The Masters

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's generally thought that McIlroy was sat down by JP McManus a while ago and told look son, this is the way the world works, the money always wins, so drop the moral objections to Saudi and object only to LIV as a breakaway. As such I think he'll be largely (if reluctantly) on board with the new Saudi overlords as long as it's all in one place again.

Good to see the 9/11 families slamming Monahan, he must be one of the most flagrant lizard-men I can remember, makes Sepp Blatter look like an honest customer.

[Giggles]

Would the players not have any power to force a resignation? Or is it that all the really powerful ones (LIV) don't give a shit?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/65836419

Just when I was starting to actually like MugIlroy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's probably right, if by 'golf' he means 'the earnings of top tournament professionals'.

[Giggles]

Paddy H is still trying to count everything that was stuffed into the suitcase.


1667229387731640328

[Jimmy Floyd]

All you lot with green on your flags, you're as bad as each other.

[Ben]

I bet the Belfast Telegraph loved reporting on that one.

[Giggles]

I bet the Belfast Telegraph loved reporting on that one.

For some strange reason they've gone very 50:50 the past few years. Used to be basically a loyalist newsletter.

[Ben]

Probably because the North has realised it’s better to be part of Ireland than a stain on the bottom of the Kingdom’s shoe.

[Lofty]

Could McIlroy feasibly have said 'I'm not playing in this shit show on moral grounds, I'm already rich. I'll just play in the non-affiliated majors.'?

[niko_cee]

Has something gone wrong here? The US Open's not usually the tournament for such low rounds.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's a par 70 and hasn't firmed up yet. Lovely course though.

[Lofty]

It better go wild today, picking Rose in my sweep team is currently a massive error.

[niko_cee]

I get that it is out on the west coast and all but the tee times on this are absolutely ridiculous. At least they seem have reined them in a bit today.

[niko_cee]

The penultimate group must be fancying a win here.

I really think golf would be improved so much if you got rid of caddies and course books and all that shite. Play the game like a normal person.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The one that pisses me off the most is relief from grandstands and other tournament paraphernalia. Rewarding the pampered fucks for hitting shit shots.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also, Henni on the Sky coverage is one of the most brutally bad commentators I can remember in any sport. She's fine in the studio but jesus I have to keep muting it whenever she opens her mouth.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Last night I was treated to my third outing on Carnoustie Championship (£52 guest fee as opposed to the £282 visitor fee :groove:). Perfect evening for it.

View from the top of the 'specs'-

https://i.postimg.cc/zB7V5h6y/IMG-8808.jpg (https://postimg.cc/r0d8ND8T)

https://i.postimg.cc/MHcx4jS2/IMG-8809.jpg (https://postimg.cc/PvkBvJJ2)

https://i.postimg.cc/MTH8MjXM/IMG-8811.jpg (https://postimg.cc/PLg70JWT)


Looking down 17-

https://i.postimg.cc/HxN1Qs7S/IMG-8812.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8JLYGG4W)


Looking back up 18-

https://i.postimg.cc/L6123fDj/IMG-8813.jpg (https://postimg.cc/TpfzRKZP)


We weren't holing out gimmes but an 82 was a fair showing, even if that was with sticking tee shots on 17 AND 18 in the Barry burn only for the ball to bounce out on both occasions. :D

Such a fantastic course in wonderful condition.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jealous, of both the round and the score. Probably the best course on the Open rota.

[Waffdon]

I miss my daily walks through there. Some place

[Foe]

That looks bloody good.

82 is very respectable. Golf is brilliant when things are going well, but probably the worst sport where one bad moment or shot causes so much distress.

Was this a work related perk, or you got a particularly minted friend?

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Jealous, of both the round and the score. Probably the best course on the Open rota.

Got watching this video again, one I suspect you'll appreciate.

https://youtu.be/M8Op221OqMo

Interesting to hear Harrington's comments at 13:27 on Van de Velde. I cannot help but think of him on each occasion I've played so can only imagine what it's like in your head during a tournament.


That looks bloody good.

82 is very respectable. Golf is brilliant when things are going well, but probably the worst sport where one bad moment or shot causes so much distress.

Was this a work related perk, or you got a particularly minted friend?
My former manager is a member as well as one of the starters so he can get us on as a guest. Mum's partner is also a member too so spoilt for options!

