2012 Wells Fargo Championship Discussion Thread

[mvmac]

Tiger Woods back to competition in North Carolina this week.  He answered questions from his fans, and posted the video Monday on his website . Here’s a look at some of his responses:

> On what he’s been working on since the Masters: "At the Masters, I was kind of struggling with my ball-striking a little bit. Sean (Foley, his swing coach) and I fixed it. It had to do with posture. My setup wasn’t quite right, as well as my takeaway. I just needed to do hundreds of reps. I’m getting dialed in."

Woods also said he didn’t touch a club for the first week after returning from Augusta National but has spent the past two weeks working on his game.

> Woods said he has changed his swing over the years to alleviate stress on his left knee, which has undergone four operations. "Let’s just end it at four and have a nice, healthy happy life," he said.

> Woods said he has made an albatross twice in his career, but not in competition. One was during a practice round with former Stanford teammate Notah Begay at the Walker Cup in Wales in 1995; the other at Isleworth just two days after watching his friend Mark O’Meara make a 2 on the seventh hole.

> His favorite trophy from the majors is the Claret Jug, which is awarded to the British Open champion. "The history and what it represents," Woods said.

> Woods said the best putt he has made on the PGA TOUR was a par putt from just inside 4 feet on the final hole at the 1997 Masters, which he won by 12 shots with a record score of 270 for his first major.

"To set the record, all the history it meant at the time, to have my dad there at the back of the green," he said. "By far it was the biggest."

> Woods said he rotates between putting a 2-iron or a 5-wood in his bag. He said he generally uses a 5-wood in West Coast events but a 2-iron on the Florida swing. He said at Augusta he used a 5-wood.

"If it’s hard and fast and dry, I’ll use a 2-iron because I can chase it out there,” he said.

> Woods said he only tests clubs when he’s "hitting the ball well" because it gives him a truer gauge on the effectiveness of the equipment he’s testing.

And a few Notable Groups

Tiger Woods/Webb Simpson/Geoff Ogilvy: Tiger Woods is a draw wherever he plays and this is his first start since he tied for 40th at the Masters. Webb Simpson actually lives in Charlotte and comes in with momentum after a tie for 13th in New Orleans. Ogilvy has only missed one cut this year but he’s still in search of his first top 10.

Rory McIlroy/Jim Furyk/David Toms: The group matches three winners of the Wells Fargo Championship Toms won the first event in 2003 while Furyk beat Trevor Immelman on the first hole of a playoff in 2006 and McIlroy closed with a phenomenal 62 to earn the title in 2010. Toms has four top-25 finishes at Quail Hollow while Furyk has six. McIlroy, the world No. 2, missed the cut in his only other appearance.

Phil Mickelson/Bill Haas/Keegan Bradley: This one matches the protagonists in the playoff at the Northern Trust Open that Haas won with a birdie on the first hole. The reigning FedExCup champ finished fourth here in 2011 for the second time in five years while Mickelson has six top-10s, including second to Rory McIlroy in 2010, and Bradley missed the cut last year in his only appearance.

Lucas Glover/Kyle Stanley/Lee Westwood: Glover is the defending champion after beating his good friend and former Clemson teammate Jonathan Byrd on the first hole of sudden death. He’s off to a slow start this season, though, after injuring a knee when he fell off a paddle board in Hawaii. Stanley won the Waste Management Phoenix open earlier this year while Westwood has three finishes of fourth or better, including a tie for third at the Masters in his last start.

[MEfree]

Nice field this week.  In my mind, Tiger is always a threat and you can`t discount McIroy, but I like Phil`s chances this week.

[Jimdangles]

Im hoping and looking forward to seeing tiger back on top.

[colin007]

go tiger!!!!

[Jasonbolt]

Does anyone have a close up on Rickie Fowler's cross handed putting grip?

[darkstar76]

Not that I've played Quail Hollow but seeing Phil card a 7 on a par 4 makes me feel better about my round last weekend

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by darkstar76

Not that I've played Quail Hollow but seeing Phil card a 7 on a par 4 makes me feel better about my round last weekend

I'm sure it ain't no Bay Hills.

[darkstar76]

That place is a dump! Nope...I was out at Queenstown on the River course

[wolfsburg2]

Tell me I'm not the only one who thinks Faldo is intentionally hating on tiger? He is sounding absolutely nasty.

[CallawayGolf25]

I'm pullin' for Rickie Fowler this week... It'd be cool to see him win.

How about Webb Simpson's 60-something footer that he sank tho? It was crazy... Golf Channel had it as their "Shot of the Day."

[Wansteadimp]

Originally Posted by wolfsburg2

Tell me I'm not the only one who thinks Faldo is intentionally hating on tiger? He is sounding absolutely nasty.

Not getting the US commentary this week in the UK, so haven't heard Faldo but.........  there is a reason he is respected in England and not worshipped.

[Zwick]

Crazy stat: Hunter Mahan had 100% GIR and is +1 with a putting average of 2.11. Notable hole is number 7 (par 5): on the green in 2 and in the hole in 7.

[Wansteadimp]

Originally Posted by Zwick

Crazy stat: Hunter Mahan had 100% GIR and is +1 with a putting average of 2.11. Notable hole is number 7 (par 5): on the green in 2 and in the hole in 7.

Do we know if he putted it off the green or was it a real live five stab??

[michaeljames92]

Good start for Tiger: Bombs it 320 onto the fairway, hits his second to 12 feet. misses a 2 footer for birdie and makes a par 5 on his first hole...

Update: stiffs it to 3 feet on the 11th.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by darkstar76

That place is a dump! Nope...I was out at Queenstown on the River course

But where else can you play 18 with a cart for $30 and get 2 free beers at the turn?

I agree it's a complete goat track.

[jamo]

AK withdraws for the 3rd time this year: "I couldn't be more disappointed to WD from this event. The Wells Fargo Championship will always be one of my favorite events after winning my first tournament here, and I'm thankful for the support that the tournament and fans here have shown me. I've tried to play through injuries, but I know from experience that it will only make things worse. I'm going to get it looked at and do what I need to do to get back to full health."

[wolfsburg2]

What are the injuries?

[jamo]

What are the injuries?

Wrist again.