PDA

View Full Version : PGA Championship



Mal
08-07-2014, 01:25 PM
Anyhoo, Lee Westwood is tearing it up after a disastrous double bogey on the first hole. Went -8 on the following 17, including 5 consecutive birdies at 6-10.

Fowler doing his 2014 at the majors thing so far, at 2 under. Wouldn't be surprised to see him right there again on Sunday the way he's playing this year.

I'd say more of the fashionable picks to win or at least be in the mix play this afternoon - Rory, Bubba, Kaymer, Sergio (wait, did I just write that? Is it 2003?), defending champ Dufner, Bradley.

Olympic Fan
08-07-2014, 04:03 PM
On the other hand, new "superstar" Rory McIlroy (the guy who is going to win 15-20 majors, according to Jack) just birdied No. 7 to go two under and crack the top 10.

I suspect it won't be too long until you are as tired of Rory and the spotlight on him as you are about that other guy, who used to be good a long, LONG time ago.

Bob Green
08-07-2014, 04:59 PM
Several golfers I would like to see win it are currently at -2: Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Jason Day.

hurleyfor3
08-07-2014, 05:19 PM
Talking about talking about a thing
Still counts as talking about the thing
Relevant pony (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z48au1pBnhQ)

mr. synellinden
08-07-2014, 05:22 PM
Several golfers I would like to see win it are currently at -2: Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Jason Day.

Interesting that there's a few posts in here without a mention of Lee Westwood - who hasn't been in the mix much the last 4 majors, but for a pretty decent period before that seemed to be in contention at almost every major, including having the 54 hole lead at the Open championship last year.

He's another guy I would be happy to see win it - especially since he probably has many fewer chances than some of the young guys who haven't won one (Fowler, Day, etc.) and Mickelson has 5.

And Rory just took a pretty big hit, going double, bogey on 10 and 11. Until then, he looked almost robotic in getting to -3. EDIT*: And then he goes birdie, birdie to get it back to -2.

JasonEvans
08-07-2014, 05:51 PM
that other guy, who used to be good a long, LONG time ago.

You have a very selective memory (http://forums.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/showthread.php?34088-Tiger-Woods-injured-again&p=741857#post741857)... either that or you consider a year ago to be a "long, LONG time ago."

Bob Green
08-07-2014, 06:08 PM
And Rory just took a pretty big hit, going double, bogey on 10 and 11. Until then, he looked almost robotic in getting to -3. EDIT*: And then he goes birdie, birdie to get it back to -2.

Now it is four straight birdies and -4. Mcllroy is on fire.

cato
08-07-2014, 06:13 PM
Now it is four straight birdies and -4. Mcllroy is on fire.

Rory really won me over at the Open this year. I don't know why, but that outburst of Eagles on Saturday just made me a fan in a way I wasn't before. Keep it up, Rory. I'd like to see more fireworks this weekend.

Bob Green
08-07-2014, 07:05 PM
Mcllroy finishes at -5 with a 66 by going par, par, birdie over the final three holes after the four birdies in a row.

throatybeard
08-07-2014, 07:31 PM
I suspect it won't be too long until you are as tired of Rory and the spotlight on him as you are about that other guy, who used to be good a long, LONG time ago.

Probably not unless he marries the most beautiful woman in the world, has two babies with her, and then proceeds to cheat on her with pornographic actresses and close-to-underage female neighbors in the same house where she and the children are sleeping.

Olympic Fan
08-07-2014, 07:31 PM
You have a very selective memory (http://forums.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/showthread.php?34088-Tiger-Woods-injured-again&p=741857#post741857)... either that or you consider a year ago to be a "long, LONG time ago."

Don't know if I can answer this without being edited by a moderator again (why was my other post in this thread edited?), but my response would be that the player in question has said that he be measured by his performance in majors ... and he hasn't won a major since the 2008 US Open. That's 25 straight majors without a title ... (this PGA will be 26).

That's a long, long time.

throatybeard
08-07-2014, 07:38 PM
Does anyone know what that skyline is behind Rory McIlroy in the rather visually arresting Omega commercial? I have no idea. I'm guessing somewhere in the UAE. It's looks all-new and all very tall, is why that's my guess.

