"It's just what I think the game really needs right now, someone that's going to set an example that says you can play fast and win at the highest level."

Nice catch by Jonathan Wall at Yahoo regarding Rory McIlroy, fast play and Jim Nantz, with one caveat:

His dominating performance at the U.S. Open has been talked in the ground, so much so that CBS's Jim Nantz decided to point out something else besides McIlroy's demeanor and swing that kids should take note of.

"One thing I really enjoyed last week while watching Rory McIlroy's incredible performance at the U.S. Open was how fast a player he is," Nantz said. "Here's a guy that's going to be a superstar and a lot of people are going to try and model things after him ... especially kids watching him play. It's just what I think the game really needs right now, someone that's going to set an example that says you can play fast and win at the highest level."

The caveat: Nantz mentioned this as Johnson Wagner was preparing what one could only surmise was the last shot of his life. It was agony and credit to Nantz for showing no hesitation in sharing his thoughts on Rory, without calling out Wagner. That's for us bloggers to do!

Comments

[digsouth]

Did anyone notice how slow Johnson Wagner was, as Nance was praising Rory while probably thinking sweet dreams about his od roomie, Freddie.

Sorry, tacky, as only a Shacklivonian can be!

Is anyoneelse more disturbed with the usage of several *last* names as opposed to the southern tradition of several *first* names... Ex: ''Johnson Wagner'' v ''Tommy Joe Cyrus Ted'' .

[@norcalgolfclub]

As someone who plays much better when playing fast it's a pleasure to here. The only place I take a little extra time in on the putting green since that is where it counts. Otherwise, I was taught to build a routine, so don't take practice swings. While others are playing I'm getting ready and thinking about my shot so I can setup and fire away!

[Jordan]

Rory was playing with YE Yang, who is also fast. It was great to see. And Rory played with Angel Cabrera at Augusta, who made Rory look like a tortoise.

[Sean]

Digs, you're quite right. Never trust a man with no surname. Larry David is a case in point. And, as you observe, no first name hardly inspires confidence either.

Re Wagner, there's nothing funny about the word Johnson, of course. But I remember Sam Torrance on BBC calling him "Johnson Wanger", to evident suppressed hilarity in the box.

Such are the dangers. We should call for golf's governing bodies to legislate and roll back these new names before they get Out of Control...

[Golden Bell]

Once upon a time at a mid-1980s Western Open, slowpoke Bill Britton was marginally in contention. The Western was on CBS, and Frank Chirkinian decided to subtly call him out. Britton stepped up to the tee on the par-3 13th, witch has water on the left side, and began fiddling. Chirkinian called up the scroll of every Western Open champion. The announcer (maybe Vin Scully) waxed eloquently about Willie Anderson, Walter Hagen and Ben Hogan while it rolled on. When it ended, Britton was almost ready to hit his tee shot.

[Troglodyte]

I covered Johnson Wagner back when he was an amateur winning Met Opens here in the New York area. He obviously was a talented player then. Since then, he's somehow learned to play slowly. I don't remember the snail's pace 10 years ago. That said, he was and, from what I understand, still a great person. When he won his first Nationwide Tour event, all the caddies made some special gesture in his honor.

But, to the point of this blog entry, slow is slow. and Wagner has become just that. But having seen him in his younger life play at a moderate pace, I wonder how much the culture on the tour breeds such behavior. Obviously the players aren't policed enough. But I also wonder if making your living at such an endeavor ultimately makes you too careful.

[smails]

yeah, hes a great guy, kind to children and old people..WHO CARES hes SLOW. this negates ALL!!!!

[Glyn]

I wonder if slow play on the tour breeds slow play. i.e. in order to cope with slow play from the people in front of you, one learns to play slowly yourself in order to cope and not sit on a tee box or the middle of a fairway endlessly waiting.

[Tom]

I vaguely remember that Western Open with Bill Britton in the last group. There are gaps in my recollection, but what I generally recall is this--- on the 72nd hole, there was some holdup at the green (this was Butler National's difficult 18th) leaving Britton and the tourney leader (Peter Jacobsen?) waiting in the fairway with Britton away. After about 5 minutes the green cleared, and Venturi in the booth was incredulous that while Jacobsen was ready to go, Britton STILL hadn't decided what club to hit. So it was several more minutes before Jacobsen could play, and I could be mis-remembering but I think he hit into the creek.

Folks sometimes mention Jack as a slow player, and by the standards of his era he was slow. But not by today's standards. He stood over the ball a long time, but I can't remember him ever taking a practice swing on a full shot or putt. One day in the bookstore I read Palmer's account of playing alongside Jack in the last 2 rounds at Baltusrol in 1967, and he mentioned they finished in (I think) 3:45 on Saturday and 3:30 on Sunday.

[mel]

@Tom - I remember that Western Open as well but I think Peter hit the ball over the green and ended up making double bogey. I recall him saying he blamed himself because he got caught up caring about Bill's slow play instead of focusing on his own game.

Jack Nicklaus said he knew he was slow so he learned to walk faster between shots. I'm not sure that made it easier for his playing partners but it did stop him from being put on the clock.

[JPB]

Mel & Tom-

It wasn't Bill Britton battling it out with Jake that year it was Jim Benepe. Benepe won when Jake hit over the green on 18 and made double bogey.

[mel]

@JPB - Jim Benepe won the 1988 Western Open but Peter Jacobsen was paired with Bill Britton on the final day and Benepe got the win when Jacobsen hit over the green. Pretty sure that is correct because Peter has talked about it in interviews on more than one occasion.