So what have we learned from the 2011 Accenture Match Play WGC?
by pingforever on Feb 26, 2011 9:01 AM EST
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Nothing new. Every man in the field was capable of winning. Seeding is little more than a statistical construct to organize the tournament. The odds of predicting a match winner, let alone the eventual tournament winner, are slightly better than flipping a coin. A big win is seldom followed with another. I offer Mickelson, Fowler, McIlroy and Crane as examples of that. Jimenez won his match 7 and 6 on Friday. A Kaymer win on Saturday wouldn't be a big surprise. Arizona can deliver some fickle weather, clear blue skies and sunshine on Friday....chance of snow on Sunday. I know it's like waving a red flag in front of a bull, but the tournament is now in the hands of the journeymen (with apologies to Martin Kaymer). Golf journalists are left scrambling for a "capture the imagination" type story. The youth angle started to die when Ryo Ishikawa didn't get out of the gate. Then McIlroy inexplicably imploded on Thursday. Yesterday, the much heralded Rickie Fowler could not maintain the torrid pace that embarassed Phil Mickelson. The extraordinarily mature and composed Mateo Massasero also was done. My hope is the story of Bubba Watson's father's recent death from cancer isn't resurrected. Family illness stories have almost become passe. I'll pass on the crying thing.... As I said earlier, picking a winner is nigh unto impossible. I will say I was disappointed that Woods, Poulter and Oosthuizen played only one match, Westwood and Mickelson just two. I thought Graeme McDowell would play a more prominent role. But, everyone say it with me, "Anything can happen in match play".... One irrelevant personal observation: Unless Nick Faldo is taking indorsement money from either "Just for Men" or "Grecian Formula", stop dying your hair!
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the tournament is now in the hands of the journeymen (with apologies to Martin Kaymer)
Looks like the final 4 will be Donald, Kaymer, Kuchar, and Holmes, none of whom really fits the “journeyman” description. These are all youngish guys either in or approaching their primes, all of whom could reasonably be expected to achieve bigger things than they’ve achieved thus far.
That being said, none of them are gonna be good for TV ratings…
Can't spell "Colletti" without LOL.
You didn’t learn much ? Hmm. How about the fact that when you put a whole bunch of fearless golfers in a match play tournament, you get some VERY exciting shots that you wouldn’t normally see ? How about that a lot of the American players need some lessons in match play strategy ?
Unfortunately, D4’s probably right – no matter how good the golf is, too much of the audience just won’t get it. The two guys who will be the most popular, name recognizable players are going to face off in the semis this afternoon.
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
no matter how good the golf is, too much of the audience just won’t get it
Very true Court, and who’s fault is that ? That would be the fault of TGC and other golf media for putting all their eggs in one basket for so many years and FAILING to promote ALL the great players on tour and the game itself. I’ve been singing this tune for a few years now. Perhaps 2011 is the year they finaly get it. lol
"pain is only weakness leaving the body" jumpn
nah – as much as I would love to blame xxx Golf Channel for all of these things, I just can’t. Match play isn’t something you just jump into and understand. it’s too subtle. It’s not the players – it’s the game. We get it here in WR – but the masses aren’t going to get it just seeing match play once or twice a year.
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
Perhaps
If they spent a little more time explaining it in more detail the week prior to the tournament, instead of taking every moment drooling over, “is this the week for tiger” then perhaps they could generate some more interest. Once gain TGC had egg on their faces and ate a lot of Crow.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body" jumpn
i agree
ive been playing almost a year and i know theres not enough people out there who understand the game. its very complex and theres so many diff terms. golf lingo is a whole diff language ha!
prob because the game itself is not really played by the masses. im sure alot more people would appreciate it if they understood it better
Courtgolf:
Please note I said “nothing NEW”…I’ve been watching this tournament since it was sponsored Anderson Consulting, until they ran into legal problems and reinvented themselved as Accenture. You’re right, there have been many spectacular golf shots. And tell me please, who are the recognizable names? I recognized every name in the field except for Fujita, K.Kim. I didn’t know Noh and I wasn’t sure about “B. Jones”. But when I found out it was Brendan…that name I knew. I think you more than a lot of the folks who comment here understand the value of TV ratings. Fans may vaguely remember Matt Kuchar from his smiling amateur win 12 years ago… John B. Holmes? They might recognize that name but not in connection with golf…Luke Donald? Martin Kaymer may be the best kept secret in sports. Unless something special happens, golf will go back to the days when Curtis Strange was the biggest name..
