2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine

[Dr. Manhattan]

I'm pretty sure he's serious about his game...

It's the Tiger effect. Not only is he held to insanely high standards, but his peers are as well. And it's not fair to any of them, including Tiger. One bad tournament and it's "oh no his career is going down the tubes," and so forth. He and his peers are a victim of his success, although in the grand scheme of things they have all been made extremely wealthy over the last 12 years. The criticism that they have to put up with should just be "dirt off the shoulder" so to speak.

[CG031]

Agreed, there is a big difference. I really like Scott's swing, and keep waiting for him to acheive a new plateau as a player, but he seems to be sliding out of the limelight. Sergio has proven he can do it, his ball striking is superb, and it is time for him to make a statement. He needs to be a threat every week. He is still too young to write off. I can not read his mind, but sometimes it looks like he is fatalistic about his putting... as if he knows he might not make it. The great ones are not like that. Of course, I have no clue really, maybe he is confident and expects to make the important ones... but there is something going on or sure seems that way. Blow this post off... it is just idle wanderings of thought.

I pretty much agree with this.

One thing about Scott is his putter can cause him some troubles. I never see him being able to win a major, because, like Sergio his putter is a real downside in his game.

It's the Tiger effect. Not only is he held to insanely high standards, but his peers are as well. And it's not fair to any of them, including Tiger. One bad tournament and it's "oh no his career is going down the tubes," and so forth. He and his peers are a victim of his success, although in the grand scheme of things they have all been made extremely wealthy over the last 12 years. The criticism that they have to put up with should just be "dirt off the shoulder" so to speak.

People don't realize how close Sergio has been to winning majors over the past few years. You just never know if it's going to go your way down the stretch of the tournament. Has Sergio played his best golf towards the ends of Majors on Sunday? No. But with SOME luck he could have at least one major...Golf is just like that we all know that.

And he hasn't played all that well all year. No reason to start cussing him out saying he's not working hard at his game and doesn't really want to win and needs to get in line. We have no idea how hard he's working at his game. He's a darn good player, that's all I know...and he just isn't playing that well right now, it's that simple.

[Dr. Manhattan]

I pretty much agree with this.

I have no idea how hard he's working on his game, but one thing I've noticed lately is that he's smiling a lot more on the golf course. I remember one year at the Masters where he shot a hell of a round on Sunday and was pouting afterward. He can be a moody guy, so it's nice to see him maybe with more peace in his life...more smiles on the course, despite the fact that he hasn't played that well this year.

[CG031]

I have no idea how hard he's working on his game, but one thing I've noticed lately is that he's smiling a lot more on the golf course. I remember one year at the Masters where he shot a hell of a round on Sunday and was pouting afterward. He can be a moody guy, so it's nice to see him maybe with more peace in his life...more smiles on the course, despite the fact that he hasn't played that well this year.

I have no idea either. I have to assume he works pretty hard because he hasn't play absolutely awful this year, just not near his potential.

Well, Sergio is one of the nicest people's I've ever met. I don't think a lot of people realize this... I talked to him for a few moments as he came off the range at The Barclay's last year. And I followed him around for a lot of his round on Thursday last year. He gave a lot of golf balls to little kids and "fist bumps" and "high fives" to fans as well whenever he made a birdie. He was extremely friendly and gracious to the fans. He gets so much here around here, it's unwarranted IMO.

[Dr. Manhattan]

I have no idea either. I have to assume he works pretty hard because he hasn't play absolutely awful this year, just not near his potential.

That tends to happen when you make the kinds of rash statements he has over the years (suggesting that the U.S. Open was rigged for Tiger in 2002) not to mention spitting in a cup, which is about the most low class thing a golfer can do to his fellow competitors.

[CG031]

That tends to happen when you make the kinds of rash statements he has over the years (suggesting that the U.S. Open was rigged for Tiger in 2002) not to mention spitting in a cup, which is about the most low class thing a golfer can do to his fellow competitors.

I agree. But I went into that tournament, like everyone else, thinking he was a Grade-A Douchebag.

I found out quickly I was wrong.

[Dr. Manhattan]

I agree. But I went into that tournament, like everyone else, thinking he was a Grade-A Douchebag.

