2009 Buick Open

I'm heading to Warwick Hills next weekend (Aug 1-2) to embrace the smell of the greens and the hush of the crowd....
Just so happens I have a couple extra tickets free to any bear who's interested...
Think about it, Tiger, the Tigress  and you...What could be more fun






Meanwhile I'll practice yelling.......
IN THE HOLE!!!!! 

Say hello to my home town.  Unfortunately I'll be working diligently.

 Words I don't often put together .....
Bumpfreaq
Working
Diligently

Oh!

 You have to admit......
Every time I see you, you're playing and laughing...........
mostly laughing at MrTC, but laughing and playing........






NOT working diligently!

Okay, that is true.  But I figure you must work awfully hard to earn that play time.  I'll be earning a whole lot of it this coming week.  Think of me toiling away while you're part of the gallery.

 Are you working for/at the Buick Open?

I wish that were the case.  Not because of my love of golf but because it would probably be more interesting fare.

 Time to get out the B A B!

 The local news has announced that this will be the last year of the Buick Open at Warwick Hills.
This even will be in Virginia next year, with GM's problems, who knows what Buick's involvement will be.

The good news is that I'll have a great day with friends at Warwick Hills and Tiger will be there...
http://www.freep.com/article/20090730/SPORTS15/907300528/1217/SPORTS/Tiger-Woods---busy-stretch--begins-at-Warwick-Hills-

 HAHA, the news has recanted.......turns out that the move announcement was premature.  The Buick Open will stay in Michigan after all. 

As for Tiger Woods......Tied for Ninety-WHAT!?

at -1. 

Tiger shoots 30 on his front (the back) nine.  Why doesn't he (at least recently) save his ridiculously good stretches for the majors?

 Here's what I think(not that I'm right, I rarely am)
I think that Tiger thought a lot on the plane ride home from the British Open about how he needs to play competitively to keep his natural talent and skill set honed for the majors.

There is no doubt that he has more natural talent than imaginable, and there is no doubt that he can pull off the impossible shots, but he's still coming back from the knee injury and he's been selective about where and when he's played, .........
that is until the disappointing flight home from the BO.

I get the feeling that he's amping things up!

TC

I agree (sort of).  Looking at Tiger's career stats, he's played 232 career events over the last 14 years, averaging roughly 17 events a year.  The Buick will be his 11th event of 2009, putting him on relative pace with the rest of his career, so there doesn't seem to be a major departure from his scheduling style.

What has astonished me, and where I think you're partially correct, is how much of a grind it has been for Tiger in recent majors.  Two very imperfect barometers for his previous dominance in majors could be the size of his 54 hole lead and his lowest round of the tournament.  When I think of TW, those two things, leading after 54 and riding into the sunset on Sunday as well as having a real "wow" round, typify his previous performance in majors.

Wikipedia will partially tell the story, with 54 hole leads of 10, 9, 6, and 4, as well as numerous rounds of 63, 65, 66, etc.  Obviously, the 71-74 CUT at The Open stands out, but his 5 of his last 6 major wins include rounds of 66 or better (the exception being the 2008 U.S. Open) and the 54 hole lead (clearly, since he's never won a major without it).

Therefore, it would make sense for Tiger to play more when the courses and competition are a bit easier so he can, dare I say "re-learn", how to dominate.  I do a similar thing, where at the beginning of the season I usually play from the women or senior tees to get used to making birdies and having iron shots into the greens from the fairway (I don't use my driver, but use whatever iron puts me in the same position the driver would from my normal tees).  By doing so, I provide myself with the experience of making birdies, giving me a psychological boost.  Tiger could be doing a very similar thing, and if so, I hope he returns to his previous jaw-dropping form.

TC

I agree (sort of).  Looking at Tiger's career stats, he's played 232 career events over the last 14 years, averaging roughly 17 events a year.  The Buick will be his 11th event of 2009, putting him on relative pace with the rest of his career, so there doesn't seem to be a major departure from his scheduling style.

What has astonished me, and where I think you're partially correct, is how much of a grind it has been for Tiger in recent majors.  Two very imperfect barometers for his previous dominance in majors could be the size of his 54 hole lead and his lowest round of the tournament.  When I think of TW, those two things, leading after 54 and riding into the sunset on Sunday as well as having a real "wow" round, typify his previous performance in majors.

Wikipedia will partially tell the story, with 54 hole leads of 10, 9, 6, and 4, as well as numerous rounds of 63, 65, 66, etc.  Obviously, the 71-74 CUT at The Open stands out, but his 5 of his last 6 major wins include rounds of 66 or better (the exception being the 2008 U.S. Open) and the 54 hole lead (clearly, since he's never won a major without it).

