2013 U.S. Open at Merion

[cincibuck]

Just waiting on the first douchbag journalist to use the "rose by any other name" play on words for a title to his/her article.

I thought Phil had it until he thinned that wedge on the 15th green. I knew it was Rose's championship after that. I find it hard to believe that this is Phil's last realistic shot at a U.S. Open. I don't know that he will ever win one, but, barring a serious injury, I would be shocked if he wasn't in the mix again in another U.S. Open. I think Phil has a better shot at winning one than Tiger.

Can't figure Tiger out, also can't figure out the rest of the field. Counting all tourneys, not just the majors, Tiger is still the best player on the tour. No one else has any consistency and unlike Tiger, Phil can't close the deal.

 

[buckeyebri]

Phil can't close the deal.

41 wins including 4 majors and a Players...maybe he hasn't won the Open but there aren't many players in pro golf that wouldn't take Phil's record. Cough, cough Westwood, Montie....

Not comparing the two but Jack had a number of second place finishes in majors as well.

 

[matt_thatsme]

Can't figure Tiger out, also can't figure out the rest of the field. Counting all tourneys, not just the majors, Tiger is still the best player on the tour. No one else has any consistency and unlike Tiger, Phil can't close the deal.

Yes. At one time, Tiger could close the deal. I think Tiger will win another major. Maybe even a few more, but the days of his competition wilting underneath the pressure of playing with Tiger are over. Tiger still has the best game on tour overall, but the field is much closer. Plus, Tiger isn't the master of his own mind anymore. The guy just can't get out of his own way on the big stages anymore. At one time not so long ago, Tiger's shot making ability was unparalleled - high cut, low draw, knockdown, flop, etc. He did it all on command. I think Bubba Watson can match him shot for shot now. Bubba's problem is that he can't consistently hit the normal shots to keep competitive in every tournament. Tiger use to hit the special and normal shots at will under the biggest spotlight. That confidence isn't there anymore. Then there is the pressure putting. Tiger in his prime was the best putter under pressure in the history of professional golf. He is a far, far cry from that now.

I would love to see what Bubba could do if he put the time into his game that Tiger did. Bubba isn't near the player that Tiger was at the same age, but I think Bubba is one of the few players that has the natural talent to rival Tiger's. The mind and the work ethic are another story.

 

[Mike80]

Can't figure Tiger out, also can't figure out the rest of the field. Counting all tourneys, not just the majors, Tiger is still the [strike]best player[/strike] most over-hyped player on the tour. No one else has any consistency and [strike]unlike[/strike] including Tiger, Phil can't close the deal.

FIFY

 

[ScriptOhio]

Nice photo:

Justin Rose celebrates his U.S. Open victory Sunday. (Christine Riedel/AP)

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/-d...s-clayton-kershaw-jaromir-jagr/#ixzz2WTyjfI98

 

[buckeyebri]

Thought I would throw a little comparison stats out there for folks of other players records:

TV Mouth pieces

Johnny Miller - 25 PGA Tour and 2 Majors, Three 2nd places at Masters
Curtis Strange - 17 PGA Tour and 2 Majors, 2nd at Masters, 2nd at PGA
Paul Aizinger - 12 PGA Tour and 1 Major, 2nd at The Open
Nick Faldo - 39 Wins (PGA and Euro) with 6 Majors, 2nd at US Open and PGA
Andy North - 3 PGA Tour and 2 Majors

Some of Phil's Contemporaries (sans Tiger)

DL 3 - 20 PGA and 1 Major, Three Major 2nds
Padraig Harrington - 19 Wins (PGA and Euro) with 4 Majors
Freddy Couples - 18 Winds (PGA and Euro) and 1 Major, One 2nd and three 3rd places at Majors
Graeme McDowell - 10 Wins (PGA and Euro) and 1 Major
Sergio Garcia - 18 Wins (PGA and Euro) and 0 Majors with three 2nds in majors

Maybe I will look at more later....

 

[matt_thatsme]

Did anyone see that the driver Justin Rose played at the U.S. Open was set at 6 degrees open. It is pretty common to see pro players with 2-4 degree open drivers, but 6 degrees is just crazy. He must have really been struggling with the hooks before the tournament.

 

[Bucklion]

Thought I would throw a little comparison stats out there for folks of other players records:

TV Mouth pieces

Johnny Miller - 25 PGA Tour and 2 Majors, Three 2nd places at Masters
Curtis Strange - 17 PGA Tour and 2 Majors, 2nd at Masters, 2nd at PGA
Paul Aizinger - 12 PGA Tour and 1 Major, 2nd at The Open
Nick Faldo - 39 Wins (PGA and Euro) with 6 Majors, 2nd at US Open and PGA
Andy North - 3 PGA Tour and 2 Majors

Some of Phil's Contemporaries (sans Tiger)

DL 3 - 20 PGA and 1 Major, Three Major 2nds
Padraig Harrington - 19 Wins (PGA and Euro) with 4 Majors
Freddy Couples - 18 Winds (PGA and Euro) and 1 Major, One 2nd and three 3rd places at Majors
Graeme McDowell - 10 Wins (PGA and Euro) and 1 Major
Sergio Garcia - 18 Wins (PGA and Euro) and 0 Majors with three 2nds in majors

Maybe I will look at more later....

