U.S pro golfers pampered?

[Snakey]

Does playing on perfectly manicured well watered courses in the U.S hold back American golfers. When they have to play links type golf or any course less than perfect they seem not to do well...the recent P.G.A , seven of the top ten being "foreigners" and the British Open being examples, very few travel overseas to broaden their experience to different types of courses and conditions ...yes money plays it's part in keeping them home but take them away from their comfort zone and they are also rans . Discussion open, xenophobia not encouraged but inevitable .

[clubchamp]

I think americans have won the british open or open championship 7 times in the last 12 years granted Tiger Woods was 3 of them. So no I don't think it has anything to do with being pampered but rather competition being stronger all over the world.

[lumpuckeroo]

Originally Posted by clubchamp

I think americans have won the british open or open championship 7 times in the last 12 years granted Tiger Woods was 3 of them. So no I don't think it has anything to do with being pampered but rather competition being stronger all over the world.

I would agree, also is not like the courses in the Open rotta are cow pastures (like the one I played last weekend)!  I think that players, regardless of nationality, grow up playing certain type/types of courses and have a comfort level on those kinds of courses.  I've heard Tom Watson talk about how he is a "picker" of the golf ball, he takes little or no divot, because he learned his golf, here in the Kansas City area, playing on zoysia fairways.

IMHO, it has nothing to do with being pampered, more to do with the types of courses on which you learned the game.

[MSchott]

I think there are some US players that are uncomfortable with links golf as they don't play that style of golf very often but it's much smaller than in the past when many pros complained about the Open courses. Also, if you watch the European Tour, they rarely play links courses.

I don't think Kiawah has any relation to a links course or that the conditions weren't perfect. If American's didn't play well it's because they didn't make putts or drive straight enough. The game McIlroy played this past weekend was pure American golf meaning long drives wedges in the air and a clutch short game.

[Rocket Man]

I think the money has a lot to do with their motivation to get any better.I really think that a lot of pros just do the minimum amount of practice to keep their cards. I mean wheres your motivation to go pound balls all day long when you can cruise your yaught to the Bahamas for the week and stay in the finest resort available.These guys live a lifestyle that we can only dream about by just plodding along finishing 30th place or so and by the end of the year they walk away with millions!! Why would you want to go practice your game all day long?

[colin007]

I think the tour guys would 3 jack a lot more if they played where i do, morons can't pick up their feet when the walk on the greens or fix a ball mark...i 3 putted 7 times the other day

[MSchott]

Originally Posted by Rocket Man

I think the money has a lot to do with their motivation to get any better.I really think that a lot of pros just do the minimum amount of practice to keep their cards. I mean wheres your motivation to go pound balls all day long when you can cruise your yaught to the Bahamas for the week and stay in the finest resort available.These guys live a lifestyle that we can only dream about by just plodding along finishing 30th place or so and by the end of the year they walk away with millions!! Why would you want to go practice your game all day long?

I'm sure there are some pros that feel this way but most are highly competitive, want to play to the best of their abilities and want to win. Athletes at this level generally are very focused and highly competitive.

[iacas]

Kiawah Island's Ocean Course is not links golf. Argument is a non-starter.

[dsc123]

Originally Posted by MSchott

The game McIlroy played this past weekend was pure American golf meaning long drives wedges in the air and a clutch short game.

Right.  McIlroy has said that he prefers american style courses.  I think he said it after a bad finish at a British.  Something like he doesn't want to change his game to suit the British Open.

[MSchott]

Originally Posted by dsc123

Right.  McIlroy has said that he prefers american style courses.  I think he said it after a bad finish at a British.  Something like he doesn't want to change his game to suit the British Open.

That's a bizarre take from Rory if true. We don't know exactly what he said or the context either but he grew up in Northern Ireland and likely played a ton of links golf at that time. Also, you don't have to change your game to play links vs parkland golf, just have the shots in your bag. If Tom Watson can win at Augusta and win 5 Opens, he has all the shots and I'm sure Rory does or eventually will. He's good enough to win a career slam and that should be his goal.

[dsc123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSchott

That's a bizarre take from Rory if true. We don't know exactly what he said or the context either but he grew up in Northern Ireland and likely played a ton of links golf at that time. Also, you don't have to change your game to play links vs parkland golf, just have the shots in your bag. If Tom Watson can win at Augusta and win 5 Opens, he has all the shots and I'm sure Rory does or eventually will. He's good enough to win a career slam and that should be his goal.

It was after he played poorly in 2011.  I guess his comments were more about the weather that irrigation, but I don't think that really changes anything.

