By the way, why in the world an 18 hole playoff? Don’t they usually just replay the 18th, then 17th and 18th, etc as necessary? Why 2 guys for a full 18? If it’s going really bad for one of them it could be a very public, lengthy ass kicking.
[QUOTE=lieu]
By the way, why in the world an 18 hole playoff? Don’t they usually just replay the 18th, then 17th and 18th, etc as necessary? Why 2 guys for a full 18? If it’s going really bad for one of them it could be a very public, lengthy ass kicking.
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Tradition, i guess. They said on ESPN last night that the US Open is the only Major to have a full 18-hole playoff.
[QUOTE=lieu]
By the way, why in the world an 18 hole playoff? Don’t they usually just replay the 18th, then 17th and 18th, etc as necessary? Why 2 guys for a full 18? If it’s going really bad for one of them it could be a very public, lengthy ass kicking.
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Yeah. It also disproportionately favors Tiger. Rocco could easily have won a sudden death format. All it takes is one mistake from Tiger, or a great shot from Rocco. But over 18 holes he’ll have trouble keeping up.
[QUOTE=lieu]
I’ve usually nothing but respect for Tiger but couldn’t help but notice he grimaced and played up the pain after his bad shots more than his good yesterday, which is probably what made his club flingings so ugly late in the match. Maybe if I hadn’t played 18 Saturday with someone who’d just gone through a hip replacement (needs another but has to wait because of blood loss) and did so without all the theatrical grimacing it wouldn’t have struck me wrong.
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Actually, as the announcers mentioned frequently, you couldn’t tell his good shots from his bad ones because of the grimacing. His tee shots on three and four (I think) were right in the middle of the fairway, while Tiger was keeled over in pain. Johnny Miller mentioned this more than once.
I think it’s pretty low to say a guy is faking pain when you have no evidence for it. The golden rule goes a long way in dictating how to behave in situations like that.
Yeah, there were several times when he would groan or cry out after a tee shot and I would think he must have yanked one into the shit, but it was right down the fairway. Normally, you can tell if Tiger has striped one by the way he calmly bends over and picks up his tee, but not this week.
Not to mention there might actually be a connection between the pain in his knee and a bad swing.
You know, I’m basically thinking outloud to myself here…but a full 18 might actually be more fair to Mediate in the playoff. The 18th hole is a par-5, so a one-hole sudden death or three-hole playoff ala the PGA format would have favored Tiger’s length off the tee. Mediate needs chances to make his birdies and let Tiger make his mistakes. I do think his chances are small, though.
Tiger might be a couple strokes better,but golf is fickle. Bad bounces,lipped out putts, the ball sinking into the rough ,lots of things can change the winner. All pro golfers are incredible players and Rocco can win. Couple breaks is all he needs. Tiger likely will hit some ugly tee shots. Lose a couple balls and he is gone.
[QUOTE=Dinsdale]
I’ve readily acknowledged that he is - IMO - the most dominant athlete in the history of sport. And Rocco’s gotta feel sick about those 2 short putts he missed on the back 9.
A large part of my dislike for him is based on the failure of EVERY OTHER PLAYER IN THE WORLD to step up to the plate. Fucking lefty pulls a Tin Cup quad on the course he grew up playing. What was the Big Easy doing taking it easy in the trees on the back 9 yesterday. Yesterday I thought Westwood might step up, but no. Sergio? Who’s he? Retief? Bueller? A golf fan shouldn’t be in the position of hoping some guy like Rocco pulls the round of his life outta his ass to beat Tiger.
Hell, Tiger doesn’t just beat everyone when he is on top of his game. He whups them when he is playing like shit.
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It is difficult for people who are lesser golfers to step up to the plate. They know it will take a near flawless round to beat the guy, and that “laying up” isn’t going to cut it against Tiger. So, they take more risks and usually implode. I believe that is why there is always a different player in the pairing with Tiger on Sunday. Nobody else can maintain that greatness with any kind of consistency.
[QUOTE=gonzomax]
Tiger might be a couple strokes better,but golf is fickle. Bad bounces,lipped out putts, the ball sinking into the rough ,lots of things can change the winner. All pro golfers are incredible players and Rocco can win. Couple breaks is all he needs. Tiger likely will hit some ugly tee shots. Lose a couple balls and he is gone.
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Sure, he can win. It would be a phenomenal achievement for him, too, and extra poignant considering that he had a good shot at winning the (2006?) Masters before his back gave out mid-round on Sunday.
I just don’t think it’s likely. This amounts to match play, and unless he has his best day and Tiger has his worst, he’s up against some big odds.
[QUOTE=Figaro]
You know, I’m basically thinking outloud to myself here…but a full 18 might actually be more fair to Mediate in the playoff.
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Sorry, but no way.
Unless Rocco pulls a Villanova, Tiger could win this one using nothing longer than a 5 iron.
Just about every time Tiger got in trouble was due to wild drives. But he could follow his (British) Open success, and just play irons hitting fairways and greens.
I think Tiger would be overjoyed to take a 4 on this first hole. It’s been kicking his ass all week. Even a 5 would probably be welcome at this point.
There it is. He finally got one on the fairway. It’s over.
[QUOTE=Dinsdale]
Sorry, but no way.
Unless Rocco pulls a Villanova, Tiger could win this one using nothing longer than a 5 iron.
Just about every time Tiger got in trouble was due to wild drives. But he could follow his (British) Open success, and just play irons hitting fairways and greens.
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They tied up until this point, why would it be impossible now?
[QUOTE=Snarky_Kong]
They tied up until this point, why would it be impossible now?
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Big difference between Tiger playing the field, as opposed to Tiger playing against 1 guy - especially 1 guy who hits so much shorter than him.
Would be mildly interesting to see how they set the course up today. How long, what pin placements, etc.
1 hole down, and Rocco is down one.
Turn out the lights.
Right. No point in playing the next 17 holes.
[QUOTE=cricetus]
Right. No point in playing the next 17 holes.
[/QUOTE]
What odds would you require to put money on Rocco?
Hey, Mediate is now leading.
I am so rooting for him. It would mean all the world to him, and not so much for Woods. Plus, I always root for the older players.