Is it me....

[NorCalGolfer]

or is this golf season a little bland? I mean, I don't really know how to feel. It seemed like last year there were so many things going on, great stories, AK making his mark, etc...but this year is just...blah. Sure Tiger won in an incredible comeback, but O'Hair had to shit his pants first. The Masters is the only highlight so far in my mind. The Players...eh..I dunno. Maybe it's just me. Or maybe it's just because it's still early. We still have the U.S. Open and the Open, the playoffs and so forth. How do you guys feel?

[dalirahma]

From my perspective, I think some of the marquee players are a tad bit off and many lesser known players are filling the void. Brian Davis? Dustin Johnson? John Merrick? Never heard of these guys until recently. Zach Johnson is playing great. No offense, but yawn. He's not the most exciting player.

Good question, I may be way off. But I totally sense what you are about this season so far.

[mcfc_nick]

i cant argue with you, it has been rather boring a little this year but we have only had one major. it will liven up at the other 3 and then players will be focusing on the fedex cup later in the season which i believe will bring the best out of the 'star' players and make it a touch more entertaining!

[c. lassiter]

It's not you.

The season has lacked drama so far. Long way to go though.

[iacas]

or is this golf season a little bland?

It's just you.

We've had Tiger's return already (with a "Tiger Moment" at 18). We've had Tiger subsequently finishing in the top 10 while playing like a duffer. We've had some young guys stepping up, as well as Zach Johnson making a good career for himself. The Masters was exciting again and the Players saw one of the best displays of golf you can remember.

AK making his mark

You do realize that happened in, like, July or August, right?

Yeah, it's still early.

[$2 Nassau]

It's still early, with 3 Majors left. Tough to say at this point. But for me, I like watching golf, I can watch pretty much any tourney and find it interesting, regardless of who is in the field.

Tiger's back, so hey, it can't be that boring.

[jorruss]

I think it's because the young guns on tour aren't playing up to the level they were at last year.

[iacas]

I think it's because the young guns on tour aren't playing up to the level they were at last year.

I think all too many people are falling prey to "absence makes the heart grow fonder." As in "absence from a year ago."

At this point last year, I'll put this year's winner's list against last year's and I'm confident that this year will more than hold its own. Camilo didn't win until the FedExCup Playoffs. Anthony Kim was still winless at this point last year. This year we've had Geoff Ogilvy (x2), Zach Johnson (x2), Phil Mickelson (x2), Tiger Woods winning and finishing in the top 10, Pat Perez getting the monkey off his back, Nick Watney (young guy), Dustin Johnson (young guy), Retief Goosen, Paul Casey, Angel Cabrera in an exciting Masters (you can't say that about last year's Masters), great golf from Henrik Stenson to win the Players, Brian Gay dominating, fun-loving Jerry Kelly notching a nervous win, Sean O'Hair winning the big event at Quail Hollow, and now Rory Sabbatini winning. Quite honestly, I think you're all nuts if you think last year was better. Not at this stage of the year - we've only had ONE major so far.

[billm408]

I don't know... I think in general golf has become less interesting and exciting these days. Lefty's out indefinitely now and I miss the old Tiger- spraying it all over the place and hitting miracle shots to recover, Daly's due back but that's getting to be sad anymore. The new crop of young players are far better golfers than we've seen in recent years, but they're boring. Fairways & greens. Who's the new Seve or Sergio? IMO, there's too much mistake free golf being played.

Exactly the boring kind of stuff I'd love to play more regularly myslef, but that doesn't make good TV.

[lumpuckeroo]

Don't know about anyone else but I get excited about the new golf season, so I spend more time practicing and playing and I watch a lot less golf in the spring then I do in the summer and fall. Gets pretty hot in the summer in Kansas so I play in the AM and sit on my backside and watch golf in the PM.

So I don't know so much about bland, but I think when I watch more it becomes more interesting, just because there are story lines that I am not aware of without watching.

[jorruss]

I think all too many people are falling prey to "absence makes the heart grow fonder." As in "absence from a year ago."

I don't think this year is better or worst than last year. I love watching golf no matter what. Every tournament is a different story. We wouldn't watch if we knew what was going to happen. I did a bit of research about this years results so far vs. last year: Anthony Kim, Adam Scott, Brant Snedeker, Hunter Mahan, Segio Garcia, Camillo Villegas and Nick Whatney combined for 38 top tens, 7 victories and over $20 million in prize money in 2008. This year so far - 10 top tens and 1 victory. Kim, Scott and Garcia, once ranked 12th, 4th and 2nd in the world respectively, have only managed 2 top tens in 2009. However, it's still early people! By comparison, Tiger Woods has 5 top tens and a victory in only 6 events. Yet the media is wondering what is wrong with Tiger?

[DavidFehertysBike]

As far as fans and media goes,Tiger Woods only job is to win. They dont personally care if Tiger finishes in the top 5 every week. They watch him to see him win. So when your sports major star isnt winning, i can see how people would think the PGA season is boring.

