Who's the greatest?

The argument over who is (or will be) the greatest golfer ever is far from over. tiger is still playing of course, but greatness is hard to define with simple statistics. Is Barry Bonds the greatest homerun hitter of all time? If it's proven he used steroids, is the answer the same?

I'm leaning towards Tiger but probably in the "will be" camp. My view of the stats to date is based on the first twelve years of each player as a Professional. With Nicklaus, 1961 through the 1972 season and Tiger, 1996 through the 2007 season.

In those years, Jack played in 232 PGA individual events (as opposed to team events, etc), won 45 and 11 majors. Tiger played in 215 events, won 61 and 13 majors. Jack turned Professional at 21, Tiger, also at 21.

Jack's remaining PGA results (not counting the Senior Tour) was as follows...362 tournaments, 28 wins, 7 majors. Obviously, like any good athlete, Jack's percentages tailed off with age, as I expect Tiger's will. One distinct difference I see moving forward is Tiger's attention to physical fitness. Jack early in his career dealt with some weight issues, but later on stayed fairly trim although I'm not aware that he worked on his overall fitness.

My bet would be that Tiger will surpass all of Jack's records, based on the fact he is already slightly ahead of pace and maintains a physical regimen that should enable him to remain competitive longer. Lots of things can happen but irrespective of any of them, I consider myself lucky to have been around to see both of them in person and in their prime.

The Golf Channel meets "JackAss", Or a Felony?...You Decide

We make a point of writing positive golf stories on our golf blog, and on our web site. We also post the "related videos" at the bottom of our blog that rotate though various types of golf-related scenes. Below is what I would call JackAss meets The Golf Channel

This one caught my eye (and easily could have "cost" the subject his eye, even his life).

I think the title of this post says it all...Warning, this video is disturbing!!



I only have one question (if this was real)...How Dumb Can Some People Be?

Like a friend of mine says, "Ignorance can be fixed—stupid is forever!"

Your thoughts???

These two definitely don't gotta-grip!

Golf Wishes Happy Birthday to Stewart Cink

With four PGA wins and eleven total wins, including charity events and two wins at the Mexican Open, Stewart Cink could probably consider beating Tiger Woods again in 2008 as a goal. He did beat Tiger in the 2004 WGC-NEC (now known as Bridgestone) Invitational.

One of his other wins that year was when he beat Ted Purdy in a marathon five-hole playoff that was (for the most part) captured as depicted here...




An amazing shot from 75 yards out with the sun directly in his eyes (and in the sand), proved to be enough to get the ball close enough to edge out Purdy for the win.

Although it has been a while since he was in the top-10 worldwide ranking, Stewart Cink is building an impressive career, with two second place finishes this year already.


The Gotta-Grip Team

Golf and News Are Four-Letter-Words!

Tiger Woods, Rory Sabbatini, Arnold Palmer, Davis Love, Payne Stewart, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman and others…may all be joined by a new celebrity—not for golf, but for public speaking fame. Welcome Sue Simmons to the club!

I was not even nine years old when I heard my first curse-word on the golf course. Getting to ride with my dad when he golfed several times back then, I got a taste of bad language from my father’s friend who had a nasty temper when he missed a shot.

I freely admit to having cursed myself, and I have heard the most demure; shout, mutter, utter, mouth, and/or gesture a curse word in my life. I must also admit to being amused by the YouTube video sent to me as an e-mail link by a friend where Ms. Sue Simmons "lets the F-bomb fly" on an NBC TV News program, in what she apparently thought was a taped teaser for the 11:00PM news in NYC, which was actually LIVE...OUCH!

Sue Simmons is a New York City TV Anchor on WNBC. After making a major four-letter word faux pas, she apologized for her remark, which was meant as a joke not to be televised, and went on to say that it will not happen again. I would think that like the rest of the world, she means it will not happen again until she stubs her toe, etc. Apparently, there has been so much flack over her on-air remark that she may lose her job…A job she has had for a long time.

Curse words have no place on live TV where kids are potentially watching, nor do they belong on a televised broadcast of a golf match, but let’s face it—We are all human.

If you think about it, no person (unless born, raised, and died in a monastery), will go through life without hearing surly language. I even wonder about what the Amish, or Monks say when they accidentally drop a brick on their feet. No matter what words come out of one’s mouth at that time, we know what they meant and why they said it.

I say…lighten up; Sue Simmons shouldn’t be fired (I am sure she already feels bad enough), just like Tiger, Rory and any other person who shows their human side occasionally at work should not lose their entire career over mere words. If however, they were publicly showing hatred, as opposed to anger, that is another story, which requires swift and severe action.

I am playing golf this weekend so I promise to try to keep my mouth shut if something bad happens on the %#@* course, but will report the $&@# here if I fall short.

A guy from Gotta-Grip.

Golf Will Miss Ms 59!

Annika Sorenstam known by some as “Ms. 59”, the only woman golfer to turn in a score of 59 for a day’s work, announced she is retiring from the game. She will be missed, and it remains to be seen if/when she will be joined in that exclusive club of ONE.

When people like Tiger Woods consider you an amazing athlete on the golf course, as well as consider you a close friend, you know you have been good for the game of golf.

By retiring at the age of 37 (at the end of the 2008 season), she will hold short of becoming the all-time winning golfer on the LPGA. This will also prevent her from capturing more majors than others, but she certainly has nothing to feel unfulfilled about.

Annika Sorenstam stands at 72 all-time wins, and 10 majors, putting her in the company of Louise Suggs ( 58 wins, 11 majors), Patty Berg (60 wins, 15 majors), Mickey Wright, (82 wins, 13 majors), and Kathy Whitworth (88 wins, 6 majors). Annika, however is likely to stand alone in the “59 club” for some time.

Ms. 59 also leads the pack to the bank with over $22 million won during her career.

Annika made more history for being the first woman since 1945 (under a sponsor’s exemption), to compete on the PGA Tour at the 2003 Bank of America Colonial. For me, watching her teary-eyed remarks on TV after missing the cut, was almost like watching Dorothy leaving OZ. She indeed tested her mettle to the breaking point, using the scar tissue from that hurt to serve as her inspiration for the remainder of her career.

There are many newcomers on the LPGA Tour poised to take a shot at the throne Annika leaves behind. As she departs to start a family with her future husband Mike McGee, many are likely breathing a sigh of relief knowing their odds of winning just increased substantially.

You Go Girl!

The Gotta-Grip Team

Golf Loves a Winner…And a Runner-Up!

The winner that golf loves this week is none other than Sergio Garcia, but the world also got a good look at Paul Goydos. Both of these golfers showed exemplary form, and what a finish they put on during what was a tumultuous day of golf.

The wind alone, prevented shots that normally would have been routine for the top golfers in the world, from rising above par…Add fast greens and unpredictable roughs, and you have the recipe for an “anything goes” afternoon of golf at the 2008 Players Championship.

One thing was clear to the players as they danced around the top positions looking for a break, which was voiced by Sergio as he accepted his trophy...I am sure he spoke for all when he said, “I would like to thank Tiger for not showing up this week”.

It makes you wonder the effect that Tiger actually has on the field weekly, and (maybe) makes you appreciate the few events he misses so we get a chance to focus on some of the other “Good Guys” in Golf.

Sergio has had a long spell, which while not completely dry, has seen him falter in his putting at critical times. Not so this time! On a day where the viewing audience at home got a look at just how windy it was when on Par 3 hole #17 of the playoff, his tee shot landed in the center of the green. It then took a right turn, following the green contour, and all but came to a stop 12 feet from the cup, when the wind pushed the ball (you could actually see it accelerate), towards the hole stopping about four, to five feet away. He just missed the put, but since the wind that drove his ball towards the hole had also put Goydos’s tee shot in water, PAR was good enough for the 28 year-old Spaniard to claim the top prize.

It was unclear which of these two would win when they headed off to begin the playoff, but leading up to this moment, it was clear that both were worthy competitors.

Paul Goydos proves to be someone that the game, its players, and the viewing public have adopted as the new golfer to watch & I hope we do see a lot more of him. Not too bad to earn over $1,000,000 for second place either.

Some players were saying that this tournament should indeed become a Major in golf. I agree and yesterday, it was “major fun” to watch.

Congratulations to both from the team at Gotta-Grip.

Real-World GOLF 2008

On Monday, October 25 1999, I arrived at O’Hare Airport in Chicago in time to catch my flight, which was heading to Omaha, NE. It was a typical Monday morning (pre-September 11, 2001), so getting to the airport lacked distinction, with the exception of a report on the radio that a plane had perhaps been hi-jacked with a celebrity on-board.

I believe (going from my memory) that the early reports inaccurately, and with sketchy details, alluded to a suggestion that a rock star was involved.

During the 1-hour flight, which was on a beautiful fall morning in the Midwest, I remember looking out the window and thinking about the report, I had heard earlier, wondering who it was and what happened.

Little did I know that the flight I was on would be one of the last for several hours, which was not diverted. As it turned out, we would not be delayed due to the “runaway” plane with professional golfer Payne Stewart aboard. There were five others with him as they headed directly towards [what would have been] intersecting our flight path over central Iowa.

We all know the tragedy that became of this flight, which resulted in six souls, including Stewart, perishing that day in a field after the plane with its incapacitated crew, & passengers finally ran out of fuel—tumbling to the earth.

I feel confident to say that if anything could have been done to save them, as the military, and ground radar followed the flight, it would have been. I think we would all have wanted to change the outcome if we could.

I suppose it is with that as a backdrop, that I wonder how those close to John Daly must feel watching him (if reports are correct) careening out of control at this point in his life. I also (based on experience), know that intervention is what might be needed to save his life.

I feel that the recent statements by Butch Harmon telling Daly to “get help” should not only be applauded, but others in the industry might choose to become more involved in intervening on John Daly’s behalf.

It is sad that the spectacle of Mr. Daly’s troubles seem to be what the media is after…"Daly seen drunk in public; Daly a no-show for Palmer; Daly Plays Golf Without Shirt" etc.

I hope those that can reach this aircraft we call the "Daly Express" in time, decide to help get it down without incident. He is a great player and he is good for the game when he is well.

John…Listen to those who care about you…You are clear to land when ready!

The Gotta-Grip team