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34 replies

The Masters

rz1rz15,000+ posts
Whether you like golf or not, Sundays 4th round at the Masters was not only good golf at the worlds premier site, but it was the best demonstration of competitive sportsmanship that I have ever witnessed. Mickelson and Couples were on top of their games and despite the fact it was THE golf tournament of the year they still showed the world what good sportsmanship is all about. Put away the fact they are friends off the coarse as I have played golf with my best friends for a lot less and was a much bigger "dick". They could have easily "cordially ignored" each other for that final round and we would have thought nothing of it. Instead they acknowledged each others good shots, talked about the game between shots, and praised the opponents after the match. I usually don't watch golf on TV, but I thought that 3 hours I watched was special.

As far as I was concerned the '06 Masters was deeper than a golf match, and I'm afraid a very important message about sportsmanship that both young and old could learn from will be lost.
applaude

However..........I'm think my jugular type mentality will still prevail, but that golf was still fun to watch.
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observer44observer441,000+ posts
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rz...

My upbeat side says your right on it,...and I was thinking those same thoughts...

but...

my cynical side at the time said, yea, not too hard with a three shot cushion. It would have meant a great deal more to me if they had been tied with two to go and as cordial, yet still fighting for the jacket....

and...

my upbeat side says not to worry about those moments being lost......the visual of those two walking down the fairways on the last few holes, and the sportsmanship it represented, are indelible to anyone who saw them...

Cool 44
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W windmill100+ posts
little bit true from both RZ and O44 - it was nice to see them actually acknowledge that there was another player on the course with them. I think that is part if Tiger's mentality, and it helps him win - he intimidates by ignoring you. Hard not to like Fred Couples, so easy going. I think being paired with him helped Lumpy. He wasn't really threatened by him and he didn't have to watch Tiger fist pumping.
rz1rz15,000+ posts
44

My cynically upbeat side agrees that the last few holes were a strange site but I think the whole day evolved around respecting the game, your opponent, being gracious, and yet taking no prisoners when push came to shove. Those attributes can be carried over to every competitive sport, and that was my point.

Now I hope Mickelson repeats next year so Tiger has to help put another jacket on Phil. Not being a Tiger fan I really liked watching him slip that jacket on Mickelsons back and step back.
boxing

I hope I don't ruffle any Tiger fans out there as I respect his ability but I think that no one should feel they are bigger than their game.
Last edited by rz1
ShepsterShepster1,000+ posts
Nice points by all...

Just heard interview with Phil the Deal after 2006 Jacket presentation.

One question asked was> Phil, now that you've won Master's this year, which makes 3 wins out of past 10 majors for you>Here it is paraphrased> Who do you think is number one in the world of golf today? Phil humbly shrugged question off and said, I'm not going there, this is Tiger's world I'm playing in and just thankful to be the winner this time Smile
peace, Shep
rz1rz15,000+ posts
quote:
In what way do you see Tiger as giving the impression that he is bigger than the game? Feathers not ruffled.... just curious.


Rob, I quess that his comments a couple years ago that he thought that his presence and tournaments brought riches to the PGA and he thought he was entitled to a cut of the proceeds.
tychcotychco1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by rz1:
quote:
In what way do you see Tiger as giving the impression that he is bigger than the game? Feathers not ruffled.... just curious.


Rob, I quess that his comments a couple years ago that he thought that his presence and tournaments brought riches to the PGA and he thought he was entitled to a cut of the proceeds.


Without Tiger, these guys would still be playing for $250,000 purses instead of $2.5 million. He may not deserve a cut, but he sure deserves recognition for changing the game. Jack Nicklaus did the same thing in the early 60's...he burst onto the scene and forced everyone else to get better or get left behind.
G gotwood4sale10,000+ posts
TR:

The word athlete is defined by terms such as physical strength, agility, and stamina.

I wouldn't characterize golf as anywhere close to the most physically demanding sport, yet it obviously requires physical skills.

When you consider agility golfers are certainly known for their nimbleness and dexterity.

And stamina...mentally, golf is a grueling game which certainly will affect a golfer's physical abilities. Mental toughness and plenty of stamina, both physical and mental, are absolutely requirements for a successful golfer.

