Elk, Slugger Clean Up At The Annual Huggy Awards

John Huggan's annual Huggy's spotlight some of the more dubious on and off-course acts from 2013, including the R&A's peculiar softening of Muirfield's greens (it all worked out ok though...), Steve Elkington's Twittering and PGA Tour VP Slugger's White's views on the World Cup setup of Royal Melbourne.

Regarding the last mention, Huggan writes about Slugger's take on arguably the purest golf on the planet at Royal Melbourne:

Mr White was apparently not impressed by what he saw there, however. The best, most interesting and most strategically challenging course in the southern hemisphere just wasn’t up to scratch, especially around the greens.

As far as ol’ Slugger was concerned, not enough long grass circled the putting surfaces. He wanted to eliminate any need for imagination, flair and feel and replace it all with a succession of hacks/gouges, the only option left to players when rough encroaches close to the fringes. In other words, White wanted every player reduced to the same one-choice level.

Truly, this was a revealing statement, one that goes a long way to explaining why so many events on the so-often one-dimensional PGA Tour look so (un)remarkably similar. Whatever, Slugger is a worthy recipient of his first Huggy.

Comments

[Trysil]

Love it When the Huggys are announced.

Don't agree with the last comment about Duffnering. That pose wasn't made up...it just became an instant classic, much of it due it how JD deports himself. Everyone else getting in on the act...they can't ride on the coat-tails of JDs deportment....guess this is what the complaint is about

[UnderTheChin]

A column where Huggan gets to complain about everything. Not unlike his twitter. Zzzzz

[Stiggy]

Always enjoy this.
Catriona Matthew sent him a tweet pointing out that someone who won three consecutive majors should have been Player of the Year.

[BrianS]

What a bitter guy Huggan is. Ray Floyd stiffs him on an phone call interview request - to talk about a 19 year ago RC no less - and not only does he get an "Award", Huggan gets to dredge up a nasty situation with his wife. Classy.

[ol Harv]

Have known Slugger and his bro for a long time and I can say he may know more about golf, every aspect from rules to setup to grasses, etc.., than anyone I have ever talked to. And he doesn't tell you that he knows more (unlike some like Mr. Davis). If he made this statement it probably made sense.

[Sari]

I'm with you BrianS. That seemed wholly unnecessary. And how is Ko not player of the year?

[Media driven]

I've dealt with Floyd when he's generous and cooperative and seen the other side, also. Why did Huggy get so bent out of shape over one phone call? If you call someone out of the blue there's a chance you won't get a warm response.

[Stiggy]

Sari, Ko or Inbee Park?

[Chico]

Huggan- bitter- surely not?!!!!! Typical of the very good amateur who never quite made it and who resents everything about those who did. (Can write some very good stuff at times though)

[nguyenvuminh]

Stories like Huggan and Jenkins being pissed about an athlete not gladly receiving them only make me question these sport journalists intent more.

[Neil Young & Geraldo]

Huggan is the only person ever to block me on twitter.

And all I did was ask him a simple question!!?? Comes off as a bitter, bitter dude.

[PGT]

Agree with Brian - what the hell does the Belfry in '85 have to do with a cutesy golfish column 27 years later?

[Hawkeye]

...especially since Maria Floyd passed away a year ago, a loss which Ray Floyd has a very hard time getting over. The biggest plonker, oaf, asshole, call it what you want, is Mr. Huggan himself. I promise never to read a line of his ever again.

[DTF]

NY&G, will you tell us what you asked him?

[Claude]

Henrik Stenson's sense of humor makes him "the perfect Huggy." (Never mind that some of associate the name "Huggies" with baby diapers. Ick.). So you give a writer some funny quotes and you're on top. How did Imbee Park not see this????

If his European players had come up with the Dufnering jest, I don't thiink Huggan would have been so sniffish.

[Neil Young & Geraldo]

DTF-- a couple of years back Bubba Watson played in a tournament in France and his alleged behavior there became a controversial topic. Huggan was writing ambiguously about Bubba's bad behavior and I simply wanted clarification on what he did. I mean, I'm a nosy guy and I was just curious, I don't worship at the alter of Bubba or anything. Real simple query.

