Players Championship running thread....

[hondo]

Okay, since there hasn't been one that I've seen yet, you people must not think it's a major.
But it is turning out to be a helluva tournament. Phil and Sean O'Hair in the final twosome. O'Hair birdied the last three holes Saturday. This kid has steel balls, and he'd be a great story, given his background. Sergio, Olazabal, Luke Donald, Aaron Baddeley, Chris DiMarco, Tom Clark and Geoff Ogilvy are in the hunter. Peter Lonard made a double-eagle on the second hole Saturday, and there have been a bunch of chip-ins and hole-outs in this tournament. NBC will be on the air 2-7 with only four minutes of commercials per hour.

Yeah, I know ... Tiger is out of it and will be done with his round before NBC comes on. This is the one course he can't overpower.

 

[hondo]

The kid was classy about it after Saturday's round. Said the past is in the past but didn't rip into the old man. Hard to believe such a nice kid had a **** like that for a father.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Okay, since there hasn't been one that I've seen yet, you people must not think it's a major.

That's because it's not, regardless of what Tim Finchem and Deane Beman say. It's a fantastic tournament with a great field and probably the most recognizable hole in golf, but it's not a Major.

 

[jimnorden]

I wonder if phil and his family practice the "run on the green celebration" the night before when he's in contention.

 

[Montezuma's Revenge]

I doubt they need to practice it anymore.

 

[jimnorden]

did they say the final pairing is on the clock? sean o'hair is playing so slowly.

 

[GB-Hack]

And into the water we go. Twice. Tourney over.

 

[jimnorden]

Phil's "happy mother's day" mention a second ago made me ill. I really want to like him but he just seems so fake. great golfer though, and a good win. He played great today.

 

[TwoGloves]

Speaking of Mickelson's family, is it just me or his wife terribly overrated in the looks department?

 

[jimnorden]

she was great a few years ago before all the kids. I remember the phil-amy shot in SI's swimsuit issue a few years back.

 

[TwoGloves]

Holy Quadruple-Bogey, Batman! The 7 at No. 17 and bogey at 18 cost O'Hair more than $700,000. I'd be thinking about that for a LONG time. I don't care who you are.

 

[TwoGloves]

Gotta give O'Hair credit for talking to Maltbie. I'm betting a lot of guys might not have.

 

[jimnorden]

ha, i know. it just seems like everything is so planned out by phil. I know a lot of guys on Tour feel the same way. But he's a great player. And yes, have to respect O'Hair for going for two. Too many players these days are playing to finish near the top (and the $$$ that comes with it) instead of trying to win a championship.

Well played by both players today. Great golf on a Sunday.

Love you, mom!

 

[jimnorden]

O'Hair's got game ... and a ton of length off the tee. Sergio's gotta like sliding into second, too. Nice little payday there.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

At their next meeting, which could be going on right now, Harmon is telling Phil, "see how easy it is when you let the other guys try to make every shot?"
That was the most boring Phil Mickelson win ever, so it may be his most important. He played a great final round in which nothing particularly memorable happened.

 

[jimnorden]

Right on, Michael. The only reall "phil shot" of the weekend came saturday when he snuck it through that little break in the trees. Simply amazing.

 

[zagoshe]

The O'Hair kid is one of the biggest dumb asses I have ever seen implode. He cost himself 700,000 because he wanted to "go for the win" which, he need only look at his partner for today and realize that isn't always a smart or sound strategy.

On 17, had he hit first I could see his rationalization of going for the pin -- I wouldn't have agreed with it, but I could at least almost get there. The problem is, Phil hit first and was already on the green, which basically meant O'Hair wasn't likely to pick up a stroke on that hole nor was he going to put pressure on Phil to make a perfect shot over the water.

I think his second shot into the water was just a bad break for him combined with some nerves -- but it all could have been avoided had he just pulled out the wedge in the first place and hit it into the middle of the green.

It is real admirable to say "I was going for the win I'll make plenty of money" but the road to greatness is paved and littered with a whole lot of guys who never recovered from an implosion like this.

 

[expendable]

Right on, Michael. The only reall "phil shot" of the weekend came saturday when he snuck it through that little break in the trees. Simply amazing.

One could argue that te "Phil shot" came from O'Hair.

 

[GB-Hack]

The O'Hair kid is one of the biggest dumb asses I have ever seen implode. He cost himself 700,000 because he wanted to "go for the win" which, he need only look at his partner for today and realize that isn't always a smart or sound strategy.

On 17, had he hit first I could see his rationalization of going for the pin -- I wouldn't have agreed with it, but I could at least almost get there. The problem is, Phil hit first and was already on the green, which basically meant O'Hair wasn't likely to pick up a stroke on that hole nor was he going to put pressure on Phil to make a perfect shot over the water.

I think his second shot into the water was just a bad break for him combined with some nerves -- but it all could have been avoided had he just pulled out the wedge in the first place and hit it into the middle of the green.

It is real admirable to say "I was going for the win I'll make plenty of money" but the road to greatness is paved and littered with a whole lot of guys who never recovered from an implosion like this.

So we're going to slam players for trying to win now? Jeez......

 

[opieandanthony]

yeah, no kidding. he had to put it inside phil and give himself a very makeable birdie putt. he was pumped up and just jacked it over the green. he's young, the money will alway be there for him. But how often will he have the chance to make something magical happen in the last group on the 17th hole of The Players?

Good for him. He's living the dream.