Koepka defends title; shows charisma with fist pump; glfwrx goes wild

[flushem]

For the bottom dweller list. At least they have way better odd than T Romo. S Kang 250/1 with today's win from 3000/1

 

Michael Kim 1000/1

Martin Trainer 1000/1

Shaun Norris 1000/1

Satoshi Kodaira 1000/1

Y.E. Yang 1000/1

Davis Love III WD

Vijay Singh 1000/1

John Daly 1000/1

Rich Beem 3000/1

Shaun Micheel 3000/1

Alex Beach 3000/1

Danny Balin 3000/1

Stuart Deane 3000/1

Jason Caron 3000/1

Ben Cook 3000/1

Rich Berberian Jr 3000/1

Rod Perry 3000/1

Jeffrey Schmid 3000/1

Marty Jertson 3000/1

Casey Russell 3000/1

Brian Mackey 3000/1

Ryan Vermeer 3000/1

Rob Labritz 3000/1

Craig Bowden 3000/1

Justin Bertsch 3000/1

John O'Leary 3000/1

Cory Schneider 3000/1

Craig Hocknull 3000/1

Andrew Filbert 3000/1

Tyler Hall 3000/1

Brendan Jones 1000/1

Bronson Burgoon 1000/1

[imakaveli]

How will the course play? wide or narrow? rough? greens stupid hard or reachable?

[Rangeballz]

No network coverage until 1 PM Eastern on Thu/Fri? Shameful! I know they have online/App coverage, but it seems they could use CBS Sportsnetwork or some other obscure channel for some early day cable coverage.

[freeze16172002]

played that black 100's of times. you need to hit the fairway, the rough is brutal with that high wispy grass that wraps around the hosel

[Lodestone]

> @imakaveli said:

> How will the course play? wide or narrow? rough? greens stupid hard or reachable?

 

it has been a cool, wet spring. I'd expect the rough to be nasty. Perhaps the greens not as fast as they'd like. Although I don't think the forecast calls for any rain during the tournament, so maybe they can get them hard and fast, if they want.

[imakaveli]

> @Lodestone said:

> > @imakaveli said:

> > How will the course play? wide or narrow? rough? greens stupid hard or reachable?

>

> it has been a cool, wet spring. I'd expect the rough to be nasty. Perhaps the greens not as fast as they'd like. Although I don't think the forecast calls for any rain during the tournament, so maybe they can get them hard and fast, if they want.

 

thanks!

[cav5]

I'll be there Wednesday for the practice round. Can't wait. Does Tiger still play early?

[gvogel]

> @tiderider said:

> who all has played the black? ... played it 2 years ago for the only time, thus far, though will play it on a 2-day layover this june before heading to scotland ... played the red on a monday, and got a little too excited that night about being in long island and playing bethpage ... drank way too much wine and had a fairly decent hangover the next day as i got up at 6 to go acquire a tee time ...** teed off at 9 and shot a smooth 78 from the whites carrying 11 clubs** ... got up/down for par from the fairway on 15/16 and that deep left bunker on 17 ... very proud of that one ...

 

11 clubs - that's my kind of golf. Great round, by the way.

[ckay]

> @Lodestone said:

> > @imakaveli said:

> > How will the course play? wide or narrow? rough? greens stupid hard or reachable?

>

> it has been a cool, wet spring. I'd expect the rough to be nasty. Perhaps the greens not as fast as they'd like. Although I don't think the forecast calls for any rain during the tournament, so maybe they can get them hard and fast, if they want.

 

Based on my last round there a couple weeks back, the greens were rock hard and as fast as a billiards table. Rough was manageable and I don't think they will grow it out as long as most people are expecting given that this is not a USGA event. They've narrowed in quite a few fairways. The lack of fescue will help with low scores as well.

 

As far as favorites, I think you have to take Phil at 55:1.

[tiderider]

weather forecast has improved a bit ... see op ...

