2017 Quicken Loans National - TPC Potomac

[JKolya]

Its been years since I have actively posted, but I still read the site daily. I figured having the tour at my home course was a great time to bet back into actively posting. 

First thoughts on the tournament and course? The announcers and players have commented on the U.S. Open, Sunday conditions which is the norm here. Its a very difficult, but fun track; its often described as unforgiving, especially 10 and 11. So far I like the set-up and pen placements. 

 

 

[iacas]

Welcome back. I recorded it, but haven't watched it yet. Watching the women currently, after teaching all day.

BTW, since you're back, you may as well enter to win a push cart from Sun Mountain!

[drmevo]

Anyone catch Justin Thomas at the tenth? Ouch! I happened to turn it on at that point and it was like watching something I might do in terms of one bad decision/shot after another. It was interesting rules-wise because he hit into a hazard off the tee, tried to play out of it twice but failed, then chose to drop. The rules official seemed uncertain of the exact options.

Edited June 30, 2017 by drmevo

[JKolya]

I was surprised that he even tried once, much more twice, to play out of there. That stuff is brutal. Ten and eleven can ruin your entire round (or tournament) there... They are tough holes . The rules situation was interesting. I was surprised at how unsure the official was with how to proceed. That situation doesn't seem too out there to me... That is, it happens fairly often. JT was so rattled though, the next shot up onto the hill was pretty tough, too. 

 

 

[Zekez]

It seems that most of the big stars aren't playing this week?

Lends credence to the argument that the massive amount of $$$$$ on the tour allows the top stars to skip many tournaments and therefore be perceived as $$$ is most important.

[krupa]

2 hours ago, Zekez said:

It seems that most of the big stars aren't playing this week?

Lends credence to the argument that the massive amount of $$$$$ on the tour allows the top stars to skip many tournaments and therefore be perceived as $$$ is most important.

I disagree.  Most of the big stars make more money from endorsements than tournament winning and if they weren't out playing tournaments, they wouldn't get endorsements.  According to Forbes Spieth got double his tournament winnings in endorsements and Mickleson earned about $50 mil in endorsements and only about 3 mil in tournament winnings.

Also, last week had a lot of big names even though it followed the US Open.

Maybe the problem isn't that players just care about money but that the PGA Tour has too many tournaments!

[iacas]

4 hours ago, Zekez said:

It seems that most of the big stars aren't playing this week?

Lends credence to the argument that the massive amount of $$$$$ on the tour allows the top stars to skip many tournaments and therefore be perceived as $$$ is most important.

I don't think it lends credence to that.

The bigger players structure their schedule to peak at the majors. And they'll play courses they like, or avoid situations (like the Pebble Beach Slow-Am) that they dislike. Etc.

[David in FL]

Nice shout out by Spencer Levin for his new Edel putter...

[iacas]

2 hours ago, David in FL said:

Nice shout out by Spencer Levin for his new Edel putter...

Specifically? I recorded but haven't seen anything.

[David in FL]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

Specifically? I recorded but haven't seen anything.

Yeah, at the interview after his round today.

http://www.pgatour.com/video/2017/07/01/spencer-levin-interview-after-round-3-of-quicken-loans-.html

 

Edited July 2, 2017 by David in FL

[Chilli Dipper]

 

4 hours ago, iacas said:

I don't think it lends credence to that.

The bigger players structure their schedule to peak at the majors. And they'll play courses they like, or avoid situations (like the Pebble Beach Slow-Am) that they dislike. Etc.

Such as a tournament on its third host venue in as many years: a course that none of the tour pros have seen in its current incarnation, yet one that most players who were active a decade ago held a negative opinion of at that time.

[Buckeyebowman]

I could be wrong (God knows I have been in the past), but in it's prior incarnation I think this course was the TPC at Avenel. And, you're right, it was uniformly trashed! I read an article somewhere that is has been completely redesigned, and they went right down to the bare dirt for this one!

[skydog]

This event might be the snoozer of the year so far. It sounds like it's going to be put out of its misery by the condensed schedule over the next year or two.

[iacas]

15 minutes ago, skydog said:

This event might be the snoozer of the year so far. It sounds like it's going to be put out of its misery by the condensed schedule over the next year or two.

Yeah, even Tiger is somewhat withdrawn from it this year as he ramps up the participation in LA.

[BallStriker]

4 hours ago, skydog said:

This event might be the snoozer of the year so far. It sounds like it's going to be put out of its misery by the condensed schedule over the next year or two.

Generally agree.....but for me personally, I love seeing a bunch of guys in contention that usually aren't....fun to seek how they handle it...personally pulling for Kyle Stanley to go deep

[BallStriker]

7 hours ago, BallStriker said:

personally pulling for Kyle Stanley to go deep

Bad form to quote yourself? ......Fukk it.......Kyle Stanley....Gig Harbor, Washington.....FOR THE FUKKIN WIN

[Zekez]

On 7/1/2017 at 4:43 PM, iacas said:

I don't think it lends credence to that.

The bigger players structure their schedule to peak at the majors. And they'll play courses they like, or avoid situations (like the Pebble Beach Slow-Am) that they dislike. Etc.

So did the top players skip as many events back in the 60's, 70's 80's or the 90's?  I would think that they didn't.

And the reason that they can even structure their schedule is the huge amount of money they make.

[iacas]

11 minutes ago, Zekez said:

So did the top players skip as many events back in the 60's, 70's 80's or the 90's?  I would think that they didn't.

They started to do so after Nicklaus came along and showed them how to "peak for the majors." Here are the number of tournaments Nicklaus entered for many years:

Lotta skipped events in there. Jack was picky and selective back then, too.