Down right unappealing, predictable and boring.

[Clubswinger21]

Same old same old. Woods doubles 14 or 15 or whatever hole it was, and players crumble around him. Its pretty pathetic when players like Luke Donald say things like, "one of my goals is to win every tournament i enter." Well buddy, the 1st step is making the cut!

Strickers tied for the lead and immediately starts swinging like a 6 handicap. Veej plays the last 5 holes in 4 or 5 over. Rory's spraying drives all over the place. They sniff contention and start shaking like little girls over the ball. Dont you think you'd get used to being in that position when you've been there hundreds of times before?

I recorded the event on my DVR. I dont know about you, but I just fast forwarded as soon as the collapse started. Yeah its cliche'.. but please dont write something like.. you go out and beat him then. Its not my job to win golf tournaments week in and week out, regardless of who is playing.

So far this year has been the worst since I started watching golf.. by far, lets hope some one other than woods can get'r done at the Players.

[Guest]

Understand but disagree. Yesterday's final round illustrated the consequences, for others reasonably "in the hunt", of fatigue, the challenge of the course, head games, decisions under stress of time, the stakes, rub-of-the-green -- all the elements at play in earlier rounds but now with last chance implications. Yes, I would like to see four or five players deal as successfully with the cumulative load. But Woods prevailed yesterday by actively contriving to survive, not by shooting lights-out as in many earlier victories. That ability is exemplary for pro and amateur alike, to reestablish his game quickly after a poor shot or poor result. Yesterday's failures by others to do the same was equally instructive, even if slightly depressing.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

Well, we can't have Masters finishes all the time. What was so impressive about Zach Johnson's performance was that type of thing doesn't happen that often with Tiger in the hunt. There's a reason he's the best player in the world. I understand what you are saying and you are right, a lot of players fell apart down the stretch. But the guys in contention weren't the only one's to have problems on the closing stretch of holes. The entire field did... those are some very tough holes. And keep in mind, while you are talking about other players falling apart, Tiger tied for low round of the day. So he didn't win because others played poorly, we won because he played extremely well, which in essence may have forced others to try and hit shots they shouldn't have been (hmmm... we've talked about this before). I understand what you are saying, Tiger posting a low round on Sunday and the other leaders posting over par scores can be boring, predictable and unappealing but that's the way it is right now. Tiger flat out is the best player, physically and mentally in the world. I mean, how many players can drive the ball as crooked as he does and hit spectacular shots from the rough? Not many... he's gifted.

I will say that I am growing tired of people saying that they want to win every tournament they enter or that they have a 3 year goal to be #1 in the world (Ernie Els). Someone's just gotta do it.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

Maybe I heard wrong, but thought the announcers said #16 was the 3rd toughest hole on the course, #17 was the 2nd toughest hole on the course and #18 was the toughest hole on the course. Sure looked like the last three holes were designed and set up to cause a train wreck here and there.

[Guest]

You heard correctly.
Perhaps we all underestimate the physical and mental stress levels for all competitors when such as those are the 70th, 71st and 72nd holes of an important event.

[Dent]

Tiger needs a little bit of competition some times.

[Billbill13]

I for one love to see Tiger win...one it is good for the game and two it is just fun to watch. Especially now a days I think it is great to have somebody like Tiger in the spotlight. He lives a quiet life, never been arrested, never made the front page of the news paper for driving drunk or raping a stripper. So I hope he does keep winning and everyone else around him is going to struggle.

It is nice to have to see him work for a win or only win by 1-2 strokes but I think this is what we are going to have for at least another 5-10 years.

