Luke & Lee

[Imurg]

Luck doesn't necessarily apply to the winner.
At The Open last year, Dustbin Johnson was building a bit of momentum and looked like he could hunt DC down when he smacked one OB. That gave DC a bit of breathing space. DC also had a couple of shots jump bunkers.
Every winner of every tournament, Major or otherwise, has either had a bit of luck themselves or benefited from someone elses bad luck....

 

[Ethan]

Luck can obviously play a part, and a player can be lucky to win, or unlucky to lose, any given event, particularly if it is just the odd shot out of 280. Changes of weather is a good example. Monty was unlucky in 1992 when the weather eased after he was in the clubhouse at Pebble Beach. Jack Nicklaus had already congratulated him on winning.

If you win 14, or win by a mile, luck has obviously played a much smaller part.

 

[HotDogAssassin]

I'm not sure how Lee can be described as a "No Show"? For a top ranking player to not make the cut then maybe. But to finish T10 in my book is still a respectable finish, especially after the double bogey on the 5th. I was very impressed by Lee on the last day, after the tree incident he could have completely collapsed but he stayed in contention to finish just 4 off the lead. That in my book is neither a No Show, No Bottle or Choke.

Luke suffered, as did Rory and Lee, with a poor first day but he got the worst of it. However, there are a lot of others in that camp who you could not say will not get a future major i.e. McIlroy, Watson, Hanson, Quiros, Oosthuizen. I think it will come, just don't know when.

Having said all that what do I know, this is only the second Major that I've every watched. :ears:

 

[Dodger]

So that 3 putt on the last green at Turnberry was not down to a collapsed backside?

The tree was unlucky???? It was a very very poor swing that put him in the tree, the tree didn't jump out on him.

Not to mention the 2 horrific chip shots he played during the final round,one of which was no more than 30 foot from the pin yet gunned it 15 by with his electricity powered hands.

Don't think either are bottlers though,Donald needs a certain type of course to suit him,he aint the straightest off the tee and Lee just hasn't got the game to win a Major unless he hits a massive amount of Green in Regulation.

 

[Aztecs27]

Not to mention the 2 horrific chip shots he played during the final round,one of which was no more than 30 foot from the pin yet gunned it 15 by with his electricity powered hands.

Brilliant!

 

[thecraw]

I'm not sure how Lee can be described as a "No Show"? For a top ranking player to not make the cut then maybe. But to finish T10 in my book is still a respectable finish, especially after the double bogey on the 5th. I was very impressed by Lee on the last day, after the tree incident he could have completely collapsed but he stayed in contention to finish just 4 off the lead. That in my book is neither a No Show, No Bottle or Choke.

Luke suffered, as did Rory and Lee, with a poor first day but he got the worst of it. However, there are a lot of others in that camp who you could not say will not get a future major i.e. McIlroy, Watson, Hanson, Quiros, Oosthuizen. I think it will come, just don't know when.

Having said all that what do I know, this is only the second Major that I've every watched. :ears:

Oosthuizen has a major already and he will win more than Lee. In fact quite confident he has the game and attitude to add another to the Open title already on his CV.

 

[bigslice]

they both have the desire and luke has the bottle. i think lee has to work at his game to get results. where with Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuukkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeeeee it is more natural. luke has climbed the tables by being quiet and un assuming and just getting on with it. bigtime will come to luke more easily than lee.

 

[muttleee]

Donald needs a certain type of course to suit him,he aint the straightest off the tee

Are we talking about the same Luke Donald here?? He's currently 12th in fairways hit on the PGA Tour...but only 112th in GIR. I don't think it's his driving that's the problem.

A commentator pointed out the other day that Luke hadn't broken 70 in the first round of a major since the 2006 USPGA. I don't think you can put that down to just 'bad luck'.

 

[Scadge]

This sort of thread really gets my juices flowing. Surely lee and Luke are the exact opposite of a so called bottler. To get to the top of the game when you have an obvious deficiency (one is only an average putter the other 40yards shorter than the so called legends) in my mind shows enormous guts and they continue to put themselves out there and do everything they can to win. When Westwood three putted at the Open it looked like he needed birdie to tie so he went for it - had a rattle - with unfortunate results.

Why can't we just be pleased that we have two great players whose games are so different that there is something for everyone to enjoy. I once played with a guy who scored 150 and called the guy we were playing with a choker for finishing with a double - seems like a lot of the choker mob could look closer to home ?

 

[Dodger]

Are we talking about the same Luke Donald here?? He's currently 12th in fairways hit on the PGA Tour...but only 112th in GIR. I don't think it's his driving that's the problem.

