2019 GOLF

Michcusejoe -- how did you do at Torrey Pines? Justin Rose still on top of the world. A nice final round from Tiger, shaking off the rust. Jordan Spieth still lagging in the middle of the field. Rory not making the big putts.

Phoenix up next. Matsuyama has won this one twice, and I would not be shocked to see him in the running again. Gary Woodland took it last year, and I expect him to be competitive as well. This field is not as strong as Torrey Pines, but still it has Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau as well as Rickie, Bubba, Kuch and Phil, who has taken this one three times, although not since 2013.

I used to like the mild rowdiness at Phoenix as something different for golf, but now the always-plentiful drunks seem determined to outdo themselves every year. It's not as funny as it used to be, and I think the golfers, who used to like it, are starting to get annoyed.

Next Saturday will be Johnny Miller's last broadcast after 29 years with NBC. I have to admit that his hypercritical remarks could get on my nerves at times, and more importantly they could get on the players' nerves. He doled out praise very sparingly. But I guess that is better than being a butt-kisser like some of them are. He is of course very knowledgeable.

For two years in the mid-70s he was as good as anybody in golf -- twelve wins in two years, including five of the first eleven events in 1974. It looked like he would take the mantle from Jack. But he could not sustain it. It's easy to picture him with the floppy blond hair and loud pants during his brief period of absolute brilliance.

Hey Joe, don't worry, I won't make it a weekly inquest!!  It just helps me focus on golf a bit more, but like baseball I could talk about it every day of the year,  Still, sounds like you are making some good selections.

I too am concerned about Spieth's play since his monster season a couple of years back.  I thought that he really might be the next big thing, but boy that is a hard thing to be in the post-Tiger Era.  Lots of claimants to the throne -- Rory, Spieth, Day, DJ, now Rose -- but nobody stays there long.  Fowler should have won more tour events by now.  I am starting to think that like Sergio Garcia, that major win may come late in the day.  If at all.

I agree that for how great of a golfer he is, Justin Rose gets seriously downplayed.  I love his game, plus he is a good guy with a special connection to my home turf near Philly -- he won his first major at Merion at the US Open in 2013, won the AT&T at Aronimink in 2010, and lost in a playoff at the BMW also at Aronimink last year.  I was at each of those events.  Merion is the only US Golf Club where Rosie has a membership and he is pretty much considered an honorary Philadelphian.  He is definitely one of my favorites.

I saw another stat that surprised me during Sunday's broadcast.  Jim Furyk, who grew up not far from me in West Chester, PA, has more top ten finishes in PGA events than any other golfer in this century.  More than Tiger or Phil.  I would never have guessed that one.  Actually I have always found him painful to watch with his dawdling style and bland personality.  It seemed like in his heyday his typical tournament would have him right in with the leaders on Friday, then fall way back on Saturday, then make a big charge on Sunday when he was out of contention, but enough to move up the leaderboard to collect a big paycheck.

No pipps I love it! Love talking golf.

Inger, I thought you were already watching golf.  You sure sound like you know what's going on.  Personally, I like watching it most at this time of year, when it's cold here and the sun is going down at 5 PM, but it's warm and sunny and three hours earlier at Torrey Pines or La Quinta or TPC Scottsdale.  It's just me, my gin and tonic, and Jim Nantz or Dan Hicks or Mike Tirico or whoever.  And often my wife -- golf is the only sport she will watch.

I only have so much time I devote to watching sports on TV.  The bulk of it goes to baseball, of course.  But as the years go by I have cut way back on NBA or NFL or NHL, and golf has filled that slot.  As I happily approach senility, baseball and golf solidify their spots as my two greatest sports loves.   Old man sports.  Although people have been calling baseball an old man sport that was losing its youth appeal since at least the mid-1970s.

The idea of hitting the links in the sunny southwest sounds great, my friend.  I am many years removed from playing real golf, but if I ever get the sticks out again, you would be the perfect partner.

Hmm, nope havent heard of that one. Is it this course I found on Google in Pueblo, CO?

Yeah, I think it would be the exact opposite of Augusta National, but both are worth experiencing.  My wife and I did go to The Masters a few years ago, and it is one of the all-time great sports experiences.  Like playing golf in a botanical garden.  And so well-organized, and despite some of the reputation in the media, actually very friendly and casual in the best sense.  Even the drunks are well-behaved.

I still have Waste Management on my to-do list, along with Bay Hill and The Memorial.