The 2016 (Golf) Open Championship - Troon
- Thread starter Conigliaro's Potential
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Great stuff. Great golf. Phil will be classy as usual and good for Stenson. Just an incredible display.
its a game of inches, literally. Phil missed a putt on 15 by inches and Stenson got the break of the ball not rolling into the sand. Hell of a round by both. Congrats to Stenson
You tell Phil this morning, "You're going to shoot the lowest final round in a major in your career," I'm sure he would have thought, "I win."
Stenson was amazing. This was a joy to watch.
Stenson was amazing. This was a joy to watch.
And a wonderful finish with a flourish. 10 birdies and 2 three putts. A final round like no other.
Does the 2nd finish do enough to get Phil into Olympics or Ryder Cup?
Edit: I guess just Ryder. Olympics are already set, right?
Edit 2: and looks like he was already pretty much set for Ryder Cup. Ignore.
Edit: I guess just Ryder. Olympics are already set, right?
Edit 2: and looks like he was already pretty much set for Ryder Cup. Ignore.
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Stenson was just nails that entire round. NAILS. Possibly the single most mentally tough round of golf I've ever watched in a major.
There was talk that a win would have clinched his spot on the Ryder Cup. So he must be pretty close but not in.
Olympics are set.
Yeah, looking more closely at the points and not just standings, after last week he was 4th, but only 8k points ahead of the 12th spot - it's pretty congested. So this should vault him over Zach Johnson for a good hold on #3.
That was the best advertisement I've seen in quite a while for why golf needs a matchplay major. Or at least a head-to-head major; I'll gladly take medal-matchplay (like what you get in a US Open playoff) instead of pure matchplay, if that's what it takes to keep the networks happy. Because that's effectively what you had out there today: Stenson-Mickelson was for the title; Holmes-Stricker became the de facto third-place match; and everyone else was mostly window dressing to fill air time when Stenson and Mickelson were between shots.
As an extended digression, the problem with the WGC Matchplay is that there's not enough golf on the final Sunday, and particularly if one or both matches finishes early, you're left with a lot of air to fill. But you could absolutely have a major that looks like this:
Wednesday/Thursday: two rounds of strokeplay qualifying (top 32 make the cut into the head-to-head format)
Friday: Round of 32 and Round of 16 (two rounds)
Saturday: QFs and SFs (two rounds), along with consolation matches for R32 and R16 losers
Sunday: 36-hole final, along with consolation matches in the morning and afternoon for everyone who made the last 32
This is how I'd change the PGA Championship, by the way: offer a ton of extra Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup points (which are after all head-to-head events jointly run by the PGA of America...) so that even the consolation matches might have real meaning, and use the consolation matches both to fill airtime and also stratify the top 32 more. As it is, when this year's PGA Championship starts at Baltusrol in 11 days' time - yes, you read that correctly - people are really going to be wondering what the point of the PGA is even more than usual.
As an extended digression, the problem with the WGC Matchplay is that there's not enough golf on the final Sunday, and particularly if one or both matches finishes early, you're left with a lot of air to fill. But you could absolutely have a major that looks like this:
Wednesday/Thursday: two rounds of strokeplay qualifying (top 32 make the cut into the head-to-head format)
Friday: Round of 32 and Round of 16 (two rounds)
Saturday: QFs and SFs (two rounds), along with consolation matches for R32 and R16 losers
Sunday: 36-hole final, along with consolation matches in the morning and afternoon for everyone who made the last 32
This is how I'd change the PGA Championship, by the way: offer a ton of extra Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup points (which are after all head-to-head events jointly run by the PGA of America...) so that even the consolation matches might have real meaning, and use the consolation matches both to fill airtime and also stratify the top 32 more. As it is, when this year's PGA Championship starts at Baltusrol in 11 days' time - yes, you read that correctly - people are really going to be wondering what the point of the PGA is even more than usual.
Is there a problem with the current format of the majors? I could have cared less that it was only two guys. That was exhilarating. And match play would have completely changed it. Guys take risks in match play they don't in stroke because if you throw up a seven, it's one hole and then on to the next. I'm perfectly fine with the four majors staying exactly how they are thank you.
The personality is that it's a major championship. It's pointless, how? And were you not entertained last year? You know, you don't NEED to watch.
The Australian Open is the least exciting grand slam tournament, but I don't think that means they should go to one serve only, or playing on a mini court.
The Australian Open is the least exciting grand slam tournament, but I don't think that means they should go to one serve only, or playing on a mini court.
It's pointless? It doesn't have the cache of the other three, sure, but it's hardly pointless. It's still a major that the guys live for, it's still played on the best courses in the country, it incorporates some of the most important people for the viability of the game and it's still a money maker for all.
There's a reason it used to be match play and no longer is. There are match play events over the year and in the cups. Match play is great in a team format, but when you go head to head in a field, you run into what you do at the WGC, a pretty boring weekend of television when most people are able to watch. Even then it's fun to think anyone can win, but that shouldn't be how a major is decided, IMO.
There's a reason it used to be match play and no longer is. There are match play events over the year and in the cups. Match play is great in a team format, but when you go head to head in a field, you run into what you do at the WGC, a pretty boring weekend of television when most people are able to watch. Even then it's fun to think anyone can win, but that shouldn't be how a major is decided, IMO.
