Tom Freaking Watson

[hoyarooter]

I can't believe no one has posted anything about this yet. During last year's British Open, Greg Norman was (justifiably) all the rage. Yet here we have even a more senior player (someone who is senior even to me, incredibly enough) leading after three rounds, and it doesn't warrant even a mention? Is everyone too wrapped up in the idiotic woe is us threads on the main board?

Tom, you have at least one supporter here. Bring it home tomorrow, baby.

[hoya95]

Poor guy got the kiss of death: one up with one hole to play. In golf, when does that ever end well?

[kchoya]

Being from Kansas City, I think Tommy is the greatest. I was avoiding posting something to avoid jinxing him. That said, I was sick to my stomach after yesterday.

[hifigator]

I echo the thoughts here. I think every single person short of Stewart Cink's family was pulling for Watson at the end. It just stinks that what was a tremendous accomplishment, will instead go down as another "what could have been." It stinks that after playing so solidly all weekend, that on the 72nd hole, he would hit a perfect drive and then what looked to be a perfect second shot, only to have the ball take a hard bounce and then release all the way through the green and get stuck on the edge of the collar.

I haven't heard anyone say it, but I have a hunch that even the wily veteran in Watson might have been just a tad bit jacked up. I think the adrenaline might have been flowing just a tad more than before on that 2nd shot. Still, I think it's time to reflect on his tournament in a positive light, remembering the first 71 holes, rather than dwelling on what amounted the last 5.

[hoyarooter]

Jul 20, 2009 12:03:16 GMT -5 hifigator said:

I echo the thoughts here. I think every single person short of Stewart Cink's family was pulling for Watson at the end. It just stinks that what was a tremendous accomplishment, will instead go down as another "what could have been." It stinks that after playing so solidly all weekend, that on the 72nd hole, he would hit a perfect drive and then what looked to be a perfect second shot, only to have the ball take a hard bounce and then release all the way through the green and get stuck on the edge of the collar.

I haven't heard anyone say it, but I have a hunch that even the wily veteran in Watson might have been just a tad bit jacked up. I think the adrenaline might have been flowing just a tad more than before on that 2nd shot. Still, I think it's time to reflect on his tournament in a positive light, remembering the first 71 holes, rather than dwelling on what amounted the last 5.

Well, here's something on which we can agree. I nominate Tom Watson for Sportsman of the Year.

[kchoya]

Jul 20, 2009 12:03:16 GMT -5 hifigator said:

I echo the thoughts here. I think every single person short of Stewart Cink's family was pulling for Watson at the end. It just stinks that what was a tremendous accomplishment, will instead go down as another "what could have been." It stinks that after playing so solidly all weekend, that on the 72nd hole, he would hit a perfect drive and then what looked to be a perfect second shot, only to have the ball take a hard bounce and then release all the way through the green and get stuck on the edge of the collar.

I haven't heard anyone say it, but I have a hunch that even the wily veteran in Watson might have been just a tad bit jacked up. I think the adrenaline might have been flowing just a tad more than before on that 2nd shot. Still, I think it's time to reflect on his tournament in a positive light, remembering the first 71 holes, rather than dwelling on what amounted the last 5.

I've kind of blocked it out, but I think the commentary from Andy North on the course right after he hit that second shot was that he hit it a lot longer than he normally hits that club.

[hoya9797]

Jul 20, 2009 12:03:16 GMT -5 hifigator said:

I echo the thoughts here. I think every single person short of Stewart Cink's family was pulling for Watson at the end.

Not me

[hifigator]

9797, any reason? Are you a Stewart Cink fan or do you specifically not like Watson for some reason?

[hifigator]

Jul 20, 2009 12:24:18 GMT -5 kchoya said:

Jul 20, 2009 12:03:16 GMT -5 hifigator said:

I echo the thoughts here. I think every single person short of Stewart Cink's family was pulling for Watson at the end. It just stinks that what was a tremendous accomplishment, will instead go down as another "what could have been." It stinks that after playing so solidly all weekend, that on the 72nd hole, he would hit a perfect drive and then what looked to be a perfect second shot, only to have the ball take a hard bounce and then release all the way through the green and get stuck on the edge of the collar.

