Golf Confessions

If I were a tournament sponsor of a tournament that Tiger Woods is not playing in I would have to have a heart to heart talk with the likes of the Golf Channel and other broadcasters.  It seems that most broadcasters want let each tournament stand on its own.  During these broadcast and in the newspapers we are reminded time and time again that Tiger is not in the field.  In my opinion this is not fair to the tournament, the volunteers, the other players in the field, the concession people and anyone else that has anything to do with the tournament, such as the beneficiaries of the charity money donations. 

The fact that Tiger is the number one player in the world is not the question, but the fact of the matter is that there was golf before Tiger and there will be golf after Tiger.  When Tiger chooses not to participate in an event, then those that do should be given their due credits for their abilities and not spend most of the brodcast bemoaning the fact that Tiger is not in the field.  As a sponsor I would want my tournament promoted to the fullest and have nothing done to keep anyone away from the gates.  The references are made too often that the tournament is not much if Tiger is not playing and this is wrong and can potentialy be harmful to the event.

Most of the media talk going into the weekend of The Masters is what will Tiger do.  He has had a chance to play the same course as the other contestants and he is seven shots behind going into the final two rounds, I think this should speak for its self.  The players in ront of Tiger have played better and deserve the credit up till this point.  If and when Tiger or anyone else storms ahead then their play should be recognized the most.  But, in the mean time give credit where credit is due

How many people had South African Trevor Immelman leading and American Brandt Snedeker one shot back going into the weekend of The Masters.  These are certainly two of the young guns in professional golf, but to be leading at Augusta on Saturday is a surprise.  Both players had some great vibes leaving the golf course Friday afternoon because they  birdied 17 and 18 to finish their rounds.

Trevor Immelman was given a great compliment by one of the games all time greats, Gary Player, when he said that Trevor had the greatest swing he has seen since the great Ben Hogan.  Immelman is small in stature like Hogan and has a compact swing that he used very effectively to maneuver around the difficult 7400+ layout to shoot a second round 68 to match his first round 68.  Saturday will definetely test the leaders patients, the weather is forecast to change and the course will  play longer with the cooler temperatures.

The course may be showing that it favors the left hander.  No lefty had ever won the tournament and then you have back to back lefties in Phil Mickelson and Mike Weir.  This year in the top ten you have three lefties, Phil Mickelson (-5), Steve Flesch(-5) and Mike Weir (-3).  It makes you wonder why the great Bob Charles from New Zealand, the greatest lefty until Mickelson came along did not win The Masters.  Maybe the changes in the course over the past few years has put in an advantage for the lefties.  Bob Charles  was the first lefty to win a major, the 1965 British Open.  He like Mickelson is a true righty except for golf.

Saturday will be moving day, and the leaders will have an opportunity to test their nerves from this unfamiliar postion.  There are some veterans that will not be around for the final two rounds that really needed to have a good tournament to help get some critics off their backs.  The two that missed the cut that truly needed a good showing were Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia.  Ernie is struggling with all of his game and went to Butch Harmon for some help, and Sergio can’t match his putting up with his ball striking.

For the first time in 24 years Fred Couples will not be around for the weekend.  Fred missed the cut for the first time and was trying to set a record of 24 straight and break the tie he shares with Gary Player.

The weekend should be exciting.  You have a lot of players leading the way that have not won majors and of course you have some wily veterans that will be trying to come from behind.  In the group at -1 you have Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh.  Phil Mickelson should be in the cat bird seat at -5 and only three shots behind the leader.