I'm more than a little surprised that so good a journalist as Karen Crouse would contrast Woods's 'brute force' with the 'golf intellects' of Spieth and Zach Johnson. I'm sure she remembers the glorious chip-in at the Masters in 2005 and the surgical dissection of the course at Hoylake in the 2006 Open. She isn't the first to make this comparison. Scott Verplank appeared to say something similar in an interview yesterday. Very odd and decidedly not a good thing.
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Note to R&A for 2012 - next time The Open returns to St. Andrews. Grow rough -- liberally. While you are at it, remove Hoylake from the rota. The low, double digit scores are unmanly.
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What IS racist is that once Tiger came on the scene and began winning the Masters, Opens, et al, the definition of what constitutes a major changed. Prior to Tiger, majors included US Amateur titles IF the golfer also won a professional major. However, once Tiger came along, US Amateurs were no longer counted. "Majors" began to be called "Professional Majors" and simply became, once again, "Majors"...but without US Amateur titles being included in the count. Even Jack Nicklaus disagreed with this change (as he talked about on golf.com http://www.golf.com/ap-news/missing-majors-jack-nicklaus) Racist? Yup. It'll be interesting to see how Tiger feels about this once he writes his autobiography some day.
Ms. Crouse has never been a McIlroy fan. Here we go again.
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Nice piece Ms. Karen. The sepia tone reference to Jones is cool.
I hope the Americans among the new breed, when they have matured a little, can mount a Ryder Cup challenge worthy of Caspar, Palmer, Wadkins, Trevino & Jack.
I hope the Americans among the new breed, when they have matured a little, can mount a Ryder Cup challenge worthy of Caspar, Palmer, Wadkins, Trevino & Jack.
I really rooted for Jordan Spieth's win at the Old Course at St. Andrews because I, as a contemporary, wanted to witness a history making. How great will it be if Jordan Spieth accomplished a genuine Gland Slam of four best professional tournaments in a single year! Maybe nature (weather) and passed golf saints like Old Tom Morris didn't want Spieth to achieve it.
Exactly two years ago, Inbee Park had better chance of the Grand Slam than Spieth at the Old Course after capturing Kraft-Nabisco, LPGA Championsip and US Women's titles in 2013. Park started great with birdie-par-birdie-birdie-par-birdie-par-birdie-par-birdie for the first 10 holes in the morning of the opening day (6-under). After another birdie at No. 18, Park was 3-under on Thursday (one double bogey, two bogeys). Then, getting the worst end of the draw, when Park teed off at 11:48 on Friday, there was a sustained wind of 21 mph with gusts much stronger. It was the worst wind for the Old Course, left to right and helping on the outward nine--and all the trouble is on the right--and into the players on the final eight holes. Inbee Park finished 1-over 73, leaving her eight shots behind going into the weekend.
Worse, due to a wind gust of 40 mph on Saturday, the third round was suspended that year. Because Ladies Golf Union (LGU) was not influential as R&A, the 3rd and 4th rounds were successively played on Sunday. Park had a 74-78 finish, 14 shots behind. Nobody can win the Mother Nature!
Exactly two years ago, Inbee Park had better chance of the Grand Slam than Spieth at the Old Course after capturing Kraft-Nabisco, LPGA Championsip and US Women's titles in 2013. Park started great with birdie-par-birdie-birdie-par-birdie-par-birdie-par-birdie for the first 10 holes in the morning of the opening day (6-under). After another birdie at No. 18, Park was 3-under on Thursday (one double bogey, two bogeys). Then, getting the worst end of the draw, when Park teed off at 11:48 on Friday, there was a sustained wind of 21 mph with gusts much stronger. It was the worst wind for the Old Course, left to right and helping on the outward nine--and all the trouble is on the right--and into the players on the final eight holes. Inbee Park finished 1-over 73, leaving her eight shots behind going into the weekend.
Worse, due to a wind gust of 40 mph on Saturday, the third round was suspended that year. Because Ladies Golf Union (LGU) was not influential as R&A, the 3rd and 4th rounds were successively played on Sunday. Park had a 74-78 finish, 14 shots behind. Nobody can win the Mother Nature!
