Superstar Field at Abu Dhabi This Week

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by jhwmusic

He missed one short birdie putt...total misread. The others where in that 12-25 foot range so you can't really expect to hit all of those. Though he did have a couple of the dead in the heart that came up just a bit short. I think he hit 17 of 18 greens and only missed a few fairways...not sure the exact number. I'll have to check. The only bad shots he hit were a few wild ones on the first hole and he chunked a wedge from about 50-60 yards on the last part 5...he just kinda stuck it in the ground and it came up well short of the hole. Other than that he looked pretty good

I thought he missed 2 short ones: one under 8 feet and another around 4 feet on the par 5 where he barely reached in two.

Other than that, he had several (maybe 3-5) times where he was in prime position to attack the flag with less than 7 iron in hand, and he couldn't put it within 15 feet.

He also had one unlucky break where he hit a perfect iron (8?) approach that would have likely landed 1 foot past the flag and been within 3-5 feet, but he hit the bottom of the flagstick in mid air, nearly landed in the cup, but ricocheted about 20 feet away.

Brandon

[brocks]

I thought he missed 2 short ones: one under 8 feet and another around 4 feet on the par 5 where he barely reached in two.

I thought he missed three or four putts under ten feet, plus one a bit over ten feet that was only a couple inches away from where Rory sank one, so he knew the exact line. [quote] Other than that, he had several (maybe 3-5) times where he was in prime position to attack the flag with less than 7 iron in hand, and he couldn't put it within 15 feet.   He also had one unlucky break where he hit a perfect iron (8?) approach that would have likely landed 1 foot past the flag and been within 3-5 feet, but he hit the bottom of the flagstick in mid air, nearly landed in the cup, but ricocheted about 20 feet away. [/quote] Yeah, I hope Sergio saw that, so he knows he's not the only one it happens to. Tiger hit another approach that nearly went in, and stopped about three feet away for one of his birdies. And his distance control for the first part of the round was good, but he was a bit off line, so most of his putts were outside of ten feet, and he only made one of those. His driving was really good. I don't remember a single bad drive like he was hitting the last couple years, way off the fairway. His missed fairways today were mostly very good drives that just barely trickled off into a bunker that stuck out into the fairway. And he seemed to be able to match or exceed Rory's distance with a very controlled swing, while Rory was really swinging for the fences. Overall, I'd say he looks like a player who has been spending more time practicing his driving than his short game. Tiger talks about peaking for the majors, and he has plenty of time to sharpen up his short game by April. Given how well he knows the greens at Augusta, I like his chances there.

[Kieran123]

Originally Posted by brocks

I thought he missed three or four putts under ten feet, plus one a bit over ten feet that was only a couple inches away from where Rory sank one, so he knew the exact line.

Yeah, I hope Sergio saw that, so he knows he's not the only one it happens to. Tiger hit another approach that nearly went in, and stopped about three feet away for one of his birdies. And his distance control for the first part of the round was good, but he was a bit off line, so most of his putts were outside of ten feet, and he only made one of those.

His driving was really good. I don't remember a single bad drive like he was hitting the last couple years, way off the fairway. His missed fairways today were mostly very good drives that just barely trickled off into a bunker that stuck out into the fairway. And he seemed to be able to match or exceed Rory's distance with a very controlled swing, while Rory was really swinging for the fences.

Overall, I'd say he looks like a player who has been spending more time practicing his driving than his short game. Tiger talks about peaking for the majors, and he has plenty of time to sharpen up his short game by April. Given how well he knows the greens at Augusta, I like his chances there.

I noticed his distance too. Has he always been as long as Rory?

Either way, his driving was great.

[mcfc_nick]

it could very easily have been a 67/68, he hit 17/18 greens (not too shabby!) and just needs to get his putting together for him to seriously contend, he looks dangerous!

[jhwmusic]

I thought he missed 2 short ones: one under 8 feet and another around 4 feet on the par 5 where he barely reached in two.

Other than that, he had several (maybe 3-5) times where he was in prime position to attack the flag with less than 7 iron in hand, and he couldn't put it within 15 feet.

He also had one unlucky break where he hit a perfect iron (8?) approach that would have likely landed 1 foot past the flag and been within 3-5 feet, but he hit the bottom of the flagstick in mid air, nearly landed in the cup, but ricocheted about 20 feet away.

Brandon

Maybe, but I only remember that really short one on 9. We maybe have a different view as to what a short on is. I thought he hit the ball well for his first round of the year on a course he isn't all that familiar with.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by brocks

My biased opinion: his driving has improved quite a bit, but his short game was awful. Missed a lot of makeable putts, and hit a lot of wedges that didn't leave makeable putts. From where he drove it, he should have shot a 66 today.

I agree.  Tiger lost a ton of shots with the putter.  I believe he hit 18/18 GIR??  I haven't seen his stats (too lazy to look them up), but he struggled with the putter.  The only thing I could think is that he wasn't comfortable given I believe this was his first tournament action there?  He just looked like he stood over putts far longer than norm and didn't get the right line on a ton - and then those that he had the right line... Didn't have the right pace.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by colin007

lol wat???

bayless is such a douchebag...what did he say???

