US Open Predictions
Golf predictions are the worst. But I like options. So I’ll give you my final twosome – the two guys who I think have the best chance to win – at the 114th United States Open. And I’ll throw in a few more names, free of charge.
My final twosome
pga.com
Bubba Watson – 1st time major champions have been the thing at the US Open. I’m going against the grain. Bubba’s 7th in greens in regulation and 2nd in bogey avoidance. But I really like Bubba because the US Open lacks thick rough. I think this plays into the hands of the most creative shotmaker in golf.
masspictures.net
Jordan Spieth – The kid is knocking on the door and he’s destined to win soon. Spieth knows how to score when it matters – 11th in scrambling, 25th in sand saves, and 29th in strokes gained. He’s contended in the two biggest tournaments in 2014. Why couldn’t this be the week he goes from contending to winning?
Penultimate group
Phil Mickelson – Shocker. Not for the obvious reasons. Phil is 7th in putting from 5-10 feet. He’s 8th in sand saves and in the top 40 in scrambling. But when Phil wins majors, he wins them when he has two consecutive tune-ups before each major. Four times in his careers this has happened, the only time this didn’t happen was the 2005 PGA Championship. He’s ready. Will he be good enough?
Rory McIlroy – All world talent. Probably the most talented player in this tournament. Makes a lot of one putts, a lot of 3-5 footers, and he scrambles well. We all know he hits the ball a country mile. I would be stunned if he’s not in contention on Sunday.
Others to watch
Sergio Garcia – 1st in bogey avoidance, top 5 in scrambling, top 10 in strokes gained. Can you trust a guy who’s not sure he can win a major?
Jimmy Walker – Phenomenal year, 1st in FedEx points. At the top of the ranks in strokes gained and greens in regulation. Also fits the bill as a first time winner.
Moving on from Wozzilroy
Fish and chips, pints of Guinness, and the BMW PGA. That’s all I needed from a Galway pub two Sundays ago. Earlier, I stopped from placing a wager on Rory McIlroy to come from seven back to win the tournament. Nothing against Thomas Bjorn, Shane Lowry, and Luke Donald. I just thought I’d get good odds on young Rory. I could think of a lot worse ways to drop 20 euro.
I should’ve made the bet.
I chuckled when I saw McIlroy charge up the leaderboard and win the tournament. Who knew a gut feeling and an odd bet would come through? I laughed at the post-round comments from my fellow bar patrons. In typical honest, Irish fashion, here’s the very first comment from my neighbor:
That girl f***** him up for a year and a half. Complete waste of time!
Can’t say I disagree with him. Which made me wonder about the initial shock from McIlroy’s announcement before the BMW PGA. Why were we really surprised this didn’t last?
From a few months in, Wozzilroy posted an awfully lot of intimate pics on social media. We were introduced to the naming of the couple, Wozzilroy, by the couple itself. On a Vokey wedge. About two or three months into the relationship. We saw these two travel the world to see each other. And after that became a trend, we watched their world number one rankings fall faster than Wile E. Coyote from a cliff. Not surprising for a 25 and 23 year old.
Meanwhile, McIlroy’s fellow countryman, Graeme McDowell uses social media a little differently. Lots of posts, generally related to golf courses, golf travel, Cleveland golf, and his Nona Blue restaurant. A lot of golf and some business. Occasionally, we’ll see McDowell and his lovely wife. But not often.
Maybe the young Wozzilroys should’ve kept a little more distance between them and the spotlight. Young love played a part in a lot of those decisions, I’m sure. Just as important, maybe these two kids need a significant other to ground them, to help them focus on their games. It’s quite the task when both are at the top of their professions, which involve significant travel.
My other interest in this story is the growth from the BMW PGA until now. Since two Sundays ago, we saw Wozniacki’s first round out in the French, Rory’s 63 at Memorial, Wozniacki’s wicked witch avatar on twitter, followed by a second round 78 from McIlroy. All of a sudden a few golf outlets started covering Wozniacki’s weekend fun in Miami.
Why do we care? He’s 25, she’s 23. They should be out enjoying themselves. Maybe, just maybe, they might find a partner that’s better suited for them. Shocker, I know.
