What up w Xander?

[Vardon Grip]

Can't close the deal.  Is he washed out? 

 

 

(hahaha, I couldn't resist!!!)

 

 

[Draw Driver]

6 minutes ago, Vardon Grip said:

Can't close the deal.  Is he washed out? 

 

 

(hahaha, I couldn't resist!!!)

 

 

Lol Classic WRX.

 

I’ll bite. All the birdies leading into the 16th demonstrates that he was hitting too pure today and therefore, didn’t score well to close.

 

It happens. 

Edited April 11, 2021 by Draw Driver

[Vardon Grip]

Well, he has a lot of talent, has come close in a lot of majors and is yet to hit paydirt. Hopefully he doesn't Rickie out, not sure he can pull off a Corona bucket commercial. 

[Skhacker]

Still young. Just needs to figure out how to handle the pressure and close on Sundays. 

[MtlJeff]

He's 27 and Phil Mickelson didn't win a major until age 33. Probably can give him some time , he's been in contention a lot. I mean Sergio and Adam Scott ended up winning majors. 

 

He'll get it done eventually

[Mathwiz]

Gotta learn how to control that adrenalin!

[Arn]

Hahahahahaha 

[Dave230]

I can empathise after all the times at my humble level I've got a birdie, got pumped up and then dumped the next shot into the water/out of bounds. He'll learn for next time.

[Tasals]

58 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

He's 27 and Phil Mickelson didn't win a major until age 33. Probably can give him some time , he's been in contention a lot. I mean Sergio and Adam Scott ended up winning majors. 

 

He'll get it done eventually

Agreed,

 

Tiger much like the Patriots have totally warped more than a generation of fans on what a realistic career should be. Phil is an outlier as well, Phil has thrown away what 2-3 majors on the 72nd hole in his career?

 

Xander had to chase Hideki down, maybe taking a direct line at the par 3 was silly but he was going for the win. Hideki had shots to spare and used them down the stretch. Its why you see a bunch of the guys chasing make major errors, they have to take on those risks.

[MMB1500]

I feel very sorry for him. He overruled his caddie and got it wrong. He'll win a major one day though. 

 

In the meantime, he needs to start counselling asap and get out ahead of this. 

 

Edited April 12, 2021 by MMB1500

[Vardon Grip]

To be fair, it was probably a full 8 iron, just not a chunked 8 iron like the one he hit. 

[MMB1500]

3 minutes ago, Vardon Grip said:

To be fair, it was probably a full 8 iron, just not a chunked 8 iron like the one he hit. 

 

Yes. I thought he chunked it as soon as he hit it. I'm not claiming I knew it was going in the water, bit it didn't sound right. However, Xander was was categorical in his post-round interview that he "flushed" it and suggested the wind was the issue.

 

Maybe this is one of those times when the player blames something (anything) external as a way of dealing with the pain and "forgetting" their mistake. 

[nikeblades00]

Xander said he pured it. He said he was in attack mode being 2 down with 3 to play. I still he needed to choose his spots better, this wasn't a birdy hole. He needed to par this hole, play more conservative. Now the pressure is on Matsuyama who's hitting second. I actually like both players and had no horse in the race but man I really wanted to see how Matsuyama would of responded if Xander hits the green.

[ATLgopher]

17 minutes ago, MMB1500 said:

 

Yes. I thought he chunked it as soon as he hit it. I'm not claiming I knew it was going in the water, bit it didn't sound right. However, Xander was was categorical in his post-round interview that he "flushed" it and suggested the wind was the issue.

 

Maybe this is one of those times when the player blames something (anything) external as a way of dealing with the pain and "forgetting" their mistake. 

 

If that was “flush”.... then i may be an elite ball striker 

[ColoradoMike]

36 minutes ago, Vardon Grip said:

To be fair, it was probably a full 8 iron, just not a chunked 8 iron like the one he hit. 

