Had to watch program recorded since I usually visit my mother on Sundays. Got to give Cantlay credit his putting down the stretch was incredible. Bryson lost the tournament on 17 when he didn't get up and down for par. Next week could be a lot of fun. If I recall, East Lake doesn't have many par 5's which takes away some of the edge of the bombers.
Pretty impressive display of putting by Cantlay. I wonder what made DeChambeau call out to Cantlay to stop walking? Was he in his line of sight? Was he making noise? I don't think I've ever seen anything like that before?
Well Bryson is a bitch to play with I bet. I've played with a few guys over the years who have rabbit ears when it comes to anything going on while they are getting ready to hit. I've played with guys who are anal with your position on the green while they are putting. This sort of reminds me a bit of the Sergio/Tiger deal at Sawgrass years ago. But that said I thought the media grabbed on to that and has beat it to death, like if Bryson hadn't said that well Patrick wouldn't have won. Like gip said I think Bryson lost it with that awful chip on #17 in regulation. Sergio Garcia Claims Tiger Woods Distracted Him at Players Championship
I have rabbit ears when guys keep on talking while I'm getting ready to hit. (and no, I don't take long pre-shot to hit the ball). It's the rudeness that bothers me and distracts me more than anything. If a guy doesn't see that I'm pulling the trigger and says something that doesn't bother me. Inadvertent noises don't bother me. On the green I'm not real anal about guys stepping on my line...but yesterday we played early (for me) and the morning shadows were long. I noticed one guy's soft spikes were really digging into the green (thanks to the shadow angle) and I hoped nobody later had to putt over his spike marks. I think that depending on how guys walk those soft spikes do more crap to the green than the old fashioned spikes (maybe the marks spring back faster, I don't know.) I quit using those and now wear golf shoes that have soles more like tennis shoes. In fact my last few rounds I just wore tennis shoes and didn't notice any difference.
Everybody is aware of the "Patrick please stop walking" incident at the BMW. There apparently was another incident where a fan hollered "Brooksie" at Bryson to taunt him. One time Bryson yelled an obscenity back at the fan and started to walk towards him but then just called over a security person. So now the PGA Tour has said that doing that is grounds for ejection from the tournament. But to make it dicer Kopeka has offered a case of Michelob Lite to anybody who gets booted. Ah Sportsmanship! Although they will bury the hatchet temporarily for the Ryder Cup.
That is good news. Way too many drunk bros make golf matches sound like the WWF Royal Rumble. On Sunday, you could clearly hear DeChambeau being loudly heckled. Not a fan of his but he should not have to put up with that crap during competition.
I see that Bryson is off to a slow start at East Lake, +2 through 3. I wonder if it's a hangover from the BMW. Patty Ice though is -1.
Patrick Cantlay keeps his great play going, he's up 1 stroke on Rahm after rnd 2. Bryson is 6 shots back in 3rd place. JT had a good round going until the last 3 holes when he went bogey, bogey, and missed a short birdie putt on 18.
Cantlay sort of running away with it right now, up 3 on Rahm now and 6 on JT. Bryson fading fast, 12 shots back.
Cantlay it is, he played great, lead wire to wire. Very steady all week. But who won the tournament? Cantlay started at - 10 and finished - 21 so he was 11 under for the 4 rounds. Rahm started - 6 and finished - 20 so he was 14 under for the 4 rounds. I guess it was Rahm, but they no longer recognize who shot the low 4 rounds without the extra strokes you get for your FedEx points.
USA Solheim Cup hopes on life support, still down 12 1/2 to 8 1/2. Euros need 14 to retain. Pretty much have to sweep all the remaining singles.
Well we have our Ryder Cup team, that as always on paper will seem like a sure fire winner over the Euro's...but just like the Women's Solheim Cup team which again on paper was superior to the Euro's and lost, I fear that our boys just don't have it for a team event. Deciding youth would serve the team better than experience, Steve Stricker on Wednesday completed his U.S. Ryder Cup team by selecting six players -- four of whom have never competed in the pressure-packed biennial competition. The U.S. captain chose Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Harris English, Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler to round out the 12-man team. automatic qualifiers Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay, giving the U.S. six rookies. Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas are the other automatic qualifiers from a two-year points system that was extended because of the coronavirus pandemic that postponed the event until this year.
Ryder Cup week. I fear that the USA who on paper will have the best players, will fall again to the Euros who just seem to actually care about winning. While the Americans like the idea of winning of course but are much more oriented towards their individual careers and success.
Stricker says Koepka is healthy and ready to go, Bryson said no feuding with Koepka at the Ryder Cup. Yeah Team!
Whistling Straights is a bombers course with par 4s over 500 yds. I'm not sure it favors the American team. Sure DeChambeau and Koepka are in the top 7 in length off the team but McIlroy, Garcia and Rahm are all top 20 drivers. When the winds are blowing off Lake Michigan WS is pretty difficult but as we saw during the PGA played there, when the breezes are gentle, the big boys can score well. Looking forward to a competitive competition, something the American team has deprived us of too many times.
It's going to be cool at the Ryder Cup with the temps in the low 50's at the morning tee times, and not ever getting to 80 during the day. Supposedly will be a little windy on Friday and maybe some late afternoon rain. In other words, summer in Scotland!