Originally Posted by jamo

Typical Bayless stuff. First he completely ignored Luke Donald, the top ranked player in the world, and said that the only guy in the Donald-Woods-McIlroy pairing people cared about were Rory and Tiger. Then he said Rory is amazing because he sprayed the ball but made putts, and Tiger was done because he hit the ball well but didn't make anything.

If I expected anything out of Tiger this week, it would be exactly what he did yesterday. He hit the ball well after over a month of practice, and didn't putt particularly well at a course he's never played at before.

Bayless is a nutcase ... But Rory dominated Tiger yesterday.  I was really impressed with how Rory rose to the occasion.  But in Tigers defense, Rory has played the course multiple times and knows his way around.  Tiger just didn't look comfortable on the greens.  He looked like he wanted to scream #$@%$  on some of those putts!!  Hahhaha  But there was like only 200 spectators following their threesome, which was even more surprising given you can't get bigger names in today's golf world together to play than they did.  You have that pairing at Torrey Pines and there would be 25,000 fans following.

[WWBDD]

Quote:

But there was like only 200 spectators following their threesome, which was even more surprising given you can't get bigger names in today's golf world together to play than they did.  You have that pairing at Torrey Pines and there would be 25,000 fans following.

Well ... there are only so many western expats in the UAE that don't have to work Thursday. One of the advantages of living there is that the Sheiks spring for world class sporting events, and every seat is front row and cheap. Tennis Dubai is the same.

[mcfc_nick]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

Bayless is a nutcase ... But Rory dominated Tiger yesterday.  I was really impressed with how Rory rose to the occasion.  But in Tigers defense, Rory has played the course multiple times and knows his way around.  Tiger just didn't look comfortable on the greens.  He looked like he wanted to scream #$@%$  on some of those putts!!  Hahhaha  But there was like only 200 spectators following their threesome, which was even more surprising given you can't get bigger names in today's golf world together to play than they did.  You have that pairing at Torrey Pines and there would be 25,000 fans following.

to be honest i really didnt think Rory played that well, which is scary! he missed a hell of a lot of shots today but scored very well!

[mcfc_nick]

whens tiger/rory/luke's tee time today?

[jamo]

whens tiger/rory.luke's tee time today?

If my math is correct, they tee off at 12:05 in Abu Dhabi's time, which is 3:05 AM EST (going by the Rolex graphic on [URL=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012004/leaderboard/index.html]this page[/URL]). The Westwood, Sergio, Kaymer group should be at 10:50 PM EST.

[mcfc_nick]

Originally Posted by jamo

If my math is correct, they tee off at 12:05 in Abu Dhabi's time, which is 3:05 AM EST (going by the Rolex graphic on this page).

The Westwood, Sergio, Kaymer group should be at 10:50 PM EST.

cheers mate

[colin007]

Originally Posted by brocks

And he seemed to be able to match or exceed Rory's distance with a very controlled swing, while Rory was really swinging for the fences.

yeah, he looked like he just took his range swing to the course, instead of jacking up the tempo and spraying it all over.  i really wish he would dial it back and play within himself.

[brocks]

If my math is correct, they tee off at 12:05 in Abu Dhabi's time, which is 3:05 AM EST (going by the Rolex graphic on [URL=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012004/leaderboard/index.html]this page[/URL]). The Westwood, Sergio, Kaymer group should be at 10:50 PM EST.

Correct. And in case your program guides have not been updated, note that TGC is moving the coverage up an hour so they catch all of Tiger's round. Live coverage will begin at 3AM EST, Midnight Pacific.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by brocks

Correct. And in case your program guides have not been updated, note that TGC is moving the coverage up an hour so they catch all of Tiger's round. Live coverage will begin at 3AM EST, Midnight Pacific.

Crap.  My boss is going to be out of town tomorrow, so the coverage is begging for me to make it a long night.  I think I may just go to bed now and wake up at midnight (PST).

Brandon

[brocks]

Tiger lost a ton of shots with the putter.  I believe he hit 18/18 GIR??  I haven't seen his stats (too lazy to look them up), but he struggled with the putter.

17/18 GIR, but 35 putts. In contrast, Rory needed only 25 putts.

[WWBDD]

Originally Posted by brocks

17/18 GIR, but 35 putts. In contrast, Rory needed only 25 putts.

Heretic!

[jhwmusic]

to be honest i really didnt think Rory played that well, which is scary! he missed a hell of a lot of shots today but scored very well!

I agree...it was scary that he hit the ball that bad but still scored the way he did. He was never on the right side of the fairway for his approach shots...and even when he did hit it within 10-15 feet you could tell the ball didn't go where he intended it to by his reactions. BUT (BIG BUT), he putted lights out and chipped one in. So who gives a S$%t. He is so good!!! I love it! I hope he lights the PGA Tour up this year. I also hope Tiger gets his stuff back so we can have a true rivalry! Jack and Arnie, Red sox and Yankees, Domenic and Shorty! ha ha :-D