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No Easy Ryder

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The fortieth Ryder Cup Matches concluded Sunday much as they were predicted. The Euro’s dominated the contest by capitalizing on the afternoon foursomes from Friday and Saturday to earn an easy 16 ½ — 11 ½ victory. This cup literally runneth over the Americans who were sent packing empty-handed from distant shores once again. Keegan Bradley will now have another duffle bag of Ryder Cup gear that will sit next to the one from Medinah’s matches. He could probably throw ‘em on EBay.

Captain Tom Watson, Scotland’s adopted son was selected as the American messiah, the man who knew the formula to retrieve the cup. But even messiah’s have bad days, especially sixty-five year olds managing a squad from another generation. Criticized for not picking Billy Horschel, golf’s newest $12 million man, in all likelihood wouldn’t have mattered.

On a cool, stocking-capped Friday morning the 2014 matches began when Web Simpson popped out to the second baseman. The tee shot was so bad it took awhile for the camera to locate it. Teaming with the mercurial Bubba Watson, a player who either likes a course or dislikes it, it was apparent Bubba didn’t feel like playing on opening day. Too cold, too windy, greens too slow and stern rough that seized his freak-show tee shots, he and Webster didn’t make a birdie during their four-ball match. Simpson looked like a deer-in-the-headlights throughout the exercise. In the Ryder Cup you don’t back into victory reminiscent of what occurred at the Olympic Club. You need to step up and assume control. For lessons on that, just ask the Euros.

Watson was second-guessed for maybe outguessing common sense when Spieth and Reed were asked to sit down after demolishing Gallacher and Poulter in Friday’s four-ball. Then on Saturday he sat Phil and Keegan for the whole day so they could take in the sights and sounds of their fellow teammates getting thrashed in the afternoon foursomes. It was déjà vu all over again. Some said without Tiger this was supposed to be Phil’s team. Maybe his Saturday sabbatical served to show him what it will be like when he is selected captain.

Naturally NBC had to conjure the comeback scenario that occurred at Medinah for the Euros and The Country Club for the Americans to get folks to tune in and watch a mega-dose of commercials. My gosh, I haven’t seen that many ads in ten years of viewing The Masters. If I see that Cadillac spot one more time with the nerd walking down the street I might need a lobotomy. You could smell the amount of advertising dollars coming through your TV in high def. Too bad the PGA of America can’t buy a winning formula with that loot.

To say the Americans had no chance on Sunday would be inaccurate. Early matches put plenty of red on the board but the leads for Team USA fizzled like cold haggis. Spieth gave his lead and momentum to the patient McDowell. Mahan showed that his flop shot needs work and Web couldn’t bring home a full point against a struggling Poulter. In the end it was Europe that reminded viewers matches may indeed go eighteen holes. Down early means little to experienced, patient players who are used to winning matches. They showed it at Medinah on Saturday afternoon. Momentum swings? They turn quickly in the Ryder Cup and you can feel them coming. On Friday and Saturday afternoon a “foursome tsunami” washed over the Red, White and Blue with such a force that Gleneagles was lucky not to be underwater on Sunday morning. Instead it was the Americans trying to keep their heads above sea level.

If you would have picked Jamie Donaldson as the man to deliver the nail in the coffin for the Euros, you might have been in a small sample. Donaldson is virtually unknown in the US but has fashioned himself into a prominent figure on the European Tour. It would have been easy to pick Rory or Rose, Kaymer or Poulter but those speculations didn’t matter. As long as it was one of the twelve, who cared? The Euros are great at leaving their ego’s behind when they pack for these matches.

So despite Mikelson ranting about not following Azinger’s winning formula, Fowler’s attempt to steal some glory from Rory, or Furyk trying to survive a four hour match on three hour energy, you can only say at these matches Europe played like champions. Even the reclusive Victor Doo-B-Son showed off his game on one of golf’s biggest stages. He didn’t say much but did he have to? Victor can flat out play.

I’m not quite sure what derailed Team America this time around. Several other paid scribes can contemplate their theories on this mismatch. There will be plenty of discourse on not utilizing Azinger’s pods, preparing for the Scottish weather, an out-of-touch, old captain, when the captain’s picks should be made, pairings and personalities, uniforms, greens speed, Poulter’s hair, and the such but I saw what I needed to. I would’ve liked to see an American victory but in the back of my mind I prepped for reality. The Euros were just a better team.

