Who's the Jeremy Lin of golf?

[Phil McDade]

Sports fans -- and I'm guessing this board is full of them -- can't go anywhere these days without hearing about the out-of-nowhere ascension of Knicks guard Jeremy Lin.

In terms of both players and courses (to keep this not completely OT), who is the Jeremy Lin of golf?

For players, I'd argue Lee Trevino -- a guy who learned the game as a caddy at a club, dropped out of high school to earn his keep, and found his skill by hustling games at Texas clubs. He was a virtual unknown when he finished 5th at the 1967 US Open; the next year he won it.

For courses, Crystal Downs -- said to be little-known outside a very small circle of players and golf architecture types until Doak publicized it in the Confidential Guide.

And one more point, in classic debate fashion: Resolved -- It would be impossible, or nearly so, to see a concurrent "Jeremy Lin" phenomena occur today in the world of golf, either from a player or golf course. Discuss.

[Terry Lavin]

Sergio

[Jackson C]

YE Yang

[Joshua Pettit]

Francis Ouimet?

[astavrides]

John, Huh?

[Alex Miller]

Dustin Johnson

Like Lin, skilled in other areas, but in his case basketball and being athletic in general. Emerged fairly young, but not with a huge amateur portfolio like we see of others. Finally, his game is atypical with his long drives and athleticism while Lin separates himself with his speed and hustle.


As for course, I believe we will see the Jeremy Lin phenomena happen with Merion, because while it is known well around these parts, the golfing public will soon have it on their radar.

[Jud_T]

Boo Weekley
John Daly

[Kalen Braley]

Wayyy too early to tell.

In a few years from now he could be playing in Europe somewhere.  His play has been inspired, but sooner rather than later defenses will learn how to shut him down and after that its bye bye from the starting lineup and back to a role player doing 10 mpg.....

...unless he can respond in kobe or Mj fashion, but I'm doubting that.

[Terry Lavin]

Francis Ouimet?

I like your style, but like me, you chose a champion.  We're probably off the mark, because as amazing as this six-game run has been, he's only winning games, not series, not championships, etc.

I have my doubts whether this kid is the answer, but I love an underdog story, so I hope he continues along the same path, until the Bulls eliminate them in the playoffs, that is.

[Peter Pallotta]

Phil - you can't see or hear me now, but I'm clearing my thoat loudly and fidgiting with my collar in a self conscious show of embarrassed modesty.

Peter

[Andy Stamm]

Corey Pavin.

They don't look like much in the pre-game, but hide your wallet when the chips are down. And they leave a lot of 'better' opponents wondering what happened after they've lost. And they're both pretty religious and were/are icons of underrepresented groups in their sport.

[John Foley]

His play has been inspired, but sooner rather than later defenses will learn how to shut him down and after that its bye bye from the starting lineup and back to a role player doing 10 mpg.....

The one point about Lin's play that is a HUGE difference is he has no fear and so much self confidence. As a player at that level if he has fear he'd be dead - for him it's all upside and this guy has got game! Sure he could handle the ball better, but thjis is a pleasure to watch. As a life long basketball player & fan haven't looked at the NBA this much in YEARS!!

In the golf playing world Daly is a good call as he did come out oh nowhere

In the golf course world pretty sure nothing will jump to the national stage

[Phil McDade]

Boo Weekley
John Daly

Jud:

Two good ones -- I like Weekley better, because I think he's more "out of nowhere" than Daly, who did win once or twice on the-then Hogan Tour before the big PGA win in 1991.

Ouimet is probably the best candidate so far....

[Kalen Braley]

In my best Jaka schtick, I present the following analogy.

Jeremy Lin is like that smoking hot girl you met in college who is smart, funny, great in the sack, not high maintainence, comes from a great family, has a terrific career in front of her, yada, yada, yada...she's practically perfect in every way and you just can't get enough of her.

