Too Soon? I think not

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:43 pm

It's never to soon to talk Masters golf

you know the drill....winner, dark horse, and anything else you think relevant

winner-El Tigre
dark horse-Martin Kaymer; darker horse-Brandt Snedeker

highest two day total after Fridays Round-Sandy Lyle
most likely for a douchebag moment-Rory Sabbatini

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 5:54 pm

Toddowen wrote:A winner? Yep. I think he's back. What'll that make him? All alone in all-time Masters wins?

No, it won't, you drunken pedophile. It would enable him to break a second place tie with Arnie.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 6:13 pm

Winner - Earl's Kid

Dark Horse - Hunter Mahan

Really dark horse I would LOVE to see win: K.J. Choi

Early racks to Goober for setting Todd in his place.

buckeye_in_sc · Post by **buckeye_in_sc** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:27 pm

Winner - some cablinasian cat named Eldrick

Dark Horse - Martin Laird or some other filthy euro

darker horse - I'll go with Ben crane

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 5:02 pm

buckeye_in_sc wrote: darker horse - I'll go with Ben crane

Ooooh -- we have a Crane pick... official picks don't have to be in until Monday Evening in that case.

El Dick wins this one, going away... but only if Robert Garrigus gets injured. Actually, if Garrigus can play decent, his length off the tee won't hurt at Augusta.

Paul Lawrie would be a crazy dark horse pick.

Would crack me up if Olazabal hung another jacket in his locker. Little past his prime, though.

Louis Oosthuizen has been playing darn well lately, and the pressure of a Majordoesn't seem to bother him.

Schwartzel? Nah, he's got no chance at Augusta.

And yup, Felix -- no dickhead is any more reliable at being a dickhead than Rory... hopefully he's paired up with Ben Crane -- that always ends well.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 5:04 pm

I guess DJ is a no-go.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 5:06 pm

And BTW -- me and Todd are on the same page... Team Anyone But McIlroy.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:23 pm

Jsc810 wrote:Tiger ain't winning.

I'm curious why you would say something so dumb?

Tont has played in 15 Masters as a professional (2 as an amateur). In those 15 tournies, he's finished in the top 10 12 times -- a staggering number. Of the 3 he didn't top 10, his worst showing was 22nd.

When he was at his career-worst over the last 2 years, he finshed 4th and 4th, having a clubhouse lead in one of them. In the last 7 years, his finishes were: 1, T3, T2, 2, T6, T4, T4.

If ever a guy has dominated a particular course, this would be a fine example.

Except now his iron play is as good as ever, but with the new-old-Tiger swing, his driving accuracy is much better than it ever has been, reducing the need for his circus recovery shots, which are a killer at Augusta.

All in all, this one probably comes down to the same thing as every other major -- who has the hottest flat iron. And a certain Cablinasian is the most accurate putter in the history of the game, so I guess he gets the nod there, as well.

Oh, and through this "slump," he leads the PGA in scoring average this season. And through this "slump," he's #7 in the World Rankings, despite taking way too many weeks off.

The sports books are shaking in their boots right now -- apparently there's a ridiculous sum of dough being placed on Tont. And I'm always down with casinos taking a beating.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:10 pm

Jsc810 wrote:Tiger is not, and never will be again, The Man as he once was.

Best scoring average on the Tour sayswhat?

But there are a lot of talented golfers out there, and now they aren't intimidated by Tiger.

Sin,
Graeme McDowell?

I'll just attribute this to you not really following the PGA. At Bayhill, GMac said right before his round on Sunday, that "no one is intimidated by the red shirt anymore" -- then proved it by chunking his way into also-ran status in that boat race.

Go ahead, jump back on his bandwagon.

I think a browse through this forum would show I never jumped off it.

I'm not, and you'll have fun telling me 'I told you so' Sunday night. I just don't think you'll have that opportunity, we'll see.

