I sure hope that no tax dollars went to those college students for that “study”. Maybe it was a class in obvious statistical analysis (possibly taught by Johnny Miller ?).

However, I’m not willing to accept those findings as a definition of choking. If you accept that definition, you have to take it back to the days of Palmer and Nicklaus. When Arnie’s Army was on the march, or The Golden Bear was making a charge, there were some great champions that just plain got run over.

Great players have an affect on a field that “mere mortal” golfers just don’t have. The great ones are a mental distraction to regular players – and distractions are things they can’t afford when taking on the best in the world. Then they start thinking that they have to do things they either aren’t capable of, or haven’t prepared to do – then mistakes start to happen. That’s not choking

Choking is when you just can’t do the things you normally do. Laying the sod over a wedge from 100 yards – missing a 2 foot putt – leaving a lag putt 10 feet short – that’s choking.

You couldn’t be more right about the Tour needing a few players to grow a pair. Unfortunately, Tiger has done such a thorough job of destroying hopes of most Tour veterans, it’s going to take someone like an Anthony Kim, or more likely some guys who haven’t even made it to the Tour yet – guys who built their own games watching Tiger, not watched their games get destroyed by Woods’ relentless pressure.

Phil Mickelson has pretty much admitted that the game belongs to Tiger and he doesn’t have anything to beat Woods. No pair there.

Rocco Mediate has a pair – but he is pretty much past his prime, and his attitude was “let’s have some fun and see how we do,” not “I’m going to show that Woods guy that I mean business and he’s holding my place at the top.”

I see Anthony Kim as the tip of the iceberg – the challengers to Tiger’s throne are coming, but they aren’t here just yet.

Stu – here’s a thought for you to mull and comment on…

Talent isn’t just a physical attribute.

There is no argument that todays athletes are physically superior to any generation past. They combine nutrition and training better than ever. They have coaching with all kinds of scientific methods and technology to monitor progress and to help athletes fix problems and improve.

The problem I see is that these modern athletes seem to want their physical abilities to carry them to championships, but they ignore the things that make a champion what they are – intelligence and heart, and sometimes a little desperation thrown in for good measure.

In the last week or so, I have heard commentators talk about how great tennis player Andy Roddick is. He’s a terrific talent, but all he ever had was an intimidating serve. When everybody figured it out – he faded…fast. Physically talented – but very little between the ears. Andre Agassi was the same way for the first part of his career. Ivan Lendl called him “a forehand and a haircut”. He was quick and had amazing hand-eye coordination, but was as dumb as a box of rocks. If he couldn’t overpower his opponent, he lost. (that part of his career was courtesy of Nick Bolletierri, who teaches “hard and harder” tennis) Then Brad Gilbert came along and taught him how to play the game – how to construct points and beat the top players.

This past weekend, the Atlanta Braves outfielders made bad throw after bad throw from the outfield. All physically talented athletes – but they don’t work at their craft. The announcer told stories of players in his day who would make throws to all bases EVERY day so that when a throw was needed – they were ready. We have had to put up with Andrew Jones and Jeff Franceour here in the outfield. Jones is defensively the greatest center fielder I have ever seen – but he is absolutely clueless at the plate. Listen to his at bats for the Dodgers, where he was traded this past season – he is boo’d mercilessly because of his inability to hit. He and Francouer are monsters when pitchers throw fastballs over the plate – but breaking pitches make them look like little leaguers.

College basketball and football players are given millions of dollars on draft days – more than most of the rest of their teammates who have been in the league for years. They have great college talent – then decide that they know it all and never work to improve to play with the pros – but they have “their money”. (a phrase that drives me nuts)

Professional golf, at least men’s professional golf, is drowning in cash. Too many guys just see a comfortable living and don’t bother with thoughts of winning. (last year, there were 34 players who topped the $2 million mark – 99 made over $1 million – #125 on the money list topped $785,000) Thankfully, Tiger earns his portion. Mickelson has folded up his tent and is playing for the cash – and has all but admitted so. He knows he can’t beat Tiger, so he just floats along waiting for a week when his game just falls into place. (he works at his game – and he over-analyzes everything better than any player in history – but he has no heart to battle with Tiger)

THE most talented golfer on the planet is a drunk. John Daly traded his heart for a bottle. The guy with more shot making ability than anyone in the game hits his driver about 230, but he finds ways to make pars and birdies – Corey Pavin just doesn’t have the youth, size, or strength to play today’s courses consistently.

Tiger has sucked the life out of just about all of the potential competition. He may lose a battle here and there, but he always wins the war.

The list that always comes up when talking about players in Nicklaus’ day is made up of guys who didn’t give up and were willing to stand up to Nicklaus and go toe to toe. They had the heart to take on the big kid on the block and risk taking a beating. And if they got beat up – they got up and got ready for the next battle. They learned all kinds of shots and prepared for another shot at Nicklaus – and when they got up, they still had to keep going because Nicklaus would always do his best to come back. Those guys knew how to play the game – they understood their swings – they kept adding information to their memory banks.

Who makes up today’s list ? An aging Vijay Singh, a timid and damaged Ernie Els, and a heartless Phil Mickelson. Davis Love III and Fred Couples are aging AND damaged. Jim Furyk has the grit to compete, but he seems to be sapped of his strength the last year or so. Mike Weir and Trevor Immelman have game, but lack the size and length to compete week in and week out. Kenny Perry seems to have heart, but he’s getting old and is skipping two of this year’s four majors. Adam Scott has Tiger’s old swing, but not his heart and brain. If everything falls into place on a given week – he has a shot at beating Tiger (the WGC-CA Championship) – but that doesn’t happen very often. Sergio Garcia is supremely talented, but doesn’t have the heart. He seems to want to win without effort. (wouldn’t it be nice to have Sevi’s heart and imagination in Sergio’s body ?)

Yes – a majority of the fields in those days were the same as today – just doing their best to earn a living, but the list of guys with the guts and desire to take on the best – as well as the ability to beat him (physically and mentally) – was a lot deeper then than it is today. When Nicklaus was not in a field, you could count on these other guys to be around to battle it out. Today, when Tiger’s not in the field, it’s a crap shoot. We see more battles of attrition, with players backing up on Sunday, than exciting runs from behind like we saw from Anthony Kim last week.

SO – I submit that, while today’s fields are deeper with physical talent, the fields back in the days of Palmer and Nicklaus were much deeper with guys who had the physical game of the day, plus the heart, desire, and intelligence to challenge the big names of the day…and succeed.

The point of the article is a simple one: competition determines a champion’s place in history. Not just in golf, but in any sport. I’m concluding that many don’t believe that hypothesis, based on their comments. Did Magic and Larry help improve their legends? How about Ali and frazier? and on and on. Certainly Nicklaus is held in higher esteem because of some the matches he played against top challengers.

I’d also guess that Tiger would be the first one to admit it. He loves competition and would love to compete against an Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson, etc. just as Nicklaus did. Granted, Tiger does not need any more competion in order to secure his place in golf history. However, if he had more competion, similar to that of Nicklaus, 50 years from now historians would surely put him on a much higher pedestal.

Regarding my name, it’s what I was born with. My apologies if it makes some feel a bit insecure. I’ve found developing a sense of humor helps that affliction.
http://www.realmanmag.com

The college student is an MBA candidate from Berekely.

Cheers!