US Amateur

[Titleist99]

1 hour ago, Dutch1008 said:

 

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. 

100%.....

 

Clanton will be a good PGAT Pro...............

[notsohard]

20 hours ago, TiScape said:

Yeah seriously. It’s not so hard! SMH 

 

 

*sorry, couldn’t resist 

Please...the scar tissue on my soul is tender.

[Duct Tape]

9 hours ago, gvogel said:

 

The quote he admits he did say, unlike the other ones:

 

What it lacks is 80 acres of corn and a few cows.”  🤓😀🏌🏼‍♀️

[teejaywhy]

23 hours 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.

 

Best player...  at stroke play.

 

 

[teejaywhy]

22 hours ago, Titleist99 said:

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.

 

Must everything be adjusted for the short attention span?

 

[iclypso]

On 8/16/2024 at 1:07 AM, MattyO1984 said:

 

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 😂 

 Ok, I'll set up an iPad in front of TV, then you can FaceTime me. So long as one of the kids doesn't knock down the iPad or change the channel, and so long as we don't end up arrested for an international copyright-breaking scandal, will really stick it to the man!

[orr444]

14 hours ago, Duct Tape said:

The quote he admits he did say, unlike the other ones:

 

What it lacks is 80 acres of corn and a few cows.”  🤓😀🏌🏼‍♀️

To be fair that was 54 years ago and the course has changed a ton. Its a beautiful property and it can play as tough as they want it to. Its also hosted every USGA event! I have played it a few times and is a fantastic test!!

[MattyO1984]

3 hours ago, iclypso said:

 Ok, I'll set up an iPad in front of TV, then you can FaceTime me. So long as one of the kids doesn't knock down the iPad or change the channel, and so long as we don't end up arrested for an international copyright-breaking scandal, will really stick it to the man!

 

When you free?! 😂

[StoutKing]

Love to see the big crowds.  Course is playing great.  The players are grinding.  This is about as good as competitive golf gets.

[Mookie91]

Anyone know the WITB for Ballester?

[Chopper Dave]

8 hours ago, teejaywhy said:

 

Must everything be adjusted for the short attention span?

 

 

I feel this way, so everyone else must too! 

[Kai Slater]

1 hour ago, Mookie91 said:

Anyone know the WITB for Ballester?

I'd like to know also.  Seems like Titleist is the overwhelming choice for most of these guys with driver and irons.

[DE-ILLINI]

Here is what he had at the 2023 NCAA Championship.  Not sure what he is using now.

 

 

[KennyP]

Who will win?

 

From the official world amateur golf rankings Ballaster is 10th and Noah Kent is 560th.

 

 

 

Edited August 18, 2024 by KennyP

[grm24]

24 minutes ago, KennyP said:

From the official world amateur golf rankings Ballaster is 10th and Noah Kent is 560th.

Ranking numbers mean absolutely zilch/nothing in a high level head to head match event or even the tried and true 72 hole stroke play format on highest level of professional tours.

 

For instance in 2024 on the PGA Tour some amateur player ranked 4,129th in the OWGR won a loaded event. Couldn't possibly happen right? Until it did. 😁😁🤣

Edited August 18, 2024 by grm24

[KennyP]

3 hours ago, grm24 said:

Ranking numbers mean absolutely zilch/nothing in a high level head to head match event or even the tried and true 72 hole stroke play format on highest level of professional tours.

 

For instance in 2024 on the PGA Tour some amateur player ranked 4,129th in the OWGR won a loaded event. Couldn't possibly happen right? Until it did. 😁😁🤣

 

I wouldn't say nothing, but I agree it certainly is no guarantee. 

 

I was just pointing out how big the disparity in rankings is. I don't know much about either of the finalists, so I have no idea why or who will win.

 

 

 

Edited August 18, 2024 by KennyP

[grm24]

45 minutes ago, KennyP said:

 

I wouldn't say nothing, but I agree it certainly is no guarantee. 

 

I was just pointing out how big the discrepancy in rankings is. I don't know much about either of the finalists, so I have no idea why or who will win.

 

Fair point. However not to beat a dead horse but the world number 4,129 won a full fledged professional event that included the OWGR #1 (SS) and many other higher "ranked" players. Prior to the event there isn't anyone alive that said that would happen. Same as when other amateurs have won professional events (see Verplank, Phil, Pablo Martin, Danny Lee, Shane Lowry, etc) on the major tours. 

 

World amateur golf rankings are more specious than professional golf. The world amateur #560 beating the #10 rated amateur in the world isn't an upset unless you only believe that higher rated seeds always win. Sports don't work that way. Don't get me wrong. Kent could lose 19&17 in the 36 hole final. Doesn't mean he couldn't win it.

