PGATour Running Commentary - Aug 2020

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GPB

Either that or the players are just really good.

Also looking forward to the action. BDC not a one trick pony and actually a fine short game which will be needed. I have a feeling about Simpson (now watch him miss the cut). Winner has at least two double bogeys I think.

McIlroy out of it on day one of a major. Shock

Hovland is LURKING on that leaderboard

Keegan Bradley at -3 and he lost strokes putting...is concerning.

Also watching last night McGinley noted that Steve Stricker has had some of the "lock" Ryder Cup team members playing practice rounds with Zalatoris with an eye to him being on the team in September. I presume this means he can be picked, with him not "officially" being a PGA Tour member yet

McLaren wrote:McIlroy out of it on day one of a major. Shock  

He's not done yet.

What do you make of the course having been raised so that the ocean is visible from every hole... sacreligious to the tenets of course design?

Inco, Rory is done. And not just this week.


I assume the course would have been entirely made by moving earth anyway, so raising it doesn't really bother me.

McLaren wrote:Inco, Rory is done. And not just this week.

Just seen the awful weather forecast for later when Rors is teeing off, so you'll probably be right.

Rory fighting back.

I played this morning at my club, The rough today was the worst (most penal) I've ever experienced .... my guess is they are practicing for 2026 when they host this championship. Bring out the mowers I say.

incontinentia wrote:

What do you make of the course having been raised so that the ocean is visible from every hole... sacreligious to the tenets of course design?

What do you think about riveted face bunkers?

GPB wrote:

incontinentia wrote:

What do you make of the course having been raised so that the ocean is visible from every hole... sacreligious to the tenets of course design?

What do you think about riveted face bunkers?

I love 'em

incontinentia wrote:

GPB wrote:

incontinentia wrote:

What do you make of the course having been raised so that the ocean is visible from every hole... sacreligious to the tenets of course design?

What do you think about riveted face bunkers?

I love 'em

They look fake to me. and with a high labor cost. Nothing natural about them.

Absolutely sensational front nine from Mickelson

Would love to see Phil beat the beefs BdC and Koepka.

Lefty cruising to victory. Delighted for him.

Some win for FIGJAM. And, you would have taken a lot of money from me if you bet me that Harrington would have been tied for low European. Some accomplishment for both those players given just how long this course played.

Quite an incredible moment for Phil Mickelson and throughly well deserved. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea but some of the stuff he does on the course is freakishly amazing. I got to admit Mickelson was done, he sure showed me. Oldest major champion will be a story retold many many times.
All things being equal, for me, it would be quite fitting if Mickelson could finally add the US Open to his collection.

What a result. Deserved win. The last amateur to win on the pga tour is now the oldest major winner. 30 year span. What a legend of the game.

Shotrock wrote:Some win for FIGJAM. And, you would have taken a lot of money from me if you bet me that Harrington would have been tied for low European. Some accomplishment for both those players given just how long this course played.

Four former Open Champions in the top seven golfers this week (and Koepka/Casey who have both gone well at Open Championships) - quite amazing stuff from Padraig, and obviously Phil - the drive down 16 was ridiculous from him, and he managed to keep it together great when others were imploding around him.
Lowry has to have a tinge of disappointment, hit it as well as anyone in the field tee to green but everytime they showed him he was missing a putt...and in fact he ended up losing strokes on the green quite significantly.

Some other notables - Harry Higgs tied 4th and into the Masters! The big rig!
Justin Rose with another major top 10...Rickie Fowler from the wilderness into the top 10!

Who honestly saw that coming?? Fair play to him, for all his extraordinary talent, his post tournament chatter seemed to focus mostly on mental focus. Of course talent and ability are basic requirements and most pros have those capabilities to win a biggie, the differentiator most of the time is mental concentration. Phil's identified that and worked on it. There's a lesson there for everybody.

To be honest I thought he had lost it mentally with that fireside chat and hitting bombs nonsense.

Far preferable that he wins it than Koepka. Can anyone put their finger on why he is so unlikable?

Also. Regardless of where he finishes in the standings we can assume Phil will be one of the Captain's picks.

McLaren wrote:To be honest I thought he had lost it mentally with that fireside chat and hitting bombs nonsense.

Far preferable that he wins it than Koepka. Can anyone put their finger on why he is so unlikable?

Got nothing against Koepka really so I cant put a finger on why he might be unlikeable. Didn't he serve a bit of an apprenticeship on the European tour in his early days? (which not a lot of Americans do).

