4 under in the final round of the PGA in the last group.....pretty damn good. If you define Spieth's A game as playing out of his mind, you are right. Otherwise, not so much.
Spieth had a mediocre by his standards Round 1. He shot 67-65-68 the last 3 rounds. That's strong golf in a major.
For the week he hit 64% of his fairways (vs. 63% on the year), 75% GIRs (vs. 68% on the year), and 1.685 putts per GIR (vs 1.69 on the year). By all accounts, he had an above average week ... and when you consider that his normal week is that of the #1 player in the world ... hard to criticize him too much. Was it a B week? Probably too low. More like a B+ to A- week. What he did at St Andrews was probably a B week.
Spieth had a mediocre by his standards Round 1. He shot 67-65-68 the last 3 rounds. That's strong golf in a major.
For the week he hit 64% of his fairways (vs. 63% on the year), 75% GIRs (vs. 68% on the year), and 1.685 putts per GIR (vs 1.69 on the year). By all accounts, he had an above average week ... and when you consider that his normal week is that of the #1 player in the world ... hard to criticize him too much. Was it a B week? Probably too low. More like a B+ to A- week. What he did at St Andrews was probably a B week.
What Spieth is doing this year is setting a new standard, the way Tiger once did.
He just beat Tiger's 2000 record for cumulative score in majors:
What is considered a good score in a major for the average pro is not necessarily good for Spieth. Not anymore. It wasn't his best game and he still almost won.
The reason it was a GREAT major scoring season was BECAUSE OF Spieth.
Spieth murdered Augusta National ... Phil and Rose shot 14 under, Rory 12, and Matsuyama at 11 under. Phil and Rose win with that total most years. Everybody else was in the normal range of what you'd expect at the Masters.
The US Open was somewhat neutered a bit this year at Chambers as they didn't want to make the course unplayable at times with how they let the course get away from them a bit ... particularly the greens. That said, 5 under for the US Open was a strong score compared to normal years. Only 8 finished the championship under par and while the course played fair on the weekend, Spieth shot even par to win it on the weekend.
St. Andrews is historically known as one of the most forgiving scoring major championships and it played that way this year as well with the wind down enough of the round to make for good scoring conditions. Spieth was exactly 1 shot off the pace there.
In prior PGAs at Whistling Straits, the winners were at -8 and -11 ... it's a very difficult course that was made somewhat easier by some of the weather conditions. However, the reality is that Spieth played very strong golf and Day played exceptional golf (73% driving accuracy for T5 in the field, 307 yard driving average for 5th in field, 76% GIR for 2nd in field, 1.6 putts per GIR for 5th in field).
If you are ripping Spieth's performance, you are also belittling Day's not only performance but credentials on this stage as a player. That's sorely mistaken. Since the Open Championship in 2010 (his 1st career major), and not counting the 2012 Masters that he withdrew from and 2012 Open Championship that he did not play in, Day has now played in 20 majors. This is his 10th top 10 in those 20 majors and that includes now 7 top 4 or better performances.
Everybody has been talking about Spieth vs Rory. Day's right in the mix with that and it really is a big 3 in golf.
The reason it was a GREAT major scoring season was BECAUSE OF Spieth.
Spieth murdered Augusta National ... Phil and Rose shot 14 under, Rory 12, and Matsuyama at 11 under. Phil and Rose win with that total most years. Everybody else was in the normal range of what you'd expect at the Masters.
The US Open was somewhat neutered a bit this year at Chambers as they didn't want to make the course unplayable at times with how they let the course get away from them a bit ... particularly the greens. That said, 5 under for the US Open was a strong score compared to normal years. Only 8 finished the championship under par and while the course played fair on the weekend, Spieth shot even par to win it on the weekend.
St. Andrews is historically known as one of the most forgiving scoring major championships and it played that way this year as well with the wind down enough of the round to make for good scoring conditions. Spieth was exactly 1 shot off the pace there.
In prior PGAs at Whistling Straits, the winners were at -8 and -11 ... it's a very difficult course that was made somewhat easier by some of the weather conditions. However, the reality is that Spieth played very strong golf and Day played exceptional golf (73% driving accuracy for T5 in the field, 307 yard driving average for 5th in field, 76% GIR for 2nd in field, 1.6 putts per GIR for 5th in field).
If you are ripping Spieth's performance, you are also belittling Day's not only performance but credentials on this stage as a player. That's sorely mistaken. Since the Open Championship in 2010 (his 1st career major), and not counting the 2012 Masters that he withdrew from and 2012 Open Championship that he did not play in, Day has now played in 20 majors. This is his 10th top 10 in those 20 majors and that includes now 7 top 4 or better performances.
Everybody has been talking about Spieth vs Rory. Day's right in the mix with that and it really is a big 3 in golf.
Spieth had a helluva year in the Majors winning 2. Nobody has ever won more than 3 professional majors in the same year.
You could argue that he missed out on winning the Grand Slam by 4 shots (would have had to win playoffs).
He's had a great year ... which he himself has said.
Clearly you don't understand how difficult it is to win majors ... and clearly don't understand how much talent there is in the game at the moment. Tiger's won 2 majors in a year 3x and 3 in a year once. Jack won 2 in a year 4x. Spieth is all of 22 years old ... if 20 years from now we look at him and he's struggling to find 2 majors in a year repeatedly, then pop off. But as for now, he's accomplishing things that only the true greats of the game accomplish.
Spieth had a helluva year in the Majors winning 2. Nobody has ever won more than 3 professional majors in the same year.
You could argue that he missed out on winning the Grand Slam by 4 shots (would have had to win playoffs).
He's had a great year ... which he himself has said.
