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Post by Den60 on May 20, 2024 9:27:01 GMT -8
Glad he finally shed that monkey from his back. If you would have told me he would shoot 6 under on the last day I would have expected him to run away with it. Dechambeau and Hovland were throwing darts and making putts and Dechambeau had luck on his side on 16. Xander's putting was really, really good.
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Post by Boise Aztec on May 20, 2024 10:31:02 GMT -8
I say it’s Tony, Marshall, Kawhi and now Xander up there. I've still got Strasburg up there... with Xander definitely closing the gap. The first three are easy… after that it is a bit harder… SS was never the best pitcher in the game, his WAR is about half of an average HOF pitcher… X has 13 Top 10 finishes in the majors with the PGA win and 8 overall wins… with the Olympic Gold Medal… he needs at least 15 tour wins, US, Europe, Asia, etc. to be considered for the HOF… I would put Xander up there… |
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Post by azson on May 20, 2024 10:35:40 GMT -8
Xander proved himself today. Many a doubter will claim they were on his bandwagon all along. Guess he dragged your sad Asses along for the ride. Go ahead, let’s hear how you were there for him the whole time. Thank you, X, for a wonderful performance that we will never forget. Aztec For Life. Posts like this are weird and petty. In the wake of one of the all time great Aztecs having their greatest accomplishment... you come on and call out "people"... "bandwagon" people. Just petty and weird. You're trying to call out others for ... whatever it is you're trying to call them out for ... but it really comes off that you're behaving the same as the ones you're calling out. Actually, you're coming off worse IMO as your post reeks of self superiority. I just never get the plethora of people here, on FB, etc. that post crap like that. It ain't rocket science, just typical human/fan behavior. We read many trashing posts on social media (regarding all sports, both SDSU and pro, directed at players and coaches alike) from arm-chair, keyboard warrior-idiots, most of whom never even played/coached the game at the same level. When the time inevitably comes when those players/coaches succeed, it feels good to remind the idiots of their idiocy. Maybe it's not the most Buddhist of actions, but it feels good in the moment when the player/coach we've been rooting for (while suffering the idiots for months) finally wins and we can force feed the idiots some crow. Kudos to you if you're above ever feeling/doing the same. |
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Post by PAC12 Aztec on May 20, 2024 10:51:32 GMT -8
This was absolutely awesome to watch! I am so happy for Xander and his family. What a great accomplishment and he was tremendous at the end. I actually watched golf more the last few days than I have in years.
I was actually at my sons AAU games yesterday. However, I wasn't even watching him. I had Hulu going on my phone and I watched Xander get his first major! My son was upset that I wasn't watching him, but he understood when he saw how happy I was that Xander got his first major.
Now, I am looking forward to Xander getting his first green jacket!
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Post by Ambivalent_Fan on May 20, 2024 11:13:01 GMT -8
I'm a fan of any athlete that goes to SDSU and then becomes a pro. We all want Aztecs for Life to do exceedingly well at the pro level. But, I will admit to wondering about the mental part of Xander's game a few times over the past couple of years. I am a big Rickie Fowler fan as well, 1) because he and I share the same initials, and 2) because he is just a good guy. While I don't share Xander's initials, I can root for him, Aztec or not, because he just seems like a good dude. I love that Austin is on his bag...that's a good story too! But, like Rickie, it has seemed that Xander just couldn't break through. Golf is a hard game. I play every week. I say it is 80% mental. Xander just cleared a huge mental hurdle. Somehow I don't think it will be his only major. I somewhat disagree with one of your points... Golf isn't really 80% mental...more like 20%... 20% - long game skills 20% - short game skills 20% - putting skills 20% - mental toughness 10% - course management - right club selection / understanding & playing the elements / reading the right putting lines etc. 10% - being lucky / unlucky (lucky like hitting a tree in the deep rough that ricochets into the fairway on the 16th hole / unlucky like hitting a perfect tee-shot down the middle - only to end up in a unrepaired divot in the middle of the fairway) |
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Post by couldashoulda on May 20, 2024 12:56:16 GMT -8
I'm a fan of any athlete that goes to SDSU and then becomes a pro. We all want Aztecs for Life to do exceedingly well at the pro level. But, I will admit to wondering about the mental part of Xander's game a few times over the past couple of years. I am a big Rickie Fowler fan as well, 1) because he and I share the same initials, and 2) because he is just a good guy. While I don't share Xander's initials, I can root for him, Aztec or not, because he just seems like a good dude. I love that Austin is on his bag...that's a good story too! But, like Rickie, it has seemed that Xander just couldn't break through. Golf is a hard game. I play every week. I say it is 80% mental. Xander just cleared a huge mental hurdle. Somehow I don't think it will be his only major. I somewhat disagree with one of your points... Golf isn't really 80% mental...more like 20%... 