Happy Ending: Worst Player Ever To Win Major Confronts Writer

SI's Alan Shipnuck named Shaun Micheel the worst player ever to win a major and, well, it did not go well to start.

But as Shipnuck writes, after a nice angry manspat, there is a happy ending to this run-in. Get your hanky out...

I can't make 1.4 million copies of GOLF disappear but I'll certainly be rooting for Micheel going forward. After telling him I think his journey would make a compelling feature story, he gave me his cell number so we can keep in touch. I've looked at our DM string a couple of times and Micheel's parting thought still makes me laugh out loud: "Certainly an unusual start to a relationship."

Comments

[Scott Warren]

Alan Shipnuck has a history of writing/Tweeting dumb s**t in an effort to draw attention to himself, and it's nice to read he got called on it to his face this time. There's a lot about him as a writer in this line -- "Occasionally getting yelled at is part of a reporter's job, if he or she is doing it well". Some writers lament that fact, others seek it out like a badge. Shipnuck has always seemed the latter to me.

[MJR]

Somewhere Todd Hamilton and Geoff Ogilvie are ready to jump Shipnuck for being marginalized. On a serious note, it is one thing to go after a sleazy chav like Ian Poulter. No need to beat up Micheel. Feinstein's book laid out all where he has suffered. It is not like it is new territory. It was click bait pure and simple.

[wansteadimp]

We're putting Ogilvy as worse than Ben Curtis, YE Yang, Trevor Immelman etc? Wow tough school.

[Outbackhack]

So if it's OGILVY ( if you're going to trash someone, at least spell their name correctly) we're taking about, he's doesn't belong in this discussion. No where near this discussion. He's won 3 WGC's, just to start with.

[Hardy Greaves]

Wouldn't you love to be the worst player ever to win a major? I know that I would be.

[ChuckDietzenTNnotIN]

How anyone can use a negative adjective to describe any win on the PGA Tour, much less a major championship victory, is a mystery to me. Perhaps the phrasing "worst player" gets more readers than something kinder.
I haven't covered Shipnuck's bibliography, but from what I've read, am not a fan. He has writing skills, no doubt. But after trashing Brad Faxon I had little use for following Shipnuck's work. Apparently, he has not changed.

[Tremendous Slouch]

It's Micheel. Hamilton and Yang won other tour events the same year they won their majors and had success overseas. Curtis has won multiple tour events. Ogilvy is nowhere near this discussion. Orville Moody is also a candidate, but his success on the senior tour elevates him above Micheel.

Nothing to be ashamed about.

[Streaky Putter]

In modern era, Ben Curtis would still be the worst player to win a major at the time of it's occurrence, no? He had a very fine career AFTER the win but at the time he was such an absurd story. Loved Curtis' game, he came damn near bagging a few more.

[Tighthead]

That's an interesting take Streaky. Certainly an argument that Curtis was in the least heralded, although Daly might be in consideration as well.

What did Shipnuck say about Faxon?

[Jimothy]

Geoff Ogilvy? That's crazy talk. One of the best of his generation. He's got a major and *three* World Golf Championships to his name.

Personally, I think the US Open has thrown up more sketchy winners than any other major over the past three decades -- largely due to its habit of imposing almost unplayable set-ups on the field. Todd Hamilton and Paul Lawrie were hardly vintage winners, mind.

[Paul]

Some writers are so full of themselves. And know they think we alll want to see them in video too.

[John]

Shipnuck is an excellent, versatile reporter and writer, which I'm guessing is why he survived the cuts at SI/Golf.com while folks like Gary Van Sickle were let go. But he's also a me-me-me guy and sometimes capable of crap like that Micheel story. I respect Micheel for both going after him loudly and then circling back with a quieter approach.

[Zimmer]

When you write pieces like this, you are nothing more than a bully.

Shipnuck was hired straight out of college in 1996 and I suspect has never experienced professional failure.

Andy North, who spent much of his career injured, was never forgiven by the media for winning two OPENS and only the MannyHanny on the PGA Tour.

[Tighthead]

I don't have a problem with what Shipnuck wrote. It's something golf fans kick around all the time, and there is nothing wrong with him offering his opinion. It's hard to be a sportswriter if you are worried about hurting feelings.

I don't expect Micheel to like it, and it sounds like they both handled it well.

[Jeff]

They'd all beat the sh*t out everyone posting here so I find people's comments hilarious. Everyone here would give their left nut to be a major champion. I'll always find it amusing when people that have never even come close to winning their club championship make all kinds of judgements about competitors and competitions they know nothing about.

[munihack]

This kind of discussion in golf is what lesser talented folks do. For Alan it is a way of pedestal tipping after he spent a lot of effort convincing everyone the players need to be standing on one in the first place.

[WEG]

Hamilton, Micheel and Beem all have very similar Major records. For example they are 16/36, 12/30 and 13/34 as far as cuts/appearances at Majors.

Hamilton does have that other runner-up finish while both Hamilton and Beem have T15 for their second best result.

That Micheel has two "top 2's" while some really good players don't have any is kind of fun. The best player I can think of without one is Luke Donald, whose best is a couple of T3's, one at the PGA where Micheel finished 2nd. Brian Gay has 4 PGA tour wins yet has only made 7 cuts in Majors with a best of T20. Jonathan Byrd has 5 PGA tour wins with only 6 cuts and a best of T8.

[Tremendous Slouch]

WEG,

Paddy Harrington only has 3 top 3's in majors. Pretty amazing.

[Mrs Havercamp]

Every Allie Chipmunk article is warming up for the opera (ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, MEEEEEEEE). Not funny, writes a lot about himself.

Besides, it is like Freddie Patek used to say, "I would rather be the shortest layer in the majors than the tallest in the minors."

[Easingwold]

Winning one major is better than winning half a dozen tour events any day. They took their opportunity. They are a major champion. Nice ring to it.

[Rgw]

Shipnuck writing with no research? I'm shocked, I tell ya.

[Jupiter]

Writers' gonna write and players' gonna play... and every once in a while defend themselves. Shaun Micheel won a major championship and he should be proud of that.

In 100 years Shaun Micheel's name will still be on the Wanamaker Trophy. No one will remember who Alan Shipnuck was.

[Paul]

Thanks Jupiter

[P Thomas]

Funny on this site of all places to see people upset about a "journalist" taking potshots at a player!!

[Buffett]

The worsr player to win a major still beat everyone else in that major. Absurd to denigrate the winner of a major.

[Buffett]

The worsr player to win a major still beat everyone else in that major. Absurd to denigrate the winner of a major.

[Adamup]

I was just waiting...how did Willet avoid this conversation?

[Zimmer]

If you are good enough to be invited to the Masters, then, with a few amateur exceptions, you are good enough to win the Masters.

[M Sizzle]

Isn't it Jean Van de.. no whoops never mind

[Redneck]

Who.
Freakin.
Cares.