Well done Rory

As much as I wanted Rory to win, I actually think Bryson did well in the circumstances. He was fighting all week to find his game - at a place like Augusta, he was last in the stats for approach play, which is so important, so he was doing something pretty special to hang in there. On the final day I don't think he was mentally found wanting - his game wasn't really there all week, but he battled to the end.

And you only had to look at the US Open when he fought and hung in there and ground Rory down - both these players have a lot of heart and are great for the game - no doubt Bryson will be back also.

The mental side of the game has always been an issue for Rory - not everyone is naturally mentally strong but he's been working on it and just about held it together - but this should hopefully feel like a big release, and he can now go about his business without that added pressure. I feel this is a real turning point in his career

comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 32 minutes ago
I think Woods was a physical challenge, after bad injury.

If Rose had won last night he would have been older than Tiger at 43, so while competing at that age makes it a more remarkable achievement, the greatest part was what Tiger had battled back from.

I think Rory's is all about the mental challenge and the pressure that had been building on him for a decade. You can see how that has impacted on him over the years and yesterday too, how the simple suddenly became impossible.

I think the mental game is the much tougher one to conquer and that is why Rory's achievement was so remarkable, battling back multiple times in 18+1 holes from huge disappointments. You saw how DeChambeau reacted to adversity, he couldn't keep his game together.

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Agreed, definitely more of a psychical challenge for woods although he needed mental strength to get over the line it’s something Woods has never really suffered with.
However I can imagine Rory having flashbacks to 2011 when he had what could only be described as a final round meltdown, that must of been praying on his mind especially when he was 4 shots clear then they disappeared.

It really is some competition when you think you see some great scores coming in on day one like this year Rose -7 and yet after the final round -11 is the winning score, give Faldo credit he did call it on Friday said we’ll be looking around -12 to win on Sunday, it really is some course, shame they’d never host the Ryder Cup there, it would be something to behold.

comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
comment by Dave The Jackal (U22179)
posted 29 minutes ago

BTW, no idea how Scheffler finished only 3 back in the end. By his standards he was hacking it round for the last 3 days, relying on insane levels of scrambling round the greens.
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He was the player I most feared for McIlroy. I disagree with your summary though and re my comment earlier he plays a percentage game - normally annoyingly accurate but punished more severely at the National.. Great player but boringly accurate and safe but sure capable of scrambling. Isn't #1 for no reason but its like watching Steve Davis versus Hendry or White, Harry Kane versus Salah.
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I’d generally agree about Scheffler’s superb percentage game tee to green, but he didn’t have that at all at Augusta. He was anything but “boringly accurate”. He was all over the shop by his standards, and only got anywhere near the final shake up with off the charts scrambling. If he’d had just normal long game he’d have won easily. Thank fook he didn’t.

BTW, BdC’s game was pretty similar, until the wheels came off on Sunday. Mental scrambling was keeping him in it before that, but I doubted he’d maintain that all the way through … and he didn’t disappoint.

I think it puts into perspective just how good both Tiger and Jack were. You could argue Rory is more naturally talented and obviously a great champion, but the mental strength that the other 2 had, and especially Tiger, who was such a great front runner and just seemed to thrive on the pressure is unbelievable.

I think at a place like Augusta you can't be completely on it for all 4 days - both Rory and Rose had 2 great days and 2 average ones.

And not to take anything away from Rose, but he had a bit of a free swing at it on Sunday - there was little pressure on him, he was just going for it knowing no-one expected him to win and was just looking to post a clubhouse score. We have seen in the past players come back from a few back whilst those in the lead crumble a bit because they had ben under pressure from the get-go. Of course Rose still needs to go out and shoot the score but chasing rather than being chased is always considered easier

* … ‘his normal long game’ even.

comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 2 hours, 29 minutes ago
Well done to Rory on finally getting a major.

Whilst congratulations other sports people, well done to van der Poel on winning Paris Roubaix for the third year running. Quite an amazing feat, in one of the toughest competitions a human can compete in.
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Admin, can we get this off-topic post deleted?

Mad how Woods could drive a wee ball on the end of a stick 350 yards right down the middle but put him in a car and he's in the trees.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 58 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 2 hours, 29 minutes ago
Well done to Rory on finally getting a major.

Whilst congratulations other sports people, well done to van der Poel on winning Paris Roubaix for the third year running. Quite an amazing feat, in one of the toughest competitions a human can compete in.
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Admin, can we get this off-topic post deleted?
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RR - Once you have cycled on the cobbles of Roubaix and Flanders, you realise nothing comes close.

Rory is the Man United of Golf. Has to win stuff the hard way and very painfully for himself and all his supporters

But he got there in the end with a couple of outrageous golf shots... and a couple of not so good ones. Bad luck Rosie too. Anybody else than Rory and he would have won it himself.

Best TV sport I've watched for ages.

I'll take your word for it Busby!