"Low American has almost become a separate category along with low amateur."

I love John Feinstein's line above but I was surprised to see him chalk up the recent drought of Americans in majors to cycles.

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.

Comments

[fatgoalie]

The sense of entitlement come from the structure of the game of golf
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.

[Gary K. McCormick]

Maybe US colleges & universities should stop handing out golf scholarships to foreign players. Why should we train the competition? Happens in track & field, too...

[AK47]

Keep patting the kids on the back for finishing t10 in junior tournaments and you breed a golfer who thinks that's great. Have them grow up with match play and all that changes.

[NRH]

This is all a bunch of jingoism. When a top American player, skips college, shuns the PGA Tour for the Euro Tour and builds himself a compound at Wentworth then we can talk. It is 2011, the world is smaller and golf is a global game, nobody is crying in their soup about the nationality of the last five major champs.

Compare the reception for Rory at Congressional to Olazabal at Augusta.

Also, what Del said.

[D.]

I wonder what the similiarites and differences are for Asians on the LPGA tour and now, potentially, Euro success on the Men's Tour. Could make for an interesting article.

[chico]

Over here in Euroland we are very jealous of your college system and most of our top amateurs see it as the best way to further their development.Many of our best players have come through the college system ie Donald and Casey- and Martin Laird was just an ok player when he left Scotland and has developed into a very good one.
This probably is cyclical but I do agree that its too easy to win great money without winning and that breeds mediocrity.

[Golf Junkie]

We have so many great young golfers in the states that I am not worried. Don't count out Tiger and Phil yet either. Bubba, Rickie and more. We'll get it!

[otey]

College golf in the US is a disaster. It's the worst of two worlds.

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.

[Troglodyte]

It's not just the college system that's breeding entitlement. As already pointed out, a number of high ranking foreign players have gone to U.S. schools. I think it's more a cultural thing. I think it's much rarer here for a kid to develop as a junior without substantial financial backing from parents. Not to say that McIlroy didn't get that kind of support, but in the end he appreciates it. I don't think American kids wind up with that attitude. They feel entitled. I know one once aspiring American player who didn't make it who feels somehow betrayed by his parents, despite all they did for him.

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.

[peter kostis (back from the dead)]

So many have such a parochial view of American sports. It is less about the DEMISE of American golf than the RISE of world golf! Having said that, college golf is no way to produce superstars. If you think you have the talent, turn pro and develop your craft. The time and tournament restrictions of college golf can't compete with working on your game 24/7/365. The old model of 4 years of college to get ready for the tour has been broken for some time. McIlroy, Scwartzel, Ishikawa, Mannesero, Day and many others have zero days of college golf on their resume. By the way, half of the top 10 picks in last nights NBA draft were from countries other than the U.S. It isn't just golf. It's all sports except perhaps for football which is an American sport as played in college and the NFL. Golf is global and so are it's champions. Deal with it.

[thusgone]

this "decline of american golf" trope is silly and reductive.

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.

[Press Agent]

Peter Kostis beat me to the NBA thing, it's a very good point. The colleges want the best players for their programs, that is why they offer scholarships. If you close them off to everyone except Americans, that severely limits their pool to draw from and they will end up getting the best of the rest.

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.

[Sarge]

When did the purpose of a collegiate golf program become the production of tour players? I have seen alot of collegiate players, and they are on the whole a pretty impressive group of young men. Most do very well for themselves after graduation

[MJS]

Seems too easy to me to declare the U.S. system "broken." Guys like McDowell and Donald obviously saw some value in U.S. college golf, and Woods and Mickelson did well for themselves coming up on the traditional juniors/college track. It's just that, as Peter and others pointed out, there are other paths to success. There's no one right way for everybody.

Also, Europe must have its share of Ty Tryon stories that we don't know about over here in the U.S.

[Golf Bum]

I don't much care where the top players come from. I enjoy watching players who have a ungodly skill and a passion for the game. Add in a bit of a personality and you have me hooked. Are we so insecure that our sense of nationalism is tied to who wins a golf match? The U.S. will win more majors, but the competition just got ramped up from the rest of the world. Sit back and enjoy the drama.

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!

[Kelpie]

Two words for American golfers not named Tiger: Can't close.

[jeff]

Kelpie-
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).

