The Tiger and Phil Show -- a bad idea
Having Tiger and Phil play in the same group at the U.S. Open is good for TV and the fans, but it re-enforces the idea that they are the only two truly marketable players in the game. Let them earn the right to play together in the final round on Sunday. Let them scuffle and hack their way through the deep rough to play together.
Phil will grin and grind and play well against Tiger, but I think his competitive nature will cause him to try to match Tiger shot-for-shot. With the exception of, say, Bob May at the 2000 PGA, almost no one can match Tiger shot-for-shot in a major. Tiger will be the least impacted by the grouping. He's so focused on the shot at hand that he could be playing with Charles Barkley and it wouldn't matter. The pressure and attention will have the most impact on the third member of the group, Adam Scott, whose mediocre play in the majors will be on display for the world to see.
Ultimately, this grouping of the top 3 players is a gimmick worthy of legendary promoters like P.T. Barnum and Don King. If the U.S. Open were a circus or a boxing match, it would be excellent theater. But this is a golf tournament. When Nicklaus met Palmer or Trevino in a major, it meant they had made a weeklong journey to get to that point. You couldn't script it, you couldn't stage it, you just let them play golf.
** Cameron Morfit thinks this is a good idea. Tell us what you think.
Posted by: Bill - Dallas, TX | Jun 9, 2008 4:06:25 PM
I'm in "too much of a good thing is not a good thing" camp. There are 100+ of the best players in the world in the field and at least 10-15 of them have a legitimate chance to win. Let the normal pairing process prevail and I guarantee that Sunday will provide enough high drama with no help needed from the USGA.
Posted by: Bob | Jun 9, 2008 2:09:16 PM
Does anyone think we will actually ever get to see any other grouping on the course with these two paired together?
Posted by: Robert Bratcher | Jun 9, 2008 12:58:21 PM
Very disappointing. Are they pairing the rest of the players based on their rankings? I suppose they don't want the bottom ranked player on the course by themselves.
Posted by: Jay Zwahlen | Jun 9, 2008 12:56:58 PM
FANTASTIC IDEA...in fact, my family just bought tickets to go on Friday instead of Saturday to make sure and see Tiger and Phil go head-to-head. What's wrong with a little Thurs./Fri. drama?
Posted by: M. Taylor | Jun 9, 2008 12:33:12 PM
I think it is a bad ieda. I echo the sentiments of the posters who believe that it is best when things come together naturally rather than forced. Knowing that particulary when he is just coming back after knee surgery, Tiger (secretly) will not be appreciating this one bit.
MT
Posted by: Ray Minella | Jun 9, 2008 10:12:57 AM
Nicklaus and Aoki were paired all four days in 1980, so if Tiger and Phil go at it, it wouldn't be the first time.
On the plus side, Tiger and Phil will have exactly the same conditions to play in for at least the first two days, which I think is a plus.
If only their left knees were at equal strength...
Posted by: paschal houlihan | Jun 8, 2008 12:48:05 PM
Bad idea. All players should be subject to the luck of the draw.
Also-this group will skew the gallery and the crowding could be a problem
Posted by: Steven Phillip | Jun 7, 2008 5:08:20 AM
Gimmickry from the USGA , as an authourity of the game I would have thought that they would not stoop so low , at the end of the day let them come together naturally through talent , are the first & second days ratings that poor that requires this ??
Posted by: Psycho_12 | Jun 6, 2008 11:26:15 PM
Excellant idea, this is the only way to see these guys play together. Phil will be gone by the first day as Tiger will be in his head from the time Phil goes to bed the night before the tourney. Look for Phil and Adam to miss the cut...too much pressure on them.
Posted by: Thomas Ward | Jun 6, 2008 8:50:21 PM
Bad idea. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing.
Posted by: L Pittman | Jun 5, 2008 5:45:23 PM
Phil, Tiger and commercial break for 4 straight days may be a little much.