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Has Tiger Become Just An Average Golfer?

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I want to start by giving some praise to ESPN.  I’ve been tuned into Sunday Night Baseball for about 30-40 minutes as of right now, and the only time I’ve seen the word “Tiger” is in reference to Detroit. 

Not for nothing, but when a golfer finishes tied for 40th, fifteen strokes off the lead and doesn’t break par once in four days…that’s the way it should be.  I should see the names Watson and Oosthuizen more than any other name today.  I should see those names so often that I’ll actually learn how to correctly pronounce Oosthuizen! 

But that brings me to my actual point.  Has Tiger fallen far enough that he can now be considered not much more than an average golfer on the tour?  When you really look at it, the stats show exactly that.  Despite a second place finish at the Honda Classic and his win this year at The Arnold Palmer Invitational, that’s his only win since 2009.  Follow his win with a +5 showing at The Masters, and his last win at a major dates back to the 2008 U.S. Open, though he has had some strong showings in between.

Could it be due to the knee injury suffered in 2008?  I think many people would attribute it to exactly that.  Couple that with the distraction of his more recent off-course issues, and you can see an obvious decline.  Even worse is that he is now 36 years old, right around a time when most pro athletes begin, or are already into, a physical break-down.  Obviously though, golfers are in a different category as there is not the same serious physical strain on the body as with some other sports.  But with younger players joining the tour every year, Tiger appears more and more beatable all the time.

I’m certainly not saying that Tiger is done.  I believe he’s far from it.  But what I am saying is, though the media will have you believe we are still watching the Tiger of several years ago, he is no longer the threat to win every time he sets foot on the course as he once was.  But to me, that’s good.  I prefer to see a wide open field in a tournament that anyone can win on any given weekend.  With so many great golfers on the tour, it’s nice to see some attention being given to them rather than the guy who finished so far back that he didn’t even matter.

But I’m sure many will not agree.  Many believe there needs to be one dominant player on the tour for others to gun for.  However, I don’t believe it’s about the other golfers.  It’s about the fans.  The fans need to be introduced to other golfers on the tour.  And by having a field that’s much more open than it may have been in the past, what better time or way to get it done? 

Tiger worked miracles for the PGA and they have reaped the benefits for sixteen years now.  But sooner or later, he’s not going to be there anymore.  So before it’s too late, they may want to take action to promote these many other golfers who have caught, and soon, will surpass the great Tiger.

Swing ’til you’re happy!
                     

Does Augusta Think Girls Have Cooties?

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When I was a kid our families would get together at our grandmother’s house every Sunday. Coming from a large Italian family, this was a good way for all the aunts, uncles and cousins to see each other. Just like clockwork the older members would sit around the kitchen table drinking espresso and pick at some sort of cake or pie while the cousins would go off and play. And just like clockwork, the boys would either make some sort of a make-shift fort in the backyard or occupy a back room and then implement a “no girls allowed” policy.

This story reminds me of Augusta National Golf Club. A male-only golf club since opening in 1933. Here’s the kicker; a woman can play Augusta only if she is invited by a member but can’t become a member. What’s so secretive that only 300 or so “invited” male members are privy to? Well, well, well Augusta…the day of reckoning has come.

In the past, IBM’s CEOs were normally given memberships to the club (Note: IBM sponsors the tourney). But what if IBM’s CEO is female? Uh-oh! Enter Virginia Rometty. IBM’S new CEO and guess what? She’s a women. Sounds like Augusta is in a little bit of a pickle. Not to mention, Obama and Romney (in a rare instance) both agreed they should allow female members. Yikes, talk about pressure.

I’m pretty sure if women really wanted to be granted membership at Augusta they could get it. Females are damn good at persuasion. How often does a woman buy a man an engagement ring? There you go. I’ll bet if women used a bit of third grade reverse psychology it might work. You know, “We don’t want to be in your stupid club anyway…it smells. We’re starting our own.” The boys laugh it off and tell the girls to go start their own club but in the back of their minds they really want to know what the girl club is doing. Then the boys notice “Hey, they have sandwiches and cake. We don’t have sandwiches and cake.”

I like sandwiches and cake.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Related posts: Male-Only Golf Clubs: Sexist Bastards or Constitutional Right?

I’m Not A Bad Golfer.

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I just don’t play well. Think about that statement for a minute. Just because my score at the end of a round can be confused with an “A” student’s test score plus extra credit, doesn’t mean I am a bad golfer. To me, being a good golfer encompasses more than just playing well. There’s a responsibility to the course and the other golfers around you.

If I was to par a course but had no etiquette and did stuff like hit into the group ahead of me, walk on your line, litter, in other words; be an all around a-hole…would I still be considered a good golfer? Not in my book. I play well but am definitely not a good golfer. As far as I’m concerned, I must embody all the elements that go along with being a good golfer.

Taking this a step further, golf is almost its own culture. It has identifying traits that are fairly easy to distinguish. For example, we can visually recognize a golfer from a non-golfer by what they wear. Golf has it’s own lingo (granted it’s in English) and these words would not exist if it weren’t for golf.

