Thoughts after Attending US Senior Open

[bames]

I was able to attend the US Senior Open in Colorado Springs. I noticed some interesting things that I thought I would share.

*There is very little talent lost on this tour. I saw a 391 yd drive and Romero averaged 351 yds for one round. AVERAGED.
*Every ball played minus about 6 were Titleist ProV balls. Saw 3 Callys. Saw 2 Nikes. I'm sure there were a few others - but that amazed me. It might also just be indicative of their era.
*The overwhelmingly most popular driver by brand was...Taylormade. And every TM had a stock shaft in it. I was blown away by this. Next would be Titleist and then Ping. I even saw a beloved Mizuno player pull off his Mizzy head cover only to play a TM Burner 3-wood! Alot of that crap went on.
*The longest drive (other than Romero's 391) came from an Accuflex Creation shaft! It penetrated the air forever. I was impressed.
*I saw two Titleist 909 drivers. They looked and sounded awesome. Must resist. Otherwise all other Titleists were the 907D2.
*The most common shaft was GD YS-6 or 7. Pings, Titleist, Adams, you name it, there were alot of them. That suprised me because I was close enough to hear discussion with caddies and I saw some 200+ yd 6 irons. So these guys can hammer the ball.
*I met Tom Kite in the parking lot one morning. Eddie (my friend who worked the 18th green) and I stopped him to ask some questions about equipment. I think he was relieved we didn't want an autograph. He reassured us over and over that their drivers were NO DIFFERENT than what we buy off the shelf. He said they do some custom bending but it is nothing that we couldn't have done. He also said most play a D-3 swingweight in their irons. We tried to let him go but he actually told us not to worry about it and continued to talk to us. Pretty nice guy.
*Fuzzy Zoeller is a crack up. Total entertainer.
*Craig Stadler would be an incredible golfer if he gave a crap. Never saw one practice swing. He scarcely took the time to align himself. And I only saw him even look at a putt for longer than 5 seconds once on a double breaker.
*I saw some shanks and 4 duffs. But they still parred the hole except for one bogey. These guys are amazing wedge players and scramblers. Its all about chipping I've decided.
*Fred Funk's caddy is amazing. That guy will make somebody a ton of money some day. He talked Fred out of and into some very smart golf. He knew his stuff.
*Greg Norman is hot head. I understand he is focused, and its his job, but he was a jerk to his caddy and most people around him. I still have alot of respect for him as a golfer though. When he had it going he was incredible to watch.

[Nikonut]

great info

[Harry Longshanks]

Cool report bames! Thanks!

[bames]

Originally Posted by Nikonut

great info

Originally Posted by Harry Longshanks

Cool report bames! Thanks!

Thanks - I really enjoyed the experience. I thought I would share a little random info. Romero was a very gracious winner. I was impressed with him as well as Funk.

[Harry Longshanks]

Originally Posted by bames

Thanks - I really enjoyed the experience. I thought I would share a little random info. Romero was a very gracious winner. I was impressed with him as well as Funk.

I've always liked Funk (gotta love a guy who puts his wife on the bag and listens to her!) and Tom Kite (although he's gotten a little scary looking after ditching the glasses). Each seems like they are one of the "good guys" on tour. Crenshaw is another.

[bames]

Originally Posted by Harry Longshanks

I've always liked Funk (gotta love a guy who puts his wife on the bag and listens to her!) and Tom Kite (although he's gotten a little scary looking after ditching the glasses). Each seems like they are one of the "good guys" on tour. Crenshaw is another.

Jim Thorpe was very good about talking to people too. He stopped and talked to me right after a drive just because I told him nice drive.

[King Par]

Do you know for a fact they were stock shafts? Or were they just painted in TP colours? There are numerous shafts out there painted in those colours. Oziks, Blueboards.. everything.

[Irish]

bear in mind that the TM stock options for the Tour Burner TP are Matrix X-COn5, Whiteboard and the Rombax...so while they are stock they are premium shafts no doubt

[Rockford35]

Originally Posted by bames

*The overwhelmingly most popular driver by brand was...Taylormade. And every TM had a stock shaft in it. I was blown away by this.

I even saw a beloved Mizuno player pull off his Mizzy head cover only to play a TM Burner 3-wood! Alot of that crap went on.

I think these two statements are connected.



That Creation that hit that big drive was probably an NV in disguise.

Good report, B. No pics?

R35

[warbirdlover]

I don't think they let you take pics at tourneys unless you are "press"... (or are with golfwrx)...

[bames]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

I think these two statements are connected.



That Creation that hit that big drive was probably an NV in disguise.

Good report, B. No pics?

R35

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

I don't think they let you take pics at tourneys unless you are "press"... (or are with golfwrx)...

Exactly. I could have taken some great pics. I was within 6" of many player's sticks but there is a "tech check" before you go in.

[bames]

Originally Posted by Irish

bear in mind that the TM stock options for the Tour Burner TP are Matrix X-COn5, Whiteboard and the Rombax...so while they are stock they are premium shafts no doubt

There were only about 4 Burner TPs. The others were last months (ha ha or last year - I can't remember) Burner. And also some Superquads. There really weren't alot of really high end shafts. A handful of Blueboards. But like I said before, YS-6, and some Grafalloy. I think that some of the mystique of pro's clubs is gone for me. These guys were just playing what appeared to be fairly normal sticks. I don't have any reason not to believe Tom Kite. We were talking frankly about other things as well. Guess what - I just think these guys are really good. Just like the ad!

[King Par]

The only time I ever get excited about pro's clubs is when they're proto's. If they're just a modified version of a retail club then they'll be no use in my hands as I probably won't be able to notice the difference a touring pro can.

Good write up

[LyleG]

Almost all the taylor made players use shafts painted the TM colors. They have access to any shaft they want done in the stock shaft color scheme. TM pays players for using their drivers and this is one the caveats.

[mont86]

Great report bames...sounds like fun..How much does it cost to get in?