The Masters

[Ben]

I’m watching the Canadian Open and the commentators are bending over backwards to shoehorn the “PGA Tour’s strength in depth” into the conversation at every opportunity.

[Ben]

Is Phil purposely going for the “middle aged man in a downward spiral” look with that stubble?

[Jimmy Floyd]

They barely got a field out for this one, admittedly largely because a load of US golfers are unvaxxed and can't get into Canada.

[Ben]

Ahh that’s the reason. I did think it was strange for so many to miss the week before a major.

[niko_cee]

Just flicked it on and they're laying it on thick.

One of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour calendar.

Part of the triple crown with the Open and the US Open.

Do me a favour.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The one thing they still have going for them is that Tiger and Rory are still flying the flag. If Tiger turned down a billion you'd think he won't be going anywhere, and so it'll probably end up as a two-stream nonsense with everyone converging for the majors.

Either that or Greg Norman will end up getting beheaded in Deera Square with the rest.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Everything about this is just embarrassing for everyone involved. Listen to this sack of shit:

1534989300772880385

[niko_cee]

:D

"I wanted to keep the moral high ground . . ."

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:D

[Clunge]

Ngl, loving the industrial strength hypocrisy of the past three to four days. Mickelsen's presser in particular was absolute golddust.

[niko_cee]

In the least surprising move of all time Bryson has gone to the dark side.

[Ben]

Surprised he wasn’t #1. Of all the “names” that have signed, I’ll miss him the least.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's a shame we won't be able to see him getting destroyed by the Par 67 Augusta again though.

[niko_cee]

Dustin's applied to join the European Tour?

: popcorngif :

[Ben]

That’s actually a great move in terms of trying to get LIV accepted.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We'll see how long the 'strategic partnership' lasts. PGA Tour in a real weak spot all of a sudden and European Tour weirdly strong in a sort of Lib Dem balance of power way.

[Baz]

What is LIV?

[Giggles]

What is LIV?

54.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's a Saudi breakaway Super League. Think Newcastle, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Inter Milan, Valencia, Marseille, Anderlecht, Ipswich, Chesterfield, most of the South African league and the Thai league going to form a breakaway super league.

[Gray Fox]

What a performance from the chap here.

1535639432061239296

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

You can't teach selling that good, sign him up Vince.

[Gray Fox]

Selling like Shawn Michaels taking the sledgehammer to the back.

Pay that man.

[Ben]

Like someone from a 60’s Bond film.

[niko_cee]

Not sure I've seen a singled LIVer on the sky coverage of this so far.

[niko_cee]

Big fan of Dahmen's shirt/hat combo but with his back story, and being a yank you just know he's going to be a massive god bothering bellend.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's a good guy I think. So is almost everyone near the top of the current leaderboard, actually. LIV quite a handy knobhead filter.

[niko_cee]

Wind wreaking havoc. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hard to see past Scheffler here, what a start he's had today.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Zalatoris is on fire.

[Jimmy Floyd]

So delighted for Fitz. What a shot out of the bunker on 18.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I thought Zalatoris had it won when Fitz landed in the bunker.

Cracking shot to get out.

It's a shame we didn't get a winner but at least it was a loss to Fitzpatrick.

[igor_balis]

Fantastic final round, that. At one point I was convinced we were getting a 3 way playoff but I'm glad we didn't.

[Ben]

That was absolutely brilliant from Fitzpatrick, delighted for him. If he didn't putt with the flag in he'd be my favourite golfer.

[Giggles]

Did the Liv crew play in that yesterday?

[Ben]

Yeah but you wouldn't know it. I think the American directors were purposely avoiding them. Dustin Johnson did alright but we only really saw any of them when Phil shanked one.

[niko_cee]

They were definitely making an effort to not show them, and laying the PGA love on thick, but were somewhat helped by all of the LIV crew doing fuck all.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Brooks Koepka has DEFECTED.

So has Abraham Ancer :( Such a shame the Mexican don has decided to chase the money.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Talk of Morikawa, that would be an earthquake if he went.

[niko_cee]

The PGA Tour is going to end up being almost exclusively defended by the elite European players.

[Ben]

Koepka is unsurprising really. He's falling apart physically so the sporadic schedule is pretty much all he can manage anyway.

Surprised at Ancer, though, especially if the Major championship qualification criteria stays as is. Can't see how LIV manages to get itself ranking point status with 54-hole shotgun bullshit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It won't get OWGR for two years in any case I don't think. Their only hope for playing majors in the long run is if Liv do a deal with them and/or the tour.