Don't go thinking that 82 was on anything approaching the same course the pros play. There's a good variation on tees for everyone though, I've only played it off the yellows which is just shy of 6500 yards so a good length for me (5 handicap). Furthest back tees are at about 6900 yards which is still some 450 yards short of the championship tees which aren't available for day to day play.

All that being said, it's an exceptionally fair course. Reputations of 'Carnasty' are inaccurate- it's obviously difficult in layout but it makes for a very enjoyable round if you play from appropriate tees.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah nothing worse than these morons (usually Americans) who come to these places with a 6 handicap and want to play off the tips for strange ego reasons. Mate, you're not fit to suck a tour player's dick.

1999 carnage was an exception as they let the course get away from them, iirc, but it's given it a reputation.

[Ben]

Auto-Qualification:
Rory McIlroy
Jon Rahm
Viktor Hovland
Tyrell Hatton
Matt Fitzpatrick
Robert MacIntyre

Captain's picks:
Tommy Fleetwood
Shane Lowry
Sepp Straka
Justin Rose
Nicolai Hojgaard
Ludvig Aberg

[Jimmy Floyd]

Great team. Sad for Meronk as I'd have had him in over Bob Mac.

Think we might win.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Those Yank twats are going down.

[niko_cee]

Is there any merit to this (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/66744858) or is it just a case of using Giggles' mob as cover for hosting it in the gulf within the decade?

I also eagerly await the FBPE 'why are British players competing in the Ryder Cup?' commentariat hand wringing line.

[Jimmy Floyd]

British players and Hovland.

Don't see why you couldn't have the Open in Ireland, or even in the Netherlands on one of those sand belt courses. Nowhere else though. Has to be on proper linksland.

[Giggles]

There's surely enough courses around McIlroy country without bringing it to Ireland. Stupidity.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Most of the ones up there are not really set up for tournament golf in terms of infrastructure and so on, which is also why we have to suffer the Irish Open at K Club and Ryder Cup at Adair Manor when there are 30 better courses on the west coast.

[Manc]

Nice to see Lowry back in form.

[Waffdon]

Harman/Homa is such a tragic team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Their pairings in this sesh are all horrible apart from X/Cantlay.

[Waffdon]

Nearly as bad as the camera work and the quality of Europe’s clothes. The sweat is far too noticeable on their hats and tops

[niko_cee]

Nice to see a blue wall developing, although the Americans swept the first session last week didn't they?

Foursomes is so much more entertaining to watch than fourball.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The Americans are RATTLED.

[niko_cee]

Sloping fairways absolutely ruining the yanks at the moment.

[niko_cee]

Did Hovland just say 'lose your shit' in his interview?

:D

Quite a bit of industrial language on offer this morning.

[Waffdon]

I’m pretty sure he did but the fact they never apologised for language like they usually do had me second guessing

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He 100% did.

Edit: And they've just apologised, lol.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cantlay fucked USA hard :drool:

[Waffdon]

Not a fan of McIlroy getting another run out. Great shot on 17, mind

[Jimmy Floyd]

2-2 second session would do fine. ZJ has fucked it completely.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Not looking great in the afternoon session.

Need some nice back 9 play.

[Waffdon]

Windham Clark is ridiculous

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The crowd reaction when Thomas missed that putt :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rahm :cool:

[niko_cee]

Nerves of steel, or whatever it was.

Mentality?

[niko_cee]

I've only been dipping in and out of this, but has McIlroy been playing utter shite all day [whilst well on his way to two points]?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hovland is a hero.

[Waffdon]

I've only been dipping in and out of this, but has McIlroy been playing utter shite all day [whilst well on his way to two points]?

Bit inconsistent. Made some important shots though, especially 1st game.

Hojgaard has well and truly shit the bed on the back 9

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Speaking of shitting the bed, come on down Bobby Mac.

[Waffdon]

Rahmbooooooo

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was massive.

Those 2 halves being stolen is cracking.

[Waffdon]

Some end to the last three holes in that match

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If we steal a half here too :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Homa clearly doesn't want to win this.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:cool:

Fuck America.

[Waffdon]

That’s some bottle job.

[Jimmy Floyd]

How on earth did we (yes, we) end up on 6.5? Was looking dead cert for 5.5.

[Waffdon]

Rahm went beast mode on 16 and 18. Hovland held an incredible putt on 18 and Windham Clark shat himself after a lovely tee shot on 18.

I could be wrong but I’m fairly sure Spieth had a bogey (at minimum) on at least 4 or 5 in a row on the back 9.

