OT: PGA Tour Championship - format, favorites, alternative to a “meh” CFB Week 0 schedule
CFB week zero kicks off on Saturday - opening with ND vs Navy in Ireland. To me, this is at best.. a”meh” matchup - with the rest of the schedule reflecting the limited number of decent to very interesting OOC matchups this season. “Zero” seems fitting - and accurately describes the level of interest.
The PGA Tour Championship begins today in Atlanta. Scheffler starts with an advantage of two to ten strokes on the rest of the field. This format seems quirky to me - since, at this level - two strokes is significant - five strokes can be a mountain - and ten strokes is like crossing a desert without water. The format gives Scottie a five (or more) stroke lead over 80% of the field.
I love golf - especially the majors and Cups - Ryder / Presidential. And, this format isn’t compelling to me. I’ll tune in for a bit - but, probably not until Sunday. And, I’ll be cheering for Rory.
Will you watch any CFB - If so, which game(s)? Will you tune into the golf?
Enjoy…
August 24th, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
1. Saturday I'll definitely watch at least some of the ND/Navy game just because I enjoy rooting against ND whenever I get a chance.
2. I'll also be watching the Browns/Chiefs game. Interesting change in coaching tactics over the past few years as both the Browns and the Chiefs will be playing starters though most of the first quarter at a minimum. In the past starters played in the next to last pre-season game and nothing in the finale. I'll be rooting hard for no injuries.
3. Could literally care less about golf. I loved watching it when Tiger was on the leader board but since his self-inflicted wounds have taken him out of contention I dont watch any of it anymore.
Big news at the lake house this weekend will be the tomato judging contest at Walleye's Saturday afternoon. We have an entry from our garden and the tension couldnt be any higher.
August 24th, 2023 at 10:11 AM ^
I used to work for a Navy grad who had been a naval aviator. He was fantastic to work with, and for.
As a result, I cheer for Navy whenever I can. The Midshipmen will have my support on Saturday.
August 24th, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
nephew was in the navy and is still navy reserve. Go Navy. Beat ND (and Army)
August 24th, 2023 at 12:11 PM ^
Jaws - you noted the two Navy games when I cheer the loudest for them. I appreciate the comradery of the Army-Navy game - and, just want the Midshipmen to 'find a way to win' whenever they face the Irish.
Go Navy!
August 24th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
Good luck in the competition. What kind of tomatoes you growing? Heirloom, hybrid?
I grew mine in pots last year, but didn't get them started early enough this year so I didn't plan on growing any (down here, you have to start the seeds in January for a late spring/early summer harvest). But I had dumped the old soil from my tomato pots into a new bed I'm making and, lo and behold, I had tomatoes growing everywhere. I love it when unexpected things like that happen.
August 24th, 2023 at 10:11 AM ^
If there is football on, I will be watching. I have a problem.
August 24th, 2023 at 10:23 AM ^
I feel you my dude. I personally have a drinking problem:
August 24th, 2023 at 10:43 AM ^
Shouldn't have stopped sniffing glue.
August 24th, 2023 at 10:18 AM ^
I like fedex cup until we get to this week. Starting with an advantage makes it not as interesting. I don't want to see the current best player play conservative to maintain a lead. I'll still watch some of it.
I'll watch and probably lose money on whatever football is on this week.
August 24th, 2023 at 11:48 AM ^
Considering Scottie had a 4 shot lead over Hovland on the back 9 Sunday and couldn't close the door because of his lackluster putting leads me to believe he cannot play conservatively with 3 monsters right behind him. It will be great theater and I cannot wait to watch.
Looking forward to the Minnesota vs Nebraska game next week
August 24th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
Fugitive - that Minny v Nebraska game next week (which is week one) - will be worth watching. Looking forward to that. Though, I'm not sure if I'm "crazy" about B1G games in week one of the season. But, that's part of the journey we're on - and, that genie's out of the bottle.
Enjoy...
August 24th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
I'm not sure Tiger in his prime could have held off the Hovland train. That was just amazing.
August 24th, 2023 at 10:27 AM ^
This format is a big improvement over the previous format. Before there was often literally no way for the leader going into the Tour Championship to lose. Just like 2018 when Justin Rose lost to the Tour Championship to Tiger but still won the FedEx cup. That was compelling because of Tiger's win for sure but there was no juice to the last tournament for a while.
2 of the 4 years they've had this format the leader going in hasn't won. So I think the leads going in are not as huge as they may seem and makes for a more interesting final. There's no guarantee the leader will have their A game that week and anything can happen.
August 24th, 2023 at 10:49 AM ^
Your point about the leader not having their A-game is fair.
A question, if I may. How far back do you think someone can be to really have a chance to win? I’m thinking of the players they need to pass in order to take the lead and win. It’s hard for me to believe that those who are more than six strokes back - starting at -4 (whereas Scheffler starts at -10) have much of a chance.