There still hasn't been a big young (or seen as young) star go across, unless you count Bryson. PGA Tour need McIlroy, Thomas, Scheffler, Spieth, Morikawa, Rahm, Hovland, probably Niemann and Fitzpatrick to stay. Beyond that they can absorb a few losses as long as there aren't too many of them. Oh, and Tiger. As long as Tiger's still on the side of righteousness, it's going to be hard work for Liv.

[niko_cee]

Has the European Tour made any sort of pronouncement on this? If they let the LIVers play isn't that a route to world ranking points and thus major qualification?

[Ben]

Fuck Bryson. But if any of the others you listed go then it's real squeaky bum time. For what it's worth, that Rapoport fella at Golf Digest is saying the Morikawa rumour is bullshit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They are in a lib dem kingmaker position at the moment, which is somewhat unexpected given the PGA Tour has pillaged them dry for the last 20 years. There is a looming threat of Liv buying them out, in which case it's anyone's guess.

[Ben]

Has the European Tour made any sort of pronouncement on this? If they let the LIVers play isn't that a route to world ranking points and thus major qualification?

That'll almost certainly be the plan. They're holding off as long as they can but they're due to communicate on Thursday. The lure of having Johnson, DeChambeau et al rock up a few times a year to their events is way too big an opportunity to pass.

[niko_cee]

From reading round the edges it sounds like they're going to go the other way and follow the yanks in banning them.

Apparently the Asian Tour [?] is still open to the LIV mob though, can you get ranking points from that? Thought most of the notable far eastern events were on the European Tour.

[Ben]

Yeah but they're weighted. If you played the Asian Tour you'd have to play every week and win to get top 50.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The European Tour banning Westy, Poulter, Garcia etc is a pretty big deal for them, probably more so than the yanks banning the liv bros.

Got to wonder how the likes of Laurie Canter and Adrian Otaegui are going to feel once they get punted onto the Asian Tour and spend their lives playing b-grade exhibitions in Jeddah while they wait for Phil and co to die.

[Waffdon]

Brooks Koepka has DEFECTED.

So has Abraham Ancer :( Such a shame the Mexican don has decided to chase the money.

He only cares about Majors doesn’t he? So it’s not really surprising. Well, that and making BDC’s life miserable.

[Ben]

Greg needs to team them two up ASAP.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1540265079807086592

:drool:

[Ben]

DP World is Qatar, right?

[niko_cee]

Dubai, would be more lol if it was Qatar though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't think it's the Saudi hanging and flogging angle that they're going for in fairness (which would be hard since the Saudi International was their event until this year), it's the fleeing meritocratic golf angle.

Notably less of a banhammer than the PGA Tour sent down, but at the same time it basically deters anyone but the top, top European players from joining LIV as they won't be able to afford it. RIP Adrian Otaegui.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a putt by Haotong Li, looked like he had lost it with that chip.

[Giggles]

That’s some lineup McManus gathered in Limerick. I had the offer of going a while back but never really looked into what it was.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lowry :cool:

What a man.

[Waffdon]

DJ winning would be great.

It should annoy the right people and more so because I just realised I’ve stuck £20 on him on the nose having thought it was £10 ew at 33s

[igor_balis]

Waff probably likes mason greenwood more now for triggering the snowflakes

[Jimmy Floyd]

Was gonna say, the LIV lovers are all Trump/crypto bros.

[Waffdon]

Waff probably likes mason greenwood more now for triggering the snowflakes

:D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

MugIlroy is winning this isn't he? :(

I wanted one of his meltdowns.

[Ben]

The only person that can stop him is Cam Smith having a storming back 9. Hovland looks scrambled.

[Ben]

Here we go.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Well this looks a bit stormy right now.

[Giggles]

This is some stuff from our redneck friend.

[Waffdon]

It’s a shame Smith held that small put as getting an Eagle on 18 to force a play off would have been unreal stuff.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It’s a shame Smith held that small put as getting an Eagle on 18 to force a play off would have been unreal stuff.

While that would have been nice for us Smith deserved to win outright.

[Ben]

That mullet needs to go but other than that he's an absolutely tremendous golfer. That run on the back nine was worthy of any victory.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Henrik Stenson gone to LIV and immediately stripped of the Ryder Cup captaincy. This is full-on war :drool:

LIV are all utter cunts, of course. Traditional tours till I die.

