There was some phenomenal golf played at the Open this past weekend, but none as great as that of Zach Johnson.
One of the sport's most appealing qualities is its complete ambivalence for who's "supposed" to win or which player is "classier". It's a sad commentary on contemporary press coverage - and failure fixation - when a story about anyone who lost takes precedence over the remarkable story of the man who didn't.
One of the sport's most appealing qualities is its complete ambivalence for who's "supposed" to win or which player is "classier". It's a sad commentary on contemporary press coverage - and failure fixation - when a story about anyone who lost takes precedence over the remarkable story of the man who didn't.
5
The astronomical rise of Jordan Spieth has several factors and very few of them have anything to do with golf.
They have to do with Under Armour wanting to have a bigger stake of the golf industry. They have to do with the PGA Tour thinking they need another Tiger for people to watch the game and "grow" the game. They have to do with ESPN and the Golf Channel believing that interest in golf will only grow if a dominant champion, like Tiger, is there for people who don't play golf to watch. They have to do with the sponsors of Tour events needing more interest in order to justify the amount of money they put up at every Tour event.
In essence, this is a scam, a narrative.
There were a lot of interested parties that were intent on Jordan Spieth winning the Grand Slam this year and now they are mad.
And lets not forget Jordan Spieth, who subscribes to that addage - don't just win, but destroy your opponent. To me, he comes off as angry, cocky, arrogant and without any gratitude for his success.
Anyone who has played golf, and certainly anyone who has played at the higher competitive levels, knows golf isn't easy and certainly isn't predictable. For EVERYONE to act as if he was the favorite to win the Grand Slam is an insult to the game of Golf and all the champions who have come before and how hard the game really is.
He is just another example of the contrived nature of sports now. Nothing is real -- it's all about the "story"...and the $$$$$.
They have to do with Under Armour wanting to have a bigger stake of the golf industry. They have to do with the PGA Tour thinking they need another Tiger for people to watch the game and "grow" the game. They have to do with ESPN and the Golf Channel believing that interest in golf will only grow if a dominant champion, like Tiger, is there for people who don't play golf to watch. They have to do with the sponsors of Tour events needing more interest in order to justify the amount of money they put up at every Tour event.
In essence, this is a scam, a narrative.
There were a lot of interested parties that were intent on Jordan Spieth winning the Grand Slam this year and now they are mad.
And lets not forget Jordan Spieth, who subscribes to that addage - don't just win, but destroy your opponent. To me, he comes off as angry, cocky, arrogant and without any gratitude for his success.
Anyone who has played golf, and certainly anyone who has played at the higher competitive levels, knows golf isn't easy and certainly isn't predictable. For EVERYONE to act as if he was the favorite to win the Grand Slam is an insult to the game of Golf and all the champions who have come before and how hard the game really is.
He is just another example of the contrived nature of sports now. Nothing is real -- it's all about the "story"...and the $$$$$.
3
He won at Augusta and Chambers Bay two venues as different as my game is from his. Nothing contrived about that.
2
Everyone is entitled to his opinion, but I cannot understand how you see Jordan Speith as "angry, cocky, arrogant and without any gratitude for his success." Everything I've read, heard, or seen from him is more or less the exact opposite.
2
James, I have no idea where you get the idea that Speith is "angry, cocky, arrogant and without any gratitude for his success." From what I have seen and from all that know him he seems quite the opposite.
Also, you wrote " with ESPN and the Golf Channel believing that interest in golf will only grow if a dominant champion,"
That isn't new. In between Nicklaus and Woods a span of lets say 1976-1997, the golf magazines and others like SI bemoaned of a game without the transcendent golfer. Depite all the great golfers that played in those 21 years. It is just media fluff to fill pages or TV time. They do this stuff frequently.
Also, you wrote " with ESPN and the Golf Channel believing that interest in golf will only grow if a dominant champion,"
That isn't new. In between Nicklaus and Woods a span of lets say 1976-1997, the golf magazines and others like SI bemoaned of a game without the transcendent golfer. Depite all the great golfers that played in those 21 years. It is just media fluff to fill pages or TV time. They do this stuff frequently.
