The Masters

[we are cured]

let's use this for discussion on the event (save the golf is not a sport bullshit, nobody cares if it is or isn't)

predictions (other than tiger)?

i like charles howell III - he's a georgia kid that's been playing exceptionally well so far this season.

phil got his swing under control in round 4 at doral, but i still see him putting up four solid rounds at augusta to be a reach.

vijay is always a contender.

dark horse - davis love III, should we get good weather.

[bigmike]

Jim Furyk.

Though, I pick him in every single major because I'm baffled how he doesn't win more. His game seems to set up the best for most of the majors.

[preppyak]

Jim Furyk.

Though, I pick him in every single major because I'm baffled how he doesn't win more. His game seems to set up the best for most of the majors.

He's usually solid for the British and the US Open because of his poise and short game...but he isn't a Masters guy to me.

Two names I expect to see up there...to ultimately lose to Tiger of course...are Mickelson and Garcia, with Garcia being a bit of a surprise. Charles Howell is a good name to throw in there...maybe DiMarco too though I have no idea how he has played so far this season...

Plus, I got an outside bet that Monty is in the lead after 18 or 36, and chokes it away super hard...

Either way, I think the Masters is always the culmination of the perfect month of sports, starting with Championship week in college-ball, going through the tourneyy, including the end of the regular season of hockey and the start of baseball, and ending with Tiger winning the Masters...GREAT month of sports

[looksthatkillbn]

Jim Furyk.

Though, I pick him in every single major because I'm baffled how he doesn't win more. His game seems to set up the best for most of the majors.

Same thing about Adam Scott, who I keep picking to contend and he never seems to cut it.

[FondestMemory]

fuck it, i'm going with tiger.

he's been relatively quiet since the streak ended.

[preppyak]

Same thing about Adam Scott, who I keep picking to contend and he never seems to cut it.

Thats a good call too...but, he's still pretty young but he has some impressive wins (tour championship, nissan, etc)...looking at his finishes, he's always top 20-30 at the Masters, he just needs that one great day to push him over the hump

[we are cured]

i like adam scott. look out for sergio too. he started getting it going on the back 9 at doral.

[captainhampton]

golf is almost impossible to predict. can't wait to hear the music on Thursday. Go Phil/DiMarco

[Chriz2z]

Umm, Tiger.

I'm disappointed that I can't see the final round, but I do get to go to Ireland for spring break instead.

[nfggc10]

I'm going tomorrow and it'll be my third time but first since 02 so I'm pumped! Tiger, Vijay, and Phil's records speak for themselves and I'm a huge Tiger fan so that's who I always pick. As far as others, I like Charles Howell and Trevor Immelman.

Sergio has to have the best putting week in his life to contend/win. Furyk has a better chance than usual since its going to be the driest week that it's had in a while so his distance off the tee won't be as big of a factor. Adam Scott goes in the same boat with Sergio since his short game is the biggest question mark.

[get high]

best sporting event of the year, every year. pure class. keep an eye out for the young aussie adam scott

[thejetstolehome]

i want to go to another golf event. i went to the Barclay's at the Westchester Country Club in June--ton of fun.

[nfggc10]

i want to go to another golf event. i went to the Barclay's at the Westchester Country Club in June--ton of fun.
that should be even better this year since it's one of the "playoff" events and Tiger should be there. i've never been so awed by someone just hitting balls on the range. his ball flight/impact sound is so ridiculous to see in person.

[captainhampton]

I'm going tomorrow and it'll be my third time but first since 02 so I'm pumped! Tiger, Vijay, and Phil's records speak for themselves and I'm a huge Tiger fan so that's who I always pick. As far as others, I like Charles Howell and Trevor Immelman.

Sergio has to have the best putting week in his life to contend/win. Furyk has a better chance than usual since its going to be the driest week that it's had in a while so his distance off the tee won't be as big of a factor. Adam Scott goes in the same boat with Sergio since his short game is the biggest question mark.

damn you're going, that's pretty awesome. isn't it one of the hardest tickets to get? how is the course and atmosphere in person?

[bigmike]

aaron baddeley, is my sleeper.