[niko_cee]

They need to start hitting them with proper no going back life bans, but that causes lawyer alarms I guess.

Fuera Significa Fuera, in the words of Big Tone.

[Ben]

There's hell on if Smith and Matsuyama go, as rumoured.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Liv actually picks up traction (with MASSIVE signings like the above) and eventually becomes dominant, golf is dead. No one will ever watch.

[Ben]

One saving grace is that 'Greg' is in love with this 54-hole team event format, which hopefully will keep them barred from ranking points and consequently majors. That might put off a few of the better players eventually.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cameron Smith has been offered $90m to join and didn't seem that opposed to the idea after his Open win.

Such a shame that so many seemingly decent chaps are blood thirsty cunts.

[Giggles]

It’s all looking very like LIV have won.

[niko_cee]

I dunno.

Henrik Stenson, Jason Kokrak and Charles Howell III?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Think it's still very up in the air. LIV will get the players who only care about money, but the low hanging fruit has gone now and they're left with a crap product and a load of ageing players slowly falling down the world rankings and away from relevance.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm having a little watch of LIV. It really is like entering a parallel universe.

1. They're brave going onto a streaming platform (YouTube) which shows you how many viewers there are. 50,000 seems pretty miserable really.
2. Charles Barkley. Why?
3. The commentator keeps reminding you what the stakes are. 'The individual event - lots of prize money at stake - and also the subtext of the team leaderboard'. This is the problem with it. Who cares about either of those things?
4. There are hardly any fans there, which at 'Trump National Golf Club' is a bit shit.
5. David Feherty :( you can tell in his voice that he hates himself for doing it. Probably needs the money.
6. The shotgun start thing is rubbish. I suppose in their heads it makes sense because it shortens the total TV broadcast and there's a sort of F1 qualifying feel to the last few holes (as well as the F1 leaderboard). However, the whole beauty of golf is the tension and ebb and flow of a round as you go through easier and harder holes, which is totally lost.
7. All you can hear is drones.
8. Do they really imagine that anyone will ever give a shit whether the 'Majesticks', 'Stingers', '4Aces' etc win the team comp? At least name them after cities/regions so people have some kind of affinity to draw on.
9. Phil is going to end up getting plastic surgery and die of a drug overdose or in a light aircraft disaster.
10. I just end up looking at all these players (aside from the Asian ones getting a once in a lifetime payday) and just think, really guys? Really?

[Giggles]

From the way it’s going you may get to like it.

[niko_cee]

It's quite sad to see Westwood saying the sort of things he appears to be saying, even if some of it is fair/true [going off the story on the beeb].

[Manc]

Cam Smith has joined the dark side.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Further showcasing you can never trust a mullet.

[Ben]

That was obvious, he was just waiting for the playoffs to finish.

What is more interesting to me is the other defectors today like Niemann, Varner and Tringale. I think those rumours that the PGA Tour won't be able to stop these guys retaining their memberships is going to be true.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It almost doesn't matter who goes at this point, what matters is that both tours will be absolutely shite as a result and pro golf will be far less worth watching than it has been, all so that about 150 people (including agents and other hangers-on) can get massive payouts from Mohammad bin Salman.

[Ben]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/golf/62827834

:D

Rory is gold in this LIV fallout.

[Giggles]

He’s almost making me like him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm going on Sunday, can't wait, might just spend 5 hours calling Blandy a murderer.

The group draws for the first two days are hilarious, they've put all the LIV players in dogshit draws. Poulter with Aaron Rai, the slowest player in the world. Patrick Reed with Jorge Campillo, a random Spanish journeyman who barely speaks English. Garcia's with Andrea Pavan, who has the yips and hits about 9 drivers out of bounds every week.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1567932373236420609

Shit.

[Ben]

I knew cricket would be suspended but I guess it would obviously apply to all sports.

[niko_cee]

WTF? (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/64673771)

[Jimmy Floyd]

A good illustration of how shit American 'trash talk' culture (and our 'banter' equivalent) is.

Hey buddy, need a tampon for that period you're on? Cos you drive it like a GIRL!

[Giggles]

Speaking of epic bantz.


1625540382640554026


Sweet Christ.

[Gray Fox]

I can't decide if it comes across as very XFL or The Hundred.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They used the same girl in a 'candid' Sergio signing autographs video, which made me lol quite hard.