Therefore, it would make sense for Tiger to play more when the courses and competition are a bit easier so he can, dare I say "re-learn", how to dominate.  I do a similar thing, where at the beginning of the season I usually play from the women or senior tees to get used to making birdies and having iron shots into the greens from the fairway (I don't use my driver, but use whatever iron puts me in the same position the driver would from my normal tees).  By doing so, I provide myself with the experience of making birdies, giving me a psychological boost.  Tiger could be doing a very similar thing, and if so, I hope he returns to his previous jaw-dropping form.

TC

I agree (sort of).  Looking at Tiger's career stats, he's played 232 career events over the last 14 years, averaging roughly 17 events a year.  The Buick will be his 11th event of 2009, putting him on relative pace with the rest of his career, so there doesn't seem to be a major departure from his scheduling style.

What has astonished me, and where I think you're partially correct, is how much of a grind it has been for Tiger in recent majors.  Two very imperfect barometers for his previous dominance in majors could be the size of his 54 hole lead and his lowest round of the tournament.  When I think of TW, those two things, leading after 54 and riding into the sunset on Sunday as well as having a real "wow" round, typify his previous performance in majors.

Wikipedia will partially tell the story, with 54 hole leads of 10, 9, 6, and 4, as well as numerous rounds of 63, 65, 66, etc.  Obviously, the 71-74 CUT at The Open stands out, but his 5 of his last 6 major wins include rounds of 66 or better (the exception being the 2008 U.S. Open) and the 54 hole lead (clearly, since he's never won a major without it).

Therefore, it would make sense for Tiger to play more when the courses and competition are a bit easier so he can, dare I say "re-learn", how to dominate.  I do a similar thing, where at the beginning of the season I usually play from the women or senior tees to get used to making birdies and having iron shots into the greens from the fairway (I don't use my driver, but use whatever iron puts me in the same position the driver would from my normal tees).  By doing so, I provide myself with the experience of making birdies, giving me a psychological boost.  Tiger could be doing a very similar thing, and if so, I hope he returns to his previous jaw-dropping form.

 Quote: TC

I agree (sort of).  Looking at Tiger's career stats, he's played 232 career events over the last 14 years, averaging roughly 17 events a year.  The Buick will be his 11th event of 2009, putting him on relative pace with the rest of his career, so there doesn't seem to be a major departure from his scheduling style.

What has astonished me, and where I think you're partially correct, is how much of a grind it has been for Tiger in recent majors.  Two very imperfect barometers for his previous dominance in majors could be the size of his 54 hole lead and his lowest round of the tournament.  When I think of TW, those two things, leading after 54 and riding into the sunset on Sunday as well as having a real "wow" round, typify his previous performance in majors.

Wikipedia will partially tell the story, with 54 hole leads of 10, 9, 6, and 4, as well as numerous rounds of 63, 65, 66, etc.  Obviously, the 71-74 CUT at The Open stands out, but his 5 of his last 6 major wins include rounds of 66 or better (the exception being the 2008 U.S. Open) and the 54 hole lead (clearly, since he's never won a major without it).

Therefore, it would make sense for Tiger to play more when the courses and competition are a bit easier so he can, dare I say "re-learn", how to dominate.  I do a similar thing, where at the beginning of the season I usually play from the women or senior tees to get used to making birdies and having iron shots into the greens from the fairway (I don't use my driver, but use whatever iron puts me in the same position the driver would from my normal tees).  By doing so, I provide myself with the experience of making birdies, giving me a psychological boost.  Tiger could be doing a very similar thing, and if so, I hope he returns to his previous jaw-dropping form.

The problem with Tiger's game of late is that he's missing some of the five and six footers he's been so good at making over the years. The fact that weather has been an equalizing factor for the rest of the field as he is at his best on hard, fast, dry greens and fairways. I really don't think he's got much to worry about other than he's in a mild slump if you want to call it that. He still tops the tour money list doesn't he?

I honestly think he's better now than before surgery. He's just missing some putts.

It's good for the game to see others playing well when he's in a tournament with them.

Birdie is the word of the day...

I'd say Tiger's putting is ON today, eh!

It is astounding to watch TWs' shows of emotion this year.  For most golfer I know (none on the tour) it would totally blow the next few holes.  Amazing self control.

Does anyone recall seeing that from Tiger, beyond fist pump or hat throws, in previous years?

 Actually, Tiger Woods has had a few temper tantrums when he's really playing badly.  But its fairly rare and often evident that he has the ability to regroup better than the average pro.

Well, I guess only Tiger can get away with saying on live TV, "Goddamit Tiger" and slaming his club in disgust because he's hooked one into the woods.

No fines?

He might be the best ever but he should also be held to the standards other famous golfers have over the years. It doesn't bode well for anyone to see this kind crap. The fist pump is ok, the throwing of clubs and the swearing is not.

Actually, Lars, I recently read an article about Tiger's Golf etiquette, and there was a dollar figure of the amount of money he's had to pay in fines for language.

Something that impressed me about the "Tiger way" today was that he had a representative ahead of him that would single out people with children to have a better position to see him.
Skeptics may say that its a publicity ploy, but I saw a lot of smiles on kids faces.  That is priceless!