The Masters

Enforcer · April-11th-2005, 10:03 AM

Anyone catch any of it? I'm not obsessed with golf like most people around me are, but I do enjoy watching it from time to time. The finish to the last round yesterday was pretty dramatic, with Tiger Woods pulling out the win with a nice putt on the first hole of sudden death to beat Chris DiMarco. But Tiger's shot on the 16th hole was the beauty, being touted as one of the greatest shots in the history of the Masters. You really have to see it to believe it.

Uli · April-11th-2005, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

You really have to see it to believe it.

I saw it and it's still hard to believe.

hornplayer · April-11th-2005, 10:23 AM

I missed it!

but I presume it will be replayed on the news tonight...

Slurpy · April-11th-2005, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

But Tiger's shot on the 16th hole was the beauty, being touted as one of the greatest shots in the history of the Masters. You really have to see it to believe it.

That was a thing of beauty, wasn't it? DiMarco was one determined competitor though. He never folded...hung tough while Tiger bogeyed those last two holes. I've seen or heard little mention of this, but did anyone read Tiger's lips after he missed his putt on 18 (before the playoff hole) and DiMarco had that 5-6 footer for par to tie? I thought I saw Tiger say to DiMarco "make it" or "drain it" or something to that effect. He didn't want to win the Masters with DiMarco missing that putt. IMO, he sincerely wanted to WIN it, not have it handed to him. Tiger's got brass, that's for sure. Incredible competitor..and DiMarco is one tough mofo too. Thrilling ending.

Chris D · April-11th-2005, 10:49 AM

Well put, Slurpy. It's really nice to see someone win a duel like that instead of lose it, and Tiger definitely won it.

Brian Olewnick · April-11th-2005, 10:54 AM

I burst out laughing at that chip-in on 16, it was so absurdly good.

clinthopson · April-11th-2005, 11:21 AM

That was a very exciting Masters finale.

I do get a bit sick of Dick Endberg's sloppy sentimentality though.

Alastair · April-11th-2005, 04:23 PM

I watched a reasonable amount of the four days. Nearly didn't watch the last nine holes after Tiger's charge made me thinkit would be a procession, but glad I did. Good for the UK's Luke Donald to finish in third at his first attempt too. One to watch.

I think they need to think about their ex-champions can play 'til they drop rule though. It's embarrassing seeing people like Jack Nicklaus struggle, and eventually fail, to meet the cut. It's not like they have anything to prove.

And let's not even talk of Billy Casper.

MRS · April-11th-2005, 04:55 PM

Nicklaus on Thursday: +2 (w/bogey on 18)

Eldrick on Thursday: +2

boy Hootie really likes that Sunday placement on 16

Alastair · April-11th-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Schaumann

Nicklaus on Thursday: +2 (w/bogey on 18)

Eldrick on Thursday: +2

boy Hootie really likes that Sunday placement on 16

Eldrick?

MRS · April-11th-2005, 05:23 PM

Eldrick Woods

Chris D · April-11th-2005, 05:28 PM

Some know him by a feline nickname.

Mike Schwartz · April-11th-2005, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

That was a very exciting Masters finale.

I do get a bit sick of Dick Endberg's sloppy sentimentality though.

OH-MY!!

bruce massey · April-11th-2005, 05:33 PM

I watched a good portion of the Masters.

I thought that Tiger was on in the first round, things just went sideways on him.

Mickelson couldn't get anything to drop and he seemed to be closer than anyone.

The final round was incredible and that shot on 16 was amazing.

The beauty of so many of our courses really makes me wonder about the British Open. I understand the history but those are some ugly links.

MRS · April-11th-2005, 05:36 PM

I must respectfully yet vehemently disagree, Bruce. What attributes do you see as "ugly" other than occasional inclement weather?

jesus marion joseph · April-11th-2005, 06:15 PM

The chip at 16 was a jaw-dropper. How many other players could even conceive such a shot?

bruce massey · April-11th-2005, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Schaumann

I must respectfully yet vehemently disagree, Bruce. What attributes do you see as "ugly" other than occasional inclement weather?

No trees, little vegetation..St Andrews looks like land no one else wanted.

Douglas · April-11th-2005, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce massey

No trees, little vegetation..St Andrews looks like land no one else wanted.