[we are cured]

i want to go to another golf event. i went to the Barclay's at the Westchester Country Club in June--ton of fun.

i've been to westchester a few times when it was the buick. we got to see tiger on a monday (when the sunday got rained out) w/ like 5000 people total at the course. so awesome.

also went to the pga when it was at baltusrol, but that was a little more crowded.

[StuGrimson]

Im cheering for Adam Scott and Mike Weir and cheering against Mickelson and Woods. I also dont like Chris Dimarco and he seems to contend most years. I like the pick of Furyk and maybe Geoff Ogilvy or Luke Donald as well.

[we are cured]

yeah, dimarco's game is suited for augusta - solid ball striking and immaculate putting.

par 3 contest today.

[thejetstolehome]

i've been to westchester a few times when it was the buick. we got to see tiger on a monday (when the sunday got rained out) w/ like 5000 people total at the course. so awesome.

also went to the pga when it was at baltusrol, but that was a little more crowded.

yea, my dad won the passes in a raffle during a Union meeting or something and then a friend of mine and his family have a membership @ the WCC so it was free parking. sweet. we could only stay for a bit but we got to see Mickelson which was cool.

[we are cured]

i wish i belonged to that place. i don't think i'd ever leave the grass tennis courts.

[hockey0001]

greatest.shot.ever.

fnP3Mz1wh9c

[fire on my lips]

my dad's going for the first round tomorrow. I'm insanely jealous. My pick, other than Tiger, is DiMarco. I went to the third round of the US Open last year and had a really good time.

[StuGrimson]

I hope Tiger gets struck by lightning, as well as Jim Nantz so I dont have to listen to his sappy bullshit everyday.

[livethesounds]

I'm rooting for Michelle Wie.

[kofiadrian]

as a black man, i must choose tiger woods.

[we are cured]

lol nice reasoning

[StuGrimson]

Vijay is more black than Tiger will ever be

[preppyak]

as a black man, i must choose tiger woods.
I'm rooting for Michelle Wie.
hahaha

[JunkBondTrader]

who in the fuck said golf wasnt a sport????

probably one of THE hardest sports to play in my opinion. its not like basketball or baseball where anyone with 2 hands and a brain can join in on the game. golf takes much more in my opinion.

and yea ill take tiger in any major.

[hockey0001]

not a sport

[we are cured]

who in the fuck said golf wasnt a sport????

search the sports forum, its in countless threads.

like i said, nobody talking about the masters cares if it is or isn't.

[bigmike]

who in the fuck said golf wasnt a sport????

probably one of THE hardest sports to play in my opinion. its not like basketball or baseball where anyone with 2 hands and a brain can join in on the game. golf takes much more in my opinion.

and yea ill take tiger in any major.
So, you're saying a sport where you hit a ball that is stationary is harder then hitting a ball that is moving?

[Scott Weber]

So, you're saying a sport where you hit a ball that is stationary is harder then hitting a ball that is moving?
To play devil's advocate, the margin of error is wayyyy higher when hitting a baseball to when hitting a golf ball. You can get hits a hundred different ways - one kink in a swing and your ball is in the water in golf.

[nfggc10]

So, you're saying a sport where you hit a ball that is stationary is harder then hitting a ball that is moving?yep. Obviously the ball is easier TO HIT but getting it to go the right direction with proper distance control is much more difficult that getting a baseball in play. If you want to compare how much margin for error there is, the difference between getting a base hit up the middle and one through the hole between the 1st and 2nd basemen gives you the same result whereas that small span of distance in golf means you're either on the green or maybe in the water or buried in a bunker.

To anyone in general who says golf isn't a sport is obviously ignorant on the various skills needed and work involved in playing it competitively.

[StuGrimson]

I hate how the Masters is never on tv until later in the day, when the other majors get like 10 hours of coverage a day. I dont get it. I will be watching them play throuh amen corner online though.

[we are cured]

i think we get too wrapped up in definitions. all i know is that it's hard to cut a 7 iron to a tucked flag from 165, and do it at least 5-6 times around. i think this is sport, but i don't really care.

and stu, amen corner live (at the masters website) comes on sometime this morning, i think about when the first groups reach 11.