There's a reason they play the games. Golf is a game where the overwhelming favorite rarely wins -- and when he does, his name is usually Woods.

But there's 96 (?) other guys that want to win pretty badly, too. Let's get it on.

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:33 pm

Jsc810 wrote:Before, he would win a tournament before the first hole was played, he was that much in the heads of the other players. This was similar to Mike Tyson, he was intimidating.

That was then, this is now. Sure, he remains a talented golfer. But there are a lot of talented golfers out there, and now they aren't intimidated by Tiger.

are you fucking crazy? everybody is still intimidated by eldrick...Kultidas boys problem is himself, not the other golfers...

watch the crowds that follow him and listen to the sound they make when he does well...it's a sound reserved exclusively for him at Augusta...

you'd have to be out of your mind NOT TO be intimidated....

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:49 pm

Funny he posted that, after Tont stared one of the top players in the world down and made him piss down his leg the last time out.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:14 pm

And ever since the U.S Open last year,any time anyone shoves a microphone in that goofy grille, he uses the opportunity to tell us, once again, how fucking great he is.

FIGJAM Jr.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:07 pm

Speaking of FIGJAM, where's Muchos with his pick?

We all know who it is, but it's not unofficial until he makes it.

Although browsing through the Tour stats -- while Phildo seems to have learned to hit a draw with his driver in recent years, it's not helping him -- the stats say dude can't hit a fairway to save his life. He's been getting away with it on the "easy" courses, but I'm assuming Augusta will treat this Major like a Major, and make the rough unforgiving. Hitting a bunch of recoveries from shitty grass isn't the way to go low. Then again, no one nails it from inside 50-70 like Phildo does -- he's a witch with the wedges.

So maybe the guys with the best driving accuracy have an edge? On paper, those people are:

Paul Goydos -- OK, so much for the driving accuracy link... he didn't make the field

Furyk -- Major champ, but a short hitter. While accuracy with irons is key, Augusta seems to favor the big hitters in its modern form. Good dark horse, though.

Heath Slocum -- See Goydos

GMac -- length and accuracy, great combo here. Except he might have shown his big balls from the US Open to be a fluke by wilting to Tiger's red shirt at Bayhill.

Colt Knost -- See Goydos, but add a "who?" to the end.

Mahan -- not as long as most, but has the irons working like a mofo lately... definite dark horse.

Toms -- not very long, but a maybe.

Maggert -- The career also-ran didn't make it.

John Mallinger -- Maybe next year he'll crack the field.

Robert Castro rounds out the top ten in driving accuracy. From this list, we can see that my theory on driving accuracy means about shit on a week-to-week basis, but might hold some water in a Major.

#12 is Jesus Johnson... he has one of those ugly jackets, if'n I'm not mistaken.

So of the top 12 accurate drivers, 4 of them qualified. Of those, only Mahan doesn't have a major, and he's relatively young... so maybe there is something to following the mower in a Major.

BTW -- Tont is #18, and has been climbing that list rapidly since his first couple of tournies of the year, which his driving accuracy was right around 0% (he's been near dead-last and won the money title before, though).

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:49 pm

Serious bummer.

Of all sporting events to not have your media shit together.

Luckily, my cable just got fixed, and the Golf Channel works again.

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:49 pm

Dinsdale wrote:Luckily, my cable just got fixed, and the Golf Channel works again.

I wish my cable company carried the golf channel in high def.....what fucking tv service provider doesn't broadcast in HD when it's available? my cable company that's who.....

I made the mistake of switching from direct to cable about 4 months ago and have regretted it ever since....

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:57 pm

Toddowen wrote:What an opportune time for my 8 year old direct tv receiver to die?

Luckily I still have cable and will be able to watch live coverage on CBS on my TV. But no Golf Channel or channels dedicated to continuos coverage of holes. :brad:

Already ordered a new HD DVR receiver, but wont have it until after The Masters. I can always watch online, I suppose.

