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Tiger and Rory paired together: 2013 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Discussion Thread


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I enjoy watching primetime golf and this is a great one to watch.  Rory with his new Nike stuff is paired with Tiger for the first two rounds.  14 year age gap between the the #1 and 2 players in the world.  Makes me feel old, I remember watching Tiger win his first major lol

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Rory McIlroy is looking forward to actually playing golf again after the buzz of his multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal and the selection of European Ryder Cup captain.

The world's top-ranked golfer and PGA Championship winner leads a star-studded field at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship that includes Tiger Woods, No. 5 Justin Rose, Ernie Els and Martin Kaymer.

McIlroy signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with Nike this week and led the charge for Paul McGinley in his successful campaign to become Europe's 2014 Ryder Cup captain.

Now he's looking forward to getting his year off to a strong start at the National Course, where he has repeatedly come up short against Kramer, a three-time winner here.

"It's a place I have done well. I think one problem for me the last few years has been Martin Kaymer. He's played really well around here and won it a couple of times, three times I think, and I always came up second best," said McIlroy, who is coming off a season-ending victory at the Dubai World Championship as well as the European Tour and PGA TOUR money titles.

"It would be nice to go one better this week and obviously that's what I'm aiming for, but it's a great field and looks like the golf course is in great shape as well."

Most of the questions to McIlroy this week has been about his new sponsorship deal -- estimated to be worth up to $20 million a year -- but he insisted his emergence as a mega-rich athlete would have no bearing on how he approaches 2013.

"I'm just concentrating on playing golf. You know, all the financial side and everything like that will take care of itself," the 23-year-old Northern Irishman said. "I'm in it to try and win trophies and they are worth more to me than any contract."

The spotlight on McIlroy will be even bigger this week as he's paired with Woods for the first two days, in a group that also includes Kaymer, giving fans another chance to see golf's two biggest names go at it.

"I just want to get off to a good start," said Woods, who had a share of the lead after three round last year in Abu Dhabi but finished third after shooting a 72. "I'm playing two weeks in a row, and I had a nice break and have geared up for these two weeks and have tried to get mentally and physically ready for these two tournaments."

Woods said he was happy with his ball striking and short game toward the end of last season, so he hasn't made any major changes to his swing.

Is he ready to challenge McIlroy for the No. 1 ranking? Woods said for now, he's just concerned with winning.

"The rankings take care of themselves by winning golf tournaments," Woods said. "I was at one point, what was I, outside the top 50 or whatever it was. But I won three times last year and lo and behold, look where I'm at. It's about winning golf tournaments and being consistent."

Mike McLoughlin

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Here on the U.S. east coast, coverage is 10:30 PM to 8 AM, so I'll probably catch the rebroadcast tomorrow morning. Though just from tuning in now it looks like Tiger and Rory have already teed off, so maybe I'll see a bit now.

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

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Watching golf now - and posting a few thoughts....

1)  recovering from shoulder surgery has its benefits - not expected in the office tomorrow.

2) remembering when hdtv was first mentioned and how I dismissed it - boy, was I wrong

3) wishing that the announcers were a little less "drab". I don't know who he is, but even he seems bored.

4) posting the Nike commercial, "No Cup is Safe" on Facebook - excellent.

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Originally Posted by Old1964

3) wishing that the announcers were a little less "drab". I don't know who he is, but even he seems bored.

Disagree competely ... would much rather hear the drone of Sky Sports than the cackle of asshats on TGC.

In my bag ... 12 year old Balvenie DoubleWood

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Originally Posted by WWBDD

Disagree competely ... would much rather hear the drone of Sky Sports than the cackle of asshats on TGC.

I'd settle for some professional camera men.

But then again, what the hell do I know?

Rich - in name only

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I know tour pros go through completely different club fittings than we do, but i think Rory is gonna have a hard time getting used to those Nike VR wedges after playing Vokey's for so long.. I made the opposite switch this year and the vokeys feel so much heavier than my VRs. They look similar at address but have a totally different feel. There probably isn't that big of a weight difference, but it definitely changed my shot making around the greens when I switched to vokeys.
DRIVER Taylormade R11S w/ Tour AD DI-7S 3 WOOD Taylormade R11S RIP Phenom Stiff 16.5 HYBRID Taylormade Rocketballz Tour Stiff IRONS 4-6 iron Taylormade MC w/ KBS C-Taper Stiff IRONS 7-PW Taylormade MB w/ KBS C-Taper Stiff WEDGES Titleist Vokey SM4 Black Nickel 52.12, 56.11, 60.10 PUTTER NIKE METHOD 001 33', Taylormade Ghost Spider 33' BAG ADIDAS AG Tour Stand Bag BALLS TITLEIST PRO-V1X SHOESADIDAS ADIPURE GPS SKYCADDIE SGX
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Watching golf now - and posting a few thoughts.... 1)  recovering from shoulder surgery has its benefits - not expected in the office tomorrow. 2) remembering when hdtv was first mentioned and how I dismissed it - boy, was I wrong 3) wishing that the announcers were a little less "drab". I don't know who he is, but even he seems bored. 4) posting the Nike commercial, "No Cup is Safe" on Facebook - excellent.

