FexEx St Jude Round Four conclusion
Blimey. If the Chinese ever get bored with water torture they could do a lot worse than try FedEx St Jude final round torture instead. The radio commentators were practically screaming "Doesn't anyone want to win this?" For a long time the answer seemed to be 'No'.
Which made for a layers paradise provided you were not too queasy about laying at around five until the turn for home. It was like a turkey shoot. And the great thing was that few would have spotted Jeff Maggert as the winner until quite late, meaning plenty in the kitty by the time he showed up. It wasn't great golf, but it sure was great punting. even after I had put a small saving bet on Justin Leonard when he went to one under on the day, a hint of a charge to come that never materialised.
And that is the biggest puzzle of all. Leonard, David Toms, Zach Johnson, Camilo Villegas - they might as well have been playing in a different country. Here we had a gang of old stagers who could barely remember their last PGA win, and tour virgins who could only dream of the same, treading water and waiting for someone brave enough to make a move, but in the end it came from one of their own, a guy whose last win was seven long years ago. The supposed hotshots just didn't have it in them.
It had everyone scratching their heads Sunday. Sure, the course had been toughened (but it had last year too) and the weather had left the greens being likened to the lottery of the US Open. For future reference, the key stat apart from putting was driving accuracy, keeping out of the rough enough to give you some decent birdie opportunities.
But I figure there is another reason for such a crazy tournament and such up and down performances - and again it is something worth bearing in mind when this event comes round next year. Two big clues stand out: the way Tim 'Lumpy' Herron hit seven over on Sunday, and the way David Toms missed putt after vital putt, some as little as two-footers.
Heat. That was the killer. Relentless 90degF temperatures that just sapped the strength of people. It is certainly what did for the highly overweight Herron, and I suspect it is what left Toms flagging too.
Anyway, thank goodness even for Maggert, because I was getting so mad I was about ready to give the game up for good if Herron had won. It would have been too ludicrous for words.
As it was, less than £2m traded in the winners market marks this one down as pretty low,level stuff.
For goodness sake Tiger, please come back soon.
Which made for a layers paradise provided you were not too queasy about laying at around five until the turn for home. It was like a turkey shoot. And the great thing was that few would have spotted Jeff Maggert as the winner until quite late, meaning plenty in the kitty by the time he showed up. It wasn't great golf, but it sure was great punting. even after I had put a small saving bet on Justin Leonard when he went to one under on the day, a hint of a charge to come that never materialised.
And that is the biggest puzzle of all. Leonard, David Toms, Zach Johnson, Camilo Villegas - they might as well have been playing in a different country. Here we had a gang of old stagers who could barely remember their last PGA win, and tour virgins who could only dream of the same, treading water and waiting for someone brave enough to make a move, but in the end it came from one of their own, a guy whose last win was seven long years ago. The supposed hotshots just didn't have it in them.
It had everyone scratching their heads Sunday. Sure, the course had been toughened (but it had last year too) and the weather had left the greens being likened to the lottery of the US Open. For future reference, the key stat apart from putting was driving accuracy, keeping out of the rough enough to give you some decent birdie opportunities.
But I figure there is another reason for such a crazy tournament and such up and down performances - and again it is something worth bearing in mind when this event comes round next year. Two big clues stand out: the way Tim 'Lumpy' Herron hit seven over on Sunday, and the way David Toms missed putt after vital putt, some as little as two-footers.
Heat. That was the killer. Relentless 90degF temperatures that just sapped the strength of people. It is certainly what did for the highly overweight Herron, and I suspect it is what left Toms flagging too.
Anyway, thank goodness even for Maggert, because I was getting so mad I was about ready to give the game up for good if Herron had won. It would have been too ludicrous for words.
As it was, less than £2m traded in the winners market marks this one down as pretty low,level stuff.
For goodness sake Tiger, please come back soon.
PGA Punter
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