Golf

Strewth! Cameron Smith won the somewhat delayed Players Championship, ahead of Anirban Lahiri. Paul Casey came 3rd.

Last years runner-up, Scottie Scheffler went one better, & won the WCG Match Play title, his 3rd victory in 2022. The win has taken him to number one in the world rankings, a position which Jon Rahm has held for 36 weeks.

I see that World no 33 Kevin Na has resigned from the PGA of America to avoid punishment for choosing to participate in events on the controversial LIV International series which has Saudi backing.

I hope the US crowds saw a golden opportunity to sing that US crowd fave "Na na na hey hey goodbye".

Rory McIlroy has successfully retained his Canadian Open title in Toronto on the PGA Tour.
He posted a final round 62 to claim a two shot victory over Tony Finau.
A timely win going into the upcoming US Open at Brookline

A mention for Linn Grant who won (and by a margin) the first mixed event on the PGA Tour at the Scandinavian Open! Not sure why her win has garnered such a 'revelatory' reaction though, with headlines in bold 30 point print, and a response from the tv media, which would have you believe she has somehow achieved the unthinkable!! She won a golf tournament - that is it, and to see it any other way, insults her and the skills she put on show. What exactly was it that made her victory so outstanding?? The short distance from the ladies tee, back to the mens'?? and the supposed advantage it gave her?? Really........come on!! that is no distance at all, a child could throw a ball further than that. It was on merit alone, just the same as Rory McIlroy winning the Canadian Open.

I couldn't find any up to date stats for the LET, but I'm sure the US & European Tours will compare, so the PGA (men) has an average drive of around 295 yards, the LPGA averages around 255 yards. If you disregard par 3s, you can say that women give up 30 yards for each of the 18 hoes, which equates to 720 yards, In this tournament the men played the course at 7,001, & the women 5,929. That gives the women around a 350 yard advantage, which would equate to about 4 shots. Not insignificant, but Grant still won by 9 shots. This is still a simplistic comparison. In reality the women would be playing many more shorter approach shots that the men, so hitting more accurate wedge shots, as opposed to less accurate mid or long irons, or woods. Water hazards & bunkers would come into play more for men.
Whilst this was an outstanding achievement, it would be fair to say that she finished 14 shots ahead of the next woman, but in effect played a different course to the men.
Very apt that the join hosts were Stenson , who was runner-up, & Sorenstam, arguably the greatest ever woman's golfer, who has competed in regular tournaments against men, off the same tees, but finished way off the pace.

(13-06-2022 21:11 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  I couldn't find any up to date stats for the LET, but I'm sure the US & European Tours will compare, so the PGA (men) has an average drive of around 295 yards, the LPGA averages around 255 yards. If you disregard par 3s, you can say that women give up 30 yards for each of the 18 hoes, which equates to 720 yards, In this tournament the men played the course at 7,001, & the women 5,929. That gives the women around a 350 yard advantage, which would equate to about 4 shots. Not insignificant, but Grant still won by 9 shots. This is still a simplistic comparison. In reality the women would be playing many more shorter approach shots that the men, so hitting more accurate wedge shots, as opposed to less accurate mid or long irons, or woods. Water hazards & bunkers would come into play more for men.
Whilst this was an outstanding achievement, it would be fair to say that she finished 14 shots ahead of the next woman, but in effect played a different course to the men.
Very apt that the join hosts were Stenson , who was runner-up, & Sorenstam, arguably the greatest ever woman's golfer, who has competed in regular tournaments against men, off the same tees, but finished way off the pace.

I am not sure that merely adding the individual yardage differences to make up a full course yardage comparison is the most accurate of equations Booms - the tee differences are individual measurements on their own., and played as such. Yes it may change the hole configuration, but I question whether the water hazards and/or bunkers come into play as you suggest (course dependent) as now most men can muscle their way past them from the tee, or deliberately play short of them, so status quo??