[niko_cee]

Catching up on this one the BBC highlights, there were some pretty special shots from the Americans in the morning. Personal favourite at the moment was Pat the Twat sending it miles left into the middle of the lake after McIlroy [?] had just shanked one a bit himself immediately prior.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is over. Americans have travelled like mouldy fruit.

[niko_cee]

Jesus, what's going on again here?

Without wanting to get into grand extrapolations, is this symptomatic of modern all or nothing back yourself to be yourself sports mentality which completely falls apart when you'd, in the past, need to get your head down and tough things out? Are sports people conditioned now to be inflexible, as when things are going well that is by far the best way to play whatever sport, with the counter situation being the wheels completely coming off when things aren't running your way [a bit like, say, baz ball]?

[niko_cee]

This is like watching a highlight reel of Americans staring down missed puts.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What's the biggest margin of victory? Let's set a new record.

[niko_cee]

Yanks last time, no?

There's also that. It's obviously a small sample size, but home blow outs becoming a thing would suck for such an infrequent event.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Koepka :harold:

[niko_cee]

Also, hasn't it usually been the case that the format reverses on Day 2? Feels like being able to stack 2 sets of foursomes into the first three sessions and have the foursomes be the first round of matches gives Europe an advantage.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

9&7 :drool:

[niko_cee]

Yeah, that's just not right.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It happened to Koepka though, it's more than right.

[niko_cee]

Harsh on 'Scottie' though.

7 over through 11 holes? :face:

Brooks sailing it into the water was up there with Pat doing it yesterday.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mugillroy and Fleetwood trying to let USA back in.

[niko_cee]

That was mostly luck on the tee shot though, and the Americans need it [as does the match as a spectacle].

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a mega putt from Mug.

[niko_cee]

Europe still landing too many haymakers for the Americans to cope.

Yanks will need to sweep the afternoon fourballs to give themselves even a <20% chance of winning the match.

[Baz]

Cantlay refusing to wear the team cap is pretty small time.

[niko_cee]

Harman giving it the big one.

:happycry:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking hell Tommy.

Edit: Mug :cool:

[niko_cee]

Cantlay refusing to wear the team cap is pretty small time.

Particularly for the reason given (not getting paid). What an odious person. Why are so many American sports people utter bellends? Is it a god thing?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hatton is being a twat.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rahmbo :cool:

What a hero.

[niko_cee]

Holy hell John Rahm.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Xander with a cracking bottle with that putt.

You knew as soon as he reset his head was gone.

[niko_cee]

The ridiculously similar outfits have been annoying me today.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The ridiculously similar outfits have been annoying me today.

100%

[Waffdon]

Surely US don’t bottle it this afternoon. Should be an easy 2 points and potential for another 2 more. Would make tomorrow more exciting if nothing else

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

First one is surely done.

Fleetwood and Hojgaard might just put the pressure on the Americans.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If they bottle the first match up...

[niko_cee]

Hovland and Aberg clearly not keen getting anywhere near 16,17 and 18 today.

[niko_cee]

When do the singles come out? Presumably the yanks are going to have to top load the fuck out of it, and even then, anything other than 3.5 points in these and it's all for nought.

[niko_cee]

Was hopeful Harman's ball would end up wet there [looked to be on line to do so] so someone could have asked him where it went as they'd lost the line of it in flight.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fitzy :cool:

Would be quality if this session would finish 2-2.

[niko_cee]

Whenever Fleetwood does anything good [and that chip in was quality] you can see he's so pumped up that he immediately botches the next tee shot.

Luke Donald looks like he's in the Secret Service.

[Giggles]

Could really have done with the 4-0 for tomorrow.

[Ben]

Cantlay's a cunt but that was a great putt.

[Waffdon]

The hat twirling :lol:

All set up for big Bob to win it all tomorrow

[niko_cee]

Could really have done with the 4-0 for tomorrow.

Yeah, 10-6 is just about recoverable, but Europe just needing 4 points will take a fairly epic bottle job for them to not get there.

[Waffdon]

Rahm, Rose and Lowry are guarantees for a point I think. Just depends on the start I guess. If US start well then the momentum might help the middle of the pack guys.

Wouldn’t trust many of the US guys to do much under pressure.

[Ben]

Seeing so many top golfers (and World Top 10 at that) on the American side completely fluff shots like amateurs is wild. Can't see them suddenly growing a backbone tonight.

