I can’t even say his name let alone acknowledge his victory at the British Open but Oostuizen’s  performance and final total score of -16 speaks for itself. The next player, Lee Westwood, finished seven shots back  at -9 which is an indication of how well  Oosthuizen really played for this prestigious tournament at the world’s oldest and most revered golf venue, St. Andrews. I have to admit this years Open was a bit boring for golf fans in the United States as the top American player, Sean O’Hair finished at -6, ten strokes back and tied for seventh place. None of our players even sniffed at  a chance for the top three spots, which is unusual for the U.S. team.

Tiger Woods, who has not yet returned to true form, struggled with the putter and had to settle for a tie for 23rd with a -3 finish total on Sunday. John Daly, who was on the leader board on Thursday with a first  round sixty six, Stewart Cink, last years winner in the Open over Tom Watson, and Phil Mickelson, a fan favorite, all shot plus one and tied for 48th place, which is not so impressive for these U.S. players. I had high hopes for Phil Mickelson coming into this championship but he his play has been less than stellar since his Masters victory in April of this year.

The British Open has been the second major golf tournament in a row where the European and other top world players have stymied the United States from the leaderboard. In the U.S. Open in June, the top three places went to McDowell, the barely known Frenchman,  Havret and Ernie Els from South Africa. The outcome and lackluster performance by the American players in these last two major venues does not bode well for the U.S. in the coming Ryder Cup championship in September of 2010. Corey Pavin, the captain for the U.S. has his work cut out for him if the Amercian team is to be competitive enough to win this years Ryder Cup. I wish them the best of luck as they may surely need some this year. Our players had better get to the golf range and start hitting golf balls to prepare for the challenge they face ahead.

Congratulations to Louis Oosthuizen on a stellar performance in this years British Open. If he keeps playing in this form we may be hearing from him again soon. Happy Golfing to All!

Tom Watson, a fan favorite, showed his tenacity as he hung on for a tied for 29th place finish. Tom could have finished tied for 27th had he made a short putt on the 18th hole but he let it slip off to the side as he was not the only player at Pebble Beach to miss on the short grass. There were three putts from inside two feet at this years Open. Tom Watson can still hit golf balls with the best of them as he bested the likes of VJ Singh and Stewart Cink, who just edged him out at last years British Open. Can this be Tom Watson’s last U.S. Open? In my opinion, I would have to say he is not yet done and we’ll see him back next year. Congratulations to Graeme McDowell on his victory as he held on for one stroke lead over Gregory Havret, the frenchman, who finished plus one and solo second place.  Next up – The British Open! Happy Golfing to All!

I’m sure Jack Nicklaus,  Arnold Palmer and many of the other tour professionals have found themselves in a position where they could have easily given in to similar opportunities for sexual misconduct or other indiscretions of the flesh. I think that most males, contrary to popular belief will remain loyal to their spouses, even under the most tempting of circumstances. This action or rather non-action is what separates true greatness from the pretender. This is a valid point of contention for whether Tiger Woods can ever be the golfer he was lauded to be just a few years ago. Tiger Woods was the golf hero to a new generation and was also admired by golfers and fans from any era as his skill at golf was perhaps second to none.  In reflecting about the real history of this great sport, golf was created as a gentleman’s game. Tiger’s dalliances and many indiscretions have now ostracized him from this category. It is a true shame as I was one of his admirers and fans but Jack Nicklaus has now taken that place for good in the number ONE position in golf history, at least in my book. 

Whether Tiger Woods beats Jack Nicklaus’s record or not he will no longer be remembered as the greatest golfer who ever lived but only as the golfer who was able to win the most majors or tournaments, if he can still achieve this goal. I can still see Jack hitting golf balls on the course as if it were yesterday and I remember the Masters of 1986 very well where he was victorious at age 46 . Phil Mickelson has a better chance than many to take over the number one spot in the modern day era of golf but he must make his move now if he will ever come close to the best of the best. Jack Nicklaus will also be the first one to readily admit that although there have been many great golfers, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods and the like, but the only golfer who ever can come close or even exceed his status in golf history is Bobby Jones. In his seven years as a golf professional he won 13 majors, which may very well stand forever, or at least as long as Joe Dimaggio’s 56 game hitting streak. Try beating that one Tiger. Happy Golfing to All!

Since his arrival on the golf scene in 1997, and his dramatic win at The Masters, where he beat all comers by 12 shots, he has exuded superior golfing skills to the other players on tour. Over the last few years Tiger has seemed out of sorts at times and faltered during competition where that would have never occurred prior to that time. It became blatantly and painfully obvious during the PGA Championship last season when he lost to Y.E. Yang on the back nine on Sunday after being in the lead after 54 holes. It has now become clear what caused the lack of concentration and his unprecedented collapse at the PGA. His distraction and pre-occupation with his personal life has exposed his shortcomings and frailty to his peers and he has let the door open for another great  player to potentially fill that void. Great people and players rise to the occasion when the opportunity arises and he provided that possibility to happen.

