steveone

I'm truly a geezer. I grew up in Plainville. My dad's machine shop was in Berlin, just about on the turnpike. Dad's secretary's husband was the member. He and I played lots of golf at Edgewood in the summer when I was back from college. He was one of those short but straight hitters who could chip and putt you to death. My game involved exploring the countryside - you know - taking unusual and challenging lines. The road/fairway less traveled.

And Kopeka is out. No more Mr. I get up for Majors. Something changed after the injuries. No more fire. A number of the younger guys get up just as strong with more complete games. T-55 isn't making it. Pure speculation - he and DJ have extensive "teams" to support. Their WAGs are also into having large grouping and parties. Takes money, lots of it. Less work, more time off, money for nothing (song there somewhere) and still some leftover major championship qualifications. No brainer for them. I don't see even a superficial understanding of the source money. Back to the tourney. Who's burnt out? Did Dahlman drink a hundred beers during this week? A dark horse? Great week for shorter more accurate hitters - Brian Harman?. I used to play there on occasion with a member when it was Edgewood Golf Club. Big change when it was redone as TPC. Still some recognizable bones remain.

Thanks for the onsite updates. Have you tried the Legal Seafood lobster rolls? I know they're $30 but that's the going rate, not an on course ripoff. Beer prices? Seems to be a hot topic at other tournaments. Looking forward to pictures.

Bastads, in a Bahston accent.

Double cut and rolled greens today. A good breeze from an entirely different direction. Add some pin positions tucked to the fringes. In spite of all that, I think I could break 90. I'd be walking in after a dozen holes - does that count?

I agree the course is terrific. Birdies and eagles available, plenty of opportunities for punishment too. Top golfers, Joel (I kid), unknowns in the mix. Pressure building. Who has the nerves, who crumbles? Alas, my pool team was damaged by the USGA top 60 instead of the usual 70's and ties, darn it Shane, just one more birdie, but I've got three through to the weekend.

USGA messed up not putting Grayson Murray and Kevin Na in the same group. They are locker buddies however - could run cold or hot. But Na [a.k.a. Mr. Slow] is in a group with Sergio [Mr. Fine Whine] and Tyrell Hatton [Mr. Course Critic]. On an acid pH scale, this is "strip the bones clean in seconds", about a pH 2. It may go fine but if Na drags out putting or Sergio goes into vapor lock addressing the ball or getting a ruling; I can see Justifiable Homicide with a Golf Club pleas. On the LIV/cut side bet; I'll go with six making the cut, that's about all that's in form (and I'm not sure about jet setter DJ).

Picks are in for this US Open tuneup. Low confidence all around. Will Rory have 4 rounds? Scottie steamroll the field or miss the cut? Same for JT? Is Reed due.? Cam Smith still hot? Questions questions. The lower puddles of the pool are just as murky. Please make the cut, guys?

If true, that figure should get him out from under his gambling debts. For a while. I'm frankly surprised. Originally I felt he'd be the big name for LIV especially after his heroic PGA win. The interview where he spoke the truth out loud - I expected it to kill or significantly reduce any offer. Norman could hear the bone saw being tuned in the background and significantly upped the ante for Dustin Johnson [reported $125 mil]. DJ is a top talent but charisma challenged [he's cool, laid back, I like him]. He just doesn't fire up the crowds like Phil. Fine that Phil gets a late game retirement package, winning on the Champions Tour wouldn't carry all his baggage.

I've experienced these holes. As a weak [very weak] defense - in the morning dew/wetness, the balls may have stopped if one or two were rolled. Course dries out, and there's no stopping the ball. The keeper should have been aware of this - complaints from members. Perhaps no supervision of the guy(s) doing the cutting.

Going with Rahm, kind of a revenge tour. Favorable noon start, damp course but dry grips. Of course, I picked JT last week, he of the 21 straight cuts made, instant flameout. Just a little jab to remind me I'm not the smartest guy in the room. Toss up between Kuch and Hideki in second tier. After that, the tea leaves haven't settled.

Good riddance. He cursed out a volunteer at the Sony Open this year - bunches of F-bombs. Why? The volunteer found his ball in the rough. JK is screaming just put a flag next to it along with a steady stream of profanity. For those who volunteer or wonder about the "flag" thing - People doing the ShotLink by the fairways have flags to indicate where a players ball ends up in the rough. It gets placed a couple of feet away, then gets removed by the player. The volunteers searching for JK's ball were a different group - just pedestrian marshalls - no flags. The guy pointing out the ball was a respectful distance from the location; not influencing the lie. Should have eaten a SNICKERS. Off the high horse here. I'm on JT to double up. He was solid all four rounds [couldn't score Saturday] except for that "S-word" on the par 3 Sunday. Good weather is expected, not too damn hot. My guess is a shootout. Can't figure Scotties performance and Spieth was not clicking. Good luck to all. I won't be watching. If the weather where I'm at is good enough to play, I'm out there [plus 3 grandkids here at the Son's house in GA]. On to Ft. Hood area next week for a couple of months with another granddaughter and two great - grand kids. Retirement is packed full.

