2018 PGA Championship (Master Thread)

[bladehunter]

I unfortunately missed most of tigers round yesterday 1st hand . ( kid function. I know right. What kind of church schedules a kids musical on a major Sunday with tiger in the mix. ). So I followed like any good dad on my phone during. Lol. Recorded it at home. Just watched first 9 holes while eating lunch and man. You should watch it again. Tigers iron display was incredible. If he hit Driver like brooks he’d have shot a stupid number. He is going to figure that club out and destroy a regular event field soon. I mean by 7-10 shots destroy.

[Chief Illiniwek]

 

I see him around town often....I'll tell him to pull his head out and win more often! Seriously though, who has a record like this? Darth brought up Harrington....that's about as close as it gets right?

 

I'd love for him to win more events to VALIDATE his majors success.....bass ackwards you know

 

That's rich. The guy needs to win some Honda Classics and Waste Managements, in order to prove that 3 majors were really deserved. :dntknw:

 

 

Listen , he's a 3 Time Major winner with a ton of game.....

If he stays at that total, he will be looked upon as an Andy North type rather Nick Price type player.....more wins moves him into a different echelon IMHO

 

Why should we care if he wins a few Edward Jones Denver Open brought to you by Cialis's? The guy gets up for majors, and they are what makes history. The rest of the tourneys are cash grabs.

[MilkyButterCuts]

I unfortunately missed most of tigers round yesterday 1st hand . ( kid function. I know right. What kind of church schedules a kids musical on a major Sunday with tiger in the mix. ). So I followed like any good dad on my phone during. Lol. Recorded it at home. Just watched first 9 holes while eating lunch and man. You should watch it again. Tigers iron display was incredible. If he hit Driver like brooks he'd have shot a stupid number. He is going to figure that club out and destroy a regular event field soon. I mean by 7-10 shots destroy.

 

I couldn't believe how close he was sticking those things. Best iron play I've seen out of anyone in years. FUnny thing is after the round he said his swing felt horrible on the practice range... guess thats Twoods for you hahaha.

[Potatohead]

The problem with that argument is 10 months into his return isn’t a weak excuse. Most ACL players don’t get back until year 2 except for Adrian Peterson.

 

Most people with a surgical repair back don’t even play golf again.

 

He’s has 7 top 12s in 14 tournaments including a legit chance to win two majors in the back 9 on a Sunday. Big picture here is this is nothing short of amazing. Obviously I’m guilty of being overly excited when the return began but after seeing this who can blame me.

 

The talent is still there. The eye test tells me he will win again.

 

I agree Jere. The talent is there, he is healthy. He does look like he will win. Hence my statement. If he is still "coming back", then at this point, what is he coming back from? It's not physical now.

 

So has he forgotten how to win? If by some chance he never wins again (hypothetical here, not a prediction), then did he never make it back?

 

My point is, i think he is "back". But being back now may be just this, contention. With probably some wins sprinkled in. But I think a lot of hardcore fans think he's going to come back to what or where he was previously. That he's going to win damn near every time he tees it up, and completely dominate again.

 

And now, every time he comes close, but doesn't end up on top, we hear it again. The rationalizations (or excuses in my book) for why he didn't win. Because he's still in his comeback.

 

Physical issues aside, the guy is working on his what... Fourth swing? The fact he is competing again with a new swing which is not really pressure tested, or at least he doesn't know how it reacts under pressure is probably more amazing then the recovery from the surgeries in the first place. The talent level to be able to do that is unfathomable.

[denvergolf]

JT was within a stroke of the lead for 9+ holes, Tiger was within 1 for 14+, and Scott was within 1 for 14+, just because Keopka put his foot on their throats in the last three holes doesn't mean it wasn't dramatic the rest of the day. If you finished watching that tournament yesterday feeling let down, you seriously shouldn't watch golf anymore.

JT faded quickly....Tiger couldn't catch up, just like his entire career,...drama comes down the stretch 16,17 and 18 and besides tiger having a good showing (when he found the fairway), koepka was in control....u can say whatever you want, but it was more hype than drama

Did you prefer the US Open and Open Championship finishes?

