Masters Tournament 2025 (*** NO LIV DISCUSSIONS ***)

[redfirebird08]

36 minutes ago, Thollo said:

Tiger is just as focused when he's practicing as when he's in a tournament. 

 

I would guess Ben Hogan was extremely focused while practicing as well. He said he gained a ton of internal enjoyment from the hard work of grinding on the driving range. But I doubt he would appreciate someone interrupting him for BS socializing while he was in the middle of those practice sessions. 

[mshills]

4 hours ago, shortshadow said:

 

Assuming all this is real, and it might not be...but there is quite the act going on....

 

Golfers are humans supposedly, correct?

 

Why is there this push to make fierce competition normalized?  It's kinda corny...the whole "I'm not saying a word to my opponent.  This is war"

 

It just gets really cheesy in sports.  Just act normal.  Guarantee non of those guys are overly chatty to the point another golfer has to tell them to stop talking to them.  Just be normal.

 

I'll never understand the need to morph into some different persona to compete.

 

This seems like a one off thing for Rory.  Maybe he experimented.  Maybe there is some small beef behind the scenes between them about LIV or something.  Whatever.

 

Still no need to do some 180 persona flip.

Tell us again how you haven’t competed in anything at a high level.

[CasualLie]

18 minutes ago, shortshadow said:

 

I've already stated and no one is answering...

 

I'm going by media interpretations and what this board is discussing...

 

Someone define what exactly Rory was doing that was weird to Bryson?  

 

If they have no beef, what was Rory doing that made Bryson suggest he was being somewhat too focused and weird on the course.

 

Unless Bryson is lying, there must have been something odd about Rory's behavior.  Acting like the opponent is the enemy in war is odd behavior to me even in high level sports with large money on the line.

 

Was Rory trying psychological warfare?  Whatever the reason...I stand by just playing normal and relaxed as opposed to a 180 persona flip.

 

I guess I don't try hard enough is the attack coming.

 

You are just making stuff up.  Rory said in his interviews literally he just wanted to be in his own bubble. His mental coach Rotella just said the game plan was to be laser focused.

 

Read for yourself.

 

https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/44687671/rory-mcilroy-sports-psychologist-said-silence-was-game-plan

 

If that's weird (as you put it) to Bryson, then that's on him (and you).

 

Clearly the plan worked, he won.  And no matter what Bryson says or feels, he played a pretty bad Sunday and lost.

 

 

[CasualLie]

8 minutes ago, mshills said:

Tell us again how you haven’t competed in anything at a high level.

...without telling us you haven't competed in anything high level.

 

😉

 

Edited April 16 by CasualLie

[NosajNeelik]

38 minutes ago, shortshadow said:

 

Just play normal and relaxed...no need for acts...that's my point.

Have you won the Masters?? 
 

cool I think the trust the people that have 😂😂

[NosajNeelik]

42 minutes ago, shortshadow said:

 

Just play normal and relaxed...no need for acts...that's my point.

It’s not an “act”. Are you just trolling here? Serious question 

[CDM]

2 minutes ago, NosajNeelik said:

Have you won the Masters?? 
 

cool I think the trust the people that have 😂😂

 

Yes, yes I have.  When I was a kid I won it 942 times sinking the putt ........ on the practice green.   😂

 

Edit: I just recounted and It was 943 times......   

Edited April 16 by CDM

[NosajNeelik]

41 minutes ago, shortshadow said:

 

To the point you have to do a 180 persona?  Nah...not buying it...even with 4M on the line.

 

Play relaxed.

You think Rory was playing for the 4 million?

 

i get it now. You’ve just started watching golf on Sunday. 

[mshills]

2 minutes ago, NosajNeelik said:

Have you won the Masters?? 
 

cool I think the trust the people that have 😂😂

LOL no kidding. Furthermore, you don’t have to be entered in The Masters to know that concentration, focus, removing distractions works at any level of competition. 

[NosajNeelik]

41 minutes ago, shortshadow said:

 

No need to act different...play relaxed...with 4M on the line or not.  Grand Slam on the line or not.

 

No need for acts.  Be you.

That was him. Lol 

 

 

[azgreg]

 

[azgreg]

 

[bscinstnct]

2 hours ago, shortshadow said:

 

Acting super focused doesn't do anything is my point.

 

I would suggest tiger and hogan had the skills.