I might be mistaken, but I thought he said he hit the 9?

[gsrjc]

Hit 8 and you could be the amount of dirt on the club as he gave it to his caddie. Hit it fat. 

[phizzy30]

He's been on tour what 4 years?  He's also only 27.  Late bloomer IMO but extremely talented.  Filthy long off the tee for a smaller guy and his ball striking is right up there.  When his putter gets hot, he tends to win.  I'm certain he will win a major before it's all said and done, perhaps even a few.  

Edited April 12, 2021 by phizzy30

[Need4spd]

1 hour ago, MMB1500 said:

Maybe this is one of those times when the player blames something (anything) external as a way of dealing with the pain and "forgetting" their mistake. 

It’s been said that Jack Nicklaus was a master of this.

[YMark]

1 hour ago, gsrjc said:

Hit 8 and you could be the amount of dirt on the club as he gave it to his caddie. Hit it fat. 

So since there was dirt on the club, your conclusion is that he hit it fat? Interesting.

[Vardon Grip]

7 minutes ago, YMark said:

So since there was dirt on the club, your conclusion is that he hit it fat? Interesting.

I think the ripples in the water kinda gave it away.

[phizzy30]

6 minutes ago, YMark said:

So since there was dirt on the club, your conclusion is that he hit it fat? Interesting.

Tbh, the shot did sound a hair fat but we gotta go with Xander's word that it was flushed.  Benefit of doubt goes to the pro until proven otherwise.  Plus, remember.  It's never the indian, always the arrow, LOL. 

[GolfTurkey]

IMO he didn't seem right before he hit that shot. It looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but on that tee having to hit the shot.

 

Same expression that I get when I walk into the dentist's office

[ALIF]

Maybe he got a case of 24 hour (Sundays only) Finauitis?

[Popeye64]

3 hours ago, nikeblades00 said:

Xander said he pured it. He said he was in attack mode being 2 down with 3 to play. I still he needed to choose his spots better, this wasn't a birdy hole. He needed to par this hole, play more conservative. Now the pressure is on Matsuyama who's hitting second. I actually like both players and had no horse in the race but man I really wanted to see how Matsuyama would of responded if Xander hits the green.

Completely disagree. 16 is by far the best chance at birdie and had to make one there. 

[rangersgoalie]

 It an expert, and I honestly do not want to question Xander, but when he hit that shot I out loud said F@&$.  I thought it was wet as soon as he hit it 

[anth]

It’s not just today. There is a definite pattern forming. He gets into winning positions in big tournaments consistently and hasn’t been able to close the deal in a major (yet). 
 

IF I were a psychoanalyst I might be inclined to look into his relationship with his father. Seriously, he had an interesting upbringing and I’m wondering if subconsciously there is something going on...

 

But I’m not a psychoanalyst so what would I know?

[iBanesto]

15 feet further right, Schauffele would have been fine.

 

It is not the worst shot we've seen under the pressure,

 

 

[KennyP]

1 hour ago, anth said:

 

IF I were a psychoanalyst I might be inclined to look into his relationship with his father. Seriously, he had an interesting upbringing and I’m wondering if subconsciously there is something going on...

 

But I’m not a psychoanalyst so what would I know?

 

Yes. Every time I duff an 8 iron I find myself questioning my relationship with my father, my mother and Christ Almighty. 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2021 by KennyP

[toddnt]

Choke.. Pure and Simple! Like going for the pin on 12, well TW learned from Jack that you go center of green, 2-jack and keep it moving! How you not hitting it center of green and using slope!! Choke! And I like the guy!

[anth]

I don’t think it was a choke. The swing looked fine and he was in control.

 

I think there is some sort of subconscious self sabotage going on.  He’s done this a few times now. The thing is he just throws in these wild mistakes or soft bogies right when you think the moment is there for the taking.

 

It’s strange. It’s completely mental, but it’s not choking. It’s something else