2023 Professional Golf thread

[Jason.H]

No it wasn't that hole. It was earlier on. The shot was definitely a draw and not going OVER the trees.
His set up was completely wrong from what I was watching.

Only Rory and maybe his caddie knows what his intentions are on a particular shot.

 

[Golfmmad]

Only Rory and maybe his caddie knows what his intentions are on a particular shot.

Agreed, but they got that one wrong!

 

[rksquire]

What I couldn't understand from yesterday, the commentators on one of Rorys drives at set up, " This is for Rory, a nice draw".
So he lines his feet up for a fade, and subsequently fades it way right and in the trees! Why did he do that, or am I missing something?
This isn't a criticism, just an observation.

It's hard to put much stock in the commentators to be honest... both McGinley ("That's just alright" & "He's missed his spot there"..... as the ball inches to about a foot from the hole) and Laura D continually get things wrong, but in her favour she does acknowledge it's better than she first thought. It's a pity McIlroy didn't keep pace, not sure if it was a help or hindrance having the 'big 3' grouped together. I'd be less concerned about the driver and more concerned about the putting. He managed to turn a potential bogey on the hole your talking about into an actual bogey with a fantastic 2nd shot - only to 3 putt.

 

[Orikoru]

Reading the reports from McIlroy re his driver... and its fascinating to try and imagine how tight their margins are
He was using a driver, until wear over time meant it was a few hits from becoming non-conforming, that he reckons its no longer conforming.
So he was on the ragged edge of club legality and therefore getting as much out of the club as he’ll ever legally get and since the replacement/s naturally have a lot more life expectancy in them they are a bit of a regression in performance at his level

Can’t imagine how to get around a problem like that, I wonder if its impactable to have several drivers on the go at once at different stages of clubface degradation/improved trampoline, so that he always has one with a couple of months legal life left in it

I think we call that first world problems. Surely the new driver will have much more 'fargiveness' no matter how used the old one is, so he should be fine.

My driver is 3 years old, does that mean I need to upgrade to new tech, or does it mean I've trampolined it into perfect levels of conformance or whatever? What a minefield.

 

[pokerjoke]

I’m surprised no one came out with all the advice and called Rahm a bottler when he had a few poor rounds

Hasn’t he won 5 of his last 11 events?

 

[Swango1980]

What I couldn't understand from yesterday, the commentators on one of Rorys drives at set up, " This is for Rory, a nice draw".
So he lines his feet up for a fade, and subsequently fades it way right and in the trees! Why did he do that, or am I missing something?
This isn't a criticism, just an observation.

As others have said, the commentators will have an idea on what shot would suit McIlroy or any other player, but only the player and caddie will truly know what shot they want to hit. Presumably, they've played practice rounds and done their research on each hole, so there is bound to be some forward planning. Not just turning up on each tee and making it up on the spot.

I happened to tune in to the practice round coverage on Tuesday, where they followed Webb Simpson for a hole or 2, talked about what was on his mind, etc. Caddy involved as well. They explained that they spend time before every round, going through exactly what shots they will play off the tee, based on the set up of that day. They will have debates about certain shots, but it means that the debates happen before the round, rather than distracting them during the round itself. Was quite interesting. It was also funny when he smashed a drive on a par 5, leaving him only a wedge shot to green. All very proud of his drive. He then missed the green about 20 yards to the left with his wedge

Back to McIlroy though, he has hit plenty of absolutely smashing fades, and I guess that was on his mind for this one. However, sometimes the shot just doesn't come off the way he hoped.

 

[pokerjoke]

When you look at sports stars around the world and in different sports some are just so mentally strong,they just find a way to get the job done.
Rory is mentally weak and I’ve been saying it for years.
His body language at times is very poor,mentioned in commentary on numerous occasions.
Bounces along the fairway when all nice and rosy,but way too often quits mentally.
I’m certainly expecting better today.

 

[Jason.H]

I wonder if they will not cut the rough and speed up the greens at TPC. I’m sure they won’t want -20 scores Sunday

 

[Swango1980]

When you look at sports stars around the world and in different sports some are just so mentally strong,they just find a way to get the job done.
Rory is mentally weak and I’ve been saying it for years.
His body language at times is very poor,mentioned in commentary on numerous occasions.
Bounces along the fairway when all nice and rosy,but way too often quits mentally.
I’m certainly expecting better today.

