2014 PGA Tour

[Thrashen]

I still disagree with jaxvid and others on the quality and toughness of today's players. The competition is far more spread out and much tougher all-around than it was in Jack and Arnie's era. There were only 8 or 10 serious competitors for major titles then if that many; now it's more like 100.

Phil Mickelson has won 5 majors and over 40 individual PGA titles. His career has been a lot like Tom Watson's, who was the best player since Nicklaus other than Woods, and better than Nick Faldo's career, who won 6 majors but not a lot of individual titles. Ernie Els has 4 majors. Four to six majors has been the hallmark of a great career post-Nicklaus (and pre-Nicklaus for that matter), and will likely continue that way for a long time. Woods was an exception, a freak, a freak likely propped up by steroids and by an uncritical adoring media, that is not going to be duplicated.

I'm happy with the stars of today's PGA and the quality of play. And from a Caste perspective the sport has never been so barren of affletic talent on both the men and women's side. It's actually a great defeat for the Caste System and the Caste media, who were so sure that Woods was only the first of many black superstars to take over the sport, one that blacks are most definitely "interested" in.

Nice post. Since the much-appreciated terminus of Wood’s “evil reign” nearly six years ago, the winners of the 22 subsequent Major Championships tournaments have hailed from 9 different countries. As you asserted, this trend epitomizes a worldwide “talent distribution.”

Prior to Wood’s first Major Championship win in 1997, it seemed that the majority of non-major PGA tour events were won by Americans, while Major Championship winners were comprised primarily of Americans, then U.K. nations (England, Ireland, N. Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) then whites from South Africa/Zimbabwe, then Aussies/New Zealanders, then a few outliers from Germany, Spain, or Argentina. I was only 11 years old in 1997, so my perspective may be incorrect.

In my opinion, it’s great to see whites from around the West/Anglosphere winning tournaments. Aside from Eastern Europe, there is at least one world class player from nearly every white-inhabited nation. In viewing the current “World Golf Rankings,” the top 100 names hail from the following nations: USA, Australia, Sweden, N. Ireland, England, Spain, South Africa, France, Denmark, Canada, Wales, Scotland, The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Finland, Austria, Zimbabwe, and Argentina…

http://espn.go.com/golf/rankings

Aside from Woods, Vijay, several Asians from Korea or Japan, and racially mixed players such as Rickie Fowler and Jason Day, the PGA tour is rather devoid of non-whites.

 

[white is right]

Nice post. Since the much-appreciated terminus of Wood’s “evil reign” nearly six years ago, the winners of the 22 subsequent Major Championships tournaments have hailed from 9 different countries. As you asserted, this trend epitomizes a worldwide “talent distribution.”

Prior to Wood’s first Major Championship win in 1997, it seemed that the majority of non-major PGA tour events were won by Americans, while Major Championship winners were comprised primarily of Americans, then U.K. nations (England, Ireland, N. Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) then whites from South Africa/Zimbabwe, then Aussies/New Zealanders, then a few outliers from Germany, Spain, or Argentina. I was only 11 years old in 1997, so my perspective may be incorrect.

In my opinion, it’s great to see whites from around the West/Anglosphere winning tournaments. Aside from Eastern Europe, there is at least one world class player from nearly every white-inhabited nation. In viewing the current “World Golf Rankings,” the top 100 names hail from the following nations: USA, Australia, Sweden, N. Ireland, England, Spain, South Africa, France, Denmark Canada, Wales, Scotland, The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Finland, Austria, Zimbabwe, and Argentina…

http://espn.go.com/golf/rankings

Aside from Woods, Vijay, several talented Asian players, and racially mixed players such as Rickie Folwer and Jason Day, the PGA tour is rather devoid of non-whites.

Aside from Althea Gibson who was a tennis Grand Slam winner has there been any female Black golfers at this level.?

 

[Carolina Speed]

Adam Scott off to a good start at The Arnold Palmer Invitational at -10, 62. Patrick Reed shot a 69, -3 and is in a tie for 8th. No Tiger this week.

 

[Don Wassall]

Adam Scott off to a good start at The Arnold Palmer Invitational at -10, 62. Patrick Reed shot a 69, -3 and is in a tie for 8th. No Tiger this week.

The increasingly injury prone Woods' back caused him to withdraw from Arnie's tournament.

Don't get me wrong, I've always been a big Arnold Palmer fan. He had charisma in bunches back when White men were allowed to have it, and came from a working class background to become a megastar in an upper class sport. He's always been a class act, a great ambassador for golf, and has earned his nickname of "The King."

But no one will ever accuse Palmer of not kowtowing to the powers that be. He made a fortune in the 1960s and '70s doing commercials for just about every major corporation that existed back then. He's studiously "politically correct" at all times. He founded the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children (how much longer until it's renamed the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women, Children and Non-White Men?).