[Potatohead]

I was thinking. If twist face technology actually worked, Tiger would have one this thing! :)

 

+1. Hilarious the guy who talks more about a product in a commercial than he ever has before can't use same product technology effectively. Or maybe it does work and it kept TWs ball from OB!

 

I can't think of a bigger product feature failure in golf (and people still buy it).

 

Failure? Koepka uses it too. In fact like half the field uses it.

[radiman]

I was thinking. If twist face technology actually worked, Tiger would have one this thing! :)

 

+1. Hilarious the guy who talks more about a product in a commercial than he ever has before can't use same product technology effectively. Or maybe it does work and it kept TWs ball from OB!

 

I can't think of a bigger product feature failure in golf (and people still buy it).

 

Probably about as effective as Pings turbulators and little dots and firefly tech?

[Shilgy]

 

Lol this is just getting ridiculous. Pins were fine man, all are less than 9 paces from a specific edge of the green. Just because the greens are soft doesn’t mean they can start tucking pins 2 paces from an edge or right behind a bunker. It’s a major championship not a joke. Loads of players still shot over par yesterday.

that's what makes debates good....differing opinions....to me, it was a soft set up and I saw a lot of bad golf down the stretch and a lot of decent golf being played by middle of the road pros....club pros shooting -3 at the PGA? its not like he was 300yards off the tee and played it short...to me, it was a soft set up

One club pro made the cut. Sergio, Stenson, Bryson, Kuch, Noren, Reed, Hoffman, Hossler, Phil, Bubba, Casey all missed the cut. How exactly was it too easy? Or are you using a different definition of "soft". Ot certainly was a bit spongy out there.

[Shilgy]

JT was within a stroke of the lead for 9+ holes, Tiger was within 1 for 14+, and Scott was within 1 for 14+, just because Keopka put his foot on their throats in the last three holes doesn't mean it wasn't dramatic the rest of the day. If you finished watching that tournament yesterday feeling let down, you seriously shouldn't watch golf anymore.

JT faded quickly....Tiger couldn't catch up, just like his entire career,...drama comes down the stretch 16,17 and 18 and besides tiger having a good showing (when he found the fairway), koepka was in control....u can say whatever you want, but it was more hype than drama

When you have three guys within one stroke on the back nine there is drama in the tournament. But keep on spinnin'.

[Shilgy]

I was thinking. If twist face technology actually worked, Tiger would have one this thing! :)

 

+1. Hilarious the guy who talks more about a product in a commercial than he ever has before can't use same product technology effectively. Or maybe it does work and it kept TWs ball from OB!

 

I can't think of a bigger product feature failure in golf (and people still buy it).

 

Failure? Koepka uses it too. In fact like half the field uses it.

The pros are not getting any benefit from twist face. They are not missing the sweet spot by that much. The ball does go offline though if you have an extremely open or closed face and hit the sweet spot.

[Potatohead]

I was thinking. If twist face technology actually worked, Tiger would have one this thing! :)

 

+1. Hilarious the guy who talks more about a product in a commercial than he ever has before can't use same product technology effectively. Or maybe it does work and it kept TWs ball from OB!

 

I can't think of a bigger product feature failure in golf (and people still buy it).

 

Failure? Koepka uses it too. In fact like half the field uses it.

The pros are not getting any benefit from twist face. They are not missing the sweet spot by that much. The ball does go offline though if you have an extremely open or closed face and hit the sweet spot.

 

Missing the point really. The guy says Twist Face is a sham because Tiger isn't that accurate. That makes no sense.

[jerebear21]

JT was within a stroke of the lead for 9+ holes, Tiger was within 1 for 14+, and Scott was within 1 for 14+, just because Keopka put his foot on their throats in the last three holes doesn't mean it wasn't dramatic the rest of the day. If you finished watching that tournament yesterday feeling let down, you seriously shouldn't watch golf anymore.