I heard he did have quite a bit of a moan about the crowd encroaching on 18 (got his fragile knee dinged apparently). All eyes on South Carolina over the coming days to see if a Covid spike emerges.

I like Koepka; seems direct and not the least bit superficial.

JAS - Much of the South has been essentially maskless for quite a while.

Cant say I think Koepka is unlikable, but wouldn’t say I have any feelings towards him really. Find him quite robotic as a golfer, and as far as I can see doesn’t really give great insight into him as a person in interviews...he’s just kinda there for me.

I also struggle to see Phil making the Ryder Cup team, unless this suddenly kicks off a run of form over the next few months. Would he really be picked over a up and comer like say Zalatoris, who’s been consistently very good for a while now, just because he captured lightning in a bottle for a week?

I dont mind Brooks. I remember those European challenger tour clips driving a tuk tuk in India or something.

But Brooks really dislikes Bryson

https://twitter.com/RJWinfield/status/1396999787266940928?s=19

beninho wrote:I dont mind Brooks. I remember those European challenger tour clips driving a tuk tuk in India or something.

But Brooks really dislikes Bryson

https://twitter.com/RJWinfield/status/1396999787266940928?s=19

Ha ha brilliant, up he goes several notches in my estimation

That is amazing - the USGA needs to pair them together for the first two rounds of the US Open, I would be all over watching that

I like the guy says we'll edit that, and he's like I don't really care.

You can see him clock Bryson at tge start of the interview. Though not sure if he bryson said anything, or his clattering metal spikes, or just the oblivious walk behind a tv interview that annoyed Brooks. Though I think its known Brooks hates Bryson.

beninho wrote:I dont mind Brooks. I remember those European challenger tour clips driving a tuk tuk in India or something.

But Brooks really dislikes Bryson

https://twitter.com/RJWinfield/status/1396999787266940928?s=19

Who likes Bryson? I think he'll top Bubba on the list of fellow pros you wouldn't help in a parking lot fist fight.

Is Phil back?

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:That is amazing - the USGA needs to pair them together for the first two rounds of the US Open, I would be all over watching that

That would be must see TV, but the defending US Open champ is nearly always paired with the Open Champ and the US Amateur Champ.

Maybe the R&A has the balls to do it.

The Koepka interview must be one of the highlights of the season. I've been watching it over and over and it just keeps being effing hilarious..

pedro wrote:The Koepka interview must be one of the highlights of the season. I've been watching it over and over and it just keeps being effing hilarious..

Did Bry say something to him or was it just his presence that is irritating Brooks? I think it was the latter, you could hear Bryson coming 10 seconds before he appeared.

The Koepka video has been scrubbed. Not a surprise.

and ICYMI, Ryo Ishikawa actually QUALIFIED for the US Open in sectional qualifying in Japan. Good for him.

It’s still on youtube. Watched it again today.

GPB wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:That is amazing - the USGA needs to pair them together for the first two rounds of the US Open, I would be all over watching that

That would be must see TV, but the defending US Open champ is nearly always paired with the Open Champ and the US Amateur Champ.

Maybe the R&A has the balls to do it.

Lets hope one tournament does, or they find themselves in the same group on Sunday at the US Open/Open in contention.

Should think Mr Stricker will be doing his best to keep them apart at Whistling Straits!

It's starting to get a bit tricky for Stricker. No one will play with Reed, BDC isn't very popular, Brooks and DJ fell out last time in Paris and he now pretty much has to pick Mickelson regardless of his form come the RC. Spieth might also require a pick.

As a reminder, Stricker will have 6 Captain picks this year. The Top 6 make the team automatically (DJ, BDC, JT, BK, CM and XS). Xander at #6 has a considerable lead over #7 Patrick Reed.

https://www.rydercup.com/rankings

3 months prior to the picks The only player out of the Top 6 that I consider a LOCK for a Captains pick is Spieth. Yes, I don't think either Reed or Mickelson is a lock at this time. Sure they are on the short list. Reed has to be self aware enough to know that he is an anathema on the team and I don't think one week in May should put Mickelson automatically on the team.

I think Spieth gets along reasonably well with BDC and can see them being paired together. Should Berger get picked, he was college teammates with Koepka. JT would be another potential partner for Brooks.

GPB wrote:As a reminder, Stricker will have 6 Captain picks this year.  The  Top 6 make the team automatically (DJ, BDC, JT, BK, CM and XS).  Xander at #6 has a considerable lead over #7 Patrick Reed.

https://www.rydercup.com/rankings

3 months prior to the picks The only player out of the Top 6 that I consider a LOCK for a Captains pick is Spieth.  Yes, I don't think either Reed or Mickelson is a lock at this time.  Sure they are on the short list.  Reed has to be self aware enough to know that he is an anathema on the team and I don't think one week in May should put Mickelson automatically on the team.

