The Golf

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

Tom Watson, the first time he was in contention to win a major, shot a 79 on the final day of the US Open
Next time around, he blew a 5 shot lead.

went on to win 8 majors...

[Rooster]

Cheers Brian, didn't see the first 9 as he just started as we boarded the plane, then when we got the radio tuned he just whacked the ball into the tree on the 10th.

[Rooster]

Listening on the radio on the way back from the airport on Sunday night the whole thing seemed to go wrong when he ricocheted the ball of a tree in between some cabins, lost 3 shots in getting back out and then had to push to get back and blew it, is that how it happened ?
If that is correct it was 1 basic error that fecked the entire round up as the remainder was a result of the first bad shot.

Sort of Rooster, he triple bogeyed the tenth because of that ricochet, (which was only a yard away from drawing round the corner nicely)

But he also dropped a heap of shots on 11-14, some could be attributed to pushing too hard, but mostly losing the head (3 putting from 2 and a half foot for example)

Was taking it that had all stemmed from pushing after the 10th feckup, was time to stay cool and let the other push and do the same, instead he gave them all hope and they went for it.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

I think his interviews afterwards were the true measure of the man, he said something about "worse things can happen than playing badly on the last day of a major"

Heard that Brian and it was some statement for the young lad to come out with, something like you would hear some of us old fools saying
A very mature thought indeed for a lad of 21 who has lived in the limelight since he went pro, really has kept his head and it's a credit to him and to his parents for the way he was brought up

Proof if proof were needed that Holywood can produce someone who is mature, talented, grounded, and an all-round good guy.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Apparently back with his cheerleading Rockette according to today's papers.

Maybe that will settle him a bit?

Apparently she flew out to be with him at the end, although he didn't know she was coming.

Anyone else think that when she left to go to him, she thought she'd be hanging on an arm wearing a green jacket?

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

his private life's private.
if he wants her on his arm, and wants the world to know about it, they soon will.

if there's something going on and it's not announced to all the single ladies of ulster who want the young millionaire for themselves, it's because they want their privacy.

if they're simply still good friends, then good on her for sticking by him even though they've broken up. for making the effort to share in any success he has and continue to support him.

find out that she had flown over once he got off the course would have been the only bit of good news he'd received all afternoon

[Snipe Watson]

Iain Carter's Golf Blog

Rory McIlroy untucked his shirt, tucked it back in again and, continuing to fidget, seemed unsure what to do next. His complexion was ashen and sweat poured from his brow as he prepared to tee off in the final group at a major for the first time in his young career……..But McIlroy was not ready to win a major. His nervous demeanour on that first tee was telling. The confidence of the first three days was no longer coursing through his veins.
When it came for his turn to tee off, he stepped forward and unleashed a massive drive that showed just how much adrenalin was pumping around his slim frame.
He wasn't even sure where it ended up. "Is it in the fairway?" he asked Fitzgerald. The caddie gave a quiet nod and, after playing partner Angel Cabrera had driven, McIlroy marched at pace in pursuit of his distant ball.
At the time, having stood feet from where all this happened, I was convinced that, now he was off and running, the apparent nervousness would be replaced by a sense of destiny and a confidence that he could continue his domination and get the job done.
Wrong. McIlroy's quickened step was, in fact, evidence that he was in the wrong place mentally. "He did everything more quickly than before in that final round," commented former PGA Tour player Andrew Magee in our coverage on BBC Radio 5 live. "He walked quicker and swung quicker. In the end, that leads to uncontrollable hooks."
Magee was referring to McIlroy's destructive tee shot at the 10th in particular, a shot that ended up amid Augusta's cabins way down the left side of the hole.
McIlroy had already endured a shaky front nine.
Three putts from just off the back of the first green was a worrying sign, coming moments after eventual champion Charl Schwartzel had chipped in for an opening birdie.
Even so, a steadying birdie on the seventh meant that McIlroy went to the turn with a one-stroke lead. Then came the capitulation at the 10th, where he failed to realise that there was no need to panic after that fateful pull/hook off the tee.
This lack of clear thinking showed us that McIlroy is not yet ready to win a major. He immediately tried to push and was no longer prepared to play the percentages.
His second shot to the 11th set up a birdie chance, although 5 live pundit Jay Townsend was convinced the youngster had got lucky.
Once that birdie chance was missed, McIlroy might as well have been trying to putt with an umbrella. He missed the return and then miserably four-putted the 12th.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Rory's misfortunes continue, as his golf clubs go AWOL

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

a set of Rory McIlroy Titleist's would be a better steal than the time I nicked some water bottles from Ravenhill...

[Snipe Watson]

He could do with getting the 13 clubs back minus that flamin putter.

[backawaygoonahead]

First visit for a while.

Thanks Snipe, thats my bloody blood pressure up again reading that Roman Poite Iain Carter. Carter is a man (and I use that lightly - no man who uses a 10.5 degree loft on his driver is a real man, in fact it qualifies him as a lassie) who specialises in being wise after the event as that post indicates.

RORY WILL PREVAIL

Spot on Welder about Tom Watson & as I posted elsewhere "The King" Arnie, lost a 7 shot lead to Billy Casper with only 9 holes remaining.

Anybody who called Arnie a choker would have an army of septuagenarians after their blood and those old guys don't feck about, after all when your a bona fide coffin dodger a life sentence isn't a big deal.

[Snipe Watson]

First visit for a while.

Thanks Snipe, thats my bloody blood pressure up again reading that Roman Poite Iain Carter. Carter is a man (and I use that lightly - no man who uses a 10.5 degree loft on his driver is a real man, in fact it qualifies him as a lassie) who specialises in being wise after the event as that post indicates.

Andrew Magee's point was the interesting bit....Carter is an OK writer.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Rory presumably found a set of clubs from somewhere - he's -3 after 10; 3 shots off the lead in Malaysia.

It would appear that his brain seems to be coping reasonably well after the weekends disappointments

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

it's not his ability to play golf that is in question.
he showed by leading the US Masters after 18, 36, 54 and 63 holes that he has the talent to win many many times.

it's his head - the ability to close out tournaments, to hold onto a lead, to blank out pressure - that has been called into question.

there's no surprise in seeing him playing well on a thursday, friday or saturday. it's sunday when it matters in golf.
when he won his first tournament he went into the day 5 clear, and won by 1.
when he won in Quail Hollow, he was chasing the leader and going for broke, with nothing to lose.

chasing a lead vs defending a lead are two different things, and the latter is where the doubts are.
hopefully on sunday he'll prove us all wrong

standupfortheulsterhobbit

[Rooster]

it's not his ability to play golf that is in question.
he showed by leading the US Masters after 18, 36, 54 and 63 holes that he has the talent to win many many times.

it's his head - the ability to close out tournaments, to hold onto a lead, to blank out pressure - that has been called into question.

there's no surprise in seeing him playing well on a thursday, friday or saturday. it's sunday when it matters in golf.
when he won his first tournament he went into the day 5 clear, and won by 1.
when he won in Quail Hollow, he was chasing the leader and going for broke, with nothing to lose.

chasing a lead vs defending a lead are two different things, and the latter is where the doubts are.
hopefully on sunday he'll prove us all wrong

standupfortheulsterhobbit

Changed the last bit to SUFTCHUM (stand up for the curly haired Ulster man)