Golf

[rolltide_21]

I watched the last round of the PGA Championship yesterday. First time I've watched a round of gold in a LONG time. It was very intriguing. My wife asked who the players were in the top 5, and I had no idea except for Spieth (not in the top 5) and DeChambeau. These players are very talented. I may begin watching more often.

 

[rolltide_21]

I've thought about getting back into playing golf just for the exercise (walking not riding). When I played regularly I was a bogey golfer and was satisfied with that. If I could get back to that I would be thrilled. At any rate, I saw this meme on another thread and it was the most relatable post I've seen in a while-

 

[Bamabuzzard]

These people are dying if I'm on the tee

 

[BamaMoon]

After the craziness of this week thought I would resurrect this thread. We are in the middle of a changing of the guard...younger players are stepping up, older players are fading (Tiger) and players in their late 20's to early 30's are now the stars -- Scheffler, Schauflee, Clark, etc. Rory is an enigma, especially to himself. Spieth and Thomas are ok, but if they don't win soon they will be old news. Interestingly Spieth moves the viewer dial more than any player not named Tiger. He's a basket case emotionally and it shows on the course.

On a different front this has been a challenging week and I have hesitated to post this. The wife of a good friend committed suicide last week -- with a pistol. No one saw this coming. Evidence indicates she had been planning this for several weeks. He knew she battled some inner demons, but really thought that she was better. None of the rest of us had a clue...I've known her for 7 years and thought her to be warm, friendly, caring and always smiling.

Hug, listen and pay attention to your spouse and friends...you never know what is going on in someone else's head.

Wow, that's awful. Sorry to hear about that tragic news.

On the golf, you are right about the changing of the guard. Only way Tiger ever wins again is to start playing more, which I don't think his body will allow. He can't just play the four majors and hope to do well.

I think I heard during one of the rounds during the PGA (I watched the majority of each round) that all the leaders (seems like top 15 or so) were all in their 20's. Did I hear that right? It is definitely a game for the younger ones to excel at today. No more VJ Singn stories where guys get their best in their 40s.

Until Thomas starts making some putts he's not winning another major title. Without his incredible short game (chipping in several times) he's not even a part of the story this weekend.

Lee Hodges is showing some promise now too!

 

[BamaMoon]

These people are dying if I'm on the tee

View attachment 42435

I'm with y'all on this. I'd be afraid to chip with people standing that nearby, much less hit a driver.

But it does illustrate how good these guys are. I watched almost every one of the shots from the leaders yesterday and these guys rarely ever miss a shot. Their poor shots are just slightly short/long or right/left of the target but still usually on the green/fairway and really close. But they never miss because they fatted/thinned/shanked. It's just crazy how good they are compared to even good amateurs.

 

[Padreruf]

The unfortunate thing is depression often leads to self medication with alcohol, cannabis and other drugs. And those things depress the individual even more. The vicious cycle begins.

I’m so, so sorry for all concerned. Let me say this as well. I’ll admit I’m struggling after this second heart attack. Padre, I know you had your own health issues recently. It is best that we make sure when he struggle we have honesty to admit it and seek help.

I started working out 1/1/2024 with Nautilus equipment using light weight settings...amazing what a difference it has made. I go 6/7 days....also do Yoga Stretching for golfers with bad backs and this has been a life changer as well. The energy lifts me out of the doldrums...I am literally a different person emotionally...or at least my wife and friends say so.

 

[Padreruf]

Wow, that's awful. Sorry to hear about that tragic news.

On the golf, you are right about the changing of the guard. Only way Tiger ever wins again is to start playing more, which I don't think his body will allow. He can't just play the four majors and hope to do well.

I think I heard during one of the rounds during the PGA (I watched the majority of each round) that all the leaders (seems like top 15 or so) were all in their 20's. Did I hear that right? It is definitely a game for the younger ones to excel at today. No more VJ Singn stories where guys get their best in their 40s.

Until Thomas starts making some putts he's not winning another major title. Without his incredible short game (chipping in several times) he's not even a part of the story this weekend.

Lee Hodges is showing some promise now too!

You are right on target...the 20 somethings are taking over!!! Tigers tale is sad...he was his own worst enemy. I wish he would practice and play with friends until he turns 50 and can use a cart on the Senior Tour.

JT's ball striking is superb...his putting is horrendous...needs to do a radical change a la Lucas Glover.

 

[Padreruf]

I've thought about getting back into playing golf just for the exercise (walking not riding). When I played regularly I was a bogey golfer and was satisfied with that. If I could get back to that I would be thrilled. At any rate, I saw this meme on another thread and it was the most relatable post I've seen in a while-

View attachment 42434

I walk 2x per week...usually 18 holes. We play match play -- 2 tie all tie, carryovers, for 10 cents per hole....and we have a blast. Most of us do not know or care about our total score. I have a couple friends who play every week and never keep score...they just enjoy being out, walking and playing. Good enough for me...try it.

 

[BamaMoon]

You are right on target...the 20 somethings are taking over!!! Tigers tale is sad...he was his own worst enemy. I wish he would practice and play with friends until he turns 50 and can use a cart on the Senior Tour.

JT's ball striking is superb...his putting is horrendous...needs to do a radical change a la Lucas Glover.

All of these pros prove the old adage "You drive for show but but for dough."

Speith, JT and now the Shefs and just about anybody that wins will be because their putter got hot.

It's probably always been that way, but seems even more true now than ever because everybody out there hits it a mile.

 

[Padreruf]

All of these pros prove the old adage "You drive for show but but for dough."

Speith, JT and now the Shefs and just about anybody that wins will be because their putter got hot.

It's probably always been that way, but seems even more true now than ever because everybody out there hits it a mile.

