USGA's 1, 2, 3 group a good thing
So it'll be a logistical nightmare. So what?
The USGA's grouping of the top three players in the world ranking -- Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott -- for the first two rounds of next week's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines makes a lot of sense. The only thing that's surprising is that it's not standard operating procedure.
The fact is, conditions matter. Rain, wind, fog, heat--it all comes into play in golf. Why should Woods get a 10-mph headwind on the short par-5 18th hole and Mickelson get a 10-mph tailwind, or vice-versa? Why should the USGA even allow for that possibility by starting one at, say, 9 a.m., and the other at 2:30 p.m.? Woods and Mickelson have at times looked so evenly matched that it's worth leveling the playing field as much as humanly possible. That's what the USGA is doing. Good move.
** Farrell Evans thinks this is a bad idea. Tell us what you think.
Posted by: Vinnie Scalia | Jun 9, 2008 6:27:12 PM
Most of the sports writers covering teh US Open consider themselves golf experts just like the pro's who actually will be playing in the Open, except they have far less ability than even the worst of the pro's, know less about the preparations it takes to televise the Open than the USGA staff, adn don't understand what it takes to get a course into shape for a US Open. So, let's listen to what they have to say about Torrey Pines and the pairings.
Posted by: Danean | Jun 9, 2008 4:37:26 PM
For a selfish reason, I'm not thrilled that Tiger will be playing with Phil. I'll be at the tournament Thursday and I was hoping that a lot of the crowd would be following Tiger and I could follow Phil pretty closely. Now that they're together, I don't think there'll be any easy way to get near them. Oh well...Go Phil!!
Posted by: Jm George | Jun 9, 2008 3:52:17 PM
Great idea. I am really looking forward to seeing them go head to head and I hope Phil beats him. I have nothing against Tiger but get tired of him winning so much. Phil has played Torry Pines more than anyone in the field and playing well right now. Always love the US. OPEN. They make it tough and of course several players could win other than Tiger or Phil. JIm
Posted by: BeenThereSeenItBefore | Jun 6, 2008 2:04:07 PM
if you're that concerned about fairness, then limit the field to the number of players that can shot-gun start off 18 holes simultaneously. For that matter, quit playing golf, a sport that has a far greater "luck factor" than most. Variations in temperature, wind, wet grass, dry grass, length of grass (it grows during the day); thats golf. The golf course giveth, the golf course taketh away. Anyone who believes that golf can be made absolutely equitable at all times, clearly doesn't understand the game.
Posted by: Chris Wiley | Jun 6, 2008 10:15:46 AM
Wow, Jon Smith, you are an idiot. Have you even watched a golf tournament before? You're saying that Tiger doesn't get his share of TV-time because the networks drool over Phil might be the single dumbest statement I've ever read in print. And I've read some doozies in my day.
There is no other golfer in the world that gets as much coverage as Tiger does. We will see every single shot he takes over the 4 days of the U.S. Open, even if he isn't in contention. We will certainly see plenty of Phil, especially while partnered with Tiger, but we won't see much of him if he isn't in contention.
And to say that Phil can't win when there is anyone at the event is equally ridiculous. Last I checked, he has 3 majors, all of which were won with your boy Tiger in the field. What happened the last time these two were paired in the final round of a championship? Oh, that's right, Phil won (see last year's 2nd or 3rd FedEx Cup playoff tourney).
Give Phil the credit he is due. He is the 2nd best golfer in the world. That's not too shabby. Your insinuations, however...well that's another story.
Posted by: Jon Smith | Jun 5, 2008 9:05:52 PM
I think it is a great idea. People forget sometimes that Tiger is on the course since the tv people drool over the "Big Fake" Phil Mickelson. Even if Tiger is hobbled and unable to play well, which I believe will be the case, Phil needs to feel the heat of some true life, honest exposure instead of some cream pie, honey-sweet tv silliness. He can only win when there really isn't anyone at an event and there is no threat to his protective bubble the media a most people give him week to week. With Tiger and the chick magnet Adam Scott in his wake, I think Phil will reveal himself to be a media created phony that will just look confused and walk around with that silly stride that is too big for anyone to take without concentrating on not falling down, either literally or proverbially.
Posted by: Lito | Jun 5, 2008 5:40:21 PM
This is an excellent idea because you want to see the best 3 golfers today to be together for the first 2 days. As long as the TV coverage is balanced, I do not think it is a bad idea.