[StuGrimson]

Yup Ill be watching it on TSN at 10:30 I believe it comes on. Now I am in the mood for golf but there was a fucking random snow fall last night, I was actually so close to getting a game together for the long weekend. I Hope it clears up. There is a shitty course around my place that is open pretty much all year if you are wanting to play.

[nfggc10]

I hate how the Masters is never on tv until later in the day, when the other majors get like 10 hours of coverage a day. I dont get it. I will be watching them play throuh amen corner online though.

i think we get too wrapped up in definitions. all i know is that it's hard to cut a 7 iron to a tucked flag from 165, and do it at least 5-6 times around. i think this is sport, but i don't really care.

and stu, amen corner live (at the masters website) comes on sometime this morning, i think about when the first groups reach 11.Amen Corner Live starts at 10:30.

After being there yesterday, I can say that it's in the best condition that I've ever seen. The greens were starting to firm up and were super quick like normal. Tiger didn't play at all but he chipped for 30 minutes and then went through a full warm up on the range. After as many times as I've seen him, that was the best I've ever seen him hit it. It was easy to tell that he's extra focused this week and the only question mark left is how he'll putt since that's the determining factor there.

[we are cured]

did you watch the par 3 contest?

[nfggc10]

did you watch the par 3 contest?I only watched a few first tee shots. Tiger didn't come out until half an hour after the contest started so once he started practicing I went and watched him until he left. He didn't play the par 3 so I didn't really watch that much after he left either. There were 50,000 people there and to see anything of the contest is impossible. People left chairs over there so by the time it started there was nowhere to go. I have never seen crowds like that there since I've been going. It was so crowded that while Tiger was on the range, some lady behind us in the stands actually passed out and had to be taken out to be treated. They really should limit the number of people there on Wednesdays because that par 3 course can't hold more than 10,000 people probably so it was ridiculous.

[JunkBondTrader]

So, you're saying a sport where you hit a ball that is stationary is harder then hitting a ball that is moving?
definitely. and i played both golf and baseball in highschool. golf takes much more discipline and concentration. golf is in a whole different league of sports in my opinion

[nfggc10]

definitely. and i played both golf and baseball in highschool. golf takes much more discipline and concentration. golf is in a whole different league of sports in my opinion
Yeah I played both also and the range of skills you need to play golf is much larger than baseball or any of the other major sports. There's a reason why many great champions emphasize how much mental strength/patience is involved in golf and how it's actually tougher to manage than physical abilities.

[we are cured]

it's completely different. baseball is mano a mano, whereas golf is all about competing against yourself.

[hockey0001]

yep. Obviously the ball is easier TO HIT but getting it to go the right direction with proper distance control is much more difficult that getting a baseball in play. If you want to compare how much margin for error there is, the difference between getting a base hit up the middle and one through the hole between the 1st and 2nd basemen gives you the same result whereas that small span of distance in golf means you're either on the green or maybe in the water or buried in a bunker.

To anyone in general who says golf isn't a sport is obviously ignorant on the various skills needed and work involved in playing it competitively.


so if you get the ball in the fairway 30% of the time, are you considered one of the best golfers?

you dont play defense in golf, therefore its a hobby, not a sport

[we are cured]

so if you get the ball in the fairway 30% of the time, are you considered one of the best golfers?

you dont play defense in golf, therefore its a hobby, not a sport

no, but if you birdie 30% of the holes you play, you are.

there is no comparison between baseball and golf. baseball is a team game that relies on the individual specialization (great centerfielder runs down a gapper and gets to the ball in time to throw the ball to great catcher, who holds his ground when leveled by an opposing player coming home), whereas golf is an individual's game that requires one to master many different facets of the game in order to succeed: driving, iron ball striking, short game, and putting. and in golf, there are 'defensive' shots, such as avoiding going for the pin because of the proximity of water or a treeline to your desired ballflight. in golf you play against the course, in baseball you play against another team.

they do have one thing in common, though - people that hate baseball or golf think they're incredibly boring.