It's not the 300 or 310 drives that are the problem...it's the 350 that are making courses obsolete. They have to either redo the ball or make the drivers smaller and less forgiving. It is now the easiest club in the bag to hit.

 

[rolltide_21]

I'm with y'all on this. I'd be afraid to chip with people standing that nearby, much less hit a driver.

But it does illustrate how good these guys are. I watched almost every one of the shots from the leaders yesterday and these guys rarely ever miss a shot. Their poor shots are just slightly short/long or right/left of the target but still usually on the green/fairway and really close. But they never miss because they fatted/thinned/shanked. It's just crazy how good they are compared to even good amateurs.

Except for the one drive by Dechambeau on the back 9. How that one got to the fairway was beyond me. Sometimes it helps to be both lucky and good. He then made an amazing second approach shot within six feet of the pin.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

It's not the 300 or 310 drives that are the problem...it's the 350 that are making courses obsolete. They have to either redo the ball or make the drivers smaller and less forgiving. It is now the easiest club in the bag to hit.

It's happening across all sports. The equipment has gotten so advanced and add to that the athletes playing are bigger stronger and faster. The result is baseballs and softballs are traveling at alarming distances, and golf balls being smoked 350+ yards. IMO, the answer is to take some "air" out of the balls and bring it back to some form of normal.

 

[BamaMoon]

Except for the one drive by Dechambeau on the back 9. How that one got to the fairway was beyond me. Sometimes it helps to be both lucky and good. He then made an amazing second approach shot within six feet of the pin.

Yeah, lucky break. I thought it might have been the break he needed to win it.

If a pro is going to hit an off target shot, it'll be the occasional tee shot. Not a shank to kill someone but a 300 yard bomb that goes hard right/left.

But once again, as long as they can find their ball and hit it again, they usually will at worse make bogey and they often scramble for a par.

 

[BamaMoon]

It's not the 300 or 310 drives that are the problem...it's the 350 that are making courses obsolete. They have to either redo the ball or make the drivers smaller and less forgiving. It is now the easiest club in the bag to hit.

CAse in point, BDC hit driver and gap wedge on a 500 yard par 4 yesterday.

It is true that his irons and very, very strong but even then he'd have a short club after that kind of drive.

 

[Padreruf]

DeChambeau is quite interesting. His irons are all the same length and they bear no resemblance to normal irons in terms of loft. All irons are about 2 levels stronger than 30 years ago -- an 8 iron today was a 6 iron back then. His are even stronger...he has learned to dial in his distances. What hurt him yesterday, for the most part, was not hitting his irons close. He even admitted that...I believe he only carries 6 irons...

 

[BamaMoon]

DeChambeau is quite interesting. His irons are all the same length and they bear no resemblance to normal irons in terms of loft. All irons are about 2 levels stronger than 30 years ago -- an 8 iron today was a 6 iron back then. His are even stronger...he has learned to dial in his distances. What hurt him yesterday, for the most part, was not hitting his irons close. He even admitted that...I believe he only carries 6 irons...

All true! His problem (in case he's a secret poster here and looking for advice) is he just tries to swing every club too hard.

If he ever truly learned to swing at about 75% all the time and stay in control he'd be a more consistent player.

 

[CB4]

Blows me away…

“He has 186 yards, wind is into him slightly from the right. This should be a smooth, stock 9 iron….”

A nine iron? A nine iron? Now I haven’t played consistently in about 15 years, but my 4 iron was my 200-210 club. For 185 yards I’m swinging a 5 iron.

I guess that is reason these guys make millions to play the game. On this note, I remember going to the PGA at Shoal Creek in 1984 and 1990 and going to some of the senior/champions tour tournaments around Birmingham. The sound of the ball coming the club was a sound I was never familiar with in my golf game.

 

[Padreruf]

Blows me away…

“He has 186 yards, wind is into him slightly from the right. This should be a smooth, stock 9 iron….”

A nine iron? A nine iron? Now I haven’t played consistently in about 15 years, but my 4 iron was my 200-210 club. For 185 yards I’m swinging a 5 iron.

I guess that is reason these guys make millions to play the game. On this note, I remember going to the PGA at Shoal Creek in 1984 and 1990 and going to some of the senior/champions tour tournaments around Birmingham. The sound of the ball coming the club was a sound I was never familiar with in my golf game.

9 irons are what once where 7 irons...and the ball is much faster than when you played. They have also worked out strenuously to gain ball speed...if you can combine ball speed, accuracy and putting -- you get Scottie Scheffler.

 

[HighlandOak]

Blows me away…

“He has 186 yards, wind is into him slightly from the right. This should be a smooth, stock 9 iron….”

A nine iron? A nine iron? Now I haven’t played consistently in about 15 years, but my 4 iron was my 200-210 club. For 185 yards I’m swinging a 5 iron.

I guess that is reason these guys make millions to play the game. On this note, I remember going to the PGA at Shoal Creek in 1984 and 1990 and going to some of the senior/champions tour tournaments around Birmingham. The sound of the ball coming the club was a sound I was never familiar with in my golf game.

Me and my Dad went to the '84 PGA at Shoal Creek, too. Got caught way out on the back 9, 15 or 16 I believe, in a downpour.

 

[CB4]

Me and my Dad went to the '84 PGA at Shoal Creek, too. Got caught way out on the back 9, 15 or 16 I believe, in a downpour.

I was there for the 2nd and 3rd rounds in 1984 when Trevino won. I was also there for the 2nd round in 1990 when Trevino and his caddie (Herman Mitchell) acted like jerks to people when they missed the cut, particularly Mitchell. He was cursing and complaining about the hills and heat.