Schwartzel...

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Originally Posted by colin007 

So Chucky Schwartzel wins his last 2 tournaments by 11 and 12 strokes...are you kidding me?

Against whom?

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Originally Posted by iacas 

 

Against whom?

i dont think it matters does it, he still won. yeah obviously the better the field then theres more great players able to win but he won against people that are professionals.

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Originally Posted by garush34 

i dont think it matters does it, he still won. yeah obviously the better the field then theres more great players able to win but he won against people that are professionals.

I think both the quantity and quality of his competition matters.

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Originally Posted by iacas 

I think both the quantity and quality of his competition matters.

This is true, yes, but he has been playing really, REALLY well lately.  Prior to the last 2 wins, he has a 3rd and 5th place finish, and in the last 16 or so rounds, it looks like he's averaging something like 67!

He did what he was expected to do this past weekend against inferior competition (other than Oosthuizen who withdrew), and it really didn't move the needle much for me.  The fact he won the past two weeks and only moved from 29th to 14th in the World Rankings tells the story, but congrats to Schwartzel nonetheless.  A win is a win, and I'm sure it was satisfying to him all the same.  I'm interested to see how he does in the big events in 2013.

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Originally Posted by iacas 

 

Against whom?

Bubba, Sergio, Westwood, Colsaerts, Oosthuizen, Mahan, Grace, Rock, Ishikawa etc etc etc

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Originally Posted by JBradshaw 

 

Bubba, Sergio, Westwood, Colsaerts, Oosthuizen, Mahan, Grace, Rock, Ishikawa etc etc etc

An impressive win in Thailand. The Dunhill tournament, impressive margin of victory, terrible field.

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Originally Posted by MSchott 

An impressive win in Thailand. The Dunhill tournament, impressive margin of victory, terrible field.

I'd be curious to see how you and I would get on against this supposedly "terrible field"

Dozens upon dozens of recognisable names in that field for me. Stronger field than 3 of the Fall series events if you look at the stats.

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Originally Posted by garush34 

He's a pro, he entered a tournament and did what he set out to do. And that was winning. By ur logic any tournament that is won means nothing unless all the greats play. It means just as much to the guy who just kept his tour card for the next two years or the guy who's won 50 times. I'm sure if you asked tiger if he'd take that win to pass sam snead in all time wins I'm sure he'd take it.
So I don't really think it matters a wins a win.

I think you're in the minority on that one.

You can find threads everywhere downplaying, for example, Tiger's wins or Lee Westwood's wins in things like the World Challenge or that Sun City event (small fields) or the wins of players in lower-tier events or Fall Series events or alternate-field events.

In fact, Augusta National places importance on these types of things in choosing who they will send an invitation to for The Masters.

Quote:

Originally Posted by garush34 


He's a pro, he entered a tournament and did what he set out to do. And that was winning. By ur logic any tournament that is won means nothing unless all the greats play. It means just as much to the guy who just kept his tour card for the next two years or the guy who's won 50 times. I'm sure if you asked tiger if he'd take that win to pass sam snead in all time wins I'm sure he'd take it.
So I don't really think it matters a wins a win.

If a win is a win, than his win this week or last means just as much as his victory at Augusta? I don't think so. There is something to be said for what tournament it is and who is playing. That is why a major means more than a regular tour event and why a regular tour event means more than something in the "silly season." It's great that he won and all but keep it in perspective.

My .02...

I agree that these wins aren't as meaningful or important as regular PGA tour wins. The fields are not as strong. Though I would also say that they aren't 'terrible', either.

And shooting 67's on a regular basis will have you winning or contending in strong fields as well. 

However, Charl has shown that he can win 'regular' events, (and a major, to boot).

I think this recent run of performance is obviously most important to Charl himself, and to his confidence, specifically. I see him contending often early on in this season due in part to this momentum and confidence he has built. Be damned what we think of it.

The true tests will indeed be seen when the top pros all go compete 'for real'. But I won't be surprised to see him contending a lot early.  

Also, speaking of South African golfers...  Watch out for Louis Oosthuizen next year!  He's one of my favorite players to watch, and he may have a true breakout year next year.

He has quite quietly climbed to #4 in the OWGR and I think his game is deserving of top-5 status, and wouldn't be surprised to see him prove it this year. He probably won't have a Rory or Tiger year, but I wouldn't be completely shocked to see him have a multi-win season, and at least contend for another Major himself. When he's on, he's scary good.

I'm just glad he's healthy again and playing good golf. Can we at least agree that 3-2-1-1 and 73 under in his last four tournaments constitutes good golf? 

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Originally Posted by JBradshaw 

 

I'd be curious to see how you and I would get on against this supposedly "terrible field"

 

 

Dozens upon dozens of recognisable names in that field for me. Stronger field than 3 of the Fall series events if you look at the stats.

I don't see what this has to do with this thread. Terrible in relation to the PGA Tour talent he normally competes with. They were all second class players on even the European Tour. I thought I saw a familiar name in Peter Lawrie then I remembered the famous Lawrie is Paul

I think people are trying to take away the value of the win to him tho. Yeah a major is worth more over all but thats beacuse only select people can get into them. Its not his fault that it is a weaker field. Should he just not enter for that reason, no. he's entitled to enter whatever tournament he wants regardless of the field.

4 top 50 players in the last tournament. Still, a weak event, he has a very good record of bashing up poor fields at home in SA. He needs more wins outside SA to consolidate the Masters - I think he and Oosthuizen have some big years coming.

The "i'd like to see you do better" argument is something that really gets my goat. I haven't and will never get to run a country does this mean I'm disqualified from complaining about my taxes?