Spieth reminds me of Tom Watson

[Swoosh-Thud]

 

Maybe you should take him down to see Slicefixer, he'd get him straightened out. :nyam: I mean he only has 10 wins and 2 majors. :cheesy:

 

His swing still sucks.

 

No 12 Augusta

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

My disconnect is I can't imagine (but I will stand corrected if I'm wrong) in his youth Watson acting anything like Jordan does during rounds. All the years watching Watson his comportment while playing has become the thing I have come to respect the most. He completely exemplifies how a guy with his name on his bag should carry himself.

 

Spieth's petulant AJGA player schtick is wearing a hole in the carpet.

 

Can anyone who remembers maybe comment on Mr. Watson in his younger days?

[Darth Putter]

 

My disconnect is I can't imagine (but I will stand corrected if I'm wrong) in his youth Watson acting anything like Jordan does during rounds. All the years watching Watson his comportment while playing has become the thing I have come to respect the most. He completely exemplifies how a guy with his name on his bag should carry himself.

 

Spieth's petulant AJGA player schtick is wearing a hole in the carpet.

 

Can anyone who remembers maybe comment on Mr. Watson in his younger days?

 

A 45 year change in culture from "be like Jack" to "be like Tiger" will account for some of it. Tom had an "aw shucks" mentality about him that you could see on tv. He came across as very level headed with not much bothering him in the late 1970s and 1980s. But that's the thing, not much (if anything at all) exists of Tom as a 23 year old. He didn't win his first PGA tournament until he was almost 25. I can't even Google a picture of him when he had a mustache at one point in his early years on tour.

 

The "petulant child" act of the time was another golfer very much like Tom and Jordan, Seve Ballesteros.

[Sun Devil]

He's got the rest of his life to grow up and act like the many vanilla robots that are on tour now. I'm not saying I like his immaturity, but at least he shows some real passion for winning.

[ex0dus]

you guys must be bad bunker players, that is the simplest shot in the world for any pro or half decent am. Give me a 20 yard shot over water or a trap off a tight lie and I'd skank one for sure

 

Azinger did same at MVillage to beat Payne one year ... and Kuch did it at Harbor Town not long ago as well

 

well maybe you got some mad bunker skillz, but making that for the win is pretty impressive. Most Am's I know might get a bit chunky with that one under that kind of pressure. FOR THE WIN!!

 

Regardless it was fun to watch.

 

Jordan had almost the same bunker shot in regulation and didn't miss the hole by much.

[ex0dus]

My disconnect is I can't imagine (but I will stand corrected if I'm wrong) in his youth Watson acting anything like Jordan does during rounds. All the years watching Watson his comportment while playing has become the thing I have come to respect the most. He completely exemplifies how a guy with his name on his bag should carry himself.

 

Spieth's petulant AJGA player schtick is wearing a hole in the carpet.

 

Can anyone who remembers maybe comment on Mr. Watson in his younger days?

 

Watson was always a very stoic player. I don't remember him doing any whining or showing any temper at all.

 

He did celebrate his big shots unlike duffner.

 

He was unknown at 23 though.

[A.G.Blade]

you guys must be bad bunker players, that is the simplest shot in the world for any pro or half decent am. Give me a 20 yard shot over water or a trap off a tight lie and I'd skank one for sure

 

 

Azinger did same at MVillage to beat Payne one year ... and Kuch did it at Harbor Town not long ago as well

 

well maybe you got some mad bunker skillz, but making that for the win is pretty impressive. Most Am's I know might get a bit chunky with that one under that kind of pressure. FOR THE WIN!!

 

Regardless it was fun to watch.

 

I am nicknamed "SandMan" at the home club to be fair. I had 3 yesterday and all 3 were well inside 4 feet, and they were a lot hard than JS's shot

 

It's the old sm2 vokey's ... spin city baby

Difficulty is not just the technical side of the shot, it's also the circumstance.

[PowderedToastMan]

Maybe you should take him down to see Slicefixer, he'd get him straightened out. :nyam: I mean he only has 10 wins and 2 majors. :cheesy:

 

His swing still sucks.

 

No 12 Augusta

That's right, no one else has ever played number 12 at Augusta badly before. Somehow Jordan almost managed to win the Masters 3 years in a row though.

