A bit of topic, but..
I always liked the U.S. Open set up with massive, barely back to the fairway rough. I especially like it when you can't just hit 2 iron off the tee.
I always like the pre - rough Masters.
I love the ground game of unfertilized, hard pan British Open with wind and light fescue
I like the normalcy of the PGA where it just a slight sharpening of a typical "tour" set up.
That's what always made the majors so special. Each one catered to a certain type of player, but to win the Grand Slam you had to:
1. Be accurate with undying mental strength to win the U.S.
2. Be long and have imagination to win the Masters
3. Be a pure trapping ball striker, "flight the ball down" and love the grind for the British Open
4. Be able to go lower than everyone else in an almost "shoot out" situation.
I think the identity of each major should be embraced and never marginalized.
Actually, I liked this post. Although I consider PGA Championship as laughable major and Masters just as a good exhibition and green job tester rather than true major I can understand there is a lot of wisdom here.
hey Dariusz, what about having Indian Tigers strolling about in the rough and at the same time infesting it will a load of poisonous snakes and disease ridden rats? Now that would really sort out the men from the poosies? No?
This post is so stupid that I won't comment it. Same stupid as Floy'ds remark on throwing stones at Wimbledon and comparing to US Open setup.
Dariusz - I think you're missing my broader point, which is this.
Miller has an opinion [which is his job]. Floyd has an opinion, which is different.
That's fine - they're just opinions. Asking for proof of someone's opinion is disproportionate. I'm not trying to prove that Floyd is right - although it's, dare I say it, almost conventional wisdom that the US Open can be a somewhat one-dimensional test of stamina.
People's opinions vary - from each other and from verifiable facts - for so many well-documented reasons that it would be too tedious to rehearse them all.
It's my opinion[!] - that you rely too much on people's expressed opinions in support of your arguments, and not enough on objective facts.
Perhaps, but I rely on opinions OF MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE than you and me or anyone on this forum. There are various weights of opinions depending on one's competences. I find it strange you have problems in understanding this simple fact, Birly.
If Nicklaus and I start to argue about shotmaking having different opinions -- whom do you believe ? Conversely, if Nicklaus starts to argue with me about human hard structure of the body (or maybe Polish grammar if you still believe Nicklaus ROFL) -- whom do you believe ?
Dariusz,
How about you sock away some of that hard-earned zloty and come to the States for a U.S Open or a PGA?. I'm sure there are are any number of forum members who would open their doors to you for a couple of days, and don't you think you'd get a better feel for what's going on if you got to see these tour chaps up close and personal? While I doubt the experience would knock Hogan off his pedestal, you'd certainly spend a lot less time gazing upwards, and a bit more time doffing your hat to today's players.
P.S You can stay at my place, just give me a heads-up cos I'll have to vacuum the floors what with the amount of time you spend ROFL
Thank you. I intend to visit the States when it is possible (depending on my wife's health conditions and my son's school situation). I do not expect to be shocked with tour players abilities, really.
Here ya go:
Raymond Floyd remembers 1986 U.S. Open win 'like it was yesterday'
Excerpt:
Floyd loathed the United States Golf Association's severe set-ups, and it showed. Before he arrived to Shinnecock Hills, he had finished in the top 10 in the U.S. Open just twice in 21 tries.
"I'd always had a mental conflict about the way the USGA set up the golf courses," he said. "I had a little saying, 'They don't throw rocks on the court at Wimbledon.'
"But I loved this golf course. I loved the way it was set up. It was so good, you couldn't screw it up."
Typical pussy -- too hard but loved it because won it. Ridiculous. And the Wimbledon comparison is just plainly stupid.
Thanks puttmaster. That's not the actual interview I remember - but absolutely the same sentiments.
So it's official - Raymond Floyd is a crybaby.
Although one line in there "the grit and shotmaking that defined his career" would surely commend him otherwise to our Dariusz.
Yes, he is a crybaby officially in my world. But I admit I was wrong with my suspicions that there were/are no pros who complain(ed) that US Open typical setup is too tough.
Cheers
