Thursday
Jun232011
"Low American has almost become a separate category along with low amateur."
In short, there is no reason to panic or even to start looking for reasons for the U.S. "slump." The junior system doesn't need to be blown up, and players don't have to start following the European model of turning pro as teenagers in order to succeed. What's happened is fairly simple: For a good long while Woods and Mickelson were the two best players in the world. Now, they're not. That has left a void.
I'd counter that it's a fine time to question whether the U.S. junior and college systems are really doing our players justice? I'd say no simply because we seem to be ingraining a sense of entitlement that appears to be holding back our players from reaching another level.
Reader Comments (34)
in this country. Country club kids, with wealth are about the only kids that get a look for college.
Junior tournaments that get recognition, cost as much as mini tour events, with a college scholarship being dangled as a carrot.
There was much hand wringing when non American golfers were winning in the Faldo/Seve/Wossie/Lyle era.
Compare the reception for Rory at Congressional to Olazabal at Augusta.
Also, what Del said.
This probably is cyclical but I do agree that its too easy to win great money without winning and that breeds mediocrity.
It is not producing world class players. Even after extraodinary investments of time and money. That alone, however, would not be so bad. Much worse is that colleges are also pushing kids out the door who are badly educated with few non-golf skills. Particulary in D-1 programs.
Especially telling and chilling, to me anyway, was Bill Haas' recent assertion that he's rather have 13 top tens this year than a win. The U.S. tour is too rich, too egalitarian, too much a corporate venture. It breeds mediocrity by rewarding it.
with the exception of the two biennial exhibition matches (yes, virginia, the ryder cup IS an exhibition. you could look it up), pro golfers are not competing as representatives of their respective nations. they are - as repeatedly emphasized by those staunch libertarians at the pga tour/charitable foundation ("thanks to you, it works for all of us") - "independent contractors." as such, they no more represent the golfing honor of the united states than i do when i go to work every day.
In my opinion one of biggest issues is that huge endorsements and contracts are given to these kids almost before they even hit the tour and certainly before they have proven themselves and it upsets the balance of everything. The goal is no longer to get on tour and win tournaments or majors etc, it's simply to get your name out and get 'signed' and comfortable. From that point on, if you can keep your card, you are making a very very nice living.
Also, Europe must have its share of Ty Tryon stories that we don't know about over here in the U.S.
It is more than a little hypocritical for any of us to question a player's desire -- how many of us can say we are the 'best' at what we do? And who wouldn't take the cash and security that comes along with placing in the top ten consistently? You can't blame guys for exploiting the system -- it is capitalism after all!
The same has been said many times of Westwood and Donald.
We are back to the 80's...no dominate player. Then it was Calc, Zinger, Payne, Pavin, Freddie...all with career wins around 15 and 1 major (except Payne with 3).
From the current issue of GQ: "22-year-old Rickie Fowler has quickly become the most talented and recognizable young force in the post-Tiger...World of professional golf." Notice they said world, not America. Not a very timely or deserving comment after Rory confirmed who the real 22 tear old to watch is.
http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201107/rickie-fowler-interview-gq-july-2011
distribution of tournament winnings goes too deep into the field and does not require players to earn their pumas, this was addressed many years ago when mid-field players were having issues meeting expenses. Apparently, it bred mediocrity among tour players, your exceptions being self(Nicklaus)-motivated players like Tiger/Phil
Secondly, the pga is lucky they have not yet experienced the lpga's problems, lack of sponsors, lack of fans, tournaments drawing better in mid/small markets, number of events reduced, I laffed when I heard about requiring spoken english of their players, but as I watch interest decline in the lpga it seems more and more like it makes sense
50% of all news is created by the media and does not really exist. It is just hype by bored non creative writers.
One of the euros said it best "America is big, the world is bigger". Any top tier sport, we should not expect to dominate, just do well.
Nonsense. The source of European dominance -- which I agree is cyclical and will balance off before any of us cark it -- is results. The CONCEPT of European dominance is giving golf journalists, with their need for a little drama and conflict in their stories, a topic to work on for a slight change of material, especially since the decade-long single story -- sucking up to Tiger -- went south at the fire hydrant in some gated community in Florida.
European golf has always been good. Now a few chickens are coming home to roost. About time, some might say -- they have been good, and close, long enough and it is their moment to take the last hurdle. But it's not a massacre. American golf is still in rude good health and will rise to fight again, whether the old guard or the emergers or both.
Woods and Mickelson REALLY ARE still the two best players in the world!
I don't care what the stupid world rankings say.
..oh and besides, who gives a crap?!
Please give me the American definition of "best." Ever? Now? Because you say so? Because they are American? Because of their results in the last, say, couple of years?
Enlightenment required.
They are not toast yet, but one is injured and MIA, and the other seems to also have health issues and perhaps to be in career decline. Both may be back. Then we'll see. Others have resurged. But right now -- for the past year or more -- they have barely moved the geiger counter. Let alone the ball. If Tiger's last year makes him the best player in the world the bar has really sunk.
The problem isn't how the players get to the tour. The problem is that real "winners" are rare which is why we call them great when they come along. If everyone won multiple events every year, it wouldn't be considered a big deal now would it.
As for AK47 you might want to brush up on your European history as the Germans were quite frequently allies of the English through out time.