DJ really buying into it as always.

[niko_cee]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/64738914


There will be greater emphasis on the team competition, which is seen as key to LIV's future. The 48 players compete as individuals - chasing $20m (£16.5m) purses at each event - but remain part of a dozen four-man teams.

LIV see these 12 entities as investment opportunities that could ultimately generate a return on the approximate $2bn (£1.65bn) that has already been ploughed in by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Players will wear branded gear and LIV expects these to become essential items for dedicated fans.

:happycry:

My main two queries on this would be [1] are they not overlooking the fact that golf doesn't really have 'fans' in the same way that other [dare I say proper] sports do and [2] the IPL model is all well and good, but it's fundamentally based on the existence of a massive amount of point 1 'fans' and, is the IPL actually 'profitable' or is it all a massive dick-waving/money-laundering enterprise?

[Giggles]

Yeah, for the most part people just want to see an exciting finish and drama and it doesn’t really matter who’s hitting the ball at that particular time.

[Dquincy]

WTF? (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/64673771)

He didn't need to apologise though.

[Ben]

They can’t bleat about not getting world ranking points then double down on the 54-hole team shit.

[Giggles]

I see this is on this week. Are the Saudi lot allowed play in it or how did all that end up?

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I think they are [and were allowed last year], and this is the case for all majors [maybe not the PGA?]. It would be more than a little surprising if the good old boys at Augusta were ever at the vanguard of anything remotely aligned to what you might term 'progressive values'.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Saudi lot are allowed to qualify for majors the same as anyone else, but with no world ranking points currently being awarded to LIV events, they are currently slip-sliding down the world rankings at some speed and have increasingly few chances to get in.

The likes of DJ, Cam Smith, Koepka, Dechambeau, Mickelson are ok for the next few years of majors though thanks to prior exemptions. Fear the bell may have tolled for Westy.

[Ben]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/65158414

:harold:

[Shindig]

Is there something triggering the split beyond money?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Money and Saudi desire for soft power. It's also ended up being a culture war split, with the PGA Tour (somehow) on the side of wokery and LIV being a Trumpist repository.

[Lofty]

Na withdrawn already? :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

He was looking so good in his Ironheads clobber.

[Ben]

I know they're not used to 72 holes but jacking after (a shocking) 9 is a bit spineless.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1643409940982185989

Aged well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This lad Sargent (amateur) just his opening tee shot 360 yards. No wonder they want to roll the ball back.

[Baz]

This lad Sargent (amateur) just his opening tee shot 360 yards. No wonder they want to roll the ball back.

How?!

[Dark Soldier]

How?!

He hit it really, really hard.

[Giggles]

And he’s strong.

[Lofty]

Zalatoris withdrawn too.

[Giggles]

I want mcilroy to win. I feel itchy and filthy for it but fuck the liv.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rahm and Hovland both played outrageous rounds in different ways. McIlroy played the first 7 like me, and Scheffler has putted like Ray Charles.

[Manc]

Koepka really does love the big occasion.

[Waffdon]

Koepka pissing it. Some boi

[Baz]

I’d love for this amateur Sam Bennett to win the lot.

[AJ23]

I’d love for this amateur Sam Bennett to win the lot.

That'd be an amazing story. In my head and heart, I still think Rahm is going to catch Koepka and win the title.

[AJ23]

I’d love for this amateur Sam Bennett to win the lot.

That'd be an amazing story. In my head and heart, I still think Rahm is going to catch Koepka and win the title.

[Lofty]

Is McIlroy getting cut here?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Don't think I've ever seen McIlroy play as egregiously badly as holes 1-7 both days. Absolutely all over the place.

Only Rahm can stop Brooks, and he probably won't.

[AJ23]

Jon Rahm's got this. Koepka will feel the pressure. A long way to go yet and lots of twists and turns.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Surely Koepka's back and/or a knee goes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Some loblollies just came down on 17, carnage.

[AJ23]

Play suspended due to bad weather. Nick Faldo on screen in his green jacket (how is he not bald or doesn't have grey hair?)

I think it's time for an uber eats.

[phonics]

Play suspended due to bad weather. Nick Faldo on screen in his green jacket (how is he not bald or doesn't have grey hair?)

I think it's time for an uber eats.

Hiarplugs and Just for Men.

[Shindig]

That's one lucky crowd not to get bonked by any of that.