I think Spieth gets along reasonably well with BDC and can see them being paired together.  Should Berger get picked, he was college teammates with Koepka.  JT would be another potential partner for Brooks.

GPB I was going to post I think Reed not making it automatically in the top 6, gives the US Team the chance to leave him out. You'd imagine they'll have Whistling Straits playing very long, and with Reed's antics post 2018 (and seemingly general dislike of him on tour)...it might be best served for Stricker to leave him out for someone say, Finau/Zalatoris/Scheffler who the course might suit more, and who will fit into the team atmosphere better. With the Brooks/Bryson dynamic likely to be there (can't see either dropping out of that top 6), do you really want to throw Reed into the melting pot too if you don't have too, and have other really good golfers on the outside looking in?

Also agree with your comments re: Mickelson and Spieth, providing Spieth continues his recent showings.

I know he won't drop out of the top 6, but I should think Stricker is hoping to see DJ re-find himself. Been in a bit of a slump recently, I'm sure it'll be nothing more than an off month or two...

I think you are right about DJ. One of those mini-slumps, but since there's no major change to his swing (and his attitude seems very consistent), I suspect we will see him competing late on Sunday very soon.

I would not at all be surprised to see Phil fall back after this past weekend.

Am I the only one who thinks Reed is to the USA what Poulter is to Europe? Wouldn't be surprised if Stricker got a lot of public backlash if he didn't pick him.

Phil m won't be in the ryder Cup, maybe a vice captain though

I'm never wrong wrote:Am I the only one who thinks Reed is to the USA what Poulter is to Europe? Wouldn't be surprised if Stricker got a lot of public backlash if he didn't pick him.

That's a good comparison, they are both "bad guys" from the other team's perspective and really rub it in when they win an important hole etc. I think Stricker will defo pick Reed.

Not picking Reed would be defeatistic.
Finau would be a pick as well given his likeabily and length. The course should fit him and I think he could pair with both Reed and BdC.
I also think Strick would feel a pressure to pick Phil, even if I think it would be a bad idea. Cannot see media and fans would accept a team without both TW and Phil.

Spieth 🥺

Kokrak putting himself firmly into contention for a captains pick on the Ryder Cup, two wins on the season, top 10s at The Players, Bay Hill, Concession too. Major results a tad disappointing, if he can go well at Torrey he'll be well in the thoughts you'd think...again the course at Whistling should suit him a lot (he drove the ball incredibly yesterday)

Jon Rahm leading by 6. Maybe Corona is what he needed?

Imo is sounds bizarre that a man tested positive for corona shoots 64 and is subsequently thrown out. Maybe it perfectly illustrates how ott we’ve been with this thing.

pedro wrote:Imo is sounds bizarre that a man tested positive for corona shoots 64 and is subsequently thrown out. Maybe it perfectly illustrates how ott we’ve been with this thing.

Obviously had no symptoms. Why were his playing partners not thrown out as well? They’ve been close all round - especially Cantlay who I saw having a sneaky peek in Rahm’s bag on one of the tees. Agree about being a bit OTT.

He's lucky in a way, as the time he has to self isolate (barring anything else) takes him to just before the US Open.

LadyPutt wrote:
Obviously had no symptoms. Why were his playing partners not thrown out as well? They’ve been close all round - especially Cantlay who I saw having a sneaky peek in Rahm’s bag on one of the tees. Agree about being a bit OTT.

Rahm was only forced to WD because he had a positive test result, not because he was exposed to someone who had CV19.

FWIW, I know Scheffler had Covid last year and I think Cantlay had CV19 as well. I know 'fully' Vaccinated players do not have to be tested, not sure about players who have previous confirmed case of CV19.

Rahm played with Morikawa and Schauffele in Rounds 1 & 2. Judging by their reaction to Rahm after his hole in one, they were trying to stay socially distanced from Rahm.

I don't think there is anything OTT about this situation. Essentially, The Tour policy is that a player that test positive for CV19 must withdraw. Do you think they ought to have endless exceptions to the policy. Such as

"A player who tests positive for CV19 is forced to WD, unless he has a 6 stroke lead going into the fourth and final round and then he can finish the golf tournament."

Here is the US there has been an ample supply of vaccinations and it is available to all residents (and not just citizens). I got my 2nd Moderna inoculation about 6 weeks ago.