2010 PGA Championship - Whistling Straits

[maurice93]

The intriguing Whistling Straits is up next week for the final major should be interesting.

But who should be the favourite. There are four players who could escape the PGA as world number one and none of them are a great contender this weekend.

Tiger is playing like crap. Before this weekend, one could still make the argument that if you had to pick one person, you would pick him --- given his history and two top four finishes in majors this year. But this weekend was a low point not seen at all this year. Cannot even fathom Tiger contending.

Phil is gagging as he feels the pressure to be number one. Last three tournaments he has missed the cut, 46th and 48th. He is not playing like a favourite. Indeed he is choking as he traditionally does.

Lee Westwood who had arguably been the best player in the world this year, and seemingly contending (yet not winning) every big tournament would have been the next logical choice... but he is injured.

Next in thw world rankings would be Steve Stricker. Fourth in the world, solid this weekend, and a Wisconsin native. But he seems to be a master of the target golf type courses, which the Straits are not. He is also an emotional guy and the chance of winning a major and earning the world number one ranking with a win in Wisconsin, might be too much pressure for him.

Fifth in the world rankings is Jim Furyk. A solid golfer, but not someone you picture as a favourite entering a major.

So if you had to pick a favourite I guess it would be Stricker.

If you had to pick the top five in the world vs the field in any major, I would always bet on the top five in the world, larger because of Tiger, and to a certain degree Phil. But never before has their been such weakness at the top of the golf world. This week I would definetely take field over the top five

 

[Malibook]

Number 1 and 2 in the world shot 77 and 78 today, par 70.

I'd like to see Stricker win the PGA.

 

[maurice93]

Updated Odds per Ladbrokes

9-1 Woods, Mickelson
17-1 McIlroy
26-1 Els, Harrington
34-1 Casey, Rose, Stricker, Mahan, O`Hair
41-1 Goosen, Kaymer, Furyk, Donald, Poulter
51-1 Johnson, McDowell, Villegas, Kim, Stenson, Fischer, Watney
67-1 Garcia, Kuchar, Singh, Choi, Clark, Fowler, Overton

I like Stricker and Clark at those Odds.

 

[shack]

Overton's been playing well.

 

[ogibowt]

Maurice..whats the odds on the "field"..probably 3-1?

 

[maurice93]

What a great finish at the Straits. Great drama. Some gagging in the middle of the round, but clutch play down the stretch, Could be looking at a three way playoff, with some serious bombers in Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Martin Kaymer.

Wait... maybe no playoff... what a shot by Johnson.

 

[maurice93]

Unbelievable. If its a bunker, the PGA organizers have an obligation to ensure the bunkers are properly treated and observed so that fans do not walk in them. If they don`t how can one assume it is not simply a waste area.

 

[shack]

Unbelievable. If its a bunker, the PGA organizers have an obligation to ensure the bunkers are properly treated and observed so that fans do not walk in them. If they don`t how can one assume it is not simply a waste area.

Basically, the golfer should assume nothing whatsoever and check.

Having said that, under his situation, it would be very easy to make such a mistake. Unfortunately, if it is designated as a bunker, he clearly incurred a penalty. He was a victim of circumstance but the correct ruling was made.

 

[Malibook]

Tough break for Johnson but the rules officials clearly made this point on the rules sheet which stated that bunkers outside of the ropes could have foot prints or even tire tracks but you don't get relief and you can't ground your club.

Imagine if he made his putt on 18 and thought he won.

He may have caught a break because it looked like he may have grounded his club 2 or 3 times but he was only penalized for 1 infraction.

 

[dcbogey]

I watched WAY more of this tourney than most. The course was amazing! And the fact that there were a bunch of young guns (and no Tiger) was a huge bonus. The worm has turned - these young guys will be good for a while!

 

[maurice93]

Basically, the golfer should assume nothing whatsoever and check.

