|
Chat Reel: SI's Jaime Diaz
Posted: Monday February 14, 2000 03:33 PM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jaime Diaz joins CNNSI.com users each Monday at 1 p.m. ET to talk golf. A transcript of his Feb. 14 chat follows.
CNNSI Host: Hello, everyone. Welcome to today's chat with Sports Illustrated senior writer Jaime Diaz. Welcome, Jaime. Thanks for joining us.
Jaime Diaz: Thanks for having me.
From Guest: Are Tiger's swing problems from yesterday a sign of things to come?
Jaime Diaz: I don't think so. I think they were a result of fatigue and getting out of his routine after having to play Monday at Pebble Beach -- although he'll always have to fight those tendencies.
From Scott: Do you think that Tiger just got tired yesterday? His swing broke down and, uncharacteristic of Tiger, he seemed to lose his mental edge after the birdie at the 13th. I'd like to know what Tiger's reaction was.
Jaime Diaz: His reaction was frustration and disappointment. I think what happened was he went to the well and it wasn't there this time. We expect him to have these reserves of incredible focus, and this just proved he is human. As far as losing his swing, that's Tiger's biggest focus when he plays -- having his mechanics solid. And when they're not, that's when he's vulnerable.
From Guest: Do you think that Tiger's problems had anything to do with Bryan Bell?
Jaime Diaz: Absolutely not. He seemed to be in a great frame of mind, and I think Bryan is very much a positive asset in that regard. Tiger is very happy when he's around Bryan, and since he doesn't get to see him that much, it's a positive having him around for the week. Bryan is very knowledgeable about Tiger's game, and while he doesn't say a lot, Tiger respects his opinion.
From Guest: Will anyone ever win six in a row again?
Jaime Diaz: I think Tiger will again. And I think it can be done. Just like Roger Bannister had the breakthrough with the four-minute mile, after someone does something that's been thought of as impossible, it can happen again shortly thereafter. So I think it's possible; all Tiger's done is raised the bar.
From Guest: David Duval stared hot last year and really cooled down by season's end. Will the same thing happen to Tiger, possibly due to emotional burnout?
Jaime Diaz: I don't think Tiger is susceptible to emotional burnout, because he's attuned to staying fresh for each tournament and knows when to take time off. That's why he's exercised hard to keep his body from tiring. I don't think he'll allow himself to get burned out.
From Guest: Who do you think will win the World Golf Championships Match Play event?
Jaime Diaz: Match play is the most unpredictable form of championship golf. I would say a guy with great short-game skills is the most difficult to beat, because it's frustrating for a player to be constantly tied by someone getting up and down. Given that, Ernie Els is a great choice -- great short-game skills, a great match-play record, and he's very well rested right now.
From Guest: Now that he has won again, can Phil Mickelson finally win a major?
Jaime Diaz: Absolutely. I think Mickelson is one of the top five talents in the game. Although he doesn't seem to get the same assessment of his work ethic, it's a pretty good one and he's worked hard to make his swing more reliable. He's got incredible short-game skills when he's on, and I see him always being a threat at the Masters. I would guess before his career is up, he'll win three or four majors.
From Guest: Do you think Stewart Cink has what it takes to become one of the PGA's premier golfers?
Jaime Diaz: He's got a lot of strengths -- a steady swing, a great temperament (he's very mature for being 27). The question is whether he has the mentality to play aggressive, attacking golf. I don't think that's part of his makeup at the moment, which makes it difficult for him to win. But I think he's got the right approach for the U.S. Open. Right now I'd call him a B-level player with time to grow into an A-level player, but it will require a change in his mental approach.
From Guest: How about evaluating Shigeki Maruyama's game. He seemed pretty solid last week. Any chance of a victory on U.S. soil?
Jaime Diaz: He strikes me as pretty volatile -- very attacking, a little wild, can get hot with the putter. He's also strong and long.