[tiderider]

PGA website says it will be a par 71, not par 70 as for the USOpens ... #4 will be kept a par 5 ...

 

edit: course is a par 70 ...

[tiderider]

> @ckay said:

> > @Lodestone said:

> > > @imakaveli said:

> > > How will the course play? wide or narrow? rough? greens stupid hard or reachable?

> >

> > it has been a cool, wet spring. I'd expect the rough to be nasty. Perhaps the greens not as fast as they'd like. Although I don't think the forecast calls for any rain during the tournament, so maybe they can get them hard and fast, if they want.

>

> Based on my last round there a couple weeks back, the greens were rock hard and as fast as a billiards table. Rough was manageable and I don't think they will grow it out as long as most people are expecting given that this is not a USGA event. They've narrowed in quite a few fairways. The lack of fescue will help with low scores as well.

>

> As far as favorites, I think you have to take Phil at 55:1.

 

eh, phil has openly stated he's nervous since he did not play well at the WFC & did not play the week before this tournament ... never heard him state that so openly ...

[OldTomMorris]

> @flushem said:

> For the bottom dweller list. At least they have way better odd than T Romo. S Kang 250/1 with today's win from 3000/1

 

No money on Romo this week

[legitimategolf]

> @tiderider said:

> PGA website says it will be a par 71, not par 70 as for the USOpens ... #4 will be kept a par 5 ...

 

You sure?! #7? Thought that's the one the USGA made into a par 4. Cannot imagine #4 as a par 4. Green is too tiny.

[gvogel]

Terrible day for practice today, and cold tomorrow with a high of 51*. Weather improves considerably for the tournament proper. It will be difficult for first time players at Bethpage Black to get acclimated.

[tiderider]

> @legitimategolf said:

> > @tiderider said:

> > PGA website says it will be a par 71, not par 70 as for the USOpens ... #4 will be kept a par 5 ...

>

> You sure?! #7? Thought that's the one the USGA made into a par 4. Cannot imagine #4 as a par 4. Green is too tiny.

 

?? ... #4 ... will be played as a par 5 ... was a par 4 for the US Open ...

 

edit: you're right ... not sure how i got mixed up ... #4 was a par 5 and #7 was changed ... thanks ... course will be par 70 ...

[dalehead]

> @"Darth Putter" said:

> > @Apathy_Overdose said:

> > Doesn't BPB play par 70 for the pros?

>

> It will play as a par 70. The seventh will be the same distance but play as par 4.

>

> A 524 yard par 4....

 

That's a 300 yard drive and a 224 yard 5 iron. Pretty routine these days.

 

[imakaveli]

This doesn't feel like a Major Monday at all...

[QuigleyDU]

> @imakaveli said:

> This doesn't feel like a Major Monday at all...

 

I agree. Plus it is way too early in the year for a northeast major location.. PGA screwing it up already..

 

 

[Rangeballz]

Agree it's tough to get used to a major in May. But it is "major week", so I'm trying to get pumped.

[QuigleyDU]

> @Rangeballz said:

> Agree it's tough to get used to a major in May. But it is "major week", so I'm trying to get pumped.

 

They should dump the PGA as a Major and switch it to the players.. haha.

[tsecor]

Rory will win by 5 or 6 shots going away.......lock it in....

[imakaveli]

And then after Portrush we have to wait 9 months (!!!) to see another tournament that matters... wtf...

Really not a fan of this.

[518TitleistX]

I'll be going down there for moving day. should be interesting. I've played the black a few times with the best round a couple years ago 2 weeks before the Barclays. Shot 78 from the back tees with birdies on 7,10,12,17 and 18. Easily one of my most memorable rounds ever!

[ckay]

> @dalehead said:

> > @"Darth Putter" said:

> > > @Apathy_Overdose said:

> > > Doesn't BPB play par 70 for the pros?

> >

> > It will play as a par 70. The seventh will be the same distance but play as par 4.

> >

> > A 524 yard par 4....

