Good grief.
It was “Welcome To The Sunday Let’s Watch The Paint Dry Party” at Austin Country Club — aka the WGC Match Play semi-finals and final.
Maybe it was the chilly air, maybe it’s the great barbeque to be found all over Austin but basically folks chose to do other things rather than show up and spent eight or so hours watching a final four that had about as much charisma as Mr. Bean.
With Matt Kuchar, Lucas Bjerregaard, Kevin Kisner and Francesco Molinari as your survivors, it was pretty tough to get fired up over this. Add morning temperatures in the mid-40s and it wasn’t really the place to be.
Truth be known, this event reached its crescendo on Saturday when Tiger Woods crushed Rory McIlroy’s soul then stumbled over a four-and-a-half footer to lose in the round of eight to Bjerregaard. Tiger went home and so did 80 percent of the golf fans in Austin.
No need to watch anymore. The excitement was gone, Tiger sucked all the wind out of this one.
Another truth be known — those guys in the final four have so little flair, you could take what they have and it wouldn’t fill a shot glass.
Now add some play where birdies became an endangered species and this was really hard to bear.
“It was survive and advance. This was not great golf.”
So said Kuchar, who disposed of Bjerregaard, who evidently was suffering from his post-Tiger Woods-defeating elation and basically made a year’s worth of long putts over his final nine to beat Woods. He didn’t make anything all day Sunday. Where was that guy when Tiger needed him?
Molinari looked totally uninspired in his tete-a-tete with Kisner. On the other hand, Kisner showed everyone his “Angry Young Man” face most of the week. He had those crazed, serial-killer eyes going on, not sure he blinked more than twice all week. He was evidently have Bubba flashbacks from that finals thrashing last year. No matter, Kiz looked bound and determined while Molinari politely three-putted from 29 feet on the final hole to send Kisner on a date with Kuch.
As bad as the semis were, tough to imagine anyone wanting to have anything to do with a consolation match and they pretty much didn’t.
Anyone know what time the Duke-Michgan State game tips off?
Things were a tad warmer in the afternoon, the play wasn’t and this sleep-inducer of a golf tournament turned up the old boredom meter to new readings. They’ll have to bury the television ratings somewhere outside Austin in a sealed box.
Suffice to say that Bjerregaard was schooled by Francesco. Third for Molinari. Frankie shot four-under on the front. Lucas never had a prayer and this one thankfully ended on 16, 4-and-2.
In the final match, Kisner birdie the first hole, never trailed and with Kuchar a sparkling four-over through 15 holes, this one mercifully concluded at the 16th — 3-and-2.
No drama anywhere to be found. How’s Michgan State and Duke going?
Give Kevin Kisner his deserved kudos. They keep talking about how great he drives the ball and how well he putts. Great driving and putting? How come this was only this guy’s third PGA Tour win and also his biggest?
Kisner’s head was spinning afterward.
“It’s racing a little bit. It’s a big week, long weekend. Grueling, not only from the mental side, but the physical side. A lot of golf and a lot of stressful holes and stressful putts that I was able to prevail and had a great week. Love Austin Country Club, love Austin, Texas, and love being out here,” said Kisner, who was absolutely thrilled at the end.
“A win is always huge. That’s what we play for, is wins and trophies. But we want to be in the FedExCup playoffs. We want to have a chance in Atlanta to win the FedExCup. And we’re always working the entire year to see where it goes. And it’s going to do a huge deal for the rest of my season to have a chance in Atlanta, and to hopefully play on Tiger’s team in Australia.”
Tiger’s team? Oh yes, that would be the Presidents Cup but the way Kisner performs in match play, Steve Stricker might want to be paying attention for that little gig called the Ryder Cup.
By the way, is the paint dry yet?
12 Comments
Perseus
I love Golf, I do get excited to watch good Golf, whether it comes from Tiger, Rory, Kuchar, Kisnar, Molinari, etc., it really doesn’t matter. It is a shame that we sell “celebrities” and because neither of the big names survived to the final it is deemed boring, non-watchable, “all the excitement gone”. I appreciate the consistency that Kisner displayed on the putting green, I even appreciate how Kushner could not hold it, the mistakes he made are teaching moments, but “what a shame that we didn’t have a Hollywood ending to have an Oscar winning moment”.