But you've only been going out with her for a week.....just wait for a few months when the baggage starts popping out and a skeleton or two comes out of the closet, then you'll be back down to earth.

[Dan Kelly]

After a week of Lin-mania, I think golf's best equivalent (that I know of) is John Daly.

A week before the 1991 PGA, you'd have to have been a Golfweek staff member to have heard of him.

By that Sunday at Crooked Stick, everyone in the world had heard of him -- even those who knew nada about golf.

Andy Borowitz had a great Tweet about Lin (and I paraphrase): Jeremy Lin is just confirming the stereotype that the only thing Asian-American Harvard grads can do is play basketball.

[Dave McCollum]

Ben Curtis.  Everyone had look him up when he won the Open.  Everyone knows where Lin went to college.  That's a separate joke.

[Mark Johnson]

Ian Poulter.

No Pedigree at all.   Struggled as an assistant pro for a while.   Finally got break and got all the way through q school and is a steady but not spectatular players.

Also more famous than his skills justify (which I think we will also see in a few years from Lin.)

[Phil McDade]

Ben Curtis.  Everyone had look him up when he won the Open.  

Very good call, although I think he made the semi's of the US Amateur a year or two before that, which got some people thinking he had a lot of game, and he did win two Ohio Amateurs, which because of its pedigree, is considered one of the best state Ams in the country. But a good candidate.

[Tim Pitner]

Wayyy too early to tell.

In a few years from now he could be playing in Europe somewhere.  His play has been inspired, but sooner rather than later defenses will learn how to shut him down and after that its bye bye from the starting lineup and back to a role player doing 10 mpg.....

...unless he can respond in kobe or Mj fashion, but I'm doubting that.

Kalen,

There's a lot of daylight between "a role player doing 10 mpg" and Kobe or MJ.  Based on what I've seen, Lin overdribbles and needs to work on his outside shot, but he's a darned good player, sort of in the Steve Nash mold--he's unconventional, dribbles this way and that and all of a sudden works himself free or makes a great pass to an open teammate.  He's got game. 

To answer the question, I too thought Ben Curtis. 

[Alex Miller]

So I've seen people mentioning Ben Curtis and John Daly, and while I see the comparison, doesn't the fact that Lin has simply won 6 regular season games pale in comparison to Daly's majors and to a lesser degree Curtis' open, his solid 2008, and his Ryder Cup appearance?

Just trying to sway some people to my Dustin Johnson comp 

[Mike Sweeney]

At Harvard, Amaker runs a motion offense and D'Antoni runs a now modified version of SSOL (seven seconds or less) with the Knicks. He clearly thrives in that style of offense, and if he can stay in that offense, he looks like he will have a long career, baring injury. Who knows if he is Steve Nash or Pearl Washington (for the old Big East fans), but for the first time since the John Starks era, I would love to see an NBA game in person. He is simply fabulous to watch.

Boston College has lost 4 straight years to Harvard now in basketball. I had heard of Lin and how he was a tough match-up. Now it seems obvious.

Not comparable to an individual sport like golf, IMO. With golf you just have to pull yourself up. Lin has lifted an entire team and organization up with Carmelo still to be determined.....

[Dave McCollum]

OK, here's another:  David McLay Kidd.  How many folks had heard of him before he got the Bandon gig?  What had he done besides being Jimmy's kid?  Aren't there many such young talented associate architects out there needing a huge break like that?   

I don't know.  Just asking.   

[Bill_McBride]

Tiger 1997.

[Kalen Braley]

Craig Perks...won the Players in 2002 a few years back and that was all his career amounted to.

Or

Shaun Micheel ...one Major and done, never even won another event on Tour.

[JNC Lyon]

Better question: Who's the Jeremy Lin of GolfClubAtlas?

Answer: Mac Plumart.  A virtual unknown in the golf world five years ago, the man is now a frequent poster on the site, well-known as a hickory/barefoot golfer, and is getting articles published in Golf Digest.  Is an SI Golf Plus cover next? I think so!

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