I haven't heard anyone say it, but I have a hunch that even the wily veteran in Watson might have been just a tad bit jacked up. I think the adrenaline might have been flowing just a tad more than before on that 2nd shot. Still, I think it's time to reflect on his tournament in a positive light, remembering the first 71 holes, rather than dwelling on what amounted the last 5.

I've kind of blocked it out, but I think the commentary from Andy North on the course right after he hit that second shot was that he hit it a lot longer than he normally hits that club.

That would make sense. I was watching it at a pub around the corner from our lake, and they didn't have the volume up, so we were just watching, but it looked like he liked the shot and then from the replay, you could tell that it was pretty much dead on target. It's just too bad that what should still be viewed as a tremendous accomplishment, instead looks to be going down as a failure of sorts.

[hoya9797]

Jul 20, 2009 16:29:21 GMT -5 hifigator said:

9797, any reason? Are you a Stewart Cink fan or do you specifically not like Watson for some reason?

I just don't like Watson. I never have. I'm not really sure why but I've never rooted for the guy and yesterday was no exception.

[kchoya]

Jul 20, 2009 16:44:26 GMT -5 hoya9797 said:

Jul 20, 2009 16:29:21 GMT -5 hifigator said:

9797, any reason? Are you a Stewart Cink fan or do you specifically not like Watson for some reason?

I just don't like Watson. I never have. I'm not really sure why but I've never rooted for the guy and yesterday was no exception.

How do you now like Tom Watson? Granted, I'm from the same home town, so I think he's the greatest. But he's always been a true gentleman, a great ambassador for the game, and never been controversial. Aside from being a hell of a player...

Heck, I can't think of one negative thing about the guy.

Just curious.

[hoya9797]

Jul 20, 2009 17:08:50 GMT -5 kchoya said:

Jul 20, 2009 16:44:26 GMT -5 hoya9797 said:

I just don't like Watson. I never have. I'm not really sure why but I've never rooted for the guy and yesterday was no exception.

How do you now like Tom Watson? Granted, I'm from the same home town, so I think he's the greatest. But he's always been a true gentleman, a great ambassador for the game, and never been controversial. Aside from being a hell of a player...

Heck, I can't think of one negative thing about the guy.

Just curious.

I don't know, there is just something about the guy that I find unappealing. I've just never liked the guy and had no interest in seeing him win this weekend. I didn't get any joy out of the way he lost (in fact I think it sucks that he hit two really good shots on the 72nd and still made a bogey) but the outcome was one that I preferred.

[kchoya]

Jul 20, 2009 22:20:36 GMT -5 hoya9797 said:

Jul 20, 2009 17:08:50 GMT -5 kchoya said:

How do you now like Tom Watson? Granted, I'm from the same home town, so I think he's the greatest. But he's always been a true gentleman, a great ambassador for the game, and never been controversial. Aside from being a hell of a player...

Heck, I can't think of one negative thing about the guy.

Just curious.

I don't know, there is just something about the guy that I find unappealing. I've just never liked the guy and had no interest in seeing him win this weekend. I didn't get any joy out of the way he lost (in fact I think it sucks that he hit two really good shots on the 72nd and still made a bogey) but the outcome was one that I preferred.

Gotcha.

[hifigator]

To add one more angle that I hadn't heard/read yet: apparently after the round, Watson said that he had the 9 iron, but changed to the 8. My bartender said that he heard that, and that that proves that it was a mental error, rather than a physical one. I pointed out that I thought that he probably had a little extra adrenaline flowing, and probably got a bit more on the shot, as somewhat of a counter to that point of view, or so I thought. But Tom (bartender, not golfer) said that's just what he meant. Watson been through all of that. He knows that he's probably a tad more keyed up. He knows that he has a bit of a flier lie. He knows that short siding himself by going long was what he couldn't let happen. Still, he went against what he "knew" and chose too much club for the situation. As much as I hated to admit it, I think Tom had a point. When I repeated what someone said here, that Andy North said something about hitting it 8 or 10 yards further than he normally does, once again Tom thought that helped prove his theory as well. Watson knew all of that and instinctively went for the 9 ... only to regrettingly go with the 8. Like I said, as much as I hate to, I think he had a point.