[igor_balis]

The amount of time dedicated by the footage and commentary to Tiger Woods is getting a bit tedious. OMG back to the 14th where Tiger has made his par, to keep him 3 strokes inside the cut, wow what a legendary man. Some cunt literally just spoke about his 'stoicism' :moop:

[Jimmy Floyd]

It became tedious about 10 years ago tbh, but now Brady has gone he's probably the last truly dominant hero of American sports still active (and thanks to analytics there probably won't be any more), so they're going to milk him until he has no legs left rather than just the one.

If you take the fluff out and just watch him it's still pretty incredible the shots he can hit at his age and physical status.

[Ben]

The finish of round 2 in the rain this morning has been good viewing. Rahm definitely had the worse draw so I’m backing him to pull a lead out on Koepka by the end of today.

[Jimmy Floyd]

JT self-immolating was entertaining in a sad way. Looked like he was about to burst into tears at the end.

[Ben]

Putting his heart and soul into 234 yards off the tee on the last is so relatable.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The amount of time dedicated by the footage and commentary to Tiger Woods is getting a bit tedious. OMG back to the 14th where Tiger has made his par, to keep him 3 strokes inside the cut, wow what a legendary man. Some cunt literally just spoke about his 'stoicism' :moop:

Leaders go off at 6.06pm from tee 1, Woods (15 shots off the lead) goes off tee 10 at the same time, guess which group the host broadcaster has chosen as a 'featured group' :cool:

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

I've not followed any golf since the tail end of last year so surprised to see Koepka playing so well. He seemed a shadow of what he had been for a while.

[igor_balis]

Leaders go off at 6.06pm from tee 1, Woods (15 shots off the lead) goes off tee 10 at the same time, guess which group the host broadcaster has chosen as a 'featured group' :cool:

hahaha i absolutely love it

tbf i was absolutely loving it during the 2019 masters but, like, he was winning

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Tiger's withdrawn, the broadcasters must be crying their eyes out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He could literally hardly walk towards the end yesterday. Attempting to do 30 holes today would have been madness.

This Koepka v Rahm duel should be great however.

[Ben]

That up and down for par by Rahm at 9 was just brilliant.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Koepka hasn't hit a bad iron shot for about 40 holes now. Got to be a bad spell in him soon.

[Ben]

Koepka is playing some winning golf here. Finally his irons faulted with a couple of hooks but he’s hit a few great chips to save himself. If he holds this three shot lead going into the final round then I can’t see Rahm or Hovland overthrowing him.

[Giggles]

Can this spill into tomorrow?

[Ben]

Only if there’s another weather delay and that’s looking unlikely now. Get the beers in and settle down for the night.

[Giggles]

I wasn’t planning on it but if I watch any more of this Live Master Build Up shite and no actual golf, I might open a bottle of vodka.

[Ben]

The Masters is always a twat for this. Maximum 5 hours per day (or round) coverage, so we get all this bollocks until Augusta lets them start the broadcast at 7/7.30.

[niko_cee]

Gotta protect the patrons.

[Giggles]

Have we an hour off Sky talking bollocks now too?

[Ben]

Finally. Good evening Ewen.

[AJ23]

Ron Jahm will win.

If not, it'll be Phillip Lahm.

[niko_cee]

Have they sent them off too close together or is someone slow playing up the road to back up the final pairings? Having the leading pairs sitting around twiddling their thumbs doesn't seem the best look, even if it is very apt for modern golf.

[Ben]

Especially after one hole. Nine minutes should be more than enough time between twoballs. Everyone in front was straightforward birdies/pars. They need to start shot penalties for slow play. I understand that amateur would be nervous in the last couple of rounds but he sticks out as someone who was especially slow for no viable reason.

[Ben]

44 minutes for the first two holes from this final pairing. The 2nd hole creates a backlog due to everyone being able to go for it in two but that’s still no excuse for play that slow.

[AJ23]

Here we go. Koepka's feeling it...

[niko_cee]

Don't start dancing on his grave until he goes full Rory around amen corner.

[AJ23]

I just know Jon Rahm this season. The most dangerous animal. If Koepka can cope, fair play to him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Koepka lucky with that chip shot. It really should have carried on off the green.

[AJ23]

Rahm is coming for you. Not just that, he's overtaking you baby. Good luck.

[niko_cee]

Koepka just tired as it's over the 54 hole limit, plus all the extra play today.