Bob Green
08-07-2014, 08:01 PM
Does anyone know what that skyline is behind Rory McIlroy in the rather visually arresting Omega commercial? I have no idea. I'm guessing somewhere in the UAE. It's looks all-new and all very tall, is why that's my guess.

You're correct, it is Dubai.

JasonEvans
08-07-2014, 09:57 PM
I know it is waaaay early to be thinking about this, but if Rory manages to win this weekend (and he's in a good spot after round 1) the the frenzy surrounding him next April at Augusta is going to be truly insane. He'll be going for 3 Majors in a row and a career grand slam. I think it is going to be very interesting to see how he handles the role of THE BIGGEST THING IN GOLF and all the craziness that goes with that. He's experienced a bit of it so far, but a win this weekend could turn it up to 11.

-Jason "I'd say he's at about 6 or maybe 7 on the craziness scale thus far" Evans

Chicago 1995
08-08-2014, 12:13 PM
Long course, now rain softened. Rory playing well.

I'd be very surprised if he didn't win by 5 or 6.

We've seen this before. I have little doubt he can do it, but I'd really like to see Rory playing well and going for it on a course playing hard and fast with scores around even rather than what we've seen in his other wins, with the courses playing pretty defenseless.

Bob Green
08-08-2014, 12:37 PM
Rory takes the lead with an eagle on #18 (he played the back nine first). He is -3 through nine holes today and -8 overall.

BD80
08-08-2014, 02:15 PM
I know it is waaaay early to be thinking about this, but if Rory manages to win this weekend ... the the frenzy surrounding him next April at Augusta is going to be truly insane. He'll be going for 3 Majors in a row and a career grand slam. ... -Jason "I'd say he's at about 6 or maybe 7 on the craziness scale thus far" Evans

Oooooh. The thought of Rory completing the "Tiger Slam" to take the mantle from Tiger ... The Irish are poetic aren't they?

Chicago 1995
08-08-2014, 02:43 PM
Oooooh. The thought of Rory completing the "Tiger Slam" to take the mantle from Tiger ... The Irish are poetic aren't they?

To complete the Tiger Slam, Rory would have to win not only the Masters, but next year's US Open as well, assuming he wins this weekend, and as I said above, I'd be stunned if he didn't given the rain softening the course.

Tiger held all four majors at the same time after the Masters in 2001, so that's the Tiger Slam

BD80
08-08-2014, 03:36 PM
To complete the Tiger Slam, Rory would have to win not only the Masters, but next year's US Open as well, assuming he wins this weekend, and as I said above, I'd be stunned if he didn't given the rain softening the course.

Tiger held all four majors at the same time after the Masters in 2001, so that's the Tiger Slam

Hyperbole. Related to parabolic. At a certain point a parabola is essentially linear. If we were going from one major victory to two, on the brink of three ...

CDu
08-08-2014, 04:09 PM
Don't know if I can answer this without being edited by a moderator again (why was my other post in this thread edited?), but my response would be that the player in question has said that he be measured by his performance in majors ... and he hasn't won a major since the 2008 US Open. That's 25 straight majors without a title ... (this PGA will be 26).

That's a long, long time.

I think the issue was with the term "good." He was ranked #1 last year. I would say that qualifies as good. Just not "all-time great" good.

Tom B.
08-08-2014, 04:47 PM
Several golfers I would like to see win it are currently at -2: Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Jason Day.

Jason Day is on the move. He's 5-under through his first eight (!) holes -- including an eagle on the seventh -- and now sits at -7 for the tournament, two strokes off the lead and tied for second with Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk and Ryan Palmer. Palmer is done for the day, but Furyk is still on the front nine (he's -2 through six) and Westwood just made the turn (he's -1 for the day so far).

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is +4 through eight holes, and is now at +7 overall. That puts him five or six strokes on the wrong side of the cut line. At this rate, he'll get beat by good half dozen or so of the club pros.

Tom B.
08-08-2014, 06:05 PM
Several golfers I would like to see win it are currently at -2: Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Jason Day.

And now Fowler's moving, too. He's -4 today through 14 holes and -6 overall, which puts him in fifth place, a stroke behind Palmer/Day/Furyk at -7 and McIlroy at -9.