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Well, what strikes me of these youngsters is how well prepared are. Especially from a mental standpoint these guys are so well trained and well prepared. They have their own routines, they are strategically sound and they move around the course almost like veterans.
Spieth is in a league on his own. He's "older" and more mature than your normal 21 (almost 22) years old guy. He thinks like a veteran, he acts like a veteran. He's a "chosen one" to a certain extent. Jordan and Rory will own the next decade in golf, all though I believe Jordan has that mental toughness that I don't completely see in Rory. My only concern is how much the media in the US will make this kid breathe. I saw too much media churning on Jordan. Too much pressure and attention. I do hope they will give him the space to "breathe" and be himself. He's phenomenal, just let him play and do his things
Spieth is in a league on his own. He's "older" and more mature than your normal 21 (almost 22) years old guy. He thinks like a veteran, he acts like a veteran. He's a "chosen one" to a certain extent. Jordan and Rory will own the next decade in golf, all though I believe Jordan has that mental toughness that I don't completely see in Rory. My only concern is how much the media in the US will make this kid breathe. I saw too much media churning on Jordan. Too much pressure and attention. I do hope they will give him the space to "breathe" and be himself. He's phenomenal, just let him play and do his things
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There may be more resting on Jordan Spieth's shoulders than next month's PGA Tournament. Various sources report, over a few years, a decline in interest for golf among Americans, especially young Americans. There's been closure of courses, especially public courses, where younger golfers are likely to start playing, as well. Various causes such as expense, hours consumed and competition with other, especially electronic, diversions are mentioned. There's also the Tiger bubble, created by Woods, attracting many new golfers over the years of his dominance, a bubble now burst and taking golfers' interest with it. To inspire a resurgence of new players coming in is a tall order, but the interest and excitement that Spieth and the young amateurs generated over this weekend feels like a step in that direction.
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I think the only movement we're seeing is the media covering young talent in sports much more than usual, it's happening in baseball too. Spieth is obviously incredible but if you watch every week guys like Furyk, Jimmy Walker, Bubba Watson and Sergio seem to always be in contention too. Stuff like this usually happens in waves in sports. I'm sure in 10 years there will be an article titled "Where is all the young talent in golf?"
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Pretty sure a 38 year old won that tourney yesterday.
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Sorry, that's not a story (apparently).
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I think April's complaint below about how Ms. Crouse refers to Tiger's "athleticism" and "brute force" compared to Johnson's and Speith's "angles" and "intellect" are correct. Yes, Tiger brought athleticism and strength to golf at a time when all the golfers looked like John Daly and trained like Newman on Seinfeld. But he also had as pure a touch short game as anyone today - period. And TIger was the guy you always wanted to have putt when it mattered - and he can sink a 6-foot putt on a regular basis too unlike the so-far spectacular Speith. So, I think Ms. Crouse got it wrong today in her article but I would not raise the complaint to the level of racism. She is a fair and excellent golf writer. Sometimes, the article you thought you wrote isn't the one that gets read. By the way, Zach Johnson is no newcomer. He soon turns forty so why include him in the same breath as the surgical Speith and other members of the youth brigade. Surely, Ms. Crouse didn't mean Dustin Johnson. Over all, Ms. Crouse's article makes the main point: golf is in very young hands and, to me, has found a quick, resplendent answer to the magnificent, much missed Era of Tiger Woods. I'd love to see him return but it seems more and more unlikely every time I take a look.
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Just think how difficult it must be to write any article, within the space constraints imposed by the newspaper industry, to not appear racist, when the reader is intent on reading racism into the piece.
More re-writing of history I'm afraid, "all golfers looked like John Daly and trained like Newman on Seinfeld." Who exactly were these John Daly look-alikes? Watson, Faldo, Kite, Ballesteros, Strange, Langer ....? The first mobile gym appeared on the PGA tour in 1984, I am assuming it received regular use before the arrival of Tiger. Prior to that, Gary Player was very fit, before him, Frank Stranahan travelled with exercise weights. Both Nicklaus and Casper lost weight as their careers progressed. I do agree, much of Tiger's success was due to his wonderful putting and short game, plus his mental strength.