I shouldn't have said it was completely pointless, I should have said that it feels pointless to me. The other majors all have a unique feel to them but the PGA doesn't have that at all.
Sure it is important to the tour players and the fact that a handful of club pros are allowed in is kind of a nice hook but it is by far the least major major.
I know match play is tough on TV except for the team events but I'm just saying that they should try and do something. I doubt very many people have any idea that the PGA starts next week and I'm sure the ratings will reflect that.
Another thought would be if they could combine the Tour Championship with the PGA but the politics between the PGA and PGA Tour would never allow that.
Though like PP said everyone is making money so I guess it will just keep going.
Sure it is important to the tour players and the fact that a handful of club pros are allowed in is kind of a nice hook but it is by far the least major major.
I know match play is tough on TV except for the team events but I'm just saying that they should try and do something. I doubt very many people have any idea that the PGA starts next week and I'm sure the ratings will reflect that.
Another thought would be if they could combine the Tour Championship with the PGA but the politics between the PGA and PGA Tour would never allow that.
Though like PP said everyone is making money so I guess it will just keep going.
I think people might be confused on the schedule but only because of the Olympics. Most golf fans realize it's usually 4-6 weeks between majors. And your last sentence in really the important one. Everyone is making money because the vast majority of fans don't share your opinion. Or else it wouldn't.
I've always thought that a good spot for match play would be somewhere in the playoffs. The WGC event and the Ryder/President's Cup is probably enough match play though.
I was traveling today and missed the TV coverage. Managed to catch some of the round on XM driving home. Sounded awesome, wish I could have seen it.
Problem with match play is the unpredictability of the TV end of things. If Stenson was playing anyone but Phil today, he might win 7&6. While a 2.5 hour final round might be great for fans, its not for TV dollars. The flip side of that is make them play 36, and if that's the case, what are the chances anyone is going to tune in for a full days worth of golf when you've got 2 shots every 10 minutes? Ryder and Presidents Cup is easy, If one match is a blowout, you've got 3-4 others to share the telecast.
My problem with the PGA is the courses. I'm just not familiar with as many of their venues and that drains my interest somewhat. The other majors I'm more familiar with the courses. Obviously with the Masters/TPC its the same course so we're all very familiar, but the others use a rotation and its easy to catch up even if its been a few years. With the PGA, I've got to dedicate some time to prepare to watch and I don't have to do that as much with the others.
I like the PGA, I'll watch, but its clearly behind the others for me. Still a major, so still something I pay attention to.
Problem with match play is the unpredictability of the TV end of things. If Stenson was playing anyone but Phil today, he might win 7&6. While a 2.5 hour final round might be great for fans, its not for TV dollars. The flip side of that is make them play 36, and if that's the case, what are the chances anyone is going to tune in for a full days worth of golf when you've got 2 shots every 10 minutes? Ryder and Presidents Cup is easy, If one match is a blowout, you've got 3-4 others to share the telecast.
My problem with the PGA is the courses. I'm just not familiar with as many of their venues and that drains my interest somewhat. The other majors I'm more familiar with the courses. Obviously with the Masters/TPC its the same course so we're all very familiar, but the others use a rotation and its easy to catch up even if its been a few years. With the PGA, I've got to dedicate some time to prepare to watch and I don't have to do that as much with the others.
I like the PGA, I'll watch, but its clearly behind the others for me. Still a major, so still something I pay attention to.
The US Open and PGA have similar course rotations - a core group that they return to and then they throw in a new one every once in a while. Neither work like the British where it's a legit set group. The US Open might be more condensed timetable to return to a course, but if you look at the venues for each, they both are similar.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PGA_Championship
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Open_(golf)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PGA_Championship
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Open_(golf)
I don't think the course selection is the biggest problem, there are a bunch of world class courses in the rotation (and a few clunkers but the overall quality is high). The issue is the setup for the event. The PGA is basically a glorified tour event because the PGA is unwilling to jack the greens up fast enough or grow the rough enough to stress the field.
I agree with you but the rotation is a bit loose for the PGA and they work more unknowns in. I'm much more familiar with the US Open rotation courses. Pebble, #2, Bethpage, Oakmont, etc. I don't really like seeing them play new courses and the PGA gets off the grid a bit.
A glorified tour event where the best players in the world are playing under the stress of competing for a major title, and which has resulted in two of the best 3 or 4 major championships in the last decade in just the past two years.
The PGA has been better than the US Open most years recently, and I would guess the great majority of the players consider it more of a fair test.
The PGA has been better than the US Open most years recently, and I would guess the great majority of the players consider it more of a fair test.
I think we saw the debacle that having jacked up greens can cause this year at the Open. It created a situation where the USGA completely embarrassed itself on a bullshit penalty ruling that almost fucked over the champion and easily could have derailed him. (And yes I understand Oakmont actually has their greens faster than that normally; thats not the point). We also had the joke that was Chambers Bay last year. To WBVs point I'm failing to remember an Open where the players didn't think it was over the top and even those ere because weather tamed it.