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'Rising' stars
Sports Illustrated senior writer Gary Van Sickle will return next week. Click here to send him a question. So much for the theory that December is a quiet month in golf. We've seen Aaron Baddeley win the Australian Open for a second straight time and Tiger Woods turn the World Cup, normally a total snooze, into an event of worldwide magnitude. Woods may even singlehandedly lift the Canadian Open, a national championship I've always considered a significant event, back to its former loftier status as one of those tournaments that was just a notch below a major. Next year's Canadian Open, which will be played in Montreal, is already sold out, believe it or not. Why? Because Tiger won it this year and will almost certainly return to defend his title. Canadian fans know they won't get many chances to see Woods. If he doesn't win the event, in fact, who knows when he'll next tee it up in Canada? It could be years, it could be never. On to this week's mail:
I noticed that Charles Howell did not get his tour card at Q school. What are his options for playing? It seems a shame that someone who won $250,000 in a few events would be totally shut out. It is also interesting that a number of the so-called "next Tigers" (young American players) are struggling to get their footing. Howell, Hank Kuehne, Joel Kribel, David Gossett and Steve Scott have not earned tour cards. All are talented, but what is missing with these guys?
It's a real misnomer to call these guys -- or anyone else -- the next Tigers. The only thing they have in common is their age. Howell has already scored some sponsor exemptions into a handful of 2001 PGA Tour events. In the wake of Tiger, many tournament directors figured out it pays to be nice to up-and-coming players in case they turn out to be superstars. With any luck, they'll remember the free pass and remain loyal after they've hit it big. The fact is, most good college players aren't good enough to get on the PGA Tour or, if they do, to make a mark right away. They just don't have all the short-game shots. It's a tough league. They need a few years to gain some experience and refine their games.
I don't think you'll have to wait five years to see Aaron Baddeley start performing like a champion. He already does. Although I don't think he'll win in the U.S. this year, he will do something special. I work alongside the likes of Aaron, Stephen Allan (truly one of the nicest blokes I've ever met), Geoff Ogilvy, Craig Spence, Robert Allenby and Greg Chalmers. I also work with their coaches at Albert Park Driving Range. Keep your eyes on Allan and Ogilvy; at least one of them will win a U.S. tour event. I think Allenby will win a major this year, probably the PGA. What do you think?
I agree, Ashley, that Allenby has got the game and the killer instinct to win a major. He's a little shaky with the putter at times but if he can have a week on the greens like Vijay Singh did at last year's Masters, hey, he can win any of the four majors. There's no question that your part of the world is churning out a steady line of world-class players. Did Greg Norman inspire a whole generation of youngsters to take up the game in the '80s or is it something in the food -- after you take it off the barbie?
Gary, how is every freaking column or Mailbag that you write only about Tiger Woods? There are other golfers, aren't there?
Maybe because just about every Mailbag question I get is about Tiger Woods, Tim -- including yours. And the next one ...
Do you think Tiger Woods chose David Duval as his playing partner for the World Cup not only because David is probably the second-best American player but because he wanted to give his friend some confidence playing alongside him going into the 2001 season?
No way, James. Duval has plenty of confidence. I think Tiger simply wanted to enjoy the week, knowing he was going to be swarmed over in Argentina like the second coming of the Beatles, and wanted to be with someone he liked and can relate to. They apparently struck up a friendship when Duval accompanied Tiger back from the British Open on Tiger's jet. I think Woods wanted to play with someone he could have fun with, plus somebody who had game.
I'm heading to Ireland in early summer on a golf trip. I am familiar with the name Irish courses. Are there any sleepers I should try to play while I'm there?
Aye, lad. I've heard there isn't a bad course in the country, but I've personally experienced only a few of the name courses myself. Perhaps some loyal Mailbag readers who've golfed their brains out in Ireland can help our Mannix. Send in a few words about your favorite Irish tracks, besides the obvious ones, and if we get enough, we'll turn a future Mailbag into a mini-Irish golf guide. Thanks. And drink a pint for us while you're on the Emerald Isle, Mike.
"It's like being in favor of pollution and that Florida butterfly ballot." Hey, I'm a Republican. I am in favor of pollution and the butterfly ballot. You might want to retract those comments before it gets around the tour locker-room that you're an Al Gore-loving tree-hugger!
Thanks for quoting me, Mark. That'll get you into print almost every time. We want to keep politics out of the Mailbag as much as possible, but I would like to go on the record as saying I thought the choice of voting for the Vice Liar or the Son of a Long Putter for president wasn't much of a choice. Mark, you may want to ask your Republican pals why they ordained Bush-league as their candidate instead of John McCain. In my uninformed opinion, McCain would've cleaned Gore's electoral clock. Instead, your pals gave us Bush, and from what we've seen in Florida, it appears your pals nominated the wrong brother. Oh, well, I'm off to French-kiss an elm.
Click here to send your golf question to Gary Van Sickle.
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