I think it is all relative. You are right, he possibly is mentally weak compared to the likes of Tiger and Rahm, or even players like Thomas. However, I sometimes think that is a little harsh. Anytime McIlroy has an average to poor round, people instantly look at where he went wrong. Where he 3 putted, didn't get up and down, missed a green with a wedge, hit a terrible drive, etc. However, I cannot think of any other player that, when playing poorly, has their round ripped to shreds in as much detail. I'm sure the likes of Thomas and Rahm also have 3 putts, make loads of careless mistakes, etc, but no one really focuses on it. OK, Rahm has had a good spell, so there might be the odd comment of surprise if he has a poor round. But, I rarely remember anyone ripping that round apart, and trying to explain where all his careless mistakes occured.

In actual terms, it is hard to say McIlroy is mentally weak, when he has been one of the very best golfers in the world for so long. Either No. 1, or not far off. He hasn't won a Major in a while, yet still always one of the favourites, and hasn't been far off. 17 top 10 finishes since 2015 isn't terrible. DJ has had 15, Brooks 15, Thomas 7 and Rahm 9. Obviously, it is the win that matters, but maybe he just hasn't had the rub of the green when he has been in contention, and others have. It is fine margins.

You could have a player who could have an amazing career as one of the top golfers, yet people will openly admit to not putting them up there with the best until they win a Major. Thinking the likes of Monty and Westy. McIlroy has won 4, but because they were early in his career, it appears that they have become invalidated in some respect. I guess that seems odd. A very good player could get their 1st and only Major at end of their career, which elevates their status amongst the elite, yet a golfer can get 4 early on, but they are cast aside as they have failed to keep winning them.

 

[Jason.H]

Rory has one of the finest golf swings. He plays like he has to out drive his playing partners, sure when he’s on form he does. I’d like to see him reign it in a bit and get control of his game maybe today he will do that.

 

[Imurg]

As they failed to finish the 1st round of the Players in one day it's looking likely that round 2 will go into Saturday morning....just like every other PGA event this year.
I don't think they've done the cut on a Friday in 2023.
They have to either speed the players up or reduce the size of the field...oh, wait a minute......

 

[Swango1980]

As they failed to finish the 1st round of the Players in one day it's looking likely that round 2 will go into Saturday morning....just like every other PGA event this year.
I don't think they've done the cut on a Friday in 2023.
They have to either speed the players up or reduce the size of the field...oh, wait a minute......

What's the reason for this? Has weather played a part in many of these events, or are they just genuinely slow? And, are they slower now than they have been in previous years? With so much money in the game, and technology available, I'd love to think they could find a decent way to track the time for every player (while still discounting the time they don't hit a shot due to a delay in front), and come up with a pretty solid method of penalising players when they cross certain thresholds. I appreciate there is a lot of money on the line for these players, but slow golf doesn't really add to the spectacle.

 

[pokerjoke]

I think it is all relative. You are right, he possibly is mentally weak compared to the likes of Tiger and Rahm, or even players like Thomas. However, I sometimes think that is a little harsh. Anytime McIlroy has an average to poor round, people instantly look at where he went wrong. Where he 3 putted, didn't get up and down, missed a green with a wedge, hit a terrible drive, etc. However, I cannot think of any other player that, when playing poorly, has their round ripped to shreds in as much detail. I'm sure the likes of Thomas and Rahm also have 3 putts, make loads of careless mistakes, etc, but no one really focuses on it. OK, Rahm has had a good spell, so there might be the odd comment of surprise if he has a poor round. But, I rarely remember anyone ripping that round apart, and trying to explain where all his careless mistakes occured.

In actual terms, it is hard to say McIlroy is mentally weak, when he has been one of the very best golfers in the world for so long. Either No. 1, or not far off. He hasn't won a Major in a while, yet still always one of the favourites, and hasn't been far off. 17 top 10 finishes since 2015 isn't terrible. DJ has had 15, Brooks 15, Thomas 7 and Rahm 9. Obviously, it is the win that matters, but maybe he just hasn't had the rub of the green when he has been in contention, and others have. It is fine margins.

You could have a player who could have an amazing career as one of the top golfers, yet people will openly admit to not putting them up there with the best until they win a Major. Thinking the likes of Monty and Westy. McIlroy has won 4, but because they were early in his career, it appears that they have become invalidated in some respect. I guess that seems odd. A very good player could get their 1st and only Major at end of their career, which elevates their status amongst the elite, yet a golfer can get 4 early on, but they are cast aside as they have failed to keep winning them.

I tend to agree with you
However he’s been put on a pedestal by the media and people on here,unlike any of the golfers you mention.
It’s been said that when Rory’s on it,he the best in the world easily.
Obviously he’s not.
A man with that much talent without a major in 8 years is ridiculous.
He will win more no doubt,however I don’t think he will blow the field away.
The longer it goes as well the harder it will be.
I suspect most of the pressure he puts on himself because he knows how good he is and he’s under achieving.
Yesterday’s round highlighted its fall of errors,errors there’s no doubt he shouldn’t be making.
Of course he will play better today and I hope he goes on to win,I’ve bet on that.

