If I had a nickel for every time I heard old people grumbling about “Kids these days,” I’d have almost as many nickels as I would if I got one every time I heard some old fart prattle on about how much a nickel used to buy. Seriously, if you listen to curmudgeonly coots enough (or watch Faux News), you get convinced that the world today is being carried to hell in a handbasket by Lucifer himself. While it is true that some pessimism might be warranted, especially in the cases of reckless, spoiled brats like Tripp Isenhour, I would much prefer ... full post »

It was somewhere early in the afternoon of what felt like the longest Masters Sunday in history when I noticed and blogged about the dominance of Nike staff players on the leaderboard. Now, during the Masters post-mortem (which doesn’t actually seem as long as that interminable final round), the numbers are in. Who won The Masters? Stewart Cink? Nope. Tiger (and his left knee)? Nope. Trevor Immelman? Nope. (Got you there, didn’t I?) The truth is that the above trio’s trifecta – a combined 1, 2, and T-3 finish – brought home the victory for Nike. Numbers just released by the sponsorship evaluation company ... full post »

So Tiger had knee surgery scheduled even before the Masters, eh? This news makes me think of Part 20 in my real-time blogging on the final roun, where I observed that “something’s not right” with the Chosen One. His body language was just all wrong during that whole tournament, and his distance control with his wedges was not up to snuff, either. Now that part makes sense: When you’re knee is tweaky, you over compensate with your upper body, making for inconsistent results. full post »

That’s quite the divot that Immelman found on the 72nd hole! Once again, something happened that almost made this Masters Sunday exciting. Not really, though. Oh, good. There’ll be another baby to kiss on the green again this year. Immelman is the South African Zach Johnson. Well, this is five hours I’ll never get back… At least I’ve got my traditional post-Masters dinner to look forward to: Ham steak marinated in ginger, dry mustard and Coke with green beans and almonds sautened in garlic butter, and crayfish macaroni and cheese. Mmm-mmm. (Note to Immelman: I’m available for menu-planning for next year’s ... full post »

This is the shot–the approach on 17–that will decide how difficult 18 will be for Immelman… And another “Oops.” Bogey here, or worse, and Tiger is right back in it….but unless he completely chokes a short putt, he’ll save par. Immelman is +3 today, and still leading. I would just like to remind everyone that I projected that the winner this year would jump out to an early lead and then have to hang on to win, because no one would be able to mount a big comeback on Sunday due to the weather. A-hem. Wanna hear how the 2008 Presidential election is ... full post »

Ooops…Immelman is wet on 16. Could we be witnessing the start of the biggest meltdown since Jean Van de Velde at Carnoustie? Maybe I won’t doze off quite yet after all. full post »

Is Treveor Immelman bad for golf? His complete domination from start to finish of the 2008 Masters has proven to be one of the most forgetable, utterly dull Masters in recent memory (unless, of course, you are Immelman or one of his family or friends). I think the esteemed members of Augusta National should consider Trevor-proofing the course in anticipation of 2009. Immeltimidation is simply unfair to the rest of the field. In fact, I think Trev will win the Grand Slam this year. Maybe go undefeated the rest of the season. full post »

Too little, too late for Tiger. That tee shot on 16 was typical Tiger; now if he has a typical Tiger 2008 Masters putt, he’ll leave it 2 inches outside to the right. … Yep! That’s exactly what he did. Immeltimidation, I tell you! Sorry, I guess I’m still bitter that Miguel Angel Jimenez shot the low round of the day today (-4), and I didn’t have him activated on my fantasy golf team. full post »

Why is it that everyone melts when Trevor Immelman has the lead at a major? Where are all the challengers? Some guy called Tiger just jacked two easy short putts that would have brought him into contention. And Snedeker just took a dip. Looks like the Immeltimidation Factor is alive and well. full post »

Never mind. Tiger missed that putt on 13. Something’s not right. Is Elin about to give birth again or something? I think he needs to switch to a long putter. Seriously, I think 13 was his tourney. He’ll come in second, looking to surpass Nicklaus’s record of 19 second-place major finishes. full post »

Peter Kostis on 13: “This is a delicate shot.” I’m going to say that it’s also Tiger’s tourney. That ball goes in on 13, after driving into the pine straw, and he wins. Period. Now with a certain birdie, and 2nd place, well, there is hope. Although Immelman just drained a gutsy putt from the fringe on 11, so he’s bowed but not broken. full post »

Whoa. Did anyone else just see Steve Flesch’s ball plummet into Rae’s Creek? I swear it looked like it hit a branch–a non-existent branch–that knocked it down. The wind appeared to have literally swatted that ball down, changing its direction in a split-second. full post »

Well, well, well. So Tiger decided to hit one big shot, a long birdie putt. It’s just a birdie, and he’s still 5 strokes back, but already the announcers are jumping onto the “Tiger’s Stalking” theme. He’s going to have to get closer that that to make an impact, though. And it won’t all be his doing if he does actually get into contention. Someone else will need to choke. full post »

Computer graphics can be pretty cool, but the graphic hole renderings don;t do anything for me. Looks like a scene from Golden Tee or some golf simulator. What I do like is the graphic that traces a line along the ball flight of players’ drives. That’s pretty cool. Now they need to follow their clubheads with a similar line, to illustrate how swing path dictates ball flight. I think viewers would really benefit from that sort of a “teachable moment.” Another cool graphic would be cartoon-like bubbles coming up from Tiger’s mouth as he curses over and over again. Now THAT would ... full post »

OK–I’m going to say this right now: Someone needs to step up and deliver a stellar back nine, or I might not even watch this collective stumblefunk to the end. Perhaps the biggest myth in golf is that contenders wilt under the steely gaze of El Tigre. No they don’t. They wilt under major pressure, and Tiger just happens to be at or near the top at so many that it SEEMS like guys are giving up to Tiger. Based on today’s play, I’d say the “Tiger Effect” is an illusory corellation. full post »