US Open Challenge - He shot 114!!!

[hurley9192]

Romo shoots 84
Justin shoots 98
Lauer shoots 100
Atkinson...114!

I guess he caved under pressure. Lauer hit a 20 footer on 18 for 100.

[MrKadash]

Romo shoots 84

I guess that's about right. I figured Romo would play well with Timberlake and Lauer in the 90's somewhere. But I was surprised by Atkinson's score. Being an 8.1 myself I figured low 100's but 114 -- wow. I have to believe I would have outperformed that..

It must have been difficult on a long course like Torrey to hit hybrids of the first few holes. As well as I've been hitting driver I would have been tempted to let her rip and take my chances, but oh well.

[AmenCorner]

Golf_Junkie27-114

He wins!

[michaeljames92]

at least my guess of 100 was scored by someone

[mikelz]

I am not at all surprised by the 114. I am surprised it wasn't 134.

[iacas]

Here's the story itself:
http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/u...contest_strege

I think I'd guessed 109, right? Hey, within five, that's not too bad. I also put the over/under at 2.5 for the number who would break 100, and I nailed that one. Would have been the perfect number.

The thread is here and the list is copied here. Everyone within five is in green. Seemingly there are a lot of optimists here.

lamebums - 90
hurley9192 - 91
Dent - 92
srjorion - 93
bFlat450- 94
Craig Mac - 94
BritBoy - 95
Bump-n-MI - 96
blurry - 96
ERC7.5-97
shortgrass lover - 97
bogeyhitter25 - 98
underparnv - 98
Cizzle - 99
x-forged- 100
michaeljames92 - 100
Pinseeker81 - 101
AceDunk - 101
i-Guy - 102
Wisco-Kid - 103
MCRhea - 103
Klew - 104
rudygu - 104
harrinjj - 104
GoingfortheGreen - 105
Rusty2228 - 106
geezer -107
JeffG - 107
mphsglf - 107
Wilsh99-108
Alex B - 108
AmenCorner 108
iacas - 109
BigAl5150 - 109
Finn07 - 109
Leonardite - 110
Atltony - 111
Rx Phoenix - 112
Three Putt - 112
TheGolfingDetective - 113
Golf_Junkie27-114
Elsfan 117
cbe_golfer 118
Razorhog - 119
InTheTwenties - 125

[Mr. Sparkle]

But I was surprised by Atkinson's score. Being an 8.1 myself I figured low 100's but 114 -- wow. I have to believe I would have outperformed that..

I've never played golf under that kind of pressure. That has to add a number of strokes to your score.

I always get nervous on the 1st tee at TP. You always have a bunch of people watching from the shop and starter.

[Harold]

Maybe being the non-celebrity and possibly not used to having few if anyone outside of three other golfers in the foursome go to him. The last thing I would be thinking before the start of my swing is "How can I make it your fault that you got hit? I mean, you are on a golf course." ;)
So what was the deal? It got started with Tiger saying no way a 10 could break 100 on a US Open setup from the same tees the pros used. Most quotes I saw from oother pros doubted it much too. Two did and a third needed only one stroke to do so. Was the course not quite the same as what the Tour will be facing? Were they Legit 10's?

[iacas]

Maybe being the non-celebrity and possibly not used to having few if anyone outside of three other golfers in the foursome go to him. The last thing I would be thinking before the start of my swing is "How can I make it your fault that you got hit? I mean, you are on a golf course." ;)

You could have answered these questions for yourself with a little bit of research.

The easy pickings are: 1) Tiger said it about Oakmont last year. This is a bit of a bastardization of that original idea, but the "essence" of it still exists. 2) Only one of the guys was really about a 10 handicap - and he played off 11 at Torrey Pines (as an 8.0 index). The others - celebrities - were added just to make it better for television. Most pros were asked about the one guy - not the others. Romo was a 1.4 or a 2.2 (index), Lauer and Timberlake were 6.2 and 6.0 indeces.

[shortgrass lover]

I know Torrey Pines must be playing VERY LONG from the Professional Tee's, but still 114. I mean, playing double-bogey golf would get you a 108... 114? thats gettin up there

[x-forged]

very long is right, shortgrass lover, 7600 yards, longest in open history. If one part of a players game is off at this course, it will be a high score, no doubt, considering the length, the rough, and speed of the greens.

[MrKadash]

I've never played golf under that kind of pressure. That has to add a number of strokes to your score.

I'm just an eternal optimist about shooting under 114. Pressure does weird things to people, so until any of us experienced something like that under those playing conditions, my hat's off to him for the score - I guess.

[golf_junkie27]

I wish I could pick lotto numbers like I did, this. We'd all be on some beach, right now, playing 36 holes and having iced cold beers. Oh well.

I don't think any amount of preparation can get you ready for the "holy " factor: Television cameras, celebrities, fans, and a U.S. Open setup.

I'm looking forward to next Sunday's telecast. Should be interesting.

[AmenCorner]

I don't think it was so much about the pressure at all.

People don't realize how pussified the average golf course is these days, especially private ones. Members complain about courses they can't score on. They complain when they can't reach a par 4 in 2 despite a shitty drive. I think it has created a greater divide between the pros and the average joe. The average golfer doesn't seem to enjoy a real challenge. They'd rather mark down a bogey on the scorecard then attempt that 5-footer which is far from "inside the leather."

I think Torrey Pines is the ultimate test in golf, and 114 is par for the course.

[RX Phoenix]

Had him at 112, pretty close to what he shot, but Romo . . . what a beast to shoot 84, maybe he's playing too much golf and not enough football? Anyway a tip of the hat to some really fine play, and Timberlake and Lauer, also got the job done. Goes to show a 6.5 is a lot better than a 10, and a 2.2 is a lot better than a 6.5, more than just the numbers indicate, the tough course brings out the difference.

[iacas]

People don't realize how pussified the average golf course is these days, especially private ones. Members complain about courses they can't score on. They complain when they can't reach a par 4 in 2 despite a shitty drive.

That's not been my experience at all. My experience has been almost the opposite, in fact: members like tough courses. Maybe it's a PA thing - we have Oakmont here, after all...

Now let's get back on topic. I think, AC, if you wanted to start a separate thread on the above topic it'd get decent discussion.

[georgep]

Pressure, TV cameras, and, don't forget, cancer. He had a lot working against him. Depending on the current state of his health (which I haven't read anywhere yet) or if he's currently in a chemo cycle ... 114 could have been a heck of a score.

Romo's 84 has established a Mendoza-line for the pros. I wonder how many will shoot higher than the QB.

[bogeyhitter25]

I'm pretty proud of Romo if I do say so myself.