>

> That's a 300 yard drive and a 224 yard 5 iron. Pretty routine these days.

>

 

Sounds reasonable from a scorecard view, yes. Also, depending on where the tees are your longer hitters will end up with a 3 wood or 2 iron to stay short of the bunkers as it is possible to hit it into the bunkers that run across.

 

However that comment can only come from somebody who hasn't played 4 or seen it in person, as there is so much elevation going into the blind green with a steep collection area off the back that is mowed tight. If it runs through the collection area, you better hope you're drawing a gallery to stop the ball from rolling into the weeds.

 

 

[Big A HG]

I feel like we are going to see a winner this week that has effortless distance and doesn't feel uncomfortable on the tees. Between the cooler weather, damp conditions, and playing out of the rough on long approaches, you need to be comfortable driving the ball a long way. If you do manage to find fairways, the long approaches will still test your iron game, and ultimately your short game (because you will undoubtedly miss greens). Tiger's mediocre accuracy and distance off the tee will cause him to struggle, this isn't Tiger of old (plus I don't really like that he has a whole month off). He doesn't have the raw strength to make up for this over four days. However, if anyone can do it, it's Tiger. Pebble is setting up perfect for Tiger 2.0, but that is a different story.

 

I think we see one of the usuals...DJ, Brooks, or maybe Rose. Rahm may be a good candidate to get his first major, but as good as he is, I don't think he's ready to grind over four rounds to win a major.

 

[fillwelix]

> @ckay said:

> > @dalehead said:

> > > @"Darth Putter" said:

> > > > @Apathy_Overdose said:

> > > > Doesn't BPB play par 70 for the pros?

> > >

> > > It will play as a par 70. The seventh will be the same distance but play as par 4.

> > >

> > > A 524 yard par 4....

> >

> > That's a 300 yard drive and a 224 yard 5 iron. Pretty routine these days.

> >

>

> Sounds reasonable from a scorecard view, yes. Also, depending on where the tees are your longer hitters will end up with a 3 wood or 2 iron to stay short of the bunkers as it is possible to hit it into the bunkers that run across.

>

> However that comment can only come from somebody who hasn't played 4 or seen it in person, as there is so much elevation going into the blind green with a steep collection area off the back that is mowed tight. If it runs through the collection area, you better hope you're drawing a gallery to stop the ball from rolling into the weeds.

>

>

 

Just smash driver as hard as you can, then hit a nice feathery soft hybrid as high as you can so it stops on the green,

 

_if only golf were that easy_

[legitimategolf]

http://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/26738138/tiger-prepares-first-post-masters-tournament

 

_"Woods noted the length of the par-4 seventh hole, which normally plays as a par-5 but is a par-4 of 524 yards. After a good drive, Woods had 259 yards left to the green and came up short using both a 5-wood and then a 3-wood."_

[OldTomMorris]

Very curious to see how Molinari rebounds after Augusta/Hilton Head MC.

I like Rory or Brooks for the win.

[18majors]

> @"Big A HG" said:

> I feel like we are going to see a winner this week that has effortless distance and doesn't feel uncomfortable on the tees. Between the cooler weather, damp conditions, and playing out of the rough on long approaches, you need to be comfortable driving the ball a long way. If you do manage to find fairways, the long approaches will still test your iron game, and ultimately your short game (because you will undoubtedly miss greens). Tiger's mediocre accuracy and distance off the tee will cause him to struggle, this isn't Tiger of old (plus I don't really like that he has a whole month off). He doesn't have the raw strength to make up for this over four days. However, if anyone can do it, it's Tiger. Pebble is setting up perfect for Tiger 2.0, but that is a different story.

>

> I think we see one of the usuals...DJ, Brooks, or maybe Rose. Rahm may be a good candidate to get his first major, but as good as he is, I don't think he's ready to grind over four rounds to win a major.

>

 

It requires soft hands on top of masculine plays; Brooks Koepka or Francesco Molinary is my pick.