2014 U.S. Open running thread

[HanSenSE]

Did not see one started ... I blame Tiger.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

There'd be more excitement if anyone thought Phil could win, but nobody does.

 

[NFL-Solomon]

The women get higher ratings. Shorter skirts and marginally shorter leg hair, I guess.

 

[Football_Bat]

If Phil or Sergio are sniffing the leaderboard Sunday, I'm in.

Otherwise, bogey golf is godawful to watch.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I feel exactly the opposite way. When these guys can't just go fairway, spin wedge to eight feet, putt, they're also playing more interesting shots.

 

[da man]

I feel exactly the opposite way. When these guys can't just go fairway, spin wedge to eight feet, putt, they're also playing more interesting shots.

I'm with you. I love watching these guys have to pull off shots they never have to even think about in most weeks.

That said, it bothers me when someone hits a shot that lands in what should be a safe part of the green only to watch it wind up in no-man's land.

 

[Mark2010]

It's been a terrible year on the PGA Tour. Woods is out for the bulk of the season. Mickelson missed the cut at both The Masters and The Players. Rory McIlroy has been inconsistent at best.

Other than Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer, the winner's list is a bunch of names most casual fans have never heard of.

I'm predicting a first-time major winner, perhaps another Michael Campbell (who won at Pinehurst in 2005). Someone outside of the top 30.

 

[qtlaw]

While Phil winning would complete an amazing feat (lifetime GS); something very recently unfathomable given his prior title as Best Player Never to Have Won a Major, his dreadful putting gives him almost zero chance.

What would be fun to watch is whether Speith can make a run, as in the Masters, or some other big name, (Rory, Johnson) makes a run.

More likely, someone like Mahan or Kuchar finally gets the magic trophy then recedes back into the background for the rest of his career.

What's cool to me is that the women come in next week for their US Open.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Golf Channel, which is OK with the sound off, had a graphic with an interesting stat. It is well-known Phil has the most second place finishes in Open history with six. But who are the runner-up runners-up?
The answers, tied with four apiece, are Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Not a bad list to be on.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Golf Channel, which is OK with the sound off, had a graphic with an interesting stat. It is well-known Phil has the most second place finishes in Open history with six. But who are the runner-up runners-up?
The answers, tied with four apiece, are Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Not a bad list to be on.

Of those guys, only won is without a trophy.
Even without an Open win, Phil is in good company.

 

[Key]

What's anyone think of the course changes? I like the look of the waste areas, even if it seems like a copycat of Whistling Straights. Still, I think the look is appropriate considering the surrounding terrain.

 

[Batman]

The women get higher ratings. Shorter skirts and marginally shorter leg hair, I guess.

But, when Mickelson is around, smaller boobs.

 

[Mark2010]

I'm betting (and have since 2006 at Winged Foot) that Mickelson never wins the US Open. Six runnerup finishes is still pretty damn impressive.

 

[qtlaw]

Six runnerups is tremendous; however, what do you remember more the Packers winning in 2009 or the Bills with 4 straight SB losses?

 

[Deskgrunt50]

I love birdies as much as the next guy, but the U.S. Open is usually tremendous. Watching the best players in the world grinding for par is great viewing. As a degenerate golfaholic, the struggle is what makes it compelling.

 

[Madhavok]

Love seeing Kuchar and Snedeker up front early. McDowell up there as well.

 

[hondo]

It's been a terrible year on the PGA Tour. Woods is out for the bulk of the season. Mickelson missed the cut at both The Masters and The Players. Rory McIlroy has been inconsistent at best.

Other than Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer, the winner's list is a bunch of names most casual fans have never heard of.

I'm predicting a first-time major winner, perhaps another Michael Campbell (who won at Pinehurst in 2005). Someone outside of the top 30.

Should Matt Every, Steven Bowditch, Matt Jones, Harris English and Brendon Todd have tanked their victories to a top-10 player just to make everyone feel good about watching golf? Adam Scott was certainly free to make all of those 4-footers he missed at Bay Hill to let Every into contention. Never did understand the mentality of casual golf and NASCAR fans when they ***** all the time about the superstars not winning, and somehow thinks it reflects on the sport -- as if somehow we're owed Tiger and Phil and Rory winning everything.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Love seeing Kuchar and Snedeker up front early. McDowell up there as well.

And Mickelson even par, and Fowler 1 under. There's 5 reasons to watch this weekend alone.

And of course, you also have Spieth out there trying to make everyone go 'Tiger who?'

 

[Michael_ Gee]

In the morning, the best players played well. We'll see if that continues in the afternoon. Phil's not going to win (putting!), but even par on Thursday never lost an Open.

 

[Mark2010]

It's been a terrible year on the PGA Tour. Woods is out for the bulk of the season. Mickelson missed the cut at both The Masters and The Players. Rory McIlroy has been inconsistent at best.

Other than Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer, the winner's list is a bunch of names most casual fans have never heard of.

I'm predicting a first-time major winner, perhaps another Michael Campbell (who won at Pinehurst in 2005). Someone outside of the top 30.

Should Matt Every, Steven Bowditch, Matt Jones, Harris English and Brendon Todd have tanked their victories to a top-10 player just to make everyone feel good about watching golf? Adam Scott was certainly free to make all of those 4-footers he missed at Bay Hill to let Every into contention. Never did understand the mentality of casual golf and NASCAR fans when they ***** all the time about the superstars not winning, and somehow thinks it reflects on the sport -- as if somehow we're owed Tiger and Phil and Rory winning everything.

The sport, as a whole, benefits when the noted names are at least in contention. All sports are that way. When Michael Jordan was playing, the NBA benefitted by the Bulls winning a lot.

It's not anyone's "fault". Maybe some of the new guys will become legends..... eventually. But in an individual sport, big names are needed to draw people in.