Kudos to the youngsters Spieth and Reed for showing a little American spirit. So long to Jim Furyk who has donated much of his time and solid play to the Ryder Cup. At least he got to win a couple. Web and Bubba; this duo needs to put their heads in the moment. Jimmy Walker threw a little dy-no-mite at Gleneagles. Too bad Ricky couldn’t complement the blast. Phil was predictably Phil. You can’t fault him for speaking his mind but it would be nice if he could hit more fairways. Also, there is a time and a place to bash an eight-time major champion who happens to be your captain. Certainly the closing press conference may not have been the wisest choice. I doubt the two will be sitting next to each other at the Champions Dinner at Augusta National next April. Keegan, EBay those duffle bags. You don’t need them.

In the end, out of all the coverage, commercials, and comments one image sticks in my mind. Matt Kuchar casually smiled his way around his singles match on Sunday against veteran Thomas Bjorn. He looked more like a country club member participating in his club’s blind-bogey event. He brought home his point but “Kuch” added a bit more. He showed us golf is just a game even on the biggest stage. There will always be a winner and a loser. There are millions of golfers who would love to be on that stage, win or lose. Yet there are only twelve for each team. For any of those individuals to walk away with disdain, well, I wonder if they “get it”. This is so much more about winning and losing. It’s about life’s on-going process of character development. The game is bigger than the result and it is surely bigger than the participants.

For now the Ryder Cup will rest in Europe until the next match takes place in Minnesota two years from now. Hopefully Team America will just come to play like “Kuch” and perhaps smile their way to a win. Forget the media hype. Disregard the player rankings. Emboss big “smiley faces” on the golf bags. Show up and be ready to play. Not much else has worked. It’s worth a try.

 

 

Golf’s Late, Late Show

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As the clock ticks closer to the start of the 40th Ryder Cup Matches, I can’t help but strap in for three days of amped-up golf. Even in the middle of football season the occasional fan is likely to keep tabs on the score. It is 2014’s last hurrah of “Golfing With The Stars”.

I first recall catching a glimpse of highlights from the 1975 matches played at Laurel Valley in Pennsylvania. The eighteenth hole is a dogleg par five around a large lake rising to an elevated putting surface. Arnold Palmer was playing the hole and lashed one of his low rising 3 –woods across the lake and up on the green. By a score of 21-11 the Americans easily defeated the GB & I (Great Britain and Ireland) squad as was expected. I didn’t think much of it then as an eighteen year old. The USA was supposed to win. Oh how that quickly changed.

Over the last thirty years the status of the Ryder Cup has risen faster than Jack Ma’s net worth. Today America is doggedly pursuing their ambition to bring the cup back to the states. They need a win. They need this win.

I’m content to accept the outcome should the Europeans prevail. After all they do seem to be resounding favorites on paper. But as everyone knows golf is played on grass of various lengths and consistencies. Right now, less than ten hours to the opening match the score is 0-0 and both teams feel as if they will taste victory.

I plan to be awake at 1:30 am Central Daylight Time tuned into Golf Channel’s coverage. Who knows what to expect in better ball match play?  I do however have a wish list of things I’d liked to see over the next three days. Here are a few:

Should this be Phil Mikelson’s last appearance in the matches I would like to see the USA have a chance going into Sunday. If so it will be up to him to lead this team to victory.

I want to find out what Patrick Reed is made of. Captain Watson didn’t hesitate to toss him into the morning pool of matches. Sink or swim, I’ll find out by sunup on Friday.

Hunter Mahan has a good week. Ideally a Hollywood finish with him canning a 20 footer to win back the cup would be wonderful but it won’t happen. Likewise I don’t want to see him in a position similar to what he endured in 2010.

Rickie Fowler vs Rory McIlroy singles match on Sunday. Now that would attract some viewers.

The self-imposed pressure of playing for your country. Choking, heroics, bold attempts, questionable decisions, tops, shanks, skulls and missed two-footers. It’s going to happen, it’s just a question of who handles it the best.

Lastly, Scotland owes Tom Watson a chance to go out on top. His near-miss at the 2009 Open Championship was great theater. He had one hand on the Claret Jug. The win would have meant more for Watson than Stewart Cink. Nothing against Cink. He’s had a nice career and can pay his bills but golf history is not going to shine a spotlight on his accomplishment like it will Watson’s. Maybe “Ol’ Toom” has one more trick up his sleeve.

