Sergio Garcia Comes Of Age

Is it just me, or has Sergio Garcia matured as a player through the course of the last 12 months? He lost last year at the British Open in a typical Sergio emotional 'it's not fair' attitude. Then a new Sergio, a 'get it done no matter what happens' emerges at the Players Championship. Sergio was certainly emotional there, but not to the point that it kept him moving past bad luck and bad shots. Even though he barely missed winning the British Open and did well at the US Open, something was noticeably different. For one, he was right there through ups and downs. He never quit and he didn't blame his losses on outside forces.

I thought it was telling when he four putted at the PGA he said afterwards that he didn't feel that bad because he hit good putts. Now that may sound crazy, but that's the way a great putter thinks. Sergio was gracious in his losses and you could sense that instead of acting like his best opportunities for a major were slipping by, he was thinking that he was just getting closer to reeling in his first one. His ball striking is second to none and he looks like he's finding his putter. If he does, there isn't any tournament he can't win.

I think we'll know that Sergio is going to a new level of play if he goes out now and wins a couple of regular tour events between now and the Masters, either in Europe or the US. And watch him in the Ryder Cup. He's shown brightly there in the past, but this year he may actually be dominating.

US Ryder Cup Chances

Anything can happen, but what's most likely to happen? Let's look at the facts the best we can. The Europeans certainly are the favorites having won five out of the last six competitions. Maybe they haven't always had the best players on paper, but they have the winning formula in mindset and team play. They will be the most confident because of their dominant play over more than 20 years even when they've been out gunned. They'll have less pressure on them because they come from many different countries and don't have an overbearing 'you're playing for your country' attitude. They have a laid back coach in Faldo. He knows what it takes to win, which is to leave your pro players alone and make sure they enjoy themselves. He knows how to play to win, but has never lost sight of the fact that 'it's just a game'. And they have three solid anchors on the team in Harrington, Westwood and Garcia.

Can the US Team win? Certainly, anything can happen in golf as in most sports. The US has many great players on the team in the first 8 that have been announced. There's enough new blood that they won't be affected by the last 24 years - unless Azinger makes the mistake of shoving it down their young throats. Without Tiger, they are missing the solid closer. Phil always plays with too many ups and downs over the course of three days. You never know which Phil is going to show up on the next tee, he doesn't have the killer/closer instinct of Tiger and who do you pair him with.

What does the US Team have going for itself? For one, a really interesting blend of old standbys and exciting new talent. Then you might include a laid back 'best thing to happen to golf' guy in Rocco Mediate. Add in to that mix Kenny Perry, a good ole boy who has made it this years goal to play in front of his home state fans in Kentucky and who then proceeded to tear up the US tour. Azinger's job is to take the 'must win' monkey off these guys back and tell them he wants them to have the time of their lives. Imagine Rocco cracking his jokes, Boo Weekly blasting 350 yard drives and Phil playing with just one driver and four wedges. Let these guys work the crowd, sign some autographs and give a few high fives. Tell them the most important thing they have to do is smile. And then throw in a Woody Austin in full scuba gear. Do that and we'll have a competition worthy of watching, regardless of who wins.

Norman Crashes British Open Party!

I've got a golf joke for you. Have you heard the one about the Australian, Korean and Irishman? You see there was this 53-year-old Australian playing golf with a Korean who hasn't been at form all year and an Irishman who hurt his wrist last week............

Am I dreaming? Is Greg Norman leading the British Open after 3 rounds? Is this the 53-year-old Greg Norman who plays more tennis these days than golf. Is this the same Greg Norman who has spent the last decade running his business empire, having given up competitive golf except for the occasional charity appearance. Is there anyone out there who can honestly say that they knew Greg Norman was even playing in this British Open before he teed it up on Thursday.

I can't imagine a more improbable Majors story than Norman winning at Royal Birkdale in 2008. I don't care if you tell me a one legged blind man won it in 1888 using only 2 clubs. Norman winning at 53 would top that in my book. Maybe it's even a better story than Francis Ouimet winning the US Open in 1913. I still can't believe I'm not dreaming.

