Posted on 03/17/2012 7:58:05 PM PDT by Baynative
In an excerpt of "The Big Miss" released by the New York Times on Saturday, former Tiger Woods swing coach Hank Haney writes about his perception of Woods as often feeling jilted by the media and his peers.
(Excerpt) Read more at golfchannel.com ...
Athletics is not just running. It is hand eye coordination, muscle memory, balance, psychological acuity, mental and physical stamina, heart and the will to win.
The ability to put all of the elements of the complex golf swing into a repeatable motion and adapt it to hundreds of different shots and conditions is much much harder than casual observers think. Then, to do it under extreme pressure conditions in hot, cold, wet or windy conditions where every shot is in a different lie and no two courses are the same while maintaining total concentration for five hours at a time over four days straight is far removed from running where you can when you can and relying on teammates to hold you up.
To all of that is the added difficulty of initiating the shot from a fixed position. There is nothing reactionary or involuntary in golf. Every time a pro golfer tees it up they are playing for their payday. They succeed or go home without a check. No cut contracts and guaranteed salaries don't happen in golf. There is no union and no pension. Any tournament, any injury can be a career ender. Players who do not finish in the top 125 on the money list at the end of the season lose their playing status and must earn their way back via the minor leagues if they want to continue to earn a living.
Every single shot and every putt a tournament player stands over is like 2 out, bottom of the 9th, bases loaded, or 2 points down with two free throws to shoot and no clock left.
On top of it all, it is a game of honor where the player is responsible for protecting the field and must enforce their own penalties.
There are no winners between these two. Haney should be ashamed of himself for revealing personal communications when he was in a contractual relationship with Woods. He’s an opportunist who should never be trusted again. And Woods is clearly a deeply-scarred individual whose personal issues have manifested themselves into an unhealthy view of the world and personal relationships.
I’ve had mixed emotions since I heard snippets from this book being talked about. You have defined exactly what I’ve been feeling and not able to grasp. Thanks, Dr. Phil.
So how many tournaments have these portly gents won lately? Not too many.
Look at some of the guys who are winning: Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose. They’ve been going to the gym, and it shows. I could not believe how different Westwood looks this year.
Good comments - I agree.
So I guess any musician is an athlete using your definition. Puhleese!
If you knew anything about professional golf you would be aware that you do not have to win to make a very substantial living.
Take Matt Kuchar as an example. In 2011, he had 0 WINS but he earned $4,233,920.00.
These people cannot be serious. Tiger got the most intense media tongue-bathing of any athlete in history before the Elin golf club incident.
I am sick to death of the media’s fawning coverage of Woods. The telecasts and “highlights” are: “Tiger on the 6th finds that bunker at the back” and: “Tiger on the 12th, misses that putt and remains 6 back.” Then an occasional diversion: “Meanwhile, our leaders are approaching the 10th”.
But Knost, Herron, and Stadler have been struggling. Knost has never come close to finishing in the top 125, Herron lost his card in 2010 and barely made it back, and Stadler has been right on the edge of losing his card for his entire career, although he doing a little better this year.
I also love Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia (before they made him tone down). it was nice to see some excitement in golf!
He has become the most sought after and highest paid headliner for fundraisers and corporate outings. That isn't something that works with phoniness. What has he got to be phony about in the first place?
In 2011, Colt Knost's earnings were $296,817.00.
In 2011, Tim Herron's earnings were $909,135.00.
In 2011, Craig Stadler's (father -age 59) earnings were $127,383.
In 2011, Kevin Stadler's (the son) earnings were $768,172.00.
Not too shabby, I'd say for players who are "struggling."
I've got to side with JohnG45.
Golf is a skill. Shooting is a skill. Archery is a skill.
Athletics is defined as requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina . Golf has the skill, but stamina? Not so much.
Either you've never tried to play golf, or you don't know much about athletics.
Heh heh heh ... I was about to say the same thing...these guys who say this isn't a sport somehow can't explain why there aren't more REAL athletes playing for the millions these guys make and more than a handful who are in the top ten. It's like when I hear someone say poker is just luck. Why can't I get them to come to our regular game? Heh heh...
“Take Matt Kuchar as an example. In 2011, he had 0 WINS but he earned $4,233,920.00.”
So why aren’t there REAL athletes playing and dominating? Millions and millions going begging....hmmmmph. Thanks for the laugh.What a laugh...defeat your own argument.
Nothing is stopping them. It is a matter of choice.
Dustin Johnson is supposed to be an accomplished athlete in a few sports but has chosen golf. As skilled as he may be, he continues to suffer from a lack of concentration and so he may never reach his full potential.
Wasn't it Bobby Jones who said, "Golf is played mainly on a six inch course; the space between your ears."
“Nothing is stopping them. It is a matter of choice.”
Good thinking.
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