Why is this important? Going back to the good golfer/bad golfer thing, it’s important to respect your culture and abide by its rules. If I were a cop and busted the most criminals but had a serious cocaine problem and moonlighted as a serial killer, am I a good cop? Discuss.

Here’s to being a good golfer.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

A New Kind of Apparel For the Golf Fan

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When you look at a golf blog and see the name Woods, obviously you think of Tiger.  So when a football jersey sporting the name Woods appears on that golf blog, some confusions likely ensues.  But any NFL fan knows that, pictured to the left, is an Ickey Woods jersey. 

And to prove the NFL’s marketing genius, every NFL fan who sees this jersey instantly recognizes it despite the fact Ickey has been out of the league since 1991 and played a total of only 37 games in his injury-shortened career.  Further, his career numbers have been eclipsed by several players in just a single season!

Jersey sales rake in boatloads of money for the NFL.  You can see them worn everywhere at NFL stadiums as well as just out and about.  I have several myself.  It’s a great way for the NFL to market their teams, as well as the players, at the same time.  This is something that the PGA is sorely lacking.  But because there are no uniforms or teams on the PGA Tour, there really isn’t much that can be done about it.  Or, is there?

The golfers themselves can cash in on numerous sponsorships.  But how much does a BMW logo on a players shirt help the tour?  Take a look at Tiger Woods for instance.  Nike has made it’s own brand out of one player.  What’s to stop Callaway from doing the same for Phil?  Or any apparel company from taking on Rory? 

Better yet, the PGA Tour puts out it’s own apparel line.  I have a white PGA Tour polo shirt, so I know they exist.  They could simply start there.  What if fans could purchase shirts, hats, golf shoes, etc. directly associated with their favorite tour player, much the same as a Patriots fan could purchase a Tom Brady jersey?  This way, the players as well as the tour are getting free advertising as soon as someone walks out their front door wearing one.

I remember back in the 90’s when sports jersey sales were really taking off.  Back then, besides a regular jersey from any sport, you could find lots of cross-promotion between sports going on.  Hockey jersey’s with NBA logos and baseball jersey’s sporting NFL teams were not uncommon.  This is a direction the PGA could choose to go.  Not too mention, most of the fans who would be purchasing something like this would be on the younger side – a demographic that the PGA needs to get more interested in the sport.  

But the problem is, not many others besides me seems to know PGA Tour apparel exists…not even the PGA, or one would think by looking at their apparel website.  This site tells you almost nothing about the actual apparel.  Not too mention, it looks like the PGA doesn’t do anything about it either as there is an advertisement clearly marked ’09, as in 2009, at the bottom of the page.  A three year old advertisement?  Yeah…they’re paying attention.

See, something like this, to me anyway, should be a no-brainer.  But instead, a worthless website that generates little traffic, is simply wasting the PGA’s money rather than doing something to generate revenue as well as the popularity of it’s players and the tour itself.

I know this all sounds a little silly, especially to the purists, snobs or the the fans who, for some strange reason, dress like they are about to step onto the course when they’re doing nothing more than watching a tournament.  But to put all of this in simpler terms, at the next tournament you attend, wouldn’t it be cool to see a baseball-style jersey with the back marked “Lefty 01” rather than just a bunch of polo shirts that all seem to blend together? Well, I think it would. 

Swing ’til you’re happy!           

Love, A Fore Letter Word.

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Does this sound familiar?

Golfer: “Honey, I’m going golfing. I’ll be back by 12.”

Significant Other (SO): “But babe, the garage needs to be painted, the yard is a mess and you never hang out with meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…”

Golfer: “Come on, we hang out every night and why are you bringing this up now?”

SO: “Why am I bringing this up? The only place you take me is for granted.”

Golfer: (mumbling) “Here we go…”

SO: “What was that?!?! What did you say?!?! Blah blah blah…

All of a sudden it feels like you are talking to Charlie Brown’s parents or teacher. Wah wah, wah wah wah wah waaah. How can this be avoided? It never fails, every time you try to get out to hack up the local track, BAM, mission foiled…again.

I might have the solution. First of all, if your relationship is not good for your golf game (ok, or you), run…fast. There’s nothing worse than a relationship that’s destined to fail. After you have escaped from the thralls of the evil golf hater, wallow in your new found freedom and pursue a more suitable relationship. One that includes golf.

How do I do that? Well, I’m glad you asked. Allow me to introduce you to the ASGA, American Singles Golf Association. What is the ASGA? Here’s what they have to say:

“The American Singles Golf Association is a group of chapters throughout the United States and Canada composed of real people you meet face-to-face and, of course, play golf with. Chapters hold general membership meetings once each month and play golf as a group as often as they would like. Many social-only events are also held throughout the year.

“…it’s a bunch of people who are single (i.e. never married, divorced, widowed, or legally separated), age 21 or over who really, really, really enjoy golf.”

What are you waiting for? Check out singlesgolf.com and go get’em tiger…oof…bad joke.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

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