4
Jordan Spieth probably made more fans by the way he handled not winning than if he had won.
5
For Jordan Spieth to have missed winning the Open by only a couple shots is utterly amazing when you consider how much he must have had to deal with leading up to and during the event. At his age you'd expect him to be mentally saturated with all the attention and distracting requests. He is fun to watch whether he wins or not.
4
Could somebody explain why Jordan Spieth seems to be a bigger British Open news story than the guy who actually won?
2
There's a lot of Tiger trashing going on here but there probably wouldn't be a Jordan if there hadn't beenTiger. A lot of these young players cite Tiger as the reason they took up golf. When Spieth has won 14 majors we can talk about his greatness.
10
His short career already has him labelled as a great. He is so far ahead on the PGA Tour and leads the money list by close to $4.9 million. Jordan confirmed he will defend his Australian Open title come November in Sydney. He impressed many Aussies with not only his golf but that at only 21 years of age he exudes class, maturity and seems just a great guy. Texas has produced both Zach Johnson and Jordan Spieth. Is there something about Texas and great golfers?
The "gold standard" in golf is still Jack Nicklaus! 18 majors and 19 runner ups in majors! End of conversation.
1
Jordan Spieth is a an outstanding golfer, a true gentleman and tribute to the game. With his talent and remarkable presence he may manage to revive the game of golf for a new generation. Thank you Jordan Spieth.
18
Don't forget Rory MacIlroy who wasn't competing due to a freak accident. He is capable of going head to head with Speith. They should have great battling duels -- like Palmer and Nicklaus did -- for the next decade at least. Both have rounded games, no real weakness, plus mental toughness at a young age. Golf requires that. Dustin Johnson could round out the trio -- as Gary Player did in an earlier era -- but he needs to develop more mental toughness. Hard to tell if he ever will.
1
@ Wally
Freak accident? Injuring an ankle playing soccer is no freak accident. Ankle sprains are the most common athletic injury of the lower extremity. Otherwise, enjoyed your comment.
Freak accident? Injuring an ankle playing soccer is no freak accident. Ankle sprains are the most common athletic injury of the lower extremity. Otherwise, enjoyed your comment.
1
Zach Johnson wins The Open, yet all we are talking about is Jordan Spieth. That is the mark of a true superstar. A classy kid, a true gentleman, a hero to the young and to the old, but most importantly, he is the golfer who has made us all forget "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named". Now let's move on to Whistling Straits and The PGA.
Bravo young Jordan. Bravo.
Bravo young Jordan. Bravo.
10
This article is about Jordan Spieth. There's another NYTimes article about Zach Johnson winning the British Open, and was the first of the two that have been written so far.
2
He needs to speak of himself as "I" rather than using the royal "we."
I found it to be quite ridiculous to hear him reference himself as "we" when talking about his play in the tournament.
Yes, he has people who work with him -- swing coach, caddy etc. but -- he's the one hitting the ball and making or missing the shots -- it's him -- not "the team."
He still is rather boring to watch. Hopefully he'll begin to have a personality and will begin to seem to be a 21 year old instead of a 50 year old. McElroy is a great golfer and he has a personality and he acts like a young man instead of an old guy. Hopefully McElroy will heal quickly and completely and get back out on the course soon to put a little pizzazz in the PGA.
I found it to be quite ridiculous to hear him reference himself as "we" when talking about his play in the tournament.
Yes, he has people who work with him -- swing coach, caddy etc. but -- he's the one hitting the ball and making or missing the shots -- it's him -- not "the team."
He still is rather boring to watch. Hopefully he'll begin to have a personality and will begin to seem to be a 21 year old instead of a 50 year old. McElroy is a great golfer and he has a personality and he acts like a young man instead of an old guy. Hopefully McElroy will heal quickly and completely and get back out on the course soon to put a little pizzazz in the PGA.
5
By "we," I believe he means his caddie and himself.
9
Actually, when Speith misses a shot you can sometimes glimpse just how badly he wants to win, and how mad he gets with himself for messing up. But the way he recovers -- to birdie the next hole -- is just phenomenal!
2
Knocking a guy for crediting the importance of his caddie to his game is ridiculous. And you're boring to read.
