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Being Overrated Is Overrated

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Rickie Fowler golf
Is Rickie Fowler golf’s version of Anna Kournikova? (Photo by Chris Breikss / CC BY 2.0)

So your peers think you’re overrated.  Does that matter?  What does it even mean?  And what do you care anyway?  Well everyone has seen by now, in an anonymous poll by Sports Illustrated, pro golfers voted Ricky Fowler and Ian Poulter the most overrated players on the tour.

This makes me curious.  What do you think Fowler and Poulter think of this?  Do you think it upsets them?  Do you think it angers them?  Do you think they use it as motivation?  Or do you think they just don’t pay attention?  I guess it depends from what angle you look at it.

If it were me, I would probably say that I didn’t pay attention, all the while knowing full well that I did.  And while I don’t know that it would necessarily anger me, it would frustrate me to some extent knowing that I’m working my butt off to be a good player, only for some other golfers to think I’m perceived to be better than I actually am.

From the standpoint of all the golfers on the tour who were polled, how seriously do they take this?  It’s not like this makes a bit of difference to them.  It has no real affect on the game, the tour or the sport itself other than to stir up a little conversation and maybe controversy.  But, now that I think about it, maybe that couldn’t hurt.

I guess these polls are really done for the fans though.  It does give them something to talk about, right?  And maybe even agree with.  Now I don’t follow the tour all that closely, but I have to say…I do see an awful lot of Rickie Fowler in promos and commercials considering, up until last week (nice way to respond by the way), he’s only won on the pro tour once, and that was back in 2012.  And by the way, one win does not necessarily exonerate you though.  It’s like a pro baseball player being mired in a 4 for 42 slump.  Just because he goes 3 for 4 the next game doesn’t mean he’s snapped out of it.  He’s still 7 for his last 46.

So I guess you just take these polls for what they’re worth, which is not all that much.  Are they fun to read?  Sure.  Create good conversation?  Yup.  Maybe somehow keep Rickie Fowler from turning into golf’s version of Anna Kournikova?  Now we’re talkin’…

No Tiger, No Fans?

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I think we can all agree that when we are watching the PGA Tour, we are watching the highest level of professional golf we are likely to see.  And that probably goes double for a major.  Face it, the absolute worst player on the tour will still wipe the floor with most any of us.  These guys are simply the best.  So why is it that so many viewers need to have Tiger Woods there, or they’re not interested in watching?  Is a large collective of most of the best players in the world not good enough?

Obviously, I’m referring to The Masters and the fact that Tiger Woods did not play due to surgery (as well as Mickelson not making the cut).  The result?  The lowest ratings for a Masters tournament since 1993.  I wonder why this is?  I get that he is certainly the most popular player in the game, as well as arguably still the best.  But are that many people electing not to tune in if he’s not there?  What about all of the other great golfers who are there?  No love for Bubba?  Fowler?  McIlroy?

This is the reason why the PGA needs to do a better job of hyping more players on the tour.  Once the most hyped player doesn’t participate, despite the fact he hasn’t won the tournament since 2005, too many people no longer care.  So again, these are the greatest players in the world…but no one cares.  When there’s an NFL game in which Tom Brady or Peyton Manning isn’t involved, people still watch, right?  Why is it different for golf and golf tournaments?  Take a look at the numbers.  When you really look at final scores and the total number of strokes, the difference between first and thirtieth is only a matter of about three strokes per round.  Is that really much of a difference form a skill level standpoint?  I’m sorry, but it’s not.  So what exactly do these so-called fans think they’re missing?  It’s as if they are more caught up in the off-the-course Tiger hype than what he should be known for, which is golf.

Speaking of so-called fans, I saw an idiotic comment on another post proving my point.  This person claims they would rather watch Tiger shoot 74 than a “no name guy” shoot 70.  So basically you’re telling me, just because a specific golfer is playing, you would rather watch bad golf than a lesser named player having a better round?  I’m sorry, but that means you are not a fan of the game.

If anything, this should be an eye opener for the PGA.  After all, Tiger is not going to be around forever.  And if this is a sign of things to come when he does decide to hang up his spikes, then the tour is going to be in some real trouble.  They’d better get to work sooner rather than later.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

The Golf “Gimme” In Competition

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I’m not a good enough golfer to be playing anyone for money.  That being said…it’s never stopped me.  When the opportunity comes along to make a little cash via competition, then I’m all in…as long as I know who I’m up against.  I won’t allow myself to be hustled.  So I stick to a few bucks here and there among friends or other golfers of whose skill level I am aware.  The other stinky golfers with whom I usually play have been playing the game longer than me, and I have no problem admitting they are better than I am.  However, I can hold my own when I put my mind to it.  Winning a little something here and there is not entirely out of the question.

However, when I am playing for money (or even food or beer), I apologize but, some aspects of sportsmanship go right out the window.  So when Sergio Garcia conceded an eighteen foot (or seventeen…or twenty, depending on what you’ve read) putt to Rickie Fowler at the WGC-Match Play Championship, I was dumbfounded.  Me?  Once money becomes a factor, I will not concede even a three-foot putt…I’ve seen way too many of those missed.  And I’m only playing for a few bucks.  But the WGC?  We’re talking a $9 million purse!  And you are going to concede a putt that is far from a gimme?!

