2021 Players Championship (1st major of the year)

[tatertot]

2 minutes ago, SwooshLT said:

This Tournament reminds me how good/great JT really is......DJ has that consistent anti-left shot and just doesn't miss much; Rory had that pretty high draw 

But JT has shots throughout the bag .....his soft arm irons , draw fwy woods, steady cut Driver (especially going back to TS3) 

 

And a super tidy short game ...... 

 

THROUGHOUT the bag ... what was it, 27 straight GIR, missed the final green by about 2 inches or he would have went 18/18 on Sunday. And that's not just irons, that's drives putting him in great positions. If he made any putts on the first 7 holes today, he runs away with it.

[KRAMER1997]

2 minutes ago, tatertot said:

THROUGHOUT the bag ... what was it, 27 straight GIR, missed the final green by about 2 inches or he would have went 18/18 on Sunday. And that's not just irons, that's drives putting him in great positions. If he made any putts on the first 7 holes today, he runs away with it.

Agreed. I love the little bullet cuts he hits with his driver. 

[SwooshLT]

4 minutes ago, tatertot said:

THROUGHOUT the bag ... what was it, 27 straight GIR, missed the final green by about 2 inches or he would have went 18/18 on Sunday. And that's not just irons, that's drives putting him in great positions. If he made any putts on the first 7 holes today, he runs away with it.

 

Granted he said this was the best he hit it in awhile but we've seen it before and I could watch it all day.......not as elegant as Rory but a smidge easier to slot it

[luke1333]

Why does Bryson not hit driver on 18 and cut the corner? Even if he ends up in rough past pine straw no big deal that close to green right??? JT and Westie took a much more aggressive line

[3whacker]

14 minutes ago, luke1333 said:

Why does Bryson not hit driver on 18 and cut the corner? Even if he ends up in rough past pine straw no big deal that close to green right??? JT and Westie took a much more aggressive line

because BD hits driver through the fairway, or brings the water in play...he still hit wedge into the green...I wouldn't want him hitting a half wedge in , would rather he takes a full club in..cutting the corner doesnt do him any good

[rafal]

The aim of his approach on 16th and how he played away from the flag on 17th were so cowardly.  Going for the pin at 17 would get him tons of respect but he chose money, and still bogeyed the hole.

[tatertot]

18 minutes ago, luke1333 said:

Why does Bryson not hit driver on 18 and cut the corner? Even if he ends up in rough past pine straw no big deal that close to green right??? JT and Westie took a much more aggressive line

Pine straw is always a big deal ... you don't know what kind of spin you're going to get, so distance control is tough ... which is a problem when you're staring at water just past the pin.

[tatertot]

1 minute ago, rafal said:

The aim of his approach on 16th and how he played away from the flag on 17th were so cowardly.  Going for the pin at 17 would get him tons of respect but he chose money, and still bogeyed the hole.

Yeah, Westwood's shot at 17 was not good, and he paid for it. The approach (and first bunker shot) at 16 were just ugly.

Edited March 15, 2021 by tatertot

[Christen_The_Sloop]

Just now, tatertot said:

BD acted like he thought his shot would fade towards the hole at 17 ... now Westwood, he totally played to the fat of the green and paid the price.

BD hit his shot exactly where you would expect on 17. A hair to the right and it works it's way to the hole. It didn't, but he still made a decent run at birdie, just a tough putt.

[Greg_B]

Congratulations to JT for a great win. A superb player and a good person. 

[Go Cougs]

9 minutes ago, rafal said:

The aim of his approach on 16th and how he played away from the flag on 17th were so cowardly.  Going for the pin at 17 would get him tons of respect but he chose money, and still bogeyed the hole.

I'm playing a bit of devil's advocate here, but I think it's possible LW was playing for a fade on 17 and it just didn't fade. 

 

It's hard for me to believe that with the incredible amount of money he's made over the years in tournament wins and endorsements that his strategy was to play it safe, rather than win, in order to scratch out what to him would be an insignificant amount of additional money.  

 

I mean with a young player trying to secure their tour card, sure those things come into play.  But with a guy like Westwood?  The difference in money between finishing in say solo 2nd place or something like 4th makes absolutely no difference in his life.

[cardoustie]

Solid win

good for Westy as well

[tacklingdummy]

I was rooting for Westwood. So many times in the past he has been leading or in contention at majors or important tournaments and hasn't be able to close. Second so many times. He is playing some of the best golf on the PGA right now. 

Edited March 15, 2021 by tacklingdummy

[bscinstnct]

LW, must be bitter sweet to be playing right in the thick til the last and come away with no W 2 weeks in a row.

 

Then again, it took 2 of the very top guys on the planet to beat him and he was right freakin there to the end. He will kick himself for some terrible shots but pretty amazing what he’s doing out there. 

[luke1333]

39 minutes ago, tatertot said:

Pine straw is always a big deal ... you don't know what kind of spin you're going to get, so distance control is tough ... which is a problem when you're staring at water just past the pin.

I said rough past the pine straw not on the straw

[beluga99]

25 minutes ago, Go Cougs said:

I'm playing a bit of devil's advocate here, but I think it's possible LW was playing for a fade on 17 and it just didn't fade. 

 

It's hard for me to believe that with the incredible amount of money he's made over the years in tournament wins and endorsements that his strategy was to play it safe, rather than win, in order to scratch out what to him would be an insignificant amount of additional money.  

