2015 Players Championship

[Jack Lambert]

After reading Don's post in the McIlroy thread I figured we should get a thread going for the most prestigious non-Major, which is the Players Championship (often referred to as the 5th Major) at the iconic TPC Sawgrass. It should be a great event!

 

[Carolina Speed]

It looks as though McIlroy is on his game and Spieth is playing great. I'd like to see a competitive rivalry between the two, much like the old days of Jack and Arnold.

Also, Patrick Reed another really good young American player seems to be Major or Players Championship away from greatness.

No doubt it will be yet another interesting tournament. The PGA it seems, is in a good place right now.

 

[Jack Lambert]

It looks as though McIlroy is on his game and Spieth is playing great. I'd like to see a competitive rivalry between the two, much like the old days of Jack and Arnold.

Also, Patrick Reed another really good young American player seems to be Major or Players Championship away from greatness.

No doubt it will be yet another interesting tournament. The PGA it seems, is in a good place right now.

I agree. It's really amazing that given the success of Tiger and with more access to golf courses than ever, that there aren't more black players on tour. I saw in the news that two older black players in Pete Brown and Calvin Peete both passed away this week. I'm not the biggest golf history buff, but I saw that Peete did have some success on tour, winning 12 events. It's mind boggling that in today's world, that there's only one black regular on tour in Tiger, given the push to "unearth" more "Tigers" the last 15+ years now.

Anyway, it seems there are more good white golfers that can potentially win any week than there ever has been. You have the young guns like Spieth, McIroy, Reed, etc. to go with veterans that have been playing great recently as well, like Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, (who beat Spieth head to head in match play last week) Bubba Watson, etc.

That's one of the reasons I love watching golf; it simply can't be manipulated like the other sports. If you get on the PGA Tour you need to have talent, plain and simple. As other sports have fallen victim to more and more BS (look at the recent NFL draft....) I've started watching a lot more golf rather than just the Majors and tournaments like the Players.

It'll be interesting for sure at the Players this week. Of course I'll be rooting for the usual guys like Phil, Furyk, Bubba, Spieth, McIlroy, etc.

 

[Don Wassall]

Spieth and McIlroy will be paired together for the first two rounds (along with Jason Day). Pretty cool. Golf Channel is giving The Players coverage equivalent to what it gives the four majors, with its "Live From" show on beginning tonight through the end of the tournament. I just watched the first 15 minutes of it and Woods was mentioned only a few times in passing; thankfully the rise of Rory and now Jordan at very young ages has forced them to focus at least somewhat on they should be focusing on rather than 24/7 Tiger worship.

 

[Freethinker]

Spieth and McIlroy will be paired together for the first two rounds (along with Jason Day). Pretty cool. Golf Channel is giving The Players coverage equivalent to what it gives the four majors, with its "Live From" show on beginning tonight through the end of the tournament. I just watched the first 15 minutes of it and Woods was mentioned only a few times in passing; thankfully the rise of Rory and now Jordan at very young ages has forced them to focus at least somewhat on they should be focusing on rather than 24/7 Tiger worship.

Pretty cool indeed. I look forward to seeing them go at it head-to-head. Jason Day can hold his own as well.

 

[Don Wassall]

Golf Channel just had a long snippet from Tiger's press conference today at The Players where he was discussing the death of Calvin Peete. Eventually Woods rambled unprompted to the topic of why there are no black golfers on the tour today, blaming it on "golf carts" (cue the laugh track). His explanation was that the advent of golf carts cut way down on the number of young blacks who caddied and then eventually were drawn into the sport as players. Because of those darn golf carts, blacks became "interested" only in football, basketball and baseball according to Tiger, who then quickly remembered that there are few good black baseball players anymore and narrowed it down to just football and basketball.

First of all, the reason blacks stopped caddying is that black militants denounced it as demeaning and called black caddies "Uncle Toms" as a caddie is in a secondary (inferior) position to the man he is caddying for. It had nothing to do with golf carts.

Secondly and far more to the point, talk about revisionist history! Twenty years ago, the media was waxing poetic about how the arrival of Tiger Woods was going to greatly increase the number of pro black golfers, with some predicting that blacks would take over the sport. How'd that work out? So now the excuse is golf carts.

It can never be that just maybe blacks aren't all that good at a lot of sports. There's always an excuse for why there is little to no black presence in the vast majority of athletic endeavors, the most common one being that all 40 million of them in the U.S. "aren't interested."