Phil's a little farther back, but having an OK day. He's -2 today through 12 holes, which puts him at -4 overall, tied for 13th.

duketaylor
08-08-2014, 06:52 PM
Not-to-be-named person is still hurting in his back. Take it from a golfer who knows what a hurt back is like. It's obvious.

mr. synellinden
08-08-2014, 08:46 PM
Not-to-be-named person is still hurting in his back. Take it from a golfer who knows what a hurt back is like. It's obvious.

No question. The rest of his career may be doomed in much the same way Fred Couples' was with his back issues. Interesting question is whether, even if healthy, he could beat McIlroy right now. It doesn't seem like anyone else can.

throatybeard
08-09-2014, 01:55 AM
I had a somewhat insane idea today. I immediately dismissed it, and then thought it was crazy like a fox rather than crazy.

Let's say McIlroy wins this week. Let's factor in McIlroy's age, and the fact that he's missed the prime of Woods and Mickelson. And that Adam Scott and a lot of these guys are really really good but probably not historically great. YE Yang beat Tiger five years ago in this tournament. I don't think YE Yang is winning double-digit majors.

And the scoreboard looks like this.

Nicklaus 18
Woods 14
Lots of legendary guys you never hear about anymore because of the sick sick way the media covers this sport
McIlroy 4

What's your over-under on McIlroy's career total? I don't think I'm taking 15...but, I don't know given the right odds? 25-1? 30-1?


PS -- Lefty's middle name is Alfred. Given that he wasn't born in 1906, I find that hilarious.

BD80
08-09-2014, 07:12 AM
... PS -- Lefty's middle name is Alfred. Given that he wasn't born in 1906, I find that hilarious.

His parents lost a bet

rimshot

Bob Green
08-09-2014, 07:17 AM
What's your over-under on McIlroy's career total?

I listened to a Jack Nicklaus interview, on sports radio Thursday morning, and Jack said Rory has the ability to win between 15 and 20 major championships.

As for this weekend's PGA Championship, I'm looking forward to watching some great golf. With Rory out in front, and Jason Day and Rickie Fowler chasing him (along with many others), it is going to be entertaining.

ricks68
08-09-2014, 12:15 PM
My money is on Furyk if he hangs in there today to stay within 2 or 3 of the leader. I just plain like that guy. Rory is really fantastic and appears to be "in the zone", so it will be tough to beat him. Furyk is just plain s-t-e-a-d-y, however.

ricks

JasonEvans
08-09-2014, 12:16 PM
Ok, Rory is great and all and I would most certainly make him a strong, strong favorite to win this weekend... but the 36-hole odds (http://www.cbssports.com/golf/eye-on-golf/24653879/rory-mcilroy-is-the-huge-favorite-to-win-the-pga-championship)are just ridiculous!

Rory is 11-10. That means that if you bet $100 on him to win, you win $10 (you get back your original $100 + $10 winning for a total of $110 on your $100 bet). I'm sorry, but that's insane. Maybe, if he had about a 6-shot lead, I could see odds like that with 36 holes still to play... but he only has a 1 stroke lead with 36 holes to go and a slew of very good golfers within striking distance.

Other odds--

Jason Day: 6-1
Jim Furyk: 8-1
Rickie Fowler: 8-1
Phil Mickelson: 14-1
Henrik Stenson: 20-1

So, I could put money on Day, Furyk, and Fowler and if any one of those three guys won, I'd make at least 2-to-1 on my money. That's pretty darn attractive.

--Jason "I think the Rory hype has almost reached early-2000s Woods levels, and he simply ain't that good at this point" Evans

YmoBeThere
08-09-2014, 03:05 PM
Dropping Wozniacki appears to have done wonders for his game. If he ever hits a slump, he should reunite just so he can repeat the action.

BD80
08-09-2014, 04:03 PM
Dropping Wozniacki appears to have done wonders for his game. If he ever hits a slump, he should reunite just so he can repeat the action.

Not even Derek Jeter would consider Wozniacki slump-busting material

YmoBeThere
08-09-2014, 06:23 PM
Looks like as many as 12 players will be within 3 shots of the lead going into the final round.

throatybeard
08-09-2014, 06:28 PM
It may be selective amnesia, but I can't remember a major quite this crazy competitive in some time, w/r/t number of name players within X strokes of the lead. And I say that as someone who loves non "name" players.

