The Official PGA Championship Thread

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Tiger two shots beyond the cut line? Mickelson at eight under?

 

What's going on here?

[CanadianChris 0]

Tiger no drive straight. Tiger hit from rough always. Phil mostly in fairway.

 

Phil had a double-bogey on 1 this morning, too...take that off his card and he's at -10 and running away with it.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

While we're at it, take away that god damned triple for Mike yesterday.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Here's why I knew Tiger was going to have problems this week: driving accuracy. Everyone in the media wanted to give Tiger this major and talked about how he'd run away from the field, but failed to see that Baltusrol is a course where you have to be accurate off the tee to avoid the tree lined territory off of the fairways. Tiger ranks below the top 100 on tour this year in driving accuracy and it's becoming painfully obvious this week that it's causing him a load of problems.

 

I'm not surprised Mickelson is in the lead, although I'm surprised he's leading by four shots right now. However, the bigger question is can he finish with this lead? I remember him leading the 1996 PGA Championship here @ Louisville, Kentucky after 36 holes and he lost it.

 

However, I'm kind of getting tired of TNT's coverage b/c all the commentators are stumbling over each other to kiss Tiger's BUTT. I understand the guy is a GREAT golfer, but when he started his round they were acting like he was going to shoot a 61 and get into a third round pairing with Mickelson. Give me a break!

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

Here's why I knew Tiger was going to have problems this week:  driving accuracy.  Everyone in the media wanted to give Tiger this major and talked about how he'd run away from the field, but failed to see that Baltusrol is a course where you have to be accurate off the tee to avoid the tree lined territory off of the fairways.  Tiger ranks below the top 100 on tour this year in driving accuracy and it's becoming painfully obvious this week that it's causing him a load of problems.

 

I'm not surprised Mickelson is in the lead, although I'm surprised he's leading by four shots right now.  However, the bigger question is can he finish with this lead?  I remember him leading the 1996 PGA Championship here @ Louisville, Kentucky after 36 holes and he lost it.

 

However, I'm kind of getting tired of TNT's coverage b/c all the commentators are stumbling over each other to kiss Tiger's BUTT.  I understand the guy is a GREAT golfer, but when he started his round they were acting like he was going to shoot a 61 and get into a third round pairing with Mickelson.  Give me a break!

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You have to love how Woods hits the ball in the water and the announcers are going on about how great a shot it was!

[CanadianChris 0]

My dad is probably doing cartwheels right now. He hates how the networks show Tiger all the time even when he's 15 shots back, or finished his round 3 hours before.

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

My dad is probably doing cartwheels right now.  He hates how the networks show Tiger all the time even when he's 15 shots back, or finished his round 3 hours before.

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What's unfortunate now is that since Woods made the cut, we are going to have to endure endless comments like "well if he shoots 62 or 61 he's right back in it!". I hope Mickelson goes out tomorrow and posts a sub-66 number to end any speculation of Woods being i it on Sunday.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

My dad is probably doing cartwheels right now.  He hates how the networks show Tiger all the time even when he's 15 shots back, or finished his round 3 hours before.

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What's unfortunate now is that since Woods made the cut, we are going to have to endure endless comments like "well if he shoots 62 or 61 he's right back in it!". I hope Mickelson goes out tomorrow and posts a sub-66 number to end any speculation of Woods being i it on Sunday.

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I'd still love to see Phil win. I'm almost used to pulling so hard for him just because I did so hard until April 11,2004.

 

Even with the win, he's still my favourite after Weir.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

My dad is probably doing cartwheels right now.  He hates how the networks show Tiger all the time even when he's 15 shots back, or finished his round 3 hours before.

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What's unfortunate now is that since Woods made the cut, we are going to have to endure endless comments like "well if he shoots 62 or 61 he's right back in it!". I hope Mickelson goes out tomorrow and posts a sub-66 number to end any speculation of Woods being i it on Sunday.

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Get used to it.