You have both DirecTV and cable?

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:14 pm

Goober McTuber wrote: You have both DirecTV and cable?

that's the way richers roll.......

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:52 pm

Dinsdale wrote:but only if Robert Garrigus gets injured.

Does +4 after 10 counts as being injured?

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:49 pm

As an aside -- I could be talked into sharing my jizz with Kelly Tighlman, as long as she didn't beat me on the course first.

Keegan Bradley wrote:I've never lost in a Major. I'm 1-for-1.

Nice.

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:05 pm

Felix wrote:highest two day total after Fridays Round-Sandy Lyle

twelve over after twelve holes.....he could be going for the record

a lifetime exemption is all well and good, but most of those know when it's time to give up your guaranteed spot to somebody that can actually play

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:17 pm

Nice job by ESPN, switching on just in time for Stenson's EPIC meltage.

Was like a Thursday Van De Velding.

Speaking of Van De Velde...

Dinsdale wrote:Paul Lawrie would be a crazy dark horse pick.

His legendary beneficiary is doing just fine.

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 6:11 pm

Toddowen wrote:Always cool to see a old timer showing the upstarts how it's done.

I'll bet you say that at all the NAMBLA meetings.

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:59 pm

Felix wrote:highest two day total after Fridays Round-Sandy Lyle

Nice call. He's in the clubhouse at +20. Stadler's at +18 after 16 holes, so he's got a shot to catch him.

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 2:00 pm

Felix wrote: most likely for a douchebag moment-~~Rory Sabbatini~~ Panthera tigris

ftfm...watching him was embarrassing....if Billy Payne had any nuts, he'd demand a public apology from woods for his petulant behavior

I'd get tossed off the course if I acted like that at the local muni....

on a completely unrelated note, how about this shot by Martin Kaymer during a practice round

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:56 pm

Felix wrote:
Felix wrote: most likely for a douchebag moment-~~Rory Sabbatini~~ Panthera tigris
ftfm...watching him was embarrassing....if Billy Payne had any nuts, he'd demand a public apology from woods for his petulant behavior

I'd get tossed off the course if I acted like that at the local muni....

Nothing that the legendary Robert Tyre Jones Jr. didn't do circa 1922. Of for that matter Henrik Stenson two days ago. That said, it would help his game if he gets his emotions under control.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:25 pm

Jsc810 wrote:
Dinsdale wrote:
Jsc810 wrote:Tiger ain't winning.

I'm curious why you would say something so dumb?
No doubt you know more about golf than I do. More about how to play, the rules, the players themselves, the history of the sport, all of that.

That would be a good place to stop.

Screw_Michigan · Post by **Screw_Michigan** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:45 pm

Why is David Ferehty back on CBS? I thought Augusta National wanted him off Masters coverage.

Screw_Michigan · Post by **Screw_Michigan** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:47 pm

Jsc810 wrote:Yeah, because Tiger has made such a good showing, he sure has proved me wrong.

See, here's the difference between you and I and fucktards like BSuck and Dins: They're fanboys. And just like Jimmy Dolan with Isaiah Thomas, they're enamored with the past and what once was. They remember "the good times," so they enable bullshit behavior and failure, just like how people still fall over themselves to give Michael Jordan front office positions.

Tiger's done, and I hope everyone gets a couple good kicks in while they pass him up the scoreboard.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 8:16 pm

Jsc810 wrote:Yeah, because Tiger has made such a good showing, he sure has proved me wrong.

You have no idea why pics are due on Monday do you? Even in Tiger's period of greatest dominance, he "only" won 4 out of every ten times he teed it up. This isn't tennis.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:45 pm

Jsc810 wrote:
BSmack wrote:You have no idea why picks are due on Monday do you?
I have no idea what you're talking about.

Just move along and nobody will get hurt. Metaphorically speaking that is.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:43 pm

Jsc810 wrote:Fine, you can hang onto whatever obscure point you're trying to make.