I'm watching a little bit before bed, and I agree completely about the HD and announcer comments. HD golf is definitely the best, and these announcers always bore me to tears. I'll take Frank Nobilo over these guys, and that's hard to say. Lol.

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Looks like Rory's having a tough time at the minute, I know there's a long way to go, but Kaymer is playing the best golf out of the 3 of them. Personally I prefer TGC commentary to the Euro tour Sky Sports, they like to have a little fun, whereas the Sky team do have a drone quality.
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Yeah Rory is playing pretty bad, duck hooks and just plain off on accuracy and distance control today....also Tiger's top/duff of the tee was surprising too.  Not sure how he made the ball appear topped whilst slightly taking a divot.

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I know tour pros go through completely different club fittings than we do, but i think Rory is gonna have a hard time getting used to those Nike VR wedges after playing Vokey's for so long.. I made the opposite switch this year and the vokeys feel so much heavier than my VRs. They look similar at address but have a totally different feel. There probably isn't that big of a weight difference, but it definitely changed my shot making around the greens when I switched to vokeys.

With all the lead tape these guys like to put on their wedges, I imagine he's already managed to make himself comfortable one way r another.

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Originally Posted by KrazyTrain18

Yeah Rory is playing pretty bad, duck hooks and just plain off on accuracy and distance control today....also Tiger's top/duff of the tee was surprising too.  Not sure how he made the ball appear topped whilst slightly taking a divot.

After 15 holes, neither man is making a case for the Covert Driver...

Edit - At least Tiger's putting stroke looked "freed up", and then he 3 putted the last hole.... ugh.

Both players were off - apparently, Tiger spent time in the offseason trying to woo Elin back, and Rory had to deal with business and new clubs. It's bound to only get better for both of them.

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Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

After 15 holes, neither man is making a case for the Covert Driver...

Edit - At least Tiger's putting stroke looked "freed up", and then he 3 putted the last hole.... ugh.

Both players were off - apparently, Tiger spent time in the offseason trying to woo Elin back, and Rory had to deal with business and new clubs. It's bound to only get better for both of them.

Is that being reported?  Or are you just joking?  I only ask as this is the first I've heard anything about Elin for awhile.

Oh, and I was sad to see Tiger play #9 (his 18th hole) the way he did.  Hit a perfect drive, then waved at his iron shot (I believe a 7 or 8-iron) and left himself with a long putt.  Then proceeded to 3-jack.  Looked like me out there.

.

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It was being reported re he and Elin w a $350m cheater clause

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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Yeah Rory is playing pretty bad, duck hooks and just plain off on accuracy and distance control today....also Tiger's top/duff of the tee was surprising too.  Not sure how he made the ball appear topped whilst slightly taking a divot.

Anybody have the video of tigers duffed tee shot?

Colin P.

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This is going to be a rough one mentally for both guys.  Rory has a huge endorsement contract to live up to and Tiger has to deal with sharing the spot light not only on the course but in news coverage, commercials and within Nike.

As for the equipment, I'm sure Rory has spent a lot of time with his new clubs at the range and in practice sessions so he's worked out the comfort issues.  If they don't do well I'm betting it's more the Indians than the arrows this week.

Joe Paradiso

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Rorys irons looked good as did bunker shots Putting was a matter of several Lewinsky's

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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This is going to be a rough one mentally for both guys.  Rory has a huge endorsement contract to live up to and Tiger has to deal with sharing the spot light not only on the course but in news coverage, commercials and within Nike.  As for the equipment, I'm sure Rory has spent a lot of time with his new clubs at the range and in practice sessions so he's worked out the comfort issues.  If they don't do well I'm betting it's more the Indians than the arrows this week.

Agree about it being a rough way to start the year but I think they'll both play well this year and probably both be in the running for #1 at season's end.

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

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Note: This thread is 4075 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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