OT: US Open

[elocomotive]

Norman also "lost" a couple of majors to some miracle shots (iirc Bob Tway out of a bunker for the PGA and Larry Mize with the miracle chip at the Masters).

I think in my liftetime, that is the most memorable single shot I can think of. That or Tiger's "better than most" putt. And Norman was not at fault there, but it only adds to his own (bad) legend being the one standing there as it rolls in.

 

[forty_three]

I'm just waiting for the day Mickelson goes "oh right... I'm right-handed!" and then starts winning everything. Obviously a great golfer, but needs some tips on how you hustle people.

I still think Norman is the bigger choker and always will be because for starters, Norman was a runner-up in every major multiple times. And Phil has 4 majors to Norman's four.

But the biggest reasons is - Phil isn't really choking - he's finishing 2nd in majors not suited to his game or where his course management (part of who he is) causes those things to happen. Phil has largely been the runner-up in the US Open, which is a tournament not well suited to his game. The US Open is about hitting fairways, staying out of trouble, and being consistent. Phil is spectacular at times, but not the most consistent guy out there. He's #158 in driving on Tour right now. So, I don't think it's really "choking" when you succeed at places where your game is better suited and you fail at places where your game/playing style does NOT fit the tournament. He's in a tourney like the US Open because he's a pressure player and makes great shots in his short game to overcome deficiencies in his driving that would keep most players from ever even being in contention.

He's won at places where his style fits well (Masters, PGA) and lost where it doesn't (US Open, British).

I think in my liftetime, that is the most memorable single shot I can think of. That or Tiger's "better than most" putt. And Norman was not at fault there, but it only adds to his own (bad) legend being the one standing there as it rolls in.

So Phil carding two doubles in a final round isn't choking, but Norman losing on 2 unreal shots by competitors is?

 

[esls79]

I remember when I was a kid and Phil was a hot shot at Arizona State and on the cover of Golf Digest - he was always known as a master of recovery and had all sorts of shots nobody else had. He still does for the most part, but at a US Open, the course set up renders nearly all of them useless.

Carding two doubles in the final round is pretty much par for the course at a US Open if you ask me. Leading wire to wire in a US Open is rather rare, so I don't count this one as a choke, but some of his others I do. As for Norman, he will never live down the 96 Masters final round meltdown - that is what all other chokes are now measured against (and maybe VandeVelde at Carnoustie in 1999).

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Phil has choked big time before. No need to bust out the "I'm an idiot" speech.

To whoever said that making two doubles is normal for the US Open... no it isn't. Did Rose make two? Day?

In fact I'm a former scratch player who plays to a 4-6 these days (playing 5-15 rounds per year). Despite playing my second round of the year today (a 75 I was insanely pleased with) I could GUARANTEE you that I would make no worse than par on that short par three (barring a three putt). Phil over thinks things too much and that killed him there. He missed his yardage by 10 % on that hole. Terrible for a player of my calibre. Absolutely unacceptable for a player of his calibre with a caddy and detailed yardage info.

Choke by overthinking the task at hand. Phil is every bit the choker that Norman is.