It happens. I think a lot of people are misunderstood including Sergio, although I don't think that excuses such obvious blunders as the spitting incident. Not sure what got into him to think that was acceptable. I've seen some pretty rude behavior on the golf course over the last 10 years that I've been playing but that is right up there, especially since it was a pro who has been around the game his whole life. Reminds me of when Tiger dragged his putter at the U.S. Open a number of years ago. Uncalled for.

[bobsuruncle]

it's halfway, and he has a 4 shot lead...he's not going to back down, so unless someone can string 2 sensationally low rounds together, Tiger will win by at least 4 shots but more like 8-10 shots. a double digit win is not impossible this weekend.

[lobsterzilla]

pretty much. Even tho im pulling for tiger to win, i'd like to think someone else has a shot at this tourny ... unless tiger implodes it's going to have to take two absolutely magnificent rounds to just catch him, let alone pass him.

[CG031]

Yup. This is what I was afraid of. It's not that I dislike Tiger, it's just the fact I want to see an exciting final round and finish...I'm confident we won't be getting that this year.

I predict Tiger wins by 7 shots.

[Dr. Manhattan]

Yup. This is what I was afraid of. It's not that I dislike Tiger, it's just the fact I want to see an exciting final round and finish...I'm confident we won't be getting that this year.

I'd be fine with that if he's playing well. If it's a case of everyone else falling apart then that's another story.

[CG031]

I'd be fine with that if he's playing well. If it's a case of everyone else falling apart then that's another story.

Yeah but when Tiger and the field are BOTH at their best, Tiger wins.

[Dr. Manhattan]

Yeah but when Tiger and the field are BOTH at their best, Tiger wins.

Of course. Some idiot reporter earlier this week tried to play "gotcha" on Tiger by asking him if he's ever lost when he played his best. We all know the answer to that question is a big fat no, including the jackass reporter who asked it. He was trying to make Tiger look arrogant by saying "no" but Tiger did not actually answer the question. He sort of danced around it and said that when he plays well he has a pretty good chance to win (obviously true but an understatement LOL).

[squaddie]

The third round will be make or break for everyone near the top, including Tiger. Everyone tied for second has to decide if they should take chances and go for Tiger or play steady and avoid any mistakes, hoping to slowly creep closer to Tiger for the final day. Tiger will continue to try to widen the lead, though only do so when the smart play arises, so as to avoid bogies or worse.

Padraig will have a very tough day tomorrow, as if he can't keep up with Tiger and avoid any more bogies then his chances of winning will evaporate on the final day.

I hope my buddies don't want to do anything tomorrow, as I am more interested in watching Saturday's round than Sunday's.

It would be really bizarre if Tiger's game fell apart on Saturday, as that would turn Sunday into a free-for-all for the win.

[Kellfire]

McIlroy and Harrington, my favourite golfers, doing me proud so far.

[AmenCorner]

You act like that is such a great prediction...He's Tiger Woods. Anyone could sit here and say Tiger is going to win this, he's going to win that. He IS the favorite every week he plays...

I don't "act" like anything. I made a prediction and simply reminding everyone. Furthermore, if you were privy to the thread, you would know that at least a few folks were claiming that something was seriously wrong with Tiger and his swing. In that light, I made the prediction that nothing was wrong with his swing, and that he would regroup to win the PGA by 5 shots. Considering the fact that Tiger hasn't won a major this year, and also considering that the prediction was a very significant margin of 5 shots, I'd say it was a fairly bold prediction at the time, especially for the Chicken Little's.

By the way, I would never "predict" that Sergio would win at a major. He is weak and grossly overrated.

[AmenCorner]

I'm pretty sure he's serious about his game...

Yep, you nailed it. In today's coverage they were talking about the differences statistically. One guy averages 30 putts a round and is 170th on tour (or whatever) and goes to the nationwide tour. Then he supposedly cleans up his act and averages 29 putts to place 7th on the nationwide in putting.

In birdies, I think Adam Scott was something like 104th in birdies on tour with 3.25 per round. Anthony Kim is 2nd with 4.25 per round. Percentage wise a big difference but that's just one more birdie, one shot per round. It's really tight out there!

[BASHERBAKER69]

If Tiger pulls away from the field today in the 3rd round then it's all over and the major is his. Personally, I think Harrington will shoot a 65 or something today and Im counting on something magical from Phil to get him in contention and to turn up the heat this weekend.

Its a bit irritating that David Duval is not playing this week when apparently he qualified at the US Open.

The crowds are amazing and seem to be more educated than the fans were at The Buick.