Introducing the Sports TV Junkie of 2005.... Chooeypoo.
It cracks me up to see how the tag phrase that comes with me is, "What ya doing? Watching Tennis?" It ain't "How are you?" or "How's life?". But without fail these days, "What ya doing? Watching tennis?" Funny. Real funny.
I laugh and reply, "No. Not till Monday. Wimby (wimbledon). I'm actually watching golf now."
And the other party curtly responds, "You are a sports TV Junkie."
It is not my fault that we get fabulous sports coverage here in South Africa. AND... more so NOT my fault that Grand Slams happen round about the same time. I don't plan these sports events to have Golf U.S. Open from 16th to 19th of June, followed by Wimbledon from 20th of June to 3rd of July. It is a conspiracy amongst Sports organisers. And there's Formula One going on.... and then and then.... Ok.... just US Open and Wimby is enough to keep me occupied for now.
Today's the final day for U.S. Open. Coverage does not start till 1500 hours (GMT) though the first tee-off starts at 0810 hours ET = 0210 hours GMT. The results have been somewhat disappointing. I was hoping to see 4 of the Big 5 at the top of the leaderboard for today's playoff and that would have kept me at the edge of my seat but.... yeah, yeah. Always a but.
Sidetrack. Sidetrack.
The Big 5 - When I first heard "the Big 5" on the U.S. Open commentaries, I broke out in a chuckle. The Big 5 in South Africa - Elephant, Rhinoceros, Leopard, Lion and Buffalo (I finally managed to get the names of the Big-5!). So naturally, when I heard Big-5, I immediately thought of animals. I was like, "Huh? The Big-5 at Pinehurst? What's that all about?"
Turns out the Big-5 is the top five ranked players - THE BIG FIVE - Tiger Woods (#1 - this spot has been swinging between Tiger and the Singh), Vijay Singh (#2), Ernie Els (#3), Phil Mickelson (#4) and Retief Goosen (#5). Ooohhhh.... Them! Not those safari animals. Doh.
Sidetrack over.
So this U.S. Open was suppose to be the IT game with all Big-5 competing against one another. But as it stands......
- Retief Goosen (defending champion) leading at -3 on the leaderboard, 3 ahead of Olin Browne and Jason Gore, both tied at Even. Did anyone see the wonderful comeback Goosen did yesterday? Double-Bogey at hole 13, then instantly came back to life with a birdie at hole 14 and 15 consecutively! Goosen made it look too darn easy. Damn! He makes everything looks easy. And his temperament! Amazing. He is so pan-faced that regardless of good or bad play, the same expression. South African... what ya expect? Chill baby, baby chill.
- Tiger Woods 6 behind Goosen at +3. Nightmarish putting for him. Averaged at 2 putts per hole resulting in only 1 birdie yesterday. Shame.
- I don't give a shit about the Singh... always hoping to see him lose.... but just FYI, he stands at +3.
- Phil Mickelson (one of the few lefties) was suppose to be one of the strongest contender for the cup. There were high hopes on another Goosen-Mickelson US Open showdown but lefty bombed it on Friday with a horrendous play of 7 over par, ending the day with a total score of 6 over par. He made the cut but didn't fare too well yesterday either with day result of 2 over par, bringing his total to +8. Pretty much out of the contenders list!
- Ernie Els.... the darling Big Easy fell easy. Another one with putting disasters. It seems like he and Mickelson are having a private competition to see who can fall worse! First day : +1. Second day : +6. Third day : +2. Current standing : +9! Sad. Very very sad. I like Els. He makes me laugh. Good shot. He laughs. Bad shots, he laughs. Eassssyyy.... Big Easssyyyy. I was really rooting for this one.... or perhaps I shouldn't be rooting for anyone. I might have jinxed him. Ahhh well... so there you go... goodbye Mickelson and Els. Helllooooo Goosen....
So that's it really.
At this point, it looks like Goosen already has one hand on the trophy.
Of course, there's abit of breath-holding to see if Tiger can make a miraculous comeback....Nevermind he is only 6 behind of Goosen.....
Despite trailing by six, Woods still isn't out of the mix
June 18, 2005
By Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Contributor
PINEHURST, N.C. -- He’s one good round away. Just ask him.
No brag, just fact.
Dust Tiger Woods off if you want, but heed his warning. This, after all is the U.S. Open where being down by six at the start of the final round is, well, nothing.
Yes, we watched the two-time U.S. Open champ struggle Saturday. He got frustrated. He talked to himself. His caddie. His clubs. Especially his putter. And those conversations weren’t intended for polite company.
And when you saw him laughing with Rocco Mediate at the 18th green at Pinehurst No. 2? The comment was simple and to the point: “Let’s get the hell out of here.’’
Three-over-par. Not Tiger-esque, but very, very Donald Ross. That kind of day and so far, that kind of week.
The man with nine majors, the only man who has a chance to win the Grand Slam this year and absolutely the only man who can keep pace with Annika Sorenstam has had a wicked week on Ross’ greens. Try an average of 33.3 putts a round this week -- 36 in the third round. Very un-Tiger. But understandable on these firm turtlebacks.
The No. 1 player isn’t alone, either. Vijay Singh, No. 2 at the moment, is right behind him -- 4-over for the week and seven behind leader Retief Goosen.
“It’s a grind out there,’’ Woods said. “You have to hit quality golf shots ... On most of my putts, I’m defensive because they’re uphill and then going straight away from me. If you hit it three feet past the hole, it’s off the green. That’s the nature of the putts.
