Big Break IV Discussion

[Thrash13]

I was surprised nobody posted about this already. Did anyone watch the first episode last night?

I think the European team looks very relaxed as always, and they will be tough to beat. The United States team has a couple steady golfers, but a few of them just look out of whack to be honest. That South Carolina guy has one of the ugliest swings I've ever seen. It makes Jim Furyk's look like poetry in motion.

Anyway, I don't have much time here at work to go into detail, but what did everyone else think about the first show? Any early predictions?

I think Bart is going to be tough to beat on the US team, and I think that tall skinny guy is going to be Europe's best chance. I can't think of his name, but he was in the first match.

So post your thoughts now. Does anyone care? I think it will be good.

[iacas]

I forgot to watch, but I'll be recording the next show. So I'm going to avoid looking at anything until I actually see it...

[muda]

it was okay. i found myself rooting for the European team. To me, they look like they have the most game.

i love tommy's swing. my prediction is that marty will win.

[AtlantaGolfer]

I think the European team is stronger by far. It is way too hard to watch having to listen to some guy talk about what he was thinking or what he tried to do after slicing a ball 40 yards right on 18 and leaving their partner 200 hundred out. I think the guy that wins is going to be the British Am champ from 96 (Wayne?). He obviously has some game.

[iacas]

  AtlantaGolfer said:

I think the European team is stronger by far. It is way too hard to watch having to listen to some guy talk about what he was thinking or what he tried to do after slicing a ball 40 yards right on 18 and leaving their partner 200 hundred out. I think the guy that wins is going to be the British Am champ from 96 (Wayne?). He obviously has some game.

Blade has some game, yeah. The Americans duffed it all over the place. Had that one guy not made those two big putts they'd have lost by like 400 strokes.

Disappointing to say the least. Conditions were benign.

[nurseduffer]

I caught a glimpse of Edordo cadding Friday on the Euro Tour on TGC. I know he had said that that's what he did and he's doing it again.
It was just a quick shot of him. I think he was with Olazabal.
I think the Euros Mopped the floor with the Americans. Warren and Marty are my favs.
Bart and Randal are my favs on the Americans. They way Randal was playing, I think I could have beat him.

[OTCameron]

I just don't get how you can possibly compare a baseball swing to a golf swing. They're like on totally different axis

Either way, I enjoyed it. Loved it when the American's couldn't get out of that bunker. Anyone know what handicap that Tommy plays to? Please say its not scratch.

[DFife]

As all of us addicts know from watching the previous seasons with the challenges the best all around golfer doesn't always end up winning. I do agree that if you just threw the two teams out and let them player a Ryder Cup format over three days the Euros would probably close it out on day two. However, it probably won't work that way. There will be all kinds of skill contests. All they need to do is produce the shots to win the challenge. The gap between the two teams is not so large that the Euros will kill them in the skill challenges. I can't imagine the golf channel letting it turn into a blow out.

I just wrote a post about a reality golf show. I need to call my sponsor.

[iacas]

  OTCameron said:

I just don't get how you can possibly compare a baseball swing to a golf swing. They're like on totally different axis

I'm fairly certain you have to be scratch or better to get onto the show, yeah...

[OTCameron]

  iacas said:

I'm fairly certain you have to be scratch or better to get onto the show, yeah...

So there is hope for all of us...

[NCGolfer]

I was disappointed that Bart got knocked out.

As a side note, I'd love to be part of something like that. The opportunities that they are getting are great and something that any serious golfer can appreciate.

[Thrash13]

  NCGolfer said:

I was disappointed that Bart got knocked out.

I agree on both points. I really wish Bart would have made it a little farther into the competition. I guess it was obvious he hasn't been playing very much golf since he got the real estate job. His little speech at the end actually almost brought a tear to my eye. It was sad stuff.

And it would definitely be awesome to be a part of this competition, even more than the past 3 seasons. Carnoustie just brings out so much tradition. It's awesome. By the way, I love this U.S. vs. Europe stuff. It never gets old to me.

[Maverick]

Not sure if it's just me but seems like I'm not as interested in the BB4 (compared to the previous ones) for a few reasons. I think they should've had less players on each team. Like 6, (3 on each team), too many players to keep track of. Also I'm not a fan of european "style" courses. I know it's Carnoustie and all that history that goes along with it, but it makes for bad television. The course is just not appealing/eye candy, everything looks "washed" out, but that's probably just me gettting use to seeing lush greenery in the U.S. Hopefully the BB5 will be back in the U.S.

[Thrash13]

I think I like BB4 more than the previous ones. But I agree, it sure seems like people aren't as interested. There were 100 posts for BB3 by this time in the show. I guess we don't have Danielle to talk about. :)

I'm loving this season though, mostly because I love team competitions. It's really interesting to me, and it's tough seeing any of the guys get eliminated.

I'm ready for next week's show already.

Edit: By the way, I felt awful for Marty when he completely shanked his tee shot into the rough. I have been there before, and it's no fun. I can't imagine being in front of the TV cameras and doing it. Then he duffed a chip about 5 feet by the green. That was tough, and for him to bounce back in the elimination challenge the way he did was remarkable. I think his mishaps with the shanks will go a long way in him doing well from here on out. He has the pressure off of him now..

[LarryK]

  Maverick said:

Not sure if it's just me but .......it makes for bad television.

It's not just you. In addition to all the reasons you cited, how about this: How are American viewers going to identify with half of the competitors -- especially when their accents are sufficiently heavy as to require the producers to overlay subtitles on the bottom of the screen?

I predict ratings for this series will be as dreary as the Scottish weather.

[iacas]

  LarryK said:

It's not just you. In addition to all the reasons you cited, how about this: How are American viewers going to identify with half of the competitors -- especially when their accents are sufficiently heavy as to require the producers to overlay subtitles on the bottom of the screen?

I don't care so much about this one. It feels entirely "forced" that they have team play to begin with. There's no rivalry here - it's just phony. Almost as phony as Danielle's boobs, I say!

I do like this year's "all access" thing just a little. Kinda gives you more of an idea how life is on set.

[nurseduffer]

I was glad to see David go...he can sure talk a good talk...but that is about all he can do.
I am embarrassed for the US they just can't get it together

[iacas]

  nurseduffer said:

I was glad to see David go...he can sure talk a good talk...but that is about all he can do.

I was glad to see David go, too. But every American just sucked at that immunity challenge. The Euros closed them out without using their #5 guy AND without using their mulligan. Pretty pathetic.

Don is back in the next episode. Y'all remember this, right?