Sergio's First Major - Random Thoughts

***iacas*** · July 22, 2007

For the past year, I've gone from calling Sergio the "best player yet to win a major" to saying (mostly on the podcast) that I don't think he'll ever win one. My reason? He's too much of a head case, and it shows up on the putting greens.

I will be the first to say "I was wrong" if Sergio pulls it out tomorrow. I guess I just didn't think he'd ever go to a belly putter.

I wish Steve Stricker, another head case who was crying in his post-round interview today and said he needs to get more guts, wasn't the closest guy to him. If it were Tiger at -6, we'd probably be talking about Tiger's first come-from-behind major victory. Garcia can duff it around and still win - I doubt any of the -3s will shoot a 67 to move to even -7.

Garcia's win may add fuel to the belly putter/long putter debate. To date, nobody's won a major (not counting the LPGA and/or Champions Tours) with a belly or long putter. If Sergio wins, that putter will get a LOT of credit. I personally don't like belly/long putters and think they should be banned, but my reasoning has more to do with the incredible drops some players get when their putter is longer than their driver. The whole "anchored" to your body thing doesn't but me too much... but then again, nobody's ever won a major anchoring their club to their body, either.

Sergio is playing like Tiger Woods. He's hitting green after green, getting up and down (easily) the few times he misses greens, and putting well. Tiger is playing poorly, and is still at -1... but he has virtually no shot. He's only two back of "everybody," but Sergio ain't gonna collapse THAT hard. Tiger would need about a 63. Not impossible, but not gonna happen. Still, I do expect Tiger to fire at flags and have some excitement. His Oakmont/Augusta disappointments have made him re-evaluate his "come from behind" strategy.

Chris DiMarco may be the single most over-rated player in the world. He's not won anything on the PGA Tour since 2002. So he's decent in some team events (kinda - and he didn't help Phil that much in the Ryder Cup). WIN something, Chris. I like the guy and all, but he's over-rated.

I'm surprised the board has been so quiet about Garcia. Your thoughts?

**seattlemudder** · July 22, 2007

I watched Garcia some today and he's rolling it very smoothly and releasing that putter so I agree with you that if he wins - it's going to be the putter that gets much of the credit. Personally, I don't think the putter should be allowed to be longer than the driver, ever. Some of those chin putters are ridiculous.

**CG031** · July 22, 2007

Sergio has always been a top 5 ball striker in golf...but his problem has obviously always been the putter. I knew that if he got that figured out he could win a major - problem is, I never though he'd get it straightened out.

**Undr Par** · July 22, 2007

until Garcia does proves me wrong I will stick with the claim he will not win tommorrow, I think DiMarco will pull this yrs Open out....

And the reasons are as mentioned above, Garcia just recently switched to the belly putter, (why you should ask?) cause he wasn't happy with his other putter....I think his putting gets in his way tommorrow and once again can be called the best golfer yet to win a major......

**Will** · July 22, 2007

until Garcia does proves me wrong I will stick with the claim he will not win tommorrow, I think DiMarco will pull this yrs Open out....

I agree that Garcia will likely not win. He's a great player, but his final round performance is not good. Even with his big lead, there are several players that can go low, and probably will. Garcia won't.

(tomorrow has one m)

tglover44 · July 22, 2007

Sergio is a polarizing figure, but I've always liked him...seems to have a good personality and I appreciate his passion. His passion however, seems to lack the killer instinct and nerves of steel needed to close out tournaments, especially majors. It wouldn't bother me if he wins tomorrow, but I predict he'll show up wearing a hideous outfit (e.g. last year's British Open pale yellow crap) and blow it. I really hope he doesn't but if I was a betting man I wouldn't bet on him pulling it out - too much history against it.

I'm with you Erik on DiMarco....I like him too, but he definitely falls under the "What have you done for me lately?" category.