What I was saying is that THIS version of the matchplay has been incredibly even. There were really only 2 or 3 guys who could be called fish out of water – Seung-yul Noh (a teenager from Korea), Yuta Ikeda (somehow in the top 65 via the Japanese Tour), and Brendan Jones of Australia. Even in the blowout matches, most of the time they losers didn’t play badly, they just ran into a guy who couldn’t miss.
Be serious, the sarcastic shot at JB Holmes went out the window his rookie year. Even as the 66th guy on the ladder and has two wins on Tour. And face it – chicks dig the long ball. His length off the tee makes him well known. (and knock it off with the Beavis and Butthead thoughts going through your head right now) (lol)
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
oh – in case you were asleep last year – Kuchar was the leading money leader and the scoring title winner. He has been a regularly seen face on TV the last two years – and yes, there are people who still remember his US Am win followed by great performances at The Masters and US Open the next year.
Luke Donald is the guy with the least spark with the audience – but he has been spectacular at the Ryder Cup.
Kaymer – you’re not serious – he’s only the #2 player in the world – has a major – won 4 tournaments in a row at the end of 2010 and is well known around the world.
Bubba Watson has a win this year, and like Holmes, hits the ball unbelievably long.
These are not unknowns.
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
Kuchar was money leader on the US tour
Like him a great deal but would point out that Luke Donald was the overall money leader. Can’t understand why non-golf fans would be bothered to watch WGC any more than non-tennis fans watch tennis – even if the names are more familiar?
Well there ya go...injecting solid thinking
again…Not understanding non-golf fans and non-tennis fans watching those respective games…I wonder if Ping would go watch a chess or Tiddle Wink event…Well, of course if he was one of those….If you don’t follow the sport, how in the world would you know any of the names…STUB
STUB
When was Curtis Strange the biggest name ?
His time was during the Seve-Faldo era. Oh, you mean in the USA. If Kaymer is still a secret the sports media in America better wake up fast. The rest of the sports world knew ages ago.
CG,
It goes back to my original contention, well known to whom…. You would accuse ME of being sarcastic and then say “chicks dig the long ball”….. Oh my! You don’t need to tell me about Kaymer….But remember I live in Indiana, we don’t know nobody….. Certainly a man with your understanding of the game would not over value distance off the tee. Virtually every big hitter that comes on tour learns in a year or two the wisdom of the golf adage: The woods are full of big hitters… That’s woods with a small “w”…..
ummm – “Chicks dig the long ball” isn’t sarcasm. You claiming that the only thing JB Holmes is known for is sharing the same name as a porn star is.
HEY now – it takes a Hoosier to know the name Bobby Plump ! Never forget Milan ! :-D
I know you big hitters don’t like acknowledging one another – but don’t put down guys like Holmes and Watson just because they can keep up with your length. ;-)
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
That's just the movies.
Must tell you, we did a tandem ride that went through Knightstown and had a rest stop at the gym where Hoosiers was filmed. My length? You know that Ping commercial where Bubba pulls up in a cart on the practice tee and says, “I’ve hit flop shots farther than that”…. That guy is me…. My best hope is every drive is down wind….
LOL ! Did you know that when they were shooting that commercial it was raining the whole day ? They built a big tent to cover the area and let the CGI wizards to their magic.
And whaddya mean that’s just the movies ? Bobby Plump is THE basketball name in Indiana. (ok – maybe second to Larry Bird) My dad was a senior at Evansville Central the year that happened (1954). His team lost in the semi’s to Muncie Central.
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
Here's the kicker....
I live in Muncie! Last September we did a ride in Evansville with a couple we sold our old tandem to…. It’s a lot hillier in Evansville than it is here… Our hill training here is where the county road goes over the Interstate…… Nice talking with you this afternoon. Tomorrow it’s Donald and either Bubba or Martin…Everything says Donald peaked today today. As I said at the top, super rounds are often followed by mediocre ones. Donald was off the charts today something like 13 birdies in 26 holes. You’re in South Carolina, right? Know anything about Durham….We’re thinking about moving there. The winter here was very taxing….
Tandem...as in a two person bicycle ?
How about that ! Muncie’s a nice town – guess that flat farmland makes the ride a little easier. When you say “training” – do just mean exercise or are you actually training for an event ?