I'll be satisfied with knowing that my point remains true: Tiger's era of dominance is over.

My "obscure point" is that you're a fucking idiot who understands as much about golf as you do about maintaining good health.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:36 pm

Jsc810 wrote:And I know more about sports psychology than perhaps anyone on these forums.

Please do tell.

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:42 am

Jsc810 wrote:....I'll be satisfied with knowing that my point remains true: Tiger's era of dominance is over......

And I know more about sports psychology than perhaps anyone on these forums. Right after the Tiger scandal broke, I said his days of being The Man were over.

if you know anything about psychology you've got to know that the undertones of your first post are pretty obvious.....you're rooting for woods to fail, more so than you are concerned with who's going to win....

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 2:39 am

For what its worth, I did a big ol fist pump when Phil's putt went in at 13. Recognizing Tiger's utterly insane talent and appreciating it for what it is doesn't mean I don't pull for others. I root for greatness when I watch golf. I want to see the absurd become routine. You know, like Phil out of the pine straw at Augusta in 2010, Tiger out of the trap at Glen Abbey, Tiger at 14 at Hoylake, Paddy at the 17th Birkdale...

And when I SEE greatness like that I want to see it VALIDATED. You know, with more greatness.

Dr_Phibes · Post by **Dr_Phibes** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 3:38 am

BSmack wrote: That said, it would help his game if he gets his emotions under control.

That doesn't make sense to me. Yeah, I'm a newb - so maybe a stupid qestion, but it doesn't fit. One of the talking heads skirted around it yesterday without saying anything, but it might be the people he's surrounding himself with? Every interview I watched, he's complaining that he's caught between two methods of shooting. Why push so hard for something that doesn't work?

He doesn't strike me as a sort of reflective person that would let all the nonsense get in the way :?

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:17 am

as always another great finish.....Oosty's albatross on #2 was incredible....

ps I had bubba all the way.....great win

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:53 am

Well duh -- everyone knew the Southern Boy would bring it home.

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:09 pm

Screw_Michigan wrote:Why is David Ferehty back on CBS? I thought Augusta National wanted him off Masters coverage.

That was Gary McCord for his "body bags" comment. And he was never let back in.

Loved the Tiger meltage. Also loved seeing Bubba win it, but what a crybaby.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:46 pm

Goober McTuber wrote:
Screw_Michigan wrote:Why is David Ferehty back on CBS? I thought Augusta National wanted him off Masters coverage.
That was Gary McCord for his "body bags" comment. And he was never let back in.

Loved the Tiger meltage. Also loved seeing Bubba win it, but what a crybaby.

Ferehty will definitely get a talking to after his antics on the 2nd hole when Oostie dropped his albatross. Referring to the patrons as "fans" and making double entendres about the ball and the hole aren't necessarily the fast track to getting a return ticket back to Magnolia Lane.

Oh yea, and Bubba in a playoff.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:42 pm

BSmack wrote:For what its worth, I did a big ol fist pump when Phil's putt went in at 13. Recognizing Tiger's utterly insane talent and appreciating it for what it is doesn't mean I don't pull for others. I root for greatness when I watch golf. I want to see the absurd become routine. You know, like Phil out of the pine straw at Augusta in 2010, Tiger out of the trap at Glen Abbey, Tiger at 14 at Hoylake, Paddy at the 17th Birkdale...

And when I SEE greatness like that I want to see it VALIDATED. You know, with more greatness.

Pretty good summary, although I want both Rorys to duff every shot.

But when I watch golf, I want to see guys hit shots that I can't. I can hit mediocre shots all day long. And in my adult life, no one has hit even the fraction of miracle-shots that Tiger has... not even close. Sure, Jack was still active when I was young (but not the Jack of legend), Seve and Sir Nicky were amazing, and Jose Marie was no slouch.

But none of them are Tiger. The one guy who they truly can't hide a pin from.