Open Championship Review

The Open Championship, held last week at Royal St. George's in Sandwich, England was the third of the 4 Majors on the PGA Tour. However, the only thing major about the tournament was that it was a major disappointment.

Sure we had the sentimental winner in Darren Clarke - another Major winner from Northern Ireland - who lost his wife to cancer a number of years ago, and has been a good golfer for a while now but never hoisted a Major championship trophy. Clarke battled through stretches of bad weather all week to come out on top.

His was a nice storyline, but to me it wasn't the biggest story of the week. Two big stories emerged as the week wore on. The first is that golf has become increasingly boring as Tiger's absence from the tour continues. His lack of presence was the elephant in the room all week. Golf just doesn't feel the same. No matter how much the people behind the curtain at the PGA Tour try to get me pumped up about guys like Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan and the like, I just can't do it. At some point these guys have to do something for me to get excited about. Truth be told, Fowler had a nice week and finished in the top 5. But Johnson had another choke job in the final holes of a major as he dumped his 2nd shot out of bounds on 14. I don't even know where the others finished - which isn't a good sign.

Mickelson made a late charge but then reverted back to his usual Open Championship style and after getting to -6 and sharing the lead, finished the rest of his round +4 to end at -2 and T3. Even a Mickelson win, though, would not have saved this tournament for me. It would have been a better outcome for American golf, obviously. But it still wouldn't drive ratings. There's still only one guy that can do that.

The other story line from this week was what a whiny bitch Rory McIlroy turned into on Sunday. He struggled all week in the bad weather, and his shot selection was very questionable. Coming off his big win at the U.S. Open, everyone - himself included - expected more. But it was his remarks after the tournament that were disheartening for Rory fans.

"I'm not a fan of golf tournaments where the outcome is predicted so much by the weather. It's not my sort of golf."

"...there's no point in changing your game for one week a year."

"My game is suited basically for every golf course and most conditions but I don't enjoy playing in these conditions, really. I'd rather play when it's 80 degrees and sunny and there's not much wind."

Wow. You can't have your cake and eat it too, Rors. Those comments just come off as petty and spoiled and quite frankly remind me of something Sergio Garcia would have said in his younger years. He was pampered and protected and look where that got him. McIlroy is too good to have that kind of attitude. Does it suck that some guys get stuck in the bad weather and other guys get some calm conditions? Yes. But can you dig down deep and compete? Yes. And how about how those comments sort of throw his fellow countryman and winner Darren Clarke under the bus? He competed in the bad weather and won. So what are you saying? He just "lucked out"?

McIlroy, who already passed on a number of big tournaments in the U.S. - including TPC Sawgrass - isn't doing himself any favors with the U.S. fans. If this guy is supposed to fill Tiger's shoes I think we're all in trouble. If there's one thing Americans don't appreciate it is a whiny European. McIlroy is in need of an attitude adjustment - and I for one am hoping that Tiger returns to give it to him. Something tells me he's sitting at home rehabbing and just licking his chops at getting a shot at this kid.

U.S. Open Wrap-Up - Bad News for American Golf

Now we know why Tiger's eat their young!

Step aside Tiger, there's a new sheriff in town and his name is Rory McIlroy. After completely unraveling on Sunday at The Master's with a 4 stroke lead after 54 holes, Rors came roaring back at the very next major and totally blew the doors off the competition for a week. He became the first since Woods to win the Open while leading wire-to-wire and posted the lowest ever U.S. Open score. Among the many records he set he also became the youngest Open champ since Bobby Jones in 1923 at the ripe age of 22.

Before the week started I would have figured that the winning score might be somewhere in the -5 to -6 range, with the course playing soft all week due to heavy rains leading up to the tournament. Never in a million years would I believe that -16 would be the winning score. (And actually, if you take out McIlroy I would have been right on the money.) That is an insane performance at the U.S. Open - soft greens or not.

Part of me thinks that because we remember so well what Tiger did just a little over a decade ago at Pebble Beach that Rory isn't really getting his due for this performance. Watching it yesterday, it felt so much more anticlimactic than Woods' performance in 2000.

Nonetheless, he's getting his due here on Dueling Couches. That was a masterpiece unlike any I've witnessed and I'm looking forward seeing many more from him in the years to come.