Having said that, under his situation, it would be very easy to make such a mistake. Unfortunately, if it is designated as a bunker, he clearly incurred a penalty. He was a victim of circumstance but the correct ruling was made.

I agree it should have been a penalty.

While Dustin Johnson is ultimately to blame, the PGA rules committee deserves some serious criticism for not having the proper procedures for keeping control of the crowds.

 

[maurice93]

He may have caught a break because it looked like he may have grounded his club 2 or 3 times but he was only penalized for 1 infraction.

Actually the correct ruling was made. Nobilo asked the USGA rules official on the Golf Channel, if he should have incurred four penalty strokes instead of two, as he grounded it at least twice.

Basically you can ground the club as many times as you want and you will only be penalized two shots - the penalty is not for grounding the club, but hitting the ball after grounding the club. As you can only actually hit the ball once, the maximum penalty is only two strokes.

 

[Malibook]

Actually the correct ruling was made. Nobilo asked the USGA rules official on the Golf Channel, if he should have incurred four penalty strokes instead of two, as he grounded it at least twice.

Basically you can ground the club as many times as you want and you will only be penalized two shots - the penalty is not for grounding the club, but hitting the ball after grounding the club. As you can only actually hit the ball once, the maximum penalty is only two strokes.

I thought they said Appleby got a 4 stroke penalty for doing the same thing.

 

[maurice93]

I thought they said Appleby got a 4 stroke penalty for doing the same thing.

All I can tell you is what Nobilo asked and what was answered, by who I would consider an authority in the matter -- the head of USGA rules.

The funny thing is right now I am watching the Golf Channel right now, and Kelly Tilghman who was right on the set when Nobilo asked the question, just stated that Johnson was assessed two penalty strokes, one for each time he grounded the club,

As fans, we often hear things from so called experts. who may not actually be experts on the matter. And for all I know the head of the USGA Mark whatever, may be misinformed.

 

[Malibook]

It's a 2 stroke penalty for each infraction but maybe you can only have 1 such infraction per shot.

 

[maurice93]

I watched WAY more of this tourney than most. The course was amazing! And the fact that there were a bunch of young guns (and no Tiger) was a huge bonus. The worm has turned - these young guys will be good for a while!

By your reasoning than the 2010 British Open was also amazing...

But its competitive drama, with intriguing characters, that define the tournament. The young guns being involved make it great, as do majors featuring Tiger or Phil. But at the end of the day you need a close tournament.

 

[maurice93]

It's a 2 stroke penalty for each infraction but maybe you can only have 1 such infraction per shot.

That is exactly how I interpreted what the rules official stated.

I think Kelly T was just out to lunch afterwards.

I have jokingly called eight or ten strokes of penalties on friends who are not too serious golfers who ground the club in the bunker -- I guess the joke was on me.

 

[Old Milwaukee]

I thought they said Appleby got a 4 stroke penalty for doing the same thing.

I believe Stuart Appleby received a 2-stroke penalty for grounding his club (whether it be multiple times or not) but also a another 2-stroke penalty for moving a loose impediment within the bunker. Thus the 4-stroke penalty.

 

[Perry Mason]

As a side note, I thought the TV coverage was magnificent: the camera and mike placements and angles; the overhead coverage from the blimp; the technical analysis and coverage of each hole and each shot; the blue waters of the lake always in view; the weather on Saturday and Sunday; the incredible condition of the course; 10 players within 4 strokes at the start of the last round; the potential for any player at any time to make a double bogey... all fabulous entertainment... all great production values.

I thought that the coverage at the British Open was amazing, but this was practically out of this world. HD TV makes such a huge difference to us couch champions!

Perry

 

[red]

I agree it should have been a penalty.

While Dustin Johnson is ultimately to blame, the PGA rules committee deserves some serious criticism for not having the proper procedures for keeping control of the crowds.

i agree. also knowing how crucial that shot was, it seems crazy that no course official made it clear this was a bunker. especially with the crowd standing so close to him