 

 

My disconnect is I can't imagine (but I will stand corrected if I'm wrong) in his youth Watson acting anything like Jordan does during rounds. All the years watching Watson his comportment while playing has become the thing I have come to respect the most. He completely exemplifies how a guy with his name on his bag should carry himself.

 

Spieth's petulant AJGA player schtick is wearing a hole in the carpet.

 

Can anyone who remembers maybe comment on Mr. Watson in his younger days?

From what I know about Watson's dad, he was a very firm, conservative man who didn't allow for any nonsense, particularly on the golf course.

 

Imagine a more opinionated, stubborn, conservative version of Tom Watson and you have Ray Watson.

[Night train]

I'm sort of neutral on Spieth but I'll give that kid credit........he doesn't have the best swing out there, isn't the longest, but he's a gamer.........the kid wants to win!

 

 

[hardcaliber]

Its crazy how a guy with such a terrible swing can be a hall of famer in his early 20's. Golf must be really easy...

 

I think we have developed an unhealthy fascination with golf swing aesthetics. Some people on this forum would rather line every one up with a panel of judges and have a swing competition ala figure skating or a dog show rather than actually count strokes and have a golf tournament.

 

I don't mind the on course histrionics personally. There is a long thread on here about how Fowler sucks because he doesn't care if he wins or loses. People presumably assume that about him because he is pretty stoic and even keel. Spieth, on the other hand, is a classless brat. Seems that there is a very narrow band of emotion that must be shown or else you are either classless or totally apathetic. Maybe just a grimace here or there, perhaps a properly timed frowny face.

[Night train]

Its crazy how a guy with such a terrible swing can be a hall of famer in his early 20's. Golf must be really easy...

 

I think we have developed an unhealthy fascination with golf swing aesthetics. Some people on this forum would rather line every one up with a panel of judges and have a swing competition ala figure skating or a dog show rather than actually count strokes and have a golf tournament.

 

I don't mind the on course histrionics personally. There is a long thread on here about how Fowler sucks because he doesn't care if he wins or loses. People presumably assume that about him because he is pretty stoic and even keel. Spieth, on the other hand, is a classless brat. Seems that there is a very narrow band of emotion that must be shown or else you are either classless or totally apathetic. Maybe just a grimace here or there, perhaps a properly timed frowny face.

 

Big difference between this new game called "golf swing".........and golf, where you compete and keep score......:)

[dlygrisse]

 

Maybe you should take him down to see Slicefixer, he'd get him straightened out. :nyam: I mean he only has 10 wins and 2 majors. :cheesy:

 

His swing still sucks.

 

No 12 Augusta

 

Okay. Well that one is hard to argue. But love the player, hate the swing.

[Wooderson]

 

Maybe you should take him down to see Slicefixer, he'd get him straightened out. :nyam: I mean he only has 10 wins and 2 majors. :cheesy:

 

His swing still sucks.

 

No 12 Augusta

 

So did Arnie's. Good thing we play golf and not golf swing.

[Wooderson]

I have yet to see Jordan express his frustrations towards anyone but himself. There is a huge difference between him and Bubba.

[Frankensteins Monster]

People are right, there is no comparison. Spieth is far more accomplished than Watson was at Speith's age. There's no comparison between them.

[Frankensteins Monster]

I have yet to see Jordan express his frustrations towards anyone but himself. There is a huge difference between him and Bubba.

 

I've also yet to see Spieth cheat on his wife who has cancer with a fellow player's wife.

[SwooshLT]

Its crazy how a guy with such a terrible swing can be a hall of famer in his early 20's. Golf must be really easy...

 

I think we have developed an unhealthy fascination with golf swing aesthetics. Some people on this forum would rather line every one up with a panel of judges and have a swing competition ala figure skating or a dog show rather than actually count strokes and have a golf tournament.

 

I don't mind the on course histrionics personally. There is a long thread on here about how Fowler sucks because he doesn't care if he wins or loses. People presumably assume that about him because he is pretty stoic and even keel. Spieth, on the other hand, is a classless brat. Seems that there is a very narrow band of emotion that must be shown or else you are either classless or totally apathetic. Maybe just a grimace here or there, perhaps a properly timed frowny face.

 

Terrible swing? Classless brat? What planet are you watching golf coverage from?

[Andrew Bond of Glencoe]

I really like Tom Watson. Spieth is a better Putter.

[bscinstnct]

I really like Tom Watson. Spieth is a better Putter.

