11 Comments
User's avatar
Mike's avatar

No offense to the PGA, but the Putt-Putt rabbit hole is perfect for a Monday. Being a kid in the 80’s I have no idea how I never knew there were televised Putt-Putt tournaments.

I found this video (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LrlfMyHDo) of the 1992 Putt-Putt Skins game from Augusta with Billy Packer and PPA Commissioner David Lloyd (guess Jim Nantz had a prior commitment). Just watching the first minute I’d swear this was a parody if I didn’t know otherwise. Maybe the timing is off but could this have been an event Joe covered for the Chronicle?

Also, a 30 means 6 holes-in-one - or more if you didn’t par all the other holes. Impressive, windmills or not.

Jim's avatar

what was interesting was the inability of the players to adjust their playing styles to the moment. part of that was the course; 7,400 yards doesn't let you hit irons off the tee. But they just stepped up to each hole and ripped it and I can't remember very many holes where anyone was playing from the fairway. I guess playing from the rough from 160 yards is better than from the fairway at 210 yards, but it didn't seem to work

BTW- a 15 minute rules clarification for Zalatoris made NBA video replay look efficient. It was ridiculous.

Invisible Sun's avatar

The ability of the pros to play from a bad lie empowers them to "let it rip" on every hole. Even with the water hazards, the players just attacked with no reservations. On the one hand, this is impressive boldness. On the other hand it leads to a conformity of playing style.

Craig from Bend's avatar

Yeah, that was absurd. But at least it doesn't happen 10 times in every damn game, like in the NBA.

Dan the Man's avatar

"It was like the moment when substitute teachers are struggling to keep things together, and then the principal walks into the classroom." Magic right there, and funny to boot!

Tom V's avatar

Pereira's follow through on that 18th tee shot...my God, that's the kind of swing I take. At the very least, I wish he could've made 5 to reach the 3-hole playoff.

Craig from Bend's avatar

I thought Pereira had some ugly swings all weekend, but most of them turned out pretty well. Not the one on 18. Although what he was doing with driver in his hands at that time I will never understand.

Tom V's avatar

Kind of like Phil, with the lead, pulling out the driver on the 18th at the US Open a number of years back and hitting it into the hospitality tents.

Craig from Bend's avatar

Yeah, that was as stupid as it comes.

Invisible Sun's avatar

Having learned of Phil's gambling habits, bad bets seem to come easy for him.

Jeff's avatar

No regrets watching movies with my teen daughter on Sunday rather than the PGA. Watching train wrecks does not interest me. Now if the back nine leaderboard had been Thomas, Koepka, DeChambieau, etc....