 

I mean with a young player trying to secure their tour card, sure those things come into play.  But with a guy like Westwood?  The difference in money between finishing in say solo 2nd place or something like 4th makes absolutely no difference in his life.

They did mention his birdie which took him to outright 2nd was worth $500k, as opposed to three way tie with Bri and Bry.  Not an insignificant amount of money, but I take your point.

[Go Cougs]

Just now, beluga99 said:

They did mention his birdie which took him to outright 2nd was worth $500k, as opposed to three way tie with Bri and Bry.  Not an insignificant amount of money, but I take your point.

Yeah, I heard them say that.  But $500K is insignificant to a guy like Westwood.  It makes no difference in his life.  Definitely not worth foregoing a shot at the win (which would certainly be significant to him).

[CasualLie]

I'm guessing the LW sideshow is over.  It was fun while it lasted.  Too bad, I would have liked to see that rare win as Sawgrass has produced many a winner that was a "where did that come from?!", but Lee was Lee through and through.

 

I'm still not understanding what was that club selection for 16 approach?!?!  Now we know why winners have real caddies.  Did he not feel any wind???  JT was closer and hits 5W.  When I saw Lee with iron in hand I was thinking wtf...is he laying up???

 

I'll forgive the shot on 17 as it was not a bail out, he clearly didn't have it today.

 

As already posted, JT reminded us he's quite a stick.  Rory can learn from that.

[Arn]

Lee Westwood is a legend, not a sideshow.

[Holy Moses]

8 minutes ago, CasualLie said:

I'm guessing the LW sideshow is over.  It was fun while it lasted.  Too bad, I would have liked to see that rare win as Sawgrass has produced many a winner that was a "where did that come from?!", but Lee was Lee through and through.

 

I'm still not understanding what was that club selection for 16 approach?!?!  Now we know why winners have real caddies.  Did he not feel any wind???  JT was closer and hits 5W.  When I saw Lee with iron in hand I was thinking wtf...is he laying up???

 

I'll forgive the shot on 17 as it was not a bail out, he clearly didn't have it today.

 

As already posted, JT reminded us he's quite a stick.  Rory can learn from that.

A few holes earlier he hit three iron from 264 and was almost pin high. I don't know about the club selection on 16, but he wasn't aiming anywhere near the green. 

[deadsolid...shank]

1 minute ago, Holy Moses said:

A few holes earlier he hit three iron from 264 and was almost pin high. I don't know about the club selection on 16, but he wasn't aiming anywhere near the green. 

With his fade, and what looks like a pretty low ball flight, can he get that ball over the tree and on the green?

[tiderider]

3 hours ago, OBbogey5 said:

Thomas just parred 15 and is looking good good for 16, 17, and 18 the way he’s playing. If he wins, I do not want to hear about how he’s been through the trials and tribulations considering his own self inflicted F word incident. 

[CasualLie]

42 minutes ago, Holy Moses said:

A few holes earlier he hit three iron from 264 and was almost pin high. I don't know about the club selection on 16, but he wasn't aiming anywhere near the green. 

 

Completely different wind.  Is he longer than JT???

 

I like Westwood, great player.  Legend?  I don't know.  I'm saying not, but not strongly attached to that. I won't debate anyone if they say he is.

 

But there's no denying he's come up short on the big tournaments countless times on Sunday.  And so many times it wasn't because he shot a solid round and someone just took it from him, it was because he didn't play Sunday as he did the first three rounds. 

 

I'm not saying he choked or that he can't close tournaments, just that he can't close the big ones.  It's not like I'm even remotely going out on any limb.

Edited March 15, 2021 by CasualLie

[randywildman]

2 hours ago, GolfTurkey said:

I think Amanda B does a much better job of post-round interviews; she avoids the ridiculous / controversial questions

I don't think her contract lets her jump networks, she works for CBS and NBC was the reason we got Sands  😞

[tiderider]

3 hours ago, Lagavulin62 said:

 

There really is a reason he never won big tournaments. Just too conservative on Sundays when it really mattered. You are 47, have all you need financially, never won anything big in the US, it’s the Players, not even a major, and even if it was who cares, and you are competing with young guns that have no fear and can put up birds at anytime, and you’re playing like you have a 4 shot lead? Pathetic. Just insane. 

that 2nd shot on 16 is indicative .... can't try to slice it past the tree there ... got to go at the fat with a straight shot or draw off the water ... 

[tiderider]

3 hours ago, SwooshLT said:

 

 

ROLL TIDE! How bout now? Lol

 

 

Helluva day for the crimson tide! ROLL TIDE!

Edited March 15, 2021 by tiderider

[bscinstnct]

LW 2nd, Casey 5th, Sergio 9th

 

At the 5th Major and every top young gun in the field. Deepest fields in history!

 

🤣

 

Westy, Casey, and Sergio like

 

 

Edited March 15, 2021 by bscinstnct

[KRAMER1997]

JT only needs one major to catch YJS!

[Ronnie Mundt]

Westy just hit a bad shot on 16. It looked like a low heeled fade that was pulled. Bad shot. For a guy that has made his career with the high fade, I was so amped when he hit a great drive on that hole, only to have him botch his second. It sucks, I was rooting hard for him. I don’t doubt he wants to win, but that doesn’t cut it on tour these days. Guys are hungrier and want to stack wins with Tiger out of the picture. Lee just looks like he’s out for a stroll with his babe.

[grm24]

 

 

Edited March 15, 2021 by grm24