Byron Nelson recap: Scott Verplank wins -- where were Tiger, Ernie, and others?
Did anyone catch the Byron Nelson Classic this past weekend? It was a touching finish with local boy (from Dallas) Scott Verplank catching Luke Donald and winning what Scott considers his "5th Major." Verplank needed to sink a 1 and a half footer on 18 to seal the deal, and he was so nervous, he nearly missed it.
Two other big stories: The greens were overriden with poiana, which left huge brown patches on the green. Then, there were the no-shows by 8 of the Top 10 players in the world, including No. 1 Tiger Woods.
Ron Sirak writes: "The biggest name, of course, among those missing this week is Tiger Woods, whose loyalty to Nelson was expressed in eight appearances at Byron's tournament. But Woods, who will likely play next week at the Wachovia Championship, will join top-15 players Jim Furyk, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson, Retief Goosen, Geoff Ogilvy, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, an ailing Trevor Immelman and Zach Johnson in skipping the tournament."
OK, it's hard to single out Tiger from this list of the top players, all of whom who did not feel obliged to honor Byron Nelson the year of his death by attending his tournament. Tiger was probably getting some much needed R'n'R, while catching some of the NBA playoffs. This is a nonstory, I don't think it is a big deal.
Ron Sirak (among other golf writers), however, is taking Tiger to task:
"The more complicated answer -- and probably the correct one -- is that very few of today's millionaires appreciate the fact that it was guys like Nelson, who struggled to make ends meet, who made today's PGA Tour possible.
"There is a sense of entitlement among contemporary players that is totally out of proportion with both their achievement and their sacrifice. That sense of entitlement tends to view the world through me-colored lenses. Just as last year the one PGA Tour event all players should have been tripping over each other to enter was in New Orleans, the one must-make tournament this year should have been the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. And it had nothing to do with prize money or scheduling. It had everything to do with what was right."
6 Comments:
I've givin up bitching about the snob elitism that is the PGA today. It is what it is. Way out of my league and interest. TV production of these tournaments needs help, too. Why do I want to see numerous nostril shots of Verplank's mother (or was that his wife) while he's finishing the tournament? What's that you say? Would I be bitching about the nosehair viewing if it was Mrs. Woods (T's wife, that is). Yeah, sure. All nostrils are hideous and TV people should know that.
What are you talking about, man? That was Byron Nelson's wife. That's his tournament. The guy passed away this year. They showed his wife because she now is the one running the tournament.
Christ! I feel like a fool. Thanks for setting me straight. I caught the last hole of the tournament in a sportsbook with no sound. I am humbled.
If anybody should get a pass on this one, it should be Tiger. Black atheletes should be given an exemption from groveling at the feet of icons from an era when they weren't allowed on the grounds. And Nelson's a Southerner to boot. You think he would have given TW the time of day in 1936 down in Dallas? Helped ride him out of town is more like it.
it's like that scene from caddyshack with judge smale's and the black locker room attendant - tiger shouldn't have to cow tow to any of the biggets from the past - they were such racist mother fuckers - put that asshole fuzz ball zoeller in the same category - remember the racist "fried chicken" comment he made to tiger after he selected his first master's dinner menu -
tiger doesn't owe these scumbags anything - lord byron may have been a champion golfer but he was no champion of the people of color
Wow, Daryl, another well thought out, well reasoned post. You must be some left wing, Kumbyah, idiot to make comments like that.
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