[niko_cee]

Thought Rory might have been on for the full 5 points at one point there, has anyone ever done that? Dustin last time out apparently [and three other Americans back in the mists of time].

[Giggles]

What did McIlroy go at yer man for?

[Giggles]

1708170806822359162

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

For this:

1708173758542794852

[Waffdon]

Didn’t realise his Caddy was talking shit to McIlroy when he was lining up his putt. What a tit

[Ben]

Cantlay and caddie go well together then.

[niko_cee]

Was thinking to myself earlier that I can't wait until Stewart Cink is the US Captain as he's probably one of the few genuinely decent bloke high profile American golfers of the past 30 years, and I see he's a vice here so hopefully he gets a home tie to improve his chances of winning. In fairness, I don't mind Zac too much either, although I'm not sure that's always been the case. Maybe it's the green jacket that makes anyone who wear it look like an insufferable preppy arsehole type.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's a shame McIlroy isn't facing Cantlay today.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Teeing off without hats to show their support and unity :harold:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Scheffler has turned to mush on the greens.

[Giggles]

I tried to figure this out yesterday but couldn't see the pattern, why does the number of one of the matches on the sky scoreboard go yellow from time to time? I thought it was the match that was on screen at the time but I've seen it where none of them are yellow. Is it when a hole is finished?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's the match on screen.

Sometimes it's a bit slow to update.

[Giggles]

Rahm is falling to shit.

[Waffdon]

Someone needs to drop kick Justin Thomas. What an absolute gimp

[Giggles]

Do they all not play today? I haven't seen Lowry once since I started watching about an hour ago.

[Giggles]

Or Fleetwood.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Justin Thomas really is a twat.

Also, Rahm :\

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Do they all not play today? I haven't seen Lowry once since I started watching about an hour ago.


Or Fleetwood.

Both have recently started.

Lowry is playing Spieth and Flletwood is against Rickie Fowler.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hovland is such a beast.

[Waffdon]

Could get nervy if Rahm loses this as Europe are getting battered in the later games. Not sure putting the 3 newbies back to back to back was smart

[niko_cee]

Like you said, keeping it tight so Bob Mac can seal the deal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lowry's passion is amazing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hovland is too fucking good, my word.

[Giggles]

Lowry's passion is amazing.

Better than his golf anyway.

[Waffdon]

Like you said, keeping it tight so Bob Mac can seal the deal.

Would be great, to be fair. Hatton’s match is absolutely huge if Rahm can’t at least tie this

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hovland really does not like playing all 18 holes.

Beast.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fitz is being a dickhead.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fleetwood :cool:

[Waffdon]

Cantlay has been brilliant throughout.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fitzpatrick is really pissing me off today.

[Waffdon]

All them reds 2 up and then the 2 blues at the end only up by 1 now.

Squeaky bum

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Come on Fitz, shake all the shit off and finish the pricks off.

[Waffdon]

Fitz is being a dickhead.

Proper shit off

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's insane.

One fucks a shot up and when the other steps up, instead of playing safe they do the exact same thing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That ball is absolutely buried.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck Fitzpatrick.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Tommy Fleetwood has fucking massive balls.

I was begging him to lay up after Fowler went into the water.

[Waffdon]

Big Bob :cool:

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Never in doubt lads. :happycry:

Homa sticking it in the drink straight after Fitzpatrick is so relatable. Good to see it happen to them now and again too.

[niko_cee]

That Fowler concession [to secure the half] was weird. Didn't even have a run at holing his.

Shame there wasn't a real won the cup moment for anyone [Lowry probably deserved it].

[niko_cee]

Quite like the idea of Donald staying on as captain. He would have always been a good pick for America as he basically came through there didn't he? But also a two term set-up avoids the situation where certain people get the bum draw of an away captaincy. Did Sam Torrance do it more than once or did he do it and also play or something?

[Jimmy Floyd]

This Cantlay/Schauffele money stuff is great and is also why the US will never win in Europe again (but Europe will occasionally win over there when their team is good enough). Anything other than easy guaranteed cash somewhere near home is just a massive chore for them and you can tell that it is. Not so for players even as elevated as McIlroy, Rahm and co. It's the great cultural difference between the US and the rest of the world.

Even Spieth, who I generally find very likeable, was moaning about how the Ryder Cup is too long after the end of their playoffs, as if the world owes them the most convenient possible schedule to suit their every need.

