Sun for so many day. Even Tiger has a limited amount of winning days. In my wasted youth I was playing in a pro event in Florida (as a amateur). I was playing with J.C. Snead who was maybe past his prime. I could just about keep up with JC's drives.
On the first day, back nine par 5 I had him by 5 or 6 yards on the drive. He hit short and walked up to my ball. I had pulled a iron when he said "Damn kid, go for it." I said, it's all water carry to the green. He said, "It's 230 to a short porch, even if you lie John Brown after two, with your rake you could still make 5 or leak with a 6. The spread is three and the shrink is 2. They will make FootJoys forever, you only get 14 pair.
I only saw him play in 1 or two PGA events after that day and a few years latter his uncle Sam died. I had played a lot of golf and understood what he said. Short porch meant a small area in front of the green you could roll thru. Lie John Brown after two meant hit it in the water (John Brown) on the second shot. With your rake (putter) still par or maybe a 6. The spread of three is the difference of making a possible 3 (eagle) and worst case 6 and the shrink (lower score or shrink score) of 2 if you make the eagle.
It was the 14 pair of Footjoys that I often thought about. In those days I usually bought two pair a year. As it worked out I only played about 7 or 8 years of really good amateur golf. Oh for another 10 I played in the mid to high 70's but seldom carded in the 60's and never two days in a row.
I think maybe JC knew he was on his last pair and Tiger is probably on his next to last pair, maybe his last. When I played I usually hit 250 to 300 golf balls a day on days I just practiced. On playing days I hit a hundred and practiced my putting for 3 hours. The top pros that I have known worked harder than me. I either played or practiced 6 days a week.
Chances of a Grand Slam for Tiger are in the rear view mirror, maybe even another major is back in the day. I don't say this because he is playing bad but because he is 36, had his share of injuries and every year the competition coming on board is getting better while he is treading water and his putter has gone South.
..He once was playing in a pro-am and didn't say a word to his amateur partners all day.
Finally, on the 18th green, one of his amateur partners had a chance to win the pro-am (and make $ for JC) by sinking a putt. JC said to him: "Come on, partner, we need this one." The amateur deliberately putted the ball off the green.
He wasn't overly chatty that day but wasn't rude. I think he just played quite for the most part. He did have a few quirks.
At the time I was playing a 3 dot face McGregor driver. Clubs in those days were still made of wood. He asked if he could see it and how much it had cost. I gave it to him and told him it was $250. He turned up his nose at the price but did admit it was in perfect shape. The drive was 20 years old at the time. He thought my copper face diamond back irons were better suited for hoeing the garden and told me so.
As I remember he shot 1 under that day and I shot 72 even par. Over four rounds we tied at 2 under both finishing out of the money.
But it was worth it. A player by the name of Raymond Floyd who wasn't playing in the tourney was practicing on the range. He walked over and gave me a lesson on short wedge play. It was late in the day and I think he was just finishing and noticed I was struggling with my wedge. A few weeks later I got sand trap lessons from Doug Ford who was the head pro at a Florida Club. On long par 5 he couldn't reach he would play for the green side bunker, up and down for a birdie. Said it was easier than short wedges. Best that ever was on sand.
Shouldn't get me started on this. I could go for days with golf stories. I did see Hogan and Tommy Bolt play at the last K.C. Open. They were paired together. Bolt always said; "Always throw clubs ahead of you, that way you won't waste any energy going back to pick them up." He did just that, that day.
I was very young when I saw Hogan play. But for the record I have a few mashies and several wooden shafted clubs. Unfortunely I don't have any featheries. Even when I started collection they were 2 to 3 thousand dollars.
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