2012 Players Championship Discussion Thread

[Jmdmbike]

Would be great to see Na win. He was a total hothead, but seems better these days. Maybe taking a 16 or whatever it was, had something to do with it. Either way, he's handling things well and his attitude is good considering what he's dealing with. Good luck to him.

[SamCreamer]

Everyone is discussing his slow play and NO ONE is discussing his beautiful shots! His approach on 18 was one of the nicest all day, he didn't bogey all day. It's not his nerves making him play slow, it's all in his mind. He isn't nervous about the event, that's the impression I get at least. Would be great to see him win

[Zeph]

It seems like he's afraid of hitting a bad shot off the tee. I don't recall if he struggled with a pull or push. He never backs up on the fairway, just off the tee.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by mvmac

Can you imagine being his caddy?  Guy should get 20%

I won't really criticize Na for what he's going through because frankly I've never experienced it in any way, shape or form.  However, I do feel as though his caddy could do him a favor and NOT walk back into the picture to possibly talk to him every time he backs off the ball.  All that does it put another thing in his head and possibly make him more uncomfortable when going back to address the ball.  At the very least it discourages him from stepping right back to address and swinging away.  The caddy just needs to let him go through all of the jitters once he actually addresses it, and leave it alone unless Na initiates some sort of interaction.

At least from my perspective, anyway.

Brandon

[Motley01]

Originally Posted by Zeph

It seems like he's afraid of hitting a bad shot off the tee. I don't recall if he struggled with a pull or push. He never backs up on the fairway, just off the tee.

No he did it in the fairway also. The approach on 18 was just as brutal.

I feel sorry for the guy.

I can't wait to watch the coverage today. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Don't want to see it, but can't take our eyes off it either.

[MEfree]

After watching his end of round interview, it sounded like Na`s issue was more mechanical than psychological.  He said that he had changed his balance and knows what he has to do to play well and that he was hoping to get over it by the end of the year.

Reading between the lines, I get the feeling that he does not complete the swing unless he feels that he is in the right position on the way back- sorta like Tiger being able to stop a swing on the way down when he hears a camera (or other distraction) on his back swing, Na hits the stop button if he feels he is in a bad position or off balance on the back swing- when it is on the take away, it just looks like a waggle, but when it is closer to the transition it becomes that full practice swing just above the ball.

Weird looking no doubt, but as others have said, when he pulled the trigger, he hit quality shots, so maybe he knows what he is doing and has a good feel right now as to what is a proper back swing for him (but not as good an ability to do it the first try).

[Chas]

My take on it as well MEfree. The implication being that if he forces himself to take the shot before he's good and ready the quality of his play may drop. Tough position to be in but rules are rules, and they're there for a reason. Should be an interesting day's play. Brandon: unlike you I have occasionally had similar issues though 1) I don't step away like that and 2) I NEVER end up hitting shots like NA does. Here's wishing I had his problem .... :-)

[bplewis24]

What the heck did Tiger do on #4?

[brocks]

What the heck did Tiger do on #4?

Hit a perfect drive, underclubbed himself and hit his approach into the water, hit his fourth to within about eight feet and missed the very slick putt.

[brocks]

Na hit his opening drive just fine, but the yips came back on his second shot. Has there ever been a case of a guy contending on Sunday who got so nervous that he had to withdraw?

[xxsoultonesxx]

Watching todays coverage should be interesting. Curious what kind of odd filler the commentators will conjure up while Na is lurking above his ball making up his mind.

[xxsoultonesxx]

Kevin Na and Luke Donald are 100% inside 3 feet....cool.

[Zwick]

Was Luke Donalds 110 yard (!) drive on the 4th hole today on air? I really want to see how that happend. Or Mickelsons 169 yard bomb on the 10th?

This will be expensive in the club house

But Luke played the back nine terrific, propably taking the 1st spot in the world rankings right back.

[Zeph]

I hope someone stomped the guy yelling at Kevin's tee shot in the face. You are at an event where everyone is quiet and behaving, then you get that one guy shouting like he's in mortal danger.

[Zwick]

Originally Posted by Zeph

I hope someone stomped the guy yelling at Kevin's tee shot in the face. You are at an event where everyone is quiet and behaving, then you get that one guy shouting like he's in mortal danger.

I can't believe they (the tournament directors) don't get him (the yelling dbag) out of there...

[Chas]

Agree, it's spineless of the directors and only encourages that sort of behavior. Pretty amazing that Kuchar played tennis with the family in the a.m. That is my definition of cool.

[brocks]

I can't believe they (the tournament directors) don't get him (the yelling dbag) out of there...

And now they have a bunch of jerks heckling Na after he put one in the water.

[uttexas]

It seems like he's afraid of hitting a bad shot off the tee. I don't recall if he struggled with a pull or push. He never backs up on the fairway, just off the tee.

He just backed off a putt mid backswing, then made the putt on the following stroke. Crazy.