Yes TR...in my mind golfers are athletes.
Last edited by gotwood4sale
rz1rz15,000+ posts
quote:
Without Tiger, these guys would still be playing for $250,000 purses instead of $2.5 million


I think Tiger Woods increased the viewing interest of pro golf but the purse size was increasing before he came into the picture. The fact that he came on board during that time period may have givin him the impression that he was "da man" responsible. If Tiger was not around, golf would still be big $ event because the overall pool of talent has improved.

Golfers as athletes? What is an athlete? It is a relative question. They probably cannot hit a baseball, but is a 350 lb tub of goo nose guard in the NFL an athlete? In order to stay on top of the golf world there is a significant amount of conditioning involved. The weekend duffer may not fall into that catagory, but, a card holding pro does have athletic "tools".

Robin Yount is an athlete, he is still "cut" and works out but because he no longer plays pro baseball does he lose that "athlete" status and becomes an "ex-athlete"? My bet is if you asked pro athletes in other sports who play golf, and know the game, if pro golfers were athletes, you would get an astounding yes vote.
Last edited by rz1
observer44observer441,000+ posts
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To oversimplify...

IMO...There is a "continuum of athletics."

On one end is the predominantly physical...sprints, rugby, football Linemen...

On one end is the predominantly mental...Golf...chess...curling..

Every sport sits in the continuum at a different % of either. Whether a participant is considered a "real athlete" really depends upon where an individual decides to arbitrarily draw a line of demarcation...

Cool 44
rz1rz15,000+ posts
I think ESPN considers golf to be an athletic event.

If the Masters is not an athletic event, what is it? A social event?

When I play slow pitch softball 2x a week I consider it an athletic event. Pro golf takes so much more athletic talent than my game so why can't it be considered athletic event?
Last edited by rz1
rz1rz15,000+ posts
got,
No laughing, those space age plastic spikes has gotten my 40 time below 10 sec. According to my line of demarcation that makes me an athlete. good

btw, just a note as the definition of athlete from dictionary.com

quote:
A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts
Last edited by rz1
G gotwood4sale10,000+ posts
rz1:

That's right rz...you've got an athlete's foot for sure!

Thanks for the definition...

BTW...golfers, like say John Daly for example, possess natural or acquired tastes for shakes, chili, and enchiladas. These are necessary for fueling and maintaining physical girth, especially for those who are portly minded and perform in competitive contests like the one at Nathan's on the Fourth of July! It's a dog eat dog world at Nathan's!

Roll Eyes
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
RZ

ESPN considers scrabble and poker to be sports

Golf to me always and forever will be a game of skill not a sport--I am not taking anything away from the talent but it is still a game of skill not a sport

SportsCenter has no bearing---ESPN is now about ENTERTAINMENT not all sports---heck their announcers even think they are comics, albeit poor ones
Last edited by TRhit
Rob KremerRob Kremer1,000+ posts
I LOVE the debate about whether golf is a sport (and whether golfers are athletes.)

I've played golf since I was about 8, and got pretty good at it. My father, who coached HSbaseball, taught me to bat left and be a catcher.

He was very disappointed when I gave up baseball for golf in HS and college.

So, I am a student of the golf game at least as much as I am of baseball. Is golf a sport? Are golfers athletes?

I still am not sure. But I still am not sure about baseball players, either. I think the answer is that both games are games of skills that require athletic abilities, and some players in both games are athletes and some are skilled people.

Baseball has its Derek Jeters and its David Wells. Golf has its Tiger Woods and its John Daly's.

I think both baseball and golf are games of skill rather than sports as we might technically define them.

But what the heck is a sport, anyway? I dunno. I guess that is why I always love this debate.
YankeelvrYankeelvr100+ posts
Got to side with TR. Game of skill, not sport. If people can participate while imbibing and smoking a cigar (as many regularly do) how can it be sport. The senior baseball league didn't make it but the senior PGA does ok. Nobody wants to see old guys trying to run down a flare. Senior PGA guys still can play a game that resembles the jr version, just a little shorter. It requires skill and dexterity to be a surgeon, but few consider surgery a sport. Golf is a great way to kill 6 hrs but not sport. BTW I know it only takes 4 hrs but my wife was standing over my shoulder...

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