Players six through ten start at -4.
Regardless - enjoy and thanks for your perspective.
August 24th, 2023 at 10:57 AM ^
Yea, I think you're right on that for sure. You can't be too far back and expect to win. Realistically I think you'd need to be Top 10 starting out. Because beyond that point you don't just need the leader to falter but all the other people who start out ahead of you, too. And that seems fair to me because it's an incentive to play well all season. Cheers!
August 24th, 2023 at 9:43 PM ^
So much for my expertise on picking golf, lol. Two players further back in the pack made sign moves today - Morikawa and Bradley.
I hope Rory’s back issue isn’t too severe.
Enjoy…
August 24th, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
I personally like this format way better than the old format. Previously they continually had to put on the screen where everyone stood for the points race. Someone else referenced the Tiger/Rose year which is a perfect example. It was so silly the announcers had to keep saying where Rose needed to finish to win. Now we know and it's a lot easier for the casual fan to follow. I'm more than a casual fan, but if my wife is watching with me she doesn't have to ask so many questions like "How come if Tiger won, he didn't really win."
August 24th, 2023 at 11:09 AM ^
Go Viktor!
August 24th, 2023 at 1:21 PM ^
There is a seemingly magical tie-in he has.
Hail to the Viktors?
August 24th, 2023 at 11:18 AM ^
Calling the football schedule "meh" is being very kind, but I'll watch some of it anyway because footbaw. Go Navy!
Probably will have the golf on one screen, but not invested at all in the FedEx Cup. Good for whoever wins the pile of money. The women are playing in Canada and are on in prime time so that TV will stay on golf.
Will probably watch the Lions-Panthers preseason game too. No idea why, it'll be all backups again and the backups aren't notably good. Maybe to just stop myself from drinking too much Kool Aid.
August 24th, 2023 at 11:59 AM ^
I can’t wait for college football and the plan was to watch every game Saturday.
Alas, I have to drive to Cincinnati Saturday morning to do a bunch of work around my mother in laws house (fix the shower, which likely involves a valve replacement, install a ceiling fan, replace a couple doors, redo caulking in the shower, etc.).
I won’t be back home till 9 pm or so.
August 24th, 2023 at 12:25 PM ^
If you're not into golf, the Vuelta a Espana--basically the Spanish Tour de France--kicks off on Saturday morning (ET) on Peacock. Looking forward to seeing Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic of Team Jumbo Visma battle it out before football season starts in earnest!
August 24th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
The FedEx cup was only set up to pay the best players throughout the year an extra bucket of cash which they couldn't do under the current/soon to be former non-profit structure. Players have admitted to mailing it in since they have no chance of making East Lake, but ideally they will reinvent the playoffs in the next year or two to create some more intrigue.
August 24th, 2023 at 12:41 PM ^
An early update - Spieth, who started out ten strokes back of Scheffler (at even par) - is off to a fast start - he's three under on the day through six holes.
Interestingly enough, it's actually cooler in Atlanta than it is in Chicago - and is forecasted for Ann Arbor.
P.S. Colin Morikawa is lighting it up too. He's four under on his round - through six holes. Overall, Morikawa is five back (at a total score of "-5"). Spieth is at two under in round, and overall - he's completed the front nine in his first round.
August 24th, 2023 at 12:45 PM ^
If you're into golf, another video just dropped from the most popular instructional pro on the interwebz, Paige Spiranac:
August 24th, 2023 at 1:26 PM ^
Paige is one of several internet personalities who certainly draw eyes to golf related activities - with a particular focus on instruction - that may have distractions too.
August 24th, 2023 at 1:47 PM ^
I'd like to see the championship be a match play, with each person's ranking going in becoming their seed (1 v 30, 2 v 29, etc.).
August 24th, 2023 at 3:31 PM ^
Great idea, and I believe Scheffler was quoted as raising a similar point.
I match play - though, it does create a challenge for tv, since a match could end “5&4” which would leave an hour of “dead time”- and, the final would be two players - unless, they have ALL the players playing - regardless of results of prior matches.
August 24th, 2023 at 2:29 PM ^
After the kids get done with soccer games they have a birthday party to go to Saturday, so I'm hoping the birthday party location has some football on.
As for golf, I don't really like this setup for this last tournament. However, since I'm in a fantasy golf league (only pick for the majors plus the 3 FedEx Cup tourneys), I'll be tuning in as much as I can but will likely only get to watch in the evenings. My picks are Rory, Hovland, Rahm, Xander, Russell Henley, and Tyrell Hatton (take 4 best scores), so pulling for those guys, but Rory especially.
August 24th, 2023 at 6:02 PM ^
Actually will be seeing some of the “meh” football in person. Ohio vs. San Diego St. I’ll be in town for a conference and thought what the hell. Support coach clap clap.