20% - long game skills 20% - short game skills 20% - putting skills 20% - mental toughness 10% - course management - right club selection / understanding & playing the elements / reading the right putting lines etc. 10% - being lucky / unlucky (lucky like hitting a tree in the deep rough that ricochets into the fairway on the 16th hole / unlucky like hitting a perfect tee-shot down the middle - only to end up in a unrepaired divot in the middle of the fairway) I could agree with you...but then, we'd both be wrong. Kidding...kind of. I have played sports of all types since I was 6 years old. Golf, for me, requires more mental concentration than any other sport I have played. There is a great illustration that one of my Sunday group shared with us recently. It is a cartoon with a goofy looking guy getting ready to hit his ball. All over the cartoon are pre-shot thoughts with the caption, "the 64 things you must focus on in the second and a half prior to hitting the ball". And, what it doesn't include is all the crap that creeps in when you are supposed to be thinking about those 64 things. I don't disagree with your breakdown above necessarily. My point is that I have played golf with some people who were not physically in shape, or just not athletic in general, but had incredible mental acuity. And they could putt like no one's business. My mom was one of those people. Physically she couldn't drive the ball more than 175 yards. But, she would dink her way up the fairway, and was nails on the putting green, from anywhere. |
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Post by azson on May 20, 2024 13:13:37 GMT -8
I'll say this about golf - trying to learn it after a lifetime of hardball/softball bat swinging is a frikken nightmare!
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Post by johneaztec on May 20, 2024 13:17:15 GMT -8
I somewhat disagree with one of your points... Golf isn't really 80% mental...more like 20%... 20% - long game skills 20% - short game skills 20% - putting skills 20% - mental toughness 10% - course management - right club selection / understanding & playing the elements / reading the right putting lines etc. 10% - being lucky / unlucky (lucky like hitting a tree in the deep rough that ricochets into the fairway on the 16th hole / unlucky like hitting a perfect tee-shot down the middle - only to end up in a unrepaired divot in the middle of the fairway) I could agree with you...but then, we'd both be wrong. Kidding...kind of. I have played sports of all types since I was 6 years old. Golf, for me, requires more mental concentration than any other sport I have played. There is a great illustration that one of my Sunday group shared with us recently. It is a cartoon with a goofy looking guy getting ready to hit his ball. All over the cartoon are pre-shot thoughts with the caption, "the 64 things you must focus on in the second and a half prior to hitting the ball". And, what it doesn't include is all the crap that creeps in when you are supposed to be thinking about those 64 things. I don't disagree with your breakdown above necessarily. My point is that I have played golf with some people who were not physically in shape, or just not athletic in general, but had incredible mental acuity. And they could putt like no one's business. My mom was one of those people. Physically she couldn't drive the ball more than 175 yards. But, she would dink her way up the fairway, and was nails on the putting green, from anywhere. For sure. I've always said that golf takes the most concentration of any sport I've played. |
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Post by imhighonx on May 20, 2024 13:24:54 GMT -8
I somewhat disagree with one of your points... Golf isn't really 80% mental...more like 20%... 20% - long game skills 20% - short game skills 20% - putting skills 20% - mental toughness 10% - course management - right club selection / understanding & playing the elements / reading the right putting lines etc. 10% - being lucky / unlucky (lucky like hitting a tree in the deep rough that ricochets into the fairway on the 16th hole / unlucky like hitting a perfect tee-shot down the middle - only to end up in a unrepaired divot in the middle of the fairway) I could agree with you...but then, we'd both be wrong. Kidding...kind of. I have played sports of all types since I was 6 years old. Golf, for me, requires more mental concentration than any other sport I have played. There is a great illustration that one of my Sunday group shared with us recently. It is a cartoon with a goofy looking guy getting ready to hit his ball. All over the cartoon are pre-shot thoughts with the caption, "the 64 things you must focus on in the second and a half prior to hitting the ball". And, what it doesn't include is all the crap that creeps in when you are supposed to be thinking about those 64 things. I don't disagree with your breakdown above necessarily. My point is that I have played golf with some people who were not physically in shape, or just not athletic in general, but had incredible mental acuity. And they could putt like no one's business. My mom was one of those people. Physically she couldn't drive the ball more than 175 yards. But, she would dink her way up the fairway, and was nails on the putting green, from anywhere. I was mansplaining this to my wife yesterday. I said, “if you had enough attempts you could make a 20’ putt tomorrow but no matter how many attempts you get you aren’t hitting a 230 yard drive tomorrow. But after years and years it’s way harder to get good at making 20’ putts then it is to hit decent tee shots”. By the time I finished she was clearly not listening but I think that’s what is so nuts about golf. Xander had the lowest score to par and fewest strokes ever in a major and barely avoided a playoff. It’s a crazy game especially at the highest level but even for weekend hacks, and maybe especially, the mental part is very challenging. |
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Post by PAC12 Aztec on May 20, 2024 14:09:31 GMT -8
I just play golf for an excuse to drink beer and smoke cigars with no wife or kids to bother me. However, I am so looking forward to tying one of those fake snakes around my buddy and watch him shite himself. Those videos always get me laughing my azz off.
