***Official 2019 Masters Thread***
- Thread starter cycloneG
- Start date
Molinari started leaking oil early, but he kept getting up and down. I think it was #6 where FM went long and Tiger had a good look at birdie. Looked like it could have been a two shot swing and a tie for the lead, but FM got up and down again and Tiger missed the putt. It didn't change Tiger's plan one bit.
One of Tiger's greatest strengths is knowing how to win a tournament without trying to win a hole. It's awesome to watch. I'm a good amateur player and have been playing for 30 years, but I still struggle with trying too hard to get one back when I make a bogey or double, or trying to take too much when the door is open. It often looks like Tiger knows exactly what is going to happen before it happens. He didn't have to pounce today and it seems like he knew it.
Yep, it was apparent early on that players weren't going to score like they did Saturday. He had to be thinking that a -2 or -3 round would have a chance. He also knew there were some easy holes on the back 9 to birdie and didn't press on the harder holes.
The evolution of Tiger going from the guy who just overpowered courses to maybe being one of the better shotmakers on the tour is amazing. He used to say he wished he could have John Daly’s hands so nobody could ever beat him. I think he’s pretty happy with his own now.
Yeah, Tiger also knows exactly where to hit the green and keep it safe. On 12, he didn’t hit for the hole, he kept it safe playing for the middle of the green over that bunker and 2 putting for par.
It looked like Koepka, Finau, and Molinari all went for the hole (right of the bunker) and came up short and ended up in the water. They all took a double bogey and lost by 1-2 strokes.
Even his dominate run from like 2005-2008 he wasn't overpowering courses like he did early on. He could when he wanted to, but he didn't have the accuracy off the tee. He became the best iron player in the game and developed the best short game as well. He's close to that level of iron play again and is driving it straighter by giving up some distance. His putting will never be at that level again (in my opinion) but the rest of his game is pretty close. Its going to be hard to win 3 more majors though with the level of competition that's out there now.
Tiger's been the best shotmaker on tour since 1999 when healthy. That hasn't been a progression. When he had the prodigious power, tournaments weren't close. Now they are because he doesn't have that advantage.
I heard an interesting point on the radio over lunch and it matches something I was thinking while watching yesterday.
It was a big advantage for Tiger to get to go out in the final group. Intimidation is a big part of his game. Without the early start and threesomes, he doesn't get to stare Molinari in the eyes the whole round. Coming from behind to win with a 70 might not happen if he is not in that group.
It was a big advantage for Tiger to get to go out in the final group. Intimidation is a big part of his game. Without the early start and threesomes, he doesn't get to stare Molinari in the eyes the whole round. Coming from behind to win with a 70 might not happen if he is not in that group.
That's an interesting point I hadn't considered. There were a few times early in the round when Molinari had a testy putt and the camera was at Tiger's back - he was doing the arms folded stare down at Francesco. It may not have the same power the way it once did, but there's no avoiding the throngs of people adamantly cheering against you.
I've been told that effect doesn't exist anymore. I also don't really buy it will Molinari because he beat Tiger last year while playing with him. Molinari hit a boat load of bad shots and it finally caught up to him. He got up and down 19 straight times at one point. First, Tiger only had 14 up and down opportunities total. Second, especially Sunday, these weren't the up and downs you want. He was short siding himself, hitting great ship shots to give him 8-10 feet (which pros make less than 50% of) and kept making them. It just caught up to him.
I've been told that too, and I disagree. Tiger in the place he was in yesterday can't help but have an impact.
It all came down to the 12th on Sunday, in my opinion. Four contenders went for the hole and put it in the water. Tiger played it safe and just wanted par. 2 stroke turn there was huge.
I think people misunderstood what the Tiger effect really did. People were of course in awe of how he hit the golf ball. What he actually did, though, is force guys to play outside of themselves. I think those guys all just hit bad shots on 12 yesterday BUT that's a perfect example. Guys who know Augusta always talk about that shot. You hit it over the bunker/ Period. What I think Tiger did to people is just caused them to press so much that they eventually messed up and since he didn't make mistakes, it was impossible to get it back. Yesterday was that to a tee. He missed a shot at 10 but otherwise he just never gave anyone any air. One guy was in control of that and it was slipping almost immediately but I don't think that was Tiger. I think that was a bad day.
