Sergio

[Richard Nixon]

I don't often venture into this area, because I don't really watch much tour action, save for my Tiger and Padraig cheerleading. And Annika. I have a soft spot for Annika. But watching the playoff today, I was struck by the announcers. Were they cheerleading Garcia all day? Because I'd swear they were saying things like, "Finally! Sergio has done it!"

Done what, exactly?

I'm as sympathetic to anybody who struggles with the putter - incidentally, way to finish with a birdie Sergio. That three footer down the hill certainly was treacherous. But Sergio beat Paul Goydos today, the kind of guy that guys on GolfDiscussions recognize, but that the guys down at the bar say, "Gaydos? What a terrible name." And he won it with a jerky playoff on a fluky hole.

And hells bells, the TPC isn't a major anyway. Guys can claim it is a bigger deal than the PGA Championship, but until the TPC is actually the fourth major, I don't really care about anybody's claims. There are four majors, and the TPC isn't now, and isn't going to be, one of them.

Also, can this finally end the nonsense about the golf gods being against Sergio? The force against Sergio is the one controlling the putter, and that's between his ears. That gust of wind was the golf gods giving him a tournament against a journeyman grinder whose attempt to save bogey on the hole was a better looking putt than Garcia's wimpjob toward the cup for the victory.

Rant, finished.

[Avatar]

I've been a fan of Paul Goydos for years (most people look at me blankly when they ask who my favorite golfer is and I mention Paul). I felt the end was a bit of a let down, not b/c Garcia won, but b/c how it happened. I would have rather seen a three hole play off (16 - 18), lowest score wins.

[SKrinsky]

The announcers know their jobs depend upon ratings. Sergio is 1,000 the ratings potential of Goydos. Sergio getting the monkey off his back and finally coming close to realizing his potential would be good for the game. Goydos winning would have been like Craig Perks, one and done, no great stories, no lasting buzz.

I was rooting for Goydos, but I'd also like to see Sergio step up and be able to challenge Tiger once in a while.

[Jack from Canada]

Seems Sergio is not that popular of a player in the states. 

Didn't Tiger loose the Masters because of poor putting even though Trevor had a lower score?

Competition is a good thing, too bad it looks like the same olde for Phil.

[razorface]

uhhh....sergio didn't finish with a birdie.


he two putted a 4 footer for par.  but he did save par on 18 to put himself into a playoff.


huge kudos to sergio.  he jumped miles in my book....seemed pretty humble in his speech. 

[Desmond]

So how did Sergio do it?

#1 in Driving Accuracy

#1 in Greens in Regulation

#69th in Putts Per Round

So I've tune into TGC and they're congratulating Sergio and Stan Utley on Sergio's putting?

But to tell the truth, Sergio was good with the putter today with 28 putts after 33 and 34 on Friday and Saturday.

Is Sergio one of those oddities where his putter only has to be mediocre for him to win because his ballstriking is superior?

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

Sergios putting today was enough to win but still to my way of thinking still scary. He dropped some long ones but those 3 to 12 footers... He still doesn't seem to have it back. When he was very young he was a really good putter. However he's definitely much better than he has been but I think he still has a ways to go to really contend in majors. Going back to a putter he used 10 years ago was a smart thing to do. I think now he needs to simply "remember" more of how he putted then and he'll get back to where he was then. I wish him luck doin it cause I have always liked his game.

My own opinion is that putting is personal. What I mean is that there is no "formula" and no "right way". There are some common features to a great putting stroke that players can get help with - and the great players have always found the way to incorporate those features in a way unique to them. I think the "imitators" or those who believe that a certain teacher has "the secret" usually fail because they are trying to use a stroke which basically isn't and probably won't ever be "theirs". For example I see too many people trying to imitate the Tiger stroke and it basically doesn't work because it isn't "theirs". The great putters simply do "what works" for them. Someday watch Palmer, Nicklaus, Casper, Crenshaw, Trevino, Watson, Snead, Hogan, Player, Tiger. Look at the variety in stances - upright, bent over, wide, narrow, knock kneed: the variety in strokes - the pendulum the piston push the wrist flip and: the variety in tempos - the pop, the smooth. They all worked - they all won Majors usually multiple majors. This I think is a problem today with putting on tour. Too much formula too little individuality finding what truly works and using it no matter what Pelz says. How many Majors did he win by the way? Once again I think putting is personal and the great ones know it. There are some players doing it "their way" and showing - I believe - that I'm right. Tiger and Padraig immediately come to mind.

IMO Sergio simply has to get back to this basic fact to fulfill his potential - the ball striking is "there". In fact I believe Sergio is better than Tiger tee to green.

-Ed-

[Desmond]

Hey All,

Sergios putting today was enough to win but still to my way of thinking still scary. He dropped some long ones but those 3 to 12 footers... He still doesn't seem to have it back. When he was very young he was a really good putter. However he's definitely much better than he has been but I think he still has a ways to go to really contend in majors. Going back to a putter he used 10 years ago was a smart thing to do. I think now he needs to simply "remember" more of how he putted then and he'll get back to where he was then. I wish him luck doin it cause I have always liked his game.