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Post by Ambivalent_Fan on May 20, 2024 14:51:38 GMT -8
All I know is that I played the same course twice this weekend (I currently have a 7.1 index)...I shot a very respectable 76 on Saturday and a 92 on Sunday...same basic weather conditions...same course...same greens...
The differences: I lipped out or was on the edge of the hole on 4-5 putts...I missed greens (mostly over the green long...because I hit the ball extraordinarily well...taking 3 strokes in penalties + at least one more stroke to hit up on the green)...I hit two different cart paths (on two different holes) that put my ball in an unplayable position.
Nothing in my skill level changed significantly from Saturday to Sunday...but the "bad luck factor" played a significant role...
...not unlike what has happened to Xander for several different tournaments (which could have easily happened again to Xander yesterday due to Bryson's good luck and Xander's bad luck)...fortunately Xander hit some incredible golf shots to prevail (I still have no idea how he was able to hit that 2nd shot 210 yards with a four iron from a ball above his knees).
Bottom line...Xander made it happen and won
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Post by laaztec on May 20, 2024 17:52:50 GMT -8
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Post by aztecforlife2006 on May 20, 2024 18:26:34 GMT -8
All I know is that I played the same course twice this weekend (I currently have a 7.1 index)...I shot a very respectable 76 on Saturday and a 92 on Sunday...same basic weather conditions...same course...same greens... The differences: I lipped out or was on the edge of the hole on 4-5 putts...I missed greens (mostly over the green long...because I hit the ball extraordinarily well...taking 3 strokes in penalties + at least one more stroke to hit up on the green)...I hit two different cart paths (on two different holes) that put my ball in an unplayable position. Nothing in my skill level changed significantly from Saturday to Sunday...but the "bad luck factor" played a significant role... ...not unlike what has happened to Xander for several different tournaments (which could have easily happened again to Xander yesterday due to Bryson's good luck and Xander's bad luck)...fortunately Xander hit some incredible golf shots to prevail (I still have no idea how he was able to hit that 2nd shot 210 yards with a four iron from a ball above his knees). Bottom line...Xander made it happen and won Probably was golfing alone when he shot the “76” |
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Post by Ambivalent_Fan on May 20, 2024 19:07:17 GMT -8
All I know is that I played the same course twice this weekend (I currently have a 7.1 index)...I shot a very respectable 76 on Saturday and a 92 on Sunday...same basic weather conditions...same course...same greens... The differences: I lipped out or was on the edge of the hole on 4-5 putts...I missed greens (mostly over the green long...because I hit the ball extraordinarily well...taking 3 strokes in penalties + at least one more stroke to hit up on the green)...I hit two different cart paths (on two different holes) that put my ball in an unplayable position. Nothing in my skill level changed significantly from Saturday to Sunday...but the "bad luck factor" played a significant role... ...not unlike what has happened to Xander for several different tournaments (which could have easily happened again to Xander yesterday due to Bryson's good luck and Xander's bad luck)...fortunately Xander hit some incredible golf shots to prevail (I still have no idea how he was able to hit that 2nd shot 210 yards with a four iron from a ball above his knees). Bottom line...Xander made it happen and won Probably was golfing alone when he shot the “76” Played with really fun guys I just met on the tee… …but why would it matter if I was playing by myself or with others?…amateur golf is about challenging yourself, getting better, and having fun…who exactly would I be cheating if I posted a lower score than I actually shot?…especially if I play in handicapped club tournaments?… |
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Post by beachalum on May 20, 2024 20:04:28 GMT -8
Very happy for Xander and our Aztec golf program. He found an inner strength to finish on Sunday and hopefully it will lead to more wins and majors.
I volunteer at the Farmers and also was at the US Open in LA last year and get to see the players up close. What I have seen is Xander is a good guy, a great golfer and a fine representative of Aztec nation.
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Post by aztech on May 20, 2024 20:35:53 GMT -8
I think Xander has been given a lot of extra press for winning the PGA because he held off a LIV player from winning it. Much like they did for Jon Rahm last year for the Masters, before he sold out to them.