The point about more accurate shots and greater club selection(if I have understood correctly) variety is the one aspect that I think the most interesting, as - in turn - this means that the ladies are finding - and utilising - a greater degree of shot innovation/execution, at least quite often?? Something that the mens game sadly lacks now.

I would be interested to know (don't think the work has been done on this) how many of the clubs in the bag as a whole, the men make use of today, as opposed to - say - in the great Seve's hay day?? I suspect it is a lot fewer. Thankfully at the great St Andrews in a few weeks, a lot more than strong arm tactics should be needed.

A great comment about how many of the 14 clubs that are allowed, actually get used n the men's game. With the big hitters, it's often , driver, wedge on most holes, & I include par 5s. It's not uncommon for pros to carry 3 or 4 wedges. Known as the scoring clubs, big hitter DJ worked hard at his wedge play, & became world No.1, Rory has been poor in this area, & his win on Sunday was in part down to great short irons.
It's very rare to see modern day pros hit fairway woods, or metals as they are commonly known as. Even long irons get used sparingly. Lee Trevino once said "even god couldn't hit a 1 iron" This week a comment was made about a Tour Pro who longest iron was a 5.
For me a good test of golfing ability, is a course that requires you to use all of your 14 clubs during a round.
When I play a practice round, & especially in winter, I will sometimes go off the ladies tees, in order to hit more irons. My home course has been lengthen over it's 25 years, now approaching 7000 yards, & as I'm only average, at best, in terms of length off the tee, I can often find myself hitting fairway woods for my approach shots. Thankfully it's a strong part of my game, but I don't want to neglect my iron play. Last years PGA Championship at Kiawah Island 7,876 yards. we will see an 8,000 yard layout in a major before long.
The amateur & pro game are miles apart today, modern equipment hasn't actually seen anything like as big a shift in driving distance for amateurs, as it has for pros. Perhaps improvements in technique & fitness has contributed.
I was given some good advice, very early in my playing days, when i was told that it was better use of my money, to have regular golf lessons, rather than chase improvement by constantly buying the latest equipment.

(14-06-2022 12:21 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  A great comment about how many of the 14 clubs that are allowed, actually get used n the men's game. With the big hitters, it's often , driver, wedge on most holes, & I include par 5s. It's not uncommon for pros to carry 3 or 4 wedges. Known as the scoring clubs, big hitter DJ worked hard at his wedge play, & became world No.1, Rory has been poor in this area, & his win on Sunday was in part down to great short irons.
It's very rare to see modern day pros hit fairway woods, or metals as they are commonly known as. Even long irons get used sparingly. Lee Trevino once said "even god couldn't hit a 1 iron" This week a comment was made about a Tour Pro who longest iron was a 5.
For me a good test of golfing ability, is a course that requires you to use all of your 14 clubs during a round.
When I play a practice round, & especially in winter, I will sometimes go off the ladies tees, in order to hit more irons. My home course has been lengthen over it's 25 years, now approaching 7000 yards, & as I'm only average, at best, in terms of length off the tee, I can often find myself hitting fairway woods for my approach shots. Thankfully it's a strong part of my game, but I don't want to neglect my iron play. Last years PGA Championship at Kiawah Island 7,876 yards. we will see an 8,000 yard layout in a major before long.
The amateur & pro game are miles apart today, modern equipment hasn't actually seen anything like as big a shift in driving distance for amateurs, as it has for pros. Perhaps improvements in technique & fitness has contributed.
I was given some good advice, very early in my playing days, when i was told that it was better use of my money, to have regular golf lessons, rather than chase improvement by constantly buying the latest equipment.

I completely agree with you Booms that a true test of golfing ability, is having to use all the clubs in the bag. According to many (the sky comms team - experts also apparently) people want to see birdie after birdie etc. I don't buy it! I am not keen on golf at all, but the type I do get some enjoyment from watching, is one where the winner has compiled a score (on a 288 shot 4 - round par score course) of no better than 2 to 5 under. The U.S Open got it right in seeking par for the winning number, until so many people complained it was too difficult! Boo Hoo!! Suck it up rich boys!! It is/was a much better watch.