Let’s be real... sometimes the difference between winning and losing is luck

Molinari and TW both hit bad drives on 10 TWs shaft wrapped around the fesuce... Molinaris didn’t

Xander had three of the worst bunker lies I’ve ever seen... still almost forced a playoff

Back to tiger... he’s good enough to win a major. When he catches the breaks he will win.

Molinari and TW both hit bad drives on 10 TWs shaft wrapped around the fesuce... Molinaris didn't

 

Xander had three of the worst bunker lies I've ever seen... still almost forced a playoff

 

Back to tiger... he's good enough to win a major. When he catches the breaks he will win.

Amen.

Agreed.

That’s the beauty of golf. Sometimes great shots turn out bad. Sometimes terrible shots turn out great.

It absolutely is.....

It's not something that gets talked about a lot, because people want to believe that they control their destiny. That winners win because they worked the hardest and kept their cool the best and it only could have happened this way.

It doesn't mean winners didn't deserve to win. It's just sometimes guys get a bad break and lose, especially in single elimination sports, or sports like golf

Read fooled by randomness. Will change your life !

Read filled by randomness. Will change your life !

Fooled by Randomness i assume you mean, by Taleb

Great book. Black Swan is also good

"The harder I practice, the luckier I get." - Gary Player

So Tiger lucked into 14 majors?

So Tiger lucked into 14 majors?

So many majors have helped been won by luck. Just off the top of my head we have Tiger at Valhalla 72nd hole with the fan foot wedge out of the bushes. Then we have Ernie Els ‘94 US Open line of sight relief he probably shouldn’t have got. Payne Stewart losing in ‘98 going into a divot and the greens being so messed up the day before he hit a four foot putt 30 feet last the hole. Fred Couples on the bank. I could go on forever.

So Tiger lucked into 14 majors?

"Sometimes" the difference...

Operative word

randomness plays in everything and everyone more than we want to know about.

I’m a big Tiger fan but him winning in 2008 at Torrey was crazy lucky too, he literally stole 2-3 shots on the back nine on Saturday with monster putts and chip ins.

It helps to have luck on your side. It also helps to not hit it near the bunkers, etc. But it’s talked about - seems like in every interview, the winner or losers mention getting the bounces or not..

With two equal players yes. Tiger was so good back in the day he didn’t need luck. Now he will need luck and the right venue on his side plus having his a game.

I'm a big Tiger fan but him winning in 2008 at Torrey was crazy lucky too, he literally stole 2-3 shots on the back nine on Saturday with monster putts and chip ins.

2000 PGA...horrible tee shot that got a lucky "bounce" which might have actually been a fan kicking it out of trouble.

I'm a big Tiger fan but him winning in 2008 at Torrey was crazy lucky too, he literally stole 2-3 shots on the back nine on Saturday with monster putts and chip ins.

 

2000 PGA...horrible tee shot that got a lucky "bounce" which might have actually been a fan kicking it out of trouble.

Yeah I mentioned that already, I wonder how many shots a round on average the guys with big galleries save from being used as backstops or people to find your ball or whatever compared to the guys with none. Probably a fair bit.

Tiger has been saying for many years, including about his own wins, you need a break or two to win. Call it luck or a break, whatever, but no one wins a golf tournament without a fortunate bounce or roll. That's the game and it pretty much evens out over time. It just doesn't look too even when you focus in on one bad bounce.

As far as Tiger getting the rescue wrapped around the shaft - first of all, the OP has the wrong hole. It wasn't the 10th hole, it was the 11th. Molinari and Tiger had pretty much the same lie, Molinari handled it, Tiger didn't. It wasn't bad luck, it was bad execution.

I wonder how many shots a round on average the guys with big galleries save from being used as backstops or people to find your ball or whatever compared to the guys with none. Probably a fair bit.

Do you remember Mickelson in 2006 at Winged Foot? It was a miracle he had the lead on the 72nd tee box. He was driving it crooked the entire weekend, especially Sunday. But he kept driving it so far offline that he avoided the thick rough...ended up in the areas where the fans had trampled the grass. Meanwhile anyone driving into the rough just a foot off the fairway ends up with an unplayable shot from 8 inch rough.