It’s easy to list what I don’t want to see – boorish fan behavior that degrades or unfairly criticizes any player. These men are doing their best to compete. Let’s not have spectators ruin the event by stealing the true spirit of the game. Sportsmanship is a vital part of the game. Hopefully it is in full view of everyone watching. It is what all of us play for. It’s what they’ll be playing for on golf’s grandest stage in a matter of hours — to win fairly and shake hands with your fellow competitors at day’s end.

Let’s hope for a great weekend of golf. I’d better get my nap in. Cheers!

 

 

The Golf Hippie

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Whether you play golf, work in the business or just enjoy being around the game, you know the types it can attract. Normally associated with upper echelon participants, golf in fact is played by CEO’s and hobos on exclusive country clubs or hardpan munies. Either way the game is the same – get the ball in the hole, spend time with your buddies and enjoy the outdoors.

Several years ago when I was working in Chicago I came across an interesting character. “Hippie”, with a pedigree straight out of a Stephen King novel, came to golf probably out of the need for some solitude while roaming the green grass. A Vietnam veteran, “Hip” caddied at several north shore clubs making a few dollars where he could. It was apparent the war had taken something out of him but once on a golf course with a bag across his back Hip felt as if he were the richest man in the world. In many ways, he was.

This is not to say he was a model citizen. He often found problems in a bottle that would derail him for a few days but eventually he’d re-surface and get a loop. Burning a few bridges at a couple of caddie houses, Hip finally fell under the wing of Terry Russell, then the Head Professional at River Forest Country Club. Russell, a solid player and a wonderful club pro, gave Hip a little tough love and made him toe the line in order to continue working as caddie. They developed one of those unique relationships you often find in golf.

One year Russell qualified to play in the Western Open at Butler National Golf Club. When a club pro could tee it in a tour event it highlighted his career. There was no doubt who would caddy for Russell. Hippie, with his shoulder length sandy blond locks, followed his boss around the Butler layout offering encouragement and support. It was hard to tell who enjoyed it more. With his gapped-toothed smile, Hippie later told me it was his finest moment as a looper.

I was fortunate to have Hip caddie for me in a couple of Illinois PGA section events. He’d hop on a bus and I’d pick him up at a predetermined location on the way to the course. While caddies are told to show up, keep up and shut up, such a curriculum would have stifled his enthusiastic personality. The course was truly his “turf”, the place where the challenges of everyday life took a brief sabbatical. I never had a bad round with Hip. The number may not have been where I would have liked but the camaraderie of a day on the links with him, a guy on opposite ends of life’s spectrum, was a day well spent.  It was impossible to have a bad round with the guy.

As Hip’s health deteriorated he was unable to continue caddying. The time in ‘Nam plus some hard living and neglect for his health took its toll. Not a big man (Hip was a skinny as a six iron), he slowly lost his battle in life with Russell and his wife Nancy by his side. Hip’s passing was akin to losing a brother who had at times taken the wrong road but somehow found his way back. He had a good heart for those who took the time to connect with him.

There are many occasions when I look back at the people I’ve met through golf. Many of them have become life-long friends. From all walks of life, folks gravitating towards the task of knocking a ball in a small hole. Players, caddies, professionals, instructors and sales reps, you name it, all of those people have added to my love of the game. It’s not just the swinging of the club, rather it is the collection of diverse personalities that define the sport. The memories, stories and moments spent with someone who truly loves the game are everlasting. Regardless of a person’s background, golf brings out the best in people. It brought out the best in Hip.

As long as I am around golf I’m sure I’ll run into a few more “Hippies”. I look forward to those encounters.  Like Billy Joel sang, “I’d rather run with the sinners than cry with the saints.  The sinners are much more fun……”

A Convenient Dismissal

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Coming off a missed cut at the PGA Championship a few weeks ago, Tiger Woods speculated that he would have to reevaluate his health in order to be considered as a Captain’s Pick for the upcoming Ryder Cup. He worked the media as he always does, saying several things but not offering much content. He jetted off the runway in Louisville heading towards his enclave in South Florida. Many golf fans held their collective red, white and blue breath hoping Tiger would heal.

