Tiger and Vijay have proven it takes physical talent and a dedication reach perfection in all phases(driving, irons, chipping, putting). I wonder if the young guys(Scott, Garcia) are motivated to do what Vijay did to become #1. They might not care.
I think it's pretty clear that a player has to be "driven" to achieve the kind of success that Tiger and Vijay have. I think that the days of a player dominating on the basis of natural talent alone are gone. There are many players with great natural talent on Tour, but those who work the hardest and want it most are those who prevail.
The problem may be that the Tour is so lucrative that players are not driven by need to dominate to make a decent living, so many work hard to achieve a level of success that guarantees them financial security but don't dedicate their entire lives to the game. Many pros today are better husbands and fathers, but not the best golfers they could be.
. . . many pros today are better husbands and fathers, but not the best golfers they could be.
Absolutely agree, and there is nothing wrong with that. We all have different values. Also, don't forget the importance of ego.
In private industry the people who become CEO's and decision-makers are the ones who are usually obsessed and have tons more ambition and ego than their peers. For every President/CEO who has sacrificed his/her private life to become a business success, there are thousands of men and women obsessed with their families, content to go to work every day and come home to spend valuable time with their loved ones. And yes, I know there are exceptions.
Yes, IMO there is no job worth sacrificing too much time with those closest to you for. The PGA Tour players nowaday, like VG said, are making so much that they don't really even need to play great to make a good living. The 125th man on the money list this year has made $545,959 so far this year so even mediocre play can get these guys a pretty comfortable existence. I read Chris Dimarco say in Golf Digest, I believe, a while ago that he is perfectly comfortable with staying in the top 30 on the money list each year and leaving it at that. I think that kind of mentality has set in amongst a lot of the guys.
Many pros today are better husbands and fathers, but not the best golfers they could be.
That goes for some of us amateurs too! I practice and play whenever I can but NEVER if it keeps me from family things. Very rarely do I get to play on a weekend. My wife works midnights and Saturday is family adventure day (movies, the Zoo, museums, etc.) and Sunday is soccer day. An early afternoon game followed by a post game "family" dinner at our favorite restaurant. There's no substitute for time spent with your family. Not playing on weekends drives my golf buddies nuts, but how could I look my son in the eyes and tell him that I had to miss his game winning goal because I had a tee time? Never gonna happen!
All of us want to be better players and dedicating more time to do what it takes to get there is the fastest way to improve. Wives, children, family, and jobs, prevent most of us from becoming the best player we can be. Aren't you glad they do? I am!
But the young guns on tour don't have to worry about that. I have a feeling their more interested in parties than practice. That type of attitude won't take you to the top, regardless of talent.
Well I've just gotten a job about a month ago, so I don't get to golf at all anymore. I had to skip outta work yesterday just to get a round in! It was a great course too, and I loved it. I mean, I did horribly, and I wanted to beat my own brains out by the 16th hole... but then I birdied the 17th. 9-iron to the rough past the green... oh wait... it's rolling back... within 5-10 feet of the hole. Practically straight-in putt. It was great too... you gotta see my scorecard... 6, 7, 4, 7, 5, 15, 13, 2, 7. Something like that. I had a horrible couple of holes where I lost every shot in the fescue and just couldn't make contact at all.
Anyhew that's also the reason I haven't been here in a while... I haven't been golfing in a long time. I may go this Sunday, if it's not extremely cold. Which it will be
All of us want to be better players and dedicating more time to do what it takes to get there is the fastest way to improve. Wives, children, family, and jobs, prevent most of us from becoming the best player we can be. Aren't you glad they do? I am!
Excellent point, leaguegolf! Other interests also cut into golf time. I'm not always happy with my golf game, but I'm happy with my life.
October 11th, 2004, 05:16 PM
I practice and play whenever I can but NEVER if it keeps me from family things. Very rarely do I get to play on a weekend. My wife works midnights and Saturday is family adventure day (movies, the Zoo, museums, etc.) and Sunday is soccer day. An early afternoon game followed by a post game "family" dinner at our favorite restaurant. There's no substitute for time spent with your family. 
Not playing on weekends drives my golf buddies nuts, but how could I look my son in the eyes and tell him that I had to miss his game winning goal because I had a tee time? 
Never gonna happen!
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