Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Carlos E Wiegering, Key Biscayne, Florida — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:02:47 GMT

excellent article

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Tim, San Diego, Cal — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:15:01 GMT

"Amen" Well said. I, live in San Diego and what a classic US Open finish in our fine city. Hey anytime USGA wants to come back heck come on and have some fun.
Congrats to TIGER AND ROCCO. Well done gents.

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Liam Morris, Bear, DE — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:17:49 GMT

Right ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Robert, NY, NY — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:27:23 GMT

The fact that THIS playoff was dramatic doesn't change the fact that most people couldn't watch it. If USGA wants to keep an 18 holes playoff they should at least schedule it in the afternoon not in the morning. And if USGA has this rule isn't a little strange to go immediately after an 18 hole playoff to a sudden death. I think it's more logic to continue with a 3 hole playoff

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Raymond, Pensacola Florida — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:34:24 GMT

yep!

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

kathy hawley la costa california — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:35:11 GMT

I'm just so happy the event was at Torrey Pines, Sandy Eggo, Ca. That's where Doug&I had our Wedding Reception, 20 years ago April 2008. And we're still in love.

Regarding the 18 holes playoff? Me not being a Golf Person? Keep the 18 hole playoff, even if it is inconvenient on certain levels. It is the Big Game, isn't it? Let's see the Big Effort.

My criticism is: only fans who purchased the entire package (the full 3 day+possible playoff ticket) were the fans allowed on the course. There were no tickets available for fans who had purchased maybe one or two days tournament. When I am Queen of the World, I will sell tickets to fans, even if it's just for the playoff day. Remember, the word fan? comes from the word fanatic. Nice talking to you. Kathy Hawley, La Costa California

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Brian, San Jose, CA — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:04:56 GMT

Thank you! I totally agree. Maybe you can send this to the likes of Gary Van Sickle of SI.

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

George, NJ — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:33:37 GMT

So, Mike... care to say anything about your editorial on Tiger from the 7th?

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Sam L. Whitefish — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:09:36 GMT

Mark...
Like a good dinner, you really don't know how good it was until it's over and you are enjoying the after dinner wine. Well....my friend that was the U.S. OPEN today. No 18 hole playoff? We would have been deprived of thinking that it was over after the 10th hole with Tiger holding a 3 stroke lead....I even went to the frig thinking...well it's over here...but NO.....our worker bee...ROCCO MEDIATE decided otherwise...this must go on in order to give the folks a great show..And what a show this was.....I have followed golf for many years, but I can't recall an OPEN where every round was a treat to watch. Great golf that could have been posted on the GREAT WHITE WAY....The reviews are in Mark....be a good sport's writer and own up to this mistake...we all make them now and again.......THE USGA has this right and here's hoping it remains so.......A fantastic tournment with a Great Champion of our OPEN and a super runner-up in ROCCO MEDIATE.....We should all be as great in defeat!!!!!

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Dick Hunt, Penryn, CA — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:26:34 GMT

Mike
I agree completely with your viewpoint. The other majors have caved in to the demands of television. We can afford to have one of the four use the 18 hole format. This was the best U.S. Open I have ever seen and I've been watching them for 50 years. The USGA rocks!!
Dick

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Paul Suzuki — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:30:27 GMT

Finally a writer that tells it as it is!! I absolutely adhore the new formats of sudden death. Let us give the guys a fair play - 18 holes to do it!!

"Don't change a thing."

Right on!

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Paul Suzuki — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:30:49 GMT

Finally a writer that tells it as it is!! I absolutely adhore the new formats of sudden death. Let us give the guys a fair play - 18 holes to do it!!

"Don't change a thing."

Right on!

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Sean Chamberlin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:35:02 GMT

Hear! Hear! Don't change a thing! I don't normally watch golf at all! But when Woods is playing, the stakes are high, the course is brutal, and history is being made right before our eyes, I'm there. I watched all 18 holes of Monday's playoff between the computer and the TV and I was glued to the screen. It was epic! It has to go down as one of the most dramatic and competitive sporting events of all time, as exciting as an Ali-Frazier match. Rocco gave it his all but in the end, Woods prevailed. Doesn't he always?

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Kim Perkins — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:45:51 GMT

This was a thriller. I bet Rocco wishes it would have been sudden death though. Wouldn't he have won it on the first hole of the day?

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Tim Coyne — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:07:12 GMT

I agree. Leave it alone. The USGA has a few proud traditions, and the 18-hole playoff is one of them. It should stay that way.

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

John, MI — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:14:39 GMT

If this hadn't turned out to be the "thriller" everyone got to see you would be right here writing that the should have finished it on Sunday night.

Having them play 18 holes on Monday is like ending a basketball game in a tie and playing another 48 minutes to see who wins.

The 4 Hole playoff is more than fair and would add even more climatic events as on most cases (unlike an 18hole playoff) one person can't be assured the win with a few holes to play.

Now yes, Monday's playoff for this year was GREAT and I watched from my work computer, but the fact that this was once in 50 years, doesn't mean its the right way.

Sudden Death one hole playoffs are crap also, doesn't really prove anything except you can hit two good shots in a row.

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Goatcheeze — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:11:34 GMT

Tiger won the first hole

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Jon Pearson — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:21:09 GMT

I completely disagree. At the end of the day it is the fans that miss out on seeing the conclusion of what was a great tournament. Who cares if it is tradition? It is time to make the change for the better and have a 3 or 4 hole playoff.

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Greg Smith, San Diego, Ca. — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:05:24 GMT

I was a Marshall for the entire week and was on the 18th green on Sunday, and also witnessed all the drama during the playoff. Both days were absolutely electrifying, and the playoff format proved to work flawlessly. Having 25,000+ rabid (but well behaved)fans on every hole watching Superman vs. Everyman yesterday was perfect theatre. As a San Diegan, I'm extremely proud of our true Cinderella story...our local muni Torrey Pines becoming a star in front of the world.

Please don't change the 18-hole playoff

Curt Fredrixon, Renton, Washington — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:44:54 GMT

Absolutely, the 18-hole playoff should be kept. A national championship is too important to be presented to somebody on a lucky/unlucky break. I don't even like the sudden death at the end of 18 holes. The configuration of the first sudden-death hole, a right dogleg, really favored Tiger's shot shape over Rocco's. I'd have had them play another 18 so such breaks would even out.