Still got to get around the corner before anything is settled. Still moves possible from the chasing pack as well Willett/Schwarzel style.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, see, horror putt, and miles to go.

[AJ23]

Hell of a putt from Scheffler.

[Ben]

Loads queued up on -6 here. Couple of bogeys a piece from the final pair would make it interesting.

[AJ23]

Theegala has had a brilliant round. Wow.

[Ben]

That Sunday pin on 16 is just terrific.

[niko_cee]

Nothing like listening to Butch say "Oh my god, that went in the hedge there".

:D

[niko_cee]

Know the feeling there Brooks, aim way left and then hit it straight as a die.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is so great. Theegala's shot on 16 one of the best for years.

[AJ23]

Cantlay could do this.

How is Mickelson -6?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Theegala :cool:

Big fan of the lad, would love to see him win some tournaments.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mickelson is an inexplicable human being.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's also a cunt of a human being.

[AJ23]

Ok, forget Cantlay. He over-thought that putt. Needs to be more instinctive.

[niko_cee]

Every time I see a potentially close approach into the 16th on a Sunday I think of poor old Kenny Perry.

Up there with whoever it was who lost to Tiger in the 18 hole play-off in the US Open whilst being quite old [Rocco?]. Heartbreaking years.

[AJ23]

Never bet against Jon Rahm.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hard to see Rahm losing.

[AJ23]

Still thinking about Cantlay or Henley over Koepka to challenge Rahm....

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't know if Brooks has another gear here. Rooting so hard for Rahm.

[niko_cee]

Rahm has it if he can just navigate past all the potential disaster [at the moment he's looking consummate]. No one really coming from the pack to post something scary in the clubhouse at the moment.

[AJ23]

I don't know if Brooks has another gear here. Rooting so hard for Rahm.

I knew he'd struggle mentally when Rahm stepped the pressure on.

Rahm's mentality is something else.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Spieth is on a heater. If he had a couple more holes he could have worried Rahm.

[AJ23]

What a round from Spieth. Brilliant.

[AJ23]

Spieth is on a heater. If he had a couple more holes he could have worried Rahm.

Should have believed in himself earlier. He might have done it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mickelson to win it at -8 would be the most ludicrous thing ever to happen in the history of any sport.

[niko_cee]

Still plenty of potential for the shitting of many a pair of pants here.

If Speith can get in at 9 he'll probably want to be keeping warm.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking Mickleson.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rahm needs 37 on the back nine to beat the old cunt.

[Giggles]

He’s a cretin but Mickelson winning it would have been hilarious.

[AJ23]

I just know Jon Rahm this season. The most dangerous animal. If Koepka can cope, fair play to him.

Rahm is coming for you.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

I do love the 12th. Just a 9 iron or wedge yet middle of the green is a good shot.

[AJ23]

Jon Rahm. My man. Stepping up again.

Can anyone stop him?

Mentally he's in another dimension.

[AJ23]

Sport is mentality at crucial moments. Rahm is doing it so far.

[AJ23]

Here we go. Koepka is flapping. Rahm is the man. It's just expected. Come on guys. Did anyone not foresee this?

[AJ23]

Jon Rahm is going to bring it home. Unless something drastic happens. It was only ever going to go that way.

Been playing the best golf this season. Shown the most mental toughness....

[Offshore Toon]

Dear John Rahm,

I hope this letter finds you well, as I write to you today with a heart full of admiration and affection. I must confess, John, that I am completely and utterly obsessed with your mental toughness.

From the way you approach every shot with confidence and focus, to the way you handle pressure and adversity on the golf course, you are truly a master of the mental game. Your unwavering determination and unbreakable spirit in the face of any challenge is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

I find myself watching your highlights on repeat, marveling at your ability to stay calm and composed in the most high-pressure situations. Your resilience and mental fortitude are unparalleled, and I can't help but be drawn to your incredible mindset.

I love the way you never give up, no matter how difficult the circumstances may seem. You are a true warrior, a champion, and a hero to me. Your unwavering mental toughness is something I strive to emulate in my own life, and I can only hope to be half as strong and determined as you.

John, I am head-over-heels in love with you and your mental toughness. You are my inspiration, my motivation, and my ultimate role model. I will continue to cheer you on and follow your career with the utmost admiration and respect.

Thank you for being such an incredible athlete and human being, and for inspiring me to be the best version of myself. I love you, John Rahm, and I always will.