And Arnie's always been a huge Tiger Woods booster, on a "par" with any of the open Tiger worshippers in the corporate media. So when Palmer says that he thinks Woods will have a tough time breaking Jack Nicklaus's mark of 18 majors, well my day just got a little better:


Arnold Palmer believes age will be an issue as 38-year-old Tiger Woods tries to break the major championship record.

The standard all along for Woods has been the 18 professional majors Jack Nicklaus won over 25 seasons. Woods reached his 14th major when he was 32, but he has not won another since that 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. And now the world's No. 1 player is coping with an ailing back.

"I don't think 38 years is the ultimate stopping point for his quest to do what Jack did," Palmer said Wednesday at Bay Hill. "I think it lessens the possibility of that happening. It's going to be tough. It's going to be tough to keep the concentration and the type of the game that is necessary to win majors."

Nicklaus won four of his majors after turning 38. Ben Hogan, with battered legs from a car accident, won five majors after turning 38.

Palmer, however, believes more than age is at stake for Woods.

"These young guys are tough, and they're strong," Palmer said. "And if they continue to play as well as they've been playing, it's going to be tough for anybody – whether it be Nicklaus or Tiger or whomever it would be – to continue to win major championships. And we're talking about guys that are playing good and coming on."

He also alluded to Woods' mystique that appears to have eroded.

"And the fear of a player being so good that they back off, I don't think that's the case anymore," he said. "I think that the players that are going to win, and win major championships, have to be physically fit, mentally fit and they're going to continue to be tough to beat."

Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell also said the strength of the field is as much an obstacle for Woods as his own health.

"I would say the field is probably the biggest issue he's got, maybe 70-30 – 70 being field, 30 being body," McDowell said. "It's tough to say. He never ceases to amaze us. ... You'd never put anything past him. He could prove us all wrong and show up at Augusta, win by 10, and you guys will be back to the keyboards and waxing lyrical and away we go again. Who knows?"

http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/notebook-arnold-palmer-weighs-in-tiger-woods-major-title-quest

 

[Carolina Speed]

Adam Scott is in complete control of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at -14. If he can win the tournament, he will be the new number 1 player in the world!

 

[Carolina Speed]

Adam Scott is in complete control of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at -14. If he can win the tournament, he will be the new number 1 player in the world!

Sorry to see Adam Scott lose in the Palmer Invitational. He finished 3rd. I would have liked for him to win and take over as the No. 1 player in the world! He should inch a little closer after the World Rankings come out tomorrow or Tuesday.

I'll say it again, it's really amazing no one has taken the no. 1 position from Woods!

Where are the Nicklaus's, the Hogan's, the Snead's, the Palmer's? Heck, I'll take someone like Tom Watson, someone, anyone get tough and take over!!!!

 

[Don Wassall]

Congratulations to Martin Kaymer, who won The Players today, the "fifth major" which is just a notch below the four official majors in prestige.

He shot a 63 in the first round and was in the lead or tied the entire way, fending off the likes of Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth to win by a single stroke.

Kaymer won the 2010 PGA and was briefly the number one ranked golfer in the world before struggling with his game the past few years, so it's great to see him successfully climb back to the pinnacle of his sport. He's still just 29 and very much a gentleman as virtually all pro golfers are and was quite gracious and well-spoken in his comments during the trophy ceremony.

Martin is from Germany, really the only topnotch golfer from that country other than the amazing Bernhard Langer, who has been dominating the senior tour for several years now and who is still competitive at The Masters. It's sad to me how few world class German athletes there seems to be these days in any sports and I'll root for Kaymer to continue to do well in golf.

 

[Thrashen]

Congratulations to Martin Kaymer, who won The Players today, the "fifth major" which is just a notch below the four official majors in prestige.

He shot a 63 in the first round and was in the lead or tied the entire way, fending off the likes of Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth to win by a single stroke.

Kaymer won the 2010 PGA and was briefly the number one ranked golfer in the world before struggling with his game the past few years, so it's great to see him successfully climb back to the pinnacle of his sport. He's still just 29 and very much a gentleman as virtually all pro golfers are and was quite gracious and well-spoken in his comments during the trophy ceremony.

Martin is from Germany, really the only topnotch golfer from that country other than the amazing Bernhard Langer, who has been dominating the senior tour for several years now and who is still competitive at The Masters. It's sad to me how few world class German athletes there seems to be these days in any sports and I'll root for Kaymer to continue to do well in golf.

Yes, aside from soccer, all winter sports, handball, table tennis (where the German team is neck-and-neck with once-unbeatable China as the world’s best), and a few of individual basketball players, there are very few athletes from Germany that have become international superstars in the 2000’s. In the NFL, I believe the only active players born in Germany are Patriots RT Sebastian Vollmer and Colts DE Björn Werner. Vollmer is a top 10 tackle and Werner was a 1[SUP]st[/SUP] round pick who could be great in time.

Like you, I’d also love to see Kaymer win his second major this season. This was his biggest moment from The Players yesterday...