After Woods' golf cart clip ended, Rabbi Rich Lerner, the Golf Channel's propaganda minister, said simply "Spot on." Cue the laugh track again.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Pretty cool indeed. I look forward to seeing them go at it head-to-head. Jason Day can hold his own as well.

I saw that "Live From" show Don mentioned on my cable TV guide earlier today. I'll have to catch some of it this week/weekend.

 

[Jack Lambert]

Golf Channel just had a long snippet from Tiger's press conference today at The Players where he was discussing the death of Calvin Peete. Eventually Woods rambled unprompted to the topic of why there are no black golfers on the tour today, blaming it on "golf carts" (cue the laugh track). His explanation was that the advent of golf carts cut way down on the number of young blacks who caddied and then eventually were drawn into the sport as players. Because of those darn golf carts, blacks became "interested" only in football, basketball and baseball according to Tiger, who then quickly remembered that there are few good black baseball players anymore and narrowed it down to just football and basketball.

First of all, the reason blacks stopped caddying is that black militants denounced it as demeaning and called black caddies "Uncle Toms" as a caddie is in a secondary (inferior) position to the man he is caddying for. It had nothing to do with golf carts.

Secondly and far more to the point, talk about revisionist history! Twenty years ago, the media was waxing poetic about how the arrival of Tiger Woods was going to greatly increase the number of pro black golfers, with some predicting that blacks would take over the sport. How'd that work out? So now the excuse is golf carts.

It can never be that just maybe blacks aren't all that good at a lot of sports. There's always an excuse for why there is little to no black presence in the vast majority of athletic endeavors, the most common one being that all 40 million of them in the U.S. "aren't interested."

After Woods' golf cart clip ended, Rabbi Rich Lerner, the Golf Channel's propaganda minister, said simply "Spot on." Cue the laugh track again.

If it wasn't for those darn golf carts, the sport would be 50% black right now. :icon_wink: It's amazing the drivel that these guys keep coming up with. As I mentioned before, golf can't be "manipulated" like other sports (football, basketball) can. It's about pure talent; it's only a golfer and caddie for 72 holes each week, and no one will be covering up for your mistakes. Unless they try and do what they did with the NBA and NFL, (i.e. change the rules or just take whites out of the sport almost completely so that lesser talent is going up against lesser talent) we should be able to watch golf for a LONG time yet. If one needs an example for how long golf will remain white dominated, look at South Africa. In a country that's only 9% or so white, every single great golfer from there has been white: Gary Player, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, Trevor Immelman etc. All of the other South African golfers playing on the PGA regularly are white.

 

[Freethinker]

First of all, the reason blacks stopped caddying is that black militants denounced it as demeaning and called black caddies "Uncle Toms" as a caddie is in a secondary (inferior) position to the man he is caddying for. It had nothing to do with golf carts.

Shouldn't Leftists, like Lerner, demean Woods for these clearly racist remarks? I mean what's next? Does Woods want blacks to return to being maids, butlers and shoe shiners?

Cultural Marxists are so illogical and inconsistent that you sometimes just have to sit back, laugh and enjoy the show. opcorn:

 

[Thrashen]

How preposterous that Woods, who is himself white-Asian on his mother’s side and black-Amerindian-white on his father’s side, somehow “represents†the plight of all black golfers and is permitted to answer questions on their behalf. Marxist whites adhere to and rigidly institute the “One Drop Rule†more than any “white racist†ever did.

Of course, the true reason that every “African American†is considered nothing but “black†in the eyes of The System is because whites, as an entire race, are only permitted to be portrayed in a negative light. Since blacks are not permitted to be portrayed in anything but a positive manner, any amount of white ancestry they may have becomes irrelevant. Don’t get me wrong, I like the “One Drop Rule†and I consider anyone with any discernible non-white heritage to be entirely non-white.

Judging by Tiger’s four grandparents, he is around 1/4th black at best.

 

[Don Wassall]

What's also hilarious about Tiger's total bs explanation, that was so applauded by Rich Lerner, is that golf carts have been around since the 1930s. According to Wikipedia they had by the mid-1950s "gained widespread acceptance with golfers, with several manufacturers. . . producing various models. Most were electric." It's not like golfers, until Tiger Woods turned pro in 1996, drove to courses and then had no choice but to walk 18 holes accompanied by a caddie. A golf cart is a far simpler machine than a "horseless carriage," which has been around for over a century.

