U.S. Open thread

Jesus, why doesn't EVERY piece of NBC "talent" just go down on Eldrick and end the suspense?

 

Baddeley needs to add a birdie or two on the final three holes. He'll need a cushion if he's going to be playing in the final group with Tiger tomorrow. He'll need as big a lead as possible, because Tiger might intimidate him into mistakes Sunday.

 

Nice to see NBC is still half-assing their HD by using standard-def. cameras on the course and using HD cameras only in the towers. When they toggle between the two while showing the same player, it becomes really noticeable.

 

I don't think anyone will be breaking par tomorrow, mostly because no one else other than Tiger can put together that kind of diabolical display of fairways and greens, and I don't think he can do it twice. Tiger, if he loses this tournament, will always wonder how it is he threw away one of the finest tee-to-green performances I've ever seen, given the conditions, because he couldn't read a putt.

I appreciate USGA allowing for a moving day. Granted, a 70 round was the moving score rather 66, but still - it was pretty clear that Saturday was as good as it was going to get. Tomorrow the tees will be back, the greens will bake, and it'll be sheer survival.

 

Is it just me, or does the standard-def. camera in an HD feed look even WORSE than simply watching the entire thing on the standard-def. feed?

 

So we have Baddeley, one of the absolute nicest guys on the Tour, paired with Tiger, the biggest a-hole on the tour. I am really struggling with whom I want to pull for in that final group.

 

That Baddeley fella looks pretty solid. The way he played that last approach shot was phenomenal. I doubt that he's going to cave to the pressure from Tiger. It should be a good battle. I expect this to be Baddeley's coming-out party.

 

Not only yes, but hell yes.

 

I'd hold off the coronation.

Badds has plenty of talent; he was anointed the Aussie successor to Greg Norman after winning the Australian Open at 16 or 17. And he's a phenomenal putter. But despite plenty of work with David Leadbetter, his swing is still a loose work in progress that is overly dependent on impeccable timing.

When he's on -- like he has been this week and like he was at Phoenix earlier this year -- he's capable of incredible feats O' golf. But if it's off in any way, shape or form, hide the women and dingos. Badds isn't yet the type of golfer who can turn a 78 in waiting into a 72.

 

. . . but have to give him a shot, because he's putting ABSOLUTELY OUT OF HIS MIND . . .

 

Havng been at the Open today (gotta free ticket through a corporate partner of Mom's company...and it was in the hospitality suites. Wanna talk class warfare? I'm drinking a free beer on the veranda of a VIP tent while watching the great unwashed stumbling directly beneath me thinking "so, this is how the other half, or anyone outside of journalism, lives."), if you wanna watch the golfers, stay at home and watch on the tube. But if you wanna see the course, go. Television doesn't do justice to how undulating this course's fairways and greens are. It's not tricked up, it's just that hard. You could move the PGA Championship from Southern Hills to Oakmont in August and there might be a five shot improvement in scores at best. They might water and cut more, but they sure as hell aren't leveling more.

And the U.S. Open merchandise tent is big, but no bigger than the 84 Lumber Classic, Booz Allen (why are all of the tournaments I've attended dead) or any other damn fool PGA Tour stop. And is dropping $50 on a Nike Open golf shirt all that much different than going to see your favorite band at an arena and dropping $35 on a tour t-shirt. At least I can wear the golf shirt out to dinner, to work, on the course, etc. Where the hell am I getting away with wearing my Metallica "Ride The Lightning '86" tee?