Tiger Woods

[Schmidty]

You know, my instincts are to dislike him, since I'm usually for underdogs, and because his personality ranges from zero to abrasive.

But damn, he is so fun to watch. I can't help but to root for him every time I see him now. It's like the weirdest feeling for me.

[Dr. Sak]

He got the benefit of two drops today. One on the hole he eagled where he hit into the high rough and then one on the hole where he chipped in for birdie where a dumb fan picked up his ball.

I am pulling for Rocco Mediate, he is from about 3 miles from my house.

[Dr. Sak]

I gotta give it to him though...he's playing through a ton of pain.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by bsak16

I am pulling for Rocco Mediate, he is from about 3 miles from my house.

Oh, I am totally rooting for him too, but it's just that when Tiger is on the screen, I'm just compelled to watch.

[Dr. Sak]

Just sick man...another eagle.

[Schmidty]

He's amazing.

[cmp]

Wow. What an end to the round. That was impressive.

[larrymcg421]

It was an insane round. He missed so many fairways, and missed them badly. A lesser player would not have been able to recover nearly as well from those spots, favorable drops or not.

[Dr. Sak]

With him hurting...I think if he holds on to win...it might rival Jack winning the 86 Masters.

[MrBug708]

Two money shots

[Logan]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Two money shots

Do you pay double for that?

[Young Drachma]

I hate when golf is on NBC, because I forget to go watch. But man o' man. Seeing the highlights...Tiger is a monster.

[Jas_lov]

Great finish for Tiger. It's going to be interesting to see if his knee holds up because he was missing fairways badly as someone else said. 2 eagles and a lucky birdie and he's in the driver's seat though. I'd like to see Rocco win too, but I think Westwood might have a better chance to beat Tiger.

[Young Drachma]

I can't believe he's come this far to blow it. Especially on Father's Day and even playing in pain. He's got a lead and he'll be Tiger tomorrow. Can't wait to see this finish.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by bsak16

He got the benefit of two drops today. One on the hole he eagled where he hit into the high rough and then one on the hole where he chipped in for birdie where a dumb fan picked up his ball.

I never know what to make of that. On one hand Tiger benefits from drops because he knows the rules as well as or better than anyone on tour and knows how to use them to his advantage.

I think the only benefit he got when the fan picked up his ball was that he got a drop but the benefit was that he hit into the grass where the fans had trampled it down and he was going to get that benefit regardless. Frankly, Tiger hits the ball into crowd into trampled grass much too frequently -- frequently enough that it seems like a strategy. If he can cut the ball into the crowd and know he'll get more distance, have a better angle and have a decent lie, why not "mishit" the ball like that? How often do we see Tiger slice a ball into another fairway or into the crowd and we're all amazed at how he has a much better shot than if he were in the rough or sometimes in the fairway. He and Stevie have got to identify those spots before the tournament.

The guy is simply unbelievable. I was trying to explain to Mrs. kcchief19 that watching those last six holes was like watching Babe Ruth pitch a shutout while hitting three homers. It was unreal.

[MizzouRah]

Can he read a freaking green or what? The guy is amazing...

[rowech]

Tiger is the greatest competitor since Jordan.

[oliegirl]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

I can't believe he's come this far to blow it. Especially on Father's Day and even playing in pain. He's got a lead and he'll be Tiger tomorrow. Can't wait to see this finish.

I had this conversation with my husband and dad last night while we were watching the Open. They were both saying they thought he would drop out. I said I disagreed - the man is a champion, he has determination and drive that we can't imagine. Tiger Woods is not going to drop out of the US Open when he is going into the final round in 1st place. I just don't see it happening.

I'm sure he has a doctor there with him who spent most of last night treating his knee - ice, meds, electrical muscle stimulation, whatever it would take to get him through the final round today. If he drops out, I'll be shocked, and disappointed as I'm really looking forward to watching today...

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by cmp

Wow. What an end to the round. That was impressive.

Very impressive. Looking forward to seeing a great round from him today. He is one of my favorite athletes to watch.

[Zelig]

This is going to come across a certain way, and I don't think I can word it any other. Do any of you feel like you are being manipulated a little bit? I know I talked to several friends after Paul Pierce was chugged out in a friggin wheelchair, only to make a TRIUMPHANT return and "oh lord, look how he plays through the pain, what a champion, what a hero to all the little kids out there." hmmmmmm

Now, Tiger actually had knee surgery, but the dramatic holding yourself up by the fingers and hearing the plaudits of the masses, just has that feeling of situational manipulation to me, and many I talk to.

