I will be the hole captain for 17.  Stop by and say hi.

Shivas:  I talked to our head pro, Mike Scully, this morning.  What do you think he hit on 12?  That's right......driver.  Don't mess with me on that course......I know it better than anyone in the world.

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/story.asp?id=212928
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sports/cst-spt-tiger01.html

Why is it built for him?  I'm going to guess not simply because its a long course but one that also requires spot on shotmaking and an artistic short game to excel.  

And of course Tiger wants to play courses like Medinah.  The course was built for him.  He will win again...this time by more than 2.

Oh, I don't know if he'll win it or not, but he'll be a prohibitive favorite, that's for sure.  It's sometimes hard to determine, from my perspective of an average golfer (10 handicap at my best), what type of golfer is best suited for what type of golf course, but I do think that, despite its length, Medinah is a shotmaker's golf course for the pros.  For us mortals, you have to be a bomber.  For the pros, length will indeed be a factor, but if the fairways and greens are reasonably firm, a shotmaker like Jim Furyk will still have a good chance.  I don't know if a bunter like Sluman or Pavin would break par, but I think there are a lot of good shotmakers out there who can hit it long enough to give themselves a good look at placing the ball on the green in the proper position.

The other factor is that the putting surfaces at Medinah, since the regrassing, do not seem as severe as before.  The old bent grass had a more wicked tendency to break sharply at the hole.  The new grass is much more vertical and for the pros, I think it will be much more speed rather than line that will provide the major challenge on the greens.  With that in mind, Vijay will be a good bet, despite his major gagging at Hoylake.  Chad Campbell is a threat.  Allenby and Oberholser are likely to do well.

Bottom line, I really don't think Tiger is going to pound the field.  There, I said it.

Now, he'll probably win by five!

Many pros say the same things about Quail Hollow for the Wachovia Championship....that they wish more Tour courses were like QH (lots of bombing/drivers).

I played with Chad Campell earlier this year and he said the QH, the Colonial and Murfield were his favorite courses on Tour.  FWIW

I'll be attending the PGA from the 11th through the 20th.  

I'll be working in the Merchandise tent so anyone who comes through, try to locate about a 6'6", 270 lbs. person folding cloths, and say hey.

I don't mean to put words into Mr. Lavin's mouth but I think that he was stating, correctly IMO, that the grass on the "new" greens seems to stand-up, thus taking all of the grain out of play.  The ball used to wiggle on the "old" greens and dive off as the ball lost speed around the hole.  Now, the ball rolls incredibly true, even at slow speeds....thus, making the speed very important and very difficult to judge.

Ryan, no offense, but he hit driver because he was TESTING the course.  Remember, Tiger was hitting driver on every tee at Hoylake on Tuesday and Wednesday of tournament week, too, BTW.  Let alone 3 weeks before hand.  And he hit it once.  

He will not hit driver in the tournament unless he's been striping it for 11 holes prior to #12.....

First, why would I take offense?

Second, I'm willing to wager that he hits it at least 2 of the 4 times.  

...so, do you reckon Mr 'Scully' likes Tiger   just a thought?

Quote from: Ryan Potts on August 01, 2006, 10:03:45 PM

Quote from: Shivas on August 01, 2006, 09:58:32 PM

Ryan, no offense, but he hit driver because he was TESTING the course.  Remember, Tiger was hitting driver on every tee at Hoylake on Tuesday and Wednesday of tournament week, too, BTW.  Let alone 3 weeks before hand.  And he hit it once.  

He will not hit driver in the tournament unless he's been striping it for 11 holes prior to #12.....

First, why would I take offense?

Second, I'm willing to wager that he hits it at least 2 of the 4 times.  

You're backpeddaling faster than Deion Sanders in his prime!  I thought you knew the course better than any human on the planet and he was a sure thing to hit driver there!  Now we're down to twice?  Besides, I thought you bet me beers that he hits driver every round there already....

I have no problem buying beers even if we don't bet.  And I will come clean....maybe there was a little backpeddal.  I couldn't help but think if this scorching heat keeps up, and 12 plays downwind, he will have to hit 3 wood in order to keep it out of the water on the right....on at least of the 4 days.

But I will stick by my comment that I know that course better than anyone in the world.  Afterall....I've hit it all over the property...to places never before seen by man.

Unfortunately I have.  Have you ever tried playing 3 from the 12th fairway.  Or 5 from the 7th green?  Or 11 from the 15th fairway?  Or 4 from the 3rd fairway?  Or 9 from the 10th and/or 11th.  Or get this.....6 from the 7th fairway.  Yep....I've done all of the above.  And I'm not too proud of any of them.

I'll be marshalling 13 all afternoon Tuesday and Thursday before heading east for the Creek outing.