Comments on: Oakmont Brings (Some) Monsters to their Knees http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/oakmont_brings_some_monsters_to_their_knees Golf News, Reviews, and Commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:22:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Christian http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/oakmont_brings_some_monsters_to_their_knees#comment-6239 Christian Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:56:39 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/oakmont_brings_some_monsters_to_their_knees#comment-6239 With all the talk about how difficult Oakmont would play and predictions of a +5 wining score all of which were true, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this years tournament. I too agree, this was one of the best golf championships I can remember. With all the talk about how difficult Oakmont would play and predictions of a +5 wining score all of which were true, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this years tournament. I too agree, this was one of the best golf championships I can remember.

]]> By: joltman http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/oakmont_brings_some_monsters_to_their_knees#comment-6237 joltman Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:51:18 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/oakmont_brings_some_monsters_to_their_knees#comment-6237 Furyk - This was a no-brainer correct decision and a failure to execute. If he did anything wrong, it was miss it in the wrong place. EVERYONE could drive 17 on Sunday. Watching 17 on Thursday, I was amazed at the number of guys who laid up and Still put their second in jail. Phil missed the 17 fairway both times with his iron. So if you NEED birdie, and you have a drivable par 4 where you can save a shot even if you're in a bunker, you go for it. Woods - one reason why Woods has not come from behind is that he has been in front (and won) majors so many times! This has limited, seriously, the number of times he could come from behind. Woods will come from 'off the pace' within the next year and win. Tigers are not front runners - they stalk and pounce. jm Furyk - This was a no-brainer correct decision and a failure to execute. If he did anything wrong, it was miss it in the wrong place. EVERYONE could drive 17 on Sunday. Watching 17 on Thursday, I was amazed at the number of guys who laid up and Still put their second in jail. Phil missed the 17 fairway both times with his iron. So if you NEED birdie, and you have a drivable par 4 where you can save a shot even if you're in a bunker, you go for it.

Woods - one reason why Woods has not come from behind is that he has been in front (and won) majors so many times! This has limited, seriously, the number of times he could come from behind. Woods will come from 'off the pace' within the next year and win. Tigers are not front runners - they stalk and pounce.

jm

]]> By: richard http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/oakmont_brings_some_monsters_to_their_knees#comment-6230 richard Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:16:22 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/oakmont_brings_some_monsters_to_their_knees#comment-6230 Angel has as close to a total understanding of his own game as anyone else in the professinal ranks. Furyk has it too, but loses it from moment to moment -- as he did on 17 at the Open. (Davis Love III has lost it totally if only temporarily.) That is a resource for which everyone has to struggle -- to acheieve and to keep -- but the rewards for achievement are huge inside and outside the ropes. Tiger's relentless pursuit of real and speculative self-improvement is laudable but meanwhile it creates an exploitable gap in Tiger's self-understanding, until Tiger "catches" the improvement and fully integrates it on the golf course. Bottom line for would be winners on the Tour: the best chance to beat Tiger (and thereby the rest of the field), arises when a clear eyed (about self and game) player like Angel confronts Tiger while Tiger is as much in pursuit of himself as he is in pursuit of Angel. Ramping up the pressure then pays large dividends. :!: Angel has as close to a total understanding of his own game as anyone else in the professinal ranks. Furyk has it too, but loses it from moment to moment -- as he did on 17 at the Open. (Davis Love III has lost it totally if only temporarily.)

That is a resource for which everyone has to struggle -- to acheieve and to keep -- but the rewards for achievement are huge inside and outside the ropes.

Tiger's relentless pursuit of real and speculative self-improvement is laudable but meanwhile it creates an exploitable gap in Tiger's self-understanding, until Tiger "catches" the improvement and fully integrates it on the golf course.

Bottom line for would be winners on the Tour: the best chance to beat Tiger (and thereby the rest of the field), arises when a clear eyed (about self and game) player like Angel confronts Tiger while Tiger is as much in pursuit of himself as he is in pursuit of Angel. Ramping up the pressure then pays large dividends. :!:

]]> By: Mohun http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/oakmont_brings_some_monsters_to_their_knees#comment-6229 Mohun Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:07:59 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/oakmont_brings_some_monsters_to_their_knees#comment-6229 I'd like to expound on your thought on Furyk. I think that his decision to hit driver on 17 is lost in the noise of "Woods wasn't able to close the deal". This may not be Mickelson/Winged Foot # 18 proportions, but it's pretty significant. I sincerely believe Furyk had the best chance to win/tie for the Open, given that he was tied with Angel when he reached 17th tee. On the 18th tee, he then found himself "1 down". Even though Tiger has mad skills, I don't believe he was close to catching Angel on the back nine - it seemed Furyk had the best chance with those three straight birdies. Anyway, kudos to Angel - he deserved to win. It's pretty evident from his two rounds under par! Plus, it's always nice to see a winner shoot 'under-par' to win a tournament on Sunday... I'd like to expound on your thought on Furyk. I think that his decision to hit driver on 17 is lost in the noise of "Woods wasn't able to close the deal". This may not be Mickelson/Winged Foot # 18 proportions, but it's pretty significant.

I sincerely believe Furyk had the best chance to win/tie for the Open, given that he was tied with Angel when he reached 17th tee. On the 18th tee, he then found himself "1 down". Even though Tiger has mad skills, I don't believe he was close to catching Angel on the back nine - it seemed Furyk had the best chance with those three straight birdies.

Anyway, kudos to Angel - he deserved to win. It's pretty evident from his two rounds under par! Plus, it's always nice to see a winner shoot 'under-par' to win a tournament on Sunday...

]]>