**srjorion** · July 22, 2007

I believe Sergio will eventually win a major. I would not be suprised if he wins tomorrow. He has the momentum. Unfortunately I have not been able to watch much of the Open the past couple of days to see how he is playing, but based on where he is and what I have heard I think he has a good chance of pulling it off. Will this be the one? My gut says so. If not then I say he will still win a major eventually.

**J.P.** · July 22, 2007

Yeah, I think Sergio wins this thing. It would take a melt down of the Vandevelian type to blow this. One guy within 6 and it's Stricker?? Sergio can actually play rather relaxed Sunday.

Chris probably has lost an edge since his mothers sudden passing a while back. Probably been focused more off the course than on it. I never have liked the way he creates his fade - Looks like a fade, not a "power" fade.

What has happened to Tiger??? This set up at Noostie is alledgedly easier than most Opens. He just seems a little out of sync.

Is it odd that many of the warm weather golfers are performing poorly? Stricker is from Minn. Euro's are used to this. Cink is from Georgia so that blows that . . .

**Silvertree** · July 22, 2007

I can't stand the guy. I have never understood what people see in him. Nobody is hoping that he falls apart tomorrow more then me. Please let someone surge and catch him.

Now that he uses a belly putter, it has gotten worse. I just can't get behind anyone who uses one. Tour golfers should not allowed to use a long putter. They are supposed to be pros.

**Shindig** · July 22, 2007

For the past year, I've gone from calling Sergio the "best player yet to win a major" to saying (mostly on the podcast) that I don't think he'll ever win one. My reason? He's too much of a head case, and it shows up on the putting greens.

I'm completely with you on this. I'll be very happy if Sergio wins and then I can get to calling Anthony Kim the best player to never win a major. Or, at the very least, the board can have a good debate as to who has that title.

Garcia's win may add fuel to the belly putter/long putter debate. To date, nobody's won a major (not counting the LPGA and/or Champions Tours) with a belly or long putter. If Sergio wins, that putter will get a LOT of credit. I personally don't like belly/long putters and think they should be banned, but my reasoning has more to do with the incredible drops some players get when their putter is longer than their driver. The whole "anchored" to your body thing doesn't but me too much... but then again, nobody's ever won a major anchoring their club to their body, either.

Would you be OK with these putters if they weren't usable for drops? That is, if the drop rule were to require you to not use a putter for it, somehow? I doubt anyone is going to carry 14 putters, so this shouldn't be an issue with someone being unable to take a drop due to an over-abundance of putters.

Then again, I take my drops with the club I intend to hit, and I've never needed to take a drop and then hit driver or putter. Maybe I'm costing myself an occasional stroke this way, but it seems like a good idea to me. Besides, I usually have said club in my hand when I get to the area for the drop.

Sergio is playing like Tiger Woods. He's hitting green after green, getting up and down (easily) the few times he misses greens, and putting well. Tiger is playing poorly, and is still at -1... but he has virtually no shot. He's only two back of "everybody," but Sergio ain't gonna collapse THAT hard. Tiger would need about a 63. Not impossible, but not gonna happen. Still, I do expect Tiger to fire at flags and have some excitement. His Oakmont/Augusta disappointments have made him re-evaluate his "come from behind" strategy.

Maybe if Sergio wins tomorrow, Tiger will have that much more fuel to his fire to win the PGA Championship this year. He needs a 13th major at some point, might as well be next month.

**Big Don** · July 22, 2007

For the past year, I've gone from calling Sergio the "best player yet to win a major" to saying (mostly on the podcast) that I don't think he'll ever win one. My reason? He's too much of a head case, and it shows up on the putting greens.