[Ben]

American culture is awful and Cantlay typifies it perfectly.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jon Rahm looks like he's about to sign for Liv in a complete reversal of everything he has previously said and done on the subject. Probably the biggest move yet towards the post-Woods total collaspe of pro golf.

[Giggles]

It's it not all the one now, or did that fall through?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It hasn't 'fallen through' per se but negotiations are still ongoing and there are massive antitrust problems with it. Rahm moving obviously would give the Saudis more leverage in those negotiations.

[Ben]

I think Rahm knows it will give the Americans the kick up the arse to push the merger on their side. So he might as well take the huge signing fee, knowing it'll all be one again in 12 months.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And be known forevermore as a disingenuous wanker... it seems very odd unless there is something we don't know. At least Reed et al were honest about taking the dough, he has talked one way for 2+ years, not taken the hundreds of millions that were presumably on the table for him all along, and now very suddenly switched sides.

If Liv was actually a good watch then things wouldn't be so bad but it's utterly terrible. As will be whatever comes out of the merger. Golden goose dead again.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's bizarre that he'd just do a 180.

Would be class if he was just stringing the cunts along.

[Gray Fox]

I was trying to explain Saudi money to someone at work yesterday in that, no matter what it is they want, be it you, or an entire sport. Whatever your objection may be, they will just add a zero onto whatever cash offer you've had, until that objection disappears. Be it inconvenience, morality, tradition or anything else you can think of, eventually they will find the number that is enough for you to shake hands with them.

The western world struggles to comprehend the sheer vastness of the bankroll. So it's no surprise that people fold in the end.

[Ben]

Yep. They're offering blokes from my job (so God knows how many more) like £25k per month to go and work on The Line. These are boots on the ground folk as well, not boffins.

[Shindig]

Slave labour can only go so far.

[Gray Fox]

Seems £450m was the magic number.

[niko_cee]

A sad day.

Does anyone even watch it? Other than buying all the stuff, and monumental greed, I still don't really understand where any of this is going in the long run. Or is the answer that the world simply doesn't need 99% of it's population, the 'brand experiences' of a tiny minority is all that will be needed to sustain this? Somehow I think not. it's not like petrodollars are a new thing. Sports, like all cultural things, actually needs a culture to support their existence. I don't think everything can be Formula 1, which, incidentally, also massively relies on grass roots fans but has long been at the vanguard of jetset interest movement.

[Ben]

They aren’t interested in turning immediate profits on any of their stuff. They’ve got literally unlimited money. It’s all about building towards a post-oil future.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Basque-born Rahm said the money he was being offered by LIV was "great" but maintained that he does "not play golf for the money".

He continued: "I play golf for the love of the game and for the love of golf. I'm an ambitious person but I'm not a greedy one.

"But as a husband, as a father and as a family man I have a duty to them to give them the most amount of opportunities and the most amount of resources possible.

"Obviously, [money] is a factor and it's an important one in this decision. The love of the game and wanting to grow it in a global market. Being part of the team. Being a captain. Hopefully being a leader to team-mates. It makes me want to work harder than I have done now to actually prove myself.

:harold:

[niko_cee]

They aren’t interested in turning immediate profits on any of their stuff. They’ve got literally unlimited money. It’s all about building towards a post-oil future.

They literally don't have unlimited money and is there such a thing as a post oil future, for humanity at least?

And if there is, owning a bunch of sporting franchises/competitions/whatever isn't really a particularly sane business plan if no bugger is actually interested in them, or alive to be interested in them.

Just all seems weird soft power flexing but I don't know to what end other than having attention showered on 'The Kingdom' and why do they even need that?

So it boils down to boys with toys really, which won't end well for the toys.

[Gray Fox]

The PIF has near £500bn in it sheerly for the use of things deemed "for the good of Saudi Arabia."

The money isn't of significance to them, owning the thing that you have or even you yourself, is. The legacy and ability to say that is 'mine' as well getting more eyes and tourism to Saudi itself is the currency they truly value.

It's a thing you rarely see in the West as money is all here. But that's how it is.

[Shindig]

They are quite fucked. They need to generate a revenue stream that isn't oil but nothing accrues money faster than fossil fuels. Their only other export is money but the money came from oil.

[Jimmy Floyd]

A sad day.

Does anyone even watch it? Other than buying all the stuff, and monumental greed, I still don't really understand where any of this is going in the long run. Or is the answer that the world simply doesn't need 99% of it's population, the 'brand experiences' of a tiny minority is all that will be needed to sustain this? Somehow I think not. it's not like petrodollars are a new thing. Sports, like all cultural things, actually needs a culture to support their existence. I don't think everything can be Formula 1, which, incidentally, also massively relies on grass roots fans but has long been at the vanguard of jetset interest movement.

