One-Hit Wonder or Future Star?

[JR Potts]

Love's problem was, in my mind, motivation. He just seemed indifferent -- must have gotten that from his bud Freddie.

Sucks for him that apparently more Freddy and less Michael Jordan rubbed off.

[Jordan Caron]

Rick,

How can you say this an event that Rory should have won?  Despite his shaky front 9 he did still lead by one but he still would have had to shoot 33 on the back.  Yes if he had played well on the front 9 things might have been a different story but lots of guys were chasing him and having a large lead and being un tested like this is a Major is a tough spot.  Look at Watney and Johnson last year.

As for Charl, I wouldn't be surprised to see him win another Major soon but it's hard to say.  He looked solid in every aspect and handled the pressure like a few others very well yesterday.  Clutch putts, solid iron shots and steady play.  With all the being said, I would have to say future start more so than a one hit wonder.  He doesn't look like another Shaun Micheel or Ben Curtis. 

[Tim Gavrich]

The most poignant thing about Rory's final-round collapse is that SO many people had basically given him the green jacket ater Saturday's round.  The way they talked incessantly about his supposed worldliness and "wisdom beyond his years" made me wonder if they were just trying to convince themselves of what they were saying.  It was as if they all completely forgot what it's like to be 21 years old.  I'm 21 myself and knew in my gut on Saturday night that there was no way Rory would win the thing.  I would be absolutely terrified in that situation, no matter how many lesser tournaments I'd won.  Major championship golf is different.

The fact that McIlroy talked so earnestly about how he was just going to go out and play his own game, how it didn't matter that he was playing with a guy who's won the Masters before, that told me that he, like the gaga golf pundits, may have been trying to convince himself of what he was saying rather than being completely candid about his state of mind.  I don't get why these young guys repeatedly insist that they're not nervous or intimidated by the situation.  If it were me, I'd be inclined to say I was nervous AND intimidated but took solace in the fact that everyone else is as well, in that position.  That's easier to stomach than acting all tough and cocky.

I'd be shocked if Rory doesn't win a major before he's 30, but I'd be equally shocked if he does it in the next two years, unless perhaps he learns how to putt and wins a half dozen non-major tournaments in that time.  He's not going to win much of anything until his putting stroke improves; I'll tell you that much.

[Brett_Morrissy]

Rory: is only 21, give him a break, he lead the Masters for 63 holes, with a roaring Tiger and a heap of great players all around him. He seems well grounded, and like others, his putting stroke seems very solid, seems calm, and appeared to let his draw back into his tee shots near the turn.

Charl: the incredible tell tale sign of twirling his club after each iron, and looked to me, with some good fortune of the chip in and the eagle, to have the golf gods on his side.
 - but to me the key for the next few years success in majors, will be how he and it seems all the other good/great players that win a major, will be how the deal with the fame and fortune of the next few months, and then the expectations with which the win brings to the life, their fans and the dreaded media.

Scotty: I hate the brooms, but love what it is doing for his confidence and boost his chances on the greens.

Jason: a fantastic result for him, do yourself a favor and have a look at his press interview after the final round on the masters website, his demeanor all week I thought was refreshing and he admitted to being very nervous and that was part of the thrill for him in his FIRST masters. Not a fan of the white clubs.

Geoff: it was fantastic to see him put it together for the B9, and still think he will bring a few more for the Aussies.

It was a truly remarkable event, particularly for all the Aussies watching, let's hope there is enough momentum there to take the pressure off them to be the first Aussie.

One other obvious key aspect (that changed the plauing field) is who you are paired with and where you are in the field thru amen corner, with CS paired with KJ, their demeanor seemed well balanced, as did the two Aussies together, and think Rory would have been better placed if he had of been paired with any of the younger guys, of course you cannot dictate or plan for any of this, so it just adds further intrigue, and additional small advantages to the winners and the losers - rub of the green.

[Terry Lavin]

It's like I've said numerous times - Tiger just needs to embrace what he truly is and go "Bad Tiger."  Screw the Sunday red....Screw the Bubba and Luke Donald all-white....go all-back....all the time.  

He should rent out the penthouse at the biggest party hotel near each tour stop and throw blow-out bashes on the Sunday after each event.   He needs to embrace his inner-desires...date supermodels...do US Magazine interviews....and just go Bad Tiger.  90% of men everywhere would secretly be rooting for him....and when they overtly show their enthusiasm for his "success", they'll get "the look" from their wives and/or girlfriends.