JT faded quickly....Tiger couldn't catch up, just like his entire career,...drama comes down the stretch 16,17 and 18 and besides tiger having a good showing (when he found the fairway), koepka was in control....u can say whatever you want, but it was more hype than drama

When you have three guys within one stroke on the back nine their is drama in the tournament. But keep on spinnin'.

 

it's cause his boy rory got knocked out before sunday!

[bscinstnct]

JT was within a stroke of the lead for 9+ holes, Tiger was within 1 for 14+, and Scott was within 1 for 14+, just because Keopka put his foot on their throats in the last three holes doesn't mean it wasn't dramatic the rest of the day. If you finished watching that tournament yesterday feeling let down, you seriously shouldn't watch golf anymore.

JT faded quickly....Tiger couldn't catch up, just like his entire career,...drama comes down the stretch 16,17 and 18 and besides tiger having a good showing (when he found the fairway), koepka was in control....u can say whatever you want, but it was more hype than drama

When you have three guys within one stroke on the back nine their is drama in the tournament. But keep on spinnin'.

 

it's cause his boy rory got knocked out before sunday!

 

Ratings were up 69% from last years PGA.

 

So, apparently, some people thought is was pretty ok ; )

[lopey986]

JT was within a stroke of the lead for 9+ holes, Tiger was within 1 for 14+, and Scott was within 1 for 14+, just because Keopka put his foot on their throats in the last three holes doesn't mean it wasn't dramatic the rest of the day. If you finished watching that tournament yesterday feeling let down, you seriously shouldn't watch golf anymore.

JT faded quickly....Tiger couldn't catch up, just like his entire career,...drama comes down the stretch 16,17 and 18 and besides tiger having a good showing (when he found the fairway), koepka was in control....u can say whatever you want, but it was more hype than drama

When you have three guys within one stroke on the back nine their is drama in the tournament. But keep on spinnin'.

 

it's cause his boy rory got knocked out before sunday!

 

Ratings were up 69% from last years PGA.

 

So, apparently, some people thought is was pretty ok ; )

 

No coincidence that 69% coincides with Tiger.

 

69. Tiger. Niiiiiice.

[cardoustie]

that was one of the best tournaments I've ever watched

 

Could've only been better if Phil and Rors were lurking

 

What a stacked leader board of top guys .. the sign a major is run properly ... cream rises to top as they say

[rangersgoalie]

I think it’s pretty funny

Jack Nicklaus basically started the majors are everything to be great thing

Guys have won multiple events in seasons and end up hearing “but he didn’t get a major”

 

And Koepka basically has steely won 3 majors but it’s not enough

 

Well I only played as many majors as Koepka has won, so I’m just going to shoot myself

[oz dee cee]

Great tournament, really enjoyed it. Thought it was a good representation of a major tournament. The PGA ain’t any less than the others when it comes down to competitiveness/competition. Same top players battling it out for history. Can’t wait for the 2019 majors.

[straightshot7]

I sure hope he has a win by this time next year or all we'll hear is "he's only 22 months into his comeback".

 

The "only 10 months into his comeback" excuse is getting played out. He's one of the best champions in all of sports history, he didn't forget how to win. The physical ability to do so is obviously there right now. He's healthy, has plenty of distance, and has all the shots. So at this point I think he's "back". Now it's just a question of if and when this level of being back is going to be good enough to close the deal.

 

The idea of it needing a little time is valid. He sat out a long time and wasn't even able to swing a club a year ago.

 

To be back in contention at 2 majors this quickly is a big accomplishment. There are big names that had no injuries who didn't contend at 2 majors.

 

Why don't we just try to enjoy the process and live in the moment instead of placing judgement on what timeline he has to win in.

 

Never said it isn't a big accomplishment, because after the back surgery it obviously is. However, I'd say a "little time" has has already passed. He's healthy now so it's not a physical issue. So what now is he coming back from? He knows how to win as well as anyone who has ever played.

 

Other big names haven't contended? So what. That's not relevant in any way to this discussion.

 

Im not placing any judgment on when he has to win, I'm simply saying the "only 10 months into his comeback" line is getting weak as an excuse for why he hasn't won. Because at this point that's just what it is, an excuse.