It made his meltdown at the end even more bizarre. He was pretty much pulling a Houdini act the entire round with how bad his driving was. Needed to be thankful for his position and play the safe shot off the tee. But he didn't and the rest is history lol

Agree with most. Luck is a huge factor from where I’m sitting. I’ve had recent rounds on a tight unfamiliar course with 6 OB teeballs. Total amount OB in feet was around 7-8 feet. Literally walk up and pick the ball up a foot OB. Has to be bad luck somewhere. Especially when OB is only 15 yards off the fairway.

Molinari and TW both hit bad drives on 10 TWs shaft wrapped around the fesuce... Molinaris didn't

 

Xander had three of the worst bunker lies I've ever seen... still almost forced a playoff

 

Back to tiger... he's good enough to win a major. When he catches the breaks he will win.

Lee Trevino famously said the more i practice the luckier i get... Tiger has gotten plenty of breaks in majors. thats golf and thats life. molinari outplayed Tiger in every facet today, this sounds like bitterness. Rory absolutely thinned/necked a 3 wood in 2014 at vahalla and it rolled 55 yards+ onto the green to 7 feet and he made eagle. Happens all the time in every major. Patrick reed hit the flag stick on the 71st hole with his 60 foot putt or it was going 10 feet by. I can go on and on.

Dont be that guy. Tip your cap to francesco and appreciate the greatness you witnessed. he was the only guy in the last 4 groups to shoot under par and the only bogey free round... think about that for a second

I wonder how many shots a round on average the guys with big galleries save from being used as backstops or people to find your ball or whatever compared to the guys with none. Probably a fair bit.

 

Do you remember Mickelson in 2006 at Winged Foot? It was a miracle he had the lead on the 72nd tee box. He was driving it crooked the entire weekend, especially Sunday. But he kept driving it so far offline that he avoided the thick rough...ended up in the areas where the fans had trampled the grass. Meanwhile anyone driving into the rough just a foot off the fairway ends up with an unplayable shot from 8 inch rough.

 

It made his meltdown at the end even more bizarre. He was pretty much pulling a Houdini act the entire round with how bad his driving was. Needed to be thankful for his position and play the safe shot off the tee. But he didn't and the rest is history lol

The worse thing that happened to Phil was on the 71st hole he hit the exact same drive he hit on the 18th. He hit a 60 yard banana slice onto the green with a 3 iron and 2 putted for par. the guy must have felt like a god. thats why he made that terrible decision on 18 to attempt to cut a 3 iron 40 yards around the trees. ill never forgive bones for not walking in front of him and saying heres the 8 iron, hit it 30 yards short of the green and pitch it up. 2 putts to win your open. his hubris got the best of him. he got a horrible break when his 8 iron plugged in the green side bunker though but thems the breaks.

Dont forget in 2013 justin rose hit a 5 iron on the 71 st hole that landed 40 feet short and rolled up to 8 feet on the monster par 3. phil hit the exact same shot with a 6 iron 25 minutes later but it started to rain a little in the meantime and it softened the green just enough to stop the ball from releasing to a 7-8 foot putt. These things happen all the time and the more times you put yourself in position the more it will happen to you. tigers putt in 2008 to get in the playoff hopped like 4-5 times. it could just as easily missed.

I'm a big Tiger fan but him winning in 2008 at Torrey was crazy lucky too, he literally stole 2-3 shots on the back nine on Saturday with monster putts and chip ins.

Yes exactly. On saturday made 2 50 footers and chipped in when the ball was going at least 15 feet by. thems the breaks.Honestly he hit a careers worth of putts in that tourney alone. look at watson in 82.Tway in 86. Hoch in 89, mize in 87. and on and on same thing

 

The worse thing that happened to Phil was on the 71st hole he hit the exact same drive he hit on the 18th. He hit a 60 yard banana slice onto the green with a 3 iron and 2 putted for par. the guy must have felt like a god. thats why he made that terrible decision on 18 to attempt to cut a 3 iron 40 yards around the trees. ill never forgive bones for not walking in front of him and saying heres the 8 iron, hit it 30 yards short of the green and pitch it up. 2 putts to win your open. his hubris got the best of him. he got a horrible break when his 8 iron plugged in the green side bunker though but thems the breaks.

Yep, it is similar to Van De Velde avoiding the creek on his tee shot and then playing very aggressive on the next shot when he could have won by playing safe. Maybe that high of getting away with bad swings or decisions can cause too much confidence on the next shots.

Tiger has been saying for many years, including about his own wins, you need a break or two to win. Call it luck or a break, whatever, but no one wins a golf tournament without a fortunate bounce or roll. That's the game and it pretty much evens out over time. It just doesn't look too even when you focus in on one bad bounce.