Quote:

"These conditions I just don't enjoy playing in really. That's the bottom line," McIlroy said at the end of a rainy 2011 Open in Sandwich. "I would rather play when it's sunny and not much wind.

"All the amateur tournaments I've won, they were played on links courses but they were all relatively calm. So I just play better and my game is more suited to calm conditions."

McIlroy, who had taken time off after winning the US Open a month before, seemed to forget that he often played in poor weather growing up in Ulster, portraying himself much differently after a frustrating share of 25th.

"I'm not a fan of golf tournaments that the outcome is predicted so much by the weather. It's not my sort of golf," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting back to America."

Before the 2012 Open he took this back and said he was just frustrated.  Then again, what else was he going to say right before teeing off?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/humbled-mcilroy-ready-cope-poor-conditions-210534363--golf.html

[newtogolf]

I'm not an expert on golf courses outside the United States, but from what I've seen and heard they are pretty nice courses too.  A links course is a links course no matter where it is.  I think the bigger difference between the U.S. and Europe is the weather.  I don't think U.S. golfers are as comfortable playing in the wind and rain as europeans.

[nevets88]

I've walked a couple of Open rota courses and played on some well regarded links courses in the UK.

They. Are. Not. Cow. Pastures. Furthest. From. The. Truth.

There was a cow pasture next to one though

[turtleback]

Originally Posted by Rocket Man

I think the money has a lot to do with their motivation to get any better.I really think that a lot of pros just do the minimum amount of practice to keep their cards. I mean wheres your motivation to go pound balls all day long when you can cruise your yaught to the Bahamas for the week and stay in the finest resort available.These guys live a lifestyle that we can only dream about by just plodding along finishing 30th place or so and by the end of the year they walk away with millions!! Why would you want to go practice your game all day long?

That sounds ridiculous to me.  There is no way to just practice just enough to keep your card.  Proof?  Look at all the guys who lose their cards each year.  With the money involved it is a dogfight for the marginal players to keep their cards and every single one of them wants to move from being a marginal player to being a real money maker.  That guy "just finishing in 30th place" had to beat out 126 of the best players in the world to "just finish in 30th place" in the typical event.

In what other job are there a hundred (or more) guys trying to get each job where the guy who already has the job can just be a slacker and keep it?

[Rocket Man]

Originally Posted by turtleback

That sounds ridiculous to me.  There is no way to just practice just enough to keep your card.  Proof?  Look at all the guys who lose their cards each year.  With the money involved it is a dogfight for the marginal players to keep their cards and every single one of them wants to move from being a marginal player to being a real money maker.  That guy "just finishing in 30th place" had to beat out 126 of the best players in the world to "just finish in 30th place" in the typical event.

In what other job are there a hundred (or more) guys trying to get each job where the guy who already has the job can just be a slacker and keep it?

I am not talking about "marginal players" trying to establish themselves on tour.I do feel that there are a number of established pga pros that do not have to push themselves to get any better and still make a great living.Do they still have to practice and work at it?Of course they do but they dont have to really push themselves to keep what they have.You do make a good point about how many players lose their cards but also look at how many that dont.

[MSchott]

Originally Posted by Rocket Man

I am not talking about "marginal players" trying to establish themselves on tour.I do feel that there are a number of established pga pros that do not have to push themselves to get any better and still make a great living.Do they still have to practice and work at it?Of course they do but they dont have to really push themselves to keep what they have.You do make a good point about how many players lose their cards but also look at how many that dont.

Where I feel you are off base is in assuming that these players are content to just make enough to keep their cards. These golfers did not get this far on talent alone. They are highly competitive athletes and always want to play their best. They are driven and focused. There may be a few that coast but the vast majority want to win and play to the peak of their abilities. Also, the better known you are the better the endorsement opportunities.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Rocket Man

I am not talking about "marginal players" trying to establish themselves on tour.I do feel that there are a number of established pga pros that do not have to push themselves to get any better and still make a great living.Do they still have to practice and work at it?Of course they do but they dont have to really push themselves to keep what they have.You do make a good point about how many players lose their cards but also look at how many that dont.

So what does any of that have to do with being "pampered" (per the OP, anyway)? Let's not stray too far from the topic please.

[Rocket Man]

Originally Posted by iacas

So what does any of that have to do with being "pampered" (per the OP, anyway)? Let's not stray too far from the topic please.

I dont feel that my first post was to far off of topic as the money can pamper the pros as well.I realize that this is not exactly what the op was talking about but its not way off topic.I posted what I honestly felt and got attacked and my post called ridiculous. I guess that I have no right to defend myself and thats ok but I think the poster that challenged my view point was the one way off topic.