 

As jerebear21 said, 10 months is actually nothing when coming off injuries of that severity.

 

You have to remember, before all of his injuries, Tiger probably never went more than 1 week without hitting balls. He was always in peak form. To sit out a full calendar year and not even be able to swing a golf club for most of it, that's another thing to overcome. You don't just immediately find your top form again. As he said, he didn't even have a golf swing a year ago. He had to build to where he is now. Which takes time. It takes literally hitting thousands of balls again. And he will probably win before this year is over because of that.

 

I'm not making any excuses, because by any reasonable expectations, what Tiger has done this year is a success. There's nothing to make excuses for.

 

And the point about other big names is relevant. He's having a better season than Jordan Spieth, for example. So I'm just wondering if someone defends JS and says "he's just having a bad year, it happens to everyone", are you going to be right there telling them they are making excuses?

 

You are 100% "placing judgment on when he has to win". Otherwise you would have no problem with the 10 month line. You are saying that 10 months is long enough to where he should have won by now, are you not?

[Holy Moses]

Listening to sports talk radio on the way in, the HGH debate came up for over 30 minutes.

 

About Tiger or Brooks? Do they even test for it in golf because you need a blood test for HGH. Not that I think Brooks is on anything illegal. He’s no stronger than a college fratboy that works out a lot. He’s golf strong, but not gym rat strong. Wears nearly a smedium/medlarge which makes him look bigger than he is.

[nix]

The tournament ended up coming down to how the guys on the leaderboard ended up playing the par 5 17th hole on Sunday.

 

Tiger was right off the tee and ended up making a pretty miraculous par. Koepka made a fantastic chip to get close and still missed his birdie putt. When the last groups came to 17, the tournament was in the balance. That is actually pretty rare in a major.

[bladehunter]

I think it’s pretty funny

Jack Nicklaus basically started the majors are everything to be great thing

Guys have won multiple events in seasons and end up hearing “but he didn’t get a major”

 

And Koepka basically has steely won 3 majors but it’s not enough

 

Well I only played as many majors as Koepka has won, so I’m just going to shoot myself

 

Oh don’t do that ! At least wait to see the ball roll back !! ?

[gioguy21]

I think it's pretty funny

Jack Nicklaus basically started the majors are everything to be great thing

Guys have won multiple events in seasons and end up hearing "but he didn't get a major"

 

And Koepka basically has steely won 3 majors but it's not enough

 

Well I only played as many majors as Koepka has won, so I'm just going to shoot myself

 

Oh don't do that ! At least wait to see the ball roll back !!

remember, with new wedges that doesn't happen anymore lol *rolls eyes*

[tsecor]

JT was within a stroke of the lead for 9+ holes, Tiger was within 1 for 14+, and Scott was within 1 for 14+, just because Keopka put his foot on their throats in the last three holes doesn't mean it wasn't dramatic the rest of the day. If you finished watching that tournament yesterday feeling let down, you seriously shouldn't watch golf anymore.

JT faded quickly....Tiger couldn't catch up, just like his entire career,...drama comes down the stretch 16,17 and 18 and besides tiger having a good showing (when he found the fairway), koepka was in control....u can say whatever you want, but it was more hype than drama

When you have three guys within one stroke on the back nine their is drama in the tournament. But keep on spinnin'.

whatever floats your boat...not for me to judge either way.

[tsecor]

Listening to sports talk radio on the way in, the HGH debate came up for over 30 minutes.

 

About Tiger or Brooks? Do they even test for it in golf because you need a blood test for HGH. Not that I think Brooks is on anything illegal. He's no stronger than a college fratboy that works out a lot. He's golf strong, but not gym rat strong. Wears nearly a smedium/medlarge which makes him look bigger than he is.

tiger related. The whole blood spinning story and use of the Doctor A-Rod used....not for me to decide.just saying its funny how that came up when only a year ago Tiger thought his career may be over.....now he is swinging like he is 18 again...That was the argument

[SwooshLT]

 

I see him around town often....I'll tell him to pull his head out and win more often! Seriously though, who has a record like this? Darth brought up Harrington....that's about as close as it gets right?

