Farmers Insurance Open 2011

Thought I would put up a thread where people can discuss this weeks action on the PGA tour. Tiger and Phil are back in action so in some ways it is the real start of the year on the PGA tour.

Last time out for Tiger must have left him with a hint of embarrassment after blowing a 54 hole lead to Graeme MacDowell in playoff. Not the sort of thing that would have sat well with Tiger over the Christmas period. We can only hope his new practice facility has left his game as sharp as the old days.

http://www.tigerwoods.com/design/jupiter_island.html

For a bit of UK interest Justin Rose, who no longer competes on the European tour, will also be in action. It would be good to see him get the year of to a solid start so he can maintain the confidence gained through last seasons wins.

The action will be played out over the Torrey Pines complex, scene of tigers us open win on one leg, near San Diego, California. Both the north and south courses will be used. In theory they are public courses, but with green fees of over $200 for non residents it is hardly like the muni's we know. Although seeing Tiger navigate some local Neds drinking buckie would be a fine sight.

Can you imagine Phil with no shirt drinking some tennants super!

I wonder if Justin will re-join after 'being forced' for give up his membership last year. In reality he missed the early season co-sanctioned events due being out of the top 50 and chose not to make the effort to play late season euro tour events to make up the minimum. I am assuming he has no exemption status now? Although as a former No.1 he get's into any tournament he choses? Its pretty confusing... I'm none the wiser...

Sergio could face a similar situation as i don't think he would be in the feild for the WGC Matchplay or Cadallac Championship or Masters as it stands... In fact i'd be interested to know his exemtion status for the majors...

Tiger seems to have a a solid if unspectacular start to the Farmers, i thnk thats what we will see from him this year, a couple of wins and maybe some major contention...not many missed cuts, lots of top 20's...

Was that an F-Bomb I heard Tiger drop just now which sculling one out of a fairway bunker?

I think it was the F-bomb. Am I the only one who was a little disappointed when he claimed he would top showing anger on the course. So good to see he still has the little curse when things go wrong, we all do it why should he have to hide it.

Yup def used the F word - nothing changes and maybe it's better that way!

Rossa, Sergio's in the Masters field thanks to his Players win in 08... don't think he's exempt to any of the other majors or wgcs though. Needs a good few weeks to get his ranking moving back upwards again.

Ned, I think that TPC win gets in the US Open as well... I think well see him back in the Top 50 by the beginning of July...

Would anyone else really like to see the course a little firmer than what the players already seem a little disturbed by. I would love to see the pro's cope with fast and firm conditions.

I expected Tiger to be almost back to normal by now. He played some great golf when coming 2nd to GMac (Even though he blew up on the final day) So I expected he would have been pushing himself and sorting his new swing out over the break. Then I hear he's only had Foley for 6-hours per week, which seems crazy. Watching him last night was like watching a petulant schoolboy at times and I'm sorry to say that unless he sorts it out, he'll lose a lot more golf fans this year. I'm one of the Tiger admirers and hoped to see him back as he's one of the all-time greats, if not the greatest. But I'm not liking this behaviour and I'm afraid the best PR guru's are not going to be able to keep the fans from defecting.

Agree on balance yesterday's performance wasn't what most were expecting. Driving was off, couldn't get to any par 5s in 2 due to missing fairways... He's was 2 behing Daly and Phil after playing the easier course...

You still hear players like Kaymer/McDowell saying he's the greatest ever (which i disagree on) but i don't think they even believe its the case, its almost like it it takes pressure off them while piling it on Tiger... its like they are saying "hey remember how good you used to be, Tiger?" while inside they are probably going "this guy can't drive it straight for toffee and his putting has deserted him, he's there for the taking...."

It would make life much easier for Tiger if if Westwood, Kaymer and McDowell just said they didn't fear him anymore.... but these guys are are quite clever, they've learned from Sabbatini/Ames... and as a result they are putting it all on Tiger.... which at the moment he's struggling with...

Cue 3 66's and and 6 shot victory for Tiger...