Bad Tiger is the answer.

The way Charlie Sheen's "tour" is going, the Goddesses might be available!

[Terry Lavin]

Here is a list of all of the one time major winners, where the win came at ANGC:

Charl Schwartzel
Trevor Immelman
Zach Johnson
Mike Weir
Fred Couples
Ian Woosnam
Larry Mize
Craig Stadler
Tommy Aaron
Charles Coody
George Archer
Bob Goalby
Gay Brewer
Art Wall Jr.
Claude Hermon
Herman Keiser

I'm not sure what its to be deduced from that, but there it is!

Not sure what to make of that list, but here's my quick look at one-time major winners whose win came in the PGA Championship.  I apologize if I included somebody who won a second major, but I'm a little pressed for time right now, so I can check and modify the post later today:

Y.E. Yang
Shaun Micheel
Rich Beem
David Toms
Davis Love III
Mark Brooks
Steve Elkington
Paul Azinger
Wayne Grady
Jeff Sluman
Bob Tway
Hal Sutton
John Mahaffey
Bobby Nichols
Jerry Barber
Dave Marr
Al Geiberger
Dow Finsterwald
Bob Rosburg

The list of Match Play PGA Championship one-time major winners includes: Lionel Hebert, Vic Ghezzi, Bob Hamilton, Jim Ferrier, Walter Burkemo, Jim Turnesa, Tom Creavy and Olin Dutra.

I leave it to the ladies and gentlemen of the jury to determine which "major" had more "random" winners over the course of time.

[Terry Lavin]

Here are the winners of the Players Championship, formerly known as Tournament Players Championship:

1974    Jack Nicklaus    
1975    Al Geiberger    
1976    Jack Nicklaus    
1977    Mark Hayes    
1978    Jack Nicklaus    
1979    Lanny Wadkins    
1980    Lee Trevino    
1981    Raymond Floyd                
1982    Jerry Pate    
1983    Hal Sutton    
1984    Fred Couples    
1985    Calvin Peete    
1986    John Mahaffey    
1987    Sandy Lyle
    
THE PLAYERS Championship

1988    Mark McCumber    
1989    Tom Kite    
1990    Jodie Mudd    
1991    Steve Elkington    
1992    Davis Love III    
1993    Nick Price    
1994    Greg Norman    
1995    Lee Janzen    
1996    Fred Couples    
1997    Steve Elkington    
1998    Justin Leonard
1999    David Duval    
2000    Hal Sutton    
2001    Tiger Woods    
2002    Craig Perks    
2003    Davis Love III                
2004    Adam Scott    
2005    Fred Funk                
2006    Stephen Ames    
2007    Phil Mickelson    
2008    Sergio Garcia
2009    Henrik Stenson    
2010    Tim Clark

What to make of that list, and how to compare it to the one-time major winners in the Masters and the PGA?  Or have I taken a spur ramp?  Who are the one-time major winners whose win came in the US Open and the Open Championship?  I'm too weary to look now.    

[Rick Shefchik]

Rick,

How can you say this an event that Rory should have won?  Despite his shaky front 9 he did still lead by one but he still would have had to shoot 33 on the back.  Yes if he had played well on the front 9 things might have been a different story but lots of guys were chasing him and having a large lead and being un tested like this is a Major is a tough spot.  Look at Watney and Johnson last year.

By that, I meant Rory certainly feels he should have won it. If there's a pro in the world who doesn't believe he should have hung onto a four shot lead on Sunday, he's in the wrong business. Same goes for Dustin Johnson at Pebble Beach.

[Matt_Ward]

Tim G:

Well said -- Rory and the young guns try to come off as being beyond nerves and the like.

I wish him well but frankly he needs to pipe down on all the comments that he and others have
no fear about Tiger or anything else for that matter.

Be curious to see what happens next for Rory -- plenty of expectations on his shoulders -- some
can handle the load -- others are crushed by it.

Good to see his humility in the post Masters comments -- it will help him in future situations.

[Anthony Butler]

My "love" for Love has to deal with shooting the 269 total at the '97 PGA -- so much ink went to Tiger for breaking the four-round record at The Masters but breaking 270 at WF/W is infinitely harder to do.

I had the privilege of following DL III for the last two rounds at WFW in '97. When I think back on how well he controlled his ball through those two rounds, it seems difficult to imagine that he wouldn't win another major.

