I actually don't think Tiger will win. Baltusrol is super-long, but it's also an old-school course with a tree-lined fairway that is tough to manage. He did very well at Pinehurst in Open conditions, but Pinehurt's big threat are its greens, not the rough.
I've got my eye on Sergio, Vijay, Goosen and (call me crazy) Mike Weir this week. Weir has been playing like utter garbage since the Masters, but last week was perhaps a turning of the corner. I'm hoping for a solid finish so he can clinch his spot on the President's Cup team.
Matt Tracker: Great comix this week. But why not use the Trojan corner to feature the adventures Al Wilson? DEAN: Al Wilson rides it bareback, my brother. Matt Tracker: Waitress, I won't need this omelette after all, thanks. DEAN: He's too much of gentleman to assume that the lady he is with would have a disease and he's man enough to raise any offspring that should arise. HE IS AL WILSON.
I think Tiger's going to clean up here. From what I've heard from friends and family who are marshalling at Baltusrol, the course is set up perfectly for his game.
Anyway, I've got my tickets for Friday and Sunday.
I had to give up my 2 free weekly passes due to Mrs. Dunk being 9.5 months pregnant this week.....
Local papers say that Tiger has been cleaning up in his practice rounds - he flew in the day after the Buick and ripped through 36 holes in just under 5 hours. The weather report shows potential for isolated thunderstorms which would soften the course somewhat and hurt the shorter hitters.
I like Tiger this week with Vijay a strong second. Garcia is only a threat if he can get his putter in order. Daly is a long hitting sideshow (his merchandise truck is parked at the Hooters in Union). Goosen can never be forgotten in a major (unless it is the back nine at Pinehurst). Mickelson hasn't played well enough lately to be more than Top 10. Jim Furyk has been playing well enough to be an outside shot and don't forget a dark horse like Mark Hensby - so-so year outside of the Majors where he has had a 3rd at the Masters, 5th at the US Open and a 4th at the British.
The mission of Creative Heartwork, Inc. (creativeheartwork.org) is to utilize the power of the arts to heal children who have experienced trauma, loss, illness or disability.
Tiger has got to be the overwhelming favorite, no doubt.
The PGA, however, has a history of first-time winners and guys from out of nowhere (see Daly....)
That being said, some possibilities would be Garcia, Hensby, even Stuart Appleby could be definite possibilities...
Should be another good one... Interesting to see that Tiger is in group with Michael Campbell for the first two rounds. The only man to stare Tiger down in a Major this year....
Where the wild are strong, and the strong are the darkest ones, you're the Darkest One.
Originally posted by hazInteresting to see that Tiger is in group with Michael Campbell for the first two rounds. The only man to stare Tiger down in a Major this year....
That's actually a PGA tradition...they always put the first three major winners of the year together in one group. Somewhere, Chris DiMarco is kicking himself.
Matt Tracker: Great comix this week. But why not use the Trojan corner to feature the adventures Al Wilson? DEAN: Al Wilson rides it bareback, my brother. Matt Tracker: Waitress, I won't need this omelette after all, thanks. DEAN: He's too much of gentleman to assume that the lady he is with would have a disease and he's man enough to raise any offspring that should arise. HE IS AL WILSON.
God bless the men of 2nd Bn, 127th Inf, 32d "Red Arrow" Brigade, WI Army Nat'l Guard...good luck, and come home soon.
Put me in the Tiger-won't-win camp. PTI was full of it the other day; this is not Tiger 2000. He'll be down to earth again sometime soon.
Originally posted by BullittI'm aching to see if ANYONE can reach 17 in two...
Yep, Kenny Perry did. Awesome Hot Shots Fore!-esque shot on the 2nd stroke: hits the flagstick, follows it down to the lip, and in! He's -1 after the first round.
How 'bout Phil Mickelson joining the leaders at -3 so far?
I really should bust out that nice pewter Baltusrol 2005 mug us press folks got covering the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits last year. Free swag rulz.
(EDIT: Pieman, I hadn't seen diddly squat of Day 1 results when I threw that up there...was a little busy at a very wet Lambeau. Although his 1st couple of rounds seem to bear me out.) :-)
(ANOTHER EDIT: Yeah, that was Kenny's 3rd stroke. Thanks, dunkndollaz.)
(edited by The Thrill on 12.8.05 1421)
(edited by The Thrill on 12.8.05 1422) Rebecca Louise Ross 1947-2005 R.I.P., Mom...
Originally posted by The ThrillPut me in the Tiger-won't-win camp.
Geeze, Thrill, that's not exactly climbing out on a limb AFTER he shoots 75 in the first round. Now when Big Bad says it BEFORE the tournament starts, that's a legitimate prognostication.
Originally posted by BullittI'm aching to see if ANYONE can reach 17 in two...
Yep, Kenny Perry did. Awesome Hot Shots Fore!-esque shot on the 2nd stroke: hits the flagstick, follows it down to the lip, and in! He's -1 after the first round.
Sorry Thrill but that was Kenny's 3rd shot on 17 - still an awesome eagle
My earlier predictions looks like hell right now but it is only round 1 - look for Tiger to show some pride today - he probably needs to get to +2 by tonight to be safe from the cut
The mission of Creative Heartwork, Inc. (creativeheartwork.org) is to utilize the power of the arts to heal children who have experienced trauma, loss, illness or disability.
Phil came back to the pack in a hurry the last 2 days and this tourney is now really his to lose. The rain yesterday and last night will have softened the greens and the humidity & temperature are way down from yesterday. Vijay Singh may sneak off with this too since he is more than capable of birdieing 17 & 18.
The real loser in all of this is Tiger. The field won't come back to him but he can't take the chance of not showing up.
The mission of Creative Heartwork, Inc. (creativeheartwork.org) is to utilize the power of the arts to heal children who have experienced trauma, loss, illness or disability.
No sooner do I anoint Vijay as the dark horse then he goes out and bogeys 16 & 18. Elkington in the house at -3 with Phil & Bjorn on 18. Looks like a playoff is coming.
The mission of Creative Heartwork, Inc. (creativeheartwork.org) is to utilize the power of the arts to heal children who have experienced trauma, loss, illness or disability.
Originally posted by dunkndollazNo sooner do I anoint Vijay as the dark horse then he goes out and bogeys 16 & 18. Elkington in the house at -3 with Phil & Bjorn on 18. Looks like a playoff is coming.
Congrats to Phil, that was a HUGE up and down on 18 for birdie and the win.
He had to benefit from the break in play, seem to have steadied his nerves (or at least his play).
Did any of the other golf fans find it interesting that the final pairing was two guys who each held the distinction of being "best player to have never won a major" for quite a period of time?
I was hoping that DL III would play better, but then again I'm not sure if I'm ready for the golf "trucker hats" that he was sporting over the weekend.
University of Kentucky basketball isn't a matter of life and death, it's much more important than that.