[RM]

I'd say the problem starts after college. See how Rickie 2.0 has been rewarded for winning nothing.

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

[HoselRocket]

hmm

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

[Birdie]

I enjoy following golf because it is such an individual journey, with each player having his personal triumphs and demons. Bill Haas had his first win early last year, followed by a slump in the midseason and another win at the end of the year. My guess is that he was bothered by his inconsistency, which led to a personal goal of 13 top tens. This is not a goal of mediocrity -only the very best golfers have top ten finishes in the teens. It also seems unlikely that it was suggested as a goal for everybody, just an attempt to correct his perceived weakness in his own game.

[Billmoor]

As usual, this a media hyped subject. The only source of "European dominance" comes from the media. I golf in leagues and with a regular foursome and I have never heard one person refer to dominance by any faction of players. All I hear is who is leading, scores, conditions, course, etc.
50% of all news is created by the media and does not really exist. It is just hype by bored non creative writers.

[JJ]

If we cannot change the money distribution (per HoselRocket) how about putting more emphasis on winning by way of the rankings? If all points earned within, say, 18 months of a win counted double, it would immediately jump the ranking of any winners and hurt the guys that live on top 10s but cannot close. And it would certainly help the "lesser" tournaments (like this weekend) as it would give a big incentive for top players that do not have a recent win to show up and play against a weaker field.

[Used to be Former S&T Convert]

The issue is too complex for a "soundbite" analysis. It is too easy to say " Country club kids, with wealth are about the only kids that get a look for college." A First Tee kid just won the NC Amateur (play last 9 hole 5 under) and was 3rd team All American.

[Ian C]

Looks like the low amateur IS the low American.

[BrianS]

90% of the Euros live in the US anyway. Do you think any golf fan is upset if Luke Donald wins an event because he was from England ? As mentioned above, the LPGA had much bigger probs as half their fields didn't even speak english. But even there, we are seeing a nice turnaround (and no thanks to the overhyped Michele Wie btw) of good, media (and otherwise) attractive young girls with game as well as a sense of responsibility to the fans. Do you think they feel entitled and happy to be T20 ? Not when it barely pays the travel bills.

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.

[KCMG]

"The only source of "European dominance" comes from the media."

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.

[redneck]

Guess what, fat Feinstein?
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?!

[KCMG]

Woods and Mickelson are the two best players in the world?

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.

[Beard]

I played D-1 golf and believe me there was no hint of entitlement. If we played well, we were congratulated. If we played poorly, we were threatened with the loss of our scholarship. I was once told that the next 18 holes would decide my future in college (not just golf) because my scholarship would not be renewed if I didn't perform. This was said in a loud voice while standing on the tee in front of my opponents. I'd call that severe pressure for a 19 year old, not entitlement (I played well and kept my scholarship, BTW). College golf is great because it gets people into college, not because it creates Tour players. Remember, most college golfers never turn pro, much less make it to the PGA Tour.

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.

[AK47]

When you have blowhards like Monty continually prattling on about the power of European golf, well, that gives the hacks something to write about, no? Also, I'm always amused by this idea of "Europe" and how united it is in golf these days. Is Europe not the same continent that's spent most of the past several thousand years at war with itself? The English and Germans have sooooooo much in common and are such great allies ...

[Bear]

As a non European and non American I don't really care about a players country of origin. A golfer is as others have said an independent contractor.

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.

[Celtic Manner]

What do you expect? To hear all too many Americans these days you would think they were historically enemies with the French. Which, if they would only read their OWN history, they would see is far from the case.

[AK47]

Bear, I'm quite familiar with the influence of the Hanoverians and the lineage of the Mountbatens and the Wittens (who in 1917 changed their name to ... Windsor, so Britain could ignore the fact that their Royals were German). Those old allegiances were with Prussia. Since German unification, they've been on opposite sides in two nasty wars you may have heard of: WWI & WWII. Anywho, my general point is that the idea of Europe as one entity is quite laughable given its historic rivalries and the fact that it doesn't compete in anything as "Europe". Just as laughable as Team GB in football at the 2012 Olympics. I'm anticipating 9 Englishmen, led by Becks, one token Scot, a token Welshman and a Northern Irelander on the subs bench.

[Bear]

Well lets see there is the golf competition in which the Euros compete as a team. Oh and that whole European Union thing they have going on.