He's even for the tournament with a par 5 left to play. He'll be likely minus one and in the clubhouse before the leaders tee off, seven shots back.

 

Get ready for an afternoon of "Well, if Mickelson or Kelly stumble, Tiger can shoot a low round tomorrow....."

[CanadianChris 0]

Should be a very interesting round tomorrow with Mickelson having backed up to the field. There are probably about 10 guys who can win tomorrow.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Yea, I can't wait to watch tomorrow's action on CBS @ 10 AM. Good thing I don't have to start college till next week so I can watch this thing finish out.

 

I think even though the broadcasters were going crazy b/c Tiger is @ -2 and just two shots from Mickelson (and possibly just one shot if Mickelson misses that 3 1/2 footer he ran by the hole before the siren on 14) he has no chance @ winning. With those two par 5's left and Vijay lurking at -2 as well, I'm sure Vijay will birdie one of them (probably 18) and post a -3 number to beat.

 

Also, if the course gets drenched in rain this evening it'll play much easier so that adds to the Tiger dillema.

 

However, IF Mickelson, Elkington, and Bjorn fall to -2 and those who lurk around that -2 number (Vijay, Love III, and Goosen if he does something over the last two holes) magically don't finish above the -2 threshold you could have a LOADED three hole playoff for this thing involving six or so players. Just imagine Mickelson, Elkington, Vijay, Bjorn, Love III, and Tiger going at it for the PGA Championship. It's like a ratings gold mine...except that it'll be on @ 10 AM with everyone at work.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Tiger could be battling Kenny Knox, Ian Baker-Finch, Wayne Grady, Chip Beck, and Dick Zokel and it would be a ratings War.

[Mole 0]

Phil just won with a 1 1/2 foot putt. A bit anti-climatic, but still nice to see him win another major. He won't be known for "the greatest player to only win one major" or whatever title it would be.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

I was really torn as to who to root for today. I was rooting for Phil because it's just hard to go against the guy and I wanted to see him win another major while on the other hand you had Elkington (another very likeable guy) contending for the PGA on the 10th anniversary of his last major triumph in '95 and Bjorn having another close call in a major. I still have no clue how his putt on the 18th missed, looks like the golfing gods just wanted Phil to win today.

[Vern Gagne 0]

If I was Mickelson I might get a restraining order on Jim Nantz.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

If I was Mickelson I might get a restraining order on Jim Nantz.

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Story? I missed it this morning.

Jim Nantz, mind you, is responsible for some of my favourite sports calls ever, and probably the best host on television today.

[Damaramu 0]

I was so afraid this would go into a play-off. I had my first newspaper staff meeting of the semester today and it was just right after the championship ended. I told my editor that if it had gone into a playoff that he wouldn't have seen me at the meeting today. He just went "God damn golf writers......"

[MrRant 0]

Yes. Even more exciting then watching golf is reading about it.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Yes.  Even more exciting then watching golf is reading about it.

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Shut up.

[MrRant 0]

I'm referencing newspaper articles you dumb Canuck.

[treble 0]

Listening to it on the radio is pretty fucking bad.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Listening to it on the radio is pretty fucking bad.

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Yeah, even I can't listen to it on the radio. It's a nice idea, but it's not the same.

 

I'm referencing newspaper articles you dumb Canuck.

 

No links, no actual reference to a paper whatsoever...It sounded sarcastic.

 

And since I didn't call you any names, go back to watching midgets piss on one another.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Back on topic, who, if anyone, has a shot at the career slam?

 

I think Els will become our generation's Greg Norman. We'll remeber him as successful, but ultimately coming up short a few times.

 

Weir, Furyk andCampbell? Nah.

Goosen? Maybe, but he still needs to learn how to win a major, IMO.

Hamilton,Micheel, Curtis and Beem? Nope.

 

Probably not Mickelson, he's got a shabby record at the British and is too erratic with the driver for the U.S.

 

Singh, however, I like the odds for.

