Hi Anthony,

What's your best contact

It's not so much folding as to the over shadowing nature tiger brings with him, just something that players will have to get used to i think

time to take this off the blog

Alex,

Interesting to watch yesterday - Holmes spit the bit.

If it happens to Phil, it was "given" to him.

If it happens to Tiger, he "intimidated" them...

2under,

The latest absurdity these guys are spouting is that Woods might actually win every tournament and every match he enters this year.

They must surely realize that that will never happen, but they rant on as though there is a possibility that it might.

Alex,

I took a break from this site for awhile. Seems
like nothing has changed. I look down the headlines
on these blogs, and they all seem ridiculously
contrarian, for the sake of being ridiculously
contrarian. When I scan the titles and see that
Mr. McDonald believes the LPGA has more "guts" than
the PGA, it almost makes me laugh.

Maybe we should start our own blog.

2under,

Punter and others have a way of looking at practically the same set of circumstances surrounding Tiger in one event and Phil ion another, and arriving at two diametrically opposed conclusions.

If Tiger were to shoot a spectacular round on Friday and vaulted into a four-shot lead, something he has done many times, and then played somewhat cautios and safe golf to maintain his lead and eventually win the tournament, Punter et al would say that Tiger showed his class and his guts by holding safe his only pursuer. And this despite that pursuer making a whole string of unlikely putts AND scoring a hole-in-one. And they would be quite correct in that analysis.

But when Phil does exactly that, somehow according to these guys, Phil was lucky and undeserving.

Two weeks ago, when Phil made up four strokes in the final round to tie J.B.Holmes and get into a playoff, none of these fellows thought much of it.

When Phil lost in sudden death, these folks saw fit to say that Phil "choked" in the playoff, while saying nothing about J.B's spectacular birdies on eighteen, once in regulation and again in the playoff for the victory. But no matter. If Phil had won in that playoff, he would have been "lucky" according to Punter and the boys.

Alex USMC 1969-73 Semper Fideles

Punter,

How many tournaments has Tiger won, where he
hasn't necessarily done anything spectacular, yet
others "melt-down" around him? Plenty. It happened
at Dubai, just very recently. Did you watch Ernie melt
down? Yet we're not lambasting Tiger, are we?

Phil played his game. Quinney made some long putts
which kept him in the match. Anyone watching knew he
wouldn't be able to keep that up. Phil, I suspect, knoew
it as well.

He didn't have to do anything spectacular. Quinney did
all the work for him.

Surely you mean Jeff Quinney? Seems to me that Phil only missed two putts that he SHOULD have made - par putt on 15 and birdie putt on 8.

Tiger purring? You mean about how he could never get the job done at Riviera (which is probably why he doesn't play anymore).

Like he purred when Phil beat him in Boston.....BANG!

Tiger must have purred loudly as Mickelson's hammer missed the coffin-sealing nails on more than one occasion. Putts that The Woods makes to seal opponent's doom missed the hole entirely when struck by the Son of Mickel. Tiger truly is an endangered species, one that self-spawns once every three-four generations.

irresistible - I was laughing too much.

I'm sorry but this is just irrestable! I make a habit of scrawling through Last Comments and came across the above absolute beauty from Maureen. (Actually I think she may simply have googled McGinley and come up with your post). I am still clutching my sides. Please tell me it wasn't a spoof?!

Of course I then had to read your post,( which was great as usual, although as you know we Brits don't usually do compliments). 10-2 to USA in the Singles, hmmm. Almost completely the reverse of course. Even my predictions were closer.

Much appreciated Dawg, and don't let that Ron Mon put you off (though he's right of course!)

I disagree, Dawg. I don't believe that it Riviera evaluates great talent. If you go to this URL (http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r007/winners.html) and look at the list, the only multiple-major winner over the last quarter century is Nick Faldo in 1997. Jack Nicklaus never won at Riviera. Why can't Mickelson run away from anyone? He lost to J.B. in a playoff, and had ample opportunity to separate himself from Quinney today (round 3), yet failed.

IMHO this is one of the most enjoyable reads on the day to day happenings of any event on the PGA Tour. If Mickelson plays well on this "ball-strikers" course, he can play well anywhere.

And yet many object to the new cut rule. Speed up, play better or ship out. Can't remember the last time I didn't play in the flaming wind. A bitter easterly this morning. Sorry if I sound bitter - still thawing out, but still round in under 4 hours, thank goodness.

Yes Jake, of course they halted because of darkness, but why did it take them so long that they couldn't finish before it got dark?These things are supposed to be organised so that rounds are completed on the day they are started - otherwise it's unfair on those caught out at the end of the day, like the unfortunate Dustin Johnson who I see is 2 over half way through his second (morning) round, having first had to get up at the crack of dawn to finish three holes from yesterday. The only thing I can think of that slowed them up so much was the windy conditions. If they'd just been dawdling surely they would have been put on the clock.

The missed cut 2 weeks ago was disconcerting and reason enough to pass on him this week. But the form of 4-5 years ago was not the same golfer of the past 2 years Back then he couldn't find the fairway with a compass and Riviera is not the place for a wild driver. Also, some of that time he even didn't have a Tour card.

You said before nightfall?? I'm pretty sure they halted play because of darkness? The tour wouldn't halt it because of wind.