If there is justice in the world, if the best most decent people all make millions and live until they are 90, then Greg will win. No one has been treated more rudely by the golfing gods than he. No one has had more victories snatched away in the cruelest fashion. If he is able to pull off the most miraculous of victories today, then he's been paid back in my book. All the songs and ballads about his Master's losses will be forgotten and choirs of golfing angels will forever sing about his stunning victory at Royal Birkdale.

If you are Greg Norman, how do you approach today? I think there's only one way to play it. The story is so improbable, as has been much of Greg's life, that you just say to yourself 'it's out of my hands'. Greg is only a vehicle for something the god's have already written. I think he just goes out and plays his part, being as much of a spectator to the outcome as we are.

A footnote: Unless Sergio can make his own miraculous comeback from +9, I think he's finished as a real contender in majors. He started the tournament as the favorite. His major competitors in the likes of Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson played themselves out of it after the first day. Harrington has a bad wrist and nobody else who is playing is riding a hot streak except for maybe Anthony Kim. Sergio might surprise us in his 30's by getting lucky once, but with so many good young talents coming into the game, I think his best chances and his confidence will be behind him. Of course, if he should somehow win, then the whole story changes.

And speaking of Anthony Kim, don't count him out just yet. He's proven he has a great game and he can close. If the weather favors the earlier tee times, he just might get into this one. The whole tournament has been so full of surprises that I think it fair to say that just about anything might happen today. Who's better than those of us who can sit back with a cool drink today and watch the drama unfold?

Who Can Adjust Their Game To The Wind At Birkdale

As it has happened numerous times in the past, wind is a dominant factor in this year's British Open. When Arnold won at Birkdale in '61, they almost called the tournament after two rounds because of the weather. They won't call the tournament this year, but the wind is blowing harder today than yesterday and may blow even more tomorrow.

For every 15 mph of wind the course plays differently. The golfers today are essentially playing a different course than they played yesterday. It's also forecasted to get stronger as the day wears on, so the leaders will face the toughest conditions.

Who can keep their calm, who can adjust their strategy? It's going to be a wild ride this afternoon. Someone like Sergio, who teed off earlier, could find himself at the top if he plays well.

Open Si, Masters No!

Is it just me, or does the British Open at Royal Birkdale make the Masters look like a drab, unexciting forced march. I'm sure the wild weather and Tigers absence have added to the drama, but even so, there's something special about the course - and about UK links courses in general. Each hole can play so differently from player to player and threesome to threesome, while at Augusta everyone is forced to play it basically the same. At the links courses, every player has numerous options on almost every tee and with the weather, those options change round to round. Then look at the greens and surrounding area. There are so many swales, bumps, undulations and vegetation types that you get as many variations on one green at Birkdale as you get on 10 greens at a typical pro venue in the US. Let's not forget the pot bunkers that can change the tournament plot in a heartbeat.

I hope Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne is watching closely this week and figures out how to get back the Masters to where it once was -an exciting, anything can happen event.

Royal Birkdale Taking Center Stage

Fasten your seat belts, this could really turn out to be a show worth watching. Of course no one knows how this one is going to turn out, but so far it's been one very interesting show. First, the weather has leveled the playing field for some and promises to continue to stir the mix with even more rain and wind predicted for Saturday and Sunday. Some players hate the conditions, some endure and some, I believe, actually relish it. Watch out for the last group.

Then there's an odd cast of characters vying for the lead. Who could have imagined that 53-year-old Greg Norman, apparently rejuvenated by his marriage to Chrissy Everett, would have the clubhouse lead halfway through today's round. And there's 'Rocco Mediate just being Rocco' right behind Norman, smiling, laughing and apparently happy as a duck in a rainstorm. Add in Camillo Villegas, the young, highly marketable, energetic Colombian going on a birdie binge over his last five holes on today's round. And maybe, just maybe, we might include David Duval the former world number one who all but disappeared from this planet over the last 4 years currently two strokes off the lead after his first three holes today. Stranger things have happened, but not that I can recall.

