2020 Memorial Tournament

[Jackhammer993]

Overall I like Phil but days like today have me shaking my head. Him carrying around the coffee cup and placing it on the green when he putted felt out of place. I minded the putts off the green less but still he over did it. Rahm getting penalized opened back up the cup of worms where you will have people calling in again all the time. It is what it is, just make sure it’s consistent.

[grm24]

Call in's by "fans" on potential rules violations have not been accepted since 1/1/2018. Golf's major tours, governing bodies will stop fielding rules inquires from viewers watching tournaments on TV

[straightshot7]

What is your point? All I see is a link.

It wouldn't be the first time they changed the rules...see https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/major-changes.html

[tw_focus]

The rules on this matter are clear, the texture of the rough is no excuse. If players are worried that the ball may move at address then they should play it like a bunker shot and not ground the club in the rough. If you ground the club behind the ball then you're taking that risk, and the correct penalty was assessed.

[grm24]

I think this comment from Phil from 2006 after he almost knocked over the merchandise tent on #18 at Winged Foot fits this as well. “I still am in shock that I did that,” Phil Mickelson said afterwards. “I just can’t believe that I did that. I’m such an idiot.”

[Jay28]

Not assuming anything. It's a fact that some American fans don;t like it when a non American wins. That is clear from the reactions each time it happens. Has nothing to do with a world view, or a view on Americans in general. It's the same as saying, correctly, that some American golf fans seem to think it's cool to shout rubbish like 'mashed potatoes' after every drive - they are idiots.

Once again yesterday, there were American fans who hated that Rahm won. You just don't get the same reaction from golf fans of other countries when an American wins. Golf just seems a lot more tribal in America.

 

[Dave230]

Anyone that thinks Rahm is a cheater because of that penalty needs to get over themselves, millimetre move on ultra zoomed camera when in quite heavy rough with basically no advantage. If the officials think it’s a penalty then it must be a penalty but it’s not as simple as calling yourself up on it = honest, not calling = cheater. Believe 99% of golfers would have done the same there.

[MattyO1984]

Strange day - I gave up on watching it when the hooter went but the weekend action just had a strange feeling to it for me. Loved that the course was playing so tough. That together with the weather conditions (lightening delay aside) really should have made for some compelling viewing but I am just not in on Rahm. I have nothing against him, just never taken to him and until his little wobble on the back 9, it looked like he was just playing terminator golf whilst nearly everyone else fell away. Also feels odd that someone can ascend to World Number 1 with 4 career wins total (including one team event) on the PGA Tour.

 

The biggest thing that I took from the weekend though - what is going on with Phil? Genuinely me and a fried were messaging each other over the weekend saying that it feels like he is on the precipice of some kind of Britney Spears style breakdown. It seems like one strange decision after another at the moment. Whether he will actually hit the self destruct button and start chasing cameramen with umbrellas remains to be seen but as his sixth decade rolls on, I can definitely see it getting to the stage where even Gary Player is looking at him and thinking “jeez, calm down Phil”.

[Dave230]

To be fair Rahm has won 6 European Tour events and 4 of them Rolex Series with similar or better fields to the PGA Tour tournament on that week. He’s also been maybe the most consistent player in the world since he turned pro, 22 top 3s since 2017, 46 top 10s. Could do with winning a major this year though if he wants to be considered the best.

[MattyO1984]

Totally agree, his Euro Tour wins definitely bump up his resume and his consistency has been insane so getting to #1 is insane but at this moment in time, he is more Luke Donald than Lee Westwood even. That is not a criticism at all and I am sure that in due course his resume will look better than Donald’s and likely Westwood’s.

[Ferguson]

 

 

Saw Bones on the bag for Matthew Fitzpatrick, calling it "temporary." I recall a thread a few years back where I supported the premise that Bones was terminated. No one wanted to listen. Isn't it funny that Bones can carry a bag on a tough course, with chronic knee problems (and his knees haven't gotten any younger in 2020) and the timing just so happens to line up with the expiration of a typical non-compete.

 

At the time of his dismissal, others argued that "Phil is great guy, a statesman.......................Bones has chronic knee problems.........the graduation is the right thing to do...........Phil WOULD NEVER fire Bones."

 

 

[Sean2]

And some European fans don't like it when an American wins. What's your point?

I couldn't care less about the nationality of the player who won. The best player won that week, and that's all there is to it.

[Ferguson]

 

I got 10 bucks that JAY28 gets mad when an American wins an event.

 

A photo of his place taken after the 2019 American Masters.

 

[braincramp52]

After reading a few of your posts I have to say, you have a strange view on golf and Americans.

[Sean2]

LOL!

[MattyO1984]

I thought that was Bryson’s room after his mum told him it was time for bed!

[Nels55]

I agree on this one, there was no reason for Rahm to be putting his club behind the ball like that when the lie was obviously rather precarious. I see tour pros doing questionable stuff with the clubhead behind the ball quite often and I think that the tour ought to make a point to the players that they should not be doing that.

[tsecor]

hahahahahahahahah

[tsecor]

and that gets him nothing on the course....

[tsecor]

Rham is really good but he is far from classy.....

Koepka or Rham in a 18 hole match??????

[milesgiles]

Phil has to be the center of attention, always. He’s a child. Wouldn’t have done that if the camera weren’t on him.

 

[stingerfade]

Funny thing tho is you’re the only one talking about it and bringing it up. Hmmm maybe you’re just some genius savant like Rahm. Watch out for those penalties!!

[Holy Moses]

Yes Rahm is not a cheater, but if you are going to tap the club a few times behind the ball in a fluffy lie in the rough, you shouldn’t be looking at your landing area in case the ball does move.

[Holy Moses]

Phil was sending a message to Jack that he didn’t like the course setup. Same thing he did to the USGA a few years ago. Phil got the USGA to change, but he’s not going to influence Jack.

[Holy Moses]

Bones has filled in before when a caddie went down. I don’t think this is anything different.

[MattyO1984]

Agreed! 10 years ago it might have had something of an impact but now, a 50 year old who is verging ever closer to has been and circus clown status is not someone that you would be listening to when it comes to course setup.

[fillwelix]

He was on the bag for JT in Hawaii (?) a couple years ago

[cardoustie]

I THINK PHIL PUTTED ON 13 as he thought it was the best way to get it close. I did the same in Scotland in 2012 .. from 66 yards . .down a hill .. long putter, rolled it to a foot

Re all this Euro vs USA stuff, can’t we all get along? Love, from a neutral Canadian with Euro heritage, born in Australia, that winters in USA

As Penick said, “if you play golf you are my friend”

[Jackhammer993]

There are obviously many on this forum who are of the opinion that the penalty was warranted and some even going so far as to feel Rahm cheated. To me this was a setback from the perspective that the game was trying to move past the details that slowed the game down and were in many cases unreasonable. Patting down spike marks, balls moving on greens, dropping from behind your back. Now this happens and it just opens the door for all of those people who sit and watch broadcasts more for the intent of finding fault than just enjoying top quality golf. Many well informed individuals are not supporting this decision. I agree with them.

[puttingmatt]

Congratulations John Rahm, great day.

Congratulations to Jack and Barbara Nicklaus and to the entire tournament staff for a fantastic show, the course set up looked great. Thanks , enjoyed the presentation.