 

Why change how you play in a tournament than how you practice?  Seems like it could be counter intuitive.

 

Players should be at their most relaxed...not most tense...imo.

 

I see it as an unnecessary flex with questionable marginable gains.  My opinion.

 

To point out the hypocrisy...i thought LE and military want cool headed, calm operators in difficult situations...not emotionally tense beings?

 

There is a current trend happening in the NFL with QBs.  Arguably the most difficult job in mainstream sports.  The trend is to not draft a QB behind one you have faith in.  Why?  Pschology.  The trend is that QBs are under a lot of pressure already, and having a backup that is good will make the current starter second guess his performances and kill his game.  It counter intuitive to competition producing results, but it's rooted in something that makes sense.

 

My point is, don't change your persona from your practice rounds.  Be focused...but not a complete 180 change.

 

Again...this is assuming there isn't a beef between Rory and Bryson.

 

Just go play relaxed and normal.

 

You sound like you’re speaking about your own personal experience.

 

But just look at the best… Brady, Jordan, TW, these guys want to kill on game day. You hear about Brady and MJ riding, hounding, taunting  their own team mates all the time in practice. And game day the intensity level just goes higher 

 

But it’s not true personal animosity toward the opponent. It’s just “game face”

 

This is very common at all levels of sport. The opponent is your mortal enemy….that day

 

You can disagree, of course, but this has been how athletes compete for thousands of years. 

 

Trevino is quoted saying Even mild mannered Jack basically said nothing to you at all when you played him. 

 

 

Edited April 16 by bscinstnct

[Duct Tape]

15 minutes ago, bscinstnct said:

 

You sound like you’re speaking about your own personal experience.

 

But just look at the best… Brady, Jordan, TW, these guys want to kill on game day. You hear about Brady and MJ riding, hounding, taunting  their own team mates all the time in practice. And game day the intensity level just goes higher 

 

But it’s not true personal animosity toward the opponent. It’s just “game face”

 

This is very common at all levels of sport. The opponent is your mortal enemy….that day

 

You can disagree, of course, but this has been how athletes compete for thousands of years. 

 

Trevino is quoted saying Even mild mannered Jack basically said nothing to you at all when you played him. 

 

 

Good to see you BSC.  Hope all is well with good Italian in Brooklyn.  

[shortshadow]

20 minutes ago, bscinstnct said:

 

You sound like you’re speaking about your own personal experience.

 

But just look at the best… Brady, Jordan, TW, these guys want to kill on game day. You hear about Brady and MJ riding, hounding, taunting  their own team mates all the time in practice. And game day the intensity level just goes higher 

 

But it’s not true personal animosity toward the opponent. It’s just “game face”

 

This is very common at all levels of sport. The opponent is your mortal enemy….that day

 

You can disagree, of course, but this has been how athletes compete for thousands of years. 

 

Trevino is quoted saying Even mild mannered Jack basically said nothing to you at all when you played him. 

 

 

 

We still don't know the extent of what Bryson is talking about.

 

Psychological warfare being introduced on a game of skill is lame.

 

Everyone hates Chris Paul for his antics and use of rules to ruin the game for the viewer...I think acting like a ******(sp) by creating a persona is stupid as well.

 

Leave it to skill...not pschology.

 

Acting focused doesn't help your swing.  Acting 3 seconds more dialed into a shot doesn't help the shot.

 

It's baloney pseudo science talk.

 

This is a game of feel, assuming all is real.

 

Acting focused doesn't make 2 months of practice better than someone that practiced for 4 months.

 

All these guys have been doing this for many years...Acting like a machine isn't changing their score or swing.

 

It's bs.  Simple as that.  I don't care if it worked out for Rory last weekend....prove it works long term.  

 

There is no need for that act is all I'm saying.  Can it help someone temporarily...maybe.  it's pseudo science, though.

[Jim53]

36 minutes ago, bscinstnct said:

 

You sound like you’re speaking about your own personal experience.

 

But just look at the best… Brady, Jordan, TW, these guys want to kill on game day. You hear about Brady and MJ riding, hounding, taunting  their own team mates all the time in practice. And game day the intensity level just goes higher 

 

But it’s not true personal animosity toward the opponent. It’s just “game face”

 

This is very common at all levels of sport. The opponent is your mortal enemy….that day

 

You can disagree, of course, but this has been how athletes compete for thousands of years. 

