The Masters .... What if ...

[Dan Smoot]

What do you think the results would be if we obtained 5 sets of 1960 vintage clubs in good condition, the top golf balls of that era and had a challenge match at AGNC or Merion between the current world top 5.  Go ahead and set AGNC as close as possible to that era's length, getting rid of the second cut.  You wouldn't be able to do anything about all the new trees or as I understand the different green surfaces.  

I realize this might sound off the wall but I would love to see the results.

Make Tiger play the Nicklaus MacGregor ball which I understand was not equal even to the better balls of that time.  With all the discussion about a restricted flight tournament ball, would there be any interest in this with the players or the media.

[Jason Topp]

Dan - here is a thread from midwinter describing a round with Geoff Ogilvy using old equipment.  Definitely interesting.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=20905;start=msg376758#msg376758

[Jim Nugent]

Haven't today's players built their swings and games around the new technology?  I think they would need some time to adjust to the old.  

[Glenn Spencer]

I 100% think that Tiger would dominate. I think the current state of the ball and equipment hurt him tremendously. The player with the most talent, is the player with the most talent and that would only become more evident with the older equipment. I think that you can almost see it in his eyes when it is brought up that Tiger knows he is getting screwed by all of the equipment.

[JESII]

What Glenn says is very interesting to me, and I agree with him 100%.

I've gathered, from opinions on here and first hand observation, that the variance between today's top 200 players and the prototypical 10 handicapper has grown in recent years and is continuing to grow ("they play a game with thich I am not familiar"). Equipment gets much of the credit for that. What's interesting to me is that within that group of the top 200, it's the lesser players that have gained the most. In other words, #200 is closer to #1 today than they were 40 years ago, in my opinion.

All that being said, I think Tiger would adjust the quickest and perform the best in the scenario described. I think Vijay would have the most to lose. Perhaps I am wrong, but I do not see alot of creativity and improvisation in his game. That does not seem to match the game of the persimmon, balata and 1960's agronomy.

[John_Cullum]

I think they would all play very, very well. Mickelson seems to focus on working the ball more than the others, and I would think the old ball would enhance that, so he might be able to adjust a little better. Tiger might have some trouble with spin. One of Greg Norman's problems at Augusta national was dealing with the back spin he put on the ball. he would back a ball all the way from back to front in the old days. I would like to have seen him try playing with a TopFlite back then, he might have won.

The old red Macgregor Tourney was as good a ball as any back then. All of the old proshop balata balls performed about the same.

[JESII]

John,

You make a good point about Mickleson's interests in working the ball. I don't think backspin would be much of an issue because their swings are adjusted based on that equipment to spin the ball less.

As far as getting the players to buy in to this type of thing, I'd say their equipment companies might have alot to say against it.