[video=youtube;5to6rm_wdP4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5to6rm_wdP4[/video]

 

[a5308860]

[h=1]A rude welcome back for Tiger Woods[/h]BETHESDA, Md. (AP) -- Congressional gave Tiger Woods a rude welcome back to the PGA Tour on Thursday.
In his first competition since back surgery a week before the Masters, Woods made seven bogeys in his opening 12 holes. He made three birdies from short range the rest of the way for a 3-over 74 at the Quicken Loans National.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rude-welcome-back-tiger-woods-173231914--golf.html

 

[a5308860]

Tiger Woods misses cut by 4 shots


BETHESDA, Md. -- Tiger Woods was back. Just not for very long.
Woods missed a 36-hole cut for only the 10th time on the PGA Tour with a game that showed signs of rust from being out of competition for more than three months. Right when he was poised to make a run, Woods made four straight bogeys on the back nine at Congressional to end any hopes of playing the weekend at the Quicken Loans National.

http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/11146330/tiger-woods-misses-cut-congressional-4-shots#comments

 

[Don Wassall]

Was briefly watching the senior tour event this afternoon, which is being held in this area, and all of a sudden there was scrolling news at the bottom of the screen. A terrorist attack perhaps? A natural disaster of some kind? A severe thunderstorm alert? Nope, it said "Tiger Woods has made a par on the first hole of his round today at Congressional."

Later I watched a few minutes of Golf Central on Golf Channel, and it was Tiger-centric of course. The tools on the set where bantering back and forth on the question of whether Woods would win the British Open. He would contend was the consensus.

Everything involving Woods when it comes to the corporate media belongs in the ongoing We Are Living in a Cartoon thread in Happy Hour, and has ever since he turned pro.

 

[sport historian]

Was briefly watching the senior tour event this afternoon, which is being held in this area, and all of a sudden there was scrolling news at the bottom of the screen. A terrorist attack perhaps? A natural disaster of some kind? A severe thunderstorm alert? Nope, it said "Tiger Woods has made a par on the first hole of his round today at Congressional."

Later I watched a few minutes of Golf Central on Golf Channel, and it was Tiger-centric of course. The tools on the set where bantering back and forth on the question of whether Woods would win the British Open. He would contend was the consensus.

Everything involving Woods when it comes to the corporate media belongs in the ongoing We Are Living in a Cartoon thread in Happy Hour, and has ever since he turned pro.

The AP writer wrote: "Tiger Woods never felt so good after playing so badly."

 

[Carolina Speed]

Was briefly watching the senior tour event this afternoon, which is being held in this area, and all of a sudden there was scrolling news at the bottom of the screen. A terrorist attack perhaps? A natural disaster of some kind? A severe thunderstorm alert? Nope, it said "Tiger Woods has made a par on the first hole of his round today at Congressional."

Later I watched a few minutes of Golf Central on Golf Channel, and it was Tiger-centric of course. The tools on the set where bantering back and forth on the question of whether Woods would win the British Open. He would contend was the consensus.

Everything involving Woods when it comes to the corporate media belongs in the ongoing We Are Living in a Cartoon thread in Happy Hour, and has ever since he turned pro.

There's only one way to make it, Tiger worship, go away..... someone needs to win a bunch of majors, not just one or two and then go away. Is there someone, anyone, who wants it?

On a side note. Patrick Reed is back atop the leader board at -6! Would like to see him win some majors.

 

[Thrashen]

Was briefly watching the senior tour event this afternoon, which is being held in this area, and all of a sudden there was scrolling news at the bottom of the screen. A terrorist attack perhaps? A natural disaster of some kind? A severe thunderstorm alert? Nope, it said "Tiger Woods has made a par on the first hole of his round today at Congressional."

Later I watched a few minutes of Golf Central on Golf Channel, and it was Tiger-centric of course. The tools on the set where bantering back and forth on the question of whether Woods would win the British Open. He would contend was the consensus.

Everything involving Woods when it comes to the corporate media belongs in the ongoing We Are Living in a Cartoon thread in Happy Hour, and has ever since he turned pro.

Another ridiculous illustration of how Woods is the very nucleus of all golf coverage. Whether he's winning, losing, missing the cut, or defecating, it's all-Tiger, all the time, always and forever.

Woods had an undeniably good season last year. He had the most wins, won the Players Championship, and won the “Player of the Year” award. Over the past two years, he's battled constant injuries, he’s put on weight, and is showing some serious age in his face. Nevertheless, I could see him contending in non-major tournaments, and likely the PGA Championship in August. Evil men like him never seem to fade away. Of course, no matter his quotient of arrogant behavior, poor etiquette on the course, or his ridiculous personal transgressions, there will always be sycophantic “white” “men” that support him, such as these Gold Medal-winning losers yesterday…

CAPTION: Woodsian Wiggers

Apparently, Woods won’t be playing in any more tournaments before the British Open, which is a mere 3 weeks away. It’s been 8 years since “Der Scheißkerl” won his last Open, back in July 2006. May he never win again...