US Open at Winged Foot

[tibor75]

Originally Posted by StadiumDorm

You hate to see two golfers choke like Phil and Monty did on 18.

Without Tiger on Sunday, it did feel a little empty. Would have been a great story if he had made the cut, and won the U.S. Open on Father's Day.

Congrats to Ogilvy. He survived when everyone around lost it.

I was happy that Tiger was nowhere near the US Open on Father's Day. Could do without the melodramatic Father's Day garbage that the annoucers would repeat ad nauseum.

[NightmaresDad]

No wonder Tiger wins every freakin' time he has the lead. this was a puke-fest of major proportions.

Like Johnny Miller said - "win ugly" if you have to.

If nothing else, take 6 out of the equation on 18 and worst-case scenario is an 18 hole playoff, which you are the heavy favorite to win. Mickelson should have learned that from David Toms, who beat him in the PGA by doing that very thing. Played smart - and made a long par putt to win.

You have to have one shot, as a pro, that is your "security blanket". Something that you know you can hit under pressure. For nicklaus it was the 1 iron off the tee. Tiger has his "stinger".
hale Irwin won the '79 Open hitting nothing but low, heeled cuts the final day. He didn't try to fix his swing, he just played the shot that he knew he would repeat the whole day.
Venturi won the '64 Open hitting his driver off the ground for his tee shots the last 36 holes, hitting low ugly cuts that the knew would be in the fairway every time.

mickelson had no clue where the driver was going - yet he continually put himself into trouble with it down the stretch. He just has to develop some kind of other shot that he can rely on when the its pressure-time and the driver is letting him down. Oh, yeah, and his caddie should fire himself for beinng part of so many bone-headed decisions during the final round - starting with the fifth hole.

[Bucklion]

Sad thing is that now that Phil has won a couple and has adpoted his "Aw shucks" attitude (doubtlessly to make him more marketable) after years of unbridled arrogance, he gets a free pass for choking away majors now. If he had 1/10 of the testicular fortitude that Tiger and Jack have had, he could have won 15 or 20 majors by now. Instead he still pulls out driver with a tournament in hand and shanks it into a hospitality tent, and everyone says "Aw, poor Phil". Sorry, but with all the tragedies in the world, I don't feel the least bit sorry for a guy that chokes away the big one time after time.

[WoodyWorshiper]

It wasn't as bad as watching Roy McEvoy take a 12 on the final hole, but it was damn close,

[Steve19]

I find Mickelson's hang dog expressions and shrugging shoulders repulsive. I I actually want to throw something at the TV and wipe that silly grin off his face.

That said, the career in freefall right now is Ernie Els. I know that he is coming back from pretty serious knee surgery, but the reality is that his course design business, wine business, and other business interests are interfering.

His last round at the Memorial and this tournament should be a wake-up call to him that his top ten place is no longer secure.

[NightmaresDad]

Originally Posted by Steve19

I find Mickelson's hang dog expressions and shrugging shoulders repulsive. I I actually want to throw something at the TV and wipe that silly grin off his face.

That said, the career in freefall right now is Ernie Els. I know that he is coming back from pretty serious knee surgery, but the reality is that his course design business, wine business, and other business interests are interfering.

His last round at the Memorial and this tournament should be a wake-up call to him that his top ten place is no longer secure.

That's another reason to be impressed with Nicklaus' career. he was a very devoted family man right frm the start of his pro career - already had a kid when he turned pro. when he got into all his business deals, only played about 15 to 18 tournaments a year, and still amassed a great record. Of course, the flip side is that he didn't get burned out on golf and it may have helped his longevity.

[OH10]

Originally Posted by WoodyWorshiper

It wasn't as bad as watching Roy McEvoy take a 12 on the final hole, but it was damn close,

Well, if that gust from the gods hadn't cost him, he'd have beaten Jacobsen by 2 strokes.