Despite his shortcomings it will be no easy task to dethrone Tiger Woods as the # 1 golfer as he is still a great player no matter what turmoil has befallen him in his personal life. Besides his divorce proceedings which are underway and his neck injury which caused him to withdraw from The Players Championship, he has just split with his long time golf coach, Hank Haney.  The split was initiated by Haney and understandably so. Tiger will have an uphill battle to regain the justification of  his place in golf immortality but also to reacquire the respect of his peers, his at one time many fans and his sponsors. His ability to hit golf balls is perhaps matched by no other, but it takes more than skill to make a man the gentleman he is supposed to be in order to participate and compete in this centuries old game of golf! Happy Golfing to All!

Rory McIlroy has showed a lot of promise after turning professional at 18 just a couple of years ago. He beat Phil Mickelson and Angel Cabrera, this years and last years Masters Champions respectively. Rory is finally coming into his own after overcoming some back problems over the past year or so which is unusual for such a young man of only twenty years old.

He shot an unprecedented final round score of 62, which broke the course record by two but his eagle 3 on Friday allowed him to make the cut and give him the opportunity for the win. Tiger Woods struggled and missed the cut for only the sixth time in his career. His play was predictable given the stress of his pending divorce from Elin Nordegren, and the isolation from his children. But this day was about Rory McIlroy who is hitting golf balls with the best of them. I knew this was going to be an interesting golf season and it was good to see Phil in the hunt again so soon after his Masters victory a few weeks back . Phil made a late charge but a bogey on the final nine all but ended his chances for a win.

Congratulations to Rory McIlroy, who won the Quail Hollow Championship in style with a closing 62 on Sunday. Happy Golfing to All!

The advantage that Phil Mickelson has it that he is still a young man with all the skills he needs to win again. When Tiger Woods presented Phil Mickelson with the Green jacket in April of 2006 it was a great day in golf. The world’s two greatest golfers of the modern era shared back to back victories as Tiger Woods had won the Masters the previous year in 2005. Phil was also the victor in his second major, the PGA, that same year. His four wins in the major golf tournaments since 2004 have provided him with the confidence he needs to win more majors even though he let the U.S. Open at Winged Foot and Bethpage get away. Phil has finally found the zone and his putting stroke as he has stood toe to toe with Tiger on a few occasions recently, like the WGC last year, just prior to Tiger’s sex scandal, and this year’s Masters and has come out on top. If he can maintain this momentum he may put another major or two under his belt before this golf season is over, which is what the sport so desperately needs right now.  Tiger has lost the respect of some fans, his sponsors and his peers and justifiably so. I was a huge fan and had never expected Tiger Woods to become embroiled in such a scandal as he appeared to be almost superhuman in his golf career and personal life. Since he has shown the frailty of being a mere mortal he may have left the door open for another golf hero to emerge and I can think of none other more deserving than Phil Mickelson.  

I have also been very impressed with the play of Tom Watson and Fred Couples, who are 60 and 50 respectively and who have played some of the best golf of their careers as of late. Their performance in this years Masters is a good for instance as Fred Couples finished in sixth place and Tom Watson placed tied for 18th, an incredible feat for both of them at their age. It is my guess that Tom Watson’s spectacular showing in last years British Open at age 59, where he finished second to Stewart Cink in a four hole playoff, after tying in the final round, has given him and other players nearing or in the senior tour age bracket the confidence they need to realize they can still remain competitive regardless of their years. I wholeheartedly agree with this point of view and I know I would not allow age to affect my thought process if the skills and health requirements to hit golf balls and score well were still intact.

I have a premonition that this year in golf will be one of the best we have seen in a while where the cream will rise to the top. As I have noted in past posts I had been disappointed in the majors last year but 2010 has started off with a bang. I am rooting for Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson, one helluva golfer, and Fred Couples as they have earned the respect and admiration they deserve on and off the golf course. I also want to close by wishing Amy Mickelson well as she has been an inspiration for husband Phil and all women fighting the debilitating disease of breast cancer. Go Amy, Go Phil. Happy Golfing to All!

It is inevitable that Tiger will beat Jack’s record, as long as he remains healthy, and I wish him well on his quest. After all, records are made to be broken. He is a remarkable player and  I would like nothing more than to see him in action one day. My ideal foursome would be Mr. Nicklaus, Mr. Palmer,  Tiger ( I can say Tiger because he is more than a few years younger than I )and naturally myself. What a day it would be. I can hit the ball fairly well and I always wondered how I would fare against the best. In my younger days at Marine Park or Marine Dunes Golf Course in Brooklyn I hit the ball well and Par 4’s and 5’s were usually within reach on my second shot, depending on wind conditions. I know it may never happen but I can Dream, can’t I ? You never know. No one can stop you from dreaming. So, whatever your goals in life may be, whether it’s be to beat Jack or Tigers record, Jordan or Kobe in Basketball, Marciano, Ali or Roy Jones in boxing, Montana, Marino or Brady in football ( I had to mention some players from the modern era or I really would be dating myself ), or any other ideal, goal or person in a livelihood that you idolize don’t ever give up – Take a tip from Nike – “Just Do It”

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