Golf

[NewUserName]

If Tom Watson and John Daly are in the hunt on Sunday, ratings will be saved from having no Tiger.

[shnsajax]

Watson has been incredible. The putts on 16 and 18 were nuts. Sadly I think he'll probably fizzle out sooner than Norman did last year. The only thing is, he's playing so well tee to green that he can hang around even if he doesn't keep putting this well. To win it, he probably can't slip at all around the greens though.

 

Tiger was -3 today on the first 7 and last 5 combined. Complete meltdown in the middle 6 where he went +7.

 

What I think is really going to help him is that he doesn't have to shoot real low to win it. If he can just keep pace, and continue to be mistake free he has a shot. Of course that's easier said than done.

[Guest]

I can't believe Watson recovered from his horrendous start yesterday.

[SpongeWorthy]

Wow, Watson with the 54 hole lead. It'll be tough to hang on with Furyk, Goosen, and Fisher lurking. I'll be rooting for him for sure.

[Guest]

I'll be rooting for Stricker and Fisher since those are the two that can win me some cash. But, no one in our pool took Watson anyway, so if he wins it will be absolutely amazing.

 

Considering we are using combined scores, who wins doesn't really mean much. Although if you actually pick the winning golfer, you get a bigger percentage of the cash.

[Soul]

Go Watson!

[hawkeyecub]

I keep waiting for him to slide and remember that he's 60 years old in like 40 days.

I really don't think he's going to have any kind of collapse tomorrow. There are so many guys bunched up in contention with some really good players on his heels that it will be tough.

 

But you don't have to worry about any kind of mental mistakes or him beating himself. That's what makes it different from Shark last year. If he doesn't win it will be because he just can't keep putting this well and someone will play a really good round and top him. But he's going to keep striking the ball well and will manage the course as well as anyone.

[SpongeWorthy]

I can't help myself: http://www.sacbee.com/846/story/2037219.html

 

I loathe Jason Whitlock.

[hawkeyecub]

I can't help myself: http://www.sacbee.com/846/story/2037219.html

 

I loathe Jason Whitlock.

 

Bob Ryan made the same argument on PTI Friday.

[javy knows my name]

I can't help myself: http://www.sacbee.com/846/story/2037219.html

 

I loathe Jason Whitlock.

Who edits these articles? My God

[Guest]

Watson putting for the win right now.

[SpongeWorthy]

Holy crap what a HUUUUGE putt.

[Guest]

That wasn't even close for such a short putt.

[SpongeWorthy]

I kind of feel bad for Cink. If he wins he goes down as the guy that had the temerity to ruin Tom Watson's Last Hurrah.

[Tracer Bullet]

I disagree. Watson blew it. His 2nd shot was terrible, knowing he had to land it short. And it's not like that putt was close. He just got tense and choked. Tom Watson's a big story right now b/c there's nothing else to talk about in golf, but it's not like Cink is ruining a comeback by Nicklaus or Palmer. Next month, most people won't remember who won this tournament.

[Guest]

Yep. That tournament was all in Watson's hands. He didn't have to get a birdie to win, he just had to par a hole that he'd gone par-birdie-par so far this tournament.

[SpongeWorthy]

I disagree. Watson blew it. His 2nd shot was terrible, knowing he had to land it short. And it's not like that putt was close. He just got tense and choked. Tom Watson's a big story right now b/c there's nothing else to talk about in golf, but it's not like Cink is ruining a comeback by Nicklaus or Palmer. Next month, most people won't remember who won this tournament.

 

2nd shot wasn't that bad. The up and down was butchered. Watson's mid range putting has always been his achilles heel, even when he was the best player in the world.

 

And you're completely wrong about people not remembering this. The people who wouldn't remember don't follow the sport anyway. Everyone who actually likes/follows the sport will always remember it. Did you know that Watson has won more majors than Palmer? This isn't like an aged Kenny Perry or Fred Funk making a run. This is a top 10 player of all time and Nicklaus' TRUE rival. It's a huge story within the sport.

[manbearcub]

well this is painful

[Guest]

well this is painful

 

Yeah, it's like he remembered that he was 59 right when that playoff started. That put on 18 just killed him.

[hawkeyecub]

I disagree. Watson blew it. His 2nd shot was terrible, knowing he had to land it short. And it's not like that putt was close. He just got tense and choked. Tom Watson's a big story right now b/c there's nothing else to talk about in golf, but it's not like Cink is ruining a comeback by Nicklaus or Palmer. Next month, most people won't remember who won this tournament.

 

So wrong on so many levels. I'm guessing you don't follow golf very closely.

 

First of all, the approach on 18 was not terrible. It landed maybe 2-3 yards long, that's it. It was right at the flag and smoked. Even with the distance he hit it, it was unfortunate that it skipped all the way through.

 

It's not like he ruined a comeback by Nicklaus or Palmer? Clearly you're not aware that Watson has won more majors than Palmer. Or that he has the 5th most majors of all-time. Or that he was #1 in the world for about 7 or 8 years immediately following Jack's reign.

 

The enormity of an all-time great being on the doorstep at age 59 (50 freaking 9) is beyond incredible. No one has won a major in their 50's and he's 60 in a month and a half. If he wins it's immediately a top 5 story from a major in history. More impressive than Jack in '86 at Augusta which has that distinction right now.

 

People who follow golf will certainly remember who won and they will remember Watson's run. It's not like Cink is some nobody. He's a guy that people have thought should have won more than he has, but he's been a successful player and a mainstay on the Ryder Cup teams.

