Who’s The New Guy?

Are you a rookie?

We are all rookies at some point. In life, and in sports. That’s what makes this crazy game we call golf, so relatable to life. Everybody has to start somewhere. We have all whiffed at the ball. We all have whiffed in life. The dreaded shank has happened, and of course, the ubiquitous slice. That baby isn’t going anywhere. Why do you think there are so many PGA Golf Professionals?  They struggled with it once. Now it’s their turn to help you not hit that ugly, always frustrating, stupid slice.

Being a rookie is a good thing. You get to learn things about yourself and the game that you might not have learned otherwise. Every year, the PGA Tour grants tour cards to twenty-five competent and amenable players from the Nationwide Tour. You have a mixed bag of grizzled veterans trying to find their game again, and the precocious yet ferocious college star players. The PGA Tour Q-School also has a list of graduates whose canvases are yet to be painted. All waiting to tee it up, these guys are hoping and praying their dreams become reality. Here’s the reality of it: it’s really tough out there. In recent years, with the exception of Keegan Bradley and Rickie Fowler, most rookies have found water hazards, out-of-bounds stakes, and missed cuts.

Here are a few facts about the rookies on the PGA Tour 2012:

Total number of rookies: 26

Rookies age 22 & under: 5

Rookies age 20-29: 18

Rookies age 30-39: 7

Rookies age 40 & over: 1

Rookies with no PGA Tour experience: 8

Rookies with a PGA Tour win: 1(John Huh)

You may be wondering why I’m talking about rookies during the middle of the year. Well, golf has become so unpredictable this year. A lot of new names and faces are making their ways onto television screens and leader boards. I figured I’d keep you on your toes and be a little unpredictable myself. Jason Dufner and Hunter Mahan are the only multiple winners on tour this year. Yes, Tiger and Phil each had their early season win, but have been missing on leader boards and unseen during network coverage. We all know about Tiger’s struggles, but it is different not seeing Phillip around on weekends. This year on tour we have seen Kyle Stanley make a snowman on the 72nd hole of a tournament, lose in a playoff to beady-eyed Brandt Snedeker, then win the next week in Phoenix.

Again, unpredictable. Some even say, unbelievable.

Tiger dominated from 2000-2008. Today, we don’t really have a clear-cut “No. 1” player in the world. Explaining the Official World Golf Ranking system would be like Einstein explaining his thought process on general relativity. Donald and McIlroy have been going back and forth the past few weeks exchanging the top spot between them. But we don’t really know who the number one player in the world is at the moment. That’s the thing, it’s just a number. Now who’s the best player in the world? I’m open up for discussions on that one. Fields nowadays are so deep with talent, that anyone in the field can win. These guys are that good! And that’s what makes golf so attractive.

Sure, it was neat seeing Tiger dominate the sport the way he did. I don’t think we’ll see that again in golf for a very long time. But we will. We had Jack, then Arnie, and then Tiger. Will it be McIlroy? Only time will tell. I know, very cliché of me.

But I digress.

Rookies must spend their exemptions wisely. Depending on where they finished in Q-School or their order of merit on the Nationwide Tour money list, players must play well early and often to keep getting into tournaments. Just like beginning a new job, its good to make a few birdies before those bogies come in and you screw up those TPS reports.

If  you’re a rookie at golf and are a little afraid of all those ringers and “A” players in scrambles, I encourage you to step out of  your comfort zone and step onto the links. I promise you that you’ll feel every emotion known to man. And that’s just during the first nine holes. It just gets better from there, my friend. It’s summer all the time here in San Diego. Make your way down to your local JC golf course and let our PGA and assistant pros do all the work.

Remember, we were once rookies, too.

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

Side note: If you’re out at Golfer’s Gone Wild at Twin Oaks this Friday, make sure to stop me and say hello. I’ll be the journalist-looking guy wearing all pink. WEAR YOUR PINK!!