I was new to twitter at the time and noticed a day or two later than Huggan's feed wasn't showing up on my account anymore. I searched for him and saw that he was active. When I looked at whether I was following him or not, it just said "BLOCKED." That's when I first realized that somebody can block you on twitter! LOL. And over a simple question no less!

WTF DTF!!??

Not only is this guy bitter, I'm betting he couldn't take 1% of what he dishes out.

(And none of this means he isn't a good writer).

[Mike Clayton]

Background to the Huggan/Floyd call. Golf Digest are doing one of those long pieces on the 1985 Ryder Cup and talking to many of those who were involved. Unsurprisingly he called Floyd and asked for his memories of the match.
Paul Way's story of what happened on the 8th hole with Floyd and his wife is classic - and relevant to what happened that day.

[Stiggy]

As always, thanks for your update Mike.

[Hawkeye]

Maybe so, but then it's hardly surprising that Floyd should find it offensive to bring it up if the memory is tainted by a spat with a recently departed spouse. Using the episode for comic effect, like Huggan does here, is rubbing salt in the wounds and ethically despicable.

[Hilltop]

Raymond often told the story of Maria berating him after he lost in Westchester ? in 1986 before he went on to win the US open. I'm guessing that he'd had enough at the Belfry that day, lol.

[Claude]

It's clear that many of us respect Huggan's writing. I'm glad that Geoff provides the links to his stories. He clearly has an edge that is missing from the remaining American beat writers. My hunch is that Huggan might not be doing his best. He is, I've heard, an exceptional golfer and he was on the instruction beat for a long time. I want to hear his insights into players' skills and changing mastery of the game. Instead, he'd rather be a Dan Jenkins and score points for sarcasm, of which he evidently has a major supply. Maybe this, alas, is what his editors want.

[Mark B]

When Huggan keeps to writing about golf he is excellent. Unfortunately he spends too much time being spiteful and snide on Twitter. I'm very surprised that given his stature in golf journalism his various paymasters allow him to get away with it while on their team.

I recall a very rude and unnecessary comment he once made about Paula Creamer that had nothing to do with her golf and everything to do with her looks. He also once refused to admit a blatant mistake he made in a Scotsman article I picked up on. Instead of owning up, he simply denied it and tried to make me look like I was wrong.

[Hilltop]

On another note, when Stevie Williams decides to 'retire' from full time bib wearing. He and Elk ought to hook up on the Senior Circuit. Fun times would be had for all.

[Peter Norrie]

NY&G, welcome to the club! Huggan is the only guy ever to block me on Twitter too! A couple of years ago he was complaining about why people would wish him "Happy Thanksgiving" when the whole world should know he's not American. As a fellow Scot, I suggested that he broaden his horizons and lose the "If's it's nae Scottish, it's crap" attitude... it obviously didn't go down well.

[KG]

Harv,
No disrespect to Slugger who has managed some rules issues very well in the past....but.....Wrapping the greens at Melbourne in rough is wrong. Plain, simply and obviously. Dr. Mackenzie designed courses where options are most important but thick rough around greens eliminates all options but a steep wedge. Most of the holes at Augusta that still bear Mackenzie's greens have very limited rough around the greens, 18, 13, 15, are examples.
I suspect Slugger's philosophy is more in tune with the protecting par/penal school of thought.
I would have loved to have seen the members response if someone actually told them the course needed to grow rough around the greens.
The course hosted a wonderful tournament with great shots that week, what's wrong with that?

[munihack]

I've read Huggan's more golf oriented work and find a lot of it thoughtful. Sadly he appears to hold grudges. If you happen to agree with his take on a subject he can be entertaining but at some point you wonder if it is worth it.

[ol Harv]

Perhaps he meant grass, not necessarily rough. Maybe he felt like every approach does the same thing regardless, roll back into the bunker? Not sure but Slugger knows golf and that part of golf. Must have had a reason.

[DTF]

"He was “offended” that anyone might call him and wish to ask a few polite and relatively harmless questions."

Does, anyone, believe that?