Farmers Insurance Open 3rd Round Open Thread

I've just come in from the course where Tiger is cruising and looking as calm, collected and steady as he's looked in a long time. Plus, it's Fleming's lunch day in the media center. #priorities

As I post, the Golf Channel-to-CBS graphics changeover is taking place, but I just have a hunch CBS will come on and show us plenty of shots of the Adidas gliders, slip in a few promos and even show some golfers not named Tiger.

Golf Channel picks up the early fourth round coverage after CBS signs off at 7 ET.

Monday's final roud restart time has not been announced.

Comments

[John C]

Another relatively early ending to a college bball game... is there an effort by CBS to speed up the games this year? or just a coincidence?

[fred jones]

Too bad they cant repair for the final round so we could see Tiger V. Watney!

[DTF]

Where does this Torrey Pines event fall in the spectrum? Obviously not a major but is it in the next tier below? Or is it below that, kinda 3nd tier? Or despite the full field and terrific venue is it relegated to has-been status, not a quality event?

[digsouth]

Before I answer everyone's questions, I would like to say that Tiger's wedge play has been just awesome. It seems as if TW has been in his back yard, playing quite a bit, and it has certainly paid off. The sodt conditions help, but he still has to land it in the right place, and with the right amount of spin.

John C. and CBS and thespeedier BB games- we've just been lucky, with too much ground to make up, and the possession(s) dictating no need for 28 time outs, fouls and such, where the last minute could have taken an hour, plus the lousy OT.

DTF- So with you being new at watching the PGA and all, we'll cut you some slack. As you may have guessed, this is an opinion type of answer for most, but I am an expert at making the call on the how tournaments are classified. This is a 3rd tier event, but only because Colonial, the Memorial, and the Firestone type of events are considered ''2nd''- we'll give it a 2.5: it has a good beat and it's easy to dance to- scratch that- to watch. SD, Farmers and CBS are all to be commended for what they have done with a screwed up weather situation, and the camera angles on the Kostis slo mo has made it very easy to really see the ''perfect'' swings.
With that said- too much Tiger, but it would be ok, if they just showed more of the other players. He really is putting on a show. He may be back.

[AG]

Claim to fame... Nice course, US Open venue. Home game for Woods. No Euros of note. 2.5 seems about right.

Of note... Phil seems lost. Gotta wonder how much pre-tax spark and drive is left.

[elf]

I can't decide which I've seen more of, Tiger shots, or the Addidas flying Nick Faldo doll

[DTF]

digger, I'm pretty sure that last year Memorial was deemed a 3rd tier has-been event that is only notable because Jack is the host. Same for Bay Hill. I'm certain I remember that being the case ;0)

[AG]

I've seen more replays of Woods' shots than the other guys' shots.

[GinGHIN]

Anyone else throw up in his/her mouth at the stirring shot of Cheetah with Old Glory waving in distance?

[digsouth]

AG has made a good call, and thankfully I didn't see the TF/flag shot....


Del, not the answer to your question ''officially'', but *my opinion*,, ALL the events other than the majors, of which I consider The Player's to be one, but other than those 5, I personally consider them equal. The Memorial, Bay Hill, and Colonial ''invitationals'' are pocket liners., where the rich get richer, and the rest of the pack are thrown into the fray, with less chance to make the 125 and those 70 who can just get richer, without ever getting a win.

I believe if you win in San Antonio or Reno, it is just as important as this week or the tournament Fowler won, which is so important, I can't think of the name. Winning a PGA event is frigging HARD!

So anyway Del, I did not get the memo, on the 3rd tier for the Memorial, etc, but it doesn't bother me.

It seems we have only the first tier, and then the third tier, with me saying The Player's is 1st, and a lot of others saying it is 2nd tier.

[DTF]

digger, setting pomp, circumstance, and personal preferences aside -- there is no question that the Players has the single strongest field in the world year-in year-out....it's not even close.

Based on that swing in the rough on 18 I'd say the leg is 110%! For the first time in year Gary McCord actually made me laugh..."that was the hardest swing I have ever seen"...just the way he said it was good.

[D. maculata]

The frequency of the slo-mo orgas-mo is not a mystery. You know they like ratings more than sex. And the repressed pent-up emotions have been bubbling under the surface since the MC at Abu Dhabi.

[ABishop]

I'm sure this has been asked or talked about before but... Is it just me or does it sometimes appear that Tiger has a dip in his lip. I've noticed this many times over the years but have never heard anyone say anything about it. I dip myself and was just curious. I didn't realize until recently that Spencer Levine smoked on the course, TV programs are careful not to show him holding a cigarette.

[DTF]

The constant drone of that blimp is really annoying....

