The Official Golf Thread

[Franko]

Ah I think there was plenty of mental toughness and resilience on display from him last night, as well as the flakiness or however you want to put it. He had to go and "win" it (through his own fault of course) about 4 or 5 different times

The drive on 18 in the playoff, having lost it on the final green, and then watched Rose hit a really good tee shot, was tough as can be.

Once it went to a playoff I knew he'd win it - the problem was getting it that far

He got a chance to mentally re-set

Plus he had someone to beat

For the last 6 or 7 holes in regulation it was Rory v Rory - which historically never ends well for Rory

[Hereiam]

Turned BBC Radio Unionist Ulster off this morning as it was completely one sided as if no one from the Nationalist fraternity could have an opinion for fear they would refer to this place as the north. Watson call this part of Ireland a country which is ridiculous.
They had a good chance to represent both side of the community when discussing Rorys win but choose to ignore one side.

[NotedObserver]

Ah I think there was plenty of mental toughness and resilience on display from him last night, as well as the flakiness or however you want to put it. He had to go and "win" it (through his own fault of course) about 4 or 5 different times

The drive on 18 in the playoff, having lost it on the final green, and then watched Rose hit a really good tee shot, was tough as can be.

Once it went to a playoff I knew he'd win it - the problem was getting it that far

He got a chance to mentally re-set

Plus he had someone to beat

For the last 6 or 7 holes in regulation it was Rory v Rory - which historically never ends well for Rory

Yes it was abysmal in parts and sublime the next. He got his share of luck this time and when in the trees he had a shot out which tends to happen to the winners. It would have been too cruel for him not to win it this time.

Rose will rue the missed putt on 17 but again it made him go all for it on the 18th for birdie.

[Orior]

Turned BBC Radio Unionist Ulster off this morning as it was completely one sided as if no one from the Nationalist fraternity could have an opinion for fear they would refer to this place as the north. Watson call this part of Ireland a country which is ridiculous.
They had a good chance to represent both side of the community when discussing Rorys win but choose to ignore one side.

I definitely won't be calling him Sir Rory. Anyway, there are others more deserving before him e.g. Sir Mickey Harte or Sir Geezer McGeezer.

[Puckoon]

Is that 3 tournaments for Rory this year? Scottie just wasn't consistent enough this weekend, no doubt he'll be the next grand slammer.

Should be interesting to see if Rory plays the next competition or just relaxes

I think he has traditionally not competed at the next PGA event which is the RBC heritage. Because the jacket for that event is shocking looking.

Think he is back in action in NOLA with Lowry in the team event.

[NAG1]

Delighted to see him get over the line, be interesting now to see if he kicks on and picks up another couple of Majors or if the release of pressure, of getting the win makes him ease up now.

[Orior]

Delighted to see him get over the line, be interesting now to see if he kicks on and picks up another couple of Majors or if the release pressure of getting the win makes him ease up now.

Or does his wife demand that he spends more time at home 😐

[johnnycool]

Delighted to see him get over the line, be interesting now to see if he kicks on and picks up another couple of Majors or if the release of pressure, of getting the win makes him ease up now.

Some bullshít online, everyone trying to claim a part of him, he's British, he's Irish, he's Northern Irish, he's all of those things FFS.

[Sportacus]

Turned BBC Radio Unionist Ulster off this morning as it was completely one sided as if no one from the Nationalist fraternity could have an opinion for fear they would refer to this place as the north. Watson call this part of Ireland a country which is ridiculous.
They had a good chance to represent both side of the community when discussing Rorys win but choose to ignore one side.

Zzzzz

[SaffronSports]

Not a big golf fan and never really warmed to McIlroy either. However, can appreciate that it's a good achievement to win the four majors. In terms of all-time lists, how would you compare him to someone who maybe won more majors but didn't have the grand slam?

[Wildweasel74]

How long he been playing with the ole Northern Ireland Flag. Thought that was put in the rubbish bin years ago.

