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Date: 15 Mar 2007 16:22:20
From: multi
Subject: Phil: I'd hit driver again
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http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=2797259
"The thought of hitting a 3-wood never crossed my mind. Still
doesn't."
"Well, let me ask this: Are Johnny Miller, Lanny Wadkins, Ben
Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Lee Trevino, Davis Love and Fred Couples great
players? Of course they are. Those are some of the game's most
heralded names. And somehow, I've won more PGA Tour events than any of
them."
"It was tough at the 2005 Masters to put the Green Jacket on Tiger
Woods when he took back the title I'd won in 2004. But it made Tiger's
putting it back on me last year 10 times sweeter."
"I'm playing perhaps the greatest player ever while he's in his prime.
It sucks losing to him, for sure, but it's a great challenge. I love
trying to beat him."
"I immediately lost 25 pounds, then put back about 10 to 15 of muscle.
I'm hoping this regimen improves my stamina so that I'll be able to
have a stronger finish."
"The U.S. Open doesn't test all of your skills because the penalty for
a missed fairway is so severe, there's no chance to recover. I think
that's why I love the Masters so much. It's a more complete test than
the Open."
"I still get asked about a comment I made four years ago about Tiger's
'inferior equipment.' I don't even want to go there, but it was meant
as a compliment."
"Still, for the two of us to meet on Sunday at Augusta, we both have
to play better than the other 90-odd players in the field. It's what
the fans want to see. And guess what?
I want it too."
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Date: 17 Mar 2007 07:50:01
From: BigPurdueFan
Subject: Re: Phil: I'd hit driver again
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> "The thought of hitting a 3-wood never crossed my mind. Still
> doesn't."
>
> "Well, let me ask this: Are Johnny Miller, Lanny Wadkins, Ben
> Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Lee Trevino, Davis Love and Fred Couples great
> players? Of course they are. Those are some of the game's most
> heralded names. And somehow, I've won more PGA Tour events than any of
> them."
Idiotic comments (and mentality) like this prevent me from rooting for
Phil. I don't root against him, but I can't root for someone this
clueless.
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Date: 16 Mar 2007 18:56:50
From: EdSmithers
Subject: Re: Phil: I'd hit driver again
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I agree with the other comment. I'm not sure why Phil is talking about
it at all. If he's got his own reasons for how he plays, so be it.
I am always interested, however, when anyone invokes Miller's name.
I'm old enough to remember seeing him play in his admittedly short
prime. I remember thinking he was twice as good as Nicklaus at that
time. I know all the complaints about his announcing and his supposed
ego, but if anyone else saw him play in the 70s, it'd be good to hear
what the unvarnished opinion of him was at the time.
Ed
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Date: 17 Mar 2007 00:18:15
From: Otto
Subject: Re: Phil: I'd hit driver again
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"EdSmithers" <spirosdarlotts@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1174096610.484395.83870@y66g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>if anyone else saw him play in the 70s, it'd be good to hear
> what the unvarnished opinion of him was at the time.
I grew up on Nicklaus in the 70's and when Miller came along it was quite a
fast burn.
Her burned hot and fast and then it was over.
Otto
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Date: 17 Mar 2007 13:30:43
From: David
Subject: Re: Phil: I'd hit driver again
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On Sat, 17 2007 00:18:15 -0500, "Otto"
<ottondebREMOVE%$#%^%$@@bellsouth.net > wrote:
>
>"EdSmithers" <spirosdarlotts@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:1174096610.484395.83870@y66g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>>if anyone else saw him play in the 70s, it'd be good to hear
>> what the unvarnished opinion of him was at the time.
>
>
>I grew up on Nicklaus in the 70's and when Miller came along it was quite a
>fast burn.
>
>Her burned hot and fast and then it was over.
But like a giant fireball in the sky, it was a true thing of beauty
to watch.
>Otto
David
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Date: 16 Mar 2007 11:29:41
From: David
Subject: Re: Phil: I'd hit driver again
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On Thu, 15 2007 16:22:20 -0700, multi <multi@asm.org > wrote:
>http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=2797259
>
>"The thought of hitting a 3-wood never crossed my mind. Still
>doesn't."