 

I'd love for him to win more events to VALIDATE his majors success.....bass ackwards you know

 

That's rich. The guy needs to win some Honda Classics and Waste Managements, in order to prove that 3 majors were really deserved. :dntknw:

 

 

Listen , he's a 3 Time Major winner with a ton of game.....

If he stays at that total, he will be looked upon as an Andy North type rather Nick Price type player.....more wins moves him into a different echelon IMHO

 

Why should we care if he wins a few Edward Jones Denver Open brought to you by Cialis's? The guy gets up for majors, and they are what makes history. The rest of the tourneys are cash grabs.

 

 

I don't care if you care or not....the majority of fans equate winning events with being an all-timer....his 3 majors has him in heady company ; his 4 wins begs for more! Not many guys having 3 majors have so few wins....listen, if he ends up with 6-7 majors and 10 tour titles he'd be a legend....a true big game hunter....we don't make light of Tiger winning 5 events per years....Nelson winning 18 straight events....not everything revolves around majors; if so then don't play anything but!

[JonnyKrasnodar]

The problem with that argument is 10 months into his return isn’t a weak excuse. Most ACL players don’t get back until year 2 except for Adrian Peterson.

 

Most people with a surgical repair back don’t even play golf again.

 

He’s has 7 top 12s in 14 tournaments including a legit chance to win two majors in the back 9 on a Sunday. Big picture here is this is nothing short of amazing. Obviously I’m guilty of being overly excited when the return began but after seeing this who can blame me.

 

The talent is still there. The eye test tells me he will win again.

 

I agree Jere. The talent is there, he is healthy. He does look like he will win. Hence my statement. If he is still "coming back", then at this point, what is he coming back from? It's not physical now.

 

So has he forgotten how to win? If by some chance he never wins again (hypothetical here, not a prediction), then did he never make it back?

 

My point is, i think he is "back". But being back now may be just this, contention. With probably some wins sprinkled in. But I think a lot of hardcore fans think he's going to come back to what or where he was previously. That he's going to win damn near every time he tees it up, and completely dominate again.

 

And now, every time he comes close, but doesn't end up on top, we hear it again. The rationalizations (or excuses in my book) for why he didn't win. Because he's still in his comeback.

 

A poignant observation, very well made. He has been very careful up until now to keep a lid on expectations.

 

I think it's likely that deep down he's struggling with the fact that he is NOT as good as he was and he's not figured out how to get over the line yet. In the past, just being near the top of the leaderboard could be enough to win because he was in their heads and fear caused mistakes.

 

He's done the sensible thing and avoided saying "I will win by X point" but as the season draws to a close he knows the longer he goes without winning, the less he can blame rehab or "coming back" on not doing so. If that's the case he's going to have to come up with other "reasons" or finally address/admit the fact he's not the same and perhaps doesn't have enough to get over the line anymore. If he does that then he needs to think about whether he wants to compete for top 10s and not trophies. Will that be enough?

 

I think that's where he's at. Regardless of finishing second, fifth or holding a lead throughout the tournament the fact is he's been several shots off a win when it's all said and done. Now I think what he's done so far has been incredible but can a 42 year old with multiple injury, several back and neck surgeries REALLY make up several shots against today's field?

 

I'm not so sure as he will have to play better than he ever has to beat the current field and parts of his game aren't strong enough yet.

 

He's got a choice to make and that choice will involve him being honest about if he can win again. If he genuinely believes he can then he'll need to stop being the nearly man and get it done. He might just push too hard and I'm not sure his body will take a full time, concerted effort at beating the best on the planet season after season.

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

More amateur analyzing, lol, of Tiger's mind.

 

Can a 42 year old "REALLY" make up several shots against today's field?

 

Well, if you watched Sunday, that's exactly what he did, way better than "the field" except one guy, same with the two days before.

 

This stuff is laughable.