2
Playing the B. Open contains a large factor of luck, that is, not being suddenly confronted with heavy winds and rain. Perhaps your closest opponent played a tough hole in good weather. Then, ten minutes later it's your turn but the weather is against you. For this reason the B.open is unfair and should not be considered as part of the grand slam of golf.
1
Geez, lighten up. The players consider the British Open part of the grand slam. Their opinion is good enough for me.
2
Ask the players, Bruce. They all love The Open being played especially at St. Andrews, the cradle of golf, and agree that playing in high winds and frequent showers - typical for a links course - make it still the greatest course in the world, with the 'Road Hole' #17 the hardest hole in golf.
And, by the way, The Open is being played on other courses as well in rotation, courses that have quite different weather conditions.
And, by the way, The Open is being played on other courses as well in rotation, courses that have quite different weather conditions.
4
There is no luck in golf.
What a thrill to watch Spieth this year. I thought after Tiger we wouldn't have such excitement in golf again in my life time. But here it is again. Couldn't tear myself away from the TV set. But could hardly stand to watch either because I so wanted Spieth to win. We need heroes and he is a terrific one. What an amazing personality. I just love this kid.
9
Spieth is scary good. His consistency is amazing. Ever since Tiger's decline, golf has been proclaiming every major winner as the next big thing. Spieth is the real deal, way mature for his age and is a superstar in the making. He played great today but simply got beat by better players. Barely.
6
Thank you Jordan Spieth for making golf so enjoyable again after the Tiger era, which is certainly over. His character makes you want to cheer for him and unlike the often bland professional golfers today, he actually has a personality to go with his playing. He talks about "we" because he understands the contributions of his team and recognizes them continually. You never heard the word "we" from Woods, who let it go to his head and who is simply not as nice a person.
29
Peres -- seriously -- you didn't like it that Woods never talked about "we?" Does "we" hit the ball and miss or make shots or does the player do that? Every athlete in every sport has people who surround them -- coaches, trainers, etc and it sound ludicrous when a guy like Speith uses "we" instead of "I." When was the last time you heard any baseball or football player talk about "we" when he was specifically speaking about his own play during a game?
In regard to "bland" golfers -- Speith appears to be about as vanilla and bland as it gets. If he has a personality, it's well hidden from public view.
In regard to "bland" golfers -- Speith appears to be about as vanilla and bland as it gets. If he has a personality, it's well hidden from public view.
4
Were you watching Jordan and Jim Furyk going up the ramp after
Furyk had won the RBC? They were playing together that day and
they went to the scorekeeper's tent together with Jordan grabbing
Furyk by the shoulders, jumping up and down in his excitement for
his playing partner, and congratulating him again. It was the kid
in him - but he is no way bland.
Furyk had won the RBC? They were playing together that day and
they went to the scorekeeper's tent together with Jordan grabbing
Furyk by the shoulders, jumping up and down in his excitement for
his playing partner, and congratulating him again. It was the kid
in him - but he is no way bland.
5
Players on teams talk about we. Did it ever occur to you that Spieth thinks of himself and his caddy (and possibly some others as a team)?
1
Spieth reminds me a lot of Nicklaus. A very intelligent and very intense, but gentlemanly, competitor. He shows every sign of being the dominant player of his generation.
The one thing that he lacks, which the other dominant players throughout history have had, is superior length off of the tee. Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus, and Woods (not forgetting McIlroy) have all had that. Not so with Spieth. So it is an open question whether someone without that can dominate to the same degree.
It will be fun finding out. But if golf is more than anything else a mental game, then I think that his is the best mind out there.
The one thing that he lacks, which the other dominant players throughout history have had, is superior length off of the tee. Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus, and Woods (not forgetting McIlroy) have all had that. Not so with Spieth. So it is an open question whether someone without that can dominate to the same degree.
It will be fun finding out. But if golf is more than anything else a mental game, then I think that his is the best mind out there.
8
Although it is very early in his career, Spieth is like Nickaus in one important way. When he plays in a tournament, he is almost always in contention to win.