[Banedon]

That sucked to watch. Watson completely fell apart.

[Soul]

I didn't realize Cink's history, an hence what a huge moment this must have been for him.

 

It's too bad what happened to Watson, but I was actually happy to see Cink finally come through once I realized that this was a big moment for him after underachieving for so long.

 

I watched a lot of the final day. There really wasn't anything else on. Watson's collapse was painful, but that was a great run. It's just too bad the approach shot came all the way through, and then the next shot was just too strong. I didn't feel like he was ever going to make the final put -- even when the announcer said "this is right in his range, he'll stroke this one."

[Mark Priors Calves]

on watson's putt on 18 to win the championship he double clutches his putter right before he takes it back on the stroke he uses. i know i was pulling for him to win it but he's had so much success over his career i can't say that he should be crushed by what happened sunday.

[Tracer Bullet]

I disagree. Watson blew it. His 2nd shot was terrible, knowing he had to land it short. And it's not like that putt was close. He just got tense and choked. Tom Watson's a big story right now b/c there's nothing else to talk about in golf, but it's not like Cink is ruining a comeback by Nicklaus or Palmer. Next month, most people won't remember who won this tournament.

 

So wrong on so many levels. I'm guessing you don't follow golf very closely.

 

First of all, the approach on 18 was not terrible. It landed maybe 2-3 yards long, that's it. It was right at the flag and smoked. Even with the distance he hit it, it was unfortunate that it skipped all the way through.

 

It's not like he ruined a comeback by Nicklaus or Palmer? Clearly you're not aware that Watson has won more majors than Palmer. Or that he has the 5th most majors of all-time. Or that he was #1 in the world for about 7 or 8 years immediately following Jack's reign.

 

The enormity of an all-time great being on the doorstep at age 59 (50 freaking 9) is beyond incredible. No one has won a major in their 50's and he's 60 in a month and a half. If he wins it's immediately a top 5 story from a major in history. More impressive than Jack in '86 at Augusta which has that distinction right now.

 

People who follow golf will certainly remember who won and they will remember Watson's run. It's not like Cink is some nobody. He's a guy that people have thought should have won more than he has, but he's been a successful player and a mainstay on the Ryder Cup teams.

 

I do follow golf (how close is closely? I don't watch every weekend, no), but Watson doesn't have the name recognition of Palmer. Doesn't matter how many majors he's won or if he was #1 in the world whenever. Palmer is the more famous golfer. That was my only point.

 

This will be remembered by the people who can tell you who won whatever random major, and the people that can tell you the years and the majors that Norman choked away, or some other mid-level golf stories. But most people, even those that follow golf casually, aren't going to remember this much.

 

I don't disagree that a Watson win would have been a huge story. I disagree that a Watson loss is similarly huge.

[hawkeyecub]

I disagree. Watson blew it. His 2nd shot was terrible, knowing he had to land it short. And it's not like that putt was close. He just got tense and choked. Tom Watson's a big story right now b/c there's nothing else to talk about in golf, but it's not like Cink is ruining a comeback by Nicklaus or Palmer. Next month, most people won't remember who won this tournament.

 

So wrong on so many levels. I'm guessing you don't follow golf very closely.

 

First of all, the approach on 18 was not terrible. It landed maybe 2-3 yards long, that's it. It was right at the flag and smoked. Even with the distance he hit it, it was unfortunate that it skipped all the way through.

 

It's not like he ruined a comeback by Nicklaus or Palmer? Clearly you're not aware that Watson has won more majors than Palmer. Or that he has the 5th most majors of all-time. Or that he was #1 in the world for about 7 or 8 years immediately following Jack's reign.

 

The enormity of an all-time great being on the doorstep at age 59 (50 freaking 9) is beyond incredible. No one has won a major in their 50's and he's 60 in a month and a half. If he wins it's immediately a top 5 story from a major in history. More impressive than Jack in '86 at Augusta which has that distinction right now.

 

People who follow golf will certainly remember who won and they will remember Watson's run. It's not like Cink is some nobody. He's a guy that people have thought should have won more than he has, but he's been a successful player and a mainstay on the Ryder Cup teams.

 

I do follow golf (how close is closely? I don't watch every weekend, no), but Watson doesn't have the name recognition of Palmer. Doesn't matter how many majors he's won or if he was #1 in the world whenever. Palmer is the more famous golfer. That was my only point.

 

This will be remembered by the people who can tell you who won whatever random major, and the people that can tell you the years and the majors that Norman choked away, or some other mid-level golf stories. But most people, even those that follow golf casually, aren't going to remember this much.

 

I don't disagree that a Watson win would have been a huge story. I disagree that a Watson loss is similarly huge.

 

But that still doesn't make any sense. You diminished it because "it's not like Palmer or Nicklaus" but in fact he's just as accomplished as Arnold and is probably the most recognizable player of his generation.

 

That's like saying some future story involving Kobe or LeBron isn't a big deal because "it's not like he was Jordan or Magic or Bird."

 

And what the hell do casual fans have to do with anything? Why do they matter? You don't go to casual baseball, football, basketball fans when asking about historical perspective or importance. Casual fans think Derek Jeter is a top 5 player in baseball and Shaq going to the Cavs is a huge deal.

 

You said it's only a big story right now because there's nothing to talk about in golf. Well that's because it's 1 of 4 majors and the biggest major in the world. When the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl to block history did you say "They're only a story right now because it's the only thing going on in football right now."