Awesome sequence of comments in the posts above concerning odds, and Ms Woz. Hilarious.

I'm so glad we have the actual "beautiful game" back from the media and the brain-dead Tigerbots. I'm so happy. I don't think I've been this into golf since Payne won the 1999 US Open.

Bob Green
08-09-2014, 08:16 PM
McIlroy appeared a little out of sync at times today. For a brief moment or two it looked like he was going to allow his temper to get the best of him. My theory is he was uncomfortable playing with Jason Day who takes a very deliberate approach to each and every shot. The pace bothered Rory. In the end, he carded a 67 and maintained the one shot lead he entered the day with. Tomorrow is set-up to be a classic finish to a major championship.

ricks68
08-09-2014, 09:23 PM
My money is on Furyk if he hangs in there today to stay within 2 or 3 of the leader. I just plain like that guy. Rory is really fantastic and appears to be "in the zone", so it will be tough to beat him. Furyk is just plain s-t-e-a-d-y, however.

ricks

Well, that's the way it goes.

ricks

throatybeard
08-10-2014, 01:04 PM
McIlroy appeared a little out of sync at times today. For a brief moment or two it looked like he was going to allow his temper to get the best of him. My theory is he was uncomfortable playing with Jason Day who takes a very deliberate approach to each and every shot. The pace bothered Rory. In the end, he carded a 67 and maintained the one shot lead he entered the day with. Tomorrow is set-up to be a classic finish to a major championship.

That's a hypothesis, not a theory.

(This is pretty much the only circumstance in which I'm a language prescriptivist).

It's raining in Louisville like I sweat when I walk outside of the house in months not ending in -ber or -uary. This thing could be delayed quite some while.

Bob Green
08-10-2014, 05:03 PM
The Leaderboard is very crowded at the top with five players tied at -12. Ernie Els is right behind them at -11. This PGA Championship has been absolutely fantastic.

YmoBeThere
08-10-2014, 05:18 PM
The Leaderboard is very crowded at the top with five players tied at -12. Ernie Els is right behind them at -11. This PGA Championship has been absolutely fantastic.

For me, this is about as exciting as golf gets. Lots of people making shots, including Fowler to get to -13 under.

throatybeard
08-10-2014, 07:00 PM
For me, this is about as exciting as golf gets.

Quoted for truth. Lefty is winning my heart once again, even though I like the young guys.

As clumsy a tag line as "Glory's last shot" is, well, yeah.

throatybeard
08-10-2014, 07:03 PM
That Rory Omega commercial is so hot. I haven't worn a watch since I went all-mobile eleven years ago, because like for everyone else who's under the age of 74, my phone is my watch now. And I don't like places that are 120 degrees all summer. But darned if that commercial doesn't make me want to run through a wall for a wrist watch.

YmoBeThere
08-10-2014, 07:12 PM
Would have been nice if Ernie would have been a stoke or two better. As he and Phil are both older than I, I'm fine with either winning it.

Bob Green
08-10-2014, 08:52 PM
Congratulations to Rory McIlroy for winning the Wanamaker Trophy! The 2014 PGA Championship was a real barnburner. Mickelson, Fowler and company kept the pressure on but McIlroy was clutch down the stretch. This was a tremendous weekend of major championship golf.

duketaylor
08-10-2014, 09:42 PM
and even some controversy, to boot, with darkness, lightning and questionable rulings about both of those in the mix. Add to that Henrick Stenson didn't get to drop his ball on 18 when in the mud. His condition looked identical to me to Fowler's a few holes earlier and Fowler got a drop. Different officials as each group has their own, but it certainly seemed like identical situations..

The golf was plenty interesting and intriguing by itself, then the late weather circumstances almost made it surreal. I'm looking forward to comments in the coming days.

The tournament was high drama throughout. Congrats to the Victor!! He did earn it!!

greybeard
08-11-2014, 10:50 AM
Phil took this one hard. Very. Rory played great but it was Phil's to lose on the back and he probably did, although Rory just as probably would have done what he had to. Still, that putt on 16, and no birdies down the stretch, Phil must have thought things like that were behind him. Very tough game, heartless to some very great players often. Great last day. Talking about Day, that shot, straight out of Bagger Vance.

