2021 PGA Championship- Kiawah Ocean Course

[cshea]

It's major championship week.

Morikawa is the defending champion. Rory won by 8 shots 9 years ago at Kiawah, and oh by the way, won his last start at Quail Hollow. Spieth returned from a bout with Covid to post a top 10 at the Byron Nelson last week and appears to be playing as well as he ever has going into his grand slam bid. Two-time champion Brooks Koepka played at the Byron Nelson as well as he tries to comeback from his knee injury. Kiawah is almost 7,900 yards on so that would seem to favor Bryson and the bombers. Add in some windy conditions and should be a fun week.

 

[RSN Diaspora]

I've played the Ocean Course twice. On one of the occasions, it was right after either a U.S. Open or a PGA Championship there and our caddy told us they had to move the tips closer to the hole because the players were about to revolt. It's such an unforgiving course.

Speaking of unforgiving, my wife's grandmother had the nerve to die the night before I was supposed to play my third time there. I still haven't forgiven her.

 

[cshea]

TV schedule. ESPN+ and ESPN on Thursday/Friday and then ESPN+/ESPN/CBS on the weekend.

View: https://twitter.com/NoLayingUp/status/1394341333670707205?s=20

 

[cshea]

I forgot rangefinders are allowed this week. Maybe I'm a curmudgeon, but I think they should be illegal at the professional level. Maybe there's some data on it, but I doubt it impacts pace of play too much. I think the caddies are and players are so good that they all get the numbers they want quick to begin with. Adjusting and deciding on the club and type of shot is what takes time, and that's not going away. It's not like they sit there and hem and haw over if it's 130 or 140 to the pin/landing spot. They hem and haw over how to reach their desired landing spot.The only time I can see it seriously speeding play up is when a player is so far off line that they're in a spot they haven't charted.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

That's going to look strange

 

[Lupe Whalewatch]

I wonder how many of the guys will even use them?

 

[cshea]

I wonder how many of the guys will even use them?

Well Tony Finau, for one, had no clue about the rule change until he was asked about it in his press conference.

https://www.golfchannel.com/news/pga-championship-2021-really-tony-finau-shocked-discover-rangefinders-allowed

Doesn't sound like he'll use it much but he also doesn't have much time to put a plan in place to use it. I think the most use will be when they are way off line and in a spot they haven't already charted in their book. At this level, that's pretty rare though. The number to the flag is often meaningless to these guys so I don't know how useful the lasers will be. I have a pretty rudimentary one in my bag but I just use it for yardage to the pin's. I need to pick out some sort of object to target though. Can the more sophisticated and expensive ones target specific areas on the green and things like that? I know some can adjust for uphill/downhill, but are those legal? I believe in the NCAA players can use range finders but have to shut off the setting that gives them the adjusted number.

 

[Lupe Whalewatch]

I'm fairly certain that any sort of slope technology has to be turned off for tournament play, but yeah you can pretty much shoot any object you can get a sight on. Again, that kind of thing is super helpful for those of us without a pro caddie on our bag for layup distances etc, but I'm really not sure how helpful or how much use they will end up getting on tour.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

To prepare for this weekend at Kiawah, today I've listened to the two-hour No Laying Up podcast on the 1991 Ryder Cup and then watched the two-hour BBC highlights from the 1991 Ryder Cup. Both highly recommended! Here's the latter:

View: https://youtu.be/nuR7TOdRHzg

 

[cshea]

Koepka apparently has a goatee now. And I have no idea what Nike put on his head today.

Love the ESPN announcing crew. SVP, Duval, McDonough, etc.

 

[cshea]

Adam Scott opens with a triple.

John Daly opens with a birdie, and looks quite rough but that's no surprise.

 

[TFP]

Love the ESPN announcing crew. SVP, Duval, McDonough, etc.

ESPN’s golf coverage is so good.

 

[cshea]

And there are no commercials.

 

[cshea]

No surer sign that it's a major week than the PGA Tour having to battle the angry mob on twitter that is looking to watch coverage on PGA Tour Live.

View: https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1395343000860073988?s=20

 

[Zomp]

I like the Nike clothing line up this week.

Also will third ESPN's coverage. Always the best.

 

[cshea]

Rory might have a Royal Portrush start here. Blew it way right off 10. Adam Scott did the same earlier and they couldn't find his ball.

 

[Zomp]

Rory in the hazard, and JT and Koepka in the rough.

Just as we predicted...

 

[Zomp]

Uh Koepka is lying 3 in the fairway after taking two to get out of the waste area.

 

[cshea]

Someone should tell these guys to not hit driver off 10.

Scott went right and made triple, Rory further right and into the water, Morikawa also well right, Bryson just overcooked it left and nearly killed someone in the gallery. Kudos to Hideki for piping one down the middle.