My own opinion is that putting is personal. What I mean is that there is no "formula" and no "right way". There are some common features to a great putting stroke that players can get help with - and the great players have always found the way to incorporate those features in a way unique to them. I think the "imitators" or those who believe that a certain teacher has "the secret" usually fail because they are trying to use a stroke which basically isn't and probably won't ever be "theirs". For example I see too many people trying to imitate the Tiger stroke and it basically doesn't work because it isn't "theirs". The great putters simply do "what works" for them. Someday watch Palmer, Nicklaus, Casper, Crenshaw, Trevino, Watson, Snead, Hogan, Player, Tiger. Look at the variety in stances - upright, bent over, wide, narrow, knock kneed: the variety in strokes - the pendulum the piston push the wrist flip and: the variety in tempos - the pop, the smooth. They all worked - they all won Majors usually multiple majors. This I think is a problem today with putting on tour. Too much formula too little individuality finding what truly works and using it no matter what Pelz says. How many Majors did he win by the way? Once again I think putting is personal and the great ones know it.

IMO Sergio simply has to get back to this basic fact to fulfill his potential - the ball striking is "there". In fact I believe Sergio is better than Tiger tee to green.

-Ed-

Good post, Ed.

Tiger has a short game that is excellent most of the time and while his driving accuracy is mediocre at best, his GIR doesn't seem to suffer.

Sergio has a tee to green game that is excellent. His putting is still mediocre. On most tourney courses where putting is at a premium, Sergio is still at a distinct disadvantage although the rest of his game seems to often put him in the hunt. The short to medium putts still make him nerrrrrrvous.

[BigLeftyinAZ]

Sergio will never be a threat untill he can putt. Dont forget he also has anger issues and is still a jerk in my book.He got lucky today ,made a few putts when he had to.otherwise he must have missed 10+ very short putts

[Rye]

Sorry. Edited for nonsense.

[jsfain]

Why can't we all celebrate Sergio's win instead of looking for reasons not to do so?
For years we have all witnessed his awful putting give away titles everywhere. He should have won the Open last year for one instance.
So here he is making just about every putt he had to and all you want to do is deride his putting and Stan Utley's help.
If you hit every fairway and every green you probably don't have to be the greatest putter, today Sergio was a very good putter. In the run up I only saw one blip - #16, if he makes that there is no playoff. The 4 footer on 17 in the playoff is irrelevant, he had it won by then.
So I say Well done Sergio and I hope your putting continues on the road to consistency.

[LyleG]

The day Sergio spit into the cup, and later when he had the chance, didnt apologize,  but instead claimed "it was no big deal", was the day I was done cheering for him.

[Desmond]

Why can't we all celebrate Sergio's win instead of looking for reasons not to do so?
For years we have all witnessed his awful putting give away titles everywhere. He should have won the Open last year for one instance.
So here he is making just about every putt he had to and all you want to do is deride his putting and Stan Utley's help.
If you hit every fairway and every green you probably don't have to be the greatest putter, today Sergio was a very good putter. In the run up I only saw one blip - #16, if he makes that there is no playoff. The 4 footer on 17 in the playoff is irrelevant, he had it won by then.
So I say Well done Sergio and I hope your putting continues on the road to consistency.

I think some of us are wondering if Sergio can repeat the win and are only analyzing his win.

When he spit into a cup unapologetically, he "lost" some people.

Utley's stroke is not the easiest in the world. Sergio is doing well with it after only a few months. It's just that you can see that he is still trying to believe in it and at times is so focused on mechanics that he forgets about line or the mechanics don't work (typical of a new stroke). The 33 and 34 putts in rounds 2 & 3 show you that he could have run away with this event due to his ballstriking if not for the putting. He took, what, 18 more putts than Goydos, as a commentator stated. Wow.

Still, he hit the putts at the end that he needed to make. Congrats.

Let's see how that stroke is working around FedEX Cup Tournament Time -- that will be a fair judgment on the stroke.

[Richard Nixon]

I hate to say it, but he can't putt. He was in position to win yesterday on 17 in the playoff and nursed that putt toward the hole. Absolutely nursed it. He's a great player, but he cannot putt, and if he can't do it by now, is there any chance he starts sometime soon?

[jsfain]

Sam you might be right, but yesterday he did what he had to do with the flat stick. I thought he'd lost it on 16 with a bad miss, but the fact that he made it on 18 was enormous.
Time will tell if he can keep it going, but yesterday must have given him an huge boost in confidence.

[E. Guido Soda]

He's a great player, but he cannot putt, and if he can't do it by now, is there any chance he starts sometime soon?