It's a MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP. PGAs tended to be the weak link in the Slam rotation. With the Ocean course last year and Southern Hills this year - there's some teeth. Not the 25 under birdie fests most weeks. There are scores out there, I shocked that many of the favorites who seemed to be in form [and my picks - dammit] aren't grinding it out. Sorry about Tiger. Another couple of months rehab and a dead flat Old Course and we'll get a better idea if he can compete again. Weather has been sucky for him too - welcome to the 'old guy' world.

I'm going to crush it. I see all this negative talk - must be reverse psychology. Positive thinking for me.

Tough first group. Thomas playing great, Xander with a smooth 61 last round, Rahm is crushingly steady, Hovland's a local ~ up at Stillwater, OK and can get hot. Hatton can get hot both ways; good and bad. Wins most likely to helicopter a club. McIlroy and DJ can't seem to put 4 rounds together (either could scorch the field). And Cantlay sneaks in for the win. Still thinking. Going to be a coin toss.

Many courses I haunt have one or more 190 -210 yd. par 3s. My 7-wood, a Cobra, lets me hit a high fade that distance. The hybrids [I've tried a number of them] don't give me the same control of that shot; visually they show a stronger appearing draw bias at address, even the "pro" versions. I will change out the 7 wood with a 21 deg. hybrid for the same distance depending on the course/wind. I hit the hybrid lower with small draw as the 'normal' flight. As always, your mileage may vary.

Scheffler is hard to pick against, he'll score well but I'm off favorites. Dustin is coming off a wedding [just the celebration part - they've been together over a decade] and I think he's trying to get back to focus for a full four rounds; just not this week. JT has an upcoming wedding for distraction so he's out. Therefore I'm going with Sam Burns to win ----hold it Steve, he's not even in the 1st group. Xander looks good in bucket 1. Burns in 2. 3 is going to need some work - no love for any of them on current form. Bucket 4 is another mystery - got to check recent performance. Good luck to all. O/T Phil needs face his gambling addiction. No sign of it yet. Barkley and Daly are cautionaly examples though Charles has pulled out of his tailspin recently.

Chalk won last week but it's never the best bet; these guys are too good. [Champ with a lousy drive, Rahm with a cart bounce on his and maybe the order changes]. No Rory for me, I wouldn't take Tiger against the field in his heyday either. Arrrgh - just by saying that, Rory will scorch the field by 15 strokes. Different course though not unfamiliar, I'm checking on who has a nice uptrend going. Conners looks good as a breakthrough. Good luck to all.

Gary Woodland. Hot lately. Long. Should be in the mix Sunday afternoon.

The Haas son Bill and (not) geezer dad Jay have made the weekend. Terrific accomplishment on a 7400+yd course. Jay making his 799th PGA start and first cut made since 2010. Quite the record and twosome.

I put a 4 and/or 5 in the bag for testing (F8) if I should go all one length. My back will pinch late in the round on 9 - wedges as I tire and "perhaps" let my posture sag a bit. No structural problem but doc says the disks have compressed - join the club - he's as old as I am. Back to the clubs. Solid feel, related to the heaviness. Distance control is good. Playing with some shafts, looks like I'm still a "stiff" guy but down to a 80 gram shaft from a 95 in past hybrids. A regular shaft wasn't workable on command. I could get a double cross easily if I was trying to feather a fade (you can't talk to it; just hope for a good tree bounce). That seems related to the heavier weight feel. You DO know where the clubhead is at all times.

I'm here in Augusta. Lots of rain and thunder tonight [Wed]. I can see the start times pushed back to ready the course. Probably both tees. Rain to quit early [by around 7am] and the rest of the week looks good though the mornings will be cold [40s]. Not good for old backs. So - softer greens Thur/Fri - good scoring. The weekend should firm up for a great finish.

I'm looking forward to the singles. I can see Rahm vs. Cantalay. If Kopeka plays, I'd put Poulter up against him just for aggravation. Thomas against Mcilroy. Others you'd like to see?

I see homogenized courses have entered the conversation. I've seen about all the railroad ties I want for my next two lives. Bunkering - From the wild and wooly at the Scottish Open to the sod faced pits at Royal St. George and other Open rota. US designers are a blind-following-blind troop. Firm, banked faces so the ball rolls nicely down to a flat firm base. Oh the bitching and moaning a few years back at Memorial when Nicklaus used bunker rakes that left small (small) ridges. You'd have thought that he was stealing food from their mouths with the complaints. Most of the tour fairway bunkers are a minor hindrance, perhaps even better than the nearby rough for play. Mad howling if the players could only advance the ball instead of getting pin yardages. It's a damn hazard. Make it play like one. Steep faces. Next rant. No green books next year for any courses. No anchoring - arm lock crap. Putter held in the hands only. Clubs can make local rules for anyone with a disability needing help holding the club. Time for a Snickers bar.

Here's Value Golf https://www.valuegolf.com/putter-heads Many are painted but there's a good variety. Another place - don't have any idea about quality. https://www.diamondtour.com/golf-components/club-heads/putters-chippers.html You might scare up a local Goodwill or other thrift store. Some have a oddball collection of very used eclectic clubs. Perhaps suitable for refurbishment?