Then came the announcement that Tiger was in no condition to tee it up at Gleneagles in September. His doctors advised him to continue his rehab and the former #1 commented he needed to get stronger. Looking at Tiger Woods these days you wonder if that’s possible. His physique is as solid as those stingers he used to stripe fairways with. Yet that is Tiger – more strength, more reps and more range time. He’s always been that way.

The media soaked up the announcement in a soupy manner such that Tiger has become more personable and thoughtful since he had to lift his Escalade off that fire hydrant. Wasn’t it great that he let Captain Watson off the hook with his decision? What a fine gesture of sportsmanship, maturity, and genuine concern for the Ryder Cup. Well, paint it as you like but this whole episode was another choreographed presentation devised by Tiger, INC. He never wanted to play in this competition.

How can that be you ask? There are a variety of circumstances supporting my view. First, the record – hardly stellar at 13-14-2. In partner play he’s a paltry 9-13-1, hardly reflective of this era’s greatest player. Face it, he doesn’t like playing with someone else. Put him in a singles match and the record flips to 4-1-1. You can’t change a Tiger’s stripes and this one is only geared for individual competition.

Secondly, is he really a great influence in the team room? Maybe he can play a little ping-pong but it has been said Tiger is just the same old Tiger folks see week-to-week on tour.

Third, the only victory for the US since 2000 came at Valhalla with a Tigerless-team. He played for the winning squad at the Country Club in 1999, but that was before he took the golf world by storm the following year by winning three consecutive major championships.

Another consideration is that much of Tiger’s game has been built upon an intimidation factor that is no longer present. Nicklaus and Hogan had it. In the early part of this century Tiger won several events by simply showing up. There wasn’t a shot he couldn’t pull off, a putt that didn’t find the center of the hole or an opponent that could challenge him. Sure, Bob May caught lightening in a bottle at the 2000 PGA, but name another player who assumed this role when Tiger had his “A” game. The fact is by the time Saturday rolled around Tiger had pretty much decided many of his wins with dominant play. He is the greatest individual player of our time.

Finally there is the issue of time. Tiger has not hoisted a major trophy since 2008. As he approaches forty, his window is closing on Jack’s number. His mind right now (well, after he just fired Sean Foley) is on Augusta. He will drive down Magnolia Lane as the underdog while Rory gets all the focus. It is an ideal situation for Woods to recapture his dominance.

Ryder Cup participation for Woods this year offers no redeeming value. Besides he truly has an issue with his back and the rotational move Foley instituted in his swing seems to have “back”fired. Yes, he did win five events in 2013 but Tiger’s next chance at a major will be in 2015 at a venue where he has four wins. Tick…tick….tick…..

So as Captain Watson searches to put his “Dirty Dozen” together, the task looks daunting. The Euro’s are loaded. That makes me think the Americans have a great chance for bringing back the cup. Tiger’s eloquent dismissal will be seen as a key in the victory. As he sits in his weight room taking a break from his work out on Sunday, he’ll watch his fellow competitors pouring champagne in the pouring Scottish rain. I’ll bet he even calls Watson shortly after congratulating him on a fine captaincy. It will all be managed for the media’s benefit.

On Monday morning as he wakes up Tiger will have two thoughts — #1, I’m so glad I didn’t have to play in that thing. #2, Only 195 days til Augusta.

 

 

 

Missing Sounds

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When I was a kid (many, many years ago), I couldn’t wait to get up on a summer morning and head to the golf course. We were fortunate our junior program had ample depth so there were always playing partners about. The professional staff encouraged us to play and ran interference when the course got busy. It wasn’t uncommon to play 36 holes a day. Many friendships and memories were formed during those days gone by.

I miss so many aspects from that wonderful time. If a sport could “lock you in” this one did. My friends and I dressed the part, displayed many of the mannerisms we watched on televised events and configured our set make up to mirror what the pros were carrying on tour. Headcovers, bags, shoes, putters, you name it, me or one of my comrades probably had it.

The other day I played Erin Hills Golf Club, the site of the 2017 US Open. A magnificent layout, the routing is spread over several hundred acres. It is said the walk covers nine miles. There are no carts so carry your own or hire a looper. Either way the experience is among the best in golf.

