TEP: I have Cabrera in a pool so it was hard rooting against Tiger, but bucks and bragging rights are critical.  Anyway, I do think that in watching and not rooting for Tiger, that there is clearly a Tiger bias with the TV coverage.  I can understand why TV concentrates on Tiger but it gets pretty obvious after a while.  I was watching Cabrera for all 4 rounds and believe me, he had his share of near miss putts - all the players do, it's just that Tiger is the game and anything that works against him is a far greater tragedy than any other player.  

Cabarera played great and wasn't afraid to take up the challenge when the situation presented itself.  He made the clutch plays and he has to be given so much credit for coming back from losing the lead on Saturday to such a great round on Sunday.  

Jerry:

I'm just waiting for one of our automatically ultra negative Monday Morning Quarterbacks to point out that the fact Cabrera (not a known champion type) won the Open proves there's something wrong with Oakmont or the US Open.  

Most of those MMQs don't seem to understand it's about the quality of the golf, not the reputation of the player who plays it best.

TE,

I seriously have to wonder if Woods is the greatest of all time after watching him finish yesterday...Did Nicklaus ever let someone bogey the last two of three and then not make a run at the end himself?  

I wonder if Jack even watches golf at home...How much fun would have it been to get his running commentary and predictions.

Cabrera has done well is previous Opens and is in the top 50 in world rankings.  When Johnny Miller shot his 63, I believe he passed Nicklaus and Palmer, among others, on his way to the lead - it was recognized as a great round and not that the others blew it. Cabrera's round was not in the category of Miller's, but still, it was really a great, clutch round.  I also think that he was well received by the crowd - a smile here and there and a willingness to take a chance.

Another thing great about Cabrera is how animated he was coming down the stretch.  He destroyed the stereotype that a player must be calm, and must be in complete control of his emotions.  Fiddling with his equipment, looking at his caddie, bouncing around, firing up a smoke, taking a sip of water - the guy couldn't stop moving.  As opposed to faking it, and trying to maintain some sort of false, frozen stoicism, Angel was INTO it, like a linebacker on a Sunday afternoon.

On the 15th green, after Angel stuck an iron to 3 feet on #15, Johnny Miller is trying to get inside the player's head, saying Angel must be thinking about every 3 footer he has ever missed in his life.  I dislike when the announcers try to get inside the players' heads, so I said to the TV and my wife, "He's not thinking that!  He's saying, "Oh, boy.  Come on.  Wow!  Come on.  Make it.  Make it.  Come on.  Oh, boy.  Come on."  Birdie.

I didn't find anything wrong with Oakmont.  I thought the course was set up well for a left to right flight off the tee on key holes such as #4, #9, #12, #15, and #18.  Although Cabrera missed a lot of fairways, he drove the ball pretty damn well when it counted.

Great tournament.  I had a couple reservations about it.  There weren't enough made putts for my liking; those must be the most difficult greens to putt in major tournament golf.  Cabrera won because he hit it tight the most times.  Other than that, I just hate how NBC holds you captive during the last 90 minutes of the broadcast, shows only the leaders, and forces you to watch 30-40 minutes of advertisements during the finish.  Really awful, so much so I'm considering the TiVo alternative.

I doubt I'll repeat these comments on Ran's setup thread.

Tiger is the best today - there is no one close, but sometimes, he says things that are a little hard to accept.  In the press conference afterwards he said that a stone got between his clubface and the ball on 17, which caused a lack of spin and the ball ran over the green.  This is a tough one to accept.  

More on Cabrera: He is not fond of practicing a la TW or Vijay. Good for him!!!

Tiger is the best today - there is no one close, but sometimes, he says things that are a little hard to accept.  In the press conference afterwards he said that a stone got between his clubface and the ball on 17, which caused a lack of spin and the ball ran over the green.  This is a tough one to accept.  

I distinctly heard a anoticeable clicking sound on Tiger's bunker shot on 17. He either hit a rock or hit it a little thin because there wasn't the usual bunker sound. I thought he just hit it thin. But Tiger saying that is no different than Nicklaus saying he never missed a putt. The greatest golfers never make a mistake - it's always something or someone else. That way their confidence stays higher.

I originally thought Tiger skulled it on 17 after hearing his bunker shot.  I wouldn't be surprised if there was a rock, but he has no right to complain about it.  It is a hazard, isn't it?

Cabrera hit some great shots. He was able to get enough spin on the ball to get it to hold near the hole.  The only hole that Tiger stuffed one in there was #13, and he still missed the birdie putt.

It all depends on how you interpret his comments, I guess. I didn't hear an excuse or a complaint -- I heard an explanation, when the writers wanted to know why he didn't stop the ball close to the hole. Sounded reasonable to me.

Of course bunkers should be hazards. Tiger wasn't whining that the bunker wasn't perfect. He answered a technical question with a technical answer.

We all sat at the bar yesterday hoping to see an event like the 86 Masters and was just a bit dissapointed.  I thought Tiger might even make eagle on 17 or at least sniff the hole on one or the other.  I'm curious if Tiger layed up short on purpose on 16 instead of challenging the bunker and pin...The architecture was there for a misty eyed moment and it just didn't come through.  I just want to hear of a time when Nicklaus had a lead in a major and then came in second when the winner bogied two out of the last three.  Even given Jacks fight with obesity did he ever have sweat rolling down his chin like Tiger did yesterday?

Can you really compare charging at Augusta with the US Open at Oakmont? Did Jack charge in '62? '73? If you were expecting anyone to charge yesterday, you need to refresh yourself on the history of the event and the course.

And if you think Jack didn't sweat in 85-90 degree weather with high humidity, you are bordering on delusional.

I can't remember the specifics of each of Jack's victories and losses, but regardless, it's apples to oranges. Different players, different leads, different course setups, just so many different variables it would never be a straight comparison.

As for everyone else and Tiger's comments, you complain when he gives vague, politically correct answers, and you complain if he offers you his actual thoughts. Explain to me how is he supposed to answer in a manner you find suitable.

And then explain to me what the point of an interview is.

BTW, I believe Tiger stated in the post tourney conference that he thinks he hit a rock in the bunker on 17 because of the sound that it made.