Tuesday, March 30, 2010

American Idol

Everyone knows about Rory McIlroy. He's no longer a callow rookie who’s fun to watch, but a seasoned pro whose name will be on that Sunday leaderboard more often than not. He’s big in Europe, he’s big in America. McIlroy’s the sort of guy the fickle American fans can get behind, and believe me, that means a lot if you’re playing the PGA Tour. Just ask Colin Montgomerie.

But do the Americans have their own McIlroy on the rise? Is there a young, exciting player in the States who’s going to carry the flag in future majors and Ryder Cups?

How about Rickie Fowler?

Still a virtual unknown this side of the water, Fowler is fast making a name for himself in the US. The number one ranked amateur golfer in the world for 36 weeks in 2007 and 2008, and twice Walker Cup-player with a 7-1 record, he hit the headlines in 2008, shooting -1 in the first round of the US Open.

He turned pro at the end of last year, and finished T-7th in his PGA Tour professional debut in October. A week later, he lost to Troy Matteson in a playoff at the Frys.com Open, just his second Tour event as a pro. Last month, Fowler had another opportunity to win in Scottsdale, before finishing second to Hunter Mahan.

To get a feel of what Fowler’s like – you have to see him, you have to hear him. He’s a flashy-dressing, motorbike-jumping, swashbuckling guy, and he brings it all to the golf course. His swing is a homemade thrasher of a swing, terrifyingly fast, but it gets the job done. During that 2nd place last October, he had an eagle in each round and a hole-in-one.

He doesn’t watch himself for hours on video, he doesn’t over-analyse his game. He just goes out there and plays golf. In interviews he seems cool and collected. Maybe he’s going to need a bit of analysis to improve over the years, and as he matures I’ve no doubt this will come. At the moment though, he’s a breath of fresh air on to the ever less dominant PGA Tour.

How does he compare with McIlroy? Physically speaking, they’re the same height, weight, and Fowler’s just 5 months older. They even have similarly terrible haircuts.

There’s no doubt that McIlroy is the more polished player – he has the classic swing and more professional manner, but there’s more to the comparison when you go deeper. Both rely on their long games a little too much, and need to hole some more putts. Both are ready to take on that big shot when it really counts. Both love the pressure of competing. Despite Fowler’s wilder approach to the game, he’s got a coolness and maturity about him that make you feel he’s here to stay.

Rory McIlroy is a future World No. 1. He’s going to win at least a few majors and heaps of Ryder Cups. Rickie Fowler – we don’t know. He’s still the raw youth that McIlroy was two years ago. He probably doesn’t have the consistency to ever be the best player in the world, but he’s going to compete. I’ve no doubt that he’ll face McIlroy down the stretch of tournaments to come, and he’ll prevail in some of them. They’ll play Ryder Cups against each other, and they’ll share some wins there.

Rickie Fowler is the perfect sportsman for the American fans – he’s young, wild, attractive, and talented. He’ll play to the rowdy crowds, and get pumped up on Sunday afternoons. He’ll miss three cuts running and win the next week out. The sponsors have noticed this and every week he’s a got a new “fashionable” look.

For some time the US Tour has lacked what Europe has in spades – the early 20s players of the next generation. It’s great to see Ernie, Furyk, Mickelson and co. winning, but we also need to see who’s waiting to take over.

Watch Rickie Fowler.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Tiger Owes Us Nothing

Who do we think we are?

Since 1997, (or 1994 if you really know your stuff) Tiger Woods has been one of the premier entertainers on the planet. He may be a golfer first and foremost, but for us, he’s a guy we love to watch do his thing. His exceptional physical talent and terrifying mental powers have made him the greatest athlete of our generation, and he has delivered, time and again, providing us with some of the greatest sporting moments in history.

So where do we get off looking for apologies for his behaviour off the course? How exactly has he let us down? He’s let himself down. He’s let his family down. Maybe he’s let his sponsors down. But us?

It never ceases to amaze me how arrogant the sports-watching couch potatoes can be. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be the first to shout angry and helpful advice at Johnny Sexton when he pushes a kick wide of the posts.

Nowadays, however, viewers seem to feel a sense of ownership over Tiger, Federer, O’Driscoll, and others. By watching Tiger, do you own some of the Tiger brand? If you do, I’d say sell it and live on the proceeds for the rest of your life.

I was upset when I heard the revelations about his private life, because I’m a massive Tiger fan. But did I feel betrayed? Did I demand an apology? I don’t have that high an opinion of myself.

