Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

The TV coverage was near faultless. Whenever it clashed, I watched the BBC version. Grumpy Colin has a great golf pedigree, but he does not tick any boxes for me, no disrespect.

Peter Alliss is just the best, a modern day Henry Longhurst if ever there was one.

When he retired, I regretted not watching Piggott at every opportunity, & I feel the same about Alliss now. Maybe he got better, maybe I grew to appreciate him more.

He’s a bit of a maverick in business, not someone you’d want to do business with, sew up your pockets I suspect, but as a Golf commy, he’s different class, he is to golf what Richard Dimbelby is to State occasions.

He does not mince his words, either. “Tiger is an idiot” he once famously uttered, after the once great Tiger erred off the straight & narrow, or more correctly, fell off the cliff.

And here’s the thing, with his “oi oi oi”, “aye up, whats going on here?”, “oi oi, there goes his knee again” “chunter chunter chunter”.

He’s 81. Eighty one.

He has to be in one of my Top Ten lists. Gawd knows what one though, there are so many.

[Royal Flush]

Great write up but i have to disagree, the masters is the number 1 major......

[tikay]

Great write up but i have to disagree, the masters is the number 1 major......

A fair view, James, it's subjective, & I'm sure my waffling was full of factual inaccuracies.

For me, nothing beats, or even comes close, to THE Open.

How about "The Masters is the greatest single venue Golf Tourney ever ever ever"?

In case anyone feels the need to point it out, I know bugger all about pro golf, & I only played the game for 7 or 8 years, but it does not stop me appreciating it for all the great qualities it has, both in players, & those who spectate.

I just thought it was a fantastic watch last week, & I wanted to put something in writing whilst it was fresh in my mind. For the grandkids, see?

[claypole]

Great write up Tikay - I think the Masters is like no other tournament, it just has an incredible knack of delivering amazing Day Fours, for me it's up there with Ryder Cup, World Cup Final - and can probably say alongside Cheltenham its my "must see" annual event.  

This year I let a pesky poker tourne get on the way, but still enjoyed Day Four in the bar at the Burlington, incredible atmosphere as everyone cheered their picks on with Betair on their iPhones - almighty cheer when Bubba hit that last shot, a few Irish lads had backed him, I had a score at 20s (not thin as only covered other bet and exes lol), and Pab and JP had joined me in a play off 'sweat' by joining the Bubba bandwagon.

His second at the last play off hole was truely incredible. A few mixed emotions as well as often watched the last round with my dad - thought of him lots this weekend as it was Dublin again...mind you the old bugger didn't send me any run good from wherever he is :-)

Hopefully see you in Nottingham

[MANTIS01]

It's hard to believe Lee Westwood finished just two shots off the pace and yet took 21 more putts than Mickleson and 8 more than Bubba. I believe he has sacked his "putting coach" as a consequence. The greens trouble me a bit at Augusta as well. Some of the approaches were running off into the water in crazy circumstances and seemed a little unfair.

[gatso]

Some of the approaches were running off into the water in crazy circumstances and seemed a little unfair.

unfair to who?

[mondatoo]

Part of the reason I retired was

I take it I haven't missed something and you class working for Sky as retired ?

+1 to hopefully see you at DTD this weekend.

[Karabiner]

Some of the approaches were running off into the water in crazy circumstances and seemed a little unfair.

unfair to whom?

FYP.

[celtic]

So, the head boss at sky comes up to you, and says. Tony, we're gonna have a Tikay invitational poker sit n go. 6 handed, and we will film it and show it on sky. Which 5 people would you like to attend? Your answer would be?

[mouth]

So, the head boss at sky comes up to you, and says. Tony, we're gonna have a Tikay invitational poker sit n go. 6 handed, and we will film it and show it on sky. Which 5 people would you like to attend? Your answer would be?

I can't actually see this game going ahead without me playing. Obviously there would need to some sort of swear filter, but I would be on the list.

[Karabiner]

Great write up but i have to disagree, the masters is the number 1 major......

It can't be the number one major as it's an invitation tournament whereas anyone can qualify for The Open if they're good enough.

The Masters is less of an elite and select field than it used to be but it is still very much an invitation tournament unlike the other three majors which all have their own qualification criteria.

It's also worth remembering that Lee Elder was the first black golfer to play at Augusta in 1975 and until 1982 local black caddies were compulsory for all competitors. One of the founders famously said "as long as I'm alive golfers will be white and caddies will be black".

It's a fantastic event to watch, I don't think I missed a minute.

[RED-DOG]

You're doing proper writing now Tone. That's not fair. 

[AndrewT]

You're doing proper writing now Tone. That's not fair. 

He thought he was posting on your diary and so upped his game.

[Chompy]

Masters really was amazing but I never left the Sky commentary once. Just muted it when Monty came on. Critchley and Ewan Murray ftw. Was Andrew Cotter on BBC? Quality.

Tempted to get the clubs out again now?

Re: Westwood's relatively huge number of putts. I know he was ranked third bottom of the weekend qualifiers but I can't see any relevance comparing his number of putts with those taken by Mickelson and Blubba. He hit far more greens and left mostly longer putts. He was still pretty terrible on the greens though.

[Simon Galloway]

Remember something you said about golf... "make it happen"

Well, along with Chompy, and any others that would like to, there will be some golf in Vegas this year. 

Your move - make it happen.