SPRING FINALLY SPRUNG IN THE NORTHEAST
For those of us in the four-season world, spring means renewal and a new season of golf.
It is not breaking new ground to say that the Masters lubricates the stiffest of joints and makes meaningless the horrible shots, rounds and weeks of the prior golf season.
There is nothing like the excitement of the first round of golf for the year.
In that spriti, I recommend an amusing piece by Bill Pennington in today's NY Times that pretty much sums it up each year for so many players.
One of the great quotes from the column:
You are considering something drastic, like taking up tennis. It would be cheaper. And better exercise. The clothing is simpler.
You decide to do something even more radical. You change the brand of golf ball you’ve been playing.
Now that is serious.
SHARK CIRCLES FOR BLOOD
Greg Norman can certainly be crusty and certain in tis opinions. That is what makes him so quotable.
Well, the Shark is at it again and this time circling for blood. Norman properly called for blood testing in golf.
Norman says "Vijay Singh got caught" and his quotes implies his belief there are more people out there using PEDs. Of course, we have always believed that Singh's performance in his forties and career arc compared to every other top-player requires further investigation and analysis.
Adam Scott was generous and gracious about having won the Masters for all of Australia. While Norman seemed pleased for Scott, he still feels the long putter should be banned. Norman pulls no punches, stating, "I think it's good for the game of golf that the USGA and R&A have collaborated on this. It's the right thing."
On the subject of the long putter, Lee Trevino last week weighed in and basically said bluntly what so many others are thinking but don't want to say. In an article in thegolfchannel.com, Trevino is unequivocal in saying the long putter is cheating. He is quoted as saying, "Now I see why they want to make this one illegal. It's like cheating. I swear to God. This is the easiest thing I've ever seen to putt with, is that belly putter." In the same article, he says of Bernhard Langer, "There's no question he wouldn't be playing like he is if it wasn't for the long putter. It takes all the pressure out."
Of course whoever was interviewing Trevino missed the obvious question: does he feel the same way about Adam Scott and his Masters win?
It is not surprising that the lack of PGA Tour leadership requires players and former players to speak up and state the obvious.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX
Although the first North American major professional sport athlete has come out of the closet (and of course it could be said that the reaction of older LPGA alumni was: meh), the world of golf still appears to be dealing with the issue of male-only clubs.
Peter Dawson went on about the topic last week in an interview on the R&A's own website. However one feels about the subject, we can agree it is simply impossible to look good taking on such a subject on the side of the status quo.
To carry on with a theme, if Dawson want to take on this issue with the starting point of his argument being the status quo is working and separate-but-equal (along with a somewhat haughty and smug accent and demeaner), he may need to take the advice of Chief Brody:
Douglas Han