Some more numbers:

Phil Mickelson in majors: 4 wins, 20 top 5 finishes (not including wins)
Tom Watson in majors: 8 wins, 17 top 5 finishes
Arnold Palmer in majors: 7 wins, 19 top 5 finishes
Gary Player in majors: 9 wins, 14 top 5 finishes
Nick Faldo in majors: 6 wins, 13 top 5 finishes

Tiger Woods in majors: 14 wins, 17 top 5 finishes
Jack Nicklaus in majors: 18 wins, 38 top 5 finishes

So, 2 definite categories, one with just 2 names in it...but Phil has proven to be amongst the second tier of elite company in golf, no matter what he does from here on out.

And one more stat I found interesting: From 1970-1979 (10 years, 40 majors), Jack Nicklaus had more wins (8) than he had finishes outside the top 10 (5). Amazing stretch.

 

[tAFKaT]

Some more numbers:

Phil Mickelson in majors: 4 wins, 20 top 5 finishes (not including wins)
Tom Watson in majors: 8 wins, 17 top 5 finishes
Arnold Palmer in majors: 7 wins, 19 top 5 finishes
Gary Player in majors: 9 wins, 14 top 5 finishes
Nick Faldo in majors: 6 wins, 13 top 5 finishes

Tiger Woods in majors: 14 wins, 17 top 5 finishes
Jack Nicklaus in majors: 18 wins, 38 top 5 finishes

So, 2 definite categories, one with just 2 names in it...but Phil has proven to be amongst the second tier of elite company in golf, no matter what he does from here on out.

And one more stat I found interesting: From 1970-1979 (10 years, 40 majors), Jack Nicklaus had more wins (8) than he had finishes outside the top 10 (5). Amazing stretch.

Those stats also show the superior competition Jack played against.

 

[Wingate1217]

Thought I would throw a little comparison stats out there for folks of other players records:

TV Mouth pieces

Johnny Miller - 25 PGA Tour and 2 Majors, Three 2nd places at Masters
Curtis Strange - 17 PGA Tour and 2 Majors, 2nd at Masters, 2nd at PGA
Paul Aizinger - 12 PGA Tour and 1 Major, 2nd at The Open
Nick Faldo - 39 Wins (PGA and Euro) with 6 Majors, 2nd at US Open and PGA
Andy North - 3 PGA Tour and 2 Majors

Some of Phil's Contemporaries (sans Tiger)

DL 3 - 20 PGA and 1 Major, Three Major 2nds
Padraig Harrington - 19 Wins (PGA and Euro) with 4 Majors
Freddy Couples - 18 Winds (PGA and Euro) and 1 Major, One 2nd and three 3rd places at Majors
Graeme McDowell - 10 Wins (PGA and Euro) and 1 Major
Sergio Garcia - 18 Wins (PGA and Euro) and 0 Majors with three 2nds in majors

Maybe I will look at more later....

Padraig I believe only has 3 majors......

 

[cincibuck]

Some more numbers:

Phil Mickelson in majors: 4 wins, 20 top 5 finishes (not including wins)
Tom Watson in majors: 8 wins, 17 top 5 finishes
Arnold Palmer in majors: 7 wins, 19 top 5 finishes
Gary Player in majors: 9 wins, 14 top 5 finishes
Nick Faldo in majors: 6 wins, 13 top 5 finishes

Tiger Woods in majors: 14 wins, 17 top 5 finishes
Jack Nicklaus in majors: 18 wins, 38 top 5 finishes

So, 2 definite categories, one with just 2 names in it...but Phil has proven to be amongst the second tier of elite company in golf, no matter what he does from here on out.

And one more stat I found interesting: From 1970-1979 (10 years, 40 majors), Jack Nicklaus had more wins (8) than he had finishes outside the top 10 (5). Amazing stretch.

Here are 2 more names to add to the list that Jack had to beat to win his 18: Lee Trevino, 89 tour wins, 6 majors and fellow Buckeye, Tom Weiskopf, 28 wins, 1 major and 5 second place finishes in majors.

Tiger may ultimately catch Jack, but the current field just doesn't compare and Jack's record in 2nd place finishes and top five finishes in majors way outstrips anything tiger has put up.

 

[Wingate1217]

Add in Billy Casper, Raymond Floyd, Julius Boros, Hale Irwin and Seve....