Ok, let's discuss choking in a golf tournament...

[TheTrueReview]

You guys can spout all the psycho babble you want, but when you bogey the final 4 holes (holes you played in 2 under the previous 3 rounds) to lose by one, you choked.

There are 3 types of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. In this instance, the statistic of 4 bogeys over the last 4 holes does not support an argument of a "choke". I watched the 4 holes. I saw the substance of his play. It wasn't a choke. Mere statistics can cause a misleading conclusion, as is the case here. SUX has summed it up perfectly.

 

[azgreg]

 

[TheTrueReview]

I like it Azgreg.

 

[nututhugame]

There are 3 types of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. In this instance, the statistic of 4 bogeys over the last 4 holes does not support an argument of a "choke". I watched the 4 holes. I saw the substance of his play. It wasn't a choke. Mere statistics can cause a misleading conclusion, as is the case here. SUX has summed it up perfectly.

There are a couple people who don't think so. Honestly I think SUX is right in multiple ways in his point, however it's hard for anybody to win any PGA tournament any week anywhere. Once the ball leaves the first tee it's just another round of golf, UNTIL the last four holes of a major when you have a lead. Then all of the sudden the bunkers and water hazards get huge. Perfect example... I, along with every one of you i'm sure, have had a round where you are kicking ass and you have an inkling that you might break your previous low and boom... snowman for no good reason at all other than you are thinking about keeping it together. Another example would be if you've ever played 9 holes without keeping score just to free your mind and hit shots.... you hit the best shots ever and can't miss your target. I'm sorry fella's, it's kind of a choke. Maybe not an epic meltdown, but a choke. Any pro should be able to par at least one of four holes anywhere anytime. They all do it at some point. Ernie did it earlier this year and lost to Dufner. Dufner did it and lost to Bradley.

 

[TheTrueReview]

Nute, I understand the points you're putting out there. I suppose much of my defence of Scott is in response to crap I've read on other forums, not this one.

I hate the word "choke" because of the knuckleheads who usually throw it around. But in any event, Scott's no choker. By way of example, I remember him hitting a 61 in the final round of the Qatar Masters about 3 years ago to blow away a strong field. He went within a whisker of winning the US Masters last year. ... and they're only a couple of examples.

Anyway, I enjoy reading your stuff Nute.

 

[Augster]

Late to this as I've been on vacation, but to say that Scott didn't choke is outrageous.

Who was the last player to win a major by making bogey on the last 4 holes? I doubt there is one. Gagfests don't get rewarded for the most part.

I'll concede the bogey on 15. That is a hard hole. Those guys were all hitting 5 & 6 irons in and it was windy. Not a big deal he still had a 3-shot lead.

16 he destroys a driver. Then puts a WEDGE to 30+ feet? Terrible. Then the first putt was pathetic at best. Wrong line, wrong speed. He only missed it by FOUR FEET. Then he gagged the putt for par. 2 shot lead, 2 to play.

17, great drive again. Position A1. Then a terrible shot to a pin that was absolutely not needed. Fat of the green, 2-putt, major champion. Bogey/birdie, he's even with Els.

18, awful club off the tee. Els destroyed driver right over the bunkers. Scott didn't mishit a driver all day. 3-wood? Better, hit an iron short, then hit a 7 or 8-iron into the green. You absolutely cannot afford to hit it into a bunker when you need a par for a playoff against a fellow yipper. Terrible player/caddy decision making.

Of course, the gagfest is why I love watching majors. So few are won going away now that Old Tiger is gone. In almost all of the majors one needs to play well on Sunday, get to the clubhouse, and watch the others with the pressure truly on them fall apart. Spectacular theater and it saddens me that I only get to see one more gagger this year.