Computers Now Make Me Hate Golf in Addition to College Football
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 11, 2010 9:37 AM EDT
in Pro Golf
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PrintTiger Woods isn't number one in the world - heck, he's probably not even top ten right now - but the computers behind the Official World Golf Rankings still say he is.
With numerous opportunities this season, Phil Mickelson was unable to usurp the number one ranking. Woods has also held onto his post because Lee Westwood took six weeks off to nurse an injury. Since none of the three of them want the world number one ranking, or are at least playing like that's the case, the computers will decide who is the best.
That man is Lee Westwood. On October 31, barring some kind of miracle entry and victory combo by Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood will become the number one player in the world.
The run may be short lived, though. With his third consecutive individual win (Ryder Cup gets no OWGR points, but he won that, too), Martin Kaymer is poised to become the next number one. He will be less than a half-point away from catching the Triumverate of Scaredy Cats that have been vying for the top spot all year.
If Kaymer does continue to dominate golf as he has done for the last two and a half months, he would likely gain the number one ranking and hold onto it longer than countryman Bernhard Langer did. He held it for three weeks in 1986 - when the rankings were first introduced prior to the Masters.
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You’re just now catching up with this ? :-D
Yes – TIger Woods is the #1 RANKED player in the world – because he earned the points it took to get to that position with enough of a lead that it took Westwood more than two years of great golf to close the gap. (for most of the last 13 years, you and I have been closer to the #2 ranking than #2 was to Tiger)
Ranking has nothing to do with being the hottest golfer on any given weekend.
This is just going to add more fuel to the fire against the ranking system. If nothing else, a change in ranking should at least coincide with actual tournament play. The only thing having to wait until Halloween (how appropriate is that date for a change in these rankings ?) does is to add a few more weeks to Tiger’s record number of weeks at the top.
Hope you’re right about Kaymer – the guy has the game – now we have to see how many of these guys with a lot of game also have the grey matter to go with it.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I really like the way Kaymer handles himself – sees a chance to win and takes it. No second guessing. The door was open, he walked through. And any guy who wins three times in a row deserves some kind of bonus in points!
Anyhow, I do think the system shouldn’t rely on a 24 month window. I think if we even knocked it down to 18, it’d be better.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 11, 2010 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions
They would still be in the same place – with the possible exception that this year, the changover might have come during the season. But what if that system and the change happened next year ? We’d still be talking during the off season.
I’m with you – shoot the ranking computer. :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I mean, we’re not going to revamp the system anytime soon – even if we have great ideas and arguments for why and how it should. So if we just cut down the measurement period a bit, they could at least placate us a little.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 11, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Do you really need placating ? Geez – don’t tell the wife ! :-D
Personally, I just don’t pay attention to them, mostly for these very reasons. It’s been nice having TIger at the top in such dominant form for most of his career. If someone has a season like Vijay did, where he legitimately ran down Woods, then it’s a lot of fun. (Duval went on a winning streak, but it was when Tiger was rebuilding his swing and wasn’t playing very well)
This system where points can be lost, but not gained is ridiculous. Players have to win, then win the same tournament from then on to not lose their position because the only way they can get the same number of points is to win again. The idea that someone can take over a spot when nobody is playing is just a bad idea.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Beacause it's a current ranking
albeit 2 years, results from 25 months ago dropped off last month. If that player didn’t win last month, he will sink a little. Try to think of it like this. The number 1 player is floating nicely on the surface, if he wins, it’s like swimming to stay there. If he stops, he sinks. As Tiger’s results from 2008 drop off, and he has 2009 and 2010…which has not been good for obvious reasons…he sinks.
One other thing..Duval legitimately ran Woods down. Just because Woods was rebuilding his swing only shows he was not up to keeping his number 1 ranking at the time. The system was made to try to show the top players worldwide playing on different tours..not really feasable but it is getting that way. It will be obvious one day when a World tour is going along.
Take the last twelve
months and throw in last years majors (Ryder Cup US selection process(ish) and then you have something that is at least a little more current. Woods is still number one because of the six wins last year. Is that still relevant as to who is the number 1 golfer in the world?
Any change to a 12 months period would have to be a rolling 12 months. The golf world does not revolve around the US Tour schedule.
by chip n'putt on Oct 11, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Absolutely has to be rolling like it is now. I like the idea on keeping majors for two years, but how do we account for guys like Lucas Glover that have done nothing in ’10 to back up ’09?
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 11, 2010 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
You can't Ryan
Same as you can’t legislate for someone who kicks butt as only Woods has since Jack. No system is perfect, I’m just looking for something a little more current. The majors and WGC events have to carry more weight and normally, a win in one of those is a precursor for at least consistent play. Glover is the anti Woods – so to speak. No disrespect Lucas!
by chip n'putt on Oct 11, 2010 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s fair, just wanted to raise the question.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 11, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
no – but the calendar does. (lol) The European Tour starts the 2011 season next month. Sure – why not a one year rolling system ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
That’s because the rest of the world is a month or two ahead of you lot! You Yanks are so slow………………
by chip n'putt on Oct 11, 2010 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Hey Court ? do
KIWI’S have calanders? They are a bit backward down under….any place that takes a 24 hour plane ride to reach….well, you know…now, with all that said…Chip has a good point…I think let it roll for 12 mos. and add a tad more weight to the majors….In the long run, This kind of validates my opinion of the rankings in general…THEY SUCK…..STUB
Stub
Yep, we have calendars. We got electricity last week – really neat eh?
by chip n'putt on Oct 11, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
EASY...SHEEEH !!
Placing finger to lips….not only backwards, but slow on the up take…hehehe…..STUB
Damm, that's what I said
See, all great drinkers think alike…..STUB
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