Tiger Woods owes us nothing. People will climb on to higher horses than they’ve ever imagined and tell us that it’s us who have put Tiger where he is – without us he wouldn’t be the star of sport, without the viewers he’d be nothing. So ask yourself this – did Tiger come to the viewers looking to be watched? Or did we go to Tiger, because we were beginning to realise that the man in the red shirt was the most exciting prospects in the history of sport? Did we go to him, following the human instinct to cling to something special and not let go?

In 2005, on the 16th hole at Augusta National, Tiger Woods hit what was, given the circumstances, the greatest golf shot I have ever seen. With Chris DiMarco lying 12 feet away for birdie, Tiger faced a horrendously difficult chip shot, the ball against the collar of the rough, the green sloping every which way. No one who watched that shot live can forget the second the ball spent on the lip of the hole, with the Nike swoosh looking out at us, in the greatest advertisement ever made, before it toppled in to the cup.

So what was your reaction? Was it to nod calmly, and say “Well I’m glad I managed to sort that one out for him”? Or was it like mine – a leap into the air followed by an animal yell, partly in excitement, and partly in pain as I crashed into a table.

Tiger’s success is not a product of our support. It is a product of his diligence, work rate, and drive to be better. It is a product of his parents’ care for him and, perhaps, too much pressure on him. He is a self-made man, and we cannot claim an iota of credit for his fame.

If you claim to be let down by his affairs, answer me this. Where were you when he was being shunned as a young black teenager in his local club? Where were you when his father died?

Even his sponsors, who do have claim to being let down – look at how much money they have pumped into him – they spotted a business opportunity and invested in it. The returns have been staggering. After 15 years of unmitigated success they now have to take some rough with the smooth.

Tiger Woods has not only changed the game for the viewers; he’s changed the game for the professionals. The PGA and European Tours today are stronger for Tiger’s contribution. Pros have to play against a phenomenon – never before has there been so much extra kudos attached to a victory when one man is in the tournament field. If you can play the great man and beat him you’re spomething special. Y.E. Yang became the first man to take a major from Tiger after Woods held the 54-hole lead – that’s not forgotten in a hurry.

Tiger Woods owes us nothing. 20 years ago no one could watch him play. 40 years from now, no one will be able to watch him play. We are the most privileged golfing generation yet – how about we stop moaning, sit back, and enjoy it.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Into The East

The PGA Tour heads to Florida for the month of March, and where better to start than PGA National?
The Honda Classic has thrown up some great winners over the years, including Padraig Harrington in 2005, for his first win across the pond. Harrington will be looking to get his game back on track after a mixed 2009, but for him, the season's only beginning.
It's a fantastic field - Westwood, Casey, Villegas, Allenby, Els, defending champion Yang, and Sergio Garcia to name but a few. There is as much talent this week as in any event so far this year, with the exception perhaps of the WGC World Matchplay.

So who'll do it?
Robert Allenby's my top pick for the week - he's playing great this year - another top-10 last week in Scottsdale boosts the stats some more. Always a great iron-player, Allenby's started to get his putting going in 2010 with a new technique, and watch out for him in all four majors this year. Even if the putter isn't too hot this week, PGA National's a ball-striker's course.
Once you hear those words, Paul Casey, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia instantly jump up the list. Three of the finest ball-striker's in the game have all enjoyed some success this year already, and all three think they're the next major winner.

Tim Clark's another guy who's a good bet this week - the one downside is that he's never played the course before, but the upside is his fantastic play. Little Tim's a fighter, and he's frighteningly accurate with the irons. His one weakness is his chipping, but if he hits enough greens this week I'd expect him to finish very high up.
Ernie Els needs to get a little more consistency into his game, but he's shown promise this year. He'll definitely be in the mix in a major or two, and he's won here before.
Charles Howell has had a rough run for a guy with so much talent, but another high finish last week makes me think his game could finally be coming to fruition. The Schwartzel of the US?

Long shot this week? Watch out for Scott Piercy. He had a decent finish last week at Scottsdale, and gave this event a scare last year.

For me though, this tournament is exciting for another reason. Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy are both teeing it up this week, and I'm hoping they'll get at least one round together. Europe's new young talent is a little more experienced and proven that American Fowler, but they're two guys who we'll be seeing a lot of in the coming years, and expect a few back-nine battles between them. Fowler doesn't have the same measured swing as McIlroy, being a bit more swashbuckling, but he's got a hell of a long game and a great mindset.
There are more similarities between these guys than the closeness in age and a good driver though. Check back here on Monday for a closer look at how McIlroy and Fowler square up against each other; in the meantime, watch out for them on the Sunday leaderboard.