As for the rest of the field, Jason Day finished in 2nd after a great weekend of play. And Y.E. Yang and Lee Westwood finished in a tie for 3rd along with Robert Garrigus, and Kevin Chappel. Nowhere on the leaderboard were any of the young hotshot Americans that everyone likes to keep talking about.


Dustin Johnson: T23 +1
Anthony Kim: T54 +7
Bubba Watson: T63 +9
Rickie Fowler: Missed Cut +5
Hunter Mahan: Missed Cut +5
Ben Crane: Missed Cut +6
Nick Watney: Missed Cut +6

Disgusting. It's the rest of the world's game right now. Hell, Northern Ireland has produced the last two U.S. Open champions. The group of young American golfers mentioned above haven't done anything to warrant all the attention that they get. Between them they have a combined 17 wins on tour, but no majors - though Watson and Johnson have both been close. Kim admittedly needs to focus more on golf and Fowler seems more concerned about being a fashion icon than winning tournaments.

I realize I'm being harsh, and that winning on tour is not an easy thing for any golfer, especially with how much competition there is now. However, I know these guys have tons of game and I'm just getting sick of hearing about how this could be their big break. Enough with the Twitter and youtube. I want to see some damn trophies! Tiger spoiled us all for a long time, and that reign looks to be all but assuredly over. The world team is full of good young golfers who actually WIN tournaments and don't worry about making stupid online music videos. One of those losers made the cut this week - and he finished plus 9. Nice.

Time to put up or shut up for these guys. Only Fowler can even still be considered young. The others are in their 30s or close to it.

That's it from the golf world for now. Check back as we get closer to the British Open from Royal St. George's - a fantastic course.

Whoever Thought This Weekends Tournament Was Exciting/ Fun To Watch Is An Asshole

I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news but the US Open sucked. Anyone who says they enjoyed this 22 year old hobbit win the tournament by a billion shots wire to wire is an asshole and a liar. There was nothing fun about what happened this weekend, it was just Rory McIlroy whooping everyones ass.

I try to get into watching golf, I do, and maybe it's because I don't play it so I don't understand the enjoyment of it. At the same time I drive a car and I hate NASCAR, so I guess that goes against that argument. But there was only one good tournament I have ever watched and that was the Tiger vs Rocco Mediate extra course one. Other than that, I would pretty much want to watch anything else.

I don't know what it is about this McIroy kid either, but I hate his face. His face is as unlikeable as John Lackey's. I don't care for him, I don't root for him, and I hope he goes away. The only cool thing about him is the fact Shane McMahon (Vince McMahon's son from the WWF) is representing him.

In conclusion, the US Open blew donkey balls, and I don't care about golf until Tiger comes back, or at least an American that doesn't look like a scumbag turdburger.

2011 U.S. Open Preview - Top Contenders

Well, now that hockey is over we can get to covering real sports. Nothing says summer has arrived like the start of the U.S. Open. The way The Master's marks the beginning of spring, Father's Day weekend and the U.S. Open bring to mind BBQ and bathing suits. No? Ok, but summer is here and the golf season is heating up...even if the most compelling figure in the sport is sidelined with a bum knee and a sore vagina - I mean ego.

The Open is always the toughest test of golf, with the United States Golf Association (USGA) setting up the nation's finest public courses to be a brutal examination of a player's skill and mental fortitude. From Pebble Beach to Bethpage Black these are not typically courses where you will see really low numbers on the leader board. Such is the case with the 2011 venue - Congressional Country Club in Washington, D.C. suburb of Bethesda, Maryland.

In the shadow of the White House looms a monster of a golf course that has been made even tougher for The Open. The event has not been held there since 1997 when Ernie Els hoisted the trophy and looked like he might be on his way to a monumental career before Tiger emerged and relegated Els to an also-ran. Congressional is the home for regular PGA Tour event the AT&T Classic, but will play quite different this week.

For starters there is a new finishing hole with what used to be #17. With water around the green on the long par 4 there should be plenty of drama on the final hole as the weekend draws to a close. The course has been lengthened by about 360 yards total. The sand is deeper and fluffier, with shaved grass around bunkers that will allow for more balls to trickle in. All told the course should be a very difficult, but a very fair assessment of one's golf game. There will be opportunities to take some risks and get some rewards, but those risks had better be well calculated.

