Saturday, July 30, 2016

Who Is Really A Super Star

This weekend the final of the so called majors golf championships is being played out in Pennslyvania.  Last year at this time Jordan Speith was the sensation of golf and was the heir apparent to be the next Tiger Woods.

Exceptional athletes regardless of the sport generally speaking play their sport at a higher level than most other players everyday.  It seems in the golf world when players hit hot streaks they stay hot for about six weeks.  What is a hot streak.  Just about any professional golfer can shoot 70-72 with their eyes closed every day.  If they can't they will not make the cut week after week.  The Jason Days of the world throw in a 65 almost every weekend.

When the great ones are in that zone they make every putt.  They make those 35 footers that break three feet.  They don't miss anything inside five feet.  The putter makes the dough.  If you ever notices during those hot putting streaks the great one's will last about six weeks.  There are exceptions to the rule Like a Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus who never had bad stretches.  A bad week was 10th place.  You hardly ever heard where Jack or Tiger missed a cut.

Jordan Speith started out like the latest great sliced bread.  Yet he has his weeks where he plays like he has never played golf before.  Most of the time it is because his putter is not saving him.  Tiger Woods could hit a golf ball three thousand miles but he was not that accurate a driver but what he could do is make every putt.

Most all the the great ones these days hit it a country mile.  When the putter is working they are great.
The putter makes up for those wild tee shots.  Probably the longest hitter on tour is Dustin Johnson. I am glad he finally won a major because he has been so close and yet either his putter or the rule book have cost him in the past.  He could probably have at least four majors if he could putt.

Today golf equipment is so advanced that if you can't hit it 300 yards and keep it out of the deep rough you can't shoot 67 everyday.  The Majors are most of the time played on the so call tough courses where anything in the 60's is good.  Most of the time the great ones each week are  making  the putts.  This week because it is called a major the winner will be called a great one.