several people complain about days of rain making the course soft and slow. 


The course was already slowed down and way softer than normal, then it rained. 


By the way, in the long history of the Aus. Open why has this issue of dumbing down not come up before?


It has, you just weren't aware of it.

Guess you missed this before:

"...Kingston Heath was being prepared in a softer manner so as not to humble the women’s field or All Abilities contestants – many of whom would struggle with rock-hard greens because they can’t spin the ball as much as the men."

Australian Open 2024: Are the days of our Open being 'the fifth major' a memory or the future? - Australian Golf Digest


Lots of interesting quotes here:

https://www.golfaustralia.com.au/news/golf-officials-ponder-divisive-dual-gender-open-format-613547



"GOLF OFFICIALS PONDER DIVISIVE DUAL-GENDER OPEN FORMAT"  (sexist lede?)

Cameron Smith:  " ...lashed (out at) officials after Wednesday's pro-am for their "bull****" set up of the courses, claiming the traditional "hard and fast" layouts had been reduced to "American-style target golf".

World No.6 Hannah Green:  "...admitted the pins had been made easier for the men to cater for the women, while other compromises include a reduced women's field with only 30 players and ties making the halfway cut."  (sexist cut?)

Adam Scott:  "...told Golf Australia magazine "there is a place for different formats, but your national Open is not the place for that".  (sexist comment?)


Will be interesting to see what Golf Australia does going forward as The Women's Open is a big money loser... 


2025?