Denny McCarthy made $6.7 million on the PGA Tour in the most recent season. Do you know who Denny McCarthy is? He has never won at tour level, and has a single top 15 finish from the nine majors he has played to date. Very few people have ever watched Denny McCarthy play golf on a sustained basis. Despite this he earns more money than Dejan Kulusevski, Julian Alvarez, Joel Matip, that level of Premier League footballer. Golf is still drowning in a post-Woods corporate bonanza which has made these schmos think they are genuinely worth this kind of money. Add in the PIF howitzering petro-dollars at the top guys for whatever reason and you've got a sport where most of the participants are massively overpaid AND are also bitterly jealous of their even better paid rivals. It has all the hallmarks of a coming nuclear winter.

And of course no one watches LIV and still won't even with Rahm, because it doesn't mean anything. The majors matter; certain other events matter a bit (say, the LA Open, or Bay Hill, or the Scottish Open, which all have their own cachet). LIV isn't about cachet though, it's about the Saudis sticking their oar in.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Good to see Benni's younger brother doing so well.

[Gray Fox]

Am I hearing the beginning of the McIlroy heel turn?

Or is it more likely he's just reading the room and needs to appear to be more open to the people that own his sport now?

[niko_cee]

I think his point is nuanced enough to be defendable as not backtracking or whatever. Is there going to be a Saudi season for everything? Don't they only really have one season anyway, too hot to sustain meaningful life?

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's not heel turning at all, he's being sensible but also not being a massive sellout. Very impressed with him throughout all this.

I couldn't have a lower opinion of Rahm. Those who wanted to take the money, like DJ or Reed, fine, take the money, good luck to you. Rahm going on for two years about LIV being shit and then joining them for a higher number when he saw an opportunity was just pathetic. His word will never again mean a thing.

[niko_cee]

If they want this to all work out they should probably keep Greg Norman as far away from media outlets as possible. I thought that had already been initiated to some extent?

[Manc]

I see Hatton has joined Meronk on the dark side.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sport is in big trouble if they don't come back together pronto.

[Ben]

They 100% will, and I think it'll be this year. The only problem now is LIV have all the leverage in the merger deal.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yesterday I read that the tour were doing some weird deal with US private equity that didn't involve LIV. I dunno, it's a mess.

[Dquincy]

I see Rory is softening his stance. Deffo means there is going to be a coming together of minds. Namaste.

[Ben]

I think there will be some agreement whereby LIV operates mainly in the October-January window, or only on weeks the PGA Tour has a shite event on.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Joe Dean :cool:

[Waffdon]

1777075306219622706

Didn’t expect that :lol:

[Lofty]

:D

[Lofty]

Are we getting a Masters breakdown this year, Jim?

[Waffdon]

Eckroat & Bhatia

[Jimmy Floyd]

Two debutants, good one.

I like Hideki more than anyone, nowhere near enough time these days for a full shakedown.

[Waffdon]

Some geezer posted trends from previous winners and I just picked the two longest shots from it :D

[Waffdon]

Camera work is so fucking bad

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Didn't get to see anything yesterday, really hope the LIV twats (especially Bryson) choke hard today.

[Waffdon]

I’m utterly disappointed that’s what the female commentator looks like. She sounds like she should be blonde and a milf not an overweight granny that could pass for a bloke

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm no expert in these things but I reckon she's aged like a fine wine. In her prime wasn't a beauty up against the bronzed Americans of the 90s. Beat them all though.

[Giggles]

I'm picturing Jimmy talking about Laura Davies there because nobody has said a name.

[Giggles]

Just turned it on and of all people I never expected Nick Faldo to join the child shoes brigade.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yes, Laura Davies.

Enjoying the golf this evening, absolute carnage ahoy if this wind stays up. Anyone coming in at 4 and 5 under now is in clover.

[Ben]

Tiger making the cut. Pretty incredible given he can't walk.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's almost more fun watching him now than in his prime. 73-72 at a fizzing, blowy Augusta while having to hobble between shots and having to brute force it around with his upper body alone. If you gave Rory McIlroy Tiger's body he'd shoot about 110.

[Waffdon]

If only Hojgaard didn’t bogey 17 & 18 yesterday. What a fucking putt whilst Scheffler double bogies.