[KLG]

Apparently it's pretty soggy in La Jolla. Are they playing lift, clean, and cheat? You have to never take your eyes off the screen to see that, too.

I saw one of Tiger's tee shots while passing through the pro shop this afternoon. Looked almost like the pre-2009 model, and the result was like the 2000 model. Is he still working with Dr. Neuroplasticity?

[digsouth]

I am viewing a little behind, and I just saw TW whack this brave cut around a tree, and then chip in for a birdie....the chip was pretty simple, but the cut was really wild, with stupid spectators right in his aim point, and the margin of error pretty tight. I'd say his game was really looking good this week.

Haven't seen the 19th and the McCord, but I'll go back later and check it out. McCord seems more subdued, and it is better when he isn't constantly trying to be funny.

Levine smoking has been an announcer joke a few times...it seems that he lights one off another- sad addiction, and it stinks.

[Danny Boy]

Doesnt sound like Nantz is above criticizing Tiger..."Jim Nantz, the voice of CBS at the Masters, had a chance to talk with Mike Francesa of WFAN, and let it be known that he wasn't happy with the way Woods acted.
"If I said what he said on the air, I would be fired. I read in the USA Today and it was called “mild language.” Someone on my broadcast dismissed it as him having a camera in his face. Well, guess what? Phil Mickelson had a camera in his face all week and did you even hear him come close to approaching that? He didn’t hit every shot the way he wanted. Have you ever heard Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus use that kind of language? What are the parameters between what’s right or wrong?"

Although, given Phil's play this week at Torrey, I don't think he had a camera in his face very often!

[DTF]

Ky, I've been watching all day and am pretty sure they are playing it down. It hasn't rained since Friday and prior to that the courses were being described as dry and fast. In the first 4 holes of the last round Tiger hit zero fairways and played them 2-under with 4 total putts!

Here's a rules question: if a fan in the crowd has a range finder and unsolicited tells a player/caddie a yardage what are the ramifications? (like when a player hits it way off onto an adjacent hole and getting yardage is tough)

If anyone cares it's Levin, one "e".

[Hilltop]

Would CBS be televising tomorrow's final round if Tiger wasn't leading? My sense is no...that would let the Golf Channel finish it up.

[DTF]

My sense is you are correct Hiltop. I had the same thought when they took it all the way to 7pm tonight.

As an extension of your question, if Tiger were not playing and Rory were the leader by a wide margin would they (i) have gone to 7pm tonight and (ii) carried it on the network tomorrow?

[KLG]

My stab at the rules: If the information is unsolicited, no violation.

I watched carefully on my computer as Tiger played his last hole. Course looks great; no need for lifting.
And it was entertaining:
Tiger: Long down the right side of the fairway, 6-iron, 2 putts. No stress. Looked like Tiger.
Horschel: Driver, 5-wood, chip, putt. A very hard way to make a living.
Wittenberg: Snapper, Quacker, wedge, 2 putts. I resemble that! Except it would have been a 3-putt double.

And of course if it were Nick Watney up by 6, they would tee off at 8:00 local time and be done with it as soon as possible.

[elf]

Tiger drives ratings, CBS pays a lot of money and missed their entire broadcast on Saturday. So makes sense to go late on Monday and televise. And honestly it's good for the tour to get the exposure. They wouldn't do it if it was anyone else, because CBS prob doesn't think it have strong enough ratings to justify the expenditure.

They were playing it down

[Mrs. Mashie]

Amen about the blimp noise.

[digsouth]

CBS is doing it right. TW has been a ? and he is blowing and going- non golfers will be talking about this all week.


the blimp noise is worse that McCord at 16 next week.

[Ubb]

The guys with the fabric wings hanging in the sky did a pretty good job of shadow heckling during the late afternoon.

The broadcast looked more like cbs/shell wonderful world of golf with tiger in an exhibition against....nobody that they bothered filming anyway. Maybe it was like Johnny vs jack at Olympic the day that Johnny forgot how to play?

[Hilltop]

@DTF My sense is that if Rory were leading, CBS would not be showing it today. Can anyone think the last Non-major that was televised on network TV for a Monday/Tuesday finish? I can't.

[Media maven]

McCord really seems tired and lame this week in his attempts at humor. he offers very little insight into the current pros....it's always been a shtick and I was never onboard, but I think he should just pack it in sooner rather than embarrass himself even more.
CBS needs fresh blood even more than NBC does.

[DTF]

Agreed Media maven. The real shame is that McCord is extremely knowledgeable and insightful and an elite player himself, if he'd just cover golf and talk like a normal person he could really provide us with a lot of terrific information...all without the bullshit packaging we have to endure now. Having said all that, he did make me laugh for the first time in a while with his comments after Tiger's mighty lash from the rough at 18 on Sunday...probably be another 5 years until the next time.