Now, do I want him to win? Heck, yes, he is the greatest golfer I have ever seen, and I feel lucky to be alive and watch his greatness. But, this feels contrived.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Zelig

This is going to come across a certain way, and I don't think I can word it any other. Do any of you feel like you are being manipulated a little bit? I know I talked to several friends after Paul Pierce was chugged out in a friggin wheelchair, only to make a TRIUMPHANT return and "oh lord, look how he plays through the pain, what a champion, what a hero to all the little kids out there." hmmmmmm

Now, Tiger actually had knee surgery, but the dramatic holding yourself up by the fingers and hearing the plaudits of the masses, just has that feeling of situational manipulation to me, and many I talk to.

Now, do I want him to win? Heck, yes, he is the greatest golfer I have ever seen, and I feel lucky to be alive and watch his greatness. But, this feels contrived.

I get what you're saying, but I don't really think it's orchestrated. You might be confusing the hyperbole of the commentators with the actual performance of the athletes.

Especially in Tiger's case, it was just Tiger being Tiger. If you've watched him his whole career, it was him doing stuff he does and so, it's not contrived because it's just more evidence of his greatness.

The fact that he manages to raise the degree of difficulty each time, while being in the midst of performing that excellence is the reason for the responses you're seeing about what he's managing to do. We'll see how today goes of course. The thing is, no one would fault him for losing today. But he's shown an ability to rise to the challenge better than anyone in sports today.

If you could measure clutch, it wouldn't be called a clutch rating, it'd be called the Tiger Scale.

[Zelig]

Very fair response. Thanks.

[Dr. Sak]

Zelig I get what you are saying to an extent. But I think a lot of it has to do with the announcers pointing out over and over again how much pain Tiger is in and critiquing the way he walks and his grimaces.

I don't want Tiger to win, I'll be honest. I never root for the guy and would rather have any other golf win but him. I am a huge Jack Nicklaus fan and I don't want Tiger beating his Major record. He probably will by the time he's done, but just because he is great, doesn't mean that I have to root for him.

I also don't like how every bad shot he hits he has to put on an act of how disgusted he is. If he isn't throwing his club, he's screaming god dammit, or pouting. So say it is because he is intense and hates to lose. But I bet there were 150 other golfers out there that hate to lose too.

And don't even get me started on his caddie, that guy is a grade A jackoff.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I'm going to take this a little further than Zelig-

We're talking about golf, right? Golf?? GOLF!?! (I suddenly feel like AI).

I get his knee gets torqued driving the ball, and he's walking the course, but we're talking about golf.

Let him take someone's tee shot off his face, Ryan Malone style, and then continue on. But walking a golf course??

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by bsak16

Zelig I get what you are saying to an extent. But I think a lot of it has to do with the announcers pointing out over and over again how much pain Tiger is in and critiquing the way he walks and his grimaces.

I don't want Tiger to win, I'll be honest. I never root for the guy and would rather have any other golf win but him. I am a huge Jack Nicklaus fan and I don't want Tiger beating his Major record. He probably will by the time he's done, but just because he is great, doesn't mean that I have to root for him.

I also don't like how every bad shot he hits he has to put on an act of how disgusted he is. If he isn't throwing his club, he's screaming god dammit, or pouting. So say it is because he is intense and hates to lose. But I bet there were 150 other golfers out there that hate to lose too.

And don't even get me started on his caddie, that guy is a grade A jackoff.

bsak, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you'd taken a post about Crosby, and typed 'Tiger' in every place it said 'Crosby'.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

bsak, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you'd taken a post about Crosby, and typed 'Tiger' in every place it said 'Crosby'.

Tiger doesnt bitch when he doesn't get the calls plus I don't think I've ever seen Tiger dive.

[Young Drachma]

Anybody watching this US Open Challenge stuff? Foursome of an essay writer contest winner ordinary person, along with Justin Timberlake, Matt Lauer and Tony Romo.

No one has birdied today, apparently. Would be fun to do that, especially with guys like Greg Norman and Butch Harmon caddying for you and giving you advice.

I think the contest winner has inoperable non-smoking lung cancer. Wow...well then that's cool he got to live out a dream like this.