A commentator pointed out the other day that Luke hadn't broken 70 in the first round of a major since the 2006 USPGA. I don't think you can put that down to just 'bad luck'.

As I said,he aint the straightest off the tee...

 

[muttleee]

As I said,he aint the straightest off the tee...

Fair enough...there are obviously 11 people straighter than him! This lot, in fact:

1 Graeme McDowell
2 Jim Furyk
3 Jerry Kelly
4 Heath Slocum
5 John Mallinger
6 David Toms
T7 John Huh
T7 Mark Wilson
9 Brian Davis
10 Colt Knost
11 Jason Dufner

 

[thecraw]

This sort of thread really gets my juices flowing. Surely lee and Luke are the exact opposite of a so called bottler. To get to the top of the game when you have an obvious deficiency (one is only an average putter the other 40yards shorter than the so called legends) in my mind shows enormous guts and they continue to put themselves out there and do everything they can to win. When Westwood three putted at the Open it looked like he needed birdie to tie so he went for it - had a rattle - with unfortunate results.

Why can't we just be pleased that we have two great players whose games are so different that there is something for everyone to enjoy. I once played with a guy who scored 150 and called the guy we were playing with a choker for finishing with a double - seems like a lot of the choker mob could look closer to home ?

Fail to live up to the hype at every major. Can't see anything wrong with questioning how they handle themselves during the "biggies" where they fail to live up to the best in the world tag. Webb Simpson and other have proved their games are up to the task when the questions are asked.

Lee has failed at every chance to date when in position and Luke has failed to get into that position. I don't think I'm knocking them, just questioning if they're good enough or really got it to win a major. I would be delighted if both did but just can't see it.

 

[lobthewedge]

Reckon its a bit early to write them off and say that they will NEVER win a major, just ask Darren Clarke.

They are both world class players and just need a bit of luck to push them over the line. Donald had a bad week but Westwood was playing great and looked like a man on a mission until the tree incident that took the wind from his sails on Sunday.

The biggest worry that they face is getting Sergio Syndrome, where they neither believe nor look like ever contending for a major again. I guess thats what 17 top 10s without a major win will do to you. At present Lee is on 14 and Luke only 6.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

At least Westwood is giving himself chances of winning. Where was McIlroy, Woods or a host of other top names. I understand that the shot Westwood hit was bad, but can you really legislate for it staying up in the tree. I think luck HAS to play some part over the course of four rounds to win a major. Heck if you take it down to a basic level, how many of us have won a club event and know we've hit the odd shocker we've got away with.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

(I know Luke won the money list over there but was that as a result of being the best or of playing in more events and finishing higher than others more consistently but without winning - I haven't looked over the full stats so stand to be corrected).

I think you'll find Luke played less tournaments on the PGA Tour than anyone else

 

[Neddy]

Luke has admitted himself he puts pressure on himself at the majors and that affects his performances. It's notable that despite all his achievments he hasn't been a real factor on the back nine on a sunday at a major at any point really.

Lee on the other hand could have 2 or 3 in the bag already with a bit more luck at the right time. Think he will win one in the next couple of years. Really hope he does as well.

 

[GreiginFife]

I think you'll find Luke played less tournaments on the PGA Tour than anyone else

Ok, so I said I stood to be corrected (although he didn't play the fewest events of all players - I conceed that he didn't play in the most). However, as he won as many (two) as 6 other players (3 of which played in less events over the course of the year) I would say statistically Luke was not the best player on the PGA tour despite heading the money list.

 

[Scadge]

Fail to live up to the hype at every major. Can't see anything wrong with questioning how they handle themselves during the "biggies" where they fail to live up to the best in the world tag. Webb Simpson and other have proved their games are up to the task when the questions are asked.

Lee has failed at every chance to date when in position and Luke has failed to get into that position. I don't think I'm knocking them, just questioning if they're good enough or really got it to win a major. I would be delighted if both did but just can't see it.

If majors were currently and consistently being won by a few players I would accept an argument that there were other players a) that deserved more hype and b) were better equipped and had proven their games. The reality is that the last huge number of majors have been won by what could turn out to be one off wonders who at this point I don't see are more deserving than either Luke or especially Lee. As I said before these guys have overcome serious golfing weaknesses (putting / length) and continue to battle to worldwide victories and if the major trend continues as now we won't in future look back at this period with winning a major as the only measure of greatness as there will be so many who only got one on their cv as to suggest that other performances should be taken into account (ie the Monty versus Paul Lawrie debate). Either that or we will say that golf was in the doldrums in the the post Tiger era ?

 

[A1ex]

Westwood over the four days played better than anyone.

The problem was he didn't score aswell as his performance deserved. That's golf.

He'll win a major soon enough.