He’ll probably fall away but this has been class. Maybe they’ll start showing all his shots now

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hojgaard is a mega golfer. Be surprised if his arse doesn't go over these last six though.

Scottie spotting the field a few is generous of him.

[Waffdon]

It’s already started. Back to back bogies now. Fuck sake.

Shaping up well here for a cracker tomorrow

[Jimmy Floyd]

13 now being a tougher proposition has turned it into a completely different course. Now just full on brutality from basically 9 second shot until the end. 16 maybe the only 'easy' hole depending on the pin.

Look at them all shitting the bed on 12, amazing stuff. The course is undefeated.

[Waffdon]

That might be the championship with that eagle. Hopefully I’ve jinxed him now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He'll win easily, has gifted the field like 5-6 shots with tiddly putts and so on in the first three days. He's miles ahead of everyone and literally never makes a mental error.

[Waffdon]

Hojgaard is a mega golfer. Be surprised if his arse doesn't go over these last six though.

Scottie spotting the field a few is generous of him.

He’s going to finish over par at this rate from -7 :D

[Waffdon]

We’re all Aberg aren’t we

[Ben]

Would love him to pull this off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think Scheffler will prove too much sadly.

[Ben]

Yeah here he goes. Incredible golfer.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Scheffler is just awesome to watch. Would love a close finish but he deserves to win.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Doesn't look like it will be close.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's so good.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The difference between him and others is he just doesn't make a single mental error ever. Even his bogeys seem calculated. All the others have made one or more big ones as soon as they've has a sniff of the lead.

[Waffdon]

Aberg has been 1 shot away from being utterly incredible today

[Jimmy Floyd]

Scheffler handcuffed and thrown into the back of a police car on his way into the course this morning. What a country.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1791456100316815673

Could be in big trouble?

[Waffdon]

Police officer must have had money on him to miss the cut.

Would be glorious if he absolutely romps it now

[Jimmy Floyd]

If it was anyone else then fine, but there's no way Scottie Scheffler has done any of that.

[Ben]

Bloke is on the tee now. Quick turnaround. :D

[Waffdon]

Birdied :cool:

[Manc]

John Daly withdrawn due to running out of cigarettes.

[Baz]

A lad I know is running that competition again for the US Open where you pick three golfers with a total of at least 150/1. Lowest total score wins. I’ve not entered yet, but is there any obscene value to be had?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Show me the list (odds vary massively everywhere).

[Baz]

Show me the list (odds vary massively everywhere).

https://imgur.com/a/dgDfzPn

https://i.imgur.com/tvKEh1z_d.webp?maxwidth=760&fidelity=grand

https://i.imgur.com/3YZ19y8_d.webp?maxwidth=760&fidelity=grand

https://i.imgur.com/9juCfHX_d.webp?maxwidth=760&fidelity=grand

https://i.imgur.com/t9syS4f_d.webp?maxwidth=760&fidelity=grand

[Jimmy Floyd]

Smith/Fitzpatrick
Zalatoris
Clark

Probably the best way of making up 150. The three figure guys have as good a chance as anyone of missing the cut which presumably carries a penalty.

[Baz]

Fitzpatrick
Zalatoris
Clark
Will go with these, cheers.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Should be a great US Open btw, course seems to be playing nightmarishly tough.

[Jimmy Floyd]

6/7 holes to go, McIlroy and DeChambeau tied for the lead, fucking top tier stuff.

[Ben]

Gutted I can’t watch. Some clown has put his spade through the Virgin Media cable on my estate and my Lebara 4G ain’t up to the job of streaming it.

[niko_cee]

Great time to go to shit off the tee once you hit the lead Rory.

[niko_cee]

Christ, some serious bed shitting going on here. 2nd place is going to be sore about it.

1st missed putt inside 3 feet all season? :face:

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is golf at its best. Both have unbelievable attributes but now it's about nerve.

[niko_cee]

Is this the one with the 18 hole play-off or is/was that the PGA? Poor old Rocco Mediate.

[Waffdon]

Mcilroy :D

Mental midget

[igor_balis]

Jesus Christ Rory hahahah ffs

[Jimmy Floyd]

Absolute fucking choke. It's exhausting stuff.

[niko_cee]

Horror show over the last 4 holes.

Looked like someone in the crowd was trying to catch Bryson's drive.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Bryson manages to out-choke him I'll be quite impressed.

Both of them should lose it for taking driver off 18. That's what Van de Velde did ffs.