As for who is going to win this week it is anyone's guess. With the force that once was Tiger now all but seemingly gone from the game of golf a plethora of up-and-coming contenders have risen up to give golf a bright future. And don't forget about guys like Phil Mickelson - still seeking his first U.S. Open title, and Ernie Els who has a very good U.S. Open track record with two titles to his name.

Don't look to the top 2 players in the world (all playing together on Thursday by the way) for a winner. Luke Donald, Lee Westwood have 0 majors between them, but that won't stop many from picking either to win. Both come in playing well in 2011, but I don't think they have the kind of game that will fair well at a U.S. Open. While the top 3 players in the world are all from foreign soil, I actually think the Americans will end their major drought this week. If you're looking to pick a winner here's my list of U.S. Open Top 10 Contenders.

1. Dustin Johnson, USA - Looking to break through with first major after two collapses last year at U.S. Open and PGA. Combo of length off tee and accuracy from the fairways will make him a favorite this week.

2. Steve Stricker, USA - Won last tournament at Memorial. He is the tour leader in avoiding Bogeys. That could be huge this week.

3. K.J. Choi, S. Korea - Choi is the kind of player who isn't flashy but on Sunday you look up and somehow he's battled his way onto the leaderboard. That is a great recipe of patience and persistence that could fair well at Congressional. He's won here before (AT&T).

4. Matt Kuchar, USA - Leads the tour in the all-around ranking, and has 8 top 10s this year. Playing well right now having finished 2nd at Memorial. Ranks 2nd to Stricker in bogey avoidance.

5. Bubba Watson, USA - A very likable guy, Watson also has game. He's a long bomber but leads the tour in greens in regulation. Not a great Open track record, but not bad either. Looking for a breakthrough.

6. David Toms, USA - After a brutal playoff loss at The Players Championship, Toms returned the next week to win at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. He ranks highly in all the accuracy stats. Might not be long enough off the tee though.

7. Luke Donald, England - He is the world #1 so it is hard to pick against him. A safe bet to be near the top, I just can't picture him winning...although it certainly wouldn't be a stretch.

8. Kevin Streelman, USA - Good record at Congressional, and one of the hotter players on tour right now.

9. Nick Watney, USA - In the shadow of other young Americans like Johnson, Fowler etc. but has 7 top 10 finishes this year. Ranks 6th in all-around, but might not have driver accuracy needed to contend.

10. Phil Mickelson, USA - What the hell? Why not? Ol' Lefty has been seeking a U.S. Open for over a decade now, and Congressional could be just the course for him to do it. I don't think he will, but you can't help but like the sentimental favorite.

SLEEPER - Charlie Hoffman, USA - If you don't know who he is, he'll be the dumpy looking guy with the blonde locks flowing from under his Waste Management hat and sinking putts all over the place. If he gets hot with the putter he could make a run at the leader board.

And who wouldn't want this guy to win?


That's Andres Gonzalez. @Andres_Gonzales He's a pretty amusing twitter follow. Check it out.

That's it for now. Be sure to check back later for a Day 1 Wrap and look ahead to Day 2.

Tigers Wife Is Starting To Talk

I can tell you what this is the first time I heard anything from Elin Nordegren and I'm already sick of her. What Tiger did to her and the kids was wrong, and blah, blah, blah, but she needs to realize she's really effecting how much I care about golf. I root for Tiger and will continue to root for Tiger regardless if "you went through hell" or not. I guess I'm not very sympathetic to her because she's going to be making hundreds of millions of dollars for being a trophy wife. And if anyone tells me "it's more than that, parenting is a full time job" i'll slap them in the face. Fuck off, and tell that to the majority of American families where both parents actually work.

Here are some quotes if you care:
"There was never any violence inside or outside our home," she said. "The speculation that I would have used a golf club to hit him is just truly ridiculous." (BS)

"I've been through hell," she said. "It's hard to think you have this life, and then all of a sudden -- was it a lie? You're struggling because it wasn't real. But I survived. It was hard, but it didn't kill me." (BS)

"I'm so embarrassed that I never suspected -- not a one. For the past 3½ years, when all this was going on, I was home a lot more with pregnancies, then the children and my school." (fuck off)\

It sucks for Tiger because no matter what she says he can't dispute it.

Stop ruining golf Elin!

Hoes be trippin defense.

Why Not?

Why not golf off a ledge drunk?