[Clubswinger21]

All excuses. Its a tough course, plain and simple. Did the course cause Rory Sabbatini and Stricker to snap hook their drives 50 yards left? Vijay could of blocked his drive right on purpose but instead he hit it in the hazard on 2 consecutive holes. A collapse is a collapse, Its a cliche' to keep sticking up for these guys. Its time someone stepped up. For PGA golf to keep my viewing interest someone's gotta do something. It was even refreshing to see Zach Johnson win the Masters, simply for the fact someone other than Tiger did. I've said it many times before Im a golf fan, not a Tiger fan. I dont want to see a sport dominated by one team or one person. Its like the Yankees dominating the MLB, after awhile it loses its appeal for people who arent yankee fans.

[Ogg]

All excuses. Its a tough course, plain and simple. Did the course cause Rory Sabbatini and Stricker to snap hook their drives 50 yards left? Vijay could of blocked his drive right on purpose but instead he hit it in the hazard on 2 consecutive holes. A collapse is a collapse, Its a cliche' to keep sticking up for these guys. Its time someone stepped up. For PGA golf to keep my viewing interest someone's gotta do something. It was even refreshing to see Zach Johnson win the Masters, simply for the fact someone other than Tiger did. I've said it many times before Im a golf fan, not a Tiger fan. I dont want to see a sport dominated by one team or one person. Its like the Yankees dominating the MLB, after awhile it loses its appeal for people who arent yankee fans.

Good point swinger. I like tournaments with excitement and good finishes with great golf. I thought the Honda Classic was excellent and I think there have been so many non-Tiger tournaments that have been awesome to watch. It is a shame that so many people only watch for Tiger and not for the awesome golf that is played every weekend. And the best part about all of this is that the Yankees have not dominated MLB for a long time!

[Billbill13]

Good point swinger. I like tournaments with excitement and good finishes with great golf. I thought the Honda Classic was excellent and I think there have been so many non-Tiger tournaments that have been awesome to watch. It is a shame that so many people only watch for Tiger and not for the awesome golf that is played every weekend.

Define dominant...I don't think you have to win every single tournament or every single world series to be considered dominant player or team.

[Ogg]

I would think that dominant would equate to the number of championships your team has won. It is a gray area but the Yanks have not made it to the World Series since 2003, the managed the greatest choke in sports history in 2004 and are an aging team with an enormous payroll that doesn't seem to built for the playoffs.

But not to hijack this thread, I prefer to see a much more robust competitive field in any sport. Not quite parity that the NFL was aspiring to a few years back though.

[AMGfan]

Well, we can't have Masters finishes all the time. What was so impressive about Zach Johnson's performance was that type of thing doesn't happen that often with Tiger in the hunt. There's a reason he's the best player in the world. I understand what you are saying and you are right, a lot of players fell apart down the stretch. But the guys in contention weren't the only one's to have problems on the closing stretch of holes. The entire field did... those are some very tough holes. And keep in mind, while you are talking about other players falling apart, Tiger tied for low round of the day. So he didn't win because others played poorly, we won because he played extremely well, which in essence may have forced others to try and hit shots they shouldn't have been (hmmm... we've talked about this before). I understand what you are saying, Tiger posting a low round on Sunday and the other leaders posting over par scores can be boring, predictable and unappealing but that's the way it is right now. Tiger flat out is the best player, physically and mentally in the world. I mean, how many players can drive the ball as crooked as he does and hit spectacular shots from the rough? Not many... he's gifted.

+1 You definately have to give the course some credit. All 4 rounds the last 3 holes were pretty tough on everyone, even Tiger (I think he had a bogey on 18th 3 out of the 4 rounds). Add that the pressure of a Sunday with Tiger in the lead, then more than likely Tiger wins.

[laconic517]

dominance in sports is good because it gives you a measuring stick, if a different player won each tournament every time throughout the year the pga tour wouldnt be much fun, its nice to have dominant players and see how other guys stack up against them in the clutch. It also gives you someone to root against and gives people fun rooting for the underdog.

and if you wanna talk about choking, check out the masters on justin rose's tee shot, when was the last time youve seen someone of his length miss it so bad in contention that he has driver 3 wood into a par 4 on 17?