As an example on 10 he hit the green at exactly the same point on both days. One day the pin was back left and he drilled it in with a lower trajectory 5 iron and the ball released towards the back of the green, moving left towards the pin. The other day the pin was in the little entrance to the green and DL III hit a higher, softer shot that only advanced about 5 feet after it landed. Just one example of some incredible shot making that weekend. Apart from Justin Leonard, he was about 8 clear of the field as I recall.

This was all before the introduction of the Pro V1, which will come to be recognized as a true dividing line in professional golf history... opening up the field to more people being capable of winning tour events and majors. Which goes someways to explaining why only Tiger and Phil and Padraig in Tiger's absence have won multiple championships since 2001.

[JLahrman]

JLahrman:

Help me out -- if the PGA didn't pick traditional US Open sites then the association would be blamed for going to non-descript places which happened years before Awtrey and team got involved. The PGA is smart to balance their agenda for their championship. No doubt next year's event at The Ocean Course should be something to see.

Newer doesn't automatcially mean non-descript.  And traditional US Open sites aren't necessarily interesting.  But the PGA should seek to minimize the overlap in the sites.  They seem to have started to do that.  The traditional US Open sites they've used lately or selected for future PGAs don't really seem to be in the current US Open rota.  That would be Baltusrol, Oak Hill, Hazeltine, Southern Hills, Oakland Hills, and Medinah.  Only Southern Hills has hosted a US Open since 1995.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Don,
I like you more and more all the time...we seem to agree too much, that is scary for you by the way!
I was telling my dad yesterday, if I was chubby chandler the first thuing I would do id talk to Rory about changing caddies.
His caddie did nothing to console Rory that we could see....it was time to put his arm around the kid and get his head back on..but he let him walk around alone to wallow in his dispair....he needed some support and the only man out there with him was the caddie.
I agree befoe sometime chimes in the camera was not on Rory 100% of the time and I dont know what was happening off camera, but I saw enough when he was on camera to know that he did not do his job adequately.

In his defense, Rory has ben pretty much on the up and up since turning pro and this was his first such debacle and the caddie may simply have not known what to do....but that is part of his job.
I dont count the 80 at the Open last year as that was very weather related.

[Mark Pearce]

Michael,

I disagree about the 80 at the Open last year.  Yes, the weather was bad but Rory quit, in that he didn't keep pushing on every shot.  He accepted that it would be a disaster rather than fighting to salvage something from the round.  If he'd shot a 75, rather than an 80, he'd have had a good shout on the 4th day.  One of the things real winners have is an ability to limit the damage.  Again, at St Andrews, I'd question the role of his caddy.

[Tim Pitner]

Schwartzel's been a very good player for some time now.  As good as he is, I think it's presumptuous to suppose that he'll win multiple majors.  As has been pointed out, there are some tremendous players who only won major, and obviously some great players who never won a major.  The best South African player of the past 20 years, Ernie Els, "only" won three majors.  Goosen "only" won two.  I don't believe Schwartzel has to win another major to validate anything.  He birdied the last four holes on Sunday to win the Masters.  That's pretty good by itself. 

[Bill Shamleffer]

Here is a list of all of the one time major winners, where the win came at ANGC:

Charl Schwartzel
Trevor Immelman
Zach Johnson
Mike Weir
Fred Couples
Ian Woosnam
Larry Mize
Craig Stadler
Tommy Aaron
Charles Coody
George Archer
Bob Goalby
Gay Brewer
Art Wall Jr.
Claude Hermon
Herman Keiser

I'm not sure what its to be deduced from that, but there it is!

Not sure what to make of that list, but here's my quick look at one-time major winners whose win came in the PGA Championship.  I apologize if I included somebody who won a second major, but I'm a little pressed for time right now, so I can check and modify the post later today:

Y.E. Yang
Shaun Micheel
Rich Beem
David Toms
Davis Love III
Mark Brooks
Steve Elkington
Nick Price
Paul Azinger
Wayne Grady
Jeff Sluman
Bob Tway
Hal Sutton
John Mahaffey
Dave Stockton
Julius Boros
Bobby Nichols
Jerry Barber
Dave Marr
Al Geiberger
Dow Finsterwald
Bob Rosburg

The list of Match Play PGA Championship one-time major winners includes: Lionel Hebert, Paul Runyon, Vic Ghezzi, Bob Hamilton, Jim Ferrier, Walter Burkemo, Jim Turnesa, Tom Creavy and Olin Dutra.