Roethlisberger's Dick Gets Him In More Trouble

Things just keep going from bad to worse for the Steelers this offseason. Now comes word that Roethlisberger could be in even more trouble...

"As the rumor goes (and it's spreading quickly), Roethlisberger was golfing in Columbus, Ohio, and he urinated on the course. Though it's not an uncommon event, the complicating factor in this case arose from the fact (supposedly) that a woman witnessed the incident, that she complained about it, and that she now wants to press charges (profootballtalk.com)."

If this is true you have to back Roethlisberger on this one. I have been golfing many times, and I don't think I have ever made it through a course without pissing somewhere on the course. Honestly, this woman needs to chill the fuck out. It's a dick, the guy had to pee, get over it.

I doubt anything will come of this, because Reothlisberger can easily just say it was another person he was golfing with, but still the Steelers have to be getting really annoyed that Roethlisberger's dick has made more headlines then his actual play over the past year. The only concern is that if this becomes a headline story Roethlisberger might actually be suspended the full 6 games instead of having it reduced to 4.

Anyways, Big Ben should really look into purchasing one of these...

Why Not?

Why not watch a girl in a bikini golf fruit into a guys face, and then watch a bigger asshole right at the end of the video?

Nice form.

Tiger Woods Pays Wife $750 Million!

Tiger Woods is paying his wife $750 million in a divorce settlement. Oh, and you think that is crazy? Well, it only gets better. Here are some other conditions of the agreement...

- He is not allowed to have any girlfriends near their kids.
- The only women allowed around them are people who work for Tiger that his wife already knows, and Tiger's wife (if he ever has one again).
- She gets sole physical custody of their kids but they will split legal custody.

So what does Tiger get out of this. Well, his wife is can never publicly speak out over his alleged flings with socialite Rachel Uchitel, reality star Jaimee Grubbs, porn queen Joslyn James and up to 17 others. So, no tell-all books, TV spots, or anything like that. Not really a win, but at least it is something. Than again, there is really no reason for any of that is you just got paid $750 million.

Sorry, what Tiger did was wrong, but his wife doesn't deserve all this money. I mean if he gave her like $10 million, could she not get through he life easily? I mean she didn't earn this money. She didn't win those majors. She didn't do shit other then somehow not know that her husband was banging anything that moves.

Anyways, I just wanted to leave a message for Elin Nordegren... I will do anything to be with you, your body, and your newly found $750 million dollars.

Tiger Woods Announces Return

Tiger Woods announced today that he is returning to golf at the Masters. All I can say is it is about time. I have said time and again that I don't give a shit that he slept with 8,000 women. I don't look to him for my morals, all I want to see is the best golfer of all-time play golf. My only gripe during this who fiasco was that he wasn't playing golf. Now that he is back I got nothing against him, and actually I hope he crushes the competition.

Here is what Tiger had to say...

"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta," Woods said in a statement. The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played (ESPN)."

It will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to shake off that rust. He wasn't really on his A game when he left, since he was still getting over his knee surgery. Still, I think he is going to come back with a vengeance.

Tiger Woods Ready To Play

Tiger Woods has been out of golf for far too long, but it might be coming to an end. If you regularly read this site then you know I don't give a fuck that Tiger sleeps around. I don't go to golfers for my morals, and the only thing I care about Tiger is that he is the best golfer I have ever seen. Thus, I am pumped he is coming back. I feel that the media has gone after too much. Do I agree with what he has done? No, but that is between him and his wife. The only thing I have had against Tiger is that he not playing golf.

That problem could be at an end as, "Woods, according to the Post, has hired and been meeting with Ari Fleischer, former advisor to President George W. Bush, with plans to compete in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, which begins two weeks from today (Boston.com)."

Good. I just want to see him make fool of every other golfer. Fuck the the media, I hope you crush every record Tiger. Remind me why you are so much better then I willl ever be.

Ohhh John Daly

John Daly is an interesting character. People love him, and really for no other reason then he can hit a golf ball far, he's fat, and loves to get drunk. He is basically the Mike Tyson of golf. We all knew it was bad, but maybe not this bad...

According to the tour's file, Daly was placed on probation six times, was ordered to go to counseling or enter alcohol rehab seven times, and was cited for conduct unbecoming a professional 11 times.