And let's not forget the other notables still hanging around who could easily walk away with the Claret Jug. That list includes Sergio, Mike Weir, Jim Furyk and a length back Justin Rose who dazzled here as an amateur. Dare I mention that Jean Van de Velde is only 4 shots off the lead. Can you imagine Sundays final pairings as Norman & Mediate, Villegas & Rose and Duval & Van de Velde?

Royal Birkdale has not disappointed thus far. She's really exceeded expectations. This one could turn out to be one of the all time great Opens. Stay tuned....

Perry, American As They Come

I feel compelled once again to step-up and defend Kenny Perry as he continues to get bashed by some of the media. He's not only a great guy and terrific golfer, he embodies an important part of the American Ideal - do your own thing regardless of what others say about you. As of late, it seems every writer is a critic of anyone who doesn't follow lock-step with the herd. I like to think of Americans as independent, following their own, very personal dreams. To often it seems we have more in common with lemmings these days, too fearful to not follow the trend, even if it takes us over a cliff.

Think about it. Kenny Perry is an aging pro who can see the Champions Tour turnoff clearly up ahead. He's played golf as a professional his entire career and has had the opportunity to play in Majors here and abroad for decades. This year he'd like to have the honor of playing for his country on the US Ryder Cup Team which just happens to be in his home state. So he makes this his goal and builds a game plan to make it happen. He's executed it perfectly and is a lock to make the team.

Paul Azinger ought to be jumping up and down praising Kenny for what he's done. As the captain, he should be the first to support his players. Too bad their aren't a few more pros saying loudly that it's a major goal to play at Valhalla. US Ryder Cup losses in the last two decades have become such a big issue that it's easy to see why some golfers might not want to play this year. The US approach has put way too much emphasis on the importance of winning, versus the honor of playing. It's gotten to the point where a young player knows that if he blows a putt at an inopportune time, it might haunt him the rest of his career.

Kenny, it's great to have you on board. I hope your teammates will be as motivated as you. Win or lose, it should be a great competition. Paul, it's up to you to start managing the mindset your team and the country will have about the matches. This is really your role and where you can make the biggest difference. The players are competent professionals who can play golf, you need to create an environment that will bring out the best in them. Standing up now to support Kenny Perry would be a good first step. I can tell you that letting the media do their typical runaway hype job is not the way to go.

Tiger's Absence Brings Fresh Breeze To British Open

This year's British Open has a feel to it that it hasn't had for a long time. It's the attitude of the pros themselves. They're more upbeat and more confident in their chances of winning because of the absence of Tiger Woods. If you are a top golfer and want to make a name for yourself, they know that the next 9 months might be the best opportunity of their careers. Tiger has been so dominant that I think too many pros have become complacent, accepting 'good' over 'great' as their objective. With at least 3 majors, and maybe more, contended before Tiger returns that has all changed. Who has the desire, the tools and the little bit of luck needed to capitalize on the moment. Regardless, it should make for some interesting golf. Without having to look over their shoulder for Tiger, all can keep their sights clearly on the holes ahead.

Is Anthony Kim For Real?

With two wins this season, Anthony Kim could sure make you begin to believe he's the real thing. After disappearing for a few weeks after his first victory he's back in the winner's circle this weekend at Tiger's tournament in the nation's capital. And he didn't fall into this one. He played a very convincing final round at 5 under for a come from behind win. But is this a temporary hot streak, or the beginning of a memorable career?

What we've seen so far is that he can hit the ball with the best ball strikers out there, he's plenty long, shows finesse around the greens and can putt when the pressure is on. I don't think that anyone doubts that he's got the game to be one of the best. But does he have the desire? So far it's too soon to tell. I'm sure more than one golfer of the modern age has started out with lofty goals only to let them slide after a few strong performances. Why does that happen? Maybe the goals look too daunting when you know you have to beat Tiger to win the big ones. Or maybe it's too much work to go from pretty good to great. Once you're making 2 or 3 million a year, how many people will push themselves harder just to get into the record books when you can live a very nice life without having to sacrifice too much.

