The 2013 Tampa Bay Championship Presented by Everbank Discussion Thread

[Old1964]

Thanks Martin for all the great photos and videos!

If Streelman did win this, can you imagine how annoying the new commercials would be for the Wilson Irons. You do realize that they have won more golf titles than any other iron, right ?

Here's a video of bloopers from some of their commercials - good for a chuckle - seems that Padraig Harrington isn't known by the actor...

[migueldds]

I love watching Boo play ,but after our Maryland game in the ACC Tourney, us Duke grads need

to see Streelman win this thing !

Miguel

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by migueldds

I love watching Boo play ,but after our Maryland game in the ACC Tourney, us Duke grads need

to see Streelman win this thing !

Miguel

I had no reason to root against Streelman ........ until now. ;)

[zipazoid]

That 63 by Boo is looking better & better...

[meenman]

someone needs to slap *bababooey* guy upside the head - it doesnt any more old and tired than stern.

[zipazoid]

Kudos to Kevin. Was nails down the stretch. That deuce on 17 was what winners do.

[Frank-0-Sport]

Greetings .... 19-yr-old Jordan Spieth tied for 7th and earned $148,892 to secure Special Temporary Membership for the rest of 2013. He can now accept as many sponsor invites and Top-10 finish exemptions as he can get. If Spieth can add about another $150,000-or-so to his current total of $521,892, he should lock up a PGA Tour card for 2013-14. Thanx-A-Lot, FrankoSport

[Rick Martin]

Seriously!

[zipazoid]

Streelman really impressed me. I would have put money on Boo's 63 holding up for the win. For KS to stiff it on 13 & 17, and just making confident swings down the stretch was huge. He played fearlessly.

[Wisguy]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

Streelman really impressed me. I would have put money on Boo's 63 holding up for the win. For KS to stiff it on 13 & 17, and just making confident swings down the stretch was huge. He played fearlessly.

Didn't you hear why?  In his on-the-green interview, Streelman stated that it was all attributable to his and his caddy's faith in the Scriptures.

These athletes who attribute their success to their faith in their deity strike me as being very self-absorbed people indeed.  We have an alleged superior being who cares not a whit (certainly not enough to do anything) about genocidal wars, millions of innocent children starving to death every year, millions of rapes and murders being purpetrated, etc... yet he/she/it cares enough about Joe Athlete to enable him to win his little game or tournament?  Joe Athlete, you really believe that you are so favored and special?  If that were in fact true, then the Big Fellow/Lass is doing such a p*ss-poor job of being a deity that he/she/it deserves no thanks at all for caring more about a handful of bible-thumpin' athletes than about millions of innocent people.

For those about to utter the greatest cop-out in history - "The Lord works in mysterious ways" - I have a proposal for you that will demonstrate just how asinine and ridiculous that explanation is.  The next time you are driving and spot a police officer, hit the gas until you are doing 12 mph over and the cop pulls you over for speeding.  Contest the ticket and at trial, tell the judge "Your Honor, I have a full and complete excuse and justification for speeding and you must have FAITH in me and dismiss the citation.  My reason is:  'I work in mysterious ways.'  I trust that will be sufficient, correct Judge?"  Let us know which is greater, the numbers of people in the courtroom whose mouths drop open in astonishment or who burst out laughing.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Wisguy

Didn't you hear why?  In his on-the-green interview, Streelman stated that it was all attributable to his and his caddy's faith in the Scriptures.

These athletes who attribute their success to their faith in their deity strike me as being very self-absorbed people indeed.  We have an alleged superior being who cares not a whit (certainly not enough to do anything) about genocidal wars, millions of innocent children starving to death every year, millions of rapes and murders being purpetrated, etc... yet he/she/it cares enough about Joe Athlete to enable him to win his little game or tournament?  Joe Athlete, you really believe that you are so favored and special?  If that were in fact true, then the Big Fellow/Lass is doing such a p*ss-poor job of being a deity that he/she/it deserves no thanks at all for caring more about a handful of bible-thumpin' athletes than about millions of innocent people.