The Golf Boys; Players Championship & Golfers Gone Wild

It very well could be the year of the “stache.” Or dudes exhibiting facial hair, for that matter. Johnson Wagner started it with his Magnum P.I. mustache for the ages. I think Tom Selleck himself felt threatened. But let’s be honest, no one will ever touch that mustache. But I digress. Rickie Fowler’s mustache, which I’m sure has been growing for at least a year, has finally come to life. All kidding aside, his game finally has come to fruition. I guess the Golf Boys gained some karma from the golf gods with their instant hit, “Oh Oh Oh.”

Since releasing their self-deprecating, unpretentious, but somewhat dignified single, the Golf Boys have won a combined five times since last summer. Yep, all four members of the group have won starting with Ben Crane winning the McGladry Classic last fall. Hunter Mahan followed suit being the only multiple winner on tour, taking down this years WGC Accenture Match Play Championship and the Shell Houston Open. We all know what happened at Augusta just a short month ago. Bubba makes it three out of four Golf Boys who occupied the winners circle.

Like everyone else in the golf world, the Golf Boys were waiting for one more member to make it a clean sweep. With one of the best non-major fields of the year, the Wells Fargo Championship produced yet another fantastic finish full of flamboyant and flashy youngsters with prodigious game. And yes, there was D.A. Points. The 35-year old dude sporting the Lego belt. I hope I’m not the only one who caught the irony in that.

In the end, Rickie’s wedge was better than Points’ and McIlroys’. He knocked in his four-footer for birdie and before he knew it, David Feherty was in his ear congratulating him on his first PGA Tour win. I could hear the collective cries of joy from the Golf Boys. Their sweep was complete and their bond intensified. Awaiting green side, were Fowler’s girlfriend Alexandra, and good friend, Ben Crane.

Friends are there for you. In victory and defeat. The unique thing about the Golf Boys, is the friendship they have formed in a sport that’s so individualistic. Who would think that four guys, who try to beat each other every week on tour, could form such a bond where they wait and cheer for each other at the end of tournaments? Well, that is what makes these four guys different. Not to mention, their strong Christian faith. Maybe Tiger Woods should take a page out of their book. But, that’s a whole different story. Don’t even get me started on that. That is a wild and slippery ride.

Speaking of wild and slippery rides, The Players starts tomorrow with plenty of story lines to gossip about. Pete Dye’s diabolical, and devious, yet brilliant design awaits the players with enough gall to challenge the pin on the island green of seventeen. Around the water coolers at work, I’m sure discussions conceived ideas of how many players will hit it in the water on 17 and which Tiger Woods might show up. Again, don’t get me started.

They say April showers bring May flowers. Well, Bubba reigned in April and Rickie is blooming in May. Can he continue the mojo and tangle TPC Sawgrass’s layout? Don’t be surprised if you see his flat-brimmed orange hat close to the lead come Sunday. The Players, for years, has been argued as being the “fifth major.” Well, the 39th installment of The Players won’t be any different. Yes, it boasts one of the strongest fields of the year, but still remains in the non major category. However, it does come with major money. This years purse of $9.5 million, is the richest on tour. Come get some!

Being rich in tradition, and only in its third year is the local event Golfers Gone Wild. Held at Twin Oaks, this annual event brings out the best and of course, worst of local golfers. And by worst, I mean awesome. Not lacking in entertainment, the event sponsored by Hooters, will showcase golfers following a little white ball around. Right after they finish their beer, of course. It’s open to any and all ladies and gentlemen who want to brave a round in the hot sun and quite possibly, soaked in beer suds. You will find most of your favorite local beer vendors tapping those kegs and pouring cups to the brim.

Registration is now open for the two shotguns(144 player fields) that will be going at 8am and 2pm, respectively.

Entry fee: $60/player. Event date: May 25th. Registration: Twin Oaks pro shop-760.591.4700. Players need to pay in advance to secure their spots. THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT. I mean, with a title like Golfers Gone Wild, why wouldn’t you want to play? And to all my devoted readers, and non-devoted readers, I will be gracing you with my presence. So, come on out and meet your columnist.

If you’re lucky, you might just find your name in my next column.

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie