Two observations about Sabbatini

[dave.]

Firstly,he was obviously joking when he called out Tiger as being 'the second best' player in the field.For those that heard it,and read the full transcript,it was obvioulsy just jesting and anyway,at their level they have to be optimisitic,you have to big yourself up to give yourself a chance,golf is a game of confidence.But the total over reaction on the US forums has been a joke imho,calling the guy all sorts of things,just trashing him for supposed 'trash talking'.Its ludicrous and anyone who did that sort of things has not got a clue about sports psychology and simply missed the point,Sabbatini was joking and at the same time was just giving himself a mental boost.Whether you like him or not,the over reaction on the internet to his recent remarks have been both naive and unneccessary.

Secondly,its about bloody time someone picked up the pace and started to play and give Tiger a game.Its starting to ebcome bloody scandalous how many players are just playing for a big pay check,just relaxing and enjoying the ride,taking the money and running.Its the nasty side of the modern game,multi-millionaires with no appetite for winning.Sabbatini is a refreshing change,someone with the guts to step up an have a go.Goodluck to him.

And for those that trashed him because he dared speak out at your beloved Tiger,a guy who even when he spits on the greens can't do any wrong,just buy a Bob Rotella book on the first hand and on the second read the facts before you condemn a guy.

IMo,he is one of the hottest players in the world right now.

rant over

[Adam Pettman]

I really like Sabbatini's swing he'll definatly win a mjor within the next few years.

[gunning4u]

I don’t like Rory but I agree with you Dave it almost sickens me how some of these guys lay down to Tiger. Even the great Ernie Ells has said “there is not much I can do when Tiger is on his game”. If I had the talent to play at the same level as these guys I would take the same attitude as Rory but I wouldn’t go to the media and be as ****y as Rory that’s just giving Tiger motivation to kick your ass.

[BigJim13]

Originally Posted by gunning4u

I don’t like Rory but I agree with you Dave it almost sickens me how some of these guys lay down to Tiger. Even the great Ernie Ells has said “there is not much I can do when Tiger is on his game”. If I had the talent to play at the same level as these guys I would take the same attitude as Rory but I wouldn’t go to the media and be as ****y as Rory that’s just giving Tiger motivation to kick your ass.

Agreed, its not like he needs more motivation either. I do like the fire that Rory has though. For the last 5 yrs or so I have wanted nothing more than to see Tiger and Phil (or one of the other real BIG names) go toe to toe on the back 9 of a major, you know like Arnie and Jack, or jack vs watson. we just havent seen it and I dont know why, are they all SCARED of Tiger. The best we have seen vs Tiger in a major was....Bob May-enough said...

[ThatCanadianGuy]

is tiger playing this week?

[Sandy]

Originally Posted by dave.

Secondly,its about bloody time someone picked up the pace and started to play and give Tiger a game.Its starting to ebcome bloody scandalous how many players are just playing for a big pay check,just relaxing and enjoying the ride,taking the money and running.Its the nasty side of the modern game,multi-millionaires with no appetite for winning.

The more I watch golf tournaments, the more I realize how big a deal this is nowadays, and why no-one is really coming in to genuinely challenge Tiger.

At the end of the day, and with the modern day 'everyone's a winner as long as they try' attitudes, why should the younger players bother trying to win tournaments and suffer the same fate as Phil did after Winged Foot when they can just show up to tournaments, play just hard enough to stay in the big checks, and become very comfortable millionaires without really straying out of their comfort zones? I really liked something Phil said in one of his more recent interviews about how, in his view, the difference between winners checks and 2nd place and below should become much bigger because only then would some of the younger players coming through start to see a reason to play for wins.

You have to give a lot of respect to ANYONE in the modern game who is playing for their world ranking and winning stats rather than just as a nice career move where they can make a lot of money by sitting safely in the field and never setting themselves up for any kind of failure.

[irfan]

i noticed the same thing and read that els interview... granted he had that knee surgery but it seemed a 4 years ago phil vijay ernie were all playing well and could have taken tiger down any weekend, now phils the only one that shows the confidence and desire to win out there. it seems like watching an event without tiger is more fun since others dont just lay down and let him win. the end of the colonial was great to watch. furyk actually showed a lot of desire there at the end, u could see he was actually focused on winning... but next time keep the hat on

[ManchesterGolfer]

Well said Dave,

Tiger is heads and shoulders above the rest on his day and they all know it. So the rest can either lay down and die, hope tiger has an off day or try a few mind games and play your heart out hoping to get to him and maybe win, at least one man has choose the later.

I think we as golf fans are lucky to be around when we have a great player like Tiger at his peak but the other players have to raise there game, practice harder and give him a challenge.

I play off 8 & enter the Scratch knock out comp at my club. This means I could get drawn against the best player at our club who's off scratch. What would I do? Give in on the 1st tee or raise my game and try to give him a game. I always find playing with lower handicapped golfers helps me play better golf trying to beat them so why do the pro's crumble around Tiger? If Sergio could putt he may give him a game down the stretch, I would love to see Sergio try a belly putter, btw.

[BigJim13]

Originally Posted by ManchesterGolfer

Well said Dave,

Tiger is heads and shoulders above the rest on his day and they all know it. So the rest can either lay down and die, hope tiger has an off day or try a few mind games and play your heart out hoping to get to him and maybe win, at least one man has choose the later.

I think we as golf fans are lucky to be around when we have a great player like Tiger at his peak but the other players have to raise there game, practice harder and give him a challenge.

I play off 8 & enter the Scratch knock out comp at my club. This means I could get drawn against the best player at our club who's off scratch. What would I do? Give in on the 1st tee or raise my game and try to give him a game. I always find playing with lower handicapped golfers helps me play better golf trying to beat them so why do the pro's crumble around Tiger? If Sergio could putt he may give him a game down the stretch, I would love to see Sergio try a belly putter, btw.

thats the problem though, the IFS. If Sergio could put, if VJ could putt, if Ernie could play well at the same tournament as Tiger...They never seem to be able to do it though. Tiger's last win at the Wachovia, he had his B game and nobody even got close...

[Clugnut]

I had not heard about Rory's comments until right now. I just googled it and read it for myself. Uhm, what's the big deal? So he thinks Tiger is beatable, good. Shouldn't everyone out there that is playing him? Must be depressing to play at such an elite level, and not think you're good enough to win. What exactly is it about Tiger that makes him so unbeatable?

[dave.]

Its because few players take risks to beat him,they just play for second,why take risks and lose $100k finishing third when you can play safe and come second? And Sabbitinis 'unbeatable' quote was tongue in cheek anyway,but also serving to keep his own mind positive.No offense meant but the ridiculous and over the top criticism of him was unique to US forums

[Bravo]

I watched the last nine holes of the Colonial between Sabbatini, Langher and Furyk. I was really pulling for Bernhard, but Rory did a great job in winning it on the playoff....

I agree that there should be a bigger difference between 1st and 2nd place money...all the players do is shoot for a top 10 finish and that's enough for them...

[BigJim13]

Originally Posted by dave.

Its because few players take risks to beat him,they just play for second,why take risks and lose $100k finishing third when you can play safe and come second? And Sabbitinis 'unbeatable' quote was tongue in cheek anyway,but also serving to keep his own mind positive.No offense meant but the ridiculous and over the top criticism of him was unique to US forums

Agreed, I also liked seeing Seah O'Hair going for broke on 17 @ the Players. It was nice to see a young player trying to win rather than trying to make a big check. I think he lost something like $500K (could be more or less, not really sure). The point is he played to WIN against a really big name and great player. It was refreshing...

[dave.]

Originally Posted by Bravo

I watched the last nine holes of the Colonial between Sabbatini, Langher and Furyk. I was really pulling for Bernhard, but Rory did a great job in winning it on the playoff....

I agree that there should be a bigger difference between 1st and 2nd place money...all the players do is shoot for a top 10 finish and that's enough for them...

Agreed,but just how good is Langer? 5 top tens this year,and only a few months away from 50.Superb stuff.Faldo stopped competing 6 years ago.He is an amazing player and on the shorter courses he can compete

[IrishGolfer]

Originally Posted by dave.

just how good is Langer?

The man is a legend. My all time favorite golfer. Best tourney I ever watched was him winning his first Masters in '85. My two brothers were pulling for Seve and Ray Floyd, so we were all in right down to the wire.

Langer's 140 yard 8 iron to 17 was awesome. He converted it to seal it.

He used to be a Wilson man. I had that visor for many's a year. Also played a Dunlop DDH. Ahh, t'will bury me with those memories!