I guess I always felt like once they saw that guy go through the process of winning tournaments in the way he won them, which was surgically going about rounds, that would change them a little. I just think yesterday he came across the guys who that maybe doesn't effect.
Yeah. Really out there to pick the guy who was about 3 strokes away from winning the last two.
12 was obviously important but 15 is where he won it. That shot is very hard and he hit it perfectly and forced Molinari's hand. I'm still a little shocked Brooks didn't make either put on 17 and 18.
Any mistakes he's made, he's paid for them and then some. He might be a bad husband, but that's really none of our business.
I think it's possible to separate the achievement from the person. What Woods did this weekend is why we watch sports. Everyone, including Tiger, thought he was finished not even two years ago. You almost never see an athlete that far removed from his prime come back and win a championship/major/whatever. And it's exciting to see it when someone does recapture that greatness.
Whether or not he's a good person or father, I don't know. And it doesn't really matter to me. I stopped looking up to athletes as role models a long time ago. They're all as screwed up as the rest of us; they just happen to be gifted with incredible athletic ability.
I wouldn't go so far as to call what he accomplished a redemption (I've heard that word tossed around some) - I don't think you redeem yourself for the things he's done in his life just by playing golf. But in terms of just golf, it's a fantastic story.
Whether or not he's a good person or father, I don't know. And it doesn't really matter to me. I stopped looking up to athletes as role models a long time ago. They're all as screwed up as the rest of us; they just happen to be gifted with incredible athletic ability.
I wouldn't go so far as to call what he accomplished a redemption (I've heard that word tossed around some) - I don't think you redeem yourself for the things he's done in his life just by playing golf. But in terms of just golf, it's a fantastic story.
Not sure why, but I decided to look up how Tiger's Masters accomplishment stacks up in the GOAT conversation. I may be a little off on these stats, but I think they are pretty accurate. I love Jack and once couldn't stand Tiger, but I've become a big Tiger fan since he became human.
Tiger has won 6% of all Masters played (5/83)
Jack has won 7% of all Masters played (6/83)
Tiger has won 21% of Masters he’s been eligible to play in, including the years he played as an Amateur (2) and missed due to injury (3).
-Tiger is 43.
-Hasn’t missed the cut yet. (5/24)
Jack has won 13% of Masters he’s been eligible to play in, including the years he played as an Amateur (3) and missed due to injury or WD (4).
-He was 46 the last time he won, but played until he was 65.
-He missed the cut 6 times, his first one as an amateur, again when he was 27, and then as a 55 year old. The others were missed were his last three. (6/46)
Taking out the years Tiger didn’t play and his amateur years, he has won 29%. (5/17)
Taking out the years Jack didn’t play and his amateur years, he has won 15%. (6/40)
If Tiger kept up the pace of the ones he has played in, 29%, he would win 6 more. Obviously that isn’t going to happen. Jack won the Master’s once after the age of 43 and his highest finish after that came when he was 58 for 6th place.
I could really see Tiger win 2 more Masters if he stays healthy and plays until he's 60.
Tiger has won 6% of all Masters played (5/83)
Jack has won 7% of all Masters played (6/83)
Tiger has won 21% of Masters he’s been eligible to play in, including the years he played as an Amateur (2) and missed due to injury (3).
-Tiger is 43.
-Hasn’t missed the cut yet. (5/24)
Jack has won 13% of Masters he’s been eligible to play in, including the years he played as an Amateur (3) and missed due to injury or WD (4).
-He was 46 the last time he won, but played until he was 65.
-He missed the cut 6 times, his first one as an amateur, again when he was 27, and then as a 55 year old. The others were missed were his last three. (6/46)
Taking out the years Tiger didn’t play and his amateur years, he has won 29%. (5/17)
Taking out the years Jack didn’t play and his amateur years, he has won 15%. (6/40)
If Tiger kept up the pace of the ones he has played in, 29%, he would win 6 more. Obviously that isn’t going to happen. Jack won the Master’s once after the age of 43 and his highest finish after that came when he was 58 for 6th place.
I could really see Tiger win 2 more Masters if he stays healthy and plays until he's 60.