Vijay says hi.  Tiger's middle wedge game says hi.  He's, what, 28?  Why would you insinuate that it is too late for him to become a great, or even mid-range putter?       

[Richard Nixon]

Look, all the hope in the world for the guy to become a great or mid-range putter. But there's no evidence that it is going to happen. Look at how he has putted under pressure for his entire career. There's more than enough evidence to suggest that it isn't going to suddenly start happening.

[E. Guido Soda]

Look, all the hope in the world for the guy to become a great or mid-range putter. But there's no evidence that it is going to happen. Look at how he has putted under pressure for his entire career. There's more than enough evidence to suggest that it isn't going to suddenly start happening.

Very little at the professional level of golf happens suddenly, but I think what we saw is the possible beginnings of Sergio becoming a respectable putter.  I also think that despite his protestations to the contrary the TPC, or TP, whatever it is now, might have given him the shot in the arm that he so desperately needs for future major contention.  The bottom line is that only time will tell, and I don't think anyone here would argue that *suddenly* he's going to be a great putter.  But he can and most likely will improve...which will make golf a lot more interesting.

[geekoman]

Why can't we all celebrate Sergio's win instead of looking for reasons not to do so?
For years we have all witnessed his awful putting give away titles everywhere. He should have won the Open last year for one instance.
So here he is making just about every putt he had to and all you want to do is deride his putting and Stan Utley's help.
If you hit every fairway and every green you probably don't have to be the greatest putter, today Sergio was a very good putter. In the run up I only saw one blip - #16, if he makes that there is no playoff. The 4 footer on 17 in the playoff is irrelevant, he had it won by then.
So I say Well done Sergio and I hope your putting continues on the road to consistency.

SERGIO SERGIO SERGIO [prop.gif]SERGIO

MY MAIN MAN!

[Jaylasvegas]

to those that claim he cant putt




HE WON!!!,  who cares how many it took for him to get the ball in the hole, it was less than everyone else

[rockford35]

SERGIO SERGIO SERGIO [prop.gif]SERGIO

MY MAIN MAN!

Wanna make another major bet? 

R35

[Raidermatt]

Sam, he only needed to 3-putt on the playoff hole to win.  Can't blame him for nursing that.

But yes, his putting is still very suspect.  It does seem to be getting better though.  We'll have to see if he continue to improve.  As others have pointed out, he is only 28 and I think he now has 7 PGA Tour wins.

Anytime a guy can finish 1st in Girs he is a threat.  And given that he WON the tournament, I'd say he was a pretty big threat.

I'm not saying I like everything he has done or that he is a great guy or anything.  But he just won probably the 5th biggest tournament of the year, he's ranked 10th in the world and he's got 7 PGA wins.  He may not ever be one of the greats of all time.  That remains to be seen.

But he is pretty good, and he's accomplished a lot more than most guys his age.

[2iron280]

SERGIO SERGIO SERGIO [prop.gif]SERGIO

MY MAIN MAN!

Have you sent him a DCT 551 as a gift for him to try out yet? Wouldn't that be cool to have HIM blasting record drives for PGA and Geek?!? WOW!

[Rye]

Have you sent him a DCT 551 as a gift for him to try out yet? Wouldn't that be cool to have HIM blasting record drives for PGA and Geek?!? WOW!

The way he was hitting his driver this week, I don't see a change in the near future. Geek or not.

[NewJerichoMan]

My opinion on the topic at hand...

Sergio, great ball striker?  I think he's very good.  Not sure if he's great.  Gets a lot of pub for it yet never really leads in GIR%.  Let's not forget he hadn't won in 3 years either.    How great can he be?  You can say he's better off the tee than Tiger but Tiger is gonna beat him in GIR% most any year he's not going thru a swing change. 

Sergio, bad putter?  Mercurial, I think is a better descriptor.  I think he finished top 25 last year in putting average, which was a helluva lot better than his ballstriking rank was.

In the "gotta have it" category, Sergio choked on numerous Sundays while in contention.  He wasn't only putting bad on those days.  He was hitting it well period.  Plus, he was dressing up in bright yellow, looking like a Chiquita banana.  Three strikes and your out Sergio. 

The big questions: hasn't he learned confidence?  Is he practicing enough for himself to be consistent?  He's got the game to win majors.  The TPC was a perfect dichotomy of that.  You had one guy putting the daylights out of the ball: 39 one-putts in 72 holes.  Un-freak-in-be-liev-able!  Then you had another guy who was numero uno in FIR% and numero uno in GIR%.  Again, un-freak-in-be-liev-able!  When the winning score is -5, the ballstriker has the advantage.  If guys are struggling to make pars, ain't a lot of birdies going down, and the ones that do are mostly on the par 5s where guys can two putt. 

If most majors in the future play at or near par, Sergio should be in the hunt.  Those events favor the ball striker.  Not that I think he's the greatest ball striker in the world but those events favor him over an event where -17 is the winning score. 

Later,
David