I learned in a text from a 16-year-old golfer last night that Arnold Palmer had died yesterday at the age of 87. Then he simply wrote: Legend. While it was sad that the King had passed on, it made me feel good that a teenage golfer was aware of the importance of Arnold Palmer to golf specifically and arguably to sports generally. Palmer is the single greatest influence in the growth of golf around the world. When Palmer hit his stride as … [Read more...]
“Really?” DJ hangs tough to win his first major. Finally
June 20, 2016 By
Dustin Johnson’s win at the U.S. Open was one of the weirdest and gutsiest in major championship history. In 30 years of paying close attention to golf, I’ve never seen a situation where a player didn’t know if he had the lead, was one behind or two ahead for the final seven holes of a major. Ultimately, he was penalized a stroke by the USGA once he finished the round, but it was moot because he had a four-shot lead. Of course, there’s … [Read more...]
Be like Jason Day—never say die
July 27, 2015 By
If Jason Day ever retires from golf, he could give sales seminars. In his world, every door that slams in your face brings you one step closer to one that opens. After his birdie putt came up just short on the 72nd hole at St. Andrews for yet another disappointment in a major championship, it would have been understandable if the 27-year-old Australian missed the cut at the RBC Canadian Open, shrugged and went home for much needed … [Read more...]
How about we don’t rush, walk or even amble to judgment
July 15, 2015 By
After Dustin Johnson three-putted on the last hole of the U.S. Open to sickeningly lose his opportunity win his first major championship, there was a grand rush to judgment. In the media, at golf clubs and around the proverbial water cooler, the general consensus was that Johnson tried to hole his slippery downhiller for eagle and the win, and that he should have just eased it down there to ensure a playoff. It was another choke among his four … [Read more...]