I think golf is in a really good place right now with young talent such as Spieth and McIlroy. Dustin Johnson can be good if he can put four excellent rounds of golf together and you still have guys like Mickelson and Watson who will always be in contention. It's crazy for people to still want the next Tiger because there will never be a next Tiger.
Golf is always trying to pull in the casual fan but I think if you have three or four guys consistently winning majors, then the casual fan will tune in. The hardcore fan will always watch no matter who is playing.
Golf is always trying to pull in the casual fan but I think if you have three or four guys consistently winning majors, then the casual fan will tune in. The hardcore fan will always watch no matter who is playing.
While its true that the young golfers today are smart and talented, it is also true that Tiger in his hey day was not only smart, talented and brave, he was strong and creative. Some of the shots he hit were pure genius. There is no need to describe his play as "brute force" and the youngsters today as using their "golf intellects"- another racist stab at Tiger. When Black athletes succeed, its never because they are smart or smarter, its usually because of their athletic prowess- just more garbage reporting.
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I agree. Moreover, and others may not appreciate what I'll say here: Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer in history by far. I grew up watching Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, Trevino, Casper and others. Nicklaus' feats of winning 18 majors and coming in second 19 times remain the bellwether in terms of raw numbers. But Woods winning 14 majors, 79 PGA tour events and 40 European tour events in the modern era is, by far, the greatest achievement in golf history. While the top of the game was as good or maybe even better in Nicklaus' time than it is today, the depth of field does not compare. It isn't even close. It may be useless to make these comparisons. Like, who's better? Bach or Beethoven? They're both great! But, I don't think Woods is getting full credit for what he has accomplished. When one of these great young players wins 14 majors and 79 PGA events total, I'll reconsider. Until that time, Woods is number one, all time. I apologize in advance to Mr. Nicklaus, because I have great reverence for him...too.
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Wake up and smell the roses, April. Woods is no longer the story--at least not on weekends. And please, spare us your political correctness with your "racist" nonsense.
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Well, I think it's a stretch to claim that Tiger "isn't getting full credit for what he has accomplished".
He's getting exactly the credit he deserves. He's second in majors and second in wins. And IIRC, he's first in winning percentage by a fairly wide margin.
But here's the thing. Golf greatness is measured in majors, and Nicklaus not only has the most wins, but also has the most runner up finishes--19--by a factor of almost two. Mickelson and Palmer have 10 each, and Tiger has 6 runner-up finishes. Placing either first or second in 37 major championships puts Nicklaus in an untouchable category.
Two years ago, I would have bet my house that Tiger would break Sneads PGA Tour win record of 82. After all, he only needs 4 wins to do it. But now that record seems far fetched, and Nicklaus' major record seems all but airtight.
I think in the long run, Spieth will end up with a better record than McIlroy because Rory tends to be a streaky putter. But if Rory can find some magic on the greens, his length and accuracy off the tee give him a huge advantage over Spieth.
Fun times to watch golf...but I'd still rather play.
He's getting exactly the credit he deserves. He's second in majors and second in wins. And IIRC, he's first in winning percentage by a fairly wide margin.
But here's the thing. Golf greatness is measured in majors, and Nicklaus not only has the most wins, but also has the most runner up finishes--19--by a factor of almost two. Mickelson and Palmer have 10 each, and Tiger has 6 runner-up finishes. Placing either first or second in 37 major championships puts Nicklaus in an untouchable category.
Two years ago, I would have bet my house that Tiger would break Sneads PGA Tour win record of 82. After all, he only needs 4 wins to do it. But now that record seems far fetched, and Nicklaus' major record seems all but airtight.
I think in the long run, Spieth will end up with a better record than McIlroy because Rory tends to be a streaky putter. But if Rory can find some magic on the greens, his length and accuracy off the tee give him a huge advantage over Spieth.
Fun times to watch golf...but I'd still rather play.
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How is it news that young players in their prime are better than old players past their prime? This is true of every sport, except maybe shuffleboard.
A few years ago P. Harrington changed his swing after winning a couple of majors. Then McIlroy changed golf clubs for truckloads of cash.
The question is, will this new group stick with the basics of practice and performance or will they chase after rainbows and pots of gold?
The question is, will this new group stick with the basics of practice and performance or will they chase after rainbows and pots of gold?
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