VJ Singh...2 time PGA Champion. No offense to Beem and Micheel but we finally got one of the "big boys" to rise to the occasion at the PGA. Or did he? Sure, VJ shot the lowest score for the four days and he outplayed Leonard and Dimarco in the play-off, but was the Wannamaker Trophy given away by poor play on the #18 hole by several other players? All of which had a chance to win outright or get into the play-off by holing makable putts on #18. VJ is a deserving champion but Jack always said, "some majors you win and some are handed to you." I think this is a clear case of the latter. What do you think?
Considering the way Vijay played during the final round, he was very fortunate to make the playoff; but I don't think that Justin's play could be considered a collapse or choke. He certainly didn't hit the shots he needed on the last few holes, but he made some incredible putts early in the round to keep him in it.
I think that Vijay's performance in the playoff was nothing short of spectacular. That tee shot on 17 really should have resulted in another birdie, instead of a missed putt and a par. No, I think that Vijay earned this one.
I thot Justin would win it after his 2nd shot on 15. Your right - this was a major where other people lost it. VJ has to be given his due with his tee shot on 10 in the playoff - made the aggressive play when it was needed and played well enough for 3 days to have the cushion when he didn't play as well (nobody played that well on Sun, so he certainly wasn't alone). My biggest question on Sun was where was this course for the other 3 days? Wind was the major reason, but finally they used more difficult hole locations. I think the PGA, understandably, was very concerned that they could easily make this course next to impossible for 4 days and chose to make it easier the first 3 rounds. I give them props for how they set the course up for Sun - they moved up the tees on 6 to encourage players to try to drive the green. If this had been the USGA, they would have never done that - everyone would have hit their irons off the tee followed by a wedge shot. Boring. Even #5 (a par 5) had it's risk-reward element being down wind. #8 tee was moved back because it was downwind, after playing from the foward tee for 3 days due to the fact it played more into the wind. Yes, they saved the most difficult hole location for certain holes (#12 comes to mind), for Sun, but didn't make them impossible either. These observations on the course set up would seem to be common sense to most of us, but after what we saw this June, it was nice to see that common sense prevailed.
We finally got to see what everyone was talking about b4 the tournament - WS made par an excellent test on Sun without having the course set up over the top.
To be fair, that was a very difficult course made to seem easier by the blokes playing. When you miss shots early in a round, no one says you are 'choking' but if you happen to miss on the last, then you have 'choked'. Justin Leonard was remarkably consistent and courageous, but....
Vijay could not buy a putt until the playoff. He deserved to win.
The performance I thought was remarkable was that of Big Ernie. He just was totally lousey off the tee. I believe at one point he was last in terms of fairways hit. And yet he could have been in the play off if he makes one more putt. Does this demonstrate the value of the short game or what?
Imagine what he does if he is a little more accurate off the tee. At one point at the end of the third round he had totally lost the plot off the tee..and yet he is in a tie for 4th....incredible!
And I really liked Adam Scott's performance from the aussies. I do not think it will be long before he is up with the big names.
My final comment......what a course? I wonder what I would score there and if it would be in two digits.(and that is just the last hole).
After watching all afternoon and feeling like many on the 16th tee, Justin had it pretty much locked up, I think VJ and DiMarco were HANDED their second chance. Based on the way VJ (and the other top players) played the final round, it seemed to me that no one wanted to WIN it. However, once into the three-man horserace, VJ definitely stepped it up and put the pressure on the other two just like he needed to. The playoff victory was the sign of a veteran. Always remember in competitive golf, the first in wins...DiMarco will have nightmares about that final 8 inches...
I don't believe it...if Ernie had holed his par putt (I think, but I could be wrong) on 18 he would have joined the playoff. He coulda been the #1 player in the world, if only he had holed that putt (and done well in the playoff, of course)
Chris DiMarco missed his birdie putt to win outright. I don't believe it. Vijay got it handed to him, no doubt. He must be the first guy I know to shoot +4 for the final round and still win.
I agree, it was not given to VJ. He played well throughout the four days. Even his 4 over sunday was good seing as only 14 were in red numbers for the day compared to 38 on saturday.
To say Leonard handed to him is IMO not right. That was a tough lie on 18 for him to come closer than what he did. He did shoot a 75, so that wasnt the only hole he made bogie on. He may have missed that putt, but VJ still had make his to make the playoff, which he won in fine fashion.
I would agree that nothing was given away. If you used the same logic, you could say that Vijay gave the tournament away earlier in the round - but he got himself back where he needed to be to make the playoff.
You just need to look at the first playoff hole to disprove that theory. Vijay earned his victory with a very aggressive tee shot that netted him a birdie. Enough said.
Vijay earned his victory with a very aggressive tee shot that netted him a birdie. Enough said.
Yes, VJ earned his victory in the play-off and as I mentioned, is a deserving champion. However, his play on Sunday (+4) was the worst of any top ten finisher. The conditions were tougher but VJ was very fortunate that Leonard faltered down the stretch and nobody else stepped up in regulation play. Again, some tournaments are won, and some are lost. Leonard lost this one.
A month or two ago Tiger was on the cover telling us all how to hit more fairways! Sports Illustrated has their cover "jinx" and now maybe the major golf magazines are following suit!
Just another good reason for not renewing my subscription!
You too. I am not renewing either. I am sick and tired of the same stuff, and way too much advertising. In this issue they are knocking the Ryder Cup for being too commercial. What a bunch of Hypocrites!
August 16th, 2004, 12:04 AM
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