NOT THAT you'd know it from reading those newspapers whose fixation with football knows no pause, but this is a busy time of year for golf. There's a lot going on at the moment, on and off the fairways. All of which, as per usual, provokes first thought, then questions, then conclusions. Here are just a few of the things currently occupying the (tiny) mind of your humble correspondent.
Who is Europe's best player?Six months ago, this was an easy one to answer, such was the high profile of Open and USPGA champion Padraig Harrington. But, since winning the second of those titles last August, the Irishman has barely
hit a good shot, never mind a great one. Now there are the substantial claims of the new Players champion Henrik Stenson, whose final day 66 at Sawgrass is surely the round of the year so far. Let's not forget Paul Casey, who has won three times around the world this year. And what about Sergio and his still magnificent ball striking?
Verdict: Stenson, by a nose.
Will Tiger get to 19 majors?Since his return from injury, the great one has played, well, great. Not once has he been outside the top-ten in a stroke play event; twice he has emerged victorious. But at both the Masters and the US Open, Woods left the premises seething at his inability to get the job done over the closing holes. His driving has been spotty and his putting has been even worse than that – hardly a winning combination. Still five short of Jack Nicklaus's record, the world No 1 needs a victory at Turnberry next month if the doubters are to be silenced.
Verdict: He'll get there, but it may take longer than we thought.
Is Tiger a hero or a jerk?Two weeks ago, the world's best golfer ventured to Bethpage Black for a practice round prior to the US Open. After driving off the 18th tee, he walked off in order to avoid a waiting crowd by the green. Then there is his incessant spitting – not so great expectorations - on the course, persistent foul language and his employment of the disagreeable Steve Williams as his caddie. On the other hand, this guy hits shots and plays golf no one else is capable of. I for one can't take my eyes off him on the course.
Verdict: He's both, sometimes simultaneously.
How big a massacre is the Solheim Cup likely to be?Oh dear. The signs are not good for Europe's ladies in their biennial bunfight with the Americans. Annika Sorenstam has gone. Laura Davies is over the hill. Our own Catriona Matthew isn't yet back playing competitively after the birth of her second child.
And with the notable exceptions of Suzann Pettersen and the newly minted LPGA champion Anna Nordqvist, it is hard to think of any Europeans who will put up anything like a decent fight come the third week of August. Skipper Alison Nicholas doesn't have her troubles to seek.
Verdict: America by at least ten points and the next match will be rest of the world versus the US.
The Race to Dubai – disaster waiting to happen?There wasn't much else the European Tour could have done, of course.
Whenever anyone comes along and offers the kind of money Leisurecorp did, you have to be grateful for large mercies in these troubled times. But the economic downturn has reached the Middle East, to the point where the Dubai-based conglomerate has downsized all of its contracts by at least 30 percent, a fate that could well be in the European Tour's not too distant future. Which still isn't bad, of course, just not as good as it looked at first.
Verdict: With the Dubai government involved and loath to lose face, the multi-million dollar deal is safe – at least for now.
Should "intent" factor into the rules of golf?Three high-profile players – Rory McIlroy, Kenny Perry and Richie Ramsay – have escaped punishment this year when their apparent breaches of various rules were overlooked. Each claimed that their intent was to play within those regulations. Which is all very well, but only to a point. While the rules of golf are full of anomalies and inconsistencies that have little to do with commonsense, too much emphasis is being placed on the supposedly sacred word of the participants.
Verdict: Give referees the authority to penalise players who even inadvertently break a rule – and to hell with what they claim they are trying to do.
Who actually runs golf?When it comes to the rules, the book says it is the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the United States Golf Association. But you have to wonder sometimes.
Take the recent news that the PGA Tour, urged on by equipment manufacturers, is unlikely to adopt the new regulations for grooves on wedges come 1 January. The likes of Titleist, TaylorMade and Callaway are claiming they can't make clubs and balls the leading players will be happy with in time to meet the deadline. Aye right.
Verdict: Meet golf's real supremo, Wally Uihlein, chairman and CEO of Titleist.
How good a swing coach is Butch Harmon?You really have to wonder sometimes. Quite apart from the fact that his long-time pupil, Australian Adam Scott, has hardly made a cut this season and may soon plummet from the world's top-50 players, Harmon's work with Phil Mickelson seems to have had limited effect on the three-time major champion.
There was Lefty just last week losing out down the stretch in the US Open because of a couple of weak shots and a couple of missed short putts. Sound familiar? And let's not even start with Ernie Els, another under-performing member of the Harmon stable.
Verdict: Not nearly as good as he thinks he is.
The full article contains 989 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
