In an upcoming issue of Golf World magazine, John Hawkins writes an interesting, yet degrading column. Hawkins argues that men's pro golf 'is dead, not literally and certainly not economically, but as a competitive organism', and that 2008 has shown few signs of life. Barring last weekend's thrilling showdown between Adam Scott and Ryan Moore which Hawkins characterizes as a 'step in the right direction,' the first four months of the season haven't been exciting. We all know Tiger Woods despises finishing in second, and Hawkins suggests...
You can rationalize that such a mentality is the offspring of his prolific success, which is why nobody else talks about winning every time they show up. Then again, maybe it is a big reason Tiger wins so often. Maybe that is the real lesson to his greatness. A bunch of players have the skill -- only one has the attitude. At a time when so many marquee players are struggling to take their games to the next level, they should worry less about the flight of their ball and more about the trajectory of their aspirations.
I can buy Hawkins argument, but I think that players like Mickelson, Furyk, and Scott already have lofty aspirations. The problem is that, even at their best, they can't match up against Tiger Woods. When it's all said and done, Woods will go down as the greatest player who ever teed it up, and perhaps one of the greatest athletes of all time. It is nearly impossible right now for any golfer to make it to the top.
