With today's Palmer Invitational finish, Ernie Els has now won 2 of the last 3 PGA tournaments. I'm glad to see Big Ernie back. He's good for the Tour and the game of golf.
Ernie is a 2-time U.S. Open winner and has 1 British Open. 18 PGA Tour victories and 44 International wins to his credit, Els has slumped the last couple of years, but is now back center stage. Could he be the favorite at Augusta or is he peaking 2 weeks too early?
Els is well liked by the other players, has a severly autistic son and heads a foundation for autism.
With Tiger back at The Masters and if Els can continue his play, we could be in for a great event!!!! Now if only Phil can drive the ball in the fairway and make a 3 foot putt......
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Great job Ernie! Always liked him and glad to see him back atop the golfing elite. Expect good things from him at Augusta.
ReplyDeleteAlso, don't count out Freddy Couples. He is 50 now and is whipping ass on the Champions Tour. His course record 62 Sunday propelled him to his 3rd win in 4 starts. BOOM BOOM !!!
A past Masters Champ.... Could the Golden Bear's record be in jeopardy???
I think I have figured out Phil's playing woes. It is his golf clubs. Phil lists himself at 6'3" tall (if that's the case then I am 6'7" and should of stuck with basketball, Damn It).
Anyway, Phil is obviously playing with clubs that are fitted for a person 6'3". This totally explains his driving problems and accuracy issues. Maybe if he borrowed Ian Woosnam's clubs he would be more consistant?
Phil is the most frustrating golfer to root for. I was amped for this season to start after seeing the way last season ended for him (two consecutive wins up against Tiger). I have not seen him play recently, so don't know exactly what is going on, other than to say that it usually means the putter has gone cold. Hopefully he will get it going this week in the tuneup before Augusta.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely glad to see Ernie back playing well. He seems like a genuinely good guy. That guys game seems effortless, and it should play well at Augusta.
And I wouldn't be surprised to see Freddy compete either. His problem has always been his back. So if he is healthy, a Top 10 wouldn't surprise me at all. Not sure he can putt well enough to win, though.
Mass... I'm not quite sure what you are talking about but I don't recall Phil winning the last 2 consecutive tournaments. If my memory serves me correctly, I think Phil won the last tournament (The Tour Championship) and Tiger won the one before that (BMW).
ReplyDeleteNot that means much anyway. Phil, who averages about 3 wins a year since he turned pro, would have to average 3 wins a year for the next 17 years to tie Tiger's 97 wins. That is if Tiger quit today.
If true then maybe you would have held lower expectations for Phil going into this year, and would not feel so let down?
I don't have any idea how you do it? Root for Phil that is. It has to be an emotional roller coaster rooting for this guy?
Sure his putter seems to always be his achilles heel and it seemed to be the case this weekend when he went 5 under par the first two days and 7 over the last two days.
Driving has had a lot to do with it too. As of this weekend he his ranked 185 in driving accuracy, hitting like 42% of the fairways.
I'm sure his swing is also greatly effected by his unflattering nylon golf shirts rubbing up against his buxom man boobs. Ouch!
Or maybe he is distubred by the nickname "FIGJAM" his peers have so graciously given him? I guess they think he is as much of a fake, dickhead as I do. Aw Shucks!
Anyway... Enjoy your rooting for Phil this season. I hope he and Tiger do make into the final paring at Augusta.
It's ok to root for 2nd best! I root for you guys all the time!
"FIGJAM"? Honestly can say I never heard that before.....
ReplyDeleteI like Phil, but have kinda quite rooting for him. He let's me down so much when I do. For having so much talent it's a shame he hasn't done more.
I have always thought Phil's main problem is that he "THINKS" too much. He and his caddie "Bones" talk over each situation more than any other pair on Tour. He talks himself into reading breaks that aren't there. I don't think Phil and Bones have ever read a putt they think is straight.
Obviously his driving is a problem. You can't be ranked 185th in accuracy and expect to win. I actually think Phil likes playing from the rough and the attention he gets from the media when he makes a great flop shot, etc...
Speaking of that...am I the only one who doesn't think Phil is as great a short game player as the media makes him out to be???? I see all of them hit great flop shots or sand saves once in a while....Phil just seems to be in trouble more than the rest...