About length - it is important but also overrated. Spieth is ranked T78 in driving distance at 290.8 (the PGA Tour average is 288). The player ranked #25 averages 298.7 which isn't even one club longer than Spieth's average. Of the current top 10 on Tour in driving distance, only two of those players has ever won a major.
The technology advancements in balls and clubs have made everyone longer. A 290 yard drive is not short. The name of the game is get the ball in the hole as fast as possible. The young Tom Watson was not the longest or straightest driver, but he was a wizard at getting up and down when he missed a green. Old timers still refer to "Watson pars" - miss the fairway, miss the green, pitch/chip it close and make the putt. Player was never as long as Palmer, but he won 9 majors to Arnie's 7. Trevino was not in Jack's area code with the driver, but he beat him at Merion and at Muirfield (costing Jack his 3rd major in a row in 1972).
Spieth is long enough and he is outstanding around the greens. It will be fun watching his career to see if he ranks up there with Nicklaus, Woods, Snead, Hogan, Palmer, Watson, Player and Trevino. Same with McIlroy.
About length - it is important but also overrated. Spieth is ranked T78 in driving distance at 290.8 (the PGA Tour average is 288). The player ranked #25 averages 298.7 which isn't even one club longer than Spieth's average. Of the current top 10 on Tour in driving distance, only two of those players has ever won a major.
The technology advancements in balls and clubs have made everyone longer. A 290 yard drive is not short. The name of the game is get the ball in the hole as fast as possible. The young Tom Watson was not the longest or straightest driver, but he was a wizard at getting up and down when he missed a green. Old timers still refer to "Watson pars" - miss the fairway, miss the green, pitch/chip it close and make the putt. Player was never as long as Palmer, but he won 9 majors to Arnie's 7. Trevino was not in Jack's area code with the driver, but he beat him at Merion and at Muirfield (costing Jack his 3rd major in a row in 1972).
Spieth is long enough and he is outstanding around the greens. It will be fun watching his career to see if he ranks up there with Nicklaus, Woods, Snead, Hogan, Palmer, Watson, Player and Trevino. Same with McIlroy.
1
Congratulations to Zach Johnson, a most deserving champion. I must say that before the Masters I was skeptical of Spieth. Very good golfer but just did not exude any charisma. I now happily admit I was dead wrong about this kid. Not only is he a great golfer but he is an even better person. How can you not root for him. I am a huge fan. He is the anti Tiger!
18
My father was an avid golfer his whole life until all the members of his Saturday foresome died in his 80s. He was a probate lawyer in south Florida who met most of his clients on the golf course. He said to me more than once that you can accurately judge a man's character based on playing a game of golf with him.
Based on what I've seen of Spieth on the course and off he is not only the phenomenon of the early 20 set, but he has class as well. I thank him for showing to the youth of the nation it can be very cool to be not only the best athlete in your chosen field but a humble and thoughtful person as well.
Good luck to Jordan in his career, may it be long and glorious.
Based on what I've seen of Spieth on the course and off he is not only the phenomenon of the early 20 set, but he has class as well. I thank him for showing to the youth of the nation it can be very cool to be not only the best athlete in your chosen field but a humble and thoughtful person as well.
Good luck to Jordan in his career, may it be long and glorious.
25
Why does he talk about himself as "we"; maybe he has a tapeworm (with apologies to Mark Twain).
5
Spieth and his caddy play as a team.
2
He's referring to himself and his caddie.
14
I think it is a reference to his caddy.
3
Spieth showed himself to be a gentleman by waiting to congratulate the winner before leaving the course. Bravo to winner Zach Johnson and to Spieth. They made The Open an exciting tourney!
30
He's a class act and will be a thrill to watch for years to come.
25
One thinks of the recent Golden Era in men's tennis with Federer, Nadal, Djokovik and Murray at the top. The lustre of the game is capped off when the top players are classy and articulate. Graceful under pressure, they are good losers who praise one another when they are bested in a match.
I admired the way Speith conducted himself when he lost -- the interview with ESPN, his praise for the 3 who beat him by a shot, the way he then watched at the final green and congratulated Zach Johnson. Very classy and mature in such a young, and fierce, competitor. That bodes well for a post-Tiger Golden Era in golf.