I have two main problems with this situation, besides the stupidity of it.  First is that everyone is looking at it as a show of good sportsmanship.  OK, I guess besides the stupidity of giving someone a gimme from eighteen feet away, there is a hint of good sportsmanship in there.  But you know what I think there is an even higher level of?  Cockiness.  I can’t believe that nothing I’ve read about this so far even hints at it.  Sergio said he felt bad because of a delay on a ruling at a previous hole.  Really?  This is golf…half the game is a delay!  I think he knew he had a lead and felt he had it in the bag.  And if he won, he was going to play it as “See what I did there?  I pretty much gave that hole away and I won anyway.”  Well, so much for that!

Second is the fact that something like that can happen anyway.  And in the grand scheme of things, the fact that a “gimme” exists in the rules of golf at all is just plain ridiculous.  For a sport filled with such strict, annoying rules to begin with…that they will let someone just pickup a ball without actually finishing the hole is asinine.  And where exactly is that “gimme” line drawn?  Can you imagine if in football, a guy ran a kickoff back to the 1 yard line and was tackled, but rather than send the defense out onto the field, they just said “Ok, close enough…you can have that one.”  Or if in basketball, a guy misses a dunk, but the other team just lets him take the two points anyway because he was so close.  It’s ridiculous!  This is a competition with $9 million dollars on the line!  Make the putt!

Swing ’til you’re happy!

What Would a Melee Do For Golf?

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So if it hasn’t been shoved down every sports fans throat by now, there was a fight last weekend after a NASCAR race between a driver and a pit crew member for another driving team.  Really now?  Have you seen the video?  Of course you have…you can’t escape it.  Of course, in every angle of the video, you can’t see a thing worthwhile happen.  You can’t see a punch thrown or contact made.  Nothing.  But I’ll tell you what, NASCAR and they’re fans are eating it up. 

Me, I couldn’t possibly care less about NASCAR.  How anyone can sit for hours watching cars drive around in a circle (yes…I understand it’s an oval, but that doesn’t have the same ring to it) blows my mind.  So to me, that’s why NASCAR fans are eating it up.  It’s because something that could possibly be exciting, other than a car accident, actually happened!  Can you imagine what fans of the NHL must be thinking about this?!  They must be laughing all the way to the penalty box! 

But of course, as I try to equate things in other sports to golf, I wonder if the PGA Tour could use something like this.  Because lets face it, watching the PGA Tour is almost as dull as watching NASCAR.  But what if Rickie Fowler was to, I don’t know…step in Rory’s line?  Or cough during his swing?  What kind of reaction do you think there would be if Rory blew up and smacked Fowler across the lips right there on the 13th green?  I’d have to imagine that ESPN would be all over it!  That footage would be on 24/7!  And could you imagine if Tiger was involved?!  They would start a new channel that night!  And the first show airing would be ESPN Tigercenter! 

But the real question is, would that be a bad thing?  They say there is no such thing as bad publicity, but golf is so rooted in the “gentleman’s game” mindset that one would have to imagine the PGA would want this swept under the rug as soon as possible.  But would they be making a mistake by doing this?  Would the publicity do something to help bring in a younger generation of fans who typically find the game boring.  Maybe it’s not a good reason to get them to watch, but at the same time, if it gets them to watch…isn’t that reason enough?

Swing ’til you’re happy!                 

Tiger’s Back…And The Media Sure Is Letting Us Know About It!

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So it looks like Tiger finally put an end to that 20 tournament losing streak. He wrapped up the WGC-Bridgestone, like he has so many times before. The longest winless streak of his career is over.

Now maybe he can just get back to his normal routine and just go back to being the same player he always…What? What do you mean he didn’t win? I saw him on every sports news show on TV. I saw Tiger on ESPN constantly! He must have won!

Adam Scott you say? Well I knew he was playing well, but he couldn’t possibly have beaten Tiger. 17 under?! He finished 18 strokes better than Tiger?! Well then, what the hell was I watching?!

Nope, my eyes and ears did not deceive me. Tiger was never really in the hunt after Day 1, but that doesn’t stop the sports media. Rather than focusing on the guy who led the tournament from start to finish, we’re focused on the guy who, after the first day, was never closer than six strokes back. Rather than pay attention to the guys who finished tied for 2nd (each shooting a final round 66), we’re worried about the guy who only broke 70 once in the four rounds.

I get on the PGA’s case for failing to properly promote its players on the tour. But I guess that’s only part of the problem. Just as much of the problem, if not more, is the media. No matter what happens (on the course anyway) the media just can’t get enough of Tiger. It’s been 21 straight winless tournaments, but the media acts like it’s just the opposite. Once again, it’s “Tiger, Tiger, Tiger….oh, and by the way, blah blah blah won.”

Need an example? Friday night, I tuned into Sportscenter. Before they even showed the results of the second round, there was an entire segment on Tiger’s second round struggles, even though he was only three strokes off the day before. A few segments of the show later, we get to the actual highlights of the round. Here, we see a few more strokes and reactions from Tiger before we get to see anyone who is actually in contention. Need further proof? Check out this clip

Still leading off with Tiger. We have to wait through three of Tiger’s putts before we hear about the guy who won. And there’s barely even a mention of either Luke Donald or Rickie Fowler, who finished tied for second. And people wonder why the sport is in the shape it’s in…

So here’s a bit of a plea to the mainstream media – do the sport a favor and start focusing on some of the other great players on the tour. Please realize that, until he shows otherwise, Tiger is no longer the elite player he was. Until he shows otherwise, he is a middle-of-the-pack player. OK, benefit of the doubt due to his accomplishments…he’s still a top-tier player. But he is NOT the Tiger of years past. And until the time comes that he does show otherwise, why not take the time to introduce us to, and promote the other great, young talent on the tour. It can do nothing but help the sport as a whole.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

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