Considering that Furyk is a seasoned professional and mustang6560 is merely an IT guy, Furyk has my vote although it is close.

I had a legitimate shot to break my best round ever at one of my courses on Saturday with three holes to go....for the fourth time this year at that course. I didn't melt down nearly as bad this time. I just needed bogeys on the last three holes. I bogeyed 16 and doubled 17. Still left me with a shot on 18, but my tee shot ended up in the hollow of a tree. Yup. That was my own meltdown. But the previous three times, I ended up missing the goal by at least 10 strokes.

I say mustang... He still had 18 to try and get back on track.

I also have to say Mustang. Playing that course enough, you shouldn't be making numbers like that still! Pure nerves!


With regards to Furyk though, i wonder if he's going to come back from this. I can understand the pressure of the US Open and the penal nature of the rough and the course in general, but last week's collapse was just lacking mental toughness and probably a lot of nerves. When he went away from his routine in the later holes, then went back to it later, that's just not the model of consistency. his play for pitching it close or whatever it was he was trying to do while hitting it twice from the rough wasn't really the mark of a champion either. Why get cute with the shot when you have the lead and your nearest competitor is 15 feet from the hole with a must make. just put it on the green, past the hole inside his putt, get the read and spend the rest of the night polishing the trophy.

Brian thank you for publicizing Nathan's round. I went and checked out the card. It tells a pretty sad story. Jim Furyk, who cares. Ok so he had one bad hole and ended up going home with $700k instead of $1.4MM. I just can't muster any feeling either way for that situation. But I have to say I find stories such as that of young Nathan trying to beat 80 for the first time way more compelling. $700k is a lot of dough but I think that Nathan's round in the grand scheme of life is simply more significant than Jim Furyk's on Sunday. Plus I just hate the virtual weeping and gnashing of teeth that happens amongst the TV ppl whenever someone has a poor finish like this. Screw you, ppl have real problems and they watch golf for entertainment.

No question - my meltdown.

My guess is Nathan commited the mortal sin of score keeping; counting em before playing em.

About 5 years ago me and my golf buds wre playing Mountain View G C in Pa and I had shot a 43 on the front and had it going on the back; even thru 16 with par 4 17 and par 5 18 left.
My buddy Skip says "G-- damn, Chris is at 27 right now. If I could par out would be 79 and first time breaking 80. Went double, triple.

I tip my hat to mustang6560. Participating in this poll was a nice touch.

I have had more than my share of fumbles coming down the stretch. Mustang, give yourself enough opportunities and that artificial "80" barrier is going to fall.

I'm gonna say Furyk- how many more times to get to that level and through a pro tourney week like this and it comes down to the last hole and crumble...

vs Mustang -- his breaking 80 is certainly (going to be) a great achievement, but he could show up and do it tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after that.

Kinda like your first kiss, you remember your first time to break 80. I stepped up to the 18th tee and said "If I par this hole I will shoot 79" Fortunately I didn't jinx myself . I made birdie for a 78 that day.

merlin3driver wrote:

I made birdie for a 78 that day.

Player would have gotten a hole-in-one.

mjaber wrote:

merlin3driver wrote: I made birdie for a 78 that day. Player would have gotten a hole-in-one.

And tried to mark a 0.

no, no - you've got it all wrong. player would've been at 62 (including 2 eagles) going into the final hole and blown up for a 10 (3 water balls) to finish at even par. what ever happened to that kid? i kind of miss him.

Duke of Hazards wrote:

what ever happened to that kid? i kind of miss him.

Parent's probably found his report card and grounded him.

The second chapter of that story about breaking 80 for the first time, next time out, on the same course, just barely broke 90 as I remember, maybe didn't break 90. it was ugly anyway.