US Amateur

[Duct Tape]

Match play began today at Hazeltine Golf Club, Chaska , MN, after a 14 for 11 play-in.  One of my favorite golf events of the year. 
 

Round of 32 tomorrow:
 

https://championships.usga.org/usamateur/2024/scoring.html 

 

Edited August 15, 2024 by Duct Tape

[jdl]

Highlights from yesterday, mostly following Clanton and Sargent matches:

 

https://championships.usga.org/usamateur/2024/videos/highlights/08/14/2024-u-s--amateur-extended-highlights--round-of-64-6360424995112.html

 

Also FYI there is a thread on this here.

[Duct Tape]

2 hours ago, jdl said:

Highlights from yesterday, mostly following Clanton and Sargent matches:

 

https://championships.usga.org/usamateur/2024/videos/highlights/08/14/2024-u-s--amateur-extended-highlights--round-of-64-6360424995112.html

 

Also FYI there is a thread on this here.

Missed that. But then I guess I consider the US Men’s Amateur to be more than just “Juniors/College” Golf Talk. Even though plenty of that age are competing. 

[MattyO1984]

Coverage in the UK is trash! Sky not showing anything this week so far. Last year, we got highlights of the final, the week after it was played and nothing else. Pretty pathetic, especially when Sky having the rights to show the highlights means that our location cannot access anything that the USGA posts. 

[Duct Tape]

2 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

Coverage in the UK is trash! Sky not showing anything this week so far. Last year, we got highlights of the final, the week after it was played and nothing else. Pretty pathetic, especially when Sky having the rights to show the highlights means that our location cannot access anything that the USGA posts. 

Matty, all I see is Peacock and possibly Golf Channel later in the day. 

[mikekim251]

so many of the top amateurs eliminated already in the round of 64 or not even making the cut on stroke play.

 

hazeltine is not an inspiring course, but it does play tough. 

 

 

[gripandrip]

If Luke Clanton can keep standing and winning after how much golf he has played in the last few days, it will be truly miraculous.

Edited August 15, 2024 by gripandrip

[StoutKing]

US Am is a major in my eyes.  Very hard to win and prestigious

[TiScape]

9 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

US Am is a major in my eyes.  Very hard to win and prestigious

So the 6th major?

[gripandrip]

30 minutes ago, gripandrip said:

If Luke Clanton can keep standing and winning after how much golf he has played in the last few days, it will be truly miraculous.

Unfortunately... looks like he isn't superman. Lost 1 UP to Buchanan. 

Edited August 15, 2024 by gripandrip

[Duct Tape]

How are others seeing the match scores?  On the USGA link, the players pictures and names show up with the score in between but no arrow (unlike yesterday’s web page) is showing to indicate who was the winner. 
 

Tried on iPad, iPhone and desktop. 

[Shilgy]

And it looks like just one of the top 10 in stroke play will reach the round of 16 in match play.

 

Based on finish in the stoke play…..number of players in round of 16.

60’s 2

50’s2 (1 match pending could add one)

40’s 3 (1 match pending could add one)

30’s 1

20’s 5

teens 1

0-9 1

 

To me it shows how much depth their is in top level amateur golf AND what a different animal match play is compared to stroke play.

[Shilgy]

7 minutes ago, Duct Tape said:

How are others seeing the match scores?  On the USGA link, the players pictures and names show up with the score in between but no arrow (unlike yesterday’s web page) is showing to indicate who was the winner. 
 

Tried on iPad, iPhone and desktop. 

Use the USGA app

 

 

[notsohard]

1 hour ago, Duct Tape said:

How are others seeing the match scores?  On the USGA link, the players pictures and names show up with the score in between but no arrow (unlike yesterday’s web page) is showing to indicate who was the winner. 
 

Tried on iPad, iPhone and desktop. 

I'm watching it live outside the US... can't understand why you guys can't watch it. 

[Christen_The_Sloop]

It just came on here in Japan after the Fed ex. Nice.

[jdl]

2 hours ago, notsohard said:

I'm watching it live outside the US... can't understand why you guys can't watch it. 

It's been on Peacock for almost 3 hours now.

[TiScape]

2 hours ago, notsohard said:

I'm watching it live outside the US... can't understand why you guys can't watch it. 

Yeah seriously. It’s not so hard! SMH 

 

 

*sorry, couldn’t resist 

[StoutKing]

Love the competition but too much driver wedge on every par 4.  USGA needs to get some balls and really roll back the equipment and bring back some decision making and well rounded skills to the game.  Don't get me wrong I love smacking a driver like everyone else but elite golf has devolved into a very repetitive style.  There is no risk to that strategy like there was for 90% of the history of golf.  Bring back the diversity that makes golf great.