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Post by longtimebooster on May 21, 2024 4:51:59 GMT -8
This was absolutely awesome to watch! I am so happy for Xander and his family. What a great accomplishment and he was tremendous at the end. I actually watched golf more the last few days than I have in years. I was actually at my sons AAU games yesterday. However, I wasn't even watching him. I had Hulu going on my phone and I watched Xander get his first major! My son was upset that I wasn't watching him, but he understood when he saw how happy I was that Xander got his first major. Now, I am looking forward to Xander getting his first green jacket! Now here's a man who has his priorities straight!  You'll have plenty of chances to watch your son in future AAU games, but only one chance to see Xander close out his first major win. |
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Post by longtimebooster on May 21, 2024 5:03:42 GMT -8
Probably was golfing alone when he shot the “76” Played with really fun guys I just met on the tee… …but why would it matter if I was playing by myself or with others?…amateur golf is about challenging yourself, getting better, and having fun…who exactly would I be cheating if I posted a lower score than I actually shot?…especially if I play in handicapped club tournaments?… Best round of golf I ever played, by far, was when I went out solo. Birdied five of the first six holes and finished seven under for the front nine and finished the back nine at +2. Carded a 67. And this was on a legit course, not some short muni track. I'd never even broken par before for 18 holes. It was bonkers. Such a simple game that day. Hit the ball long down the middle of the fairway. Loft the ball onto the green. Sink a 10 to 20-foot putt. Voila. Birdie. I kept the scorecard to show all my family and friends. They just laughed and were worried at the depths of depravity I'd sunk to with my cheating at golf. |
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Post by docmm on May 21, 2024 6:16:33 GMT -8
Played with really fun guys I just met on the tee… …but why would it matter if I was playing by myself or with others?…amateur golf is about challenging yourself, getting better, and having fun…who exactly would I be cheating if I posted a lower score than I actually shot?…especially if I play in handicapped club tournaments?… Best round of golf I ever played, by far, was when I went out solo. Birdied five of the first six holes and finished seven under for the front nine and finished the back nine at +2. Carded a 67. And this was on a legit course, not some short muni track. I'd never even broken par before for 18 holes. It was bonkers. Such a simple game that day. Hit the ball long down the middle of the fairway. Loft the ball onto the green. Sink a 10 to 20-foot putt. Voila. Birdie. I kept the scorecard to show all my family and friends. They just laughed and were worried at the depths of depravity I'd sunk to with my cheating at golf. I had a similar experience as a 12 handicapper. Had never come close to par before but on vacation in New Zealand I was sent out alone on an almost empty course. The Big Bertha had just come out and I had one. I bombed that ball way down the fairways and was hitting 8s, 9s and wedges into the greens which set up miraculous putts that I kept making. I'd hit some massive drives, 40-50 yards farther and straighter than I ever had and kept looking around to see if anyone else saw them. I was 1 over par after 9 and knew that I was destined for greatness. Then they sent some Dutch guy with me on the back nine and I confidently strutted up to my ball on the 10th tee. I hit maybe the biggest and worst hook of my life out of bounds and proceeded to shoot at least 20 over par on that back nine. I don't think I ever hit a straight drive again with that club. The poor Dutch guy spent all afternoon waiting for me to find my ball or eventually meet him on the greens. Golf can be very easy to hate sometimes. |
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Post by jp92grad on May 21, 2024 6:42:19 GMT -8
Played with really fun guys I just met on the tee… …but why would it matter if I was playing by myself or with others?…amateur golf is about challenging yourself, getting better, and having fun…who exactly would I be cheating if I posted a lower score than I actually shot?…especially if I play in handicapped club tournaments?… Best round of golf I ever played, by far, was when I went out solo. Birdied five of the first six holes and finished seven under for the front nine and finished the back nine at +2. Carded a 67. And this was on a legit course, not some short muni track. I'd never even broken par before for 18 holes. It was bonkers. Such a simple game that day. Hit the ball long down the middle of the fairway. Loft the ball onto the green. Sink a 10 to 20-foot putt. Voila. Birdie. I kept the scorecard to show all my family and friends. They just laughed and were worried at the depths of depravity I'd sunk to with my cheating at golf. Nice LTB, Make this all about you! I remember hearing about this and seeing the plaque (roomer has it, you paid for it) over at the Kearney Mesa Fun Center years ago. I really feel that Xander's winning a Major is just a little different then you slamming down a 12 pack, hitting up the batting cages then followed up by a round of golf of which you may have skipped the last two holes just so you could hit on little Johnny's mom in the group ahead of you. *** you know I always enjoy your posts and just having some fun (or not) |
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