>
>"Well, let me ask this: Are Johnny Miller, Lanny Wadkins, Ben
>Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Lee Trevino, Davis Love and Fred Couples great
>players? Of course they are. Those are some of the game's most
>heralded names. And somehow, I've won more PGA Tour events than any of
>them."
Was he talking about the Lee Trevino who won 6 tournaments in 1971,
including 3 national championships that year? The same Trevino who
won four tournaments the following year, inlcuding repeating at The
Open? The same Trevino who got struck by lightening, in 1973, and
required surgery, which undoubtedly adversely affected his game after
that? The same Trevino who won at least eon tournament very year from
1968 to 1981?
David Love III will not go down as one of the greatest golfers ever,
although he has had a solid career spanning some 21 years now. DLIII
has hit some of the most amazing shots I have ever seen, and he has a
great swing; however, he is also one of "those" golfers who never
quite realized his potential.
Couples, the man who owns the swing I would most like to have, had a
couple of very good years, but his putting was always suspect. I was
rooting hard for him to win the Master's, and altough he played the
best golf from tee to green of anyone on Sunday, his putting let him
down again.
Tom Kite was one of the most consistent golfers to ever play the
game. He was a perenially top-ten player. He was the all-time
leading money winner many times on the tour, as well as leading money
winner in 1981 and 1989. He also garnered two Vardon Trophies during
his career.
Miller lost his form after a meteroic start to his career. It did
not help that Nicklaus and Watson were dominating during the latter
part of the 70's. When Miller was at the peak of his game, he may
have been the best that ever struck a golf ball. Watching him as a
boy in my early teens, I was awestruck at his ability to knock down
flagsticks.
>"It was tough at the 2005 Masters to put the Green Jacket on Tiger
>Woods when he took back the title I'd won in 2004. But it made Tiger's
>putting it back on me last year 10 times sweeter."
>"I'm playing perhaps the greatest player ever while he's in his prime.
>It sucks losing to him, for sure, but it's a great challenge. I love
>trying to beat him."
Trevino, Kite, and Miller were playing against at least two of the
greatest players ever while they were in their primes, and they were
playing against each other, as well, during their primes.
Phil had a five year headstart on Woods. That is five years that he
could have been the best player in the world, but he wasn't. In fact,
during his first five years as a professional, he won eight
times--four of those victories coming in 1996--and was blanked his
first year on the tour. After winning a PGA event as an amateur, much
more was expected if Phil.
He still could have produced great numbers after Woods came on to
the Tour, but his desire to hit the great shot when a very good shot
would do has kept him from winning more and he could have actually
taken some of those numbers away from Woods.
>"I immediately lost 25 pounds, then put back about 10 to 15 of muscle.
>I'm hoping this regimen improves my stamina so that I'll be able to
>have a stronger finish."
>
>"The U.S. Open doesn't test all of your skills because the penalty for
>a missed fairway is so severe, there's no chance to recover. I think
>that's why I love the Masters so much. It's a more complete test than
>the Open."
>
>"I still get asked about a comment I made four years ago about Tiger's
>'inferior equipment.' I don't even want to go there, but it was meant
>as a compliment."
>
>"Still, for the two of us to meet on Sunday at Augusta, we both have
>to play better than the other 90-odd players in the field. It's what
>the fans want to see. And guess what?
Going back to 2000, it looks more like there is one golfer to beat,
and maybe five golfers who have an outside chance, than 90 players.
Except for Mike Weir winning in 2003, it has been Mickelson and Woods,
with Singh winning in 2000.
>I want it too."
His interview to me was weak and reconciliatory. He is a great
student of the game, but he needed to look past the numbers. He
should have simply stated that if he could get his head out of his ass
he would win more, and should have won more in the past. The fact
that the thought of hitting a 3-wood did not, and still doesn't cross
his mind, is a direct indication of what is game is lacking. He has
the skill set to beat anyone. If he could spend just one entire
season making proper course management decisions, a la Nicklaus,
Woods, he would be more than pleasantly surprised at the outcome and
he may kick himself in the ass for not doing so his entire career.
David
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