Obviously, I'd love to see a european win; Its really a question of whether Sergio can hold himself together. His record of closing out tournaments isn't too bad (16 wins; 6 PGA, 6 European Tour and 4 international wins), although he's had a lean spell since 2005. I think he has the talent to win at least 3 or 4 Majors across his career. Stricker had a terrific day yesterday. If he can play like that today and if Sergio has a poor day then he'd deservedly pick up the jug. I thought DiMarco had a good day yesterday. Links golf seems to suit him well. With a bit of luck following him he could definitely win the Open some time in the future. Major dissappointment for me was Mr Woods. He just couldn't seem to get it going yesterday, although you could see he was trying his heart out; unfortunately I don't think shear force of will is going to be enough. The other guys could certainly learn from Tiger's mentality; that guy never gives up.

***iacas*** · July 22, 2007

I forgot to add this: Sergio's a punk. The spitting in the cup and saying it was "no big deal," the sprinkler head "rules-breaking" drop (or not)... He's behaved like an immature jerk several times just this past year.

Tough to root for a jerk. Heck, even John Daly doesn't spit in the cup or break rules all over the place, then repeatedly tell people "it's no big deal" like some smug, arrogant whatever.

**Big Don** · July 22, 2007

Tough to root for a jerk. Heck, even John Daly doesn't spit in the cup or break rules all over the place, then repeatedly tell people "it's no big deal" like some smug, arrogant whatever.

No Daly prefers to turn up to the course shaking from the DTs with scratches all over his face from his latest domestic violence episode. Sergio's a punk? A little immature, a little arrogant but there are much more badly behaved guys out there.

Do you think that Tiger's random hoking and spitting and petulant club dropping/throwing antics and cussing set a good example? I don't think so. But hey its ok he's Tiger Woods, right?

***iacas*** · July 22, 2007

Do you think that Tiger's random hoking and spitting and petulant club dropping/throwing antics and cussing set a good example? I don't think so. But hey its ok he's Tiger Woods, right?

There's a big difference between spitting IN THE CUP and spitting somewhere in the fairway or rough. Just about everyone swears, and I'm at least happy that Tiger shows his emotions - good and bad. Swearing doesn't offend me.

Sergio's a punk.

**Baynative** · July 22, 2007

Chris DiMarco may be the single most over-rated player in the world. He's not won anything on the PGA Tour since 2002. So he's decent in some team events (kinda - and he didn't help Phil that much in the Ryder Cup). WIN something, Chris. I like the guy and all, but he's over-rated.

I'm not a Sergio fan and I don't like his 'in your face' trashin' at the Ryder Cup. But it could be that his ability is about to prove that his time is due. If he stays steady he will finally show some of what the media has been hyping for 10 years.

If it is meant to be - good for him. Let the media feast on the new rivalry.

**Silvertree** · July 22, 2007

No Daly prefers to turn up to the course shaking from the DTs with scratches all over his face from his latest domestic violence episode.

Daly is a guy who has genuine psychological and emotional problems. Big difference in my opinion.

Sergio's a punk? A little immature, a little arrogant but there are much more badly behaved guys out there.

Sergio is a punk. His antics are just plain disrespectful to others and he shows no responsibility what so ever. And he is what, 27? I think we are beyond excusing his personality flaws on "his need to mature". If he isn't mature by now, it isn't going to happen. He is a punk. Normally I would word that ends with hole but I am being polite.

Do you think that Tiger's random hoking and spitting and petulant club dropping/throwing antics and cussing set a good example? I don't think so. But hey its ok he's Tiger Woods, right?

I think everyone spits while walking on the course from time to time, I don't have any problem with that. I do, and I swear to myself as well. Where Sergio and Tiger differ is that Tiger doesn't involve others with his flaws.

Of course this is another reason to love the Tour. So many different personalities makes it that much more fun to watch.

***iacas*** · July 22, 2007

Sergio, at this point, is gagging left and right and may not win his first major today. Heck, I'd put the odds of it now, as he's tied with Harrington and just missed his birdie on 10, at 15%.

Follow along here on the live blog and add some comments.

**CG031** · July 22, 2007

Yeah, Sergio is really cracking, which I am surprised with. Oh well, makes for an interesting next hour or so!

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