It's too early to know which way Anthony Kim will go. We haven't heard him talk enough to understand what really motivates him. He's also young, and as I recall from my own life, it's pretty easy to live in a fantasy world when you're in your twenties. That's not to say that AK doesn't have the same kind of fire in his belly as Mr. Woods. It would be great for golf viewers if he does, but I can't really blame him if he takes the easy road. It looks like he'll be on the US Ryder Cup team, and we just might find out a bit more about what makes this young man tick come September.

Media Onslaught for Ryder Cup Captains

It's July 2 and already it has started in the sports section of the local newspaper. What's that you ask? It's reporters trying to make something out of nothing as regards the Ryder Cup because they feel there isn't a whole lot to say about golf given that Tiger is out. Nick Faldo played in Rhode Island last week at a charity tournament. A local sportswriter asked him what he thought about the Ryder Cup competition now that Tiger is out. Nick Faldo replied that he really hadn't thought about it. From this response the writer tries to convince us that 1) Nick was not being genuine and 2) Tiger's absence had all sorts of ramifications for the competition.

Please! The event isn't until September, but it looks like we will have to endure endless speculation and innuendo about Tiger not being there. The poor Ryder Cup captains will be asked over and over how Tiger's absence will effect the competition and if they have the honesty to say 'not much', they will be lampooned as dishonest, dastardly and possibly loony.

The Ryder Cup is an exciting competition, it doesn't need misguided sportswriters to tell us that it isn't unless we can somehow link it to Tiger. We'll see some of the best golfers in the world divided into two teams and playing an interesting format over three days. There will be lots of incredible shots, some interesting pairings and match-ups and maybe, just maybe, a close competition that is decided by the last couple of singles matches on Sunday. Even now there's plenty to speculate about; who will make the team and how are they playing as of late, who will be the captain's picks and how will the teams prepare. Instead of writing a 'Tiger' story because it's easy, sportswriters should do a little more work and write about something interesting that their research has uncovered.

To sportswriters covering golf - Not every event in the world has to be presented as a 'Survivor' episode. Enough with the hyped up, made up drama. Just write about real events and real people and you may be surprised what an interesting story you have.

To the Ryder Cup captains - I feel for you. We've already been told that whatever you say we shouldn't believe, that how your team performs will determine where you go in the afterlife and that you are deviant losers should you make the preposterous claim that it's a fun event where you intend to get out of the way and let the best in the world play against one another.

Have we really become so hooked on hype that we can't focus on anything that isn't smothered in it.

There Are None To Replace Tiger

The comment I've heard most often from golf fans in the last week is 'I can't get excited about watching pro golf without Tiger'. I admit I'm feeling the same way. There's no interest without Tiger Woods. Why is that?

I believe the biggest thing separating Tiger from the rest of the field is not his play. It's his desire to win. He has had an objective for most of his life to be the best golfer that ever lived, not to just make his fortune playing golf. Between those two approaches lies a tremendous gulf. These days you can make a nice life for yourself playing pro golf. You don't even have to win to be a millionaire. Just be in the top 10 or so in a number of tournaments and get a few endorsement contracts and you can be as well off as you would be working on wall street. And, you get to spend most of your time outside instead of cooped up in an office. Plus you'll have a multi-million dollar home on an exclusive golf course and you'll be practicing your putting instead of producing PowerPoint slides. Nice work if you can get it, and nothing wrong with it.

But without players who want more than the lifestyle, without guys who want to be in the record books not much is going to change. Every week it's going to be someone else who gets the win, while last month's winners fade out. That doesn't breed excitement for viewers. Even my mother-in-law who doesn't play golf, is an avid golf fan because of Tiger. She asks me every week the channels and times of tournament coverage. Since Tiger left she doesn't ask anymore. Without Tiger there is no story and story is what keeps viewers involved. Is there another golfer out there somewhere you will stand up and say 'I'm going to win every time I play' or maybe 'I want to have 10x majors before I retire'? If there ever was an opportunity for someone to make a run, now is the time while Tiger is recuperating.