 

Sort of like when Tiger clubbed Stephen Ames 9&8 in the 2006 WGC match play. Didn't stop Ames from motorboating the rest of the PGA Tour in The Players Championship by 6 shots (2nd largest margin in that event) a few months later.

 

Sorry I'm really sleep deprived LOL! Just pointing out what's obvious about flaws in rankings numbers that many take as complete gospel. Have a great day KennyP.

Edited August 18, 2024 by grm24

[jdl]

7 hours ago, KennyP said:

 

I wouldn't say nothing, but I agree it certainly is no guarantee. 

 

I was just pointing out how big the disparity in rankings is. I don't know much about either of the finalists, so I have no idea why or who will win.

 

 

 

As @grm24 noted, the rankings aren't really that great in this case and WAGR is especially wonky for some of the younger guys like Kent. Unless you're one of the top several junior players like Miles Russell or Blades Brown, you just aren't going to be able to play in enough high level events to even have a chance to accumulate points for WAGR. So the highest ranked guys are mostly 3rd and 4th year college kids that have been able to play and do well in their college season events which also helps get them into the better summer tournaments.

 

In this case I also think Ballester is a much better player, Kent just had a really nice week where he was playing well and took advantage but looks like he's run out of gas.

[wegobomber31]

On 8/16/2024 at 12:14 PM, 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.

Tiger did lose two US Am matches in this stretch. 
 

my kid was at the U.S. Am this week — he was one of the three who lost in the playoff. Tough end of an otherwise great week. 
 

 Hazeltine is a very good championship course and they have all the space they need to host big time events.

[wegobomber31]

1 hour ago, jdl said:

As @grm24 noted, the rankings aren't really that great in this case and WAGR is especially wonky for some of the younger guys like Kent. Unless you're one of the top several junior players like Miles Russell or Blades Brown, you just aren't going to be able to play in enough high level events to even have a chance to accumulate points for WAGR. So the highest ranked guys are mostly 3rd and 4th year college kids that have been able to play and do well in their college season events which also helps get them into the better summer tournaments.

 

In this case I also think Ballester is a much better player, Kent just had a really nice week where he was playing well and took advantage but looks like he's run out of gas.

 

Kent's junior career is definitely holding his WAGR down, but even if you took the 18 events he's played since starting college, he'd be ranked 420th.  DataGolf has him as the 311th-ranked Am.

[Mr.Cleeks]

Great watch so far! Kent’s putting some heat on this front nine

[Mr.Cleeks]

2 hours ago, wegobomber31 said:

Tiger did lose two US Am matches in this stretch. 
 

my kid was at the U.S. Am this week — he was one of the three who lost in the playoff. Tough end of an otherwise great week. 
 

 Hazeltine is a very good championship course and they have all the space they need to host big time events.

Agreed. Not my favorite course architecturally but it’s a fantastic championship course.

[jdl]

2 hours ago, wegobomber31 said:

 

Kent's junior career is definitely holding his WAGR down, but even if you took the 18 events he's played since starting college, he'd be ranked 420th.  DataGolf has him as the 311th-ranked Am.

Sure, just saying guys at this point in their career can be hard to rank. Max Herendeen went from 900 to 40 in a single year once he got to college.

 

Add in the fact that it's match play too.

 

This one is just about over though. Kent putting up a good fight.

[Judge Smails]

Any one have a WITB for the finalists?

[KennyP]

Ballaster leaking oil coming home.

 

Things are getting interesting.

[jdl]

8 minutes ago, KennyP said:

Ballaster leaking oil coming home.

 

Things are getting interesting.

I hope to never play Hazeltine #16

[Route 66]

24 minutes ago, jdl said:

I hope to never play Hazeltine #16

I played it once several years ago.  It will get your attention for sure.  I was glad to finish the hole and move on.

[jdl]

40 minutes ago, Judge Smails said:

Any one have a WITB for the finalists?

Scroll up

[StoutKing]

5 hours ago, wegobomber31 said:

Tiger did lose two US Am matches in this stretch. 
 

my kid was at the U.S. Am this week — he was one of the three who lost in the playoff. Tough end of an otherwise great week. 
 

 Hazeltine is a very good championship course and they have all the space they need to host big time events.

Good point.  I didn't figure in his Am losses when he was winning juniors.

[stratgolf]

On 8/17/2024 at 3:14 AM, 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.

 

Interesting isn't it. I think the major issue is not that they're not close on talent level - I just think the talent gap is smaller overall. So many good golfers coming through.