I opted to carry my clubs and save the caddy fee for lunch after our round. It is the sixth time I’ve toured “the Hills” and each round brings every aspect of golf to the day’s challenge. Yet even as special as it is, there are a few sounds missing from this modern day walk.

First there is the footwear. No more metal spikes and heavy leather shoes. I have five pairs of those relics in my basement and every once in awhile I’ll break them out with their retrofitted softspikes. But I miss the sound – the unmistakable rhythmic clicking of players walking across pavement, bridges, cart paths, or locker room floors. Yes, the sound fails to exist “through the green” but that distinctive sound was as much a part of the game as Wilson Staff DynaPowers and Spalding Dots. You couldn’t help but listen and contribute to the march.

Another sound I don’t hear as much is the clanking of irons as a player carries their bag on their shoulder. As a junior carrying a larger bag than today, it was easy to conjure a walking rhythm with my irons clanking in unison with my strides. It served as my game’s metronome. When I was playing well I would absorb myself in the sound and block out all of the destructive thoughts that plague most golfers.  In a way it kept me calm.  Eighteen holes of the conspicuous “clank”. In the natural surroundings the clank served as music to my ears.

Lastly there is another click I miss. I doubt anything like it will ever by heard again. It is the sound of a wound balata golf ball meeting a persimmon wooden club. Not only has the sound disappeared, the feel that accompanies it is a thing of the past. Today the sounds emanating from hitting a ball are louder and metallic. The sound of a good shot has changed. It was identifiable back in the day but not so much now.

Walking the course this past week reignited those memories of the sounds from a different time. The game was the same but another generation has entered the playing field with technological advancements and training resulting in more distance, generic shots and an increase in injuries.

I miss my past. While it was the only one I had, I feel lucky to have played through the last days of the “persimmon era”. The golf ball maneuvered more easily. Courses weren’t stretched to ridiculous lengths demanding a smash mentality. It was a simpler game with simpler tools on courses that invited players rather dismissing them. However, it’s still about getting the ball in the hole, enjoying the outdoors and spending time with friends. Who knows, maybe I’ll discover some news sounds to accompany me around the course. I hope so but I’ll always remember the clicks and clanks I heard every time I was lucky enough to tee it up as a kid.

 

 

 

 

Meeting A New Friend & Remembering A Golf Pioneer

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You never know whom you will run into when you hang around a golf course, driving range or country club grill room. Interesting stories abound and sometimes there is an educational lesson accompanying the tale. I recently came upon an interesting fellow that had, what Robbie Burns told me, was “quite the story”.

In 1979 Lee was a working at the First National Bank of Rockford in Rockford, Illinois. He oversaw business lending and back then the bank was the dominant financer in the area. One day Lee was sitting at his desk when his phone rang. It was the President of the bank. He asked Lee to come down to his office.

When Lee entered the office the President was in a discussion with three men. The trio wanted a to secure a loan to start a business in a tiny village east of Rockford. The place was Ringwood, IL. An abandoned warehouse seemed to be the focus of the three. Lee introduced himself to the men and sat down.

Apparently the men wanted to start a manufacturing company in this old warehouse just north of McHenry. They were going to make golf clubs. Not just any golf club – a driver made out of metal. Lee and the President were both members of Rockford Country Club and had a pretty good idea of what the concept involved. The man doing all the talking was Gary Adams. He would name his company TaylorMade Golf.

Needless to say the bank lent Mr. Adams the money. The rest is history. A few weeks later Lee drove through McHenry to visit some relatives. Just to satisfy his curiosity he drove north to Ringwood and past the warehouse.

“It wasn’t much,” Lee admitted. “Three guys were making golf clubs out of this old building. I guess they knew what they were doing but it sure wasn’t glamorous.”

A few weeks passed after the loan was approved. Gary Adams and one of the other men came over to Rockford to play golf with Lee and his boss. He gave two of his original drivers to the bankers. Lee still carries his in his bag. He showed it to me the other day. I took a look at it as the memories came flooding back. A small metal head with a shiny sole and dull crown stamped “Metalwood” reminded me of my days as an assistant professional just entering the business. The grey TackiMac grip had been replaced but another one dug out of the archives at Bob Burns Custom Clubs sat neatly on the end of the shaft.