[North Butte]

He is now one of the couple dozen players who, in any given Major, can win the thing by playing very close to their best golf over the course of 72 holes. There is not anyone on the scene today who are the presumptive favorite in a tournament before they ever set foot on the property on Monday (the last such player was Tiger himself back in his prime).

 

So it comes down to will he get it done in a finite number of attempts. There are only four majors per year, only so many years before age or his back or some other contingency close the door again. Figure he's probably got a 1-in-10 chance of winning each one at the moment (same as Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and a handful of other top players). So the odds say he'll get it done at some point in the next couple years assuming he doesn't get injured, re-injured or develop the yips.

 

But it will never again seem like a "sure thing" the way it once did for Tiger. He's not that Tiger any more and the game continues to get more competitive year after year as it always has.

[deadsolid...shank]

I sure hope he has a win by this time next year or all we'll hear is "he's only 22 months into his comeback".

 

The "only 10 months into his comeback" excuse is getting played out. He's one of the best champions in all of sports history, he didn't forget how to win. The physical ability to do so is obviously there right now. He's healthy, has plenty of distance, and has all the shots. So at this point I think he's "back". Now it's just a question of if and when this level of being back is going to be good enough to close the deal.

 

The idea of it needing a little time is valid. He sat out a long time and wasn't even able to swing a club a year ago.

 

To be back in contention at 2 majors this quickly is a big accomplishment. There are big names that had no injuries who didn't contend at 2 majors.

 

Why don't we just try to enjoy the process and live in the moment instead of placing judgement on what timeline he has to win in.

 

Never said it isn't a big accomplishment, because after the back surgery it obviously is. However, I'd say a "little time" has has already passed. He's healthy now so it's not a physical issue. So what now is he coming back from? He knows how to win as well as anyone who has ever played.

 

Other big names haven't contended? So what. That's not relevant in any way to this discussion.

 

Im not placing any judgment on when he has to win, I'm simply saying the "only 10 months into his comeback" line is getting weak as an excuse for why he hasn't won. Because at this point that's just what it is, an excuse.

 

As jerebear21 said, 10 months is actually nothing when coming off injuries of that severity.

 

You have to remember, before all of his injuries, Tiger probably never went more than 1 week without hitting balls. He was always in peak form. To sit out a full calendar year and not even be able to swing a golf club for most of it, that's another thing to overcome. You don't just immediately find your top form again. As he said, he didn't even have a golf swing a year ago. He had to build to where he is now. Which takes time. It takes literally hitting thousands of balls again. And he will probably win before this year is over because of that.

 

I'm not making any excuses, because by any reasonable expectations, what Tiger has done this year is a success. There's nothing to make excuses for.

 

And the point about other big names is relevant. He's having a better season than Jordan Spieth, for example. So I'm just wondering if someone defends JS and says "he's just having a bad year, it happens to everyone", are you going to be right there telling them they are making excuses?

 

You are 100% "placing judgment on when he has to win". Otherwise you would have no problem with the 10 month line. You are saying that 10 months is long enough to where he should have won by now, are you not?

 

I’m simply quoting the line being tossed around. “10 months into his comeback”. He’s obviously healthy enough to win at this point. If he weren’t there wouldn’t be 20 people saying “If only the putts goes in on 1, and the putt on 5”; etc,etc. So if he’s good enough to win now, and he’s 10 months in, then add them together and I guess it’s long enough for him to win by now. Correct? I’m not making a judgement, I’m just using the arguments put out there by the Tiger fans themselves.

 

Someone having a bad round isn’t an excuse, it’s a simple fact (although bad is subjective and different to every person). But there is no qualifier in saying JS is having a bad round. Saying “he’s only 10 months into his comeback” is a qualifier. Plain and simple. So, what the others guys are doing, or how they are playing have no relevance to this particular discussion.

 

You’re correct, what he has done this year is outstanding. He is close to winning, when just playing is pretty remarkable. All I’ve been saying is ,at this point when he doesn’t win, using the time into comeback is rationalizing why he didn’t. Becasue he’s “back”enough to win.

[tsecor]

Tiger on Twist Face: "It's mind-boggling how much better this is going to be for the consumer."