yes he played well although I do admit that I did not want him to win was pulling for phil, and then switched over to ernie after phil was done. I will not argue that he did not deserve it though he played exceptionally well.
It was a very interesting display of controlled play, that's for sure. The guy has paid his golfing dues all over the world, so he's a worthy champion.
Phil played great, as did Ernie. It's always nice to see someone win the tournament instead of having everyone else fall apart.
Something else worth noting is that Troon's setup certainly put Shinnecock's to shame, didn't it?
It allowed good shots to be rewarded and not sent shooting off the sides and backs of greens, and putts actually were stroked and stayed on line and on the greens. Bravo, Royal and Ancient, for great course preparation and maintenance!
Boy, in the last two years the Majors are being won by the great names in golf! I thought most all of them said it was just hard to win Majors when Tiger was on his 8 of 11 roll. Tiger's not winning now....so where are they? Other than Michelson at the Masters, no names and first timers are collecting the Majors that the "Big Guns" said they'd have, if not for Tiger. I understand how today's top stars couldn't win when Tiger was so dominant but where have they disappeared to when Tiger isn't winning? Top 10 finishes don't cut it if you're looking to rack up your Major victory total. I'm happy for the Hamilton's, Beems, and Curtis' of the golf world but the top guys aren't stepping up when the opportunity is there for the taking. What do you think?
Today's pros are all great players, but the greatest of the great aren't stepping up and taking advantage of Major opportunities. Will any of today's top 100 players (other than Tiger) ever win 5 Major Championships? At this rate....it doesn't seem likely.
Today's pros are all great players, but the greatest of the great aren't stepping up and taking advantage of Major opportunities. Will any of today's top 100 players (other than Tiger) ever win 5 Major Championships? At this rate....it doesn't seem likely.
I reluctantly agree, still have to scratch the head though.
league i agree with you. i enjoy seeing the underdog win every once in a while but i would like to see these top players step up and actually win some majors.
Ernie shot -3 through regulation, birdied 2 out of the last 3, overcame a tree shot...all to send it to a playoff against a steady pro golfer obiously at the pinnacle of his game...miscue on 17 in the playoff...granted, if not for the missed putts at 18 things would have been different...right on track short both times, the putt was obviously slower than he was thinking. That's not stepping it up? I know he didn't win but the way he finished regulation isn't steppin' it up? The ball stopped 2 in. away from a win for Ernie...no excuses but, hey, golf's like that. They don't all go in.
Quote:
Originally Posted by leaguegolf
I'm happy for the Hamilton's, Beems, and Curtis' of the golf world but the top guys aren't stepping up when the opportunity is there for the taking. What do you think?
Maybe the opportunity wasn't as there for the taking as you infer. Give Hamilton his due. He overcame adversity on 18, even though he took bogie, and then went on to defeat one of the best golfers in the world in a 4-hole playoff at Troon. Hey, I was just as disappointed as anyone that Ernie didn't win but I wasn't for lack of effort. Phil thought -9 would be good enough to win. Hamilton shot -10, Ernie shot -10, Hamilton wins the playoff by one to win. High drama. Better than last year, IMO. Ernie knows how to step it up...he just didn't win this time. This time. JM2¢
Maybe the opportunity wasn't as there for the taking as you infer. Give Hamilton his due. Shade
Todd Hamilton certainly deserved his victory. He outplayed the rest of the field for four days and is a very deserving champion. My thinking is that every Major Championship is an opportunity. When Tiger was on his run it was pretty obvious that no one else was going to win unless Tiger faltered. The past two years Tiger has faltered in Major Championships and who has won them? Deserving Champions all.....but hardly golf's elite (exception to Michelson of course). They're close but golf judges players by Majors won....not top 5 finishes. Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Trevino, Watson, Faldo...those guys didn't let opportunities to win Majors slip by very often. When they did let one slip away, it was usually another in that group that "stepped up" to win. It wasn't like that everytime, but I can't recall a run of Majors like this won by what most would consider journeymen.
That's all I meant by wasted opportunities by today's top players.
July 18th, 2004, 04:26 PM
I thought most all of them said it was just hard to win Majors when Tiger was on his 8 of 11 roll. Tiger's not winning now....so where are they? Other than Michelson at the Masters, no names and first timers are collecting the Majors that the "Big Guns" said they'd have, if not for Tiger. I understand how today's top stars couldn't win when Tiger was so dominant but where have they disappeared to when Tiger isn't winning? Top 10 finishes don't cut it if you're looking to rack up your Major victory total. I'm happy for the Hamilton's, Beems, and Curtis' of the golf world but the top guys aren't stepping up when the opportunity is there for the taking. What do you think?
. LOL.
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