Edited August 16, 2024 by StoutKing

[TiScape]

23 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

Love the competition but too much driver wedge on every par 4.  USGA needs to get some balls and really roll back the equipment and bring back some decision making and well rounded skills to the game.  Don't get me wrong I love smacking a driver like everyone else but elite golf has devolved into a very repetitive style.  There is no risk to that strategy like there was for 90% of the history of golf.  Bring back the diversity that makes golf great.

If only there were a thread to discuss this… 

🤔 

[NosajNeelik]

2 hours ago, TiScape said:

If only there were a thread to discuss this… 

🤔

To be fair it is a USGA event. Maybe they’ll read the post! 😂🫡

[MattyO1984]

14 hours ago, Duct Tape said:

Matty, all I see is Peacock and possibly Golf Channel later in the day. 

 

We have nothing here! I could go down the VPN route I guess but not sure I can be fussed with the hassle...typical millennial attitude from me 😂

 

I am guessing we will get a 40 minute highlight package at some point next week...real exciting 😂 

[Chopper Dave]

That dude just fell in the water and took an air swing whilst doing so. Action!

[KennyP]

18 hours ago, Shilgy said:

And it looks like just one of the top 10 in stroke play will reach the round of 16 in match play.

 

Based on finish in the stoke play…..number of players in round of 16.

60’s 2

50’s2 (1 match pending could add one)

40’s 3 (1 match pending could add one)

30’s 1

20’s 5

teens 1

0-9 1

 

To me it shows how much depth their is in top level amateur golf AND what a different animal match play is compared to stroke play.

 

18 Hole matchplay is a crapshoot at this level. I know it's a break from tradition, but I think 72 hole stroke play probably is the way to determine the best player.

[StoutKing]

57 minutes ago, KennyP said:

 

18 Hole matchplay is a crapshoot at this level. I know it's a break from tradition, but I think 72 hole stroke play probably is the way to determine the best player.

It's definitely a crapshoot but Eldrick was able to win 6 USGA matchplay national titles in a row, so it can shake out with the best player winning.  Hoping for a good finish to the tournament.

[gvogel]

21 hours ago, mikekim251 said:

so many of the top amateurs eliminated already in the round of 64 or not even making the cut on stroke play.

 

hazeltine is not an inspiring course, but it does play tough. 

 

Dave Hill called Hazeltine a cow pasture.  It sort of looks like one.

 

 

 

[StoutKing]

7 minutes ago, gvogel said:

 

Hazeltine actually looks much better than I remember.  I think not having grandstands highlights the beautiful nature of the property.  I like the trees and open views.  Hopefully I get a chance to play it someday.  It's not a top 20 course but it looks really good.

[Titleist99]

1 hour ago, KennyP said:

 

18 Hole matchplay is a crapshoot at this level. I know it's a break from tradition, but I think 72 hole stroke play probably is the way to determine the best player.

We see it time and time again. The top seeds get knocked out of the tournament early, affecting the average fan's viewing habits. That's why most networks shy away from this format....... It's just too much of a crapshoot as you said.

[KennyP]

1 hour ago, StoutKing said:

It's definitely a crapshoot but Eldrick was able to win 6 USGA matchplay national titles in a row, so it can shake out with the best player winning.  Hoping for a good finish to the tournament.

 

For every Elderick there's a Curtis Luck or a Tyler Strafaci, though. This year is shaping up to be another 'outsider'.

 

 

[StoutKing]

23 minutes ago, KennyP said:

 

For every Elderick there's a Curtis Luck or a Tyler Strafaci, though. This year is shaping up to be another 'outsider'.

 

 

I wouldn't say Luck was a fluke though.  He achieved #1 amateur in the world and won multiple pro events.  Not every top amateur is going to work out on tour. 

 

Tiger winning 36 straight USGA matches for six titles shows if you're good enough you will win.  Guys like Sargent and Clanton simply aren't close to his talent level.

[Dutch1008]

31 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

I wouldn't say Luck was a fluke though.  He achieved #1 amateur in the world and won multiple pro events.  Not every top amateur is going to work out on tour. 

 

Tiger winning 36 straight USGA matches for six titles shows if you're good enough you will win.  Guys like Sargent and Clanton simply aren't close to his talent level.

 

Sargent was playing better golf last year and if I remember correctly, lost 2&1 to Dunlap in a pretty entertaining match. 

 

Clanton is in great form but likely exhausted. He probably shouldn't have played the Wyndham last week and was doubly screwed w/ how the weather affected that tournament. A bit of bad luck and poor planning.