2012 AT&T National at Congressional Country Club Discussion Thread

[mvmac]

The AT&T; National is back in Washington, D.C. after a two year hiatus after having to make preparations for last year's US Open.  Tiger Woods, his foundation runs this event, won this tournament the last time it was at Congressional.  How will he fair this week after his disappointing weekend at Olympic a few weeks ago?

Here is an article with some Tiger updates

Quote:

BETHESDA, Md. – Tiger Woods saw some of himself in how LeBron James matured as a player in the last 12 months to lead the Miami Heat to their second NBA championship.

"He had an unbelievable playoffs," Woods said Tuesday. "He showed every single facet of his game. Things he needed to work on versus last year showed up and (not just) show up, but they were dominant."

Woods observed the same adaptation in Michael Jordan as he developed into a great champion.

"He couldn't jump over everybody with the Pistons and eventually learned a different shot, and he mastered going off his right hand, left shoulder," he said.

The 36-year-old is adapting with Sean Foley, gaining faith in a swing he built to protect his oft-injured knee and thrive on a changed PGA Tour.

"I didn't want to play the way I did because it hurt, and it hurt a lot. Was I good at it? Yeah, I was good at it, but I couldn't go down that road, and there's no way I could have had longevity in the game if I would have done that," he said.

"I finally have a swing that it doesn't hurt, and I am still generating power, but it doesn't hurt anymore."

Woods admitted his game is not without holes, however. As with past swing changes, his short game is suffering while he solidifies the full swing. Woods won just once on the PGA Tour in 1998 before winning his second major at the 1999 PGA Championship as part of an eight-win season. Four years later, Woods again struggled in 2003-04 before capturing two majors in 2005.

In this third iteration of the process, Woods sees light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.

"Eventually I get to a point where the full game becomes very natural feeling and I can repeat it day after day," he said, "and I can dedicate most of my time to my short game again."

[uttexas]

Tiger knows the layout and the greens; typically a great combination for him. Top 5 finish.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by mvmac

The AT&T; National is back in Washington, D.C. after a two year hiatus after having to make preparations for last year's US Open.  Tiger Woods, his foundation runs this event, won this tournament the last time it was at Congressional.  How will he fair this week after his disappointing weekend at Olympic a few weeks ago?

Here is an article with some Tiger updates

In his interview... Tiger said he didn't play any golf last week.  Just spent time with his kids.  It'll be interesting to see how rusty his short game is this week at Congressional.  Thinking back to the US Open at Olympic, Tiger had some short game blunders that had me scratching my head.  Very un-Tiger like.

[Timothy Voyles]

IMO, Tiger needs to get back to bangin as many skanks as he can...

[RonTheSavage]

Yeah thats whats so weird about it, his short game at times carried him when his long game let him down.

[Zwick]

He talked about his shortgame too:

"Q: When Jack approached 40, he kind of admitted that there were real short game weaknesses that he had, things he had never worked on, sand game. Is there any basic area where you to get better, working the ball a certain way, whatever?

TIGER WOODS: I would say certainly my short game has been something that has taken a hit, and it did the same thing when I was working with Butch and the same thing when I was working with Hank. During that period of time, my short game went down, and it's because I was working on my full game. Eventually I get to a point where the full game becomes very natural feeling and I can repeat it day after day, and I can dedicate most of my time to my short game again.

If you ask some guys, short game is like 150 in because that's how far they hit their wedges now."

[Zeph]

It is only natural for the short game to suffer during a period where you make changes on the full swing. His full swing has only started working properly this year. He'll still have to work on it, but can probably spend more time on the short game. There is no use working on the short game if you are hitting the tee shots into the trees. Tiger is out there to win. He won't win when he's hitting trees, regardless of how good the short game is.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by Zeph

It is only natural for the short game to suffer during a period where you make changes on the full swing. His full swing has only started working properly this year. He'll still have to work on it, but can probably spend more time on the short game. There is no use working on the short game if you are hitting the tee shots into the trees. Tiger is out there to win. He won't win when he's hitting trees, regardless of how good the short game is.

