Woods wins, Garcia and Mickleson choke... again...

mygolfbuddy · January 29, 2006

Another clutch performance by Tiger Woods down the stretch. Meanwhile Sergio Garcia goes down the drain on Sunday AGAIN! Phil choked as well. That was a pretty exciting finish.

When Phil chokes everyone is all over him, meanwhile Sergio slinks away with one of his hotties and escapes criticism... Must be nice...

sergizmo · January 29, 2006

Garcia is turning into a bit of an under-achiever. One of the best ball-strikers on tour, especially with the longer irons, but an absolutely terrible putter. He should have at least one major by now and a lot more wins.

Johnny · January 29, 2006

Another clutch performance by Tiger Woods down the stretch. Meanwhile Sergio Garcia goes down the drain on Sunday AGAIN! Phil choked as well. That was a pretty exciting finish.

When Phil chokes everyone is all over him, meanwhile Sergio slinks away with one of his hotties and escapes criticism... Must be nice...

I'd hardly call that clutch either...sure if you asked Eldrick he would agree.

codylowrygolf · January 29, 2006

How about Nathan Green. I was dying for him. To almost have it locked up after that drive. At the very least he had the 16th hole in front of him. Hopefully this wont screw him up like it did that guy who Tiger beat at Disney. The one with the incorrect putter grip. You know... whats his face....

mygolfbuddy · January 30, 2006

I agree that he's an underachiever , Garcia won only once on the PGA tour last year, at the Booz Allen Classic against a weak field. He's good for top ten finishes, but thats about it...

animalistic · January 30, 2006

garcias got such a good all round game except his putting.if he was somewhere

in the middle of the pack or slightly better in the putting stats, i think we would be looking at a worthy challenger to tiger.....i know a few of you might say he doesnt have the confidence or the record or the mental game and hes a bit fiery, but believe me if he could putt, his confidence would be skyhigh, hed be winning[possibly majors]hed be a little easier on himself and it wouldnt put so much pressure on his iron play to stiff it and produce tap in birdies, which no-one can do, but it seems thats the only way he can one putt!!!!!!!

lazyjc4 · January 30, 2006

I'm not sticking up for Sergio, I feel like most that he is not a good finisher when in contention, but I would like to correct the notion that last year's Booz Allen field was weak. No Tiger, but Els, Vijay, Phil, Goosen, Scott, etc. played, and it was at Congressional, certainly a much tougher course then TPC Avenel, the normal host course. I don't remember the exact world rankings at the time, but I'd wager most of the top 20 played in that event.

Sisu · January 30, 2006

Surprised how Sergio can perform so well in the Ryder Cup and not in regular tournaments.

He sure can focus when competing there.

nikeguy · January 30, 2006

Sergio is a good player and his swing is solid...The problem with him is pressure. Some people can really deal with pressure and other's just come apart. The 8th hole on suday to hit it into a hospitality tent that has nothing to do with his putter???

I am a sergio fan but he needs to learn how to be composed and close a event against Tiger; Phil; Ernie in the US before he will win a major...You can putt lights out but you have to get there in regulation ON SUNDAY!

They all look good thursday thru Saturday but when Sunday rolls around he falls apart.

sergizmo · January 30, 2006

Garcia is turning into a bit of an under-achiever. One of the best ball-strikers on tour, especially with the longer irons, but an absolutely terrible putter.

While putting is one of his weaknesses, it was not the reason he lost this tournament. I understand that not everyone gets to watch the tournaments, but if anything putting was what kept him in it for so long. Sergio was 2nd for the tournament in putts per round (27.5) and T24 in putts per GIR (1.750). Compare this to Tiger who was T24 in putts per round (29.3) and T34 in putts per GIR (1.769).

The reason Sergio lost this tournament? His iron play was a disappointment, his usual Sunday struggles occured again, and the leader in GIR last year struggled in that area. If you watched his play he would come out of his swing with the irons and pull a lot of shots. Countless times he would drop the club in his finish yet he grinded and almost won.

He was averaging around 72% GIR last year, his numbers for this tournament 62.9, T for 64. His first three rounds where he was the leader after 3? 72, 67, 72%. His final round where he struggled? 38%. He simply wasn't hitting greens. Comparatively Tiger was 67, 78, 78, 75, for a total of 74.3%, T9.

Sergio's loss in a lot of tournaments can be contributed to the putter. But you cannot put the blame for his loss this tournament on the putter. He struggled in an area where he normally excels in and picked up in his trouble area from last year. That reason, and that reason mainly is what has me thinking that Sergio's going to have a big year, in spite of this loss.

To be honest I didn't really watch the tourney or follow the week's stats. I was just making a general statement about what seems to be holding Garcia back in general, not really this specific event. Thank you for the stats. They are certainly interesting, the opposite of what one would normally expect.