Golf isn't a sport... and the Earth is flat!

A couple of times in class the topic of whether or not golf is a sport has been brought up, but not discussed in detail. I’m interested it seeing what people’s opinions are on this subject.

Personally I’ve been playing golf my whole life. I have always had immense respect for the game but will admit that I haven’t always considered it a sport. The way most amateurs and I play the game would probably be more accurately described as a recreation. But in the last 10+ years a shift has occurred. Now athleticism is a major factor in whether or not a player is successful on tour. Is it a coincidence that the best player on tour is the one in best shape? I don’t believe it is. Many key characteristics that make a football or basketball players skilled in their discipline are comparable to what make golfers good in theirs. Examples are such characteristics as mental strength, flexibility, determination, and of course physical condition/athleticism.

Tiger has been rumored to bench over 300 lbs, squat 500+ lbs, and run sprints that are comparable to NFL athletes (and I assume not lineman!). Some people question this since it’s difficult to find hard data, but one look at his physique and it would be hard to doubt. Many of his nearest competitors are in great shape as well, and even Jon Daly is unbelievably strong and is considered to have the ‘softest hands’ (playing soft shots, not hand texture) on tour, even though he’s a little out of shape.

Basically my argument for why golf is a sport is simple. Take a doubter out to walk 36 holes of golf on a hot summer day and see if he is as tired as playing some pick-up basketball. If athletes are playing a game, competing for money, and entertaining millions of people, how could it not be a sport?

Just shut it

Perhaps one of these days, Rory Sabbatini will learn what it takes to become a real professional - not just play professional golf, but learn how to act professionally as well. Or maybe just learn to not call out the greatest golfer on the planet. Didn't he learn anything from Stephen Ames?

After saying Tiger had only won three tournaments so far this year (Sabbatini has won 4 times since turning pro in 1998), he said Tiger looks "as beatable as ever" and that he "likes the new Tiger". Tiger then dismantled him on Sunday, starting the day one stroke back and finishing 8 strokes ahead, winning the WGC-Bridgstone Invitational again.

Sabbatini is no stranger to making an arse out of himself, but one thought he may have learned a lesson in humility and professionalism after his tantrum while playing with Beaverton's own Ben Crane two years ago. You may remember, Sabbatini was irked by Crane's slow play, and finished the 17th hole at The Booz Allen without waiting for his playing partner. After the round, Crane was nothing if not diplomatic, accepting what he thought was his part of the blame for the fiasco.

That came as no surprise to me. Ben and I grew up in the same neighborhood. We played youth soccer together for years. We went on church youth group missions together. Through all of the years I've known Ben, he truly is a genuine, humble person, even in the face of someone who is not.

Mr. Sabbatini, my only hope is that someday you will learn your lesson and keep your mouth shut. After all, golf is supposed to be a gentleman's game. Apparently, somebody forgot to tell you that.

But for now, to borrow a line from Seinfeld, "The jerk store called, and they're running out of you!"

Tigers and Bears... Oh my!

Everyone knows the biggest debate surrounding golf is who is the better player, Tiger or Jack Nicklaus? This is often a heated and interesting debate but it falls into that category of things hard to compare because of the large time differential. For those of you who don’t know golf, Jack Nicklaus currently holds the Professional Golfers’ Association Majors Record (PGA Championship [5], The Masters [6], US Open[4], British Open[3]; total=18). Tiger is currently hot on his heels with 12 PGA Majors victories. What Tiger has already accomplished in his 10+ seasons as a professional is unreal. Jack hit 12 majors after 13 seasons, but only 6 majors in the last 22 years of his career. That gives Tiger too much time to just annihilate that record.

With all this considered I still have to make the claim that Jack is the better golfer… for now. To be the best you have to own the records and although Tiger is well above the pace, no cigar yet. Also to be considered are these facts:

1. Jack Nicklaus played in the 60’s and didn’t have this incredible technology we have today. That made the game more skillful in my opinion. The ‘sweet spot’ was about the size of a quarter then, it’s almost a baseball now!

2. What the Majors record overshadows is the fact that Jack has 19 runner-up finishes in Majors. He also has 9 third place finishes. What this means is Jack was almost always in contention while Tiger seems to ebb and flow quite a bit.