2012 Masters

[CentreHice]

Using the golf media as a gauge....it would seem everybody wants Tiger Woods to win and return to #1 status. The focus is beyond obvious...almost embarrassing.

I wonder, in reality, how many golf fans want to see that happen.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

I know some who really have a hatred on for Woods, and I know a few others who don't mind him at all.

Me? I hate to see an athlete who had a chance to be the measuring stick for the sport they were in, only to blow it later. Mike Tyson and Danny Duval come to mind right away, and IMHO, Woods was well on that track to epic failure.

The only thing that irks me about the PGA is the coverage Woods gets even if he's down and out of the competition. No golfer gets more coverage than woods regardless of how he's playing and, to me, it's simply not fair to the other golfers and to the viewers who enjoy watching the sport. I'm not saying all golfers and viewers have the same opinion, but the coverage is extremely biased; similar to the CBC/Leaf love-in I guess. But, unlike the Leafs, Woods looks to have the potential to re-capture his form sooner rather than later.

I used to like seeing Woods excel, but I also like the rise of a few of the other golfers as well. I really like watching Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Pádraig Harrington just to name a few.

One other golfer I'm keeping a tabs on is Matt McQuillan, who grew up playing golf here in Kingston. He's currently ranked fourth amongst Canadian golfers and at 30 years of age he still has a lot of gas left in the tank. Matt used to golf at Amherstview Golf Course (in addition to other courses in the area), which is only about an 8-minute drive from the house. Never knew him, though.

Woods? I think it would be great for the sport if he got back into his groove. He's a millionaire many times over, but he's also made a lot of money for the sport and other people as well. Wouldn't bother me if he wins or loses this one to be honest, but I'd to see him back in form.

Cheers.

[blny]

I don't think he'll ever be the same dominant force. One, the competition is better. Two, as he closes in on 40 it gets harder and harder to dominate.

I've never loved or hated Tiger. Payne Stewart is still my favorite golfer, and he's been dead for 13 years.

[CentreHice]

Stewart's ill-fated flight....what a nightmarish event.

Article

[blny]

Apr 6, 2012 18:52:20 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

Stewart's ill-fated flight....what a nightmarish event.

Article

From the triumph at the US Open that year, to his untimely death. It was a sad time that golf still remembers on its anniversary. Golf just isn't the same without Payne on the course.

[franko]

I've never figured out the love affair for Woods . . . from day 1.

put me in the "don't really care" group . . . and I'm just as happy when someone else wins so that the adulation is spread out a bit.

[seventeen]

I'm definitely in the ABW (anyone but Woods) category. For some reason, shortly after he arrived on the scene, he rubbed me the wrong way and I've never liked him since. I'm still not sold on if his performances have been 'cough' enhanced. Can't pin a reason on why I dislike him. Not that I'm a big golf follower, but I always enjoyed Vijay Singh and Ernie Els (and cheered exclusively for Mike Weir, while he was near the top). Maybe I like big, slow moving guys (at golf, not hockey).

[franko]

in a lot of way, 17, I'm like you. not quite the ABW . . . and cheered for the Canadian on the tour. unfortunately, Weir choked again

[CentreHice]

And what's the main item on ESPN's home page this morning?

A stacked leaderboard doesn't include Tiger Woods. Can he climb back into the mix on moving day?

Complete with a picture and a hotlink to another page called Woods' chances

[Skilly]

I'm in the ABW group. As an avid golfer, I enjoy hearing stories and commentary on all the golfers, to see the human aspect to them. You can't get that with Woods in the tournament, cause its four days of Woods, Woods Woods.

I use to have a little hate-on for Bubba Watson, until I saw a clip where he talked about all the things that would be going through his head when he'd stand over a shot. I could relate, cause that's my biggest problem ..... Stop thinking about stuff that has nothing to do with the shot.

Dis, David Duval didn't really blow it. He got a major case of vertigo, and it's truly remarkable he can still play.

I'm a major follower of the European players nowadays. They play a similar game that I'm used to ..

Back to Woods, I realize he is great for the game of golf. Not sure why he tinkered with his swing. But even though he is good for the game, there has never been a more ungentlemanly, standoffish, player in the history of the sport. Yes there were other "jerks" , Nicklaus comes to mind, but they learned in their 30s that they had to change .... I don't see Woods changing, and it's the American media's fault. They have him built as bigger than the game itself.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Thanks Skilly. I honestly didn't know that.

First time out this year will be tomorrow at 9:20 AM. Looking forward to it.

Cheers.

[blny]

Apr 6, 2012 23:02:23 GMT -5 franko said:

in a lot of way, 17, I'm like you. not quite the ABW . . . and cheered for the Canadian on the tour. unfortunately, Weir choked again

Weir fell victim to two things. One, after considerable success he couldn't leave his swing alone. He HAD to tinker with it. It ruined his confidence, and imo lead to reason number two: injury. He's had a couple of surgeries on one of his wrists. He hasn't been remotely the same since.

Woods has taken to completely revamping his swing. While he won recently - at a tournament he's had his name on a slew of times - his confidence isn't there.

I honestly don't get it. It's something unique to golfers. Other elite athletes develop and hone their technique, get to the pros and reap the benefits. They don't decide to revamp the 'wheel' after the fact. Baseball players don't change their swing. Hockey players don't change the way they shoot the puck. Both may tinker with their weapon of choice, but they don't change the way the swing.

The golf swing is such a complicated thing, once you find something that breeds success leave it alone. It's borderline schizophrenia to tear apart something that works to try and re-invent it. OCD at the very least.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

I see Phil Mickelson and Peter Hansen had good back-9's yesterday. Mickelson with a 30 and Hansen with a 31.

Also, Louis Oosthuizen's double-eagle on hole 2 brought him to -3 after two holes. Heck of a shot and I'm glad I saw it.

Mike Weir couldn't make the cut after the second day. Too bad about Weir. If he's worried about his swing, maybe try to hire Sean Foley. He seems to be helping a lot of the pros with their swings.

Cheers.

[blny]

I missed the final round today. Watson's a pretty laid back guy. Sort of the every man's champ.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

I actually enjoyed watching this year's Masters. Lots of coverage on golfers not named Tiger or Woods.

Quite the shot that decided the tie-breaker.

Cheers.