And yet, he continues to play. Why? Because people STILL love him. If this was any other player (other then maybe Tiger Woods) he would have been thrown off the tour, and that would have been the end of it.

I would say that I have a problem with this, but in the end I don't. He does entertain me, and other then Tiger Woods, does anyone give a shit about the PGA? Plus Daly's heart will explode eventually...my hope that it is either on the golf course, or at Hooters.

Tiger Woods Speaks

This is the most over hyped news story maybe ever. Tiger apologized, and said he will continue to get help for his "sex addiction". Do I believe any of it? No, of course not, but honestly who the fuck cares?

I want Tigers Woods hitting golf balls. That's it. I don't look to him for my morals. I don't care who he is fucking. All I want is to flip on SportsCenter and see Tiger Woods doing things no other golfer can.

The only thing I am bitching about here is the fact that he is not playing right away. I don't believe he has some sex addiction, and this is really just to get the press to layoff a little bit. Fuck all that, just play golf. That's why you are the first billion dollar athlete, and that's all I care about. Other then that, everyone just layoff Tiger.

Tiger Woods In Sex Rehab

Well reports have come out that Tiger Woods is receiving treatment at a sex rehabilitation clinic in Mississippi. As far as this being a "political" move, it 100% is. I don't believe in sex addiction. Tiger Woods is rich, and had the opportunity to bang any woman he wanted (and maybe some men). He took it. That's it.

I think this is a smart move by Tiger, because he can just blame it on his "addiction". People tend to forgive a lot easier when the person is an addict. Now a sex addict will be a little harder to swallow (no pun), but still could be affective. At least this gives him a reason he has hid from the media, and when he comes back he can say he got rid of that terrible monkey off his back and tell everyone he's ready to be a model citizen again.

In the end, I truly don't care who Tiger blames (or bangs). I look to him to show me how terrible I am at golf, and that's about it. The sport blows without him, and though what he did was wrong, I don't look to athletes for my morals.

Woods Now Linked To Steroids?

"A Canadian doctor who has treated many N.F.L. players as well as Olympic medalists like Donovan Bailey and the world’s top golfer, Tiger Woods, is under criminal investigation in the United States. He is suspected of providing athletes with performance-enhancing drugs, according to several people who have been briefed on the investigation.

The F.B.I. investigation of Dr. Anthony Galea, a sports medicine specialist who has treated hundreds of professional athletes across many sports, follows his arrest on Oct. 15 in Toronto by the Canadian police. Human growth hormone and Actovegin, a drug extracted from calf’s blood, were found in his medical bag at the United States-Canada border in late September. Using, selling or importing Actovegin is illegal in the United States.

Dr. Galea is also being investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for smuggling, advertising and selling unapproved drugs as well as criminal conspiracy. He is tentatively scheduled to appear in a Canadian courtroom on Friday (Boston.com)."

Can things get any worse for Tiger? I really hope that this is not true. He is by far the best golfer I have ever seen, and is really the only reason I would watch at all. If he ends up being another great athlete who dominated his sport with the help of PEDs it would be terrible for the sport, and the backlash would be unreal. Stay tuned...

Police Want Tiger Woods' Hospital Report

"The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking a search warrant for hospital records that would document the treatment Tiger Woods received after an auto accident early Saturday morning, TMZ.com has reported, citing unnamed sources. The Florida state police, according to the Web site's report, want to determine if the injuries Woods sustained resembled those from an auto accident or domestic violence. The state police think they can show probable cause of a crime during the events that unfolded Saturday morning, the report said (ESPN)."

Woods seems like a really good guy, so I don't want to make false accusations, but this whole this seems really strange. My guess, since there didn't seem to be alcohol involved was that Tiger and his wife got in a fight, and he sped off frantically, crashed his car. That would explain why he is trying to keep everything private. I think Tiger should just come out and say what happened, because eventually the media is going to find out, and even if they don't they will just keep making up stories. Obviously, we'll keep you posted.

Here is a ESPN's take:

How To Open A Beer

The Moose Open

Well DP and I headed over to DP's father's place this weekend for the "Moose Open". Basically he had a 6 hole pitch and putt course in his backyard. In the end nor DP or I won the Championship, but who needs to when you crack a bunch of beers and play golf in the rain???

What A Terrible Idea

Why Not?

Why Not watch Sergio Garcia hit a guy in the head with a golf ball?