I remember in the early 80’s the head professional I worked for at a club in Wilmette IL, Vern Fraser, would travel up to McHenry on Mondays grabbing every metal club he could. Adams had expanded the line and added 3, 4, and 5 woods. By Saturday afternoon they were all gone. I can’t imagine how many of those clubs we sold. It was a fun time in the business.

The era marked the beginning of one of the most significant technological revolutions in golf equipment. Ping had cornered the iron market with its Ping Eye. Hogan, never one for succumbing to innovation, surprisingly brought out the Hogan Edge iron. Soon other metalwoods found their way into the golf shops. It wasn’t long before the Tommy Armour 845’s and Big Bertha’s showed up. Yes, an exciting period in golf.

The funny thing about this story is that it doesn’t seem like it took place thirty-five years ago. But it did. Gary Adams passed away in January 2000 at the young age of fifty-six. The Hogan Golf Company has been long gone but currently is attempting to make a comeback. Callaway and TaylorMade are the dominant names you see on PGA Tour Player’s staff bags, not Wilson, Spalding or the aforementioned Hogan. Things have changed considerably but it’s fun to reconnect with the past and know you were witness to this revolution. It’s good to remember those who made a major contribution to the game.  It was a pleasure to meet Lee and hear his story.

 

 

 

Holywood Swingin’

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Rory McIlroy, the curly-haired young man from Northern Ireland got his McTriple. Now only a green jacket is needed to complete his career Grand Slam. Somewhat like the previous major championship (Kaymer 65 – 65, McIlroy 66 – 66), this one may have taken a bit longer to decide, but in the end dominant play prevailed. Tied with Ricky Fowler through thirteen holes on a damp Saturday in Liverpool, McIlroy destroyed the final two par-fives crafting his own double-eagle of sorts. The bold statement of superior ball striking sent a subtle message. As Jim Croce once sang, “You don’t tug on Superman’s cape.”

An Open Championship victory involves many aspects. The game is different. The courses are humpy and bumpy. Inclement weather can often turn a leader board upside-down. At Hoylake, those who had trouble embracing links golf were quickly dismissed. This major is a one-eighty from the other three. On Saturday the R&A decided to employ a two-tee start in threesomes, something never done before. The players avoided a British maelstrom that might have hoisted Matt Every on top of the yellow leader board. The conditions were so quiescent that young Rory pounced on the final two par fives with a display of precise power making other players look as if they were competing in the flighted division of any county open. Securing a six-shot margin after 54 holes, McIlroy looked and sounded as if he would become the next “Champion Golfer of the Year”.

On Sunday a couple of challengers made it interesting for viewers looking for an implosion. Had Garcia not left his bunker shot on 15 in the pit and Fowler dropped a few putts on the front nine, McIlroy might have been forced into the four-hole playoff. The leaderboard looked close until Rory found his favorite spot on the Hoylake links – 16, 17 & 18. His birdie at 16 put him -17. One hand had a firm grip on the jug. Now he just had to get to the house.

Fortunately he did. In what was an extremely popular win with the patrons, there were several other subplots to this Open. By the time Rory striped his tee shot down the first fairway, Tiger was up, up and away, jetting back to the U.S. with his 69-77-73-75 total. Sixty-four year old Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson waxed him by five. So much for being ready to play.

Ernie Els four putted his first hole after ker-plunking a spectator. Some say it shook him up but this happens every tournament. The likable South African just may have not been ready to play. David Duval showed up again. He had plenty of time to work the broadcast on Saturday and Sunday after missing the cut with 73-79. Sir Nick, the man who never saw a mirror he didn’t like, suffered the same fate with 76-77. What if Fowler went all orange on Sunday? Maybe he could have matched his four under inward nine with a similar outward nine. Dustin Johnson continues to fall short on the putting surfaces after being in position to make a weekend run. Then of course there was the defending champion. Phil stumbled on day one bogeying 18 when others were routinely walking away with birdie. It was his third bogey over his final six holes.

The new champion perhaps signals a change in the professional game. I believe it needs one. After all, how many Tiger comebacks and evasive answers must we endure before we realize no one has ever played better golf at the turn of the century than Woods? But the past has passed. Ultimately, as it usually does (except in the case of Tom Watson), youth prevails. The young players today do not fear major champions. They’re looking to become one.

