Abu Dhabi Championship

[didsbury_duffer]

Lee Westwood won the RTD last year, and played magnificent golf in all four rounds in Dubai, where his iron play was superb. As a result he reached no.4 in the world rankings, and has been widely tipped in the media, and by quite a few of us forumers, to do great things this year - maybe even a major.
So what does he do...changes his irons, shoots 78 today and misses the cut in his first event of the year. Am I being naive in thinking that this is the kind of mistake that we mortals would be tempted into? It's a bit like Harrington - he won 3 majors in 18 months, so he decided to change his swing last year and had a crap year as a result.
Sorry, but I cannot fathom it.

 

[Andy]

The strive for perfection leads to some dodgy decisions.

Andy

 

[jammydodger]

Early days , he'll come good one bad round isnt going to define his year

 

[birdieman]

Westwood seems to have piled on the weight since about a year ago when he was in good shape (for Westwood!). Can't help his game in the desert heat can it?

 

[pokerjoke]

As the saying goes "if it aint broke" comes to mind.As for the weight probably wants to be the same size as his misses.As my report said"could do better".

 

[intherough]

if i were playing like he was I wouldn't have left Dubai, but he had to change his irons anyway cause of the grooves so maybe he and his team have tried something they may have been wanting to try for a while. As for Harrington, in my opinion he wasn't playing to well away from the majors (i'm probably wrong on this) maybe he and his team wanted more consistancy and thought changing the swing would bring them that. I do don't think he's played to half his ability since the change.
Look back at soem of the greats and they've all wanted to change something about their game. When Faldo changed his it took him a long time to adjust to it but that change helped to take him to number 1 in the world.

 

[TRS30]

I think most pros seem to change their swing. Was watching the golf earlier and in nearly every interview the player said they had changed something over the winter or was trying some new equipment.

As Andy said, think it come from the drive to play perfect/better golf.

 

[haplesshacker]

I see that Poulter and Rory are tied second, one shot down after three rounds. Both were tied eigth after second round. So great going.

I know that Ian is sometimes not liked. But a sterling effort today.

If only I had Sky. I'd have tomorrows TV sorted!

 

[haplesshacker]

Just watched a bit of footage from the app. The fairways have shorter grass than our greens! Oh, and no mud!

 

[Golfmmad]

I often think about getting Sky but after last night, not sure I really want to.

Went to a mates last night - as wives went to see the Ice Show at the Brighton Centre. We watched the Bob Hope Classic on Sky tv. It's played over 4 courses and they switched from course to course and I could not believe what I was watching.
There was Bubba Watson shooting the course record and hardly any was shown! What's going on? He shot a course record of 62 and was only shown a couple of times when he was at 15 under.

Also, apart from the par 3's, didn't see any drives at all, is this usual?

I know we don't get much but give me BBC Golf coverage any day.

Golfmmad.

 

[clubchamp07]

Yep, the coverage on Sky is getting WORSE. They will talk about anything other than what we want to watch. I switched on last night only to have someone sticking a credit card down his glove as not to break his wrists. It lasted about 10-15 minutes so I turned off. All I seen of Bubba was his score card. didn't see him hit a shot.
As for the BBC coverage, I think they must start about March digging up the has been's of golf to talk [****] for 4 days at the Open. I can listen to Allis all day but as for some of the others, no thanks.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The problem with Sky's US coverage (and the same problem they recently had in South Africa) is that European Tour Productions (the guys that produce the coverage on the European Tour) do not supply what they and the viewer are seeing. It comes directly from the US tv feed and so they can't choose who or what you watch

 

[didsbury_duffer]

I find the Sky coverage of the European Tour (Ewen Murray / Howard Clarke / Richard Boxall / Razor..etc) excellent. They generally let us see all the important bits, including tees, fairways and greens - because it is their cameras. The banter is OK as well. The problem with Sky's coverage of the US PGA Tour is that they get the coverage off an American host broadcaster, and it has been crap for years. If Tiger is playing he alone takes up about 50% of the coverage, to the detriment of all the others, no matter how they are playing. They regularly show quite a bit of footage of the commentators in the booth - who the hell wants to watch them? If Tiger isn't playing, then tey will concentrate on only American golfers, and hardly show any others. Typical US tripe.

 

[algar5]

Why does David Livingstone have to ask every player he interviews "What do you think about Tiger and You must be talking about Tiger". He can't help himself and asking them about their own round is an afterthought.

I agree that as a rule the European Tour Production feed is a lot better and Radar is a revelation.

 

[Golfmmad]

Sorry, but who is Radar?

Golfmmad.

 

[jammydodger]

Radar is Wayne Riley , the on course pundit with Sky. A very witty Aussie who comes out with some classic one liners.

One particular one I remember was on a very cold day and the host said "so Wayne it looks pretty cold out there"...Radars answer was "It sure is , it's as cold as your mother-in-laws kiss" classic

 

[Dodger]

Yesterdays classic line from Radar was 'he has taken a divot that looks like a garlic naan'....the fella paints the pictures so well and IMO he is the best out there but for some strange reason when it comes to the Majors they use Howard monotone Clark!

 

[TRS30]

Why does David Livingstone have to ask every player he interviews "What do you think about Tiger and You must be talking about Tiger". He can't help himself and asking them about their own round is an afterthought.

This is really starting to annoy me about Sky, you'd expect it on the US coverage but why on European Tour events.

As for his 'big boys' question to Kaymer, I would have walked off...

 

[Golfmmad]

Radar is Wayne Riley , the on course pundit with Sky. A very witty Aussie who comes out with some classic one liners.

Thanks Jammydodger, I've seen him on BBCs coverage and agree he's very good - certainly helps Lineker out, as a pundit himself, makes it much more interesting and watchable.

Golfmmad.

 

[Dodger]

[/QUOTE]


Thanks Jammydodger, I've seen him on BBCs coverage and agree he's very good - certainly helps Lineker out, as a pundit himself, makes it much more interesting and watchable.

Golfmmad.

[/QUOTE]

I don't think you have....you have maybe however seen Wayne Grady.