[nfggc10]

so if you get the ball in the fairway 30% of the time, are you considered one of the best golfers?

you dont play defense in golf, therefore its a hobby, not a sportha you obviously didn't get the analogy. I won't even waste my time with you if you can't even understand that the margin for error in golf is far greater than baseball or any other team sport.

Edit: and your "defensive" argument maybe the dumbest thing I've read in the sports forum in years. and by your argument Peyton Manning is not a sportsman since he doesn't play defense....

[hockey0001]

no, but if you birdie 30% of the holes you play, you are.

there is no comparison between baseball and golf. baseball is a team game that relies on the individual specialization (great centerfielder runs down a gapper and gets to the ball in time to throw the ball to great catcher, who holds his ground when leveled by an opposing player coming home), whereas golf is an individual's game that requires one to master many different facets of the game in order to succeed: driving, iron ball striking, short game, and putting. and in golf, there are 'defensive' shots, such as avoiding going for the pin because of the proximity of water or a treeline to your desired ballflight. in golf you play against the course, in baseball you play against another team.

they do have one thing in common, though - people that hate baseball or golf think they're incredibly boring.

im not arguing whether or not golf is difficult to become good at it, i know it is. I just dont think its a sport since you dont defend against anyone or really play against anyone other than yourself. How other players are doing has little effect on what you do (i certain situations it does, but for the most part, no). Im not trying to take anything away from golf, i played all through high school and love playing it, i just dont think it should be considered a sport in the same terms has football, hockey, etc.

[Scott Weber]

so if you get the ball in the fairway 30% of the time, are you considered one of the best golfers?

you dont play defense in golf, therefore its a hobby, not a sport
The defense argument is stupid. The purest form of sport is track and field, the ultimate physical competition with no equipment, just your own physical strength. There's no defense...yet that is the foundation of the Olympics, and I don't think you'll find anyone that'll say that track & field isn't a sport.

[hockey0001]

The defense argument is stupid. The purest form of sport is track and field, the ultimate physical competition with no equipment, just your own physical strength. There's no defense...yet that is the foundation of the Olympics, and I don't think you'll find anyone that'll say that track & field isn't a sport.

touche, i was trying to think of anything that doesnt have defense that could be considered a sport before saying and completley forgot about track and field

[nfggc10]

touche, i was trying to think of anything that doesnt have defense that could be considered a sport before saying and completley forgot about track and fieldha yeah it's easy to just think about team sports or stuff that's covered almost year round.

Back on topic though, the course is playing really tough so far so it should be a fun week. Majors are my favorite tourneys to watch but more so because birdies have to be earned and rounds under par are rewarded rather than seeing 20 under par win.

[StuGrimson]

I see no more than 4-5 players shooting under par today if it holds up this way. Els, Mickelson and Ogilvy are not off to good starts.

[nfggc10]

I see no more than 4-5 players shooting under par today if it holds up this way. Els, Mickelson and Ogilvy are not off to good starts.Yeah it's going in that direction. If someone shoots in the 60s that would be beyond impressive. The bad thing for the players is that usually the lowest rounds are on the first day so the winning score is looking like it will be over par. Phil's start is pretty shocking since he always seems to be around 1 or 2 under on the first day.

[StuGrimson]

I was thinking this before, but now with Stenson moving into the lead, I wouldnt be surprised at all if he won it. He seems like a guy that never really gets off his game and has beat pretty much all the top names at one point or another in the past without getting much recognition.

[we are cured]

im not arguing whether or not golf is difficult to become good at it, i know it is. I just dont think its a sport since you dont defend against anyone or really play against anyone other than yourself. How other players are doing has little effect on what you do (i certain situations it does, but for the most part, no). Im not trying to take anything away from golf, i played all through high school and love playing it, i just dont think it should be considered a sport in the same terms has football, hockey, etc.

i mean, i guess i see what you're saying. i don't agree because i don't really have a strict definition for the word 'sport.'

tournament golf is very competitive though...when you're coming down 17 and you check out the leaderboard, and see that your opponent birdied 16 and 17 to take a 1 shot lead, your gameplan changes - you're reacting to him. to you it may not be, but to me that is sport.