In a few weeks the season’s final major will unravel in steamy Louisville. McIlroy will be there. So will others who dot the top rankings in the game. Yet don’t be surprised if one player goes missing. Undoubtedly he claims he’d like to be a part of this year’s Ryder Cup squad, Tiger doesn’t want to be. To say anything else would be Un-American. At this stage in his life he is only concerned with majors as the clock ticks. Why share the glory with eleven others when you can hoist a trophy all by yourself?

I predict if his showing in Akron is inadequate he’ll shut it down for 2014.  He needs a full year of majors to get back on track, especially with all the young guns looking to grab theirs. Since Rory decided to nix his tennis honey, it appears he’s a bit more focused on collecting future titles. While the R&A’s Peter Dawson introduced the young man as the “Champion Golfer of the Year”, he might very well be the champion golfer of the next several years.

 

 

 

The Ultimate “Major” Examination?

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The 2014 Open Championship is upon us. Golf’s third major of the year appears wide-Open even with Tiger wood’s return. Was it really eight years ago when he intricately carved his way around the rumpled, crusty turf that was Royal Liverpool in winning his eleventh major? How things have changed in professional golf since then. One thing that hasn’t changed is the nature of this examination.

Comparing links golf to its counterpart in the U.S. is akin to the difference of playing basketball in Madison Square Garden or Rucker Park. Surely they are not the same game. There are more elements in the British Isles to contend with than usually found stateside. Jack Nicklaus once commented that the key to winning the Open Championship was simply avoiding the bunkers, play short of them. He claimed the U.S. Open was a better test, requiring players to use every club in the bag. While I’m not going to debate Mr. Nicklaus’ view, many of the U.S. Open tests in his day were gauge festivals featuring putting surfaces harder than granite countertops. Options for recovery were limited.

The Open Championship in my view is the complete examination of a player’s ability, creativity and fortitude. Weather conditions can change in the time it takes a spectator to get through a concession line. There will be bad bounces and good breaks. Old math, in the form of long division will be a key component in negotiating the routing. There are several ways to “divide” a 450-yard par four in the Open Championship. Long irons will back in the bags. Golf balls will roll for extended periods of time. While the NFL measures a punt by hang-time maybe the broadcasters will put a clock on the ground-time movement of balls as they run like rabbits across the linksland. It is the opportunity to play the course as it is presented. You could very well say it is PurePlayGolf on the highest level.

The other consideration of this major is that it is truly “Open”. Look at the 2009 event at Turnberry. Tom Watson had the Claret Jug in his grasp at age 59. Darren Clarke’s win in 2011 came as a surprise. Louis Oosthuizen at St. Andrews? Try Todd Hamilton and Ben Curtis. The list of contenders also requires a viewer to scratch his head when Kiradech Aphibarnrat climbs onto the first page of the leaderboard. It is an international spectacle.

So as the players are introduced by Ivor Robson on Thursday to start their trek around the humps, bumps and fescue that define Hoylake, look for their imagination and patience to put solid numbers on the board. Run it up, hit the low stinger, get on one knee in a bunker, or flail it out of the fescue, there are sure to be plenty of executions that receive “Ahhhs” and “Ohhhs”. Yes, it might be a game of chance but it seems in most instances this championship wins the player rather than vice-versa.

We’ll see who Hoylake selects this year.

 

The Most Important Hole Of Your Round

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If you’re playing an eighteen hole round of golf, which hole is the most important:

The starting hole?

Your least favorite?

The number-one handicap hole?

The finishing hole?

Well, there are eighteen choices. With logical reasoning a sound argument can be made for each. Yet within the MindPlay principle of PurePlayGolf the tenth hole is the most crucial for every player.

By the time the player reaches the tenth he has navigated opportunities and achieved a mixed bag of success or failure over the outward nine. Maybe the player has it going. He’s fired a career best round and is looking forward to carrying that momentum through the back nine. The converse can also be said. Perhaps a player is stuck in his normal routine and is shooting a number slightly above his average. He could be resigned to the fact it’s “one of those days” and has few expectations for his inward nine. So what happens on the tenth tee?

In golf the tenth tee represents a “halftime” of sorts. Players usually regroup, grab a candy bar or drink and head back out. What is done is done and now the process starts again. The mind is a bit fresher as the extra few minutes making the turn has allowed a player to gather his thoughts. A new task is at hand. New possibilities exist.