 

[Jack Lambert]

Interesting day at the Players, with a BUNCH of people within 4-5 shots of the lead. The lead is currently -5 and is shared by Charley Hoffman, David Hearn, Derek Fathauer, and Hideki Matsuyama. Some notable players within 5 are: Rory, Steve Stricker, Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, and defending champ Martin Kaymer are all at -3. Jim Furyk is at -2, and many more are bunched up a -1. A fairly nondescript bunch leading at -5 and -4, so it's still wide open.

Some of our favorites that didn't play so well include Jordan Spieth at +3, and Phil at +1. They're both still very much in it though.

Tiger is +1 as well. According to a couple DWF comments I saw, if he would've just "turned it on," he would be crushing the competition.

 

[Jack Lambert]

I had the misfortune of listening to some of the Players as I worked a bit this afternoon. The announcers were saying how exciting his round was. They even mentioned his emphatic fist-pump as he made a bird on the 9th green (his last hole). How great of a round was this you ask? Well, it was a -1 71 that allowed him to make the cut. Yes, those idiots were getting excited about a made cut. His playing partners, Martin Kaymer and Adam Scott, are both at -3 going into the weekend, but they didn't get more than passing mentions of their shots until after the round was done of course.

As the second round draws to a close, it's looking like a VERY nondescript bunch at the top of the leaderboard, with the exception of Rickie Fowler at -6 as the only big draw within three shots of the lead at the moment. Journeymen Kevin Na and Jerry Kelly are the leaders at -8. As I mentioned, Fowler's at -6, Zach Johnson (who's another bigger name) is at -5, McIroy's at -4 with one hole to play; Furyk's at -4 as well. Kaymer and Scott sit at -3 along with Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson. It's pretty much anybody's tournament at this point. Should make for an interesting weekend.

Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson (who, besides his 2007 Players victory, has been very inconsistent at TPC Sawgrass) both missed the cut.

 

[Jack Lambert]

I don't know how many here were actually watching The Players, but I'll keep posting updates.

After an eventful Saturday, Chris Kirk is the leader at -10, with a TON of players bunched up behind him. Sergio Garcia is at -8, Rickie Fowler and Billy Horschel are at -7, and a lot of big names at -6, with Rory, Bubba, Adam Scott, Zach Johnson, and Ian Poulter all four back. Another interesting player to watch is 22 year old Justin Thomas, who's two off the leader at -8.

Should be a great Sunday!!

 

[Carolina Speed]

I don't know how many here were actually watching The Players, but I'll keep posting updates.

After an eventful Saturday, Chris Kirk is the leader at -10, with a TON of players bunched up behind him. Sergio Garcia is at -8, Rickie Fowler and Billy Horschel are at -7, and a lot of big names at -6, with Rory, Bubba, Adam Scott, Zach Johnson, and Ian Poulter all four back. Another interesting player to watch is 22 year old Justin Thomas, who's two off the leader at -8.

Should be a great Sunday!!

Thanks JL. I was able to watch some of it, but didn't see the end. I saw the Chris Kirk interview. Seems like a nice family man. Probably who I'll pull for if Rory's not there at the end.

 

[Don Wassall]

Didn't get to watch as I was playing golf myself for the first time this year, but am looking forward to catching some of the final round tomorrow in between Mother's Day festivities.

The final round should be repeated on Golf Channel tomorrow night for those who miss it live.

 

[Jack Lambert]

I figured a "big name" player would step up today, and one has. That would be Sergio Garcia, who's leading by one at -11 with Ben Martin at -10 and a host of players at -9 behind him in Justin Thomas, Kevin Kisner, Chris Kirk, and Rory Sabbatini.

 

[Jack Lambert]

Rickie Fowler making a move!! After an Eagle on 16, he's got a birdie to tie Garcia at -11 on 17.

Edit: Fowler birdies 18 to lead at -12!! An amazing -6 through his last 6 holes.

 

[Don Wassall]

I only got to see the playoff, which Fowler won. The commentators on Golf Channel were really raving about the final round after it was over, calling it the best Players ever and even one of the best golf tournaments they'd ever seen.

Fowler had been called the "most over-rated" golfer on the tour by another one of those "anonymous" player polls, which I detest. It's National Enquirer level stuff and the players shouldn't even respond to them, but good to see Rickie stick it to those who called him over-rated. He only went 6 under on the final 6 holes, and 8 under on the final 10 holes counting the four-hole playoff!