[mcfc_nick]

I don't know... I think in general golf has become less interesting and exciting these days. Lefty's out indefinitely now and I miss the old Tiger- spraying it all over the place and hitting miracle shots to recover, Daly's due back but that's getting to be sad anymore. The new crop of young players are far better golfers than we've seen in recent years, but they're boring. Fairways & greens. Who's the new Seve or Sergio? IMO, there's too much mistake free golf being played.

if you're bored of watching mistake free golf then go and watch anthony kim for a round! guy makes maybe 5/6 birdies a round and still ends up shooting somewhere around even par!

[Thrash13]

Anthony Kim was still winless at this point last year.

Didn't AK win at Wachovia last season? I know he won at Congressional in July, but I believe he won in late-April or early-May to get things started.

I do agree with you about this season, however. Things have been just fine as far as top players winning. Some people may find the top players this season (Ogilvy, Johnson, etc.) to be more on the boring side though. To me, I could really care less as long as the golf is good. And to that end, things have been pretty solid. And besides, we have already had a couple Charles Howell III choke jobs. How can any season be great without a few of those?!? At least he has a few top-10 finishes. :) And finally, like others have mentioned, it's still VERY early. We have 3 majors, the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and the Presidents Cup to go. Things are definitely looking up.

[retexan599]

Since I got my 50 inch plasma HDTV and when the broadcasts are in full resolution HD, it all looks so good that I don't mind so much who is playing well and who is not. The Masters was gorgeous. There are so many good players that the NFL term of "any given Sunday" probably applies to the PGA tournaments as well.

[iacas]

Didn't AK win at Wachovia last season?

Yeah, I was wrong on that one. I guess absence doesn't make anything fonder for me.

I think the majority of my point remains. Last year wasn't all that exciting. End of last year, maybe, but we're not there yet this year. I'm really looking forward to Bethpage.

[NorCalGolfer]

Yeah, I was wrong on that one. I guess absence doesn't make anything fonder for me.

Uhhh...ok here we go .... last year went as follows...

FBR - JB Holmes second win in 3 starts. Sinks a 15 ft birdie putt to force a playoff with PHIL MICKELSON. Hits a 350+ yd drive and approach to 8ft for birdie to win. Sounds pretty exciting to me. Buick Invitational - Tiger Woods. We all know what happened here. Won by 8 or something. Who doesn't like to watch Tiger smash the competition? I know I do. AT&T; Pro-Am - Steve Lowery comes from behind to out VIJAY SINGH in a 1hole playoff. Not to mention he birdied the playoff hole. And who can forget his 4i from the fairway bunker on No.9 to about 15 feet for birdie? I remember...sounds exciting to me. Norther Trust - Phil Mickelson. Trailing by 1 going into the back nine rallied to win by 2. Everyone likes to watch a Phil win...once again...sounds exciting to me. Accenture Match Play - Tiger Woods (again). We all remember his comeback after comeback after comeback only to THRASH Stewart Cink in the final. And again..who doesn't like to watch a Tiger thrashing? I know I do...sounds exciting to me... Honda Classic - Ernie Els. His first win in 4 years. I don't really remember much, but his first win in 4 years sounds exciting to me. And we all love the Big Easy. CA Championship - Geoff Ogilvy. Tigers first loss in 6 starts, but he still finished 5th behind Singh, Goosen, Furyk and the winner Ogilvy. Sounds exciting to me. Transitions (PODS) - Sean O'Hair. First win in 3 years. Though it took an epic collapse by Stewart Cink, I'm sure O'Hair didn't mind. Who doesn't like to see a collapse? I know I do... Arnold Palmer - Uhh...Tiger Woods. WE ALL REMEMBER THIS! Much tougher putt in 2008 and much more dramatic in my opinion. Sounds exciting to me! Verizon Heritage - Boo Weekley. Boo and Anthony final pairing. Who doesn't want to see that? And this is where Anthony started to roll.. Wachovia - The aforementioned Anthony Kim. Smoked the competition by 5 strokes and started to MAKE HIS MARK on tour. And no it wasn't July or August thanks. The Players - Sergio Garcia. Though I don't like him it was quite exciting having him and fan favorite Goydos go at it. Sounds exciting to me. All in all... 2008 was way freaking better at this point. Find me those winners and those highlights in 2009, please...then I'll eat my words...

[RichF]

Folks need to look at the bigger picture - my Top 5 picks:
Buick Invitational - Nick Watney
WGC Doral - Phil Mickelson
AP Invitational - Tiger Woods (usual drama)
The Masters - Angel Cabrerra (plus the Woods/Mickelson duel)
The Players - Henrik Stenson (almost flawless golf)

Plus, on the European Tour:
Dubai Desert Classic - Rory McIlroy (potentially the next 'big thing')
Johnnie Walker Classic - Danny Lee (amateur)
3 Irish Open - Shane Lowry (amateur)
BMW PGA Championship - Paul Casey (now No.3 in the world)

So bascially, your Garcias, Kims, Villegas', etc - have all failed in the first 5 months of 2009.
This year has been great so far...