2022 British Open Championship Thread

[RJax55]

Nope.  He was one of that wave of European Ryder cuppers who liked to talk about how the Ryder Cup was bigger than majors, mostly because he always came up short in majors.  Had rabbit ears, too, at the Ryder Cup.  Bit of a whiner about that, despite his "love" of the event. 

Liked to take veiled shots at the Tour like skipping the Players when he was number one in the world or close to number one.  He happily took the money the events paid out, however.

Hey, someone needed to fill the shoes of Colin Montgomerie.

[tower912]

I thought Poulter did that.

[MuggsyB]

Eh. It's how all these tournaments always go and it could be his last time playing competitively at St. Andrews. Using the term competitively loosely.

I just turned it on and he was limping pretty bad. Even if somehow the golf was there, it feels like his body wouldn't hold up for 4 rounds.

I get it but they're doing a poor job imo.  You have three guys at -8 and we've seen very few of their shots.

[MU82]

Rory saying Tiger could contend reminded me of when the 20-year-old me thought Ali had a chance against Holmes because Ali looked trim and fit on the cover of SI a couple days before the fight.

[RJax55]

I thought Poulter did that.

Actually it is eerie just how similar the careers' of Montgomerie and Westwood are. 10 years apart and oh so much in common. They even share the experience of losing a ton of money to their first wives in extremely acrimonious divorces. 

[Uncle Rico]

Actually it is eerie just how similar the careers' of Montgomerie and Westwood are. 10 years apart and oh so much in common. They even share the experience of losing a ton of money to their first wives in extremely acrimonious divorces.

Neither one is very bright, either

[RJax55]

I get it but they're doing a poor job imo.  You have three guys at -8 and we've seen very few of their shots.

Have you not watched any event Tiger has played in during the last 10 years? It is what it is. They are going to show his shots no matter where he is in the field.

Be thankful Tiger is not going to make the cut on the number and we won't have to watch final round shots from a guy finishing 48th.

[MuggsyB]

Have you not watched any event Tiger has played in during the last 10 years? It is what it is. They are going to show his shots no matter where he is in the field.

Be thankful Tiger is not going to make the cut on the number and we won't have to watch final round shots from a guy finishing 48th.

I guess I'm a little irritable.  I was hoping to watch sone great golf before work like yesterday.  Hopefully this next hour will be no nonsense. 

[tower912]

I remember seeing a lot of Arnie's shots and a lot of Jack's shots during their final Open appearances.

[MUBurrow]

Be thankful Tiger is not going to make the cut on the number and we won't have to watch final round shots from a guy finishing 48th.

Yeah, I agree that all things Tiger coverage just are what they are, but its just making me feel bad for everyone at this point.  Tiger essentially came out before the tournament and was like "idk, I just like playing St. Andrews."  He's clearly in rough shape, shoots a +6 in R1, and the ESPN headline for his round this morning is/was "Tiger has a lot of work to do at The Open, and here is how his second round is going."  I mean, cmon guys, you can even have your wire to wire Tiger coverage without having to develop a ludicrous "Is he going to win?" narrative.

[The Sultan]

If it were Saturday or Sunday, I would be annoyed as well.  It's a Friday morning. They are doing what they can to keep people tuned in.

[MuggsyB]

Smith can really roll it.   It's time for Rory to start launching arrows at these pins. 

[JWags85]

Yeah, I agree that all things Tiger coverage just are what they are, but its just making me feel bad for everyone at this point.  Tiger essentially came out before the tournament and was like "idk, I just like playing St. Andrews."  He's clearly in rough shape, shoots a +6 in R1, and the ESPN headline for his round this morning is/was "Tiger has a lot of work to do at The Open, and here is how his second round is going."  I mean, cmon guys, you can even have your wire to wire Tiger coverage without having to develop a ludicrous "Is he going to win?" narrative.

Headline on ESPN Golf right now is "Tiger Woods missed the cut at the Open, here's how it happened"...like it was some strange course of events, lol.