Clearly you don't understand how difficult it is to win majors ... and clearly don't understand how much talent there is in the game at the moment. Tiger's won 2 majors in a year 3x and 3 in a year once. Jack won 2 in a year 4x. Spieth is all of 22 years old ... if 20 years from now we look at him and he's struggling to find 2 majors in a year repeatedly, then pop off. But as for now, he's accomplishing things that only the true greats of the game accomplish.
Spieth played a strong final round today ... He needed to shoot 65 today to get into a playoff ... Which is far from a given on a major Sunday.
Very happy to see Jason Day win ... Very talented player that has been all over the top of major leaderboards and often has been one shot short.
Everybody sucks off Durwood Johnson's 8 ball and Bubba Gump's pink driver, but as usual the masses back the wrong horse ... Day is the talented long hitter in the game.
Hey Fleenor, I must have missed your post where you chose Jason Day.
Spieth played a strong final round today ... He needed to shoot 65 today to get into a playoff ... Which is far from a given on a major Sunday.
Very happy to see Jason Day win ... Very talented player that has been all over the top of major leaderboards and often has been one shot short.
Everybody sucks off Durwood Johnson's 8 ball and Bubba Gump's pink driver, but as usual the masses back the wrong horse ... Day is the talented long hitter in the game.
Hey Fleenor, I must have missed your post where you chose Jason Day.
I actually called it out either before the tournament or mid-day Thursday to a buddy that Day would win with Spieth second ... not the biggest out on a limp prediction.
Spieth played a strong final round today ... He needed to shoot 65 today to get into a playoff ... Which is far from a given on a major Sunday.
Very happy to see Jason Day win ... Very talented player that has been all over the top of major leaderboards and often has been one shot short.
Everybody sucks off Durwood Johnson's 8 ball and Bubba Gump's pink driver, but as usual the masses back the wrong horse ... Day is the talented long hitter in the game.
Hey Fleenor, I must have missed your post where you chose Jason Day.
I actually called it out either before the tournament or mid-day Thursday to a buddy that Day would win with Spieth second ... not the biggest out on a limp prediction.
Comments
Spieth had one of the highest single scoring weeks in the history of major championship golf ... he lost to a guy that had the HIGHEST. Shit happens.
But despite the score, that was not Spieth's A game.
If you think it was, you're fucking blind.
HTH
Spieth under-performed, Day over-performed.
HTH
For the week he hit 64% of his fairways (vs. 63% on the year), 75% GIRs (vs. 68% on the year), and 1.685 putts per GIR (vs 1.69 on the year). By all accounts, he had an above average week ... and when you consider that his normal week is that of the #1 player in the world ... hard to criticize him too much. Was it a B week? Probably too low. More like a B+ to A- week. What he did at St Andrews was probably a B week.
He just beat Tiger's 2000 record for cumulative score in majors:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/chart-shows-just-dominant-jordan-150907525.html
Although to be fair, this was one of the highest scoring major seasons ever:
http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/jason-day-deserves-an-ovation-but-give-the-field-a-golf-clap-too/?ex_cid=538twitter
What is considered a good score in a major for the average pro is not necessarily good for Spieth. Not anymore. It wasn't his best game and he still almost won.
Spieth murdered Augusta National ... Phil and Rose shot 14 under, Rory 12, and Matsuyama at 11 under. Phil and Rose win with that total most years. Everybody else was in the normal range of what you'd expect at the Masters.
The US Open was somewhat neutered a bit this year at Chambers as they didn't want to make the course unplayable at times with how they let the course get away from them a bit ... particularly the greens. That said, 5 under for the US Open was a strong score compared to normal years. Only 8 finished the championship under par and while the course played fair on the weekend, Spieth shot even par to win it on the weekend.
St. Andrews is historically known as one of the most forgiving scoring major championships and it played that way this year as well with the wind down enough of the round to make for good scoring conditions. Spieth was exactly 1 shot off the pace there.
In prior PGAs at Whistling Straits, the winners were at -8 and -11 ... it's a very difficult course that was made somewhat easier by some of the weather conditions. However, the reality is that Spieth played very strong golf and Day played exceptional golf (73% driving accuracy for T5 in the field, 307 yard driving average for 5th in field, 76% GIR for 2nd in field, 1.6 putts per GIR for 5th in field).
If you are ripping Spieth's performance, you are also belittling Day's not only performance but credentials on this stage as a player. That's sorely mistaken. Since the Open Championship in 2010 (his 1st career major), and not counting the 2012 Masters that he withdrew from and 2012 Open Championship that he did not play in, Day has now played in 20 majors. This is his 10th top 10 in those 20 majors and that includes now 7 top 4 or better performances.
Everybody has been talking about Spieth vs Rory. Day's right in the mix with that and it really is a big 3 in golf.
Spieth has established his own standard.
It's higher than everyone else.
HTH
LIPO
Spieth had a helluva year in the Majors winning 2. Nobody has ever won more than 3 professional majors in the same year.
You could argue that he missed out on winning the Grand Slam by 4 shots (would have had to win playoffs).
He's had a great year ... which he himself has said.
Clearly you don't understand how difficult it is to win majors ... and clearly don't understand how much talent there is in the game at the moment. Tiger's won 2 majors in a year 3x and 3 in a year once. Jack won 2 in a year 4x. Spieth is all of 22 years old ... if 20 years from now we look at him and he's struggling to find 2 majors in a year repeatedly, then pop off. But as for now, he's accomplishing things that only the true greats of the game accomplish.
Yeah, Spieth should wind up better than those two guys, but Tiger should have 20+ majors by now too.
And to be fair to O'Meara, he is a world golf HOFer ... it's not like he's a complete chump.