...and absolutely unforgiving. An inch off the fairway can spell disaster. I've an uncle who took a prolonged sabbatical after the punishment he received on a neighbouring links.

crawjo · April-11th-2005, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

The chip at 16 was a jaw-dropper. How many other players could even conceive such a shot?

Didn't Davis Love III make a similar shot a few years ago?

Anyway, the difference here was the pressure, the situation, and the way the ball just hung on the lip of the cup for a full second before dropping in. That's honestly the most exciting shot I've ever seen in golf (not that I watch too much golf, but I do try to watch the majors.)

jesus marion joseph · April-11th-2005, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawjo

Didn't Davis Love III make a similar shot a few years ago?

Maybe so, but *nobody* routinely makes impossible shots from crappy lies like Tiger does. Plus his wife is major league babealicious.

Brian Olewnick · April-11th-2005, 07:15 PM

The Love putt (chip?), iirc, was a neat one he hit about ten feet past the hole, the ball catching the slope and returning to the cup. Woods' was a right turn, Love's an almost 180 degree turnabout.

MRS · April-11th-2005, 08:45 PM

Bruce: that's not really what the Open Championship nor links golf are about. St. Andrews, St. George, Turnberry, Troon (my favorite), Birkdale, Carnoustie, etc. are incredibly challenging tracks even sans azaleas and flowering peaches. Plus anyone can win the British, which one can't really say about other majors save maybe the PGA depending on the course.

Woods' chip: in the frog hair up against the "second cut" (which CBS can't call "rough" during the broadcast due to Hootie's rules, but it isn't rough anyway), an amazing turn of events but I'd put numerous shots in front of it as far as importance. Augusta is a picturesque course, brutally narrow with no rough where they ice the greens once a year. 16 is set up so you can dump it within a 20 foot diameter in the middle of the green and hope it rolls the right way. 2 aces in a row last year, one this year, Tiger knew where it needed to be.

I'd put Rocca's 85 footer in the British to force a playoff with JD on top, followed by Azinger's dunk out of a coarse bunker at Muirfield to beat Payne on the 72nd hole of the Memorial (I wept for over an hour) above Eldrick's. Amazing stuff nonetheless.

If DiMarco makes a single fucking putt on the front, we don't have a thread.

Captain Hate · April-11th-2005, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Schaumann

I'd put Rocca's 85 footer in the British to force a playoff with JD on top, followed by Azinger's dunk out of a coarse bunker at Muirfield to beat Payne on the 72nd hole of the Memorial (I wept for over an hour) above Eldrick's. Amazing stuff nonetheless.

Didn't Gene Sarazan hole out a double eagle on the final hole one time?? I saw an old film once of something unreal like that. Anyway Eldrick hit a major stud shot

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Schaumann

If DiMarco makes a single fucking putt on the front, we don't have a thread.

Bingo

GoodSpeak · April-11th-2005, 10:38 PM

That chip-in on Hole #16 was just beyond awesome

GoodSpeak · April-11th-2005, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

Plus his wife is major league babealicious.

Yes she is...

...and then some.

Mike Schwartz · April-11th-2005, 10:46 PM

What's the over/under on the Nike commercial with that ball with the 'swish' on it slowly creeping into the hole being aired by Friday?

Slurpy · April-12th-2005, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

What's the over/under on the Nike commercial with that ball with the 'swish' on it slowly creeping into the hole being aired by Friday?

I'm suprised we haven't seen it already.

clinthopson · April-12th-2005, 11:50 AM

Today's LA Times contained an article on how much free publicity Nike got from that hanging ball.

Gentle Giant · April-12th-2005, 12:16 PM

I am not a golfer but growing up I got into watching it on TV. It's the only televised sport more supremely serene than baseball and I guess I just enjoyed the quiet, the green, the plaid slacks, the whole bit. Nicklaus was my favorite, of course. During college and after, I stopped watching and only with the first wave of Tigermania did I start getting back into it. That said, I was unable to watch the Masters due to scheduling issues, but caught the highlights, and I have to say that I can't think of any golfer in history who has hit SO MANY AMAZING shots in his career than Tiger. Going back over the years, there have been so many unbelievable ones like the 16th. And to think he's only 29!

GoodSpeak · April-12th-2005, 09:37 PM

I only wish I could be half as good on the golf course....hell, a tenth as good.