[niko_cee]

He's making a good fist of fucking this up.

[niko_cee]

In the mudIlroy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That was genuinely sickening stuff. Probably the best major I've watched for about 10 years though. Augusta doesn't deliver that kind of finish these days.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Agreed that was one of the best final days I can remember for a long time, Rory looked like he was going to cry himself to sleep at the end.

In other news I was treated to a game at the Old Course last week, first time ever despite living within half an hour of St Andrews for most of my life. A close mate is now a green keeper there so that was £80 instead of £340, yes please!

Fantastic experience and finished with an 80 despite an 8 at the 17th…three to get out the road hole bunker. :happycry:

I knew 17 is regarded as one of the toughest holes in golf but even after a brilliant drive in position A1 the approach is comically difficult with the pin in the ‘Sunday’ position. Toughest approach shot I’ve encountered, including Carnoustie.

Gratuitous video of me finally getting it out the bunker, its reputation justified…


https://youtube.com/shorts/U-1NlUSbB6Q?si=_c8eET95VSZlTc73

[Baz]

https://www.pgatour.com/pgatour-champions/article/news/latest/2024/06/28/frank-bensel-jr-makes-back-to-back-aces-at-us-senior-open-round-2-newport-cc

Phenomenal!

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Troon is definitely bearing its teeth today.

The R and A website has a stream just for the postage stamp 8th which is a bit of a laugh.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm going Saturday and Sunday. Praying Woodsy makes the cut and draws the crowds off the others.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

That's a good effort Jim. Playing anywhere while you're up?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Nope, proper in and out job. Love the area though, was at Turnberry in 2009 as well.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

No chance he's making the cut now.

[niko_cee]

Got to love the sort of carnage that can be randomly thrown up by The Open. Never far from a triple, but equally can be an absolute walk in the park.

[Foe]

Had the open on in the background today and fuck me playing golf on an already hard golf course in these conditions must be absolutely infuriating.

[Manc]

Lowry falling away has blown this wide open.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

What a day, have never seen a pro hit driver into a par 3.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I had to leave after about 13 holes of following the final group because my shoes had completely filled up with water. Trying to dry them out a bit on the car heater. It was like Omaha beach out there.

Tomorrow should be good, barefoot or otherwise.

Earlier on, pre Noah's Ark, I watched Mickelson for a long stretch, Spieth for some time, loved it. The latter in particular you can just tell he loves golf so much.

Bob had a crowd that I would say was disproportionate even to what you would expect from a home support. The Scots cannot get enough of Bob. He's not even that good, he just raises his game at certain times, fair play to the man.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Only just seen the full leaderboard, it's all a bit of a blur when you're out there. Anyone back to +2 can win this. Completely wide open. You'd favour one of the shuffle brothers based on the law of averages, but any cunt could win.

[Manc]

Scotty 2 Hotty available at 7/2. Incredibly tempted to lump on.

[niko_cee]

Looked absolutely top tier Open Championship golf today.

Shame for Brown on the last, he'd held it together so well to that point. Horshel deserved leader after leaving about 3 chips/bunker shots inches from the hole. He's a right mad bastard.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It was a fairly meh sort of a Sunday (literally no one likes Xander Schauffele) but the spectator experience was fun. The Irish were fucking everywhere, and to be honest they were very tedious. When it's not the green wigs (Irish, are we?) it's the same wank you get from the worst of the English banterlads with their top 'craic', idiot opinions expressed very loudly and at times worse. On hole 1 I was watching the all-Korean pair of Sungjae Im and Ben An come through when a group of Irish, waiting for their foul-mouthed hero, arrived and asked which of the pair was Matsuyama. Upon being informed by someone nearby that neither of them were - Hideki had played hours earlier - the craic team declared 'well dey sure fockin look like Matsuyama' expecting a laugh, none came.

I got to watch Scheffler today for a bit which was good. He seems like a very nice man. Rahm seems like a twat - always whingeing - as does Lowry actually. I watched a lot of Justin Thomas and Matthew Jordan. The latter beat 'JT' by about 10 shots, or at least it felt like he did.

Great place, Troon. The Postage Stamp is an absolute piece of genius. I'd love to play the course but I'm not good enough to do so, even off the members' tees I'd shoot about 140.

[Manc]

Impossible to root for a man named Xander.

[Ben]

Agree with Jim. Felt like a bit of a damp squib yesterday after Saturday's shenanigans.