I'm looking forward to the British Open because it is The Open. After that I probably won't be interested until the Ryder Cup - unless someone steps up. The PGA? I just can't get excited. FedEx Cup? who really truly cares. It's regular golf with a bigger purse. I guess it's supposed to be like a horse race, but without Tiger the format has not provided a storyline so far.

Stewart Cink Takes A Step Up

Stewart Cink finally proved he can hold on to a lead and close the deal by winning the Travelers Championship in Hartford this past week. Considering how he's played in the past, he's had a great year even if he stumbled in a few tournaments early on in the season.

He's been around the top in most every event he's played in '08. What really seemed different to me was his attitude at the Travelers. On the early holes on Sunday, he looked like he was going to win. He didn't appear to be a guy who was hoping he'd hang on. I don't know if this marks a turning point in his game, but it would be great to see someone besides Tiger try to be the best golfer in every tournament they play.

What Happens When Tiger Cuts Back On Play?

Without Tiger Woods, where would golf be? Consider that if you want a sobering thought! Rounds played haven't significantly increased over at least 20 years, and this during the reign of the best player the game has probably ever seen. Many private clubs, if not most, are seeing membership rolls continually erode.

With recession here, how is that situation going to improve. With gas over $4 who, but the very wealthy can afford to drive to the course let alone pay the greens fees? If Tiger's knee is as bad as is feared and his playing is reduced to majors and a few other tournaments, who's going to attract the TV viewers. Right now the future of golf doesn't look its brightest. I'd hate to see some of my favorite local tracks turned into housing developments - or maybe cornfields.

What about the cost of running and maintaining a golf course these days? The gas to run the mowers is just as expensive as ours. Fertilizer is going through the roof. And then there are all the environmental issues like using pesticides - or not. And let's not forget perhaps the biggest problem of all, the fact that modern U.S. course designs require one hell of a lot of water.

If you think your budget is eroding because of gas, wait until you see what water is going to run you. Forget the flush toilets in the clubhouse, it may have to be waterless porta-potties in the future.

Tiger Keeps US Open Alive

Anyone who watched the US Open on Saturday, Sunday and Monday surely had enough excitement. But it took a one-legged Tiger to do it. Poor Phil, the world's number 2 just disappeared as he is want to do a bit too often. That's not a knock on Phil, where are golfers 3 through 10 when you come to think about it?

I still think the US Open is too much about the USGA folks that set the course up and not enough about true risk and reward golf. In the US Open risk/reward is perfectly clear - don't hit the ball in the rough OR the sand traps. Consider this; when you think about great golfers and tournaments of yesteryear, don't spectacular recoveries come to mind. A great golfer is good at hitting accurate shots, but also at recovering from bad ones. The US Open all but eliminates great recovery shots. Every golfer is forced to hack the bad shots back onto the fairway. The difference between playable and nearly unplayable has been reduced to inches and not even the best golfers have that much control. Even Tiger didn't win this tournament tee to green, he won it because he is the best putter and green reader on tour.

Random Comments on the Open

There are always too many commercials, but as long as we have to have them make them interesting. The Harley Davidson commercial was by far and away the best. I actually looked forward to seeing it. To the pharmaceutical companies; find out who made the Harley commercial and beat a path to your door. If I have to hear that same music and story for your erection pills one more time I may be forced to stop watching golf on TV.

Rocco, you're an asset to the game. You played great, but I love your attitude even more. Enough of the professional player scowls and fist pumping. I want to see a human being, aware of the moment and having fun while keeping the whole thing in perspective. Rocco reminds me of what Lee Trevino did for golf audiences, namely bringing a smile to their faces. I hope your back holds up and we see a lot more of you. When you can't play anymore, maybe you can open a personality school for the playing pros. Brandt Snedeker could be your poster child. Do you think there might be some connection between having a good time and playing well? During Monday's round, Rocco's game soured as his attitude went south for a couple of holes. Then he remembered who he was and made 3 birdies on the back nine and nearly took out Tiger!