[we are cured]

I was thinking this before, but now with Stenson moving into the lead, I wouldnt be surprised at all if he won it. He seems like a guy that never really gets off his game and has beat pretty much all the top names at one point or another in the past without getting much recognition.

i was just going to say, he's got a great swing and a lot of poise. plus the girls in sweden love him.

[preppyak]

Well, Justin Rose hit 5 greens, but only needed 20 putts...that is crazy. If he puts like that, he's got this locked up.

Two names up near the top to consider, David Toms and Luke Donald...

I think Furyk and Mickelson knocked themselves out already at +3 and +4 respectively...actually, the list at +4 is pretty presitigious, Monty, Mickelson, Garcia, Goosen, Couples...that is a lot of prime guys that are going to be 7 strokes behind the leader, and potentially 3-5 behind Tiger...makes it a lot easier for the leaders

And unless Tiger collapses in these last few holes, he'll be tied for 10th...which is about 50 places higher than he normally is after the first day...scary for anyone else to even think about.

[preppyak]

I hate how the Masters is never on tv until later in the day, when the other majors get like 10 hours of coverage a day. I dont get it. I will be watching them play throuh amen corner online though.
Well, it starts on the Golf channel at 12pm...USA at 3pm, and ESPN? at like 8pm....so, I get to watch it whenever I want. Not sure why I get the Golf channel both at my house and here on campus, but, for this one week, I'm not complaining.

they do have one thing in common, though - people that hate baseball or golf think they're incredibly boring.
Yep...likewise with the NASCAR argument...though that one is on a far sketchier line.

In terms of the "boring" sports, Golf is by far my favorite to watch, if for no other reason the courses are usually beautiful, and the intricacy of detail in every shot lends itself nicely to the camera...what looks like a perfect shot can quickly turn into an ugly one, and you have no idea until the ball touches down, its always a surprise.

[preppyak]

now that is a stat...Tiger in the 1st round in his career, +8. Tiger in the next 3 rounds, -61. He's never broken 70 in the first round...dear god if he does it today...everyone is going to withdraw out of fear

[bigmike]

To play devil's advocate, the margin of error is wayyyy higher when hitting a baseball to when hitting a golf ball. You can get hits a hundred different ways - one kink in a swing and your ball is in the water in golf.
I understand this. Just because you have to replicate a swing over and over where as in baseball there's the chance of getting a hit while being fooled on the pitch, doesn't mean something's harder. I'll take the sport where a ball is flying at you at 90+ mph and trying to hit that over hitting a golf ball.
yep. Obviously the ball is easier TO HIT but getting it to go the right direction with proper distance control is much more difficult that getting a baseball in play. If you want to compare how much margin for error there is, the difference between getting a base hit up the middle and one through the hole between the 1st and 2nd basemen gives you the same result whereas that small span of distance in golf means you're either on the green or maybe in the water or buried in a bunker.

To anyone in general who says golf isn't a sport is obviously ignorant on the various skills needed and work involved in playing it competitively.
I'm not saying it's not a sport, but to say it's harder then hitting a ball that has the possibility of moving in multiple different ways, to me, seems a bit far-fetched. both are hard.
definitely. and i played both golf and baseball in highschool. golf takes much more discipline and concentration. golf is in a whole different league of sports in my opinion
Golf takes more discipline then watching a pitcher, picking up tendencies, finding the dot on the ball that gives away if it's a breaking ball or a fastball, timing to hit a 90+ mph fastball or a sharp breaking slider or curveball or a change up that when leaving the pitchers hand looks like a fastball but isn't all while putting it in play 30% of the time makes you a potential hall of famer.

[preppyak]

Golf takes more discipline then watching a pitcher, picking up tendencies, finding the dot on the ball that gives away if it's a breaking ball or a fastball, timing to hit a 90+ mph fastball or a sharp breaking slider or curveball or a change up that when leaving the pitchers hand looks like a fastball but isn't all while putting it in play 30% of the time makes you a potential hall of famer.
You make a great point...but I find it difficult to compare the two sports, because they are completely separate games. The concentration in golf is very different than baseball...because in baseball, even if you are great at staying at the plate and running the count high, you see, what, 30 swings in a game? That is the extreme, some guys don't even make 10. In golf, you have to take at least 60, usually around 70 swings from different lies, different distances, and different conditions every time. In baseball there are, what, 3, maybe 4 pitches a pitcher has. A golf bag has 13 clubs, and easily 10 different lies (including fairway, multiple layers of rough, green, fringe, bunker, etc), so the variety, to me, is incredibly different. Each has elements which remove the "casual" from the "athlete", and I think that is a critical aspect of it. Joe Schmoe can't walk out and be a PGA tour or MLB athlete...