If you love Golf then you appreciate the playing of Molinari, his consistency, his putting skills that must be on top of the World, the same with Kisner.
This type of thinking is one of the reasons why the LPGA is not appreciated as it should, they are superb players, but while Kisner made $1,750,000.00 for winning the tournament, $50,000.00 more made the total of the Kia’s women total prize, the winner pocketing about $220,000.00, or something like that.
It is sad that the quality of a tournament gets reduced to celebrity status.
Tom Edrington
Every sport is driven by its stars, doesn’t matter which…..when they’re gone, so are the viewers, the galleries and the television audience — simple as that.
baxter cepeda
Btw I was at the KIA Thursday and plan to be in Rancho mirage before skipping over to see my kid play at Augusta, wish we could attend Saturday (any connections?), then make it back in time for the Lotte in Hawaii.
I don’t care which ladies are going to contend at each event but I’m there to find out. The crowds won’t be huge but the people whom are there are into every shot regardless of whom it is.
I feel at home in such situations. Those are my people.
Tom Edrington
Enjoy those nice travels, venues….
JimmyD5cc
Good win for Kisner, but with Miami Tennis Open and NCAA basketball not many folks were watching on Sunday.
Tom Edrington
Let’s see Duke vs Mich. State or Kuch and Kisner….tough choice.
baxter cepeda
For purist golf fans this had everything you want: the purest form of golf for starters, some adversity in the conditions; as well as the on form players in contention, not stars, getting the air time.
For the folks there only for the Sunday sun, beers and rockstars of golf —specifically the man whom draws 80 % on his own — it may have been a downer; but for knowledgeable golf fans We enjoyed:
*The big upset and the overnite sensation.
I love Tiger (well documented) but was glad the tough to pronounce no name made himself a star in one day; a phenomenon only match play can provide.
* The strategic guys shined.
It was starting to look like ACC was going to be a bombers paradise but with slightly softer conditions it proved to be the strategic masterpiece advanced golf fans appreciate.
*On form players succeeded.
Kuch and Molinari are officially top echelon world class players; and Kisner has officially joined them. None are the sexiest players, but if that’s your thing even Faldo addressed how striking Bjerregaard is. What they all share is true form; not glimpses like Tiger and the golden boi.
Kuchs Mexico mistake didn’t help things, gotta wonder if it’s all Kuch chants these days, but Kuchar is showing something post that controversy.
We have always appreciated Kuch more than most since his amateur days but have always been frustrated with his killer instinct. Even in defeat that frustration is no more. it’s clear Kuchar is a much more vicious, focused competitor these days. NO longer that 100% feel good nice guy with the adorable smile may be the best thing that ever happens to him. I’m really smelling a major for Kuch now.
Kuch May be developing some late fire but the champ this week has never lacked any. To answer your question Kisner doesn’t win more because most pga tour tournaments are designed to slowly but surely allow the sexy bombers you missed so much this week to climb the charts; imo it’s good to know Austin CC is not automatically that.
One more note As for the tiger match play dilemma (and he is the only one whom creates a real dilemma), if the tour listened to my many years old advice now of keeping the final 8 playing in some form to the end (5th and 7th place consolation matches) they would really have had it all.
I know it’s long again Tom. Sorry.
Tom Edrington
Baxter, and your point is? You’d be out of luck on Twitter where you only have about 15 words.
baxter cepeda
Yea! …never been.
The point is Golf has this obsession with out-of-contention stars stealing air time for the “slurpers’.
This issue does not seem to bother tennis.
If more golf events were match play fans would get used to not having shots of tiger and Phil backdooring top 10s; instead appreciating the beautiful intricacies of Mano a Mano regardless of who’s competing.
More match play would imo create more stars; as happens in tennis all the time. In fact more stars because tennis is more predictable.
If nothing else what we learned this week is Match play creates stars. Match play creates such dramatic moments players do not even need to win the whole thing to become a star; just one memorable match. It’s an awesome thing imo. Wish more People got that.
Tom Edrington
Just saw the 1.6 ratings for the final match vs. 10.5 for Duke vs. Michigan State — speaks louder than words.
baxter cepeda
The ncaa turney is a amarican staple which Very few things can compete w that.
The match play deserves a better date Moreno than the Players. Imo
Tom Edrington
Match Play will always be on my “you don’t need to see this” list, especially on a weekend, sorry Baxter but once again we’ll agree to disagree