I leave it to the ladies and gentlemen of the jury to determine which "major" had more "random" winners over the course of time.

Terry:

Cross the following off your above PGA list:

Julius Boros - 2 US Opens  (3 majors total)
Nick Price - won an Open and a 2nd PGA (3 majors total)
Dave Stockton - 2nd PGA (2 majors total)
Paul Runyan - 2nd PGA (2 majors total).

[Terry Lavin]

Bill,

Thanks for checking the list.  I've edited it to reflect your changes.

[Matt_Ward]

David C:

Put your reading glasses back on -- I credited Rory for his post comments. It was the attitude prior to The Masters that made me wonder.

JLahrman:

The PGA has smartly chosen a wider variety of sites -- Baltusrol is there as the NYC metro selection -- wise move to keep that base energized. Ditto for pushing the envelope with The Ocean Course at Kiawah.

Hard to argue with what Awtrey started and what Haigh does now for course presentation.

The PGA is far better than many might imagine -- especially the foreign folks who see the event as lagging considerably behind the other three -- I see the PGA being just ahead of The Masters now.

[George Pazin]

You have to admit, it is really funny to see that:

If you haven't played a golf course, you get shouted down when you offer comments or ask questions

BUT

most if not all know what it takes to win a major.

[Kalen Braley]

Terry,

As best as I can tell, I don't see any real differences between the type of venue where one wins that one-off major.  All of these guys are so good it only take 1 week of superb playing, by thier standards, to take down the rest of the field.

I think we all like to compare and categorize things, but there is only sure thing that can be said in empirical fashion.  And this is not being critical of The Masters, but use any current category you want, World Rankings, Money List, Top 10s over the past year, etc....and The Masters is by far and away the weakest field of any of the 4 majors.

In a odd way, its genius because it usually means we get a better Sunday tournament, because the big names have less smaller names to contend with and risk one or more of them getting hot and competing against at the end.

In terms of worthy champions I would rank them like this:

1) The Open - 1A
2) US Open - 1B
3) PGA - 1C
4) Masters - 4

[Matthew Petersen]

I suspect Rory will be fine. He's 21 years old and has had the lead at some point in each of the last 3 majors played. Just getting into that position so consistently is pretty darn good. He came back from an 80 in the second round of the British to record a top five finish, then came back and was in the hunt on the back nine at the PGA. Then led almost the whole way at the Masters. He wasn't fazed by those earlier failures and I see no real signs that he will do anything but take the right lessons from this disaster. The most obvious negative comparison would be Sergio, but even from very early on Sergio had that petulant attitude that now defines him.

Many of the young players today seem to have a strong mental attitude worth admiring--Dustin Johnson blew a huge lead and shot a huge number in the final round at pebble last year and was right back there with a chance to win the PGA.

Majors are hard to win, remember. There's only four of them every year. The more these guys get in contention the more likely they'll be to cash it in next time.

[Garland Bayley]

Here is a list of all of the one time major winners, where the win came at ANGC:

Charl Schwartzel
Trevor Immelman
Zach Johnson
Mike Weir
Fred Couples
Ian Woosnam
Larry Mize
Craig Stadler
Tommy Aaron
Charles Coody
George Archer
Bob Goalby
Gay Brewer
Art Wall Jr.
Claude Hermon
Herman Keiser

I'm not sure what its to be deduced from that, but there it is!

Not sure what to make of that list, but here's my quick look at one-time major winners whose win came in the PGA Championship.  I apologize if I included somebody who won a second major, but I'm a little pressed for time right now, so I can check and modify the post later today:

Y.E. Yang
Shaun Micheel
Rich Beem
David Toms
Davis Love III
Mark Brooks
Steve Elkington
Paul Azinger
Wayne Grady
Jeff Sluman
Bob Tway
Hal Sutton
John Mahaffey
Bobby Nichols
Jerry Barber
Dave Marr
Al Geiberger
Dow Finsterwald
Bob Rosburg

The list of Match Play PGA Championship one-time major winners includes: Lionel Hebert, Vic Ghezzi, Bob Hamilton, Jim Ferrier, Walter Burkemo, Jim Turnesa, Tom Creavy and Olin Dutra.

I leave it to the ladies and gentlemen of the jury to determine which "major" had more "random" winners over the course of time.