Tiger and Phil may not be the best of friends but they respect one another. Every player is unique and we cannot expect Tiger to act like Phil vice-versa.
Adam Scott should also be part of the conversation because he has the talent and skills to win the Open and has earned the 3rd spot.
I agree with the author that the idea will provide an even playing field and not be dependent on nature, etc.
Posted by: O Man | Jun 5, 2008 5:16:54 PM
I think its a great idea. Crowds will be massive, but they would be anyway. I marshalled the 2005 PGA, and Tiger's 6am Tuesday practice round was nutso crowded. I followed Phil and Davis around that Sat afternoon, and the place was mobbed, and I got lots of good views. With Tiger and Phil together, you may actually get to see Vijah, Ernie or some of the young guns up close. If you go to a tournament to just watch Tiger or Phil, you are really selling the sport and the field short.
Posted by: Jack Haynie | Jun 5, 2008 4:30:14 PM
Tiger won't care that he is playing with Phil. He blocks out unimportant factors like that unless he needs it for some reason. This should not be about Tiger and Phil or any other player. They should use a blind draw for Thursday and reverse it for Friday. Otherwise there is the possibility of aiding or burdening a player based on his ranking or reputation.
Posted by: John | Jun 5, 2008 2:51:29 PM
Couldn't agree more Jackie.
Correction to my post below, I was referring to last years Deutsche Bank Championship when Tiger and Phil were paired together 3 of 4 days, not the Barclays. Go watch highlights of that tournament or the 2005 Ford Championship at Doral and tell me this is a bad pairing... Hopefully, the two favorites live up to the billing!
Posted by: Jackie Kahane | Jun 5, 2008 1:21:30 PM
Ben, you haven't been to too many PGA events it seems. The crowd would be following these two ANYWAY. You may experience half the crowd in your scenario, but it would still be packed.
Tina, I don't think poor Tiger not playing "at full strength" means anything. You would never hear him OR Phil complain about such a ludicrous comment. This pairing is EXACTLY what MOST golf fans want. Who on earth wouldn't, except for some knucklehead that goes to golf's biggest event and expects a perfect vantage point for every shot of Phil's or Tiger's? (That's you, BEN) And I bet, deep down, both of them, rather all three of them, want it as much as most golf fans do, as well.
GREAT IDEA! And I bet the TV ratings will prove my point.
Posted by: John | Jun 5, 2008 1:05:51 PM
Come on, are you kidding me. Great idea by the USGA.
I understand it is really going to suck for those going on Thursday and Friday, but I have tried to follow Tiger and Phil individually in the past two different times now, and those experiences are bad enough even when they are not playing together. It's tough to follow them and actually get good views/spots either way, so I say it's a moot point.
Great idea for two reasons: (1) The USGA is trying to do something exciting for the fans with no input from TV. (2) This idea that it does not assist in creating a more fair opportunity is ludicris (spelling?). Tiger and Phil are easily the favord players, as well as numbers 1 v. 2 in the world. In addition, they always seem to miss getting paired in the big events. This is what fans ask for and the USGA gave it too us... GREAT IDEA! Go take a look at how great a week of golf there was for the 2007 Barclay's last year, and tell me if you still think its a bad idea to pair these two?!?!?
Posted by: Ben Storey | Jun 5, 2008 12:04:24 PM
As one who is actually going to attend this Open, I think the "whimsical" USGA pairings are often both clever and cute -- BUT THIS IS NOT.
The entire idea just bites as the masses will be stampeding for a look at just three players. (This also goes for their idea of putting the world's 4th, 5th and 6th players together. And 7th, 8th and 9th. And 10th, 11th and 12th.)
What's more, the "fairness" logic just doesn't make sense either. Want the top players competing under the same conditions? Then put each of them in 12 consecutive pairings, but there is NO SENSE in putting the most popular players together in the first two rounds On Purpose.
Just watch: 90% of the crowd will be with one pairing the first two days. Most of us will get to see, at best, two or three shots up close. Bad, bad, BAD IDEA.
Posted by: Tina Hauer | Jun 5, 2008 12:01:17 PM
I think it would be fine if Tiger was playing at his full strength. I think it's awful since he is just coming back from surgery and this is his first tournment back. It's bad enough to worry about just trying to get around the golf course without having to worry about playing with Phil. Everyone knows they are not the best of friends.