Looks to me that his game is finally coming together at last, it was only a matter of time, and now I think we are in for a cracking year, Gmac playing well again, Westwood solid, Kaymer keeping up the pace he had last year and looks like he still has another level to go up, all th is combined with Tiger's game looking more where it should be then the top 5 rankings make for avid viewing.

My man Sergio hopefully can get his game on this year too as I feel he can challenge any of the above if he's got his head back in check. 8)

Mav when I saw Tiger lose out to Gmac I was convinced that his game was almost back and fully expected that the new season would prove his doubters wrong. On last nights showing I think he was better at the end of last season than he is now, but hope I'm wrong and he wins this thing.

Did the 'new Tiger' label have a bad affect on Sergio due to all the pressure that goes with it. Sergio has always been brilliant and only fell short at the final hurdle in majors because Tiger, Phil, Duval etc were in their pomp. maybe the longer it went on for Sergio not acheiving 'new Tiger' status was a big reason. If that's the case then I hope Rory can overcome it and maybe a good reason why he's opted to stay on the ET this year?

Will start off by saying I am no fan of Tiger Woods. Admire his ability on the golf course - without question one of the greatest players ever, but always found his demeanour on the course pretty hard to take. Couldn't really care less about his extra-curricular activities, but do object to surliness, swearing and club chucking on the course.

It appears to me that Tiger will probably win again this year at some point - whether it's a major is another question, but hopefully there will be no domination by any one player and we might see a great era dawning where the old guard (Tiger Phil and LW) struggle to maintain their edge over a whole range of the new guard of mid 20's down the way.

Tiger now 5 back, what would constitute a successful weekend for him? Given last years form I would say any run at the win and a top 5 finish would show that he is on the right track.

A very poor day for Martin Laird yesterday shooting a miserable 75 and missing the cut.

Not sure if anyone else cares but after a year dogged by injury I was pleased to see anthony Kim back to some exciting form.

Looks like TW going backwards at a great rate of knots, certainly still a work in progress.

Meanwhile, Bubba starts a charge, for me currently the most interesting Yank to watch.

Got to say, Simon Holmes in the studio is a huge improvement on last nights effort too.

seen as the original 606 will shut any sec we can dissect phils comeback here?

JAS wrote:Looks like TW going backwards at a great rate of knots, certainly still a work in progress.

Meanwhile, Bubba starts a charge, for me currently the most interesting Yank to watch.

Got to say, Simon Holmes in the studio is a huge improvement on last nights effort too.

Does Simon Holmes come out with interesting stuff? I must admit I never pay attention to what he says, I'm always distracted by his rubber face :suspect:

Can I just say I predicted the phil comeback before the wonder approach on 17.

Brilliant birdie from Philo on 17, what can Bubba do on 18?

Oops by Bubba and huge oops by Vegas...

Phil's not going to be able to go in 2, he's going to have to hope Bubba doesn't get up and down.

1GrumpyGolfer wrote:Oops by Bubba and huge oops by Vegas...

Phil's not going to be able to go in 2, he's going to have to hope Bubba doesn't get up and down.

I blessing in disguise for phil, i would much rather see him come in with a sw as opposed to a 3/4 iron.

Not a bad effort from Bubba from the back of the bunker. Tricky putt for the win.

Wonder if Phil will get the SW approach or go do or die. The crowd noise would dictate.

Good shot from Bubba, but Phil still has a chance.

Wow, Phil has to hole now with his wedge. Why didn't he wait??

Brilliant stuff from Bubba.

ahh rudey poo no chance for phil now. not sure I am a bubba fan,

If Phil does hole it, how would Bubba react?

He's tending the flag, wow!

How cool was that, lets face it the europeans can go on all day about the OWGR but nothing matches the PGA tour for drama.

Hunter & Candy, I think it may be safe to say there wont be too many Hunters & Candy's on 606. Took him ages to get the sun visor for the Escort in all fairness though. Great effort from Phil though.

Great finish by Blubba Watson. Pushed all the way to the end by Phil.

Going with Kwini's theme lads, I think its safe to say the boys are back in town, great climax to a drama filled tourney. Congrats to Bubba in the end, he produced when he had to.