I’m in Atlanta, and I assume you mean Durham, NC. Lived there for 2 years, but that was ‘72-’74. Terrific town – and a basketball fan won’t have a better time living in the triangle with Duke, UNC, and NC State.
Talk to CB – he’s just up the road.
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
Lived in Durham from 2003-2009
Didn’t like it at first, but it grew on me. The worst parts (which I never got used to) were the hot/humid summers and all of the mosquitoes and cockroaches. The best parts were the cheap housing, beautiful spring weather and foliage, surprisingly good restaurants, and Duke/UNC.
Can't spell "Colletti" without LOL.
Well I'll be a sum bitch...I watched all that golf and didn't
see one tandom bike…Where the hell did they keep them?…must have been in Muncie….STUB
STUB
OK no more about tandem riding...well almost.
Courtg: My wife and I don’t “race”. We do a lot of organized rides in the 60 mile range. You need a level of fitness to enjoy the experience, and not be totally busted when you finish. We’ve been riding together for about 25 years. D4P: Thanks for your input about Durham. So, it’s Kaymer and Donald…. Kaymer is a shoe in. He’s played steady golf without any blow-outs. Luke’s birdie binge simply can’t go on… Hope they have decent weather to finish the tournament. Martin Kaymer is the new #1 golfer in the world! Lee Westwood’s reign was very short and unremarkable… But it’s not even March…
Hmm – 60 miles – do you ride in back to make sure the wife is pedalling ? :-D
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
I can't begin to tell you...
the hundreds of times someone has yelled, “She’s not pedalling!” and my stoker (that’s the position in the back) takes it VERY personally everytime. Frankly, I’m just glad she’s back there. She tried golf in the 80’s, but had more frustration than success. Golf is best learned when you’re young and too naive to understand what’s involved.
Anyone notice
that in 5 days of coverage, the only time I heard the word “dormie” was today and it was Johnny Miller that used the term. What’s wrong with those other wankers?
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again
-R. Zimmerman
you missed one – Maltby said it during the semis – but you’re right – the word sure didn’t get used this week – I was thinking the same thing on Saturday.
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
What did I learn this past week ?
I learned that our business model of “never puting your eggs in one basket” is the correct approach always and that our idea to open an office in Europe in 2011 is proving to be a good one.
I for one enjoyed the match play very much. Yesterday during the final round Tim Fincham commented that the’ new world order’ is creating a lot of new interest and has been good for ratings overall. I’m luv’n it
"pain is only weakness leaving the body" jumpn
No such thing as "Dormie"
if there is extra holes to decide the winner. no halves in this game, according to one commentator.
I assume that was from a British commentator on your broadcast – not an American
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
lol
I watched a very interesting program on the discovery of the the HMS Hood yesterday. Pretty amazing. I didn’t realize only 3 men survived her sinking. Only one was alive in 2001 when they found her. A lucky shot (a 5th shot direct hit in those days was complete luck) and a catastrophic explosion – that really set Churchill into a lather.
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
Tha main problem about the Hood
was it had wooden decks and the main magazine was just under it. The Bismark being modern by comparason, scored direct hits in this area (midships) and the whole lot went up. The Hood had huge firepower, but was 20 years out of date. Sinking the most famous ship then in the Royal navy prompted Churchill to get the Bismark no matter what. She was sunk soon after.
The people analyzing the video were saying that the shell hit aft and ignited the magazine there and the explosion ran through the ship and actually ignited the foreward magazine. The combination of the two sent her to the bottom like a rock. They said that the hit was incredibly lucky because the aiming mechanisms were still trial and error back then. The Hood’s captain was trying to turn and just couldn’t get her moved fast enough. What a tragedy. The second half of the show was about chasing down The Bismark. Another amazing story.
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
Always remember the film when I was a boy
The German captain would shout “fire!” and the English captain would shout “shoot!”
At least “Hogan’s Heroes” used a little German in the episodes. :-)
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
what do you mean “sort of” ? Schultz was always yelling “schnell !” or “raus” ! and there was always some German officer calling someone a “dummkopf” (lol)
Are vegetarians allowed to have butterflies in their stomach?
Solution
Eh, pingforever…..Play more match play tournaments. You don’t have be a rocket scientist to understand win one hole lose one hole. You’re one up or you’re one down. I think they could handle three, in total, like tournaments throughout the season.
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