[CanadianChris 0]

Singh doesn't drive it straight enough or putt well enough to win a US Open.

 

I think Mickelson actually has the best shot of anyone if he decides to stick with the power fade off the tee. He can be good at the British Open, as last year showed. As for the US Open, well, he's finished second there three times in the last 7 years, so I think he could probably get it done eventually.

 

Els needs to commit to one tour if he wants to win more majors. All the globetrotting is hampering his game. He's trying to be Gary Player, but Gary Player was one of a kind.

[smh810 0]

Goosen? Maybe, but he still needs to learn how to win a major, IMO.

 

Its not like he's won 2 US Open's or anything.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Goosen? Maybe, but he still needs to learn how to win a major, IMO.

 

Its not like he's won 2 US Open's or anything.

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Yeah, that's true, but, look at his major record otherwise:

 

2001: Freakin stumbled into the playoff that he, yeah, did win. Missed that putt from what, a dick's length? Also, was five shots down after four holes in said playoff. If it had been any other major playoff, he wouldn't have one.

 

2002 Masters: Leads after Friday and Saturday. Does nothing on Sunday to shoot a 74.

 

2005 US Open: Eighty fucking one on Sunday.

 

You do have a point, but ultimately, I think he's still a little shaky in the big ones.

[smh810 0]

Yeah, that's true, but, look at his major record otherwise:

 

2001: Freakin stumbled into the playoff that he, yeah, did win. Missed that putt from what, a dick's length? Also, was five shots down after four holes in said playoff. If it had been any other major playoff, he wouldn't have one.

 

2002 Masters: Leads after Friday and Saturday. Does nothing on Sunday to shoot a 74.

 

2005 US Open: Eighty fucking one on Sunday.

 

You do have a point, but ultimately, I think he's still a little shaky in the big ones.

 

The putt in 2001 was a much trickier putt than it looked on TV and he killed in the playoff. In 02 he was tied for the lead (big difference in psychology from having an outright lead) with Tiger. And at the US Open he just didnt have his game on Sunday, doesnt necessarilly mean he choked.

 

This leads me to a larger point, golfers rarely choke. It is such a fickle game where you can be completely in sync one minute and out of sorts the next. Goosen just didnt have it at Pinehurst it doesnt mean he choked. Hell I would say that Norman at the 96 Masters wasnt a choke. He had to change strategies in the middle round because Faldo got hot and thats virtually impossible for a golfer to do mid-round unless your Tiger Woods. It is such an overused cliche that really gets up my ass when people say *said golfer* choked. Now true chokes do happen (Van De Velde) but its few and far between.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

I like Vijay's chances if his putting gets hot. He contended @ Pinehurst in the US Open back in 1999 when Stewart beat Mickelson. He also finished right behind Ben Curtis when he won the British Open in 2003. Singh's ball striking is some of the best on the PGA Tour and right now he leads by World Golf Rankings by 95 points over Woods b/c he is a consistent finisher (although Tiger is gaining ground from his two major wins and consistent second places finishes too).

 

Anyway, Singh was always told that he couldn't win the Masters b/c his putting was terrible, but he proved all of those detractors wrong in 2000 to win the Masters over David Duval (what'd happened to that guy? Pretty sad).

 

All it takes for Singh to win a tournament is his putting to come on line. He can get it to the greens, but he has to 'finish' if he wants more majors outside of those PGA's and a green jacket.

 

Mickelson's chances are about 50%, but he's hardly ever done well in the British Open (last year was the exception). Then again, if Mickelson had a few more putts fall last year he could've won the Grand Slam. It's just how things happen.

[Red Baron 0]

Depending on courses and if Weir does improve his swing, he's got a good shot at winning another major or two.

[CanadianChris 0]

Weir's swing isn't the probleem. His putting has been ATROCIOUS. That's led to him pressing on his iron shots, feeling he needs to get it close to make a birdie, and making more mistakes.

 

If he can get his putting back on track, he'll be a factor again.