 

Trevino is quoted saying Even mild mannered Jack basically said nothing to you at all when you played him. 

 

 

OK we all want to know what you did with @TiScape, he was here, then you both were gone. Did he anger someone in the family and get the bridge treatment?? 

 

EDIT; good to see you back and hope all is well 😉

 

Edited April 16 by Jim53

[Dicka]

1 minute ago, shortshadow said:

 

Psychological warfare being introduced on a game of skill is lame.

 

 

Not sure if serious...

[bscinstnct]

49 minutes ago, Duct Tape said:

Good to see you BSC.  Hope all is well with good Italian in Brooklyn.  

 

30 minutes ago, Jim53 said:

OK we all want to know what you did with @TiScape, he was here, then you both were gone. Did he anger someone in the family and get the bridge treatment?? 

 

EDIT; good to see you back and hope all is well 😉

 

 

Cheers gents, all is well and thank you for the welcome back! Hope you guys are doing great ; )
 

Lol, I assume TiS is just taking a break. Same here, I just got out of the habit of checking into wrx and then had to check out the Masters festivities, definitely one for the ages! I’ll be back on more now that the majors are in swing. 
 

 

[bscinstnct]

38 minutes ago, shortshadow said:

 

We still don't know the extent of what Bryson is talking about.

 

Psychological warfare being introduced on a game of skill is lame.

 

Everyone hates Chris Paul for his antics and use of rules to ruin the game for the viewer...I think acting like a ******(sp) by creating a persona is stupid as well.

 

Leave it to skill...not pschology.

 

Acting focused doesn't help your swing.  Acting 3 seconds more dialed into a shot doesn't help the shot.

 

It's baloney pseudo science talk.

 

This is a game of feel, assuming all is real.

 

Acting focused doesn't make 2 months of practice better than someone that practiced for 4 months.

 

All these guys have been doing this for many years...Acting like a machine isn't changing their score or swing.

 

It's bs.  Simple as that.  I don't care if it worked out for Rory last weekend....prove it works long term.  

 

There is no need for that act is all I'm saying.  Can it help someone temporarily...maybe.  it's pseudo science, though.

 

Exactly, maybe Bryson was just being too sensitive.

 

Rory was just going about his business. 
 

 

[NosajNeelik]

45 minutes ago, shortshadow said:

It's bs.  Simple as that.  I don't care if it worked out for Rory last weekend....prove it works long term.  

Literally every great athlete of all time in every sport did it. I think it’s safe to say it works long term. 

[bobfoster]

This little tributary off the main stream of the thread has been positively hilarious.

 

Certainly every sport has it's Monday morning quarterbacks. The amateurs and couch potato enthusiasts - most of whom have absolutely zero clue what competing at the professional level of sports is like (either the physical or mental/psychological aspects), nor any context within which to judge. Nothing wrong with this, in fact it is part of the fun of being a sports fan - we yell at TV screens and opine to each other in bars (and on discussion boards 🤣). Here's the hilarious thing however, the vast majority of these mindless criticisms are (rightly) about what the loser did wrong. The continual implication that Rory should have done something differently (especially considering the dramatic achievement we just witnessed) is positively bizarre. 

 

Rory hyper-prepared for this Masters. Including extensive work with Bob Rotella. (He also, BTW, had lunch with Jack a week pr so prior - and went over his strategy for playing every hole.) His game has been excellent this year leading up to Augusta - the dude was seriously thinking this could be the year.  So he enters the final day with a slim lead, fights through competitors and mishits, (and his own inner doubts), and the incredibly tough Augusta greens, and finally emerges not only as the Master's champion, but one of the only six golfers in history with a career Slam. 

 

And yet people are going to obsess on the fact that Rory was a big meanie to Bryson? That he didn't want to engage in banal chit-chat during what was probably the most momentous single round of his life? And then continue adamantly and vigorously pushing the argument - coming up with more and more bizarre assertions ... Rory was "trying to get in Bryson's head", or "Rory wasn't being himself", or "it's a tactic", or "prove it works for everyone (PS. it doesn't, and even thinking it should show how clueless the argument is)". Where all this came from I have no clue. This started when a reporter asked Bryson a question, and he gave a brief response. The more this gets pushed, the sillier it sounds. 