I agree to an extent.  But I'm talking green side pitch/chip/sand practice.  Moreso than even putting.  He isn't... Wait let me rephrase this... He wasn't getting up and down like the old Tiger at Olympic.  In particular his sand game looked very suspect.

[Motley01]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

I agree to an extent.  But I'm talking green side pitch/chip/sand practice.  Moreso than even putting.  He isn't... Wait let me rephrase this... He wasn't getting up and down like the old Tiger at Olympic.  In particular his sand game looked very suspect.

My..my.. what a short memory you have? Did you miss the chip in on 16 at Jack's place?

OH MY GOD, TIGER"S SHORT GAME IS SUSPECT!!!!

[Motley01]

Originally Posted by Timothy Voyles

IMO, Tiger needs to get back to bangin as many skanks as he can...

Oh this right here! We all know what he needs. Most men would agree. No pu$$ can kill a guy.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by Motley01

My..my.. what a short memory you have? Did you miss the chip in on 16 at Jack's place?

OH MY GOD, TIGER"S SHORT GAME IS SUSPECT!!!!

I remember that day quite well, thank you.  Did you miss the US Open?

[darkhunter139]

I went last year and am heading down Saturday and Sunday this year.  Can't wait! Anyone else going?

[brocks]

My..my.. what a short memory you have? Did you miss the chip in on 16 at Jack's place? OH MY GOD, TIGER"S SHORT GAME IS SUSPECT!!!!

It's not just suspect; it's poor, at least for someone who expects to win majors. If Tiger said so himself, I don't see why you would argue about it. Yes, that flop shot at the Memorial was electrifying, but it was hardly representative of his play around the greens so far this year. He is currently 40th in scrambling, 97th in sand saves, and 166th in approaches from 50-75 yards. His ball striking (he ranks second in that) is the bright spot of his game right now.

[turtleback]

Originally Posted by brocks

It's not just suspect; it's poor, at least for someone who expects to win majors. If Tiger said so himself, I don't see why you would argue about it. Yes, that flop shot at the Memorial was electrifying, but it was hardly representative of his play around the greens so far this year. He is currently 40th in scrambling, 97th in sand saves, and 166th in approaches from 50-75 yards. His ball striking (he ranks second in that) is the bright spot of his game right now.

Very nasty of you to bring facts into the discussion.

[jamo]

My..my.. what a short memory you have? Did you miss the chip in on 16 at Jack's place? OH MY GOD, TIGER"S SHORT GAME IS SUSPECT!!!!

I chipped in for double bogey yesterday. It was a great shot, but the real state of my short game lies somewhere between that shot and the one I bladed across the green 20 seconds before. His short game is still alright, but he knows it could be better. [quote name="Zwick" url="/t/59807/2012-at-t-national-at-congressional-country-club/0_30#post_732670"]He talked about his shortgame too: [SIZE=12px][FONT=arial]"Q: When Jack approached 40, he kind of admitted that there were real short game weaknesses that he had, things he had never worked on, sand game. Is there any basic area where you to get better, working the ball a certain way, whatever?[/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=12px][FONT=arial]TIGER WOODS: I would say certainly my short game has been something that has taken a hit, and it did the same thing when I was working with Butch and the same thing when I was working with Hank. During that period of time, my short game went down, and it's because I was working on my full game. Eventually I get to a point where the full game becomes very natural feeling and I can repeat it day after day, and I can dedicate most of my time to my short game again.[/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=12px][FONT=arial]If you ask some guys, short game is like 150 in because that's how far they hit their wedges now."[/FONT][/SIZE] [/quote]

[kathybhylton]

We'll see Tiger, We'll see :)

[Infamous 273]

any yahoo fantasy people here?  i'm pretty much clueless on who to pick for C group.  i have jeff overton starting, and i'm struggling for my second choice.

[Zwick]

The scores are quite high so far, I wonder if it will play tougher this year than at last year's US Open.

Originally Posted by Infamous 273

any yahoo fantasy people here?  i'm pretty much clueless on who to pick for C group.  i have jeff overton starting, and i'm struggling for my second choice.

I have Martin Laird starting and Charlie Wi on the bench, but I really didn't put much thought into it.