[thewobbler]

Not a big golf fan and never really warmed to McIlroy either. However, can appreciate that it's a good achievement to win the four majors. In terms of all-time lists, how would you compare him to someone who maybe won more majors but didn't have the grand slam?

There's of course a wide aspect of subjectively in this. But here goes.

Nobody owns the majors in golf. It's a tradition that started somewhere most likely with Bobby Jones and took off after Arnold Palmer made it a big thing in the 1960s. And the reason there can't be a fifth major is simple enough. Arnie, Jack and a few others who made professional golf into what is, can't go back in time and win those fifth ones. So to become acclaimed as a better golfer than Jack, you have to beat Jack according to the principles that Jack adhered to. It'll never change.

Does this make them a good yardstick of a great golfer?

Short answer is, absolutely.

Longer answer is that by design (Palmer) the 4 tournaments involved are very different tests of golf. The sheer brutality of the US Open, the sheer randomness of the Open, the sheer and exclusive test of the Masters, and the complete  lack of exclusivity, and lesser challenge of the PGA, meaning a siege of lesser golfers can score well.

And whilst majors were always hard to win, it has never been more so the case in the post Tiger era, where there are now dozens of extraordinarily coordinated and focused gym bunnies all vying for and capable of taking a place in history. Tiger changed the game forever by bringing in exceptional wealth and then matching it with exceptional focus on every aspect of his game.

Rory is the first person to complete the set in the post Tiger era. So to summarise. It's a hell of an achievement. He's in the top 10 golfers of all time now. And with a few more titles, could go top 5.

[SaffronSports]

I suppose its difficult to compare eras but that makes sense in that 4 majors maintains a level of consistency to compare.

Am I right in saying the Masters is the only one that is always at the same course? I'm sure courses have probably evolved too. Would they be longer now as equipment and players have got stronger?

[trileacman]

Not a big golf fan and never really warmed to McIlroy either. However, can appreciate that it's a good achievement to win the four majors. In terms of all-time lists, how would you compare him to someone who maybe won more majors but didn't have the grand slam?

There's of course a wide aspect of subjectively in this. But here goes.

Nobody owns the majors in golf. It's a tradition that started somewhere most likely with Bobby Jones and took off after Arnold Palmer made it a big thing in the 1960s. And the reason there can't be a fifth major is simple enough. Arnie, Jack and a few others who made professional golf into what is, can't go back in time and win those fifth ones. So to become acclaimed as a better golfer than Jack, you have to beat Jack according to the principles that Jack adhered to. It'll never change.

Does this make them a good yardstick of a great golfer?

Short answer is, absolutely.

Longer answer is that by design (Palmer) the 4 tournaments involved are very different tests of golf. The sheer brutality of the US Open, the sheer randomness of the Open, the sheer and exclusive test of the Masters, and the complete  lack of exclusivity, and lesser challenge of the PGA, meaning a siege of lesser golfers can score well.

And whilst majors were always hard to win, it has never been more so the case in the post Tiger era, where there are now dozens of extraordinarily coordinated and focused gym bunnies all vying for and capable of taking a place in history. Tiger changed the game forever by bringing in exceptional wealth and then matching it with exceptional focus on every aspect of his game.

Rory is the first person to complete the set in the post Tiger era. So to summarise. It's a hell of an achievement. He's in the top 10 golfers of all time now. And with a few more titles, could go top 5.

Who's your top 10? I assume we're ignoring pre-war golfers?

Jack
Tiger
Palmer
Seve
Sarazen
Player
Watson
Faldo?
Mickelson?

[trileacman]

I suppose its difficult to compare eras but that makes sense in that 4 majors maintains a level of consistency to compare.

Am I right in saying the Masters is the only one that is always at the same course? I'm sure courses have probably evolved too. Would they be longer now as equipment and players have got stronger?

Yeah they've spent billions this past 10 years lengthening iconic courses. Which is stupid when you can just make the ball travel less. Yeah all the other Major's change courses but the repeat fairly often. Carnoustie and St Andrews are the iconic Open venues.