 

I wish some guys who saw a *young* Tom Watson play would comment. My understading is he made everything. Stories about him slamming balls in from distance. He lost that edge, but at one time, I have heard he was stone cold.

 

 

[Night train]

Watson in his younger days was a VERY aggressive putter. He banged them at the hole, and when they missed he usually made the 4 footer coming back.

 

He was an excellent putter in his prime!

[johnnypro]

Back in the old days, Tom Watson had the reputation of always making the amazing shot that won the tournament. "Doing a Watson!" was defined as holing a shot or a long putt to win just when you thought he might be folding. What happened at 17 at Pebble Beach for the US Open is a good example, only one of many. There were articles questioning his ball striking skills in the golf magazines (no internet back then). One golf magazine even described him as having being the best short game in the world coupled with the ball striking of a 4 handicap. A totally absurd statement but it reflected his ability to get the ball in the hole when it mattered. Even if he wasn't hitting it as solid as Nicklaus.

 

Spieth's ability to pull off the amazing once in a life-time shot when it matters is very similar. How many players have holed bunker shots to win tournaments twice? As Daniel Berger put it: "Jordan being Jordan".

 

This ability to pull off an amazing shot under intense pressure repeatedly is an intangible that separates the truly greats from the very good. Tom Watson clearly had it and it appears Jordan does too.

Back in the old days, Tom Watson had the reputation of always making the amazing shot that won the tournament. "Doing a Watson!" was defined as holing a shot or a long putt to win just when you thought he might be folding. What happened at 17 at Pebble Beach for the US Open is a good example, only one of many. There were articles questioning his ball striking skills in the golf magazines (no internet back then). One golf magazine even described him as having being the best short game in the world coupled with the ball striking of a 4 handicap. A totally absurd statement but it reflected his ability to get the ball in the hole when it mattered. Even if he wasn't hitting it as solid as Nicklaus.

 

Spieth's ability to pull off the amazing once in a life-time shot when it matters is very similar. How many players have holed bunker shots to win tournaments twice? As Daniel Berger put it: "Jordan being Jordan".

 

This ability to pull off an amazing shot under intense pressure repeatedly is an intangible that separates the truly greats from the very good. Tom Watson clearly had it and it appears Jordan does too.

Easy........

[johnnypro]

I really like Tom Watson. Spieth is a better Putter.

 

I wish some guys who saw a *young* Tom Watson play would comment. My understading is he made everything. Stories about him slamming balls in from distance. He lost that edge, but at one time, I have heard he was stone cold.

 

I saw all of Tom Watson's career and, in his prime, he made more long putts than anyone I've ever seen and hen he didn't make one, he always made the 3 - 4 foot come backers. Spieth is a GREAT putter. Better than TW in his prime? Tough call.

[Couples1]

Watson played fast and was a joy to watch ... Spieth is annoying and slow as hell

[LittleLeftToRight]

I really like Tom Watson. Spieth is a better Putter.

 

I wish some guys who saw a *young* Tom Watson play would comment. My understading is he made everything. Stories about him slamming balls in from distance. He lost that edge, but at one time, I have heard he was stone cold.

 

I am just old enough to have seen Watson play in his prime. Dude could putt. Made serious bombs like you have never seen before and since. Spieth is a good putter compared to others his generation, but Watson was in a league of his own for a few years. Like everything though, he lost it. Hard to keep those things going.

[zoots]

you guys must be bad bunker players, that is the simplest shot in the world for any pro or half decent am. Give me a 20 yard shot over water or a trap off a tight lie and I'd skank one for sure

 

Azinger did same at MVillage to beat Payne one year ... and Kuch did it at Harbor Town not long ago as well

 

 

Exactly. I've heard tour players over the years from Player to Mickelson say how they feel they want to pull the pin on these type of bunker shots because they feel that confident about holing it.

 

Even his buddy JT tweeted beforehand he felt Spieth was going to hole it out, not because he is clairvoyant, but because he understands tour pros are licking their chops when it comes to this exact type of bunker shot.

[Darth Putter]

I really like Tom Watson. Spieth is a better Putter.

 

I wish some guys who saw a *young* Tom Watson play would comment. My understading is he made everything. Stories about him slamming balls in from distance. He lost that edge, but at one time, I have heard he was stone cold.