US Open, Fair or Unfortunate?

By most of the players and commentators comments so far, this US Open is getting high praise for fairness. The tee and pin locations have been picked each day so that there is a mix of easy, intermediate and hard locations. As usual, straight hitting and excellent putting is rewarded, everything else punished - sometimes severely. Is this the best test of golf for our national tournament?

The USGA makes no bones about their goal of making the US Open the toughest test in professional golf. I don't think anyone disputes the notion that they have indeed achieved that. Is it the fairest test of golf? Does it test all aspects of the game equally or have they played up some while downplaying others? The USGA has put a lot of emphasis on precision. By the same token, they've eliminated the skills associated with recovery shots. Hit it in the rough and the only real option is to hack it out with a wedge, unless you're in the 2% of freak lies that offer recovery potential, like Tiger's shot yesterday from next to the cart path. Is the true test of a great golfer just precision, or should recovering from trouble get its due?

The height of the rough around the greens also puts a tremendous premium on accuracy. The rough is so penal that you're almost guaranteed to lose at least one stroke if you miss the green. Combine this with the rough by the fairways and most golfers don't go for the greens unless they are in the fairway. It's so much safer to play short and pitch up. On a couple of holes, some of the greenside rough has been shaved to peach fuzz causing most balls to roll into the canyon hazard. I saw Padraig Harrington hit a green on a long par three only to see his ball roll off and down the shaved bank and into a bush. That's not fair, that's bad luck.

I'd hate to see the US Open reduced to crowning the most accurate golfer for the week who was also the luckiest. Luck surely plays a part in the game, but should it be so important. I wonder whose prowess is really on display during US Opens, those of the pros or those of the USGA committee responsible for course setup. Unfortunately, it seems that the USGA has become a prisoner of it's own image. It's so enamored with being tough that it's afraid to try some new strategies. Maybe they should set-up an Open sometime that has long rough on some holes and shorter rough on others. Why should the rough have to be uniform hole to hole? Instead of 8 inch - luck of the draw - rough around the greens, perhaps they should let the greenside contours that the designer built in, challenge the players' short game skills more. No less an expert than Dave Pelz said Wednesday night that chipping out of the greenside rough is mostly about luck and not skill because of the type of grass and it's length.

One last question; if Tiger wasn't in this tournament and playing well, would you be as excited? Does a war of attrition make great theater? It seems to me that somewhere in the distant past you saw great charges during the Open, players making birdies on top of one another. But then again, maybe I'm thinking of someone else's tournament.

The U.S. Open Is The Peoples' Championship

Will this week's U.S. Open be about the course or about the players? You could argue that last years Open was too much about the golf course and it's ridiculous setup. Oakmont and it's membership's attitude that harder is always better is a unique venue in many ways. Torrey Pines is more representative of the U.S. Open's desire to play the annual national championship competition on public courses. And, that's as it should be.

Every amateur player should have the chance to play the courses that the Open uses, and that just isn't going to happen at the private courses representative of economic privilege that sometime slip into the rotation. Go ahead and play the Masters at Augusta and the PGA Championship where you will, but keep the Open as the peoples' championship. The U.S. Open, like the British Open, has unrestricted qualifying. You don't have to be from a special society or group or even country to qualify to play, you just have to be a great golfer. Let's hope that tradition never changes.

As for the competition itself, for me it's always about the golfers in the end because they all have to play the same conditions and course. However, as we've sometimes seen in the past, course setup can be too much of an unwanted factor. There seems to be an unwarranted amount of focus on the final score being around par. It's as if the USGA feels they've failed if the winning score is minus something. The focus should be exciting competition on challenging courses with the golfers having to make a lot of risk reward calculations. As many have commented, Augusta these days leaves little if any choices, every golfer plays it strategy-wise identically.

From what I've seen and read so far, it looks like Torrey Pines is a very fair setup. The rough is tiered a little more than in the past, while the fairways are wide by Open standards. There's been a lot written about how fast the greens will be, but they are generally very large greens and tend to be flatter. The putting challenge comes more from the 'pockets' built into the greens for pin placements rather than the spectacle of putting uphill to a cup placement only to have the ball roll past you and back into the fairway. Hard isn't always fair or even interesting to watch.