Sincerely,
A devoted fan

[AJ23]

You cannot stop Jon Rahm. Sorry. You just can't.

[Dark Soldier]

Absolutely fucking gaunt you've wanked that much tonight aye AJ. Go on son.

[AJ23]

Absolutely fucking gaunt you've wanked that much tonight aye AJ. Go on son.

Jon Rahm is Jon Rahm. How other people have tried to find ways to think others might have a chance is lovely. I've enjoyed it.

That's why some of us still get taken in by Nigerian emails. It's a mental thing. You've either got it, or you haven't :chortle:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Great winner, and won my Rory money back from Patrick Reed, one for the confession box.

[AJ23]

Was never in doubt. Mentally tough. Best player this season. It's not just about talent. It's always about mental toughness.

[Ben]

Cantlay getting battered for his slow play. Rightfully so.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Given how much it penalises fast players (Koepka famously among them) and is awful for the game at recreational level, I can't believe they don't impose harsh penalties. There was a great clip of Hovland chipping on 13 while you could see Cantlay still plodding 80 yards back down the fairway.

[niko_cee]

He [and his caddy] spent about 5 minutes lining up and coming off a 6 foot putt only to dribble it meekly wide, very frustrating to watch.

[phonics]

I was very confused about this whole Jon Rahmn being spanish bit only to find out Phil Michelsons brother bullied him if he spoke Spanish and made him drop his actual last name of Rodriguez.

Sounds like a great guy.

[igor_balis]

if this the general golf thread? for those wathching, tom kim :D poor cunt fell in a swamp by the looks of it.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwcvRglXgAE5R9r?format=jpg&name=large

[Jimmy Floyd]

American TV did a stats graphic with a split of his scores 'Before/After Getting Stuck In Mud'. Greatest sport in the world.

Also, a club pro is currently in 2nd which is cool as fuck.

[-james-]

if this the general golf thread? for those wathching, tom kim :D poor cunt fell in a swamp by the looks of it.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwcvRglXgAE5R9r?format=jpg&name=large

Whose mantleplace is that?

[igor_balis]

Whose mantleplace is that?
twitter rando. I had intended to share the tweet as it had a number of excellent angles of muddy Kim, but I'm an idiot and directly linked to the image instead, nightmare

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The boos for Dechambeau and Koepka :drool:

Inject it into me, especially with the commentators moaning about it.

[Baz]

Rose’s putter has an aimbot.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Michael Block being 9th (at time of writing) is properly mental. It's like Judy Murray making the women's 4th round at Wimbledon.

[Waffdon]

Koepka is a proper don

[igor_balis]

was gonna make this post an hour ago or so but I swear on final days of majors, there's always one person who looks like they could drag themselves back into contention, do almost everything right, but just get unlucky with their putts. rose seemingly doing it today, though he has combined bad luck with outright carelessness on the greens . okay bye

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you're going to charge from behind on this kind of golf course you need to hole basically everything. Some friendly pins but they're friendly for everyone.

Koepka looked like God for about five holes and has been dirt since, wonder if Viktor could have his time.

[niko_cee]

Oh to be in Michael Block's entourage tonight.

I hope he isn't a god botherer.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's an American who likes sports, of course he is.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'd love it it Koepka bottles it from here.

Mon Scheffler.

[niko_cee]

Did he thank god in his little talk there? Looked to be a decent amount of consumption going on in what I assume was his local club, so I'm booking him as a Stewart Cink style American legend type.

[Waffdon]

I'd love it it Koepka bottles it from here.

Mon Scheffler.

Not a chance. Koepka is just an absolute god in Majors.

[Waffdon]

The PGA Tour finally acknowledge Koepka on Twitter :lol:

Seething

[igor_balis]

Block's hole in one and his last two shots at 18 are easily my favourite sporting moments of the year so far. I barely cared about the contest for the trophy by the end, though Hovlands bunker shot was pretty funny.

[igor_balis]

The PGA Tour finally acknowledge Koepka on Twitter :lol:

Seething

Enjoying you embracing cheering for the heels. Don't jump the shark with it though - Chelsea and LIV golf is one thing, but don't start :drool:ing Shaun Murphy's break building or something equally abhorrent.

