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Austads: Golf Insider Newsletter Volume 502 Issue 43
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| June 16th, 2008 |
Volume 502 Issue 43 |
The Inside Scoop on the World of
Golf |
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Inevitably is Tough to Overcome
You have to love the every-man
Rocco Mediate. Everyone, me included, thought he would melt
long before his sudden-death loss to Tiger during one of the most
memorable U.S. Opens ever. Leading while going to 18 two days
in a row and losing will be tough to handle. Losing to the
greatest player ever to hold a club will make it a little
easier. I played 18 in a pro-am with Rocco last year and
found him to be the most down to earth pro I've ever met.
Great job Rocco, you made Tiger win it, but you certainly didn't
lose it. |
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Everyone Hates Mondays.
The drama was incredible. Tiger's dramatic 12-foot birdie putt to
tie Rocco Mediate on 18 was watched by 55,000 screaming fans and
millions around the world in prime time. So what does the USGA do
with all that drama? They send everyone home and start over Monday.
Ridiculous. A four-hole playoff would have kept the sensational
drama going on Sunday and a trophy would have been awarded when
everyone was watching. As great as Monday's playoff was, it's time
for the USGA to change. They did it last in 1931 when they switched
from a 36 hole playoff. By my calculations, 77 years is about
average for them to get something done. |
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A
Game for the People?
The late great, Ely Callaway,
used to describe the USGA as a bunch of snobby, east coast Country
Clubbers. They would think "Muni" means the mutual fund they just
bought into. If you've read my columns before you know I am not a
big fan of the "protectors of the game". Even the moving of their
biggest tourney to public courses like Torrey Pines and Pebble
shouldn't be seen as a grand gesture on the USGA's part; they
simply had no choice. All the high falooting clubs they are members
of, like Winged Foot, no longer want the Open messing up their
Club. This declination has forced the USGA to go to public venues
where their money is more appreciated (Torrey Pines). |
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The Money
Game.
Speaking
of cold hard cash, for a non-profit the USGA can cover their
overhead and then some. I was at the tourney on Thursday and paid
$6 for a beer, $7.50 for a sandwich, and $75 for a logo shirt, (one
we sell for $49.99 without the logo). The USGA could take a page
from the Augusta boys who charge $2 for a beer, and $1.50 for a
sandwich. Although, judging from the 66 cash registers running
non-stop with $200 merchandise purchases about the average, the guy
waiting in line ahead of me said, "You'd never guess there was a
recession going on." |
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Paralysis By Analysis
First it was 2 drivers, and
now it's none at all. Phil Mickelson decided that having a plethora
of wedges (five) was more important than having the big stick on
the longest course in U.S. Open history. 2 drivers won him the
Masters and no driver got him a T18. His disastrous quadruple bogey
9 on the 13th hole Saturday almost got as much attention as Tiger's
2 eagles. There is a fine line between course strategy/club
management and serious over analysis. Phil openly stated after the
round as well that he could be employing that same "strategy" again
this summer. With all of the amazing driver technology out there
these days, and with Phil as their poster boy, you can bet that the
Callaway folks are pulling their hair out about this crazy
decision. |
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Greatest Open Ever?
I have to admit, this year's edition was unbelievable. Tiger's
limping courage down the stretch was inspirational to say the least
and Rocco's consistency was amazing. The best ever? That might be
the 1960 Open at Cherry Hills. At one point in the final round,
Rookie Jack Nicklaus, 47 year old veteran Ben Hogan, and Arnold
Palmer were all tied for the lead. The King ultimately staged an
incredible 65 to pass the other legends for the title. His
inspiration? Writer Bob Drum told him before the round he was out
of it and had no chance. Them were fightin' words for Palmer. Never
again will the greatest from three eras all lead a major on the
final day. |
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Trivia
Question: Horace Rawlins won the
first US Open in 1895, winning $150 purse on a nine hole course. In
which state was the tournament played?
A. New York
B. Massachusetts
C. New Jersey
D. Rhode Island
Click Here For the Answer |
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