My qualification for "sport" has always been based on the athleticism involved (both physical and mental), and the system via which is is judged (there must be objective elements). To attempt to deny that golf takes a great level of athleticism, especially within this Tiger era, is short-sighted and ignorant, and the system of judging in golf very much so makes it objectively based. That opens up "sport" a lot more, but it also provides outside qualifications for things like snowboarding, skateboarding, etc, so that they need the "extreme" before it to justify their judging systems being largely subjectively based.

[bigmike]

Oh I know. I think both are sports and I love golf. Someone just said hitting a golf ball is the hardest thing to do or something along those lines and I think that hitting a baseball consistently is tougher.

Back to the Masters.

[preppyak]

haha, well, for me, comparing my performance on a driving range to a batting cage, I'd be inclined to agree, but I also may be one of the worst baseball players ever to make the under-8 travel team in Mountville...so, not sure that is a fair analysis

[we are cured]

so tiger bogeys his last two holes to finish +1. i can't wait for tomorrow.

[preppyak]

so tiger bogeys his last two holes to finish +1. i can't wait for tomorrow.

Did you see the interview with him right afterwards...he was PISSED at himself. He said "I threw away all my work on those last holes"...and when asked what Tiger of 10 years ago would do, he said "probably shoot a 30 on the back 9"...even a man who is tied for 16th, in better shape than any other major winner, is FURIOUS with himself with his round and needs to release his anger so he can focus the next day. The announcers basically said "If history proves right, he'll retake the lead between the 6th and 12th holes tomorrow".

For someone like Mickelson/Garcia to be at +4 at this point, they have to treat it as if they are going for a top 10 finish, not as if they are going to win it. There were people who left that golf course content with being +3 or 4 who are solid golfers, and for Tiger to consider a +1 as an abomination on his game basically shows his desire to dominate...which, if history proves, will only lead to him winning this by multiple strokes.

[Scott Weber]

What time does Tiger tee off today? And what channel is it on?

[we are cured]

tiger went off early. he bogeyed two of his first 6 holes to drop back to +3.

i predict he'll finish the day somewhere around even par, given the friday pins on the back 9.

it doesn't come on tv until 4:00 today, and it's on USA network.

[StuGrimson]

He is at 4 over now and I can only hope it gets worse

[Chop[chop]]

Everybody in the USA seems to be Tiger mad! Here in the UK we're rooting for Justin Rose (who should've won it a couple of years ago)... and he's doing damn well. Although secretly inside i want Tiger to do it; atmosphere is so much better if he does and he always manages to pull it off on the last 2 days.

[StuGrimson]

haha Tiger hits it in the water

[we are cured]

justin rose is a great ball-striker (that sounds so gay)

[Chop[chop]]

Hehe, bet he gets that told to him lots. I think he's got a good short game too.

[preppyak]

justin rose is a great ball-striker (that sounds so gay)

hahaha...

Coverage starts in about 20 minutes...I want to see them interview Tiger so he fumes some more, its hilarious, because when he goes home he's still got $100+ million sitting in the bank from last year...

Tiger ends at +3, which is still good territory to be, since the best in score is only -2

[Chop[chop]]

Just saw Tiger's round... and what a round... what was with the bird and altering his downswing?! He did very well considering all his bogeys, etc. though.

[we are cured]

some notables that missed the cut: sergio, allenby, gary player (threw up a 76 today), dimarco, o'meara, els, and villegas.

[StuGrimson]

Fuckin Ernie, dude never misses the cut. Adam Scott was lucky he sunk that chip on 15 I think or else he would be going home to.