“I heard Phil (Mickelson) say he had to lag putts six feet short. That’s what I did, then try to make those.’’
By his own count, he had two good looks at birdie Saturday and he made one of them. Pretty much par for this course and this field.
“Most of my shots were 20 and 30, 40 feet away and that’s because you can’t take a run at these flags,’’ Woods said. “You have a wedge in your hands and you’re firing 15 feet left of the hole.’’
Ironically, Tiger’s hitting them. He’s averaging 14 greens a round -- and hit 16 Saturday. Yet he came up short so often, putting defensively most of the day.
Woods’ nemesis this week has been the third hole. He bogeyed it each of the last two days. “Well, I hit a bad iron shot, a good sand wedge in there and hit two poor putts back to back,’’ he said. “I deserved to make bogey after two putts like that.’’
So what number does he have in mind for Sunday?
“Something in the red would be good,’’ he said.
It would also open a few eyes of the three groups who go off after he and Peter Hedblom tee off at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
Tiger coming from behind? It’s not unusual, but considering Hedblom posted the lowest score of the week on Friday with a 66, well, he’ll need some help from the leaders.
“You just go out there and grind away and try to make a bunch of pars and hopefully you can sprinkle in a couple of birdies here and there,’’ Tiger said. “And as we all know, even par or maybe even over par will win this championship. If you can post even par, you’re looking pretty good.’’
Even better when you’ve won two of these before.
“I’ve won major championships, I’ve done this in this event twice,’’ he said. “And that’s huge to be able to say that to yourself coming down the stretch. I’ve done it many times in major championships, I’ve been here before, I’ve done this. And it does give you a sense of calmness.’’
Now, if it can only give him a one good round, too.
At this point, it looks like Goosen already has one hand on the trophy.
Of course, there's abit of breath-holding to see if Tiger can make a miraculous comeback....Nevermind he is only 6 behind of Goosen.....
Despite trailing by six, Woods still isn't out of the mix
June 18, 2005
By Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Contributor
PINEHURST, N.C. -- He’s one good round away. Just ask him.
No brag, just fact.
Dust Tiger Woods off if you want, but heed his warning. This, after all is the U.S. Open where being down by six at the start of the final round is, well, nothing.
Yes, we watched the two-time U.S. Open champ struggle Saturday. He got frustrated. He talked to himself. His caddie. His clubs. Especially his putter. And those conversations weren’t intended for polite company.
And when you saw him laughing with Rocco Mediate at the 18th green at Pinehurst No. 2? The comment was simple and to the point: “Let’s get the hell out of here.’’
Three-over-par. Not Tiger-esque, but very, very Donald Ross. That kind of day and so far, that kind of week.
The man with nine majors, the only man who has a chance to win the Grand Slam this year and absolutely the only man who can keep pace with Annika Sorenstam has had a wicked week on Ross’ greens. Try an average of 33.3 putts a round this week -- 36 in the third round. Very un-Tiger. But understandable on these firm turtlebacks.
The No. 1 player isn’t alone, either. Vijay Singh, No. 2 at the moment, is right behind him -- 4-over for the week and seven behind leader Retief Goosen.
“It’s a grind out there,’’ Woods said. “You have to hit quality golf shots ... On most of my putts, I’m defensive because they’re uphill and then going straight away from me. If you hit it three feet past the hole, it’s off the green. That’s the nature of the putts.
“I heard Phil (Mickelson) say he had to lag putts six feet short. That’s what I did, then try to make those.’’
By his own count, he had two good looks at birdie Saturday and he made one of them. Pretty much par for this course and this field.
“Most of my shots were 20 and 30, 40 feet away and that’s because you can’t take a run at these flags,’’ Woods said. “You have a wedge in your hands and you’re firing 15 feet left of the hole.’’
Ironically, Tiger’s hitting them. He’s averaging 14 greens a round -- and hit 16 Saturday. Yet he came up short so often, putting defensively most of the day.
Woods’ nemesis this week has been the third hole. He bogeyed it each of the last two days. “Well, I hit a bad iron shot, a good sand wedge in there and hit two poor putts back to back,’’ he said. “I deserved to make bogey after two putts like that.’’
So what number does he have in mind for Sunday?
“Something in the red would be good,’’ he said.
It would also open a few eyes of the three groups who go off after he and Peter Hedblom tee off at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
Tiger coming from behind? It’s not unusual, but considering Hedblom posted the lowest score of the week on Friday with a 66, well, he’ll need some help from the leaders.
“You just go out there and grind away and try to make a bunch of pars and hopefully you can sprinkle in a couple of birdies here and there,’’ Tiger said. “And as we all know, even par or maybe even over par will win this championship. If you can post even par, you’re looking pretty good.’’
Even better when you’ve won two of these before.
“I’ve won major championships, I’ve done this in this event twice,’’ he said. “And that’s huge to be able to say that to yourself coming down the stretch. I’ve done it many times in major championships, I’ve been here before, I’ve done this. And it does give you a sense of calmness.’’
Now, if it can only give him a one good round, too.
- Article Taken From GolfWeb.com - The U.S. Open Tournament Retief Goosen, Rocco Mediate, Tiger Woods, USGA, GOLF
Now there's only wishing and hoping....
And then there's MY COUCH, clutching on to my pillows and feeling like the scum of the earth watching how these pros drives their balls over 300 metres.... and how they make the game look too darn easy...
"What ya doing? Watching tennis?"
Tomorrow... Tomorrow.... I love ya, tomorrow....
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