These two kids are moving on. So should we. Can we do that already?
Tiger vs Rory – 48 Hours Later
If a tree falls in the forest, and nobody is there to see it, does it make a sound?
If the two best golfers in the world play an exhibition in China, and nobody is there to watch it, does anyone really care?
I didn’t. And I love Tiger and Rory. Why would I pay money to watch an Internet feed of this exhibition match, especially when I can be doing better things in the middle of the night? Like sleeping.
Well, I stumbled upon Ryan Lavner’s piece on golfchannel.com yesterday. I think I figured out why I cared.
http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golftalkcentral/rory-clips-tiger-by-a-shot-in-duel-at-jinsha-lake/
Here’s the key paragraph from Lavner’s article:
On the 10th hole, Woods admitted to “struggling with Sean (Foley),” his swing coach, saying, “I’ve been hitting my short irons so (expletive) far.” He went on to explain how he rarely took a divot with his short clubs under former coach Hank Haney, but now, though, “all of a sudden, I’m taking divots.”
Well, well, well. So Tiger is fully aware of the issues we all see. His short iron game is simply not as good as it once, nor is it on par with the rest of his current game. Now, I have no qualms with Sean Foley. I also have no issues with Hank Haney either. I have a lot of respect for both teachers. I will say this:
I think Hank’s way is the better way.
To take it one step further, I will paraphrase a comment made by Johnny Miller during the final round of this year’s Ryder Cup. Miller commented that the best iron players hit their short irons low and their long irons high, and they take a more shallow divot.
I’m not saying Tiger should go back to Haney. I’m not sure Haney would have him. Sean Foley is Tiger’s coach and that’s not likely to change for awhile. At what point do Tiger and Foley work together to flatten(even slightly) the swing his wedges? He shouldn’t be thinking about large divots over the ball. He should be thinking about shallow divots and crisp, consistent contact. Tiger’s short iron woes are a huge part what’s keeping him from winning major championships.
We all remember Tiger’s magical win at the 2008 US Open. It’s arguably the greatest tournament win of all time. It’s the greatest tournament win I’ve ever seen. But when Tiger tees it up at Augusta next April, it will be nearly five years since that US Open win.
Did anyone ever think Tiger Woods would go five years without a major championship?
O-lé, Olé, Olé, Olé
Alright, already. I’ve heard enough your damn song. I get it. The Euros won the Ryder Cup.
It was the most magical sporting event I’ve ever been too, and I wasn’t even there on Sunday. I did make it there Saturday though. The last time I felt that electricity in a venue was the 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. Whether it was pumping up Bubba on the first tee, yelling “War Eagle” on every Dufner tee shot, or watching the great Ian Poulter hole putt after putt, it was pretty special. It helps that Medinah Country Club was in pristine condition. When Davis Love III demanded the rough be cut, we all knew the Ryder Cup would become a birdie-fest. Right, we were. The conditions were way easier than when I played in June. That’s a different story for a different day.
However, the day that we will all remember – and that anyone is talking about – is Sunday. It’s easy to second guess DLIII. I have. Tiger Woods should not have been the 12th man. We learned that lesson in 2002 at the Belfry. But that’s not why the Americans lost. Not playing Phil and Keegan on Saturday afternoon is also not why the Americans lost. Maybe Furyk and Stricker weren’t the best captains picks? But that’s not the main reason either.
The Euros played better on Sunday. That’s it. That’s the only reason.
Each line up was front-loaded. The Euro lineup a little more front-loaded than the Americans, but that didn’t matter much. In the end, Donald, Rose, McIlroy, and Poulter closed strong. Bubba, Webb, Keegan, and Phil did not. That was it. Ballgame.
Even the hottest golfer on the planet, Brandt Snedeker, got pasted by Paul Lawrie.
Even Lee Westwood, who was the worst Euro golfer this past weekend, earned a singles win.
The Euros just played better when it mattered. Period. I’m just sad that it happened on my home turf. It was the worst case scenario on what was arguably one of our best weekends. And one of my best weekends too.
Matt's Box Seat Observations 