From a spectators' viewpoint, I think the test for Torrey Pines will be how many different ways an individual hole is played. If every golfer is forced into the same strategy then, in my book, it will be a big failure. A few years back, Tiger won the British Open by keeping his driver in the bag, while most of the field was using theirs. Not only was that Open championship about the golfers, it was also about the strategic beauty of the course design, something that hasn't been improved upon for a hundred years.

Leave Kenny Perry Alone

It seems to be the sport of the day to take Kenny Perry to task over not trying to qualify for the US Open. For my two cents worth I have to say 'Back Off'! By everyone's account he's a very nice human being. He's 48 and he wants to play on the Ryder Cup team, that's his dream. It's in his home state and on a course he knows. He put together a game plan for this year to make it happen and he's sticking to it. So far it's paying off. Watch him talk about his goal and you can see he starts to get choked up.

For all the other wanna be pros out there, go put your own professional career and game together and do with it what you will. If you want to spend a career trying to win U.S. Opens, then I say more power to you. If it keeps you from trying to tell us how to judge an honest man, then it's even better. Pro golfers work for themselves. They each run their personal business in a different way. The variety of personalities and approaches to the game are what make it fun to watch. Ian Poulter has added color, Freddy Couples is ultra cool, Tiger takes focus to the max and VJ is Mr. Work Ethic. It's all good. Kenny Perry is a 48 year old with a decent career who wants to add the Ryder Cup to what he's accomplished. I love that.


Thanks to 'artful golfer' for the comment on the Ryder Cup blog. He mentioned it would be nice to see Perry make the team and I'm right in line with that sentiment, and it got me motivated to write today's comment. Who's played consistently better than Kenny over the last 5 weeks? Kenny has the game and, on top of that, I don't think Paul Azinger could find a more motivated or more team oriented player for his squad.

Take Some National Pride Out Of The Ryder Cup

I'm probably setting myself up for some scathing email, but the U.S. Ryder Cup team has been taking itself a little too seriously over the last 20 years, which may be the biggest reason for it's terrible performance during that time. Unfortunately, it looks like Paul Azinger has decided to tighten the screws even more this year rather than back them off. Don't get me wrong, it's great to represent your team in international competition, but the outcome doesn't determine the value of your country or how much you love it. This is athletic competition. It's friendly. It's great fun. It's a chance to see some of the best golfers in the world play formats we rarely get to see, like alternate shot. If your team doesn't win, don't feel you have to go home in shame or be pilloried in the public square for the next year.

Listening to Nick Faldo's comments in recent weeks in between coverage of tournaments, he seems to have the same mentality as Jack Nicklaus about Ryder Cup - relax, have fun and let the players put on a show, maybe even smoke a cigar or two and sign autographs with abandon during the practice rounds. I believe that Nick Faldo and Paul Azinger really like each other, but Nick has mentioned more than once that Paul is already putting way too much pressure on his players. Paul Azinger has decided to have two assistant captains to help his players compete. Jack Nicklaus chimed in on that idea during the Memorial by gently reminding Paul that these are the best players in the world and they don't need help playing the game. He even went so far as to say there isn't a lot for the captain to do once play begins, just get out of the way and let your players do what they do best.

It's hard to find a country more enamored with itself these days than the U.S. and that may be the biggest factor in our Ryder Cup blues for that last 20 years. As we get closer to tee time, you'll see more national pride stories and quotes about the honor of playing for one's country. It's only a game, right! I like the eastern philosophy of honoring one's opponent, even more so if they win. Without a great opponent there are no great matches. Without great matches there wouldn't even be a sports page.

Paul Azinger, as captain, your biggest contribution to the Ryder Cup competition is to get your team to relax and to do this you're going to have to play down the 'national pride' angle. You can do more for our nation's image by showing that we can keep things in perspective, honoring the game and our opponents. After all, it's only golf and not the beaches of Normandy. If the Europeans win again, it says nothing about the manhood of our players or how much they do or don't love their country. It's all about how you act, win or lose. In the land where exploding Little League managers too often have to be removed from the playing field by police, it's about time grownups show children what competition is all about.