DUKIECB
08-11-2014, 11:29 AM
Phil took this one hard. Very. Rory played great but it was Phil's to lose on the back and he probably did, although Rory just as probably would have done what he had to. Still, that putt on 16, and no birdies down the stretch, Phil must have thought things like that were behind him. Very tough game, heartless to some very great players often. Great last day. Talking about Day, that shot, straight out of Bagger Vance.Talk about heartless to some, how about Rickie Fowler? He finished 2nd, 2nd, 5th and 3rd in the majors this year with the best cumulative score of anyone and comes away empty handed. I feel like it's just a matter of time before he breaks through but it's got to be heartbreaking for him to be that close in all 4 majors and not win. Seems like a really nice guy too.

pfrduke
08-11-2014, 02:29 PM
Talk about heartless to some, how about Rickie Fowler? He finished 2nd, 2nd, 5th and 3rd in the majors this year with the best cumulative score of anyone and comes away empty handed. I feel like it's just a matter of time before he breaks through but it's got to be heartbreaking for him to be that close in all 4 majors and not win. Seems like a really nice guy too.

Those finishes did pay him nearly $2.5 million (roughly 2/3 of his winnings on the year) so not quite empty handed.

snowdenscold
08-11-2014, 03:28 PM
Those finishes did pay him nearly $2.5 million (roughly 2/3 of his winnings on the year) so not quite empty handed.

Isn't there a quote about Majors that's something along the lines of, "All the other weekends you play for money; here, you play for history."


(can't find the source, and google turned up nothing. I thought I heard Mike Tirico refer to it at the Open Championships)

DUKIECB
08-11-2014, 04:11 PM
Those finishes did pay him nearly $2.5 million (roughly 2/3 of his winnings on the year) so not quite empty handed.Point taken. Maybe empty handed wasn't the right phrasing but I bet you he would give back the $2.5 million in a heartbeat to have won just one of those tournaments.

YmoBeThere
08-11-2014, 08:16 PM
Is Fowler now the best player to not have won a major? Supplanting Sergio in that role?

JasonEvans
08-11-2014, 08:59 PM
Point taken. Maybe empty handed wasn't the right phrasing but I bet you he would give back the $2.5 million in a heartbeat to have won just one of those tournaments.

Seeing as Ricky has close to $15 mil in career earnings and probably does pretty nicely in sponsorship dollars as well, I bet he would give $2.5 mil for a Major without even thinking twice about it.

-Jason "worth noting, winning a Major makes you much more marketable, so the money part is about more than just winnings" Evans

Newton_14
08-13-2014, 12:08 AM
Seeing as Ricky has close to $15 mil in career earnings and probably does pretty nicely in sponsorship dollars as well, I bet he would give $2.5 mil for a Major without even thinking twice about it.

-Jason "worth noting, winning a Major makes you much more marketable, so the money part is about more than just winnings" Evans
Great tournament. Most exciting Major of the year by far but I was super disappointed about how the officials handled the chaotic end. That was very unfair to Phil and Ricky. Roy's birdie on 17 played a key role in all that. He thought "tourney over". I was fine with letting them tee off on 18 while Phil in Ricky were walking to their balls, as the thought there is if they hit their tee shots, then the had the right to choose to finish the hole even if the horn blew to stop play. So no beef there. (Side note; Roy was extremely lucky his tee shot did not bounce in the lake. If that happens Phil wins). My beef is the decision to allow them to also hit their approach shots before Phil and Ricky finished out. In doing so they very much rushed Phil and Ricky with their final shots on the green. It hurt Ricky more than Phil as Phil almost holed his chip, but Ricky clearly rushed his putt. 2, It took away Phil and Ricky's ability to put pressure on Roy's approach shot from the fairway should either have made Eagle. 3, It allowed Roy to play 10 minutes sooner than he would have which changed the lighting/visibility he would have dealt with had he been made to wait. Those three things were incredibly unfair to Phil and Ricky. That was bad form on the officials part and Phil was extremely pissed with the officials though he did take the high road on it when interviewed after the round.