Also nice of Bryson to yell fore there

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

DraftKings has that prop bet available to new customers whereby you can get 100-1 odds on DeChambeau making at least one birdie this weekend. I would absolutely laugh my ass off if that bet didn't pay out.

 

[Zomp]

Rory walks off with a miraculous bogey on 1.

 

[cshea]

Bryson way left on 11. First player I've seen pull out the range finder.

 

[ezemerson]

so i am guessing you all have ESPN+

 

[bostonbeerbelly]

so i am guessing you all have ESPN+

I came here seeing if anyone posted any other option to watch, didn't see anything so paid the $5.99 and set a reminder to cancel next week.

 

[TFP]

The ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu bundle is worth every penny, even moreso next year with PGA Tour Live and NHL going to ESPN+

 

[Over Guapo Grande]

Yup. Days like today make me happy for the bundle.

 

[Zomp]

The ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu bundle is worth every penny, even moreso next year with PGA Tour Live and NHL going to ESPN+

Is PGA Tour Live going to cost extra on ESPN+?

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

Looks like ESPN regular coverage kicks in at 1 pm. Lunch to be planned accordingly.

 

[TFP]

Is PGA Tour Live going to cost extra on ESPN+?

I don't believe so, but if it does I'll gladly pay it.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Adam Scott opens with a triple.

John Daly opens with a birdie, and looks quite rough but that's no surprise.

It hasn't gotten any better for Adam. And quite a bit worse for JD

 

[cshea]

Fun exchange between Hovland and his caddie.

"What's the cover of the crap"

"I think I can do it, I kinda want to try this"

"That's actually pretty sick"

 

[cshea]

I like how they put Day in the "old past champs with no chance to win" grouping with Phil and Padraig.

 

[cshea]

I know it's down wind and all, but Bryson just hit a PW from 196 to about 20 feet for eagle on 7.

 

[cshea]

Ugh Nantz and IBF. C'mon, SVP you don't need a break. 12 hours through baby.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

I like how they put Day in the "old past champs with no chance to win" grouping with Phil and Padraig.

Jason Days' career is over. I made sure of it by taking him in the 2nd round this year.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Ugh Nantz and IBF. C'mon, SVP you don't need a break. 12 hours through baby.

I think I'm one of the rare sports fans who isn't much of a SVP fan. I'm actually fine with IBF.

 

[cshea]

I think I'm one of the rare sports fans who isn't much of a SVP fan. I'm actually fine with IBF.

I don't know much about SVP but love hjm on golf.

IBF is fine, but I'm more of a Faldo fan who apparently can't do Thursday/Friday at the PGA Champ because of his GC contract. . NLU mentioned this on their preview podcast, but I think the the CBS crew suffers a bit because it's the same voices we hear every week. Hearing different and new voices like the ESPN guys just makes an event feel bigger or different. And Duval is awesome.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I don't know much about SVP but love hjm on golf.

IBF is fine, but I'm more of a Faldo fan who apparently can't do Thursday/Friday at the PGA Champ because of his GC contract. . NLU mentioned this on their preview podcast, but I think the the CBS crew suffers a bit because it's the same voices we hear every week. Hearing different and new voices like the ESPN guys just makes an event feel bigger or different. And Duval is awesome.

Duval is awesome

 

[ernieshore]

I’ve been watching for 20 minutes and have seen about 7 shots.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

I’ve been watching for 20 minutes and have seen about 7 shots.

Find a Sky Sports stream if you can.

 

[ernieshore]

It immediately got better when SVP took over at the top of the hour. Maybe my timing was off.

 

[TFP]

It immediately got better when SVP took over at the top of the hour. Maybe my timing was off.

Nope - that's when the CBS crew left (including the producers) and ESPN came back.

ESPN is bad at a lot of stuff, but they are really really good at showing golf.

 

[ernieshore]

Nope - that's when the CBS crew left (including the producers) and ESPN came back.

ESPN is bad at a lot of stuff, but they are really really good at showing golf.

OK - thanks. Wasn't sure if it included the producers too.

 

[johnmd20]

I think I'm one of the rare sports fans who isn't much of a SVP fan. I'm actually fine with IBF.

Nantz doe.

 

[BigMike]

That is one hell of a lie Grace got here on 2 (if it is his ball)

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Nantz doe.

He's a pro

 

[cshea]

If I was playing here I’d probably skip past 17 and mark down a triple.

 

[Oil Can Dan]

I get (have?) to play this course in October. I'm a 26 handicap and I'm legit terrified.

 

[TFP]

I get (have?) to play this course in October. I'm a 26 handicap and I'm legit terrified.

Just play the correct tees and it won’t be too bad.

 

[Phil Plantier]

I am not a golf fan, but I am watching this while I grade.

I didn't understand why the group loves Duval until just now:

McDonagh: How do you size up [Mickelson's] chances in round 2?
Duval: Not very good, frankly