[we are cured]

so it's going to be freezing in augusta today. that should really make for an interesting moving day.

tiger goes off at 1:20, with paul casey.

david howell and justin rose is an interesting pairing as well - they're going off at 2:30.

[preppyak]

I expect Tiger to do one of two things...

1. Crumble and shoot a 75 or 76...basically knocking himself out of it.

2. Shoot a 70, while everyone else shoots even or worse, and basically put himself into position to be 2 strokes off going into the last day...

I dont expect him to shoot 72 and walk away fine...he's either going to make a move early, or that pressure will get to him early

[Chop[chop]]

I stayed up late last night to see Rose finish his round and he goes and drops a shot on the last...
I actually thought Mickleson looked good yesterday even though he hasn't really got much of a chance anymore.

[we are cured]

retief has a great round going

[we are cured]

i feel bad for these guys...stiff winds and 48 degree weather. as if augusta wasn't playing hard enough.

[StuGrimson]

Holy shit did anyone see that shot Lee Westwood sunk at the 6th whole, it makes that amazing shot Tiger hit a few years ago look amateur.

[Chriz2z]

They can come play here in 20 degree snowy weather.

Sunny and +45 degree = no excuses. If you are gonna blame anything, blame the wind. But you can't blame the weather.

[we are cured]

last time i checked, the wind was part of the weather.

[we are cured]

holy shit did the entire field come back. these guys are botching putt after putt, especially tim clark.

[preppyak]

i feel bad for these guys...stiff winds and 48 degree weather. as if augusta wasn't playing hard enough.
The greens are dry, the weather is cold...+4 is gonna win this thing

Tiger did the opposite of what I said in terms of scoring...but, technically his round was one of the best so what I said still stands (i just never expected 70 to be the miracle round of the day). Tiger, in the final pairing, on Sunday of a major....yeah...I don't think I need to go any further. I still expect Luke Donald to recover and makes something tomorrow...I still got him top 5-10ish
They can come play here in 20 degree snowy weather.

Sunny and +45 degree = no excuses. If you are gonna blame anything, blame the wind. But you can't blame the weather.
last time i checked, the wind was part of the weather.
Yeah...the wind, plus, if you have played golf at all in your life, you know the impact of each shot on the hands, and when it is cold, that impact is amplified X10 at least...try doing 70+ shots with tingling in your hands...try making it through Amen Corner when your hands are numb, the wind is 20+mph, and everyone else (including the leaders) is shooting +6,7...the final pairing today shot +19 if I remember...thats absurd, but the average score was basically +5

In golf, you are always fighting the elements....thus at Pebble Beach in the wind, everyone not named Tiger Woods can't break par...its not that these guys aren't good...its just that the course is playing SO HARD that to shoot +2 is solid. I watched all of Friday and a decent portion of Saturday...guys are making good shots, but a good shot is putting it within 20 feet of the hole...and with the greens the way they are, a 20 foot putt might require 3 shots to finish it. That at any point Justin Rose only needed 20 putts makes me wonder how he hasn't won this already...because that is immaculate

[hockey0001]

so i stopped watching and went out after tiger finished his round, did everyone near him/ahead of him basically say "here tiger, we'll let you win this tomorrow." and how did appleby end up only one stroke ahead of him?

[preppyak]

so i stopped watching and went out after tiger finished his round, did everyone near him/ahead of him basically say "here tiger, we'll let you win this tomorrow." and how did appleby end up only one stroke ahead of him?
Well, when the "leaders" collectively shoot an average of +9 in their rounds...its basically a survival day, and if anyone can survive its Tiger, Furyk, and Els. Had Els made the cut, he'd probably be sitting at +7/6 right now...and be a legit name to mention to still have a chance to win

[we are cured]

appleby made a huge triple bogey, i believe, to bring him back to where he is at.

[preppyak]

appleby made a huge triple bogey, i believe, to bring him back to where he is at.
which is only made funnier by the fact that he birdied 17 during his two previous rounds...

[we are cured]

masters extra starts at 1:30 today.

[we are cured]

which is only made funnier by the fact that he birdied 17 during his two previous rounds...

any predictions on the winning number?

