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[Source: The Golf Blog]
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Welcome Back, David Duval
LUCAS GLOVER WON THE TROPHY, Phil Mickelson won the hearts, and David Duval won newfound respect.
I disagree with those who may want to place an asterisk by Glover�s name for winning the bizarre, waterlogged U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. Lucas�s long game was solid most of the week, he only had one three-putt green, and he handled the pressure better than more-experienced players have in the past.
I�ll leave Phil for others, but his family vacation would be much more enjoyable if he had not bogeyed two of the last three holes. It was Lefty�s fifth second-place finish at the U.S. Open.
(Image: Newton/Flickr)
But I�d much rather discuss Mr. 882 in the world, one David Duval (at left). As I watched Duval coax in a birdie putt on the 16th hole to close to within one stroke of the lead, it occurred to me that he might pull off one of golf�s greatest comebacks. A birdie and a par and the man who fell into golf�s black hole eight years ago could actually hoist the Open�s silver cup. It would be, dare I say, �unbelievable.�
Duval�s final round was a parallel of sorts for his desolate years in golf. Things went terribly wrong on the opening three holes, which included a bogey and triple bogey. It looked hopeless, but David refused to give up. He kept battling to the end, hitting solid shot after solid shot and holing pressure putts that reminded us why he was once the best golfer in the world.
Duval is a soft-spoken determined man with a healthy ego. Of course, I don�t mean ego in the usual puffed-up sense. He has been completely humbled by this cruel game. Yet he still believes in himself and his ability. I�m not a quitter, he has said. That�s a healthy place to be.
As Duval also said just the other day, there�s not anything that can happen on the golf course or in a golf tournament that�s likely to fluster him. He has experienced both the highs and the lows - the lowest of the lows - and he�s still out there swinging and believing.
Today that belief almost won David Duval his first U.S. Open. It certainly won him the golf world�s respect.
-The Armchair Golfer
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[Source: ARMCHAIR GOLF BLOG]
I disagree with those who may want to place an asterisk by Glover�s name for winning the bizarre, waterlogged U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. Lucas�s long game was solid most of the week, he only had one three-putt green, and he handled the pressure better than more-experienced players have in the past.
I�ll leave Phil for others, but his family vacation would be much more enjoyable if he had not bogeyed two of the last three holes. It was Lefty�s fifth second-place finish at the U.S. Open.
(Image: Newton/Flickr)But I�d much rather discuss Mr. 882 in the world, one David Duval (at left). As I watched Duval coax in a birdie putt on the 16th hole to close to within one stroke of the lead, it occurred to me that he might pull off one of golf�s greatest comebacks. A birdie and a par and the man who fell into golf�s black hole eight years ago could actually hoist the Open�s silver cup. It would be, dare I say, �unbelievable.�
Duval�s final round was a parallel of sorts for his desolate years in golf. Things went terribly wrong on the opening three holes, which included a bogey and triple bogey. It looked hopeless, but David refused to give up. He kept battling to the end, hitting solid shot after solid shot and holing pressure putts that reminded us why he was once the best golfer in the world.
Duval is a soft-spoken determined man with a healthy ego. Of course, I don�t mean ego in the usual puffed-up sense. He has been completely humbled by this cruel game. Yet he still believes in himself and his ability. I�m not a quitter, he has said. That�s a healthy place to be.
As Duval also said just the other day, there�s not anything that can happen on the golf course or in a golf tournament that�s likely to fluster him. He has experienced both the highs and the lows - the lowest of the lows - and he�s still out there swinging and believing.
Today that belief almost won David Duval his first U.S. Open. It certainly won him the golf world�s respect.
-The Armchair Golfer
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[Source: ARMCHAIR GOLF BLOG]
Lucas Glover survives 3-over front nine to win 1st U.S. Open, after Phil Mickelson and David Duval make late charge to finish -2
Final round turned into the 1st real day of U.S. Open conditions at Bethpage Black. The young guns Rickey Barnes and Lucas Glover made a complete mess of the front nine shooting 40 and 38. Phil Mickelson tied for the lead at one point at -4, but bogeys on 15 and 17 derailed him. David Duval had a triple bogey on the second hole after his ball plugged in the lip in the bunker. But Duval rebounded on the back nine to share the lead at -3, only to bogey 17 with a lip out.
That left the stage for Lucas Glover who birdied 16 to take a 2 stroke lead.
Ricky Barnes (who had a colossal unraveling shooting 76) had 1 last putt to go -3 but barely missed on 18. Lucas made his putt anyway to finish -4. Only five guys under par. U.S. Open scores finally appear.
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[Source: The Golf Blog]
That left the stage for Lucas Glover who birdied 16 to take a 2 stroke lead.
Ricky Barnes (who had a colossal unraveling shooting 76) had 1 last putt to go -3 but barely missed on 18. Lucas made his putt anyway to finish -4. Only five guys under par. U.S. Open scores finally appear.
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[Source: The Golf Blog]
Rancho Park's Arnold Palmer Tribute?
A couple years ago, I moved about 20 miles west to the beach town of Santa Monica, CA. As a result, my home course went from the Rose Bowl parking lot to Rancho Park, former home of the L.A. Open. On the par-5 18th tee, there's an interesting plaque to commemorate Arnold Palmer's achievement at the 35th L.A. Open in 1961.
Here's the engraving:
Here's the detailed story according to Golf For Dummies:
The plaque and story are great comic reliefs to any golfer having a bad day on the golf course. But did anyone bother to check the grammar before it was engraved in stone!?
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[Source: Grouchy Golf Blog]
Here's the engraving:
The first day of the 35th L.A. Open, Arnold Palmer, voted Golfer of the year, took a 12 on this hole.
As an inspiration to all Golfers The L.A. Jr. Chamber of Commerce dedicate this monument.
Palmer hit a fine drive. He sliced his next 2 shots into the driving range, then hooked two more onto Patricia Ave. Hit the green with his sixth shot, and two putted. Eight strokes plus four penalities add up to 12.
Here's the detailed story according to Golf For Dummies:
Palmer needed a par 5 on the 18th for a 69 in the second round. After a good drive, instead of laying up with an iron for the tight second shot, he went for a birdie and pushed a 3-wood out-of-bounds onto the adjacent driving range. He paused briefly to regroup and then hit another 3-wood. This time, he hooked it onto Patricia Avenue. Stubborn if not downright foolhardy, Palmer hit the 3-wood yet again, and again hooked it out-of-bounds. On the fifth try, after four straight penalties, he finally put his 3-wood on the green and went on to make a 12. A long, sad story. Arnie's description was more succinct. Asked by a reported how he managed to make a 12, he replied, "I missed my putt for an 11."
The plaque and story are great comic reliefs to any golfer having a bad day on the golf course. But did anyone bother to check the grammar before it was engraved in stone!?
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[Source: Grouchy Golf Blog]
Tiger Woods using a 10.5 degree driver
Wow. This is a shocker. Tiger Woods is using a driver with 10.5 degree loft. That probably explains some of the distance loss, but better control.
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[Source: The Golf Blog]
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[Source: The Golf Blog]
U.S. Open at Bethpage Black - follow on the Internet
Day 1 is postponed because of rain.
Below is Phil Mickelson practicing yesterday:
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[Source: The Golf Blog]
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