His weakness is like Jumbo Ozaki. Not to compare everyone who comes from Japan to Jumbo Ozaki, but they really are very similar -- long, strong, hard swingers who can be erratic. When he's on, he can win on the U.S. tour; I think it's very important he play here to get acclimated to it.
From Guest: Can Michael Campbell be this dominant on the U.S. tour?
Jaime Diaz: I don't think so. He's very good and has been improving. He was pegged four, five years ago as the up-and-coming young player, and he's run into a lot of obstacles and growing pains. He's come out of that more mature, but he still has lots of scar tissue from that time. He's impressive, but I'm taking a wait-and-see attitude on him.
From Guest: How come a guy like Lanny Wadkins couldn't win over the past couple years on the PGA Tour and then comes out right away and wins on the Senior Tour? Is the difference in talent that great?
Jaime Diaz: Lanny knew he couldn't beat the young guys anymore, and being the competitor he is, I think he lost his killer instinct. But whenever he feels like he has a chance, that kicks in. He has a chance on the Senior Tour because he's no longer a long hitter, which hurt him on the regular tour but doesn't hurt him on the Senior Tour. His great strength is on the irons, and coming in to senior greens there's not as much distance to cover, so he can shoot low numbers. When Lanny has a chance, the competitive drive kicks in, and that's what happened yesterday. Also, he's healthier -- he was hurting the last five or so years.
From Guest: I have yet to see Aaron Baddeley play. Is he worth the hype? Also, we haven't heard much from Sergio Garcia. Where is he now?
Jaime Diaz: Baddeley is supposed to be very, very close to the level Tiger was at when he was 18, 19. I haven't seen a lot of him, but people I respect -- Gary Player, Greg Norman -- feel he's the real thing. Projecting forward in golf is tough, which segues into Sergio -- six months ago everyone felt he was the second-best player in the world. I didn't think he was and I don't think anyone feels that way anymore. He's very talented, but he has a lot of maturing to do in terms of making his game more solid and consistent. That swing that gives him distance also makes him erratic. He'll have his shining moments, but his swing won't give him the consistency. His growth will be more gradual than expected.
From Guest: When did John Daly and Greg Norman become friends? I remember that they got in a big fight at the '95 British Open?
Jaime Diaz: John's a loose cannon, and he's annoyed a lot of people with his loose comments over the years, especially to the press. John's very likable, and he's considered vulnerable and fragile, so I think there's a big-brother approach a lot of the players take toward him. He needs help, encouragement, counseling. Greg sees that, and since he's an elder statement now, he's seen a lot and he thinks he can help John.
From Guest: What's going on with Jim Furyk? His game seems to have gone downhill after switching caddies.
Jaime Diaz: Furyk has only won a few times on tour. I don't think his game's gone down -- he's steady and will be there but won't win a lot, simply because he doesn't hit the ball long and has a hard time making birdies on par-5s. He's the kind of guy if you only look at the leaderboard on Mondays, you'll wonder, What happened to him? Then at the end of the year he'll be fourth on the money list.
From Guest: Will Greg Norman or Nick Faldo be a factor in the majors this year?
Jaime Diaz: I think Greg and Nick both have a good opprtunity at the Masters and St. Andrews, because of their experience and good memory at both places --
Norman more at the Masters even though Faldo has won three times, and Faldo more at St. Andrews because he's won there and is more familiar with it. I think something will kick in psychologically, and those guys will have a good week, one or both of them, at both of those tournaments.
From Guest: How do you feel about young golfers joining the Tour? Is this a sign of things to come? Are we going to see teen sensations like we do in tennis?
Jaime Diaz: I don't think as young as in tennis, but certainly younger than they've been. You'll especially see international players, because they're not indoctrinated in the college system. International players tend to take up golf as a potential profession, so they work very, very hard and are ready earlier. Also, better athletes are being drawn to golf, so the talent pool is growing among teens.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have for today. Thanks for joining us, Jaime.
Jaime Diaz: Thanks. See you next week.
|
Copyright © 2000
CNN/Sports Illustrated
An AOL Time Warner Company.
All Rights Reserved.
|
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.
|
| 