[preppyak]

any predictions on the winning number?
Well...if anyone makes it to even they've got this won...but I'm not quite sure anyone will. Weather will be warmer (high 50's/low 60's), but the wind is still there (10-20mph), so I'm thinking +1 will probably get it. I think Appleby will crumble (shoot +3/4) after finishing poorly yesterday, in combo with playing against Tiger.

I expect Furyk and Luke Donald to be in it until the end...and Justin Rose will probably be in it as well...though I think he'll shoot +2 and finish top 5-10ish.

Yeah...I think +1...everyone is weary from yesterday, I'm not sure the players have it in them to make a huge move, and I think everyone will be playing not to lose...which means the first person to take a chance and have it pay off (Mickelson?) might take it.

[we are cured]

+1 will definitely win it. i'm thinking the leader's going to have to be at +2 or +3.

[StuGrimson]

I like Harrington today but I am cheering for Appleby, Goosen or Donald. And by the fuck Tiger Woods.

[we are cured]

nice triple on 1, mickelson

[Yankees' #1 Fan]

ojGGQ98A8uc

[we are cured]

hahahahahaha yes

[preppyak]

nice triple on 1, mickelson
I figured he'd at least wait til the Back 9 for that
ojGGQ98A8uc
hahaha

[we are cured]

holy shit retief out of the woods on 7, what a sick shot

[preppyak]

hell of a shot by Goosen there...Appleby already +2 in the first 4 holes

[preppyak]

sabbatinni with a putt and a half there for...EAGLE

[preppyak]

I stand corrected...Luke Donald just took himself out of contention with those chips...his 3rd, 4th, and now 5th shots are all from basically the same spot because he chipped too short and it rolled back down the hill

Edit: Jesus, Sabbattini is -4 today...that is absurd. That would, I believe, be the single best round of the tournament.

[fire on my lips]

I thought Sabbattini is 3 under for the day and Goosen was 4 under.

[preppyak]

I thought Sabbattini is 3 under for the day and Goosen was 4 under.
Well, Sabbatinni was at -4 when I typed that...now he fell back a stroke

[we are cured]

tiger is struggling...but this tournament will be won on 13,15,17, and 18 - not to mention getting through amen corner.

[preppyak]

tiger is struggling...but this tournament will be won on 13,15,17, and 18 - not to mention getting through amen corner.

Yeah...if Tiger pulls it together by 13, he could easily eagle that

[preppyak]

goosen bogies, sabbatinni birdies...Sab leading now at +2....I still think +1 is going to be the winning score, and I have Tiger at +3 by the end of the round

[preppyak]

jesus...Tiger absolutely fucked that club up

[preppyak]

is anyone else watching this...Tiger just hit an immaculate shot to within about 4 feet on 13...basically a guaranteed eagle

now he's at +3, leader at +1, and Zach Johnson is still a relatively new guy to the Masters...he can falter

[tambo41187]

The shot on 13 was yet another incredible tiget shot.

Not only did it set him up for an eagle, but it was one of those suspensful..the ball has stopped...and just slowly begins to roll again moments. Amazing shot.

[preppyak]

yeah..unfortunately he followed it up with that shot on 15...Johnson at +1 now...Tiger at +3 with a 5-6 footer at least for par...he HAS to hit that

good par save...3 holes to go for Tiger...if Johnson falters or Tiger birdies 16/17...the 18th will be great

[preppyak]

well, that's pretty much that, Zach Johnson with the win...I had him dropping off huge after that 3 putt bogey on Friday.

[bigmike]

Probably 40 minutes ago, Matt (thejetstolehome) said to me "So, how about Tiger about to win the Masters" and then boom. Zach Johnson's going to win.

Swt jinx, Matt.

[preppyak]

haha...Tiger is gonna hunt him down

[we are cured]

congrats to zach johnson, beautiful 69 to win it.

[thejetstolehome]

Probably 40 minutes ago, Matt (thejetstolehome) said to me "So, how about Tiger about to win the Masters" and then boom. Zach Johnson's going to win.

Swt jinx, Matt.

in all fairness, Tiger was the extreme underdog and dark horse!

:rolleyes: