The Open Championship or simply The Open or the British Open which it is called outside of England is a quirky, funky yet difficult “major” professional golf tournament. Year after year unexpected golfers like the train wreck John Daly and the tragedy known as Jean Van win, contend, and compete, and this year was no exception.
Tom Watson, a 59 year old golfer that last one a major tournament in 1983 (26 years ago), found himself in contention to win the Open Championship from day 1 all the way to the final day and the final minutes of the tournament. Watson chipped well, drove the ball deep and accurately, and made puts from everywhere (uphill, downhill, left, right, and far away). Simply put, he played exceptionally well. But, how could this be?! Golf is a sport. Right? However, as Corso says, “Not so fast my friend!”
Tom Watson almost won the Open because golf is not a sport. Stewart Cink won the Open because golf is not a sport, and Tiger Woods missed the cut because golf is not a sport.
Golf is a highly skilled activity that most anyone can play. Members from Corporate America, football players, basketball players, politicians, men, women, children, out of shape people, unhealthy people, and old people play golf and do exceedingly well on the golf course! Golf is an activity and not a sport.
To further illustrate the shortcomings of golf, please see the list below.
-Today, Michael Jordan played golf while simultaneously smoking a cigar. What “sport” can you puff a cigar while playing?
-John McCain I mean Tom Watson (whom is a cohort of Jack Nicklaus) almost won The Open. Is there such thing of a sport where age does not matter? Should your dad or grandfather be able to compete with 20 something year olds?
-Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger whom play golf as their second sport and cannot dedicate a lot of time to golf because they are starting NFL quarterbacks, can play on par with professional golfers every once in a while.
-John Daly is addicted to cigarettes, is an alcoholic, and has a weight problem. Daly famously refused to partake in the British Open Champions Dinner because "You can't get this fat boy into a suit." Daly has also admitted that has admitted the only reason he does not lift weights is because the health club does not let him smoke there and he would get sick after he worked out. John Daly has won the Open Championship, the PGA Championship, and has placed 3rd at the Masters. Daly almost won 3 of the 4 majors. But, he does have soft hands and a pretty good short game. How can this guy be successful? He can be successful because golf is not a sport.
Sportynation, this blogpost emerged from the shock of Tom Watson almost winning The Open Championship and Tiger Woods missing the cut. The Open Championships of 2009 also led me to consider the travesty of Tiger Woods winning athlete of the year multiple times. I love Tiger Woods and what he has done to golf and how he has impacted the world, but he cannot be the athlete of the year under any cirumstances. Should and/or could Earl Williams or win athlete of the year? And, do you know who these two people are? These are two of the greatest bowlers ever. Sportynation, are you going to argue that bowling is a sport? It is practically the same thing as golf. It is just perceived differently.
Golf is a really cool activity, but it is no sport. As “The Dan LeBatard Show” says so so frequently. If aliens come to earth and challenge the humans to a battle and we need to present our absolute best athlete are you going to pick Tiger, or John Daly, or Watson? Of course you will not. However, you just may be Usain Bolt, LeBron James, Michael Phelps, or Brock Lesnar.
Sportynation this is my Minority Report.
i dunno man, golf satifies the two requirements. 1. needing athletic skill and 2. beating someone outright (ie: no judging).
ReplyDeleteTiger can bench 300lbs, I'd say that's a good harbinger of athletic skill. golf is like baseball, wherein the skill level is so high that you don't have to be the best athlete to play it. howeves, if you are the best athlete it puts you at a distinct advantage. note how el tigre is always the favorite. but they can't ALWAYS win
Tiger Woods is an outlier.
ReplyDeleteIs Phil Mikelson an athlete? He is unquestionably the 2nd best golfer in the world. Btw, John Daly can maybe bench 300lbs due to his sheer mass.
Baseball is a highly skilled sport as well, but having speed and strength are undoubtedly advantageous to you. More than 70% of baseball players are true athletes. The only position where you could MAYBE argue that there aren't athletes is pitcher and that's a maybe. Every other position requires athleticism, and almost all players bat regularly.
All baseball players can play golf at a reasonable level. Most golfers cannot play baseball at a reasonable level. And, it's reasonable to say that golf is a more skilled sport.
The baseball example simply doesn't hold up. Plus, you can't drink beer while playing baseball, or smoke a cigar, or be dominant at the age of 59.
Lastly, are you an athlete just because you play a "sport?"
Is bowling a sport? Is pool a sport? Are darts a sport? Is snooker a sport? I am willing to say gymnastics is more of a sport than golf despite the judging criteria that I too agree with...
Just for some perspective, and for whatever it may be worth, Tom Watson was ranked somewhere in the 1300s before the British Open. He had a good weekend but don't let this one lone success convince you that old guys can play with young guys. The last time someone that old a major was back around World War I.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not golf is a sport, you could argue that what happened with Watson was just a guy that used to be good getting really hot and/or really lucky (until he choked anyway). Because clearly he is not anywhere near being one of the best players in the world. Daniel Brands isn't 60 years old but he's similar to Watson in that he's only a mediocre player but he was still able to top one of the world's best in one particular instance. Things happen.
I'm not saying I completely disagree with your assessment, I just don't think you can use Tom Watson as proof of that necessarily.