This is the significant juncture of the round for MindPlay. Golfers like order. They like that rounds are split into two equal nines. While the par may differ, the fact that it’s halftime promises the player another opportunity. He/she can salvage a round. They can attempt to fashion a career low round. Others may look to improve their focus, par their nemesis hole, rally in the Nassau bet, or just improve their ball striking. The scenarios are endless. Yet for some reason it happens at the tenth tee. It can jumpstart or derail an existing round.

Some will say this mindset can occur on any hole at any time during the round. True. But the most significant timeframe for stopping, refreshing and refocusing occurs at the tenth tee. Our mind knows it’s coming. It happens at the same point every round we play. In a way we look forward to it and that allows a player to start fresh again.

The next time you play take note of what happens to you and your playing partners on the tenth tee. What differences are occurring as opposed to the seventh, eighth or ninth tees? Is the banter lighter? How are the outlooks for each player? Be the fly on the wall and observe what goes on. I think you’ll see my point.

Now, to go real low with this concept wouldn’t it be nice to step up on EVERY tee and have your mind ready to tackle the opportunity in front of you? You’ll see this in good players. Every hole is a new opportunity. The best tool to possess is a short memory. Good players are a walking cliché – they play one shot at a time. Average players may only be able to do this one time per round — on the tenth tee. Hopefully they use this “halftime” experience to be able to approach every hole with the same MindPlay.

While the tenth is the most important tee/hole during a round, the most significant green is the eighteenth. That is where handshakes are exchanged and the day’s antics recounted. It is by far the place where everyone who has ever played the game can revel in the experience and look forward to doing it again very soon.

 

A Complete Player? — Not Martin Kaymer

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Martin Kaymer blew away the field at Pinehurst to claim the 114th U.S. Open Championship. Had he not played, it would have been one heckuva tournament. He got the media’s attention with a first round 65. After duplicating the number on Friday, he got the world’s attention.

The thing is although Kaymer claimed his second major championship he is not a complete player. The thoroughbred who notched an 8-shot victory did so only running on three legs. How can this be so? Follow along four-legged frontrunners. I’ll tell you.

On the wider-than-wide Open fairways at Pinehurst, Kaymer placed his tee shots in strategic locations to fire his irons at the “unfriendly” greens. On occasion he was bunkered and responded well. The largest piece of evidence for my claim is when his ball rolled through the crowned green complexes he pulled out his putter to negotiate his way back to the hole. This display means only one thing – THE MAN CAN’T CHIP! Look what he did on #17 at the Players Championship in the final round.

Now you would think someone who ascended back to near the top of the golfing world would be comfortable with wedge or 8-iron from just off the putting surface. Apparently he wasn’t. He preferred to opt for the ground game. No stubs, chili-dips or skulls allowed. Get the ball rolling along the browna-terra-firma and play the percentages. Chipping is not required to shoot 65, TWICE!

Maybe in the old hack-and-gouge Opens of yesteryear Herr Martin might have finished behind some flop-shot wizard. Not at Pinehurst. The USGA presented a canvas of short game options that drove some players crazy while others found the Texas wedge still lives. No need to fire on all cylinders. It’s a four-day drive. Just shift your game out of park and drive it down the fairway then putt it on the green.

Kaymer’s brilliance around the greens showed wonderful patience. He got the job done without a full arsenal. What he did was what so many of us fail to do – he played within himself. Isn’t that what defines U.S. Open Champions? Certainly it is.

Golfers are a curious study. At times they believe they should play the aesthetically pleasing shot rather than one that requires simple execution. The resulting mistakes compound the problem and usually inflate the score. I’ve often believed if you could putt, you could play. Build your game from the green to the tee, not visa versa. Touch is an acquired taste. Kaymer had it in Carolina. We should learn from his deft display.

Today many players are seeking perfection but in this game perfection is unattainable. Maybe a few of the participants at Pinehurst felt like they had to be perfect to hoist the trophy. Not so. Nicklaus captured several majors by simply doing what he did best – play his own game and let the others fret over theirs. In the end the best course/game manager often wins the race.

So if you feel you need to be the “complete” golfer to win a championship, look back on the Open. The only thing required to take the trophy is the lowest score. The numbers that go into the boxes on the scorecard don’t care how they get there. It only matters how they add up, or in this case how they are rolled up – along the ground.