[Dr. Sak]

I watched it and I agree that was cool to watch.

[Karlifornia]

lol@the shots of the golfers walking through the parking lot. It's not quite as dramatic as a football, basketball, or hockey player coming through the tunnel.

[Karlifornia]

Dola,

Are the scores usually this low in the U.S. Open? I know for the majors they usually like to make it pretty hard, but I seem to remember some courses where guys were double digits under par.

Edit: I guess I should be asking "are the scores usually this high?"

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

Dola,

Are the scores usually this low in the U.S. Open? I know for the majors they usually like to make it pretty hard, but I seem to remember some courses where guys were double digits under par.

Edit: I guess I should be asking "are the scores usually this high?"

The scores really are irrelevant. It all depends on the par they give for each hole. They could have raised par on a couple of questionable holes from 3 to 4 and from 4 to 5, and the scores would be "prettier" but still the same

[Karlifornia]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

The scores really are irrelevant. It all depends on the par they give for each hole. They could have raised par on a couple of questionable holes from 3 to 4 and from 4 to 5, and the scores would be "prettier" but still the same

Isn't there like, a 600 yard hole?

[fantom1979]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

Isn't there like, a 600 yard hole?

9th hole, 612 yards
13th hole, 614 yards

http://usga.usopen.com/course/index.html

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

Dola,

Are the scores usually this low in the U.S. Open? I know for the majors they usually like to make it pretty hard, but I seem to remember some courses where guys were double digits under par.

Edit: I guess I should be asking "are the scores usually this high?"

The last two winners won the US Open at +5. Usually the winner is around par.

[Young Drachma]

The US Open is pretty much a bloodbath and the USGA loves it that way. This year isn't even as crazy as the past few, which were brutal in terms of setup. But I like it. Makes it an ultimate test.

[Young Drachma]

What a commercial.

[kcchief19]

Wow ... Tiger is going to double one -- again -- and Rocco is rolling. This is going to be a wild day.

[Logan]

I've said it before, I'll say it again...this is what HD is made for.

[Young Drachma]

I think we all knew the knee would cause him fits, the question is how much will it impact his ability to finish today. Gonna be a wild ride today for sure.

[Logan]

Ew...terrible miss by Tiger on two. Settles for the bogey.

[Young Drachma]

Luke Donald withdraws. That sucks to have to withdraw on Sunday.

[larrymcg421]

Bogey by Mediate and Tiger is only one down.

[Schmidty]

Wow, another amazing shot.

[Young Drachma]

Tiger back in the lead.

[larrymcg421]

Tiger in serious trouble here.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Tiger in serious trouble here.

He's never in real trouble. I've bought into his mystic and raw skill. He'll at least par this.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by Zelig

Now, Tiger actually had knee surgery, but the dramatic holding yourself up by the fingers and hearing the plaudits of the masses, just has that feeling of situational manipulation to me, and many I talk to.

I have to admit a certain level of feeling the same way. I don't think it's orchestrated, but I think Tiger has always overreacted to injuries and pain, whether it's tweaking his knees or hitting a stinger. I don't doubt he's in pain, but look at a guy like Fred Couples who has a bad back is in constant pain. You don't see it out of him very often. But to give him the benefit of the doubt, I think it has more to do with the fact that Tiger hides all of his emotions poorly -- he's the most fined golfer in the PGA for cursing, he celebrates more than any golfer, etc.

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

We're talking about golf, right? Golf?? GOLF!?! (I suddenly feel like AI).

I get his knee gets torqued driving the ball, and he's walking the course, but we're talking about golf.

I'm guessing you have never played golf or have never played golf without a cart. Maybe you have played golf but you play your local flat muni.

I'm not saying golf is the most physical of sports but it does require a great deal of energy and strength to walk 7,000 yards (that's four miles just walking from tee to green, and you'll walk severa more milesl between holes and whatnot). I know somebody will pull out John Daly but I'll say this -- given John Daly's talent, he should be a great golfer. But because of his condition he's an average golfer. His lack of fitness definitely affects his golf game, just as Tiger's fitness enchances his golf game.

[Schmidty]

I was just thinking; Golf is arguably more popular than ever. Would that be the case is Tiger wasn't as amazingly epic as he is, or is golf just an institution that would succeed either way?

[SirFozzie]

Tiger only one back, with a driveable par 4 next

[Dr. Sak]

LETS GO ROCCO!!