With McIlroy, Spieth, Fowler, Patrick Reed and other young guns doing so well, the Tiger Woods era recedes further in the rearview mirror with every tournament.

 

[Quiet Speed]

I tuned in late, but got to see most of the fireworks. Fowler was really honed in on the 17th hole. Great stuff!

 

[Jack Lambert]

I only got to see the playoff, which Fowler won. The commentators on Golf Channel were really raving about the final round after it was over, calling it the best Players ever and even one of the best golf tournaments they'd ever seen.

Fowler had been called the "most over-rated" golfer on the tour by another one of those "anonymous" player polls, which I detest. It's National Enquirer level stuff and the players shouldn't even respond to them, but good to see Rickie stick it to those who called him over-rated. He only went 6 under on the final 6 holes, and 8 under on the final 10 holes counting the four-hole playoff!

With McIlroy, Spieth, Fowler, Patrick Reed and other young guns doing so well, the Tiger Woods era recedes further in the rearview mirror with every tournament.

I have to agree with the announcers; the last part of the final round was simply awesome!! At one point, 5 players (Fowler, Garcia, Kinser, Martin, Garcia, and Bill Haas) had a chance to make the playoff or win it at the end!! There were a TON of birdies; Fowler Eagled 16 and birdied 17 and 18, whereas Garcia birdied 16&17 and Kisner birdied those two as well and had a putt to win it on 18 that was about an inch from going in. I'd compare it to last year's PGA Championship (a little step down, obviously) in terms of amazing and great golf, where Rory, Phil, Rickie and others were duking it out on the Back 9 on Sunday.

Fowler played the best I've seen him play; I'm also very happy he won today. So much for him being "overrated." He was money on 17; I think the announcers said that out of the 6 times he played it this week, he birdied it 5 times, including twice in the playoff.

 

[icsept]

The PGA has been promoting these asinine, anonymous polls to stir up unnecessary negativity and controversy. Most overrated player? The last one was "which player would you be least likely to come to his defense in a parking lot fight." PGA pros should absolutely refuse to participate in these polls or comment on the results. It's extremely distasteful, and certainly an invention of the Jews that run the TV networks.

As for Rickie Fowler being overrated: yes, he has a ton of endorsements and popularity and only a couple of wins. However, in 2014 he finished top 5 of all four majors. He's still young, and this TPC win is a big deal. Anyway, **** the anonymous polls, and hopefully they stop that ****.

 

[Jack Lambert]

The PGA has been promoting these asinine, anonymous polls to stir up unnecessary negativity and controversy. Most overrated player? The last one was "which player would you be least likely to come to his defense in a parking lot fight." PGA pros should absolutely refuse to participate in these polls or comment on the results. It's extremely distasteful, and certainly an invention of the Jews that run the TV networks.

As for Rickie Fowler being overrated: yes, he has a ton of endorsements and popularity and only a couple of wins. However, in 2014 he finished top 5 of all four majors. He's still young, and this TPC win is a big deal. Anyway, **** the anonymous polls, and hopefully they stop that ****.

I completely agree. I know Fowler didn't win last year, but I have no idea how a player can be considered overrated when you finish in the Top 5 in all four majors in a single year. Those polls need to go. I suppose the networks think it's "something" to talk about, as with one exception, the PGA Tour doesn't have to report those weekly domestic violence, DUI, or drug charges as is common with the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Thankfully, Fowler didn't care too much about the polls; in the interviews I saw with him this week, he brushed it off every time the reporters asked him about it. The most he said was that he used the poll for motivation at times. In his last interview, he said the poll "didn't matter." Rickie's a class act all the way.

Maybe they would've got a better reaction if they did these stupid polls in the NFL or NBA; imagine those guys with those "anonymous polls."

 

[Thrashen]

Fowler is half-white, half-Asian, but passes the “eye test†to the casual DWF golf fan. To make sure that everyone didn’t forget the fact that he’s racially mixed, the cameras kept panning to his Asian mother, Lynn, who was standing in the crowd. It was Mother’s Day, so I understand…

Aside from his flat-brimmed hats and neon-colored clothing, I don’t mind Fowler’s conduct on the course. He has great composure, a strong will, is polite, respectful, and doesn’t get discouraged. Did I want him to defeat Garcia and Kisner? Will I root for him over any white golfers? Would I like to see him win a Major? No.