As for Freddy. I used to watch the then "Seniors" Tour all the time back when Jack, Arnie, Trevino, etc... were playing. I went to a US Senior Open once in PA and watched Jack and Arnie play in person. My interest wanned a little over the past Hale Irwin/Loren Roberts era, but I can say that I now enjoy watching The Champions Tour again. (Of course, keep in mind a lot of the guys now coming on were regular tour players when I was most of this blog's age)
We now have Freddy, Corey Pavin, Tom Lehman, Paul Azinger, Tommy Armour III, and a whole host of fresh faces making their debuts. They're in great shape and playing lights out! Hell, Pavin was in the lead going into Sunday, shot a 66 and got passed by Couples shooting a 62!
and yes....Phil still needs a bra!
Hey, that's what his peers call him. Can't say I have ever heard of it either but it suits him.
ReplyDeletePhil does think way to much and gambles way to often. Yes these guys are very, very, very good at golf and can control their golf ball very well. But to stand there and discuss, discuss, discuss and devise, devise, devise a plan that works probably only 50% of the time... Come On. They can't control it that well that every shot is a 5 minute visual image of possible perfection.
I think it's all a big drama build up. The thrill and anticipation so all the announcers can have time to run down and undo his pants in preparation of sucking his nuts if he pulls it off. If he doesn't pull it off they then kick him in the nuts.
Phil made the flop shot popular when he first turned pro in 1991. It wasn't used much before then and Phil used it all time. It drew a lot of attention and awe from spectators and the media. It also helped to have a grinded down 64 degree lob wedge that no one else had.
But now all the guys can do it. The true trick is to know/guess how the ball will react coming out of various lies and earth.
Bones probably is sick of his shit and is like, "FIGJAM... Just hit the fucking ball. Tiger will probably kick your ass anyway."
"Move your left boob out of the way, I can't see the line."
The other victory was a tournament in China two weeks after The Tour Championship, most of the big guns were there...It is definitely tough rooting for the guy, and I don't think it is any secret that his mental toughness is not on par with Tigers. I guess I am just the type who roots for who he likes, and doesn't feel the need to root for the frontrunner. I don't really feel like I have to defend why I root for the guy, I just do. Not sure this has any insights into my psyche, I just want him to win.
ReplyDeleteYes Mass, I do believe you are correct. I think it was the HSBC Open in China. Now I can understand your frustration.
ReplyDeleteJust Kidding!
By no means do you have to justify who you root for or any opinion you have related to anything. It's your opinion, your team, your guy, etc etc etc...
Part of this blog uncludes debating as well as subjective opinions. It would really be a dull and boring world if we all loved the same thing.
You like Phil, I don't. I like Tiger, You don't. That's fine and dandy but if you write about bad Tiger than I will respond in opposition. Just like if I write bad about Phil I would expect opposition.
That's the beauty of this whole blog. Expressing opinions and thoughts. It's not a personal jab at you, it's a jab at your guy. I know when you respond about Tiger it's not directed towards me. But I will give the opposite perspective.
So again... no justification needed. I was just picking on Phil. I know it has to be tough living in Tiger's shadow.
I thinks it's good that you root for him. I do think that it's a bit of a stretch saying you root for the underdog.
Phil is by no means in the underdog category. He is the 3rd ranked player in the world. If it wasn't for a freak of golfing nature coming along he would have been (and would be) #1.
When I think underdog I think more along the lines of Bob May, not Phil Mickelson.
Now get that psyche straight. I want you of sound mind and body come May 8th.
Haha...My psyche is fine, I think...
ReplyDeleteI guess you are right about the underdog, if the machine known as Tiger Woods wasn't around, Phil would be thought of in a different light for sure. And I do wish he would do something about the manboob issue...Didn't Kramer and Mr. Costanza develop something for someone of his stature? The one great thing about Augusta is that, for the most part, it allows the cream to rise to the top. I will give Fritz some credit, putting those pictures up daily is really getting me excited about the Masters. And these 70 degree temperatures are getting me excited about this intense week of golf practice coming up for May 8th. But I'm not sure if the teams will be as originally aligned...Not sure DABooth will accept me on his team, as I can't even get him to return a message!
Okay, i have no comment on the Phil Tiger debate going on. Everything said is pretty true.
ReplyDeleteMy comment is golf related so i will add it to this post.
Michelle Wie, everytime i forget about her even being a average LPGA player, she does something to annoy the shit out of me. If you didnt see her ground her club in this weeks tournament, then look it up and then listen to her excuse.
This girl is amazing, she has done very little in the game of golf other than try and ruin it, yet expects the world be given to her. Shut the F**K up and win something actually win a few things then start talking.
Mass- i wont hurt the team because of things outside of the TOTW. Teams should be finalized soon, though the after golf BBQ is in question for you(to soon?).
I opened myself up for that one so I will take it, and apologize for your for any inconvenience I caused you. But still no where near over it, but that doesn't really have anything to do with you.
ReplyDelete