 

Where Rory's silence probably came from (at least a remotely plausible and rational explanation) is Rotella. I'll close with the following. Rotella wrote an article for Golf Digest in 2009. It was titled "10 Rules For How To Win *Your* Major". Here was #6 (see if it sounds familiar):

 

Embrace your golf personality.

Some players like Anthony Kim love to socialize on the course. Others like Retief Goosen keep to themselves. The key is to find what works best for you. The toughest player, mentally and emotionally, I've ever worked with is Pat Bradley, the LPGA Tour Hall of Famer. She was like Ben Hogan -- she didn't talk to anybody when she played. She told me she didn't have time to chat with players because she had an ongoing dialogue with herself. 

________________________________

Which is exactly what Rory looked like on Sunday. There is no evidence (even from Bryson's statement) that this had anything to do with Bryson personally. Rory was in his bubble. And it worked. He achieved something that happens once a generation. And that is really all that matters. 

Edited April 17 by bobfoster

[Hawkeye77]

1 hour ago, shortshadow said:

 

We still don't know the extent of what Bryson is talking about.

 

Psychological warfare being introduced on a game of skill is lame.

 

Everyone hates Chris Paul for his antics and use of rules to ruin the game for the viewer...I think acting like a ******(sp) by creating a persona is stupid as well.

 

Leave it to skill...not pschology.

 

Acting focused doesn't help your swing.  Acting 3 seconds more dialed into a shot doesn't help the shot.

 

It's baloney pseudo science talk.

 

This is a game of feel, assuming all is real.

 

Acting focused doesn't make 2 months of practice better than someone that practiced for 4 months.

 

All these guys have been doing this for many years...Acting like a machine isn't changing their score or swing.

 

It's bs.  Simple as that.  I don't care if it worked out for Rory last weekend....prove it works long term.  

 

There is no need for that act is all I'm saying.  Can it help someone temporarily...maybe.  it's pseudo science, though.

 

 

“Tiger’s my favorite” - “but I’ll make up crap to make fun about his injuries.”
 

“Hey, I like Rory” - “but he played mind games, or maybe he didn’t, or maybe he did - whatever he did I know better.”

 

I feel bad for Donnie Osmond when the next “Tiger Beat” comes out. 

 

[bscinstnct]

1 hour ago, bobfoster said:

This little tributary off the main stream of the thread has been positively hilarious.

 

Certainly every sport has it's Monday morning quarterbacks. The amateurs and couch potato enthusiasts - most of whom have absolutely zero clue what competing at the professional level of sports is like (either the physical or mental/psychological aspects), nor any context within which to judge. Nothing wrong with this, in fact it is part of the fun of being a sports fan - we yell at TV screens and opine to each other in bars (and on discussion boards 🤣). Here's the hilarious thing however, the vast majority of these mindless criticisms are (rightly) about what the loser did wrong. The continual implication that Rory should have done something differently (especially considering the dramatic achievement we just witnessed) is positively bizarre. 

 

Rory hyper-prepared for this Masters. Including extensive work with Bob Rotella. (He also, BTW, had lunch with Jack a week pr so prior - and went over his strategy for playing every hole.) His game has been excellent this year leading up to Augusta - the dude was seriously thinking this could be the year.  So he enters the final day with a slim lead, fights through competitors and mishits, (and his own inner doubts), and the incredibly tough Augusta greens, and finally emerges not only as the Master's champion, but one of the only six golfers in history with a career Slam. 

 

And yet people are going to obsess on the fact that Rory was a big meanie to Bryson? That he didn't want to engage in banal chit-chat during what was probably the most momentous single round of his life? And then continue adamantly and vigorously pushing the argument - coming up with more and more bizarre assertions ... Rory was "trying to get in Bryson's head", or "Rory wasn't being himself", or "it's a tactic", or "prove it works for everyone (PS. it doesn't, and even thinking it should show how clueless the argument is)". Where all this came from I have no clue. This started when a reporter asked Bryson a question, and he gave a brief response. The more this gets pushed, the sillier it sounds. 

 

Where Rory's silence probably came from (at least a remotely plausible and rational explanation) is Rotella. I'll close with the following. Rotella wrote an article for Golf Digest in 2009. It was titled "10 Rules For How To Win *Your* Major". Here was #6 (see if it sounds familiar):

 

Embrace your golf personality.

