In most sports, the most important or biggest game of the year usually happens at the end of the season. The NFL puts the Super Bowl at the end of the year. The NBA Championship, the Stanley Cup, March Madness…they all come at the end of the season. OK, so there was a point during the 90’s when the NFC Championship was considered to be the “real” Super Bowl. Those games between the Cowboys and 49ers were epic. But in golf where, for some reason there is no actual championship, they’ve decided to do things differently.
Instead of a championship game, golf does majors – four tournaments that are “more important” than other tournaments. And still…none of the four is an actual title match. Oh sure, many of these tournaments are called the “Blah-blah-blah” championship. But that’s nothing more than a title. However, there is one tournament that gets more press and more attention than any other tournament – The Masters. And yet in still, it’s not a championship match, nor is it at the end of the season.
So what is it about The Masters? What is it that makes this one tournament stand out above the rest? Now right here, I’m sure you’re expecting a history lesson on The Masters, but no way. I actually want to ask and learn. When did The Masters become the big deal that it is and why? Is it because of the exclusive private country club? Is it the course itself? Maybe the traditions such as the green jacket, the honorary tee shot or the par-3 contest? Is it because of the international flavor that started in the 80’s? Or was it because there was only one player from outside of the U.S. to win it prior which at the time made it a truly American tournament?
See, I honestly don’t know. And no matter what I do, I can’t wrap my head around the idea that a sport which has no actual championship match, has the most hyped tournament of the year right in the beginning of its season. That tells me that it’s all downhill from there. Sure, there are still three other majors along with numerous other tournaments throughout the rest of the season. But that’s like putting the Super Bowl in October and then playing a bunch of playoff games throughout the rest of the season.
But, I guess we’ve all grown used to that now. Golf just seems to do things differently than most other sports. No actual championship, biggest match comes practically at the beginning of the season, leaders are based on money…I guess I just don’t get it. But hey, that’s OK. I’m not here to figure it all out. I’m not here to say what’s right and wrong, although I’ll try. But for the most part, I don’t care about any of that stuff. I just want to play.
Swing ’til you’re happy!
You know what’s funny? Some of the tall tales you hear out on the golf course. Seriously, many of the stories and claims I’ve heard from golfers/friends I know, I half-expect the words “April Fools” to follow. So what is it that compels golfers to make up these stories? What is it that makes a golfer feel like he or she needs to tell stories (i.e. – lie)? Does it make them feel superior to other golfers? If that’s it, then what’s the reason for needing to feel superior? Can’t you just admit that you stink? What’s so bad about stinking at golf?
It’s funny, in any sport when a team or player is said to “dominate” their opponent, we all picture a blowout. Whether it be a 20-point win in basketball, a three touchdown victory in football or a double-figure pounding in baseball – when you hear the word “dominate” or something related to it, you think of a blowout. So why is golf different?