For those about to utter the greatest cop-out in history - "The Lord works in mysterious ways" - I have a proposal for you that will demonstrate just how asinine and ridiculous that explanation is.  The next time you are driving and spot a police officer, hit the gas until you are doing 12 mph over and the cop pulls you over for speeding.  Contest the ticket and at trial, tell the judge "Your Honor, I have a full and complete excuse and justification for speeding and you must have FAITH in me and dismiss the citation.  My reason is:  'I work in mysterious ways.'  I trust that will be sufficient, correct Judge?"  Let us know which is greater, the numbers of people in the courtroom whose mouths drop open in astonishment or who burst out laughing.

If God helped Streelman win, then does that mean that God has something against Justin Leonard and Boo Weekley?  If one is true, then the other has to be as well, doesn't it?

[joekelly]

I think it's just gratitude for a bag of money. I mean, a million US$ deserves some serious gratitude and who do you thank?  Packard in  the red check jacket?   Sure, i agree the deity idea is greatly crazy but many folks need a strong tether to some 'other world' ideology,  however looney it may seem to anyone else. Think Scientology or Scriptures or Koran or Book o' Mormon: it's all looney .

[Rick Martin]

I'm not a religious person, but can't find blame in what Streelman said. His getting through tough times by talking scripture with his caddy is no different than any Rotella-follower using whatever psych ploy to get through a round of golf. To each his own. I don't think Streelman is saying that God got him through the round/event - but the scripture gave him the strength/fortitude/whatever to win it.  My POV because as an avid sports fanatic, I do get tired of hearing the Tebow-post game interview genre when the athlete makes it sound like God was on his side.

[Rick Martin]

sorry, Old1964, I didn't see your post before posting the link to the Streelman commercial. Thanks for posting the blooper video.

[stoverny]

As an atheist, thanking God seems ridiculous to me also... however I honestly think for very Christian types it is more a form of humility.  They are saying "I did it with God's help" rather than "God wanted me to win".

I just pretend they are thanking their coach/caddie or someone like that, who may have actually helped them win.  In either case the message is that I had help and it wasn't "all me".

[colin007]

Originally Posted by stoverny

As an atheist, thanking God seems ridiculous to me also... however I honestly think for very Christian types it is more a form of humility.  They are saying "I did it with God's help" rather than "God wanted me to win".

I just pretend they are thanking their coach/caddie or someone like that, who may have actually helped them win.  In either case the message is that I had help and it wasn't "all me".

as a believer, it seems ridiculous to me too.  just like the ball player who hits a homerun and when he steps on homeplate he points to the heavens?  really?  dude, god does not care about baseball, or golf, or NECKCAR, or football...

[colin007]

btw...i cant help feeling that tiger wouldve won this by 5+ strokes....

[Derek02]

Originally Posted by Rick Martin

I'm not a religious person, but can't find blame in what Streelman said. His getting through tough times by talking scripture with his caddy is no different than any Rotella-follower using whatever psych ploy to get through a round of golf. To each his own. I don't think Streelman is saying that God got him through the round/event - but the scripture gave him the strength/fortitude/whatever to win it.  My POV because as an avid sports fanatic, I do get tired of hearing the Tebow-post game interview genre when the athlete makes it sound like God was on his side.

My comments would be similar to Rick's.  I was pulling for Streelman to win, however, I too was a little turned off by his comments.  But after giving it some thought - Golf is very much a mental sport (to put it mildly), and if his belief that God gave him the mental strength to hit aggressive drives, approaches and putts coming down the stretch then by all means keep reading your scriptures, praying with your caddie or sacrificing live chickens before the final round (Major League joke) for all I care.  If he said he had help from his rabbit's foot, four leaf clover or his lucky underwear, it would amount to the same difference.  His belief that God helped him hit fairways and greens and sink putts really just instilled the mental confidence to play aggressively and commit to his shots.

I say well done!  He looked better on the last few holes than Tiger has in his 2 wins this year.