Some players like Anthony Kim love to socialize on the course. Others like Retief Goosen keep to themselves. The key is to find what works best for you. The toughest player, mentally and emotionally, I've ever worked with is Pat Bradley, the LPGA Tour Hall of Famer. She was like Ben Hogan -- she didn't talk to anybody when she played. She told me she didn't have time to chat with players because she had an ongoing dialogue with herself. 

________________________________

Which is exactly what Rory looked like on Sunday. There is no evidence (even from Bryson's statement) that this had anything to do with Bryson personally. Rory was in his bubble. And it worked. He achieved something that happens once a generation. And that is really all that matters. 

 

Mike Tyson said he was scared out of his mind walking out into the ring.

 

Tiger was always nervous on the first tee. All these top athletes love to win but they fear the feeling of losing just as much or more. 
 

The last thing they are is relaxed before an event.

 

Rory said he was very nervous before the Sunday round. So, like all the greats, put the blinders on, shut up and play. 

[straightshot7]

1 hour ago, bscinstnct said:

 

Exactly, maybe Bryson was just being too sensitive.

 

Rory was just going about his business. 
 

 

Tiger didn’t often speak to his opponents during final rounds, did he?

 

if Bryson let Rory get in his head, that’s his fault. 
 

Bryson was supposed to be the mentally strong one. Instead, he convinced himself he had a swing problem and shot 75. Choke. 
 

But he will be back. 

[tx_bayou]

2 hours ago, shortshadow said:

 

We still don't know the extent of what Bryson is talking about.

 

Psychological warfare being introduced on a game of skill is lame.

 

Everyone hates Chris Paul for his antics and use of rules to ruin the game for the viewer...I think acting like a ******(sp) by creating a persona is stupid as well.

 

Leave it to skill...not pschology.

 

Acting focused doesn't help your swing.  Acting 3 seconds more dialed into a shot doesn't help the shot.

 

It's baloney pseudo science talk.

 

This is a game of feel, assuming all is real.

 

Acting focused doesn't make 2 months of practice better than someone that practiced for 4 months.

 

All these guys have been doing this for many years...Acting like a machine isn't changing their score or swing.

 

It's bs.  Simple as that.  I don't care if it worked out for Rory last weekend....prove it works long term.  

 

There is no need for that act is all I'm saying.  Can it help someone temporarily...maybe.  it's pseudo science, though.

This has to be an extended troll job 

[PJE]

I think DeChambeau tried to pump up the crowd on Saturday and he intended to do so on Sunday in an attempt to intimidate McIlroy. I think Dechambeau hoped to get crowd support like he had at Pinehurst. 
It didn’t occur.

McIlroy politely greeted DeChambeau on the first tee and concentrated on his own game. 
Golf is a hard game. Competitive golf is hard and it’s stressful.  Most competitors are relatively quiet and mostly absorbed in their game.  You see this at every level of golf ranging from high school matches, club events, to elite play. In fact, that’s why clubs announce “Hit and Giggle” leagues- to signal participants it’s not a normal event.
Every once in a while you see a chatty guy in the heat of competition. I don’t think that is “being normal”. Rather, I think it’s a defense mechanism for reducing stress and it’s anything but acting normal. 

McIlroy acted properly. He was trying to win. His sportsmanship should not be questioned. 
DeChambeau is trying to rationalize away his (DeChambeau’s) poor play with a manufactured controversy. 
 

[hook_or_slice]

6 hours ago, shortshadow said:

 

Acting super focused doesn't do anything is my point.

 

I would suggest tiger and hogan had the skills.

 

Why change how you play in a tournament than how you practice?  Seems like it could be counter intuitive.

 

Players should be at their most relaxed...not most tense...imo.

 

I see it as an unnecessary flex with questionable marginable gains.  My opinion.

.......

 

Just go play relaxed and normal.

 

Questionable marginal gains?

It's his first win at the Masters in 17 tries.

I would call that a definite massive gain.

[Titleist99]

3 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

 

 

Cheers gents, all is well and thank you for the welcome back! Hope you guys are doing great ; )
 

Lol, I assume TiS is just taking a break. Same here, I just got out of the habit of checking into wrx and then had to check out the Masters festivities, definitely one for the ages! I’ll be back on more now that the majors are in swing. 
 

 

 

You're back just in time to get trolled by shortshadow.🤣 

[WesternRacing]

I think the assumption that intense focus = negativity is flawed thinking and shows a lack of understanding of sporting competition at any level.

[JungleJimbo]