[Waffdon]

Wot

Koepka just waltzing up to Majors and winning them is class. Would hardly call cheering him on being ‘heel like’ either if Twitter is anything to go by

[igor_balis]

yeah that's fair enough. to be honest, I will probably stop caring about the LIV thing, assuming the majors maintain their current qualification criteria, cus I think after a couple of years it'll only be people who've previously won majors or any who manage to win one in the next couple of years.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Koepka was a twat before LIV and is still a twat. Not sure how anyone ever roots for his joyless approach to life. Allegedly wants out of LIV though.

[Ben]

He's never really banged the LIV drum anyway. It would have been a lot worse for the PGA had Johnson, DeChambeau or God forbid, Mickelson, won it.

[niko_cee]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/65825327

:cab:

Not sure I saw that coming.

[Boydy]

Lots of money for everyone in the PGA then, I'm guessing.

[Luke Emia]

So basically the PIF is backing the PGA Tour now and they will do away with all this team based shite?

[Waffdon]

Jimmy Floyd on his knees in Waitrose

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/65825327

:cab:

Not sure I saw that coming.

Judging by Collin Morikawa's tweet reaction I don't think the players did either.

Massive headfuck on a number of levels - is it just a pure sellout? Will they actually merge in a sporting sense? What will the players think who didn't take the money?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Probably the most 'out of nowhere' thing I can remember happening in sport. Up there with Abramovich buying Chelsea.

[igor_balis]

Judging by Collin Morikawa's tweet reaction I don't think the players did either.

Massive headfuck on a number of levels - is it just a pure sellout? Will they actually merge in a sporting sense? What will the players think who didn't take the money?

Pretty gutted about this, and especially for the players who took the high road. It does make it slightly harder for me to disagree with the lads on /golf being all "just shows that you should always take the money and fuck the rest". I'm made up for Harold Varner III though, the one LIVer I fully respected and sympathised with.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't see how there won't just be massive resentment between the two camps forever. Not necessarily every player, but those who firmly took path A and those who firmly took path B, I just can't imagine how they get along ever again. Poulter, for example, and McIlroy.

Monahan deserves to drown in hell's water hazard for being such a two-faced lizard.

I also think the Saudis realised LIV was shite and had failed, so came with the large pot to try and take over the sport / plaster Aramco boards all over it, which was the original intention.

[niko_cee]

Maybe the merger will require them to make solidarity payments.

Blandy living it up again though.

How many people actually won on the LIV tour?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:cab:

[Ben]

That’s right up there with things I never expected to happen anytime soon.

[Manc]

Money talks.

[Ben]

The PGA Tour players don't seem to be too pleased.

[niko_cee]

Money talks.

Either that or the threat of a few scheduled appointments at the nearest Saudi embassy.

[niko_cee]

Also, Trump's tweet from last year is :drool:

[Luke Emia]

Looking at what they now seem to be doing with football I wonder if they are trying to do something similar there.

As in basically buy their way in and try and screw up the current world order.

[Lewis]

Have I got it right: Saudi Arabia have bought golf and mugged all the PGA loyalists right off?

[Luke Emia]

Exactly I would suggest.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

1666091427884072962

[Jimmy Floyd]

Have I got it right: Saudi Arabia have bought golf and mugged all the PGA loyalists right off?

Yes, with the commissioner of the PGA Tour double-crossing literally all said loyalists to sell it to the Saudis out of nowhere.

EDIT: When you say 'bought', they are minority owners. So I guess it's like Usmanov was at Arsenal, or whatever.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Looking at what they now seem to be doing with football I wonder if they are trying to do something similar there.

As in basically buy their way in and try and screw up the current world order.

They want to buy up all sports to drive tourism revenues to diversify their economy in the long run. That's what this is about. I wouldn't be surprised if every World Cup from soonish is played in Saudi Arabia.

How sports respond to this is of course up to them.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1666088539388518405

[Giggles]

Has McIlroy been heard from?

[Ben]

He’s speaking to the media at 3pm.

Been reading up on the few details of the merger that have been made public and it stinks. At least Greg Norman has been punted though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/65830431

PGA Players requested that Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Chief, resign.

American golfer Johnson Wagner, a PGA Tour winner, told the Golf Channel: "There were many moments where certain players were calling for new leadership of the PGA Tour and even got a couple of standing ovations.

"I think the most powerful moment was when a player quoted Monahan from the 3M in Minnesota last year when he said, 'as long as I'm commissioner of the PGA Tour, no player that took LIV money will ever play the PGA Tour again'. It just seems like a lot of backtracking.

"Players were mad, players were calling for [his] resignation, and Jay sat there and took it like a champ, he really did."