Which M.C. Surprised You Most?

[bplewis24]

World #1 missed the cut.

World #2 missed the cut.

World #5--and current Masters Champion--missed the cut.

Which one surprised you the most?  For me it was Luke Donald.  He doesn't have the high ceiling like Rory, but I thought he was going to be Steady Eddie this week, and he was far from it.  He's been so consistent over the last 6 months or so, that I thought he would at least make the cut.

Rory has been off the past 2 months, so it didn't surprise me.  And Bubba?  Don't make me laugh.  I'm betting that would be voted least surprising.

[clubchamp]

Donald without question after the first 2 rounds I thought his game would have worked out well on this set up. Plus he's been playing well lately where as Rory has struggled a little lately and Bubba doesn't have a game built for the US Open.

[bobsuruncle]

Bubba golf doesn't work at a US Open venue (unless it was like in 2011), so no surprise.

Rors - he doesn't have the metal fortitude for tough courses, he gives up too easily when things aren't going his way (4 MCs in 5 tourneys with no issues re fire hydrants, new swing, etc), he's not a grinder...you get the picture.  Yes, he won last year but that was on a "soft" or not typical US Open course.  He's very, very good on any PGA "bomb and gauge" layout, but ask him to perform on a "true" US Open (high rough, grinding for pars) or Open (undulating fairways, bad weather) course and you'll see his true colors.  While this attitude can be expected from a US player, it's quite surprising from a European player.

Luke - was the real surprise for me.  You'd think a 690 yards par 5 would be a leveler i.e. forcing everyone to get on in three and nullifying the advantage the long hitters have over Luke.  Coupled with his course management, short game and putting (which deserted him this week), he would at least be around for the weekend, if not in contention.

[boogielicious]

I would say Rory then Luke.  Defending usually gives you more focus and I was surprised that he didn't do better.  Then Luke, who is usually precise, but not long, should have done better.  Bubba just won and major then went home for a month with his infant son.  I would be surprised if he was getting any sleep during that time.  He looks mentally fatigued, which should be the case for a good dad.

[camper6]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

World #1 missed the cut.

World #2 missed the cut.

World #5--and current Masters Champion--missed the cut.

Which one surprised you the most?  For me it was Luke Donald.  He doesn't have the high ceiling like Rory, but I thought he was going to be Steady Eddie this week, and he was far from it.  He's been so consistent over the last 6 months or so, that I thought he would at least make the cut.

Rory has been off the past 2 months, so it didn't surprise me.  And Bubba?  Don't make me laugh.  I'm betting that would be voted least surprising.

Why?

I figured the long hitters would do well at the U.S. Open and he did win the Masters.

I thought he would be dying for a challenge.

On the bright side he will get to spend Father's day with his son.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by camper6

Why?

Two reasons:

1) His course strategy was doomed to begin with;

2) After watching him for 2 rounds, I don't think he has the mental fortitude and/or patience to tackle this course.

[iacas]

Rory, then Luke. Luke performs really badly in majors, so no surprise that it continued. It's not even that he's never won one - he's almost never even in contention. Rory can play some tough golf courses, but not when he's distracted. P.S. I called the Rory MC at least, though I said he'd miss by four.

[jamo]

I was surprised and not surprised by Rory and Luke. They both had reasons they could miss the cut (Rory has been playing poorly as of late, Donald's US Open track record is pretty poor), but I thought they would both make it. Bubba I'm a bit less surprised by. Still thought he'd make it though, even late in his round.

[ghalfaire]

Luke Donald for sure.  He has the ideal game for this course and I am just puzzled how he played so poorly.  Between the ears I suppose.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by jamo

I was surprised and not surprised by Rory and Luke. They both had reasons they could miss the cut (Rory has been playing poorly as of late, Donald's US Open track record is pretty poor), but I thought they would both make it.

Bubba I'm a bit less surprised by. Still thought he'd make it though, even late in his round.

I was surprised Bubba still had a chance so late in the round.  That's why I thought he should have laid up on #16.

[Mr. Desmond]

Luke - because I thought he had straightened out his driver.

Short and crooked don't work. At least that's what my ex-wife told me.

Cruel biatch.

[tristanhilton85]

Considering I had Rory contending (actually finishing 2nd) his MC surprises me most... I know he hadn't played great the last few weeks but I expected him to rise up at the US Open and that obviously didn't happen.

[zipazoid]

Definitely Rory. Defending champ, has ample length, and seemed to be getting his game together with his finish last week.

[mirv]

i definitely expected luke to make it to the weekend.  i'd been saying all week "i'll be shocked if bubba makes the cut."  he's just too wild off the tee for that course. i didn't really expect rory to make it to the weekend, either, after missing so many cuts recently.

[Infamous 273]

donald...i thought his tidy short game would overcome his sometimes wayward tee shots.  overall, he really doesn't bring his best to the majors, but after a T4 at augusta and a T8 at the pga last year, i thought 2012 would be his year to make a sunday charge.  rory didn't surprise me at all; he needs to find a balance between his social life, and his professional life.  as for bubba at olympic, i'll use the "like bull in a china shop" simile here.

[AmazingWhacker]

In a sense, I'm not really surprised that anyone missed the cut - that course is brutal.  But of the 3, I will say Rory surprised me the most.  I expected him to contend.  I expected Luke to make the cut but probably not contend.  I expected Bubba to miss the cut - or barely make it and not contend.

[newtogolf]

I didn't expect Bubba to do well, he's more focused on family than golf, and given the course setup I couldn't see him doing well.  I thought Luke would make the cut since he usually has good control over his shots, just lacks distance.

Rory was a shock for me, I wonder if he's spending too much time with his trophy girlfriend and not enough time on golf.  Someone on PGA Tour radio compared his situation with Andre Agassi, in that he's become an overnight celebrity with a high profile girlfriend.  If Rory is going to be the next Tiger he's got to show the commitment and ability to handle the pressure of being a top golfer.

[iacas]

I think I heard that Luke Donald has played in 35 majors now, but finished inside the top 30 only something like 11 times. That's really bad.