That'll be the Steve Stricker who had a 42nd and a missed cut before deciding to avoid this event for three years? And missed the cut two weeks ago? Not for my money I have to say.

Here's one vote, hoping my fantasy man Steve Stricker wins his first of the year. I also have Rose, Cabrera & Quigley but can't see any of them possibly winning at Riviera.

I saw Johnson at the Porter Cup (Niagara Falls) last Summer, and he is one goofy duck...he goes about 6 feet 14 inches, and seems to dip down through impact like Byron Nelson (not all that bad.) He seems to have what the other Walker Cuppers lack, that indefatigable belief in his own brilliance and importance. You can dress them up, but you cannot grow stones on bare ground.

I blogged about some new players before, namely Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, and Yang. They all have a chance to win today, amazing. Dustin has really had a great start to his career.

This tournament blows.
It's wrecking my Fantasy Golf score.

The answer is an absolute no. I don't understand the basis for you thinking there might be a connection.

Hi,
Recently, after many, many years of searching Irish ancestery records, I have found a connection to Henry and Margaret McGinley of Glenlough in Glencolmcille, County Donegal. They were my great-great-great grandparents, born in 1777 and 1772 respectively. They died within a month of each other in 1866. Are you related to them? If so, could you take time from your busy golf schedule to answer a couple of questions? What was Margaret's maiden name and where did she come from? And did Henry have a son named James wo lived at Port? If so, what was James' wife's first and last names? If you could answer these questions I would be forever grateful. Good luck with your golf.
sincerely,
Maureen Dyer Ickrath

Tiger could have won The Master and US Open last year were it not for Zach and Angel played ou of their minds.

So it all depends if someone have a hot streak in those major weeks. Tiger can only play as well as he can to put himself in position, and hope that no one else played better.

Fair point Oliver but the thing you have to be wary of in the winner without market is the possibility of ties which you don't get in the winner market.

When you analyze the swing of many tour players you see that they stand too close to the ball AFTER they hit it with the driver which makes it rough on 7,500 yard courses as you pointed out. To me it looks like Tiger is just too good right now underlined by the fact his adjusted stroke average was 1.5 less than second last year. So if he won all the events I wouldn't be surprised. I enjoyed wagering on golf when I thought Tiger was off his game and felt prices on other players were way too high but not now. If I were able to play I would participate in the field minus Tiger pools.

Dustin Johnson T12 following T10 at Sony. Pretty darn good first two.

Well do ya think he was finally put off by this one then? :-)

He must have read your January 15th blog entry for motivation.

One rookie I'm high on is Dustin Johnson who finished T10, not bad for his 1st start. I also like Yang who finished T20.

Ok, well maybe he hasn't yet to prove anything, but his accomplishments are still better than most of us when it comes to golf :P

Ha, i like the first comment, it gave everyone something to write and comment about.. :)

Stanley,

Did I read your comment correctly?

Didn't you state positively just a few months ago that Bubbles would win at least once in 2008 on the LPGA tour.

Or are you a different "Stanley" than the Wie Warrior who said she would be the youngest to win a major LPGA title?

I was watching the live broadcast of the Kelly Tilghman gaffe. Clearly, she meant it as a compliment to Woods. Although I figured there would be some of this buzz about the comment, I noticed that Faldo was non-plussed about the comment as she made it. This is strictly an American thing and Europeans really don't have the appreciation of how politically charged that comment was. There are a few characters in the black community who make a living and gain stature by creating a fervor over the slightest racial issue. Doesn't mean it isn't stupid but we see & hear this stuff every day.

well, kelly has been suspended for two weeks for "offensive language"

by that very sentence, tiger should have taken the full year off for his "spaz" comments at the masters

Most Likely we will never hear from her again

Michelle also gave a lot of readers something to write in about..Too Bad she can't Win

Had Stricker gone to the range for those 25-30 minutes while the field was finishing, he would have had a better chance in the playoff. Didn't play at all like the man who charged into a tie for the lead.

I believe he travels on a Canadian passport.

Hi Oliver, good to see you again. One player I'm hoping for more good things from is Hunter Mahan. But I'm excited too to see how some of the newbies get on, including our own Kenneth Ferrie. There's been a lot of hype about Jason Day which he may initially not live up to, but he's already shown how useful he can be on the PGA circuit. I'll also be interested to see how our Paul Casey gets on now he's decided to try his luck in America.

Anthony, I'm thinking Brandt Snedeker could be a good play this year. He almost won the Aussie Open and was 5 under yesterday before finishing 6-6. Other new players I like are Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, and the two asians Jin Park and YE Yang. Also Chris Stroud who played last year came on strong at the end of the year. Looking forward to your commentary.

Hi Shanks. I was intrigued to see Angel tipped on the CBS Sports site on the basis that the wet weather would hand a particular advantage to long hitters like him. He's certainly handily placed, but if the conditions dry up he will of course lose that supposed advantage.

Glad you're back, Punter. How do you like Cabrera's chances this week?

That's very kind Mark, thanks. It's good to be back. Ron Mon, I honestly think the answer to your question is "Yes".

He was re-reading his Agatha Christie, ehh, General MacArthur? I'm co-reading that particular mystery with my wee daughter, and enjoying it much. I'll have to delve into her golf mysteries next. Am I the only one who sees "sneaker" each time Brandt Snedeker appears on the leader board?

Welcome back to the fray, Punter! We've missed you. :-)