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Welcome to Tigerworld
Sports Illustrated senior writer Gary Van Sickle will answer your questions every Thursday during the golf season. Click here to send him a question. We have passed Tiger mania into a new level with this British Open thing. We're now into Tigerworld. And to borrow a line from Ernie Els at St. Andrews, I guess we'd better get used to it. Let's get right to the mail:
If Tiger wins too much, could it have an adverse affect on golf's popularity? Yup, it looks like Tiger is going to ruin golf the same way Michael Jordan killed the NBA by winning too much.
You mentioned in one of your previous responses, when comparing Johnny Miller with Tiger Woods, that Miller competed against future Hall of Fame players like Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Tom Weiskopf. Out of the current crop of players, which ones would you put in the same caliber as the aforementioned foursome? I think Ernie Els would definitely qualify. Beyond that, I don't think there is anyone, do you? Not counting the guys who are on the far end of the wash cycle, such as Greg Norman, Nick Price and Curtis Strange, I think you have to consider David Duval and Phil Mickelson as possible Hall material. They're already within range of 20 wins pretty early in their careers -- a level that Strange and Tom Kite, for instance, never reached. It's way too early to tell about Sergio García, but you certainly can't discount him. And if SI's Alan Shipnuck can get his handicap down from the low 20s, he could be a factor.
Believe it or not, watching golf on TV has caused me irreversible psychological harm. The players are so nice and politically correct in all their interviews that I've been conditioned to fall asleep instantly when they begin to speak. Don't you think just a little trash-talking, even in jest, would liven things up a little? As long as the game of golf is the real winner, Richard, absolutely. We all just want to give something back to the game that has given us so much. It's just a privilege to be here with all these great players and writers. It's not about the money, it's about the trophies. That's why I write these columns one word at a time. ... Huh? Sorry, I dozed off there. Yeah, golf's version of Dennis Rodman will be coming along any minute now. We'll probably hate him but you're right, he'll liven things up.
Do you think it's possible that the PGA will ever consider handicapping Tiger to make tournaments more competitive? To be honest, I find watching majors to be boring these days. I am not a rabid golf fan, but I used to enjoy watching the big four for the competitive level and drama. This, obviously, is not the case anymore. Tiger is two strokes better per 18 than all other players, so he can be expected to win any major he plays in by 6-10 strokes. Do you want to see great competition, Mark, or great golf? Was it boring when Jordan and the Bulls swept a series in four games or did you still like watching Jordan perform at his best? Tiger is playing great golf, probably the best golf we've ever seen. If you appreciate seeing great shots, he is The Show. If not, you may want to stick with Comedy Central.
I recall Bobby Jones being mentioned as someone who also won the Grand Slam. Why didn't his name come up during British Open week as Tiger was adding his name to the roll of career Slam winners? Also, I thought Jack Nicklaus had won 20 majors since the U.S. Amateur was considered a major championship. When did the definition of a major change? Jones' slam consisted of the U.S. and British Opens and U.S. and British Amateurs, Doug. We're talking the modern grand slam here -- U.S. and British Open, Masters and PGA. It wasn't that long ago that the Western Open was considered a major. It's evolution. Since Tiger won three Amateurs, it probably still counts.
Tiger Woods says that he still needs to improve his game, but that's true for anyone who plays any sport or does anything. My question is, does he really have any significant weakness? Or, at least, which part of his game needs the most work? Winning the British Open by a mere eight, Jay, it appears that Tiger's game is getting pretty sloppy. No, his game is running at a peak right now. He needs to work the crowd better, though, make a little eye contact, give a little wave or a smile if he wants to be as beloved as he is dominant.
Does money won in the British Open count on the PGA Tour money list? Yes, it does, Doug. Good thing, too. Tiger needs the dough to keep his card for 2001.
So who are the Sutherland brothers? I'm totally unfamiliar with that reference from a previous Mailbag. I've heard about a junior golfer from Australia who's supposed to be great, though. Sergio is only 20; how old are the Sutherlands, 15? Sorry for being a wise guy, Wade. (Well, not really.) Kevin and David Sutherland have been playing the PGA Tour for about five years now and epitomize the middle-of-the-pack tour pro. Neither has won yet. Kevin is a solid iron player who has come close a few times, notably losing a playoff in Houston. David is a little more erratic, but you may recall his big moment in Milwaukee a few years ago when he nearly drained a 50-footer on the final hole to force a playoff with Scott Hoch. They're from Sacramento and they're big fans of the NBA Kings. David is 34, Kevin is 36.
I have tried to find the book by Mark James, Into the Bear Pit, but our bookstores show no listings at all. Where is it available? The king of every golf book ever written is Scotsman Rhod McEwan, who is the world's largest golf bookseller. Click here for some basic information; he's still developing his website. You can reach him by e-mail or fax him in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, at 011-44-13397-55995. He'll take orders or send you his amazingly complete current catalogue. He has a stand at the British Open exhibition tent each year and I always find something there I have to buy. This year it was several old PGA Tour guides and Tony Lema's autobiography. He had stacks of Mark James' books. Tell him I sent you. Click here to send your golf question to Gary Van Sickle.
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