U.S. Open

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by GPK

Seve got by on guts and imagination. Probably one of the worst ballstrikers to ever make a living out there.

the up and down against watson in the '84 british open - simply amazing and then the bridie from the parking lot against nick price in the '88 open just remarkable

he could will the ball into the hole as good as anyone

[Rupert Pupkin]

It seems like things have really changed over the past 10 years or so. Back in the 1990s when you came to a major like the US Open, there were only about 10 guys or so that could win. Nowadays there are over 100 guys that could win. Maybe my memory is selective, but I don't remember a whole lot of guys winning US Opens in the 80s and 90s that only had one career PGA Tour win.

I don't know if this is good for the game or bad from the game. You could make arguments both ways.

Kev, what do you think? Why is it that there are so many guys that can win a US Open now as compared to 10 or 15 years ago? Is this good for the game?

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

It seems like things have really changed over the past 10 years or so. Back in the 1990s when you came to a major like the US Open, there were only about 10 guys or so that could win. Nowadays there are over 100 guys that could win. Maybe my memory is selective, but I don't remember a whole lot of guys winning US Opens in the 80s and 90s that only had one career PGA Tour win.

I don't know if this is good for the game or bad from the game. You could make arguments both ways.

Kev, what do you think? Why is it that there are so many guys that can win a US Open now as compared to 10 or 15 years ago? Is this good for the game?

Hey Richie...hope you're doing well.

I think technology (especially the golf ball) has played a huge role in "leveling the playing field". I also think the development of the Nationwide tour has played a major role in the psychological aspect through confidence gained.

I also think the "second tier" players of today are better players than those "second tier" players from years past. I think they are more apt to catch lightning in a bottle (like Lucas Glover).

I'm not sure if this is good or not. Like you said, it could be argued either way.

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

It seems like things have really changed over the past 10 years or so. Back in the 1990s when you came to a major like the US Open, there were only about 10 guys or so that could win. Nowadays there are over 100 guys that could win. Maybe my memory is selective, but I don't remember a whole lot of guys winning US Opens in the 80s and 90s that only had one career PGA Tour win.

I don't know if this is good for the game or bad from the game. You could make arguments both ways.

Kev, what do you think? Why is it that there are so many guys that can win a US Open now as compared to 10 or 15 years ago? Is this good for the game?

steve jones and scott simpson were not household names in the 80's and 90's but they got the trophy

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by gales0678

steve jones and scott simpson were not household names in the 80's and 90's but they got the trophy

I think Steve Jones had at least a few wins at the time. He may have even had 5 or 6.

Scott Simpson was a guy who always played well at the US Open.

Lucas Gover is a really good player but he only had one lifetime career win on the PGA Tour.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I think Steve Jones had at least a few wins at the time. He may have even had 5 or 6.

Scott Simpson was a guy who always played well at the US Open.

Lucas Gover is a really good player but he only had one lifetime career win on the PGA Tour.

Simpson also had won about 6 times before he won the US Open in 87.

Best looking swings:

1. Miller Barber
2. Lee Trevino
3. Arnie

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by GPK

Simpson also had won about 6 times before he won the US Open in 87.

Yes, exactly. That's what you would expect. If the top two guys don't win, you would expect someone to win that has won at least 4 or 5 times. That's what always made the US Open unique. It wasn't just any ordinary tournament that anyone could win. The conditions were so tough and the pressure was so great that there were only a handful of guys capable of winning. Now there are over 100 guys that can win.

It's great in the sense that it's nice to see an underdog win and we all like a Cinderella story. But by the same token, the thing that always made the US Open so prestigious was that it was so hard to win that there were only a handful of guys capable of winning.

So I don't know if it's a good or bad thing that there are so many guys capable of winning. I have mixed feelings about it.

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Yes, exactly. That's what you would expect. If the top two guys don't win, you would expect someone to win that has won at least 4 or 5 times. That's what always made the US Open unique. It wasn't just any ordinary tournament that anyone could win. The conditions were so tough and the pressure was so great that there were only a handful of guys capable of winning. Now there are over 100 guys that can win.

It's great in the sense that it's nice to see an underdog win and we all like a Cinderella story. But by the same token, the thing that always made the US Open so prestigious was that it was so hard to win that there were only a handful of guys capable of winning.

So I don't know if it's a good or bad thing that there are so many guys capable of winning. I have mixed feelings about it.

there are just MORE better players today , than ever before , that being said Jack Fleck did beat the best US Open player to ever play in the tournamnet in a 18 hole playoff which has to rank up there as the greatest upset in tournament history if not in all of sports history and prevented Mr Hogan from getting his record 5th title (others claim he has 5 from his win in the 1942 north/south open , dan jenkins wrote a piece about this once)

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by GPK

Simpson also had won about 6 times before he won the US Open in 87.

the avg golf fan that goes to these tournamnets would never be able to pick put scott or steve out on the street prior to them winning them open , just like they wouldn't be able to pick out lucas glover......now ray floyds , curtis strange , ernie els , and tiger ----couldn't walk on the street without getting bothered by even non-glofing fans