Kyle Stanley meltdown

[OLIVER1]

It's hard to feel too sorry for PGA Tour pros, but I wouldn't mind seeing Kyle Stanley win next week after what happened today. Must be gut-wrenching.

 

[Kevin Shields]

Max lag rears its ugly head in the form of distance and spin control when it matters the most. Almost certainly will get better at this part of the game. Too much talent.

 

[Keefer]

Unbelievable finish. To go 60 holes without a 3 putt and then on the final hole to get an 8 with a 3 putt after leading by 7 shots and to lose in a playoff is brutal. Stricker did it to him last year when he appeared to have it in his hands also. His approach shot into 18 in regulation reminded me of Tin Cup. It looked like the ball was going to stop short of going into the water. He said he was in shock and I believe it. Cruel game. The golf gods haven't been to kind to this kid.

 

[ms1170]

It was a huge mistake. He knows how much he spins it. He can't play that shot. He could of just hit it over the green chipped on and 3 putted. That being said I'd like to see them grow some grass on that bank or put a bunker in there. It's too penal.

 

[JEREMY5577]

He still had two putts for the win and choked. The course was fair he was crying after the round I felt bad but jeez you can cry if you win but not if you loose.

 

[ms1170]

I'm love his game, but never smiling or taking off the glasses will turn a lot of people off.

 

[johnnymarlboro]

You gotta hand it to Snedeker too. He was already shut down and ready to go home thinking it was over, and to come back in and make those clutch shots and putts like he did was impressive.

 

[btp]

He didn't have to take off his shoes ala the Vande meltdown. He didn't chunk it into the water and putting stroke for the win wasn't really yippy.

Ball almost stopped 4 times. I think it was really bad luck.

 

[suns11111]

The irony of Kyle getting emotional at the press conference, is years back Brandt did the same thing at The Masters. I am sure the last hole his mind was going a million miles an hour................plus that hole location is a meany. He will be back, golf is a mean mean game sometimes........

Plus I am heading to Phenix Open today, he may need a Alex Smith pregame shoulder and head pounding like his coach gives him....
JeffS

 

[ZAP]

I don't know if i would call it a meltdown. The only thing I would say is if he is going to hit a ball in the water it might as well be his second shot.
Kevin is spot on with his spin control comment too. The caddie probably should have made him hit his second shot over the green. Then he could have played hockey with it from there and won.
It is really easy to sit here and comment though. I think we have all been there and screwed it up ourselves. If you have not you need to play in more competition. Things happen sometimes and it is only afterward that you realize you had other choices.

 

[Tball88]

I agree with some of the comments here, about a bad decision, more than bad luck. With a three stroke lead, I didn't think he would fire anywhere near that pin. I thought he'd shoot it ten yards deep and end up on the high side of the green. Still could have 3 putted for a bogey and won by two.

 

[Socalesq]

Heck, I can hardly take the putter back without shaking when there's $20 on the line. One time I had a 5-foot put to shoot par for the first time ever (still haven't done it) and missed wide by a full cup -- and I was playing by myself! The pressure must be unbelievable for these guys. To me the surprise is not that Kyle 3-jacked 18 and then 16 in the playoffs, but why it doesn't happen way more often on the final hole.

 

[mgranato]

Did he make a mental mistake or did he make a physical mistake?

 

[conkanen]

You gotta hand it to Snedeker too. He was already shut down and ready to go home thinking it was over, and to come back in and make those clutch shots and putts like he did was impressive.

While I agree, I think it was immensely easier for Snedeker to get "back into game mode" than Stanley. I'd rather be the guy with nothing to lose here. I was impressed with KS being able to get it up and down on the first playoff hole.

 

[94monarch]

I am pretty sure he spun it in the water with his 60 then dropped in the first cut and his caddie talked him into the 56. I think he should have stuck with the 60 from the first cut. Truthfully gunning his first wedge shot to the back of the green would have locked it as well.

 

[Kevin Shields]

It was a huge mistake. He knows how much he spins it. He can't play that shot. He could of just hit it over the green chipped on and 3 putted. That being said I'd like to see them grow some grass on that bank or put a bunker in there. It's too penal.

That bank had deep rough on it for years and people complained it was too easy. Mickelson holed a bunch of chips from that bank. Gotta learn to control spin....Snedeker did.

 

[Kevin Shields]

I am pretty sure he spun it in the water with his 60 then dropped in the first cut and his caddie talked him into the 56. I think he should have stuck with the 60 from the first cut. Truthfully gunning his first wedge shot to the back of the green would have locked it as well.

Funny, I was paired with his caddie in the last round of the Nationwide event last year in Pittsburgh. He made a couple of huge mistakes. Waving hi to his family on camera wasnt such a hot idea. IMO, he should've been giving him the yardage to the back fringe, not the pin and shelf. They also caught him on camera voicing the word "wow" when his man missed the putt to win. Not good.

 

[wulsy]

His caddy lost him the event. The guy needs to learn to keep his big mouth comments to himself and give his player USEFUL yardages, as Kevin says. Another wannabe, just like Williams. Reminds me of an old saying from my neck of the woods: "Shut up and do yer job, man".

 

[conkanen]

That bank had deep rough on it for years and people complained it was too easy. Mickelson holed a bunch of chips from that bank. Gotta learn to control spin....Snedeker did.

Zactly.
And all this "he shoulda went for it in 2" boggles my mind as well.
That`s what a friend of mine said today at the water cooler (he said Faldo was also advocating this?).
"i'd rather take on the water with my 2nd shot."
LIKE WTF??? YOU HAVE A FRICKIN Wedge in yer hand with a 3 shot lead.
I'm sorry but if you can't make a 7 with wedge in yer hand I dunno what else to say.

 

[westy]

williams wannabe

should we start a quick reminder list of who stevie has slung it for? he aint no wanna be. he is a is. crowd control genius. flusher. solid dude. athlete.