Have They Designed Away Masters Excitement?

Go to GolfDash and check out the Headline Story for today, April 14. It's by John Huggan at Golf Observer and addresses the fact that course changes to Augusta in the last 10 years seem to have taken the excitement out of the Masters competition. I couldn't agree more after watching this last week and reflecting on 2007 as well.

It seems that we have come to love the Masters because of the dramatic play it inspires - or used to. Some lost big leads while others made dramatic moves ahead. Different players played the course well - differently. If you felt you needed to make up ground you could take risks, which sometimes paid off and sometimes ended in disaster. But today, it's all about survival. The course seems to dictate that everyone play the course in almost exactly the same way. Most holes don't have options anymore, which is what great courses are all about. If you follow the British Open and classic links design then you know what I'm talking about.

Bobby Jones worked with the famous Scottish golf designer Alister MacKenzie to build Augusta. Mr. MacKenzie knew all about the subtleties of a well designed hole. Winning a tournament was as much about strategy as ball striking. Given your skill set, a great hole is about challenging you to figure out the solution of how you should play it. There was one hole at St. Andrews Old Course that Bobby Jones himself said was most often played the best by a woman golfer of the times. Think about that for a moment, he was saying that she played the hole better than he did. I'm sure he could hit the ball farther, but she was able to unravel it's secret code better.

I have looked forward to this Masters all winter, but now that it's complete I have an empty feeling. That's no to slight Trevor Immelmam. He's a great golfer who played better than everyone else, including Mr. Woods. He's a wonderful ball striker and showed he has the nerves that all the great ones have. I think (and hope) to see a lot more of him in the future. We need someone to push Tiger. Without a Retief, or Ernie or Vijay to challenge, pro tournaments are losing some of their luster.

A high level of anticipation for the next Masters is certainly gone. I want to see dramatic shots, an Arnie charge or a Nicklaus come from behind. Just seeing who can endure the rack the longest is not much entertainment. For my money the course has been designed into it's own dead end. I'm not a course designer, but the Augusta people need to find someone with a different vision to save the tradition. They might want to consult a past winner who's also an architect and probably understands the old course design traditions better than anyone. That would be a Mr. Ben Crenshaw.

ESPN Masters Coverage is Abominable

Today is probably the worst golf tournament coverage I have ever seen and because it's the Masters it's that much more painful. It's not the problem of the ESPN commentators, it's the producer. When you cover a golf tournament you are expected to broadcast the play, not shots of the trees, the bridge, magnolias, and so many walks down memory lane that I thought I was watching the history channel for awhile.

The trend in the last couple of years is to focus too much on only a very few golfers at the top. If a player is a few shots back you're lucky if you see then hit two shots. I do believe the average viewer is like me. I want to see Justin Leonard and Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington and the rest of the best golfers in the world whether they're on or not. I want to see as much as I can of the best golfers in the world on one of the best courses in one of the top four tournaments of the year. Not only is ESPN sticking to the leaders on the course and Tiger, but the producer has fallen in love with everything that has nothing to do with the live action.

It's getting to the point where you have to be online to actually know what's going on. If a top player like Retief Goosen isn't doing so well, why? Has he lost control of his driver, did he hit it in the water, did he take a double bogey somewhere? Why can't the networks let the camera show us the action and let it speak for itself. Why not get as much real footage on our screens as possible. I love Gary Player and I think it's great that Zach Johnson won last year. But don't take away from this year's actual play to take us back into the history books over and over. That's better handled later, or earlier, but not during the heat of play. By chopping up the coverage the viewer gets no sense of the overall unfolding of the competition.

The powers that be at Augusta have gone to extremes to have the Masters run and be covered the way they want. Maybe it's time for them to look at the Thursday/Friday contract with ESPN and let a network who will really cover the action take over next year.