Still, it does stink when you lose like that. It's one thing when you pull a van de Velde and spray the ball all over the last hole and then make egregiously bad decision after another. But hitting a "perfect" drive that had a tad extra on it, causing it to trickle into the first cut and then catching it a bit too solidly, resulting in a tad too much bounce, trickling into the collar fringe is just tough to take.

[hoyarooter]

I heard an interview with Watson this morning, during which he said that Jack Nicklaus told him he hit two perfect shots on 18, and just had a bit of bad luck. Watson added that he thought he had hit a really good second shot, but that on a links course, you just never know exactly how the ball is going to bounce, which it what makes it such a challenge. So I'm not sure there's much point in overanalyzing this. He also said he was very calm throughout the round, so that would seem to belie the theory that he gave the 8 iron a little extra as the result of an adrenaline surge.

[hoya95]

I was more annoyed that he tried to putt from off the green. You've got to chip that. There's no way to control it by putting, and he had zero chance to make an 8 footer. This is 3 majors in a row where the sentimental favorite has melted down in the clutch. The choking in golf has gotten ridiculous. Can anyone other than Tiger finish?

[hoya9797]

Cink didn't choke (though it looked like he was going do after that brutal putt on the 71st).

[hoya95]

Jul 21, 2009 13:54:35 GMT -5 hoya9797 said:

Cink didn't choke (though it looked like he was going do after that brutal putt on the 71st).

No, but Watson took all the pressure off of him in the playoff by falling apart. Kenny Perry crumbled, Mickelson faltered (again), Watson melted, and the list over the last few years goes on and on. I'm trying to remember the last time somebody had a one shot lead on 18 on Sunday and actually made a par. It must have happened, but it seems to have been a while.

[hoya9797]

Jul 21, 2009 14:20:54 GMT -5 hoya95 said:

Jul 21, 2009 13:54:35 GMT -5 hoya9797 said:

Cink didn't choke (though it looked like he was going do after that brutal putt on the 71st).

No, but Watson took all the pressure off of him in the playoff by falling apart. Kenny Perry crumbled, Mickelson faltered (again), Watson melted, and the list over the last few years goes on and on. I'm trying to remember the last time somebody had a one shot lead on 18 on Sunday and actually made a par. It must have happened, but it seems to have been a while.

Cink birdied the 72nd which was extremely clutch (and in stark contrast to Westwood's three putt bogey).

Harrington had a one shot lead on the last hole of the PGA championship last year and made a par to win. I think he made about a 20 footer to clinch the win.

[hifigator]

Jul 21, 2009 13:18:53 GMT -5 hoya95 said:

I was more annoyed that he tried to putt from off the green. You've got to chip that. There's no way to control it by putting, and he had zero chance to make an 8 footer. This is 3 majors in a row where the sentimental favorite has melted down in the clutch. The choking in golf has gotten ridiculous. Can anyone other than Tiger finish?

It's obviously somewhat of a matter of opinion in this case, based on the external circumstances as well as the player's strengths and weaknesses. I think Tiger would have used his 3 wood. I've seen him execute that shot dozens of times in a similar situation. As for whether putting is the best choice, there are really two schools of thought. Generally, the put is considered more consistent, provided you can get the ball rolling on the putting surface fairly quickly. From my (not very good angle), it looked like Watson was right in a grey area. There certainly wasn't so much rough that putting was clearly not the best option. But there was enough rough to complicate getting the speed right. In that situation, speed is really the key. You aren't expecting -- or even trying -- to make the shot. You are in classic "lag" mode. As for chipping, that would have been a tougher shot for many. Due to the thickness of the grass behind the ball, there was a danger of doing just about anything, from chunking it a bit to blading it a bit. Even if you caught it fairly clean, there was really not a lot of reason to think that the speed control would be significantly better than putting it. I'm sure right now, Tom would be willing to try it any other way. Incidentally, Tiger's 3 Wood method, is really a cross between putting and chipping. He uses the 3 Wood because he can skim it along the thick grass with little interference. The slight loft of the 3 Wood, pops the ball in the air for the slightest of times, and then allows it to get back on the ground for the "predictable" roll. I honestly can't knock him for shot selection, but I think we would all agree that the execution was somewhat off. Better luck next year Tom.