 

As far as Tiger getting the rescue wrapped around the shaft - first of all, the OP has the wrong hole. It wasn't the 10th hole, it was the 11th. Molinari and Tiger had pretty much the same lie, Molinari handled it, Tiger didn't. It wasn't bad luck, it was bad execution.

Molinari and TW both hit bad drives on 10 TWs shaft wrapped around the fesuce... Molinaris didn't

 

Xander had three of the worst bunker lies I've ever seen... still almost forced a playoff

 

Back to tiger... he's good enough to win a major. When he catches the breaks he will win.

Well, the more times you put it where you shouldn't, the more times you risk the chance of suffering repercussions. Golf is analogous to life in that respect :)

Molinari and TW both hit bad drives on 10 TWs shaft wrapped around the fesuce... Molinaris didn't

 

Xander had three of the worst bunker lies I've ever seen... still almost forced a playoff

 

Back to tiger... he's good enough to win a major. When he catches the breaks he will win.

 

Lee Trevino famously said the more i practice the luckier i get... Tiger has gotten plenty of breaks in majors. thats golf and thats life. molinari outplayed Tiger in every facet today, this sounds like bitterness. Rory absolutely thinned/necked a 3 wood in 2014 at vahalla and it rolled 55 yards+ onto the green to 7 feet and he made eagle. Happens all the time in every major. Patrick reed hit the flag stick on the 71st hole with his 60 foot putt or it was going 10 feet by. I can go on and on.

Dont be that guy. Tip your cap to francesco and appreciate the greatness you witnessed. he was the only guy in the last 4 groups to shoot under par and the only bogey free round... think about that for a second

Hah I remember posting on here about that mishit three wood and I got absolutely smashed for it, I think it was even a meme for a while. He definitely missed it.

Molinari and TW both hit bad drives on 10 TWs shaft wrapped around the fesuce... Molinaris didn't

 

Xander had three of the worst bunker lies I've ever seen... still almost forced a playoff

 

Back to tiger... he's good enough to win a major. When he catches the breaks he will win.

 

Lee Trevino famously said the more i practice the luckier i get... Tiger has gotten plenty of breaks in majors. thats golf and thats life. molinari outplayed Tiger in every facet today, this sounds like bitterness. Rory absolutely thinned/necked a 3 wood in 2014 at vahalla and it rolled 55 yards+ onto the green to 7 feet and he made eagle. Happens all the time in every major. Patrick reed hit the flag stick on the 71st hole with his 60 foot putt or it was going 10 feet by. I can go on and on.

Dont be that guy. Tip your cap to francesco and appreciate the greatness you witnessed. he was the only guy in the last 4 groups to shoot under par and the only bogey free round... think about that for a second

 

Hah I remember posting on here about that mishit three wood and I got absolutely smashed for it, I think it was even a meme for a while. He definitely missed it.

Of course he did, he said so himself. No shame in that

Woods inability to close yesterday wasn't down to a lack of luck. The signs are extremely good but some of the excuses being formed on his behalf are ludicrous.

Tiger has been saying for many years, including about his own wins, you need a break or two to win. Call it luck or a break, whatever, but no one wins a golf tournament without a fortunate bounce or roll. That's the game and it pretty much evens out over time. It just doesn't look too even when you focus in on one bad bounce.

 

As far as Tiger getting the rescue wrapped around the shaft - first of all, the OP has the wrong hole. It wasn't the 10th hole, it was the 11th. Molinari and Tiger had pretty much the same lie, Molinari handled it, Tiger didn't. It wasn't bad luck, it was bad execution.

Besides, there is this thing called "fairway" on this hole as well. If you hit your previous shot there, there is zero chance of your shaft getting wrapped up by the high fescue.

Molinari and TW both hit bad drives on 10 TWs shaft wrapped around the fesuce... Molinaris didn't

 

Xander had three of the worst bunker lies I've ever seen... still almost forced a playoff

 

Back to tiger... he's good enough to win a major. When he catches the breaks he will win.

 

Rory absolutely thinned/necked a 3 wood in 2014 at vahalla and it rolled 55 yards+ onto the green to 7 feet and he made eagle.

This is one that always stood out to me as the most glaring example, hah. I mean he was setup for his patented high draw and he lucked into one of the biggest "two wrongs making a right" shots with a complete necked pull cut. The discrepancy between his intended strike and his actual strike was in the 15 handicapper range. :D