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Why don't we root for underdogs in golf?

rmgators

By rmgators,
in Tour Talk

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rmgators Established Member

rmgators

Our final two majors are the British and PGA...two championships that have provided some exciting finishes the past few years, but also some rather, umm, surprising winners (Paul Lawrie, Ben Curtis, Shaun Micheel (sp?) to name a few). I always find myself rooting against the underdogs in golf for some reason (and most people that I watch/play golf with agree) which is strange b/c we seem to love the underdog in team sports (just look at George Mason as a recent example of an underdog America fell in love with).

I wonder if this is because we don't know the stories behind these guys as well as we do for the top players -- obviously whoever is broadcasting these tournaments pretty much ignores the unknown player until they actually win. I think another part of is that we love to watch history being made, and any time Tiger or Phil wins, I feel like that's what we're getting. I pretty much cringe anytime Tiger opens his mouth and don't really share his views on many things, but I still root for him to win everytime out for some reason (except when he went up against Chris DiMarco in the Masters -- gotta support my Gators ).

For some reason, I prefer seeing a player that I don't particularly like (Vijay Singh for one) win a major than one I've never heard of....anyone else feel the same?

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mnel Established Member

mnel

I'm exactly the opposite. I root for the underdogS (plural!). Especially the young guns, those making their way up the ladder. I had a good time watching - and rooting for - Schwartzel this past weekend.

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Rusty2228 Established Member

Rusty2228

My two cents....

I root for the favorites (except Mickelson) because golf is an individual sport, with a relatively level playing field i.e. same course. So it makes sense that the 'better' golfer would win if he is playing better golf. And what golf fan doesn't want to see the best golfers playing their best?

Where as basketball is a team sport where a group of underdogs with less talent can play well together and it is a good story...not necessarily the best basketball.

I root against Mickelson for the same type of reason, I am sick of the "he's just a normal guy, he's just like us, likes to have fun, blah blah blah." I want the people I root for to dominate. I like them precisely because they aren't like me, I don't want to revere a normal person, I want to look in awe at things I could never do.
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rmgators Established Member

rmgators

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I'm exactly the opposite. I root for the underdogS (plural!). Especially the young guns, those making their way up the ladder. I had a good time watching - and rooting for - Schwartzel this past weekend.

Yea I don't mind seeing the young guys play well, I've certainly been enjoying some of Villegas' performances this year.

I do find that, now that they've won their major, I will root for Curtis and the others to win as if it "validates" their victory.
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thehillgolfer Well Established Member

thehillgolfer

i've noticed i do the same thing. Like I HATE teams that dominate their sports (think Patriots, Lakers a few years back) yet in golf my favorite player is Tiger Woods and i want him to win everytime...except the US Open cuz i picked him to miss the cut. but i agree with rmgators.

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DDBowdoin Great Member

DDBowdoin

haha... I'm a huge TIGER man... if he won every tournament I would still watch every week... I may be wrong here but whenever a "no namer" wins a tournament I feel as if the big players (VJ, Tigs, Easy, Retief,...etc etc etc) are either just not playing well or arent playing in the tournament...

I don't like seeing underdogs win, I like watching the top10 in the world just battle it out

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pingman360 Member

pingman360

i think most golfers do root for the under-dog... for instance Jason Gore last year at Pinehurst no. 2 people around there really wanted to see him do well...

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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i think most golfers do root for the under-dog... for instance Jason Gore last year at Pinehurst no. 2 people around there really wanted to see him do well...

I occasionally root for the underdog. Like Jason Gore was a good example, sure (but I gave that up after, what, the second hole in the final round?).

But I won't root for an underdog with no story, and I won't root for an underdog against my short list of favorites. Senden? Who gives a flying leap? Ick.

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rmgators Established Member

rmgators

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i think most golfers do root for the under-dog... for instance Jason Gore last year at Pinehurst no. 2 people around there really wanted to see him do well...

I wasn't rooting for him to win that tournament but I was going for him in some of the smaller tourneys he played in after the Open.

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pingman360 Member

pingman360

I wasn't rooting for him to win that tournament but I was going for him in some of the smaller tourneys he played in after the Open.

but you felt for the guy...right??? i mean he's out there playing in a tournament that he's always wanted to play in... you didnt pull for him at all???

that was just an example... heres another one: our (USA's) Ryder Cup captain, Tom Lehman... played on the Nationwide/Nike tour and brought it up to the next level, a late bloomer but he gets it done... you didnt pull for that??? neither did i but i was 1yr old ... seriosly you cant tell me that you never pull for the under-dog... DONT YOU HAVE A HEART??? (j/k)

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DDBowdoin Great Member

DDBowdoin

like I said before I want Tiger to crush all... if Tiger, Els, Scott or players of that calibur aren't in contention on sunday then I dont watch (unless its a major)

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Seven Lakes Member

Seven Lakes

I'm all about seing the top 5 win as well but I gotta admit, Sunday at the Foot, I was all about some Colin Montgomery, He's got a story, he's got a label (best player to never win a major) though now thats gotta be Adam Scott or Luke Donald maybe, or even David Howell but Colin is a good guy and has just missed in the past so I was in his corner Sunday.
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rmgators Established Member

rmgators

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I'm all about seing the top 5 win as well but I gotta admit, Sunday at the Foot, I was all about some Colin Montgomery, He's got a story, he's got a label (best player to never win a major) though now thats gotta be Adam Scott or Luke Donald maybe, or even David Howell but Colin is a good guy and has just missed in the past so I was in his corner Sunday.

I was also cheering hard for Monty, sad to see him fall apart on 18.

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chingali Well Established Member

chingali

But I won't root for an underdog with no story, and I won't root for an underdog against my short list of favorites. Senden? Who gives a flying leap? Ick.

Everyone has a story, just because you don't know it doesn't mean that it does not exist. And I do care about John Senden, having met and played with him back in the late eighties/early nineties means that I have always followed his career.

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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Everyone has a story, just because you don't know it doesn't mean that it does not exist. And I do care about John Senden, having met and played with him back in the late eighties/early nineties means that I have always followed his career.

Clearly everyone technically has "a story." But I think you know what I meant...

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Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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