The Players’ Gets It Just Right
ESPN’s Jason Sobel says that among the Majors, The Players gets it “just right.”
Once upon a time, there was a group of golfers who traveled to Augusta, Ga., for the year’s first major championship. The wind howled, the greens were fast and their scores soared. “This tournament is too hard!” they cried.
Later in the year, that same group of golfers happened upon the U.S. Open for the year’s second major championship. The course was long, the rough was gnarly and once again their scores soared. “This tournament is too tricky!” they claimed.
In between, the golfers came to the Players Championship, technically not a major but the next-biggest event of the year. Good shots were rewarded with good results. Bad shots were penalized with bad results. And the golfers were overjoyed by what they considered to be a satisfactory course setup. “This tournament is just right!” they crowed.
He may be on to something.
The Most Famous Hole In Golf?
Has any hole in golf generated more discussion than Sawgrass’ par 3 17th? That island green seems to both simultaneously fascinate and horrify. I used to think that the Road Hole was the most famous, but attention turns to the Old Course only once every couple of years when the Open Championship makes its way back.
I think it would be interesting to compile a list of the most famous holes in golf. Not the best. Just the most famous.
I’d start with Sawgrass 17. Then perhaps the Road Hole, Augusta 12, Augusta 13 and the 7th at Pebble Beach.
What would be on your list?
Official Caddy Shack Putter and Putter Cover
The Putter Cover plays “na na na na be the ball”
Ridiculous Golf Item Of The Week
Have They Given Up?
Have they all given up? Like Avis (remember those commercials), Adam Scott says he’s playing for number two.
Adam Scott believes golf’s world No.2 ranking is within his grasp in the next year if he keeps playing at the level he is capable.
“Sure, I think I’m on the right track,” said Scott at the Players Championship where he’s part of a 15-strong Australian contingent at the Sawgrass TPC.
“I was No.10 in the world two weeks ago, so it’s pretty volatile,” said Scott, who is not quite so sanguine about the possibility of overtaking Woods any time soon.
“No.1 is not in my grasp in the next year, no.”
At least he qualified it with an “in the next year.”
I have a lot of sympathy for these guys. It must be a terrible thing to realize that you live in the era of Tiger Woods and that barring accident, you are not going to be number one.
Ever.
Golf Ball Launcher
A company called Air Force Golf is marketing a golf ball launcher. Ostensibly designed for the handicapped, it retails for $795. You also need a compressor to make it work.
Air Force Golf says that it can launch a ball up to 300 yards. Presumably, you can adjust the pressure for shorter distances.
I can’t say that I think this is a particularly good idea. While I sympathize with individuals—such as the inventor’s father—who would like to enjoy the game but no longer can swing a club, I fear that this will simply end up in the hands of immature yahoos. The same destructive morons who watch “Jackass” and think it’s funny to blow airhorns while people are starting their downswing will no doubt find this device enticing.
I can see it now: “Dood. Watch me shoot those old guys up there. Heh. Heh. Heh.”
One of their marketing photos (shown below) reinforces this fear. It doesn’t exactly show an older gentleman enjoying the game of his youth ...