All you have proven here is that if you have a field size that is 2/3 or less than that of the PGA championship, and if you play at the same place every year giving the veterans a "home court" advantage, then you will have 2/3 as many one time major winners in your ranks.

The Masters stacks the deck, and should not even be considered a major. If you want stacked deck events, let's start calling the World Golf Series events majors.

[Terry Lavin]

Garland,

"The Masters stacks the deck and should not even be considered a major."

Now I know why you have an Elmer Fudd avatar.

You can argue that the PGA has a better field and I'd agree.  You might even argue that it is a better test for a champion.  I'd disagree, but I could see some basis for the argument.  But to say that the Masters shouldn't be considered a major is a tad silly.

[Terry Lavin]

Terry,

As best as I can tell, I don't see any real differences between the type of venue where one wins that one-off major.  All of these guys are so good it only take 1 week of superb playing, by thier standards, to take down the rest of the field.

I think we all like to compare and categorize things, but there is only sure thing that can be said in empirical fashion.  And this is not being critical of The Masters, but use any current category you want, World Rankings, Money List, Top 10s over the past year, etc....and The Masters is by far and away the weakest field of any of the 4 majors.

In a odd way, its genius because it usually means we get a better Sunday tournament, because the big names have less smaller names to contend with and risk one or more of them getting hot and competing against at the end.

In terms of worthy champions I would rank them like this:

1) The Open - 1A
2) US Open - 1B
3) PGA - 1C
.
.
.
.
4) Masters - 4

I haven't looked at the US Open winners and I'm not even ready to say which championship has more so-called worthy champions, but there's no way the PGA is ahead of the Masters.  Here's the last 15 one-off champions from the PGA.  You want to run with this crowd?

Y.E. Yang
Shaun Micheel
Rich Beem
David Toms
Davis Love III
Mark Brooks
Steve Elkington
Paul Azinger
Wayne Grady
Jeff Sluman
Bob Tway
Hal Sutton
John Mahaffey
Bobby Nichols
Jerry Barber

There's enough mutts there to start a decent shelter!

[Matt_Ward]

Terry:

It's beyond a "tad" -- try the word strange.

In regards to majors -- The Masters has the smallest field, played on the same course and is strictly a club invitational event.

The PGA is the championship of the single most important professional golf association in the world.

Goes back to 1916 and while the event started as a match play event and is now a stroke play event. Yes, it did wander in the desert for quite some time -- especially in the '50's and '60s but with the ascension of Jim Awtrey and with Kerry Haigh prepping the courses the PGA has elevated itself to far more than an appendage to the major championship calendar.

Keep in mind, The Masters with a smaller field benefits those who have played the course many times. Beyond Zoellar -- not counting Horton Smith becaiuse his first win was the first The Masters played -- no other player has won on their first try -- although Jason Day did a superb job this past week.

I have always said in weighting the majors the two Opens stand alone by themseves -- there Ernie Els with two US Opens and an Open title -- is right there with Lefty although Phil has one more "major" -- his have 3 from The Masters and the '05 PGA title.

For me the PGA is ahead of The Masters -- the event draws the starting gate position and asa result of its history and charm of the course and its founder has always had that element in its corner.

[Garland Bayley]

Garland,

"The Masters stacks the deck and should not even be considered a major."

Now I know why you have an Elmer Fudd avatar.

You can argue that the PGA has a better field and I'd agree.  You might even argue that it is a better test for a champion.  I'd disagree, but I could see some basis for the argument.  But to say that the Masters shouldn't be considered a major is a tad silly.

The only reason the Masters is a major is a quirk of history. The Western Open was considered a major tournament at a time when there was not a well defined set of majors comprising the grand slam. Arnold in concert with a journalist of the day set about to name the set of tournaments for the grand slam. Arnold made the list and left off the Western Open which he had not won, and put in The Masters that he had won. Pretty convenient way to pad your grand slam events won, but not the proper way to choose.

The golfers consider winning major events to be the best definition of greatness. Unfortunately, they have a weak test in the grouping. One that is weaker than several other events. When the world golf series takes the world top 64 for an event, they have a stronger event than the masters which only takes the top 50. The strongest event in the world, the players championship is by far a stronger test than the masters as it is made completely from the top players. It does suffer the same weakness of the masters in being held at the same venue, thereby stacking the event for those who previously participated.

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