PMT DB
PMT DB
Scott Van Pelt on Rory’s Back-to-Back Masters, NBA Playoffs, and the Big Texas
Rory McElroy has officially done the unthinkable, going back-to-back at Augusta to join the ranks of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Nick Faldo. As a self-proclaimed non-Rory podcast, the energy in the room was a mix of begrudging respect and pure frustration that we didn't get a five-way playoff. Big Cat noted that the pressure would have been entirely different if Rory hadn't already broken his curse the year before.
Big CatRory McIlroy would have choked this Masters away if he hadn't won last year
I actually think that if he didn't win last year, this one, he would've probably choked away because he kind of had that huge lead. He had a six-stroke lead going into the weekend. He did not play great on Saturday. Everyone kind of caught up to him. He didn't make any huge, huge mistakes on the back nine because he felt confident.
PFT pointed out that Rory's legacy still has one glaring omission despite the six majors.
PFT CommenterRory McIlroy is ducking this podcast and it is a glaring empty spot on his resume
A lot of people are saying that Rory can't go on the big one. That he's been ducking this and that's gonna be the one glaring empty spot on his resume when everyone looks at it, when it's all said and done.
While Scottie Scheffler loomed large on Sunday, a lip-out on 17 effectively ended the drama. PFT thinks Scottie might actually be a victim of his own success and course knowledge at this point.
PFT CommenterScottie Scheffler missed his critical putt on 17 because he knows the course too much and overthinks it
The putt on 17 just didn't turn at the last second. It was like half a ball that he missed by. Sometimes these guys know the course too much and they overthink the course. It's like if you're married to somebody for like 60 years, all you do is fight. You know, you lose sight of what makes that person so great.
On the bright side, Max Homa finished in the top ten again, securing his invite back for next year and proving he belongs at the top of these leaderboards.
Big CatMax Homa is going to win a major championship
Max's gonna win one. I really believe that he was in it. He's finished tied for 12th or better three straight years at Augusta. He's playing the course well, it's just putting together all four days.
NBA Tanking and Play-In Madness
The NBA regular season finally crawled across the finish line, but not before a legendary "tank-off" between the Jazz and Grizzlies that saw three triple-doubles in a game that meant absolutely nothing. PFT has a radical proposal to make sure small-market owners actually feel the pain of losing.
PFT CommenterThe NBA should implement dynamic beer pricing based on team records to solve tanking
NBA mandates that all beers cost $10 for all teams at the start of the season. Teams can increase prices by 35 cents per win and must decrease them by 20 cents per loss. One beer at a Oklahoma City Thunder game would cost $22.70. One beer at a Washington Wizards game would cost 10 cents. You can tank if you want, but you're not gonna make any money off beer sales.
The playoff bracket is set, which means Max is already in mid-season form being miserable about the Sixers' chances against the Celtics.
MaxThe Celtics are going to beat the Sixers in five games in the first round
They're gonna win in five. Sixers aren't good. Playoff team, this Big Cat did this exact same thing when the Bulls were in the play-in last year. It means nothing.
While Max is doom-scrolling, Memes is strangely high on the Atlanta Hawks, claiming they've completely revamped their identity into something dangerous.
MemesThe Atlanta Hawks are currently playing like an elite basketball team
The Hawks had a really good off-season. Revamped their entire team and now they're just playing like elite basketball. They're just super athletic, they're super fast and they can shoot the three.
Who's Back of the Week
Who's Back covered everything from the nightmare fuel that is Coachella to the relegation drama in the EPL. Big Cat’s Badgers had a rough weekend, losing the National Championship in hockey, while PFT is holding out hope that Alex Ovechkin isn't quite ready to hang up the skates.
PFT CommenterAlex Ovechkin will return to the Capitals for another year next season
Does that mean that Ovie's coming back for another year next year? I think he might. I think if we make the playoffs, he might be back next year. I realized this this last week because he's played pretty good.
As the NHL playoffs approach, Big Cat remains the number one hater of the current seeding format, arguing that it punishes the best teams in the league for being in the same division.
Big CatThe NHL playoff system is stupid because it forces elite teams to play each other in the first round
I know some people like the setup for the NHL playoffs. I think it's so stupid. It's stupid because you just have teams that shouldn't be playing in the first round playing in the first round. I just don't understand how you can have an entire 82-game season and then have the second and third best teams in the Western conference have to play in the first round.
Zac also dropped some investigative journalism regarding the DOJ's interest in the NFL, suggesting it’s less about labor laws and more about the biggest media families in the world fighting for a piece of the pie.
ZacThe DOJ probe into the NFL is actually about TV rights and pushed by the Murdoch family
The probe is the Department of Justice meddling around in the NFL's inner workings. I really think it's more about the money. I think they're trying to get in there on the TV rights. And inside the NFL guys are saying could be the Murdocks because you know, they own Fox.
Scott Van Pelt Live From Augusta
Scott Van Pelt joined the show from the airport to wrap up the week, confirming that Rory played with a level of "freedom" that only comes from already having a green jacket in the closet.
Scott Van PeltRory would NOT have held on at Augusta this year if he hadn't won last year
No, I don't think he would've. I think there's a freedom of — and he said it Saturday — like, 'I gotta remind myself that I'm still tied for the lead and I have a green jacket.' And I think if he had to, knowing it's Scotty and it's a one shot lead and he's never won here and he's trying to finish a career grand slam — no. And that's not a knock on him, that's just an acknowledgement of how heavy the weight would've been if he didn't win last year.
SVP also touched on the future of the game, acknowledging that while Rory is the king of Augusta right now, Scottie Scheffler’s age gives him the statistical edge for the long haul.
Scott Van PeltScottie Scheffler will end up with more career majors than Rory McIlroy
Scotty just has more runway. If he's six years younger, so that's 24 more majors. I'll take Scottie. I'm just trying to be hot take Scottie. Late night hot take Scottie.
Things took a delusional turn when PFT tried to convince Scott that he could break 110 at Augusta from the championship tees. Scott, who actually plays the game at a high level, was quick to shut down the idea that a high-handicapper could survive the "tips" without making a double-digit score on a single hole.
PFT CommenterI could break 110 at Augusta National from the championship tees within 10 tries
I think that if you gave me 10 tries from the tips at Augusta, I could break 110 on two of those tries and I'm like an 18 handicap. My drop dead score, like if I shoot higher than 130, you can kill me. Counting every shot, ball in cup.
Before letting him go, Scott confirmed that "Big Texas" is now a permanent part of his life, with fans screaming the name of the vending machine pastry at him all week at Augusta.
Good luck to everyone playing the lottery ball and remember that the Masters is the only place on earth where you can still get kicked out for having a cell phone.