Just a shame it had to end in that manner.

snowdenscold
08-13-2014, 12:17 AM
Great tournament. Most exciting Major of the year by far but I was super disappointed about how the officials handled the chaotic end. That was very unfair to Phil and Ricky. Roy's birdie on 17 played a key role in all that. He thought "tourney over". I was fine with letting them tee off on 18 while Phil in Ricky were walking to their balls, as the thought there is if they hit their tee shots, then the had the right to choose to finish the hole even if the horn blew to stop play. So no beef there. (Side note; Roy was extremely lucky his tee shot did not bounce in the lake. If that happens Phil wins). My beef is the decision to allow them to also hit their approach shots before Phil and Ricky finished out. In doing so they very much rushed Phil and Ricky with their final shots on the green. It hurt Ricky more than Phil as Phil almost holed his chip, but Ricky clearly rushed his putt. 2, It took away Phil and Ricky's ability to put pressure on Roy's approach shot from the fairway should either have made Eagle. 3, It allowed Roy to play 10 minutes sooner than he would have which changed the lighting/visibility he would have dealt with had he been made to wait. Those three things were incredibly unfair to Phil and Ricky. That was bad form on the officials part and Phil was extremely pissed with the officials though he did take the high road on it when interviewed after the round.

Just a shame it had to end in that manner.

Yeah it would have been really interesting to see what would have happened had Rory only made par on 17. With the insurance birdie, everything played out quite differently. Very possibly would have finished on Monday since Rory most likely would not want to rush through 18 like he did.


The shot of the championship (and one that really changed the course of the tournament) surely was Rory's approach shot on 10. If I saw correctly, he was the only person to make the green in 2 all day (weekend?) ? He had fallen a bit behind at that point, and when I saw him hit it, I thought something terrible had happened, only to see it make that incredible roll onto the green setting up that (relatively) short eagle putt. Without that eagle, who knows where things would have gone...

Dr. Rosenrosen
08-15-2014, 01:03 AM
Is Fowler now the best player to not have won a major? Supplanting Sergio in that role?
With Sergio, that has a decidedly negative connotation given his struggle to maintain his mental toughness and break through.

Rickie is 25 and really just beginning to come on. I expect to see Rickie break through - he doesn't appear to be fighting demons like Sergio.

CDu
08-15-2014, 12:42 PM
Is Fowler now the best player to not have won a major? Supplanting Sergio in that role?

That's an interesting question. I would say that Henrik Stenson (world #3), Matt Kucher (world #7), and Jason Day (world #10) probably are ahead of Fowler (world #13) right now. But his performances in majors this year certainly put him on the short list in this discussion. I'd also note that Jordan Spieth (world #12 but with a very brief resume) is probably knocking on the door too, provided he doesn't win one in the next year or two.

Mal
08-18-2014, 06:04 PM
That's an interesting question. I would say that Henrik Stenson (world #3), Matt Kucher (world #7), and Jason Day (world #10) probably are ahead of Fowler (world #13) right now. But his performances in majors this year certainly put him on the short list in this discussion. I'd also note that Jordan Spieth (world #12 but with a very brief resume) is probably knocking on the door too, provided he doesn't win one in the next year or two.

Agreed wholeheartedly. In the world of golf tropes, the better description for Fowler is perhaps the guy most "on the verge of putting it all together." He's still only won one PGA event, in a sort of mid-level tournament, whereas guys like Stenson and Kuchar have been winning larger tournaments for at least a couple years. Stenson, in particular, has won a bunch of the next tier down from the majors titles, and 18 overall between the PGA and European tour, so I'd go with him for the ignominious honor. I guess if it's still supposed to encapsulate "guy who absolutely should have won a major and probably more than one by this point but underachieves on the big stage" then I guess I'd still give it to Garcia, though.

duketaylor
08-19-2014, 08:36 PM
Colin Montgomerie should also be in this discussion, even if he's now in his 50s. Ricky's not old enough to consider, yet. Jordan Speith's even younger. Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, also belong(ed) in the conversation. I think the better way to frame the question is more like, "Who's the best player with lots of experience playing in majors to never win one?" At least in the last 15-25 years or so that was the gist of the question. Faldo used to be called "Foldo" by the Euro press til he broke through. Bernhard Langer had some bad moments as well. I'm trying to think which American players figure into this much older question. Davis Love III had one, so he doesn't "qualify."