 

[sweaty sock]

Rory is just inconsistent, how many majors has he finished top ten with a crap round thrown in. Theres every chance he'll still finish in 5th place without ever contending.

As for him volunteering his driver in, just in case its non conforming, that makes me laugh out loud. Hes had it tested, its failed with flying colours, and hes been told if he changes it straight away, its all fine and the papers will never know.

 

[Imurg]

What's the reason for this? Has weather played a part in many of these events, or are they just genuinely slow? And, are they slower now than they have been in previous years? With so much money in the game, and technology available, I'd love to think they could find a decent way to track the time for every player (while still discounting the time they don't hit a shot due to a delay in front), and come up with a pretty solid method of penalising players when they cross certain thresholds. I appreciate there is a lot of money on the line for these players, but slow golf doesn't really add to the spectacle.

I think they're just slow..
There's only 144 players this week...fields are, more often than not, 156.

 

[Swango1980]

I tend to agree with you
However he’s been put on a pedestal by the media and people on here,unlike any of the golfers you mention.
It’s been said that when Rory’s on it,he the best in the world easily.
Obviously he’s not.
A man with that much talent without a major in 8 years is ridiculous.
He will win more no doubt,however I don’t think he will blow the field away.
The longer it goes as well the harder it will be.
I suspect most of the pressure he puts on himself because he knows how good he is and he’s under achieving.
Yesterday’s round highlighted its fall of errors,errors there’s no doubt he shouldn’t be making.
Of course he will play better today and I hope he goes on to win,I’ve bet on that.

I guess you can look at it two ways.

1. If he is truly mentally weak, in relation to other professionals, then his actually golf game must me absolutely unbelievable to achieve what he has done. Much better than any other player, and if he had that mental toughness then he would virtually be unbeatable most weeks.
2. His mental strength isn't as much of an issue as people say it is. He simply has weak moments, like every other player. He has a great golf game, but it is not massively ahead of many of the other top professionals. They all have very efficient, and effective swings. Maybe McIlroys is more pleasing to the eye than most, but no better or worse or efficient that the swing of Rahm, Thomas, DJ, etc.

I can see why he gets put on a pedestal, the 4 early Majors helped. The fact that he hits is so far, at 5ft 9, is also quite an impressive thing to behold. I think his accuracy off the tee is not generally great though, so maybe his course management needs to be better (think that goes more into planning, rather than mental toughness in the moment). maybe he is more aggressive on his approaches, which can let him down big time, but help when he is on it. And, I guess he is just not as good at reading greens as some of the very best putters (but an absolute genius compared to nearly all amateur golfers)

 

[Swango1980]

I think they're just slow..
There's only 144 players this week...fields are, more often than not, 156.

I understood it at St Andrews with double greens, just seems strange here. I saw Wise finished with a 10 on 18th, as he hit his 1st 3 drives into the water, and had to play 7 off the tee. Perhaps that held up the rest of the field

 

[Jason.H]

Lowry just put it into the trees, wonder if he’ll snap another club in temper today.

 

[Golfmmad]

As others have said, the commentators will have an idea on what shot would suit McIlroy or any other player, but only the player and caddie will truly know what shot they want to hit. Presumably, they've played practice rounds and done their research on each hole, so there is bound to be some forward planning. Not just turning up on each tee and making it up on the spot.

I happened to tune in to the practice round coverage on Tuesday, where they followed Webb Simpson for a hole or 2, talked about what was on his mind, etc. Caddy involved as well. They explained that they spend time before every round, going through exactly what shots they will play off the tee, based on the set up of that day. They will have debates about certain shots, but it means that the debates happen before the round, rather than distracting them during the round itself. Was quite interesting. It was also funny when he smashed a drive on a par 5, leaving him only a wedge shot to green. All very proud of his drive. He then missed the green about 20 yards to the left with his wedge

Back to McIlroy though, he has hit plenty of absolutely smashing fades, and I guess that was on his mind for this one. However, sometimes the shot just doesn't come off the way he hoped.

Not wishing to be pedantic but my whole point was that the hole in question was a draw all day long for every golfer. But Rory sets his feet for a fade, which is what I found odd.
Hope he has a better round today!

 

[Imurg]

Not wishing to be pedantic but my whole point was that the hole in question was a draw all day long for every golfer. But Rory sets his feet for a fade, which is what I found odd.
Hope he has a better round today!

Angles can be deceiving on camera..most of the time the initial flight of the ball looks like a shank..
Then again, Rory was having a mare so.....?