My gripe is more with people that like to claim they are "golf fans" but yet they are the ones who this coverage is catered to and who think that Tiger is going to contend.  If you're a Tiger fanboy, cool, at least own it.  Don't pretend to love the PGA/professional golf and still be deluded enough to think a broken 50 year old Tiger is still a threat and deserves equal billing.

[MuggsyB]

Top 10 asshat golfers ever?

Would Westwood, Poulter, and Monty all be firmly on this list? 

[MUBurrow]

Top 10 asshat golfers ever?

Would Westwood, Poulter, and Monty all be firmly on this list?

For what its worth, I kinda liked Poulter (at least before the LIV defection) in the same way I described liking Kyrgios in the tennis thread.  There's something cool about guys who just own being a total villain on the course/court/field. I hadn't really heard much about him as a bad guy off the course, and I know that the Euros loved him in the clubhouse for Ryder Cup stuff.  The LIV thing shakes up the snowglobe of how I feel about a lot of these dudes, though.

[MuggsyB]

For what its worth, I kinda liked Poulter (at least before the LIV defection) in the same way I described liking Kyrgios in the tennis thread.  There's something cool about guys who just own being a total villain on the course/court/field. I hadn't really heard much about him as a bad guy off the course, and I know that the Euros loved him in the clubhouse for Ryder Cup stuff.  The LIV thing shakes up the snowglobe of how I feel about a lot of these dudes, though.

There is some truth to what you're saying.  I'm just throwing the question out there.  There also may be distinctions between asshats and douchebags....someone smarter than I am would have to figure out the criteria. 

[cheebs09]

Top 10 asshat golfers ever?

Would Westwood, Poulter, and Monty all be firmly on this list?

Phil is making a strong back 9 charge.

[JWags85]

I imagine this list is all under the assumption that Norman is chairman of the board.

[cheebs09]

Also, I have to imagine Sergio is on that list. There may be a European Ryder Cup bias here.

[Uncle Rico]

Also, I have to imagine Sergio is on that list. There may be a European Ryder Cup bias here.

They've all earned it.  Run their mouths about the sanctity of the Ryder Cup and run to the money grab knowing it could cost them Ryder Cup cantancies. 

And Sergio is a petulant child outside the Ryder Cup. 

[MU82]

Headline on ESPN Golf right now is "Tiger Woods missed the cut at the Open, here's how it happened"...like it was some strange course of events, lol.

My gripe is more with people that like to claim they are "golf fans" but yet they are the ones who this coverage is catered to and who think that Tiger is going to contend.  If you're a Tiger fanboy, cool, at least own it.  Don't pretend to love the PGA/professional golf and still be deluded enough to think a broken 50 year old Tiger is still a threat and deserves equal billing.

This.

Still, it has been weirdly amusing listening to the claims that he's gonna contend for this or that. The guy's old, plays competitive golf a few times a year, and can't walk 3 holes without limping.

Sounds like a contender!

[Uncle Rico]

This.

Still, it has been weirdly amusing listening to the claims that he's gonna contend for this or that. The guy's old, plays competitive golf a few times a year, and can't walk 3 holes without limping.

Sounds like a contender!

You know why they run those stories and show him on TV?  Because people talk about him and he draws eyeballs regardless if he is playing well or not and whether you like him or not. 

[Uncle Rico]

The difference between Tiger walking up 18 and Phil was staggering.  Phil will never have that moment.  Threw it away

[The Sultan]

The difference between Tiger walking up 18 and Phil was staggering.  Phil will never have that moment.  Threw it away

But got paid a bunch to do so.

[MU82]

You know why they run those stories and show him on TV?  Because people talk about him and he draws eyeballs regardless if he is playing well or not and whether you like him or not.

Oh, I'm fully aware of all that. I don't mind the Tiger focus - I'm always curious about how he's playing too. And I "like" Tiger just fine - like most here, I've been thrilled many times by his accomplishments.

I just get a kick out of the runaway optimism that flies in the face of facts.