2009 Majors - what a let down!

Anyone know if this is the chinese year of the nobody?

I didn't know Y Yang was Chinese. :D


I thought he was from South Korea which even in this fast changing world is still not part of China.
 
Well, after all of our predictions of this years major winners I was expecting at least 1 or 2 people to get some correct, not a single person guessed a single winner correctly....and if i'm being honest, the majors this year have been a complete let down for me won by (with the exception maybe of Cabrera who dissapears up his own backside everytime he wins something for a couple of years, then re-appears again) by journey men.

Cink, although I defended him at the time, hasn't really ever done anything ever to warrant winning a major and, like Cabrera, has found life on the course tough since winning The Open.

Lucas Glover, fair enough, has found a bit of form, but had anyone ever heard of him before he won the USOpen?

Y.E Yang.....well, the less said the better, yes the better man won on the day but for crying out loud, 1 PGA tour win and he walks off with the PGA.....very sad for the game.

On the flip side, you could say that none of the worlds top 10 have been good enough to win, but thats not what the majors are about for me, they're there for the big guns to win, not some no-mark wannabee who will now fall of the face of the earth for a few years.

Very very lame year IMHO.....very lame!

Hey Keefg you must have lost it some how, cause I agree with you 100%, what a rubbish year for Majors, IMO the standard of the winners this year just shows there is nothing special about them, and anyone can win them and they are becoming just regular week in week out comp.
 
Why is it because one of the big names didn't win, the standard of the majors and their worthiness to win is somehow diluted. Woods has played in all of them and so its not like they are playing a weakened field. I can't seem to remember anyone complaining when Daly lifted his majors. Everyone thought at the time he was a bright nw thing!

Yang has served his dues on the various tours around the world and already beaten Woods in the HSBC event last year. Cink has been there an done most things in golf (Ryder cup, tour wins etc) and on the day made less mistakes than anyone else which is the name of the game.

Glover I grant, sneaked under most peoples radar but he has played consistantly if not spectacularly since and again took the most of his opportunity. Cabrera has won before so he's no an unknown but he seems to be a real streaky player and managed to find another real hot week.

Each has a suitable case to say they deserved to win. I don't think from a TV viewers perspective there was too much to complain about (apart from Lineker, "get in the hole crowds" and Tiger blinkered commentators) and personally I think its good if the old guard don't always get it their own way
 
The trick is, the sponsors, who put up the money, all want Woods (or equivalent) to win, to promote their brand name. If Jonny no one keeps winning, will purses go down? Look at what has happened to the LPGA tour since Sorenstam retired. They are really struggling for sponsors.
 
You can say that about any tournament if the favourite doesn't win. The thing is, a mjor means dealing with all the added hype, extra pressure and a course normally set up harder than a normal tour event.

There have always been one off winners of all the majors and it doesn't make it a lesser event. Indeed it probably enhances it as no-one really wants to see a Woods procession everytime.

As for the sponsors not liking it, whilst the USPGA and their markets may not get their full $'s worth with Yang the Asian market will erupt now. I think the mens game is in a lot stronger position than the ladies which is why the US tour has been able to absorb the withdrawal of a number of high profile sponsors. I'm not sure that is necessarily the case in Europe. As for the ladies game, the US market again is fairly robust and can probably survive but its in EUrope with smaller fields, purses and limited coverage that a big named winner is essential for ensuring maximum publicity for the game. Sorenstam was instrumental in building the European tour, but a good Solheim Cup this week will help
 
The trick is, the sponsors, who put up the money, all want Woods (or equivalent) to win, to promote their brand name. If Jonny no one keeps winning, will purses go down? Look at what has happened to the LPGA tour since Sorenstam retired. They are really struggling for sponsors.

Don't see how the sponsors can complain with this one.

It was Tiger's all the way. He was playing flawless golf all the way and was cruising to yet another victory. All the media hype that anyone could possibly want was there in spades.

Now it would set the cat amongst the pigeons to suggest that tiger bottled it, but it was his to lose, and he did. Spectacularly.

As long as the top players are on the leaderboard I don't think the sponsor's are too worried if the 'wrong' man wins, as long as there is an angle that they can use to their advantage. How many South Koreans play golf ? How big is the potential export market ? How many Americans have Asian history ? Is there a potential new market appearing in the States ?

This is the first time Tiger didn't turn it into a parade. Forget marketing for a second, and suddenly golf becomes the winner for once.

Similarly, the Open had everything in place - an old great vs a potentially great Englishman. Neither could cross the line. So cue Cink. He's dull, so let's push his driver instead. Wanna buy the driver that's won most majors this year ?

I've always said that having Tiger on his own at the top of the tree is, in the long run, bad for the game. Look at Big Jack. He was the greatest for a long time, but people especially remember the Jack vs Arnie era, and later Jack vs Tom. You need a challenge to keep the game fresh.

We need to see Tiger becoming beatable, otherwise why bother watching the final round - there were several here who nearly turned off in advance because it was too predictable. What we want now is for Tiger to go away until the Masters, raise his game yet another notch, and at the same time find that soucon of humility and humour that he is missing. It WILL happen, there isn't a great player who's personality hasn't shone through as they begin that inevitable slide towards the rest of the pack. But maybe Tiger isn't ready to allow that into his game yet.
 
The trick is, the sponsors, who put up the money, all want Woods (or equivalent) to win, to promote their brand name. If Jonny no one keeps winning, will purses go down? Look at what has happened to the LPGA tour since Sorenstam retired. They are really struggling for sponsors.


They are fanatical about golf in the far east,especially Korea,any sponsor should be delighted that Yang won.
 
For me, the win for Yang was one of the highlights of my years of watching golf. Deserved winner, and good for the global game, surely?
Cabrera.....yes, enjoyed seeing him bag the Masters.
Cink.....hmm, a bit of a dull end, I guess.
Glover.....who he?.....couldn't care less.

Better this way than a procession of the "expected" men, most of which I don't care for.

Disappointing not to have a European winner and, sadly, disappointing to see the G.B. players not challenge on the links for THE Open.
 
I would disagree they were a let down for one reason.

They were all really close and went to the wire. Play offs at Augusta and Turnberry, other 2 were a contest till at least the 71st hole.

In my book thats all you need along with huge galleries (none bigger than Hazeltine) so the players are under extreme pressure. If you win in those circumstances you deserve it.
 
I enjoyed the Masters and the Open. I agree the USPGA and US Open weren't as exciting.

Masters would shade it as my favourite of the big 4 this year, especially as I had a few quid on Perry at 70/1!

Very impressed with McIlroy's major progress this year, and I think Westwood is destined to win one of them next year.
 
Very impressed with McIlroy's major progress this year, and I think Westwood is destined to win one of them next year.

Hmmmmmm.....not so sure on Lee, he has the game to win a major but how many times has he choked at the last minute?

Maybe choked is a harsh word as the 8i he hit at The Open took guts and was unlucky, but he's becoming a bit like Monty.....always the bridesmaid & never the bride :(
 
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