I'm trying to think who else might figure in. I'll post later if I come up with any.

tbyers11
08-19-2014, 09:45 PM
Colin Montgomerie should also be in this discussion, even if he's now in his 50s. Ricky's not old enough to consider, yet. Jordan Speith's even younger. Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, also belong(ed) in the conversation. I think the better way to frame the question is more like, "Who's the best player with lots of experience playing in majors to never win one?" At least in the last 15-25 years or so that was the gist of the question. Faldo used to be called "Foldo" by the Euro press til he broke through. Bernhard Langer had some bad moments as well. I'm trying to think which American players figure into this much older question. Davis Love III had one, so he doesn't "qualify."

I'm trying to think who else might figure in. I'll post later if I come up with any.

Darren Clarke won The Open Championship in 2011. To your larger point, I consider the question to be the best player to never win a major who still has a chance. Monty isn't winning anything anymore. I agree with you that Westwood should be near the top of the list with Garcia and probably Stenson. I think Fowler is too young to be considered in this conversation. You should have several (5-10) tourney wins in addition to several close calls in majors. I'd put Rickie on the players playing the best this year who didn't win a major list.

mr. synellinden
08-19-2014, 11:06 PM
Darren Clarke won The Open Championship in 2011. To your larger point, I consider the question to be the best player to never win a major who still has a chance. Monty isn't winning anything anymore. I agree with you that Westwood should be near the top of the list with Garcia and probably Stenson. I think Fowler is too young to be considered in this conversation. You should have several (5-10) tourney wins in addition to several close calls in majors. I'd put Rickie on the players playing the best this year who didn't win a major list.

For U.S. players, I'd say that Kuchar is at the top of the list. He's contended in enough majors and won enough times on tour that the failure to win a major so far puts him in the category of, "Why hasn't he won won yet?" that is required of the unofficial title.

YmoBeThere
09-07-2014, 07:22 PM
Not even Derek Jeter would consider Wozniacki slump-busting material

Well, it was only her second appearance in a GS final, but it appears she may be in a mini-slump of her own. Okay, okay, maybe not. FWIW, she is no Anna Kournikova. She does have two WTA titles. (Though Ms. Kournikova was quite successful in the doubles format.)

BD80
09-07-2014, 07:56 PM
Well, it was only her second appearance in a GS final, but it appears she may be in a mini-slump of her own. Okay, okay, maybe not. FWIW, she is no Anna Kournikova. She does have two WTA titles. (Though Ms. Kournikova was quite successful in the doubles format.)

Maybe sleeping with me would break her slump ...

snowdenscold
09-07-2014, 08:00 PM
Well, it was only her second appearance in a GS final, but it appears she may be in a mini-slump of her own. Okay, okay, maybe not. FWIW, she is no Anna Kournikova. She does have two WTA titles. (Though Ms. Kournikova was quite successful in the doubles format.)

She actually has 22 WTA titles, not just 2 :D

5 at the level just below the grand slams, and 17 at the level below that.*

Anyway, it would have been nice symmetry for Caro to win a grand slam to balance out Rory's major wins this year after their break-up, but I think it was more important for Serena to get that 18 monkey off her shoulders, tie Chrissie and Martina, "salvage" this season (from a GS perspective - the rest has actually been quite good), and have no burdens heading in Melbourne and the rest of 2015.



* actually a little more complicated nuanced than that, but I wont' bore the board w/ the details of the WTA tournament system. Becuase nothing's worse than a bored board, ba-dum ching! :p

sagegrouse
09-08-2014, 05:15 PM
Agreed wholeheartedly. In the world of golf tropes, the better description for Fowler is perhaps the guy most "on the verge of putting it all together." He's still only won one PGA event, in a sort of mid-level tournament, whereas guys like Stenson and Kuchar have been winning larger tournaments for at least a couple years. Stenson, in particular, has won a bunch of the next tier down from the majors titles, and 18 overall between the PGA and European tour, so I'd go with him for the ignominious honor. I guess if it's still supposed to encapsulate "guy who absolutely should have won a major and probably more than one by this point but underachieves on the big stage" then I guess I'd still give it to Garcia, though.

I know the PGA Tour Championship/FedEx Cup is not a Major Championship, but it does pay a cash prize of $10 million, and Stenson won it in 2013.

Sergio is a head case on Sunday afternoon. Did you see his snowman on #17 yesterday, when he was contending for the championship? I don't think he can be considered "the best player" for anything.