I went to bed because you lot made this sound like it was wrapped up.
I went to bed because you lot made this sound like it was wrapped up.
I fell asleep for the final spell (pretty much as soon as Willett finished his 18), so I didn't find out who won until this morning.
I'm shit at golf IRL, and I don't watch any other golf at any time of the year, but I think I've watched the Sunday of the Masters for four or five years running now. Hopefully the BBC keep some of the rights for a while yet, before Sky inevitably pinch it exclusively.
The slowness, Jesus the slowness.
Not enough reason to dislike him, but there's just something.
I'm with Ital on this one, where I can't see the reasoning behind the hate. I had put it down to people hating on the incumbent (I assume people complained that Tiger made the game look boring when he was in his prime?).
He's 22, polite and gracious whenever I've seen him (albeit through gritted teeth), and obviously a very talented golfer. No hate from me here.
First golf tournament I've watched in full, so clearly the slowness hasn't quite hit me yet. When's the next big one?
On another note, the course and weather in Georgia make me want to go there. Shame it's full of Americans really.
Georgia makes Texas look forward thinking.
It was predictable with Tiger for a few years but he did it by taking the golf courses apart and blowing everyone away with aggressive brilliance. Spieth does it (nowhere near as well) through the avoidance of mistakes and robot putting inside 20 feet.
It's not that I hate Spieth per se, it's just that I'd rather see 90% of the field win ahead of him. Bubba, Fowler and Dustin Johnson are three of the exceptions.
Next major is the US Open at Oakmont in June. There are a few other biggies before then including the Players at Sawgrass in Florida, and over here, the PGA at Wentworth.
That was all very 2011.
Successful American golfers are almost always dislikeable in some way or other. It's just the way things are. It doesn't surprise me that antipodeans don't see this.
The current breed aren't even as bad as cunts of the past like Johnny Miller and Lanny Wadkins. Smearing them every two years in the Ryder Cup (and again this year, before anyone gets any ideas) is tremendous fun.
Westwood climbing to within touching distance of the final qualifying place with yesterday's result
US Open deteriorating into predictable shambles as per, so look out for the freak win. Maybe Lee will be able to play all of his remaining rounds back to back in favourable conditions. And still meff it up.
Westwood and Garcia in the top ten early doors, will nothing ever change. Can probably add DJ to that list as well.
Reckon even par wins it, although they were saying +5 would win it before it rained. The US Open is such a rubbish tournament.
Westwood and Dustbin going out in the penultimate group is almost beyond parody. Lee already in Sunday reverse ferret.
Hoping Lowry wins this.
Just flicked back over to Westwood missing a three footer for bogey.
It's nice to have some constants in life.
This is such a classic piece of shit US course. 300 yard par 3s? Do fuck off. Not to mention the rest of it. I never really understand why the USGA are all about trying to make their Open so stupidly difficult. Just setting a course up to be nigh on impossible isn't the ultimate test of anything.
Whisper it quietly but old Sergio might be onto something here.
Jimmy's man finally brought it home.
Yeah, I see he went full bottle after I went to bed. After picking up some good shots around the turn.
Just look at that final round from Westy. Dear lord.
Do the BBC have any of the Open or is it exclusive on satellite?
Radio and online only by the looks of things. How has that happened?
All on Sky, for the same reason every other decent sport is on Sky. The R&A have made a massive strategic error here though, even cricket can just about get away with being on Sky, I'm not sure golf can. Look at Wimbledon, a fundamentally terrible sport with one good British player, but literally everyone goes on about it for 2 weeks a year because it's on free to air.
In other news, Montgomerie leads
Stream it on Mobdro, Giggles?
Monty.
I'm a twit
Bubba -5 through 7, then hits the Postage Stamp and makes triple bogey
Rory in the same group -4, ominous.
Been watching on grainy Mobdro and just realised this is on Sky1 all day
Edit: And EirSport have full Irish rights and are showing all 4 days on their free channel
Scotland should just give Troon to America.
That massive illustration under the players name showing what shot they're on, in a big row of numbers rather than just one number, is the stupidest thing I've seen.
Just watched Spieth make double bogey at the Postage Stamp, staying in a bunker and then missing a 6 footer for a four. What times we live in.
Good to see Westwood really making the most of being on the good side of the tee time draw.
At least it isn't some Oosthiuzen style no-mark who has taken advantage of conditions, but I could do with Keegan Bradley having an absolute nightmare at some point. +12 for little Louis?
The postage stamp is taking no prisoners today.
It's fucking brutal.
Oh and 'beef's' beard is a disgrace.
This not being in BBC has killed it for me.
Yeah but it's much better being on pay tv. Like the cricket and F1, both booming with watchers.
Sky doesn't have ads during F1 races.
The people who run sports love pay TV because it gives THEM money to spend on the sport, but they fail to realise that that doesn't help attract new followers, just existing ones. Cricket is just about big enough to survive it, but golf is going to really struggle. Golf also has the problem of being run by 75 year old fucks who don't understand the modern world.
There is another side of the argument (primarily from cricket) in which they've basically used the Sky money to create a much better setup and infrastructure for women's cricket, which they couldn't have done otherwise, so you can't really knock that.
I don't watch either on Sky, both F1 and the golf are in free to air here, but both are still so much better on the BBC.
I can understand the need for advertising and getting as much money as possible, but it's still worse for the viewer.
Paid tv absolutely ruins sport. I used to love F1 and now I've lost all interest. I used to watch the major golf tournaments as well, but simply can't anymore (not streaming golf ffs) just seems a shame.
As Jimmy says, it's a trade off between grassroots and wider appeal. If it was always on free to air, you'd have people complaining that the grassroots are being neglected through lack of investment - which they wouldn't have the capacity to provide without pay TV.
Wimbledon is on free to air TV, but you don't see people down at the tennis courts outside one month a year when there's a sudden surge of interest. The Olympics was going to lead to a huge surge in interest in track and field in this country, for example - there's probably not a huge body of evidence to suggest that it has.
It's difficult to know which side of the line to fall on, really. I'd probably edge towards grassroots as they're the people actually going out and playing the game, and making a financial contribution themselves to it through membership fees and time commitment - not just wanting something to put on in the background.
I suspect you're never going to get the balance right.
I love when Rory fucks up.
Keep hoping for Mickelson to shit the bed but he's not, he's going to win isn't he?