 

Yes, he made them from all over the place and made a lot of the comebackers as well. He did have a few misses of course, one from eight feet at the 72nd to cost him a tie with Gary Player at the 1978 Masters. Similar to Jordan, he had a 1,2,2 streak at Augusta. He also missed a two footer for birdie at #7 in the final round of the 1982 US Open. Watson's last nine at the Western Open in 1984 where he edged out Greg Norman in a playoff had to be seen to be believed as a short game masterpiece. It went off the rails later of course, but in his prime Tom Watson's short game and putting are among the best ever.

[hardcaliber]

you guys must be bad bunker players, that is the simplest shot in the world for any pro or half decent am. Give me a 20 yard shot over water or a trap off a tight lie and I'd skank one for sure

 

Azinger did same at MVillage to beat Payne one year ... and Kuch did it at Harbor Town not long ago as well

 

 

Exactly. I've heard tour players over the years from Player to Mickelson say how they feel they want to pull the pin on these type of bunker shots because they feel that confident about holing it.

 

Even his buddy JT tweeted beforehand he felt Spieth was going to hole it out, not because he is clairvoyant, but because he understands tour pros are licking their chops when it comes to this exact type of bunker shot.

 

Sure, but how often does it actually happen? I don't think it's very often but it's probably something that can be looked up. Also, we have people saying it is easy and others saying it's pure dumb luck, which seem like polar opposites.

 

 

[hardcaliber]

Its crazy how a guy with such a terrible swing can be a hall of famer in his early 20's. Golf must be really easy...

 

I think we have developed an unhealthy fascination with golf swing aesthetics. Some people on this forum would rather line every one up with a panel of judges and have a swing competition ala figure skating or a dog show rather than actually count strokes and have a golf tournament.

 

I don't mind the on course histrionics personally. There is a long thread on here about how Fowler sucks because he doesn't care if he wins or loses. People presumably assume that about him because he is pretty stoic and even keel. Spieth, on the other hand, is a classless brat. Seems that there is a very narrow band of emotion that must be shown or else you are either classless or totally apathetic. Maybe just a grimace here or there, perhaps a properly timed frowny face.

 

Terrible swing? Classless brat? What planet are you watching golf coverage from?

 

I think we actually agree with each other. My comments are kind of meant to be a jab at people who made these claims in earlier posts.

[Jay ZG]

Its crazy how a guy with such a terrible swing can be a hall of famer in his early 20's. Golf must be really easy...

 

I think we have developed an unhealthy fascination with golf swing aesthetics. Some people on this forum would rather line every one up with a panel of judges and have a swing competition ala figure skating or a dog show rather than actually count strokes and have a golf tournament.

 

I don't mind the on course histrionics personally. There is a long thread on here about how Fowler sucks because he doesn't care if he wins or loses. People presumably assume that about him because he is pretty stoic and even keel. Spieth, on the other hand, is a classless brat. Seems that there is a very narrow band of emotion that must be shown or else you are either classless or totally apathetic. Maybe just a grimace here or there, perhaps a properly timed frowny face.

 

Terrible swing? Classless brat? What planet are you watching golf coverage from?

 

Your reading comprehension is abysmal.

[hell_is_chrome]

Back in the old days, Tom Watson had the reputation of always making the amazing shot that won the tournament. "Doing a Watson!" was defined as holing a shot or a long putt to win just when you thought he might be folding. What happened at 17 at Pebble Beach for the US Open is a good example, only one of many. There were articles questioning his ball striking skills in the golf magazines (no internet back then). One golf magazine even described him as having being the best short game in the world coupled with the ball striking of a 4 handicap. A totally absurd statement but it reflected his ability to get the ball in the hole when it mattered. Even if he wasn't hitting it as solid as Nicklaus.

 

Spieth's ability to pull off the amazing once in a life-time shot when it matters is very similar. How many players have holed bunker shots to win tournaments twice? As Daniel Berger put it: "Jordan being Jordan".

 

This ability to pull off an amazing shot under intense pressure repeatedly is an intangible that separates the truly greats from the very good. Tom Watson clearly had it and it appears Jordan does too.

 

Not only the 2 holed bunker shots, a holeout and long birdie putt at Colonial and a long birdie putt in the playoff at Valspar. Even though he spit the bit at St. Andrews on 17 & 18, he made about a 50 foot birdie on 16 to get into a tie.